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dhrish's reviews
123 reviews
Lava Red Feather Blue by Molly Ringle
3.0
A fantasy-adventure for adults with just a touch of modern-day realism. "Lava Red Feather Blue" definitely reads like a modern-day Charmed.
While I do think the style of world-building takes a while to get used to, the actual story itself is quite interesting. Merrick and Larkin were an absolute delight to read and the story focus' mainly on their interactions with each other. It is also important to note how positive the lgbt+ experience is in this book and none of the queer characters has sexuality as the forefront of their struggles.
Eidolonia, the island which the book is set on, is also quite interesting as it melds modern-day technology with magic. There is also mention of how the island itself is a melting pot of cultures but apart from characters not being white, very little of it is explored in a meaningful way to mean much in terms of representation and visibility.
I think where this book fails, for me, was that the plot itself would have been wonderful as a middle-grade or even YA story. The characters read like aged-up versions of what would have been brilliant younger characters. While there are many moments that pushed this book into an adult space, I don't think the characters or stakes made it seem like that was the space this story wanted to be in.
All that being said, I am a huge fan of tv series that use magical-realism and if this gets adapted I'm going to be so hyped because this is the kind of story I think would be brilliant on-screen as a mini-series,
Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for giving me an e-arc to read in exchange for an honest review.
While I do think the style of world-building takes a while to get used to, the actual story itself is quite interesting. Merrick and Larkin were an absolute delight to read and the story focus' mainly on their interactions with each other. It is also important to note how positive the lgbt+ experience is in this book and none of the queer characters has sexuality as the forefront of their struggles.
Eidolonia, the island which the book is set on, is also quite interesting as it melds modern-day technology with magic. There is also mention of how the island itself is a melting pot of cultures but apart from characters not being white, very little of it is explored in a meaningful way to mean much in terms of representation and visibility.
I think where this book fails, for me, was that the plot itself would have been wonderful as a middle-grade or even YA story. The characters read like aged-up versions of what would have been brilliant younger characters. While there are many moments that pushed this book into an adult space, I don't think the characters or stakes made it seem like that was the space this story wanted to be in.
All that being said, I am a huge fan of tv series that use magical-realism and if this gets adapted I'm going to be so hyped because this is the kind of story I think would be brilliant on-screen as a mini-series,
Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for giving me an e-arc to read in exchange for an honest review.
Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takaoka
3.0
Strong 3.5 stars
If you like John Green's plots this novel might be for you.
"Everything I Thought I Knew" is definitely going to be one of those beloved YA books a year from now. Chloe is a likeable protagonist and her journey through first-love is unlike any other YA story I have read before. Her heart attack and subsequent heart transplant change her life in ways that she is both grateful for and hates completely.
The novel really lives up to the title and I can't say much more without spoiling the entire story.
The writing style is quite strong and easy to read. I would definitely classify it as a sad, summer read and look forward to hopefully watching this book become a YA classic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for allowing me to read a copy of this book for review. All opinions stated are my own.
If you like John Green's plots this novel might be for you.
"Everything I Thought I Knew" is definitely going to be one of those beloved YA books a year from now. Chloe is a likeable protagonist and her journey through first-love is unlike any other YA story I have read before. Her heart attack and subsequent heart transplant change her life in ways that she is both grateful for and hates completely.
The novel really lives up to the title and I can't say much more without spoiling the entire story.
The writing style is quite strong and easy to read. I would definitely classify it as a sad, summer read and look forward to hopefully watching this book become a YA classic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for allowing me to read a copy of this book for review. All opinions stated are my own.
The Other Women by Erin Zak
3.0
CW: Cheating, references to drug use and gambling addiction.
Cecily Yates and Francesca Lopez have recently found out that Willow has been with other women. The twist is neither of them knows it is each other. However, Cecily and Francesca seem to get along well enough to actually pursue a relationship with each other, even with the aftermath of Willow's cheating.
I'm going to be incredibly honest. Cheating tropes are my least favourite tropes, there is something inherently messy about them. However, what "Zak" does so incredibly well is she makes the reader focus on the aftermath of cheating and the kind of thoughts that run through a person's head when they found out the news that their partner has been cheating.
Cecily and Francesca really understand what it is like to be hurt in this manner and we see them open up to each other, although they are too afraid to use Willow's name. While there weren't a lot of soft-moments, I did enjoy the ones we were given like glimpses into both women's jobs and family lives. A lot of the characters were used in realistic and interesting ways however I didn't like that Willow was low-key villainized for actions other characters would have probably made when she was in the same situation as her.
I can't speak on the accuracy of the Mexican representation however I can speak on the fear of coming out to a relatively conservative family. While this fear did seem to be a prominent one, "The Other Women" doesn't really tackle it apart from stating that both women were fearful of rejection.
I would put "The Other Women" as slightly heavier than a summer read. While it is fun in some moments, most of the book has quite a serious tone to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc for allowing me to read a review copy of "The Other Women" all opinions stated are my own.
Cecily Yates and Francesca Lopez have recently found out that Willow has been with other women. The twist is neither of them knows it is each other. However, Cecily and Francesca seem to get along well enough to actually pursue a relationship with each other, even with the aftermath of Willow's cheating.
I'm going to be incredibly honest. Cheating tropes are my least favourite tropes, there is something inherently messy about them. However, what "Zak" does so incredibly well is she makes the reader focus on the aftermath of cheating and the kind of thoughts that run through a person's head when they found out the news that their partner has been cheating.
Cecily and Francesca really understand what it is like to be hurt in this manner and we see them open up to each other, although they are too afraid to use Willow's name. While there weren't a lot of soft-moments, I did enjoy the ones we were given like glimpses into both women's jobs and family lives. A lot of the characters were used in realistic and interesting ways however I didn't like that Willow was low-key villainized for actions other characters would have probably made when she was in the same situation as her.
I can't speak on the accuracy of the Mexican representation however I can speak on the fear of coming out to a relatively conservative family. While this fear did seem to be a prominent one, "The Other Women" doesn't really tackle it apart from stating that both women were fearful of rejection.
I would put "The Other Women" as slightly heavier than a summer read. While it is fun in some moments, most of the book has quite a serious tone to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc for allowing me to read a review copy of "The Other Women" all opinions stated are my own.
In: A Graphic Novel by Will McPhail
4.0
"In" gave me a lot to think about and probably because the graphic novel centres itself around connections.
Genuine, human connections are something that Nick struggles with and he truly wants to experience what they may feel like.
Nick lives his life like he is the main character of his story, but he so desperately wants other people to be part of his story too.
The grey and white drawings almost emphasise his exhaustion at just flitting through life without those human connections. He knows they are important, but he also doesn't quite know where to start.
The moments where we do get colour in this novel feel like an explosion on the page. I was always taken aback by the panels in colour because they invited the reader to see the inner workings of Nick's mind other than the outside perspective of the black and white world.
Nick grows in this story, he learns he is needed and has valuable contributions to make to the people around him and those that care for him.
While I don't think the story itself is anything new or revolutionary, the way "In" presents itself and is told hits all the major themes I look for in a coming-of-age story. "In" reads like a coming-of-age story for adults and I adored it for that reason.
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an e-arc to review. All opinions are my own.
Genuine, human connections are something that Nick struggles with and he truly wants to experience what they may feel like.
Nick lives his life like he is the main character of his story, but he so desperately wants other people to be part of his story too.
The grey and white drawings almost emphasise his exhaustion at just flitting through life without those human connections. He knows they are important, but he also doesn't quite know where to start.
The moments where we do get colour in this novel feel like an explosion on the page. I was always taken aback by the panels in colour because they invited the reader to see the inner workings of Nick's mind other than the outside perspective of the black and white world.
Nick grows in this story, he learns he is needed and has valuable contributions to make to the people around him and those that care for him.
While I don't think the story itself is anything new or revolutionary, the way "In" presents itself and is told hits all the major themes I look for in a coming-of-age story. "In" reads like a coming-of-age story for adults and I adored it for that reason.
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an e-arc to review. All opinions are my own.
You've Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel by Laurie Gelman
3.0
I had much less fun with this story as it was way more serious, in terms of tone than its predecessor.
The class emails were hilarious as usual and the conflict resolution neatly slotted into place.
I would recommend this series if you need a palate cleanser from super serious works of reading. It does exactly what it says it will do and I appreciate it.
The class emails were hilarious as usual and the conflict resolution neatly slotted into place.
I would recommend this series if you need a palate cleanser from super serious works of reading. It does exactly what it says it will do and I appreciate it.
The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Innsmouth Free Press for giving me an ebook copy to review. All opinions stated are my own.
TW: Homophobia, internalised homophobia, graphic descriptions of gore moments (I don't think it is traditional gore though), sexual repression.
Where do I even begin?
As someone whose familiarity with vampires starts and ends with Twilight saga and pop-culture references, I wasn't too sure how I would understand this book from a horror perspective. I am also kind of weary of translated books, because personally, they may read as very flat most of the time.
However, I was eager to dive into this story purely because I am not familiar with how LGBTQIA+ works look like around the world as was interested to find out. Also from my understanding, "The Route of Ice and Salt" is a cult classic and I definitely understand why.
The majority of this book takes place on a ship, The Demeter, whose gay captain is tasked with bringing Dracula to England. There is a ton of repressed sexual dreams and fantasies in the first half of this book while disturbing at times, it genuinely helps with breaking the dense story-telling told.
The second half is far more interesting and it there that this story shines. We see a more traditional horror. It was definitely this section that sold the book for me. We see a captain and crew, who are terrified of the unknown but have no way of tangibly over a fear that doesn't seem to exist.
themes of love, loyalty and sacrifice mingle wonderfully well within the horror of this tale, especially because the novella jumps frequently between dreams, fantasies. the past and present.
I cannot emphasise how much I enjoyed the last two parts of this novella. David Bowles translations really shined during the ship logs and shorter chapters.
My highlights were the prologue, which definitely helped set the scene and author intentions for this piece. While the accompanying essay at the end by Poppy Z. Bright helped in tying together the thoughts for this novella.
This is not a campy read and I loved that.
TW: Homophobia, internalised homophobia, graphic descriptions of gore moments (I don't think it is traditional gore though), sexual repression.
Where do I even begin?
As someone whose familiarity with vampires starts and ends with Twilight saga and pop-culture references, I wasn't too sure how I would understand this book from a horror perspective. I am also kind of weary of translated books, because personally, they may read as very flat most of the time.
However, I was eager to dive into this story purely because I am not familiar with how LGBTQIA+ works look like around the world as was interested to find out. Also from my understanding, "The Route of Ice and Salt" is a cult classic and I definitely understand why.
The majority of this book takes place on a ship, The Demeter, whose gay captain is tasked with bringing Dracula to England. There is a ton of repressed sexual dreams and fantasies in the first half of this book while disturbing at times, it genuinely helps with breaking the dense story-telling told.
The second half is far more interesting and it there that this story shines. We see a more traditional horror. It was definitely this section that sold the book for me. We see a captain and crew, who are terrified of the unknown but have no way of tangibly over a fear that doesn't seem to exist.
themes of love, loyalty and sacrifice mingle wonderfully well within the horror of this tale, especially because the novella jumps frequently between dreams, fantasies. the past and present.
I cannot emphasise how much I enjoyed the last two parts of this novella. David Bowles translations really shined during the ship logs and shorter chapters.
My highlights were the prologue, which definitely helped set the scene and author intentions for this piece. While the accompanying essay at the end by Poppy Z. Bright helped in tying together the thoughts for this novella.
This is not a campy read and I loved that.
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
4.0
4.5 stars
I've never felt more tortured about an inevitable death. Tears are not enough to describe what this book put me through.
I have never liked characters less but wanted their happiness more. As a reader, you go into this story knowing it isn't going to be a happy one. Giovanni's Room doesn't even promise happy moments. Just bits of contentment that never are long enough.
David makes a great narrator, while unreliable, we see the world through his eyes and his realisations and denials become our own.
This was a painful read, so incredibly painful and somehow still felt really truthful. Anyway, I would suggest being in a good spot mentally before reading this book. Because while the misogyny, homophobia and internalised homophobia is apparent, so is the incredible sadness that hangs over Giovanni's Room. That constant heaviness is what makes this book incredibly difficult to read.
I've never felt more tortured about an inevitable death. Tears are not enough to describe what this book put me through.
I have never liked characters less but wanted their happiness more. As a reader, you go into this story knowing it isn't going to be a happy one. Giovanni's Room doesn't even promise happy moments. Just bits of contentment that never are long enough.
David makes a great narrator, while unreliable, we see the world through his eyes and his realisations and denials become our own.
This was a painful read, so incredibly painful and somehow still felt really truthful. Anyway, I would suggest being in a good spot mentally before reading this book. Because while the misogyny, homophobia and internalised homophobia is apparent, so is the incredible sadness that hangs over Giovanni's Room. That constant heaviness is what makes this book incredibly difficult to read.
The Greatest Superpower by Alex Sanchez
4.0
"Greatest Superpower" made me cry a lot harder over a book than I ever thought I would.
On the outside, the Fuerte's are the perfect family, so when Jorge parents announce their divorce to him and his twin brother, Cesar, it feels like their family literally changes overnight. The reason being their dad comes out a transgender.
While I have no basis of speaking on the representation in this book I do appreciate how we see the story from Jorge's eyes. Both Jorge and Cesar are terrified about what their friends and community will say. To the point where Cesar refuses to even interact with his dad for fear of not understanding or wanting to understand.
Topics such as transitioning, transphobia, living honestly, attempted suicide, racial profiling, racism, colourism and building genuinely accepting communities are highlighted so well (note must be made that this list could also be possible trigger/content warnings). We see that although life moves on for everyone else the Fuerte's have to learn about how to cope with the divorce and what it means for them as a family unit.
I think that this book reminded me to be kinder to people. We don't know what anyone is going through and sometimes by attempting to hold it all together, people put themselves in harm's way. Jorge dad's bravery is something that I was in awe of, because even with all the fears she has, she knows that this is what is best for her in order to be a better parent to her sons and I respect that a lot.
While I didn't care so much for the relationship subplot, I think it does bring in an honest look on first relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for providing me with a review copy of this book and all opinions above are my own.
On the outside, the Fuerte's are the perfect family, so when Jorge parents announce their divorce to him and his twin brother, Cesar, it feels like their family literally changes overnight. The reason being their dad comes out a transgender.
While I have no basis of speaking on the representation in this book I do appreciate how we see the story from Jorge's eyes. Both Jorge and Cesar are terrified about what their friends and community will say. To the point where Cesar refuses to even interact with his dad for fear of not understanding or wanting to understand.
Topics such as transitioning, transphobia, living honestly, attempted suicide, racial profiling, racism, colourism and building genuinely accepting communities are highlighted so well (note must be made that this list could also be possible trigger/content warnings). We see that although life moves on for everyone else the Fuerte's have to learn about how to cope with the divorce and what it means for them as a family unit.
I think that this book reminded me to be kinder to people. We don't know what anyone is going through and sometimes by attempting to hold it all together, people put themselves in harm's way. Jorge dad's bravery is something that I was in awe of, because even with all the fears she has, she knows that this is what is best for her in order to be a better parent to her sons and I respect that a lot.
While I didn't care so much for the relationship subplot, I think it does bring in an honest look on first relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for providing me with a review copy of this book and all opinions above are my own.
Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar
5.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Yali Books for giving me this arc to review
This is exactly the kind of book I would like to have read as a young child and I am so very happy that children do get a book like this. Ameya Narvankar wrote a beautiful story that comes alive with the illustrations.
The story itself is a nuanced tale about love. Ayesha loves her cousin Ritu, but more importantly, she doesn't see why Ritu's marriage to Chandni should be any different to any wedding she has been a part of before.
It doesn't matter to Ayesha that her cousin is marrying her girlfriend, rather than a much more socially acceptable boyfriend. That optimism gives Ayesha the ability to be brave even when those around her don't see it as bravery. Ayesha just wants her cousin to have the same experiences on her wedding day that the cousins before her have had and I admire that.
I don't think it is very often that we get to read stories as Desi's about Queer triumph in our own circles and I love that with the art we get a story about triumph. We get a story about familial love and that marriage should be a celebration of that love. That our communities shouldn't be able to dictate who we love on the basis of sex or gender but rather by the worth of their character.
I definitely recommend this children's book and I hope to see more desi books on queer topics that feature joy.
This is exactly the kind of book I would like to have read as a young child and I am so very happy that children do get a book like this. Ameya Narvankar wrote a beautiful story that comes alive with the illustrations.
The story itself is a nuanced tale about love. Ayesha loves her cousin Ritu, but more importantly, she doesn't see why Ritu's marriage to Chandni should be any different to any wedding she has been a part of before.
It doesn't matter to Ayesha that her cousin is marrying her girlfriend, rather than a much more socially acceptable boyfriend. That optimism gives Ayesha the ability to be brave even when those around her don't see it as bravery. Ayesha just wants her cousin to have the same experiences on her wedding day that the cousins before her have had and I admire that.
I don't think it is very often that we get to read stories as Desi's about Queer triumph in our own circles and I love that with the art we get a story about triumph. We get a story about familial love and that marriage should be a celebration of that love. That our communities shouldn't be able to dictate who we love on the basis of sex or gender but rather by the worth of their character.
I definitely recommend this children's book and I hope to see more desi books on queer topics that feature joy.
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
4.0
C/W: Parents in this book were definitely emotionally abusive
This was my last read of 2020 and I really enjoyed the in-depth look at fandom. I loved the conversations around the representation in fandom and by extension fanworks and fanfics. Marcus' story highlights the pressures of living with an undiagnosed learning disorder and April's story focused on the constant snide remarks and damaging acts many people in the plus-sized community face, even when they are happy with how they look. Although this book would be much shorter had Marcus not made a literal mountain out of a mole-hill. Extra points for the Game of Thrones-esque fandom discourse.
I can't really speak on the representation highlighted in "Spoiler Alert" but it did remind me that good representation is important even in (what some may call frivolous) fanworks.
This was my last read of 2020 and I really enjoyed the in-depth look at fandom. I loved the conversations around the representation in fandom and by extension fanworks and fanfics. Marcus' story highlights the pressures of living with an undiagnosed learning disorder and April's story focused on the constant snide remarks and damaging acts many people in the plus-sized community face, even when they are happy with how they look. Although this book would be much shorter had Marcus not made a literal mountain out of a mole-hill. Extra points for the Game of Thrones-esque fandom discourse.
I can't really speak on the representation highlighted in "Spoiler Alert" but it did remind me that good representation is important even in (what some may call frivolous) fanworks.