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lastblossom's reviews
217 reviews
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Secrets upon secrets power a fast-moving plot and some fanciful world building.
Thoughts
Ooh, this one's twisty. Ying dreams of joining the Engineer's Guild, a goal rather hampered by the fact that it's a boys only situation. When her father is murdered, seemingly in connection with the Guild, she disguises herself as a boy and joins to find his killer. But her deception is far from the only one. We've got political machinations, assassins, secret machines of war, and other hidden identities, all wrapped up in a power grab for the future of the kingdom. The plot moves from one twist to the next at a speedy pace that kept me turning pages, but never felt like it was overdoing it with the drama. Ying is a great lead - determined, capable, but also incredibly conflicted, especially as more secrets come to light and the reality of war unfolds. There's also a romance woven into this for fans who like it with... complications. World building is a bit steampunk and a lot of Chinese lore woven together in an original world that sparks the imagination, and by that I mean there's a mechanical dragon that flies and it's awesome.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Secrets upon secrets power a fast-moving plot and some fanciful world building.
Thoughts
Ooh, this one's twisty. Ying dreams of joining the Engineer's Guild, a goal rather hampered by the fact that it's a boys only situation. When her father is murdered, seemingly in connection with the Guild, she disguises herself as a boy and joins to find his killer. But her deception is far from the only one. We've got political machinations, assassins, secret machines of war, and other hidden identities, all wrapped up in a power grab for the future of the kingdom. The plot moves from one twist to the next at a speedy pace that kept me turning pages, but never felt like it was overdoing it with the drama. Ying is a great lead - determined, capable, but also incredibly conflicted, especially as more secrets come to light and the reality of war unfolds. There's also a romance woven into this for fans who like it with... complications. World building is a bit steampunk and a lot of Chinese lore woven together in an original world that sparks the imagination, and by that I mean there's a mechanical dragon that flies and it's awesome.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual violence
A Game Most Foul by Alison Gervais
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A relatable lead and an intriguing mystery, with the inclusion of Holmes and Watson somehow being the least interesting thing about this.
Thoughts
This is going to sound weird, but I loved everything about this book except Holmes and Watson. I knooow! But let's start at the beginning. Jules is a great lead - complex, smart, determined, and extremely human. Her struggles with herself, her writing, and her dreams were all very relatable. I also loved having an OwnVoices author talk about learning to live with hearing loss. Her friends are great, with contrasting personalities that both shine. Add to that some light romance, and you've got a very promising recipe. I'd be more than happy to watch the three of them solve mysteries forever. But that's not exactly what we get, because then we get Watson and Holmes, and an old mystery of theirs instead. Now don't get me wrong - I love Holmes and Watson, and I'll read any incarnation I can get my hands on. But I had invested a lot into the three young writers at the start, and I didn't enjoy seeing them take the back seat in a mystery they were already handling with a decent amount of competence. I really don't know how this could've been handled differently, but I do know that I was very eager for the kids to shine, and they didn't get as much screentime as I would have liked for them. I am saying this in the complimentary sense, dear author. I liked your characters, and they didn't need help. The mystery itself is serviceable. I didn't feel let down, but there weren't any huge surprises either. This book is marketed as being for Holmes fans, but it resonated with me much more as coming of age story about young writers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blink for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A relatable lead and an intriguing mystery, with the inclusion of Holmes and Watson somehow being the least interesting thing about this.
Thoughts
This is going to sound weird, but I loved everything about this book except Holmes and Watson. I knooow! But let's start at the beginning. Jules is a great lead - complex, smart, determined, and extremely human. Her struggles with herself, her writing, and her dreams were all very relatable. I also loved having an OwnVoices author talk about learning to live with hearing loss. Her friends are great, with contrasting personalities that both shine. Add to that some light romance, and you've got a very promising recipe. I'd be more than happy to watch the three of them solve mysteries forever. But that's not exactly what we get, because then we get Watson and Holmes, and an old mystery of theirs instead. Now don't get me wrong - I love Holmes and Watson, and I'll read any incarnation I can get my hands on. But I had invested a lot into the three young writers at the start, and I didn't enjoy seeing them take the back seat in a mystery they were already handling with a decent amount of competence. I really don't know how this could've been handled differently, but I do know that I was very eager for the kids to shine, and they didn't get as much screentime as I would have liked for them. I am saying this in the complimentary sense, dear author. I liked your characters, and they didn't need help. The mystery itself is serviceable. I didn't feel let down, but there weren't any huge surprises either. This book is marketed as being for Holmes fans, but it resonated with me much more as coming of age story about young writers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blink for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Ableism
Gazing at the Star Next Door, Vol. 1 by Ammitsu (餡蜜)
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
Competently hits most of the expected beats, with a nice twist about characters who might be growing further apart instead of closer together.
Thoughts
If you're an avid reader of shoujo manga, you know what to expect. Beautiful artwork with soft lines, and a plot packed with longing looks and light flirtation. We've got all the hits: Childhood friendship, the hottest guy in school, and even the ill-advised mixer with college boys. All of it is very competently done, with nothing to complain about, and plenty of very pleasing illustrations and sweet moments. The author's notes talk about the story being one of drifting further away from friends with the passage of time. It's an interesting twist on the usual: Most shoujo romance features our main characters slowly growing closer. In this case, they might actually be growing further instead. There's a bit of a bittersweet tone that comes through because of it, but nothing too sad. In the end, it's still a sweet and light romance with a very pretty boy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Competently hits most of the expected beats, with a nice twist about characters who might be growing further apart instead of closer together.
Thoughts
If you're an avid reader of shoujo manga, you know what to expect. Beautiful artwork with soft lines, and a plot packed with longing looks and light flirtation. We've got all the hits: Childhood friendship, the hottest guy in school, and even the ill-advised mixer with college boys. All of it is very competently done, with nothing to complain about, and plenty of very pleasing illustrations and sweet moments. The author's notes talk about the story being one of drifting further away from friends with the passage of time. It's an interesting twist on the usual: Most shoujo romance features our main characters slowly growing closer. In this case, they might actually be growing further instead. There's a bit of a bittersweet tone that comes through because of it, but nothing too sad. In the end, it's still a sweet and light romance with a very pretty boy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A cozy mystery with some interesting historical content and a fun twist on the Sherlock Holmes mythos.
Thoughts
The Sherlock-verse is a wide one. Everyone in his life seems to also be a detective: his old friends, the Irregulars, siblings, descendants. And now it turns out his circle even extends into the "real" world where he's fictional. Which honestly? Works really well. The Missing Maid is a reasonably grounded story, with the MC regularly commenting on how Sherlock would have figured this out by now from some miniscule detail, but she's stuck here in the mortal realm navigating dead ends, hurdles, and her own real life. The mystery unfolds at an even pace, with plenty of historical details and events to give it weight. It's also a fairly cozy read, with very few action pieces, and hints of a budding romance that I found rather sweet. Harry is still new to the detective business, but she, and the series, show a lot of promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A cozy mystery with some interesting historical content and a fun twist on the Sherlock Holmes mythos.
Thoughts
The Sherlock-verse is a wide one. Everyone in his life seems to also be a detective: his old friends, the Irregulars, siblings, descendants. And now it turns out his circle even extends into the "real" world where he's fictional. Which honestly? Works really well. The Missing Maid is a reasonably grounded story, with the MC regularly commenting on how Sherlock would have figured this out by now from some miniscule detail, but she's stuck here in the mortal realm navigating dead ends, hurdles, and her own real life. The mystery unfolds at an even pace, with plenty of historical details and events to give it weight. It's also a fairly cozy read, with very few action pieces, and hints of a budding romance that I found rather sweet. Harry is still new to the detective business, but she, and the series, show a lot of promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Confinement
Rooted Kitchen by Ashley Rodriguez
informative
inspiring
tl;dr
A variety of recipes and beautiful photos great for a beginning forager looking for what to do with their harvest.
Thoughts
With more and more people foraging, it's natural to also want to know what to do with the foods one forages. Most foraging guides offer brief suggestions and guidelines, but Rooted Kitchen takes it a step further by providing actual recipes, along with a handful of tips on best harvesting practices. It's also got some genuinely gorgeous photos. The book is divided by season, making it easy to find the ingredient you want to showcase. Recipes range in difficulty, with something in here for every skill level. Most dishes are pescatarian, but include notes on vegetarian and vegan alternatives. If you or a friend has jumped into foraging and want to know what to do with everything you've harvested, this is a great place to start.
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A variety of recipes and beautiful photos great for a beginning forager looking for what to do with their harvest.
Thoughts
With more and more people foraging, it's natural to also want to know what to do with the foods one forages. Most foraging guides offer brief suggestions and guidelines, but Rooted Kitchen takes it a step further by providing actual recipes, along with a handful of tips on best harvesting practices. It's also got some genuinely gorgeous photos. The book is divided by season, making it easy to find the ingredient you want to showcase. Recipes range in difficulty, with something in here for every skill level. Most dishes are pescatarian, but include notes on vegetarian and vegan alternatives. If you or a friend has jumped into foraging and want to know what to do with everything you've harvested, this is a great place to start.
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
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
An emotional ride featuring a clever protagonist that absolutely sticks the landing.
Thoughts
I finished this book a while ago, but I had to sit with my thoughts for a while because they are many. Like the lead character, this book is beautiful and clever and ambitious and tragic, and I found myself caught up in it the whole way through. Espionage tales are tricky, but this one really fulfills is promise, with a lead character who is absolutely cunning, and I love every move she makes. Pacing can be a bit hard to follow in some places, with large portions of time passing quickly in a way that makes me feel a TV show would convert it into a quick musical montage. The parts where it slows down to really detail the character interactions are by far the best parts, and I was surprised at how delicate and tender some of the emotions are. If the description of the book seems even the least bit interesting to you, give it a read. Strong recommend on this end.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
An emotional ride featuring a clever protagonist that absolutely sticks the landing.
Thoughts
I finished this book a while ago, but I had to sit with my thoughts for a while because they are many. Like the lead character, this book is beautiful and clever and ambitious and tragic, and I found myself caught up in it the whole way through. Espionage tales are tricky, but this one really fulfills is promise, with a lead character who is absolutely cunning, and I love every move she makes. Pacing can be a bit hard to follow in some places, with large portions of time passing quickly in a way that makes me feel a TV show would convert it into a quick musical montage. The parts where it slows down to really detail the character interactions are by far the best parts, and I was surprised at how delicate and tender some of the emotions are. If the description of the book seems even the least bit interesting to you, give it a read. Strong recommend on this end.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Child death, Trafficking, and Alcohol
The Blood Vier by Christy R. Harrill
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
tl;dr
Fast-paced plot with a lot of action pieces, but doesn't give the entire cast enough space to shine.
Thoughts
Dang this one moves FAST. As in, it feels like the plot of the first two books in a trilogy have been smooshed into a single book. Our titular blood vier shows up to vie for a position as her role suggests, leaving me to expect a book's worth of training, tests, sinister plot hooks, and a slowly developing relationship with the other leads. Instead, we race past the actual vying portion and jump straight into what comes after. On the one hand, I appreciate that the author didn't lock all the big action pieces away for the next book. On the other hand, I feel like I didn't get to know the cast nearly well enough before they went on their big adventure, leaving me to play catchup as the plot unfurls. The second POV character gets so much less attention than the first that part of me wondered if it was fully necessary to have him at all when we could use that time for other things. The healer character mentioned in the book description also gets very little air time. She's got a lot of history and a lot of personality, and we get only the barest glimmers of it before breaking off to do other things. And there are plenty of other things to do. Chase down leads, escape from kidnappings, prevent war, break out prisoners, and even fight the elements. Overall, I'd say there's a lot of stuff packed in here with some interesting world-building (especially that cliffhanger stinger!), but I yearn to get to know the supporting cast better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rose Hollow Press for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Fast-paced plot with a lot of action pieces, but doesn't give the entire cast enough space to shine.
Thoughts
Dang this one moves FAST. As in, it feels like the plot of the first two books in a trilogy have been smooshed into a single book. Our titular blood vier shows up to vie for a position as her role suggests, leaving me to expect a book's worth of training, tests, sinister plot hooks, and a slowly developing relationship with the other leads. Instead, we race past the actual vying portion and jump straight into what comes after. On the one hand, I appreciate that the author didn't lock all the big action pieces away for the next book. On the other hand, I feel like I didn't get to know the cast nearly well enough before they went on their big adventure, leaving me to play catchup as the plot unfurls. The second POV character gets so much less attention than the first that part of me wondered if it was fully necessary to have him at all when we could use that time for other things. The healer character mentioned in the book description also gets very little air time. She's got a lot of history and a lot of personality, and we get only the barest glimmers of it before breaking off to do other things. And there are plenty of other things to do. Chase down leads, escape from kidnappings, prevent war, break out prisoners, and even fight the elements. Overall, I'd say there's a lot of stuff packed in here with some interesting world-building (especially that cliffhanger stinger!), but I yearn to get to know the supporting cast better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rose Hollow Press for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and War
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Supernatural mystery, and romance featuring lots of banter between a grump and a smart ass.
Thoughts
I feel like I grouse about this for every book written like this, but it gets me every time. I do not get along with third person present tense. I don't know why, but it kills immersion for me, and it took me a couple tries to really get into this one. That being said, I liked what I found once I finally settled in. You've got mystery, a ton of drama, and two strong leads who provide plenty of banter for fans of animosity-to-love relationships. The author is clearly channeling k-drama energy for this part, and I love it. Kim Hani is a very fun read, and I delighted in all her smart ass antics. Seokga is a great moody boy, although I admit there was far less trickery than I would have expected from someone who's a literal trickster god. His passion for coffee is excellent, though. I very much appreciate that the author trusts the readers to either understand the Korean terms, or be interested enough to look them up. Truly, thank you. The ending feels satisfying enough to be a one-shot, although it seems implied that this is the start of a series? I can only hope the next book will be about a certain member of the supporting cast instead, because she deserves her moment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine, Del Rey for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Supernatural mystery, and romance featuring lots of banter between a grump and a smart ass.
Thoughts
I feel like I grouse about this for every book written like this, but it gets me every time. I do not get along with third person present tense. I don't know why, but it kills immersion for me, and it took me a couple tries to really get into this one. That being said, I liked what I found once I finally settled in. You've got mystery, a ton of drama, and two strong leads who provide plenty of banter for fans of animosity-to-love relationships. The author is clearly channeling k-drama energy for this part, and I love it. Kim Hani is a very fun read, and I delighted in all her smart ass antics. Seokga is a great moody boy, although I admit there was far less trickery than I would have expected from someone who's a literal trickster god. His passion for coffee is excellent, though. I very much appreciate that the author trusts the readers to either understand the Korean terms, or be interested enough to look them up. Truly, thank you. The ending feels satisfying enough to be a one-shot, although it seems implied that this is the start of a series? I can only hope the next book will be about a certain member of the supporting cast instead, because she deserves her moment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine, Del Rey for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Violence, Blood, and Toxic friendship
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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
tl;dr
Snappy and fast-paced meta-commentary, with a surprising amount of heart. There's also a heavy dose of Adult stuff.
Thoughts
"Irreverent" might be the word here. At least, it certainly starts that way. The blurb says Groundhog Day, but the whole time I read it I kept thinking Re:Zero (an assumption that is confirmed by the author's notes in the back). For those of you not into anime, think Live Die Repeat with Tom Cruise. The hero Davi dies violently and often, until the only thing she has left is cynicism and anger. Her foray into becoming the Dark Lord starts as a lark born from frustration and a desire for novelty, but it quickly turns into more as she gets closer to her goals, and further from her old lives. Most reviews will probably say this book is very funny, very crude, or both. (It's both.) But for something as snappy and flippant as this, it also has a surprising amount of heart, with Davi's hurt melting into care the further she gets on her journey. Is becoming the Dark Lord also a journey of healing? The characters she gathers for her horde are a motley crew with their own interests, and it's incredibly easy to care about them as well. The cliffhanger ending is telegraphed well, but still comes as a real punch to the gut, and I'm very curious to see what happens next. Content-wise, there's a good deal of swearing, front-loaded at the start of the book, but present throughout. People die, often horribly. Sex is had with great enthusiasm, although the descriptions tend to be brief. There's also a load of meta commentary including tons of pop culture references and D&D talk, which will probably resonate with genre-savvy readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Snappy and fast-paced meta-commentary, with a surprising amount of heart. There's also a heavy dose of Adult stuff.
Thoughts
"Irreverent" might be the word here. At least, it certainly starts that way. The blurb says Groundhog Day, but the whole time I read it I kept thinking Re:Zero (an assumption that is confirmed by the author's notes in the back). For those of you not into anime, think Live Die Repeat with Tom Cruise. The hero Davi dies violently and often, until the only thing she has left is cynicism and anger. Her foray into becoming the Dark Lord starts as a lark born from frustration and a desire for novelty, but it quickly turns into more as she gets closer to her goals, and further from her old lives. Most reviews will probably say this book is very funny, very crude, or both. (It's both.) But for something as snappy and flippant as this, it also has a surprising amount of heart, with Davi's hurt melting into care the further she gets on her journey. Is becoming the Dark Lord also a journey of healing? The characters she gathers for her horde are a motley crew with their own interests, and it's incredibly easy to care about them as well. The cliffhanger ending is telegraphed well, but still comes as a real punch to the gut, and I'm very curious to see what happens next. Content-wise, there's a good deal of swearing, front-loaded at the start of the book, but present throughout. People die, often horribly. Sex is had with great enthusiasm, although the descriptions tend to be brief. There's also a load of meta commentary including tons of pop culture references and D&D talk, which will probably resonate with genre-savvy readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Murder, and War
Minor: Confinement and Sexual assault
The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Part cozy fantasy, part magical adventure, and entirely fun.
Thoughts
Oh, this one was fun! I enjoy stories about royalty and chosen ones as much as the next reader, but I especially love a story about the workers who keep the wheels turning behind the scenes. Faye is exactly that - overworked and overlooked, she's smart, competent, and a genuine pleasure to read. Detail's about her daily life spark the imagination, with quick but clear world building, and plenty of magical creatures and plants to fill the world. It would be downright cozy if not for the kingdom-ending threat creeping around the edges of the story. And Faye knows this too, as she has to find a way to defeat the Shadow Queen sometime between gardening, cleaning, and covering up for the Wizard West's untimely death. It's a big adventure for a small girl, but she rises to the occasion. Supporting cast are all fun as well, with a talking cat being the standout for me. Oh hey, did I mention the talking cat? Because we've got one of those too, and he's great.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Part cozy fantasy, part magical adventure, and entirely fun.
Thoughts
Oh, this one was fun! I enjoy stories about royalty and chosen ones as much as the next reader, but I especially love a story about the workers who keep the wheels turning behind the scenes. Faye is exactly that - overworked and overlooked, she's smart, competent, and a genuine pleasure to read. Detail's about her daily life spark the imagination, with quick but clear world building, and plenty of magical creatures and plants to fill the world. It would be downright cozy if not for the kingdom-ending threat creeping around the edges of the story. And Faye knows this too, as she has to find a way to defeat the Shadow Queen sometime between gardening, cleaning, and covering up for the Wizard West's untimely death. It's a big adventure for a small girl, but she rises to the occasion. Supporting cast are all fun as well, with a talking cat being the standout for me. Oh hey, did I mention the talking cat? Because we've got one of those too, and he's great.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Sexism, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and War