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abookandchai's reviews
137 reviews
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
adventurous
emotional
3.5
Cool tea magic system? The cover? Competition? These were some of the things that intrigued me and I can confirm, A Magic Steeped in Poison is a beautiful debut, full of court intrigue, mysteries and pretty descriptions. It's easy to read and entertaining enough that the pages flow by as we accompany Ning in her determined quest to find a cure for the poison and save her sister.
I really liked Ning's character and how her family always propelled her through the competition and courtly schemes. Her newfound allies that support her as well the interesting side characters added to the enjoyment. Also, the worldbuilding. The best part of the book probably. I loved how it was all put together with excellent descriptions of every food, place, situation or tea; along with the inclusion of Chinese inspiration. Though the plot falls into the typical YA fantasy category plots, it was mainly the writing that kept me going.
What I didn't like mainly was the insta love that felt forced in the plot to keep up the mystery, but Kang as a character is someone I'd like to know more about in the sequel, along with his relationship with Ning. The pacing was off at times too, with a few scenes being dragged on or seemed too convenient.
Overall, a good debut though, as it provides a solid base for the sequel. I'm eager to see the improved characterization and return to the same lush world!
thank you Fierce Reads and Netgalley for the ARC!
I really liked Ning's character and how her family always propelled her through the competition and courtly schemes. Her newfound allies that support her as well the interesting side characters added to the enjoyment. Also, the worldbuilding. The best part of the book probably. I loved how it was all put together with excellent descriptions of every food, place, situation or tea; along with the inclusion of Chinese inspiration. Though the plot falls into the typical YA fantasy category plots, it was mainly the writing that kept me going.
What I didn't like mainly was the insta love that felt forced in the plot to keep up the mystery, but Kang as a character is someone I'd like to know more about in the sequel, along with his relationship with Ning. The pacing was off at times too, with a few scenes being dragged on or seemed too convenient.
Overall, a good debut though, as it provides a solid base for the sequel. I'm eager to see the improved characterization and return to the same lush world!
thank you Fierce Reads and Netgalley for the ARC!
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
after loving the bone shard daughter, i was very much looking forward to the sequel and the bone shard emperor does not disappoint! new characters, new reveals, new questions but also growth of existing characters and the same exciting plot. andrea's writing is gripping, especially with the way the chapters end, that you keep reading on. mephi and thrana, the adorable animal companions, stole my heart again. the battle scenes were excellent!! i didn't care much about jovis and lin's romance but as individual characters they definitely strengthened their footing.
the worldbuilding of this series gave way to some intriguing reveals that i'm excited to see addressed in the final book! the history of alanga, the magic behind it and the bone shard magic that were expanded upon became an interesting aspect. although, my favourite part about reading this have to be nisong's chapters. they're just sooo well written, her desperation and want for vengeance for the wrongs done to her. very eager to see how the series ends!
thank you netgalley and orbit books for the arc!
the worldbuilding of this series gave way to some intriguing reveals that i'm excited to see addressed in the final book! the history of alanga, the magic behind it and the bone shard magic that were expanded upon became an interesting aspect. although, my favourite part about reading this have to be nisong's chapters. they're just sooo well written, her desperation and want for vengeance for the wrongs done to her. very eager to see how the series ends!
thank you netgalley and orbit books for the arc!
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
not a bad book at all but i just felt like i wanted more from it.
to start, down comes the night is written beautifully, it engrosses you into wren's desperation to prove herself as well as the mysteriousness of colwick hall and the villain, alistair lowry. i loved reading about wren and una's relationship and i enjoyed wren and hal's growing romance, the yearning the dialogues ahhh!! wren as a protagonist is also well done, how she holds on to the compassion and feelings in her despite others seeing them as a weakness.
despite all the good stuff, i really wanted the world building to be expanded upon. we're told of his war between vesria and danu and how there's hostility between the countries and i wish it was the enemity and politics were explored more. i definitely expected more gothic vibes but they were surface level because the story involved a lot more plot points. i would've also loved more insights into isabel's, alistair's and hal's pasts.
overall, a fun, intriguing read! romance lovers would definitely enjoy this. looking forward to reading alison's second novel, a far wilder magic.
to start, down comes the night is written beautifully, it engrosses you into wren's desperation to prove herself as well as the mysteriousness of colwick hall and the villain, alistair lowry. i loved reading about wren and una's relationship and i enjoyed wren and hal's growing romance, the yearning the dialogues ahhh!! wren as a protagonist is also well done, how she holds on to the compassion and feelings in her despite others seeing them as a weakness.
despite all the good stuff, i really wanted the world building to be expanded upon. we're told of his war between vesria and danu and how there's hostility between the countries and i wish it was the enemity and politics were explored more. i definitely expected more gothic vibes but they were surface level because the story involved a lot more plot points. i would've also loved more insights into isabel's, alistair's and hal's pasts.
overall, a fun, intriguing read! romance lovers would definitely enjoy this. looking forward to reading alison's second novel, a far wilder magic.
Waiting on a Bright Moon by Neon Yang
4.0
so short but so profound, i loved the writing immediately. the sapphic yearning!!!
Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“Being queer is hard enough. Don’t lock yourself out of all of this just because you’re scared you won’t fit in the keyhole, without even trying.”
I can surely say Ophelia After All is a book that has claimed its place in my heart forever. A comfort read, as people call it or as I’d like to say, a warm hug to myself.
Frankly, this is the standard for YA contemporaries. Ophelia After All follows a Cuban-Irish seventeen year old Ophelia as she navigates a tumultuous phase nearing the end of high school, of change, identity, friendships and growing up. Today I tell you the reasons I loved this book and hope it gives justice to what I truly feel about it.
a delicate coming of age story
Simply put, reading through Ophelia’s lens is a delight. Setting Ophelia After All to span the last couple months of high school proved to be quite spot on as the story not only addresses the looming worries of the life that awaits Ophelia but also her newfound questions about her sexuality. The inner turmoil that she goes through, trying to hang to the one thing about herself she knows is true, really highlights her character. Everyone around her knows her as ‘boy crazy Ophelia’ but when she unexpectedly finds herself harboring feelings for a girl, she spirals into a state of denial and confusion.
But then there’s the big fear of change, because if everyone knows her as such, what happens when she admits a part of her has changed? How does she come to terms with the change in herself? Will the people around her still find her to be the Ophelia they knew, or thought they knew?
I find that to be the best part of the novel, how Ophelia After All very meticulously brings these feelings to page—the confusion, the self questioning, the fear of change and the slow descent into an understanding. Most coming of age stories I’ve read have characters who are sure of their identities but struggle to come out about it. But Ophelia After All shows the entire internal struggle of Ophelia from the point that question about her sexuality arises right up until she settles on an understanding of her identity, the feeling like that of a caged bird being freed.
Ophelia’s story definitely moved the recently-turned-adult-me to tears. It’s written in such a raw, heartfelt manner that I had no other choice actually. There’s the feel good contemporaries and there are contemporaries like this… that just get you, that deeply resonate with you, that bring light to feelings within you that you didn’t know existed.
a queer friend group
Another wonderful aspect of my whole experience of Ophelia After All is being introduced to Ophelia’s dynamic friend circle. We have a lovely cast of diverse characters, not just racially but also in terms of their identities, who form a strong support system. There are friendships that have lasted since forever, the ones that can pass as acquaintances and the friendships that spark unexpectedly. The background and development of each of these characters gives a depth to the story.
an authentic high school experience
At the core, Ophelia After All centers around prom. But what leads up to it is a mix of merging friend groups, a love triangle and the conversations surrounding the different places these characters will be quite soon. The tide of change that hits these group of friends and their fallouts with Ophelia at the center never feels overdone or some event just to further the plot in a contemporary novel.
Overwhelmed with her emotions—she makes mistakes, detaching herself from her favourite activities, lashing out on people around her—valid, quintessential teenage experiences, but we get to watch Ophelia overcome them all and find her footing among her friends and the plethora of queer labels available to her now. I loved seeing Ophelia’s old friendships become fragile, find new friends who walk her through her hard times and talk her into stability. Seeing these characters interact invoked a melancholic yearning for a friend group as theirs but also provided the comfort in witnessing such friendships however possible. I especially loved Wesley and Agatha.
Staying true to its namesake, Ophelia’s story isn’t perfect or linear. There’s anger, vulnerability and its messy but ultimately its about hoping that the foundation she’s built for herself is strong enough to withstand the changes and hardships, its about believing in the relationships she has to guide her through such moments. Ophelia’s interest in botany and gardening forms beautiful imageries for the stages in her story.
Like a cherry on top, I love how it ended, not like the typical versions of happily ever afters or that Ophelia suddenly has a clarity about herself, just this message that she’s learning herself, that she might never know how to label her sexuality, that she’s valid despite all the uncertainty and self relearning.
A fantastic debut, Ophelia After All is an honest love letter to all confused, questioning queer kids. It assures us of the inevitability of change and reminds us that the love we receive gives us the strength to be true to ourselves. Its a book that made me cry under the intensity of emotions but soothed me throughout and I hope its the same for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC!
I can surely say Ophelia After All is a book that has claimed its place in my heart forever. A comfort read, as people call it or as I’d like to say, a warm hug to myself.
Frankly, this is the standard for YA contemporaries. Ophelia After All follows a Cuban-Irish seventeen year old Ophelia as she navigates a tumultuous phase nearing the end of high school, of change, identity, friendships and growing up. Today I tell you the reasons I loved this book and hope it gives justice to what I truly feel about it.
a delicate coming of age story
Simply put, reading through Ophelia’s lens is a delight. Setting Ophelia After All to span the last couple months of high school proved to be quite spot on as the story not only addresses the looming worries of the life that awaits Ophelia but also her newfound questions about her sexuality. The inner turmoil that she goes through, trying to hang to the one thing about herself she knows is true, really highlights her character. Everyone around her knows her as ‘boy crazy Ophelia’ but when she unexpectedly finds herself harboring feelings for a girl, she spirals into a state of denial and confusion.
But then there’s the big fear of change, because if everyone knows her as such, what happens when she admits a part of her has changed? How does she come to terms with the change in herself? Will the people around her still find her to be the Ophelia they knew, or thought they knew?
I find that to be the best part of the novel, how Ophelia After All very meticulously brings these feelings to page—the confusion, the self questioning, the fear of change and the slow descent into an understanding. Most coming of age stories I’ve read have characters who are sure of their identities but struggle to come out about it. But Ophelia After All shows the entire internal struggle of Ophelia from the point that question about her sexuality arises right up until she settles on an understanding of her identity, the feeling like that of a caged bird being freed.
Ophelia’s story definitely moved the recently-turned-adult-me to tears. It’s written in such a raw, heartfelt manner that I had no other choice actually. There’s the feel good contemporaries and there are contemporaries like this… that just get you, that deeply resonate with you, that bring light to feelings within you that you didn’t know existed.
a queer friend group
Another wonderful aspect of my whole experience of Ophelia After All is being introduced to Ophelia’s dynamic friend circle. We have a lovely cast of diverse characters, not just racially but also in terms of their identities, who form a strong support system. There are friendships that have lasted since forever, the ones that can pass as acquaintances and the friendships that spark unexpectedly. The background and development of each of these characters gives a depth to the story.
an authentic high school experience
At the core, Ophelia After All centers around prom. But what leads up to it is a mix of merging friend groups, a love triangle and the conversations surrounding the different places these characters will be quite soon. The tide of change that hits these group of friends and their fallouts with Ophelia at the center never feels overdone or some event just to further the plot in a contemporary novel.
Overwhelmed with her emotions—she makes mistakes, detaching herself from her favourite activities, lashing out on people around her—valid, quintessential teenage experiences, but we get to watch Ophelia overcome them all and find her footing among her friends and the plethora of queer labels available to her now. I loved seeing Ophelia’s old friendships become fragile, find new friends who walk her through her hard times and talk her into stability. Seeing these characters interact invoked a melancholic yearning for a friend group as theirs but also provided the comfort in witnessing such friendships however possible. I especially loved Wesley and Agatha.
Staying true to its namesake, Ophelia’s story isn’t perfect or linear. There’s anger, vulnerability and its messy but ultimately its about hoping that the foundation she’s built for herself is strong enough to withstand the changes and hardships, its about believing in the relationships she has to guide her through such moments. Ophelia’s interest in botany and gardening forms beautiful imageries for the stages in her story.
Like a cherry on top, I love how it ended, not like the typical versions of happily ever afters or that Ophelia suddenly has a clarity about herself, just this message that she’s learning herself, that she might never know how to label her sexuality, that she’s valid despite all the uncertainty and self relearning.
A fantastic debut, Ophelia After All is an honest love letter to all confused, questioning queer kids. It assures us of the inevitability of change and reminds us that the love we receive gives us the strength to be true to ourselves. Its a book that made me cry under the intensity of emotions but soothed me throughout and I hope its the same for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC!
The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee
4.0
it was so good to be back into this world of jade and clans that i dearly missed. this novella has an interesting story of its own, one that provides wonderful insights into the green bone world. fonda lee's talent is incredible as always.