micareads123's reviews
276 reviews

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.5

An excellent sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. So much happens in this series that looking back to where the story began in the first book, it is hard to believe that everything fit into just two books. 

I had a lot of fun getting lost in this world again. This book is much more of an emotional rollercoaster than the first, and I felt that everything tied up really nicely.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book follows an unnamed Palestinian-American woman who is struggling with and being treated for love addiction. As the narrative shifts back and forth between the narrator’s present — at the treatment centre  — and her past, we see how all of her self-destructive behaviours and messy and complicated relationships with past partners and, most importantly, her mother, relate back to her childhood. 

The author really demonstrates the impact of a person’s upbringing and of generational trauma in the pages of this book, and she sprinkles impactful messaging about life in Palestine throughout. 

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book says so much in under 200 pages. Though short, it is a very impactful novel that blends the past and present in Palestine, showing how historic violence still shapes life in the state today.

I think the most hard-to-swallow part of this book is that the gruesome and horrific first half is based on a true story. But moving beyond that, the fictional narrative that Shibli spins gives readers a wealth of messaging to unpack. I originally read this as an audiobook but have since ordered a physical copy so I can read it again and dig into it deeper.

This is an excellent book that I think everyone should read, especially to gain some context around current events in Gaza. Although its focus is narrow, zeroing in on one event from two different perspectives and in two different timelines, the implications the story offers are very wide.

Something More by Jackie Khalilieh

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

One of the best coming-of-age novels I’ve read! The characters were so real and complex, and the messaging hit on some topics that really resonated with me.

Jessie’s story is so painfully relatable and brought me straight back to my high school days. While reading this, it often felt like I was living inside my own head at 15. The intense pining, the love triangle, the complicated and messy relationships, the endless mental turmoil, all of it! She learns in one school year some hard lessons that took me years past high school to learn. 

I also loved seeing autism representation in such a well done YA story, and I appreciated the accurate descriptions of Canadian schools — the greasy pizza you need to blot with napkins, the bubblegum soap, the wet winter boot smell.

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time to come. 

Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

In these collected interviews and speeches by Angela Y. Davis, the author makes very compelling arguments in favour of a global shift towards freedom for all.

This book looks at the oppression of many cultural groups across the world and why that oppression exists, and it asks what we as a society need to do to in terms of reform to achieve freedom for all. 

Davis presents ideas here that I will be reflecting on for a long time

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

adventurous lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.0

This was a really cute and cozy Halloween season read with a vibe that reminded me of Halloween movies such as Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown. 

The characters were likeable and charming, and while the book was comfortingly predictable, I was surprised to find it had the added element of a competition, which raised the stakes and was fun to read. 

I’m not totally sure yet if I will continue with the series, but I did enjoy this book and recommend it for those looking for a cozy October read. 

Squire by Nadia Shammas

adventurous informative reflective 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

4.5

In this compelling graphic novel that examines the impact of imperialism, 14-year-old Aiza dreams of becoming a knight for the empire. When the empire once again finds itself on the brink of war, Aiza enlists in the squire training program but must hide her background as a girl from the conquered lands.

But once Aiza gets a closer look at the empire’s intentions, she realizes that their promises may not include her and her people and that her heroes may not be what she once thought they were.

I really enjoyed this story that was crafted around the Arab-American experience of its two creators and tells an alternate Middle Eastern/North African history. It explores themes of loyalty, resistance to assimilation and propaganda and was beautifully told and illustrated. 

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This little book asks a big question: what do humans want? 

This story of a human tea monk and an AI robot who journey together in search of meaning was a delightful, meditative and calming read. I look forward to reading the second book in the duology and other books by Becky Chambers. 

I definitely recommend this to anyone who appreciates slowness in life, who needs a break or who feels lost.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I wasn’t sure about this book for probably half of it. The loose world building and poetic nature of it wasn’t really forming any sort of cohesion in my brain. But in the second half, as the relationship between Blue and Red progressed into love and the stakes got higher, the story came together as a sort of cohesive dance and I started to care about the relationship that had developed between the two characters.

This book is truly unique, with a writing style that is more impressionistic than concrete. It’s a book that forces you to relinquish any need for clear-cut storylines and detail.

I also appreciate the overarching metaphor for the climate crisis of a war through time between the Garden and the Agency. 

I really didn’t think I would end up liking this book but have to admit it grew on me as I read it and sat with it. It is an impressive and original work, unlike anything I have read before.