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willowy's reviews
127 reviews
The Brimstone Wedding by Barbara Vine, Ruth Rendell
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Length: 422 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Lesbian Romance
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
"I fell in love with you the day that I met you, and then I fell in love with the person you remembered you are. I got to fall in love with you twice. That’s— that’s magic. You’re the first thing I’ve believed in since— since I don’t even remember, okay, you’re— you’re movies and destiny and every stupid, impossible thing, and it’s not because of the fucking train, it’s because of you. It’s because you fight and you care and you’re always kind but never easy, and you won’t let anything take that away from you. You’re my hero, Jane. I don’t care if you think you’re not one. You are."
Trigger Warnings in this book for Past Homophobic Violence and Mentions of Racism
I've never read anything by McQuiston before but I was so excited for One Last Stop I even made it one of my most anticipated reads of 2021! Unfortunately, I felt a bit let down by this one. I think it is simply a case of me not vibing with it, because it is a good book, just not necessarily a good book for me.
One Last Stop follows August Landry -- professional student, cynical virgin, and retired Nancy Drew wannabe. Raised by her single mother who is obsessed with solving what happened to her uncle (her namesake, Augie), August has learned everything there is about keeping herself distant and safe. When she moves to New York, she hardly expects to make friends, let alone meet someone special but boy, does she. On the subway, after a crappy day that ends with her spilling coffee all over herself before class, a mesmerizing woman lends her a scarf and August can't get her out of her mind. She starts seeking her out, and like magic, she's there every single time.
To make ends meet, August takes a job at a forty-five year old pancake place, Billy's, thanks to her new roommates pulling the strings to get it for her. Shockingly, August sees the woman, Jane, in a photo on the wall. A photo from the 1970's.
Jane is trapped on the subway, and has been since the 70's. She doesn't remember anything about her life before and August is determined to help her, even if it means losing her in the process. And worst of all, August thinks she might just love her.
So, I think the idea for this book is so original and cool. I love anything time-travel, especially time-travel romance, and the thought of a modern bisexual and a lesbian from the 70's, a time strife with both violence and hope for the LGBTQ community, was a stroke of genius! My favorite part of this book was Jane, who is soft but strong, sweet and sour, and a total heart-throb. Every scene she was in was made instantly better by her! I waffled on August, whose problems oftentimes seemed caused by her own standoffishness.
My main issue with One Last Stop came with not only the writing, which is just not my bag but is what's popular right now, but with the conversations everyone has in the book. To put it succinctly, every single character talked like a Tumblr post. I had a hard time believing they were real people and not just vessels to carry funny/quirky sayings and weird anecdotes, especially since I'm in the same age range as them and also have a fairly varied and eclectic friend group.
I think this was an excellent Lesbian romance with an inventive plot and will be an absolute favorite for someone else! It just (sadly) wasn't for me!
Length: 422 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Lesbian Romance
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
"I fell in love with you the day that I met you, and then I fell in love with the person you remembered you are. I got to fall in love with you twice. That’s— that’s magic. You’re the first thing I’ve believed in since— since I don’t even remember, okay, you’re— you’re movies and destiny and every stupid, impossible thing, and it’s not because of the fucking train, it’s because of you. It’s because you fight and you care and you’re always kind but never easy, and you won’t let anything take that away from you. You’re my hero, Jane. I don’t care if you think you’re not one. You are."
Trigger Warnings in this book for Past Homophobic Violence and Mentions of Racism
I've never read anything by McQuiston before but I was so excited for One Last Stop I even made it one of my most anticipated reads of 2021! Unfortunately, I felt a bit let down by this one. I think it is simply a case of me not vibing with it, because it is a good book, just not necessarily a good book for me.
One Last Stop follows August Landry -- professional student, cynical virgin, and retired Nancy Drew wannabe. Raised by her single mother who is obsessed with solving what happened to her uncle (her namesake, Augie), August has learned everything there is about keeping herself distant and safe. When she moves to New York, she hardly expects to make friends, let alone meet someone special but boy, does she. On the subway, after a crappy day that ends with her spilling coffee all over herself before class, a mesmerizing woman lends her a scarf and August can't get her out of her mind. She starts seeking her out, and like magic, she's there every single time.
To make ends meet, August takes a job at a forty-five year old pancake place, Billy's, thanks to her new roommates pulling the strings to get it for her. Shockingly, August sees the woman, Jane, in a photo on the wall. A photo from the 1970's.
Jane is trapped on the subway, and has been since the 70's. She doesn't remember anything about her life before and August is determined to help her, even if it means losing her in the process. And worst of all, August thinks she might just love her.
So, I think the idea for this book is so original and cool. I love anything time-travel, especially time-travel romance, and the thought of a modern bisexual and a lesbian from the 70's, a time strife with both violence and hope for the LGBTQ community, was a stroke of genius! My favorite part of this book was Jane, who is soft but strong, sweet and sour, and a total heart-throb. Every scene she was in was made instantly better by her! I waffled on August, whose problems oftentimes seemed caused by her own standoffishness.
My main issue with One Last Stop came with not only the writing, which is just not my bag but is what's popular right now, but with the conversations everyone has in the book. To put it succinctly, every single character talked like a Tumblr post. I had a hard time believing they were real people and not just vessels to carry funny/quirky sayings and weird anecdotes, especially since I'm in the same age range as them and also have a fairly varied and eclectic friend group.
I think this was an excellent Lesbian romance with an inventive plot and will be an absolute favorite for someone else! It just (sadly) wasn't for me!
Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
"Beware, beware three maidens fair
With bloody hands and divine air.
Help not the girl whom others blame
She'll burn the world to ash and flame.
Trust not the girl with the golden crown
She'll take what's yours and watch you drown.
And my Lily Maid will scream and cry.
She'll break them both and then she'll die."
Trigger Warning in this book for Suicide
Along with Greek mythology, one of my lifelong obsessions (dating back, probably, to when I first glimpsed Sam Neill in the 1998 Merlin miniseries on Syfy, when it was still Scifi) is Arthurian mythology. I've always had such a fascination with the characters, and I have to admit I've rarely come across a well-done Arthurian story. I was really taken by surprise when I saw Laura Sebastian's Half Sick of Shadows as one of Book of the Month's June picks, because it had somehow completely flown under my radar!
"I am half-sick of shadows," Elaine Astolat, Lady of Shalott, famously declares in Lord Alfred Tennyson's lyrical poem, which consists of 20 stanzas (19 in another version). She is afflicted by a strange curse, doomed to forever weave images on her loom, and to only ever glimpse the world through a small handheld mirror. The Lady of Shalott is perhaps even overshadowed by her own death, in which she dies of heartbreak over the knight Lancelot, and floats down the river to Camelot, a lily clutched in hand.
In this retelling, Elaine is cursed with visions, which come unbidden to her in her sleep, and later, under the careful tutelage of the Lady of the Lake, Nimue, at her beck and call throw weaving on her loom. Her childhood is spent trapped in a tower in Camelot with her mother, until the wild and tempestuous Morgana returns to court and they strike up a fast friendship. Morgana urges Elaine to come away with her back to Avalon, where the Fey have reigned since they lost the war with Albion. She does, and when she arrives she meets the lost Prince Arthur, the strange and beautiful Lyonessian Princess Guinevere, and the half-fey Lancelot, who she will go on to love.
Soon, Elaine realizes that her power is more a curse than a gift. Urged to never share her visions with those they involve, lest she bring them to fruition, Elaine is lonely, but wise and trusted. She, along with the others, are raised for one purpose: to see Arthur crowned. Everything, their friendship, their love, and even their very selves, are pushed to the side to see the task done. But Elaine cannot accept the future that lies ahead -- one of broken promises, treasonous friends, and her own heart broken by the very man she so wants to trust. Can she stop it? Or is the future already set in stone?
I very much enjoyed this new take on the Arthurian myth, told from the POV of a character rarely utilized. I loved each character, and each new vision Elaine discovered, of a bitter and hate-filled Morgana, or of her and Arthur heartbroken by their lovers' betrayal, made my own heart ache. I was especially taken with this new spin on the much maligned Guinevere, and was pleased to see her not relegated to the same old adulterous harpy role she so frequently fills. A refreshing take on the old with a bittersweet ending, Half Sick of Shadows is a perfect choice to inspire new lovers of Arthur, Morgana, Lancelot, Guinevere, and the oft-forgotten, Elaine.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
Genres: Fantasy
Length: 448 Pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Genres: Fantasy
Length: 448 Pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
"Beware, beware three maidens fair
With bloody hands and divine air.
Help not the girl whom others blame
She'll burn the world to ash and flame.
Trust not the girl with the golden crown
She'll take what's yours and watch you drown.
And my Lily Maid will scream and cry.
She'll break them both and then she'll die."
Trigger Warning in this book for Suicide
Along with Greek mythology, one of my lifelong obsessions (dating back, probably, to when I first glimpsed Sam Neill in the 1998 Merlin miniseries on Syfy, when it was still Scifi) is Arthurian mythology. I've always had such a fascination with the characters, and I have to admit I've rarely come across a well-done Arthurian story. I was really taken by surprise when I saw Laura Sebastian's Half Sick of Shadows as one of Book of the Month's June picks, because it had somehow completely flown under my radar!
"I am half-sick of shadows," Elaine Astolat, Lady of Shalott, famously declares in Lord Alfred Tennyson's lyrical poem, which consists of 20 stanzas (19 in another version). She is afflicted by a strange curse, doomed to forever weave images on her loom, and to only ever glimpse the world through a small handheld mirror. The Lady of Shalott is perhaps even overshadowed by her own death, in which she dies of heartbreak over the knight Lancelot, and floats down the river to Camelot, a lily clutched in hand.
In this retelling, Elaine is cursed with visions, which come unbidden to her in her sleep, and later, under the careful tutelage of the Lady of the Lake, Nimue, at her beck and call throw weaving on her loom. Her childhood is spent trapped in a tower in Camelot with her mother, until the wild and tempestuous Morgana returns to court and they strike up a fast friendship. Morgana urges Elaine to come away with her back to Avalon, where the Fey have reigned since they lost the war with Albion. She does, and when she arrives she meets the lost Prince Arthur, the strange and beautiful Lyonessian Princess Guinevere, and the half-fey Lancelot, who she will go on to love.
Soon, Elaine realizes that her power is more a curse than a gift. Urged to never share her visions with those they involve, lest she bring them to fruition, Elaine is lonely, but wise and trusted. She, along with the others, are raised for one purpose: to see Arthur crowned. Everything, their friendship, their love, and even their very selves, are pushed to the side to see the task done. But Elaine cannot accept the future that lies ahead -- one of broken promises, treasonous friends, and her own heart broken by the very man she so wants to trust. Can she stop it? Or is the future already set in stone?
I very much enjoyed this new take on the Arthurian myth, told from the POV of a character rarely utilized. I loved each character, and each new vision Elaine discovered, of a bitter and hate-filled Morgana, or of her and Arthur heartbroken by their lovers' betrayal, made my own heart ache. I was especially taken with this new spin on the much maligned Guinevere, and was pleased to see her not relegated to the same old adulterous harpy role she so frequently fills. A refreshing take on the old with a bittersweet ending, Half Sick of Shadows is a perfect choice to inspire new lovers of Arthur, Morgana, Lancelot, Guinevere, and the oft-forgotten, Elaine.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
"It was the women, always the women, be they helpless serving girls or princesses, who paid the price. Cursed to roam the land without refuge, transformed into a shambling bear or lowing cow, or burned to ashes by the vengeful white armed goddess."
I have always, since my earliest memories, been enamored with Greek mythology. Now, that same love extends to all mythologies and folklores, but the tales of Zeus and Hera, Artemis and Apollo, the ill-fated Cassandra and the murderous Medea, will always have a special place in my heart. When I saw Ariadne by Jennifer Saint was one of Book of the Month's May selections, I knew I had to have it!
Ariadne is best remembered for giving the crimson thread to the hero Theseus, allowing him to find his way through the labyrinth and destroy her monstrous brother, the Minotaur. Then, cruelly, she is abandoned on the island of Naxos. But there is more to the story.
Told in alternating POV's between Ariadne and her younger sister, the doomed Phaedra, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne gives the story back to the women, who have so often born the brunt of the God's ill-will. Ariadne, at first resigned to die on Naxos, discovers that she has caught the eye of Dionysus, the God of wine, fertility, festivity, and general indulgence, and soon comes to meet him. She is wary, as she knows well what happens to mortals favored by the Gods.
Phaedra is married to Theseus, who tells her Ariadne was killed by a snake on Naxos. Never really believing him, Phaedra tries her hardest to gather power and learn just what makes a Queen. I generally preferred Phaedra; she was strong-willed and fiery, as opposed to the sometimes boringly good Ariadne. Phaedra's downfall comes in the form of Theseus' son by Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons, Hippolytus.
While sometimes I felt the prose fell a bit short, I truly enjoyed reading these legends come to life. With only a few differences from the original mythology, it was bittersweet to follow these fabled women to their fates. I am eagerly anticipating Saint's next novel, Elektra, which will tell the stories of three women from the doomed House of Atreus: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra. Be sure to pick this up if you're a mythology lover like me!
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Length: 308 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Length: 308 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
"It was the women, always the women, be they helpless serving girls or princesses, who paid the price. Cursed to roam the land without refuge, transformed into a shambling bear or lowing cow, or burned to ashes by the vengeful white armed goddess."
Trigger Warnings in this book for Blood, Violence, Gore and Mention of Rape
I have always, since my earliest memories, been enamored with Greek mythology. Now, that same love extends to all mythologies and folklores, but the tales of Zeus and Hera, Artemis and Apollo, the ill-fated Cassandra and the murderous Medea, will always have a special place in my heart. When I saw Ariadne by Jennifer Saint was one of Book of the Month's May selections, I knew I had to have it!
Ariadne is best remembered for giving the crimson thread to the hero Theseus, allowing him to find his way through the labyrinth and destroy her monstrous brother, the Minotaur. Then, cruelly, she is abandoned on the island of Naxos. But there is more to the story.
Told in alternating POV's between Ariadne and her younger sister, the doomed Phaedra, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne gives the story back to the women, who have so often born the brunt of the God's ill-will. Ariadne, at first resigned to die on Naxos, discovers that she has caught the eye of Dionysus, the God of wine, fertility, festivity, and general indulgence, and soon comes to meet him. She is wary, as she knows well what happens to mortals favored by the Gods.
Phaedra is married to Theseus, who tells her Ariadne was killed by a snake on Naxos. Never really believing him, Phaedra tries her hardest to gather power and learn just what makes a Queen. I generally preferred Phaedra; she was strong-willed and fiery, as opposed to the sometimes boringly good Ariadne. Phaedra's downfall comes in the form of Theseus' son by Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons, Hippolytus.
While sometimes I felt the prose fell a bit short, I truly enjoyed reading these legends come to life. With only a few differences from the original mythology, it was bittersweet to follow these fabled women to their fates. I am eagerly anticipating Saint's next novel, Elektra, which will tell the stories of three women from the doomed House of Atreus: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra. Be sure to pick this up if you're a mythology lover like me!
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
Length: 352 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance (Gay)
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"Percy realized he had it all wrong when he told Kit that honor is just spite dressed up; spite was honor when it was the only weapon you had against someone more powerful."
A special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!
Kit Webb, also known as highwayman Gladhand Jack, has been forced to give up a life of crime due to an injury on his last job, and now whiles away the hours working in his own coffee house. It's a good life, respectable and...boring. Enter the mysterious Edward Percy, a 18th-century Fop to the nth degree, complete with powder and a heart-shaped patch on his upper lip. Kit is fascinated by him -- he is beautiful, rich, and everything Kit hates. And shockingly, he knows just who Kit is, or rather, who he tried to leave behind. Percy wants Kit to do one last job: rob his father. Little does either man know, how much their histories intertwine, and how much they'll grow to care about one another.
I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of this! I previously read Hither, Page by Sebastian (eagerly awaiting the sequel!) and loved it, so I had high hopes, especially since it is set in 1750s England, a time period that is sorely underutilized. I've also always had a fascination with legends surrounding highwaymen, so it was all around win for me. I adored both Kit and Percy, and loved their enemies to friends to lovers storyline. A perfect read for a day of relaxation, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb will leave you smiling ear to ear.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 352 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance (Gay)
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"Percy realized he had it all wrong when he told Kit that honor is just spite dressed up; spite was honor when it was the only weapon you had against someone more powerful."
A special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!
Kit Webb, also known as highwayman Gladhand Jack, has been forced to give up a life of crime due to an injury on his last job, and now whiles away the hours working in his own coffee house. It's a good life, respectable and...boring. Enter the mysterious Edward Percy, a 18th-century Fop to the nth degree, complete with powder and a heart-shaped patch on his upper lip. Kit is fascinated by him -- he is beautiful, rich, and everything Kit hates. And shockingly, he knows just who Kit is, or rather, who he tried to leave behind. Percy wants Kit to do one last job: rob his father. Little does either man know, how much their histories intertwine, and how much they'll grow to care about one another.
I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of this! I previously read Hither, Page by Sebastian (eagerly awaiting the sequel!) and loved it, so I had high hopes, especially since it is set in 1750s England, a time period that is sorely underutilized. I've also always had a fascination with legends surrounding highwaymen, so it was all around win for me. I adored both Kit and Percy, and loved their enemies to friends to lovers storyline. A perfect read for a day of relaxation, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb will leave you smiling ear to ear.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood and Violence
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Length: 480 Pages
Genres: High Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
A special thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC of this novel!
"'Kill me or save me,' murmured Malini. 'But do something, Priya.'"
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri is undoubtedly a fantastical feat -- layers upon layers of exquisite worldbuilding, a cast of morally grey characters, and a magic system that is as fascinating as it is deadly, it is a sure win for those read A Song of Ice and Fire and wanted more (and might I say, better?). The first in a trilogy inspired by the epics of India, we follow several characters, with the heart of each warring faction represented by the Ahiranyi maidservant Priya and the imprisoned Parijat Princess Malini.
Priya serves in the Mahal, the palace where the regent and his wife live in sanctity in wild and diseased Ahiranya. When Malini is sent against her will to live in the Hirana, a temple with a changing and treacherous pathway that once housed people and children with forbidden powers -- fueled by the dangerous waters that lurk beneath the temple -- until they were deemed a danger to Parijatdvipa by the Emperor and burned alive. Malini herself narrowly escaped such a fate, and is forced to live in solitude by her tyrannical brother, the Emperor Chandra. She wants nothing more than to see him gone, and her elder brother, Aditya, on the throne. She will do anything to accomplish it, including getting closer to her new maid, Priya, who has startling powers, and a history she refuses to remember. What neither expect is the complicated feelings that bloom between them.
This is a long book, and less interesting POV's sometimes made it feel even longer. Despite loving so much about it, from the history to the wonderfully scheming main characters to the gorgeous writing, I oftentimes found myself wishing it had been cut down just a little. But don't let that deter you from the amazing first book in a new series! A must-read for any fantasy fan, check this one out when you're wanting to sink deep into a mythology, a new world, and people that might just be...a little monstrous.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 480 Pages
Genres: High Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
A special thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC of this novel!
"'Kill me or save me,' murmured Malini. 'But do something, Priya.'"
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri is undoubtedly a fantastical feat -- layers upon layers of exquisite worldbuilding, a cast of morally grey characters, and a magic system that is as fascinating as it is deadly, it is a sure win for those read A Song of Ice and Fire and wanted more (and might I say, better?). The first in a trilogy inspired by the epics of India, we follow several characters, with the heart of each warring faction represented by the Ahiranyi maidservant Priya and the imprisoned Parijat Princess Malini.
Priya serves in the Mahal, the palace where the regent and his wife live in sanctity in wild and diseased Ahiranya. When Malini is sent against her will to live in the Hirana, a temple with a changing and treacherous pathway that once housed people and children with forbidden powers -- fueled by the dangerous waters that lurk beneath the temple -- until they were deemed a danger to Parijatdvipa by the Emperor and burned alive. Malini herself narrowly escaped such a fate, and is forced to live in solitude by her tyrannical brother, the Emperor Chandra. She wants nothing more than to see him gone, and her elder brother, Aditya, on the throne. She will do anything to accomplish it, including getting closer to her new maid, Priya, who has startling powers, and a history she refuses to remember. What neither expect is the complicated feelings that bloom between them.
This is a long book, and less interesting POV's sometimes made it feel even longer. Despite loving so much about it, from the history to the wonderfully scheming main characters to the gorgeous writing, I oftentimes found myself wishing it had been cut down just a little. But don't let that deter you from the amazing first book in a new series! A must-read for any fantasy fan, check this one out when you're wanting to sink deep into a mythology, a new world, and people that might just be...a little monstrous.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Remembering Shanghai: A Memoir of Socialites, Scholars and Scoundrels by Claire Chao
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Remembering Shanghai by Claire Chao and Isabel Sun Chao
Length: 308 Pages
Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"Before Shanghai become Shanghai, it was a marshy fishing village, where Asia's longest river met the world's largest ocean. The city was born of vice -- the offspring of unbridled commerce and colonialism, a treaty port where the illegal importation of opium shortened the lives of thousands and where Westerners were granted immunity to Chinese law."
My last book for the Asian Readathon! I have to admit I'm usually not a fan of anything Nonfiction, and I don't believe I've read, or at least, completed, a memoir. However, I am so pleased that this readathon prompted me to read something nonfiction, because otherwise I might not have had the chance to read this amazing book.
Remembering Shanghai is not only a love-letter to "Old Shanghai", but an unflinching portrait of the Sun family, told by one of the daughters, Isabel, and her own daughter, Claire. Isabel is brought up during the glamorous 1930's and 40's of Shanghai, where she is cushioned from the outside world by her family's wealth and status. Here, we meet her fashionable and flighty Muma, her patient and art-loving Diedie, the strict Buddhist Qinpo, and her siblings.
Isabel's memories, both the good, the bad, and the incriminating, are told vividly, and with a sort of humor that only time can create. Besides her immediate family, we are told of her great-grandfather's rise to status and money, his sons' maltreatment of him, all in the name of money (his youngest son, No. 7 being Isabel's grandfather), and her godfather's run in with a Shanghainese gang. All of these early memories are tinged with a bit of sadness, as with the rise of Communism, the Sun family is irrevocably torn apart. Isabel, her daughter, and many of their family members, have lived such fascinating lives and despite all the hardship, from lives stolen from them to the oppression and fear of living under Mao's Regime and the Japanese occupation, retain such infectious optimism.
Along the way, we learn interesting little snippets about Chinese life, from playing mahjong, to the difference between qipao and cheongsam, and even about the popular movies and actresses, like Nancy Chen who played Hua Mulan in 1939's Mulan Joins the Army. The pages are filled with glorious little illustrations, and photos of the family and Shanghai, which I really enjoyed seeing.
It is an essential read, not just for those interested in China, but for those interested in the spirit and strength of humanity, and the ways we can learn from history to better our futures.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 308 Pages
Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"Before Shanghai become Shanghai, it was a marshy fishing village, where Asia's longest river met the world's largest ocean. The city was born of vice -- the offspring of unbridled commerce and colonialism, a treaty port where the illegal importation of opium shortened the lives of thousands and where Westerners were granted immunity to Chinese law."
My last book for the Asian Readathon! I have to admit I'm usually not a fan of anything Nonfiction, and I don't believe I've read, or at least, completed, a memoir. However, I am so pleased that this readathon prompted me to read something nonfiction, because otherwise I might not have had the chance to read this amazing book.
Remembering Shanghai is not only a love-letter to "Old Shanghai", but an unflinching portrait of the Sun family, told by one of the daughters, Isabel, and her own daughter, Claire. Isabel is brought up during the glamorous 1930's and 40's of Shanghai, where she is cushioned from the outside world by her family's wealth and status. Here, we meet her fashionable and flighty Muma, her patient and art-loving Diedie, the strict Buddhist Qinpo, and her siblings.
Isabel's memories, both the good, the bad, and the incriminating, are told vividly, and with a sort of humor that only time can create. Besides her immediate family, we are told of her great-grandfather's rise to status and money, his sons' maltreatment of him, all in the name of money (his youngest son, No. 7 being Isabel's grandfather), and her godfather's run in with a Shanghainese gang. All of these early memories are tinged with a bit of sadness, as with the rise of Communism, the Sun family is irrevocably torn apart. Isabel, her daughter, and many of their family members, have lived such fascinating lives and despite all the hardship, from lives stolen from them to the oppression and fear of living under Mao's Regime and the Japanese occupation, retain such infectious optimism.
Along the way, we learn interesting little snippets about Chinese life, from playing mahjong, to the difference between qipao and cheongsam, and even about the popular movies and actresses, like Nancy Chen who played Hua Mulan in 1939's Mulan Joins the Army. The pages are filled with glorious little illustrations, and photos of the family and Shanghai, which I really enjoyed seeing.
It is an essential read, not just for those interested in China, but for those interested in the spirit and strength of humanity, and the ways we can learn from history to better our futures.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Gore
The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso
adventurous
dark
tense
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
The Wolf of Oren-yaro by K.S. Villoso
Length: 496 Pages
Genres: Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"They called me the Bitch Queen, the she-wolf, because I murdered a man and exiled my king the night before they crowned me."
Guys, I'm seriously thwacking myself over the head for not picking this up sooner. Ever since I first spied that powerful cover and saw that this series was called The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen, I've been meaning to get around to it, but like with many (many) things in my life, I got side-tracked. Enter the Asian Readathon, which gave me the perfect incentive for trying out this book!
Queen Talyien is so stranger to hardship. Born during a civil war which nearly tore her country apart, her betrothal to her enemy's heir, Lord Rayyel, is the way to fabled peace her people have wanted for so long. However, two years into their marriage, Rayyel walks away, without a word, without a Crown, and without their son, Prince Thanh. Talyien rules as the one and only Queen of Jin-Sayeng, and she does it with an iron fist. When word comes that her husband, now gone for five years, wishes to meet with her in the bustling and dangerous city of Anzhao, she jumps at the opportunity to unite her Kingdom, and to make amends with man she has always loved.
Unfortunately for her, there are more nefarious minds at work, and an assassination attempt leaves her separated from her guards, her most trusted advisor dead, and her husband missing. Thrust into the underbelly of a seedy and thankless city, Talyien makes few friends and many enemies, and lets a few heads roll along the way.
I absolutely adored Queen Talyien, who was both tough and intelligent, yet incredibly naïve, with a girl's heart still hidden beneath her tough exterior. To me, first person POV is the hardest to get right, and Villoso does it with such ease, with such sincerity, that I really believed I was talking to Bitch Queen herself throughout the book. I also loved seeing a fantasy world not inspired by Western culture. K.S. Villoso is Filipina herself, and the world of The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen is based on The Philippines pre-Colonization. If you love fantasy, with a healthy does of blood, political intrigue, and a badass heroine, run -- don't walk -- to your nearest bookstore to buy The Wolf of Oren-yaro!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 496 Pages
Genres: Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"They called me the Bitch Queen, the she-wolf, because I murdered a man and exiled my king the night before they crowned me."
Guys, I'm seriously thwacking myself over the head for not picking this up sooner. Ever since I first spied that powerful cover and saw that this series was called The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen, I've been meaning to get around to it, but like with many (many) things in my life, I got side-tracked. Enter the Asian Readathon, which gave me the perfect incentive for trying out this book!
Queen Talyien is so stranger to hardship. Born during a civil war which nearly tore her country apart, her betrothal to her enemy's heir, Lord Rayyel, is the way to fabled peace her people have wanted for so long. However, two years into their marriage, Rayyel walks away, without a word, without a Crown, and without their son, Prince Thanh. Talyien rules as the one and only Queen of Jin-Sayeng, and she does it with an iron fist. When word comes that her husband, now gone for five years, wishes to meet with her in the bustling and dangerous city of Anzhao, she jumps at the opportunity to unite her Kingdom, and to make amends with man she has always loved.
Unfortunately for her, there are more nefarious minds at work, and an assassination attempt leaves her separated from her guards, her most trusted advisor dead, and her husband missing. Thrust into the underbelly of a seedy and thankless city, Talyien makes few friends and many enemies, and lets a few heads roll along the way.
I absolutely adored Queen Talyien, who was both tough and intelligent, yet incredibly naïve, with a girl's heart still hidden beneath her tough exterior. To me, first person POV is the hardest to get right, and Villoso does it with such ease, with such sincerity, that I really believed I was talking to Bitch Queen herself throughout the book. I also loved seeing a fantasy world not inspired by Western culture. K.S. Villoso is Filipina herself, and the world of The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen is based on The Philippines pre-Colonization. If you love fantasy, with a healthy does of blood, political intrigue, and a badass heroine, run -- don't walk -- to your nearest bookstore to buy The Wolf of Oren-yaro!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor Threats of Rape
Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Hana Khan Carries On
Length: 368 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
"My parents had raised me to be honest, to accept that everything would work out if only I had faith. But they had also taught me stories from the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. One time the Prophet witnessed a Bedouin man leaving his camel untethered in the desert. When he asked the Bedouin why, the man replied that he trusted God to take care of his animal. The Prophet's advice? 'Trust in God, but tie your camel.'"
24-year-old Hana Khan is -- somehow -- balancing shifts at her Mother's restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, working on a hard won internship at a Toronto Radio Station, and running an anonymous podcast called Ana's Brown Girl Ramblings. Oh, and I did I mention her blossoming online romance with a commenter on her podcast known only as StanleyP?
Just when she thinks things can't possibly get more complicated, a new restaurant moves into the close-knit neighborhood of Golden Crescent, a new halal restaurant, which threatens the struggling Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. The owner of the hip new restaurant, Aydin, is cold, frustrating, and, most aggravating of all, totally hot. Hana and him instantly butt heads, but could there be something more to his hard exterior?
With a colorful cast of characters, like Hana's Machiavellian cousin Rashid, her bestfriends, the Doctor Lily and the ullu Yusuf, and her mysterious tree-climbing aunt, Kawkab Khala, Hana Khan Carries On is a heart-warming story of family and community. It has plenty of cozy, fluffy and romantic moments, but doesn't shy away from harder topics, like Racism and Islamphobia.
It took me a while to warm up to Aydin, who for the majority of the book aggravated me as much as he did Hana! But by the end I liked him well enough, and thought he was a good choice for headstrong Hana. I guessed all of the twists early in the book, though it didn't take away from the enjoyment of seeing their conclusions.
A perfect choice for if you're looking for something a little more on the light-hearted side, and need a guaranteed happy ending!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 368 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
"My parents had raised me to be honest, to accept that everything would work out if only I had faith. But they had also taught me stories from the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. One time the Prophet witnessed a Bedouin man leaving his camel untethered in the desert. When he asked the Bedouin why, the man replied that he trusted God to take care of his animal. The Prophet's advice? 'Trust in God, but tie your camel.'"
24-year-old Hana Khan is -- somehow -- balancing shifts at her Mother's restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, working on a hard won internship at a Toronto Radio Station, and running an anonymous podcast called Ana's Brown Girl Ramblings. Oh, and I did I mention her blossoming online romance with a commenter on her podcast known only as StanleyP?
Just when she thinks things can't possibly get more complicated, a new restaurant moves into the close-knit neighborhood of Golden Crescent, a new halal restaurant, which threatens the struggling Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. The owner of the hip new restaurant, Aydin, is cold, frustrating, and, most aggravating of all, totally hot. Hana and him instantly butt heads, but could there be something more to his hard exterior?
With a colorful cast of characters, like Hana's Machiavellian cousin Rashid, her bestfriends, the Doctor Lily and the ullu Yusuf, and her mysterious tree-climbing aunt, Kawkab Khala, Hana Khan Carries On is a heart-warming story of family and community. It has plenty of cozy, fluffy and romantic moments, but doesn't shy away from harder topics, like Racism and Islamphobia.
It took me a while to warm up to Aydin, who for the majority of the book aggravated me as much as he did Hana! But by the end I liked him well enough, and thought he was a good choice for headstrong Hana. I guessed all of the twists early in the book, though it didn't take away from the enjoyment of seeing their conclusions.
A perfect choice for if you're looking for something a little more on the light-hearted side, and need a guaranteed happy ending!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis
Length: 416 Pages
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"There was a dark ocean in Ora's chest. It teemed with sharp teeth and gaping maws and spiked tentacles. Most days, she floated on top in a small rowboat, parasol on her shoulder, refusing to look into the abyss. If she fell in, she was quite sure she would drown."
A special thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for giving me an ARC of this book!
Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Gore, and Animal Death
All my life I've loved vampires. From the soft, glittering type, to the snarling, dangerous and black-eyed kind, I love them all, and consume vampire media like it's an addiction. So of course, I've run into some bad ones, though I have to admit, I have a fondness and nostalgia for a good cheesy vamp flick. While I would never say I'm growing bored of vampires, I do admit the genre needs some new blood (😉) injected into it. That is why I was so excited for Nicole Jarvis's The Lights of Prague and even made it one of my most anticipated books of the year! And boy, did it deliver.
Set in the historic and darkly beautiful city of Prague during the early 19th-century, an era of innovation, science, and gas street lamps that illuminate the shadowed streets. We follow two characters: the brooding yet gentle Domek Myska who belongs to the guild of Lamplighters, men who go out and light the lamps dotting the streets and stalk in search of creatures of the night; and Lady Ora Fischerová, a redhaired, hundreds of years old bisexual widow who keeps quite a distance between herself and other pijavice (The vampires in this setting. The word translates to "leeches"). Both are drawn to each other again and again, neither knowing the truth about one another. Their stories run parallel to one another as they investigate a strange claim that pijavice have found a "cure", leaving them immune to the usual killers of their kind: hawthorn and sunlight.
Featuring wonderfully interesting creatures, like the shadowy bubák, the water-dwelling vodník, a fascinating take on a will-o'-the-wisp, and the more common poltergeist, The Lights of Prague is an entrancing fantasy novel, set in the utterly Romantic and Gothic city of Prague, that seamlessly blends in aspects of historical fiction and horror. A new favorite, and a must-read for any fellow vamp lovers!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 416 Pages
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
"There was a dark ocean in Ora's chest. It teemed with sharp teeth and gaping maws and spiked tentacles. Most days, she floated on top in a small rowboat, parasol on her shoulder, refusing to look into the abyss. If she fell in, she was quite sure she would drown."
A special thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for giving me an ARC of this book!
Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Gore, and Animal Death
All my life I've loved vampires. From the soft, glittering type, to the snarling, dangerous and black-eyed kind, I love them all, and consume vampire media like it's an addiction. So of course, I've run into some bad ones, though I have to admit, I have a fondness and nostalgia for a good cheesy vamp flick. While I would never say I'm growing bored of vampires, I do admit the genre needs some new blood (😉) injected into it. That is why I was so excited for Nicole Jarvis's The Lights of Prague and even made it one of my most anticipated books of the year! And boy, did it deliver.
Set in the historic and darkly beautiful city of Prague during the early 19th-century, an era of innovation, science, and gas street lamps that illuminate the shadowed streets. We follow two characters: the brooding yet gentle Domek Myska who belongs to the guild of Lamplighters, men who go out and light the lamps dotting the streets and stalk in search of creatures of the night; and Lady Ora Fischerová, a redhaired, hundreds of years old bisexual widow who keeps quite a distance between herself and other pijavice (The vampires in this setting. The word translates to "leeches"). Both are drawn to each other again and again, neither knowing the truth about one another. Their stories run parallel to one another as they investigate a strange claim that pijavice have found a "cure", leaving them immune to the usual killers of their kind: hawthorn and sunlight.
Featuring wonderfully interesting creatures, like the shadowy bubák, the water-dwelling vodník, a fascinating take on a will-o'-the-wisp, and the more common poltergeist, The Lights of Prague is an entrancing fantasy novel, set in the utterly Romantic and Gothic city of Prague, that seamlessly blends in aspects of historical fiction and horror. A new favorite, and a must-read for any fellow vamp lovers!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Animal death