Alana
This book is ODD, but also oddly relevant. It's about a girl who escapes an oppressive cult only to find that the world she doesn't know - the world beyond the cult - has essentially experienced the apocalypse due to a pandemic. Yikes, right? Hope there's no truth in this. She then journeys to save “the Outsiders” from said apocalypse. At times I was wondering what the hell I was reading, but not in a bad way, per se. More in a “this is very interesting and weird and fever-dream-like while also being scarily relevant which makes me very uncomfortable” kind of read.
When it comes down to it, this is a sweet and relatable book about the struggles of dating and flirting, especially when you're shy, an introvert, or just quiet (ah...ahem...me....). Sometimes I felt like things got a little boring or shallow rather than really being dug deep into - I suppose I wish Williams had gone a little deeper in terms of conversations, characters, and plot as a whole. That said, it was a read that made me crack a smile from time to time for how gosh darn relatable it all is.
Guess I'm a little slow on the uptake, because I didn't register that this book was based on real events until I had already started reading! Haa! Safe to say that makes it all the more intriguing...based on real people and events, this is a suspenseful mystery that has a crazy good sense of atmosphere. You get that sailor, lighthouse vibe the whole way through, which is a vibe I personally LOOOOVE. All that plus based on real events? Man, Stonex blew me outta the water here.
Black Canary is my absolutely FAVORITE, so I'll tell you I shrieked when this one came out. And Monir does not disappoint. Badass as hell - Canary gets her DC novel and I am HERE FOR IT.
Aaaand we start off 2022 strong with a sapphic love story between 2 magical villain gals and I am IN LOVE with both of them. Literally. I love the love triangle trope being turned on its head, especially when it follows the lesser followed sides of said triangle. And oh my gosh, this cover. And the representation and characters and romance...nuff said.
This is a pretty solid and yet twisted speculative novel that has good pacing, plot, and characters. That said, if you don't like graphic things or unsettling descriptions/events, I would turn away from this one. I personally don't mind them, but I know many readers who do. If you're into the dark and bizarre, Rainsford offers you a decent read.
When it comes down to it, there are a lot of important issues discussed in Miller's book. Ronan is a flawed, complex, and (rightfully) bitter MC, which makes him interesting to read. The writing is beautiful and the issues brought up are relevant and pertinent. That said, I was confused for a good bulk of the book and sometimes that leads me to boredom, pushing me very close to “DNF” at around 45%. I pushed through and definitely see the merit in Miller's writing and the content, but due to the way the plot/book was structured, I found myself not as easily engaged as I usually am. Again, interesting issues, important stuff, great MC, just a tad bit muddled at points and it nearly deterred me.
A lesbian love story with theater and great characters. This was a great YA/contemporary read & the type of romance I really enjoy. Cute, drama (in more ways than one), and interesting characters.
My reaction when I saw this book came out, when I got it, when I realized there's a ton of new characters introduced, and when I read the epilogue:
So....yeah, I'm stoked. STOKED, I tell you. I love Star Wars, I'm one of those hardcore fans, and Soule added to a beloved cult franchise rather than obscuring it (which is an anxiety of mine whenever I see something released that follows a popular series).
An all-too beautiful book with beautiful representation and tragic albeit important themes with sexuality, sexual assault, and more. Absolutely adored the pansexual representation and how McLemore portrays the erasure so many experience (of which I can relate to!). If there's anytime where basing a book off its cover was right, this time is it, because I can't explain how, but the tone and vibe of this novel is wonderfully encapsulated by the cover. My last read of April, and I'll say! - I am ending on a good note. Onward to May.
Seeing mental illness rep in fantasy is rare, and seeing it in high fantasy is even MORE RARE! So of course, big big kudos to Levenseller for including social anxiety as something that's explored in this book. On top of my obvious excitement about the rep there, this book is really something great all in all. A mix of paranormal, high fantasy, and kickass characters all in one. Sometimes the plot had trouble staying in one place, but that's a minor critique on my part. All things considered, I am impatiently and eagerly awaiting book number two!
This being a gender-swapped, sapphic Dorian Gray, I just had to read it. And while the characters are developed and the book takes interesting turns that I did not predict (and left me impressed by Heard's writing), I will admit that it was the relationship btween Mick and Veronica that left me teetering between 2.5 & 3.5, so I supposed I'd go in the middle. There were times where the relationship felt obsessive on Veronica's end, and not in a positive way, which made the relationship and happy-ending feel underdeveloped and just...out of place? But that's just one gal's opinion. Minus that, the story was one to admire and want to read, so I decided to rest my rating at a happy 3 stars. Undecided in some ways, but glad I read it mostly.
I'm a quarter-ish Russian, so while I may not have heard a ton of Russian folklore as a kiddo, I knew about Baba Yaga. This is such a great spin on Russian mythology, and I love that the Zima is a wolf. This is the type of unique novel that can be enjoyed by a lot of ages. I'm 26 and I loved it just as much as I think I would've when I was 16.
Just didn't do it for me. It's cute an all, being a Cinderella retelling with some HP sprinkled in there, but the story just didn't draw me in quite as much as I hoped it would.
OK, this one was great, and a good end to September. An LGBTQ retelling of Sleeping Beauty centering on the villain, turning everything on its head. Yeah, there's still some tropes here and there, but the way its done is romantic and original. Really happy this is a duology and I can revisit these wonderful characters next time. Absolutely loved this romantic sapphic retelling.
via GIPHY
I'm sorry...but this book is really why I don't favor traditionally published books. Penguin Teen picks this one up and claims to be a choosy publisher when there are thousands of well-written indies out there that wouldn't have been considered? Ugh. Enough with my rant on the publishing industry though.
I like the cover of this book. I really do. And some of the descriptions were nice. But this book traded in actual good writing/a developed plot for fluff and overly “big and fancy” words. There was so much info-dumping and I felt like the author was just trying way too hard to be a writer that people think of and say “wow. I have no idea what half those sentences mean, but that just must mean the author is much more intelligent and eloquent than I, a lowly reader!” Gah, I sound so harsh, but I'm just bummed because I always look forward to newly released reads and jump right on buying them when I get the chance. Especially ones that look really cool, like this one. But sadly, because of all the ridiculous elements (info dumping, overly big words, odd style), I DNF @ around 40%. I just couldn't get into it... I felt like the story was going nowhere.
I still to this day don't understand why some elitist readers will scoff at independent books when many traditionally published books fall way below the indies. But what do I know? I'm not a writer and I'm not a publisher, only a reviewer and reader who...very sadly...could not finish this one.
An all around stellar book. Interesting points of view and very intense topics explored well, in my opinion. I don't necessarily find problem in upsetting topics being used as plot points IF they are done and executed well. There is potential for failure here, but when it's done well, it's poignant, raw, and important to include. Steering away from heavy topics as parts of a plot is something I'm against because I think it stifles our ability as readers to digest a myriad of emotional and darker issues that have the capacity to make us think, reflect, and discuss, even if they are part of something fictional. All this to say, when it is done well, I am not averse to reading it, and Goldin handles these more upsetting topics well, and when combined with the plot as a whole, it is a book I enjoyed reading, even if heavier at points.
Oh my - perfection is all I can use to describe this book. Raw, emotional, and so sad. It follows 16 y/o Finn who looses her life in an accident and watches of those she loves. She attends the vigil and sees the aftermath of what happened.
Me throughout most of this book:
Redfearn is remarkable at allowing us to feel one with Finn as she watches her family. It gave me “If I Stay Vibes,” but better. Loss, grief, and healing - from the human world and beyond - are explored with such grade in this book.
If I was bad in the beginning, I was no better at the end. Thank god I had tissues on hand!
Since I'm a reader, not a writer, I will start off by saying I can't imagine how complicated it is to write a good plot, keep the reader on their toes, pace it well, refine the grammar, AND include perfect character relationships while also developing characters in a fulfilling way. While this book certainly had an intriguing, dark, and creep-filled plot, it was the characters that left me wanting. I didn't feel like they were as developed as they could be, which made their interactions and relationships feel fake. BUT, the book was still a spooky read, very atmospheric with some damn good ideas, and I felt satisfied after having put it down. Could there be improvements? Yes, but only on a characterization level. When it comes to the rest of the book, I really had a grand time reading it.
Just my genre. A creepy queer mystery with paranormal and thriller aspects. And also!! That cover!! Definitely meant for a younger age range than myself, but hey, I'm not ashamed, this is RIGHT up my metaphorical reading alleyway.
This cover is beautiful and the premise is definitely interesting, but in its execution, the characters and plot/twist fall flat. I just could not get into the book as much as I would have liked to, especially because I really do think it is a cool idea and Prasad's writing is good, its the development that lacks. None of the characters really stood out or were likable to me, and the way the plot unfolded felt like it could've been deepened, both with character relationships and overall progression.
This book was great. Tells a story based on a prolific female serial killer (don't get too many of those), and I could tell a lot of research had gone into understanding her and her life. Bruce did a great job intertwining research with writing that kept me engaged and entertained. A notable new release.
I've been eyeing this cover since it was released, and finally finally I got around to reading it. This book was AWESOME. Great characters (absolutely in love with the MC), and the story as a whole was just so well plotted and beautiful. Loved.
The ombre color scheme. The writing. The representation. The STORY. Where was this book when I fit neatly into the YA genre as a reader? This book is all sorts of delicious (ha!) and I flew through it and left it feeling warm. As a queer woman myself, seeing these books with the variety of representation is a perk to my days I usually don't know I needed until I get them. This one is cute, dynamic, and has a great cast of characters.