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lastblossom's reviews
194 reviews
The Charmed by Kylie Fennell
tl;dr
Dedicates most of it's time to the historical romance and the fantasy adventure. Mystery gets a bit lost along the way.
Thoughts
According to the description, this book is a blend of three genres: historical romance, mystery, and fantasy/fae stuff. I came away feeling like it mostly only hit two of those genres, with the mystery being more of a set piece rather than the core focus. The front of the book read mostly like a Victorian romance, complete with an intelligent lady trapped by societal expectations, and strong historical setting with some well-researched flourishes. The back half read mostly like a fantasy/fae adventure with magic, plot twists, and some interesting time travel(ish) lore. Yes, there is a murder. Yes, occasionally clues are found or suspects interviewed. But through it all, the mystery took a back seat to the developing romance and the much bigger fae plot that comes into focus, so anyone looking for your usual mystery plot might find themselves a bit deflated on that point. Anyone looking for a very romance-forward romp will probably find plenty to enjoy, however. Alice and Cyan's attraction isn't instant, but it is fast-paced and very passionate, with some medium steam and plenty of drama. Writing style is very straightforward, with copious narrative detail, and some compelling supporting cast (the informant in particular is a lot of fun). This is the first in a series, and I hope that future installments lean further into the fae lore set up here, because it feels like there's a lot to mine in there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lorikeet Ink for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Dedicates most of it's time to the historical romance and the fantasy adventure. Mystery gets a bit lost along the way.
Thoughts
According to the description, this book is a blend of three genres: historical romance, mystery, and fantasy/fae stuff. I came away feeling like it mostly only hit two of those genres, with the mystery being more of a set piece rather than the core focus. The front of the book read mostly like a Victorian romance, complete with an intelligent lady trapped by societal expectations, and strong historical setting with some well-researched flourishes. The back half read mostly like a fantasy/fae adventure with magic, plot twists, and some interesting time travel(ish) lore. Yes, there is a murder. Yes, occasionally clues are found or suspects interviewed. But through it all, the mystery took a back seat to the developing romance and the much bigger fae plot that comes into focus, so anyone looking for your usual mystery plot might find themselves a bit deflated on that point. Anyone looking for a very romance-forward romp will probably find plenty to enjoy, however. Alice and Cyan's attraction isn't instant, but it is fast-paced and very passionate, with some medium steam and plenty of drama. Writing style is very straightforward, with copious narrative detail, and some compelling supporting cast (the informant in particular is a lot of fun). This is the first in a series, and I hope that future installments lean further into the fae lore set up here, because it feels like there's a lot to mine in there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lorikeet Ink for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Blood, and Death
Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Dual leads and plots with plenty of romance. Not necessary to read the previous series to enjoy this one.
Thoughts
I spent so much of this book thinking "The sister has so much MC energy." Turns out the sister was the MC of the previous series, so, nice. The good news is I had no trouble understanding this book, even with no knowledge of the prior one. (There are, however, significant spoilers for the previous series.)
There are two main POVs and two plot lines running parallel. Jasalyn gets the lion's share of plot and development, with more action and adventure. I found myself caught up in the main mystery, and the reveal with equal parts surprising and scary. Jasalyn herself could probably have an easier time of it if she didn't hate all fae so much, something that other characters point out to her pretty quickly. I understand she'll likely grow out of it, but it was a frustrating roadblock. Felicity is easier to read because she has no such prejudices, although she falls prey to one of my lesser liked plot conceits - instalove. Even with the instalove, her storyline was my favorite, and I want only good things for her. I think fans of two broken hearts finding each other will probably really enjoy her plot.
I have no idea how this stacks up to the previous series, but readers who think this one sounds interesting should be totally comfortable jumping in here.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Dual leads and plots with plenty of romance. Not necessary to read the previous series to enjoy this one.
Thoughts
I spent so much of this book thinking "The sister has so much MC energy." Turns out the sister was the MC of the previous series, so, nice. The good news is I had no trouble understanding this book, even with no knowledge of the prior one. (There are, however, significant spoilers for the previous series.)
There are two main POVs and two plot lines running parallel. Jasalyn gets the lion's share of plot and development, with more action and adventure. I found myself caught up in the main mystery, and the reveal with equal parts surprising and scary. Jasalyn herself could probably have an easier time of it if she didn't hate all fae so much, something that other characters point out to her pretty quickly. I understand she'll likely grow out of it, but it was a frustrating roadblock. Felicity is easier to read because she has no such prejudices, although she falls prey to one of my lesser liked plot conceits - instalove. Even with the instalove, her storyline was my favorite, and I want only good things for her. I think fans of two broken hearts finding each other will probably really enjoy her plot.
I have no idea how this stacks up to the previous series, but readers who think this one sounds interesting should be totally comfortable jumping in here.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Death, War, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual harassment
Scenes of the Crime by Jilly Gagnon
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
High drama, bad blood, and toxic relationships are the building blocks of this twisty mystery. Takes a few chapters to pick up momentum.
Thoughts
There are no heroes in this story. It's not a book where you find someone to cheer for. Rather, it's the kind of book you read when you want to see how much trouble terrible people can get themselves into when they're stuck with each other, and it nails down that mood perfectly. Messy women, toxic friendships, and high drama rule the day, as our less-than-noble MC brings all her friends(?) together ostensibly to bring closure to trauma, but secretly to mine them for plot points on a script she's stalled out on. Everyone has secrets. Everyone's lying, most of all our POV narrator who - like all good writers - knows to never let the truth get in the way of a good story. What does get in the way, unfortunately, is the pacing. The setup takes time, and there were several moments where the plot felt like it meandered in the beginning. The second half of the book moves decidedly faster, bolstered by some clever writing and lots of cut-ins to the MC's "WIP script," of the events she's currently experiencing. It's a neat way to move things forward, as well as keep the reader guessing, and I liked all the reveals they included (or didn't!). Read it for the drama and allll the wine.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
High drama, bad blood, and toxic relationships are the building blocks of this twisty mystery. Takes a few chapters to pick up momentum.
Thoughts
There are no heroes in this story. It's not a book where you find someone to cheer for. Rather, it's the kind of book you read when you want to see how much trouble terrible people can get themselves into when they're stuck with each other, and it nails down that mood perfectly. Messy women, toxic friendships, and high drama rule the day, as our less-than-noble MC brings all her friends(?) together ostensibly to bring closure to trauma, but secretly to mine them for plot points on a script she's stalled out on. Everyone has secrets. Everyone's lying, most of all our POV narrator who - like all good writers - knows to never let the truth get in the way of a good story. What does get in the way, unfortunately, is the pacing. The setup takes time, and there were several moments where the plot felt like it meandered in the beginning. The second half of the book moves decidedly faster, bolstered by some clever writing and lots of cut-ins to the MC's "WIP script," of the events she's currently experiencing. It's a neat way to move things forward, as well as keep the reader guessing, and I liked all the reveals they included (or didn't!). Read it for the drama and allll the wine.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Murder, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Vomit
My Lovesick Life as a '90s Otaku, Vol. 1 by Nico Nicholson, Nico Nicholson
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A slice of life packed with nostalgia that should sit will with manga fans, no matter what age.
Thoughts
It's a good time to be an otaku. Anime and manga get theatrical releases, place of pride on shelves at big name bookstores, and Netflix adaptations. So it's weird to think that less than a generation ago, liking anime officially made you persona non grata in society. Single mother Megumi is working through these weird feelings as she reminisces on her high school years and her first crush. It's a bittersweet story tinged with nostalgia. Classic series, otaku penpals, and other fandom essentials from the 90s feature heavily. Older readers will reminisce. Newer readers will probably find parallels between current fandom practices. But at its core, everyone will understand. Public opinion on anime might be different these days, but the ache of trying to fit in in high school never changes. And that's where the heart of this lies. It's a sweet high school slice of life, with a hint of romance, and a heap of self discovery. Tying it in with her current day helps keep the story in focus, and I'm really curious to see if her past and future will ever line up - especially given some of the threads that are in here. Art is bold and expressive, with plenty of energy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy. All thoughts in this are my own!
A slice of life packed with nostalgia that should sit will with manga fans, no matter what age.
Thoughts
It's a good time to be an otaku. Anime and manga get theatrical releases, place of pride on shelves at big name bookstores, and Netflix adaptations. So it's weird to think that less than a generation ago, liking anime officially made you persona non grata in society. Single mother Megumi is working through these weird feelings as she reminisces on her high school years and her first crush. It's a bittersweet story tinged with nostalgia. Classic series, otaku penpals, and other fandom essentials from the 90s feature heavily. Older readers will reminisce. Newer readers will probably find parallels between current fandom practices. But at its core, everyone will understand. Public opinion on anime might be different these days, but the ache of trying to fit in in high school never changes. And that's where the heart of this lies. It's a sweet high school slice of life, with a hint of romance, and a heap of self discovery. Tying it in with her current day helps keep the story in focus, and I'm really curious to see if her past and future will ever line up - especially given some of the threads that are in here. Art is bold and expressive, with plenty of energy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy. All thoughts in this are my own!
Sound the Gong by Joan He
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
tl;dr
Even more of a roller coaster than the first one. War, plots, and an absolutely relentless MC race towards a powerful ending.
Thoughts
In my review for the previous book, I politely asked for an illustration of Crow, and we have generously been given two. (One on the cover, and one inside yet to come.) That's the only bit of generosity you'll see here - in the best way possible. War isn't pretty, and Zephyr won't pretend otherwise. No quarter given, no mercy granted. She's relentless in her quest to win this war, and she's willing to sacrifice anyone's life, hers included. If you want a ruthless MC who will REALLY do anything to win, this book will delight you. I put a question mark on the romance in the last book, and the question mark remains here. There's certainly attraction, but both Zephyr and Crow have bigger goals in mind, and seeing them square off again was great. But don't come in here expecting the twist to be they fall in love and change things. Love doesn't conquer all - Zephyr does. And it's messy and violent and a page-turning powerhouse with a satisfying ending.
As with the previous book, the author's notes in the back are also a great read, for anyone interested in the original Three Kingdoms account.
Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Even more of a roller coaster than the first one. War, plots, and an absolutely relentless MC race towards a powerful ending.
Thoughts
In my review for the previous book, I politely asked for an illustration of Crow, and we have generously been given two. (One on the cover, and one inside yet to come.) That's the only bit of generosity you'll see here - in the best way possible. War isn't pretty, and Zephyr won't pretend otherwise. No quarter given, no mercy granted. She's relentless in her quest to win this war, and she's willing to sacrifice anyone's life, hers included. If you want a ruthless MC who will REALLY do anything to win, this book will delight you. I put a question mark on the romance in the last book, and the question mark remains here. There's certainly attraction, but both Zephyr and Crow have bigger goals in mind, and seeing them square off again was great. But don't come in here expecting the twist to be they fall in love and change things. Love doesn't conquer all - Zephyr does. And it's messy and violent and a page-turning powerhouse with a satisfying ending.
As with the previous book, the author's notes in the back are also a great read, for anyone interested in the original Three Kingdoms account.
Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Confinement, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death
She's My Knight, Volume 1 by Saisou
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Light reading packed with gags for fans of shoujo manga.
Thoughts
Are YOU tired of high drama and convoluted plots? Want a read that's quick, light, and doesn't make you work for it? You've come to the right place! The series hangs on a single conceit - shoujo tropes but flip the genders. Chapters are quick with fast punchlines, with very little overarching plot to tie them together, so it's an easy read for anyone looking for some fun with no strings attached. The characters are all fairly goofy too, with a somewhat fourth wall-breaking knowledge of the tropes they are subverting, and my favorite parts were actually side characters' observations. Art is pretty and straightforward, with some fun comedic expressions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Light reading packed with gags for fans of shoujo manga.
Thoughts
Are YOU tired of high drama and convoluted plots? Want a read that's quick, light, and doesn't make you work for it? You've come to the right place! The series hangs on a single conceit - shoujo tropes but flip the genders. Chapters are quick with fast punchlines, with very little overarching plot to tie them together, so it's an easy read for anyone looking for some fun with no strings attached. The characters are all fairly goofy too, with a somewhat fourth wall-breaking knowledge of the tropes they are subverting, and my favorite parts were actually side characters' observations. Art is pretty and straightforward, with some fun comedic expressions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Winnie Zeng Shatters the Universe by Katie Zhao
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
tl;dr
The perfect conclusion to the previous two books, packed with action and adventure. And cookies!
Thoughts
Winnie's back for her third adventure, and she's better than ever! Literally. Winnie's been working hard to become a better shaman, and it shows. I spent the first book disappointed that she gave up so easily, and the second book cheering for her as she grew more confident in herself. In this third book, it's really great to see how far she's come as a shaman, and also as a person. There's a very beautiful coming of age arc over this trilogy that's paced out super well. It was also lovely to see her relationship with David turn into a friendly rivalry rather than full animosity. Far away from the requirements of homework and family, we finally get into the full-on adventure that I've been pining for in the previous two books. A tournament arc! The culmination of all the mysterious threats from previous installments! The tournament in particular was extra fun - fights were clear and easy to read, with some clever tactics in play. Also, there's a spirit boba shop, and I want to visit. As with the previous two books, this one includes recipes for readers to try their hand at baking. Winnie's own original recipe looks like it'd be awesome. The book seems to close the series for now, but the end is just open enough that we might get more in the future. One can only hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
The perfect conclusion to the previous two books, packed with action and adventure. And cookies!
Thoughts
Winnie's back for her third adventure, and she's better than ever! Literally. Winnie's been working hard to become a better shaman, and it shows. I spent the first book disappointed that she gave up so easily, and the second book cheering for her as she grew more confident in herself. In this third book, it's really great to see how far she's come as a shaman, and also as a person. There's a very beautiful coming of age arc over this trilogy that's paced out super well. It was also lovely to see her relationship with David turn into a friendly rivalry rather than full animosity. Far away from the requirements of homework and family, we finally get into the full-on adventure that I've been pining for in the previous two books. A tournament arc! The culmination of all the mysterious threats from previous installments! The tournament in particular was extra fun - fights were clear and easy to read, with some clever tactics in play. Also, there's a spirit boba shop, and I want to visit. As with the previous two books, this one includes recipes for readers to try their hand at baking. Winnie's own original recipe looks like it'd be awesome. The book seems to close the series for now, but the end is just open enough that we might get more in the future. One can only hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Sir Callie and the Dragon's Roost by Esme Symes-Smith
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
tl;dr
A sharply realistic tale (even with the dragons!), with a lot of heavy emotions at play and some clean world building.
Thoughts
Well, dang. I already noted that the previous book was a very stressful read for me, despite the fact that it was very good. The good news is this book was not stressful in the same way. The bad news is, it was stressful in entirely different ways. But at least it's accurate, and I appreciate that. Progress is often slow and incremental, and it would be disingenuous to suggest after the first book that every problem has been fixed with a single victory. Instead, Callie and their friends are still met with suspicion and animosity. Even the adults who love them spend most of their time placating other adults. Edwyn's story, in particular, means a lot to me, and I only want good things for him. But despite all the stressors, there's a lot of hope, and a lot of joy in here too. The world is not over, even when things are difficult. And the joy in being one's self is so great. We also get to The Roost, which is beautifully described. I also appreciated the lesson that even heroes are not necessarily immune to propaganda, and it's important for all of us to question our assumptions. There's a cliffhanger at the end of this, so now I have to sit around and wait for the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Labyrinth Road for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A sharply realistic tale (even with the dragons!), with a lot of heavy emotions at play and some clean world building.
Thoughts
Well, dang. I already noted that the previous book was a very stressful read for me, despite the fact that it was very good. The good news is this book was not stressful in the same way. The bad news is, it was stressful in entirely different ways. But at least it's accurate, and I appreciate that. Progress is often slow and incremental, and it would be disingenuous to suggest after the first book that every problem has been fixed with a single victory. Instead, Callie and their friends are still met with suspicion and animosity. Even the adults who love them spend most of their time placating other adults. Edwyn's story, in particular, means a lot to me, and I only want good things for him. But despite all the stressors, there's a lot of hope, and a lot of joy in here too. The world is not over, even when things are difficult. And the joy in being one's self is so great. We also get to The Roost, which is beautifully described. I also appreciated the lesson that even heroes are not necessarily immune to propaganda, and it's important for all of us to question our assumptions. There's a cliffhanger at the end of this, so now I have to sit around and wait for the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Labyrinth Road for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Violence, Confinement, and War
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, Volume 1 by Peperon, Kanata Hoshi, Chika Mizube
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A cute fantasy romance that's right at home for fans of mobile comics and beautiful art.
Thoughts
I love a good food manga, so I went in expecting the focus of the series to be cooking techniques, ingredients, and dishes. And while all of those are definitely here, the core of this story is the romance between Melphiera and Galbraith. The cuisine acts more as a backdrop while we see two people that society considers strange, bond over their shared enthusiasm. It's cute, and somewhat quickly-paced, with very little friction or drama (so far). The world building is fairly light, but it uses easy to recognize building blocks, so following along should be no problem. The designs have the same flavor (ha!) as a lot of modern "I got reincarnated as a villainess" type stories popular in manga and mobile comics, and the whole thing is very very pretty to look at. If you're looking for manga the focuses mainly on the food, there are probably other options you'd want to try first. But if you want that as a side to a big helping of cute romance, dig in!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A cute fantasy romance that's right at home for fans of mobile comics and beautiful art.
Thoughts
I love a good food manga, so I went in expecting the focus of the series to be cooking techniques, ingredients, and dishes. And while all of those are definitely here, the core of this story is the romance between Melphiera and Galbraith. The cuisine acts more as a backdrop while we see two people that society considers strange, bond over their shared enthusiasm. It's cute, and somewhat quickly-paced, with very little friction or drama (so far). The world building is fairly light, but it uses easy to recognize building blocks, so following along should be no problem. The designs have the same flavor (ha!) as a lot of modern "I got reincarnated as a villainess" type stories popular in manga and mobile comics, and the whole thing is very very pretty to look at. If you're looking for manga the focuses mainly on the food, there are probably other options you'd want to try first. But if you want that as a side to a big helping of cute romance, dig in!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Animal death
How I Met My Soulmate, Volume 1 by Anashin
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
All the tasty drama of a high school shoujo manga, but with college-aged protagonists instead.
Thoughts
Cotton candy-style shoujo manga is my guilty pleasure. It's sweet, it's pretty, and it's not too heavy. It is also almost always about high schoolers. And while I do enjoy a good high school drama, I wouldn't mind this kind of sugary romance for an older audience either. "How I Met My Soulmate" hits that spot extremely well, with our MC Yuuki already in her second year in college. It's really fun to see all the familiar old tropes among characters juggling part-time jobs and hangovers. And the mixer even felt like a fun college get together, instead of an extremely sketchy bad idea! Iori is (by design, I think) my preferred guy, but Seno's storyline is fascinating, and I genuinely don't know which way the story's going to go with him. What I do know is that I will definitely be reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha comics for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
All the tasty drama of a high school shoujo manga, but with college-aged protagonists instead.
Thoughts
Cotton candy-style shoujo manga is my guilty pleasure. It's sweet, it's pretty, and it's not too heavy. It is also almost always about high schoolers. And while I do enjoy a good high school drama, I wouldn't mind this kind of sugary romance for an older audience either. "How I Met My Soulmate" hits that spot extremely well, with our MC Yuuki already in her second year in college. It's really fun to see all the familiar old tropes among characters juggling part-time jobs and hangovers. And the mixer even felt like a fun college get together, instead of an extremely sketchy bad idea! Iori is (by design, I think) my preferred guy, but Seno's storyline is fascinating, and I genuinely don't know which way the story's going to go with him. What I do know is that I will definitely be reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha comics for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol