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btwnprintedpgs's reviews
1246 reviews
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you love character driven books focused on memories and stories, you'll absolutely love this atmospheric book that merges magical realism with historical and political fiction along with contemporary family drama.
Alma is an author who inherits a property in the Dominican Republic after her father passes. There, she decides to build her cemetery of untold stories - stories long abandoned and in need of a resting place. Where else do untold stories go? Through this, she inadvertently brings together four main characters - Alma, herself, with her messy family still alive and bickering; Filomena, who is hired on as the groundskeeper and who's own story is full of turmoil and loose ends; Alma's dead father, Manuel Cruz, who's story as an immigrant and refugee comes through in his own voice and through Alma's attempt to write it; and Bienvenida, the second wife of dictator Rafael Trujillo, as she finds her voice again within the cemetery walls.
This is not a story with a lot of plot. Instead, it walks us through lives that are vastly different, but interconnected in ways that will surprise you. There were a lot of threads, and I will admit that at some points the story lost me with the number of characters that were introduced, but over time, it was fascinating to see how interwoven these narratives were. I loved getting to know these characters, I learned, I gasped, I had to pause the audio in utter shock. There was a lot to get my head around, and it was so interesting to listen to a story like this.
Two points of contention. The first is that there are a lot of characters. A lot. So when we're bouncing from POV to POV, through and across time and country, it gets a bit overwhelming on audio. However, when I picked up the physical book, this was one of those books where they didn't have quotation marks for when people spoke, but it was easy to flip back should a time jump totally take me by surprise. I think both the audio and the physical (or digital) would be good to have on hand, because I really do feel like the audio had a magic of it's own to it, but having the story in front of you made it easier to follow along.
All in all, this was a very haunting story, with ghosts of all sorts coming to life in this cemetery. I know that this book won't be for everyone, but if you want something to get lost in, this is a very strong contender, as you'll be hooked by the narrative and captivated by the characters' stories and voices as they all come to life.
TW: murder, political turmoil, infidelity, child death, sexual assault, genocide, racism; mentions death of a parent, abandonment, dementia, emotional abuse, deportation, homophobia
Audio-arc gifted via Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
Alma is an author who inherits a property in the Dominican Republic after her father passes. There, she decides to build her cemetery of untold stories - stories long abandoned and in need of a resting place. Where else do untold stories go? Through this, she inadvertently brings together four main characters - Alma, herself, with her messy family still alive and bickering; Filomena, who is hired on as the groundskeeper and who's own story is full of turmoil and loose ends; Alma's dead father, Manuel Cruz, who's story as an immigrant and refugee comes through in his own voice and through Alma's attempt to write it; and Bienvenida, the second wife of dictator Rafael Trujillo, as she finds her voice again within the cemetery walls.
This is not a story with a lot of plot. Instead, it walks us through lives that are vastly different, but interconnected in ways that will surprise you. There were a lot of threads, and I will admit that at some points the story lost me with the number of characters that were introduced, but over time, it was fascinating to see how interwoven these narratives were. I loved getting to know these characters, I learned, I gasped, I had to pause the audio in utter shock. There was a lot to get my head around, and it was so interesting to listen to a story like this.
Two points of contention. The first is that there are a lot of characters. A lot. So when we're bouncing from POV to POV, through and across time and country, it gets a bit overwhelming on audio. However, when I picked up the physical book, this was one of those books where they didn't have quotation marks for when people spoke, but it was easy to flip back should a time jump totally take me by surprise. I think both the audio and the physical (or digital) would be good to have on hand, because I really do feel like the audio had a magic of it's own to it, but having the story in front of you made it easier to follow along.
All in all, this was a very haunting story, with ghosts of all sorts coming to life in this cemetery. I know that this book won't be for everyone, but if you want something to get lost in, this is a very strong contender, as you'll be hooked by the narrative and captivated by the characters' stories and voices as they all come to life.
TW: murder, political turmoil, infidelity, child death, sexual assault, genocide, racism; mentions death of a parent, abandonment, dementia, emotional abuse, deportation, homophobia
Audio-arc gifted via Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Murder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Racism and Genocide
Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Death of parent, and Dementia
The Earthly Blaze by Alice Poon
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
The Earthly Blaze is the fantastical sequel to The Heavenly Sword. Immediately, we're thrown back into the action and we get multiple strategy meetings and kung fu battles in the first few chapters. I was immediately sucked back into the story and I thoroughly enjoyed this finale!
Poon really found her stride in this sequel. The plot is tight, the character development is focused and deeper, and the writing flows well. The faster pace helped to push the plot, and the world building was immaculate. I found myself hooked from the first page and I definitely think this is the shining star of the duology.
It really felt like The Heavenly Sword finished at the 50% point of the story, and The Earthly Blaze propels us through to the end. This book is full of history-rich world building, further development of our Immortals and their relationships with those both in the heavenly realm and the mortal, and amazing action scenes and political scheming. The stakes felt higher with the reveal of what happens after the mission is fulfilled. It gave the story some extra punch and really tested the relationships that they all made across this epic journey.
I once again found myself fascinated by the folklore and mythological elements of the story, as well as the deep relationships built throughout Sai'er's mission. The fight scenes were definitely the highlight for me, with each one showing off Poon's writing skills as each scene came alive for me as I read. You can truly see that this is as much as work of art as it is a tribute to the genre.
I will say that this series isn't for everyone. There definitely has to be an understanding for East Asian storytelling, as it differs greatly from what we're generally used to and comfortable with in Western media. I loved how the world came to life, but if you do decide to pick this up, I would recommend gaining a better understanding of wuxia and xianxia stories and their story structure so this isn't such a huge adjustment.
All in all, this epic finale had me on the edge of my seat until the very end and I applaud Poon for taking on such a huge story!
TW: nudity, violence, death, torture, injury detail, murder, kidnapping, manipulation
eARC and finished copy gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Poon really found her stride in this sequel. The plot is tight, the character development is focused and deeper, and the writing flows well. The faster pace helped to push the plot, and the world building was immaculate. I found myself hooked from the first page and I definitely think this is the shining star of the duology.
It really felt like The Heavenly Sword finished at the 50% point of the story, and The Earthly Blaze propels us through to the end. This book is full of history-rich world building, further development of our Immortals and their relationships with those both in the heavenly realm and the mortal, and amazing action scenes and political scheming. The stakes felt higher with the reveal of what happens after the mission is fulfilled. It gave the story some extra punch and really tested the relationships that they all made across this epic journey.
I once again found myself fascinated by the folklore and mythological elements of the story, as well as the deep relationships built throughout Sai'er's mission. The fight scenes were definitely the highlight for me, with each one showing off Poon's writing skills as each scene came alive for me as I read. You can truly see that this is as much as work of art as it is a tribute to the genre.
I will say that this series isn't for everyone. There definitely has to be an understanding for East Asian storytelling, as it differs greatly from what we're generally used to and comfortable with in Western media. I loved how the world came to life, but if you do decide to pick this up, I would recommend gaining a better understanding of wuxia and xianxia stories and their story structure so this isn't such a huge adjustment.
All in all, this epic finale had me on the edge of my seat until the very end and I applaud Poon for taking on such a huge story!
TW: nudity, violence, death, torture, injury detail, murder, kidnapping, manipulation
eARC and finished copy gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
The Heavenly Sword by Alice Poon
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-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? No
2.0
I'm conflicted with this one.
I loved that this is a female led wuxia/xianxia genre-bending story. Sai'er is an amazing lead who, while naive at times, is an absolute baddie. She learns to fight, excels in it, trains hard, is immortal spirit Chang'e in mortal form, and becomes the leader of a strong, tight knit rebellion. Everything about her checks lists for me and her story is so interesting. Based off a real rebellion leader, I found her character amazing, as a whole.
The world-building was also a huge win for me. Poon's writing is immersive and I could see the world come alive in my mind as I read, especially the fight scenes. The training sequences and fight scenes really set the stage for future battles, and I enjoyed joining Sai'er, Binhong and Yinho on that journey.
Where this book lost me at times was the virgin magic (an absolute no for me) and Sai'er's inexplicable attraction to a known tyrant and rapist (also, ick). Due to the virgin magic, there are attempts to make her not one (ahem), and I did not enjoy those sequences. With regards to the evil Sky Wolf, the main adversary and the man Sai'er is drawn to, she's transported fairly early on in the story to an old memory from her life as Chang'e. In that vision, Sky Wolf sexually assaults her, and she's walks away from that vision still drawn to him and trying to better understand his psyche. I wish her disillusionment happened earlier, as that was a big nope for me.
This book had strong writing and fantastic world building, but some of the cons really conflicted with the pros. I'm curious to read book 2, as the end of this book cuts right at the 50% mark of the plot, but this one was a miss for me.
TW: violence, injury detail, sexual assault, suicide attempt, vomit, rape, torture, war, death, kidnapping, death of an animal (not dog, hunting); mentions cannibalism
eARC gifted by Alice Poon, the author, in exchange for an honest review.
I loved that this is a female led wuxia/xianxia genre-bending story. Sai'er is an amazing lead who, while naive at times, is an absolute baddie. She learns to fight, excels in it, trains hard, is immortal spirit Chang'e in mortal form, and becomes the leader of a strong, tight knit rebellion. Everything about her checks lists for me and her story is so interesting. Based off a real rebellion leader, I found her character amazing, as a whole.
The world-building was also a huge win for me. Poon's writing is immersive and I could see the world come alive in my mind as I read, especially the fight scenes. The training sequences and fight scenes really set the stage for future battles, and I enjoyed joining Sai'er, Binhong and Yinho on that journey.
Where this book lost me at times was the virgin magic (an absolute no for me) and Sai'er's inexplicable attraction to a known tyrant and rapist (also, ick). Due to the virgin magic, there are attempts to make her not one (ahem), and I did not enjoy those sequences. With regards to the evil Sky Wolf, the main adversary and the man Sai'er is drawn to, she's transported fairly early on in the story to an old memory from her life as Chang'e. In that vision, Sky Wolf sexually assaults her, and she's walks away from that vision still drawn to him and trying to better understand his psyche. I wish her disillusionment happened earlier, as that was a big nope for me.
This book had strong writing and fantastic world building, but some of the cons really conflicted with the pros. I'm curious to read book 2, as the end of this book cuts right at the 50% mark of the plot, but this one was a miss for me.
TW: violence, injury detail, sexual assault, suicide attempt, vomit, rape, torture, war, death, kidnapping, death of an animal (not dog, hunting); mentions cannibalism
eARC gifted by Alice Poon, the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Kidnapping, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and War
Minor: Cannibalism
How You Get The Girl by Anita Kelly
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
This is my first Anita Kelly book and it was okay. I want to say it was amazing, but unfortunately it just didn't click right with me, which is hugely disappointing since it had everything I basically like (outside of the main trope, which didn't click as the main trope until I was in it).
Immediately, I got hooked on the writing. The story started off strong but their brains being abuzz over one another immediately turned me off. I appreciated both of their respect for one another - green flag characters all around - but the fangirly-ness of it all was not for me (the whole love arc takes place across 2 months only).
Then there was the practice dating. I'm not usually a practice dating kind of person, the trope is very hit or miss for me, and this time around it was a miss. The priorities felt off and some of it felt way too fast, but again that might be a me problem.
I did like the mental health discussion, the chats about feeling behind because of a lack of dating (and possibly being aro/ace/demi), and the feeling of being mildly directionless, but for some reason it just didn't gel with me like these discussions usually would (cause hi, directionless, mentally ill demi here). I did love the reassurance that no label is really needed though, that was very gratifying. Also, the MC's relationships were also really well developed (though maybe the large cast was part of why I didn't love it??). Both MCs have full lives - family who they love and interact with, friends who pop in and help them through problems - and I loved that they had that, but it was a lot of take in. Maybe if I'd read the first two books I would have had a better handle on all the secondary characters.
Like I said, the writing was good, but something just didn't click for me and I'm as disappointed by that as you probably are. Might give their other books a try one day, but this was just okay for me.
Rep: sapphic, MC with depression and chronic migraines, MC questioning
TW: sexual content; mentions drug abuse, addiction, parental neglect
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 3/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
Immediately, I got hooked on the writing. The story started off strong but their brains being abuzz over one another immediately turned me off. I appreciated both of their respect for one another - green flag characters all around - but the fangirly-ness of it all was not for me (the whole love arc takes place across 2 months only).
Then there was the practice dating. I'm not usually a practice dating kind of person, the trope is very hit or miss for me, and this time around it was a miss. The priorities felt off and some of it felt way too fast, but again that might be a me problem.
I did like the mental health discussion, the chats about feeling behind because of a lack of dating (and possibly being aro/ace/demi), and the feeling of being mildly directionless, but for some reason it just didn't gel with me like these discussions usually would (cause hi, directionless, mentally ill demi here). I did love the reassurance that no label is really needed though, that was very gratifying. Also, the MC's relationships were also really well developed (though maybe the large cast was part of why I didn't love it??). Both MCs have full lives - family who they love and interact with, friends who pop in and help them through problems - and I loved that they had that, but it was a lot of take in. Maybe if I'd read the first two books I would have had a better handle on all the secondary characters.
Like I said, the writing was good, but something just didn't click for me and I'm as disappointed by that as you probably are. Might give their other books a try one day, but this was just okay for me.
Rep: sapphic, MC with depression and chronic migraines, MC questioning
TW: sexual content; mentions drug abuse, addiction, parental neglect
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 3/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
As a long-time follower of Kelley Armstrong, I love how much of herself she put into this story. I also love how it had all the signature Kelley Armstrong features, like a green-flag (mostly) love interest, good humour, and all the romantic tension.
You'd never know that this is Kelley's first foray into adult romance. With the easy dialogue and the humour, it's classic Kelley, just without all the fantastical elements that usually surround her characters (though the author still wrote a zombie book, so that counts, right?). I flew through it quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story. The humour and commentary mix well, and I loved how everything played out.
This book reminds me a bit of Yellowface in its social commentary. A dash of "who's allowed to write a story," but also "how far would you go to be published?" Of course, this book is much lighter and taken from a Caucasian woman's POV, but I liked how it called into question the biases that still exist in publishing and reading. Definitely something that needs to be examined on all sides.
Let's talk about the characters, though, shall we? I feel like the relationships were the weakest points for me. I thought Chris fell too fast, the secondary characters (Daphne's bestie Nia and Chris's sister Gemma) felt very one tone and not developed at all (which was surprising for a Kelley book), and I felt more camaraderie with their very stressed publicist than any of their personal connections. I did end up loving Chris and Daphne together, and I appreciated how Gemma came through in the end, but I wanted a bit more depth from everyone involved and was very disappointed I didn't get it.
Also, for the spicy romance girlies, this book is mostly fade-to-black. Given some of her other books, I was surprised, but the tension is still there and I loved the two of them together (though the number of times they get interrupted is wild).
Like I said, it's a Kelley book, and I'm obviously going to love it, but I know that she has and will write stronger relationships and characters with so much more depth and I felt like that was the missing heart of this book. That being said, if you're looking for a fun rom-com, that is what you'll get. It's the knowledge of her backlist that kind of brought this one down for me.
TW: vomit, sexism, sexual content; mentions drug abuse
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
You'd never know that this is Kelley's first foray into adult romance. With the easy dialogue and the humour, it's classic Kelley, just without all the fantastical elements that usually surround her characters (though the author still wrote a zombie book, so that counts, right?). I flew through it quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story. The humour and commentary mix well, and I loved how everything played out.
This book reminds me a bit of Yellowface in its social commentary. A dash of "who's allowed to write a story," but also "how far would you go to be published?" Of course, this book is much lighter and taken from a Caucasian woman's POV, but I liked how it called into question the biases that still exist in publishing and reading. Definitely something that needs to be examined on all sides.
Let's talk about the characters, though, shall we? I feel like the relationships were the weakest points for me. I thought Chris fell too fast, the secondary characters (Daphne's bestie Nia and Chris's sister Gemma) felt very one tone and not developed at all (which was surprising for a Kelley book), and I felt more camaraderie with their very stressed publicist than any of their personal connections. I did end up loving Chris and Daphne together, and I appreciated how Gemma came through in the end, but I wanted a bit more depth from everyone involved and was very disappointed I didn't get it.
Also, for the spicy romance girlies, this book is mostly fade-to-black. Given some of her other books, I was surprised, but the tension is still there and I loved the two of them together (though the number of times they get interrupted is wild).
Like I said, it's a Kelley book, and I'm obviously going to love it, but I know that she has and will write stronger relationships and characters with so much more depth and I felt like that was the missing heart of this book. That being said, if you're looking for a fun rom-com, that is what you'll get. It's the knowledge of her backlist that kind of brought this one down for me.
TW: vomit, sexism, sexual content; mentions drug abuse
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse
Five Years and 2,000 Miles by Ivy Duncan
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
I flew through this book so fast. This was truly a coming of age read, with the main characters starting university and being away from home for the first time. This is definitely book for Alice Oseman fans.
Leo takes the more traditional route. He moves out of state for university to change up his life and goes through the usual roommate get-t0-know-yous, the experience of making new (and old) friends, and the feeling of falling in love, truly, for the first time. I really enjoyed his character as he found people to pull him out of his shell and allow him the space to be himself (very introverted, thoughtful, and loyal). I loved the little found family that he found himself in and his friends truly lived out the trend of extroverts adopting introverts.
Sloan, in contrast, is only moving an hour away from the neighbourhood he grew up in. In a year-long relationship, he moves in with his boyfriend and deals with all the growing pains that come with that. As he makes new friends and learns more about the man he moved in with, he learns the true meaning of unconditional love and support. I loved him so much, and I wanted to hug him so badly.
Colette, Justin, and Max, along with Leo and Sloan's respective family and friends, were so much fun and were fleshed out well. I loved seeing them explore university and all it has to offer them as the book progressed and we saw their growth as well.
As a whole, this book is entirely character driven and joining them through their freshman year was rewarding, emotional, and fun. I'm so sad that their story is over, but I am so looking forward to Ivy Duncan's books in the future!
Rep: MC is colourblind
TW: emotional abuse, drug use, alcohol consumption, violence, vomit; mentions sexual assault
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
eARC obtained via Reedsy Discovery in exchange for an honest review and remuneration.
Leo takes the more traditional route. He moves out of state for university to change up his life and goes through the usual roommate get-t0-know-yous, the experience of making new (and old) friends, and the feeling of falling in love, truly, for the first time. I really enjoyed his character as he found people to pull him out of his shell and allow him the space to be himself (very introverted, thoughtful, and loyal). I loved the little found family that he found himself in and his friends truly lived out the trend of extroverts adopting introverts.
Sloan, in contrast, is only moving an hour away from the neighbourhood he grew up in. In a year-long relationship, he moves in with his boyfriend and deals with all the growing pains that come with that. As he makes new friends and learns more about the man he moved in with, he learns the true meaning of unconditional love and support. I loved him so much, and I wanted to hug him so badly.
Colette, Justin, and Max, along with Leo and Sloan's respective family and friends, were so much fun and were fleshed out well. I loved seeing them explore university and all it has to offer them as the book progressed and we saw their growth as well.
As a whole, this book is entirely character driven and joining them through their freshman year was rewarding, emotional, and fun. I'm so sad that their story is over, but I am so looking forward to Ivy Duncan's books in the future!
Rep: MC is colourblind
TW: emotional abuse, drug use, alcohol consumption, violence, vomit; mentions sexual assault
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
eARC obtained via Reedsy Discovery in exchange for an honest review and remuneration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Vomit, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An absolutely riveting novella that is chalk full of symbolism and metaphor in a way that starts a dialogue around propaganda, power, and control over history and truth.
With each character representing different facets of humanity, this short story examines the greed that comes with power, and the lengths people go to in order to keep that power. It was interesting to hear about the author's sense of betweeness when it came to cultural truths, and to see how that translated into the story. I don't want to give a lot away, since it's such a short novella, but it's definitely worth the read.
Told in a fable-like/SFF manner, this is an easy read and something that I definitely think would make a great case study for an English class to examine.
TW: mutilation, death, injury detail, violence, propaganda, oppression
With each character representing different facets of humanity, this short story examines the greed that comes with power, and the lengths people go to in order to keep that power. It was interesting to hear about the author's sense of betweeness when it came to cultural truths, and to see how that translated into the story. I don't want to give a lot away, since it's such a short novella, but it's definitely worth the read.
Told in a fable-like/SFF manner, this is an easy read and something that I definitely think would make a great case study for an English class to examine.
TW: mutilation, death, injury detail, violence, propaganda, oppression
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Empire of Gods and Beasts by Joyce Chua
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
It's always bittersweet when a series comes to an end. Empire of Gods and Beasts had a grand but also sentimental finale that was absolutely perfect for this story and its characters.
As a whole, I really loved this series. The sweeping desert landscape, the political tension between our characters and the Oasis Kingdom, the oppression and scapegoating against the Ling (particularly the shouren), the four POVs of our favourite characters (Desert Rose, Wei, Windshadow, and Meng), all come together and clash within this epic finale.
Joyce Chua proves herself a storytelling master. Every book weaves in the events of the previous instalments to show the impact of previous events, as well as remind readers in an organic way of the the things that have already come to pass. It really helped to flesh the characters out further and remind us of their motivations and intentions. This also helped to continue to shape the world and its lore and history. As a whole, I found the story so easy to digest and I was so invested in their journey as the events laid out in the prophecy came to a head.
I will say that some parts felt too easy, though I also think that was also a result of our characters meshing better and them teaming up to actually fight their battles together. There was also one part where it felt like an MC was drinking some cultish koolaid, but I liked how that was spun as a fatal flaw issue. Windshadow and Meng surprised me the most, I think, though I think I would've like to be privy to more of the work they did in the background. We get to see Meng's sharp mind and Windshadow's surprising loyalty more in book 2, and I kind of wanted a bit more of that in this instalment. All that to say that I was wholly invested in the trajectory of their character arc and I really loved them and wanted more!
After all that scheming, all those various rotations through the palace dungeons, all the angst and fighting and loss, the end felt so earned and wonderful, and I loved that this story closed the way it did. I was so excited to hear Joyce Chua mention that there are spin-offs in the work that take place in the same universe, and I'm already excited to return to this world in the future.
TW: injury detail, fire injury/death, death, murder, war, violence; mentions torture, death of a parent, death of a sibling, grief
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
eARC gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
As a whole, I really loved this series. The sweeping desert landscape, the political tension between our characters and the Oasis Kingdom, the oppression and scapegoating against the Ling (particularly the shouren), the four POVs of our favourite characters (Desert Rose, Wei, Windshadow, and Meng), all come together and clash within this epic finale.
Joyce Chua proves herself a storytelling master. Every book weaves in the events of the previous instalments to show the impact of previous events, as well as remind readers in an organic way of the the things that have already come to pass. It really helped to flesh the characters out further and remind us of their motivations and intentions. This also helped to continue to shape the world and its lore and history. As a whole, I found the story so easy to digest and I was so invested in their journey as the events laid out in the prophecy came to a head.
I will say that some parts felt too easy, though I also think that was also a result of our characters meshing better and them teaming up to actually fight their battles together. There was also one part where it felt like an MC was drinking some cultish koolaid, but I liked how that was spun as a fatal flaw issue. Windshadow and Meng surprised me the most, I think, though I think I would've like to be privy to more of the work they did in the background. We get to see Meng's sharp mind and Windshadow's surprising loyalty more in book 2, and I kind of wanted a bit more of that in this instalment. All that to say that I was wholly invested in the trajectory of their character arc and I really loved them and wanted more!
After all that scheming, all those various rotations through the palace dungeons, all the angst and fighting and loss, the end felt so earned and wonderful, and I loved that this story closed the way it did. I was so excited to hear Joyce Chua mention that there are spin-offs in the work that take place in the same universe, and I'm already excited to return to this world in the future.
TW: injury detail, fire injury/death, death, murder, war, violence; mentions torture, death of a parent, death of a sibling, grief
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
eARC gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder, War, and Violence
Minor: Grief, Torture, and Death of parent
Kingdom of Blood and Gold by Joyce Chua
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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
Fast-paced and full of action and intrigue, I really enjoyed Kingdom of Blood and Gold.
While book 1 was more setup and getting to know the characters, book 2 jumped straight into the action. I love how the world is fleshed out more and the relationships deepen between our four MCs (yup, four! Windshadow gets her own POV in this one!).
Though much of it takes place away from court, this installment seemed to have more intrigue - more backstabbing, questions of loyalty and friendship, and surprises. I loved the little twists and how they built up each character, even giving time to secondary characters to shine.
I adored Wei so much more in this one and his friendship (and more???) with Desert Rose. I also liked seeing Meng at work in this one. He gave us some surprises, despite his "destiny" falling apart before our eyes. And Windshadow, I loved getting to know her more through this one. Her POV really showed off her quick mind and her sentimentality, despite her denial around caring for anyone else but herself.
Desert Rose is an absolute baddie, and she's a force to reckon with throughout this book. Seeing her powers grow and develop has been a treat and I love how the magic is described and built into the world. Her character plus the lore make this story so fascinating.
Again, I love how much Joyce Chua is able to cover in such a short time. With less than 300 pages, this book builds on the world, the characters, the politics, and the magic so well, giving us a rich follow up that both pays out what was set up in book 1 while also setting us up for book 3. I'm so excited for the finale, but I also know I'm woefully unprepared for the pain, because we all know that at least one of our beloved MCs has to go.
TW: death of a parent, blood, injury detail, violence, fire injury/death, murder, death, war; mentions torture
While book 1 was more setup and getting to know the characters, book 2 jumped straight into the action. I love how the world is fleshed out more and the relationships deepen between our four MCs (yup, four! Windshadow gets her own POV in this one!).
Though much of it takes place away from court, this installment seemed to have more intrigue - more backstabbing, questions of loyalty and friendship, and surprises. I loved the little twists and how they built up each character, even giving time to secondary characters to shine.
I adored Wei so much more in this one and his friendship (and more???) with Desert Rose. I also liked seeing Meng at work in this one. He gave us some surprises, despite his "destiny" falling apart before our eyes. And Windshadow, I loved getting to know her more through this one. Her POV really showed off her quick mind and her sentimentality, despite her denial around caring for anyone else but herself.
Desert Rose is an absolute baddie, and she's a force to reckon with throughout this book. Seeing her powers grow and develop has been a treat and I love how the magic is described and built into the world. Her character plus the lore make this story so fascinating.
Again, I love how much Joyce Chua is able to cover in such a short time. With less than 300 pages, this book builds on the world, the characters, the politics, and the magic so well, giving us a rich follow up that both pays out what was set up in book 1 while also setting us up for book 3. I'm so excited for the finale, but I also know I'm woefully unprepared for the pain, because we all know that at least one of our beloved MCs has to go.
TW: death of a parent, blood, injury detail, violence, fire injury/death, murder, death, war; mentions torture
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War, Violence, Death, and Murder
Minor: Torture
Land of Sand and Song by Joyce Chua
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.0
There's something to be said for lush, fantastical books being short and easy reads. Land of Sand and Song is an epic fantasy set in its own unique world, with its own politics and magic and class systems. The fact that Joyce Chua not only makes this world feel real, but in a way that feels simple, rather than overly complex and heavy-handed, accompanied by strong character arcs and story development, is a testament to her skill as a writer.
Right away, I was pulled into the story, invested in Desert Rose as she loses everything she's ever known due to a rebellion within her tribe. Her arc was fantastic as she meets new characters, faces trials, and learns about herself as the story progresses. I found her an interesting MC and one I could easy root for.
The other two POVs in this book are Wei's and Meng's. Wei is the Third Prince and rogue brother, while Meng is the Fourth Prince who recently became the favourite for the throne. Both have their own agendas and I loved seeing the layers peeled back slowly to reveal their true intentions and hearts. It provided a bit of mystery and assisted in the world building in a way that felt super organic and well delivered. I'm curious to see how their stories will play out alongside Desert Rose's as the series continues, as we leave them both as the start of something new at the end of this instalment.
All in all, I really liked how compact but fully realized this first instalment was. I'm very excited to see how this all plays out, as we've set up some interesting events for the characters to sink their teeth into.
TW: death of a parent, death of a sibling, death, violence, injury detail, war, imprisonment, fire injury/death
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
eBook gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Right away, I was pulled into the story, invested in Desert Rose as she loses everything she's ever known due to a rebellion within her tribe. Her arc was fantastic as she meets new characters, faces trials, and learns about herself as the story progresses. I found her an interesting MC and one I could easy root for.
The other two POVs in this book are Wei's and Meng's. Wei is the Third Prince and rogue brother, while Meng is the Fourth Prince who recently became the favourite for the throne. Both have their own agendas and I loved seeing the layers peeled back slowly to reveal their true intentions and hearts. It provided a bit of mystery and assisted in the world building in a way that felt super organic and well delivered. I'm curious to see how their stories will play out alongside Desert Rose's as the series continues, as we leave them both as the start of something new at the end of this instalment.
All in all, I really liked how compact but fully realized this first instalment was. I'm very excited to see how this all plays out, as we've set up some interesting events for the characters to sink their teeth into.
TW: death of a parent, death of a sibling, death, violence, injury detail, war, imprisonment, fire injury/death
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
eBook gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Blood and Grief