Elle

I love Someone You Can Build a Nest In. It’s not just a new favorite book, it’s my favorite love story of all time. All. Time. And I will never stop recommending it to everyone who makes eye contact with me.

I’ve seen this book categorized as both horror and dark fantasy but it does feel like horror to me. Horror-romance. Hormance? It’s similar to the cozy horror of Rachel Harrison, and I love her, so it really comes as no surprise that Someone You Can Build a Nest In is my jam, but I wasn’t expecting to fall in so deeply in love with it. I wasn’t expecting the true and beautiful LGBTQIA love (I believe at least Shesheshen is asexual, maybe Homily too but it’s not explicitly stated so I’m not positive and either way they’re both female), plus-size rep, unforgettable and ridiculously lovable characters, and an engrossing story full of action and emotion.

Shesheshen is one of the most interesting characters I’ve read in a long time. The rules of her monster body and how it worked were fascinating and her confusion over human behavior but ability to understand the most important things was strangely relatable. I love her so much, I didn’t want the book to end.

This was a library borrow, like most of my books (because lol money haha) but I am really looking forward to buying a copy at some point!

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, from whom I received an ALC of Honey (from Celadon Books) for review. These opinions are my own.

You can’t read the synopsis of Honey without thinking of Britney Spears. I was a young teenager when she became a household name. I wasn’t even a fan (I wasn’t allowed to listen to her music 😂), but I remember the constant rumors about her and the grown men on news channels arguing over whether or not she’d had a boob job and speculating on the status of her virginity. I remember how weird it made me feel about my own body, my own sexuality, and my own right to privacy when it came to those things.

Honey touches on those topics and more through the eyes of Amber Young, a teen pop star, as she rises from mediocrity to the kind of fame she’s always dreamed of. Although most of us have never been pop stars, many of us have been over-sexualized, treated like we are just our bodies, and it’s easy to relate to the way Amber feels when she’s treated that way by men. Part of me wishes Isabel Banta had gone a little deeper when it comes to the concepts of misogyny and exploitation in the music industry. There were instances of these things throughout the book, but it felt like they were just stated as facts rather than truly explored. But either way, I’m glad that the 90’s pop star experience wasn’t completely glossed over and glamorized.

While Amber deals with the disgusting problematic behavior of the men around her (and society in general), she also deals with a lot of internal struggle, including her desperate need to feel loved, and I imagine readers will relate to that very strongly. I enjoyed Amber’s journey and I like that the book covered the entirety of it. The inclusion of Amber’s friend and fellow pop star Gwen’s journey as well, though we didn’t get to see as much of it, was an excellent choice.

Of course, I want to talk about the audiobook, which was fantastic. Honey is written in first-person from Amber’s POV and the narrator, Brittany Pressley, either has the perfect voice or used the perfect voice for Amber. The lyrics to a few of Amber’s singles are in the book, and one of my favorite things about the audiobook is that when Pressley read the lyrics, there was pop music playing in the background. The music was different for each song and was really cool! It added so much to the listening experience, and to the book as a whole. I was fully immersed, even bobbing my head to the music a little. Because of this, I’m fully convinced the audio version is the best way to read Honey.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, from whom I received an ALC of Honey (from Celadon Books) for review. These opinions are my own.

You can’t read the synopsis of Honey without thinking of Britney Spears. I was a young teenager when she became a household name. I wasn’t even a fan (I wasn’t allowed to listen to her music 😂), but I remember the constant rumors about her and the grown men on news channels arguing over whether or not she’d had a boob job and speculating on the status of her virginity. I remember how weird it made me feel about my own body, my own sexuality, and my own right to privacy when it came to those things.

Honey touches on those topics and more through the eyes of Amber Young, a teen pop star, as she rises from mediocrity to the kind of fame she’s always dreamed of. Although most of us have never been pop stars, many of us have been over-sexualized, treated like we are just our bodies, and it’s easy to relate to the way Amber feels when she’s treated that way by men. Part of me wishes Isabel Banta had gone a little deeper when it comes to the concepts of misogyny and exploitation in the music industry. There were instances of these things throughout the book, but it felt like they were just stated as facts rather than truly explored. But either way, I’m glad that the 90’s pop star experience wasn’t completely glossed over and glamorized.

While Amber deals with disgusting problematic behavior, she also deals with a lot of internal struggle, including her desperate need to feel loved, and I imagine readers will relate to that very strongly. I enjoyed Amber’s journey and I like that the book covered the entirety of it. The inclusion of Amber’s friend and fellow pop star Gwen’s journey as well, though we didn’t get to see as much of it, was an excellent choice.

Of course, I want to talk about the audiobook, which was fantastic. Honey is written in first-person from Amber’s POV and the narrator, Brittany Pressley, either has the perfect voice or used the perfect voice for Amber. The lyrics to a few of Amber’s singles are in the book, and one of my favorite things about the audiobook is that when Pressley read the lyrics, there was pop music playing in the background. The music was different for each song and was really cool! It added so much to the listening experience, and to the book as a whole. I was fully immersed, even bobbing my head to the music a little. Because of this, I’m fully convinced the audio version is the best way to read Honey.

I’d like to thank both Net Galley and Angry Robot Books, from whom I received an ARC of The Hunter’s Gambit. These opinions are my own.

I love the concept of The Hunter’s Gambit. The vampires are exactly as I imagine vampires would be. They live a life of opulence and they are truly vicious. Their annual mock coronation highlights their cruelty and disregard for human life and that aspect of the story is well-done and very effectively conveys the vampires’ callous nature.

I liked Kazan and was invested in her character, but I wish we had a better understanding of why she lies. I wanted to understand her better and I think the book could have benefited from a deeper exploration of her relationship with lying. At one point, she agrees to something, then changes her mind and apologizes for lying. But that wasn’t a deliberate attempt to deceive and I’d like to understand why she saw it as a lie. Otherwise, I loved how tenacious Kazan was and her defiance of the vampires and will to live in the face of incredible danger was admirable.

Adrius has a compelling backstory and his status among the vampires adds depth to his character, but I feel Reya could have been a little more developed, though I loved that she was a bit morally gray.

There was a spice scene that was several pages long but wasn’t as explicit as I thought it would be (because vampires are known for their debauchery) and personally, I liked that. It really worked for the story though and one of my favorite parts was that there was a question of consent/preferences before things got too hot and heavy.

Despite a couple personal issues I had the book, there are still aspects that resonated with me and made the story enjoyable, and I think complex world-building really makes The Hunter’s Gambit stand out.

I usually start writing a review immediately after I finish a book, but I had to wait a bit after finishing Elegy for the Undead because I was crying too much. Matthew Vesely did an amazing job at portraying such raw emotion, I felt it so hard!

I’m not a fan of zombie media but the premise of Elegy for the Undead really gripped me and I’m glad I gave it a chance because it took the zombie trope in a direction I enjoyed much more than I typically do. The chapters jump back and forth between Lyle and Jude’s POV and from before the outbreak, during the outbreak, and after the outbreak, so we get a really clear picture of Lyle and Jude’s relationship.

The book isn’t really about zombies, it’s about Lyle and Jude – how they met, how they deal with difficulties within their relationship, and how they cope with Lyle’s ‘zombie’ diagnosis. Their love is a beautiful example of how messy, imperfect, and wonderful love can be.

I listened to the audiobook (by the way, I was unable to find either the ebook or audiobook through my local library, but it’s available through the Queer Liberation Library!), narrated by Daniel Henning and Charlie Thurston. Both Henning and Thurston did a great job with the narration. No complaints here!

I’d absolutely recommend this one even to people who aren’t huge fans of zombie stuff because at its core, Elegy for the Undead is a love story that illustrates how meaningful even a tragic love can be.

I’d like to thank both NetGalley and Angry Robot Books, from whom I received an ARC of The Branded. These opinions are my own.

I finished The Branded a few days ago and while I loved it, I’ve been dreading writing this review because there’s so much I want to say and I can’t say it all. I’m going to have to leave some things out and that’s going to be very difficult.

Here we go: I enjoyed the writing and loved every character. We get the most of Nara, as the book is written from her point of view. She can be a bit prickly but she’s got some of that feminine rage I love to see and she’s easy to root for. The world-building is well-done, with a great balance between fantastical elements and believability. There’s some romance, but I wouldn’t say the book is romantasy as it’s more of a side thing.

I love speculative fiction and The Branded speculates in spades. From the control and use of women as breeders to the segregation of the Pure and the Branded, which creates a thought-provoking commentary on societal hierarchies, discrimination, and the value placed on health and strength, the book provides a whole lot to think about in addition to a fantastic adventure.

This book gave me such a hangover. I couldn’t even touch a book the day after I finished it because I simply hadn’t had enough time to process everything yet. The Isfalki women, pampered like princesses so they don’t realize they are just breeding machines expected to pop out a baby a year until they’re no longer able to do so. Nara’s resistance to this way of life and longing to be something more than some random Pure man’s property. The disturbing twist that completely rocked me and highlighted the deep corruption of the leaders of Isfalk. The mysterious motivations of the Wrangler…

There’s a second book, so of course there are a whole lot of unanswered questions I’m looking forward to having answered next year!

I did the thing. I read a Freida McFadden book. I wanted to see what the big deal was and I had a migraine yesterday so I decided to start one of her audiobooks. I chose this one because even though the subject matter is uh, beyond messed up and super gross, it’s something that interests me as a past student of a less than trustworthy teacher as well as on a “for science” level.

I can definitely see how these books are considered page-turners, and the audiobook made it even better because Leslie Howard did a great job, especially with Addie’s chapters.

The Teacher didn’t feel especially suspenseful as I pretty much knew where it was going (aside from the epilogue, which I did not see coming and I can see why some people don’t like it though I can’t decide where I stand), but it’s one of those thrillers you can just have a quick, fun time with.

I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s almost on par with something you like because it’s so bad it’s good. Again, not saying it’s one of those things, it just kind of gave me that guilty pleasure feeling I get from those things, and that feels good sometimes!

EDIT: omg I just read a review that talked about the epilogue and pointed out some EXTREMELY odd things about it that I can’t get over and now I am laughing so hard like wtf how did she even write that epilogue? My only excuse for not realizing sooner is that my brain was completely melted from my migraine. I 100% understand why it ruined the book for so many people it’s so hilarious like please read this book just to be mad at the epilogue it will kill you. I’m dead.

Even though it’s not something I’d typically choose for myself, I had so much fun reading this book with my book besties (highly recommend getting yourself a set of those if you haven’t any) and I’m looking forward to reading the next one with them in September!

I liked the idea of bringing Camelot and the story of King Arthur’s Court into it a bit as I love retellings/reimaginings of tales I am even only somewhat already familiar with. The enemies-to-lovers trope wasn’t done exactly to my liking as I was more annoyed by Raphael and Nia’s constant misunderstandings that could have been easily avoided. There was another common trope I won’t spoil that I did like! I don’t read many spicy books and I used this one to confirm I’m not the biggest fan of M/F spice (especially when their attraction doesn’t have a whole lot of depth – it was extremely shallow for most of the book and even once Nia expressed attraction beyond the physical, there wasn’t much said), so I won’t comment on that other than to say that I think it was probably well done if you like it. I also have to say that I will never, in life or in death, forget how muscular Raphael is.

There were a few details that didn’t make a lot of sense when I thought about it and the last chapter was a bit rushed but when I just let it go and went with the flow, it was an enjoyable experience and I expect I’ll have a similar time with the next book.

I think my favorite thing about My Darling Dreadful Thing is the overall idea. If I just read an outline of the concept with the biggest plot points and the ending, I’d love it. So basically I’d love a synopsis, I guess.

Agnes and Wilemijn felt very one-dimensional, and even Roos, the MC, didn’t feel fully developed to me. We got more information about her than anyone else, and it was easier to understand her and relate to or sympathize with her because of that, but it’s still not enough as I think it could have been. I felt bad for Roos because of her upbringing and her life experiences, but I also found her kind of annoying and it was hard to get past that.

Every couple chapters, there’s a short transcript of an interview between Roos and a doctor that takes place after the events of the book. The interviews make it clear that Roos is an unreliable narrator, and I did enjoy that aspect quite a bit.

I did love Ruth, and that Johanna van Veen took inspiration from bog bodies to explain her origins and why there aren’t a ton of spirits wandering around everywhere. Ruth’s fierce overprotection of and loyalty towards Roos was creepy, but kind of in a sweet way, considering the lack of affection Roos had all her life. I loved the descriptions of the way Ruth possessed Roos and used her body for various tasks, like performing the séances.

The writing in general was great, in first person from Roos’ perspective (with the exception of the interview transcriptions). The story takes place in the 50s but Roos uses somewhat antiquated language which is both lovely and a bit haunting. There’s some descriptive language in My Darling Dreadful Thing which paints a beautiful picture I truly wish I could see. For those who can visualize, I bet something wonderful can be found in the descriptions of the house Roos is brought to live.

Aside from a few character complaints, I feel like this is a book I should have loved, but I when I ask myself if I liked it and attempt to answer the question simply, my answer is “it was okay.”

One of my favorite things to wonder is what a random person from the distant past would think of today’s world. If plucked from their time and dropped into ours, what would they think of electricity, internet, modern medicine? What about smaller stuff, like the way we talk, current fashion, and, depending on when exactly they’re from, how long everyone lives? It’s a fascinating thing to think about. And now I have a new thing to wonder: What on earth gave Kaliane Bradley the right to take this concept and break my heart with it!?

The Ministry of Time is a great example of a book whos author knows exactly what they’re doing. Kaliane Bradley has researched the time periods of her characters so well that they feel completely real and alive (and in the case of Graham Gore, he actually was alive in the 1800s as a member of the Royal Navy and an explorer, though very little is known about his life other than that). They jump off the page and say “Look at me! I’m from the past and I’m amazed by your world!” This is especially the case with Margaret, a woman from the 1600s, which we all know is a time when women weren’t treated very well. Margaret absolutely thrives in the 21st century, taking great interest in feminism, crop tops, and the freedom she never saw or even dreamed of in her life before time travel. I loved reading about her adventures and how she took to modern life with such gusto.

The romance between the MC and Graham is an extremely slow burn and I enjoyed every minute of it. Between the MC’s ‘modern-day woman’ views and Graham’s ‘man from the 1800s’ behaviors, they had some incredible, laugh out loud banter. Their relationship is complicated, but sweet, and I love that their romance isn’t the main focus. As the daughter of a woman from Cambodia, our MC is half british, half Cambodian, and she experiences thinly-veiled racism and xenophobia on a regular basis. As she shares her experiences, there are parallels between her story and that of Graham’s who, as an ‘expat’ (as they call the time-travelers), is something of a migrant himself, though he has come from the past rather than another country, which I found very interesting.

Although there was a part towards the end of the book that felt a little cliché, I am overall very happy with The Ministry of Time and I loved the ending. I’d easily recommend this one to anyone who loves speculative fiction, slow burn romance, or the concept of bringing people forth from the past to see what the heck they’d think of the future.

When I picked up I’m F*cking Amazing, I thought I was in for a lighthearted and hilarious story of the sexual escapades of a woman in her late twenties to early thirties. And while I did get something hilarious, I also got something with much more depth than I expected.

The book reads very much like a memoir, or actually, it felt very much like an extremely long text from my best friend in the world. The one I used to have, anyway. We told each other everything and we were brutally honest about it all. That’s what reading this book felt like. I was being trusted with some deep, dark secrets that no one, not even the narrator’s other best friends knew.

While there were some exciting (and humorous!) sexcapades, the bulk of the story was about how the unnamed narrator dealt with her complex emotions surrounding her incredibly toxic relationships with two separate men and how she struggles with repeating patterns in her relationships and making the changes and progress she desperately hopes for. It’s a realistic portrayal of real life, where personal growth can be a messy, non-linear process. With a hilariously unhinged, vulnerable, and yes, deeply flawed, narrator, Anoushka Warden shows us that it’s okay to acknowledge that.