Sahi

This was not a book I knew about at all until a couple of days ago. The only reason seeing the book recommended by a beloved author Aparna Verma convinced me to pick it up was because the movie about the main historical figure in this story, Sardar Udham released just last week and I found it a very interesting watch. Naturally, I was very curious to know more about the history of the time and was glad to find the audiobook and proceeded to listen to it in a single sitting.

The first thing I have to mention is that the author narrates the audiobook herself and it is very well done and effective. I only later got to know that she is a BBC radio and television presenter, and that experience definitely enhances the quality with which she tells the story. The writing ofcourse helps because it is very deeply emotionally engaging and evocative - especially the events leading up to and the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre are very very heartbreaking to read about but also extremely rage inducing. It's not that I didn't know this event happened - all of us have studied this in our Indian school history books - but it's the callousness and utter absence of any regret or repentance that enraged me, told in the perpetrator's own words. Along with the emotional weight of this story, this book is also very thrilling to read because the author has written it like a spy/investigative novel. I thought this was a perfect example of how well narrative nonfiction can educate us on history while also keeping us as engaged as any well written fantasy or thriller novel.

The book is very much not an exhaustive history of the British Raj but we do get a good enough look at how the empire looked down at the Indian people. Despite knowing atleast some part of history, it's still very difficult to read about how the British destroyed the mainly agriculture based Indian economy, forcibly taking away everyone's lands and making the people destitute; and when they protested, was shocked to see that the lowly Indians weren't happy being subjugated and living as second class citizens in their own country. The personal writings of Michael O'Dwyer and many others of the time clearly showed how much they disdained Indians and would love to just kill whomever they considered disobedient, instead of going through the pesky justice system. The author does try to paint a more fuller picture of O'Dwyer and General Dyer's personalities, showing them as loving and loyal family men, but it's hard for me to sympathize with them because even if Jallianwala Bagh was only one event in their life, that is what defines them for me.

But it's Sardar Udham who is a much more fascinating figure in this book. The movie which I saw does give a brief glimpse into him, but this book goes much deeper into everything that he did in his life which led to his final act of assassination. He is a very charming man who is very good at making friends and convincing people of his cause, which becomes even more important once the massacre completely changes his life, putting him on a revenge course. His story feels like an endless journey which he undertakes because he doesn't know where to stop. At the same time, he also came across as manipulative and self-centered, ready to use and abandon anyone as long as it served his cause. I thought this was a very nuanced portrayal of a man who was irrevocably changed by the horrors he witnessed as well as the various atrocities he experienced, who was so set on his goal of revenge that he probably never took any opportunity to find happiness for himself. While it wasn't always easy to like him as a person, and it feels bad to justify murder, I could never find any fault in his desire to kill the people who were responsible for the massacre in Amritsar.

While I do love reading books featuring historical events, most of my reading in the genre have been limited to American history for the past many years, so I found it very heartening to back to a story about India's history and a person who's relentless pursuit of vengeance must have brought some sort of peace to the countless people who lived through those horrific times. I would definitely recommend this book to any history nerds, but also to readers who might not gravitate towards the genre because this is written like an amazing fiction novel and I'm sure you'll find it a great read. And I would highly recommend the audiobook too because I enjoyed it thoroughly, but non-desi folks might find the numerous names a bit confusing while listening.

Probably more of a 3.5.

This is one of those series that I've kept up with, not because I'm a huge fan, but because it's popular among my friends and I like knowing what all my friends are gushing about. And that's why I had to pick up this finale.

This was the first time I was listening to an audiobook in the trilogy, and I really think it helped my reading experience. I didn't feel the same urge to skip paragraphs or got bored, like how I did while reading the first two books; and I'm glad for that. It's very well narrated and I think everyone should give the format a try. The prose is beautiful as expected, and while I still find it too verbose at times, it didn't feel too difficult to get through. The pacing is also pretty quick, as the book takes place within a span of ten days. But I did find the story a bit predictable - I was quite sure that's how the book was gonna end (atleast parts of it), even if the epilogue was an unexpected surprise.

The characters remain the compelling reason to read this book and the trilogy. I've never been that much of a Severin fan, so he didn't endear to me much with his search for becoming a god. But I was glad to see him realize how he should treat his friends and apologize when necessary. Zofia and Enrique both really stepped up when circumstances were dire and proved to themselves that they are capable and wanted. I still don't know what role Hypnos plays in the group but his presence is soothing and nice, and I absolutely adore his dynamic with Zofia and Enrique. And Laila, she remains the strongest even when there's a literal countdown towards her death, and I liked that despite her deep love towards Severin, she still stood up to him and told her true thoughts.

In the end, this was a fine ending to the trilogy which I thought was great in parts and had some very good characters. If you are a fan of the previous books, I'm sure I don't need to convince you to read this one. And if you are someone who enjoys beautiful prose, cool ensemble cast, heists and puzzles and mysteries along with a dose of commentary on the perils of colonialism, then you should totally checkout The Gilded Wolves.

CW: talk of past sexual abuse, past parental abuse and transphobia, talk of biological weapon use, torture and medical experimentation

Definitely a 4.5 and I'm rounding up.

When I read The First Sister a couple weeks ago, I didn't have much expectations but I was glad that it turned out to be a very good space opera. So this time I definitely was expecting a lot from the sequel but the author managed to completely blow my mind.

This is what a sequel should feel like, especially the second book of a trilogy. While the first book gave us an introduction to this world which had Handmaid's Tale vibes on one side and an extremely technologically advanced but morally corrupt society on the other side, this book expands on all the aspects we've come to know and also introduces us to more players. We get to see the community based societal aspects of the Asters who have been oppressed and experimented on for centuries, the extent to which Val Akira labs controls the political system as well as every single body in Icarii society, and the depths of corruption in the Sisterhood which doesn't care a bit about the innocents despite professing the tenets of their religion. And along with all this, we also get introduced to the Synthetics, who are much much more advanced and might just be the tipping point in the already existing triangular war. I was amazed at how much the author manages to develop the world without ever feeling like it was an infodump. Despite some of the quieter moments, the pacing in this book is brutal, with so many tension filled moments that I was probably anxious all through the book. And god the emotions this story evokes - it was scary and thrilling and happy and hopeful and then suddenly we are in lots of pain with overflowing tears - this book put me through a wringer and I would've have had it any other way.

I fell in love with these characters even more. Astrid, who has now reclaimed her name, is ready to challenge the Sisterhood from the inside by vying for its leadership. She is horrified when she digs deeper and gets to know more truths about their corruption, but ultimately she is a small and new player in this field who doesn't know her opponents well, and her ambition isn't easy to achieve. She goes through phases of rage, fearlessness, hope, revenge and despair and her whole character arc was brilliant to read. She is well supported by two sisters Eden and Lily and it was nice to see her finally trust someone and share each other's burdens.

Lito is a changed man now who is ready to go to any lengths to right the wrongs committed by his people and prevent anymore suffering of the Asters. He displays lot of bravery and selflessness and I can only admire him more. We also get Hiro's POV this time and it was awesome to get to know them better. They have many demons in their past and quite a few regrets, but they are determined on their path and you can only hope the best for them. Theirs is probably the one plotline which personally made me feel very sad and I just kept wishing that their path would intersect with that of Lito. To complete their trio, we get the new POV of Luce, Lito's sister. From an artist working for the Val Akira corporation, she becomes an idealist who decides to follow her brother's footsteps and do her part to help the Asters and expose the Val Akira's unethical practices. She is initially a bit scared but soon we get to see that she is every bit brave as her brother and extremely selfless, ready to go to any lengths and sacrifice anything to save not just the Asters, but also all the innocent Icarii citizens.

We also get to meet many interesting side characters who play important roles in moving the story forward. I thought Sorrel was quite a unique one and I'm eager to see how his plans and ideas will impact the course of this story. We only get to see Mara for a little bit but the confusing last chapter has given me lots of ideas and I can only hope that what I'm thinking is what's gonna happen due to her actions. And the final revelations about one of the side characters just left me gasping and I am just stunned at the twist.

In the end, the author blew all my expectations out of the water with this sequel and I'm left reeling from its aftermath. This book is expansive, thrilling, full of anxiety inducing twists and turns, with the final quarter of the story just breaking my heart over and over again but giving an extremely tiny ray of hope towards the end. I'm already so so excited for the finale that I have no idea how I will be able to wait for almost an year. And if you are someone who loves sprawling space operas with amazing ensemble casts, you need to have this captivating queer SFF trilogy in your life.

Definitely a 4.5 and I'm rounding up.

I've been hearing great things about Adrian Tchaikovsky's books for a while now but most of his sci-fi books have felt a bit more complicated than I usually read, so I've been avoiding picking up any despite owning a couple. But when I saw the announcement for this novella, I thought a short format might be perfect start and I was absolutely right.

By the time I started reading this, I had completely forgotten the premise and I think that's the best way to appreciate this story - just go in with a blank mind and no expectations. The author does a seamless job of blending sci-fi and fantasy and I was so impressed. I will preface by saying that this is firstly a very contemplative story, with not much action or adventure you would expect in a conventional SFF book, but it has a lot of emotional depth that'll keep you hooked. The author deeply explores themes like depression, loneliness, feeling unwanted, being rational vs emotional; and finding one's purpose in life, especially when feeling like the existing purpose feels lost or wasted. The pacing might feel a bit slow, but I think the feelings it evoked more than made up for it. I also thought the use of linguistics as important part of the story was brilliant.

Despite this being a tale of defeating an unfamiliar and terrifying monster/demon, it's very much a character focused story. Lyn is a fourth princess which makes her not very important in the hierarchy, and her impulsive nature since childhood has not made much of an impression on either her queen mother or her elder sisters. When news comes of a demon which is terrorizing one land after another and displacing thousands of people, she as a person who grew up on tales of heroes and wizards can't help but want to help by fighting the monster and prove her worth to her family.

Nyr on the other hand is a centuries old anthropologist who has been alone on this diasporic planet for a long while, fighting loneliness and depression while also dealing with the fact that his original purpose of living there seems completely useless. When presented with an opportunity to help the people of this world, he is conflicted due to his creed of being only an observer but ultimately he makes a choice.

I thought their dynamic was so fascinating to see develop. She assumes he is a old wizard with magic who can defeat the demon; he is a scientist who is frustrated at being unable to convince the others that there's no such thing as magic. The way they communicate is one of the highlights of this book - he speaks in his scientific language but what she hears and understands is more on the lines of her myth laden world. There is one particular chapter that emphasizes this difference in their language and I thought it was amazing. But despite these issues, they ultimately understand each other's loneliness on a deeper level and are on the same page about how to help each other in fighting the monster. They both are well supported by Lyn's friend Esha and a reformed convict Allwer, and all four of them became a wonderful found family.

To conclude, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book but what I didn't think was it will become an unexpected favorite. It's an excellent science fantasy novella that'll make you feel a lot of emotions and leave you thinking. Go into it without knowing much about it and I promise it will wow you.

CW: bleeding walls, parental abuse, dismemberment, selling of children

Probably more of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.

I can't say I remember reading the original Jane Eyre but I have read a couple of retellings/stories inspired by the classic, so when I saw one more retelling announcement set in Ethiopia, I was immediately intrigued and very glad when I got the advance copy.

One thing I can say, this is perfect to read during this spooky season. The castle in the novel and it's owner are haunted by the antagonist, an Evil Eye which manifests in different forms throughout the castle every night, endangering its inhabitants. The author describes this eerie castle perfectly, with its many eccentric and sometimes horrifying features, which makes the building itself feel like the main character. That's what makes this a very intriguing gothic fantasy. The plotting is also pretty fast paced, with everything moving at breakneck speeds at times, because everyone's lives are in danger. The prose is pretty easy to read and I found myself quite engaged in this mysterious story.

Andromeda or Andi is a compassionate, brave, slightly distrustful but very loving young woman who has been through a lot of hardships since childhood, and is determined to finish this dangerous job and earn a patronage. Magnus on the other hand is the owner of the castle who has been plagued by the Evil Eye for three years and is very depressed about it. He is also a slightly pretentious and snobby rich brat sometimes, but his bad qualities get offset by his charm and wit. Their romance is definitely very instalovey but it was also understandable because they are two people who have experienced a lot of loneliness, and it's easy to fall in love with the first person who shows some affection.

There are quite a few side characters too but I didn't find any of them too memorable except for Saba who was sweet and extremely loving and caring, despite her devastating circumstances. And ofcourse there's Jember, the only father Andi has ever known. They have a complicated relationship and I understand why she was quick to forgive him when he apologized after 14 years of being abusive to her. But her justification that all his abuse was ok because he was doing it out of love and to help her survive, and all his abusive teachings helped her survive when she was literally homeless and starving (because of him) - was a bit too much for me to stomach and I almost felt like she was gaslighting herself. Magnus seemed like the only voice of reason who understood abuse for what it was.

In the end, this was a very eerie, mysterious, atmospheric and sometimes horrific YA gothic fantasy novel, with very memorable main protagonists and their endearing love story. I may have some issues with some characterizations but overall it was an engaging book, and while it doesn't have too much in common with the OG Jane Eyre except some names and the haunted castle, I still think fans of the classic will enjoy this one.

CW: abandonment, whipping, abuse, mention of past attempted sexual assault, panic attacks

The author's debut The Merciless Crow was a favorite of mine because I found it so unique, but I never got around to reading the sequel because it released during the pandemic and I just couldn't find the right headspace to read and appreciate it properly. But it's waiting for me on my bookshelf and hopefully I'll get to it soon. In the meantime, I was very excited for her new book since it's announcement because I trust her to deliver a very interesting tale. And she didn't disappoint.

I had never heard of The Goose Girl story before last year and I read a bit about it only in preparation for the release of its retellings like this one as well as Thorn by Intisar Khanani. I never did get to read Thorn but I was quite interested to see how the story would be retold in Little Thieves. What I didn't expect was the whole fairytale subverted, it's antagonist given the reins here and the addition of an ensemble cast who make this story a lot more fun. I will say that it took me a while to get into the story - the prose and lines were very attractive and engaging right from the first page but I think it took me a while to get used to the very German (I think) based world. But I think it was at about the 20% mark that something clicked and I couldn't put the book down after that. The author does a wonderful job giving us a world with cool gods like Death, Fortune, Truth, Justice etc; a story that feels like a dark fairytale but also has a heist like feel, as well as quite a few mysteries to solve, with a few love stories interspersed in between. All the elements blend together very well to give us a thrilling and entertaining ride, while also giving us a few scares.

But the star of this book is our protagonist Vanja. She wears many forms - a princess, a bride to be, a maid, a thief, goddaughter of Death and Fortune - but there's always something unknowable about her. She maybe looting the nobles riches to earn money so that she can escape, she might be striving hard to forget the life of servitude she used to live previously, she might behave like she is selfish and doesn't care for anyone and just does everything for herself - but ultimately what she wants is love and belonging even if she doesn't want to acknowledge that to herself. She is scared that she might be caught, repelled by having to make a choice between her two godmothers, is full of rage against Gisele and her family for treating her like a nobody; but she slowly makes unexpected friends and allies, starts caring for them, shows utmost bravery to save them all, and thinks beyond herself when the moment calls for it. She truly is an unforgettable character.

Emeric on the other hand is an investigator who wants to catch the thief stealing from the nobles. What starts as a cat and mouse game of chase and evasion between them quickly turns into so much more. He is intelligent and earnest and very dedicated, and despite their very opposing professions, Vanja - who is notoriously distrustful of everyone - comes to trust him. They both are represented as demisexual characters which I really appreciated and there are some beautiful lines between them reflecting their feelings.

Most of the other characters play small but significant roles in the story but we never do get to know them deeply because this is a single first person POV story. However, Ragne left a deep impression on me because she is powerful but naive in her own way, a very loyal friend and a sweetheart when in love. Gisele is more hard to like because of her fraught history with Vanja but her altered circumstances and meeting Ragne have changed her, made her more understanding of her faults and given her strength to stand up for herself and others. Joniza only shows up in a couple of scenes but is quite a delightful support. And finally our antagonist who is extremely loathsome and I just kept wanting him to get his just desserts.

In conclusion, this was a fun, entertaining, and very emotionally engaging dark fairytale retelling with a protagonist who keeps making questionable decisions but you badly want her to succeed, and an unexpected group of supporting characters who help her on the way. When I started, I didn't know it was a standalone but I'm glad it is and the author wraps up the story very neatly. Maybe the romantic plotlines felt a little rushed because of the one book constraint, but I am still pretty satisfied with how much I enjoyed this fascinating story.

I didn't even know this book existed before the beginning of October, when I unexpectedly received the audiobook. And because I'm a extreme mood reader, I forgot about all the arcs I've yet to read and my library borrows and picked this up, despite feeling that I might not like this.

And my instinct wasn't wrong. The author's writing is undoubtedly very beautiful and metaphorical but also too descriptive and wordy, and if I wasn't listening to the two narrators do an excellent job in the audiobook, I don't think I would have been able to finish the book. It's also very ambitious - spanning multiple genres like historical fiction, contemporary as well as speculative fiction/ sci-fi; while also telling a story that spans across centuries. To add to this complexity are five POVs, multiple timelines, and another subplot which connects all the storylines while also rendering the name for this book. I can't deny that I do enjoy multiple POVs because I'm a fan of ensemble casts, but the cast in this one are separated by time and they are very individualistic plotlines. And with the chapters being very short, we never get enough time at once to spend with one character and empathize with them. Not all are interesting either.

I think I loved Zeno and Konstance the most, with Zeno being my favorite with his penchant for surviving all obstacles in his life and finding joy in little things. I just kept wishing that he could see the results of his translation and how many hearts he touched, and maybe had found someone he loved and loved him back. Konstance is fascinating and I was impressed by her resourcefulness and resolve to find the truth, but one of the main twists of her plotline never got resolved and I'm still salty about it. While Anna and Omeir are the main catalysts behind how all these characters' stories intersect, I found their parts pretty boring because they both are just waiting for the war to happen and ultimately nothing comes out of it. I probably felt more emotional about Omeir's oxen Tree and Moonlight. And finally Seymour - he probably has the best character arc of everyone and we see so many facets of him, but I can't say I was too engaged with his story knowing what he was gonna do. And I also found the choice to make the only neurodivergent character in the book an antagonist very telling, especially when it didn't need to be so.

Ultimately, despite the multiple genres and centuries and characters, this is a story about books and stories and the connections they create. It's an ode to the love of books, the power of literature in helping us survive, the joy of finding words which were once considered lost, and the importance of translating antiquated works. But this was not enough for me to love the book because the writing wasn't for me. But if you are a fan of the author's previous works, you might enjoy it a lot more.

The first time I saw the name of this book was in a top 100 fantasy (or maybe SFF, I can't remember exactly) books of all time list, and I was pleasantly surprised because there weren't many translated works from Asia among the list. However, at the time, I still didn't know much about the significance of this series, and also didn't have any knowledge about Chinese history and literature. But it always remained in my mind and I guess I knew even then that I would read this book one day. And finally that day has come.

I don't think I would have had the same appreciation for this book I have now if I had picked it up a couple years ago. Now after having watched atleast a few wuxia shows, understanding some common terms in Chinese that are used in these books, getting to research a bit on Chinese dynasties and in general just loving these stories that I've gotten to explore, I find myself in a much better place to read this wuxia classic that has been a staple for Chinese readers and drama watchers for many years now. And I can totally see where all the dramas that I loved get their inspiration from. The expansive setting of three different empires fighting for supremacy, as well as much more personal feuds between various sects or martial artists in the wulin - this book is full of stakes, big and small and it was exciting to anticipate the next upcoming conflict. I was also delighted by some similarities in plot and characterizations that I found when compared to Handsome Siblings, an excellent wuxia drama which I loved and is itself an adaptation of another classic by Gu Long. The pacing is a bit uneven though - sometimes giving more slice of life vibes, while sometimes years pass by in just a sentence - but it never impeded my enjoyment of the story.

The writing is something I obviously can't comment much about because it's a translation, which I thought was quite good. But I can't deny that there were many moments in the initial chapters where the translation choices jarred me and just pulled me out of the story. One of them was the literal translation of Chinese names to English. As I wasn't actually expecting this, having gotten accustomed to names and honorifics in the original language while watching my favorite Cdramas, imagine my surprise when the two important characters we meet initially are called Skyfury Guo and Ironheart Kang. I had to go searching on wiki to find out that their actual names are Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin. I later realized that this romanization of Chinese names seems to be pretty common in translation of Chinese classics, particularly the versions I checked out of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I can understand this choice being made a few years ago to endear the books to a more broad English speaking audience; but this translation of A Hero Born is pretty new and in this age when many of us are used to watching media of international origins with subtitles, I just found this kind of changing of names to be a bit unusual. And the problem is that it's not even consistent. Almost all the Mongol and Jurchen characters names are kept intact, as well as those of some of the important main/side characters, so I'm not sure why only some names had to be romanized.

The other instance where I found that translations as not quite fitting was when different forms of martial art moves are named. It is ofcourse true that I never understand the Chinese or translated names of these moves when watching a wuxia drama, but it's easier to follow what the move is supposed to be doing in a visual medium. But just using lots of martial art moves names - which are pretty weird like Wild Goose Leaves the Flock, Returning Horse, Trident Searches the Sea by Night etc - during a tense fight sequence felt very out of place and slightly prevented me from enjoying the martial arts action sequences which are usually my favorite parts of anything wuxia.

But keeping my complaints aside, the book does have some great characters, each having signature characteristics which define them. Skyfury Guo and Ironheart Yang are the epitome of sworn brotherhood, who will do anything to protect each other and their families. Guo Jing is described as simple minded a lot of times in the book and he does come across as slightly naive, but he is endlessly determined, very brave and good hearted, and just overall a nice young man. I just didn't expect that the protagonist of such a famous wuxia classic will not be a martial arts prodigy. The various martial artists who show up in the book at times are all eccentric or good or evil or just short tempered in their own ways and it was interesting to see our main character interact with them all. As was it equally interesting to meet the various leaders of the Mongol tribes including Temujin before he became known as Genghis Khan; and the two princes of the Jurchens.

I was slightly disappointed that we don't get to see much of Wanyan Kang, especially how he grew up in a completely different environment to that of Guo Jing. With the way the story started, I thought both their storylines would go in parallel but alas it was not to be. And it was also a complete shock to see the kind of arrogant and powerful prince he became, not at all deferential to his mother or shifu, and finding no fault in bullying people. I can now see where the story is going and I'm sure it'll be very interesting to read but also bittersweet.

To conclude, I'm glad I picked up this classic. As one of the pioneers of the modern wuxia genre, we can find most of the beloved tropes of the genre here which made for a very fun read. It is full of action, adventure, conspiracies and betrayals, ambition, brotherhood, loyalty and love. As this book only represents the first quarter of the first part of the Condor Trilogy, it can feel a bit like a setup for the upcoming major plot but it's still very enjoyable, as long as one is ready to overlook some of the translation choices. I decided sometime early this year that I would read all four books of the series and while I'm not sure I can binge them all together, here's hoping that I can read the rest of the three before the end of the year. And who knows, maybe I'll finally get to watch the drama adaptation as well. Do let me know if any of you have suggestions for which version of the drama adaptation I should watch - it just has too many to choose from.

This is a very thoughtful collection of essays from the New Yorker spanning more than five decades, which gives us a historical view of the evolution of Black experience in the country. With essays by great authors like James Baldwin and Toni Morrison whose works I haven't read before, more contemporary writers commenting on the aftermath of the George Floyd killing, profiles and stories of many Black pioneers like Phyllis Wheatley, Zora Neale Hurston, Elijah Muhammad, Louis Farrakhan and more (some whom I was aware of, others I didn't ), and many other personal stories of living and surviving as a Black individual and the community as the whole - this is a collection that needs to be savored and cherished and reflected upon. Because despite the passage of so many decades, the central question still remains unanswered - what more should Black people do to change America? Will there ever be an end to institutional racism and discrimination and racial violence in this country?

CW: torture, use of racial slurs

More of a 4.5 but I'm rounding up.

I have read every single book that Pacat has written and loved all of them dearly. So when I first saw the announcement of this book, I immediately added it to my tbr without even reading the premise. Getting rejected for an advance copy also didn't bother because I knew I was gonna buy it anyway and this audiobook was quite fun.

I still didn't bother to read the book summary even when I preordered the audio or before I started reading because I trust the author so much to give me an interesting story, and she did it. The writing is captivating right from the prologue, setting the tone for what kind of story this is gonna be. It's a historical fantasy, which is not typically a subgenre I'm fond of but the author does a great job balancing the historical and fantasy elements. I especially loved the world building here - with its old, dark and lost magical past, a history between the Stewards and the Lions, the descendants and reincarnations of the heroes and villains of the past coming to a head again - it was super fun to get lost in this world and try to figure out what was gonna happen next. The pacing is perfect, the plotting marvelously done to give us enough clues to maybe guess what might happen but also have lots of surprises in store for us which thrilled me, and prose which is beautiful in it's simplicity and emotional heft.

Will seems like a just a young man who is struggling to survive after having lost his mother and home in such violent circumstances, but as the story goes on we realize he is so much more. A contemplative and clever person, he doesn't speak much but is always thinking and knows the right words to speak at the right time and is quite good at convincing people. I always had a feeling that he was figuring something out in his head but we aren't privy to his thoughts and it was amazing to see what all he had pieced together towards the end.

Violet is a great companion for Will. She meets him by accident when she is trying to take steps to achieve her goal, and some revelations later she finds the trajectory of life changing completely. Hers is a fight against her own destiny - deciding that she is not going to go the way the people of her bloodline are expected to go and carve a path for herself, defending the Light in the advent of darkness. She is inherently good and trusting and extremely loyal, ready to fight and sacrifice herself to protect those who depend on her. I'm so in love with her !!!

This book also has a great cast of side characters. Justice is a another brave and loyal Steward who takes his duty to heart and will do anything to save the world. Cyprian is almost the same but circumstances force him to change his perspective of the world and people outside of his circle, but he never loses his loyalty and sense of duty. Katherine has a smaller presence but she is intriguing and after everything that happened to her, changing her life completely, I'm interested to see what she does next.

But the most fascinating among them all was James. The book starts off with him torturing someone and we gradually get to know that he is on the bad guy's side. But he is very charming and has a magnetism about him that attracts us towards him, just like Will, and we try hard to see beneath the surface, hoping that he is so much more than just the reborn general of the Dark King.

In the end, I had so much fun reading this book just as I expected. It has fantastic lore and world building, a seamless blending of the old and new worlds, multifaceted characters who will make you love them instantly, and a plot that'll you engaged throughout, delivering some unexpected twists towards the end. This excellent book is perfectly supported by the impressive performance of Christian Coulson, who brings his natural charm and wit to the narration. Definitely an unmissable book for every YA fantasy lover, and if you are a Pacat fan like me, I'm sure I don't even have to recommend it to you.

I love going to museums but I'm not very knowledgeable about art, and particularly ignorant about modern art. So, when I first saw this memoir, I was intrigued because I wanted to know more about this person's story but I didn't know who he was. However, I was eager to get to know him.

This is a memoir I can't review. Written for his son, Ai Weiwei documents both his father's and his life in this book and as much as it's about these two people, it's also about living under an authoritarian regime which doesn't believe in freedom of expression. And in such a place, even the existence of the father-son duo and many other such artist activists is a spark that might ignite a fire one day. Their life story might feel bleak, especially his father's life who was wrongfully convicted and exiled for years on end during the cultural revolution, but this is also the story of a family which resiliently survived the oppression and never let go of their artistic expression or principles.

It's both a sad and awe inspiring memoir and I felt small and insignificant after getting to know such artists. The writing itself may feel detached and dry but I think it reflects the author's own feelings about his life and purpose. But all the art interspersed within the text is fascinating and I can't wait to read up more about his installations as well as about his father's poetry.

CW: bullying, assault, racial slurs, violence and gore

It's probably more of a 4.5.

I used to be quite disinterested in reading any dark fantasy until a while ago and probably why I used to read a lot of YA because they could be gritty but never too dark. But that changed when I started exploring books mostly written by BIPOC authors which blew all my assumptions about the subgenre, and I have read quite a few amazing ones since then. And that's how I found this book on my tbr. And I find myself lucky that I received the audiobook advance copy because it was just wow.

I didn't know much going into this story, so it was actually a pretty surprise the way this book started. It set the tone for what was to come and it only got more intense. The author is brilliant at creating the atmosphere in this story. As we are dealing with Death and Reapers and Shinigami here, it's really interesting how oppressive and suffocating the setting feels, even more augmented by Rebecca's narration. The writing is very evocative and searingly emotional, forcing us to feel everything that's happening. The story does start off a bit slow but immediately picks up once Ren reaches Japan and from then on, it's like a bullet train ride with no brakes. The author also uses many creatures from Japanese folklore and mythology in her plot, interweaving their legends with the lives of our characters, making for a very exciting read. But the many confrontational scenes are what will leave a mark on any reader because they are very gory and violent and explicitly described, making them feel even more scary and horrifying when listening to them.

Ren is a protagonist whose arc is a masterclass in characterization. She is biracial and has always been made to feel less and worthless and unwanted due to her mixed heritage, but she has kept it all bottled up because she doesn't have much choice. But once the dam breaks, we get to see just how much rage and wrath she has been hiding and what she is ready to do to finally find her true place in this world. She is extremely frustrating as well as equally sympathetic at the same time, and that's what makes her a compelling character. We want to hate her because she is making horrible decisions but also feel like she finally deserves to do what she wants. It's a tale of contradictions, the descent into the thirst for power, the rise and fall and transformation of a powerful woman who is ultimately lonely despite being surrounded by thousands.

And then we have Neven and Hiro. Neven is Ren's brother, the compassionate and merciful among the two, who is the moral compass trying to pull away Ren from a path of no return. But he is not always successful because her deep anger and sadness is not something he can understand, because he has never had to feel unwanted or bullied because of his heritage. Hiro on the other hand is a charming man who instantly ignites a feeling in Ren, encouraging and supporting her in everything that she needs to do to achieve her goal, however distasteful the task might be. They are an unstoppable force when together and it's easy to get lost in their love story.

But ultimately this is a story of death, not love. The author weaves a terrific tale of power and anger and hope, and what happens when all three come together. This is harsh and brutal but extremely unforgettable, with the narrator's voice remaining in our head long after we've finished listening to the audiobook. And what an ending that was. The last 10-15% seems both predictable and utterly shocking and it left me gasping because I couldn't believe it all happened... and kept happening. I can only guess what more horrors we'll have in store for us in the sequel but I'm ready to take the plunge.

Probably more of 3.5.

This is my second of the remixed classics and it's really been such a nice experience reading classics retold through the perspectives of people whose stories have never been considered classics. I have to say I don't remember much about Little Women because I was too young when I read it and have never watched any adaptations either.

The author does a wonderful job with the setting of this story during and after the civil war, describing in perfect detail how the daily lives of Black people were in the Roanoke Freedmen's Colony, their struggle to keep their colony running while also living fulfilling lives after having achieved freedom. It was interesting to see all the women of the March family work hard at their chosen professions, being independent thinkers and never letting go of their dreams despite the circumstances. The writing is simple and straightforward, with so much raw power and emotion that made this an impactful read. The pacing could be a bit on the slower side but that could be expected in a slice of life kinda story.

Mammy is the rock who supports them all while their father is away on war related work. Meg is the silent strength who loves teaching the newly freed people and wants a stable home life for herself. Jo is the intellectual whose words and thoughts flow and her convictions might get her in trouble a bit but she is always true to herself. Beth is an excellent seamstress who finds her purpose far away from home. And Amy is the baby whose dreams are more high profile and her exuberant nature is perfect for her profession as a dancer and private tutor. Other than the sisters, it was Lorie who left a deep impression on me. He and Jo are an amazing pair, an unbreakable deep friendship and more which can't be defined but is as beautiful as any which is societally recognized. Their unwavering support for each other was a particular highlight of this book.

To conclude, I think anyone who loves Little Women and like it to be retold would enjoy this story. And I would definitely recommend it to anyone who would love to see more historical fiction novels featuring characters whose stories were never told, especially set in times of American history when they were never regarded as important enough to be able to deserve their stories to be told.

I have been highly anticipating this finale for a long time but I still kept putting it off because I'm always too anxious to read books in my favorite series. And I wasn't entirely wrong coz this one gave me chills all through. I will try to be as spoiler free as possible but I also have lots of thoughts, so I apologize in advance.

Brian's main strength I have found across this trilogy is keeping the writing simple but very meaningful, creating tension that keeps us on the edge of our seat for most of the book, and amidst all this “will they live or die” situations, he manages to write humorous dialogue that gives us some respite. The plot changes between many perspectives but it's to the author's credit that we never feel lost and also never get bored of any POV, whether it's a main character or just some small player in the grand scheme of things. The pacing is breakneck with hardly any breather and I couldn't keep the book down even for a second because I just wanted to know what was gonna happen next. The fights and war sequences are elaborate and thrilling and I also found them to be very visual that I could imagine it all happening in my head. It's all masterful storytelling at its best and I just felt glad for the day I decided to trust a couple of my favorite reviewers and read the first book in this amazing trilogy.

While the writing and plot are wonderful, it's definitely the ensemble cast that makes this series special. Silas is probably one of my top favorite male protagonists ever because he is both an extremely strong fighter who can kill number of people at once, but at the same time is also full of love and compassion and would do anything to end the mindless killing of humans and dragons, so that everyone could live peacefully. He is always on the verge of his transformation but is too selfless to think about his fate when there are many people to save. And I absolutely loved his dynamic with his dragon - it's sweet and witty, with always some sort of bickering going on, but the love for each other is undeniable.

Ashlynn hardly feels like the Queen of Almira anymore this time. She is first and foremost a scientist who spends most of the book figuring out ways to control Ward's creations and end the war. She encounters blocks and disappointments and failures, but giving up is not her thing and she only moves forward with renewed determination, at the risk of her own health and safety. She is brave and responsible and makes a perfect complement to Silas. They are one of the best couples I've encountered in fantasy for a while who would sacrifice themselves to save the world even if it would mean separating from each other. The book has some beautiful lines between them and I'm so happy I got to read their story.

Jolan is a perfect assistant to Ashlynn. He has come a long way from being an alchemist's apprentice to someone who can help challenge Osyrus Ward but despite his knowledge being one of the main reasons Ashlynn is able to progress in a safe manner, he still wishes he could be the innocent person he was before it all went to hell. Even after watching all the unfolding horrors, he never completely loses his gentle nature and that was nice to see.

We also get perspectives from unexpected characters from both sides of the war. Vera is present as always, the brave woman who will do absolutely anything to save her Queen, even if it means serving the enemy. Cabbage is this slightly timid person who probably doesn't want to be fighting but will also never abandon his friends, ably protected by the very reckless Simeon who joins every fight like it's his last time. We also get glimpses into Garret and Castor's characters who are themselves unsure why they are fighting this war and keep trying to come up with justifications for their choices and actions.

And how can I forget the villains. While Vergun can be considered a stereotypical evil cannibalistic person, the joy he finds in terrorizing people is still very hard to digest and everytime he appeared on the page, I was scared for all of my favorite characters. Osyrus on the other hand gives off the mad scientist vibes, who truly believes all his delusional thoughts about creating a better world and treats everyone and everything in it like a specimen to be experimented on. He is a chilling presence and I was always haunted by the prospect of how our heroes would fight him and his monstrous creations in the end. But what I loved about the ultimate showdowns that we get between Vergun and Silas, as well as Osyrus Ward and Ashlynn is that the author ensures we understand that our heroes aren't actually invincible and they can't save the world just by themselves. They were powerful scenes and I couldn't ask for anything better.

To end my review, I have to say that I knew this finale was gonna be too good because the author hasn't let me down before but it still exceeded my expectations. This is epic fantasy at its best with its huge world full of kingdoms and cultures and rulers, loads of beautiful and majestic dragons who form a core part of the world's ecosystem, advanced technology that almost feels demonic and which can rival any top SFF movie, chapters full of thrilling plot and unbelievable cliffhangers which won't allow you to put the book down, and out of the world fight sequences that will wow you. But despite it all, what you will most remember after you are done with the trilogy are the amazing characters who have burrowed their way into your heart. And those absolutely heart touching last two lines... I teared up immediately because it was such a beautiful and perfect ending.

I've had a couple of instances this year where I read literary fiction despite knowing I don't like the genre, probably because I thought this could be the one. This collection was as usual not something I had heard of at all. I had just finished reading the book How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith which me rethink a lot about plantations in general and the history of Monticello in particular. So when I saw this title while browsing netgalley, it immediately drew my attention and I wanted to give it a try.

The writing in this collection is wonderful and very effective at tugging our heartstrings or shocking us with the ideas explored. I can't say I understood them all but they were all definitely unique. It was not at all surprising that race and racism forms a major thread through all the stories but what leaves a deeper impression is the strength of family - blood or found. I also listened to the audiobook in parts and I loved the idea of each story having its own narrator, with each bringing their own style to the storytelling. It definitely enhanced the experience.

So if you are a fan of literary fiction or short story collections, you should check this out. And if you only wanna read one story, it has to be the titular one because it's quite unforgettable.

Below are my individual reviews...

Control Negro

CW: racist micro aggressions, assault, police brutality

I am frankly surprised at the premise of this story. It's both horrifying in its idea but also a bit sad because it ultimately tries to answer the ONE question - what is it exactly that Black people have to do to be respected for their humanity and their achievements without devolving into racist diatribe or in the extreme, getting killed by cops for no fault of theirs.

Virginia is Not Your Home

Not my kind of story. It's too realistic and hard hitting to read stories of women stuck in their lives as housewives and feeling like they haven't achieved anything and don't belong anywhere, and I just don't have the appetite for them anymore.

Something Sweet on our Tongues

CW: assault

I had a hard time understanding where this story was going and especially that ending was kinda horrible.

Buying a House Ahead of the Apocalypse

This felt very prescient with all the preparations the narrator makes seeming very realistic. I especially was hurt by the despair that she was feeling having been unable to do enough for her daughter to be able to own a home.

The King of Xandria

CW: mention of child soldiers

This was heartbreaking. An immigrant father trying to piece his life together after his wife's brutal death and ensuring his children are able to make a better life for themselves in the new country. But he also feels helpless because he can't be the same sole breadwinner of his home in America and even more unmoored when he realizes that his children are growing up, able to make their own decisions and don't always need him. It's a tough situation for a father already dealing with grief and the author captures his anguish very well.

My Monticello

CW: racial violence

This eponymous story is basically a novella which covers almost 80% of this collection in page count, and I have to agree that it's the most impactful. Tracing the story of a young Black woman descendant of Sally Hemmings during a near future America ravaged by effects of climate change, we see how the lack of resources has led to more racial violence, with white people terrorizing and killing Black people. In this backdrop, Naisha is a brave young lady who manages to drive away from her town with a group of neighbors, escaping the violence, taking refuge in the Monticello plantation. It brings up lot of questions in her about her identity and history and her relationship to the place, particularly at a time when her people are being hunted again. But ultimately this is a story of her and the rest of the group coming together despite their differences to struggle and survive and help each other during the direst circumstances. They never lose heart and are ready to fight back for the little home they have been able to carve on the hill in Monticello. Very well written and evocative story which leaves us thinking, and maybe even a bit scared.

When I first heard of this book, I became interested because the author said it had Zutara from ATLA vibes as well wuxia/xianxia themes along with Chinese mythology inspiration. That was enough to add it to my tbr and I was delighted when I got the chance to participate in this blog tour.

So, I can't actually count myself among the fans of ATLA because I never did finish it. But I know enough about the story and the characters, so any book with those vibes was gonna attract me. And I may have realized that I'm not that fond of xianxia dramas in general, but I definitely wanted to read books in the genre. However, I personally found this to be a bit more different. Yes, the xianxia elements are present along with elemental magic, but what surprised me was that this book was mostly a Chinese palace drama in book form. It has quite a few of the staple tropes - Royals conspiring to kill each other for the throne, puppet emperor controlled by other powerful people in the court, children planning years long revenge for their parent's deaths and long lost parents and children being reunited. I could probably find more tropes if I looked for them, but all this was enough to make me feel delighted that I was reading this book. It was the double familiarity of a YA fantasy with the chosen one trope alongwith all the palace drama elements that made me very comfortable as soon as I picked it up and enjoy it throughout. The writing is great, with lovely evocative prose, lots of yearning, steady but not fast pacing and some tense moments peppered all through the story.

Ahn and Altan both are not very unique YA protagonists but we still come to like them pretty quickly. Ahn is a sweet girl who just wants her Ama to be safe and maybe find some respite from the poverty they are stuck with in their village in the desert. She never expects that she has a past and a destiny, one that could make or break her country and people. I thought the author depicted well her conflicts about her monstrous power and whether she should use it, whether she can leave it all behind or does she have a responsibility due to her power. While finding answers to her questions, she grows from an innocent girl to someone who understands the big picture and what sacrifices might be required for the greater good.

Altan on the other hand knows what he wants - revenge. He may not say it out loud, but he also wants his place as the rightful heir to the throne. And he is ready to sacrifice anything for his endeavor. But as the story goes on, he comes to realize - rather dangerously - that there are many things and people he actually isn't ready to sacrifice or hurt, and how getting his revenge will not reduce his grief over losing his parents.

In a way, both of them are a perfect complement to each other, considering themselves as monsters due to their decisions or actions, but slowly realizing that they understand and see each other perfectly, for the flawed people they are trying to do their best in critical circumstances. Their romance isn't exactly a slow burn but I definitely think it could have been executed a bit differently, to make their feelings for each other more convincing. It was actually hard to understand why they fell in love despite me as a reader knowing that they would be good together.

The side characters in this book are also quite memorable, even if not everyone gets enough page time. Tai Shun is not the image he projects and I found him to be such a lovely boy. Linxi is a good friend and I loved her interactions with Ahn, but her squealing about her girlfriend was the best. Feiye was a mystery to me for the most part but he really shined at important moments. The villain probably was a slight disappointment because he is very stereotypically bad but I didn't bother much about him. But the one who steals the show is Tang Wei, who is a badass assassin with a biting sense of humor and her banter with Altan was the most fun part of the story. And everytime she called him a stubborn water buffalo, I was immediately reminded of Lin Shu and Fei Liu calling Jingyan “shuǐniú” in Nirvana in Fire, and it just made me more happy.

In the end, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It has interesting characters, a cool history of the world as well as magic, and lots of fun dialogue. I was also extra glad that this was a standalone because I'm getting tired of waiting for sequels, but I had my eyes wide while reading the last scene because it's the perfect segue for a sequel if the author ever wants to write one. And if you are a YA fantasy reader who also enjoys Chinese palace dramas like me, don't miss this one - I have a feeling you'll really find this worth the read.

Another interesting volume which I can still never find proper words to describe. The art is always intricate and detailed, but this time it was a bit more on the darker side, because most of the story was dealing with war. I also felt it was more character focused than the previous ones, especially regarding Maika's relationships with everyone around her. So, just when I felt like the story was going one way, the author just had to give that absolutely unexpected and terrifying cliffhanger. The wait for the next volume is gonna be really long.

Definitely a 4.5, so I'm rounding up.

I never actually read the author's previous book despite it being nominated and winning many awards because I never felt it was my thing. I also didn't bother to read much about the premise of this book due to similar apprehensions, but reading a gushing review by my fellow awesome blogger Misty convinced me that maybe I should give this a try. And this turned out to be so much fun.

I usually love retellings but more on the mythological side, because I'm not that fond of the usual European fairytales. And I hardly remember anything about Sleeping Beauty but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of this story. This story is an ode to classic fairytales with a modern twist, when the princesses don't need a charming prince to save them because they are perfectly capable of saving themselves. In this way, it recognizes the sexist undertones of the classics and subverts them to create a more progressive version of those age old tales that we love. The author does a seamless blending of modern day technology and a medieval world full of rigid gender roles, peppering the story with witty and biting dialogue, fast pacing which kept me so engaged that I didn't wanna put it down at all, and an excellent audiobook narration which enriched my experience. The way Amy does the various accents as well as voices, her sarcastic tone and just her overall way of telling the story was super entertaining.

Zinnia is such a fascinating protagonist. Having a terminal condition, she has been prepared to die before turning 22 as long as she can remember but when she gets the opportunity for an adventure, she takes it all in with both her hands. She is brave and witty, not easily ruffled by unexpected situations, and is smart enough to put her folklore degree to good use when she finds herself in a fairytale world. She is ably supported by her childhood best friend Charm who is her rock and ready to send out PowerPoint presentations to help her out despite sounding freaked out and is determined to find a cure for Zin's condition. Their friendship is goals and I loved how it evolved towards the end of the book.

And Primrose is the princess in the fairytale story who is cursed to become the Sleeping Beauty but is not ready to accept it. I loved the depiction of her character, especially through the audio because it showed both her vulnerable as well as slightly prideful sides. Together with Zin, Charm and a few other surprise characters, she takes her destiny into her own hands and refuses to conform to the rigid role she is being forced into.

Overall, this was a completely unexpected surprise. In under 150 pages, the author manages to give us a world full of fairytales and characters who find themselves in stories not belonging to them, but determined to chart their own course of their life story. If you love fairytale retellings with a twist, women being very supportive of each other, a thoroughly entertaining story with even better narration, and maybe some primer on what to do when you find yourself in a fairytale situation yourself - do give this a try. You will not regret it.

CW: racism, xenophobia, transphobia, parental abuse, anxiety and panic attacks

It's probably more of a 4.5.

This is another book which wasn't at all on my radar but then I read some reviews and immediately felt like this was something I couldn't miss. And I was so right.

The first thing I have to say is that this felt like something I've never read before. The way the author blends fantasy and sci-fi with raw humanity is masterful and I was left in awe. The writing in this book is exquisite, with every feeling that the author describes digging deep into our souls and leaving an indelible impression on me. The prose is raw and unflinching, and I did feel extremely sad and scared and so many other things at many points, but it was the quiet and sweet moments that make this one special. The book is also peppered with subtle commentary about the importance of found family and community - especially for queer people; the grief of displacement as well as the joy of finding a new home; and the myriad ways in which music enriches our lives.

But despite the world here spanning a galactic empire mired in a war as well as a devil trying to take back souls to hell, the backbone of this story are music and food. I have always loved singing and listening to music since childhood, but I hardly have any detailed knowledge about instruments, especially nothing about western classical music. But the way the author describes each tone in the music being played, the differences and the charms of each classical piece, the way the music deeply affects the player as well as the listener - all this just touched my heart. And the food .... that was just something. The day that I started listening to this wonderful audiobook, I also started a diet and fitness program due to which there are very few foods I'm allowed to eat. And this book just happens to be filled page after page with mouthwatering and delectable food descriptions and the sweet and savory smells and flavors. Im pretty unfamiliar with most Asian cuisine but I could still feel how delicious the items being talked about are. But the ones that left me craving and very frustrated were donuts, Cinnabon's cinnamon rolls and just any form of bread - because not only can I not eat them during this diet period, my mom would never let me touch any of them as long as I'm still stuck here at home.

The ensemble cast is just brilliant in this book. Katrina is a young trans girl runaway who is escaping her abusive home and struggling to make a new life. Her parts were very difficult to read initially because there were some graphic descriptions of physical abuse as well as her struggle to survive in a new place with very few resources, while also beating herself up about being a freak and not being normal. Her only solace in these tough times is her self taught violin which gives some escape from the harsh real world. All that changes when she is taken in by the legendary violin teacher Shizuka, who sees her as a beautiful soul capable of producing enchanting music and doesn't care about her body or gender. Together with Shizuka's housekeeper Astrid, they both give Katrina the home she doesn't have, the space to feel safe enough to explore her love for the violin as well as a future as a musician, and lots of delicious food to sustain her.

And then there's Lan and her family of unique beings. She may be a starship captain doubling as the owner of a donut shop, but she is also a mother and a woman with desires. Her developing relationship with Shizuka is a sweet slow burn, with two women who have been alone for a long while realizing that having someone along the journey of life is not such a bad thing. Lan's children and aunt are also a bunch of interesting people with different personalities, trying to navigate life away from home on a new planet, discovering more about this world which maybe behind them in technology but is vibrant and full of amazing people, but also full of hatred towards the people whom anyone perceives as the other.

In the end, this might have been a bit harsh and angsty and heartbreaking at times, but it's also a beautiful story of broken people coming together to make a wonderful life for themselves, creating new experiences and sharing their joy with everyone around them. It's a story of hope and family and community, as well as how important a part music and food play in enriching our bodies and souls. It's also an excellently narrated audiobook and I'm glad I got to listen to it.

I can't say I find anything surprising in this series anymore, but it's the familiarity of the formulaic storyline that gives me comfort. But many of real world situations made it into the book which were uncomfortable to relive. And this is my first book which has the plot taking place during the pandemic, but thankfully it's more like an inescapable background. I don't think I would have been able to handle a more pandemic focused story.

CW: sexual assault, medical experimentation, parental and domestic abuse, racism and xenophobia, transphobia

I had seen the cover of this book before but never thought of reading it. And I was almost the same when I kept seeing reviews of the sequel very recently. But suddenly I found the book on sale and as an extreme impulse buyer, I couldn't resist. And then immediately picked up the book because I was bored of others and this seemed like a perfect fit for one of my readathon prompts. And wow was this an interesting experience.

I usually read books very quickly, within one or two sittings because I just can't put a book down when I'm loving it. But I kept reading this one bit by bit everyday, not because I wasn't enjoying it, but I guess I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to binge. And this one is not a quick read either. The author's writing is straightforward, in the sense that it cuts through every pretense and pierces your heart with the myriad of emotions the characters are feeling. The pacing is just right, with quite a bit of time left for contemplation; and this is definitely needed because the author does not shy away from exploring tough themes like discrimination, exploitation, abuse and never ending wars due to scarcity of resources. And just as the book is marketed, it has a very solid religious backdrop based on misogyny just like The Handmaid's Tale. While this book maybe set in a very distant future, the idea of huge corporations controlling politicians to do whatever they wanted without regulations, and the use of organized religion as a tool for oppression and warmongering felt all too close to our real world.

The characters here are a bunch who are very easy to sympathize with. One of them is a nameless young woman called First Sister, part of the religious Sisterhood, who has no voice (literally) but it's very obvious that taking away ones voice and preaching them the canon of a religion endlessly doesn't mean they will forget their desires, or won't long for something more than they are allowed to have. There is a strength in her which even she doesn't realize, and it is this that compels her to make her own decisions instead of letting others decide the course of her life.

Lito on the other hand is also strong, but his strength is derived both from his training as an elite soldier, as well as the survival instincts he has had to develop to climb up from the lowest rungs of society to a more respectable position. Everything he does is keeping in mind of his sister's wellbeing and safety, and this sometimes compels him to act in opposition to his beliefs. He is also suffering from ptsd after a failed mission, as well as missing his long time duelist partner who has been separated from him. It's this grief and emotional turmoil of his that drives most of his story, and it was fascinating to see him grapple with the one after other surprise blows he is dealt with, and realize how he changes as a person as a result of it all.

Hiro and Ren are two other important side characters whose presence (and absence) deeply affects our main characters. Hiro's story is told through a series of audio recording fragments before every alternate chapter, addressed to Lito and their backstory is heartbreaking, but they also have a conviction about them to right all the wrongs done to them and I really appreciated their character despite not actually being present on page. Ren is another fascinating character to round out this quartet because she is a war hero which creates certain impressions about her initially, but unraveling her true personality was a delight and the way she helps the young First Sister realize what lies in her heart was wonderful.

In the end, this was an unexpected surprise of a book which I really enjoyed. It's definitely not a “fun” book because of all that it deals with, but it is thought provoking, and might make us question what we would do if any of the possible futuristic elements mentioned in this story become our reality. This is full of great characters, lots of emotional depth, and a twist at the end which I did not see coming at all but made perfect sense. I can't wait to see what The Second Rebel has in store for me.

More of a 3.5.

I wanted to check this out purely because of nostalgia, because I hardly read contemporaries these days. But it was nice to meet such old beloved characters. One of the stories was one I had read previously, but the other three were new. They were sweet as well as slightly angsty, and overall just gave me a good feeling about getting to know more about these characters' lives. But it ended up being something I was not completely in love with, and I'm not sure why. Maybe I've just outgrown these kinds of stories. But I will end by saying, there was exactly one sentence mention of Wesmie and I would do anything to read more about their future.

It's been a while since I read the prequel novella The Fall which was pretty impressive and I've been waiting to read this debut novel since. And just at the time I thought I was falling into a slump, I picked this up and I'm glad it was the right decision.

There are just some books which pull you in from the first page and this was definitely one of them. But I was expecting that because I really enjoyed The Fall and was looking forward to more exciting adventures in this one. And it was both surprising and not at the same time. I'm not used to reading classic fantasy much, so it was nice to see that I can still enjoy it. And this had all the those old school fantasy tropes done well - human, elves, dwarves, Mages practicing elemental magic even if the magic system is slightly different, the always popular farmboy trope, and the best thing of them all - dragons and their riders. The pacing is perfect and I never felt like putting it down. It's been a while since I've read a fantasy with predominately a journey, so the sense of adventure with high stakes was quite fun. The author managed to create a world with familiar beats and infused it with more unique elements, making it a very entertaining read while also evoking some sense of nostalgia.

Calen is an interesting protagonist because I saw my feelings about him fluctuate pretty frequently. He could be arrogant and reckless and impulsive at times which frustrated me, but he was also a young brave man who was thrust into situations he never expected, and was tested for his mettle and strength of heart. He is aptly supported by his two bffs Rist and Dann who are equally brave even if their strengths are different, but also provide some of the levity in this otherwise tense story. Their banter was definitely very entertaining and endearing and I kept wishing that nothing would happen to this trio.

We also have a huge cast of characters, ranging from people of various races fighting against the cruel emperor, who put their trust in and decide to mentor our main character in his newly discovered destiny. They are all mysterious with each one having their own backstories and it was cool the way the author peeled the layers of their personalities slowly, while also leaving some mystery left for the upcoming books and maintaining our anticipation for discovering more. I'm particularly excited to know more about Aseon and Therin, as well as see where Ella's story is going. And ofcourse, Valerys is amazing and I can only wish to see more of him.

Lastly, I can only say this was an unexpectedly delightful read with a fascinating ensemble cast of characters, a unique world with familiar elements, and a fantasy book that reminds us of old classics with its generous use of popular tropes executed well. I really enjoyed the author's own take on the themes we know so well, and I'm very excited to see where this story is going. All I hope is to see many more dragons in the sequel.

CW: talk of past child abuse and self harm, anxiety, touch aversion

I didn't even realize until a few months ago that Margaret Rogerson had another book coming and as soon as I saw it, I had to add it to my tbr. I ofcourse had no hopes of getting the arc but was so lucky to get selected for Turn the Page blog tour and I'm so excited that I got to read this one early.

To be honest, I didn't even bother reading the premise in detail because I trusted the author after the absolutely wonderful Sorcery of Thorns. And in a similar fashion, this was engaging from the get go. The plot is actually pretty simple but the author makes it all interesting by giving us a world teeming with stories of old magic, the dead rising as different kinds of specters depending on the manner of their death, the powers exhibited by each kind and the fascinating power of relics and revenants. The book definitely is full of religious themes which I wasn't actually expecting. The dialogue is also very funny which kept me amused most of the time. The pacing is just right, with some quiet moments in between, but it never becomes too tense or nail biting.

Artemisia is an interesting protagonist. As someone who has suffered a lot of trauma in her childhood, she is most comfortable being with herself and feels pretty anxious when having to communicate with anyone. So it's ironical that she gets thrust into a situation where she gets possessed by a sentient revenant who seems to love to talk, and is also startled to realize that people have started to treat her as a saint and savior. However much she wants to retreat into herself, she is also compassionate and responsible and maybe quite reckless, so she makes the choice to fight the evil that has descended upon her world.

But the most fun part of the book is her interactions with her revenant. While she avoids talking to anyone else, she can't escape him because he is literally in her and their conversations are so interesting. I was surprised to see that despite being extremely powerful and behaving as if he hates human and especially nuns, he is the one who chides her for not taking care of herself, and guides her every step of the way so that she doesn't throw her life away in some misguided attempt at saving the people. Their bickering friendship is a delight to see develop even though he would never agree that they were friends.

Marguerite and Charles were very surprising supporting characters because I never thought they would help Artemisia. Marguerite isn't who she seems to be and I loved her determination to survive and achieve her goals, despite no one believing in her. Charles maybe a soldier who is supposed to follow orders but he is a good young man who believes in friendship and the trust he develops for our main characters really moved me.

In the end, I had a good time reading this one and I'm so glad it's a standalone. If you are someone who wouldn't mind a fantasy full of religious lore and world building, biting dialogue and an underlying theme of friendship, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Despite the way the plot unfolds, it never felt too high stakes and was quite a calm and entertaining read. And I was pleasantly surprised to see that it has no romance and I would definitely count it as a plus in this case.

I've only read two standalone (for now) novellas by the author before, so I always wanted to checkout her much more popular sci-fi series. And when it turned out to be a perfect choice for my September readathon prompt, I knew I had to give it a try.

I'm someone who does love character focused novels and books with less conflict, which is exactly what this one was. But somehow I couldn't really get into it. The author has managed to create a diverse sci-fi world full of different planets and moons, each having their own species with their own cultures and languages and traditions, and most of the species in some form of harmony with each other through the help of a galactic governing body. I thought this world building was pretty cool, but I'm not sure how more seasoned readers of the genre will feel. The found family trope is also executed very well by the author, and I loved the bonds that each of the cast share with each other and particularly how Rosemary fits into the existing dynamic. But none of this could make me escape the feeling that nothing much was happening and it wouldn't matter if I put the book down anytime. It's a very slice of life kinda story which probably wasn't what I was in the mood for at this time.

I will never dismiss this as a bad book because I'm sure many readers will appreciate this story for its inherent qualities - being very soft and conflict free (mostly) - and might like to pick it up when they need a soothing read. And I definitely loved these similar qualities in both To be Taught, if Fortunate and A Psalm for the Wild-Built. But it's possible the author's works are for me only in the shorter format and the novels won't work for me. So I don't think I'll be continuing with this series but I definitely will look forward to her novellas.