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abookandchai's reviews
137 reviews
Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen
2.0
Pitched as "darkly enchanting" and "I can fix her meets I can make him worse" and so I was really looking forward to this. Gina's tweets about fairytales and Asian anti-heroines only made more eager to read this. So I'm definitely sad about how it turned out to be.
Of course, I liked Violet. She doesn't try to be nice at any time, driven by the need to keep her position in the world. Even if it meant being manipulative. She's clever and centered to herself and I liked reading through her POV. The writing is captivating too, honestly the reason why I read this book so quickly. And if I have to name another positive, the beginning is quite hooking, the set up for the prophecy and Violet & Cyrus's hate to love arc had me sold.
What fails in most of recent YA fantasy books is the lack of focus on worldbuilding and plot and instead badly selling the romance to me. (that is not saying I don't like YA at all, I've enjoyed Dauntless, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea to name a few) I'm sorry but if you want me to like Violet and Cyrus's relationship, you have to give me the emotional impact. We're told they have a history of being friends and then growing apart, but don't tell me about it, show it to me through their actions! The transition from their mutual dislike for each other to suddenly desiring each other isn't smooth. If there's no tension, then I'm not invested. Besides, there's this great concept of Seers speaking prophecies, beasts that threaten the land and something about fairies and witches, which I wanted more of. We're only introduced to these things through Violet's Sight and in the rushed ending. I expected more depth to the world and the relations between the kingdoms involved.
Another thing this book promised me is "cutthroat court politics." If you know me, you will know I'm a sucker for some good court politics (eg: The Lady or the Lion, A Song Of Wraiths and Ruin or The Red Palace) but there's nothing of the sort here, apart from influencing the people about the prophecies according to the circumstance.
While I don't have much good things to say about this book as I personally like fleshed out characters *and* worldbuilding, I do think it has great potential (especially for the sequel) and YA fantasy fans might definitely like this better than me!
thank you netgalley and delacorte press for the ARC!
Of course, I liked Violet. She doesn't try to be nice at any time, driven by the need to keep her position in the world. Even if it meant being manipulative. She's clever and centered to herself and I liked reading through her POV. The writing is captivating too, honestly the reason why I read this book so quickly. And if I have to name another positive, the beginning is quite hooking, the set up for the prophecy and Violet & Cyrus's hate to love arc had me sold.
What fails in most of recent YA fantasy books is the lack of focus on worldbuilding and plot and instead badly selling the romance to me. (that is not saying I don't like YA at all, I've enjoyed Dauntless, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea to name a few) I'm sorry but if you want me to like Violet and Cyrus's relationship, you have to give me the emotional impact. We're told they have a history of being friends and then growing apart, but don't tell me about it, show it to me through their actions! The transition from their mutual dislike for each other to suddenly desiring each other isn't smooth. If there's no tension, then I'm not invested. Besides, there's this great concept of Seers speaking prophecies, beasts that threaten the land and something about fairies and witches, which I wanted more of. We're only introduced to these things through Violet's Sight and in the rushed ending. I expected more depth to the world and the relations between the kingdoms involved.
Another thing this book promised me is "cutthroat court politics." If you know me, you will know I'm a sucker for some good court politics (eg: The Lady or the Lion, A Song Of Wraiths and Ruin or The Red Palace) but there's nothing of the sort here, apart from influencing the people about the prophecies according to the circumstance.
While I don't have much good things to say about this book as I personally like fleshed out characters *and* worldbuilding, I do think it has great potential (especially for the sequel) and YA fantasy fans might definitely like this better than me!
thank you netgalley and delacorte press for the ARC!
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
fabulous writing, fabulous yearning, fabulous folklore and mythology. loved casiopea and hun kame's entire journey, the fine line between gods and mortals and the themes of carving their own paths. this book just proves why i love the god of death x mortal woman pairings
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Having read this book I can vouch that the Spirited Away comparison is so apt! Nura and the Immortal Palace is a middle grade fantasy about 12 year old Nura, who works in the mica mines to support her family but when the mine collapses and her friends disappear, she finds herself whisked away into a secret world ruled by the jinn. What follows next is Nura’s race to get herself out of the jinn hotel before it’s too late.
magically written
One of the best things about Nura and the Immortal Palace is how vividly the setting has been described. My South Asian heart absolutely adores the Islam religion and Pakistani culture influences in the book, be it about festivals, the mouth watering food, the dances, the faith or the sense of family among the characters. I love how unapologetically Muslim it is and how the culture blends with the magical elements.
Even when Nura winds up in another realm, the beauty of the descriptions remains the equally imaginative. We’re introduced to the world of the jinn and the hotel Nura and other kids are stuck in and the magical nature is brought to life by M.T. Khan—be it the food competitions, the glamour or the liveliness through which Nura is lured into the faux sense of security. The atmosphere is bright and colourful but the realistic undertones are not to be missed among the glitters.
tackles themes of child labour and importance of education
I really admire how a Middle Grade fantasy manages to include important topics of the vicious cycle of exploitation as well as prevalent child labour practices in parts of the world. Without is seeming heavy on the readers. It shows how carefully crafted this story is! There’s a smooth blend of the shining world in the story with insights into how mere kids are exploited and how the rich turn the poor against each other for their benefit. So while we’re lost in an adventurous tale, it doesn’t fail to shatter the truth about the illusions.
By the end, Nura and the Immortal Palace also makes the readers realise why being educated is important. From revolting against going to school to acknowledging the benefits of being a capable literate, Nura’s growth arc develops subtly but strongly.
engaging characters
Nura is such a delightful voice to read through the book! I was impressed with how determined she was to earn for her family even if it meant grappling with the mica mining. And later on, I appreciated how she absorbed the lessons from different encounters, she always has her family as her priority. She’s a protective elder sister and daughter but also a caring friend.
Faisal, a side character and Nura’s closest friend shines throughout the story too, despite being a side character. He’s anxious and cautious but his bond with Nura is heartwarming, supporting each other through thick and thin.
If all of that hasn’t convinced you yet, this book is for the gulab jamun lovers. Be sure to check out this book for a determined protagonist, her soft boy companion, their adventure into a jinn world and a glimpse into workings of the real world!
thank you netgalley and little brown books for the ARC!
magically written
One of the best things about Nura and the Immortal Palace is how vividly the setting has been described. My South Asian heart absolutely adores the Islam religion and Pakistani culture influences in the book, be it about festivals, the mouth watering food, the dances, the faith or the sense of family among the characters. I love how unapologetically Muslim it is and how the culture blends with the magical elements.
Even when Nura winds up in another realm, the beauty of the descriptions remains the equally imaginative. We’re introduced to the world of the jinn and the hotel Nura and other kids are stuck in and the magical nature is brought to life by M.T. Khan—be it the food competitions, the glamour or the liveliness through which Nura is lured into the faux sense of security. The atmosphere is bright and colourful but the realistic undertones are not to be missed among the glitters.
tackles themes of child labour and importance of education
I really admire how a Middle Grade fantasy manages to include important topics of the vicious cycle of exploitation as well as prevalent child labour practices in parts of the world. Without is seeming heavy on the readers. It shows how carefully crafted this story is! There’s a smooth blend of the shining world in the story with insights into how mere kids are exploited and how the rich turn the poor against each other for their benefit. So while we’re lost in an adventurous tale, it doesn’t fail to shatter the truth about the illusions.
By the end, Nura and the Immortal Palace also makes the readers realise why being educated is important. From revolting against going to school to acknowledging the benefits of being a capable literate, Nura’s growth arc develops subtly but strongly.
engaging characters
Nura is such a delightful voice to read through the book! I was impressed with how determined she was to earn for her family even if it meant grappling with the mica mining. And later on, I appreciated how she absorbed the lessons from different encounters, she always has her family as her priority. She’s a protective elder sister and daughter but also a caring friend.
Faisal, a side character and Nura’s closest friend shines throughout the story too, despite being a side character. He’s anxious and cautious but his bond with Nura is heartwarming, supporting each other through thick and thin.
If all of that hasn’t convinced you yet, this book is for the gulab jamun lovers. Be sure to check out this book for a determined protagonist, her soft boy companion, their adventure into a jinn world and a glimpse into workings of the real world!
thank you netgalley and little brown books for the ARC!
Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
A warm story of first love and a group of queer teens finding their home in a high school marching band. Beating Heart Baby follows two boys, Santi and Suwa, from finding each other online to colliding at high school as they navigate through friendships, love and staying true to oneself. I really liked that the book was divided into two sides—one with Santi's POV and his struggles with truly connecting with people around him and the other with Suwa's POV and his journey as a trans boy making music. The LGBTQ+ community that forms their friends was so heartwarming to read about. All of that combined with references to anime and indie music and how the main characters incorporated aspects from them in their own lives made this book so much more heart felt.
My complaint with the book would be that the switch in POVs and a time jump right after the confrontations threw me off a bit. I actually wanted to continue reading about their high school experience (not that I mind the musical career bits). The writing felt somewhat stagnant at times too but I truly think the characters drive the story forward really well.
This book realistically queer YA that is equally messy and emotional. It's about music, chasing your dreams, found family, sustaining love and embracing yourself. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking to read about anything along those lines!
thank you Flatiron Books for the ARC!
My complaint with the book would be that the switch in POVs and a time jump right after the confrontations threw me off a bit. I actually wanted to continue reading about their high school experience (not that I mind the musical career bits). The writing felt somewhat stagnant at times too but I truly think the characters drive the story forward really well.
This book realistically queer YA that is equally messy and emotional. It's about music, chasing your dreams, found family, sustaining love and embracing yourself. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking to read about anything along those lines!
thank you Flatiron Books for the ARC!
If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This read incredibly average but those last chapters really amped up the plot of the book!!
I was really looking forward to reading this because plant magic! Black girls! Ancient secrets and magic! That's enough to draw my attention. Can confirm the magic system is very cool, with the adddition Greek mythology to set it up. I loved Bri's relationship with her mothers, it was so good to see how her adoption was handled and how she bonded with them. Also, the setting worked so well?? I enjoyed the atmosphere of the old magical house and the gardens with poisonous plants so much.
My main issue with the book is the poor pacing. It wasn't only slow but seemed like a filler mostly because the exciting events happened only in the later chapters. The whole set up about Bri inheriting a mysterious mansion in the beginning was interestingly done but the writing and chapters went off pace after. And unfortunately if a book has a slow build up with everything piled up towards the end, I tend to dislike it. This book is promising but it missed the mark for me. I can't comment on the developing romance cause we barely got it.
I think I will be reading the sequel, I need answers to that ending! Nevertheless, I really think people should give this a try, a fun yet cryptic type of book, with an authentic concept and cool characters.
I was really looking forward to reading this because plant magic! Black girls! Ancient secrets and magic! That's enough to draw my attention. Can confirm the magic system is very cool, with the adddition Greek mythology to set it up. I loved Bri's relationship with her mothers, it was so good to see how her adoption was handled and how she bonded with them. Also, the setting worked so well?? I enjoyed the atmosphere of the old magical house and the gardens with poisonous plants so much.
My main issue with the book is the poor pacing. It wasn't only slow but seemed like a filler mostly because the exciting events happened only in the later chapters. The whole set up about Bri inheriting a mysterious mansion in the beginning was interestingly done but the writing and chapters went off pace after. And unfortunately if a book has a slow build up with everything piled up towards the end, I tend to dislike it. This book is promising but it missed the mark for me. I can't comment on the developing romance cause we barely got it.
I think I will be reading the sequel, I need answers to that ending! Nevertheless, I really think people should give this a try, a fun yet cryptic type of book, with an authentic concept and cool characters.
This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
2.0
frankly I don't even remember reading this book properly after the first quarter because it quickly lost its charm. Most of the scenes dragged unnecessarily. Right from when Alessa employs Dante as her bodyguard till the end where they figure out the "solution", everything came too easily to Alessa. Besides, we don't have a proper villain and the stakes relating to the whole "stopping the invasion" never felt as serious as they were projected to be. I would say the magic system is quite interesting and even Alessa's struggle with her powers were conveyed really well.
thank you netgalley and macmillan for the ARC
thank you netgalley and macmillan for the ARC