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libraryofavirgo's reviews
144 reviews
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oko took a deep delve into what shame and guilt can look like, and how overthinking can muddle everything all to bits, taking over a life, and changing its trajectory immensely. Kudos to that persistence of thought of "what if". This book is an amazing exploration of the different ways in which grief and emotions are processed at various stages of life. It becomes so easy to look back on our past and wish we could have done something different, and so hard to accept that we must heal to be able to move forward into the future. I loved the cuts between scenes for each character, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves into each version that there can be of a person. I felt this perfectly highlighted how we grow and change to an almost unrecognizable degree due to different life experiences.
I loved the cuts between scenes for each character, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves into each version that there can be of a person. I felt this perfectly highlighted how we grow and change to an almost unrecognizable degree due to different life experiences.
Overall, I loved this book. If you enjoy books that deal with what it means to lose a loved one, and the journey of healing and finding yourself again in a world without them, then this is a book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
fast-paced
Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens is told in lush prose and extremely short chapters, often not even a full page long. It adds to the ephemeral atmosphere, but it also felt as though it kept me from fully connecting to the story. When you have imagery and language this slippery, it becomes hard for the story to stick. There were many elements of the book that I loved. Part folklore, part eco-fiction, coming-of-age with a ghostly touch, and all told through almost poetic prose, Yet the intangibility of some of the images, the short chapters and the lack of character development in our protagonists kept me at a distance. The story never stuck with me, and whenever I put it down, I felt a little lost trying to pick it back up again.
I adore how Stelliform Press focusses on eco-fiction that’s just a little outside the mainstream. While this is a book unlike anything else on the shelves and I love that, I can’t help but feel like I wanted to love this more than the sum of its parts, and I didn’t.
If dreamlike fiction with an ominous tone is your vibe, I do recommend checking out this novel, or any of the previous works by Stelliform Press for that matter. They have an incredible collection of truly unique books.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
“‘If you stay,’ he says, eyes shining in the evening light, ‘it is eat or be eaten. But I promise I’ll make it good.’”
Dark, haunting, unsettling, this book will slowly work its way under your skin like a damp rot until nothing but dread remains. The best way to describe this book is a sapphic medieval horror fantasy, but if you were having a fever dream. I am a lover of horror, but this book is a different breed; there is nothing that Starling does not throw at us, and it makes for the most enticing concoction.
The story follows three compelling characters: Phosyne, an experimental alchemist; Treila, a fallen noble out for revenge; and Ser Voyne, a loyal knight bound to her king. Aymar Castle is under siege, its people starving as war looms on the horizon. Phosyne is tasked with performing a miracle when three mysterious Saints and The Constant Lady appear, promising salvation in the form of food. But as the characters grapple with the promises of these mysterious figures, they must ask themselves: What is the price of salvation? And how much will they have to sacrifice to escape the horror surrounding them?
My only complaint and reason for giving 4 stars rather than 5 is the first half of the book was slow, almost too slow. But I will say, when I finally reached the second half, everything fell into place. I am so happy that I stuck it out because this is one I will be talking about for ages.
If you are a fan of the horror genre, please read this! I akin this to books like The Unworthy, Bunny, with a sprinkle of Tender is the Flesh. This is one novel I cannot stress enough to check the trigger warning and do your research if you are in any way squeamish.
Thank you, Harper Voyager and Harper Collins, for the opportunity to read and review this arc. This is one that will forever haunt me in the best ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: War
adventurous
inspiring
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:
Complicated
As a Formula 1 fan at heart, I knew I absolutely had to read this. I will say romance is not a genre I tend to explore, but I am so glad I did. This is such a cute and easy read. This is Madge Maril’s debut book, and is a must read for anyone interested in the world of F1. Maril truly lays out the basic of the sport that’s an amazing introduction. And don’t even get me started on the tension; the yearning, the banter, the cocky (blonde) man, all of the things that had me kicking my feet and giggling. Arthur is hot, that is all.
With that said, I only have two qualms with the book. One being the way some mental health was portrayed. When it came to neurodivergence representation, it felt a bit forced at times, as it only seemed to be a topic when something was going terribly wrong. My other qualm, and this is a personal preference, is the pacing of the relationship, specifically how quickly they seemed to do a 180 out of nowhere. It threw me a bit off guard and felt like insta-love, which is not my cup of tea.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it as a cute summer read, especially if you are a Formula 1 fan
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
“Is there anyone who knows a young woman’s body better than her closest friends? By way of love or comparison or some combination of the two?”
What do you do when your entire art career has been sent into a downward spiral after the introduction of artificial intelligence? If you’re Enka, you start a rivalry with your best friend, who just so happens to be the only still succeeding artist in the current world, or more specifically, the girl who has achieved everything you have worked and dreamed of. And then comes the invention of SCAFFOLD, a cutting-edge technology designed to enhance empathy between people by creating a mental link, allowing the user to inhabit the mind of another. When Enka is presented with the opportunity to inhabit her best friend’s mind, accessing her memories, artistic inspirations, and deep-seated trauma, linking them together forever, well, that is an opportunity too good not to take.
This is my first book by Ling Ling Huang, and oh my god, I am over the moon in love with the way she writes! This book is a literal work of art in itself. The first half reads as literary fiction, while the second half takes a turn into a more dystopian/horror read. Huang astutely dissects the absurdity of today’s art world, specifically the accessibility of art due to factors such as wealth and status. Beyond the world of art, Huang explores the complexities of being an artist, the self-trauma, power, gender, and the implications of science and technology.
This is a book for all of us who love some weird girl fiction. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Immaculate Conception releases tomorrow at all major retailers. Thank you, Dutton and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
What do you do when your entire art career has been sent into a downward spiral after the introduction of artificial intelligence? If you’re Enka, you start a rivalry with your best friend, who just so happens to be the only still succeeding artist in the current world, or more specifically, the girl who has achieved everything you have worked and dreamed of. And then comes the invention of SCAFFOLD, a cutting-edge technology designed to enhance empathy between people by creating a mental link, allowing the user to inhabit the mind of another. When Enka is presented with the opportunity to inhabit her best friend’s mind, accessing her memories, artistic inspirations, and deep-seated trauma, linking them together forever, well, that is an opportunity too good not to take.
This is my first book by Ling Ling Huang, and oh my god, I am over the moon in love with the way she writes! This book is a literal work of art in itself. The first half reads as literary fiction, while the second half takes a turn into a more dystopian/horror read. Huang astutely dissects the absurdity of today’s art world, specifically the accessibility of art due to factors such as wealth and status. Beyond the world of art, Huang explores the complexities of being an artist, the self-trauma, power, gender, and the implications of science and technology.
This is a book for all of us who love some weird girl fiction. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Immaculate Conception releases tomorrow at all major retailers. Thank you, Dutton and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When I saw this compared to fleabag, I could not run fast enough. I am someone who loves lit fic with my entire being, but this was just not it. Joan and I could not get along, which is typically something I enjoy when reading these types of books; a character who is complex and fleshed out in the most human way possible, but I just found her unlikable to the point of unenjoyment.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Alcohol