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waywardbookshelf's reviews
613 reviews
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed this book! It had a slower build-up to a pretty wild ending. I didn't read it particularly fast at first, but found myself really enjoying the last third or so.
Things I liked:
- Minor horror elements that didn't squick me out. As someone who's not a fan of horror in particular, but appreciates fantasy with some darker bits as long as I can stomach it, finding an author who's able to strike that balance is always exciting.
- Romance and true friendship between the older characters. The MC in this book is a YA character, but she's not part of the romantic thread, nor is she at all interested in romance because she's focused on surviving with a monster for a mother. The story's one true romance is between a couple that reads as being somewhere in their 50's-60's, and I thought it was very sweet. And the friendships that ring as the most lasting and true are also between three middle-aged ladies. I liked their feistiness and independence, and found them very fun to read.
- Fairytale vibes without being an actual retelling. While I've heard this book has been marketed in some places as a retelling of Goose Girl, I would ignore that. Yes, it has some geese and a girl, but A Sorceress Comes to Call feels more like its own tale than a rehashing of an older one.
Things I didn't like:
- As I mentioned earlier, this book took me a while to get into the story and to care about the main character. I'll admit it's entirely possible that was a me thing and not a pacing or story issue, but either way I did have to push myself to keep going at a couple points in the first half.
In addition to fans of Kingfisher's other works, I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy fairytale beats with the feel of a fresh story, and who like seeing characters of diverse ages living a full life of their choosing.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an unbiased review.
Things I liked:
- Minor horror elements that didn't squick me out. As someone who's not a fan of horror in particular, but appreciates fantasy with some darker bits as long as I can stomach it, finding an author who's able to strike that balance is always exciting.
- Romance and true friendship between the older characters. The MC in this book is a YA character, but she's not part of the romantic thread, nor is she at all interested in romance because she's focused on surviving with a monster for a mother. The story's one true romance is between a couple that reads as being somewhere in their 50's-60's, and I thought it was very sweet. And the friendships that ring as the most lasting and true are also between three middle-aged ladies. I liked their feistiness and independence, and found them very fun to read.
- Fairytale vibes without being an actual retelling. While I've heard this book has been marketed in some places as a retelling of Goose Girl, I would ignore that. Yes, it has some geese and a girl, but A Sorceress Comes to Call feels more like its own tale than a rehashing of an older one.
Things I didn't like:
- As I mentioned earlier, this book took me a while to get into the story and to care about the main character. I'll admit it's entirely possible that was a me thing and not a pacing or story issue, but either way I did have to push myself to keep going at a couple points in the first half.
In addition to fans of Kingfisher's other works, I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy fairytale beats with the feel of a fresh story, and who like seeing characters of diverse ages living a full life of their choosing.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an unbiased review.
Rules For Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
Rules for Ghosting is a charming little book set around a family run Jewish funeral home. It has bits of found family & romance along with a healthy dose of what it means to do life and death as part of a community.
There's a pretty wide and diverse cast of characters who are on the whole very real and relatable. Our main character is a trans young man named Ezra who is in the process of learning to recognize his own worth, while figuring out which boundaries to hold and which to let go of. He's also just a little psychic, which is made more interesting by the fact that his family runs a funeral home, AND he's also starting to have feelings for a widower.
The plot was fairly messy, but mostly in a good way. It felt like real life, stuff happens, and sometimes it all happens at once. This book is just a slice of life where Ezra is in a season of a lot happening. Families are messy sometimes. That said, it wasn't so much that it was difficult to follow or overwhelming to read about. The author handles it well, and overall this was a pretty comfy read.
If you like the trend of romances set around funeral homes, this would be worth a try. If you like slice of life where people love and support each other, even if they don't always do it perfectly, you'd probably enjoy this book too.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an unbiased review.
There's a pretty wide and diverse cast of characters who are on the whole very real and relatable. Our main character is a trans young man named Ezra who is in the process of learning to recognize his own worth, while figuring out which boundaries to hold and which to let go of. He's also just a little psychic, which is made more interesting by the fact that his family runs a funeral home, AND he's also starting to have feelings for a widower.
The plot was fairly messy, but mostly in a good way. It felt like real life, stuff happens, and sometimes it all happens at once. This book is just a slice of life where Ezra is in a season of a lot happening. Families are messy sometimes. That said, it wasn't so much that it was difficult to follow or overwhelming to read about. The author handles it well, and overall this was a pretty comfy read.
If you like the trend of romances set around funeral homes, this would be worth a try. If you like slice of life where people love and support each other, even if they don't always do it perfectly, you'd probably enjoy this book too.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an unbiased review.
The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I've really enjoyed the Singing Hills Cycle in general, Nghi Vo has a distinct voice and a way of weaving a narrative that is really captivating. The Brides of High Hill is unique in the series so far because it starts off with a bit of an unreliable beginning as the story has already begun, and the reader joins in when Cleric Chi wakes up in the back of a cart with a bride & her parents, Almost Brilliant isn't around, and the cleric doesn't remember quite how she got there. The reader is along for the story as, this time, it unfolds around the cleric as she tries to uncover the reality of the situation and her new friends.
This book was more mysterious and perhaps felt a little more sinister than others in the series. There has always been some inherent danger in Chi's travels, sometimes more implicit than others, but the mystery of not knowing exactly what we were dealing with was a new angle and gave this tale a more dangerous and urgent undertone.
As I have come to expect from Vo, the narrative was well-crafted and the atmosphere around the story was tangible, I would highly recommend the entire Singing Hills Cycle to anyone who is a lover of good storytelling and seeing things from legends & folklore come to life.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an unbiased review.
This book was more mysterious and perhaps felt a little more sinister than others in the series. There has always been some inherent danger in Chi's travels, sometimes more implicit than others, but the mystery of not knowing exactly what we were dealing with was a new angle and gave this tale a more dangerous and urgent undertone.
As I have come to expect from Vo, the narrative was well-crafted and the atmosphere around the story was tangible, I would highly recommend the entire Singing Hills Cycle to anyone who is a lover of good storytelling and seeing things from legends & folklore come to life.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an unbiased review.
The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress by Sarah Wallace
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was such a lovely read, probably even more so than I expected - and I've been hoping for Gerry's book ever since finishing Letters to Half Moon Street! In the series thus far, we've watched Gerry becoming pretty protective of her independence after having found purpose in taking over the running of the spellshop in Tutting on Cress, while also enjoying the support and proximity of her family and friends. And having a book focused on Gerry means we also got a lot of time with this world's magic system, which is always fun.
Basil is our newest character, and is a very thoughtful and somewhat lonely man, who's found himself a little out of his depth after becoming the head of a family consisting of whole pack of little siblings and his widowed stepmother. I found it touching to watch this particular family's dynamic unfold, while also getting to know all 7 of the little siblings and their antics.
One thing I didn't expect from this book, was to start to feel differently about John, the Hartford siblings' eldest brother, who up until this point has been quite awful. I appreciate how Wallace has built up his arc over several books at this point, and we're starting to see something like growth. (His wife, Veronica, is still The Worst. So if you need a character to dislike, you've still got one for now).
The very best thing about these books in general are the alternate historical England that has an inclusive society, wonderful queer representation, and the way in which the found family takes care of each other through a lot of well-meaning meddling. (And this book in particular had almost comedic levels of meddling - it was great!) These are incredibly cozy, hopeful reads, and I often find myself smiling while reading them. Highly recommended for fans of regency romances or cozy fantasy!
Basil is our newest character, and is a very thoughtful and somewhat lonely man, who's found himself a little out of his depth after becoming the head of a family consisting of whole pack of little siblings and his widowed stepmother. I found it touching to watch this particular family's dynamic unfold, while also getting to know all 7 of the little siblings and their antics.
One thing I didn't expect from this book, was to start to feel differently about John, the Hartford siblings' eldest brother, who up until this point has been quite awful. I appreciate how Wallace has built up his arc over several books at this point, and we're starting to see something like growth. (His wife, Veronica, is still The Worst. So if you need a character to dislike, you've still got one for now).
The very best thing about these books in general are the alternate historical England that has an inclusive society, wonderful queer representation, and the way in which the found family takes care of each other through a lot of well-meaning meddling. (And this book in particular had almost comedic levels of meddling - it was great!) These are incredibly cozy, hopeful reads, and I often find myself smiling while reading them. Highly recommended for fans of regency romances or cozy fantasy!
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
I really enjoyed the world that Cathrall has created. With the under-sea setting, and all the lore that exists within both the scholarship and fiction of the world, I found it very intriguing. Without giving away any spoilers, let's just say I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book, and the promise of getting deeper into the world and it's lore.
The epistolary format also made this the perfect book to pick up and read just a few minutes before bed during a particularly busy work season. By about the third letter, a mystery was revealed and I was hooked. I was pleasantly surprised that the investigative nature of the story meant that the letters, articles, and journal entries included are from a whole cast of characters, and not only going back and forth between two people. This added a lot more texture and nuance to both the world and the mystery that was unfolding, and allowed the author to remain really true to the epistolary writing style. The one thing that got a little tiring for me were the extra-long postscripts, and the written apologies from characters for things they didn't really need to be apologizing for. However, that is a small enough thing in the scope of the story, and didn't take away from my enjoyment of the world or it's characters.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cozy academia, epistolary novels, natural history, under-sea settings, or just plain old cozy fantasy. It's a wonderful debut work!
The epistolary format also made this the perfect book to pick up and read just a few minutes before bed during a particularly busy work season. By about the third letter, a mystery was revealed and I was hooked. I was pleasantly surprised that the investigative nature of the story meant that the letters, articles, and journal entries included are from a whole cast of characters, and not only going back and forth between two people. This added a lot more texture and nuance to both the world and the mystery that was unfolding, and allowed the author to remain really true to the epistolary writing style. The one thing that got a little tiring for me were the extra-long postscripts, and the written apologies from characters for things they didn't really need to be apologizing for. However, that is a small enough thing in the scope of the story, and didn't take away from my enjoyment of the world or it's characters.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cozy academia, epistolary novels, natural history, under-sea settings, or just plain old cozy fantasy. It's a wonderful debut work!
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Some elements that I particularly enjoyed were the alchemy and the scholar's skills that explored super-human capabilities in fighting and channeling power. I also found the camaraderie and intense loyalty between the bandits to be compelling, as well as all the detail in their governance and operation. The characters surrounding Lin Chong were vibrant and complicated, and there was a good amount of growth and change through the tale for many of the central characters.
Violence was never the way. Anyone skilled enough in the fighting arts to be a master arms instructor knew that to her bones.
I also found the author's note at the beginning to be really helpful, both to understand the origin of what I was reading (especially as someone who has seen a few wuxia films, but isn't terribly familiar with the genre beyond that). And I would also say to take the content warnings about potentially disturbing content to heart. This is a violent read, and it took me a while to make my way through it. Part of this was because the beginning of the book is a lot of character development and set up, and the action picks up in the final third. And the other part was because I am pretty sensitive to violence. I knew this wasn't going to be my usual fare going in, and I expected to take my time with it. That said, I am very glad I finished it. You can feel the care and detail that went into writing it, and the result is a really well written, moving, and adventurous read.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
slow-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? No
5.0
This book has some great themes that sold me on wanting to read it. Lin Chong is an arms instructor who gets targeted when a powerful man decides she'd be better off dead. Her options are to die, or to run from the law and its corruption. As an outcast herself, she reluctantly begins to understand what drives the bandits who live at the margins of the Empire. She is recruited by them, and a story of stubbornly trying to right injustice and claw their way to a more equal society unfolds. It's a tale of anti-heroes becoming legends.
I've always had words. Always... I have no right words tonight. I have no poetry for our kindred.
Some elements that I particularly enjoyed were the alchemy and the scholar's skills that explored super-human capabilities in fighting and channeling power. I also found the camaraderie and intense loyalty between the bandits to be compelling, as well as all the detail in their governance and operation. The characters surrounding Lin Chong were vibrant and complicated, and there was a good amount of growth and change through the tale for many of the central characters.
Violence was never the way. Anyone skilled enough in the fighting arts to be a master arms instructor knew that to her bones.
I also found the author's note at the beginning to be really helpful, both to understand the origin of what I was reading (especially as someone who has seen a few wuxia films, but isn't terribly familiar with the genre beyond that). And I would also say to take the content warnings about potentially disturbing content to heart. This is a violent read, and it took me a while to make my way through it. Part of this was because the beginning of the book is a lot of character development and set up, and the action picks up in the final third. And the other part was because I am pretty sensitive to violence. I knew this wasn't going to be my usual fare going in, and I expected to take my time with it. That said, I am very glad I finished it. You can feel the care and detail that went into writing it, and the result is a really well written, moving, and adventurous read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Calamity by Constance Fay
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was ready for something lighter, and this book was just the thing! It's a romp in space following a found-family type crew who get hired for a scouting mission, and it doesn't turn out to be quite as straight-forward as expected. I enjoyed the mash-up of Science Fiction and Romance, and found myself really flying through the book.
The plot starts right in with action, and the pace pretty much keeps up all the way through, making this a pretty fast-paced read. The characters aren't terribly deep, but they're mostly likable types as we get to know them. The main character, Temperance Reed, has been knocked down by life a few times and copes by being snarky, self-deprecating, a little reckless, and fiercely protective of her crew. Sometimes this comes off as insecurity or incompetence, but I have to say I kinda liked her for it. The world has some definite political dynamics in play, and I thought it worked to add some intrigue to the story.
As someone who reads a fair amount of fantasy romance, this book felt a little like a science fiction version of that. So if you like SciFi a la Firefly and a little spice in your romance reads, this is a fun book to try. I know I am looking forward to reading the second book soon.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an unbiased review.
The plot starts right in with action, and the pace pretty much keeps up all the way through, making this a pretty fast-paced read. The characters aren't terribly deep, but they're mostly likable types as we get to know them. The main character, Temperance Reed, has been knocked down by life a few times and copes by being snarky, self-deprecating, a little reckless, and fiercely protective of her crew. Sometimes this comes off as insecurity or incompetence, but I have to say I kinda liked her for it. The world has some definite political dynamics in play, and I thought it worked to add some intrigue to the story.
As someone who reads a fair amount of fantasy romance, this book felt a little like a science fiction version of that. So if you like SciFi a la Firefly and a little spice in your romance reads, this is a fun book to try. I know I am looking forward to reading the second book soon.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an unbiased review.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Spellshop is a very cozy read that hit all of the right cozy fantasy beats: leaving an old life behind, starting over somewhere new, finding a community and a purpose within it, and a little no-spice romance. Bonus points for a sentient spider plant, bookish characters, mermaids, and a few other pretty cool magical elements.
I did struggle initially with the main character's insular attitude towards other people, but she has a decent growth arc. So if you find yourself rolling your eyes at her at the beginning, I'd say to stick with it knowing she's going somewhere. And it's arguable that her frame of mind at the beginning does have a function in keeping the tone of the story lighter, because there are some rather high stakes things happening in the larger world, but her world view keeps our focus pretty small with everything else being more in the background.
This was an easy read, and cozy cottagecore is an excellent descriptor for it. I think it will be an easy win for fans of cozy fantasy, especially if you love books and houseplants!
I did struggle initially with the main character's insular attitude towards other people, but she has a decent growth arc. So if you find yourself rolling your eyes at her at the beginning, I'd say to stick with it knowing she's going somewhere. And it's arguable that her frame of mind at the beginning does have a function in keeping the tone of the story lighter, because there are some rather high stakes things happening in the larger world, but her world view keeps our focus pretty small with everything else being more in the background.
This was an easy read, and cozy cottagecore is an excellent descriptor for it. I think it will be an easy win for fans of cozy fantasy, especially if you love books and houseplants!
Aftermarket Afterlife by Seanan McGuire
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The reviews get harder to keep spoiler free the further into a series we get. But I'll do my best!
Things I liked: This book is from the perspective of Mary Dunlavy, the ghost babysitter who has helped raise 3 generations of the Price family, and that combined with her ability to bounce between family members who call her, means she is uniquely placed to be a very effective narrator for this book and the events unfolding in it. McGuire continues to handle big emotions and hard conversations between her characters with her signature pragmatism and insight that I find to be so effective. And that's especially important since there are a lot of big feelings in this one.
Things I didn't like as much: Mostly that this was just a heavier book. Things ramp up with the Covenant in a big way, and this read was definitely not as fun or light-hearted as some other Incryptid books have felt. That doesn't mean it's not an excellent book, because I do think it's all very well written. It was just a much more emotional read. The other thing that was a little difficult is that bouncing back and forth between the ENTIRE family the way Mary is able to had me wishing I had reread some of the earlier books first, because I couldn't remember a few characters very well. That said, McGuire does a good job with building quick reminders of who and what her characters are into the narrative, so you always have enough info so as not to be completely lost.
I have always admired McGuire's ability to pull long plot arcs and threads together, and she's absolutely doing that in this book. If you've followed Incryptid this far, this book is what the last few books have been leading to, so buckle up! If you haven't read any Incryptid books, I might recommend starting somewhere earlier in the series first.
Things I liked: This book is from the perspective of Mary Dunlavy, the ghost babysitter who has helped raise 3 generations of the Price family, and that combined with her ability to bounce between family members who call her, means she is uniquely placed to be a very effective narrator for this book and the events unfolding in it. McGuire continues to handle big emotions and hard conversations between her characters with her signature pragmatism and insight that I find to be so effective. And that's especially important since there are a lot of big feelings in this one.
Things I didn't like as much: Mostly that this was just a heavier book. Things ramp up with the Covenant in a big way, and this read was definitely not as fun or light-hearted as some other Incryptid books have felt. That doesn't mean it's not an excellent book, because I do think it's all very well written. It was just a much more emotional read. The other thing that was a little difficult is that bouncing back and forth between the ENTIRE family the way Mary is able to had me wishing I had reread some of the earlier books first, because I couldn't remember a few characters very well. That said, McGuire does a good job with building quick reminders of who and what her characters are into the narrative, so you always have enough info so as not to be completely lost.
I have always admired McGuire's ability to pull long plot arcs and threads together, and she's absolutely doing that in this book. If you've followed Incryptid this far, this book is what the last few books have been leading to, so buckle up! If you haven't read any Incryptid books, I might recommend starting somewhere earlier in the series first.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This was such a wonderful read! It's been a minute since I sunk into a gothic novel, and this was just a lot of fun to spend time with. It was very gothic, a little gritty, and a little romantic.
Starling House is a somewhat sentient old manor that sits on the edge of a bad luck town. It's only occupant, Arthur, is a bit of a recluse. Rumors about the house have swirled around for years, and the truth might still be in them somewhere. Opal has always felt drawn to the house. And that's where our story begins.
The setting of Eden, Kentucky is so well done, you can almost taste the pollution from the local power plant, and feel the miasma of bad luck that has settled over the town. Opal is fierce, tough, has never felt quite at home, and is still learning how to trust the people who have cared for her. Arthur has been carrying too much for too long, he's resolute, and very broken. I loved them both as soon as they appeared on the page.
This book is imaginative, a little bit magical, a little mysterious, and a lot of the right kind of broken, human people trying to take care of each other and protect their home from the baddies. Harrow does a wonderful job with it, and I was so satisfied when I finished it that I almost wanted to start it right over. I can definitely see this being a reread for me in future years!
This book is perfect for readers who love a good gothic novel, rooting for an anti-hero, and learning to befriend their own nightmares.
I recieved an ARC from Netgalley, this is an unbiased review.
Starling House is a somewhat sentient old manor that sits on the edge of a bad luck town. It's only occupant, Arthur, is a bit of a recluse. Rumors about the house have swirled around for years, and the truth might still be in them somewhere. Opal has always felt drawn to the house. And that's where our story begins.
The setting of Eden, Kentucky is so well done, you can almost taste the pollution from the local power plant, and feel the miasma of bad luck that has settled over the town. Opal is fierce, tough, has never felt quite at home, and is still learning how to trust the people who have cared for her. Arthur has been carrying too much for too long, he's resolute, and very broken. I loved them both as soon as they appeared on the page.
This book is imaginative, a little bit magical, a little mysterious, and a lot of the right kind of broken, human people trying to take care of each other and protect their home from the baddies. Harrow does a wonderful job with it, and I was so satisfied when I finished it that I almost wanted to start it right over. I can definitely see this being a reread for me in future years!
This book is perfect for readers who love a good gothic novel, rooting for an anti-hero, and learning to befriend their own nightmares.
I recieved an ARC from Netgalley, this is an unbiased review.