litwithlesia's reviews
189 reviews

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Another emotionally devastating book my Dustin Thao 😭 I absolutely loved this book - the use of flashbacks was done so well, and really maximized the emotional impact. Dustin writes grief, and especially grief in younger people, so so well, and I loved watching Julie’s journey through grief (as painful as it was). Seeing Julie and her friends support one another and hold space for each other was so beautiful, and I especially enjoyed her and Oliver’s friendship.

Would highly recommend this to anyone who has experienced loss in their life (but make sure you have the tissues handy!)

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this ebook!

This was another beautiful book by Emilia Hart filled with feminine rage, connection, and justice, and it did not disappoint. The way that she interweaves different generations of women together, connected by blood and the violence they’ve experienced, is truly so beautiful. There is such a powerful message of hope and protection, and I loved the twists and turns that kept me on my toes and looking for the pieces of the puzzle.

I absolutely loved it and could not out it down! Highly recommended read for really any woman, but especially those who look out for each other and keep each other safe. 

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko

funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

A beautiful, cozy tale of resilience and the power of claiming your own path! 

I absolutely loved this Afro-fantasy reimagining of Howl’s Moving Castle! While the overall story had much more gravitas and was a powerful criticism of classism, it still managed to have such a whimsical, cozy vibe to it that was so reminiscent of its inspiration! Small Sade was such a fierce, stubborn girl with so much loyalty to the people she loves. Watching her confidence grow throughout the book was truly so beautiful, and I will be thinking about this book and these characters for a long time.

I read this via audiobook and I would recommend the audio a thousand times over - Adetinpo Thomas was an absolutely incredible narrator, bringing so much life and love to an already vibrant story.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Did I know what was happening at any given moment? Not really. But was the writing still a spooky, gory, beautiful vibe? Sure was!

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Such a lovely continuation of the Emily Wilde series! 

While it did take me a bit to really fully invest in this one, I found it really picked up about halfway through and I didn’t want to put it down! Emily and Wendell’s banter is just so sweet - I love their relationship so much, and love getting to see Emily slowly open up to Wendell. 

I really enjoyed the addition of Ariadne and Rose to the crew, as well as sweet little Poe making his return! The group dynamics were fun and definitely added to the charm of the story.

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

Honestly just could not get into the audiobook! I think this will be one I want to read visually, as I loved the concept and story but just found myself struggling to pick up the audiobook.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was such a fun, spicy read! I loved the grumpy x sunshine mix of Lukas and Scarlett and their journey in exploring kink together. I also really loved the focus on Scarlett’s recovery from her injury and past trauma, and the way that this was handled with so much care by Lukas. I did find myself getting quite frustrated with Scarlett, especially as we got to the end, but I also felt like she had really realistic reactions and processing times based on her previous experiences and who she is. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and would especially recommend the audiobook - the narrators absolutely nailed it!

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

An incredible sequel to Legendborn! Brew goes through SO MUCH in this book, I just want to hold her and love her because she deserves so much better.

I really loved the core crew of Bree, Sel, William, and Alice. The four of them balance one another so well, and I loved getting to know each of them a bit deeper. The way Bree and Alice just GET each other was so wonderful - I wasn’t sure of Alice in the last book but the way she just shows the hell up and is always in Bree’s corner is just perfect.

The continued focus on ancestral ties and Black history was so beautifully done - while I can never understand the full extent of how powerful these things are, it gave me such an incredible perspective and I just loved it. Seeing the way Black folks care for each other and share a deep bond is so beautiful - as Samira says, “Black folks don’t need Oaths to take care of each other. We never did.”

The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No

5.0

Thank you to Alix E. Harrow, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This was such a beautiful love story. Alix has this incredible way of making us see beauty in the ugly, and this short story was a perfect example of that. She showed us how circumstances and people can change and evolve, but love will always remain. How it only takes one person to start changing peoples perspectives, and that just because something or someone is different, does not make them a monster.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

If I could give this book infinite stars, I would. Such an incredible story of grief, young love, self discovery, ancestral bonds, and Black girl magic. 

This book hooked me right off the bat - we dive straight into the action, and I was immediately intrigued by Bree’s story and the mysterious circumstances she finds herself in. Throughout the book it was so clear that she was torn between forging her own path, and staying true to her roots. The plot had so many twists and turns, and I absolutely love where things ended up - I am so glad I have the next book on hand, because I wanted to dive into it immediately!

The way that Tracy handles grief and loss was so profoundly raw and beautiful. As someone who is no stranger to grief, I resonated so much with the concept of “After-Bree” and the way that traumatic loss can change you in such a significant way. I also really appreciated that she did not shy away from Black history in the US, and built the story around it, no matter how painful those pieces of history are. I learned so many things about what it is like to be Black in America, and I am so grateful for that.