Loren
The Deep Dark is officially my favorite graphic novel that I've read this year! Mags's struggle between isolation and connection, her deep fear of exposing the darkness within her, and her yearning for someone to understand her, even when she doesn't fully understand or accept herself. The art played a vital role in the storytelling, conveying emotion and tension in ways words absolutely couldn't. Each page set the atmosphere of mystery and magic. The visual representation of her inner and physical representation of “darkness”, and the way it affects her relationships, was beautifully rendered. At the very end when she accepts wholly excepts herself, we get pages full of color, the same way we do when we are in her memories. I don't think I will be able to recommend this book enough. It's definitely a book I will be revisiting.
I don't knoooooowww what to say about this. I did not like Vivian or empathize with her after the full story of the death of her sister was revealed. That demon should have haunted her for the rest of her days. The girl is just a pathological liar for no good reason. I'm assuming she's supposed to be unlikable, and we aren't really meant to genuinely root for her.
But then when we get to the part where she confesses, and I don't get why everyone was so sympathetic to her ESPECIALLY HER PARENTS??? Her mother thought she was the reason her daughter died, and this whole time it was Vivian's fault. Like you knew what guilt your mom held, and you said nothing???? The demon getting her to confess was AGAINST HER OWN WILL.
Now the horror aspect of this story!!! chef's kiss I was actually scared. We had a “The Ring” girl crawling out of the TV type moment. It was described and written so well. The imagery was there throughout the whole story!
I would recommend this just based on the Horror aspect. From the other YA horror books I've read the is year this is definitely Top 5 even with the dislike I hold for Vivian.
Thank you Pagestreet YA for the ARC copy!
I liked this retelling. Macbeth is not my favorite piece of work by Shakespeare, but I enjoyed the story regardless of that. I really loved the route the retelling went, with lady Macbeth having magical powers, actually being somewhat of a witch, and also her having a more elevated role in the story of Macbeth.
I'm so disappointed to be writing this review under this rating. This was definitely my least favorite book in the New Haven's Series, and up until this point I didn't have a least favorite. Every one up to this point was a hit! It wasn't the story or the characters. I actually enjoyed Hunter and Rae (and Riley) being introduced into the series, but for whatever reason this one felt rushed. And I stand by this because of how the book ended. Just abrupt, and unexpected. Besides that nagging feeling I did enjoy the book overall like I said. You could definitely feel the emotion and the turmoil the characters were going through, and that's definitely a main reason I love J.L Seegars. She really knows how to illicit that type of feeling from her writing, and just creating a space where it's completely unflinching/unfiltered but handled with the upmost care. I definitely will be back for book #5 regardless. Thank you Good Girl PR for the e-arc copy!
Very sweet middle grade story. I normally don't read middle grade books, but I always want to find books like these to recommend to the middle school kids coming into the library.
Our MC Mallory is a great example of an evolving character, and learning to advocate/speak up for yourself. I think Mal is a very relatable character for the younger audience.
Also I really liked the plot of the drag story time at the library!
Thank you Quill Tree Books for the arc!
“The world loves to punish girls who dream in the dark. I plan to worship them.”
Where the hell do I even start? I LOVED this book! I barely have words for a coherent review.
But what I can tell you is that I was very entranced by this writing and level of storytelling. I'm reading and the whole world around me is quiet... and the only thing I see if the vividness of the story being told. I loved it. I haven't read a story like this in a while.
I loved the way Susenyos and Kidan's relationship transformed throughout the story, but on the baseline was still... symbiotic? They needed each other at every point regardless of the hatred they harbored towards each other. There were definitely moments of peace but I enjoyed when they were at each others necks 😭
The premise of Immortal Dark and Uxlay University were a unique concept (to me atleast) I enjoyed the shifted dynamic of power where Dranaics (vampire) were companions to the Acti (humans) and their life's were constrained to their companionships to the humans in the houses they pledge to.
I can't wait for book two. I'm really looking forward to how everything plays out especially with that ending!
Thank you TheNovl and Colored Pages Book Tour for the finished copy!
How lovely it was to be taken back to the Raybearer universe.
The narrator did an incredible job creating an immersive experience, and gracing us with her lovely vocals!
Jordan Ifueko truly has a way with storytelling, and if should wants to continue to write more stories in this universe I will be front and center every time.
The Maid and the Crocodile had me cackling in my car, and locked in when things got tense. This book was just EVERYTHING!
Thank you Recorded Books for the alc.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ✨ Fated Mates ⚗️ Experimental Planets 💕 Lok & Sol 🦁 A Talking Lion named Toto I always have the best of times reading Kimberly Lemmings books! And this one has sky rocketed its way to my favorite of the bunch! The Rom-Com aspect definitely hit! I loved Dory! She was the perfect balance of smart and chaotic. Her relationship with Toto was a lot more endearing than I thought it would be. At some points they would bicker like siblings 🤣. And I definitely can't forget Lok and Sol!!! WHEW 🥵 spectacular give me 14 of them! This is definitely a strong start to what's probably going to be my favorite series from Kimberly Lemming! Because who would have thought that a story could blend alien abduction, prehistoric creatures, romance, and comedy? But somehow, Kimberly Lemmings makes it work ✨brilliantly✨. Every twist and turn kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing out loud one minute and swooning the next. I hate that I read this so early (Thank you Berkley 🫶🏾) because I want to know what happens next IMMEDIATELY! Thank you Berkley Pub for the e-arc copy!
I don't have a real review for this, but I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Have you ever read a book that completely speaks to you? It's like as you're reading you're having a whole conversation with the words on the pages? Not every part is for you, but you accept bits and pieces as you're reading?
This is one of those books.
I wanted to like this book more. I really did.
We have a young black girl in Paris fulfilling her dreams of studying abroad, and putting on a one woman show in honor of her inspiration Josephine Baker.
That premise alone got me into the book. As someone who did a few papers about Josephine Baker in high school, I couldn't wait to read this book!
But one I started to read into it things, and I'm about 60% into the book, this book feels like an amalgamation of different ideas for the same story, but they were stitch together very loosely.
The romance between Whitney and Thierry started off abruptly and very rocky, and it felt unnecessary for it to start off that way? And then the distain her roommates had towards her after she introduced herself and then they just stopped talking to her felt too obvious to a plot point being made.
We don't get too much of Whitney actually working on her show or her research project, but we also don't get too much of the romance aspect between her and Thierry until the last 70 pages??? mind you this books is very short. And the romance between them was very very cute. Yes it was a rough start but you can see the crush starting to form between them, and it was very sweet and sincere. I was hoping to get more of that!
I can say my favorite part was reading Whitney getting her braids done. I've never in my years of reading (which I'm absolutely surprised) came across a book that just had a little part of the black girl experience of getting braids done... it was kind of therapeutic to read.
I don't really know what to think of Helga as a whole.
I didn't have any issue getting into the story, but I think it was because I was confused while reading and wanted the answers to my confusion.
I didn't understand the connections Helga made to rebel. It just felt like she did so because she didn't know anything else, and because she didn't want to be like her dad, so she did the opposite.
Also her infatuation with Clyde???? The build up to it just didn't make sense. She just latched on to him like a leech, and he was just the absolute worst. Made borderline racist comments to her face, and never remembered her name.
I just couldn't figure this book out. At first blamed myself. Since this is a retelling, and I haven't read Frankenstein in years I thought that's where I was missing the connection. And after further research... no that's not what I was missing I think this book was just an overall miss when it came to retelling the story of Frankenstein. Not that it had to be spot on or anything but...
Thank you @pagestreetya for the arc copy!
The Dividing Sky brought me back to the Dystopian era of the 2010s, and I want to go back and never leave!
We are thrust into this world where everyone works to live and lives for Life Corp.
The world building chefs kiss, our characters, and all the challenges they face against the corporation played in my mind like a movie.
I'm telling you... the comeback for YA dystopian books starts right here.
Thank you @jtewwrites for the e-arc!
The debut books just get better and better every year! And this year we have BLACK LESBIAN VAMPIRES & VAMPIRE HUNTERS!! My eyes were peeled back taking in this story! Where do I even begin?? The way that this Vampiric/Human world was created and easily intertwined itself with black Harlem renaissance history was ✨immaculate✨ Reading Elise and Layla running around Harlem investigating these killings, while trying to tolerate each other, was very entertaining to read! I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!! Thank you Colored Pages Book Tour for choosing me for this tour, and Sourcefire Books for the finished copy!
Married At First Sight show x Friends to lovers trope???
Count me in!
I definitely need more stories like this.
Overall the story was very entertaining! Suvi and Blaze were definitely meant to be. Some parts for me were a bit cringy, but it straightened it self out after a bit!
I would love a continuation of their story growing their family, and their relationship.
I do believe when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow.
But you have to look for it.”
✨ Magical Realism 🫶🏾 Found Family 🤐 Family Secrets 💔 Betrayals 🐾 Sandro 🏳️🌈 LGBTQIA+ rep
When the world Tips over was a family generational story filled with magic, telepathic dogs, betrayals, love, and reconciliation.
This book is massive... almost too massive. I'm not going to lie... it did take a bit for me to really get into the story. I had a hard time for the first 100 pages, which was mainly in Daisy's POV. BUT after getting through that bit we get into the meat of the story, and everything takes off from there!
I really enjoyed reading all the pieces of the Paradise Springs/Fall/Fallas puzzle fall into place. Reading this felt very... nostalgic??? I remember reading I'll Give You the Sun in high school, and Nelson's storytelling really pulled me back to my freshman/sophomore year.
I DO wish that Cassidy and Wynton never become a thing. Jandy Nelson worked OVERTIME, to make sure you knew that they were not related. It was weird. Very weird. There were other romantic storylines that could have replaced it, and Cassidy's story goes unchanged with Wynton if there was no romance.
Other than that I did enjoy most of my time reading this story. Jandy Nelson does have a way with making her writing feel familiar even though the story is always unique.
Ooh I can't end this review without mentioning my favorite Sandro!! The goodest dog!!
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc copy!
