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dhiyanah's reviews
499 reviews
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 4 by Kanehito Yamada
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
This one was a very warm and cozy volume within the series, focusing more on the relational dynamics and growths of the characters.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 3 by Kanehito Yamada
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence
Gaza Writes Back by Refaat Alareer
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Reading these stories in Dec 2024, alongside a real-time genocide, it did not feel like I was reading fiction. I had to remind myself that they were meant to be short stories, but, real or imagined, there was so little hope in them.
It's in the title, Gaza Writes Back. These are mourning letters, requesting empathy, addressed to the West. This is resistance acting against the erasure of reality, of the terrors lived daily for a people under constant siege and surveillance for a hungry war machine that will never rest. Most importantly, this collection is a chance for the voices of Refaat Alareer and his students to keep living, even here, in this world that has failed them.
It's in the title, Gaza Writes Back. These are mourning letters, requesting empathy, addressed to the West. This is resistance acting against the erasure of reality, of the terrors lived daily for a people under constant siege and surveillance for a hungry war machine that will never rest. Most importantly, this collection is a chance for the voices of Refaat Alareer and his students to keep living, even here, in this world that has failed them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence
Wolf's Path by Joyce Chng
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
'Wolf's Path' is an intricately exciting collection of speculative stories, poetry, and personal essays that flow together with an undercurrent of warmth and thoughtfulness.
I’ve been reading Joyce Chng’s stories for years now, so I knew that this collection was going to be an engaging, deeply human, and a thoroughly badass read. I was not disappointed! Joyce wonderfully creates stories that expand and question perspectives, with characters that can be as sharp as claws and soft as paw pads. They have a way of embedding the fury of injustices within plotlines so that something kinder can grow in their characters. Each story leaves us with catalysts for reflection, growth, and hope.
My favorites were The Sound of Breaking Glass, The Lessons of the Moon, I Found Love in an Urn Full of Ashes, and Saints and Bodhisattvas.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy memorable, speculative stories that are robustly imaginative and edged with a quiet (sometimes feisty!) intensity.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Atthis Arts, for the eARC.
I’ve been reading Joyce Chng’s stories for years now, so I knew that this collection was going to be an engaging, deeply human, and a thoroughly badass read. I was not disappointed! Joyce wonderfully creates stories that expand and question perspectives, with characters that can be as sharp as claws and soft as paw pads. They have a way of embedding the fury of injustices within plotlines so that something kinder can grow in their characters. Each story leaves us with catalysts for reflection, growth, and hope.
My favorites were The Sound of Breaking Glass, The Lessons of the Moon, I Found Love in an Urn Full of Ashes, and Saints and Bodhisattvas.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy memorable, speculative stories that are robustly imaginative and edged with a quiet (sometimes feisty!) intensity.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Atthis Arts, for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 1 by Kanehito Yamada
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
A thoughtful fantasy adventure with an engaging set of characters. Watched the anime (season 1) twice before starting the manga series. Looking forward to catching up with the rest of the adventure!
A note for the series: it starts off really cozy, moreso in the manga, but does involve some violence and gore later on, so head's up.
I really enjoy how the characters seem to be coded neurodivergent - I find some parts relatable and soothingly amusing.
A note for the series: it starts off really cozy, moreso in the manga, but does involve some violence and gore later on, so head's up.
I really enjoy how the characters seem to be coded neurodivergent - I find some parts relatable and soothingly amusing.
Songs for the Shadows by Cheryl S. Ntumy
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Songs for the Shadows by Cheryl S. Ntumy is a very quick, very deep dive through grief. This novella is part of the Sauútiverse collection, a collaborative worldbuilding and storytelling universe centering African and African diaspora writers. While I hope to check out more Sauútiverse stories, Songs for the Shadows reads as a beautifully confrontational, quietly immersive stand-alone.
This story gathers our attention around Shad-Dari, captain of an excavation ship for a company that greedily collects and archives sounds. Shad-Dari is an anti-hero, reflective of a shadow-self that many would rather cut off than connect with, who submerges herself in work and addictive behavior that seemingly promise her escape from the traumatic memories she cannot face. Like many workers under capitalism, she is emotionally avoidant and manipulative by default. And we see, through the telling of this story, how aware she’s been this entire time of her self-destructive tendencies. As a living ghost, subconsciously proclaimed through the name she chose, she takes it some steps further.
She makes us believe she’s doing all this on purpose. She believes she’s doing all this on purpose, a walking wound that has been eaten alive by tremendous events beyond her control. Just wanting escape, relief in whatever form, needing to run “up, up, up” before her grief - her truth - catches up to her. Eventually, Shad-Dari’s actions compound into another tremendous event that she has no say in, and she finds herself flung towards the very thing she spends her life avoiding.
This is a poetically transformative story with wonderful worldbuilding and a science-magic system that will feel familiar to many Global South cultural and spiritual lineages. This part was my favorite, though I wondered if having a glossary would’ve helped readers connect the main plot line to the settings better. Since it is a quick and intense read, we don’t have the time of a novel or an epic to acclimatize to the diverse and specific ways names and words are used here. Yet, there is enough to get a clear linearity and perhaps the disorientation was on purpose. It’s still a story that will stay with you, especially if it pulls you in.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy anti-hero main characters, immersive worldbuilding, and explorations on grief.
This might not be an easy read for those going through overwhelming pains from grief, loss of family, suicidal ideation, or severe depression. Spoiler:Shad-Dari ends up alone when she faces her grief, and it is a painful, emotionally distressing journey. While she grows from it and even ends up saving a life, she dies isolated. This can be very triggering for those who’ve been forcefully isolated or incarcerated away from culture, community, and society due to trauma, addiction, or mental illnesses. The story does end on a poignant, spiritually hopeful note, and I can see how, when read at the right time (maybe when emotionally prepared for it), it can provide an empowering reflection.
This story gathers our attention around Shad-Dari, captain of an excavation ship for a company that greedily collects and archives sounds. Shad-Dari is an anti-hero, reflective of a shadow-self that many would rather cut off than connect with, who submerges herself in work and addictive behavior that seemingly promise her escape from the traumatic memories she cannot face. Like many workers under capitalism, she is emotionally avoidant and manipulative by default. And we see, through the telling of this story, how aware she’s been this entire time of her self-destructive tendencies. As a living ghost, subconsciously proclaimed through the name she chose, she takes it some steps further.
She makes us believe she’s doing all this on purpose. She believes she’s doing all this on purpose, a walking wound that has been eaten alive by tremendous events beyond her control. Just wanting escape, relief in whatever form, needing to run “up, up, up” before her grief - her truth - catches up to her. Eventually, Shad-Dari’s actions compound into another tremendous event that she has no say in, and she finds herself flung towards the very thing she spends her life avoiding.
This is a poetically transformative story with wonderful worldbuilding and a science-magic system that will feel familiar to many Global South cultural and spiritual lineages. This part was my favorite, though I wondered if having a glossary would’ve helped readers connect the main plot line to the settings better. Since it is a quick and intense read, we don’t have the time of a novel or an epic to acclimatize to the diverse and specific ways names and words are used here. Yet, there is enough to get a clear linearity and perhaps the disorientation was on purpose. It’s still a story that will stay with you, especially if it pulls you in.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy anti-hero main characters, immersive worldbuilding, and explorations on grief.
This might not be an easy read for those going through overwhelming pains from grief, loss of family, suicidal ideation, or severe depression. Spoiler:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Self harm, Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Toxic relationship
Additional CW: Isolation
From the River to the Sea: Essays for a Free Palestine by Sai Englert, Rosie Warren, Michal Schatz
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
4.5
A crucial read, especially for readers still getting their information about the on-going genocide from Western/mainstream media.
Some of the political texts felt too dense for me to get through, but then again, I don't need convincing to be against genocides and colonial projects.
Hopefully more people will pick this up and circulate it, it's free on Verso books.
Some of the political texts felt too dense for me to get through, but then again, I don't need convincing to be against genocides and colonial projects.
Hopefully more people will pick this up and circulate it, it's free on Verso books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Colonisation
Fire Heart by Joyce Ch'ng
The world of ‘Fire Heart’ is one that is aware of its own faults and fissures. There are border people being severely marginalized and blood families that deal in violence, but the socially acceptable thing to do is to look away from this conflict. Wehia, forged by her own fire, decides this isn’t enough. Her drive towards truth is what opens the story up for the sequel, a tension ringing in the air like a secret song. I’m looking forward to seeing how this story is concluded!
From the art of following one’s dreams to the courage of staying true to the heart’s callings, there’s something in ‘Fire Heart’ for a wide range of young and adult readers.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
‘Fire Heart’ is a young adult novel following the coming-of-age story of Wehia, a feisty and lovable main character with big dreams and an even bigger drive for truth. It’s a story that’s relatable to anyone who has committed time and energy to learning and mastering a craft, a practice, an artistry. The patience and care - of both craft and community - that this requires are at the forefront of the emotional pulse that carries this journey forward. This, I feel, many can relate to.
Wehia is impatient but focused. In a world of compartmentalized hierarchy, she strives for greatness in her chosen role, her passion - to make beautiful swords as part of a great swordsmaking holding. She joins the t’Tolani holding, with whom she shares matrilineal ancestry with. She faces the head of the t’Tolani clan, Hadana, who guides Wehia with arduous tasks and a firm gentleness that ensures Wehia can meet her lifelong dreams face-to-face. The scenes between mentor and pupil were achingly honest and affirming. I’m once again reminded (with mourning) how crossing paths with the right teacher at the right time can make or break one’s path towards success.
Hadana is by no means the perfect teacher for Wehia, but she is patient with the girl and insists on forging her with the care and precision akin to the swordmaking mastery that's gorgeously interwoven throughout this novel (it’s like literary ASMR!). Through this, a mutual understanding takes root between the characters. The scene where Hadana apologizes to Wehia for a mistake she made was one of my favorites, as it beautifully displays the trust being cultivated between the characters.
My other favorite scenes were of the sweet, wholesome romance budding between Wehia and Geri. Geri is gentle and contemplative where Wehia is stubborn and impulsive, and we see how this complements and challenges their dynamic as they navigate their commitment towards each other and their chosen livelihoods.
Wehia is impatient but focused. In a world of compartmentalized hierarchy, she strives for greatness in her chosen role, her passion - to make beautiful swords as part of a great swordsmaking holding. She joins the t’Tolani holding, with whom she shares matrilineal ancestry with. She faces the head of the t’Tolani clan, Hadana, who guides Wehia with arduous tasks and a firm gentleness that ensures Wehia can meet her lifelong dreams face-to-face. The scenes between mentor and pupil were achingly honest and affirming. I’m once again reminded (with mourning) how crossing paths with the right teacher at the right time can make or break one’s path towards success.
Hadana is by no means the perfect teacher for Wehia, but she is patient with the girl and insists on forging her with the care and precision akin to the swordmaking mastery that's gorgeously interwoven throughout this novel (it’s like literary ASMR!). Through this, a mutual understanding takes root between the characters. The scene where Hadana apologizes to Wehia for a mistake she made was one of my favorites, as it beautifully displays the trust being cultivated between the characters.
My other favorite scenes were of the sweet, wholesome romance budding between Wehia and Geri. Geri is gentle and contemplative where Wehia is stubborn and impulsive, and we see how this complements and challenges their dynamic as they navigate their commitment towards each other and their chosen livelihoods.
"If you do not master your own heart, how do you protect the blade's heart?"
The world of ‘Fire Heart’ is one that is aware of its own faults and fissures. There are border people being severely marginalized and blood families that deal in violence, but the socially acceptable thing to do is to look away from this conflict. Wehia, forged by her own fire, decides this isn’t enough. Her drive towards truth is what opens the story up for the sequel, a tension ringing in the air like a secret song. I’m looking forward to seeing how this story is concluded!
From the art of following one’s dreams to the courage of staying true to the heart’s callings, there’s something in ‘Fire Heart’ for a wide range of young and adult readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence
We Were Seeds: an anthology benefitting Palestine by Chloe Maria Winstanley
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
‘We Were Seeds’ is a collection of poetry and art protesting the genocide of the Palestinians and the horrors faced daily by Gazans in the times we’re living in. This book is a gathering of voices - of poets, artists, and human beings - determined to keep humanity alive, despite so much lived experience of collective failure. Most importantly, proceeds from this book go to supporting Gazans, a people who ceaselessly strive for life. At the time of this review, two of this collection’s Palestinian contributors are displaced and links to provide mutual aid can be found on Querencia Press’ website.
“Poetry soars above silence, poetry shatters ignorance, poetry flies into the space that is hope and light.” - from the Afterword
What I found most powerful about this collection is the gathering of poets and artists from various parts of the world. Historically, it has taken fervent, disciplined global solidarity and action for us to stand a chance at halting atrocities we know should have never happened in the first place. Capitalistic and colonial greed expect us to look away, to forget, and in doing so, they allow violent cycles to repeat themselves. It is us, civilians and especially the more marganalized of us, who pay the highest price.
Here are people who are sharpening their voices against harm, who believe something else is possible, who are fighting in their own ways, for violent cycles to break. In not looking away from difficult realities, hope and light get their chance at survival. The bridging of voices in solidarity with Palestine here turns into direct action with proceeds going to fundraisers. Here is life, resisting against erasure.
The poetry and art in this collection are fierce, soft, powerful, devastating, and serve to keep our most vulnerable memories alive within wider collectives. They don’t offer catharsis - after all, the catastrophes have yet to ease up - but they do offer space for empathy, grief, and rage to be felt, seen, heard, and gathered. A crucial read for those who believe in the better, braver aspects of humanity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for making this eARC available for reviewing.
“Poetry soars above silence, poetry shatters ignorance, poetry flies into the space that is hope and light.” - from the Afterword
What I found most powerful about this collection is the gathering of poets and artists from various parts of the world. Historically, it has taken fervent, disciplined global solidarity and action for us to stand a chance at halting atrocities we know should have never happened in the first place. Capitalistic and colonial greed expect us to look away, to forget, and in doing so, they allow violent cycles to repeat themselves. It is us, civilians and especially the more marganalized of us, who pay the highest price.
Here are people who are sharpening their voices against harm, who believe something else is possible, who are fighting in their own ways, for violent cycles to break. In not looking away from difficult realities, hope and light get their chance at survival. The bridging of voices in solidarity with Palestine here turns into direct action with proceeds going to fundraisers. Here is life, resisting against erasure.
The poetry and art in this collection are fierce, soft, powerful, devastating, and serve to keep our most vulnerable memories alive within wider collectives. They don’t offer catharsis - after all, the catastrophes have yet to ease up - but they do offer space for empathy, grief, and rage to be felt, seen, heard, and gathered. A crucial read for those who believe in the better, braver aspects of humanity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for making this eARC available for reviewing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Rape, Blood
Lunar Boy by Cin Wibowo, Jes Wibowo
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A kid-friendly graphic novel that's as charming as The Little Prince and as sweet as Steven Universe. Indu is a child of the Moon, who follows his adoptive mom to New Earth to discover his place within a wider community of humans. We see how on New Earth, he's immediately treated as different than everyone else - he's trans, a literal alien, and suddenly his only support system is too busy for him - this experience begins to shatter him.
It's through the efforts of those who want to relate to him, the people who reach out to find and understand him, that we see Indu opening up. He moves through his ordeals whole in himself and grounded in community. This was an achingly beautiful story, told through life-affirming art and dialogue, of not just self-acceptance but also of finding people who will accept you as you are, as you face life's changes. Chosen family.
While there were some pretty serious themes brought up around identity and isolation, I felt like the optimistic conclusions make this a safe read for kids (and adults struggling with unsafe memories).
I flippin' love the characters, Lastri and Aminah! Appreciated the clever visual cues and symbolisms that made this a soothing, thoughtful, feel-good read. Highly recommended.
It's through the efforts of those who want to relate to him, the people who reach out to find and understand him, that we see Indu opening up. He moves through his ordeals whole in himself and grounded in community. This was an achingly beautiful story, told through life-affirming art and dialogue, of not just self-acceptance but also of finding people who will accept you as you are, as you face life's changes. Chosen family.
While there were some pretty serious themes brought up around identity and isolation, I felt like the optimistic conclusions make this a safe read for kids (and adults struggling with unsafe memories).
I flippin' love the characters, Lastri and Aminah! Appreciated the clever visual cues and symbolisms that made this a soothing, thoughtful, feel-good read. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Transphobia, Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent