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mspilesofpaper's reviews
854 reviews
Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Love At First Set is about Elizabeth "Lizzie" who works as the front desk manager at the local gym and gets dragged to the wedding of her best friend's sister as he doesn't want to appear alone there. Drunken mistakes happen and the wedding is called off, and suddenly Lizzie finds herself pushed towards the bride Cara.
While the set-up of the novel did sound cute, I have to say that the book just sucked a lot. Why? Because the fucking relationship between Lizzie and Cara is just instant love and instant lust. James (the best friend), Cara, their parents, Lizzie and her mother are just awful characters. James and Cara manipulate the hell out of Lizzie, their parents Stella and George are just the typical "she is cruel and worried about the money while he is a drunken idiot" rich family, Lizzie's mother manipulates and uses her daughter as well, and Lizzie has no backbone. Tbh: Lizzie needs tons of therapy and new friends. Instead, there's a fucking happy end, a useless third-act breakup (the entire drama was just too much) and none of the characters have any redeeming traits. Even the supposed character growth after the two women get back together just feels forced and unbelievable.
While the set-up of the novel did sound cute, I have to say that the book just sucked a lot. Why? Because the fucking relationship between Lizzie and Cara is just instant love and instant lust. James (the best friend), Cara, their parents, Lizzie and her mother are just awful characters. James and Cara manipulate the hell out of Lizzie, their parents Stella and George are just the typical "she is cruel and worried about the money while he is a drunken idiot" rich family, Lizzie's mother manipulates and uses her daughter as well, and Lizzie has no backbone. Tbh: Lizzie needs tons of therapy and new friends. Instead, there's a fucking happy end, a useless third-act breakup (the entire drama was just too much) and none of the characters have any redeeming traits. Even the supposed character growth after the two women get back together just feels forced and unbelievable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy
Pumpkin Spice and Poltergeist by Ali K. Mulford, K. Elle Morrison
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Pumpkin Spice & Polstergeist is the autumnal/spooky equivalent of a Hallmark movie with a touch of Gilmore Girls.
Maple Hollow is a small town, reminiscent of Girlmore Girls' Star's Hollow, with paranormal citizens and a bunch of humans. Of course, all paranormal citizens do not hide and just use the town's theme Halloween/Fall, and the excuse of good costumes, as an explanation of why there's a pumpkin-headed monster walking around or why Frankenstein is the mayor. You have to ignore all logic to accept this and do not ask too many questions about it either or the entire explanation will fall apart.
The sapphic romance is pure instant love and instant lust for each other. There's no actual depth to it, just like there's no actual depth to the characters. They all fall neatly into some stereotypes, which fits the Hallmark movie vibe. (The lack of depth isn't limited to the side characters, it is ALL characters.) Jordyn is a white sapphic witch while Harlow is a white bisexual human. Jordyn's ex is also white. All mentioned characters are white as long as they are humanoid/humanoid-passing. The monsters are the exception as there's a green Frankenstein monster, the pumpkin-headed monster, and the swamp monster. If you are looking for a BIPOC character, you will be deeply disappointed.
Overall, it's a very fast-paced story (no wonder with barely over 200 pages) that is very predictable (especially the murder mystery). At times, it is noticeable that the book was written by two authors because the writing style is different enough and some chapters just feel like they don't connect well to each other. Yes, there are funny moments and if you are looking for a sapphic cosy romance that you can read in a few hours, you won't be disappointed, but it isn't something to write home about. It's just ... ok, hence the three stars.
Maple Hollow is a small town, reminiscent of Girlmore Girls' Star's Hollow, with paranormal citizens and a bunch of humans. Of course, all paranormal citizens do not hide and just use the town's theme Halloween/Fall, and the excuse of good costumes, as an explanation of why there's a pumpkin-headed monster walking around or why Frankenstein is the mayor. You have to ignore all logic to accept this and do not ask too many questions about it either or the entire explanation will fall apart.
The sapphic romance is pure instant love and instant lust for each other. There's no actual depth to it, just like there's no actual depth to the characters. They all fall neatly into some stereotypes, which fits the Hallmark movie vibe. (The lack of depth isn't limited to the side characters, it is ALL characters.) Jordyn is a white sapphic witch while Harlow is a white bisexual human. Jordyn's ex is also white. All mentioned characters are white as long as they are humanoid/humanoid-passing. The monsters are the exception as there's a green Frankenstein monster, the pumpkin-headed monster, and the swamp monster. If you are looking for a BIPOC character, you will be deeply disappointed.
Overall, it's a very fast-paced story (no wonder with barely over 200 pages) that is very predictable (especially the murder mystery). At times, it is noticeable that the book was written by two authors because the writing style is different enough and some chapters just feel like they don't connect well to each other. Yes, there are funny moments and if you are looking for a sapphic cosy romance that you can read in a few hours, you won't be disappointed, but it isn't something to write home about. It's just ... ok, hence the three stars.
The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
One of these books where I had to force myself to book it up. 43% after eight days isn't a good sign for me (especially given the fact that the book isn't even overly long).
The idea of the novel seemed interesting and promising, just like some elements of the world-building, but I couldn't care less about the characters (and the reversed gender images) and the story itself, which felt dragged out for the purpose of Bancroft showing his world-building. The case on which the two were working wasn't big enough to end up with a nearly 400-page book. Also, the writing is partly so exhausting because it felt as if Bancroft used a thesaurus a few times too often, which results in stilted writing and confusing descriptions.
The idea of the novel seemed interesting and promising, just like some elements of the world-building, but I couldn't care less about the characters (and the reversed gender images) and the story itself, which felt dragged out for the purpose of Bancroft showing his world-building. The case on which the two were working wasn't big enough to end up with a nearly 400-page book. Also, the writing is partly so exhausting because it felt as if Bancroft used a thesaurus a few times too often, which results in stilted writing and confusing descriptions.
Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
Drowned Country happens two years after the first book and starts with Henry, the new wild man of Greenhollow, sulking in the ruins of his mansion because he is alone (aside from Bramble) as Tobias left him. Their romantic relationship lasted just a few months and their split resulted in Henry struggling with being the wild man of Greenhollow but also being Henry Silver at the same time. Until the day his mother comes calling to demand his help with a case in the seaside town of Rothport where a 900-year-old vampire lives. Rothport used to be part of the ancient wood to which Henry is bound but it was drowned beneath the sea. While Henry still suffers from a broken heart, he is still quickly pulled into the mess that awaits him in Rothport, and there's more to Rothport and Maude, the vampire's supposed victim, than meets the eye.
While Silver in the Wood was very character-driven and whimsical in its own way, Drowned Country is a plot-driven story, which switches between the present and the past when Henry remembers how his relationship with Tobias ended. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place with a vampire, the run-away young woman who wants to become a monster hunter/wants to follow Henry's and his father's footsteps in terms of academic success, the last fairy and the fairy queen in fairyland, and then the sudden end. The end irks me a lot because it's really just to solve the entire romance situation, so Henry and Tobias can be back together and enjoy a mortal lifetime together.
While Silver in the Wood was very character-driven and whimsical in its own way, Drowned Country is a plot-driven story, which switches between the present and the past when Henry remembers how his relationship with Tobias ended. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place with a vampire, the run-away young woman who wants to become a monster hunter/wants to follow Henry's and his father's footsteps in terms of academic success, the last fairy and the fairy queen in fairyland, and then the sudden end. The end irks me a lot because it's really just to solve the entire romance situation, so Henry and Tobias can be back together and enjoy a mortal lifetime together.
The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Why is it SciFi/futuristic Indian-inspired fantasy when the summary makes it sound like medieval Indian-inspired fantasy? The holopods truly surprised me because I didn't expect so many futuristic elements in a world that still seems somewhat medieval.
While the overall world-building is slow but interesting, the characters are by far the worst. They are boring and inconsistent. No one trusts anyone. Elena is an exhausting brat who thinks the worst of her own father because the man tries his hardest to protect his daughter and to make sure that she will have an easier time ruling. Yassen just exists.
I think the book could have been great if the characters would have been better and if the writing style would have been smoother because the world-building is good and the story idea is ok (as far as the revealed plot goes up to 35%, which isn't that much). Unfortunately because of both, the book is just exhausting to read and doesn't draw the reader into the story.
While the overall world-building is slow but interesting, the characters are by far the worst. They are boring and inconsistent. No one trusts anyone. Elena is an exhausting brat who thinks the worst of her own father because the man tries his hardest to protect his daughter and to make sure that she will have an easier time ruling. Yassen just exists.
I think the book could have been great if the characters would have been better and if the writing style would have been smoother because the world-building is good and the story idea is ok (as far as the revealed plot goes up to 35%, which isn't that much). Unfortunately because of both, the book is just exhausting to read and doesn't draw the reader into the story.
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Silver in the Wood is the first novella in a duology about Tobias Finch and Henry Silver. It reads like a forest fairytale and has the vibe of a Hozier song. It is a loose m/m retelling of the Green Man myths in a gaslamp, Victorian-inspired world. The Green Man myths are mostly myths linked with Great Britain although you can find traces of it in architecture in most European countries (e.g., on Byzantine mosaic in Istanbul, on the ruins of Hatra in Iraq, in Bamberg (Germany), ...). The myths include often the themes of rebirth and reawakening, which the author implemented in Silver in the Wood as well.
To most people, Tobias is a wild man who lives in Greenhollow and is responsible for everything bad that happens to them. The truth is that Tobias' soul was bound to Greenhollow roughly 400 years ago and has lived ever since in the wood, tending to the trees, taking care of the dryads, and chasing away monsters who are drawn to the old magic in the forest. To Henry Silver, he is not a wild man or a monster. He is just ... Tobias. The man who took him in during a storm and the one who listens to him rambling about folklore and myths. [I love Tobias "I'm a very tired homosexual and I just want to rest" Finch and Henry "Oh wow! One bed ... how convenient! I'm trying to get you into my bed since the start." Silver as characters just as much as Bramble and Henry's mother who as van Helsing vibes.]
Overall, a slow-paced novella although sometimes things happen quickly because of how the main character experiences time himself. It is a lovely blend of myths, mystery, romance and change (in nature and characters), which got wrapped up in beautiful prose. Interesting take on immortality and how it affects actual people (because let's face it: being immortal is horrifying if you're alone). If you love T. Kingfisher's books, you might enjoy it as well because it could work as a short DnD campaign, too.
To most people, Tobias is a wild man who lives in Greenhollow and is responsible for everything bad that happens to them. The truth is that Tobias' soul was bound to Greenhollow roughly 400 years ago and has lived ever since in the wood, tending to the trees, taking care of the dryads, and chasing away monsters who are drawn to the old magic in the forest. To Henry Silver, he is not a wild man or a monster. He is just ... Tobias. The man who took him in during a storm and the one who listens to him rambling about folklore and myths. [I love Tobias "I'm a very tired homosexual and I just want to rest" Finch and Henry "Oh wow! One bed ... how convenient! I'm trying to get you into my bed since the start." Silver as characters just as much as Bramble and Henry's mother who as van Helsing vibes.]
Overall, a slow-paced novella although sometimes things happen quickly because of how the main character experiences time himself. It is a lovely blend of myths, mystery, romance and change (in nature and characters), which got wrapped up in beautiful prose. Interesting take on immortality and how it affects actual people (because let's face it: being immortal is horrifying if you're alone). If you love T. Kingfisher's books, you might enjoy it as well because it could work as a short DnD campaign, too.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
DNF @ 50%
Jesus Christ if I have to hear one more time how tiny/slender/small/... Rune is/looks and how big/muscular/strong/tall/... Gideon is/looks, I will scream.
These two have no chemistry at all. I have more chemistry with my fucking monthly period than these two idiots.
Jesus Christ if I have to hear one more time how tiny/slender/small/... Rune is/looks and how big/muscular/strong/tall/... Gideon is/looks, I will scream.
These two have no chemistry at all. I have more chemistry with my fucking monthly period than these two idiots.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Faebound is the first book in a series/trilogy and my first Saara El-Arifi book, so I was open enough about it despite booktok being meeh about it most of the time while praising her other trilogy.
I found the the story idea quite good as it's rare to find fae, elves and humans in one novel. Though, granted, the humans are all dead (or are supposed to be dead, who knows if they won't appear in the later books of the series), and the elves think that they are alone until Yeeran, the youngest colonel of the Waning Moon elven army, is being exiled and accidentally kills a fae prince, which results in her, and her sister's and her captain's, imprisonment. The two latter are "honoured guests" (aka glamourised prisoners) as they were in Yeeran's company when she killed the prince.
I liked how queer-normative the world is. All elves and fae are gender-fluid and there are several non-binary elves/fae characters. Same-sex partnerships/relationships are no issue either. Especially fae treat sex as something to enjoy and not to hide while the elves are a bit more prude in their behaviour about sex and nakedness.
Unfortunately, I have five main issues with the book that resulted in the 2 ⭐ rating:
‣ The magic system is never fully explained in a way that satisfied me.
There are three types of magic that are linked to the three races: sun magic (fae magic) which is not visible unless the inner eye is used and is often described as golden. Moon magic (elven magic) is basically just divination and silvery in appearance, and Earth magic (human magic) is linked to words/spoken language and is bronze/copper in appearance. Yet, somehow Yeeran can access fae magic as she is faebound (for some reason that is also unknown) by using her battle drum. It requires the intention to be used although the fae describe it as "half your mind has to be unfocused, the other half has to be focused" as you need to see the magic while performing it. Meanwhile, Lettle (Yeeran's younger sister) is a diviner who reads prophecies in the intestines from a magical creature and is only able to use this kind of magic. It is linked with unfocusing your mind as well, so somehow elven and fae magic are relatively close in how to use it.
‣ The magic system is linked to the flawed world-building, which falls apart if you think too much about it. There's an "Endless War" happening between two elven tribes (Waning Moon and Crescent), which happens only on one massive battlefield. Why is it only happening between two tribes? Where are the Full Moon and New Moon tribes? Why is it only happening on one battlefield that is soaked in blood by now? (And might happen since 1,000 years.) Why do the elves fight over highly coveted crystals (fraedia) that act like sunlight, so they can grow their own food and warm houses? They have a sun, so it doesn't make much sense why they need the crystals. Was there a famine? A blight on agricultural lands? Despite riding on camels, which would hint at a desert-inspired setting, the entire world takes place in a tropical setting including a lush forest/rain forest. (Though the author never bothers to make use of the rainforest with the high humidity, insects bothering the elves, and more local flora and fauna than three plants and a bunch of mentioned animals.) Overall, everything is very undescribed and underdeveloped. The author put an effort into the world-building concerning the fae but it's only marginal. (Also, the slaughtering of magical creatures for drums and divination ... I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't just magical creatures but the humans that vanished as well.)
‣ The romances are not my cup of tea because they are just instant lust in both cases. It is just 100% based on physical attraction and there's nothing in them that would make me think "Yes, they will continue to be together after the end of the series" because they share nothing with their partner aside from physical attraction/lust. I would have been okay with it if the author had the guts to call it just lust instead of love. It isn't love. If I squint, I might see a hint of love between Yeeran and her ex-lover although even there it's mostly physical attraction. Also, Lettle (Do not get me started on her name, please.) is the strong woman™ and therefore, cannot acknowledge her attraction to Rayan and has to become utterly unreasonable as soon as feelings are involved until she is having her "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love me" moment at a crime scene. A crime scene where she is the main suspect. Her only thought is "the realisation was not timely". YOU THINK SO, YOU LITTLE DIM-WITTED ELF!? (Lettle in general drove me up a wall. I dislike her a lot.)
‣ Generally, the book is very predictable (especially the prophecies), which gives it YA vibes while it is marketed as an adult series due to the three sex scenes (that are so mild that they barely qualify for 1 🌶️). It is rather frustrating as a reader to foresee everything while the characters stumble through the plot and can't even put the tiniest pieces together. Every reveal and plot twist was very heavy-handed in their reveal, so I couldn't enjoy them enough.
‣ Aside from the predictable, the writing style is atrocious and sometimes it feels either unedited (Because the publisher thought that they didn't need to put in enough effort due to El-Afrifi's previous successful series.) or as if the author is not an English-speaking native, which would be even more reason for an editor to pay attention. It results in paragraphs/sentences like:
He held a hand over a wound in his arm. A wound he had got from trying to save her. How she loved him. The realization was not timely. or The camel sprang quickly to standing. or Yeeran couldn't imagine not wanting to stop combat.
WHO WRITES LIKE THIS!? Also, a camel cannot spring quickly to standing, they are slow when getting up and down. Also, they don't have hooves like horses (which is the implication when they were described).
TL;DR: Underdeveloped world-building and characters, clunky writing style, and instant lust-based romances make up the novel. The story idea is good but its execution is so flawed that it hurts. The only positives of the book are the queer-normative world and the magical, intelligent beings called obeah.
I found the the story idea quite good as it's rare to find fae, elves and humans in one novel. Though, granted, the humans are all dead (or are supposed to be dead, who knows if they won't appear in the later books of the series), and the elves think that they are alone until Yeeran, the youngest colonel of the Waning Moon elven army, is being exiled and accidentally kills a fae prince, which results in her, and her sister's and her captain's, imprisonment. The two latter are "honoured guests" (aka glamourised prisoners) as they were in Yeeran's company when she killed the prince.
I liked how queer-normative the world is. All elves and fae are gender-fluid and there are several non-binary elves/fae characters. Same-sex partnerships/relationships are no issue either. Especially fae treat sex as something to enjoy and not to hide while the elves are a bit more prude in their behaviour about sex and nakedness.
Unfortunately, I have five main issues with the book that resulted in the 2 ⭐ rating:
‣ The magic system is never fully explained in a way that satisfied me.
There are three types of magic that are linked to the three races: sun magic (fae magic) which is not visible unless the inner eye is used and is often described as golden. Moon magic (elven magic) is basically just divination and silvery in appearance, and Earth magic (human magic) is linked to words/spoken language and is bronze/copper in appearance. Yet, somehow Yeeran can access fae magic as she is faebound (for some reason that is also unknown) by using her battle drum. It requires the intention to be used although the fae describe it as "half your mind has to be unfocused, the other half has to be focused" as you need to see the magic while performing it. Meanwhile, Lettle (Yeeran's younger sister) is a diviner who reads prophecies in the intestines from a magical creature and is only able to use this kind of magic. It is linked with unfocusing your mind as well, so somehow elven and fae magic are relatively close in how to use it.
‣ The magic system is linked to the flawed world-building, which falls apart if you think too much about it. There's an "Endless War" happening between two elven tribes (Waning Moon and Crescent), which happens only on one massive battlefield. Why is it only happening between two tribes? Where are the Full Moon and New Moon tribes? Why is it only happening on one battlefield that is soaked in blood by now? (And might happen since 1,000 years.) Why do the elves fight over highly coveted crystals (fraedia) that act like sunlight, so they can grow their own food and warm houses? They have a sun, so it doesn't make much sense why they need the crystals. Was there a famine? A blight on agricultural lands? Despite riding on camels, which would hint at a desert-inspired setting, the entire world takes place in a tropical setting including a lush forest/rain forest. (Though the author never bothers to make use of the rainforest with the high humidity, insects bothering the elves, and more local flora and fauna than three plants and a bunch of mentioned animals.) Overall, everything is very undescribed and underdeveloped. The author put an effort into the world-building concerning the fae but it's only marginal. (Also, the slaughtering of magical creatures for drums and divination ... I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't just magical creatures but the humans that vanished as well.)
‣ The romances are not my cup of tea because they are just instant lust in both cases. It is just 100% based on physical attraction and there's nothing in them that would make me think "Yes, they will continue to be together after the end of the series" because they share nothing with their partner aside from physical attraction/lust. I would have been okay with it if the author had the guts to call it just lust instead of love. It isn't love. If I squint, I might see a hint of love between Yeeran and her ex-lover although even there it's mostly physical attraction. Also, Lettle (Do not get me started on her name, please.) is the strong woman™ and therefore, cannot acknowledge her attraction to Rayan and has to become utterly unreasonable as soon as feelings are involved until she is having her "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love me" moment at a crime scene. A crime scene where she is the main suspect. Her only thought is "the realisation was not timely". YOU THINK SO, YOU LITTLE DIM-WITTED ELF!? (Lettle in general drove me up a wall. I dislike her a lot.)
‣ Generally, the book is very predictable (especially the prophecies), which gives it YA vibes while it is marketed as an adult series due to the three sex scenes (that are so mild that they barely qualify for 1 🌶️). It is rather frustrating as a reader to foresee everything while the characters stumble through the plot and can't even put the tiniest pieces together. Every reveal and plot twist was very heavy-handed in their reveal, so I couldn't enjoy them enough.
‣ Aside from the predictable, the writing style is atrocious and sometimes it feels either unedited (Because the publisher thought that they didn't need to put in enough effort due to El-Afrifi's previous successful series.) or as if the author is not an English-speaking native, which would be even more reason for an editor to pay attention. It results in paragraphs/sentences like:
He held a hand over a wound in his arm. A wound he had got from trying to save her. How she loved him. The realization was not timely. or The camel sprang quickly to standing. or Yeeran couldn't imagine not wanting to stop combat.
WHO WRITES LIKE THIS!? Also, a camel cannot spring quickly to standing, they are slow when getting up and down. Also, they don't have hooves like horses (which is the implication when they were described).
TL;DR: Underdeveloped world-building and characters, clunky writing style, and instant lust-based romances make up the novel. The story idea is good but its execution is so flawed that it hurts. The only positives of the book are the queer-normative world and the magical, intelligent beings called obeah.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Cemetery Boys is a YA novel that blends romance, heritage/belonging, rich culture and family traditions with a touch of magic. While it is a beautiful story and I loved how it handled trans representation and acceptance, I have to say that I'm simply not the target group for the book. I'm in my mid 30s and the book clearly aims at a younger target group.
Yadriel is a 16-year-old gay Latinx trans boy who tries to get his family to accept him as a boy - and as a brujo - by performing the coming-of-age ritual that his family had denied him for over a year. Lady Death, their patron, accepts him as a brujo, giving him powers to bind spirits but also to release them. Soon after, Yadriel, and his cousin, discover that his older cousin Miguel has suddenly and inexplicably died but neither spirit nor body can be found anywhere. Yadriel's plan is easy: find Miguel's body, release the spirit to the afterlife, and prove to his family that he is a true brujo - and a boy. Unfortunately, the plan doesn't go as planned when Yadriel summons Julian's spirit and binds him to an amulet. It even goes further off the rails when Yadriel starts to fall in love with Julian while both are trying to figure out: What happened to Julian? Who killed Miguel?
By now, I can say that Aiden Thomas is one of the few authors where the queer main characters do not fall into the typical issue of "Either they are fully accepted by everyone or are completely shunned by everyone". Instead, Yadriel's family claims that they accept him as a boy but always throw out comments like "stay here with the rest of the women" or "my little girl", which cause immense pain in Yadriel and show that his family doesn't accept him as he is. (Which, in this case, is mostly based on gendered traditions where female family members can heal wounds, and tend to work as doctors/nurses/... and are generally left behind or stay in the kitchen to cook, while the male family members take over the more "masculine" tasks such as protection, releasing spirits, ...) In addition, to Yadriel's struggles to be accepted, the book features also Yadriel's female cousin Maritza, who is accepted as bruja but still struggles to find her place in the community as a vegan (since all the spells require animal blood). And Julian, the loveable ghost, might be considered as a bad boy and troublemaker who is openly gay, but the reader learns quickly that there's more to him than just the typical bad boy visage. He's extremely loyal and his struggles also deal with belonging; less because of his sexuality but more because of the family situation.
The main downside of the book, for me, is the romance because it happens out of nowhere and is very strong at the end, which I found odd. But then, it might be understandable for teenagers. (I never went through the fierce first love phase as a teen, so I can't really connect or compare it.) This just brings me back to the main point: I am too old for the book. I think I would have given it 4 ⭐ or even 5 ⭐ if I would have been 15 - 21 years. The other downside is that the book is very predictable in terms of what is going to happen, who is the villain, ... but it is common with a lot of YA books. The predictability and the wrong target group were also my main issues with Aiden's other book The Sunbearer Trails.
Yadriel is a 16-year-old gay Latinx trans boy who tries to get his family to accept him as a boy - and as a brujo - by performing the coming-of-age ritual that his family had denied him for over a year. Lady Death, their patron, accepts him as a brujo, giving him powers to bind spirits but also to release them. Soon after, Yadriel, and his cousin, discover that his older cousin Miguel has suddenly and inexplicably died but neither spirit nor body can be found anywhere. Yadriel's plan is easy: find Miguel's body, release the spirit to the afterlife, and prove to his family that he is a true brujo - and a boy. Unfortunately, the plan doesn't go as planned when Yadriel summons Julian's spirit and binds him to an amulet. It even goes further off the rails when Yadriel starts to fall in love with Julian while both are trying to figure out: What happened to Julian? Who killed Miguel?
By now, I can say that Aiden Thomas is one of the few authors where the queer main characters do not fall into the typical issue of "Either they are fully accepted by everyone or are completely shunned by everyone". Instead, Yadriel's family claims that they accept him as a boy but always throw out comments like "stay here with the rest of the women" or "my little girl", which cause immense pain in Yadriel and show that his family doesn't accept him as he is. (Which, in this case, is mostly based on gendered traditions where female family members can heal wounds, and tend to work as doctors/nurses/... and are generally left behind or stay in the kitchen to cook, while the male family members take over the more "masculine" tasks such as protection, releasing spirits, ...) In addition, to Yadriel's struggles to be accepted, the book features also Yadriel's female cousin Maritza, who is accepted as bruja but still struggles to find her place in the community as a vegan (since all the spells require animal blood). And Julian, the loveable ghost, might be considered as a bad boy and troublemaker who is openly gay, but the reader learns quickly that there's more to him than just the typical bad boy visage. He's extremely loyal and his struggles also deal with belonging; less because of his sexuality but more because of the family situation.
The main downside of the book, for me, is the romance because it happens out of nowhere and is very strong at the end, which I found odd. But then, it might be understandable for teenagers. (I never went through the fierce first love phase as a teen, so I can't really connect or compare it.) This just brings me back to the main point: I am too old for the book. I think I would have given it 4 ⭐ or even 5 ⭐ if I would have been 15 - 21 years. The other downside is that the book is very predictable in terms of what is going to happen, who is the villain, ... but it is common with a lot of YA books. The predictability and the wrong target group were also my main issues with Aiden's other book The Sunbearer Trails.
Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Letters to Half Moon Street is the first book in a series that is set in a queer magical alternate Regency era where only the birth order matters (in terms of inheriting, ...) but not your gender or sexual orientation. It is a cosy romance with super low stakes with a happy ending.
Letters to Half Moon Street is a short romance novel that is entirely epistolary, mostly in letters between Gavin (the male main character) and his sister Gerry, after Gavin's family sends him to London "to get out of the house" as his older brother comes home with his expecting sister-in-law, and the parents know that Gavin and John do not get along. The official reason for Gavin to go to London is to take care of the family business for their father and to prepare the family's townhouse for the upcoming season. Gavin is the classic introvert who cares more about books than people and considers his sister as his closest friend. Henceforth, he utterly struggles to find a foot in London and keeps the first pages to himself. Yet, he manages to catch the eye of Charles Kentworthy who is set on winning him over - either just as a friend or as a potential husband - and determinedly draws Gavin out of his shell. Each letter to his sister shows that Gavin's world slowly opens up and he starts to include Charles in a positive light. It's utterly cute and delightful to read. Despite the letter style of the book, it never felt distancing although we learn about Gavin's growing relationship with Charles only through his letters to his sister.
The world-building is utterly delightful and well thought-through. It is a queer-normative magical alternate Regency era where your birth order matters by far more than your gender or sexual orientation. Everyone in this world has "a persuasion" (which is the romantic preference, may it be for men, women, non-binary or any combination), which is socially accepted. The importance of your birth order (first-born, second-born, third-born, ...) shows in tiny aspect as the addresses ("Lady and Lord xxx" instead of the typical "Lord and Lady xxx" if she is the first-born) or in the gender-neutral title Dukex for non-binary aristocratic people. I loved how the author built the typical restrictions for the Regency era around their queer-normative world. For example, being unchaperoned as a minor with a person who suits your persuasion is still an issue (and if you aren't open about your persuasion, you'll require simply a chaperone at all times), and the families are still nosy about their children's persuasion so they can make a good and fitting match. In addition, the function of a dowry is not linked to women anymore, it is linked to the birth order. As Gavin is the second-born of the family, he has to bring in a dowry while his brother, as the first-born, does not have to do it. The importance of the birth order also shows in small aspects like dancing at a ball where the position of the dancing card will indicate the birth order and where the first-born always takes the lead in a dance.
As for the magic in the world: magic is not something to flaunt in someone's face. It is meant to be practical magic, e.g. keeping your candles burning longer, cooling/warming a room or beverages, tying a cravat. Spells have to be built by a spell master in a spell shop with ingredients and can end up in disastrous results if they aren't handled carefully. Overall, it feels very well-established and well-thought-through.
As for the characters:
‣ Gavin is 25 years old, white, demisexual and gay.
‣ Charles is 27 years old, BIPOC heritage ("rather naturally a few shades darker than ours [skin tone], "so dark as to be black" [hair colour], "large, brown, angular eyes"), bisexual.
‣ Gerry is 23 years old, white, undisclosed sexuality.
‣ Sebastian is 18 years old, white and gay.
‣ John is in his thirties, white and straight.
‣ Julian (Dukex of Molbury) is between 50 - 60 years, white, non-binary.
Letters to Half Moon Street is a short romance novel that is entirely epistolary, mostly in letters between Gavin (the male main character) and his sister Gerry, after Gavin's family sends him to London "to get out of the house" as his older brother comes home with his expecting sister-in-law, and the parents know that Gavin and John do not get along. The official reason for Gavin to go to London is to take care of the family business for their father and to prepare the family's townhouse for the upcoming season. Gavin is the classic introvert who cares more about books than people and considers his sister as his closest friend. Henceforth, he utterly struggles to find a foot in London and keeps the first pages to himself. Yet, he manages to catch the eye of Charles Kentworthy who is set on winning him over - either just as a friend or as a potential husband - and determinedly draws Gavin out of his shell. Each letter to his sister shows that Gavin's world slowly opens up and he starts to include Charles in a positive light. It's utterly cute and delightful to read. Despite the letter style of the book, it never felt distancing although we learn about Gavin's growing relationship with Charles only through his letters to his sister.
The world-building is utterly delightful and well thought-through. It is a queer-normative magical alternate Regency era where your birth order matters by far more than your gender or sexual orientation. Everyone in this world has "a persuasion" (which is the romantic preference, may it be for men, women, non-binary or any combination), which is socially accepted. The importance of your birth order (first-born, second-born, third-born, ...) shows in tiny aspect as the addresses ("Lady and Lord xxx" instead of the typical "Lord and Lady xxx" if she is the first-born) or in the gender-neutral title Dukex for non-binary aristocratic people. I loved how the author built the typical restrictions for the Regency era around their queer-normative world. For example, being unchaperoned as a minor with a person who suits your persuasion is still an issue (and if you aren't open about your persuasion, you'll require simply a chaperone at all times), and the families are still nosy about their children's persuasion so they can make a good and fitting match. In addition, the function of a dowry is not linked to women anymore, it is linked to the birth order. As Gavin is the second-born of the family, he has to bring in a dowry while his brother, as the first-born, does not have to do it. The importance of the birth order also shows in small aspects like dancing at a ball where the position of the dancing card will indicate the birth order and where the first-born always takes the lead in a dance.
As for the magic in the world: magic is not something to flaunt in someone's face. It is meant to be practical magic, e.g. keeping your candles burning longer, cooling/warming a room or beverages, tying a cravat. Spells have to be built by a spell master in a spell shop with ingredients and can end up in disastrous results if they aren't handled carefully. Overall, it feels very well-established and well-thought-through.
As for the characters:
‣ Gavin is 25 years old, white, demisexual and gay.
‣ Charles is 27 years old, BIPOC heritage ("rather naturally a few shades darker than ours [skin tone], "so dark as to be black" [hair colour], "large, brown, angular eyes"), bisexual.
‣ Gerry is 23 years old, white, undisclosed sexuality.
‣ Sebastian is 18 years old, white and gay.
‣ John is in his thirties, white and straight.
‣ Julian (Dukex of Molbury) is between 50 - 60 years, white, non-binary.