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hobbithopeful's reviews
225 reviews
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A raw and heartfelt read about depression and growing up.
I saw so much of myself in Tori. I am very much a productive person even in the depths of my depression. Sure I'll alienate my friends and be slugging through everything, but I still show up to school and even an occasional social event.
I know a lot of people compare this to her later books, but I think there is something deeply personal about reading an author's earlier work, and seeing how much they have really come into themselves as a writer.
I think one of the most interesting aspects of Solitaire is that Tori so clearly reads as being asexual, even though she isn't named as such. While Oseman didn't realise how much she was writing from her own feelings, it was like reading a time capsule of someone struggling with their identity.
If you are trying to read your way through the Osemanverse, I do think this is worth a read.
I saw so much of myself in Tori. I am very much a productive person even in the depths of my depression. Sure I'll alienate my friends and be slugging through everything, but I still show up to school and even an occasional social event.
I know a lot of people compare this to her later books, but I think there is something deeply personal about reading an author's earlier work, and seeing how much they have really come into themselves as a writer.
I think one of the most interesting aspects of Solitaire is that Tori so clearly reads as being asexual, even though she isn't named as such. While Oseman didn't realise how much she was writing from her own feelings, it was like reading a time capsule of someone struggling with their identity.
If you are trying to read your way through the Osemanverse, I do think this is worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, Homophobia, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide attempt
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
First half- 5 stars
Second half- 2.5 stars
A thrilling horror that had my heart racing, but the later part of the story had me shaking my head in disappointment.
I LOVED the first part of this book, it was tense, and made my heart race. Charity is such a realistic BIPOC horror mc, her reaction to the bathroom door being open and refusing to go inside was so real. "I turn my Black ass right around and book it back to my cabin, where I close and lock the door." There are so many quotable moments, I spent a lot of time alternating between chuckling to myself, and then being whip lashed by scary moments. When the action and horror moments started happening, I immensely enjoyed myself. Just as I was really getting into it, and clutching the blanket tighter around me, it just..ended. And that was it? And then the reveal...was definitely something. I can see now why so many people have mixed feelings about this one. (I see you mutuals!) I would have liked it more if it was longer, and we had more moments of horror and it wasn't just a brief interlude in the book. There was so much leading up to it I wanted more.
I loved the queerness, and getting a lesbian mc who is smart was very refreshing. I'm not saying the ending was disappointing, I think I was still reeling from how fast-paced the book was.
There were quite a few plot holes, I tried not to think about them, but they were noticeable.
Personally, I do recommend this one, and I will continue to read anything that Kalynn Bayron writes.
The cover is 100/10 it's excellent! Great movement and expressions, love everything about it.
Second half- 2.5 stars
A thrilling horror that had my heart racing, but the later part of the story had me shaking my head in disappointment.
I LOVED the first part of this book, it was tense, and made my heart race. Charity is such a realistic BIPOC horror mc, her reaction to the bathroom door being open and refusing to go inside was so real. "I turn my Black ass right around and book it back to my cabin, where I close and lock the door." There are so many quotable moments, I spent a lot of time alternating between chuckling to myself, and then being whip lashed by scary moments. When the action and horror moments started happening, I immensely enjoyed myself. Just as I was really getting into it, and clutching the blanket tighter around me, it just..ended. And that was it? And then the reveal...was definitely something. I can see now why so many people have mixed feelings about this one. (I see you mutuals!) I would have liked it more if it was longer, and we had more moments of horror and it wasn't just a brief interlude in the book. There was so much leading up to it I wanted more.
I loved the queerness, and getting a lesbian mc who is smart was very refreshing. I'm not saying the ending was disappointing, I think I was still reeling from how fast-paced the book was.
There were quite a few plot holes, I tried not to think about them, but they were noticeable.
Personally, I do recommend this one, and I will continue to read anything that Kalynn Bayron writes.
The cover is 100/10 it's excellent! Great movement and expressions, love everything about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Juno Dawson never disappoints, this book is the perfect potion of feminism, witches, and transphobia. (Weird to say I love a book so much that has transphobia, but trust me it's worth it)
I went into this book not sure what to expect, I've only ever read Dawson's nonfiction works before, so I wasn't sure how that would translate to a fantasy story. I did kind of expect (or hope!) for there to be elements of queerness, identity, and transness explored. To say I was blown away would be an understatement! Her Majesty's Royal Coven explores transphobia, feminism, race, the corruption of power, and fear.
People always seem to forget that hate doesn't just appear out of nowhere one day. People don't just turn around and decide to be evil and hateful. It is more like a slow shift, people fall down different pipelines, or don't deal with their past trauma. Maybe they are around unhealthy environments that unintentionally (or intentionally) push an agenda of power and fear. The characters in this are all still reeling from the Witch civil war, and grieving in their own ways. Whether that leads them to insulate in their own communities, push people away, or become power hungry tyrants all depends on the individual and their support system.
I feel like I am making this sound like some dark and emotional book that is going to lead you traumatized, and that couldn't be further from the truth. While there are a lot of difficult topics and themes, at its heart is such a thread of hope and found family. Proving that no matter what happens, as long as you allow yourself to trust and be loved everything might just turn out to be okay.
This is a book that I want to bring out of my pocket when there are conversations around representation and intersectionality. (Look kids it's possible for a white author to write good representation!)
I am a self professed cliff-hanger hater, this is the only exception where I can say it was done well and I enjoyed it. (Though I am lucky to be in possession of the second book, so there was definitely a cushion there)
I would 100000000000000000000000% recommend this, perfect for anytime of the year be it spooky season, or just something to really fall into, I can't wait to read the second book.
I went into this book not sure what to expect, I've only ever read Dawson's nonfiction works before, so I wasn't sure how that would translate to a fantasy story. I did kind of expect (or hope!) for there to be elements of queerness, identity, and transness explored. To say I was blown away would be an understatement! Her Majesty's Royal Coven explores transphobia, feminism, race, the corruption of power, and fear.
People always seem to forget that hate doesn't just appear out of nowhere one day. People don't just turn around and decide to be evil and hateful. It is more like a slow shift, people fall down different pipelines, or don't deal with their past trauma. Maybe they are around unhealthy environments that unintentionally (or intentionally) push an agenda of power and fear. The characters in this are all still reeling from the Witch civil war, and grieving in their own ways. Whether that leads them to insulate in their own communities, push people away, or become power hungry tyrants all depends on the individual and their support system.
I feel like I am making this sound like some dark and emotional book that is going to lead you traumatized, and that couldn't be further from the truth. While there are a lot of difficult topics and themes, at its heart is such a thread of hope and found family. Proving that no matter what happens, as long as you allow yourself to trust and be loved everything might just turn out to be okay.
This is a book that I want to bring out of my pocket when there are conversations around representation and intersectionality. (Look kids it's possible for a white author to write good representation!)
I am a self professed cliff-hanger hater, this is the only exception where I can say it was done well and I enjoyed it. (Though I am lucky to be in possession of the second book, so there was definitely a cushion there)
I would 100000000000000000000000% recommend this, perfect for anytime of the year be it spooky season, or just something to really fall into, I can't wait to read the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: War, Infidelity, and Child abuse
House of Marionne by J. Elle
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.5
4.5 stars Thank you Penguin for this Arc
Ball gowns, magic, and political machinations that keep you wondering who you can trust! House of Marionne is a mysterious dark academia fantasy that I REALLY enjoyed reading.
Quell and her Mother are always on the run, in order to keep Quell safe and hide the poison that runs in her veins. A slipup lands her into the magical life her Mother tried to hide her from, and now she must try to survive and debut, or be cast out and be at the mercy of assassins.
There are breadcrumbs to what is going on, and some characters immediately act sus and I didn't trust them, while others took me by surprise with their plots,I love being kept on my toes.
My favorite part of the book is everything to do with magic! When it came to Quell in magic classes, and the overall magic system, it was so immersive and well thought out. I feel it was really one of the strongest parts of the book, all the intricates are really fascinating! However I do wish more time was spent with Quell learning and in classes, I like how there is history at the back, but I wanted to see more magic teaching. (Give me the lore!) It is a bit difficult to wrap my head around that Quell is able to succeed where others who have been trying to two years failed. There is a ton of information, history, and Latin that she has to learn, and the timeline for this book seemed all to occur in a handful of weeks. I could honestly read a whole separate book just all about this world's lore, magic, and different components and what they do. There is also a shift a good ways through the book where the focus feels like it goes from learning how to do magic, to etiquettes and cotillion style classes. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just wish there was more of a blend or mix.
May I just say I am obsessed with the crowns/diadems/masks! This is hands down the most original and coolest way I have seen magic represented in a book. It not only perfectly shows the personality of the wielder, but also really ties in nicely with the whole dark academia/regency/cotillion vibe of the book. Obviously I would have a fabulous crown, I'm thinking silver or gold with vine detailing, cascades of opals along the edges.
I love all the clothing and dress styles, it made me feel like I was walking around a regency era town! Everything felt so opulent and lush, it really feels like a ball. The imagery around the scenery and clothing Quell wears was top notch.
The romance was all well and good, I don't know if forbidden is the best way to describe it, we get to see more romance in the later parts, and "forbidden" isn't really a big plot point. I like how Quell and Jordan took time to get to one another, and it wasn't an instant love situation. The words Jordan said to her were so sweet! I really liked their dialogue. I will say if I never see another author describe facial features like "craters", I will die happy. I wish more time was spent building up friendships, there was a definite lack of substance when it came to any female friends or allies.
I'm only going to nitpick a bit because I really like this book, and J. Elle is an established author.
I do wish there were more character descriptions. So many characters and side characters I feel there is a vague description or maybe it is just mentioned once and left me wondering. (Except for the eyes, the eye colors are mentioned a lot) Really I think this is applicable to the hair, specifically Quells. I was surprised more attention and time wasn't given to convey the kind of hairstyle and what it looked like. It would have been the perfect moment to tie in the character to her race more, and not just retain the racial ambiguity a lot of the book seems to suffer from. (I.e. does she have a twist out, braids, a wash and go is it natural etc etc)
There was only ONE queer character in this book, and they only had a handful of sentences and a very brief tea party appearance. Please someone correct me if I missed others! I wish there were more queer characters, or a queer relationship. I lowkey was hoping for a genderfluid character, or maybe a masc presenting one with a pretty crown.
I like the cover a lot too, it is gorgeous and really captures the essence of the book perfectly. I like how Quell's dagger is on the front, it really makes it feel more inline with the book and not just a generic dark fantasy cover.
I highly recommend this, and I NEED the sequel! Seriously!! How dare you do a reveal like that and LEAVE ME HANGING!
I almost forgot to say, but I really liked the chapters with Yagrin's pov! I also have so many theories about the next book, so read this so we can discuss please. (Especially pertaining to a certain someone's parentage!!)
Ball gowns, magic, and political machinations that keep you wondering who you can trust! House of Marionne is a mysterious dark academia fantasy that I REALLY enjoyed reading.
Quell and her Mother are always on the run, in order to keep Quell safe and hide the poison that runs in her veins. A slipup lands her into the magical life her Mother tried to hide her from, and now she must try to survive and debut, or be cast out and be at the mercy of assassins.
There are breadcrumbs to what is going on, and some characters immediately act sus and I didn't trust them, while others took me by surprise with their plots,I love being kept on my toes.
My favorite part of the book is everything to do with magic! When it came to Quell in magic classes, and the overall magic system, it was so immersive and well thought out. I feel it was really one of the strongest parts of the book, all the intricates are really fascinating! However I do wish more time was spent with Quell learning and in classes, I like how there is history at the back, but I wanted to see more magic teaching. (Give me the lore!) It is a bit difficult to wrap my head around that Quell is able to succeed where others who have been trying to two years failed. There is a ton of information, history, and Latin that she has to learn, and the timeline for this book seemed all to occur in a handful of weeks. I could honestly read a whole separate book just all about this world's lore, magic, and different components and what they do. There is also a shift a good ways through the book where the focus feels like it goes from learning how to do magic, to etiquettes and cotillion style classes. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just wish there was more of a blend or mix.
May I just say I am obsessed with the crowns/diadems/masks! This is hands down the most original and coolest way I have seen magic represented in a book. It not only perfectly shows the personality of the wielder, but also really ties in nicely with the whole dark academia/regency/cotillion vibe of the book. Obviously I would have a fabulous crown, I'm thinking silver or gold with vine detailing, cascades of opals along the edges.
I love all the clothing and dress styles, it made me feel like I was walking around a regency era town! Everything felt so opulent and lush, it really feels like a ball. The imagery around the scenery and clothing Quell wears was top notch.
The romance was all well and good, I don't know if forbidden is the best way to describe it, we get to see more romance in the later parts, and "forbidden" isn't really a big plot point. I like how Quell and Jordan took time to get to one another, and it wasn't an instant love situation. The words Jordan said to her were so sweet! I really liked their dialogue. I will say if I never see another author describe facial features like "craters", I will die happy. I wish more time was spent building up friendships, there was a definite lack of substance when it came to any female friends or allies.
I'm only going to nitpick a bit because I really like this book, and J. Elle is an established author.
I do wish there were more character descriptions. So many characters and side characters I feel there is a vague description or maybe it is just mentioned once and left me wondering. (Except for the eyes, the eye colors are mentioned a lot) Really I think this is applicable to the hair, specifically Quells. I was surprised more attention and time wasn't given to convey the kind of hairstyle and what it looked like. It would have been the perfect moment to tie in the character to her race more, and not just retain the racial ambiguity a lot of the book seems to suffer from. (I.e. does she have a twist out, braids, a wash and go is it natural etc etc)
There was only ONE queer character in this book, and they only had a handful of sentences and a very brief tea party appearance. Please someone correct me if I missed others! I wish there were more queer characters, or a queer relationship. I lowkey was hoping for a genderfluid character, or maybe a masc presenting one with a pretty crown.
I like the cover a lot too, it is gorgeous and really captures the essence of the book perfectly. I like how Quell's dagger is on the front, it really makes it feel more inline with the book and not just a generic dark fantasy cover.
I highly recommend this, and I NEED the sequel! Seriously!! How dare you do a reveal like that and LEAVE ME HANGING!
I almost forgot to say, but I really liked the chapters with Yagrin's pov! I also have so many theories about the next book, so read this so we can discuss please. (Especially pertaining to a certain someone's parentage!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Confinement and Emotional abuse
Holly Horror by Michelle Jabès Corpora
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Thank you Penguin for this Arc
Trope-y characters, lack of horror, and a fast-paced story all came together to make a book I was so excited to read...a disappointment.
The characters all suffer from being very one dimensional, and a lot of them seem more reminiscent of tropes than actual complex characters. There is typical bleach blonde mean girl, and a lot of her dialogue seemed better suited to an 80s movie then to a teenager. In terms of "romance" there is your typical popular athlete, and him and Evie have maybe two interactions before kissing. They don't have any chemistry, and I really didn't even understand why it was included. Cringey at best, the conversations and interactions are not anything like how teenagers actually talk. I know the length of the book was probably a hindrance to creating more character development and lending less shallow relationships between them.
I am the world's biggest weenie when it comes to horror. I typically can't even read wikipedia summaries of scary books or movies without getting freaked out and needing a nightlight. I think the length of the book contributed to the lack of build up, and any scenes that were intended to be scary, didn't feel that way at all. Basically all the scenes were just missing the imagery or pacing necessary to convey the mood. I just kept waiting for horror, or to be scared. I was sorely disappointed. There isn't a lot of action going on, I felt like I was waiting and hoping for more creepy things to be happening.
A lot of the blame rests on my shoulders. I was so excited when I saw the authors name, I assumed a horror story with diversity and great BIPOC writing was in store. That was not the case. The BIPOC characters were painful to read, and it seems no research or time was put into making sure they actually read like BIPOC. There are a few characters where we get a one word descriptor, or maybe a last name that hints at diversity, but take that away and nothing about them reads anything other then white.
The writing style really surprised me. It was very easy to consume and simple, it would be better suited to a middle grade audience then a ya one. It made it really difficult to stay engaged, and a lot of times I felt myself just bored with the repetitive prose. I read an incredibly engaging middle grade book (I only mention this to show that my issue is not with different age group books, but just this one)earlier, one that is suited well for all ages and audiences, and Holly Horror does not share the same tone that I would recommend for the ya that it is being marketed for. If it was instead targeting a younger demographic, I believe it would find an audience more appreciative of its story.
I do like the cover, it's gorgeous, and is really creepy!
I personally would not recommend this book, nor would I read anything by this author again.
Trope-y characters, lack of horror, and a fast-paced story all came together to make a book I was so excited to read...a disappointment.
The characters all suffer from being very one dimensional, and a lot of them seem more reminiscent of tropes than actual complex characters. There is typical bleach blonde mean girl, and a lot of her dialogue seemed better suited to an 80s movie then to a teenager. In terms of "romance" there is your typical popular athlete, and him and Evie have maybe two interactions before kissing. They don't have any chemistry, and I really didn't even understand why it was included. Cringey at best, the conversations and interactions are not anything like how teenagers actually talk. I know the length of the book was probably a hindrance to creating more character development and lending less shallow relationships between them.
I am the world's biggest weenie when it comes to horror. I typically can't even read wikipedia summaries of scary books or movies without getting freaked out and needing a nightlight. I think the length of the book contributed to the lack of build up, and any scenes that were intended to be scary, didn't feel that way at all. Basically all the scenes were just missing the imagery or pacing necessary to convey the mood. I just kept waiting for horror, or to be scared. I was sorely disappointed. There isn't a lot of action going on, I felt like I was waiting and hoping for more creepy things to be happening.
A lot of the blame rests on my shoulders. I was so excited when I saw the authors name, I assumed a horror story with diversity and great BIPOC writing was in store. That was not the case. The BIPOC characters were painful to read, and it seems no research or time was put into making sure they actually read like BIPOC. There are a few characters where we get a one word descriptor, or maybe a last name that hints at diversity, but take that away and nothing about them reads anything other then white.
The writing style really surprised me. It was very easy to consume and simple, it would be better suited to a middle grade audience then a ya one. It made it really difficult to stay engaged, and a lot of times I felt myself just bored with the repetitive prose. I read an incredibly engaging middle grade book (I only mention this to show that my issue is not with different age group books, but just this one)earlier, one that is suited well for all ages and audiences, and Holly Horror does not share the same tone that I would recommend for the ya that it is being marketed for. If it was instead targeting a younger demographic, I believe it would find an audience more appreciative of its story.
I do like the cover, it's gorgeous, and is really creepy!
I personally would not recommend this book, nor would I read anything by this author again.
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Bread. Wizard. Really I shouldn't have to tell you anything else but I will because I am so kind-hearted. Gingerbread. Army. Convinced yet? This a book full of magic and wizards, and people who only can do a bit of magic and not the mountain-moving type of magic. Mona can magic dough to not burn, and even make gingerbread dance. When she finds a dead body in her aunt's bakery, she soons finds herself accused of murder and in the middle of..well quite a mess.
IT IS A CRIME NO ONE HAS RECOMMENDED ME ANYTHING BY T. KINGFISHER!
The writing style and topics are enough that it can easily be enjoyed and consumed by any age, be it middle grade or even adult. (I myself, being a tax-paying variety of human, fell in love with this story from the very first page) Delving into corruption, the true price of being a hero, and adults who fail had me immersed and even misty eyed.
The characters are humorous, and while sometimes first person can be a bit repetitive, Mona's sarcasm and observations kept it fresh and never dull. My favorite character from this book is obviously Bob, the true hero of the story. A close second is Mona's gingerbread familiar.
Truly a read that will cheer you up, and much like the stickiness of raw dough, it won't let you go until you're done.
Read this. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go root out every book that Kingfisher has ever written and add it to my tbr.
IT IS A CRIME NO ONE HAS RECOMMENDED ME ANYTHING BY T. KINGFISHER!
The writing style and topics are enough that it can easily be enjoyed and consumed by any age, be it middle grade or even adult. (I myself, being a tax-paying variety of human, fell in love with this story from the very first page) Delving into corruption, the true price of being a hero, and adults who fail had me immersed and even misty eyed.
The characters are humorous, and while sometimes first person can be a bit repetitive, Mona's sarcasm and observations kept it fresh and never dull. My favorite character from this book is obviously Bob, the true hero of the story. A close second is Mona's gingerbread familiar.
Truly a read that will cheer you up, and much like the stickiness of raw dough, it won't let you go until you're done.
Read this. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go root out every book that Kingfisher has ever written and add it to my tbr.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
Space mysteries, birds, and racial identity, once I started reading The Deep Sky I couldn't put in down, it absolutely blew me away!
Kitasei's writing and prose is the perfect balance of symbolism, bird facts, and flashbacks. Usually flashbacks can be hit or miss with me, often I just want to get on with the story and not focus on past events, sometimes it can feel jarring to bounce around the timeline. That is not the case in here, I really enjoyed seeing Asuka's past and getting to find out more about the complicated relationship she has with the crew. I won't lie, I cried multiple times reading this. It's hard not to feel attached to what she has gone through and experienced. I really like how she isn't a "perfect" main character. There is so much more to her then a one dimensional personality. She comes off as an asshole a lot especially in the beginning of the book, but as you discover why, it all just really reads as someone who feels so utterly alone and undeserving.
I love the bird facts and symbolism! I'll admit I was googling birds trying to figure out more hints and clues and it gave some delightful bread crumbs to what was going on. (You guys, I loved everything about this book, I'll admit it) Typically my biggest gripe with some mysteries is either there are no surprises, or there aren't enough hints to even figure out what is going on if you have a sense to. I don't want to spoil anything, but it was masterfully done, and I now I know more animal facts which is such a plus in my mind.
Space is always so fun to read about, and Kitasei perfectly toes the line between reality, physics, and fiction. The concept of virtual environments and altering how your clothes to appear is just honestly the coolest concept I've ever read in a science fiction book. I am so deeply impressed with all the science-y things that occur. It really made it all feel so real and and I was sorely disappointed to come back to reality and realise I had to look at my grey walls of my apartment. (I think my ideal virtual reality would be hmm..fantasy I think!)
The mommy issues hit hard. I tend to avoid books with mommy issues because..well I'm sure you can guess, but the relationship between Asuka and her Mom is just *chefs kiss*. People are complex and imperfect and the way we all deal with our grief and our feelings of guilt/inadequacies manifest so differently and UGH I CRIED.
I really related to Asuka's struggle with her biracial identity, and not feeling "Japanese enough". (No sabo kids, where you at?) I can easily say this is the best depiction of what it is like to feel an outsider in your own culture. I've always felt such a disconnect with my heritage, and I really loved how beautifully it was shown.
This book filled the hole that The Expanse series left behind in my heart, BUT now I have a hole left behind by THIS book!! (The cycle never ends!)
I also loved the inclusion of queer characters, and disability rep! AND THE ENDING WAS PERFECT!
I could rant for 10 more paragraphs about how much I love this book but I'll stop here.
I HIGHLY recommend reading The Deep Sky! I can't wait to read her next book! No but seriously, Kitasei is now an author that I am going to be watching and waiting for news of her next book, I'm obsessed.
I lied one more part I loved: the depiction of racism, war, and the environment!
Kitasei's writing and prose is the perfect balance of symbolism, bird facts, and flashbacks. Usually flashbacks can be hit or miss with me, often I just want to get on with the story and not focus on past events, sometimes it can feel jarring to bounce around the timeline. That is not the case in here, I really enjoyed seeing Asuka's past and getting to find out more about the complicated relationship she has with the crew. I won't lie, I cried multiple times reading this. It's hard not to feel attached to what she has gone through and experienced. I really like how she isn't a "perfect" main character. There is so much more to her then a one dimensional personality. She comes off as an asshole a lot especially in the beginning of the book, but as you discover why, it all just really reads as someone who feels so utterly alone and undeserving.
I love the bird facts and symbolism! I'll admit I was googling birds trying to figure out more hints and clues and it gave some delightful bread crumbs to what was going on. (You guys, I loved everything about this book, I'll admit it) Typically my biggest gripe with some mysteries is either there are no surprises, or there aren't enough hints to even figure out what is going on if you have a sense to. I don't want to spoil anything, but it was masterfully done, and I now I know more animal facts which is such a plus in my mind.
Space is always so fun to read about, and Kitasei perfectly toes the line between reality, physics, and fiction. The concept of virtual environments and altering how your clothes to appear is just honestly the coolest concept I've ever read in a science fiction book. I am so deeply impressed with all the science-y things that occur. It really made it all feel so real and and I was sorely disappointed to come back to reality and realise I had to look at my grey walls of my apartment. (I think my ideal virtual reality would be hmm..fantasy I think!)
The mommy issues hit hard. I tend to avoid books with mommy issues because..well I'm sure you can guess, but the relationship between Asuka and her Mom is just *chefs kiss*. People are complex and imperfect and the way we all deal with our grief and our feelings of guilt/inadequacies manifest so differently and UGH I CRIED.
I really related to Asuka's struggle with her biracial identity, and not feeling "Japanese enough". (No sabo kids, where you at?) I can easily say this is the best depiction of what it is like to feel an outsider in your own culture. I've always felt such a disconnect with my heritage, and I really loved how beautifully it was shown.
This book filled the hole that The Expanse series left behind in my heart, BUT now I have a hole left behind by THIS book!! (The cycle never ends!)
I also loved the inclusion of queer characters, and disability rep! AND THE ENDING WAS PERFECT!
I could rant for 10 more paragraphs about how much I love this book but I'll stop here.
I HIGHLY recommend reading The Deep Sky! I can't wait to read her next book! No but seriously, Kitasei is now an author that I am going to be watching and waiting for news of her next book, I'm obsessed.
I lied one more part I loved: the depiction of racism, war, and the environment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Pregnancy and Murder
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
70% gaslighting, 20% author's misogyny, 10% squid things
I ignored the plethora of negative reviews, so truly I only have myself to blame for even reading this.
The author has a lot of hangups regarding pretty girls and going to the gym, and it truly bleeds through so much in Those We Drown. I should have kept count of how many times Liv talks shit about the Sirens in her head or out loud trashes them for the way they look, and their jobs. There's also a weird moment when some of the characters are making fun of another for going to the gym, and say something along the lines of "I'd rather eat oreos..etc etc". Did you know you can eat Oreos and go to the gym? Fun fact for you.
Liv finds out and susses out that something is afoot early on, and the rest of the story is everyone just telling her she is crazy. The first few times were tense and then the 38th time I was like. Girl. Please. Stop. For someone supposedly so smart why are you like this?
The characters are extremely one dimensional. I couldn't tell you anything about them other then the one note that is their personalities. Liv's only characteristic was her obsession with Will. Seriously.
Constantine was such a weirdly inconsistent character, I truly still don't understand half of his and Liv's interactions. It almost felt like the author was going to take his character a different way and changed her mind halfway through. I didn't read them as having any chemistry at all. It was...dull.
Oh and there is zero diversity. (What about Raj you say? Does anything about him even read BIPOC I say!?)
The book just kept going, on and on and on. It truly felt like it could have been half the length. I kept waiting for action, or other things to happen. Instead people kept disappearing or getting murdered and no one seemed to care about anything, except convincing Liv she was imagining it.
I did like: the writing style was the only reason I kept reading, I was engaged and hoping it would get better, or have twists and turns. (It did not...) I also liked the imagery, it was very creepy and had great descriptions.
The ending was a poor attempt at a cliffhanger, but instead just had me feeling glad I could stop reading. We already knew what was going on by the time the first few chapters, so why drag it on? It isn't even that it is a breadcrumb trail of hints and clues, but so heavy handed anyone could easily see what was going to happen. I really thought there was going to be a twist, because no way would a book remain so obvious and simple...I was wrong.
A better ending that I thought was going to happen (again, there are ZERO twists or surprises) would have been having Con actually be apart of the cult, and actually be the captain. He could have aged backward and that would have explained his accent, the way he plays the field, and his overall lack of willingness to believe Liv. They could have gotten on the lifeboat and then he could have turned to her and started laughing, and then she would have been trapped with no way to escape. Her fate would have been sealed. Instead we are spoon-fed the ending that is given to us freely within the first part of the book.
One last note, there was such a emphasis on Liv's inability to swim and her fear of water, SO WHY DIDN'T WE GET ANY SWIMMING SCENES HMMM???!!
I would NOT recommend this book, nor would I read anything from the author again.
I ignored the plethora of negative reviews, so truly I only have myself to blame for even reading this.
The author has a lot of hangups regarding pretty girls and going to the gym, and it truly bleeds through so much in Those We Drown. I should have kept count of how many times Liv talks shit about the Sirens in her head or out loud trashes them for the way they look, and their jobs. There's also a weird moment when some of the characters are making fun of another for going to the gym, and say something along the lines of "I'd rather eat oreos..etc etc". Did you know you can eat Oreos and go to the gym? Fun fact for you.
Liv finds out and susses out that something is afoot early on, and the rest of the story is everyone just telling her she is crazy. The first few times were tense and then the 38th time I was like. Girl. Please. Stop. For someone supposedly so smart why are you like this?
The characters are extremely one dimensional. I couldn't tell you anything about them other then the one note that is their personalities. Liv's only characteristic was her obsession with Will. Seriously.
Constantine was such a weirdly inconsistent character, I truly still don't understand half of his and Liv's interactions. It almost felt like the author was going to take his character a different way and changed her mind halfway through. I didn't read them as having any chemistry at all. It was...dull.
Oh and there is zero diversity. (What about Raj you say? Does anything about him even read BIPOC I say!?)
The book just kept going, on and on and on. It truly felt like it could have been half the length. I kept waiting for action, or other things to happen. Instead people kept disappearing or getting murdered and no one seemed to care about anything, except convincing Liv she was imagining it.
I did like: the writing style was the only reason I kept reading, I was engaged and hoping it would get better, or have twists and turns. (It did not...) I also liked the imagery, it was very creepy and had great descriptions.
The ending was a poor attempt at a cliffhanger, but instead just had me feeling glad I could stop reading. We already knew what was going on by the time the first few chapters, so why drag it on? It isn't even that it is a breadcrumb trail of hints and clues, but so heavy handed anyone could easily see what was going to happen. I really thought there was going to be a twist, because no way would a book remain so obvious and simple...I was wrong.
A better ending that I thought was going to happen (again, there are ZERO twists or surprises) would have
One last note, there was such a emphasis on Liv's inability to swim and her fear of water, SO WHY DIDN'T WE GET ANY SWIMMING SCENES HMMM???!!
I would NOT recommend this book, nor would I read anything from the author again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Romance books make everything a bit better, and queer romance makes everything a lot better.
Astrid and Jordan have such great chemistry, the tension whenever they argue had me fanning myself, really it gets heated. (In more ways than one!)
Astrid goes through a journey of self-discovery, not just in coming to terms with her queerness, but also in deciding what she wants out of life. The process that she goes through is so incredibly relatable, the decision to do what makes you happy instead of what is expected of you is impossible for so many people.
Jordan also goes through a similar journey, her finally believing in herself and standing up to her ex gave me so much serotonin. (Though I wish they had popped off on Meredith a bit more!)
I've never dabbled in tarot cards myself, but it was really interesting to see how they tie in with the storyline and are used for symbolism. It reminds me of my favorite illustrator, Yoshi Yoshitani, and Yoshi's' beautiful and diverse tarot card set.
I would hire Jordan immediately to design a space, the Everwood Inn became such a beautiful and warm place after the design, it makes me wish it existed in real life to visit.
I can't pinpoint the reason I didn't quite love this as much as the first book. I think there were a few plot points that happened off page that I would like to have seen depicted. Iris and her relationship wasn't really a surprise, but I wish it was shown on page instead of so much happening off. (Grant just disappeared and I'm like..okay not really surprised but I wanted to see it happen!)
Why are we forgiving an abuser? Make it make sense. When it came to Astrid's Mom, I really despised how it was handled.
If someone abuses you to the point of effecting your entire sense of self, and you need years of therapy to recover, why are they even in your life? Let's not sugar coat it. Astrid's Mom was abusive. (and still is in this book!) It puts a bad taste in my mouth that nothing was ever resolved in regards to the abuse Delilah suffered either. If someone claims to care about you, but still has a relationship with your abuser that is a MILLION RED FLAGS. Weird excuses were given for the behavior "oh she was grieving". There is no excuse ever for abuse. It says a lot more about Astrid's character that she would allow someone who has shown no remorse for what has been done to Delilah back in her life. But they're family and blood-I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! If you wouldn't tolerate that behavior from a friend, why would you allow it from your family? Blood relations doesn't equal a free pass to treat you however they want! I know this is probably my hot take, but I say cut them off cut them out. People treat family like it's something to be clung onto, even as the knife it is makes you bleed. Just...why. end rant
Dare I say I now want to own a clit necklace? Quick someone send me a link!
Another must read book from Ashley Herring Blake!
Astrid and Jordan have such great chemistry, the tension whenever they argue had me fanning myself, really it gets heated. (In more ways than one!)
Astrid goes through a journey of self-discovery, not just in coming to terms with her queerness, but also in deciding what she wants out of life. The process that she goes through is so incredibly relatable, the decision to do what makes you happy instead of what is expected of you is impossible for so many people.
Jordan also goes through a similar journey, her finally believing in herself and standing up to her ex gave me so much serotonin. (Though I wish they had popped off on Meredith a bit more!)
I've never dabbled in tarot cards myself, but it was really interesting to see how they tie in with the storyline and are used for symbolism. It reminds me of my favorite illustrator, Yoshi Yoshitani, and Yoshi's' beautiful and diverse tarot card set.
I would hire Jordan immediately to design a space, the Everwood Inn became such a beautiful and warm place after the design, it makes me wish it existed in real life to visit.
I can't pinpoint the reason I didn't quite love this as much as the first book. I think there were a few plot points that happened off page that I would like to have seen depicted. Iris and her relationship wasn't really a surprise, but I wish it was shown on page instead of so much happening off. (Grant just disappeared and I'm like..okay not really surprised but I wanted to see it happen!)
Why are we forgiving an abuser? Make it make sense. When it came to Astrid's Mom, I really despised how it was handled.
If someone abuses you to the point of effecting your entire sense of self, and you need years of therapy to recover, why are they even in your life? Let's not sugar coat it. Astrid's Mom was abusive. (and still is in this book!) It puts a bad taste in my mouth that nothing was ever resolved in regards to the abuse Delilah suffered either. If someone claims to care about you, but still has a relationship with your abuser that is a MILLION RED FLAGS. Weird excuses were given for the behavior "oh she was grieving". There is no excuse ever for abuse. It says a lot more about Astrid's character that she would allow someone who has shown no remorse for what has been done to Delilah back in her life. But they're family and blood-I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! If you wouldn't tolerate that behavior from a friend, why would you allow it from your family? Blood relations doesn't equal a free pass to treat you however they want! I know this is probably my hot take, but I say cut them off cut them out. People treat family like it's something to be clung onto, even as the knife it is makes you bleed. Just...why. end rant
Dare I say I now want to own a clit necklace? Quick someone send me a link!
Another must read book from Ashley Herring Blake!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Such gorgeous art, and I liked the story! I did have trouble identifying characters at times, because of the style a lot of them looked very similar and I didn't know who was who.
Because of the shifting timelines and focus it always took me a minute to figure out what was going on, I think it took me until the last half of the book to finally find my footing. I didn't mind this because the art was so engaging to look at.
I really enjoyed the romance and all the science fiction aspects, I just had trouble understanding the story and keeping up with the plot. There were a few character motivations that felt inconsistent to me as well, and I still don't fully understand everything about the staircase.
I think it's kind of odd that this is being advertised as a second chance romance, because the characters meet again right at the end of the book and that is that. I think for a true second chance it would need more time and build up for the characters. I didn't even know that they were together in the past until the middle of the book, and wasn't aware of Mia's motivations until the very end.
I recommend this if you like Tillie Walden's other works, or if you are looking for a queer science fiction graphic novel to read.
Because of the shifting timelines and focus it always took me a minute to figure out what was going on, I think it took me until the last half of the book to finally find my footing. I didn't mind this because the art was so engaging to look at.
I really enjoyed the romance and all the science fiction aspects, I just had trouble understanding the story and keeping up with the plot. There were a few character motivations that felt inconsistent to me as well, and I still don't fully understand everything about the staircase.
I think it's kind of odd that this is being advertised as a second chance romance, because the characters meet again right at the end of the book and that is that. I think for a true second chance it would need more time and build up for the characters. I didn't even know that they were together in the past until the middle of the book, and wasn't aware of Mia's motivations until the very end.
I recommend this if you like Tillie Walden's other works, or if you are looking for a queer science fiction graphic novel to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail