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bookishflower's reviews
158 reviews
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
adventurous
mysterious
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
“I am Loulie al-Nazari, the Midnight Merchant, and I am the master of my own fate.”
I wouldn’t have picked this up if it hadn’t have been in the Fairyloot May box, but I’m so glad I did! I tend to be intimidated by adult high fantasy, but this was easy to read, had beautiful and witty writing, with nuanced characters you can root for. I think this would be a great entry to adult fantasy books if anyone was looking for one.
I adored the importance of storytelling, and the ambiguity of good and evil in this book. I also loved Qadir, Loulie, Mazen and Aisha. I hope we get to see their found family develop more and explore more of the world building as the series continues! I will definitely be continuing with this series! This book took me back to my love of stories and a thousand and one nights when I was younger.
I wouldn’t have picked this up if it hadn’t have been in the Fairyloot May box, but I’m so glad I did! I tend to be intimidated by adult high fantasy, but this was easy to read, had beautiful and witty writing, with nuanced characters you can root for. I think this would be a great entry to adult fantasy books if anyone was looking for one.
I adored the importance of storytelling, and the ambiguity of good and evil in this book. I also loved Qadir, Loulie, Mazen and Aisha. I hope we get to see their found family develop more and explore more of the world building as the series continues! I will definitely be continuing with this series! This book took me back to my love of stories and a thousand and one nights when I was younger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Alcohol
Minor: Child death and Cursing
So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
“I didn’t look behind me to check that everyone followed, because I was certain they would. I could feel them right there, protecting me as they had for the past nine months. We might be dressed like chess pieces, but we were still that ragtag group of assholes who had taken on the darkest and vilest regime in five lifetimes and lived to tell the tale.”
If a DnD campaign, cozy fantasy and merthur came together and wrote a book, it would be So This Is Ever After.
As always, FT Lukens has written a hilarious, gay, cozy romcom perfect for lovers of fantasy books! Was it perfect? Not exactly, the lack of communication and obliviousness of Arek and Matt made me want to repeatedly walk headfirst into a wall, BUT it was entertaining as hell and aggressively sweet! I can see this becoming a new staple of the cozy fantasy sub genre!
If a DnD campaign, cozy fantasy and merthur came together and wrote a book, it would be So This Is Ever After.
As always, FT Lukens has written a hilarious, gay, cozy romcom perfect for lovers of fantasy books! Was it perfect? Not exactly, the lack of communication and obliviousness of Arek and Matt made me want to repeatedly walk headfirst into a wall, BUT it was entertaining as hell and aggressively sweet! I can see this becoming a new staple of the cozy fantasy sub genre!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Loveless by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was PERSONAL, my word! 😭 Georgia is a bit too close to home! I cried throughout this. I want what Georgia and Rooney have. 10/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really wanted to like this, but I think it was just not my thing as I found it quite triggering. (This is my own fault for not knowing reading this book would not be good for me personally).
However, this book has my total respect and there is no doubt that this is a rich world that will be so meaningful to other readers. You can tell the sheer amount of research that Falaye put into this book, how the topic of child soldiers was handled brutally beautifully.
However, I was just not mentally prepared enough for the unrelenting and hard-hitting reality built into Blood Scion. I’d strongly advise checking the trigger warnings. I feel this book should be approached with the same discretion as The Poppy War which I have avoided but respected from a distance for this very reason.
I’m glad I read Blood Scion because of Fairyloot and the read your own adventure read-a-thon, but I don’t think I will read this book again (at least not for a while).
However, this book has my total respect and there is no doubt that this is a rich world that will be so meaningful to other readers. You can tell the sheer amount of research that Falaye put into this book, how the topic of child soldiers was handled brutally beautifully.
However, I was just not mentally prepared enough for the unrelenting and hard-hitting reality built into Blood Scion. I’d strongly advise checking the trigger warnings. I feel this book should be approached with the same discretion as The Poppy War which I have avoided but respected from a distance for this very reason.
I’m glad I read Blood Scion because of Fairyloot and the read your own adventure read-a-thon, but I don’t think I will read this book again (at least not for a while).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Taproot by Keezy Young
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Studio Ghibli meets Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
I had the best time reading this listening to the Spirited Away soundtrack, I don't know why I never read graphic novels before this year?!
This was an incredibly wholesome, queer, funny and innately human graphic novel following the love story between a ghost and the gardener who can unusually see him.
(I'm in love with the reaper who is just as supportive of the ship as the reader, an icon).
If you want an easy, fast-paced read to fill that heartstopper ache, read Taproot!
I had the best time reading this listening to the Spirited Away soundtrack, I don't know why I never read graphic novels before this year?!
This was an incredibly wholesome, queer, funny and innately human graphic novel following the love story between a ghost and the gardener who can unusually see him.
(I'm in love with the reaper who is just as supportive of the ship as the reader, an icon).
If you want an easy, fast-paced read to fill that heartstopper ache, read Taproot!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Car accident
The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
One for All by Lillie Lainoff
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
There are rare occasions when you read a book at the perfect time and feel as though the author has peered into your soul and written a book just for you. This is one of those books for me.
As a chronically ill ex-fencer with the same symptoms as Tania (if less extreme), this book means so much to me. Seeing Tania struggle, fight, make friends, be loved and exist was incredibly validating: to be able to know I’m not alone or exaggerating, that other people relate, that I could just be. This was one of my most anticipated books of this year and it didn’t disappoint.
The political intrigue, balls and ball gowns, women supporting women, musketeers, and women with swords and razor sharp wit was the icing on the cake. Please go support this book and author! ❤️🥄
As a chronically ill ex-fencer with the same symptoms as Tania (if less extreme), this book means so much to me. Seeing Tania struggle, fight, make friends, be loved and exist was incredibly validating: to be able to know I’m not alone or exaggerating, that other people relate, that I could just be. This was one of my most anticipated books of this year and it didn’t disappoint.
The political intrigue, balls and ball gowns, women supporting women, musketeers, and women with swords and razor sharp wit was the icing on the cake. Please go support this book and author! ❤️🥄
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Classism
Minor: Blood and Medical trauma
Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
“Her people lived on their songs. The songs of valor, of heroes. Maybe they were all lies. Maybe none of them were really true, and there were no heroes.”
- Lesbian rep
- Filipino-inspired fantasy
- star-crossed lovers
- childhood friends-to-lovers
- 'I'd let the world burn but never let it touch you' trope
This is a book I can tell will stay with me for a long time.
I think the shining star of Dauntless is without a doubt the characterisation. Both Seri and Tsana felt their age and incredibly human, with their PTSD, relationship, and coming-of-age arc handled beautifully. (I am officially a Tsana protector, if anyone says anything mean about her I am running at high speed to your location. Eshai is also very relatable, if you've ever hidden in self-preservation or felt responsible for everyone at the expense of your own welfare be prepared to cry).
The wonderful writing and world building was beautiful and completely immersive with a dark underside. The lack of a clear moral judgement or good and evil between the two people added a wonderful depth to the book too. However, this never takes over the story. The found family relationship between Seri and Eshai, Eshai and Lavit's relationship, and Tsana and Seri's lesbian romance creates the needed light and hope to balance the dark.
This was a beautiful book that deserves to get so much love!
I'm very thankful and proud to have read this book early as a part of the street team for Dauntless (all opinions are my own), and I'm very excited to be able to gush about this book with everyone on July 19th!
- Lesbian rep
- Filipino-inspired fantasy
- star-crossed lovers
- childhood friends-to-lovers
- 'I'd let the world burn but never let it touch you' trope
This is a book I can tell will stay with me for a long time.
I think the shining star of Dauntless is without a doubt the characterisation. Both Seri and Tsana felt their age and incredibly human, with their PTSD, relationship, and coming-of-age arc handled beautifully. (I am officially a Tsana protector, if anyone says anything mean about her I am running at high speed to your location. Eshai is also very relatable, if you've ever hidden in self-preservation or felt responsible for everyone at the expense of your own welfare be prepared to cry).
The wonderful writing and world building was beautiful and completely immersive with a dark underside. The lack of a clear moral judgement or good and evil between the two people added a wonderful depth to the book too. However, this never takes over the story. The found family relationship between Seri and Eshai, Eshai and Lavit's relationship, and Tsana and Seri's lesbian romance creates the needed light and hope to balance the dark.
This was a beautiful book that deserves to get so much love!
I'm very thankful and proud to have read this book early as a part of the street team for Dauntless (all opinions are my own), and I'm very excited to be able to gush about this book with everyone on July 19th!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Classism
Elixir by Ellen Goodlett
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Be gay, do crime
This was a really sweet, short sapphic star-crossed lovers prohibition inspired fantasy.
The scientific-based magic system was really intriguing and rich, and this will be perfect for anyone looking for a queer historical romance with no homophobia, a happy ending, and a sprinkle of magic.
(Also, if you argued that Gatsby and Nick in The Great Gatsby were gay in school, this book is for you!)
This was a really sweet, short sapphic star-crossed lovers prohibition inspired fantasy.
The scientific-based magic system was really intriguing and rich, and this will be perfect for anyone looking for a queer historical romance with no homophobia, a happy ending, and a sprinkle of magic.
(Also, if you argued that Gatsby and Nick in The Great Gatsby were gay in school, this book is for you!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse and Kidnapping
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 ⭐️🐝
‘She paused and then giggled. He wanted to catch the infectious sound in his fist and keep it forever’
This was my first historical romance so I didn’t know what to expect but wanted something to cure my Bridgerton season 2 (and aggressive fantasy) hangover and this did the job.
If the fake dating plot of Bridgerton season one merged with the pining of season 2 with an additional hand-flex scene borrowed from Pride and Prejudice (2005), you’d have this book.
Hugh was a flirtatious rake with a heart of gold which I’m always a softie for, Diana and Payne stole the show completely with their funny remarks and strong characterisation, and the fake fiancée lie getting increasingly more out of hand and ridiculous was highly entertaining. This was fun, easy and escapist.
However, if you’re not a fan of the miscommunication trope even a little bit probably best to put the book down. You’ll need to suspend your belief for this one for your entertainment’s sake! I also unfortunately feel Vee was too childish and selfish, acting more like a bratty five year old than a seventeen year old girl. I’m not sure how the author will make her likeable/more realistic when it comes to her book…
However, all in all, this was an entertaining, easy and funny historical romance!
‘She paused and then giggled. He wanted to catch the infectious sound in his fist and keep it forever’
This was my first historical romance so I didn’t know what to expect but wanted something to cure my Bridgerton season 2 (and aggressive fantasy) hangover and this did the job.
If the fake dating plot of Bridgerton season one merged with the pining of season 2 with an additional hand-flex scene borrowed from Pride and Prejudice (2005), you’d have this book.
Hugh was a flirtatious rake with a heart of gold which I’m always a softie for, Diana and Payne stole the show completely with their funny remarks and strong characterisation, and the fake fiancée lie getting increasingly more out of hand and ridiculous was highly entertaining. This was fun, easy and escapist.
However, if you’re not a fan of the miscommunication trope even a little bit probably best to put the book down. You’ll need to suspend your belief for this one for your entertainment’s sake! I also unfortunately feel Vee was too childish and selfish, acting more like a bratty five year old than a seventeen year old girl. I’m not sure how the author will make her likeable/more realistic when it comes to her book…
However, all in all, this was an entertaining, easy and funny historical romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity