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lastblossom's reviews
217 reviews
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, Confinement, Violence, Grief, and War
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, Volume 1 by Kanata Hoshi, Peperon, 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: Animal death and Blood
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
Canine Detective Chris, Vol. 1: The Shiba Inu Detective Tracks Down the Stolen Jewels! by Tomoko Tabe
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
tl;dr
A fun middle grade (or younger?) mystery that will appeal to fans of very cute dogs.
Me in my last review: "I don't really care for light novels."
Me today: "I'm going to read this light novel."
I've already mentioned that light novels don't usually do it for me because I like major plot points to happen sooner, and light novels tend to take a little more time for setup. This is also the case with Canine Detective Chris, but it didn't really bother me this time around. The opening mystery has just enough intrigue and danger to keep the stakes high, and I enjoyed getting to know the cast throughout. Hinata is an incredibly likable protagonist, smart, earnest, and hard-working, with enough childlike wonder to feel like a genuine kid. His friend Mayuka is a ball of energy who propels the story forward where Hinata might be hesitant. Together, they work as a great pair. But of course it's Chris the shiba inu who makes the story sparkle. He's cute, sympathetic, and looks absolutely adorable in every one of the illustrations scattered throughout. Dog fans will be very pleased by this.
Translation is very straightforward with few flourishes, at a reading level somewhere between chapter books and middle grade. Kids who love mysteries, dogs, and adventure will probably find a lot to like.
Thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A fun middle grade (or younger?) mystery that will appeal to fans of very cute dogs.
Me in my last review: "I don't really care for light novels."
Me today: "I'm going to read this light novel."
I've already mentioned that light novels don't usually do it for me because I like major plot points to happen sooner, and light novels tend to take a little more time for setup. This is also the case with Canine Detective Chris, but it didn't really bother me this time around. The opening mystery has just enough intrigue and danger to keep the stakes high, and I enjoyed getting to know the cast throughout. Hinata is an incredibly likable protagonist, smart, earnest, and hard-working, with enough childlike wonder to feel like a genuine kid. His friend Mayuka is a ball of energy who propels the story forward where Hinata might be hesitant. Together, they work as a great pair. But of course it's Chris the shiba inu who makes the story sparkle. He's cute, sympathetic, and looks absolutely adorable in every one of the illustrations scattered throughout. Dog fans will be very pleased by this.
Translation is very straightforward with few flourishes, at a reading level somewhere between chapter books and middle grade. Kids who love mysteries, dogs, and adventure will probably find a lot to like.
Thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Eliza Mace: The Thrilling New Victorian Detective Series by Jem Poster, Sarah Burton
adventurous
mysterious
tl;dr
A paced-out story with a strong focus on characters that reads a lot like an origin story for further mysteries.
Thoughts
This is an interesting approach for something marketed as a mystery series. Most detective stories dedicate less time to the characters, painting everyone in quick strokes while the plot drives the story along. In this case, it feels like the story unrolled at its own pace while we learned more about the characters. The first third of the book dedicates itself to setting the scene. Characters are introduced, plot points are set up, and we don't get the actual mystery until about a third of the way through. Instead, we get a lot of backstory and some in depth character building that help us learn who Eliza is, and why she is the way she is. It takes another third of the book before Eliza actually starts actively working on the mystery herself, and the mystery takes a bit of a backseat to working through Eliza's feelings and growth. It's got a very origin story vibe that feels like it would cut out at the end to an older Eliza saying "And that's why I decided to become a detective!" The extra time spent with the characters is appreciated. Eliza's uncle is a particular favorite, with his own story arc that feels more thoughtful than the way some mysteries might play it. The secondary lead Dafydd doesn't get nearly as much attention in this volume, but I'm fine with that. If this is to be a series, I expect we'll have plenty of time to learn more about him later. Overall I think this book would land well with readers looking for a paced out, character-focused historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
A paced-out story with a strong focus on characters that reads a lot like an origin story for further mysteries.
Thoughts
This is an interesting approach for something marketed as a mystery series. Most detective stories dedicate less time to the characters, painting everyone in quick strokes while the plot drives the story along. In this case, it feels like the story unrolled at its own pace while we learned more about the characters. The first third of the book dedicates itself to setting the scene. Characters are introduced, plot points are set up, and we don't get the actual mystery until about a third of the way through. Instead, we get a lot of backstory and some in depth character building that help us learn who Eliza is, and why she is the way she is. It takes another third of the book before Eliza actually starts actively working on the mystery herself, and the mystery takes a bit of a backseat to working through Eliza's feelings and growth. It's got a very origin story vibe that feels like it would cut out at the end to an older Eliza saying "And that's why I decided to become a detective!" The extra time spent with the characters is appreciated. Eliza's uncle is a particular favorite, with his own story arc that feels more thoughtful than the way some mysteries might play it. The secondary lead Dafydd doesn't get nearly as much attention in this volume, but I'm fine with that. If this is to be a series, I expect we'll have plenty of time to learn more about him later. Overall I think this book would land well with readers looking for a paced out, character-focused historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia
These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
There's a dash of magic in here, but the snappy narration and relatable protagonist keep the story grounded and surprisingly realistic.
Thoughts
Modern stories where magic is considered just as standard as any other industry are always fun for me. So it was nice to have an apprentice who argues with her parents over whether or not to become a professional sorcerer, or something more respectable, like a lawyer. You know the one. And I think that's my favorite part of the book. Despite being a world with magic, the story is a very grounded novel with a relatable protagonist who has very relatable problems. The magic system is clearly explained, although not explored as deeply as I'd like, and magic is used way less often that I initially expected. The family and friends are appropriately messy, although there's a part of me that would not have complained if they were even MORE messy. Narration is quick and snappy, and I enjoyed the POV quite a bit. A good read for anyone looking for a YA modern mystery with just a touch of magic to it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
There's a dash of magic in here, but the snappy narration and relatable protagonist keep the story grounded and surprisingly realistic.
Thoughts
Modern stories where magic is considered just as standard as any other industry are always fun for me. So it was nice to have an apprentice who argues with her parents over whether or not to become a professional sorcerer, or something more respectable, like a lawyer. You know the one. And I think that's my favorite part of the book. Despite being a world with magic, the story is a very grounded novel with a relatable protagonist who has very relatable problems. The magic system is clearly explained, although not explored as deeply as I'd like, and magic is used way less often that I initially expected. The family and friends are appropriately messy, although there's a part of me that would not have complained if they were even MORE messy. Narration is quick and snappy, and I enjoyed the POV quite a bit. A good read for anyone looking for a YA modern mystery with just a touch of magic to it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
A light and cheery read for fans of the fake dating trope. Also has a ton of great supporting characters. And a deli.
Thoughts
Well, I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope, so here we are. I also really love an ex girlfriend who is actually very cool and not entirely horrible, so that's two points in this book's favor. Although to be honest, Sam makes me realize why the ex girlfriends in books like these are so often terrible. She's maybe TOO good? This is not a complaint! I love her, but I found myself more invested in her and Ellie's relationship by the end. And honestly, that's probably my favorite part of the book. Don't get me wrong - the romance is cute, Theo's a keeper, the whole thing ends on the happy note that we all want. But I especially loved Ellie learning to make friends, especially with other women. The two women who show up alongside Ellie are super cool, and it was a great way to round out Ellie's own realizations about where she wants to be to have a full group of friends in the picture, and not just one dude.
But back to the romance, which is probably why you showed up. Ellie and Theo actually hit it off pretty early on. Not instalove by any measure, but it's never a full-on enemies/rivals situation, and their relationship feels like it clicked into place very naturally. The memory loss plot lasts very briefly, so don't expect that to be a huge part of the story, and the drama is barely between the two leads, and more the MC with herself. Ellie's natural position is to be self-sacrificial, even if it's what no one wants, so she doesn't always make the best choices regarding the relationship. It can be frustrating sometimes to Ellie not grab happiness when it's offered to her, but I'm glad she worked things out in the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A light and cheery read for fans of the fake dating trope. Also has a ton of great supporting characters. And a deli.
Thoughts
Well, I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope, so here we are. I also really love an ex girlfriend who is actually very cool and not entirely horrible, so that's two points in this book's favor. Although to be honest, Sam makes me realize why the ex girlfriends in books like these are so often terrible. She's maybe TOO good? This is not a complaint! I love her, but I found myself more invested in her and Ellie's relationship by the end. And honestly, that's probably my favorite part of the book. Don't get me wrong - the romance is cute, Theo's a keeper, the whole thing ends on the happy note that we all want. But I especially loved Ellie learning to make friends, especially with other women. The two women who show up alongside Ellie are super cool, and it was a great way to round out Ellie's own realizations about where she wants to be to have a full group of friends in the picture, and not just one dude.
But back to the romance, which is probably why you showed up. Ellie and Theo actually hit it off pretty early on. Not instalove by any measure, but it's never a full-on enemies/rivals situation, and their relationship feels like it clicked into place very naturally. The memory loss plot lasts very briefly, so don't expect that to be a huge part of the story, and the drama is barely between the two leads, and more the MC with herself. Ellie's natural position is to be self-sacrificial, even if it's what no one wants, so she doesn't always make the best choices regarding the relationship. It can be frustrating sometimes to Ellie not grab happiness when it's offered to her, but I'm glad she worked things out in the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
adventurous
hopeful
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
A charming fantasy romance with slow burn and a dash of magic.
Thoughts
This book is like a fairy tale. Usually when I say that, I mean it in the "dark, tragic, unsettling" sort of way, but this time I mean it in the "dreamy, beautiful, hopeful ending" sort of way. You've got your self-sacrificing heroine with a heart a gold and magic in her fingertips, a cranky prince surrounded by a wall of thorns (sometimes literally), and a kingdom in peril. The magic system doesn't get much detail, leaving the reader to have to accept that magic is magic, but the rest of the world building is solid - weighted heavily on real world history, including a frank look at colonization, classism, the fact that LGBT people have existed at every point in history. And yet even with all the weight, it remains a dreamy, sometimes cozy read about a gently blossoming romance between two lonely people.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A charming fantasy romance with slow burn and a dash of magic.
Thoughts
This book is like a fairy tale. Usually when I say that, I mean it in the "dark, tragic, unsettling" sort of way, but this time I mean it in the "dreamy, beautiful, hopeful ending" sort of way. You've got your self-sacrificing heroine with a heart a gold and magic in her fingertips, a cranky prince surrounded by a wall of thorns (sometimes literally), and a kingdom in peril. The magic system doesn't get much detail, leaving the reader to have to accept that magic is magic, but the rest of the world building is solid - weighted heavily on real world history, including a frank look at colonization, classism, the fact that LGBT people have existed at every point in history. And yet even with all the weight, it remains a dreamy, sometimes cozy read about a gently blossoming romance between two lonely people.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Classism
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia and War
Record of Lodoss War: The Crown of the Covenant Volume 1 by Atsushi Suzumi
adventurous
tense
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
tl;dr
Accessible for newcomers and longtime fans of the franchise. An intriguing intro to another adventure in Lodoss featuring a (mostly) new cast.
Thoughts
The original Record of Lodoss War franchise is considered a classic amongst anime fans (the artist of this manga even notes what a huge influence the series was on them). So how does this continuation hold up all these years later? Honestly? Pretty well. Fans of the original will likely be holding their breath to see Deedlit again, but the new characters all look very promising, and the storyline is an interesting one. We've got our usual tabletop-inspired party going on a quest, but the political twists and turns are what hooked me. The incredibly risky play that the siblings are making has me on the edge of my seat. The original story is covered in brief summaries for newcomers to follow along. It all moves pretty quickly, so newcomers have a bit of catching up, but shouldn't be lost overall. Art is attractive, with nicely balanced inks and tones, and some really lovely use of lighting with Deedlit's scenes. This book is clearly for longtime fans, but newcomers looking for a fantasy adventure with some political intrigue will have a good time here too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Accessible for newcomers and longtime fans of the franchise. An intriguing intro to another adventure in Lodoss featuring a (mostly) new cast.
Thoughts
The original Record of Lodoss War franchise is considered a classic amongst anime fans (the artist of this manga even notes what a huge influence the series was on them). So how does this continuation hold up all these years later? Honestly? Pretty well. Fans of the original will likely be holding their breath to see Deedlit again, but the new characters all look very promising, and the storyline is an interesting one. We've got our usual tabletop-inspired party going on a quest, but the political twists and turns are what hooked me. The incredibly risky play that the siblings are making has me on the edge of my seat. The original story is covered in brief summaries for newcomers to follow along. It all moves pretty quickly, so newcomers have a bit of catching up, but shouldn't be lost overall. Art is attractive, with nicely balanced inks and tones, and some really lovely use of lighting with Deedlit's scenes. This book is clearly for longtime fans, but newcomers looking for a fantasy adventure with some political intrigue will have a good time here too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Death and Grief
Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan
adventurous
tense
fast-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
Great heist book! Well-plotted, with a lovable cast, and plenty of complications.
Thoughts
I am an incredibly simple person. I see "heist," I click. Sometimes it is a mistake, but today I was richly rewarded. This is a solid heist book, but it also hits all my favorite found family notes, so I am extremely happy. I know Ocean's Eleven is used as a comp for basically every heist book, but I find it apt to use it now because the narrative structure is also similar. A mastermind rolls into town, picks up their favorite partner, and then the two of them recruit a team and go after the big score as a group. There may or may not be a personal angle to all of this. There are definitely complications and twists all along the way. There're also a lot of complex relationship things going on, including family stuff, found family stuff, young love, slightly older love, and even more family stuff. All the characters (sans one, who really seems to have it together) have their own arcs to work through outside of the heist, but the interlocking stories work really well as a foundation, rather than a distraction to the main thread. This book is also a standalone, so it's free of those pesky cliffhangers. If you love a good heist, you want this book in your library stat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Great heist book! Well-plotted, with a lovable cast, and plenty of complications.
Thoughts
I am an incredibly simple person. I see "heist," I click. Sometimes it is a mistake, but today I was richly rewarded. This is a solid heist book, but it also hits all my favorite found family notes, so I am extremely happy. I know Ocean's Eleven is used as a comp for basically every heist book, but I find it apt to use it now because the narrative structure is also similar. A mastermind rolls into town, picks up their favorite partner, and then the two of them recruit a team and go after the big score as a group. There may or may not be a personal angle to all of this. There are definitely complications and twists all along the way. There're also a lot of complex relationship things going on, including family stuff, found family stuff, young love, slightly older love, and even more family stuff. All the characters (sans one, who really seems to have it together) have their own arcs to work through outside of the heist, but the interlocking stories work really well as a foundation, rather than a distraction to the main thread. This book is also a standalone, so it's free of those pesky cliffhangers. If you love a good heist, you want this book in your library stat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia and Racism