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imtashamonet's reviews
28 reviews
The Secret World of Maggie Grey by Granger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I tried really hard to read this book, but it’s poorly edited and certain mindsets that are in the book are handled poorly.
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I finished reading this book over a month ago, and I'm just now finally sitting down to finish my review. My apologies to those of you who read my reviews. If I am nothing else, I am consistently inconsistent.
First, I just want to start by saying that I know my reviews of Kennedy Ryan books annoy hardcore fans, and I want to clarify that I know the novels are good, but I'm also a very particular reader. I read book descriptions and I expect for the author to fulfill the promise of the premise. This does not mean that I lack taste. If my reviews in anyway disturb your reading experience, I will not count it against you if you skip them. Enjoy what you like! Me being critical does not mean I did not enjoy.
This second installment of The Skyland Series was much more enjoyable for me than the first. Everything in the description was present throughout the book and the premise of a woman who loses everything, but doesn't have the room or space to fall apart or start something new until she can build herself up again was definitely fulfilled. This Could Be Us leans more heavily into woman's fiction to me than romance even though we get the POV of both the FMC and MMC. While I cared about what was going on in Judah's life, it only mattered so much to me as it impacted what Soledad had going on and her healing journey (though I cannot neglect to mention that the autism representation in this book was something I thoroughly appreciated and it added a richness to Judah's story that I'm eager to experience again). So much so that if he were not in the book at all, I still think that I would have enjoyed it all the same.
It was great to see more into Soledad's life considering she was present in the first book. One of the areas that really touched me was her relationship with her daughters and the reactions they had to how everything transpired. I'm very sensitive to parent/child relationships and this is where Kennedy Ryan took me through it. I felt everything Soledad felt, and I cried numerous times while reading. If a book makes me cry, I'm in. There were moments where I felt Hendrix stole the show, but I could be biased because I am a Hendrix fan. There were moments that we also got small peeks into Hendrix's life through conversations that I think will be nice lead ins to the book focused on her coming out next. Yasmen felt very non-existent in this book and that's not saying she wasn't around; her presence just wasn't really felt in the same manner that Hendrix's was. It's not her book though, so I suppose that's alright (though it does make me wonder more about the dynamics of their friend group).
I will not pretend that I am a huge romance reader. I much more prefer books that have romance in them and not necessarily the main point of the book. Having said this, outside of the HEA or HFN (I truly don't know which one this book has), the romance really took a backseat for me. Sure there were spicy moments, declarations, and some pushes and pulls between Soledad and Judah, but the romance took a major backseat for the majority of the book. This, in no way, is a bad thing for me because I like that kind of book. I just think people who are expecting a novel that focuses primarily on the romantic aspects of the FMC and MMC's relationship may be a bit disappointed.
Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is very different from other things I've read and reviewed. I wasn't sure what I expected, but I am glad I went on this journey. I will say there are numerous content warnings for this book, so if you are considering it, please do your research before reading it.
This book started off slow for me. Not necessarily for the heat and spice, but for me getting invested in the story. For the first 10-20 chapters, I was not sure I was invested in the FMC because I didn't understand her wants, desires, or the stakes for her clearly enough. They were absolutely mentioned, but they didn't seem real enough. The looming deadline of just one more year of college and having to have things figured out didn't seem like it was coming soon enough, even though a year is not that long. Raelynn's struggle just didn't seem much like a struggle until later, and the struggle was something completely different.
Additionally, Raelynn sometimes read like a high schooler rather than someone with one year of college left, and she was borderline annoying for the majority of the book. Granted, that's not a huge age gap, it's definitely a drastic enough experience gap where I expected something a little bit different. I will admit that she was more annoying during the MMC's, Leon, point-of-view, which likely colored the way she was portrayed. Still, I expected something a little different.
I was invested in Leon from the beginning and I wish we got more POV chapters from him. The book is dominated by Raelynn's POV, especially in the beginning, and that sometimes felt like a disservice to the story. Both character's viewpoints are integral to understanding what is going on. Leon's POV was likely easier to invest in because right away you can tell what's at stake for him and, while his motives change, his stakes are costly from the start.
The only other thing I'll say so as to avoid spoilers for anyone who has not read this yet is that I had a hard time believing the love between the FMC and MMC for a very long time (and I still don't completely know yet) because outside of kinky, hot, spicy sex, any other kinds of relationship development felt a little shallow and far and few inbetween. Perhaps the hot, kinky sex was all they needed, but it seems a lot of development between them was left off the page.
Having said all this, I enjoyed this read, especially once I got to about 40-50% of the way in. If you're a pearl clutcher, this book is not for you.
This book started off slow for me. Not necessarily for the heat and spice, but for me getting invested in the story. For the first 10-20 chapters, I was not sure I was invested in the FMC because I didn't understand her wants, desires, or the stakes for her clearly enough. They were absolutely mentioned, but they didn't seem real enough. The looming deadline of just one more year of college and having to have things figured out didn't seem like it was coming soon enough, even though a year is not that long. Raelynn's struggle just didn't seem much like a struggle until later, and the struggle was something completely different.
Additionally, Raelynn sometimes read like a high schooler rather than someone with one year of college left, and she was borderline annoying for the majority of the book. Granted, that's not a huge age gap, it's definitely a drastic enough experience gap where I expected something a little bit different. I will admit that she was more annoying during the MMC's, Leon, point-of-view, which likely colored the way she was portrayed. Still, I expected something a little different.
I was invested in Leon from the beginning and I wish we got more POV chapters from him. The book is dominated by Raelynn's POV, especially in the beginning, and that sometimes felt like a disservice to the story. Both character's viewpoints are integral to understanding what is going on. Leon's POV was likely easier to invest in because right away you can tell what's at stake for him and, while his motives change, his stakes are costly from the start.
The only other thing I'll say so as to avoid spoilers for anyone who has not read this yet is that I had a hard time believing the love between the FMC and MMC for a very long time (and I still don't completely know yet) because outside of kinky, hot, spicy sex, any other kinds of relationship development felt a little shallow and far and few inbetween. Perhaps the hot, kinky sex was all they needed, but it seems a lot of development between them was left off the page.
Having said all this, I enjoyed this read, especially once I got to about 40-50% of the way in. If you're a pearl clutcher, this book is not for you.
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Immortal Dark was deliciously sinful in the most tragic and beautiful ways. Tigest Girma's unique take on vampires kept me turning the page and thinking about the book when I had to put it down to handle adult responsibilities.
The world is expansive and the book is long, but I never felt like I was getting too much information. I love lore so getting massive amounts of information is not a problem for me, but Girma revealed only the things necessary and relevant to the story. Still, you could tell that there were deeper stories underneath and the characters lived lives before the stories you received now. Still, I wish there was more about the lives of dranaics (vampires). Perhaps the bits we do find out are by design because the main character, Kidan, is an outsider to that world and the things we know are the things she knows (or thinks she knows).
Kidan as a main character was refreshing. There were times she got on my nerves and seemed to make the dumbest decisions, but I was rooting for her nearly all the time. Her motivating factor and the lies she believed were all believable. Suseynos, the main vampire character and Kidan's...well, I don't even know if I can call him her lover so, Kidan's something, was a compelling character for me. Even when I didn't know/understand his motives, I was eager to experience the scenes he was involved him. I also appreciated that the house also was a character in this book.
Outside of the main characters, the other characters were okay. If Kidan and Susenyos weren't such great characters (even when they were annoying as hell), it may have mattered to me more that I did not particularly care for any other character. I do believe there were some characters, like Dean Faris, that were not utilized enough on the page. Dean Faris seemed like she'd be very important in the beginning of the book, but as the book carried on, she tapered out to only rare appearances where, if she were not in those later scenes, I doubt it would make much of a difference.
I will also say that I am pleased that my suspicions were confirmed in the end and I am very eager to read the next book in this series.
The world is expansive and the book is long, but I never felt like I was getting too much information. I love lore so getting massive amounts of information is not a problem for me, but Girma revealed only the things necessary and relevant to the story. Still, you could tell that there were deeper stories underneath and the characters lived lives before the stories you received now. Still, I wish there was more about the lives of dranaics (vampires). Perhaps the bits we do find out are by design because the main character, Kidan, is an outsider to that world and the things we know are the things she knows (or thinks she knows).
Kidan as a main character was refreshing. There were times she got on my nerves and seemed to make the dumbest decisions, but I was rooting for her nearly all the time. Her motivating factor and the lies she believed were all believable. Suseynos, the main vampire character and Kidan's...well, I don't even know if I can call him her lover so, Kidan's something, was a compelling character for me. Even when I didn't know/understand his motives, I was eager to experience the scenes he was involved him. I also appreciated that the house also was a character in this book.
Outside of the main characters, the other characters were okay. If Kidan and Susenyos weren't such great characters (even when they were annoying as hell), it may have mattered to me more that I did not particularly care for any other character. I do believe there were some characters, like Dean Faris, that were not utilized enough on the page. Dean Faris seemed like she'd be very important in the beginning of the book, but as the book carried on, she tapered out to only rare appearances where, if she were not in those later scenes, I doubt it would make much of a difference.
I will also say that I am pleased that my suspicions were confirmed in the end and I am very eager to read the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, and Abandonment
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. (Releases January 14, 2025)
This was my first time reading a book by Nnedi Okorafor so I really didn't know what to expect. Obviously, I've heard of Nnedi Okorafor and I've heard of how wonderful of a writer Okorafor is. Somehow, I just never got around to reading one her books before, which is an oversight on my part that I am happy I was able to correct with this arc.
Death of the Author was a beautiful blend of literary and contemporary through a book within a book frame. Sometimes, I do not like stories that do this because it can be difficult to tell which story you are reading. However, Okorafor has visual clues (including cute little robot emojis in the chapter headings) when the story has shifted and the writing is distinct enough. I'd classify this as a piece of metafiction that doesn't necessarily read as metafiction at first. You're thrown into the world of the main characters Zelu/Ankara and the story moves rather quickly while also taking its time, if that makes sense.
From reviews I had seen before reading my own copy of the arc, I already knew that the book had some aspects of social commentary, but I wasn't sure what it would be like. I was worried it would be didactic, but that didn't necessarily happen until the very end. I found the characters enjoyable, even when they got on my last nerves (although Chinyere and Amarachi were pushing it). I felt for Zelu and I felt for Ankara. Zelu, in particular, is a well-written character. I obviously feel more for her because of how she is framed as the main character of one of the storylines in the book, she is not without flaw and she is not always likeable. That makes her real in a way that made me care more about her and her desires, even when they were asinine to me.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and an excellent introduction to Nnedi Okorafor for me.
This was my first time reading a book by Nnedi Okorafor so I really didn't know what to expect. Obviously, I've heard of Nnedi Okorafor and I've heard of how wonderful of a writer Okorafor is. Somehow, I just never got around to reading one her books before, which is an oversight on my part that I am happy I was able to correct with this arc.
Death of the Author was a beautiful blend of literary and contemporary through a book within a book frame. Sometimes, I do not like stories that do this because it can be difficult to tell which story you are reading. However, Okorafor has visual clues (including cute little robot emojis in the chapter headings) when the story has shifted and the writing is distinct enough. I'd classify this as a piece of metafiction that doesn't necessarily read as metafiction at first. You're thrown into the world of the main characters Zelu/Ankara and the story moves rather quickly while also taking its time, if that makes sense.
From reviews I had seen before reading my own copy of the arc, I already knew that the book had some aspects of social commentary, but I wasn't sure what it would be like. I was worried it would be didactic, but that didn't necessarily happen until the very end. I found the characters enjoyable, even when they got on my last nerves (although Chinyere and Amarachi were pushing it). I felt for Zelu and I felt for Ankara. Zelu, in particular, is a well-written character. I obviously feel more for her because of how she is framed as the main character of one of the storylines in the book, she is not without flaw and she is not always likeable. That makes her real in a way that made me care more about her and her desires, even when they were asinine to me.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and an excellent introduction to Nnedi Okorafor for me.
Who's That Girl?: A Memoir by Eve
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I don't read memoirs often. I spend more time reading fiction, and it is rare that I pick up a memoir to read someone's true life story. Additionally, I feel a bit weird writing a review of a memoir because it's the story of someone's life. So, the review below is about the storytelling itself. With this in mind, please take my opinions below as a reflection of my experience as a reader, and not a judgment about Eve's life.
First, I appreciated that this was written in a way that is accessible. Often, I've found memoirs to read more like dissertations (and don't get me wrong, I can read those as I've written one myself), which is not enjoyable to me as a reader. Who's That Girl reads like a conversation with you and Eve. Well, it reads more as if Eve were in an extensive interview about her life, but, ultimately, the tone is conversational.
I do have to be honest. I picked up this book mainly because it's titled after one of my favorite songs by Eve and it really got me thinking about the fact that I truly do not know much about her. I'm not the type of person who really needs to know about the personal lives of celebrities, so my intention with reading this was really to see if the book would actually answer that question. Upon reading, it became apparent to me that the purpose of the book (at least, the way it functions in my mind) was more of Eve defining for herself "who's that girl". She opens the book discussing her name, it's meaning, and the way in which it shaped her early conceptions of who she was as a person. As you continue reading and learn more about Eve's experience, you see her grow and really come into the woman that defines her own experience and the way she moves within it.
Something that I appreciated about this book is that it wasn't written like a tell all kind of memoir that exposes the misdeeds of others. This truly was about Eve's experience and, while other people were mentioned, by name or not, the focus was on how Eve navigated it. With that said, if you're someone who wants a tell-all type of read, this is not the memoir for you. This is not an exposé. It truly is the telling of Eve's life as she sees it.
The story was told fairly linearly, but sometimes I struggled with the timeline of things. There were some times in the book when she'd go back a few years to tell a different part of a storyline and, while there isn't anything wrong with this form of storytelling, it took me a bit to figure out where in time we were in the story. This could also be due to the fact that Eve is a real person and I was attempting to reconcile the timeline with events I could remember as someone growing up while Eve was blowing up as an artist.
Ultimately, this is a quick and easy read that gives a bit more of Eve's perspective of her journey.
First, I appreciated that this was written in a way that is accessible. Often, I've found memoirs to read more like dissertations (and don't get me wrong, I can read those as I've written one myself), which is not enjoyable to me as a reader. Who's That Girl reads like a conversation with you and Eve. Well, it reads more as if Eve were in an extensive interview about her life, but, ultimately, the tone is conversational.
I do have to be honest. I picked up this book mainly because it's titled after one of my favorite songs by Eve and it really got me thinking about the fact that I truly do not know much about her. I'm not the type of person who really needs to know about the personal lives of celebrities, so my intention with reading this was really to see if the book would actually answer that question. Upon reading, it became apparent to me that the purpose of the book (at least, the way it functions in my mind) was more of Eve defining for herself "who's that girl". She opens the book discussing her name, it's meaning, and the way in which it shaped her early conceptions of who she was as a person. As you continue reading and learn more about Eve's experience, you see her grow and really come into the woman that defines her own experience and the way she moves within it.
Something that I appreciated about this book is that it wasn't written like a tell all kind of memoir that exposes the misdeeds of others. This truly was about Eve's experience and, while other people were mentioned, by name or not, the focus was on how Eve navigated it. With that said, if you're someone who wants a tell-all type of read, this is not the memoir for you. This is not an exposé. It truly is the telling of Eve's life as she sees it.
The story was told fairly linearly, but sometimes I struggled with the timeline of things. There were some times in the book when she'd go back a few years to tell a different part of a storyline and, while there isn't anything wrong with this form of storytelling, it took me a bit to figure out where in time we were in the story. This could also be due to the fact that Eve is a real person and I was attempting to reconcile the timeline with events I could remember as someone growing up while Eve was blowing up as an artist.
Ultimately, this is a quick and easy read that gives a bit more of Eve's perspective of her journey.
Stuck in the Country with You by Zuri Day
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. (Releases December 24, 2024)
Before I begin my review, I just want to say that giving 1 star pained me immensely because, as a writer myself, I know how vulnerable you have to be to share your writing with the world. I am, however, very honest in my reviews of the things I read. I do also want to make sure anyone who reads this review understands that this review is colored by my own personal tastes in narrative, plot, and character development.
When originally requesting to read the arc of Stuck in the Country with You by Zuri Day, I was hoping for a cute country romance novel that would take me a day or two to read. Unfortunately, it took me much longer than anticipated to read because I was consistently frustrated. The premise of a second chance romance many years after the first encounter was enticing, but the execution fell flat for me. A lot of the background, feelings and motives of characters, were force-fed to the reader rather than shown through actions. Additionally, Genesis's family drama being the reason why the romance didn't work the first time and why she was hesitant this time around to act on her attraction to Jaxson just did not feel much like a hindrance to me. I mean, it could have been a hindrance if the family drama was more on the page rather than things mentioned like afterthoughts or because the plot needed them in the moment. I just didn't buy it, the stakes did not feel high enough, and, therefore, I just did not care about it.
Another thing that made this a difficult read for me was the transition between scenes within chapters. They were sometimes hard to follow and could be days, weeks, or months in the future with no visual cue on the page that a switch was occurring and the previous scene often ended in a way that felt unfinished. Admittedly, the visual cue being missing on the page could be due to the fact that this is an arc and final formating has not been done. Still, a lot of scenes just felt unfinished and randomly ended before we were whisked to some other moment in time/place. While I don't think every scene has to end perfectly, if the scene feels unfinished to me, it is usually because something is missing to make the scene important to the overall story. And please don't get me wrong, I can tolerate some fluff in a romance novel, but that's not what was happening here.
Considering this is a romance novel, I will touch on the romance between Genesis and Jaxson. Honestly, I just didn't believe it. I'm not saying that these two characters could not possibly be together or love each other, but I was not invested in their romance. Genesis resisting the beginning due to Jaxson being the center of her immediate family drama could have been a very interesting dilemma, but we got no real connection to her family in the book. So upsetting/losing her family or losing a man she was attracted to, but could not stand just did not seem like a big deal to me. The problems standing in their way just did not feel like problems because we're not shown the actual stakes. Yes, they're told to us, but that's not what makes story compelling. We need to see it and that just wasn't done in this book.
Ultimately, I personally would not recommend this book. It seems like the version that was shared as an arc is a really early version that needs more rounds of edits before publication.
Before I begin my review, I just want to say that giving 1 star pained me immensely because, as a writer myself, I know how vulnerable you have to be to share your writing with the world. I am, however, very honest in my reviews of the things I read. I do also want to make sure anyone who reads this review understands that this review is colored by my own personal tastes in narrative, plot, and character development.
When originally requesting to read the arc of Stuck in the Country with You by Zuri Day, I was hoping for a cute country romance novel that would take me a day or two to read. Unfortunately, it took me much longer than anticipated to read because I was consistently frustrated. The premise of a second chance romance many years after the first encounter was enticing, but the execution fell flat for me. A lot of the background, feelings and motives of characters, were force-fed to the reader rather than shown through actions. Additionally, Genesis's family drama being the reason why the romance didn't work the first time and why she was hesitant this time around to act on her attraction to Jaxson just did not feel much like a hindrance to me. I mean, it could have been a hindrance if the family drama was more on the page rather than things mentioned like afterthoughts or because the plot needed them in the moment. I just didn't buy it, the stakes did not feel high enough, and, therefore, I just did not care about it.
Another thing that made this a difficult read for me was the transition between scenes within chapters. They were sometimes hard to follow and could be days, weeks, or months in the future with no visual cue on the page that a switch was occurring and the previous scene often ended in a way that felt unfinished. Admittedly, the visual cue being missing on the page could be due to the fact that this is an arc and final formating has not been done. Still, a lot of scenes just felt unfinished and randomly ended before we were whisked to some other moment in time/place. While I don't think every scene has to end perfectly, if the scene feels unfinished to me, it is usually because something is missing to make the scene important to the overall story. And please don't get me wrong, I can tolerate some fluff in a romance novel, but that's not what was happening here.
Considering this is a romance novel, I will touch on the romance between Genesis and Jaxson. Honestly, I just didn't believe it. I'm not saying that these two characters could not possibly be together or love each other, but I was not invested in their romance. Genesis resisting the beginning due to Jaxson being the center of her immediate family drama could have been a very interesting dilemma, but we got no real connection to her family in the book. So upsetting/losing her family or losing a man she was attracted to, but could not stand just did not seem like a big deal to me. The problems standing in their way just did not feel like problems because we're not shown the actual stakes. Yes, they're told to us, but that's not what makes story compelling. We need to see it and that just wasn't done in this book.
Ultimately, I personally would not recommend this book. It seems like the version that was shared as an arc is a really early version that needs more rounds of edits before publication.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was in a reading slump for about 4-5 months before reading this book and, OMG, was it a book to come back into reading with. Even now, as I write this review 14 days after finishing it, it has stuck with me. And before y'all start, I know, I know. I am late. I've heard amazing things about this book and I have owned it for quite some time, but never got around to reading it. And even still, y'all...I just feel like I have arrived!
So, before I even start on my thoughts, I do just want to say that I do not typically seek out romance books. It's not because I do not like them, but rather I tend to enjoy books that do not always have a HEA or HFN. I'm a sad b, and I like my sad b books. Perhaps that's why this book hit so hard for me. It is sad and HEAVY as much as it is sexy and fun. How did Tia Williams do both of those things to two tragic characters? I have no idea, but I sure loved it.
The thing I think I love most about this book is how although it is only over the course of seven days (both in the present and past), it doesn't feel rushed. It taking place over the course of a week allowed for us to be able to slow down and spend more time in the day-to-day, which highlighted a lot of insight into the characters. At the same time, it allowed for the book to also moved at a pace that didn't feel like it was dragging. This, I think, was due to the juxtaposition of the flashbacks with the present-day Eva and Shane. Any time I felt like there was more information that I needed or something didn't make sense to me, a flashback chapter came in with all the appropriate context.
As I mentioned earlier, this book is HEAVY and needs quite a few content and trigger warnings. In the copy of the book that I own, they are not there, but that does not mean they do not exist anywhere. I do wish I did my due dilligence and looked up the trigger/content warnings prior to reading, so that I could have made sure I was in the appropriate headspace before reading. Still, this book was such a wonderful read for me.
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste is a contemporary young adult fantasy in which humans and witchers (people with various forms of magic) are divided. Venus Stoneheart, the main character, helps support her family by brewing illegal love potions. On top of the risk of her trade, both legally and to her body because brewing has painful side effects, she has a sentient dark magic inside of her that can cause devastation if unleashed. Venus's life is already complicated and then her mother is murdered, which breaks her world apart in ways she never expected.
I don't even know where to start with this book because I loved it so much. It's written so beautifully and the world is so rich and full. It is obvious the lore and history runs deeper than the focus of our story and those are the kinds of things I love about stories. From the very beginning, I was pulled into the world of this novel and when it was over, I felt like I lost something and I can't wait to get it back (there's a sequel, I think, and I can't wait for it if there is).
The thing I appreciated the most about this book is that Bethany Baptiste understands exactly how to add complications to the plot that aren't superficial. Every time I thought things couldn't get worse, they did and the tension it provided kept me reading. Additionally, the characters are emotionally rich and the emotional complications of the character arc were just as tense as the plot. I was surprised at every turn (which doesn't happen often because I can usually guess what's going to happen) and it was so refreshing to be on the edge of my seat.
Magic in The Poisons We Drink also comes at a price that can be steep. It doesn't solve everything and the problems that come into play in this story aren't easy to fix just because magic exists. This is only outshined by how compelling Venus is as the main character. I am always a fan of morally gray characters because their stories are more capitivating to me, and I was capitivated by Venus.
If you're a fan of lore, rich contemporary fantasy worlds, and morally gray characters, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole, book #1 in the Divine Traitors series, is a Jamaican-inspired young adult fantasy filled with dragons, devastation, and hope. The main character, Faron, can channel the power of the gods and is a liberator of her people. Both she in her older sister, Elara, fought in the war at the beginning of their teen years. Now seventeen and eighteen, they're forced to attend an international peace summit with the very people who caused such devastation for her people. The summit, meant to inspire peace (or the appearance of it) brings an unexpected dilemma to Faron: her sister unexpectedly bonds with a dragon (the creatures their enemies use to exert their power) and the only way the gods say to break this bond is to kill her sister.
This book was a very enjoyable read for me. I had big expectations since I was waiting for the book since I first heard about it (could not get my hands on an arc, but I read it as soon as I could when my pre-order came in). One of the most suprising things to me about the book is that it's dual point-of-view (both Faron's and Elara's). It was surprising to me because the book description reads as if this is only Faron's story, but the alternating POV between chapters makes the book feel like it is both of the sisters' story. This is not a bad thing, it was just unexpected.
Having said this, I was more invested in Elara's POV chapters and felt myself having a more enjoyable time when reading what was going on with her than I did with Faron. Faron is clearly the main character based on the book description and I wanted to be invested in her story, but Elara stole the show for me. I do want to clarify that Faron's chapters are not written poorly. Faron's side of the story feels slower and though there are definitely bouts of action, it's a much more interior story, and I do love that; I just found the excitement and mystery surrounding Elara's POV more captivating.
The book also includes romance subplots that include the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, and just like the POVs, I found Elara's more compelling than Faron's. In fact, I didn't realize Faron's love interest was a love interest until very late in the story (honestly, that's probably a me thing because I can be a bit oblivious at times). I'm still not completely sold on Faron's love interest yet, but there is a sequel that will give me time to think about it and figure it out.
The story does end on a cliffhanger and I'm not sure exactly when the second book comes out, so if you're not a fan of cliffhangers, you might want to wait for the second book.