Nico
I need the author to turn this into a series. What an adorable found family, romance and witchy story. It is light while touching on some big themes, and I think fans of House of the Cerulean Sea will like this and vice versa.
What an ambitious debut novel. The second half was a 5-star read for me, but the first have was 2.5-3, it could have done with some harsh editing.
This is a no for me. I got more than half way through and nothing about the plot, characters, atmosphere or mystery kept me interested.
Audiobook review: 4.5 stars, rounding to 5. With bit of quark and humor, we follow a mad scientist who's not so mad but definitely despises cheese and struggles a bit with anxiety. Rex, a.k.a. the Meister, lives Decimen City where super-beings, both hero and villain, reside. She herself is not a super-being, just really, really smart (but she is sometimes accused of being a villain). This truly won me in a chapter when the dinosaurs our Meister created did something naughty and she threatened to put them all in sports because they needed structure. That chapter was gold.
I was absolutely surprised by the excellent character development, even of some side characters, and plot execution. The superheroes and villains do however generally fall into their archetypes and see the world as black and white. But there is a lot of exploration of the nuance of choice and power through the voice of the MC and some of the side characters, so this absolutely forgives the lack of dimensionality to the super-beings in my mind. I can't say if this is a revolutionary book, but for me it was something new, it got deep, and I had a TON of fun listening to the story - Audiobook A+.
Who could this work for? I don't know if urban sci-fi humor is a thing, but if that sounds like something you'd like, I highly recommend this. If you're into mainstream superheroes and villains you might like this. Also, I'm not sure if this was great ACE representation, but it sure felt like it. You are very much in the head of the Meister, it's a train-of-thought narration, so I can see that not working for some folks. Sometimes that really puts me off to a book, especially on audio, but it didn't at all with the Meister. Content/trigger warnings: Manipulation.
Fonda lee has such a gift at making her characters and world feel real. You don't need to read the green bone trilogy to read this prequel. For a novella this has a rich plot and characters.
This was a very sweet book with great friendships/family, mixed with some dumb/crass/lewd humor, and I just adored it. I highly recommend the audiobook. For fans of his Lightening-Struck Heart (re: dumb/crass/lewd humor) I think you'll like this one too. It does have the same level of heart that House in the Cerulean Sea (I loved this book) or Under the Whispering Door (I did not like) have.
I don't really know how to feel about this one, but definitely one of my least favorite sci-fi's I've ever read. I thought it was okay, but lean towards pretty vs. below par.
Hands down an author to watch. This is an African-inspired fantasy novella that was very dark. In 80 pages Utomi manages to poetically paint picture of the harshness of the desert and the cruelest side of humanity. As can happen with novellas, I did want just a tad more about one aspect, but that's didn't ruin it at all for me and there is a sequel coming out in a couple months. It is very violent, so if you pay attention check trigger warnings.
The Long Price Quartet is a very special series, and I loved this final installment. I myself have never encountered a fantasy series that spans a lifetime focusing on complicated friendships with a history of hurt and resentment. These are not fast-paced books, but their character development is rich and each book has its own story arc and are filled with machinations. I thought the first book was just okay and the other three sublime.
Tress, a young window washer, lives on The Rock off of the Emerald Sea. No one is allowed to leave the Rock, but something propels her to escape and an adventure follows. I found this to be as delightful as the folks hyping this up say it is. It was easy to read, easy to fall in love with Tress and I was consumed with wanting to know what was going to happen chapter after chapter. I do recommend for folks who are maybe having a rough time, who want to feel some empowerment and be a little inspired to do more. If you're looking for found family too.
I began reallllly liking this short book and liked it overall. A western style demons and angels story, I was hooked from the beginning by the world. I didn't love the characters and the plot wasn't as mystery/detective as I was hoping it'd be, but I was satisfied with the ending. I can see how this won't work for everyone, but I think folks should give it shot if westerns and angels/demons are your buzzwords and you're looking for a unique spin.
This has become a favorite comfort series of mine and I wish McDonnell would release faster (every year is not fast enough)! Found family (kind of), mystery, monsters, fun cast of characters, and a sprinkling of deeper themes, I love everything about it. For some the characters might feel like caricatures that are over the top, and they kind of are, but for me it works. Can't wait for book 3.
Funny, beautiful, gut-wrenching and too real alt-history graphic novel about a world where you can buy wishes, but if you don’t wish right there are severe consequences. You follow Shokry, who sells first-class wishes at his kiosk, and his patrons who are so desperate they take the risk. This focuses mainly on three characters (but really four) in modern-day Egypt. I cried at some point during every story arc and teared up when thinking about these characters afterwards — I felt the grief and battle with depression to my core. There is a bit of ethical and religious discussion, and worldbuilding around the global and Egyptian politics and regulation of wishes as well.
This is a book I suspect will be on best of lists for decades to come. I definitely enjoyed it more than R.F. Kuang's first book and would not think they're by the same author. It had hard hitting themes and vivid characters and storytelling that will pull a bit at your heart strings.
Super interesting quiet story about Anishinaabe survivors 15+ years after the world broke. Some decide to leave to go looking for something.
I went in blind, only knowing it was a sequel. I was nervous because book one takes place when crap hits the fan and there was a lot of thriller-esque tension and darkness that uneased me, but I surprisingly reallllly liked it and definitely more than the first one!
A must-read for readers of post-apocalyptic or you want to feel like you're in a temperate forest. If the first book really doesn't sound like your thing I'd say you can go to book two.
One of the most tense books I've read in a long time. I don't think I can appreciate all the chess pieces Lee laid down. I certainly missed some amongst what felt like many arcs both old and new - I mean, just wow - but this was an epic book with an absolutely epic conclusion that did not disappoint.
I loved it and I wish Atwater would write in this series forever. Great romance and fantastical world.
Some mild creepiness - the way his wife was drawn always got me - but definitely a book for cat owners.
My sixth Discworld book and least favorite. I do not think it's a very good book period. Immediately started Hogfather and it already seems much stronger.
This is my first Erdrich and I loved this so much it will definitely be the first of many. Its nominated for this years Women's Prize and I'm going to be cheering it on. It reads like a beautifully written memoir and Tookie is the most real-feeling character I've encountered in a while. Sometimes it felt low on the SFF scale, but there is a paranormal element for sure. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, and a love-letter to many things. I need to find Tookie's list of favorite books.
Old review - I loved this short story. It was like a weird, creepy fairy tale. It's made me want to read every Valente.
This book surprised me in a good way. It started with what I thought was okay writing and a male character processing their grief with outward anger - and it was just hard for me to read. I'm not sure when the switch flipped, but I became hooked by the social commentary/themes, mystery and horror elements, and I actually enjoyed it by the end. Not sure if it's gothic, but definitely a creepy horror novel.
