Scan barcode
benidamika's reviews
34 reviews
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
4.75/5 ⭐
I buddy read it with @acourtof_fantasyandromance and boy am I glad she picked this!
The book was set in Edinburgh and London. It focuses on the story of three strange sisters who mysteriously disappeared but came back a month later, naked and changed. The story is being told from Iris' POV as she and her sister, Vivi, try to find their sister Grey who goes missing again.
This is the first magical realism book that I've truly enjoyed. But it also has trigger warnings - it has themes of violence, abduction, child death, death, gore, suicide, death of a parent and attempted sexual assault.
House of Hollow being the first Krystal Sutherland book I've read has convinced me to pick up her other books as well. The writing was simmering with energy wherever I sat and read. It was raw, dark and enthralling. I read each chapter with bated breath because I had no clue what was about to happen next. Everything that I predicted was mostly wrong and we love an unpredictable book!
I can't really say that I got attached to the characters, except for Iris and Tyler. The Hollow sisters are so detached from everyone, I felt the same way.
The book was so good it gave me nightmares. I'm not even joking. I finished it right before going to bed and it left such an impact on me that I actually had dreams about it. I would recommend this to everyone, it really takes you to another world but I would also advise you to check the trigger warnings before picking it up!
4.75/5 ⭐
I buddy read it with @acourtof_fantasyandromance and boy am I glad she picked this!
The book was set in Edinburgh and London. It focuses on the story of three strange sisters who mysteriously disappeared but came back a month later, naked and changed. The story is being told from Iris' POV as she and her sister, Vivi, try to find their sister Grey who goes missing again.
This is the first magical realism book that I've truly enjoyed. But it also has trigger warnings - it has themes of violence, abduction, child death, death, gore, suicide, death of a parent and attempted sexual assault.
House of Hollow being the first Krystal Sutherland book I've read has convinced me to pick up her other books as well. The writing was simmering with energy wherever I sat and read. It was raw, dark and enthralling. I read each chapter with bated breath because I had no clue what was about to happen next. Everything that I predicted was mostly wrong and we love an unpredictable book!
I can't really say that I got attached to the characters, except for Iris and Tyler. The Hollow sisters are so detached from everyone, I felt the same way.
The book was so good it gave me nightmares. I'm not even joking. I finished it right before going to bed and it left such an impact on me that I actually had dreams about it. I would recommend this to everyone, it really takes you to another world but I would also advise you to check the trigger warnings before picking it up!
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.25
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
"He tasted like salt, like grief and fear" - Pg 469
This is my first time reading West African inspired YA fantasy and I adored it! Jordan Ifueko did an amazing job with this debut. The characters were enchanting and the story telling is powerful. I admit picking this book because of the cover but Ifueko doesn't disappoint!
The book is seeped in colorful African culture and Ifueko's writing is so vivid - it's an EXPERIENCE. I admit it was a bit difficult to keep track of the names of the characters and the magical beings but it got easier the more I got into the book.
It explores themes of family relationships, friendship, revenge, power dynamics, misogynistic traditions and oppression of the poor.
What I really liked about the book is that Tarisai is not driven by romantic love to conquer whatever demons she had. She was selfless to a point that annoyed me a little but at the same time, that in my eyes, made her a true queen.
"He tasted like salt, like grief and fear" - Pg 469
This is my first time reading West African inspired YA fantasy and I adored it! Jordan Ifueko did an amazing job with this debut. The characters were enchanting and the story telling is powerful. I admit picking this book because of the cover but Ifueko doesn't disappoint!
The book is seeped in colorful African culture and Ifueko's writing is so vivid - it's an EXPERIENCE. I admit it was a bit difficult to keep track of the names of the characters and the magical beings but it got easier the more I got into the book.
It explores themes of family relationships, friendship, revenge, power dynamics, misogynistic traditions and oppression of the poor.
What I really liked about the book is that Tarisai is not driven by romantic love to conquer whatever demons she had. She was selfless to a point that annoyed me a little but at the same time, that in my eyes, made her a true queen.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I just finished @sadtwentiesbookclub 's August pick "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982" . To sum up this book in a sentence I'd say: THIS BOOK MAKES ME VERY VERY ANGRY.
The book narrates the four phases in Jiyoung's life - her childhood, her adolescence, her early adulthood and her married life. Throughout these phases, she has made numerous sacrifices knowingly and unknowingly - all because she is a woman and it is expected of her.
It not only talks of the oppressive environment women had to endure - right from infancy to school up till their workplace, but even at home in some situations. The failure to acknowledge and credit a woman's work is also practiced by the older generation.
Despite this, Jiyoung and the other girls in the book have had small victories and I celebrated with them. These victories meant so much more when there was little they could do or say against their oppressors.
Along with the already existing discomforts of pregnancy, the pressure of having a baby boy is placed on the women. Giving birth to a baby girl made most women feel like failures. It highlights the severity of postpartum depression, which is a topic that is still rarely discussed in so many communities.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it very informative with the little bits and pieces of statistical data that was provided. If I was a professor, I'd definitely include this book into the syllabus. EVERYONE should read it!
The book narrates the four phases in Jiyoung's life - her childhood, her adolescence, her early adulthood and her married life. Throughout these phases, she has made numerous sacrifices knowingly and unknowingly - all because she is a woman and it is expected of her.
It not only talks of the oppressive environment women had to endure - right from infancy to school up till their workplace, but even at home in some situations. The failure to acknowledge and credit a woman's work is also practiced by the older generation.
Despite this, Jiyoung and the other girls in the book have had small victories and I celebrated with them. These victories meant so much more when there was little they could do or say against their oppressors.
Along with the already existing discomforts of pregnancy, the pressure of having a baby boy is placed on the women. Giving birth to a baby girl made most women feel like failures. It highlights the severity of postpartum depression, which is a topic that is still rarely discussed in so many communities.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it very informative with the little bits and pieces of statistical data that was provided. If I was a professor, I'd definitely include this book into the syllabus. EVERYONE should read it!
Us by David Nicholls
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The story follows the journey of a family, the Petersens. The "Grand Tour" is supposed to be Douglas' redemption in the eyes of his wife. She is about to leave him and there is nothing he can do about it, but he is determined to make her stay.
His journey as a father has been a rough one and Nicholls has drawn out a "what to do/what not to do" list for parents. There's a lot of sensible advice which I would gladly take, but everyone's parent-child relationships is different.
There was a lot of details of art and architecture which I could do away with. I feel like 40-50% of the book was just descriptions of the scenery and the paintings. I had a hard time imagining them and got a little frustrated.
Overall, it was a bit of a slow read. I have mixed feelings about it, there were some parts I thoroughly loved because I thought the dialogues were brilliant and funny. But some parts, I just wanted to get over with.
His journey as a father has been a rough one and Nicholls has drawn out a "what to do/what not to do" list for parents. There's a lot of sensible advice which I would gladly take, but everyone's parent-child relationships is different.
There was a lot of details of art and architecture which I could do away with. I feel like 40-50% of the book was just descriptions of the scenery and the paintings. I had a hard time imagining them and got a little frustrated.
Overall, it was a bit of a slow read. I have mixed feelings about it, there were some parts I thoroughly loved because I thought the dialogues were brilliant and funny. But some parts, I just wanted to get over with.
More...