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citrus_seasalt's reviews
316 reviews
Two Dark Moons by Avi Silver
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
DNF at 37%. Hei was interesting, but not much else was. Sohmeng was an annoying protagonist (I don’t care to stick around for her growth, if there is any), there’s very little worldbuilding—you get more explanations on different places and terms in the 2-sentence glossary definitions than the story, and I just thought the story was bland. I was thinking of sticking it out(I never DNF books, no matter the quality), but when I realized I dreaded coming back to this book in-between my other reads, I called it quits so I wouldn’t waste any more time.
A shame, because I really enjoyed “Pluralities”, a book by the same author.
A shame, because I really enjoyed “Pluralities”, a book by the same author.
Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Enjoyable, and definitely some of the most realistic queer rep I’ve read in a middle grade(also, a book that has a gay character but doesn’t give them a love interest?! Kudos), but it still has some of the trademark “wobbly on its footing” execution of a debut novel. The magic elements were infrequent, which was a bit of a bummer with the cover, and Murray’s thoughts could be repetitive (which was worsened by the marine life metaphors throughout, imo).
Regarding the magic itself, though, I was interested by how Murray’s abilities seem to be more about a connection to the ocean rather than fully controlling it. (And how she sometimes talked to the ocean like a friend or sentient entity!) And the scenes of Murray trying to reconnect with her magic through her time with Dylan were cute. It showed their understanding of each other.
The book references were fun, especially to other queer MG! I read about as much as Murray, so I added the books she mentioned to my TBR if they weren’t on there already.
I thought the found family/community plotline was handled well: you as the reader could tell why Murray felt safety with these different people and places. While Murray and some of the characters are affected by queerphobia(her parents are conservative. That’s plot-important), there is a surprising amount of queer joy and (platonic/familial) love. I especially appreciated her friendships with Blake and Dylan. (Oh, the joy of being queer kids with somewhat similarly funky gender stuff and unintentionally helping each other express themselves bc of the simple understanding you have…) But I also liked Murray’s bond with Patrick, even if some circumstances meant that Patrick couldn’t always be there for her. I think it would’ve been fun to get to meet more characters, though! Especially in the roller rink.
Overall, this was sweet, albeit not perfect.
Regarding the magic itself, though, I was interested by how Murray’s abilities seem to be more about a connection to the ocean rather than fully controlling it. (And how she sometimes talked to the ocean like a friend or sentient entity!) And the scenes of Murray trying to reconnect with her magic through her time with Dylan were cute. It showed their understanding of each other.
The book references were fun, especially to other queer MG! I read about as much as Murray, so I added the books she mentioned to my TBR if they weren’t on there already.
I thought the found family/community plotline was handled well: you as the reader could tell why Murray felt safety with these different people and places. While Murray and some of the characters are affected by queerphobia(her parents are conservative. That’s plot-important), there is a surprising amount of queer joy and (platonic/familial) love. I especially appreciated her friendships with Blake and Dylan. (Oh, the joy of being queer kids with somewhat similarly funky gender stuff and unintentionally helping each other express themselves bc of the simple understanding you have…) But I also liked Murray’s bond with Patrick, even if some circumstances meant that Patrick couldn’t always be there for her. I think it would’ve been fun to get to meet more characters, though! Especially in the roller rink.
Overall, this was sweet, albeit not perfect.
Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta
2.0
Incoherent in ways that seemed sometimes deliberate, and other times because of overindulgence. The author seems to know her characters very well, which would normally be a compliment, but the rambles prevalent in the writing style seemed to insert her own analysis and thoughts more than once. (I have mixed feelings on the narrator character, if you can’t tell.)
I liked the middle/third quarter though, when I started to be able to settle into the different kinds of madness each character represented, and thought that Hattie’s near-invincibility, combined with her chilling collectedness, made her more of a horror movie monster rather than a Mary Sue. (But it is a little frustrating to not know the limits of her magic, especially by the end.)
The magic itself was gruesome in an artistic way…while I can’t get behind “Off With Their Heads”s specific kind of prose, I really enjoyed the body horror embedded in the fantasy—particularly with Icca’s decline, and, in general, Hattie’s abilities.
I appreciate some of the concepts it was going for: I liked the casual inclusion of Korean honorifics and even some cultural dress, the thrill of Caro and Icca’s back and forth(even if they got very predictable and the wording was repetitive—we know they want to love and kill and die alongside each other! Goddamnit!), and the built-up dread in the first quarter. (When there were actual stakes in the story… sigh.) But the retelling aspect felt just like aesthetics or set dressing, I either tolerated or hated the new interpretations of different characters (I never cared about Cheshire. He was annoying, and his quasi-love triangle thing with Icca lead to nothing), and if it weren’t for detailed notes I kept in my phone as I was reading, I would’ve never known a thing about what was happening. Icca’s trial (or rather, the idea of it), and the Saint Races were the two events in the story that left me the most confused. But the entire ending was a mess. I liked some of the imagery, but I feel like the “villain in someone else’s story” route taken in Icca’s POV(relating to the moral grayness I guess) didn’t suit what I’d read from her character.
There were a couple of nods to the original Alice In Wonderland that, although meant to be clever callbacks, made me put my book down or laugh. “Wonderland is like a looking glass”, the “eat me” callback, SHUT UP!!!
(And although Caro and Icca’s antics were fun to read about, I didn’t feel their chemistry. I started feeling detached from whatever kind of romantic or sexual tension they had. They’re also a main part of an overarching issue in this book, which is that the moral grayness—and evil—of the characters doesn’t feel complex, but overdone and even edgy.)
ummm additional star though because a.) there were a couple of quotes that were bangers (“glorious magic was seen in those days, but also glorious hubris”🔥🔥), b.) I think I analyzed this too much as I was reading because Caro and Icca, as a concept, became FASCINATING to me and I couldn’t stop thinking about this book until I read the ending and the little embers of faith I had were snuffed out like a candle… in my own words via Instagram DM’s, “get yourself a book so bad you hyperfixate on it”?!
I liked the middle/third quarter though, when I started to be able to settle into the different kinds of madness each character represented, and thought that Hattie’s near-invincibility, combined with her chilling collectedness, made her more of a horror movie monster rather than a Mary Sue. (But it is a little frustrating to not know the limits of her magic, especially by the end.)
The magic itself was gruesome in an artistic way…while I can’t get behind “Off With Their Heads”s specific kind of prose, I really enjoyed the body horror embedded in the fantasy—particularly with Icca’s decline, and, in general, Hattie’s abilities.
I appreciate some of the concepts it was going for: I liked the casual inclusion of Korean honorifics and even some cultural dress, the thrill of Caro and Icca’s back and forth(even if they got very predictable and the wording was repetitive—we know they want to love and kill and die alongside each other! Goddamnit!), and the built-up dread in the first quarter. (When there were actual stakes in the story… sigh.) But the retelling aspect felt just like aesthetics or set dressing, I either tolerated or hated the new interpretations of different characters (I never cared about Cheshire. He was annoying, and his quasi-love triangle thing with Icca lead to nothing), and if it weren’t for detailed notes I kept in my phone as I was reading, I would’ve never known a thing about what was happening. Icca’s trial (or rather, the idea of it), and the Saint Races were the two events in the story that left me the most confused. But the entire ending was a mess. I liked some of the imagery, but I feel like the “villain in someone else’s story” route taken in Icca’s POV(relating to the moral grayness I guess) didn’t suit what I’d read from her character.
There were a couple of nods to the original Alice In Wonderland that, although meant to be clever callbacks, made me put my book down or laugh. “Wonderland is like a looking glass”, the “eat me” callback, SHUT UP!!!
(And although Caro and Icca’s antics were fun to read about, I didn’t feel their chemistry. I started feeling detached from whatever kind of romantic or sexual tension they had. They’re also a main part of an overarching issue in this book, which is that the moral grayness—and evil—of the characters doesn’t feel complex, but overdone and even edgy.)
ummm additional star though because a.) there were a couple of quotes that were bangers (“glorious magic was seen in those days, but also glorious hubris”🔥🔥), b.) I think I analyzed this too much as I was reading because Caro and Icca, as a concept, became FASCINATING to me and I couldn’t stop thinking about this book until I read the ending and the little embers of faith I had were snuffed out like a candle… in my own words via Instagram DM’s, “get yourself a book so bad you hyperfixate on it”?!
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
4.0
Sharp, poetic in its prose, and with a mystery (and setting) reminiscent of classic noir, “Even Though I Knew The End” was a novella I burned through much quicker than I thought I would. (Usually, it takes me a week or two to read one!) Unfortunately, the short page count rushed some of the characterization and worldbuilding, but I enjoyed reading nonetheless. I especially appreciated the inclusion of secret queer bars, and how while they made room for beautiful relationships like Helen and Edith’s to bloom, they weren’t havens: ultimately (and unfortunately) they were the only place queer folks could actually exist as all of themselves. I think a couple of historical fiction books tend to glamourize that (perhaps unintentionally), but with the bits of commentary embedded in the asylum segment, there wasn’t room for that.
Besides that, though, I loved the atmosphere. Some of the imagery was incredible, but this also felt relatively grounded in its 1940’s setting. (Especially with its portrayal of women’s and queer issues.)
Perhaps it’s just going to take a while for the implications to truly set in, but I wasn’t as devastated by the ending as I expected to be based on the title and reviews. But I would still like to check out more of C.L. Polk’s stuff, this was great.
Besides that, though, I loved the atmosphere. Some of the imagery was incredible, but this also felt relatively grounded in its 1940’s setting. (Especially with its portrayal of women’s and queer issues.)
Perhaps it’s just going to take a while for the implications to truly set in, but I wasn’t as devastated by the ending as I expected to be based on the title and reviews. But I would still like to check out more of C.L. Polk’s stuff, this was great.
Moonflower by Kacen Callender
3.5
I started this book so ready to love it—the dreamy writing drew me in, the depression representation was authentic, and I’d loved the previous middle grade I’d read by Kacen Callendar. But unfortunately, the plot was thin, drenched in metaphor that sometimes worked but other times was redundant. None of the characters really felt fleshed out except for Moon, either. I can at least (kinda) excuse the Guardians and other spirits, because of the mystery surrounding these literally immortal beings, but even the human characters felt like props or plot elements. I would’ve liked to see more on Moon’s classmates, for example, especially since they became a central part of their recovery!!
(Also, while I know that people trying to get Moon to talk is supposed to show the issues with therapy that they encountered, why is it that not even the one person who helped Moon could come up with a way to have them talk through writing or even a communication device?? Maybe I was just quick to think of this because I’m sometimes nonverbal, but still.)
I predicted all the plot twists re: the magician and Blue’s story, but I still thought it was a highlight. The balance of depression and dreamlike fantasy was handled a little better in those vignettes, I liked getting to actually meet the magician later on (they were an interesting character! Would’ve liked to know more about them), and I thought the ways that it would question some mechanics of the human world were very creative. In general, though, I liked the fantasy elements when they toyed with a couple real-world concepts. The Spirit World itself was super intriguing and I liked the lore that tied it into Moon’s writing.
I also really appreciated the normalization of nonbinary identities! A lot of this cast is essentially “assume they’re genderless unless explicitly stated otherwise”, regardless of gender presentation. While I’m a little unsure how much of that can be attributed to Moon’s perspective on gender as a nonbinary child, I’d also never seen so many characters in a book that used they/them pronouns lol?? (Which is extremely surprising, considering how many queer books I’ve read. More of that, please.)
This was a little above okay, I liked some parts of it, but I still thought the story could use some improvement. A lot of the plot seems to be a way to vent out Kacen’s own philosophical beliefs, and I’m a little iffy on how Moon’s depression seemed to be (mostly) resolved.
(Also, while I know that people trying to get Moon to talk is supposed to show the issues with therapy that they encountered, why is it that not even the one person who helped Moon could come up with a way to have them talk through writing or even a communication device?? Maybe I was just quick to think of this because I’m sometimes nonverbal, but still.)
I predicted all the plot twists re: the magician and Blue’s story, but I still thought it was a highlight. The balance of depression and dreamlike fantasy was handled a little better in those vignettes, I liked getting to actually meet the magician later on (they were an interesting character! Would’ve liked to know more about them), and I thought the ways that it would question some mechanics of the human world were very creative. In general, though, I liked the fantasy elements when they toyed with a couple real-world concepts. The Spirit World itself was super intriguing and I liked the lore that tied it into Moon’s writing.
I also really appreciated the normalization of nonbinary identities! A lot of this cast is essentially “assume they’re genderless unless explicitly stated otherwise”, regardless of gender presentation. While I’m a little unsure how much of that can be attributed to Moon’s perspective on gender as a nonbinary child, I’d also never seen so many characters in a book that used they/them pronouns lol?? (Which is extremely surprising, considering how many queer books I’ve read. More of that, please.)
This was a little above okay, I liked some parts of it, but I still thought the story could use some improvement. A lot of the plot seems to be a way to vent out Kacen’s own philosophical beliefs, and I’m a little iffy on how Moon’s depression seemed to be (mostly) resolved.
Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
4.0
I was originally planning on giving this a 3.5, but this was so earnest that I upped my rating. (Especially because of the last few chapters. Those were beautiful.) I haven’t been familiar with how miscarriage affects the kids of a family, but Hazel gave me a lot of insight. The ways she would try to hide her stress or cope with it were heartbreaking but real for a kid around that age.
Becca got on my nerves, the fallout with her and Hazel was well-done but I think Hazel will have to realize later on in life that staying friends with her isn’t worth it. While I get that Becca didn’t want to be ostracized for her proximity to Hazel, and she worried about Hazel’s opinion for her liking “popular” things, I hated her excuses for being distant. Unfortunately, though, this kind of conflict is also pretty typical for kids just exiting middle school.
I enjoyed the other characters, though! Hazel’s mom and Mimi were great parents that still had their own stresses to deal with, I liked Rowan even if he worsened Hazel’s stress (tbh he was just dealing with the circumstances the best he could as a teen, and when Dinah was born, he was there for Hazel), and I liked Hazel’s friends, Yosh and Carina. (Carina especially!) A lot of the plot was emotional/interpersonal conflict, but Hazel’s school friends made the story a little more fun. (I also really enjoyed the Bernadette subplot.)
I hope a lot of kids enjoy this! There was a lot said about unconventional families(+ a little bit the pressure to have biological children), the sometimes awkward and sad transitional period between middle and high school, and even some baby ace rep with Hazel.
Becca got on my nerves, the fallout with her and Hazel was well-done but I think Hazel will have to realize later on in life that staying friends with her isn’t worth it. While I get that Becca didn’t want to be ostracized for her proximity to Hazel, and she worried about Hazel’s opinion for her liking “popular” things, I hated her excuses for being distant. Unfortunately, though, this kind of conflict is also pretty typical for kids just exiting middle school.
I enjoyed the other characters, though! Hazel’s mom and Mimi were great parents that still had their own stresses to deal with, I liked Rowan even if he worsened Hazel’s stress (tbh he was just dealing with the circumstances the best he could as a teen, and when Dinah was born, he was there for Hazel), and I liked Hazel’s friends, Yosh and Carina. (Carina especially!) A lot of the plot was emotional/interpersonal conflict, but Hazel’s school friends made the story a little more fun. (I also really enjoyed the Bernadette subplot.)
I hope a lot of kids enjoy this! There was a lot said about unconventional families(+ a little bit the pressure to have biological children), the sometimes awkward and sad transitional period between middle and high school, and even some baby ace rep with Hazel.
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
4.0
I can’t exactly say this was captivating from start to finish—the beginning was a bit slow, and the author’s writing style is sometimes dry—but I was speeding through the pages once I hit the 25% mark. The contemporary Malaysia setting was a great choice, not only was it a central part of the plot(both the interpersonal and external conflicts), but its culture and atmosphere was expertly woven in. I don’t know how much of that can be owed to Zen Cho’s lived experiences (she was born and raised in the country), and how much of it was owed to diligent research.
Goodness, sometimes being inside Jess’s head and life was claustrophobic as a reader, but it made her stress all the more believable. (Her banter with Ah Ma was entertaining, when I wasn’t seething or biting my nails on Jess’s behalf lol.) I was proud of her growth.
While using hauntings as a way to write about trauma isn’t a new storytelling device, the expectations thrust upon Jess as an immigrant (and showing a lot of that through her relationship with Ah Ma) made the narrative more personal. I also appreciate that in some parts, Zen Cho writes with room for subtext, rather than talking down to her readers.
Of course, there’s also the generations of feuding and drama that Jess has to figure out (much to her annoyance), and how that ties into gangsters and eventually gods, which was fun to read about. Ah Ma and even the Black Water Sister were badasses, when it came to some of the possession stuff. There was also a layer of mystery throughout that, while occasionally complicated to keep up with, kept adding onto the characters. As a result, the main cast themselves didn’t feel one-dimensional.
I’ll check out more of Zen Cho’s fantasy writing. This had been an anticipated read for a while, and I’m glad to have finally got around to it.
Goodness, sometimes being inside Jess’s head and life was claustrophobic as a reader, but it made her stress all the more believable. (Her banter with Ah Ma was entertaining, when I wasn’t seething or biting my nails on Jess’s behalf lol.) I was proud of her growth.
While using hauntings as a way to write about trauma isn’t a new storytelling device, the expectations thrust upon Jess as an immigrant (and showing a lot of that through her relationship with Ah Ma) made the narrative more personal. I also appreciate that in some parts, Zen Cho writes with room for subtext, rather than talking down to her readers.
Of course, there’s also the generations of feuding and drama that Jess has to figure out (much to her annoyance), and how that ties into gangsters and eventually gods, which was fun to read about. Ah Ma and even the Black Water Sister were badasses, when it came to some of the possession stuff. There was also a layer of mystery throughout that, while occasionally complicated to keep up with, kept adding onto the characters. As a result, the main cast themselves didn’t feel one-dimensional.
I’ll check out more of Zen Cho’s fantasy writing. This had been an anticipated read for a while, and I’m glad to have finally got around to it.
Content Warnings
Rape(attempted), Outing(..technically?), Homophobia, Racism, Violence
If You'll Have Me by Eunnie
5.0
this was so stinking cute and I loved the art!! Some of the miscommunication annoyed me but tbh it was understandable considering the kind of person Momo is (and how her previous crushes have treated her). Sometimes her and PG were awkward, but in a cute and authentic way, and the college setting was believable. I also loved the side characters and how they contributed to PG and Momo’s characterizations.
And it definitely helps that PG is a GORGEOUS love interest!! was teeheeing a couple of times
And it definitely helps that PG is a GORGEOUS love interest!! was teeheeing a couple of times