thebiasedbibliophile's reviews
665 reviews

Ghostsmith by Nicki Pau Preto

5.0

Better Than Revenge by Kasie West

fast-paced

5.0

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

medium-paced

4.0

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros

5.0

Sound the Gong by Joan He

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR Strike the Zither AHEAD!!!

About a year and a half ago, when I first read Strike the Zither by Joan He after finding it on BookishFirst, I had no idea that I’d just discovered a new favorite author! And reading the sequel, Sound the Gong, reaffirmed Joan’s venerated place on my list of all-time favorite authors! As readers, every now and then we’ll come across a book that is on another level when compared to other books, a book we think everyone should read, a book that changes who we are. Both the books in the Three Kingdoms duology are those kinds of books!

As if Strike the Zither wasn’t enough of a rollercoaster ride, Sound the Gong had my stomach jolting in surprise with all the twists and turns. Zephyr and Crow are two of the most morally gray characters I’ve ever read, and I really appreciate how He didn’t hold back with their morally grayness. At the same time, she juxtaposed a strong sense of justice in both of them. The contrast adds a higher level of plausibility and makes you root for them all the more.

Similarly, anyone would have a hard time convincing me that Joan He isn’t an absolute genius! You don’t have to read her books super closely to enjoy them, but if you do, your mind will be blown at all the subtle references and foreshadowing. As someone who’s just starting to explore writing, it is authors like Joan who inspire me to be a better writer. The flood of joy I’d feel whenever I found a little clue that alluded to the previous book or foreshadowed a later event was thrilling.

Additionally, Joan’s sense of humor with her writing is so memorable. I love the way she takes what could be a pretty depressing story and infuses it with lightheartedness and hilarious moments. Simultaneously, she does not shy away from addressing deep emotions. I particularly enjoyed Joan’s depiction of Zephyr working through her grief for Lotus.

As a whole, you NEED to read both Strike the Zither and Sound the Gong if you haven’t yet! In my mind, they are masterpieces! (Also, your heart will need the bonus story “In Another Life,” after reading STG. Just to forewarn you.) :)

My Throat an Open Grave by Tori Bovalino

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I absolutely loved Not Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino, so when I saw the cover of My Throat an Open Grave, I wanted to read it right away. I have to say, I’ve read quite a few books in under 48 hours over the years, but it has been a long time since I’ve read one in under 24 hours, but that was the case with My Throat an Open Grave.

First off, the lore behind the story was so compelling. The main character, Leah, lives in a small, religious town and has heard stories of the Lord of the Woods since childhood. Every several years, a child goes missing, and a woman is ultimately sent after the baby to “pay for her sins.” When Leah’s baby brother is taken by the LoW, her mother sends her after him, turning the whole town against her.

From the start, the myth of the Lord of the Woods was compelling, but what hooked me even more was a sharp sense of empathy and injustice for Leah. She didn’t even want a baby brother, why should she have to go after him?

Similarly, Leah copes with depression and suicidal thoughts throughout the story, which I thought Bovalino did an exceptional job of depicting. I definitely recommend reading this book when you’re in a good headspace because the depressive atmosphere is very immersive, which made the story feel more realistic.

Finally, Leah’s relationship with Tristan added a lot to the story and felt right for the story. I also appreciated the social justice messages tied into the story. As a whole, My Throat an Open Grave is a must read, regardless of whether you’re typically a fan of horror. 

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

4.0

I really enjoyed So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole! The magic system and its ties to the characters ancestors was compelling. There were a few twists throughout the story that were a bit surprising. I really liked Faron and Reeve's relationship and appreciated the aspec representation (and the queer rep in general). It was nice that Reeve was also Elara's friend, as I think a lot of stories focus too much on romantic relationships as opposed to other forms of love. The layering of conflict was well done and many fantastical elements of the story felt plausible. The only thing I didn't like was that the pacing was pretty slow for a good portion of the book. Regardless, I think it's definitely worth reading, and I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

The Winter Prince by Constance Lopez

5.0

Beauty & the Beast retelling and Constance Lopez? Yes, please! The Winter Prince is the book I was most looking forward to in the Once Upon a Prince Series, and Lopez did not disappoint!

This was one of those books that I completely lost myself in, so much so that I forgot to take notes while reading. The Winter Prince quickly became one of my favorite Beauty & the Beast retellings. I loved the way Lopez built on the original fairy tale and made it her own.

I appreciated the fact that Revi’s motivation for keeping Kienna as a prisoner was believable, however misplaced it might’ve been. Despite his abrasive personality, his care for his people was apparent when reading from his perspective. And, Revi and Kienna’s romance was cute and drew in the reader’s emotions perfectly. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the ending! I won’t give anything away, but I loved the fact that Lopez mixed aspects from the original fairy tale with her own ideas. The ending felt true to the story and really capitalized on the building emotions between Revi and Kienna. 

Overall, this is the second book I’ve read and loved by Constance Lopez, and I hope to read many more in the future! 

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

5.0

I read this book months ago, and I still think about it all the time! After reading Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez, I suspected I would enjoy anything she wrote, and that suspicion was confirmed when I read What the River Knows.

I was captivated from the start of the book! While I normally take extensive notes while reading, I wrote one thing down before I completely fell into the story. I loved the fact that Inez’s story is motivated by loss. Her grief is intertwined with her story without overtaking it; she doesn’t let it stop her from living her life and finding answers.

Similarly, I appreciated the fact that Ibañez chose to write Inez’s story in particular. We get to see the way her family’s money gives her privilege, while her gender in the time period she lived creates obstacles for her. Despite those hardships, Inez is determined to forge her way in life.

Additionally, although I typically enjoy romance novels despite the romance, I actually loved this one largely because of the romance. Inez and Whit’s relationship was full of suspense and angst. The sections from his perspective added a lot of depth to the story. 

AND THAT ENDING?!?! I audibly gasped when I read the end! Talk about a cliffhanger! I desperately need the sequel ASAP!

I bought the OwlCrate edition of What the River Knows (which is stunning, by the way), and I’m praying OwlCrate does the sequel because I need it in my life! 

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

5.0

Check & Mate is the first Ali Hazelwood book I’ve read, and I was so impressed! I flew through the book in less than a day, and I’m already wanting to pick up another book by Hazelwood.

I loved so many things about this book! The story is centered around the game of chess, and while I’m not a huge fan, it was interesting. If you enjoy chess, I think you’ll definitely love this book, but if not, it doesn’t take away from the story at all. One thing I particularly enjoyed about the story was the way Hazelwood addressed gender inequality in chess. 

The romance was cute, but I never really focus on romance, even in romance novels, and there were so many other compelling aspects of this book that made it stand out. Mallory was such a well-crafted character. I liked that she was not perfect and made many mistakes throughout the course of the story. The way she put her family first and tried to provide for her mom and sisters was endearing. Related to that, I appreciated the chronic illness representation in Mallory’s mom. Mallory’s motivation of wanting to help her family was perfectly executed and added a lot of plausibility to the story.

On a similar note, I thought Mallory came across as neurodivergent, which I enjoyed. The queer representation, in Mallory and multiple secondary characters, was excellent. Many of Hazelwood’s characters viewed queerness as the norm, which I loved, especially in Mallory’s younger sisters.

Furthermore, in relation to the plot, I enjoyed the way Hazelwood slowly revealed backstory, especially information related to Mallory’s dad and his relation to chess.

Finally, the supporting characters were exceptional! I loved so many of them, but Oz in particular was very likeable despite his grumpiness. I adored the fact that he supported Mallory throughout her journey in the world of chess.

Overall, I will certainly be reading more of Hazelwood’s books because this one was an absolute gem!