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librovermo's reviews
227 reviews
The Folly by Gemma Amor
dark
mysterious
3.0
I love Gemma Amor’s writing. Her descriptions are so on point, it’s easy to feel like you’re right there. And I especially liked the way Morgan was written. She’s a complicated character who has been through something extremely traumatic and has all sorts of conflicting feelings about it. The way she treated her father was realistic and everything she felt was laid bare, even when she had horrible thoughts. I appreciated that, as I feel that a lot of times, the main character of a story doesn’t have enough realistic flaws or negative thoughts in order to keep them as likable as possible, but I prefer a character that feels more true to life.
I enjoyed the setup of the mystery and the arrival of the stranger was truly unnerving. I have to admit that I didn’t like the ending at first as I felt it was too confusing. But I read through bits of it a second time and found that while I was still a little confused by a couple things, I liked it more than I did originally. Sometimes, even if I don’t get all the answers I want, the writing and the premise are just too good, and that’s the case for me with The Folly.
I absolutely recommend you pick it up if you’re looking for a thrilling, atmospheric mystery with a surprising conclusion (seriously, you will never guess it!).
I’d like to thank both Datura Books and Netgalley, from whom I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed the setup of the mystery and the arrival of the stranger was truly unnerving. I have to admit that I didn’t like the ending at first as I felt it was too confusing. But I read through bits of it a second time and found that while I was still a little confused by a couple things, I liked it more than I did originally. Sometimes, even if I don’t get all the answers I want, the writing and the premise are just too good, and that’s the case for me with The Folly.
I absolutely recommend you pick it up if you’re looking for a thrilling, atmospheric mystery with a surprising conclusion (seriously, you will never guess it!).
I’d like to thank both Datura Books and Netgalley, from whom I received an ARC of this book.
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon
2.0
I love the concept of this book and appreciate the message about climate change Park Seolyeon was trying to convey through the story, but it really fell short for me.
When the FMC finds out she’s a magical girl, she asks if she’s too old, because she always assumed magical girls were girls, and at 29, she’s a woman. But nowhere in the story did she actually seem like she wasn’t a teen. She had a grown woman’s problems (credit card debt, couldn’t find a job, worried about rent), but she could have been a young girl otherwise and I’d have believed it no problem, and I think that’s my biggest issue with the book. Magical girls are usually young teenagers and going into this book, I thought it would be different, more interesting, and maybe even relatable because this magical girl is an adult. But it really wasn’t. The only adult thing this magical girl does is join a union.
When the FMC finds out she’s a magical girl, she asks if she’s too old, because she always assumed magical girls were girls, and at 29, she’s a woman. But nowhere in the story did she actually seem like she wasn’t a teen. She had a grown woman’s problems (credit card debt, couldn’t find a job, worried about rent), but she could have been a young girl otherwise and I’d have believed it no problem, and I think that’s my biggest issue with the book. Magical girls are usually young teenagers and going into this book, I thought it would be different, more interesting, and maybe even relatable because this magical girl is an adult. But it really wasn’t. The only adult thing this magical girl does is join a union.
The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks
5.0
I read this book in less than 24 hours and the only reason I didn’t finish it in one sitting is because my body unfortunately needs sleep (rude). The Only Way Up is Death so absolutely wild, I couldn’t stop, I had to keep reading. I read it while brushing my teeth, I read it while walking my dog. If you’re struggling to get out of a book slump, this is the book to get you out of it. If you’re not, this is the book to read anyway because it’s rad. It gets right into the action (of which there’s a ton) and as I mentioned before, it’s basically impossible not to keep turning the page.
It was easy to feel like a 14th person in the group of 13 confused people forced to climb the mysterious tower. No one knows what the hell is going on, so I was like, “hey, same,” and we all began the ascent together. And I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t… that. Sorry, no spoilers. You likely won’t be expecting it either but it’s all awesome.
Of the 13 people, there were some obvious main characters that were more finely developed. I loved Rakie and Earl, I despised Dirk (seriously, he is the worst and I just know people like him actually exist which makes me hate him more), and Nia was beautifully written and relatable, but I think I most closely related to Alden. As he ascended the tower, he came to some realizations about grief that hit pretty close to home for me and I found it comforting.
And I found more comfort in the book, which feels weird when I look back on it because I’d easily describe it as sometimes funny but mostly terrifying science fiction which doesn’t sound at all comforting. Between the violence, in-fighting, and general confusion, there were drops of commentary on humanity, the way we treat each other, and the things we value, as well as the importance of caring for and about the future regardless of whether or not we’ll be here to see it. I loved the inclusion of those themes and the ways in which they were perfectly woven into the story.
I’d been looking forward to reading this one for a while and am so happy I can now say I’ve read it and it lived up to my expectations and then some.!
Reverie by Ryan La Sala
3.0
I read an article about Reverie and what it means to Ryan La Sala. He started writing it when he was in high school, when queer stories were absent from so much of the media available to him. He figured the likelihood that Reverie would ever be published was slim to none, so he held nothing back and filled it with every strange and fantastic idea he had. Instead of waiting around for someone to write the story he wanted, La Sala created it himself. I love that this is the origin story of the book.
One of Ryan La Sala’s inspirations was Kingdom Hearts, a video game in which you travel to all sorts of different worlds. Before I knew this, and from the beginning of the book, I was reminded of the Persona video game series. In the Persona games, the MC and his friends are sucked into strange dream-like worlds that reflect the innermost desires of people, very much like Reveries.
As much as I like the concept of Reverie (and would absolutely play it if it was a video game), and as much as I love chaos, it was maybe a bit too chaotic for me. I got a bit lost during action scenes and I’m still a little unsure what actually happened during the events of the final action scene.
I liked Kane (the MC) and his friends, but I wish they’d been a little more fleshed out. There were a couple things about the characters that were stated as important facts but not really explored. I wanted to know why those facts are facts, especially because they are so important to the story. Because the characters weren’t very deep, I didn’t form any real attachment, positive or negative, to any of them. I started to feel something for Dean towards the end, but by that point it was a bit too late.
Despite my issues with it, I did have some fun with Reverie and I love what it represents to Ryan La Sala. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Michael Crouch, was excellent. I don’t know how old he was at the time of recording, but he sounded like a teen and it was perfect for this YA book.
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
5.0
I wasn’t expecting to actually learn any facts about space while reading this book but I did and they were all very interesting! I did expect Interesting Facts About Space to be amazing though and of course I was correct because Emily Austin is a precious gem and all of her books are perfect.
She has this amazing way of writing characters that makes it possible for me to find myself in them and relate so deeply that it’s almost painful. This time, it was Enid’s and her relationship (or lack there of) with her father that got me the most. Enid’s struggles with her feelings surrounding his absence in her life so closely mirrored my own as I grew up. Like damn, Emily, why did you target me specifically and punch me right in the heart?
It wasn’t all me being punched in the heart though. I laughed way more than I got heart-punched. I probably averaged one laugh per page, which is like 300 laughs. That sounds like a lot, actually. But even if it was one laugh every other page, that’s around 150 laughs. An excellent amount of laughs for a book that also heart-punched me and made me cry.
Myrrh by Polly Hall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Unfortunately, this book just didn’t grab me. I formed a theory as to what was going on, then stopped reading and didn’t return to the book for 5 days. When I thought about picking it up again, I realized I didn’t really care if my theory was correct or not, so I figure that’s a pretty good reason to move on to something else.
I liked the writing though!
I liked the writing though!
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
5.0
I finished this book five days ago. I loved it so much that I made myself wait to write this review just to make sure I was no longer deliriously high on it and could write something that was 1) intelligible and 2) not so overwhelmingly positive that I seemed a bit out of control. But now that I’ve healed from the book hangover (the likes of which I have only seen once before), it’s still a 10/10, I have no notes, and I think I’m about to cry right now because thinking about how much I love this book makes me really emotional. Sooo, I’ve failed.
Sorcery and Small Magics is a big magical book about forgiving yourself and finding your place in the world. I easily fell in love with the main characters, Grimm and Leo, and I can’t pick a favorite but I have to say that Leo seems like he’d be so much fun. Maybe a little exhausting sometimes, but very fun. The idea of two characters that are complete opposites with more in common than they think isn’t new, but it’s done so well here that it felt fresh to me.
And the magic system! Okay. We have sorcerers, right? But they’re split into two types: scrivers and casters. Scrivers come up with and write the spells on paper. Casters take the paper and cast the spells. They must work together to create the magic. It’s an excellent system, it’s interesting and well defined, and also: Grimm is a caster, Leo is a scriver, they hate each other, and THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. Yes, it’s a common trope, no, it doesn’t feel common. It feels amazing, because witnessing the slow evolution of Grimm and Leo’s relationship from rivals to reluctant allies through forced proximity is like watching a beautiful sunrise. It takes time, but it’s never stagnant as there are tiny changes happening constantly.
I don’t have the ability to visualize but the world of Sorcery and Small Magics is so believable and feels so real that I could almost see it. When Grimm and Leo had to journey together in search of a counterspell, the woods they traveled through were full of danger, and I could nearly see it all, which is an extremely rare experience for me and the mark of fantastic writing. I had a thought that I’d love to watch a movie adaptation, but those are always disappointing, so I changed my mind. Who am I kidding though? It couldn’t possibly be as good as the book, but I’d still watch it and probably love it because Sorcery and Small Magics might be my personality now.
I’m so glad this book is the first in a trilogy because I need more. It’s charming, whimsical, and funny (both haha and hehe). I cried (three times) while reading and when I finished, I yelled “AHHHHHHH!” and then cried again because I was upset it was over. The only reason I haven’t preordered a copy is because I’m waiting to find out if I can get a ride to the book launch/author talk so I can meet Maiga Doocy and get a signed copy in person (and if I can’t, I will probably cry for a fifth time, just saying).
I will be more than eagerly and less than patiently awaiting the next book!
Thank you so much to both Netgalley and Orbit Books, from whom I received an ARC of Sorcery and Small Magics. I’m almost sorry I love the book so much because I’ve seen people say they don’t trust overwhelmingly positive 5 star ARC reviews. But not sorry enough to lie 🤷🏻♀️
Sorcery and Small Magics is a big magical book about forgiving yourself and finding your place in the world. I easily fell in love with the main characters, Grimm and Leo, and I can’t pick a favorite but I have to say that Leo seems like he’d be so much fun. Maybe a little exhausting sometimes, but very fun. The idea of two characters that are complete opposites with more in common than they think isn’t new, but it’s done so well here that it felt fresh to me.
And the magic system! Okay. We have sorcerers, right? But they’re split into two types: scrivers and casters. Scrivers come up with and write the spells on paper. Casters take the paper and cast the spells. They must work together to create the magic. It’s an excellent system, it’s interesting and well defined, and also: Grimm is a caster, Leo is a scriver, they hate each other, and THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. Yes, it’s a common trope, no, it doesn’t feel common. It feels amazing, because witnessing the slow evolution of Grimm and Leo’s relationship from rivals to reluctant allies through forced proximity is like watching a beautiful sunrise. It takes time, but it’s never stagnant as there are tiny changes happening constantly.
I don’t have the ability to visualize but the world of Sorcery and Small Magics is so believable and feels so real that I could almost see it. When Grimm and Leo had to journey together in search of a counterspell, the woods they traveled through were full of danger, and I could nearly see it all, which is an extremely rare experience for me and the mark of fantastic writing. I had a thought that I’d love to watch a movie adaptation, but those are always disappointing, so I changed my mind. Who am I kidding though? It couldn’t possibly be as good as the book, but I’d still watch it and probably love it because Sorcery and Small Magics might be my personality now.
I’m so glad this book is the first in a trilogy because I need more. It’s charming, whimsical, and funny (both haha and hehe). I cried (three times) while reading and when I finished, I yelled “AHHHHHHH!” and then cried again because I was upset it was over. The only reason I haven’t preordered a copy is because I’m waiting to find out if I can get a ride to the book launch/author talk so I can meet Maiga Doocy and get a signed copy in person (and if I can’t, I will probably cry for a fifth time, just saying).
I will be more than eagerly and less than patiently awaiting the next book!
Thank you so much to both Netgalley and Orbit Books, from whom I received an ARC of Sorcery and Small Magics. I’m almost sorry I love the book so much because I’ve seen people say they don’t trust overwhelmingly positive 5 star ARC reviews. But not sorry enough to lie 🤷🏻♀️
The Book of Purrs by Luís Coelho
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
4.0
I’ve been following @purr.in.ink on Instagram since 2019 and I’m a big fan of Luis Coelho’s work. When I saw The Book of Purrs on Net Galley, I pounced on it (like a cat!) without hesitation.
The Book of Purrs features nearly 100 short comics. Some have been shared on Instagram in the past while others are brand new, and all of them are extremely cute. I’ve always loved how ‘paw-sitive’ and encouraging the kitties are, and that definitely extends to the book. There’s a fair bit of variety in the content of the comics with very little repetition. A lot of the comics are motivational, with messages about healing, self-love, and acceptance. Many of them are silly and fun. A couple of them made me emotional.
Of course, the art is phenomenal. If you’re not familiar with Luis Coelho’s work, you should absolutely head over to @purr.in.ink and check out the art you can expect to find in The Book of Purrs. Look at his reels too, because he’s shared videos of the way he draws each cat and it is beyond impressive.
In a letter to the reader at the beginning, Coelho explains that he hopes we will pick up the book and open it to a random page whenever we need a message from a friendly cat. Because I had a digital ARC, I couldn’t easily read it that way, but I think reading it the way Coelho suggests, instead of from start to finish, would be perfect.
I’d like to thank both Net Galley and Andrew’s McMeel Publishing, from whom I received an ARC of The Book of Purrs.
The Book of Purrs features nearly 100 short comics. Some have been shared on Instagram in the past while others are brand new, and all of them are extremely cute. I’ve always loved how ‘paw-sitive’ and encouraging the kitties are, and that definitely extends to the book. There’s a fair bit of variety in the content of the comics with very little repetition. A lot of the comics are motivational, with messages about healing, self-love, and acceptance. Many of them are silly and fun. A couple of them made me emotional.
Of course, the art is phenomenal. If you’re not familiar with Luis Coelho’s work, you should absolutely head over to @purr.in.ink and check out the art you can expect to find in The Book of Purrs. Look at his reels too, because he’s shared videos of the way he draws each cat and it is beyond impressive.
In a letter to the reader at the beginning, Coelho explains that he hopes we will pick up the book and open it to a random page whenever we need a message from a friendly cat. Because I had a digital ARC, I couldn’t easily read it that way, but I think reading it the way Coelho suggests, instead of from start to finish, would be perfect.
I’d like to thank both Net Galley and Andrew’s McMeel Publishing, from whom I received an ARC of The Book of Purrs.