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ninegladiolus's reviews
1019 reviews
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Ann Older
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Having enjoyed the first novella in the Mossi & Pleiti series, The Mimicking of Known Successes, I was looking forward to continuing this cozy-ish sapphic gaslamp sci-fi story. Unfortunately, while some elements shone, The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles fell flat for me.
If you consider this series a blend of science fiction, mystery, and romance, only one of those elements worked for me, which is the science fiction parts. The worldbuilding and prose continues to stun in the second entry. I’m fascinated by the lore of Giant, especially as we expand to see more locales in this installment and the chewy hints of political conflict. It’s so atmospheric in both concept and description.
The prose continues to impress as well. I adore the stylistic commitment to an expansive vocabulary and the mix of ‘Classic’ and present-day (in terms of Giant) references. There’s a charming amount of humor interspersed between elaborately crafted sentences and descriptions.
What made this a miss, though, was the repetition of both plot and character beats from the mystery of the first novel. It follows too closely in the footsteps of the conundrum from the first book; I sense this could be setting up for a bigger reveal in subsequent novellas, but in the interim, it made for a dull sequel. The climax of the story is practically non-existent—if you blink, you’ll miss the unsatisfying, told-not-shown resolution.
The other part that didn’t work for me was the romance. This second novella re-treads many of the same character and relational beats from the first. At times I found myself confused because… well, didn’t we already cover this in the first part? Mossa and Pleiti spend the entire novella in a static holding pattern where Pleiti is still grappling with the nature of Mossa’s feelings for her despite them being unequivocally in a relationship. If this is supposed to be a compelling conflict, it doesn’t read as such. What might have helped is having access to Mossa’s internal world and thoughts, but unfortunately, we only get one side of this issue, which leads to it feeling unwarranted and unjustified.
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles reads more like a subsequent act in a novella rather than a complete story that can stand on its own, which is a key element of a successful novella series to me. While the worldbuilding and prose charmed me, the characters and plot fell flat, and I likely won’t be continuing with the remainder of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
If you consider this series a blend of science fiction, mystery, and romance, only one of those elements worked for me, which is the science fiction parts. The worldbuilding and prose continues to stun in the second entry. I’m fascinated by the lore of Giant, especially as we expand to see more locales in this installment and the chewy hints of political conflict. It’s so atmospheric in both concept and description.
The prose continues to impress as well. I adore the stylistic commitment to an expansive vocabulary and the mix of ‘Classic’ and present-day (in terms of Giant) references. There’s a charming amount of humor interspersed between elaborately crafted sentences and descriptions.
What made this a miss, though, was the repetition of both plot and character beats from the mystery of the first novel. It follows too closely in the footsteps of the conundrum from the first book; I sense this could be setting up for a bigger reveal in subsequent novellas, but in the interim, it made for a dull sequel. The climax of the story is practically non-existent—if you blink, you’ll miss the unsatisfying, told-not-shown resolution.
The other part that didn’t work for me was the romance. This second novella re-treads many of the same character and relational beats from the first. At times I found myself confused because… well, didn’t we already cover this in the first part? Mossa and Pleiti spend the entire novella in a static holding pattern where Pleiti is still grappling with the nature of Mossa’s feelings for her despite them being unequivocally in a relationship. If this is supposed to be a compelling conflict, it doesn’t read as such. What might have helped is having access to Mossa’s internal world and thoughts, but unfortunately, we only get one side of this issue, which leads to it feeling unwarranted and unjustified.
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles reads more like a subsequent act in a novella rather than a complete story that can stand on its own, which is a key element of a successful novella series to me. While the worldbuilding and prose charmed me, the characters and plot fell flat, and I likely won’t be continuing with the remainder of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
Kacen Callender is an author I’ll always take a chance on, especially when they go ahead and write a magical polyamory book. While I don’t feel Infinity Alchemist was their strongest work, what I enjoyed about it was enough to outweigh some of the issues I had.
Main character Ash is forbidden by law from practicing alchemy though he’s drawn to it, as only the wealthy elite have the resources to go to school and get a formal license. He takes a job as a groundskeeper at Lancaster Mage's College and studies in secret. But after being caught by alchemical protege and apprentice Ramsey Thorne, the two enter into a pact: Ash won’t be given up to the law, but only if he helps Ramsay find the Book of Source.
Where this novel excels for me is in the romantic relationships and character work. The main cast is incredibly diverse and their identities are written with care. The main character Ash is deeply flawed; many readers have and likely will find him annoying (generously). But a recurring theme in Callender’s work is a reminder that we deserve love, care, and equitable treatment even and especially when we act out and make mistakes—their recent adult romance, With Stars in Their Eyes, dials this theme up to 9000—and so I appreciate seeing someone flawed being cared for and supported. I loved all three protagonists dearly.
The polyamory representation in particular is a highlight for me, though I wish this novel weren’t limited by the space constraints of YA so that the relationships can have room to breathe. For teenagers, the main cast is shockingly (unrealistically) good at resolving some of the conflicts that can come with polyamory, though I appreciated that the novel took the time to showcase some of the difficulties that can come with it too.
My biggest issue with this book is that it was overambitious. The fantasy plot and worldbuilding didn’t offer many new insights into the existing genre, and sometimes detracted from what I thought to be this novel’s strength, which was character development and relationships. Additionally, the pacing was very unbalanced to me, to the point where I wasn’t exactly thrilled to pick up the book at certain sections.
Infinity Alchemist is flawed, but flawed in ways I can tolerate better than other readers might be able to. If you’re the type of reader who focuses on relationship and character, Infinity Alchemist is worth picking up; if you’re looking for a mind-blowing and unpredictable fantasy read, maybe give it a pass. I’ll be continuing with the rest of the series and hopeful that, with a lot of the setup out of the way, it will hit its stride in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Main character Ash is forbidden by law from practicing alchemy though he’s drawn to it, as only the wealthy elite have the resources to go to school and get a formal license. He takes a job as a groundskeeper at Lancaster Mage's College and studies in secret. But after being caught by alchemical protege and apprentice Ramsey Thorne, the two enter into a pact: Ash won’t be given up to the law, but only if he helps Ramsay find the Book of Source.
Where this novel excels for me is in the romantic relationships and character work. The main cast is incredibly diverse and their identities are written with care. The main character Ash is deeply flawed; many readers have and likely will find him annoying (generously). But a recurring theme in Callender’s work is a reminder that we deserve love, care, and equitable treatment even and especially when we act out and make mistakes—their recent adult romance, With Stars in Their Eyes, dials this theme up to 9000—and so I appreciate seeing someone flawed being cared for and supported. I loved all three protagonists dearly.
The polyamory representation in particular is a highlight for me, though I wish this novel weren’t limited by the space constraints of YA so that the relationships can have room to breathe. For teenagers, the main cast is shockingly (unrealistically) good at resolving some of the conflicts that can come with polyamory, though I appreciated that the novel took the time to showcase some of the difficulties that can come with it too.
My biggest issue with this book is that it was overambitious. The fantasy plot and worldbuilding didn’t offer many new insights into the existing genre, and sometimes detracted from what I thought to be this novel’s strength, which was character development and relationships. Additionally, the pacing was very unbalanced to me, to the point where I wasn’t exactly thrilled to pick up the book at certain sections.
Infinity Alchemist is flawed, but flawed in ways I can tolerate better than other readers might be able to. If you’re the type of reader who focuses on relationship and character, Infinity Alchemist is worth picking up; if you’re looking for a mind-blowing and unpredictable fantasy read, maybe give it a pass. I’ll be continuing with the rest of the series and hopeful that, with a lot of the setup out of the way, it will hit its stride in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
I read Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin about a month ago and still don’t fully know how to process what I felt about it, other than the fact it sucked me in and was a single-session read for me. And hey, bonus - it’s Canadian!
The main character Enid is a queer, anxious, neurodivergent mess with a whole lot of repressed trauma. Most notably, her mental health struggles manifest as paranoia about bald men, which increasingly takes over her life as she navigates her job, her friendships, her first prolonged romantic relationship, and a complex blended-family relationship steeped in old wounds. She’s obsessed with true crime and space and on the verge of mental collapse.
There’s no other way for me to say it: This is just a weird (affectionate) little book. Parts of it I related to deeply as someone who is also queer, neurodivergent, anxious, and a millennial. Even the parts I didn’t felt very real. I think it’s a true talent to make a novel feel both bizarre but completely believable and even mundane. In that way, this book is so incredibly human. Enid’s biggest enemy is herself, and her journey through her instability is both compelling and uplifting.
If you want a book that will comfort you with the reminder that we’re all a mess in one way or the other, or if you like realistic yet hilarious fiction that primarily deals with a personal journey about mental health and interpersonal relationships, this one might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
The main character Enid is a queer, anxious, neurodivergent mess with a whole lot of repressed trauma. Most notably, her mental health struggles manifest as paranoia about bald men, which increasingly takes over her life as she navigates her job, her friendships, her first prolonged romantic relationship, and a complex blended-family relationship steeped in old wounds. She’s obsessed with true crime and space and on the verge of mental collapse.
There’s no other way for me to say it: This is just a weird (affectionate) little book. Parts of it I related to deeply as someone who is also queer, neurodivergent, anxious, and a millennial. Even the parts I didn’t felt very real. I think it’s a true talent to make a novel feel both bizarre but completely believable and even mundane. In that way, this book is so incredibly human. Enid’s biggest enemy is herself, and her journey through her instability is both compelling and uplifting.
If you want a book that will comfort you with the reminder that we’re all a mess in one way or the other, or if you like realistic yet hilarious fiction that primarily deals with a personal journey about mental health and interpersonal relationships, this one might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Anytime I hear dragons and sapphics, I’m in, which is why I initially picked up So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole. I really enjoyed my experience with this engaging Jamaican-inspired fantasy kept me turning the page until the end.
There’s a lot So Let Them Burn excels at. First and foremost, the relationship between sisters Faron and Elara. I’m a sucker for stories that explore all the complexities of familial relationships, especially ones that allow realistic flaws to exist, and this novel does exactly that. Both of them feel fully developed and justified in the choices they make, up to and including their worst mistakes.
I also enjoyed the way this novel undertakes complex subjects like colonization, racism, war, trauma, and child abuse and makes them a foundational part of the narrative without sacrificing any one element of storytelling. Make no mistake - this is a dark book, as it should be dealing with the aforementioned subjects. It would be fully justified in being completely heavy given the gravitas. But the moments of solidarity and hope are also present too.
The romantic relationships in this novel also worked well for me while tonally matching the rest of the book. They are both enemies to lovers relationships, but I think using that trope does it a disservice. Both Faron and Elara struggle with challenging but very real aspects of their lived experience, and I wouldn’t have liked the novel as much if those aspects had been brushed aside or painted in a rosy light. Both M/F and F/F relationships are given prominent page time in this novel.
There are a few things that missed the mark for me. It’s a story about dragons and divine entities, so some suspension of disbelief is required, but there are times the novel blows past ‘suspension’ right into ‘there is no way this would be feasible, even in a novel made for young adults’. Most of these challenges for me came around how children seemed to form the backbones of the entire military and diplomatic corps; YA often elides adults because it’s a space for young adults to see their experiences put front and center, but adults are RIGHT THERE putting children as young as 12 in the most grueling positions of violence and decision-making. Other elements of the worldbuilding were also underdeveloped.
Overall, this was a solid debut and an impactful read. I freely recommend it to YA fantasy fans who are looking for an insightful, adventurous exploration with compelling protagonists that demonstrate the bloody costs of colonization and war.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little & Brown Young Readers for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
There’s a lot So Let Them Burn excels at. First and foremost, the relationship between sisters Faron and Elara. I’m a sucker for stories that explore all the complexities of familial relationships, especially ones that allow realistic flaws to exist, and this novel does exactly that. Both of them feel fully developed and justified in the choices they make, up to and including their worst mistakes.
I also enjoyed the way this novel undertakes complex subjects like colonization, racism, war, trauma, and child abuse and makes them a foundational part of the narrative without sacrificing any one element of storytelling. Make no mistake - this is a dark book, as it should be dealing with the aforementioned subjects. It would be fully justified in being completely heavy given the gravitas. But the moments of solidarity and hope are also present too.
The romantic relationships in this novel also worked well for me while tonally matching the rest of the book. They are both enemies to lovers relationships, but I think using that trope does it a disservice. Both Faron and Elara struggle with challenging but very real aspects of their lived experience, and I wouldn’t have liked the novel as much if those aspects had been brushed aside or painted in a rosy light. Both M/F and F/F relationships are given prominent page time in this novel.
There are a few things that missed the mark for me. It’s a story about dragons and divine entities, so some suspension of disbelief is required, but there are times the novel blows past ‘suspension’ right into ‘there is no way this would be feasible, even in a novel made for young adults’. Most of these challenges for me came around how children seemed to form the backbones of the entire military and diplomatic corps; YA often elides adults because it’s a space for young adults to see their experiences put front and center, but adults are RIGHT THERE putting children as young as 12 in the most grueling positions of violence and decision-making. Other elements of the worldbuilding were also underdeveloped.
Overall, this was a solid debut and an impactful read. I freely recommend it to YA fantasy fans who are looking for an insightful, adventurous exploration with compelling protagonists that demonstrate the bloody costs of colonization and war.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little & Brown Young Readers for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey, Liana Kangas
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine
dark
mysterious
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
3.25
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
T. Kingfisher’s What Feasts at Night, the second novella in the Sworn Soldier series, captivated me from start to finish. With a returning cast of great characters, a new chilling gothic mystery to confront, and delightfully grotesque prose, What Feasts at Night is a worthy follow-up.
While giving too many details would spoil the nightmare of a journey, I appreciated the subtle shift in tone in What Feasts at Night. This is very much a slow, creeping story of dread, the particular kind of dread that comes with doubting your reality. Alex continues to be a delight with bright spots of chuckle-worthy humor amongst the Horrors (TM). The plot itself wraps up nicely while leaving room for further entries in the series.
You could read this as a standalone, but if you’re interested in the series, you’d get more of it by starting at the beginning. And if you’re a fan of tightly written, evocative horror with a dynamic protagonist and gruesome imagery, this is definitely a series you should pick up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
While giving too many details would spoil the nightmare of a journey, I appreciated the subtle shift in tone in What Feasts at Night. This is very much a slow, creeping story of dread, the particular kind of dread that comes with doubting your reality. Alex continues to be a delight with bright spots of chuckle-worthy humor amongst the Horrors (TM). The plot itself wraps up nicely while leaving room for further entries in the series.
You could read this as a standalone, but if you’re interested in the series, you’d get more of it by starting at the beginning. And if you’re a fan of tightly written, evocative horror with a dynamic protagonist and gruesome imagery, this is definitely a series you should pick up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Eyes Guts Throat Bones by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
dark
emotional
mysterious
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