mel_katz's reviews
21 reviews

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Babel by R.F. Kuang

5.0

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever of Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book before it’s publication on March 7, 2023!

Magical. This book is magical. 

I fell in love with Anita Kelley’s writing when I read their last book, Love & Other Disasters. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this book, Something Wild & Wonderful, before it’s release. Now, I simply cannot wait to hold the physical copy in my hands and give it a giant hug — returning the giant hug this book was for me. 

As with Love & Other Disasters, I loved the dual narration between Alexei and Ben. Getting insight into their thinking, their emotions, and their past created such a beautifully woven story. Anita Kelly handled their pasts — traumas, difficult relationships, emotional hurt — with such gentle grace. Even though our life experiences are different in many ways, I could see myself in these characters in a way that so few authors are able to do so beautifully. 

Knowing the genre of this work, I could anticipate a bit of the ending (and that is not a critique in any way!). But what I didn’t expect — and what I appreciate so deeply — is that, up until the end, Alexei and Ben still got their own endings. They each still grew and changed and had plans that were their own, intertwined with their relationship. I love how from beginning to end, it was a journey of self as much as a journey of relationships. 

Most importantly, I love the way Something Wild & Wonderful highlighted multiple queer experiences. Alexei’s family and Ben’s family; their experiences and challenges of friendships; their own journeys around self-discovery and sexuality; and Alexei’s changing relationship to faith. As a reader, I saw myself in pieces of each of their experiences. There is nothing more affirming than that when reading a book. 

And I can’t finish this review without mentioning the letters. Every one of letters in the section Kennedy Meadows to Cascade Locks made me cry. Sent and unsent, equally. 

I am so thankful to Anita Kelly for offering these words to the world and to the queer community. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Abandonment