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mweis's reviews
944 reviews
Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
4.5
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Moon of the Crusted Snow was one of my favorite books the year I read it and held up upon reread earlier this year, so I was thrilled to see that Waubgeshig Rice was returning to this series with Moon of the Turning Leaves.
Set 12 years after the end of Moon of the Crusted Snow, Moon of the Turning Leaves is a quieter story about journeying and survival. The majority of the story follows a scouting party looking at the possibility of returning to their homeland. This is a story full of indigenous culture and traditions. Where Moon of the Crusted Snow had more of a thriller/horror feel to it as the community realized their world was changing dramatically, Moon of the Turning Leaves sees them established in their new way of life so there is a lack of the same kind of tension. That being said, I feel like this is almost even more timely because it's about continuing to fight for future generations.
While I didn't love this as much Moon of the Crusted Snow, I still highly recommend and look forward to reading whatever Waubgeshig Rice publishes next!
Moon of the Crusted Snow was one of my favorite books the year I read it and held up upon reread earlier this year, so I was thrilled to see that Waubgeshig Rice was returning to this series with Moon of the Turning Leaves.
Set 12 years after the end of Moon of the Crusted Snow, Moon of the Turning Leaves is a quieter story about journeying and survival. The majority of the story follows a scouting party looking at the possibility of returning to their homeland. This is a story full of indigenous culture and traditions. Where Moon of the Crusted Snow had more of a thriller/horror feel to it as the community realized their world was changing dramatically, Moon of the Turning Leaves sees them established in their new way of life so there is a lack of the same kind of tension. That being said, I feel like this is almost even more timely because it's about continuing to fight for future generations.
While I didn't love this as much Moon of the Crusted Snow, I still highly recommend and look forward to reading whatever Waubgeshig Rice publishes next!
Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb
3.5
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I didn't know what to expect when I picked this up, but I enjoyed this quite a bit! It felt a little like a YA version of The Helm of Midnight. Set in a war-torn city, Seven Faceless Saints follows Rossana, an unwilling disciple who has joined the rebellion and her childhood best friend/would be lover, Damian, a captain of Palazzo security dealing with PTSD from being on the front. The two join forces (sort of) to catch a murderer and feelings get involved. In a lot of ways this book follows many classic YA tropes, which made it easier to sink into the story because it felt comforting despite containing darker elements.
I think where I struggled the most was with the romance, but mostly because I am no longer a teenager so when Roz was making certain choices my brain was screaming about the lack of communication but the choices were very in line with teenage decision making.
While this book isn't a new favorite, I do think it's a solid debut and it ends on a major cliffhanger so I'd be interested in picking up the sequel to see what happens next.
I didn't know what to expect when I picked this up, but I enjoyed this quite a bit! It felt a little like a YA version of The Helm of Midnight. Set in a war-torn city, Seven Faceless Saints follows Rossana, an unwilling disciple who has joined the rebellion and her childhood best friend/would be lover, Damian, a captain of Palazzo security dealing with PTSD from being on the front. The two join forces (sort of) to catch a murderer and feelings get involved. In a lot of ways this book follows many classic YA tropes, which made it easier to sink into the story because it felt comforting despite containing darker elements.
I think where I struggled the most was with the romance, but mostly because I am no longer a teenager so when Roz was making certain choices my brain was screaming about the lack of communication but the choices were very in line with teenage decision making.
While this book isn't a new favorite, I do think it's a solid debut and it ends on a major cliffhanger so I'd be interested in picking up the sequel to see what happens next.
Icarus by K. Ancrum
3.0
I loved the concept here and what the author was trying to do but I think the execution fell flat for me.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
3.0
*I received an audio review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This has been on my radar for a while so when I saw that it was picked up by Bramble I was really excited. Billed as a cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance, I went into this with such high expectations and I think it was to the book's detriment.
While this does have more plot than it's comp title, Legends & Lattes, the plot is still slow and meandering. I think where I struggled the most is in the relationship. At the start of the book, Reyna and Kianthe have already been together for a while so we don't get to see their relationship develop and while I liked seeing the caretaking elements of their relationship I had a hard time buying into it. This edition had an extra at the end that was their first meeting, and I think if the book had started with that I would have liked it more. Maybe it was the audio experience or my headspace but I struggled to remember the names of the main characters and with a cozy book, character buy in is a necessity.
While I'm disappointed I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, I have seen others adore it so you're mileage may vary. I'll probably pick up the sequel at some point when I'm in more of a cozy story headspace.
This has been on my radar for a while so when I saw that it was picked up by Bramble I was really excited. Billed as a cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance, I went into this with such high expectations and I think it was to the book's detriment.
While this does have more plot than it's comp title, Legends & Lattes, the plot is still slow and meandering. I think where I struggled the most is in the relationship. At the start of the book, Reyna and Kianthe have already been together for a while so we don't get to see their relationship develop and while I liked seeing the caretaking elements of their relationship I had a hard time buying into it. This edition had an extra at the end that was their first meeting, and I think if the book had started with that I would have liked it more. Maybe it was the audio experience or my headspace but I struggled to remember the names of the main characters and with a cozy book, character buy in is a necessity.
While I'm disappointed I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, I have seen others adore it so you're mileage may vary. I'll probably pick up the sequel at some point when I'm in more of a cozy story headspace.
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
3.0
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Sulari Gentill's The Woman in the Library blew me away when I read it in 2022 so I was thrilled to receive an advanced review copy of her latest and requested without even reading the summary.
I loved the set up of this. Theo is an interesting main character and while I never really bought into her relationship with her "mentor" it made sense given the circumstances that she would be involved in solving the mystery of his murder. I liked the tension and was happily along for the ride... until the ending. This book is on the longer end for a mystery novel yet the last 20% uses so many time jumps that the ending felt rushed and left me unsatisfied. While ultimately I think the logic was there, the change in pace made it feel unbelievable because it moved so quickly.
I liked what the author was trying to do by exploring conspiracy theorists and relating the believability of certain conspiracies to fandom around certain books and the parasocial relationship some readers get with their favorite authors in the age of social media. Ultimately though none of that was explored as in depth as I wanted it to and I'm not sure if it's because the ending felt rushed or because of other reasons.
While this ultimately didn't work as well for me as I wanted it to, I still really like Gentill's prose and am interested in seeing what she writes next.
Sulari Gentill's The Woman in the Library blew me away when I read it in 2022 so I was thrilled to receive an advanced review copy of her latest and requested without even reading the summary.
I loved the set up of this. Theo is an interesting main character and while I never really bought into her relationship with her "mentor" it made sense given the circumstances that she would be involved in solving the mystery of his murder. I liked the tension and was happily along for the ride... until the ending. This book is on the longer end for a mystery novel yet the last 20% uses so many time jumps that the ending felt rushed and left me unsatisfied. While ultimately I think the logic was there, the change in pace made it feel unbelievable because it moved so quickly.
I liked what the author was trying to do by exploring conspiracy theorists and relating the believability of certain conspiracies to fandom around certain books and the parasocial relationship some readers get with their favorite authors in the age of social media. Ultimately though none of that was explored as in depth as I wanted it to and I'm not sure if it's because the ending felt rushed or because of other reasons.
While this ultimately didn't work as well for me as I wanted it to, I still really like Gentill's prose and am interested in seeing what she writes next.
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica
4.0
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Clearly 2024 is my year of sad gay lit because I really liked this and it broke my heart. Written in the form of letters to a lost love, Daniel recounts their relationship from beginning to end to work through his grief. I loved the narrative framework and the prose was a perfect mix of touching but a little awkward in the way that I think really suited a coming of age story. There are moments that are so poignant and then there are moments that are like yes I would fully believe a grieving 19 year old boy would say that.
I think part of what made me enjoy this book so much was that I could see aspects of my own history in what he was experiencing and it made me really sit with how universal grief is and how healing isn't nonlinear. Andrés Ordorica is definitely a voice I will be keeping an eye on after this debut.
Clearly 2024 is my year of sad gay lit because I really liked this and it broke my heart. Written in the form of letters to a lost love, Daniel recounts their relationship from beginning to end to work through his grief. I loved the narrative framework and the prose was a perfect mix of touching but a little awkward in the way that I think really suited a coming of age story. There are moments that are so poignant and then there are moments that are like yes I would fully believe a grieving 19 year old boy would say that.
I think part of what made me enjoy this book so much was that I could see aspects of my own history in what he was experiencing and it made me really sit with how universal grief is and how healing isn't nonlinear. Andrés Ordorica is definitely a voice I will be keeping an eye on after this debut.
The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang
2.5
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I have such mixed feelings about this book. The cover is stunning and I am a sucker for the reincarnation trope but I'm not sure how successful this is a romance so I think marketing it as one does the book a disservice.
I enjoyed the three timelines equally and found how the intertwined really interesting. I also love the use of culture and casual queerness. Unfortunately, I ultimately think this was a sort of forgettable novel and I found the ending disappointing.
That being said, I like the bones of this and the prose is beautiful so I'd be willing to give the author another chance.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. The cover is stunning and I am a sucker for the reincarnation trope but I'm not sure how successful this is a romance so I think marketing it as one does the book a disservice.
I enjoyed the three timelines equally and found how the intertwined really interesting. I also love the use of culture and casual queerness. Unfortunately, I ultimately think this was a sort of forgettable novel and I found the ending disappointing.
That being said, I like the bones of this and the prose is beautiful so I'd be willing to give the author another chance.
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash
3.5
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I was initially intrigued by the cover and title of this book and then I saw "part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic" and knew I had to read this.
While I don't think that summary is wrong, I also don't think it set the right expectations in my head for what this book would be. I wouldn't call this a thriller for one. It's a slow moving book and goes into the psychology of cults but the suspense comes from the relative naiveté of Lacey being a young child when her parents get accused. In that respect, I'd almost categorize this as a coming of age story/bildungsroman over a thriller.
I liked the exploration of hysteria and how damaging "witch hunts" become and I loved how affirming Lacey was with Dylan's gender identity. That being said, while I liked a lot of aspects of this book, I struggled through other aspects. There is a time break about 60% of the way through the book that while it makes sense in the context of the story I found quite jarring to experience and it made the back half of the book feel less immersive.
I was initially intrigued by the cover and title of this book and then I saw "part murder mystery, part gay international-fugitive love story—set against the ’90s Satanic Panic" and knew I had to read this.
While I don't think that summary is wrong, I also don't think it set the right expectations in my head for what this book would be. I wouldn't call this a thriller for one. It's a slow moving book and goes into the psychology of cults but the suspense comes from the relative naiveté of Lacey being a young child when her parents get accused. In that respect, I'd almost categorize this as a coming of age story/bildungsroman over a thriller.
I liked the exploration of hysteria and how damaging "witch hunts" become and I loved how affirming Lacey was with Dylan's gender identity. That being said, while I liked a lot of aspects of this book, I struggled through other aspects. There is a time break about 60% of the way through the book that while it makes sense in the context of the story I found quite jarring to experience and it made the back half of the book feel less immersive.