In Legendborn, Tracy Deonn beautifully weaves a tale of grief, trauma, love, and resilience. The importance of remembering those before you and the hardships they endured, is a powerful feat that Deonn exemplifies.

From the very beginning of this story, I was enthralled. Deonn created an Arthurian retelling that feels fresh, new, and alive. I’m a little apprehensive about where the story goes from here, but I’m all for seeing what’s next in Bloodmarked.

4.5/5

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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dark tense medium-paced

Loveable characters? No

“Giovanni’s Room” unfolds the tale of David, a man who struggles to accept his homosexuality and, in the guise of suppression, leads a life of misery.

In an attempt to forge a new life in Paris, David meets and starts dating Hella. However, before their relationship becomes too serious, Hella decides she needs time away to understand what she wants and flees to Spain. Despite this setback, David encounters Giovanni, and a swift connection forms, unsettling him. Despite his conscious resistance, he starts a relationship with Giovanni, and they unofficially move in together, leading to a downward spiral.

Giovanni and the room the two inhibit, inadvertently bring forth what David desperately sought to escape by coming to Europe. With Giovanni’s needs stacking up to be more than what he wants to handle and Hella’s awaiting return, David struggles to maintain the facade that he so long ago constructed and settled into.

David goes on and on about his need to escape the room he and Giovanni reside in. David’s desperate desire to escape the room is deeply tied to his need to escape himself. The relationship he built with Giovanni, their shared experiences, and Giovanni himself serve as reminders of what David has spent his entire life suppressing. His struggle reflects the disheartening reality for many men facing similar challenges. The relentless battle against all things outside the norm gives way to many folk believing that they must wage war against themselves, thus propelling them into self-destructive lives. “Giovanni’s Room” illustrates how the absence of queer acceptance inhibits everyday individuals.

While my appreciation for James Baldwin has deepened, I remain unsure how I feel about the story overall. Therefore, this review is provided without a rating. What’s more crucial is the reflection on David’s actions and the societal context that led to them.

Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

HOW DARE YOU, C.S. PACAT, HOW DARE YOU???????

I knew how this installment in the trilogy would end, but I so badly didn't want it to be true. I feel utterly gutted for Will and where things landed. I need the final installment to be published as soon as possible, because I need closure.

I feel like Dark Heir could've been another 5 star read, but the ever-growing anxieties and the unfortunate validation of where things were headed have held me back. Also, my disfavor for both Elizabeth and Visander certainly contributed to this as well. Speaking of characters, I appreciated the character growth of the cast of characters, especially James, Violet and Cyprian. I felt a sort of pride in Violet's character development specifically and hope that things can turn out for the better for her in the end. I also appreciated the progression of James and Will's relationship, even though it is full of guarded secrets.

Just as with this installment, I have a terrible inkling of how everything in the final installment will end and I already don't like it. I await for the conclusion and desperately hope it doesn't shatter me more than this one did.

4/5

The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate

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challenging dark reflective

3.5

Oh look, it’s a story about repressed homosexuality! Neat.

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frozel's reviews 359 reviews

frozel's reviews
359 reviews