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river24's reviews
285 reviews
Hera by Jennifer Saint
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5
I adore Saint's retellings. I was so curious to see how she would retell Hera's story, I was particularly interested to find out exactly what it would cover. It turns out it is as vast and intricate as all Greek mythology is. We start at the fall of the Titans and the rise of the Olympians, and span important events from the creation of Athena to the birth of Apollo and Artemis, from the Argonauts to the Trojan War, and far beyond. We get glimpses of all of these events and the tumultuous feelings of Hera as she witnesses them.
I am a very passionate lover of Greek mythology, however I think this book is also incredibly accessible for those that don't know very much, yet still illuminating and intriguing to those that already know all of the stories within it.
I loved Saint's writing, I thought it was beautiful and effortlessly captured such emotion within it. The only reason I didn't rate this higher is because my personal interest does not lie within Hera. I personally think it's far more interesting to read about mortals and their interactions with the gods, they are also much easier to empathise with. Because of this I do prefer Saint's other works, however I still think this is an incredible book and a worthwhile read. I truly did appreciate and admire the reframing of Hera's narrative. While I can't say I am now Hera's number one fan, it definitely did make me sympathise with her moments of grief and forced me to rethink the narrative in which her story is always told.
Hera is such a complicated figure to choose as the protagonist of our story and I would be fascinated to know why Saint chose her specifically. Hera is known for being the sister and wife of Zeus, the goddess of marriage and women. But most commonly, she is known for her jealousy and vengeance. I'll admit, Hera has never been a favourite goddess of mine, she has never really interested me all that much. But this story certainly made my opinions of her more complex.
Practically every god and goddess in Greek mythology has done terrible things, which is why I'll repeat that I find the stories of mortal people surviving the gods' wrath far more captivating. But there are certain stories that stick out more as immoral or wrong. Sexual assault is a common theme and feature within Greek mythology as it was unfortunately an even more common action of the time and was therefore represented in ways we would definitely now find disturbing in stories only told by men. I love that now we are getting vibrant and angry feminist retellings where the women in these stories are recentred and their wounds made visible, their victimhood made into personhood, their lives given more meaning than only an assault used to tell a story.
I say all this because this is very obviously something that Saint's retellings do as well, they are absolutely amazing feminist retellings. However there are aspects of Hera's narrative that Saint cannot erase or rewrite without straying too far from what we know of her, and so she cannot rewrite Hera's punishments for the women Zeus lays with and also those that he rapes. Because of this, Hera has always left a sour taste in my mouth (have no fear, Zeus leaves far worse than a sour taste, I will in no way bypass his actions and blame Hera only for her reactions), it is an element that makes Hera a difficult character to fully empathise with.
This has nothing to do with the book itself, this story is the closest anything has ever come to making me like Hera, I'm only trying to explain why I couldn't personally rate this book higher.
I still appreciate this depth to Hera's character that we encounter because she commits acts that we, the reader, might dislike or even hate her for. It parallels the moments of deep sympathy Saint is so adept at dragging from us. We mourn with Hera, we shake at the bars of her gilded cage with her, we find small moments of joy with her. And that's all because of how skilfully Saint is able to portray her and the rest of the gods.
The ending in particular was such an emotional, devastating yet hopeful, whirlwind. It was the perfect ending for a story of a god, for the story of all the gods. I think it might have been my favourite part. As I mentioned before, all my favourite moments to witness the gods are when they interact with mortals, at no other moment in time are their immortal presences so tangibly different, at no other time do they appear so frightening and powerful, yet at no other time do they also appear so human.
All of this is a very long-winded way of saying do yourself a favour and go read Saint's superb retellings! I just adore them, they're the perfect feast for your Greek mythology cravings!
Thank you Wildfire for an arc.
I adore Saint's retellings. I was so curious to see how she would retell Hera's story, I was particularly interested to find out exactly what it would cover. It turns out it is as vast and intricate as all Greek mythology is. We start at the fall of the Titans and the rise of the Olympians, and span important events from the creation of Athena to the birth of Apollo and Artemis, from the Argonauts to the Trojan War, and far beyond. We get glimpses of all of these events and the tumultuous feelings of Hera as she witnesses them.
I am a very passionate lover of Greek mythology, however I think this book is also incredibly accessible for those that don't know very much, yet still illuminating and intriguing to those that already know all of the stories within it.
I loved Saint's writing, I thought it was beautiful and effortlessly captured such emotion within it. The only reason I didn't rate this higher is because my personal interest does not lie within Hera. I personally think it's far more interesting to read about mortals and their interactions with the gods, they are also much easier to empathise with. Because of this I do prefer Saint's other works, however I still think this is an incredible book and a worthwhile read. I truly did appreciate and admire the reframing of Hera's narrative. While I can't say I am now Hera's number one fan, it definitely did make me sympathise with her moments of grief and forced me to rethink the narrative in which her story is always told.
Hera is such a complicated figure to choose as the protagonist of our story and I would be fascinated to know why Saint chose her specifically. Hera is known for being the sister and wife of Zeus, the goddess of marriage and women. But most commonly, she is known for her jealousy and vengeance. I'll admit, Hera has never been a favourite goddess of mine, she has never really interested me all that much. But this story certainly made my opinions of her more complex.
Practically every god and goddess in Greek mythology has done terrible things, which is why I'll repeat that I find the stories of mortal people surviving the gods' wrath far more captivating. But there are certain stories that stick out more as immoral or wrong. Sexual assault is a common theme and feature within Greek mythology as it was unfortunately an even more common action of the time and was therefore represented in ways we would definitely now find disturbing in stories only told by men. I love that now we are getting vibrant and angry feminist retellings where the women in these stories are recentred and their wounds made visible, their victimhood made into personhood, their lives given more meaning than only an assault used to tell a story.
I say all this because this is very obviously something that Saint's retellings do as well, they are absolutely amazing feminist retellings. However there are aspects of Hera's narrative that Saint cannot erase or rewrite without straying too far from what we know of her, and so she cannot rewrite Hera's punishments for the women Zeus lays with and also those that he rapes. Because of this, Hera has always left a sour taste in my mouth (have no fear, Zeus leaves far worse than a sour taste, I will in no way bypass his actions and blame Hera only for her reactions), it is an element that makes Hera a difficult character to fully empathise with.
This has nothing to do with the book itself, this story is the closest anything has ever come to making me like Hera, I'm only trying to explain why I couldn't personally rate this book higher.
I still appreciate this depth to Hera's character that we encounter because she commits acts that we, the reader, might dislike or even hate her for. It parallels the moments of deep sympathy Saint is so adept at dragging from us. We mourn with Hera, we shake at the bars of her gilded cage with her, we find small moments of joy with her. And that's all because of how skilfully Saint is able to portray her and the rest of the gods.
The ending in particular was such an emotional, devastating yet hopeful, whirlwind. It was the perfect ending for a story of a god, for the story of all the gods. I think it might have been my favourite part. As I mentioned before, all my favourite moments to witness the gods are when they interact with mortals, at no other moment in time are their immortal presences so tangibly different, at no other time do they appear so frightening and powerful, yet at no other time do they also appear so human.
All of this is a very long-winded way of saying do yourself a favour and go read Saint's superb retellings! I just adore them, they're the perfect feast for your Greek mythology cravings!
Thank you Wildfire for an arc.
Some Are Always Hungry by Jihyun Yun
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
4.25/5
Now, men with bayonets.
Tomorrow, dogs. In no version
are they not hunting us.
Now, men with bayonets.
Tomorrow, dogs. In no version
are they not hunting us.
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
2.75/5
Only blood can rewrite blood.
I'm so disappointed that I didn't like this book. I adored A Dowry of Blood with all my heart, thought An Education in Malice was okay if a little disappointing, but Evocation has unfortunately sealed the deal for me and I don't think I enjoy Gibson's novels. I'll certainly try any novellas Gibson writes, but her novels just seem to not be for me. I loved the beautiful, emotive prose in Dowry and I loved the way it drew the portrait of abuse through a vampiric lens. It will continue to be one of my favourite stories, but I haven't found the same love for Gibson's other works.
I'm really struggling to put into words why I disliked this book because it's not an all-consuming hatred, there wasn't anything that made me spit out my hot chocolate in fury, I just didn't really enjoy any of it.
The characters began to grow on me a tiny bit as I read on, but I just didn't care about them and at times even found them annoying. They're meant to be complicated, fractured and even unlikable, but I just never warmed to them like the book wanted me to. There's also a strange focus on wealth without the criticism I expected of it, especially as there are academic aspects to this book and conversations around the tired structure of an all-male secret society. I felt it lacking here in its exploration of the characters and their dynamics.
I recognise that the character relationships were what drove the story, but it was hard to empathise when I disliked or felt apathetic towards them. This focus also meant that the surrounding plot fell very flat for me, it was sometimes dull and tedious, and other times far too obvious. (My biggest pet peeve in books is when an author treats a piece of information that's obvious from the beginning as a plot twist/big revelation later on... alas.)
I'm sorry for being so negative, I hate writing negative reviews, especially for authors I admire. But this one just really wasn't for me. Please look at other reviews and see how our reading tastes compare before putting any weight to my opinion.
Thank you Angry Robot for an arc.
Only blood can rewrite blood.
I'm so disappointed that I didn't like this book. I adored A Dowry of Blood with all my heart, thought An Education in Malice was okay if a little disappointing, but Evocation has unfortunately sealed the deal for me and I don't think I enjoy Gibson's novels. I'll certainly try any novellas Gibson writes, but her novels just seem to not be for me. I loved the beautiful, emotive prose in Dowry and I loved the way it drew the portrait of abuse through a vampiric lens. It will continue to be one of my favourite stories, but I haven't found the same love for Gibson's other works.
I'm really struggling to put into words why I disliked this book because it's not an all-consuming hatred, there wasn't anything that made me spit out my hot chocolate in fury, I just didn't really enjoy any of it.
The characters began to grow on me a tiny bit as I read on, but I just didn't care about them and at times even found them annoying. They're meant to be complicated, fractured and even unlikable, but I just never warmed to them like the book wanted me to. There's also a strange focus on wealth without the criticism I expected of it, especially as there are academic aspects to this book and conversations around the tired structure of an all-male secret society. I felt it lacking here in its exploration of the characters and their dynamics.
I recognise that the character relationships were what drove the story, but it was hard to empathise when I disliked or felt apathetic towards them. This focus also meant that the surrounding plot fell very flat for me, it was sometimes dull and tedious, and other times far too obvious. (My biggest pet peeve in books is when an author treats a piece of information that's obvious from the beginning as a plot twist/big revelation later on... alas.)
I'm sorry for being so negative, I hate writing negative reviews, especially for authors I admire. But this one just really wasn't for me. Please look at other reviews and see how our reading tastes compare before putting any weight to my opinion.
Thank you Angry Robot for an arc.
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
Gentle enough in spirit to live among mortals but fierce enough to endure their cruelty.
I absolutely adored this novella! It's filled to the brim with creatures and monsters from folklore, primarily Polish/Slavic folklore, and it feels so magical. In such a short time, Roth manages to immerse you in this hidden world and makes you care so deeply about all the characters within it. It's a brilliant concept executed perfectly.
I loved every single character so incredibly much. Dymitr is such a fascinating character written with such heart. I always found it awe-inspiring how skillfully Roth was able to weave in elements of the characters' pasts into the present day story. It was masterfully done so that I instantly became attached to them and understood their every motivation. Ala and Niko were also amazing characters, they all played off of each other phenomenally well. I wanted to spend so much more time with all of them!
I adored how folklore was woven into the very bones of this story. I loved the different types of connection the characters had with the folklore of themselves, it was such an intriguing way to explore heritage and a foreign motherland. I could tell, with every word, the passion Roth brought to this story.
Eternity is long. Time enough for hearts to soften.
You definitely won't want to miss out on this book! It's a magical whirlwind, it's a story of family and identity, it's a desperate, bloody clawing for redemption. I'm always astounded at authors' skills when I come across such incredible novellas. It's a wholly different level of expertise when you can tell such an emotional and moving story in such few pages.
Thank you Titan Books for an arc.
Gentle enough in spirit to live among mortals but fierce enough to endure their cruelty.
I absolutely adored this novella! It's filled to the brim with creatures and monsters from folklore, primarily Polish/Slavic folklore, and it feels so magical. In such a short time, Roth manages to immerse you in this hidden world and makes you care so deeply about all the characters within it. It's a brilliant concept executed perfectly.
I loved every single character so incredibly much. Dymitr is such a fascinating character written with such heart. I always found it awe-inspiring how skillfully Roth was able to weave in elements of the characters' pasts into the present day story. It was masterfully done so that I instantly became attached to them and understood their every motivation. Ala and Niko were also amazing characters, they all played off of each other phenomenally well. I wanted to spend so much more time with all of them!
I adored how folklore was woven into the very bones of this story. I loved the different types of connection the characters had with the folklore of themselves, it was such an intriguing way to explore heritage and a foreign motherland. I could tell, with every word, the passion Roth brought to this story.
Eternity is long. Time enough for hearts to soften.
You definitely won't want to miss out on this book! It's a magical whirlwind, it's a story of family and identity, it's a desperate, bloody clawing for redemption. I'm always astounded at authors' skills when I come across such incredible novellas. It's a wholly different level of expertise when you can tell such an emotional and moving story in such few pages.
Thank you Titan Books for an arc.
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Heartstopper - The mini-comics by Alice Oseman, Alice Oseman
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
5/5
The Harry Potter universe one is perfect!
The Harry Potter universe one is perfect!
The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
4/5
Phi were different. They could be sadistic, but only because they were once human.
I absolutely adored the world we discovered in this book. The Thai-inspired landscape and unique blends of folklore and mythology were entirely captivating. I wanted to devour every tiny piece of this world, I wanted to constantly know more.
I loved Ex's character and I also loved learning about the phi hunters and their rituals, and all the intricacies of their world. It's such an intriguing story and the world is constantly pulling you in. I always longed to discover even more of it.
I preferred the first half of this book because of this. It was much more focused on these aspects, on the spiritual world and the phi, although I still enjoyed the more political second half.
I liked Arinya, but never fully connected to her, I would've loved to see more of her thoughts and her deeper character. However, there were many other characters I came to care for; Ex was always interesting, even when—or, especially when—he'd get himself caught up in all kinds of trouble; Narissa was an incredible addition that I wish we'd gotten to see more of, her story was so fascinating; the small glimpses we got of side characters like the Hound or the Masters of Ex's guild instantly added depth and heart to the story.
He should have been gone, but like most legends, he persisted.
It's such a spell-binding world we get to jump into and discover here, and Goldenberg's writing is utterly absorbing. I'm now desperate to find more stories with Thai-inspired worlds or that delve into its mythology and folklore, if you have any recs please let me know!
Thank you Angry Robot for an arc.
Phi were different. They could be sadistic, but only because they were once human.
I absolutely adored the world we discovered in this book. The Thai-inspired landscape and unique blends of folklore and mythology were entirely captivating. I wanted to devour every tiny piece of this world, I wanted to constantly know more.
I loved Ex's character and I also loved learning about the phi hunters and their rituals, and all the intricacies of their world. It's such an intriguing story and the world is constantly pulling you in. I always longed to discover even more of it.
I preferred the first half of this book because of this. It was much more focused on these aspects, on the spiritual world and the phi, although I still enjoyed the more political second half.
I liked Arinya, but never fully connected to her, I would've loved to see more of her thoughts and her deeper character. However, there were many other characters I came to care for; Ex was always interesting, even when—or, especially when—he'd get himself caught up in all kinds of trouble; Narissa was an incredible addition that I wish we'd gotten to see more of, her story was so fascinating; the small glimpses we got of side characters like the Hound or the Masters of Ex's guild instantly added depth and heart to the story.
He should have been gone, but like most legends, he persisted.
It's such a spell-binding world we get to jump into and discover here, and Goldenberg's writing is utterly absorbing. I'm now desperate to find more stories with Thai-inspired worlds or that delve into its mythology and folklore, if you have any recs please let me know!
Thank you Angry Robot for an arc.
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5
It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone.
It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone.
Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
4.25/5
To everyone who was served hatred and told it was love. We deserve better.
I've adored Natalie Naudus's audiobook performances for such a long time, she is the narrator for sapphic audiobooks! I was so excited to find out that she was releasing her own sapphic debut and I'm so happy that I get to tell you all about how incredible it is. Thank you to the author for an arc.
We follow Valerie as she struggles to navigate the lessons she has always been taught about God. These have been told to her in the shape of truths, as mindless lessons she must obey, but Val is beginning to doubt. And when one pillar falls, the whole building starts to crumble. As she begins to unravel the narrative that her conservative Christian world has taught her for so long, she meets someone who confirms the seedlings of doubt in her mind. She meets Riley and suddenly the world starts to make sense.
This is such a beautiful story that is so incredibly important. I know it will help so many queer teens and heal so many queer adults looking back. It's a vibrant story of hope and freedom caught in the shackles of a dark and gloomy world. It shows an endless bravery every step of the way, it shows the courage of survival and the furious fight for freedom. And it shows what love is, what love can be.
Love is not what Val has always been taught it is, it is not empty words disproven by hateful actions, it is not conditional. Slowly, Val discovers who she is and what she can be, and with Riley she discovers what love is and what they can be together. How could what they have ever be wrong? Love, she comes to realise, is boundless and beautiful and proven in every action. It is not earned, it is not built on the bones she must crack to fit into the exact shape they want her to be, it is not dependent on whether she does what she is told. Love is its own type of freedom.
I love the thought that there is a place for us, somehow, somewhere.
I loved how cleverly Naudus explored the different stages of belief, or the different stages of doubt, that the characters had. It was sometimes hard to read the ferocity with which many of the characters believed in the harmful ideologies that only isolated and hurt others (and sometimes hurt themselves as well). But it was written with great nuance and an intimately painful understanding. We are shown every prejudiced belief within these circles, some that are explicit and others that are woven in a more complicated manner. We witness the ignorant racism, the casual and accepted misogyny, the scandalous outrage of homophobia, and we see how standard these factors are in the daily lives of our characters. It's heartbreaking and infuriating, but is written spectacularly well.
It can be a difficult book to read at times, so do make sure you are comfortable with the content in this book (especially if you have any religious trauma), but it is not a book that sits in the darkness, it is fundamentally a book of hope. And if you feel you can, I implore you to read it as I think it will be astoundingly healing. I'm beyond happy that this book is out there (or, will be out soon on the 4th of June!) to inspire and to comfort. It is such an important story and I'm so glad it exists!
To everyone who was served hatred and told it was love. We deserve better.
I've adored Natalie Naudus's audiobook performances for such a long time, she is the narrator for sapphic audiobooks! I was so excited to find out that she was releasing her own sapphic debut and I'm so happy that I get to tell you all about how incredible it is. Thank you to the author for an arc.
We follow Valerie as she struggles to navigate the lessons she has always been taught about God. These have been told to her in the shape of truths, as mindless lessons she must obey, but Val is beginning to doubt. And when one pillar falls, the whole building starts to crumble. As she begins to unravel the narrative that her conservative Christian world has taught her for so long, she meets someone who confirms the seedlings of doubt in her mind. She meets Riley and suddenly the world starts to make sense.
This is such a beautiful story that is so incredibly important. I know it will help so many queer teens and heal so many queer adults looking back. It's a vibrant story of hope and freedom caught in the shackles of a dark and gloomy world. It shows an endless bravery every step of the way, it shows the courage of survival and the furious fight for freedom. And it shows what love is, what love can be.
Love is not what Val has always been taught it is, it is not empty words disproven by hateful actions, it is not conditional. Slowly, Val discovers who she is and what she can be, and with Riley she discovers what love is and what they can be together. How could what they have ever be wrong? Love, she comes to realise, is boundless and beautiful and proven in every action. It is not earned, it is not built on the bones she must crack to fit into the exact shape they want her to be, it is not dependent on whether she does what she is told. Love is its own type of freedom.
I love the thought that there is a place for us, somehow, somewhere.
I loved how cleverly Naudus explored the different stages of belief, or the different stages of doubt, that the characters had. It was sometimes hard to read the ferocity with which many of the characters believed in the harmful ideologies that only isolated and hurt others (and sometimes hurt themselves as well). But it was written with great nuance and an intimately painful understanding. We are shown every prejudiced belief within these circles, some that are explicit and others that are woven in a more complicated manner. We witness the ignorant racism, the casual and accepted misogyny, the scandalous outrage of homophobia, and we see how standard these factors are in the daily lives of our characters. It's heartbreaking and infuriating, but is written spectacularly well.
It can be a difficult book to read at times, so do make sure you are comfortable with the content in this book (especially if you have any religious trauma), but it is not a book that sits in the darkness, it is fundamentally a book of hope. And if you feel you can, I implore you to read it as I think it will be astoundingly healing. I'm beyond happy that this book is out there (or, will be out soon on the 4th of June!) to inspire and to comfort. It is such an important story and I'm so glad it exists!
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
3.5/5
The nostalgia does a lot of heavy lifting!
The nostalgia does a lot of heavy lifting!