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ioannap_author's reviews
17 reviews
My Throat an Open Grave by Tori Bovalino
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
"My Throat An Open Grave" by Tori Bovalino is a YA horror/dark fantasy novel set in an ultra religious community, haunted by superstitions about the woods that surround them. Leah, a seventeen year old girl, falls victim to their beliefs.
The novel deals with various subjects, and, as Bovalino claimed herself in her acknowledgements, is directly linked thematically to recent political incidents. But you don't need to have any knowledge of them to read the book. It just adds an additional layer. It deals with issues of religious authorities, prejudices, family trauma, friendship, and bodily autonomy.
I was very quickly taken in by the premise of the book, and the whole wood lore and small town aesthetic was just perfect for me. I was also very quickly interested in Leah's family dynamic. Her mother’s lack of maternal affection, which Leah had lost to her new baby brother, Owen, the way Leah was continuously being displaced by said brother and their own difficult relationship.
The main plot begins when Leah loses Owen and is forced, like a combination of a sacrficial lamb and a repentant villain, to enter the forest and barter with the Lord of the Woods, Tristan, to reclaim her brother. Seemingly haunted by the past girls whose babies were taken by the Lord of the Woods - the bad ones - Leah is forced to see beneath the myth and superstition. And so is the reader. The book works on many levels with that element of uncovering the truth. Leah discovers that men and religion have taken advantage of the Lord of the Woods to escape the consequences of their actions, to continue villifying young women - espeically ones that don't follow the well set up path of the good girl they all pretend to want - and control their community. And of course, this control is reinforced because the entire town wants it to, because it is easier to feel good when you have scapegoat victims. The truth becomes irrelevant in the end.
Leah's body becomes the centrepiece for a lot of these plots. She is forced to give birth and then lie about her relationship with Owen, while her mother fulfils her dream of having another baby through Leah's body. She has to physically experience multiple women violently drowning, so the truth of their fates is revealed. She has to risk her body again to allow the ghosts to take their revenge on the pastor. Her body, her physical presence, remains a problem even after she has done all that. Only in the village where Tristan is, Leah's body is cared for. Only there, Leah is allowed to give in to her body's desire without the label of "the bad one."
All these issues around her body interplay with the other major themes. She sees her mistakes, which resulted in her pregnancy, through her body, and they cost Leah her mother and father. Her displacement within her family, literally being forced out of her room, is because of what her body did. I wish that the book delved into that more. I want to see a proper confrontation between Leah and her mother. I want to learn how her father reacted when he called, and neither his daughter nor his grandson/son was home. What did he say to his wife when she admitted that she sent their last remaining child into the forest to die? Because no girl ever returned. I hope Leah comes out of the woods and demands those answers, or maybe Owen does because he will grow up surrounded by rumours in a community that is not kind.
In contrast, her friendship with Jess shines so brightly because Leah's worth does not diminish to Jess after her pregnancy is revealed. Actually, Jess comes to save her and is able to understand Leah's cry for help, when Leah has no body for Jess to see, feel, or hear.
Finally, religion removes Leah's soul from her body in the way the Pastor treats her. She is meant to physically suffer because she strayed from the path. And even when she gains her salvation by bringing Owen back, they see her as just a body that needs to disappear. I thought a lot about this and why they wanted that for Leah. No man would be burdened if she and Owen returned. I think the most likely explanation is that they wanted to keep the prejudices vivid within their community. They gained more strength by no girl returning than by one coming back and having won her place back with the town. Then, they would have to practically exercise forgiveness. In the end, as we see, that is what most of the town seems to want as well. For Leah to vanish, instead of being a constant reminder that there is cruelty and corruption amid them. That their leaders were more corrupt than the girls they labelled evil, and so many girls and babies died for no real reason at all.
It plays beautifully against Tristan's worldview and rules. He takes only those who are given and is always willing to return the babies when the parent proves they deserve them back.
"My Throat An Open Grave" is a beautiful book filled with messages and a fascinating lore behind it. Perfect for fans of folk horror!
The novel deals with various subjects, and, as Bovalino claimed herself in her acknowledgements, is directly linked thematically to recent political incidents. But you don't need to have any knowledge of them to read the book. It just adds an additional layer. It deals with issues of religious authorities, prejudices, family trauma, friendship, and bodily autonomy.
I was very quickly taken in by the premise of the book, and the whole wood lore and small town aesthetic was just perfect for me. I was also very quickly interested in Leah's family dynamic. Her mother’s lack of maternal affection, which Leah had lost to her new baby brother, Owen, the way Leah was continuously being displaced by said brother and their own difficult relationship.
The main plot begins when Leah loses Owen and is forced, like a combination of a sacrficial lamb and a repentant villain, to enter the forest and barter with the Lord of the Woods, Tristan, to reclaim her brother. Seemingly haunted by the past girls whose babies were taken by the Lord of the Woods - the bad ones - Leah is forced to see beneath the myth and superstition. And so is the reader. The book works on many levels with that element of uncovering the truth. Leah discovers that men and religion have taken advantage of the Lord of the Woods to escape the consequences of their actions, to continue villifying young women - espeically ones that don't follow the well set up path of the good girl they all pretend to want - and control their community. And of course, this control is reinforced because the entire town wants it to, because it is easier to feel good when you have scapegoat victims. The truth becomes irrelevant in the end.
Leah's body becomes the centrepiece for a lot of these plots. She is forced to give birth and then lie about her relationship with Owen, while her mother fulfils her dream of having another baby through Leah's body. She has to physically experience multiple women violently drowning, so the truth of their fates is revealed. She has to risk her body again to allow the ghosts to take their revenge on the pastor. Her body, her physical presence, remains a problem even after she has done all that. Only in the village where Tristan is, Leah's body is cared for. Only there, Leah is allowed to give in to her body's desire without the label of "the bad one."
All these issues around her body interplay with the other major themes. She sees her mistakes, which resulted in her pregnancy, through her body, and they cost Leah her mother and father. Her displacement within her family, literally being forced out of her room, is because of what her body did. I wish that the book delved into that more. I want to see a proper confrontation between Leah and her mother. I want to learn how her father reacted when he called, and neither his daughter nor his grandson/son was home. What did he say to his wife when she admitted that she sent their last remaining child into the forest to die? Because no girl ever returned. I hope Leah comes out of the woods and demands those answers, or maybe Owen does because he will grow up surrounded by rumours in a community that is not kind.
In contrast, her friendship with Jess shines so brightly because Leah's worth does not diminish to Jess after her pregnancy is revealed. Actually, Jess comes to save her and is able to understand Leah's cry for help, when Leah has no body for Jess to see, feel, or hear.
Finally, religion removes Leah's soul from her body in the way the Pastor treats her. She is meant to physically suffer because she strayed from the path. And even when she gains her salvation by bringing Owen back, they see her as just a body that needs to disappear. I thought a lot about this and why they wanted that for Leah. No man would be burdened if she and Owen returned. I think the most likely explanation is that they wanted to keep the prejudices vivid within their community. They gained more strength by no girl returning than by one coming back and having won her place back with the town. Then, they would have to practically exercise forgiveness. In the end, as we see, that is what most of the town seems to want as well. For Leah to vanish, instead of being a constant reminder that there is cruelty and corruption amid them. That their leaders were more corrupt than the girls they labelled evil, and so many girls and babies died for no real reason at all.
It plays beautifully against Tristan's worldview and rules. He takes only those who are given and is always willing to return the babies when the parent proves they deserve them back.
"My Throat An Open Grave" is a beautiful book filled with messages and a fascinating lore behind it. Perfect for fans of folk horror!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexism
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
"The Fox Wife" by Yangsze Choo is a beautiful story of longing revenge, second chances, and grief. We follow two characters as their individual journeys bring their respective stories closer to each other, chapter by chapter. The first one is narrated by Snow, a fox spirit, who is attempting to locate and kill a photographer who she blames for her child's death. Meanwhile, the second narrative follows Bao, a private investigator who is tasked to identify a mysterious courtesan who was found frozen to death one night. The dual POVs are a mix of first and third-person narratives, which I thoroughly enjoyed as a format.
I have often said that the books that make the deepest impact on me are those I take longer to read. "The Fox Wife" is one of those books. It took me nearly two weeks to finish because it was so full of messages, and it had much to teach me. It didn’t feel like that when I was reading, but after I stopped and considered all it offered me, my mind needed time. Part of the learning was the lore and history of a part of the world that I know very little about. The story in early 1900s, Manchuria and the characters travel to Japan for a while, too. It gave me a tiny window into women's history of that time, their rights and difficulties, the objectification of courtesans who are bound to prostitution by debt and the revolutionary ideas that began bubbling at that time. All of these led me to my own research on Chinese history.
The folklore part of the book was more familiar to me, but I had never read a book about foxes. I thought the choice of the narrative and associations made between the female foxes, who can transform into extraordinary beautiful women, and courtesans was fascinating. Beautiful girls were lured into traps by handsome men, who promised them marriage and a family, only to betray them by selling them to prostitution. Foxes are hunted by men for their beauty, too, and their lore is filled with stories of horrible seductresses who destroy men's sanity. Putting these together brought me to one question: Why is female beauty vilified? The beautiful men who seduce girls away from their families are never judged in the story. The male foxes, equally maddeningly attractive, escape it too.
This hunting of women is how Snow's story begins, as a man approaches her, tries to befriend her for the purpose of selling her. Snow herself comments how his expression worsens as she reveals information about herself and lowers her market value.
The hunt never stops either. Even Bao is hunting for a woman, first to identify the dead courtesan's identity, then to locate another mysterious courtesan who disappeared from a mansion, leaving a desperate man behind her, and above all for Tagtaa, his childhood sweetheart, who was taken out of his life so violently.
"The Fox Wife" is full of reflections. One that I especially loved was the mirroring between Tagtaa's reconnection with Bao and Snow's with Kuro. Although different circumstances separated them, we saw two love stories that had been violently severed, but fate brought them back together. It is such a hopeful message that these second chances are allowed, at least in fiction and, sometimes, in real life, too.
The book has many side characters and plots, and I personally appreciate that the reader doesn't get to see all of their resolutions. The secondary character that I personally enjoyed exploring the most was Shiro, the white male fox who crosses paths with Snow and is most likely the reason the courtesan that Bao tries to identify froze to death. His story is also one of longing love and family, even though his desire for them is shallow. His loneliness pulses all around him. He is surrounded by people who don't understand him, and he sees no value in any of them. His devoid of emotions encounters have exhausted him, but that same element also stops him from trying to change his ways and find more meaningful relationships. Snow and Tagtaa's relationship is an example that there can be deeper emotional connections between foxes and humans.
A beautifully written novel! An endearing story of longing, second chances, and the journey of grief and reconciliation.
I have often said that the books that make the deepest impact on me are those I take longer to read. "The Fox Wife" is one of those books. It took me nearly two weeks to finish because it was so full of messages, and it had much to teach me. It didn’t feel like that when I was reading, but after I stopped and considered all it offered me, my mind needed time. Part of the learning was the lore and history of a part of the world that I know very little about. The story in early 1900s, Manchuria and the characters travel to Japan for a while, too. It gave me a tiny window into women's history of that time, their rights and difficulties, the objectification of courtesans who are bound to prostitution by debt and the revolutionary ideas that began bubbling at that time. All of these led me to my own research on Chinese history.
The folklore part of the book was more familiar to me, but I had never read a book about foxes. I thought the choice of the narrative and associations made between the female foxes, who can transform into extraordinary beautiful women, and courtesans was fascinating. Beautiful girls were lured into traps by handsome men, who promised them marriage and a family, only to betray them by selling them to prostitution. Foxes are hunted by men for their beauty, too, and their lore is filled with stories of horrible seductresses who destroy men's sanity. Putting these together brought me to one question: Why is female beauty vilified? The beautiful men who seduce girls away from their families are never judged in the story. The male foxes, equally maddeningly attractive, escape it too.
This hunting of women is how Snow's story begins, as a man approaches her, tries to befriend her for the purpose of selling her. Snow herself comments how his expression worsens as she reveals information about herself and lowers her market value.
The hunt never stops either. Even Bao is hunting for a woman, first to identify the dead courtesan's identity, then to locate another mysterious courtesan who disappeared from a mansion, leaving a desperate man behind her, and above all for Tagtaa, his childhood sweetheart, who was taken out of his life so violently.
"The Fox Wife" is full of reflections. One that I especially loved was the mirroring between Tagtaa's reconnection with Bao and Snow's with Kuro. Although different circumstances separated them, we saw two love stories that had been violently severed, but fate brought them back together. It is such a hopeful message that these second chances are allowed, at least in fiction and, sometimes, in real life, too.
The book has many side characters and plots, and I personally appreciate that the reader doesn't get to see all of their resolutions. The secondary character that I personally enjoyed exploring the most was Shiro, the white male fox who crosses paths with Snow and is most likely the reason the courtesan that Bao tries to identify froze to death. His story is also one of longing love and family, even though his desire for them is shallow. His loneliness pulses all around him. He is surrounded by people who don't understand him, and he sees no value in any of them. His devoid of emotions encounters have exhausted him, but that same element also stops him from trying to change his ways and find more meaningful relationships. Snow and Tagtaa's relationship is an example that there can be deeper emotional connections between foxes and humans.
A beautifully written novel! An endearing story of longing, second chances, and the journey of grief and reconciliation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
I devoured "Starling House" by Alix E. Harrow! The book is an intimate horror story about a house with a mysterious past and its secretive line of residents. It has small town aesthetics, corporate evil, eco horror undertones, and no dull moment. It honestly was so great to read a book filled with so many messages,such a strong voice, and a mystery that made you catch your breath at every turn of the page.
Writing this review is hard because I finished this book this morning, and I am still incredibly excited by it. Like with many characters in the book, Starling House entered my dreams. But, I willed myself awake so I could read what happens next.
On the more serious, less fangirling note, "Starling House" plays with many themes, but the main ones, for me, were the illusion of true history and familial obligations. Both of these themes are not only explored through the characters but are driving forces for the plot. The harsh search for the truth is also a pivotal aspect of the book's structure.
The theme of the illusion of true history is explored through fables and folk tales, urban myths, and google searches. It all begins with a children's story, which, like all good fiction, hides the truth behind it. But because reading is not a pastime for the faint of heart, it demands that you synchronise emotion and logic to dig beyond the surface and get to the truth. Harrow reminds us in this novel that, even when you search for the truth behind a children's story, there are many layers of truth, and all of them are 100% real. Like Opal, I was searching for the unequivocal facts of the origin of Eleanor Starling. When the truth was revealed (Shhhh.... spoilers), I understood that Harrow had been preparing me to hear it all alone, and yet, it still shocked me, and I cried for it. It is for this reading that I loved the ending and how Harrow resisted giving an unchallenging finale. It reminded me that even after Opal dug so deep to find the truth, the story was not quite over. If she kept searching, more narratives of what happened would unfold. It was, after all, not just Eleanor's story but the collective memory of a town.
Which was a tribute to the real-life inspiration of the story. Stripped from the magic, the gothic aesthetics and the softer edges, the real life case of a town (Not Eden) consumed by greed, built on human suffering and endured until its bitter end thanks to short term profiting and long term indifference is visible. "Starling House" is just another narrative searching for the truth behind that story.
(Read Harrow's blog for more information on the town Eden alludes to)
The search for honest information is framing the book as it reads partly like a fictionalised version of a non-fiction book, treating its characters like real historical figures. Its ending is a homage to these kinds of books as well. It asks us, I felt, as fellow humans to never stop searching for what lies behind the smirks of our friends, our parents' idiosyncrasies, and the misfortunes that surround us. And, at the same time, it tells us that dreams and stories exist to save us from the harsh reality, so long as we don't let the fantastical worlds take over completely.
The second theme was family identity. I am sure anyone who has read one review by me would immediately know that I always find myself attracted to anything family and identity related. Like a moth to the flame, I long to be burned exploring these issues. This book was about the absence of family and how much characters longed for equal human contact. Opal loved her brother, clutched onto him to save herself from facing inwards but she understood, slowly and painfully, that she longed for a partnership of equal footing, and let her brother go free to find it. Arthur couldn't abandon the house his parents lived in because he couldn't forgive himself for not appreciating them while he had them. Opal is surrounded by her mother's ghosts and women who became parent, aunt, cousin, and friend in her life, but she never looked enough to see them. Arthur keeps having to deal with Opal, who becomes his first honest human connection in adulthood. And Eleanor stands alone, with only Underland as her companion.
I cried reading this book. I trembled with excitement reading it. "Starling House" is a story of befriending the mosters instead of taking up the sword because the real monsters of this world we live in are not made of mist and magic. They are flesh and bone. They live in shiny castles and lord over land. They can only be taken down if we all, together, desire hard enough to break their shield walls, accepting the bitter truth that some of us must also be hit by the falling rumble.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Writing this review is hard because I finished this book this morning, and I am still incredibly excited by it. Like with many characters in the book, Starling House entered my dreams. But, I willed myself awake so I could read what happens next.
On the more serious, less fangirling note, "Starling House" plays with many themes, but the main ones, for me, were the illusion of true history and familial obligations. Both of these themes are not only explored through the characters but are driving forces for the plot. The harsh search for the truth is also a pivotal aspect of the book's structure.
The theme of the illusion of true history is explored through fables and folk tales, urban myths, and google searches. It all begins with a children's story, which, like all good fiction, hides the truth behind it. But because reading is not a pastime for the faint of heart, it demands that you synchronise emotion and logic to dig beyond the surface and get to the truth. Harrow reminds us in this novel that, even when you search for the truth behind a children's story, there are many layers of truth, and all of them are 100% real. Like Opal, I was searching for the unequivocal facts of the origin of Eleanor Starling. When the truth was revealed (Shhhh.... spoilers), I understood that Harrow had been preparing me to hear it all alone, and yet, it still shocked me, and I cried for it. It is for this reading that I loved the ending and how Harrow resisted giving an unchallenging finale. It reminded me that even after Opal dug so deep to find the truth, the story was not quite over. If she kept searching, more narratives of what happened would unfold. It was, after all, not just Eleanor's story but the collective memory of a town.
Which was a tribute to the real-life inspiration of the story. Stripped from the magic, the gothic aesthetics and the softer edges, the real life case of a town (Not Eden) consumed by greed, built on human suffering and endured until its bitter end thanks to short term profiting and long term indifference is visible. "Starling House" is just another narrative searching for the truth behind that story.
(Read Harrow's blog for more information on the town Eden alludes to)
The search for honest information is framing the book as it reads partly like a fictionalised version of a non-fiction book, treating its characters like real historical figures. Its ending is a homage to these kinds of books as well. It asks us, I felt, as fellow humans to never stop searching for what lies behind the smirks of our friends, our parents' idiosyncrasies, and the misfortunes that surround us. And, at the same time, it tells us that dreams and stories exist to save us from the harsh reality, so long as we don't let the fantastical worlds take over completely.
The second theme was family identity. I am sure anyone who has read one review by me would immediately know that I always find myself attracted to anything family and identity related. Like a moth to the flame, I long to be burned exploring these issues. This book was about the absence of family and how much characters longed for equal human contact. Opal loved her brother, clutched onto him to save herself from facing inwards but she understood, slowly and painfully, that she longed for a partnership of equal footing, and let her brother go free to find it. Arthur couldn't abandon the house his parents lived in because he couldn't forgive himself for not appreciating them while he had them. Opal is surrounded by her mother's ghosts and women who became parent, aunt, cousin, and friend in her life, but she never looked enough to see them. Arthur keeps having to deal with Opal, who becomes his first honest human connection in adulthood. And Eleanor stands alone, with only Underland as her companion.
I cried reading this book. I trembled with excitement reading it. "Starling House" is a story of befriending the mosters instead of taking up the sword because the real monsters of this world we live in are not made of mist and magic. They are flesh and bone. They live in shiny castles and lord over land. They can only be taken down if we all, together, desire hard enough to break their shield walls, accepting the bitter truth that some of us must also be hit by the falling rumble.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
"Foxglove" by Adalyn Grace is the second book in the 'Belladonna' series. It continues to follow Signa Farrow as she has to live with the repercussions of saving Blythe's life. This book brings a change as a second point of view is introduced. We get to see how Blythe, who spends most of the first book bedridden and on the brink of death, deals with coming back to the world of the living.
Like the first instalment in the series,I enjoyed this book! "Foxglove" felt darker than "Belladonna" because the relationships explored were more complicated, and the cost was more dear. This added layer is mostly the reason I enjoyed this book more, although at the first few pages, it didn't feel that way.
The introduction of Fate, Death's brother initially made me slightly cringe as it reminded me of some other books (I don't want to mention titles) which included similar characters and I hadn't enjoyed at all. BUT I warmed to Fate, and by the end of the book, I was really comfortable and interested to see what would happen next with him and Blythe.
In this book, it's the concept of life and free will that conquers all. Fate has the power to force his will on almost everyone in the book, and he is the kind of God-like persona that will use it. People's lives are his artistic work, and he can weave the next step of their future all he likes. It was hinted, though very strongly that, despite his power and that he doesn't have any concerns using it, Fate longs for something genuine, something that he didn't force to happen. He doesn't know it, but the reader, Signa and Death, do.
This concept also links with Signa's lasting concerns regarding her choices in the first book. She also used her power to decide who lives and dies, reweaving Fate's tapestry of two lives and drawing his attention to her. This darkness looms over her every interaction and relationship in "Foxglove." Especially with Blythe, for whom she did it!
We get to see more of Blythe in this book. I still have a lingering issue from the first book that the establishment of Signa and Blythe's relationship was not quite earned, but this didn't affect my deepening interest as the plot progressed. If "Belladonna" was about cementing Signa and Death's romance, "Foxglove" was about giving deep roots to Signa and Blythe's sisterhood friendship. This thread of the book was one of the strongest.
It also acted a really interesting mirror to the very broken brotherhood between Death and Fate. We learned in summary how their relationship broke but I am very much hoping that there will be a confrontation between them for the lost love, for the loneliness they both experienced away from each other all these years. My personal opinion is that Death is very, very hurt by this and needs to put all his hurt on the table.
I also really loved it when we got to see Foxglove Manor. It was, I think, Signa's most valuable development visiting her ancestral home and being welcomed by it. Her powers felt like they were given to her so she could return to that house, which I really liked as a concept. I very much hope the mystery of her parents' death will be the next sleuthing effort.
Finally, although the sleuthing part of the story was a bit more secondary in Signa's chapters, I really enjoyed this new mystery that Blythe tried so desperately to untangle and save her father. Unlike the crime of the first book, this was less complicated, and I personally felt less grey. There was a lot more humanity to the perpetrator that was revealed, even though they were a less likeable character (shhh spoilers!).
As I mentioned in my review of "Belladonna," books like these are my guilty pleasure. I am a sucker for all period stories with magic. And if you also love this romanticized idea of the past with modern sentimentalities and magical powers, this series is for you! If you enjoyed "Belladonna," then I suggest you give "Foxglove" a try yourself as it has a lot of fascinating developments for Signa Farrow, Death, the Hawthorne Family, Fate and even more ghosts than the previous book!
Like the first instalment in the series,I enjoyed this book! "Foxglove" felt darker than "Belladonna" because the relationships explored were more complicated, and the cost was more dear. This added layer is mostly the reason I enjoyed this book more, although at the first few pages, it didn't feel that way.
The introduction of Fate, Death's brother initially made me slightly cringe as it reminded me of some other books (I don't want to mention titles) which included similar characters and I hadn't enjoyed at all. BUT I warmed to Fate, and by the end of the book, I was really comfortable and interested to see what would happen next with him and Blythe.
In this book, it's the concept of life and free will that conquers all. Fate has the power to force his will on almost everyone in the book, and he is the kind of God-like persona that will use it. People's lives are his artistic work, and he can weave the next step of their future all he likes. It was hinted, though very strongly that, despite his power and that he doesn't have any concerns using it, Fate longs for something genuine, something that he didn't force to happen. He doesn't know it, but the reader, Signa and Death, do.
This concept also links with Signa's lasting concerns regarding her choices in the first book. She also used her power to decide who lives and dies, reweaving Fate's tapestry of two lives and drawing his attention to her. This darkness looms over her every interaction and relationship in "Foxglove." Especially with Blythe, for whom she did it!
We get to see more of Blythe in this book. I still have a lingering issue from the first book that the establishment of Signa and Blythe's relationship was not quite earned, but this didn't affect my deepening interest as the plot progressed. If "Belladonna" was about cementing Signa and Death's romance, "Foxglove" was about giving deep roots to Signa and Blythe's sisterhood friendship. This thread of the book was one of the strongest.
It also acted a really interesting mirror to the very broken brotherhood between Death and Fate. We learned in summary how their relationship broke but I am very much hoping that there will be a confrontation between them for the lost love, for the loneliness they both experienced away from each other all these years. My personal opinion is that Death is very, very hurt by this and needs to put all his hurt on the table.
I also really loved it when we got to see Foxglove Manor. It was, I think, Signa's most valuable development visiting her ancestral home and being welcomed by it. Her powers felt like they were given to her so she could return to that house, which I really liked as a concept. I very much hope the mystery of her parents' death will be the next sleuthing effort.
Finally, although the sleuthing part of the story was a bit more secondary in Signa's chapters, I really enjoyed this new mystery that Blythe tried so desperately to untangle and save her father. Unlike the crime of the first book, this was less complicated, and I personally felt less grey. There was a lot more humanity to the perpetrator that was revealed, even though they were a less likeable character (shhh spoilers!).
As I mentioned in my review of "Belladonna," books like these are my guilty pleasure. I am a sucker for all period stories with magic. And if you also love this romanticized idea of the past with modern sentimentalities and magical powers, this series is for you! If you enjoyed "Belladonna," then I suggest you give "Foxglove" a try yourself as it has a lot of fascinating developments for Signa Farrow, Death, the Hawthorne Family, Fate and even more ghosts than the previous book!
Pillar of Ash by H.M. Long
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
"Pillar of Ash" by H.M.Long is the final instalment of the 'Hall of Smoke' series. In this book, the story follows Yske, the daughter of Hessa, who was the main character for the first two books.
Like the previous 'Hall of Smoke' books this one is not a direct sequel and in many ways can act as a standalone book, but the reader will get a lot more from it if they have already read the previous books.
Like the previous books, I enjoyed this story immensely! I really love and admire Long's ability to offer a fast-paced, deeply personal writing style that never has a dull moment.
Unlike the previous main characters in this series, Yske is not a natural fighter and adventurer. She is a healer and a dedicated pacifist, which immediately contrasts with the dangers of her journey. Her personal arc to only heal and avoid conflict is one of the main threads of the book, and Yske is tested throughout the story. It is really interesting and unique to have a fantasy book from the point of view of someone who not only doesn't know how to fight but has a deep, traumatic dislike towards violence. It is refreshingly modern.
Another theme that is lovingly explored in this book is family relationships, and especially siblings. Yske's resolution to fulfil this journey stems from her sisterly love towards her twin, Berin, who is much more the stereotypical fantasy hero. I really loved the swap and how it was Yske's healing and self sacrificial power that brought the book to a close, instead of the traditional fantasy trope of the hero warrior. Their relationship also grows, reflecting within it Yske's controversial place in her mainly warrior society. Berin's approach to his sister changes as he realises her value beyond his own love for her, and he also matures watching her. There is a lot he can learn from his twin about life.
Unlike the previous books in the series, in "Pillar of Ash," there is a stronger romantic subelement. I began shipping Yske and Isik from their first interaction. I really adored that this wasn't a relationship that just began but a rekindling of an older quietened flame. It was slow and real and never the focus of Yske's life. It was, though, always important.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. It had many cameos from previous books and was a wonderful finalé to all these separate stories taking place in the same world. I am sad that this world is saying goodbye. I will always hold a tiny hope that as the years pass, Long might want to give us one more story in this world.
Like others, I would also comp this series with Skyrim and, even if we never get another book, maybe someone in a game studio will read these stories and make an RPG game where more details of this world will come out.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Like the previous 'Hall of Smoke' books this one is not a direct sequel and in many ways can act as a standalone book, but the reader will get a lot more from it if they have already read the previous books.
Like the previous books, I enjoyed this story immensely! I really love and admire Long's ability to offer a fast-paced, deeply personal writing style that never has a dull moment.
Unlike the previous main characters in this series, Yske is not a natural fighter and adventurer. She is a healer and a dedicated pacifist, which immediately contrasts with the dangers of her journey. Her personal arc to only heal and avoid conflict is one of the main threads of the book, and Yske is tested throughout the story. It is really interesting and unique to have a fantasy book from the point of view of someone who not only doesn't know how to fight but has a deep, traumatic dislike towards violence. It is refreshingly modern.
Another theme that is lovingly explored in this book is family relationships, and especially siblings. Yske's resolution to fulfil this journey stems from her sisterly love towards her twin, Berin, who is much more the stereotypical fantasy hero. I really loved the swap and how it was Yske's healing and self sacrificial power that brought the book to a close, instead of the traditional fantasy trope of the hero warrior. Their relationship also grows, reflecting within it Yske's controversial place in her mainly warrior society. Berin's approach to his sister changes as he realises her value beyond his own love for her, and he also matures watching her. There is a lot he can learn from his twin about life.
Unlike the previous books in the series, in "Pillar of Ash," there is a stronger romantic subelement. I began shipping Yske and Isik from their first interaction. I really adored that this wasn't a relationship that just began but a rekindling of an older quietened flame. It was slow and real and never the focus of Yske's life. It was, though, always important.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. It had many cameos from previous books and was a wonderful finalé to all these separate stories taking place in the same world. I am sad that this world is saying goodbye. I will always hold a tiny hope that as the years pass, Long might want to give us one more story in this world.
Like others, I would also comp this series with Skyrim and, even if we never get another book, maybe someone in a game studio will read these stories and make an RPG game where more details of this world will come out.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Belladonna Invitation by Rose Biggin
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"The Belladonna Invitation" by Rose Biggin is a magical, sensational, and elusive book about the Parisian Belle Epoque opera world.
The book is filled with illusions and half truths, passed over moments following a narrator who is an even bigger mystery than the protagonist, the famous soprano Belladonna. The writing is lyrical and very aesthetic! It invites you to give in to your most debased desires and look behind the perfect facade the characters present. It feels like a mirror to our own reality filled with social media and posed posts with the main aim to make us envy their perfection. Even though we all know that it's a surface lie.
Illusion and different perceptions of truth are some of the most consistent themes in the book, and they are examined through various perspectives. Love. Friendship. Work. Society. We pierce through all these facades because, unlike what the characters want us to believe, their defences are not that strong, and their lies are not very well told.
The second theme that really stood out to me in the book is desire. Our narrator enters the sycophantic world of the demimonde following a desire born out of the Belladonna's illusion. F.'s truth is the most hidden and well-kept secret in the book. Other people's desires are explored through F.'s viewpoint, but, to me, it was always her why what kept me compelled in the story. Why did she give up everything? Why did she stay? Why did she allow herself to be nearly invisible to stand close to the Belladonna?
It is a difficult book to categorize, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story is very compelling. The mystery kept me on edge, and the characters were deliciously unethical.
The book is filled with illusions and half truths, passed over moments following a narrator who is an even bigger mystery than the protagonist, the famous soprano Belladonna. The writing is lyrical and very aesthetic! It invites you to give in to your most debased desires and look behind the perfect facade the characters present. It feels like a mirror to our own reality filled with social media and posed posts with the main aim to make us envy their perfection. Even though we all know that it's a surface lie.
Illusion and different perceptions of truth are some of the most consistent themes in the book, and they are examined through various perspectives. Love. Friendship. Work. Society. We pierce through all these facades because, unlike what the characters want us to believe, their defences are not that strong, and their lies are not very well told.
The second theme that really stood out to me in the book is desire. Our narrator enters the sycophantic world of the demimonde following a desire born out of the Belladonna's illusion. F.'s truth is the most hidden and well-kept secret in the book. Other people's desires are explored through F.'s viewpoint, but, to me, it was always her why what kept me compelled in the story. Why did she give up everything? Why did she stay? Why did she allow herself to be nearly invisible to stand close to the Belladonna?
It is a difficult book to categorize, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story is very compelling. The mystery kept me on edge, and the characters were deliciously unethical.
Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
"Song of the Huntress" by Lucy Holland is a brilliant historical mythology inspired novel about the Wild Hunt. Set in the same world as her novel, "Sistersong," this book is an incredible masterpiece on merging fantasy, history, and mythology.
It also has Sistersong Easter eggs, which made me very happy reading them.
It's a multiple POV book that follows Herla, the Lord of the Hunt, Æthel who is the Queen of Wessex, and Ine, her husband and the King. I loved all three characters, and each offered its own unique stamp on the wider story. We get to be devastated by Herla's nearly hubric curse. Her choice of searching for dark powers is also so very human and costs her so dearly. Æthel's desire to be loved is contrasting with her sense of duty and the love she already feels for her husband. Finally, Ine, my favourite character, has his own unique arc, during which he needs to accept himself and share his truth with those he loves while also facing the consequences of his earlier fearful ruling.
Despite the characters finding themselves in battle very often, the book is about peace. I really liked that it explored peace in a more nuanced way and perhaps in some not very agreeable to me ways. It explores the very political idea of where the line between peace and inaction really is. For Ine, especially the novel forces him to answer and face a very tough and painful question. Is it peace he truly wants or to avoid conflict?
The theme of peace is further explored in Herla's story. She is looking for peace, too. Not the end of all strife but the end of her personal strife and pain. It's the more spiritual peace and the escape from her curse and deep felt guilt for being a woman out of time.
Æthel is searching for war because she can not find happiness in the made-up peace of her court life. Unable to feel love and contentment as she needs, she goes to battle. In a bizarre way her constant eagerness for battle is a search of inner peace and a cowardice (although that word might be too harsh) of facing the problems in her life that cannot be solved with a sword.
Then, on a higher level, there is the contrast of peace and war between two kingdoms, the living and the dead, and two faiths, which as the story is explored prove they share a lot of similarities. This is for me, especially highlighter through Ine and Cadwy. These two characters interplay with each other, and through their growing relationship, the similarities between Wessex and Dumnonia are further highlighted. Both cultures need to face their own past, from where their enmity and their similarities originate, and I think they do that best through Ine and Cadwy and their interchanging positions.
An exceptional book, clever which exposes some very dark themes, hopeless situations but also ends on a note of quiet hope, which makes it further real.
I received an ARC through NetGalley to provide an honest review.
It also has Sistersong Easter eggs, which made me very happy reading them.
It's a multiple POV book that follows Herla, the Lord of the Hunt, Æthel who is the Queen of Wessex, and Ine, her husband and the King. I loved all three characters, and each offered its own unique stamp on the wider story. We get to be devastated by Herla's nearly hubric curse. Her choice of searching for dark powers is also so very human and costs her so dearly. Æthel's desire to be loved is contrasting with her sense of duty and the love she already feels for her husband. Finally, Ine, my favourite character, has his own unique arc, during which he needs to accept himself and share his truth with those he loves while also facing the consequences of his earlier fearful ruling.
Despite the characters finding themselves in battle very often, the book is about peace. I really liked that it explored peace in a more nuanced way and perhaps in some not very agreeable to me ways. It explores the very political idea of where the line between peace and inaction really is. For Ine, especially the novel forces him to answer and face a very tough and painful question. Is it peace he truly wants or to avoid conflict?
The theme of peace is further explored in Herla's story. She is looking for peace, too. Not the end of all strife but the end of her personal strife and pain. It's the more spiritual peace and the escape from her curse and deep felt guilt for being a woman out of time.
Æthel is searching for war because she can not find happiness in the made-up peace of her court life. Unable to feel love and contentment as she needs, she goes to battle. In a bizarre way her constant eagerness for battle is a search of inner peace and a cowardice (although that word might be too harsh) of facing the problems in her life that cannot be solved with a sword.
Then, on a higher level, there is the contrast of peace and war between two kingdoms, the living and the dead, and two faiths, which as the story is explored prove they share a lot of similarities. This is for me, especially highlighter through Ine and Cadwy. These two characters interplay with each other, and through their growing relationship, the similarities between Wessex and Dumnonia are further highlighted. Both cultures need to face their own past, from where their enmity and their similarities originate, and I think they do that best through Ine and Cadwy and their interchanging positions.
An exceptional book, clever which exposes some very dark themes, hopeless situations but also ends on a note of quiet hope, which makes it further real.
I received an ARC through NetGalley to provide an honest review.
Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
"Tales of the Celestial Kingdom" is a collection of short stories set in the same world as "The Daughter of the Moon Goddess" and "The Heart of the Sun Warrior." It offers the chance to see the world through other characters' points of view and read the story of Xingyin's parents, both retellings of Chinese mythology.
I think this collection is a treat to anyone who really enjoyed the original duology and wanted a little more. I personally was so happy to read Liwei's and Wenzhi's POVs. I particularly enjoyed their stories that took place during the original books' plots.
The epilogue was lovely, too, the last chance to hear Xingyin's voice and give her a happy ending and see her embark on the next chapter in her life. In some ways, I would have liked an entire book of how she and Wenzhi fell in love anew and the mortal family that surrounded him was explored more. But I am really happy that we got this epilogue as well!
I think this collection is a treat to anyone who really enjoyed the original duology and wanted a little more. I personally was so happy to read Liwei's and Wenzhi's POVs. I particularly enjoyed their stories that took place during the original books' plots.
The epilogue was lovely, too, the last chance to hear Xingyin's voice and give her a happy ending and see her embark on the next chapter in her life. In some ways, I would have liked an entire book of how she and Wenzhi fell in love anew and the mortal family that surrounded him was explored more. But I am really happy that we got this epilogue as well!
Dreams of Fire by Shauna Lawless
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
"Dreams of Fire" by Shauna Lawless is a beautiful novella in her "Gael Song" world. It is a prequel story that follows Rónnat, Fódla's sister, and her slow realization that she is not a witch as she had thought but a prophetess.
The story read like a beautiful early summer swim to me. It was warm and cool at all the right moments, and it made me so happy. It lifted my mind into that imaginary and historical setting and soothed me so deeply that I am so grateful to Shauna for publishing it when she did.
There is a unique comfort that getting to dive into a fictional world you know and love offers.
Outside of my emotional needs, the novella was wonderful! Rónnat was a delightful protagonist and narrator. I loved how shrewd and observant she was with the world around her. Her entire viewpoint was a foreshadowing of things to come, and this is not only by her gift of seing glimpses ot the future but also because of her own character. She was the best person to suffer the pain of prophecy because just by her own intellect, Rónnat could see the dangers.
I also adored the sisterly bond between Rónnat and Fódla. This is a very strong part of the main series but because the Rónnat we see is the future version of this girl, when the dreams, the truth and the present are muddled together, there is more like an echo of the love than the one that was fully present in both women. It hurt so much (in the good way) to see the time before it all.
Many characters made cameo appearances from the main series, most young and without the power we recognise them by, and others were depicted in their prime.
If you liked the main books of the "Gael Song" series, this novella will not disappoint!
The story read like a beautiful early summer swim to me. It was warm and cool at all the right moments, and it made me so happy. It lifted my mind into that imaginary and historical setting and soothed me so deeply that I am so grateful to Shauna for publishing it when she did.
There is a unique comfort that getting to dive into a fictional world you know and love offers.
Outside of my emotional needs, the novella was wonderful! Rónnat was a delightful protagonist and narrator. I loved how shrewd and observant she was with the world around her. Her entire viewpoint was a foreshadowing of things to come, and this is not only by her gift of seing glimpses ot the future but also because of her own character. She was the best person to suffer the pain of prophecy because just by her own intellect, Rónnat could see the dangers.
I also adored the sisterly bond between Rónnat and Fódla. This is a very strong part of the main series but because the Rónnat we see is the future version of this girl, when the dreams, the truth and the present are muddled together, there is more like an echo of the love than the one that was fully present in both women. It hurt so much (in the good way) to see the time before it all.
Many characters made cameo appearances from the main series, most young and without the power we recognise them by, and others were depicted in their prime.
If you liked the main books of the "Gael Song" series, this novella will not disappoint!
This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances by Eric LaRocca
challenging
dark
sad
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
I received an ARC of this collection through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"This skin was once mine, and other disturbances by Eric LaRocca is a wonderfully creepy collection of tales, most revolving around elements of body horror. This was my second LaRocca read, and, although, I don't think it topped "It's been a while since we talked," it was an incredible collection, and I enjoyed all the stories.
LaRocca's writing is effective, through its surface level simplicity, to make you gasp at all the unexpected turns and horrible (but in a good way) ways the story progresses. His careful avoidance of using elaborate prose acts as an exemplification of how gory what happens in the story is. I didn’t have a monent to appreciate a beautifully placed word, and it would feel out of place for me to do that while reading the stories and being shocked at everything that happened.
There were 4 stories in this collection, and all of them were exceptional as horror tales. The two that stood out for me were "All the Parts of You That Won't Burn Easily" and "This Skin Was Once Mine.""
In "All the Parts of You That Won't Burn Easily," I really enjoyed the depiction of pain as a cure. Some parts of it are true as I can think of situations in which the cure is more painful than the illness, and you do it because you hope that once it's all over, it will all feel better. It also really made me think of a variety of practices that I heard older relatives say about how you can only remove one kind of pain but going through a painful treatment and hope, at the end, the original pain you feel will be gone. After reading this, I believe what they meant is that your tolerance for pain increases, and the previous issue appears smaller. Enoch's delving into massochism as a form of pleasurable pain was a self administered medicine from his incomplete life, which led him to more danger, in the face of an arsonist kidnapper (I think).
"This Skin Was Once Mine" (probably my favourite story) is about Jillian, a woman who returns home after her father's death and reunites with her mother. I was really intrigued by the family breakdown and was so surprised by the secrets that were revealed. For me, this was the most fast-paced story in the collection.
If you enjoy horror, nearly surreal, creepy stories, don't miss out on LaRocca's writing!
"This skin was once mine, and other disturbances by Eric LaRocca is a wonderfully creepy collection of tales, most revolving around elements of body horror. This was my second LaRocca read, and, although, I don't think it topped "It's been a while since we talked," it was an incredible collection, and I enjoyed all the stories.
LaRocca's writing is effective, through its surface level simplicity, to make you gasp at all the unexpected turns and horrible (but in a good way) ways the story progresses. His careful avoidance of using elaborate prose acts as an exemplification of how gory what happens in the story is. I didn’t have a monent to appreciate a beautifully placed word, and it would feel out of place for me to do that while reading the stories and being shocked at everything that happened.
There were 4 stories in this collection, and all of them were exceptional as horror tales. The two that stood out for me were "All the Parts of You That Won't Burn Easily" and "This Skin Was Once Mine.""
In "All the Parts of You That Won't Burn Easily," I really enjoyed the depiction of pain as a cure. Some parts of it are true as I can think of situations in which the cure is more painful than the illness, and you do it because you hope that once it's all over, it will all feel better. It also really made me think of a variety of practices that I heard older relatives say about how you can only remove one kind of pain but going through a painful treatment and hope, at the end, the original pain you feel will be gone. After reading this, I believe what they meant is that your tolerance for pain increases, and the previous issue appears smaller. Enoch's delving into massochism as a form of pleasurable pain was a self administered medicine from his incomplete life, which led him to more danger, in the face of an arsonist kidnapper (I think).
"This Skin Was Once Mine" (probably my favourite story) is about Jillian, a woman who returns home after her father's death and reunites with her mother. I was really intrigued by the family breakdown and was so surprised by the secrets that were revealed. For me, this was the most fast-paced story in the collection.
If you enjoy horror, nearly surreal, creepy stories, don't miss out on LaRocca's writing!