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laurelthebooks's reviews
644 reviews
The Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
A gently woven story about the push and pull of motherhood, all set against lush descriptions of death, magic, and the stories that make up the worlds of those around us.
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
“No skin is too precious for violence, regardless of age, gender, color.”
I have absolutely been digging the fierce narrators lately, and while part of me was nervous going in because Scales had such a different tone compared to the last book it absolutely worked for me. Scales brought me into the story and had me invested in the outcome. The world, the imperfect characters that bring blood and passion to the page - just! so! good!
What Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson delivers:
- a scathing review of Privilege & Class
- a deep look at how Story informs Belief
- a dive into Family and its connected Trauma
- a breakdown of how Public and Private Identities are built
- a no-holds barred take on Guilt and Responsibility
- incandescent rage
This is fast paced with a distinctive voice for the main narrator. If you enjoy a character with minimum inhibitions and a setting that enables them - look no further!
I have absolutely been digging the fierce narrators lately, and while part of me was nervous going in because Scales had such a different tone compared to the last book it absolutely worked for me. Scales brought me into the story and had me invested in the outcome. The world, the imperfect characters that bring blood and passion to the page - just! so! good!
What Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson delivers:
- a scathing review of Privilege & Class
- a deep look at how Story informs Belief
- a dive into Family and its connected Trauma
- a breakdown of how Public and Private Identities are built
- a no-holds barred take on Guilt and Responsibility
- incandescent rage
This is fast paced with a distinctive voice for the main narrator. If you enjoy a character with minimum inhibitions and a setting that enables them - look no further!
Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
For all that this likely won't be a favorite of mine this year, there was quite a bit to love in this book. The casualness of the representation here brings me joy. I love when there is a type of everydayness to many of the aspects of queerness we still see judged in today's world. The setting and premise with an academy for alchemy were also very much up my alley too. The tie between emotion and science that I feel like most other magic-adjacent books tend to skim was a high point as well. The focus on open communication was amazing to see in a YA romance as well, but that also tied a bit into my frustration with the pacing on occasion.
Now for the parts that I was iffy on. First, the complaining and the arrogance. There was so *much* complaining (thankfully not as egregious as Catcher in the Rye, but still) and the relationship drama was a lot because both Ramsay and Ash are unbending and arrogant people. Hashing out interpersonal conflict as chunks of a book work when I'm majorly invested in the character relationships, but while I liked the characters here there was so much tension in the action plot that I sometimes I wanted to introduce my head to a desk and beg them to just hurry on up with figuring out their own personal problems. Granted, some of that is completely understandable with YA characters (have to learn that somewhere lol), but it majorly tripped up the pacing in parts of the book.
...tottering over whether or not I would consider this dark academia. Despite the number of dead bodies piling up, there isn't much of the Gothic in this work, and while many of the problems inherent in a classist society are present I'm not sure how in-depth of a critique one could argue exists here. More of a dark fantasy romance with an academic influenced setting perhaps?
Anyways - definitely a faster paced YA adventure with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. The tension between the character focused elements and the more intense fantasy plot in the book does leave it on a bit of an uneven footing for me overall though.
Now for the parts that I was iffy on. First, the complaining and the arrogance. There was so *much* complaining (thankfully not as egregious as Catcher in the Rye, but still) and the relationship drama was a lot because both Ramsay and Ash are unbending and arrogant people. Hashing out interpersonal conflict as chunks of a book work when I'm majorly invested in the character relationships, but while I liked the characters here there was so much tension in the action plot that I sometimes I wanted to introduce my head to a desk and beg them to just hurry on up with figuring out their own personal problems. Granted, some of that is completely understandable with YA characters (have to learn that somewhere lol), but it majorly tripped up the pacing in parts of the book.
...tottering over whether or not I would consider this dark academia. Despite the number of dead bodies piling up, there isn't much of the Gothic in this work, and while many of the problems inherent in a classist society are present I'm not sure how in-depth of a critique one could argue exists here. More of a dark fantasy romance with an academic influenced setting perhaps?
Anyways - definitely a faster paced YA adventure with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. The tension between the character focused elements and the more intense fantasy plot in the book does leave it on a bit of an uneven footing for me overall though.
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar
challenging
dark
reflective
4.0
Reading this reminded me not only of Le Guin's work but also 1984 - fascinating combo. Maybe some Rivers Solomon? To be honest, what I got from this is that I should read more of Samatar's work.
There are a fleet of spaceships here with clear classist structures that, of course, try to convince everyone living in them that they aren't truly classist structures. I said that this takes place on space ships, but this novella isn't really about space at all. It speaks to the idea of control, humanity, elitism, labor, meaning, and connection. The prose is lyrical and somehow manages to keep you interested despite the main character never being named. Reading this novella is An Experience.
I was trying to decide how to categorize this in terms of genre and it is like smashing together science fiction, philosophy, and dark academia (or at least, that's the best approximation I've come up with). If you are one for Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" or dystopias and opaque, lyrical prose I cannot recommend this to you fast enough.
There are a fleet of spaceships here with clear classist structures that, of course, try to convince everyone living in them that they aren't truly classist structures. I said that this takes place on space ships, but this novella isn't really about space at all. It speaks to the idea of control, humanity, elitism, labor, meaning, and connection. The prose is lyrical and somehow manages to keep you interested despite the main character never being named. Reading this novella is An Experience.
I was trying to decide how to categorize this in terms of genre and it is like smashing together science fiction, philosophy, and dark academia (or at least, that's the best approximation I've come up with). If you are one for Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" or dystopias and opaque, lyrical prose I cannot recommend this to you fast enough.
Earthflown by Frances Wren
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“Where there’s love, there will be vice;
Where there’s greed, there is a price.
Sow them desperate and afraid,
You’ll find there’s profit to be made”
Ho boy does this novel leave you thinking about consequences 👀👀👀
Earthflown has a host of characters that are all falling over each other amongst the complexities of highly corrupt water monopoly, a thriving drug trade, and the drama from multiple families. It is a glorious combination of dystopian science fiction, sunshine x grumpy queer romance, AND investigative political noir - which is not a group of things I ever would have strung together myself.
Corinna knows what she wants. Javier is in over his head. Ethan isn't sure he can have what he wants. Ollie has a bone to pick. Nick is so out of the loop, and poor Vegas has to put up with them all.
“I like my men with cervical vertebrae”
Ethan and Javier fairly launch themselves into a romance with a looming water crisis that Javier’s family is deeply intertwined with acting as an excessively dramatic background. Oh, plus the profitable illegal drug trade related to that. Not to mention that one of the characters is an investigative reporter. Just small things lol Not only do you quickly get invested in these characters, but they also make you giggle AND cringe. It’s amazing. I can see exactly why they’re making the decision, but also groan because it is a stupid decision.
“You know, I’m boring when I’m tired. And I’m always tired.”
Also, that ending?!?!? The ending?!?! I think it will be something that you either hate or love. Or love to hate - it is that kind of ending.
PS - Perhaps don’t read this hungry, the food descriptions are sumptuous on occasion.
Where there’s greed, there is a price.
Sow them desperate and afraid,
You’ll find there’s profit to be made”
Ho boy does this novel leave you thinking about consequences 👀👀👀
Earthflown has a host of characters that are all falling over each other amongst the complexities of highly corrupt water monopoly, a thriving drug trade, and the drama from multiple families. It is a glorious combination of dystopian science fiction, sunshine x grumpy queer romance, AND investigative political noir - which is not a group of things I ever would have strung together myself.
Corinna knows what she wants. Javier is in over his head. Ethan isn't sure he can have what he wants. Ollie has a bone to pick. Nick is so out of the loop, and poor Vegas has to put up with them all.
“I like my men with cervical vertebrae”
Ethan and Javier fairly launch themselves into a romance with a looming water crisis that Javier’s family is deeply intertwined with acting as an excessively dramatic background. Oh, plus the profitable illegal drug trade related to that. Not to mention that one of the characters is an investigative reporter. Just small things lol Not only do you quickly get invested in these characters, but they also make you giggle AND cringe. It’s amazing. I can see exactly why they’re making the decision, but also groan because it is a stupid decision.
“You know, I’m boring when I’m tired. And I’m always tired.”
Also, that ending?!?!? The ending?!?! I think it will be something that you either hate or love. Or love to hate - it is that kind of ending.
PS - Perhaps don’t read this hungry, the food descriptions are sumptuous on occasion.
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
3.75
The Butcher of the Forest is a dark, bite-sized bargain of a fairy tale. There is a Tyrant, there is an enchanted forest, and there are bargains poorly and wisely struck.
The novella evokes classic fae bargains and the tone of Grimm's fairy tales. There is a price for everything here, and who pays the price isn't who we may want to. The tale is lush and ominous from start to finish.
If you are a dark fantasy fan and enjoy twisted tales (thinking the horror-tinged Kingfisher works) this one is for you.
The novella evokes classic fae bargains and the tone of Grimm's fairy tales. There is a price for everything here, and who pays the price isn't who we may want to. The tale is lush and ominous from start to finish.
If you are a dark fantasy fan and enjoy twisted tales (thinking the horror-tinged Kingfisher works) this one is for you.