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Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Celeste Ng is such a gifted writer. There's such a grace to the stories that she creates that keep readers intrigued from being to end. 4.5 Stars
What's so funny about my experience in reading Celeste Ng is that she is a writer that heavily focuses on character development. I'm not usually a reader that enjoys character development over plot development; however, Celeste Ng is so gifted in her writing that I'm drawn into how her characters develop throughout the course of the story. Little Fires Everywhere, in my opinion, is an intricate look that motherhood. The methods and beliefs that each mother has in this book ultimately impacts the entire cast of characters making for a intense ending. It is also a story about perceptions and maintaining a certain façade for the public. The story itself focuses on Mia and Elena, two mothers who are vastly different in their background and the way in which they raise their children. Mia and her daughter Peal are nomadic in a lot of ways moving from town to town under the guise of focusing on Mia's artistic career. They eventually end up in Shaker Heights, a planned suburb from Ohio and come into contact with the Richardson family. What unfolds from their interactions is nothing short of devastating.
This book is more than just the analysis of the characters and their interactions with each other. Celeste Ng seems to give us insight to the complex role that is motherhood and the intricate ways that we perceive each other. Elena and Mia both believe that they have a grasp on being effective parents. I have seen reviews where people believe that Mia was illustrated in a more positive light than Elena; however, I saw faults in Mia as a character as well. Ng's implied intention seems to be that none of these characters are perfect. What they present to the world may be different; however, at their core they are not and the actions the actions that readers may perceive as "right/wrong" are not as black and white as they seem. This is especially apparent in the interweaving of the adoption case. Mothers, whether biological or adoptive, do what they feel is in the best interest of their children regardless of whether people on "the outside" see it as truly being in the best interest of said child. What is apparently clear from this book is that every decision that we make as caregivers impacts the children we care for sometimes in visible ways and sometimes in ways that are more subtle.
It's particularly easy to go into this book thinking that there is going to be a character that is explicitly right or wrong; however, it isn't that simply. The Richardson are perfect on the outside and Warren family appears that have absolutely nothing in their lives together. Looks and perceptions of people on the outside are exactly that. There is always more to people than what they show. Celeste Ng captured this perfectly. She slowly reveals the layers of each of these characters illustrating the complexity making the 3 dimensional/life like. I'm not sure if it was her intention; however, I really connected with some of the things readers were exposed to regarding motherhood. As a mother, I can admit that it's not easy. Every day you attempt to do the right thing and you believe that you are, but somewhere along the line we make mistakes and it's not so black and white as you presumed. Overall, I thought that it was a great book. I'm currently watching the TV show and it's just as good. Can't wait to see what Celeste Ng will do in the future.
What's so funny about my experience in reading Celeste Ng is that she is a writer that heavily focuses on character development. I'm not usually a reader that enjoys character development over plot development; however, Celeste Ng is so gifted in her writing that I'm drawn into how her characters develop throughout the course of the story. Little Fires Everywhere, in my opinion, is an intricate look that motherhood. The methods and beliefs that each mother has in this book ultimately impacts the entire cast of characters making for a intense ending. It is also a story about perceptions and maintaining a certain façade for the public. The story itself focuses on Mia and Elena, two mothers who are vastly different in their background and the way in which they raise their children. Mia and her daughter Peal are nomadic in a lot of ways moving from town to town under the guise of focusing on Mia's artistic career. They eventually end up in Shaker Heights, a planned suburb from Ohio and come into contact with the Richardson family. What unfolds from their interactions is nothing short of devastating.
This book is more than just the analysis of the characters and their interactions with each other. Celeste Ng seems to give us insight to the complex role that is motherhood and the intricate ways that we perceive each other. Elena and Mia both believe that they have a grasp on being effective parents. I have seen reviews where people believe that Mia was illustrated in a more positive light than Elena; however, I saw faults in Mia as a character as well. Ng's implied intention seems to be that none of these characters are perfect. What they present to the world may be different; however, at their core they are not and the actions the actions that readers may perceive as "right/wrong" are not as black and white as they seem. This is especially apparent in the interweaving of the adoption case. Mothers, whether biological or adoptive, do what they feel is in the best interest of their children regardless of whether people on "the outside" see it as truly being in the best interest of said child. What is apparently clear from this book is that every decision that we make as caregivers impacts the children we care for sometimes in visible ways and sometimes in ways that are more subtle.
It's particularly easy to go into this book thinking that there is going to be a character that is explicitly right or wrong; however, it isn't that simply. The Richardson are perfect on the outside and Warren family appears that have absolutely nothing in their lives together. Looks and perceptions of people on the outside are exactly that. There is always more to people than what they show. Celeste Ng captured this perfectly. She slowly reveals the layers of each of these characters illustrating the complexity making the 3 dimensional/life like. I'm not sure if it was her intention; however, I really connected with some of the things readers were exposed to regarding motherhood. As a mother, I can admit that it's not easy. Every day you attempt to do the right thing and you believe that you are, but somewhere along the line we make mistakes and it's not so black and white as you presumed. Overall, I thought that it was a great book. I'm currently watching the TV show and it's just as good. Can't wait to see what Celeste Ng will do in the future.
One Dream for Three by Jérôme Hamon
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was an interesting graphic novel. I wasn't necessarily sure what to expect in terms of plot except that it probably focused on dancing to some degree. Emma and Violette is about two sisters who are both ballerinas; however, one is more "naturally" gifted at dancing than the other. Their mother pushes both of them to get into a prestigious ballet school so they can become principle dancers. There were a few things about this that I enjoyed. Hamon included some great conversations related to parenting and how difficult it can be to draw the line at your aspirations and what your child wants to do. Emma and Violette's mother was so caught up in her deferred dreams that she was unknowingly projecting onto her daughters. It causes a lot of discourse in their household. Hamon also touched a little bit on what it's like to be teen that is attempting to find their voice. It can be hard to stand up for what you want as a teenager especially when you want nothing more than to make your parents happy.
While I enjoyed the art (it does feel a little stiff in some sections), I had some trouble following the story in some areas. There were characters that weren't fleshed out so readers don't know who they are or what role they play in the story as a whole. There also appeared to be some awkward moments in the dialogue. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with the translation as this was originally written in French. There were great moments with the supportive father in the book, but part of me feels like I was missing out on something because the entire story wasn't necessarily there. Overall, it was a decent read. I'm definitely willing to try out the rest of the series to see what happens to both girls.
While I enjoyed the art (it does feel a little stiff in some sections), I had some trouble following the story in some areas. There were characters that weren't fleshed out so readers don't know who they are or what role they play in the story as a whole. There also appeared to be some awkward moments in the dialogue. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with the translation as this was originally written in French. There were great moments with the supportive father in the book, but part of me feels like I was missing out on something because the entire story wasn't necessarily there. Overall, it was a decent read. I'm definitely willing to try out the rest of the series to see what happens to both girls.
Delaney's Desert Sheikh by Brenda Jackson
2.5 stars. Man oh man I wanted to rate this one higher, but there was one particular scene that I wasn't okay with. I'm going to continue the series because I'm really interested in where Brenda Jackson is going to take these characters.
Delaney's Desert Sheikh is the first in Brenda Jackson's Westmorelands series which is a series that I've been meaning to start for a while. It's an extremely short book so I was expecting the characters to fall in love quickly. The insta love trope didn't necessarily bother me; however, I wish that we would have gotten a little more interaction between the two characters. It would have made the connection just a tad more realistic. There is also a specific scene that technically isn't consensual and I wasn't a big fan of it especially since it wasn't addressed at all in the later parts of the book. There's a lot to take into consideration with this scene including expectations and standards of romance novels at the time that this was written. It doesn't excuse the scene, but it helps readers understand how and why the scene was included. There was clearly an attraction between the two and I rather enjoyed their banter, but I couldn't stop myself from thinking about that specific scene.
Quite frankly, I love what Jackson was able to do with character development in this book. Jamal had a certain perspective of the role a woman should play in the life of a man and Delaney challenged him every single step of the way. She refused to be subservient or agree that the role of a woman in a relationship should be simplified to catering to every need of her partner while being okay if he makes the decision to take on mistresses. Delaney makes Jamal reconsider a lot of things that he would have traditionally done. They had a lot of strong moments as characters, but also some weaker moments. If this book would have been just a little longer, I think that the chemistry between the two characters could have gone better and more smooth.
Ironically, there isn't really much to discuss about this book without giving away too many spoilers. Everything happens rather quickly. There are appearances from Delany's older brothers so I'm anticipating that readers will have the opportunity to see them in later books. To be completely clear and transparent, this book is a little on the dated side. There are still books coming out in The Westmoreland series so naturally I'm 100% positive that Jackson has done a great job with those. If you read this book, don't let it turn you away from exploring the rest of the books in the series.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5 stars. Man oh man I wanted to rate this one higher, but there was one particular scene that I wasn't okay with. I'm going to continue the series because I'm really interested in where Brenda Jackson is going to take these characters.
Delaney's Desert Sheikh is the first in Brenda Jackson's Westmorelands series which is a series that I've been meaning to start for a while. It's an extremely short book so I was expecting the characters to fall in love quickly. The insta love trope didn't necessarily bother me; however, I wish that we would have gotten a little more interaction between the two characters. It would have made the connection just a tad more realistic. There is also a specific scene that technically isn't consensual and I wasn't a big fan of it especially since it wasn't addressed at all in the later parts of the book. There's a lot to take into consideration with this scene including expectations and standards of romance novels at the time that this was written. It doesn't excuse the scene, but it helps readers understand how and why the scene was included. There was clearly an attraction between the two and I rather enjoyed their banter, but I couldn't stop myself from thinking about that specific scene.
Quite frankly, I love what Jackson was able to do with character development in this book. Jamal had a certain perspective of the role a woman should play in the life of a man and Delaney challenged him every single step of the way. She refused to be subservient or agree that the role of a woman in a relationship should be simplified to catering to every need of her partner while being okay if he makes the decision to take on mistresses. Delaney makes Jamal reconsider a lot of things that he would have traditionally done. They had a lot of strong moments as characters, but also some weaker moments. If this book would have been just a little longer, I think that the chemistry between the two characters could have gone better and more smooth.
Ironically, there isn't really much to discuss about this book without giving away too many spoilers. Everything happens rather quickly. There are appearances from Delany's older brothers so I'm anticipating that readers will have the opportunity to see them in later books. To be completely clear and transparent, this book is a little on the dated side. There are still books coming out in The Westmoreland series so naturally I'm 100% positive that Jackson has done a great job with those. If you read this book, don't let it turn you away from exploring the rest of the books in the series.
Far Sector #1 by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Is anyone surprised that I enjoyed this? I hope not. I was really looking forward to seeing what Jemisin was going to do with this new outlook on the Green Lantern. Jo (the Lantern this story is focused on) makes quite a few appearances in DC's Future State especially in Future State Justice League so I'm anticipating what's going to happen with her in the future. This story is set against an interesting backdrop as Jo travels to another planet where several different beings have learned how to cohabitate by removing all of their emotions. By doing so, there hasn't been a murder in a long time; however, at the start of this issue readers find that someone has been murdered and it leads to accusations against each other. This was paced really well. I did feel it slow down in the middle which is why it probably took me so long to read (on top of a busy schedule). If I lose interest in a single issue it can take me a while to get back to it. The artwork was fantastic and really gives the reader the feeling that they're really in outer space. The ending was definitely WILD and I'm looking forward to seeing what Jemisin is able to do with this character going forward.
Strictly Professional by Christina C. Jones
emotional
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? N/A
4.0
CCJ knows that she can write a damn book! This is one of her older books, but trust me when I say it doesn't make a difference. This is a work place romance, but I think that it sets itself apart from other workplace romances because of the character development. CW: physical abuse
I ramdomly decided to pick up Strictly Professional because it was available through Hoopla at my library. It was recently added and this was a particularly series by CCJ that I had not heard many people discuss. It focuses on two characters: Gabi and Terrance. Gabi moved to ATL to get away from her ex and parents to begin her career at a law firm. She makes the decision to go out one night with a friend and ends up meeting Terrance. The two share a kiss and believe that they won't come into contact again until they realize that they would be working at the same firm. It was amazing watching these two continuously fight their feelings for each because of their job. Keep in mind there was no fraternization policy so they weren't keeping it a secret from other employees; however, it is clear that the two don't want it to interfere with their goals and ambitions.
Gabi and Terrance had chemistry and even when they spent page after page denying it, it's easy to feel it as a reader. Any person that knows me as a reader, knows that romance for me is all about the chemistry. I like for authors to make me feel like I should be rooting for these individuals to fall in love even when they're blind to it. CCJ captured those feelings perfectly with these two characters. There was also extremely strong character development especially in regard to Gabi. There were some toxic relationships that Gabi fought to get control of the entirety of this book particularly her ex and her parents. While I expected Michael to be completely unlikeable, I didn't expect the same for her parents. They made her life a living nightmare and saw her as no more than cattle that needed to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. As a reader, I was shocked at some of the conversations that Gabi had with her mother in particular, but I respected Gabi for her strength to stand up to them. She kept going to achieve her dream regardless of how her parents felt. I admired her even more for the strength it took to walk away from her ex Michael. He showed no respect to her, but expected her to be willing to deal with him and rearrange her life's dreams and goals to cater to him. I know quite a few people in my personal life who have been willing to deal with nonsense similar to that of Michael in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Gabi refused to let that be a deterrent in her life. While Gabi felt a little more easy going, Terrance was a little more uptight. He was solely focused on his career and did not want any relationship to stand in the way of possibly making partner. Gabi melted that hardness about Terrance away and I'm glad that he allowed her to do so. It brought out a more fun and engaging side to him from the perspective of the reader.
This book isn't 100% percent slow burn like some other romance novels I've read; however, it is slow enough that readers really truly get to see the romance develop between Gabi and Terrance. Nothing felt rushed. It felt so natural and readers can't help but root for them the entire way. With that being said, I definitely see myself becoming more and more obsessed with CCJ writing style. There is something about it that beautifully captures the emotions of her main characters. The pacing is always great with just enough action to make the romance more engaging. This book definitely did not disappoint and I'm looking forward to reading even more by CCJ.
I ramdomly decided to pick up Strictly Professional because it was available through Hoopla at my library. It was recently added and this was a particularly series by CCJ that I had not heard many people discuss. It focuses on two characters: Gabi and Terrance. Gabi moved to ATL to get away from her ex and parents to begin her career at a law firm. She makes the decision to go out one night with a friend and ends up meeting Terrance. The two share a kiss and believe that they won't come into contact again until they realize that they would be working at the same firm. It was amazing watching these two continuously fight their feelings for each because of their job. Keep in mind there was no fraternization policy so they weren't keeping it a secret from other employees; however, it is clear that the two don't want it to interfere with their goals and ambitions.
Gabi and Terrance had chemistry and even when they spent page after page denying it, it's easy to feel it as a reader. Any person that knows me as a reader, knows that romance for me is all about the chemistry. I like for authors to make me feel like I should be rooting for these individuals to fall in love even when they're blind to it. CCJ captured those feelings perfectly with these two characters. There was also extremely strong character development especially in regard to Gabi. There were some toxic relationships that Gabi fought to get control of the entirety of this book particularly her ex and her parents. While I expected Michael to be completely unlikeable, I didn't expect the same for her parents. They made her life a living nightmare and saw her as no more than cattle that needed to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. As a reader, I was shocked at some of the conversations that Gabi had with her mother in particular, but I respected Gabi for her strength to stand up to them. She kept going to achieve her dream regardless of how her parents felt. I admired her even more for the strength it took to walk away from her ex Michael. He showed no respect to her, but expected her to be willing to deal with him and rearrange her life's dreams and goals to cater to him. I know quite a few people in my personal life who have been willing to deal with nonsense similar to that of Michael in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Gabi refused to let that be a deterrent in her life. While Gabi felt a little more easy going, Terrance was a little more uptight. He was solely focused on his career and did not want any relationship to stand in the way of possibly making partner. Gabi melted that hardness about Terrance away and I'm glad that he allowed her to do so. It brought out a more fun and engaging side to him from the perspective of the reader.
This book isn't 100% percent slow burn like some other romance novels I've read; however, it is slow enough that readers really truly get to see the romance develop between Gabi and Terrance. Nothing felt rushed. It felt so natural and readers can't help but root for them the entire way. With that being said, I definitely see myself becoming more and more obsessed with CCJ writing style. There is something about it that beautifully captures the emotions of her main characters. The pacing is always great with just enough action to make the romance more engaging. This book definitely did not disappoint and I'm looking forward to reading even more by CCJ.
Detective Comics (2016-) #1034 by Dan Mora, Joshua Williamson, Mariko Tamaki, Gleb Melnikov
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well, well, well....let us find out that Ashley is becoming a little fan of Batman. I enjoyed what Tynion did with Batman 106 so I was really interested in seeing what Tamaki was going to be able to do with him in Detective Comics. In this issue, Batman is no longer wealthy and has to function as Batman in a new and creative way. My biggest issue with Batman has always been his privilege (not a popular opinion, but it's my opinion) and arrogance. I'm extremely interested in seeing how Tamaki is going to explore these changes. Also, Future State gave us the magistrate and these new issues that have been releasing related specifically to Infinite Frontier seem to be building up to what we saw in a possible future. It's fascinating watching Gotham attempt to function as a community following the Joker War now leading into a new society where they don't like vigilantes. It's going to be a heck of a story and I am beyond excited for where this story could potentially go. The artwork was absolutely stunning.
Punchline #1 by James Tynion IV
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
3.0
This is an interesting comic to rate. I think I've said in a few previous reviews that I'm a huge fan of James Tynion IV and what he's been doing lately in the comic book world. I kept seeing this specific one shot at my local comic book store so I thought I would give it a try. While this is a one shot, it has potential to be confusing if you don't know much about the Joker War. There are quite a few references to it in all of the Batman/Bat Family comics I've been reading lately. Of course, I've started reading some trades to actually prepare to read the event; however, because I don't have extensive knowledge it was a little confusing.
If you know me then you know I'm a huge fan of Harley Quinn. I think going into this I was expecting Punchline NOT to be so similar to Harley. They're different, but I can't lie and say that she didn't instantly remind me of Harley especially since the entire context of this book is set around her monologue and how the Joker may or may not have influenced her during the Joker War. Because of this, I began to question her relevance to the entire world of Gotham City. I'm not sure if this was a way to phase Harley out of being a villain or what. I did find some aspects of the story interesting and clearly we're going to see more of Punchline in the stuff that DC is doing with Infinite Frontier, but this wasn't necessarily as good as I was expecting it to be.
I was definitely happy to see Andolfo's artwork. She never fails me with her artwork and it definitely fit the story. It was dark in all the right areas and captured the gloominess of the story. I think that some of the faces can come across as very sharp which may not necessarily be appealing to everyone, but I though overall it was great work especially the cool color choices. It literally gives you chilly/creepy vibes as you see Alexis slowly become punchline.
If you know me then you know I'm a huge fan of Harley Quinn. I think going into this I was expecting Punchline NOT to be so similar to Harley. They're different, but I can't lie and say that she didn't instantly remind me of Harley especially since the entire context of this book is set around her monologue and how the Joker may or may not have influenced her during the Joker War. Because of this, I began to question her relevance to the entire world of Gotham City. I'm not sure if this was a way to phase Harley out of being a villain or what. I did find some aspects of the story interesting and clearly we're going to see more of Punchline in the stuff that DC is doing with Infinite Frontier, but this wasn't necessarily as good as I was expecting it to be.
I was definitely happy to see Andolfo's artwork. She never fails me with her artwork and it definitely fit the story. It was dark in all the right areas and captured the gloominess of the story. I think that some of the faces can come across as very sharp which may not necessarily be appealing to everyone, but I though overall it was great work especially the cool color choices. It literally gives you chilly/creepy vibes as you see Alexis slowly become punchline.
Harley Quinn (2021-) #1 by Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia, Stephanie Phillips
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a Harley Quinn book that's not for everyone. From what I've grown to understand, Harley Quinn is now becoming more of an anti-hero after what happened during the Joker War (don't worry I'm preparing to read this) so this is an introduction to her attempting to balance doing good things for Gotham City while trying not to pick up her old habits. I think I made the mistake of reading Punchline before this because Punchline literally feels like a copy of what I always expect Harley Quinn to be. I won't lie. I struggled to get through this one. The art was not my style. In fact, I knew that the artwork was rumored to be different from what we usually see; however, I really I didn't expect it to be so jarring. It actually detracted from the work as a whole. I believe that I would have rated this higher if it wasn't for the artwork. Nevertheless, I think that I may give this one more issue before I take it off my pull list.
Dirty Kisses by Kenya Wright
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a solid start to a new series! There were some really great elements. 3.5 Stars. CW: graphic violence, childhood sexual abuse (not on page)
Dirty Kisses is the first book in the Lion and the Mouse series and it focuses on two characters: Kazamir and Emily. Kazamir is a Russian mob enforcer of sorts who is well known for how dangerous he is while Emily catches his attention and quickly becomes his money washer. One thing that Wright excelled at with this book was her ability to create chemistry and mutual respect between Kazamir and Emily. Their attraction was quick, but Wright created the perfect situations in which readers felt as though Kazamir and Emily knew each other for an extended period of time. It was most fascinating watching Kazamir grow in his respect of Emily. They were put in a specific situation where Emily was able to exhibit her strong skills which let Kazamir know that she was a force to be reckoned with. This only intensified their attraction. Every steamy scene between the two of them was extremely hot both physically and verbally. The book was also fast paced and easy to get through, but the characterization was probably my favorite aspect of the novel. There were even found family elements which, for me, was an interesting element to discover in a mafia based romance. Emily was a strong, confident Black woman that basically handled her business as she saw fit.
There were a few things that I didn't necessarily enjoy about this book including the fact that the big reveal not only threw me off, but it created quite a few plot holes. Don't get me wrong, I think that it will turn out to be an interesting premise to work with in future books; however, with this ending I don't think enough was revealed. It left the reader with more questions than answers and it creates doubts in the validity of the big reveal. I'm hoping that it will be explained further in the next few books because there are quite a few things that Wright could potentially do with that information.
Overall, I thought that this was a solid read. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and I'm glad to say that this was my first official mafia romance.
Dirty Kisses is the first book in the Lion and the Mouse series and it focuses on two characters: Kazamir and Emily. Kazamir is a Russian mob enforcer of sorts who is well known for how dangerous he is while Emily catches his attention and quickly becomes his money washer. One thing that Wright excelled at with this book was her ability to create chemistry and mutual respect between Kazamir and Emily. Their attraction was quick, but Wright created the perfect situations in which readers felt as though Kazamir and Emily knew each other for an extended period of time. It was most fascinating watching Kazamir grow in his respect of Emily. They were put in a specific situation where Emily was able to exhibit her strong skills which let Kazamir know that she was a force to be reckoned with. This only intensified their attraction. Every steamy scene between the two of them was extremely hot both physically and verbally. The book was also fast paced and easy to get through, but the characterization was probably my favorite aspect of the novel. There were even found family elements which, for me, was an interesting element to discover in a mafia based romance. Emily was a strong, confident Black woman that basically handled her business as she saw fit.
There were a few things that I didn't necessarily enjoy about this book including the fact that the big reveal not only threw me off, but it created quite a few plot holes. Don't get me wrong, I think that it will turn out to be an interesting premise to work with in future books; however, with this ending I don't think enough was revealed. It left the reader with more questions than answers and it creates doubts in the validity of the big reveal. I'm hoping that it will be explained further in the next few books because there are quite a few things that Wright could potentially do with that information.
Overall, I thought that this was a solid read. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and I'm glad to say that this was my first official mafia romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Child abuse
In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As a follow up to the first book in the series, I don't believe that this one is as strong; however, Pierce still does continue to tell a pretty engaging story with relatable and fun characters.
In the Hand of the Goddess picks up not too long after the events of the first book in the series. Alanna comes into contact with a goddess and it is through this goddess that she learns of her personal fears. There is still conflict between the Prince and Uncle Roger which is displayed in greater detail. Alanna has to balance protecting the Prince, finally becoming a knight as well as navigating her first experiences with romance. Like the first book, this one was fast paced; however, I didn't enjoy the pace as much. It felt like it went to fast. About three years of Alanna's live is covered in this book and it's only 250 pages. There were certain parts of this book that I wish readers would have gotten a little more detail especially in terms of world building. It left me feeling like I was missing some things about the world and about Alanna's journey towards becoming a knight.
Pierce continues to do a great job with character development. There are realistic and age appropriate situations that Alanna continues to encounter that are relatable for a lot of readers. There is somewhat of a love triangle, but it was handled in a way that I enjoyed and not in a way that I would usually find obnoxious in books targeted towards a middle grade or YA audience. I continue to enjoy Alanna as a character. She has these amazing moments especially during the stand off with Uncle Roger who, by the way, is one of the creepiest antagonist that I've ever come across. Even the challenges that she had to face to become a knight were super intriguing. While I didn't enjoy the pacing of the book, I was still excited to engage with the story as a whole and once I finished I was ready to pick up the third book.
In the Hand of the Goddess picks up not too long after the events of the first book in the series. Alanna comes into contact with a goddess and it is through this goddess that she learns of her personal fears. There is still conflict between the Prince and Uncle Roger which is displayed in greater detail. Alanna has to balance protecting the Prince, finally becoming a knight as well as navigating her first experiences with romance. Like the first book, this one was fast paced; however, I didn't enjoy the pace as much. It felt like it went to fast. About three years of Alanna's live is covered in this book and it's only 250 pages. There were certain parts of this book that I wish readers would have gotten a little more detail especially in terms of world building. It left me feeling like I was missing some things about the world and about Alanna's journey towards becoming a knight.
Pierce continues to do a great job with character development. There are realistic and age appropriate situations that Alanna continues to encounter that are relatable for a lot of readers. There is somewhat of a love triangle, but it was handled in a way that I enjoyed and not in a way that I would usually find obnoxious in books targeted towards a middle grade or YA audience. I continue to enjoy Alanna as a character. She has these amazing moments especially during the stand off with Uncle Roger who, by the way, is one of the creepiest antagonist that I've ever come across. Even the challenges that she had to face to become a knight were super intriguing. While I didn't enjoy the pacing of the book, I was still excited to engage with the story as a whole and once I finished I was ready to pick up the third book.