thepaperbackplanner's reviews
335 reviews

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

4.0

This audiobook was very gentle and well-made, but for some reason it felt so long. But there were many chapters and stories after the first couple that really drew me in and held my attention. For example, I loved the stories about the author teaching her students and letting plants be their teachers like they were her teachers. Overall, this book made me more appreciative of my little garden and want to spend more time being present in nature. I appreciated the lessons and action steps Kimmerer shared throughout the book — I hope I've learned them well enough to give back and pass them on.

Translation State by Ann Leckie

5.0

Huge thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for access to this galley in exchange for an honest review! It was an honor to read and review this novel. 

Y'ALL. This is what great scifi is like. Hooked from page one, attached to the characters right away, and reminded of past characters/settings without being hit in the face by them. I loved the way each character struggled with the themes of self and community and how their stories intertwined. Also, I would be remiss not to mention that some of this book is, frankly, gross AF. But in a scifi way, you know? Like, I couldn't look away. Heed those CWs and you'll be fine. We are lucky to live in the same time as Ann Leckie!

Witch King by Martha Wells

5.0

Well, well, Wells! She's done it again, folks. I ate this one up! One blurb calls this novel "complex," and that's true, but Wells weaves the story in a way that gives you the world building in a constant drip, without being confusing or convoluted. Of course, we also get the classic murderbot snark and sass and ~emotional damage~! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each character, the relationship between demons and witches and magic, and how things came to be the way they are. By the end, I was already dying for (1) fanart and a (2) sequel. I cannot wait for more of Kai, Ziede, Tahren, Dahin, Sanja, and Tenes! 

This Is Ear Hustle: Unflinching Stories of Everyday Prison Life by Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods

4.0

As an avid listener of the Ear Hustle podcast — though I am a little behind lol — I had to get the audiobook version of this book, and I'm glad I did. Nigel and Earlonnne's narration was the best part of this book. I enjoyed the deep dive into their experiences of making the podcast, though I didn't get as much out of the sections that went back to stories the podcast had covered before. Ultimately, I was left feeling like I need to catch up on the latest podcast episodes! 

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill

4.0

A quick, fun novel to round out my TRR TBR. This light coming-of-age story continued a theme from one of my previous reads, "Light From Uncommon Stars," about music being an outlet that lets people feel whole and understood. And it really made me wish I had learned piano. Overall, a joyful read.

The Free People's Village by Sim Kern

5.0

This is the heaviest and most thought-provoking thing I have read so far for TRR. As a white cis woman, this has me thinking HARD about my own activism. I'm also coming away with a hefty reading list. To the book itself: I never felt the pace drag, and it was only too fast when I was reading so fast to get to the next page and the next and the next. The characters had so much depth and felt truly real. Texas isn't Missouri, but this story could've easily been set in St. Louis with barely any changes. This could be happening — and has happened! — in my own community. I appreciated that our main character, Maddie, fucked up over and over again, because that's a thing white cis people are destined to do on the journey to unlearn the white supremacist, patriarchal, colonialist bullshit we've been absorbing like oxygen since birth. But I also appreciated that Maddie's friends didn't always just brush off her mistakes — there were consequences, which is also the reality of the thing. Overall, this story of a protest movement working toward a better world through the brightest days and the darkest is going to stick with me for a long time.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

4.0

This "Fall of the House of Usher" retelling by way of "Mexican Gothic" has everything:
-fucked up mushrooms
-nonbinary soldiers
-an incredible horse
-neopronouns
-a very cool mycologist
-fucked up rabbits
-and a very cursed house
If any of that sounds like your vibe, get your hands on this novella ASAP!

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

5.0

Ok well I have yet another autobuy author on my hands! I loved "Cemetery Boys," and this was just as great! Great characters, beautiful world-building, and so funny! To borrow a Thomas-ism, many surprise laughs bucked in my chest 😄 Can't wait to see how our main characters get out of this mess in book two!

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

4.0

"Felix" is a moving coming-of-age story featuring teenage relationship drama, family challenges, and finding yourself through art. I really enjoyed Felix's journey to himself and his love! I admit I was thrown by lots of references to Harry Potter, but those may be removed in future editions of the book, per the author's website.

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

4.0

How even to begin with this book?? It's so heavy in places and yet holds such lightness throughout. I had no idea it was about violins — an instrument I played for years in school! Every main character was so easy to love, even the one fulfilling a deal with hell. The writing jumped POVs often, but I was never lost. I think this one is gonna stick with me for a while.