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litsleaze's reviews
115 reviews
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
5.0
What can I say about Yellowface.
A contemporary fictional (as far as we know ;) ) satire novel based on the inner workings of the publishing company and one c-rated author who wishes she could break it big. But alas, she has a friend, who isn’t exactly innocent herself, who does have the like she so desperately yearns for and lo and behold after a terrible and super off freak accidental death, the narrator is given the chance to steal her belated friend’s last manuscript. Enter a surreal story of making it big and all the travesties that live within the publishing world.
R.F Kuang has a way of sinking you deep into her words, and you’ll find yourself reading faster than your fingers can catch up. All the characters were well thought out and honestly you may not like some of them. This book was refreshing and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I so desperately wish there would be a continuation to this book — one can only hope.
Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for the ARC!
A contemporary fictional (as far as we know ;) ) satire novel based on the inner workings of the publishing company and one c-rated author who wishes she could break it big. But alas, she has a friend, who isn’t exactly innocent herself, who does have the like she so desperately yearns for and lo and behold after a terrible and super off freak accidental death, the narrator is given the chance to steal her belated friend’s last manuscript. Enter a surreal story of making it big and all the travesties that live within the publishing world.
R.F Kuang has a way of sinking you deep into her words, and you’ll find yourself reading faster than your fingers can catch up. All the characters were well thought out and honestly you may not like some of them. This book was refreshing and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I so desperately wish there would be a continuation to this book — one can only hope.
Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for the ARC!
Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara
3.0
First, I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing this e-book for me to review.
I will admit that this is my first Greek mythology, retelling book, and honestly, I believe it’s a perfect beginner, friendly book to begin with. It wasn’t too complicated with the back history of the various characters that range between psyche, Zeus, Medusa, Atlanta, and many others, and provided really great brief introduction to the characters and the mythology overall.
From what I’ve read in my own research about Psyche and Eros is that this is a very loosely translated retelling of their story. I see that there has been some major changes to their story but overall, if you look at this book as a standalone for these two characters — I believe it works. This story basically tells us about a mortal female, who has great feminist qualities that make her a great protagonist and main character and then the story of a slightly narcissistic Greek god named Eros. Eros was basically demanded by Aphrodite, to bring a curse to Psyche , but with his clumsiness, he accidentally casts the curse on himself.
I believe this book could’ve done a bit more emphasis on the relationship building for the two characters because it did not pull on my heartstrings like I wanted it to. There was a great chance to really make a wonderful love story, but I believe that was missed. The pacing of the book was great as I was completely sucked in by chapter 2, so the writing is definitely top notch there. Overall I believe this is a solid effort for the retelling of these two characters, but would’ve like to see a bit more swoon worthy prose to make the reader fall in love with the characters.
I will admit that this is my first Greek mythology, retelling book, and honestly, I believe it’s a perfect beginner, friendly book to begin with. It wasn’t too complicated with the back history of the various characters that range between psyche, Zeus, Medusa, Atlanta, and many others, and provided really great brief introduction to the characters and the mythology overall.
From what I’ve read in my own research about Psyche and Eros is that this is a very loosely translated retelling of their story. I see that there has been some major changes to their story but overall, if you look at this book as a standalone for these two characters — I believe it works. This story basically tells us about a mortal female, who has great feminist qualities that make her a great protagonist and main character and then the story of a slightly narcissistic Greek god named Eros. Eros was basically demanded by Aphrodite, to bring a curse to Psyche , but with his clumsiness, he accidentally casts the curse on himself.
I believe this book could’ve done a bit more emphasis on the relationship building for the two characters because it did not pull on my heartstrings like I wanted it to. There was a great chance to really make a wonderful love story, but I believe that was missed. The pacing of the book was great as I was completely sucked in by chapter 2, so the writing is definitely top notch there. Overall I believe this is a solid effort for the retelling of these two characters, but would’ve like to see a bit more swoon worthy prose to make the reader fall in love with the characters.