Sahi

While I may not be a fan of Rick Riordan's books, Hunger Games was always a fav, so I was quite excited for this one and turns out I was right. I also decided to request for an audio advance copy while still reading my physical copy and it was totally the perfect way to experience the book.

The world building in this one was super cool. It's been a while since I enjoyed such detailed world building in a YA fantasy and I really appreciated the author for it. The mythology surrounding Sol and his creations; the dioses, semidioses, and their powers; the hierarchy within the realm based on the characteristics of the dioses and how it affects the perceptions about them; how the Sunbearer trials happen and the display of all kinds of cool powers during them, being televised like reality tv (very reminiscent of Hunger Games), but also with the stakes being so high and how it affects the temperament of the participants; and the world itself being a mix of ancient and modern - it all made for a lot of fun reading and I was swept along the journey. The story is mostly the trials and it takes place during about 10 days, so the pacing is pretty fast, we get all lots of thrilling adventure and action, and get to know the characters as they tackle such tense situations. I liked how the diverse spectrum of gender and sexuality is normalized here, making for a very accepting world which made me happy.


It's not easy to remember all the dioses and their children present here because we have many, each with their own powers and I still don't know how many I'll be able to name. Naturally I liked Teo because he is the only POV we get, and we truly see his aspirations and fears and his growth through the trials. His friendship with Niya is very unlikely but also amazing and I just adored all their moments together. Niya herself was just so sure of her strength and her place in her world, but never came across as a jerk like some of the other powerful characters, and that's why she is definitely a favorite. Xio is just a young boy who is an outcast because of his father, very much out of place in the tournament, but seeing Teo and Niya be protective about him was nice.

I really thought all the other participants in the trial were going to be jerks based on initial perceptions and Teo's own ideas about them, but I liked the way the author peeled the layers of each of them as the story progressed, and we see what they care about and what they are willing to do for their goals. Aurelio and Auristela are definitely very memorable and I slowly came to like at least Aurelio, but I still think it'll be more interesting if they are a larger presence (maybe even a POV). And I know everyone probably is shipping Teo and Aurelio but I'm not sure if I'm there yet - there was just a bit too much unnecessary angst for my liking in their dynamic but I'm looking forward to more of their relationship development now that the circumstances have changed.

Overall, this was an action packed and thrilling novel with a very unique Mexican inspired world and mythology which will leave a deep impression on you. If you are looking for a fast paced fantasy version of the Hunger Games with gods and magic and slightly less ruthless characters, then you can't go wrong with this one. I also had fun going back and forth between the physical copy and the beautifully narrated audiobook by André Santana. I'm definitely looking forward to see where the story goes next.

It's definitely more of a 4.5 but I'm rounding up.

I've been eager to get to this sequel since the moment I finished reading A Magic Steeped in Poison, with that very fascinating and twisty ending. As my luck would have it, I read the first book weeks before it's release because I managed to get an arc but couldn't this time, so I had to wait for the release eagerly. I decided to try out the audiobook and I'm glad of my choice now.

I had already loved the first book but I have to say, this sequel is even better in almost every aspect. We finally move out of the palace and get to see the land outside of Jia, making for very gorgeous descriptions of mountains and forests and gorges and temples - the bamboo forest being one of the most memorable sceneries, and very easy to imagine coz it's a pretty common occurrence in cdramas. The stakes also change from one person's determination to save her family as well as palace intrigue, to something much more sweeping, with dark forces threatening the realm and ancient gods rendering support. Naturally, we get to know more about the creation of this world and the magic system, the mythology behind it all, and it made for a very fun read. The author's decision to make it a two POV book also helped us get a bigger picture of everything that was happening plot wise as well as giving us better character development than the first book. The pacing was pretty quick here because of the high stakes and it felt like everything was happening very fast - while I loved it for the most part, the ending did feel a tad bit too rushed, but satisfactory nonetheless.

Ning is a much changed person this time around. She has been through a lot of trauma, carries around the responsibility of her friends' deaths in her heart, and is determining to help Princess Zhen now that she has managed to save her sister. As she treks across the empire, learning more about her magic and the threat against their world, she becomes braver and wise and learns to trust her heart and it's decisions. She really comes into her own as the story goes on, and I loved her growing confidence in herself and those she trusts.

It was nice to finally get to know what Kang is thinking. I was initially a bit angry at him for following along with everything his father tells him, despite the cruelty of his actions - but I was glad to see that he still had a mind of his own and was interested in digging deeper and finding out uncomfortable truths. His connection to Ning is still present when they meet again and while I definitely expected more distrust and some groveling to occur before she trusted him again, it all happened pretty quickly here. But it was just nice to see them trust each other and work together for the well being of the people, even when it personally hurt Kang.

We do get to see a bit more of Zhen and Ruyi and I adore their relationship, but it really wasn't too much page time. It was awesome to see more of Ning and Shu's sisterly bond and really how far they'll go for each other's sake. I really wanted to see more of Lian and her bonding with Ning but she was almost absent from the book. The only other character who has some sort of significant presence through the narrative is the villain, who was very stereotypically evil like from many myths I've read, but it was fun to see our characters work together to defeat him.

On the whole, this was a fitting and satisfying conclusion to the Book of Tea duology. Full of beautiful descriptions, high stakes adventure, fascinating tea magic system, and a well developed mythology, this book is a thrilling ride and I fell in love more with the main characters. I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

While I haven't read Sangu's middle grade books, her YA Celestial trilogy is one of my all time favorites, so I was definitely gonna pick up this adult fantasy book of hers. And I was upset that I didn't manage to get an arc, but I can now say that I'm glad I purchased the audiobook because I had such a lovely experience listening.

The past couple of months have been great in terms of reading cozy fantasy novels and I'm glad we get a new addition to the subgenre with this book, and wow isn't this one of the best. Ofcourse there are some tears and sad backstories and quite a bit of contemplation too, but the author manages to keep the book a breezy read for the most part, just full of love and feelings and hope and found family. The writing has a lot of charm to it, and I felt like I was coasting on a sugar high all the time I was listening to it. The pacing isn't too fast but it's also not slow to the point of boring - it's languid and soothing, and you just wanna keep going. Yes it is about witches, and we get some magic lessons and potion making and any other magical feels, but the world building is kept only as much as necessary and it mostly remains a story about love and family. The narrator Samara McLaren does a wonderful job keeping up the mostly cheerful voice of the narrative and I felt completely lost in it.

Mika is a delight. She is the sunshine character, seemingly ever optimistic and cheerful, bringing smiles to everyone around her - but she buries the hurts of her past deep inside. She loves being a witch but that has also led to her leading a very lonely existence, and all she wants is a place she can call home and people to love, who are accepting of everything about her. When she finds herself slowly getting attached to the little girls and other inhabitants of Nowhere House, she is scared to take that leap of faith and entrust her heart to others, but the ways in which she becomes a part of this family is something even she can't help.

Jamie on the other hand is a grumpy guy (but definitely not mean) who is prickly and protective of the kids and doesn't want someone new like Mika to show up at Nowhere House. Their dynamic doesn't start off well but it's a gradual progression to friendship and more, and I loved how realistic it felt. They were both holding back and took time to open up to each other, and it was lovely to see them get together.

But before Jamie, the ones who immediately accept Mika are the other inhabitants of Nowhere House - the over enthusiastic former theatre artist Ian who is equally as cheerful as Mika and just wants to set her up with Jamie, his husband Ken who is probably the most calm and wise person in the house, and Lucy who is the person who keeps the house running in order. They all play their parts in making Mika feel welcome in their home and show her the kind of familial love she has never experienced.

And ofcourse there are the kids. Terracotta is distrustful of Mika, just like Jamie is initially whom she adores, and it takes some magic for her to get to acceptance. But the younger ones Altimira and Rosetta are eager to learn more about their magic from Mika and love spending time with her. These three little girls are the fulcrum of this little found family, each who was lonely in their own way, but found a home in Nowhere House along with other lonely souls.

I can't deny that I love my epic fantasies but I feel like the year 2022 will be an year of cozy fantasies for me, and it'll probably reflect in my end of the year favorites post - and this book will be definitely be on it. It's a loving and charming book full of characters we can easily adore, with lot of found family feels and a swoony romance, and a warmth that just permeates the whole narrative. I was listening to the audiobook (which is amazing) but I missed having a copy in my hand because I just wanted to give it a hug. Thank you for another beautiful book Sangu.

Probably more of a 3.5

I think I reasonably knew what I was getting into because I've read the author's The Long Game, but I also didn't read the premise in detail and got attracted by that catchy title.

I don't wanna give away much by detailing the plot or the characters here but if you are truly looking for a short read that's philosophical, with lots of discussions about theology, faith, sin and repentance, and just what it takes to believe in a higher power. I've been questioning my own faith for a while now, so reading this book and grappling with the questions raised in these pages felt like an interesting exercise for me.

Unfortunately, there's not much going on plot wise. So, I know I probably won't remember the very flimsy world building or the not so memorable characters, but I definitely will remember what this book made me think. Just go in with an open mind and maybe not too many expectations.

What a well written book this was. I don't wanna call it wonderful or great though because even the fact that the author had to write this book, and it all felt so familiar is awful in itself. The author does a brilliant job detailing all of the misogynistic tropes that have been leveled across centuries on powerful women, those who've had ambition, those who've tried to do something other than what they had been relegated to by the patriarchy - and right from ancient Egyptian queens to current American political leaders, it's astonishing that the tropes and insults haven't changed much, but the mostly misogynistic men who are leveling these allegations would never agree that they are being sexist and just can't tolerate a woman in a position of power, whose words they might have to listen to. Each chapter here is an in-depth view of one of the historical tropes that has been a part of a misogynist's playbook, which continue on to today, and have gained more traction due to the power of social media - and it's both heartbreaking to read the various ways in which many powerful women across continents and centuries have been vilified, and rage inducing to see it continue today and even become a very effective tool in scaring away any prospective young leaders in making. The author does end the book with the hope that we might be able to fight back against this incessant misogyny as more women enter politics and other positions of power across the board, but I just feel bleak and sad and angry and helpless. Nevertheless, this is definitely worth a read, and may help some understand the difference between legitimate criticism of a woman leader, and a misogynistic backlash.

I'm actually surprised that I even requested this arc because I can't say the author's Severance was a favorite. But I just wanted to read this one. And turns out I may not be able to glean the underlying messages in the author's writing. Despite that, the writing in this short story collection is oddly compelling, I never wanted to put it down, it went from weird to heartbreaking to bizarre to something else - but the author's imagination is top notch and I could really feel so much of the pain and restlessness within the narrative.

Now that I'm done reading, I don't think I could articulate what it was about. It's certainly about the female experience and an immigrant experience, but it's so much more than that. All I know is that you should give it a try and decide for yourself, and I can't wait to read more of the author's works in the future.

I was intrigued by the premise and wanted to know what this was all about. But after finishing this, I'm not at all sure what to say about it. It's not exactly bad writing because even when I wasn't totally engaged, I kept listening to the audiobook. The author is also probably commenting on the perils of corporate culture where all us employees keep working like mindless creatures, gaining no satisfaction from work, but also not finding the time to do anything more pleasurable or satisfying. But the way this story is told - both in the flashbacks or in the present after a zombie like pandemic - it's very slice of life and boring and with not much connecting threads, and I was just left wondering what was the point of it all. Or maybe it's the brilliance of the author because she is satirizing our banal existence through this story. Ultimately I think it just wasn't for me, but I still wanna checkout the author's upcoming book Bliss Montage.

Probably more of a 3.5 though.

I couldn't read it early despite having the arc because I was in a bad slump. But now that I managed to get the audiobook, I had to give it a try. It's quite well narrated by Reena Dutt and I didn't wanna put it down much. However, despite the lovely voice, I can't say I was completely into the story. I totally believed the world (or a near future Delhi) the author created, which felt both similar to the current political climate in the country and as a natural progression to the future if the authoritarian tendencies of our politicians aren't curbed soon. This world where reality is what we see on social media platforms, and everything is controlled by politicians and corporations and oligarchs, dissent is curbed immediately - there's just so much information here and I was lost in the world, but I also couldn't keep up with it.

On the other hand, I didn't feel the same with the characters. Atleast it felt like Rudra had some kind of a character arc, but Joey who has the biggest presence was more static. I think I understood the reasoning - because most people are going to keep their heads down and work within any existing system, not participate in revolutions - which is what Joey does for the most part, but she also has a good understanding of what she is capable of. The other side characters really weren't ppl I cared about much, or even kinda hated - but that was also the expected reaction I suppose, so the author succeeded.

I guess I'm not disappointed because I knew going in that this book is not about characters participating in a revolution and bringing about drastic changes in their world - it's about the characters realizing that they want to change the system and hope to be part of a resistance. So it stops where most dystopian novels start. However, despite knowing this, this story just felt more like a recounting of all the cool and bad facts of this futuristic world, with not much focus on character development. I would still definitely look forward to the author's work, even more so if he decides to write a sequel for this one.

I haven't read anything related to trans history before and don't know much about the topic, so this was both an interesting and eye opening read for me. The author discusses a new kind of methodology to look at the various kinds of gender expression in the past, when there was no language to describe these experiences, and how reading of these experiences through a more inclusive lens can lead to an expansive view of history. I also appreciated how the author talked about the intersection between trans history, intersex history, gender nonconformity and colonialism. Overall, this was both an academic text but also easily readable for a casual reader. However, this also feels more like an introductory book and I think anyone would definitely benefit from reading the various other texts the author refers to within these pages. The audiobook is also well narrated by the author, keeping me engaged throughout.

Definitely more of a 4.5 but I'm rounding up.

I have loved all of the Lady Janies books and the first of the Mary's too, so it was never in doubt that I will read this one, and hopefully listen to the audiobook. And I'm glad I waited till I got the audio because this was a delight and probably my favorite of all these books. Let me decide while writing this review.

I've not read Frankenstein but I do know who Mary Shelley is, if not too much about her background, and similarly I only knew the name of Ada Lovelace and how she could be considered one of the earliest computer programmers. So it was actually quite fascinating to see the amazing author trio bring these two historical women to life as young women who are still discovering their passion in life. The writing is as fun as I expected, the audiobook narration is hilarious and top notch, and all the fourth wall breaking literally had me in splits. But through all the magic, possible necromancy, automatons, poetry and more, we also get to think about women of that age who must have been passionate about their pursuits but couldn't do much about it because they were confined by their societal roles. And through one very surprising POV, we also get to ponder upon what makes one human, and what's the difference between a human and a monster - and this theme is really prescient considering that Mary Shelley hasn't written Frankenstein in this world yet. There's also some amazing friendships here which warmed my heart, along with cool adventures which had me all excited.

Mary is a young woman growing up in the shadow of her more famous mother, and wants to be an author too - but she is still struggling to find that one story she wants to tell. She is resourceful and quick thinking and pretty good at getting herself out of tricky situations. Ada on the other hand is a math and science wiz who has so many ideas, and is already creating automatons and more. When an unlikely friendship brews between them due to the possibility of both being fae, we see them support and bolster each other every step of the way, encouraging one another in their ambitions. The trust that develops between them is wonderful and it's always nice to see the possibility of two accomplished historical women being friends.

We are also supported in this super entertaining novel by a whole interesting cast of side characters. Mary's sister Fanny is quiet and always worried about her needlework but it feels like there's a lot she is hiding underneath that demeanor; their other sister Jane (or Claire) is much more boisterous and would love to be swept away by a charming man or be an actress or even just meet the illustrious Lord Byron. Byron only shows up on page for a little while but his presence throughout is noticeable, and his depiction isn't too different from that of the pretentious historical figure. Percy Shelley is also a significant character but you just know right from the beginning that there's something off about him. Ofcourse how can I forget Pan, our third POV character whom I don't wanna talk about much except that I adored him completely and you have to read this book to meet him - don't miss out.

In the end, this was everything I expected it to be and more. I was thoroughly entertained, got to meet many historical figures, experienced some delightful friendships and got to wonder about the nature of humanity. I think this is probably the best one out of all these books till date, but I'm also ready to be surprised by the next one, which apparently is titled My Salty Mary (it said so at the back of my copy of this book) and now I'll be wondering who this salty Mary is about. Any guesses friends???

Once I read and adored Half A Soul more than a month ago, it was never in doubt that I was gonna pick up this sequel. And just like I hoped, this was an unputdownable fun read from beginning to end. I'm feeling so glad that I discovered this trilogy.

Just like the first book, the writing captured me immediately. We are so used to reading about the lords and dukes in historical fiction, so this was a nice change because our POV is a maid in a household where none of the servants are treated well. With the author's smart but funny writing, we get to see the plight of the people who work in such households and have no status, how their invisibility is considered their best quality, any wrongs done unto them have no consequences for the perpetrators but they are really powerless to do much about it. But the way this story progresses and makes a point for solidarity between the working class people and how their unity can be a big factor in them being able to change their circumstances, is written in a very meaningful way, and while it may seem a bit too hopeful and fantastical, the message conveys beautifully. I think it's this ability of the author to comment on important social issues but still keep the whimsy and fun intact in the story is what has impressed me the most.

Now, how can I not talk about our lovely characters. Effie is a maid who is full of anger because what else does she have left when she is I'll treated every single day. She doesn't have much choice though because who wants to starve, but it doesn't mean that she has no hope for a change. She too dreams of marrying her Prince Charming and is even okay with making a deal with a Fae to get her wish fulfilled. But what the author does with her story is give her the opportunity to see the truth behind the supposed Prince she wants to marry, realize what is it that she values in a partner and what she hopes her future will actually be. It's a slow realization, and she stumbles a bit in between, repressing her anger at every turn when she is belittled or forgotten or not seen, until it all bubbles up and comes out in an explosive way. But what I loved about her character arc is that the author makes sure we understand that Effie's anger and that of anyone else working in that household is justified, and while them being quiet about it is necessary for their job prospects, it doesn't mean that it's the right thing to do. They have every right to be angry at their dire circumstances and do something about it if possible, stand together with each other to demand better working conditions.

But it's definitely Lord Blackthorn who brings the fun to this story. This is a tangent but in most fanfics of MDZS (and The Untamed), Lan Jingyi is called the most un-Lan among the Lans and I think it's perfect to say that Lord Blackthorn is equally un-Fae compared to how most Fae seem to be in this world. He is hopeful and optimistic and wants to learn and grow and be virtuous, and his cheer just lights up the pages here. Even Effie realizes that her anger dissipates when she is with him because he is one person who doesn't treat her differently just because she is a maid, respects her for the hard work she puts in every day, and hopes she will get her wishes fulfilled. Yes, his help leads to some disasters but he is too endearing to be very angry at, and I know Effie will agree with me. Their developing friendship and more is just so lovely and we as readers will keep hoping as the story goes on that she'll forget her Prince Charming, and look at Lord Blackthorn romantically because they are just so perfect together.

There's also an interesting cast of characters, our feelings towards whom keep fluctuating as the story goes on and things are revealed. Lydia is a fellow maid and Effie's no 1 cheerleader and I loved their friendship. We start of hating Lady Culver because of her extremely harsh treatment of the staff, but we also slowly get to see why she came to be that way - not that it elicits much sympathy towards her though coz she still takes out her frustrations on people who can't talk back. Benedict is like the blandest Prince Charming and we can see why Effie might think he is sweet and charming but we learn along with her about his depth of character (or lack thereof). Mrs. Sedgwick and Mr. Allen are the housekeeper and butler, almost antagonistic towards each other but the way their character arcs develop is also a joy to discover.

What more can I say here. I feel like I've written the most boring review for one of the most endearing and whimsical and charming books I've read in recent times. The author's take on the story of Cinderella, telling it from the pov of a working class person and giving us some hope about the power of solidarity - it's a very entertaining story, but also full of heart and many things to think and ponder about. Here's hoping I'll get my copy of Longshadow from Orbit soon because I'm even more excited to read it now.

CW: multiple attempted sexual assaults, death, violence, gore

This was a very unexpected addition to my tbr when I accidentally saw a tweet by the author and I just immediately had to ask her for an arc. And turns out it was such a quick read that I hardly took one break in between and that too only because I finally had to sleep.

The author just starts off right in the middle of a very tense scene and then it takes a while for it to slow down. It's a brutal tale and the author pulls no punches, but she also balances it out with some sweet slice of life moments and some very steamy scenes which makes for a very balanced read. The twists and turns are also quite unexpected and unpredictable most of the times, keeping me on the edge of my seat. There are quite a few fairytale inspirations and the whole story itself has a noticeable dark fairytale vibe, but it's also equally original, giving us a fun new story to explore but with familiar beats.

Our main character Thorne will break your heart. Having been born and brought up under the shadow of a curse and then been in an enchanted sleep for hundred years, currently being hunted by a malicious Fae - she has never had the opportunity to live the life of a carefree princess or even a normal girl and even now, has to remain strong and figure out how to break the curse and defeat someone much much stronger than her. Her resilience is admirable and when she sets out to do something, she'll do everything in her power to accomplish it, even if it breaks her. I only kept wishing that she get some reprieve from all the danger and heartbreak.

Her turbulent but developing relationship with Kianna was lovely to read and while initially they didn't have much choice but to be nice to each other, I liked how much they came to care for each other. Ronan as a love interest felt like a typical one initially but as the story goes, I started liking him more, and it was nice to see a guy who was a warrior not underestimate a girl who can hardly fight but is driven to learn at any cost. Their dynamic was fun and sexy and what I liked was that they had a lot of understanding between each other and any turbulence in the relationship was due to external factors. There are also his friends Gideon, Em and Noah who are all lovely people and together they all make for a very endearing found family.

In the end, I don't know if I can use the word “fun” for this book because it is pretty dark and violent but with a lovely romance and friendships but it thoroughly entertained me throughout. If you are looking for a fantasy with heavy fairytale vibes but slightly on the darker side, I think you'll really enjoy it. While this is supposed to be a duology, I think it also works well as a standalone with a satisfying conclusion and I'm so glad I discovered the author's Twitter and got to read this.

Definitely more of a 3.5.

CW (from the author): blood depiction, death [animal, parent], past description of starvation, chronic illness of a child, parental abuse, fire destruction, panic attack depiction, undiagnosed mental illness depiction, riots/police violence, social violence

Every time I see a new South Asian fantasy debut announced, my heart sings with joy because yes, this is what I'm here for. I wanna support and promote them as much as I can, which naturally also increases my expectations of the book. I guess that's what happened here because despite thinking it was a fun book, it felt a bit unsatisfactory.

I have to begin with saying this book isn't easy going into. The first few chapters take some patience from us readers to navigate this very new world, where we only get bits and pieces of information which we have to piece through to get somewhat of a coherent picture. But it also in a way reflects the fractured kind of world this is - where there is a very rigid caste structure and it's very obvious that our protagonist (whose pov is the only one we get) doesn't really know much about the intricacies of the world the Landers (the higher caste) inhabit though they literally live nearby on the same island. While the writing might have taken a while to impress, the book is pretty fast paced and the action once it starts is relentless, which was entertaining. But the best part were definitely the various kinds of sea monsters we get to meet here. The author describes them in gruesome detail and it was this combo of the way the caste system plays out and the monsters become additional tools of oppression did I feel that the book lives up to its name perfectly.

The characters themselves were not all easy to like. Koral is definitely the most developed here and it was easy to sympathize with her because of everything she has suffered and is still going through and we could understand even when she made impulsive decisions. Her anger was justified because it came from a place of extreme pain and felt visceral at many moments. Her developing bond with her maristag through the Glory Race was also a beautiful thing to watch unfold.

But the other relationships is where the book probably stumbles a bit. Her best friend Crane was fleshed out enough but their interactions always felt like a bit of a push and pull, mostly because they seemed to have different opinions about being part of a rebel group. The slight mistrust and tension seemed understandable though. However, it's her family which I don't think I liked much. They were critical of her every decision, never supportive except maybe a couple of moments, and considering as the one responsible for their doom which was so harsh considering their life and the problems they were already having.

While the Glory Race itself was very exciting to read about, full of action and chases and fight sequences with Koral's life on the line, none of her competitors felt fleshed out either. Judas really felt like he had so much potential and it was wasted. Dorian is most probably going to be the love interest which I'm not currently a fan of because despite his own personal demons, he still belongs to the oppressor class and I feel like his character needs to do a lot more before the romance between them feels comfortable. He also kind of embodies the “grumpy and behaves badly towards the girl but cares for her” trope which I hate.

Overall, I can say that I liked the book as it went on, with the action packed Glory Race in the second half and the climax being the most mind blowing parts of it. It was fascinating to see the whole thing come together in an explosive way towards the end. If you are looking for some great gruesome monsters, an intense competition for survival, and a protagonist who uses her anger and pain to try to make her family's life better, do give this debut a try.

Any book about asexuality makes me emotional but I ofcourse can't resist reading because where else will I be able to get to know more about the kind of feelings and experiences that might feel similar to mine. This was definitely a very good one where the author gave a lot of their thoughts as well as comments from other a-spec people who were part of this project - talking about their fluid identities, what asexuality means to them, how they view relationships and what kind do they want to have, their dynamic with sex and how much it is/was influenced by societal conditioning that sex and amatonormativity is a universal experience and anyone outside of these norms are missing out, and more.

There was a lot to absorb in this book and I feel like it'll be something I'll go back to again and again, especially when I need some affirmations. As someone who can't really be out as ace irl and has certain expectations which I can't avoid, I definitely need books like this to help me reassure myself that I'm not built wrong and my feelings and identity are valid. There is so much I could say because I'm having too many feelings, but I just don't wanna go on a personal tangent in this review. Definitely recommend if you are an a-spec person or is trying to figure out if you fall somewhere on the spectrum.

The thing that drew me to this anthology is the concept of finding your soulmate and intertwining it with the idea of time travel, and I have to say that this was quite a lot of fun. The authors explore themes like love, loss, second chances and more and it made me laugh, cry and just feel so much. There were quite a few stories which I enjoyed but I definitely enjoyed Alix E. Harrow and Zen Cho's stories the most with Alix's stunning prose and Cho's concept of that one true love. They left quite an impression on me. I'm glad I got to read this even if I was a bit late and I'll definitely recommend to anyone who likes stories about love.

I didn't have Nickelodeon in my childhood, nor do I have any idea about American television shows and stars from the 80s and 90s. So this book wasn't even on my radar until I saw the various discussions on social media about the title, and also some of the abuse allegations against a children's show creator from the times and by the time I realized the connection between the two, I had gotten this audiobook copy. So I decided why not give it a try.

And wow is this a powerful one. Right from the shocking prologue, it's a raw and honest portrayal of a childhood full of manipulation and abuse by the author's mother and I have to say it wasn't easy to listen to most of the time. But the author (who is also narrating the audiobook) injects humor into a somewhat bleak story of her life, telling us about how she was essentially forced into acting, then given an eating disorder by her mother, constantly emotionally manipulated and micromanaged which only led to many more years of her dealing with anorexia, bulimia, alcohol addiction and more. It's heartbreaking and very rage inducing, especially when you see the author trying to justify her mother's actions as love. It's only much later after her mother's passing and going to therapy does she realize that what she went through was abuse.

What I found interesting was that the author's tone is never judgmental of her mother. She only relates the incidents as they happened and lets us form our own opinions. And the way she almost skims over the whole part about how she came to the realization of the abuse and came to terms with it and her relationship with her mom in that context, shows that she probably doesn't want to accuse her mom in her own words. I can only hope that she is doing much better in her life now and is able to move forward in her life.

Very timely collection of essays, poems, plays and more which gives voice to the myriad of perspectives surrounding reproductive choice and abortion - the various reasons for it, regrets ot sighs of relief, a choice thought through or coerced by people and circumstances, something forgotten by the passage of time or a feeling that haunts you forever - every kind of emotion is captured in these pages, across countries and cultures and decades and I was completely moved by these stories and experiences. It only reinforces my conviction to always advocate for reproductive freedom, especially when we find it more in danger every single day.

Another 4.5 read that I'm rounding up.

CW: rape, sexism, mentions of past child abuse, suicide and homophobia.

For the past couple of years atleast, I've been of the opinion that I'm quite good at identifying the books I will enjoy and only reading them. This has definitely led to some very good reading years, high rating averages, and deep satisfaction. But mostly getting my book recs from social media and blogs where I follow the kind of people who love reading SFF like me means that sometimes I miss some books outside of those genres which would have been a perfect fit for me. This is one such book whose existence I didn't even know about until well after it's release, and only because I made a new friend Shazzie and she raved about it in her review. It's taken me weeks to get my library copy because i didn't know how popular it was and how long the waitlists were. But here I am and what an experience this has been.

I got the audiobook copy before the ebook, so I started listening. And then I couldn't sleep for whatever reason, so this became my company for the whole night even if I ended up getting a headache after coz of the sleeplessness. I went into it only reading my friend's review and a couple of others and some idea of the basic premise. I don't know how exactly it was marketed but that cover is very deceptive. It promises a quirky funny book and it is in parts, but the book is much more intense and bleak and sad at other parts and I'm sure some readers might be thrown off by that whiplash. But the author does a good job balancing all the emotions throughout, making for a very engaging read. We have random POV switches which come at unexpected times, and get perspectives of those I didn't see coming, which makes for a surprising narrative. And Miranda Raison does a superb job capturing the nuances of every single person (and not person) she is narrating, which makes for an unputdownable listening experience. The pacing can feel slow and dragging in parts and the book maybe a tad bit long, but I think the rest of the story made up for these little shortcomings.

This is set in the 50s/60s California and while I don't know much about the times, the setting does feel realistic. And it's the themes the author explores that stay with you long after you are finished - misogyny, patriarchy, gender discrimination in the work place, motherhood, family, ambition, faith and more. Yes, there are more sexist asshole characters here than the good ones and reading their words and actions will make you angry, but if you think deeply, you realize that not everything has changed in the past 6-7 decades. The gender pay gap still exists, every woman who chooses to be a mother is expected to atleast partially sacrifice her career, women in literally any male dominated field have to navigate sexist work cultures and even inappropriate sexual advances, child rearing is still mostly a mother's job, the enormous amount of work that goes into maintaining a household is still dismissed as just being an “average housewife”, religions and faith leaders still instruct women to remain in hostile and abusive marriages because god doesn't condone divorce and think of the husband and children - the list just goes on and there's all this and more in the book and in our real life and it's all very rage inducing but also maybe cathartic.

Because the message of the book is be the change. Our main protagonist Elizabeth suffers blow after blow in both personal and professional lives but she refuses to work within the system or compromise her principles, sticks to her beliefs and remains dedicated to science. The book might feel a bit over the top or preachy at times, especially when Elizabeth goes on her monologues, but they are also very meaningful, and I don't always mind if the authors are hitting our head with the message instead of being subtle. The author through our character reiterates that women have to look within themselves, understand what they wanna do, and commit to it - we can't all change many people's lives like Elizabeth does through her cooking show, but we can try gather some courage to change our own. I really admired Elizabeth for persevering in being herself in a world that was determined not to accept her the way she was, and always keeping her original intent close to her heart.

While there are many hateful characters here throwing obstacles in her path, she also manages to find her people, makes her own family, who understand and support her even if they are slightly exasperated at times. Her relationship with her partner Calvin was beautiful and intense and heartbreaking, but it was nice to see them respect each other equally. Their daughter Madeline is a precocious little one who is too observant for her own good, and understands her mother too well. Harriet might start off as a nosy neighbor but the support she provides a new single mother is priceless and I loved seeing her become a part of their family. Walter, Mason, Frask - all were supportive in their own ways, being there without asking, providing support, and sometimes rectifying their mistakes. Not all but atleast a couple of the ego driven sexist bosses get their due here which was also quite satisfying to read about.

To conclude, this was everything and nothing like I expected. A resilient protagonist, her amazing found family, not quite smashing the patriarchy but atleast trying to - this book is full of tears and joy and strength and support, and quite a few laugh out loud moments as well. Yes, I felt very angry and maybe even helpless while reading it because what have I really done to change my own life, but what I can learn from the book is not to give in to despair and keep hope alive. Can't wait to see what the author writes next.

Definitely more of a 4.5 and I'm rounding up.

Even though I was immediately taken in by the premise of this story when it was first announced, it took me a long while to actually get to it. Meanwhile, I read both glowing and not so glowing reviews about it, adjusted my expectations, and hoped that I would get to it someday. Finally the time came when my friends chose it as a pick for one of my readathon prompts and I had no reason to put it off anymore. And this turned out to be an experience I can't accurately describe.

The first thing I realized while reading this was that promoting this majorly as a heist novel was a mistake. Yes we have a crew of friends and yes they plan and execute multiple heists, but frankly those are a minuscule part of this book. This story is so much more - it's about friendship and family, it's about grief and loss, uncertainty and fear, home and belonging, country and culture, past and future - and how each person is shaped by each of these things. This story is less about the actual heists and more about the motivation behind it, why the characters agree to it, what drives them, what they hope to achieve and if they actual end up getting what they want. It's about feeling the pressure of the eldest child bearing the weight of the family's expectations and never being enough; it's about comparing yourself to your elder brother and trying to one up him in every aspect but not feeling satisfied by it; it's about not being able to communicate the love you have for your family; it's about being born and living all your life in a country but being made to feel like you don't belong; it's about doing everything right and as expected but still feeling unfulfilled; it's about wanting to escape from the small life you have but not knowing where to go next; and also ultimately about feeling the trauma of the legacy of colonialism even when you are generations away from it, and wanting to reclaim those losses in whatever small or big ways you can.

I'm not an American but I live here; I'm an Indian but I don't live there. Being an immigrant is always straddling two worlds and at times feeling closer and farther from both. On the other hand, despite not having any background in art nor having a creative bone in my body, I absolutely love being in the midst of an art museum and just imbibing it all. While visiting the Met was an amazing experience, I didn't know how to feel when I saw the many Indian artifacts, some chipped and broken, because while some may have a clean provenance, I'm not sure of everything. And I know that it's been more than 75 years of independence, and I don't even have any personal stories shared to me by my family about life during colonial occupation, but it's still a legacy that's left an indelible mark on our society and upbringing and culture, and maybe I can't change anything about it, but I can still let myself feel the pain and loss of that history while reading stories like this, and hope that there are people like these characters irl who will do something to get back some of India's looted art back home - because while we can never erase the mark of colonialism, this small reclamation can still be powerful.

I feel like I've gone on a tangent and I didn't even write about the characters. But I don't think I can. There were parts of each of them that felt like me, and parts of them I hoped were me some or the other time in my life. I loved them and felt for them and wanted to be with them. And everything else is too personal for me to share in a review here.

I haven't felt this difficult to write a review in a long while, for a book which had so many elements I loved, living breathing characters who felt so close to me, a full cast audio narration which was amazing, and ultimately full of heart and feelings which were too relatable. I don't know who to recommend this book to but if you are belong to the diaspora, I'm sure you'll find something in it for you. Can't wait to see what the author writes next.

I don't know what exactly I was expecting from this. The author did mention that this features a stoner lesbian protagonist and that's exactly what we got. Lana loves flirting with every beautiful woman she encounters, is not interested at all in the scribing job she has been forced into, makes friends with a grumpy fairy and loves getting stoned. The story on the other hand is probably a satire on governments in general where politicians keep arguing with each other and not doing anything productive even when the country gets destroyed due to their inaction. I had fun while reading it but neither the characters nor the world are fleshed out too much, so it just ultimately doesn't leave much of an impression after we finish reading it.

I didn't have any plans to read this book. I had actually forgotten that I got an eARC of this from Wednesday Books because I didn't add it to my arcs shelf. When I later got an audio advance copy from Libro.fm, I finally thought it sounds interesting and maybe I will pick it up when I find myself in the right mood. And I guess I finally was, and this turned out to be quite a fun experience.

I didn't realize that Julia Whelan is such a prolific narrator, mostly because while I do own multiple audiobooks narrated by her, I've only listened only to a couple, the most recent one being Emily Henry's Book Lovers. Which is I kept thinking that wow this voice sounds so familiar. And she really is spectacular in her narration. While the writing itself is good - a nice balance of romance, family drama, self-reflection and more - it's Julia's narration that steals the show, as well as the actual premise and it's execution. As both our main characters are audiobook narrators in the book, the author does a wonderful job giving us a glimpse of the behind the scenes about what it takes to give us readers the best produced audiobooks which we so love. As it's also a romance novel that our MCs are narrating, we get quite a bit of discussions about the romance genre, the HEA, the tropes, and ofcourse how it feels to be narrating all those sex scenes. I found the romance genre discussions between our characters to be full of cheeky inside jokes and poking fun at the tropey-ness of everything and it was all quite entertaining, and I feel seasoned romance readers will find it quite hilarious ( I bet you all to find the Nicholas Sparks stand-in). On the other hand, we also have the author handling themes like a grandparent's dementia and our main character's coming to terms with her disability and moving forward in her life, and I thought she managed to write it all with empathy and heart. And for all epistolary lovers, you also have some of that here, so basically what I wanna say that this book has a bit of everything, and you won't be disappointed.

The only POV we get is of our heroine Sewanee who was an upcoming actress until she lost one eye in an accident and is now an audiobook narrator. She is no fan of romance novels when we begin the story because she has become cynical, feels like she has lost an important part of her, and almost finds it disbelieving that she can still find happiness, love and contentment. Nick on the other hand has lost a lot in life too and is now scared of taking risks because he doesn't wanna lose more. The way they meet and their relationship develops has all the romance tropes, which they recognize too and make fun of which was quite funny actually. I loved how they really seemed perfect for each other right from the beginning but there were still many issues underneath they had to work through before they were able to accept each other's love, and the author makes this progression seem very realistic. At the same time, their interactions with their friends and families, and how those relationships also played a part in the main character's arcs felt very organic.

While I went in not expecting much, I had a good time with this book and I can definitely say that if you are a romance genre audiobook listener, you can't give this a miss. It's well written, has some interesting characters, takes an inside look at the romance genre and audiobook production, and gives us many laughs and tears on the way. And the way Brock McKnight's voice is described, it really reminded me of my favorite male romance genre narrator and his absolutely sexy voice, making me realize that I haven't heard his narration in a while. Time for a re-listen then? Who knows..

I truly wasn't expecting much when I first read This Poison Heart a few months ago and I was completely captivated by it. I've been eagerly waiting for this sequel to release since then and I'm so glad I finally got to it. This was equally wow and I just picked the book up and didn't stop until it was over.

I don't usually read physical books because I don't have shelf space for them and I can't drive myself to the library. But after a long while, I did manage to go and get this copy and I realized today that while I adore my kindle and even enjoy reading on the phone, sometimes the joy a physical book gives is something else. Which was completely in opposition to the feelings the story itself evoked because the main emotion running through this sequel is grief - grief at losing family, grief at knowing that you'll keep losing your family because that's your family's burden, and how this generational trauma shapes lives. The author makes this sadness palpable through her words but there's also hope that our characters will succeed in their endeavor and finally break off from that cycle of trauma, and then there's the adventure tale we get that I wasn't exactly expecting. While we only got hints about the mythology in the first book, this one is brimming with it because we get to know more myths and meet fantastical creatures and gods themselves and go along with the characters on a quest that almost feels like a Cotton Malone adventure, but one I'm more invested in and full of sapphic goodness. The pacing is also pretty quick because there's a deadline looming, but the author also manages to give us quiet moments of contemplation and so much family feels.

If Bri was just a young girl trying to learn more about her powers and come into her own in This Poison Heart, here she has the duty to bring generations of her family history to a culmination and save her mother in the process. She has a lot more to learn here but she has her plants to soothe her and we can see how confident she has grown in her abilities. And despite whatever difficulties she encounters, she never wavers from her path and her determination is really admirable.

Circe is a new character we meet but it's easy to start loving her almost instantly. She has been through so much loss in her life that she just doesn't want to lose anything more and will do anything to help her niece Bri, who she never thought she'll meet again. But it's obvious that really cares for Bri and she takes her time to comfort Bri during the tough times and teaches her more about their family legacy. While we don't get her pov, her sadness is still very much felt and I could really see how much she loved her sister.

Bri is ably supported by her mother Mo and her love interest Marie. Mo is devastated at losing her wife and is overwhelmed by all the mythological information, but she is all in in supporting Bri and Circe and I was heartened by how caring she was of everyone. Marie on the other hand is a no nonsense grumpy immortal who has been through many lifetimes but finally feels like she is living because she has found love. Her relationship development with Bri is tender and beautiful and the source of joy for them when they are embarking on a dangerous quest. Persephone is also someone who has been through a lot across centuries and is determined to ensure that she won't lose anyone else this time. They all made for a really caring group of people who loved each other and were willing to sacrifice themselves for the other's happiness and safety.

I'm conclusion, I absolutely adored this and probably more than This Poison Heart and this will probably be one of my top YA books of this year. I'm continually impressed by the author's gorgeous writing, the vivid world she creates, and the amazing sapphic characters who feel real and absolutely unforgettable. I don't know if the author will ever return to this world but I definitely wouldn't mind a spin-off or just about anything which explores more of the mythological aspects that I feel we have just caught a glimpse of for now.

Probably more of a 3.5.

I've known about this book for a while and I even contemplated buying it many times but just never did. So I was quite excited to pick it up now for one of my readathon prompts. And the audiobook was a lot of fun to listen to. The questions in this are bizarre, the answers even more weird but also in great detail and pretty thoughtful most of the times - and while I don't know how much of this I'll remember, the experience was enlightening and witty with some wtf moments interspersed in between.

I had never heard of the author or this book but I got the recommendation from my dear friend Starryeyedenigma and because I really trust her choices, I had to try it immediately. The book is definitely funny, especially with the author's very witty and emotive narration but I can't say the content was something that I felt either I connected to or that I needed to know. While I could empathize with the author's experiences and understood what she was trying to convey about her idea of feminism, I just felt at a remove from everything.

It was the two chapters about motherhood and abortion that really touched me. I'm at an age where everyone around me feels compelled to tell me that I'm already too old and I should have a kid immediately, so I really felt emotional at the author's words about wanting women to make a choice about motherhood because they want it and not because they have to due to societal expectations. I also really felt she was very open about her abortion experience and completely agree with her that it should only be a person's choice and while it can be a life altering decision, it's unfair to assume that everyone finds it difficult to make that decision or that every person who decides to get an abortion is gonna regret it or feel bad about it forever. Everyone has their own reasons for doing it and how they process it is their own business. This one chapter felt particularly relevant and important because of the current horrific situation in the US and I was glad to know her thoughts about it.

So, while the whole book wasn't for me, it has its moments and it's never not funny. But if you are interested in an entertaining and witty memoir/commentary about topics ranging from puberty, menstruation, pornography, dating, marriage and motherhood to feminism in the current day and age and more, then you should give this a try.

CW: body horror, gore, explicit violence, domestic abuse, violence against children

I've been very intrigued by this book since I first read the premise but I was disappointed when I didn't get the arc. What nice luck do I have though that I got an audio advance copy just a few days before the release and I devoured this book (pun totally intended) in just a couple of days. But I'm still pondering on my feelings about it.

I can't deny that the writing is bewitching, the world created by the author is both atmospheric and horrifying, that we are excited to know more but also hate the parts we do get to know. Each chapter is preceded by an epigraph which are quotes from various fairytales and other books and a character's journals and they do an amazing job of setting up the tone of the upcoming chapter, almost building up to the tension. The story told in alternate timelines also works well in keeping our attention because we wanna know how our main characters ended up in their current situation. While the story is set in our world, our characters feel like they belong to an alternate world because they are so isolated and have their own sets of rules and traditions, and revealing all of it little by little was neatly done by the author. And ofcourse the whole idea of this feeling like a fairytale at times and then the author subverting those familiar tropes was quite fascinating to read.

Undoubtedly though, what's stays after finishing the book or even while reading is the kinds of questions that arise in our head. The book eater world is very misogynistic and women are rare in their community and treated like “princesses”, but we quickly see that being a princess here also means having absolutely no agency over their lives or bodies, being confined to forced arranged marriages and being vessels for breeding children, and then also being separated from said children at the age of three. It was very hard not to think of the current scenario of abortion rights in the US and how laws are being made every day in states to force women to give birth with no consideration to what they want.

The book eaters/mind eaters are also very much inspired by vampire lore as the author has mentioned many times in interviews and that was another interesting aspect of the story - getting to know vampiric characters in a new light. Most of the characters we encounter here are some form of monsters and once we see their actions and how they came to be that way, we start to wonder if there are good and bad monsters, and if we can really root for some of them.

This is ultimately the story of Devon, her son Cai and how motherhood transforms her life. We see the progression of her arc from being a carefree child who thinks she is a princess to one who realizes she has no freedom to make her choices, including the desire to want to be with her child. Once her son Cai turns out to be a mind eater, she is compelled to run with him for the sake of protecting him from everyone.

She makes choices and decisions one after the other which left me questioning (and her as well) if what she was doing was right and I don't think we ever get any answers. She loves her son; while his nature might be monstrous, he is an innocent; so she will do whatever it takes to help him live his life. The author really digs deep into the idea that a mother's love is love - it can't be defined as good or bad, it just is. I had some trouble getting used to this idea of a mother's love because while motherhood is always exalted across cultures and it's always said that a mother will do anything for her child, I'm not a mother and I've never felt such maternal instincts ever in my life. While Devon did struggle with what she had to do to feed Cai, she always chose what was necessary for his survival, and I sometimes found it hard to follow along with a character who could kill people and do many other destructive things along the way for her son.

There are other characters in the narrative, some who help Devon and others who hinder her but everyone has some sort of effect on her mindset and her decisions. I don't wanna talk too much about them but I also think it would have been more interesting to have some of these side characters fleshed out a bit. They have just the necessary amount of interactions with Devon and it sometimes felt like they were all plot devices rather than characters themselves. But it's also ultimately Devon's story, so I guess it works fine for the overall narrative.

In the end, I can say this was a dark and engaging horror-fairytale story with a particular emphasis on the role of female agency and motherhood in a highly patriarchal world, and what does it actually mean to be good or bad in a world full of monsters. Whether the book leaves you fascinated or uncomfortable, it'll hold your attention throughout and keep your mind whirling with more thoughts and questions as the pages go by. I also have to mention the audiobook narrator Katie Erich because she brings a unique voice and richness to this story and while it took me little time to get comfortable with her Northern England accent, it felt perfect for the story and I'm glad I got to listen to it.