Ceraphina
Contains spoilers
Such a yummy little slice of smut. Lots of man pleasing in it which isn't always my favorite - I'm always way more interested in the woman receiving pleasure than vs (it must be my stronger side in my bisexuality) - but considering the dynamics (dark, maybe even a tad bully rom?) I was happy nonetheless. I think Laroux's writing is just stunning and it compliments for good sex scenes.
My only gripe is that for such a small book we didn't necessarily need the man's backstory in this. Especially because his background is abuse and I always tick my head as I wish I could find more BDSM loving scenarios that doesn't spring up from the potential relation of past abuse - but to tie into this as I'm fully aware all walks of life experience different reasoning and different kinks all together irregardless of past (it just seems Bully rom is always in aspects associated with abuse - any recs for the opposite please???) this is too short to of delved further into our guys emotions/mentality of it and it felt just thrown in.
Still highly, highly recommend for a quick afternoon delight kind of read ;)
Some I liked/loved, rest were misses for me. Obviously subjective because what I enjoy in horror could be exact opposite of what someone else prefers so overall I'd say pick this collection up. Here were MY favs:
Rearview by Samantha Hung
Grimalkin by Andrew F Sullivan
Unbeknownst by Matthew Vollmer
Lone by Jac Jemc
Candy Boii by Sam J Miller
The Marriage Variations by Monique Laban
Carbon Footprint by Shelly Oria
Human Milk for Human Babies by Lindsay King-Miller
I think there could of been a classier way to handle the self-harm in this book, as a person whose been in/around self mutilation since I was a kid I just find it tacky when mentioned in books (any media rather) where the artist can't take the time to even give a few pages to add any depth to the situation. just seemed like it was thrown in there
This book is what started my love for “soft dystopian” literature. Upon re-read now in my adult life, it still gave me chills thinking of living in this world where a meteor hits our moon and pushing it closer to earth causing cataclysmic events. Now in 2021 we get our own natural disasters - free of a closer moon - and it's made this book all the more sadder.
Great read for our younger generation to further understand how we are at whim with our earth.
“I'm dreaming about girls. Always girls. Mutilated. Abused. Tortured. Killed. I see their faces; their sad, broken bodies. Why do we hate our girls so much that history echoes with their screams and the earth is pitted with their unmarked graves?”
Wowwww this was good. I have only read the chalk man by this author prior to this one and I have to say the author has really grown. I also felt like the authors voice was strong in this one. I had a problem with the chalk man, with how “Stephen king” it was written and I had concerns this book would be similar but it was very different.
The author blends mystery with some horror elements. Truly a good mix for me. Everything about this book works. Beginning, middle, and end.
I've always been a fan of Asian translated works and this novel is no exception to that as it holds all the elements that makes me actively search for more translated fiction, especially from Asian authors.
This is a slow, gentle and impactful novel. The relationship between the professor and the child Root was very sweet, kind, and warm. A small marvel.
It's been two weeks and I can't stop thinking about this book
the layers of grief, trauma, expectations our main character had to face and deal with as a first child immigrant was heart wrenching and exhaustive. for me it was almost surreal as I witnessed so much of my core trauma reflected in this character. when he was angry I saw myself and when he was subdued and obedient at his parents whims I also saw myself.
I believe anyone can enjoy this book but if you come from a similar background you'll find it may hit a little too close to home.
There's a scene in this novel that I think about quite frequently. I was cringing inwards with great discomfort when reading it. That's praiseworthy for me. But what makes this book quite a bit more special is our main character and how humor was incorporated in the horror parts. I loved this book so much I even convinced my non-reader partner to read it as well. I just couldn't shut up about it to be honest.
Really great elements of a bit of everything. But maybe not for everyone.
This might be one of my top favorites regarding coming of age novels. The first two thirds of the book is lamenting prose with a lot of heart break in this family. We get to learn about these siblings and how they talk and move around each other, all tied to some horrific parenting and one sister stuck emotionally in it due to the mother's decision in leaving her stranded alone on the side of the road during a car ride. They're all trying to help her and understand what happened in how their sister got back home that night but the truth isn't very comforting. This moves us into the last part of the novel where we get a sudden change in the plot pace and everything unravels for our siblings. This had a very satisfying conclusion. Loved it to bits.
