Sahi

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

I put off this sequel for a long while despite quite enjoying the first book and this books about books subgenre being a favorite of mine. I guess it didn't remain memorable once I finished it and I wasn't that eager to pick up the second. But recently, I've been wanting to pick up some series which I abandoned and I decided to start with this one.

This book took a while for me to get into, maybe because it started off slow. The characters are also not handling the things that happened at the end of the first book very well, being prickly towards each other and just not communicating much. And while the whole plot is about finding out what the mystery ink from the destroyed unwritten books during the fight wants and what the ink can do, it's ultimately about this group of people understanding what they mean to each other and come together. In between all this, we get to explore some very new and interesting places - the Dust Wing especially broke my heart due to the reason for its existence and as well as how it fares due to being essentially abandoned. We also get to read lots of sarcastic banter courtesy Hero who just loves giving out flippant remarks for everything instead of showing his insecure and vulnerable side; and ofcourse there's quite a bit of contemplation about what a story means, what's the line where ideas become stories and what it takes for that transformation, what's the relationship between what's written and it's writer, and just general musings on life and souls.

Overall, it was enjoyable because anything to do with books just touches my heart. And a found family finding their way towards each other is another theme that's a favorite. So it was a good read. But I guess the slow pace and too much of contemplation and not enough communication made me lose interest at times, and it took me a while to complete. However, it's still a very unique series and I'll try to get to the finale soon.

I've been reading consistently this month but somehow I'm not feeling too good and that's definitely been affecting what I'm reading. So I thought something comforting would be the right pick and what can be more comforting than this lovely new installment in my favorite cozy mystery series.

I know I've mentioned this many times but I have to say again, I so wish Miracle Springs was a really town, Miracle Books and Gingerbread House existed, and I could go there for a vacation. Even though a HP reference right on the first page irritated me, I continued reading but I do wish that the author would discontinue its usage. The writing is light and soothing right from the get go, even though we get some bad vibes at times just like our main character Nora. I also liked how the author managed to connect little plot points from the first book here and give little hints throughout before the final reveal. There were actually quite a few mysteries to solve here and I could only guess one, but the way the characters deduced the clues was quite fun. As usual there were many book recommendations given all through the story, and it's always fun when I've read most of them and can see why Nora is making those recommendations.

My highlight of this book was definitely seeing the friendship of Nora and Sheriff McCabe turning into something more. They've always seemed sweet together but it was never the right time for them before, but I'm glad they can finally try. Their interactions are lovely and they are very understanding and supportive of each other. Hester and Andrews's relationship is put through the wringer in this one and I can only hope they'll be able to move forward without any resentments. There were quite a few new characters (alive and dead) that we get to know about and everyone was quite interesting. As usual, the book club meetings made me jealous that I didn't have a girl gang like this who could meet up every week and gush over books. There was also a Blind Date Book Bash which felt like a dream and how I wished I could be transported into the pages.

In the end, what new can I say which I haven't already in my reviews of the previous installments. If you like strong female friendships, delicate relationships, cozy mysteries, an absolutely amazing book store and a mouthwatering bakery, then you can't miss this series. It always makes my day.

I've probably read two YA contemporary novels in the past two years, which includes this current one. I just feel disconnected with the age group and have decided not to read them rather than not like them. But I couldn't resist this book because that's a lovely cover and who can say no to a full on desi wedding extravaganza. And I was not disappointed.

I can't say I enjoyed my wedding because I was hardly involved in any aspect of it and it was such a tiring day that I don't even like remembering it much. But reading or watching desi weddings play out like huge parties is always super fun and the author commits to it fully. Spanning only about 8-9 days, this book is fast paced and reads like a breeze but captures the chaotic and colorful atmosphere of our weddings perfectly. The pujas, the rituals, the decorations, the cooking and the food, the sweets, haldi, Mehendi, sangeet, the baaraat and ofcourse the crying - the author leaves out nothing and it all makes for an amazing and thoroughly entertaining but also emotional read. The premise of the main characters' brother and sister's wedding also reminded me of the classic Bollywood wedding film Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, and I felt the author was definitely giving a nod to the movie in the very elaborately executed shoe stealing sequence during the wedding. Just evoked so much nostalgia.

Zuri is sister of the bride and while she wants to major in music, her family wants her to go to law school like her sisters. She has to choose between attending a music competition on the same day as her sister's garba night and while it was a difficult dilemma for her and I could really sympathize with her struggles, it randomly reminded me of an old Hindi TV serial called Sasural Simar Ka in which the bride is the one who wants to attend an audition on the day of her wedding and has to choose. I promise you, this book is way way better than that show but the random memory just felt hilarious. Coming back to the book, Zuri is a sweet girl who is very excited to ensure her sister's wedding goes perfectly but is also worried about chasing her dreams. I'm glad with how she made her choices but sometimes I also wished she could speak up. But I also know it's not easy to counter the arguments made me desi parents and elders, especially when you are a teenager.

Naveen is a cousin of the groom and an aspiring singer as well and an absolute cocky charmer. Their banter right from the first “accidental” meeting was super fun and I liked how the author developed their friendship and more. Thankfully, it's not aiming for eternal love but feels very realistic for how two young teenagers might feel about each other. I was also absolutely glad that there is no miscommunication trope or a third act breakup.

The supporting characters are also all amazing. The aunts and uncles might only care about the kids being engineers, doctors and lawyers and always going on about matchmaking, it's the cousins and friends who are the stars here. They bring all the fun to the wedding celebrations and are also there to support Zuri when she desperately needs it. I especially loved Krish for being an awesome cousin.

In the end, this was a romp and I was smiling throughout. The main character might have some small troubles about making the right choices but other than that, the book is all about love and family and everything that encompasses a desi wedding. It's big and bold and bright and every description took me back to some memory. If you are a fan of lavish weddings and characters whose music touches the soul, then this book is perfect for you. This one promises every bit of fun that the gorgeous indicates.

It's probably more of a 3.5 though.

I was immediately taken by the premise of this story and the cover was cute too. It felt interesting to see what the story would be when the prophecy has been fulfilled and the evil king is dead but our hero isn't prepared to be the new king. But I ended up having mixed feelings for this one.

The humor is what you notice first once you start reading this book. The tone is sardonic and witty and hilarious and I couldn't stop giggling most of the times. Arek, our hero, is really clueless initially about how to be king because he never planned for it. But he is smart (also self deprecating) and quickly starts delegating tasks to his friends who are most suitable for them. He is mostly dense in terms of feelings but is kind and brave and just overall a very nice guy trying to do good. He is ably supported by his friends who all together make for a great found family.

But based on the premise, I was also expecting a bit more romance. Because we only get the POV of Arek, we can clearly see his pining and feel like shaking him for his stupid wooing ideas. But we have to decipher from between the lines if his best friend Matt reciprocates his feelings and while I think I felt it sometimes, I could also see why Arek would be so clueless. There is just too much pining and no communication for two people who have been friends since childhood and I can't say I liked the experience. I can usually appreciate a slow burn but I guess this was just way too slow for me.

Thankfully, the funnier elements of the writing and the camaraderie between the gang make up for some of the draggy pining romantic elements. If you don't go in looking for a love story (especially not the getting together sooner part), this is pretty enjoyable. The theme of what does happen once the chosen one fulfills their prophecy is tackled with quite a bit of thoughtfulness but couched in humor and it was very easy to finish this book in a single sitting and a few hours.

When I first saw the author talking about this book on social media and noticed that very intriguing cover, I knew I had to give it a try. I hadn't even realized that the author is a popular audiobook narrator but I'll be sure to checkout some of their audio works too. And this book... what can I even say about how lovely it turned out to be.

I'm a huge huge fanfic fan. I'm mostly dedicated to one fandom but I love reading fluffy fanfics and AUs and a coffee shop AU has always been one of my favorite fanfic tags. So, when the author mentioned that this is a coffee shop AU, how could I resist. And it's every bit and more enjoyable than any great fic. The world building is not extensive and we get just enough information that we feel comfortable in the setting and that is perfect because we don't need to know anything more. The writing is easy to follow, very accessible, and with a very lighthearted and optimistic feel that you will feel happy while you read along. It's also a slice of life story, so the pacing is not necessarily slow but languid, because no one is in a hurry and there are no high stakes.

And the food ... god. My mom is very much into diet culture and healthy foods, so I'm a bit restricted in what I'm allowed to eat at home. So I can definitely say, the mouthwatering exquisite descriptions of coffee and cinnamon rolls and chocolate croissants made me wanna weep because I wanted to taste it all. The way the author describes the main character's first experience with coffee is extremely evocative and the line “it was like drinking the feeling of being peaceful” felt like it was ripped out of my heart. This book would be one of my all time favorites just for that one amazing sentence. But the book is so much more because it is also about finding your tribe, the kind of people whom you can be yourself with, always being supportive and having each other's backs. It's a heartwarming tale of friendship and found family and one of the loveliest I've read in recent times.

Viv is an orc who is tired of her bounty hunting past and when she encounters an enticing beverage called coffee in a cafe during one of her endeavors, a dream of opening a coffee shop flickers in her mind. She is lovely, smart and very optimistic about her new way in life and is very sure about never wanting to go the way of her past anymore. Her love for coffee is too endearing and the way she respects and welcomes everyone to her shop is awesome.

Tandri is a succubus who has always been misunderstood and maybe even mistreated because of her heritage, and she just wants to find a place where she can be normal and belong. When she joins as as assistant to Viv at the coffee shop, it seems like the perfect association. Viv has made many plans as to how to build the coffee shop but it's Tandri who helps her realize what more needs to be done to attract customers. Their association grows slowly into friendship and more, into something where they depend on each other for emotional support and deep companionship. The relationship unfolds subtly but beautifully and it's a joy to read about.

Cal is one of the first people Viv meets in the new city and hires to help her build the shop. He is diligent in his work and embarrassed about getting free coffees once the shop is open but he is one of the main reasons the shop exists and a great but calm and reserved friend. Thimble on the other hand is like the baker sent from heavens whose confections re so enticing that they'll compel anyone passing through to come in for a taste and become a regular customer. He may have said not more than 15 words in the whole book but this story wouldn't be the same without his presence and his lovely food.

In their endeavors, they are also helped in small and big ways by many other people of the town. The old neighbor Laney who wants to trade her inedible recipes with Thimble but will eat something from the cafe everyday; Pendry who is from a family of masons but wants to be a bard in the coffee shop; Durias the gnome who enjoys playing chess by himself; Hem, a student who doesn't like hot coffee but loves working on his research in the cafe; and the strange mafia head of the town who falls in love with the cinnamon rolls - all of them feel the magic of the coffee shop, support Viv and find their own kind of home at the Legends and Lattes cafe.

To conclude, this was the most comforting book I've read in a long time with beautiful characters, lots of soul soothing food which I wished I could have or drink coffee right at the moment, and a tale of heartwarming found family and friendship which made my heart feel full of hope. Maybe we'll get more such lovely books in the future.

I didn't take too long this time to start the third book after finishing the second because A Heart Divided ended on quite a tense note and I wanted to know what was gonna happen next.

I think I enjoyed this book more in first 30-40% on the ships and the remote island. The confrontations between Count Seven Hong, Guo Jing and the Ouyangs was fun to read about and it was interesting to see how the tides kept changing in each of their favor quite frequently. But some of the middle part felt boring because of the whole eavesdropping from a secret room in the inn setting, especially because drastic things kept happening outside and I just couldn't grapple with Lotus's reactions. I agree she is playful and doesn't care about anyone, but she just came across as cavalier of other people's lives sometimes. I also hated that the good guys kept being good and even helping the bad guys, despite only getting treachery in return every single time - it just felt so pointless if the bad guys were always gonna get the upper hand because the good guys couldn't comprehend their evil. Yang Kang is ofcourse devious as hell and I pity Mercy for always falling for his charms.

I know there's only one book left now and I'm very excited to get to the final portion of this story, but I hope the good guys get more smart and don't fall for the evil ones all the time. I have a basic idea of how the story ends but I am eager to see how we reach there.

And that's the finale. I read this book at a breakneck speed immediately after finishing The Two Lost Mountains because I couldn't wait anymore and neither could I sleep without knowing the end. And what a way to end this decade and a half long series.

This has everything that I have come to expect from this series, especially what I absolutely adored in the first book. This really felt like a full circle. Navigating the labyrinth which is full of traps and being “literally” helped by Imhotep's head was awesome and felt very reminiscent of Jack navigating traps in Seven Ancient Wonders right at the beginning. There were also the amazing thrilling action sequences and I was glad to see every single character get their moment to shine, particularly Lily who has grown up to be such a formidable young woman. The nods to Wizard made me teary eyed because even though I read about his death more than a decade ago now, I still remember how much of a wonderful character he was and it felt appropriate to remember him when everything was ending.

And then we have Jack. I have always loved the way Jack is this amazingly good guy who will do anything to protect his loved ones as well as the world and I never once suspected that he might not succeed. But this book was one of the few times the author portrayed how tiring his duty was, and how much more weary he felt when he thought that even protecting the world wouldn't be enough to save all of his family. This is one of those old school good vs evil kinda series without a lot of nuance, but I love it for what it is. And I'm so glad the author gives very satisfactory endings to all the good guys. But I have to say, the way things end for Jack was just amazing because he totally deserves all of it. And after all the tremendously anxious moments we've had throughout the series, I was glad to see things tied up neatly in a bow.

This series has been with me since the first time I started living alone and has been a great companion. Whenever I write about my favorite tropes in fiction, found family is always at the top of my head and this series embodies the trope. It's all about found family and friendship and the love they all share... and the love I have for them. I'm very very satisfied with the way this ended. Maybe one day I will reread because it's been too long since I read the first three and they'll be fun to try again.

I've always loved mythology and may have even learnt a bit about Greek and Egyptian myths at some point in my younger days, but Arthurian myths and legends were never even on my radar until very recently and I still don't know much about them. But it's always fun to read some form of retelling of an Arthurian legend which is both gender bent and queer because that's right up my alley. And this was just something.

When I started reading, I struggled a bit with the language because it has that old world, medieval kinda feel but once I got used to it, I saw how beautiful it was. The writing is truly lyrical and free flowing, almost feeling like it's written in verse, and very metaphorical and alluring in a way I can't truly articulate. I also loved how the author retold this story, giving us very different but wonderful versions of Perceval, Lancelot and Nimue, but also some fascinating portrayal of Arthur and Gwen. Peretur is a brilliant character who is bold, brave, extremely skilled in battle, but also retaining a certain sense of innocence. I loved her development from living in the wild to proceeding on her adventure, all the while discovering the path she wants to take. But the best part of the story is the small and big connections she makes, both with people and animals, and how each little interaction shape her into the person she is. These emotional moments were what made this such a lovely book to read.

At the end, I just want to say if you stunning writing, very realistic historical setting, and characters who feel both real and mythical, you should checkout this little novella. And the author's note is unmissable - it shows the extensive painstaking research the author did to keep this story grounded while also ensuring to diversify it to appeal to modern readers. It's a truly remarkable piece of writing and now I wanna checkout the author's backlist but I'm gonna cry because I have too many already on my tbr.

I'm not in anyway prepared to write a review for this book because I can't. I'm too attached to this series and even when bizarre and impossible things happen, I only squeal with joy because I'm all fired up, cheering for my favorite characters.

In the interview at the back of the book, the author says that the first book was published in 2005 and it has been a long journey for him. But it's also been for me because I discovered this series in 2008 and completely fell in love. And even when there was a six year gap between the publication of the third and fourth books, and an eight year gap between my reading them, my love for Jack West Jr. and his family and his mythological adventures never went away.

I'm in awe how the author connected the myths of the Sirens, more mysteries surrounding Imhotep and the Great Sphinx, some absolutely jaw “dropping” moments and a few devastating deaths. Through it all, Jack has to power through when all his enemies are more powerful, more connected and always way ahead of him. He has now got three different factions of villains ahead of him on his next quest and I am feeling quite scared.

Overall, I know this review is a mess but what can I say. I enjoyed it thoroughly, I flew through the book and even loved enjoyed parts of it on audio which was wonderfully narrated. The odds seem stacked against my heroes for the finale and because I can't bear to wait anymore, I'm gonna put my very long planned TBR of March aside and start the final book of this beloved series immediately. Let's see what the Labyrinth has in store for everyone.

Just as I love writing book reviews, I love reading and watching movie reviews. And one of my favorite Indian film critic is Anupama Chopra. I've followed her for years now and absolutely adore her for the joy she finds in watching movies, how she fangirls at some of the same things I do (we love you SRK) and how well she writes. So when I saw that she was coming up with a book that was sort of her memoir but through the eyes of cinema, I knew I had to read it. And I'm so happy I did.

This is like a collection of essays or blog posts, each chapter either about a film or artist or documentary or just something very important about Bollywood. And despite her including a few of her favorite South Indian movies, this book is quintessentially Bollywood. And I adored it. I love how she both captured the brilliance of movies or actors in her review style, but also gave larger context about her association with the said movie and artist. It's a perfect read for someone who loves Bollywood movies and stars, old and new, and would love to reminisce about some of their favorites. She also includes some iconic lines and song lyrics from the movies she is talking about, so you definitely need to know Hindi to understand them, but also maybe know their significance to appreciate them. As I had watched most of them and loved the stars she was talking about, this book just felt like indulging in nostalgia. Naturally, I loved the chapters about K3G, KHNH, Chak De, Karan Johar, Adi Chopra, Diljit Dosanjh, her experiences at MAMI and Cannes, and many many more.

In the end, this was exactly the book I needed in the moment. Anuji might have decided to write this book before the pandemic began, but it's an apt book for the circumstances, if we wanna relax and refresh some good memories when we are feeling down. I've not been in a good headspace for a week or so, so this was rejuvenating and made me happy. If you love Bollywood and it's glitz and glamor, you'll enjoy this. But if you are looking for recommendations, you'll have to be careful because the book is chock full of spoilers.

This was as beautiful as I expected it to be. The writing is extremely atmospheric, with many sentences just evoking unforgettable imagery and I'm so glad the author just stepped up from her wonderful writing in Down Comes the Night. We also have the grumpy sunshine trope here with Margaret being a very serious person, mostly because of her abandonment issues. She just wants her mother's love again and will do anything for it, even if she doesn't wanna kill the Hala in her heart. Wes feels happy go lucky on surface but is hiding a lot of insecurities and just wants to provide for his family. Their relationship is full of small and tender moments which was so endearing.

Overall I really loved this story. It made me smile and cry and feel all kinds of emotional. The only reason my review is short is because I've just not been in a good mood these days and don't feel upto writing something longer. But don't let my boring review stop you, go ahead and pick up this book to enjoy a lovely atmospheric romantic fantasy.

It's hilarious that I still haven't read Jade War or Legacy yet despite loving Jade City. I guess it was such an intense experience that picking up the sequel makes me all kinds of anxious. But hopefully I'll finish the trilogy soon. In the meantime, I found myself in a bad mood today and decided to cheer myself up by picking up this prequel and it was definitely the right decision.

The writing is very engaging right from the beginning and it was interesting to get to know the perspective of someone who is not a Green Bone but works with setting it. The author describes jade setting like an art form and I enjoyed picturing it in my head. And in such a short book, the author also manages to include robbery, murder, corruption and revenge and I have to commend her for creating such a compelling narrative while also feeling satisfied with its length. It ofcourse moves at a fast pace but that is to be expected, and it helps that the narrative takes place in the duration of a couple of days.

Pulo is an interesting character because he is a good person and somewhat idealistic but also easy to judge when it comes to other people, without knowing their whole situation. He does have his heart in the right place though and I admired him for standing up for his mentor and friend in very dangerous situations. Isin is his mentor and the owner of the Jade setting shop, a mysterious person who keeps things close to his chest and is very unassuming and unambitious despite being a master crafter. Malla is competent at her job but quiet and doesn't draw too much attention to herself. These three characters' dynamics and their relationship with each other is explored very well. But the little cameos of familiar characters from the Green Bone sage were definitely a highlight for me, especially one which made me quite emotional.

I don't know if the author intends to write more stories in this world but this is definitely a fun addition to the series. It is entertaining, has some unique characters, unexpected plot twists, still maintains the gritty nature of the trilogy, and gives us a small glimpse into how some of our favorite characters of GBS came to be who they are. And ultimately, this is amazing fan service.

It's definitely more of a 4.5.

I've been following the journey of this book on social media since the author decided to write it just for fun and I've been so so excited for its release. And when I got the opportunity to request for an arc, I jumped on it immediately. And then had to read it even though it doesn't release for months.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you should know that Aliette is one of my favorite authors and I'm always in love with her short stories and novellas in particular. And this one is even more special because I adore Asmodeus and Thuan as characters and as a couple. It's fun that this sequel to Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders is again set during the their vacation in the underwater dragon kingdom and they end up having to solve murders. The whole idea of Asmodeus babysitting is hilarious and I was very interested to see it, but what the author gives us is so much more.

Asmodeus and Thuan are vastly different people and it's always fascinating to see how their relationship actually works. And this story which takes place six years after their marriage shows that it takes hard work to keep their relationship strong. Thuan is a compassionate cinnamon roll who can be self sacrificial when it comes to people he loves, but the famously stabby Asmodeus can also be the same if he decides to protect someone. They are very much at odds with each other in this story about how to go about solving the murders and protecting a certain someone but we know that ultimately they will be fine and their love will sustain. Their relationship with their nieces Ai Nhi and Camille is amazing and even the girls seemed so taken with their Unka Thuan and Unka Asmo. The kids are also brave and kind and very thoughtful, even in dangerous circumstances they don't fully understand. The murder mystery itself is fairly straightforward and a fascinating exploration of toxic masculinity, but it's the characters and their interactions that make this book fun.

To conclude, this novella was everything I expected from it and more. Along with a serial murder mystery, we have endearing ghost children, commentary on the various ways of correctly and wrongly brewing tea, insights into an established relationship with diametrically opposite personalities, and lots of fun interactions. I can only hope the author will continue to write more stories featuring my favorite murder husbands.

CW: child death, animal sacrifice, mentions of rape, suicide, depression

As someone who only started learning more about Greek mythology fairly recently, I don't know much about the stories of Ariadne or Phaedra or even the tale of the Minotaur though I've heard the name quite a bit. So this book wouldn't have been much on my radar if not for it's gorgeous UK cover as well as the cover of the author's next release Elektra. So I was excited to find the audiobook of this story and it was definitely an experience.

The author's writing is very compelling. Right from the first page, there's a very engaging quality to it and even though I read this in short bursts and kept putting it down after maybe an hour everyday, it still remained on my mind and I was excited to continue the next day. The narration by Barrie Kreinik is also perfect and very enticing, especially when she is speaking through Ariadne's voice. The pacing could be a bit uneven with a very strong beginning but some of the middle parts feeling bogged down by the domesticity of the characters, but somehow it didn't really affect my feelings too much. However, it's the author's theme of bringing to light how men are valorized while women's pain goes unrecognized all across Greek mythology is what will remain in any reader's heart.

Ariadne is a kind person since childhood, despairing over the things she couldn't change in her life but also enduring whatever life offered her, taking care of the people she loves. But one major decision of her changes her life completely and it's an interesting character arc that she goes through. At times she is willing to defy anything and anyone to stand up for her principles and for saving helpless women, but other times she is very passive, not bothering with what's happening around her and just feeling content with her children. But whatever she does or doesn't do, she is an easy person to like.

Phaedra on the other hand starts as a precocious child who's life trajectory is remarkably different but also equally dichotomous. She is able to escape her cruel father but has to contend with a charming but indifferent husband who doesn't care about anyone but himself. She manages to involve herself in court affairs and rule like a Queen but can never take credit for her work because she is a woman. She never finds the love she craves from her husband or children but when she finally thinks she has found her true love, she is too late to turn back. I remember reading about Phaedra's story in Natalie Haynes's Pandora's Jar and the various versions of her tale across history, so I was very intrigued by the way the author wrote her ending. We ofcourse don't have any godly interventions like in Euripides's version but just the frailties of human nature.

As one might expect, the author is pretty hard hitting about the casual cruelty of the men in these myths and how they are made into heroes despite their actions causing much suffering. We get to meet the cruel Minos who only wants to rule by fear and doesn't care what happens to his family or people. Theseus is all about achieving laurels and being exalted as great, and finding joy only when he is talking about all his prowess. Dionysus is as charming as Theseus in the beginning and possibly the one male character I liked here but he too slowly falls into his nature as a god, forgetting his duties and love towards his mortal wife and children. Hippolytus is a small presence and mostly an innocent, but his description is very much clouded by how reverently Phaedra views him. Daedalus might be the only male character throughout who is genuinely written as smart, resourceful and caring. But they were all very interesting to follow along with.

In the end, I had a good time listening to this audiobook. However, the problem with any well written Greek mythology retelling, even those highlighting the women's stories, is that they will never be completely satisfactory because the women do end up suffering too much. They do get a voice in the narration but it just accentuates the pain they are experiencing. But I also love reading these stories and I'm already very excited to pick up Elektra next. That should be more interesting because I atleast know some background about Clytemnestra, so I won't be starting on completely unfamiliar grounds.

This is an interesting prequel to The House of Shattered Wings, giving us glimpses into the lives of some of the important characters before the beginning of the trilogy. It's always fun getting back to this gothic fantasy world.

This was actually such a fun prequel story. And I always wondered how Thuan ended up spying in Hawthorn house, so it was nice getting to know this part. But it's also hilarious seeing what he thought of Asmodeus at this time and where he ended up. Another Thuan and Asmodeus novella is coming soon and I'm just more excited for it now.

A very sweet and light hearted beginning of Selene and Emmanuelle's love story.

CW: beheading, mention of past abuse, on page panic attacks

I think I've heard the author's name before but don't remember ever encountering her books before. But this series in particular has had my attention since a few weeks ago because my favorite author Shelley Parker-Chan said this is one of her favorites. And love checking out those which are what my favorite authors are reading and loving. And this was pretty different from my usual fare.

I don't honestly know what I think of it, so I'll probably discover my feelings as I write this review. Im also a bit confused because I listened to this audiobook during an overnight train journey when I couldn't sleep at all, and my sleep deprivation may have left me unable to process it all properly. But the book nevertheless had me engaged and helped me feel calm even though I couldn't sleep. First thing I have to mention is that the audiobook is done very well, particularly the scenes when the narrator has to change his tone and pitch based on the emotion of the scene or when one of the characters is almost having a panic attack. I've seen in a couple reviews that this story is set in the same world as some other books by the author but I think it's fine to read as someone unfamiliar with them. But we also get only the required amount of world building necessary to further the story, and nothing more. There is also quite a good amount of gore and mentions of violence, but overall the tone of the book is more funny and irreverent. I also love the fact this is mostly a romance but we also get political conspiracies, religious cults, magical serial killers and so much more.

I don't know which character to mention first because both of them are so compelling in their own ways. Stephen is a Paladin, but one who's god is dead and he is a broken man who is full of guilt and fear and doesn't think he deserves happiness. But he is also brave and chivalrous and steadfast (which is also true for all of his Paladin brothers) and it's hard not to like him or feel sorry for him.

Grace on the other hand is a perfumer who has had life changing bad experiences before and lost everything she held close to her heart multiple times, and is now satisfied with what she has built for herself and doesn't want any complications. She is sweet and naive in some ways, doesn't think she'll ever find love, and gets panic attacks when she suddenly remembers some past bad situations. What I will never forget is how the author describes her talent as a perfumer, the way she contextualizes everything through scent and the way she describes everything and everyone through smells is funny and endearing. I also love how the narrator brought her insecure and panicky self to life.

I think this is technically a slow burn because they both take their sweet time to get together but their fascination with each other pretty much starts in their first meeting. But they are both so scared to put themselves out there and be vulnerable that they keep affirming to themselves that the other couldn't possibly be interested in them. There is so much internal monologue on both sides wallowing about it which was sad but also frustrating, and I wanted to just smack their heads together sometimes. But they are also very good to each other, their personalities being perfectly complementary and also there's so much mutual respect.

The side characters are equally eclectic and amazing and I wanted to know more about all of them. Bishop Beartoungue is the well respected leader of a religious order and I adored seeing her showing off her power, but also being super funny in interactions with those she was familiar with. It's obvious that there is so much more to her and I would love a whole book about just her. Istvhan is Stephen's closest friend among the Paladins and is a grounding force in his life, counseling Stephen to realize that he deserves love too and standing up with him in dangerous circumstances. We don't get too many close interactions with other Paladins but they all seem like a great supportive group, albeit with past issues of their own. Marguerite is Grace's landlord, best friend and self confessed spy who is very mysterious but self assured and a force of nature in support of Grace even if she doesn't always do it openly. I'm hoping we'll get to know her true story in the upcoming novels. We also have other compelling characters who have small but interesting presence throughout and were part of some very funny scenes.

After this long story that I've written, I think that despite some frustrating moments with the two main characters, I overall enjoyed this story which was a good combo of slow burn romance, compelling character arcs, lots of entertaining scenes and dialogue and a plot which was convoluted, violent and funny all at once. Now I can see why the author is so well acclaimed and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I don't remember when I but I think I bought this one a few months ago. I had read the author's debut Cinderella is Dead and thought it was solid, but I guess I just never got around to this one. I very rarely do this but I went into this not knowing much except plant magic and poisons and I think that was a great decision on my part.

I'm not much of a fan of contemporary books these days, even if they are in my beloved SFF genres. Maybe I wouldn't have picked this up if I realized it before. But once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The author's writing hooks you in right at the get go, first with the gorgeous descriptions of flowers and then with the heroine's magic in general. I have to confess, I'm not much of a nature lover and have no interest in gardening but the way the author describes the main character's relationship with plants, how the magic works, and both the little sweet and tense moments with the poisonous vines - it's all very stunning and made me appreciate this kind of magic for the first time.

We also have a house (or an estate) which is a character in itself, revealing its truths slowly and giving very gothic vibes; and how can I forget the Beauty and the Beast style library. I could almost imagine the musty old books, all the gorgeous plant art in one of them and just the feeling of being in such a place. And if that's not all, the author unravels one secret after another that we can't put the book down, takes us down memory lane across hundreds of generations, and throws some mythology and alchemy and nature medicine for good measure and we have a very captivating story in our hands.

Briseis is a compelling character to follow. She has this power which she doesn't completely understand but which she feels called towards, but it has also led to a fearful and lonely existence. So, when she gets a chance at a life where she would be able to let go and understand what all she is able to do, she is finally relieved. She does get frustrated sometimes because she always feels like she is a step behind and there are many secrets she needs to find out, she is diligent in her care for her plants (poisonous and otherwise) and also in finding out more about her birth family's history and legacy. I could say more but I don't wanna spoil at all, but the unveiling of this legacy and all the history behind it is one of my favorite parts of the novel.

She is ably supported by her two adoptive mothers who may be scared for her, very protective, and also not leave any chance of embarrassing her in front of her friends, but they are also extremely understanding of the situation she is in and try to make her feel as loved as possible. We also meet a whole host of eccentric characters in the small town of Rhinebeck and I had a very interesting time figuring out the good and the bad guys among them, but I truly couldn't guess everything. It always feels nice to be surprised.

When I started reading this, I didn't think I will fall in love with this story and writing so much. But it's very enchanting that pulls you in with its gorgeous prose, very empathetic characters and a plot that takes very unexpected and thrilling turns. And the way it ends, I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel because I badly wanna know what happens next.

I've been wanting to read this memoir since last year and I'm glad I got to it now. It's an inspiring story of a Black woman who braved all odds to achieve accolades in her profession while also being an active part of the civil rights movement and many other defining moments in American history. The book is not an easy read because it's a bit dry and it also has mentions of many names I was unfamiliar with, which kinda made it boring to get through. The non chronological order also confused me a bit, especially because I was listening to the audiobook. But overall, this was an enlightening book about a pioneering woman who made it easier for many other woman of color to be able to choose journalism as their career, and helped diversify such an important and impactful field.

Average Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.4

After enjoying quite a few translated collections of Chinese SFF short stories, I was very very excited for this one since it was first announced. And I was ecstatic when I got the arc to read. This was definitely more fun among all the collections I've read before and I loved how we got a mix of genres like hard sci-fi, a bit of fantasy, some contemporary, thoughtful dystopia, a historical lens and even some xianxia influences. I think the only thing I missed was having an out and out wuxia story but that's just a personal preference. Other than the stories themselves, the idea of a collection of female and non-binary authors and translators is awesome because it gives us a hint of the vast scope of creative works being put out by these amazing authors.

The multiple essays we got about the technical and cognitive aspects of translation, both from Chinese to English and vice versa were very illuminating. I also loved getting to know the history of internet novels and it's influence on works created by women. Overall, this was some excellent time spent and I can only hope I'll get to read more works by all these creators in the future.

Below are my thoughts on the individual stories and essays.

The Stars We Raised by Xiu Xinyu
Translated by Judy Yi Zhou

I'm not sure I got what the story was actually about but I felt a lot of loneliness in it - a lonely boy trying to find some companionship in the stars.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Tale of Wude's Heavenly Tribulation by Count E
Translated by Mel “etvolare” Lee

The story of a fox trying to achieve immortality through cultivation and his troubles as well as relationships with his friends, this was quite fun and entertaining.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What Does the Fox Say by Xia Jia

This is not exactly a story but the author's exploration of language and what might happen if an algorithm attempts to write a story. How the author interprets the algorithm will string its sentences together was fascinating to read about.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blackbird by Shen Dacheng
Translated by Cara Healey

Set in a elderly home, this is the story of a young nurse trying to get used to her new job and the oldest woman in the home, refusing to leave the world until she is given no choice. This felt both atmospheric and melancholic, with its very beautiful descriptions.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe: Tai-Chi Mashed Taro by Anna Wu
Translated by Carmen Yiling Yan

I don't want to say much about this tale of the rise and fall of a noble, his love for literature and the forever ongoing battle between beauty and fate - except that this was beautifully written and despite being melancholic, I loved it.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Futures of Gender in Chinese Science Fiction by Jing Tsu

Interesting essay about Chinese science fiction, it's historical influences, the growth of authors from marginalized genders and how this changes the way SFF is written and consumed.

Baby, I Love You by Zhao Haihong
Translated by Elizabeth Hanlon

Another fascinating story about parenting, raising children, people's changing attitudes about having children in this day and age, and what does it take to actually love your child. This was equal parts interesting, heartbreaking and infuriating.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Saccharophilic Earthworm by BaiFanRuShuang
Translated by Ru-Ping Chen

The story of plants having the ability to experience abs demonstrate emotions and helping their humans understand their own - this was unique and very vivid and imaginative.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Alchemist of Lantian by BaiFanRuShuang
Translated by Ru-Ping Chen

Told through the POV of an immortal alchemist, we follow his travails and experience his exhaustion of living many lifetimes and suffering humans but I'm glad he gets to help atleast one person.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The Way Spring Arrives by Wang Nuonuo
Translated by Rebecca F. Kuang

A story about how earth's rotations and revolutions work and how seasons change told through the amalgamation of science and fantasy, this was a very lush and vivid tale evoking a lot of beautiful imagery in my head. I truly could feel the arrival of spring and the land coming to life again.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Translation as Retelling: An Approach to translating Gu Shi's “To Procure Jade” and Ling Chen's “The Name of the Dragon” by Yilin Wang

This is an essay by the author about the next two stories which they have translated and I loved how they explain their process of translation, the choices they've made about keeping the original mandarin words vs translating the words, and how much work goes into ensuring the story retains its cultural and mythological context while also not feeling too unfamiliar to an anglophone reader. A perfect essay to be a part of this collection.

The Name of the Dragon by Ling Chen
Translated by Yilin Wang

An enchanting tale told through the POV of a dragon which has been imprisoned by humans for centuries because human's desire for immortality is never ending and even a powerful creature like a dragon can never satiate all of them. Very anguish invoking tale.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

To Procure Jade by Gu Shi
Translated by Yilin Wang

Another story where I don't wanna give anything much but it was super fun and I have to give credit to the main character Deyu for being such a resourceful person as well as having some good luck.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Brief History of Beinakan Disasters as told in a Sinitic Language by Nian Yu
Translated by Ru-Ping Chen

A very interesting but also devastating and ruthless tale about the effects of climate change, what lengths humans will go to for survival, anyone else be damned. And I thought the one point which felt extremely realistic was how despite knowing climate change would cause a lot of damage, we would choose to neglect it and destroy our planet.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Is There Such a Thing as Feminine Quietness? A Cognitive Linguistics Perspective by Emily Xueni Jin

This was an interesting essay about translation, especially when a word in one language can map to many in another lexicon and the correct translated word to choose becomes a task based on additional context. The author takes an example from the recent movie Mulan and explains the issues that can arise when translating words that may have gendered connotations and how one must be careful with not enforcing stereotypes in such instances. Very informative.

Dragonslaying by Shen Yingying
Translated by Emily Xueni Jin

This story about the age old process of how a dragon like water based creature is tortured and operated upon to change its aesthetic to please humans is brutal to read and just makes you feel revolted at the injustices being committed on the creatures as well as on the families whose occupation this is. Excellent writing though because it's very vivid but that just makes it more of a difficult read.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New Year Painting, Ink and Color on Rice Paper, Zhaoqiao Village by Chen Qian
Translated by Emily Xueni Jin

The story of a young girl who is bullied incessantly but turned into a goddess due to some legend that forms around her after her disappearance. This is also about karma and regret and the innocence of childhood. I found it very haunting and melancholic, but very engaging.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Portrait by Chu Xidao
Translated by Gigi Chang

I don't wanna give away the story but just mention that every single word here is enchanting. The descriptions are utterly beautiful and evoke very strong emotions. Just gorgeous writing overall.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Woman Carrying a Corpse by Chi Hui
Translated by Judith Huang

Unfortunately, I couldn't make sense what this story was about. Maybe it's about resilience. Or maybe it's about the fact that we get into this routine and rut in our life that we forget living and enjoying the life we've been given.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The Mountain and the Secret of their Names by Wang Nuonuo
Translated by Rebecca F. Kuang

A seamless amalgamation of the devastation caused by satellite launch debris on nearby villages with the rituals of shamanism and the blessings of the ancestors, this story was fascinated and I was hooked all throughout.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Net Novels and the “She Era”: How Internet Novels opened the door for Female Readers and Writers in China by Xueting Christine Ni

I was most excited for this essay - one, because I love interacting with the author Christine on Twitter and have been very impress by some of her reviews and critiques on her website; secondly, because this essay topic feels very close to my heart. My journey into cnovel and cdrama fandom began with watching adaptations and reading fan translations of these so-called Net Novels by female authors, so I was very interested to get to know more about this industry. And the author does a great job tracing the history of this way of publishing, how many of these internet authors have succeeded in bypassing traditional publishing gatekeepers, and became very influential in the emergence of more three dimensional female characters across genres. I also ofcourse loved it when Christine mentioned some of the popular internet authors and their works, some of which I knew and had read or watched. The familiarity just makes me feel wonderful.

Writing and Translation: A Hundred Technical Tricks by Rebecca F. Kuang

What a way to end this collection. Because the first name that comes to mind when thinking of Chinese American authors is Rebecca and her Poppy War trilogy. And as she talks a lot about her ongoing PhD and the technicalities of translation on Twitter quite a bit, it was interesting to see her expand upon it in this essay. And I love her unique perspective as a diaspora author who's relationship with both English and Chinese are different, which informs both her original writing as well as translation.

CW: According to the author's note - patriarchal, racist, and ableist violence, both verbal and physical.
Also attempted sexual assault.

I only got to know about this book a few weeks ago while browsing netgalley and I was immediately taken in NG it's bright cover and that super fun title. And I was quite excited when I got the arc. This totally lived up to that quirky title.

The writing is engaging right from the get go and I didn't feel like putting it down once I started. It also helped that it was short because I was happy to finish such an entertaining story quickly. The setting of 1920s Seattle felt realistic with its Prohibition, stock market crash, the underlying racism, the speakeasies and more. The author does a great job giving us just enough world building and magic system details to propel the story, and never let us feel like she is infodumping. We also have a bit of timeline jumps and I'm not always a fan of this kind of storytelling style, but I think it worked well for this story which involves a heist and multiple players.

While it is a heist story, the planning and execution of it all mostly takes place in the backdrop in a way we know it's happening, but we don't go into the nitty gritty of it. Which was definitely fun once we realize how it all plays out towards the end. But it's the characters who make this story so engaging. Dolly is a mysterious character, a great con artist, excellent at talking herself out of situations and getting her way, but also principled and empathetic in her own ways. I just loved how she finagled the whole thing right beneath everyone's noses.

She is ably supported by many other wonderful characters. Violet is a Black woman and owner of a speakeasy - not an easy position to be in during those times, but she is strong and protective of her family. Her brother Philippe is a shapeshifter, who can be impulsive at times but ultimately has his heart in the right place. Gabe is his partner who also happens to be a magical tattoo artist. Fiona is another interesting girl who is privileged and rich, doesn't see the faults in her family, doesn't have the freedom that she wants, but can be kind in her own way. We also have some loathsome antagonists but they were written quite well and I wouldn't wanna give them away.

In the end, how the stories of all these characters converge gives us a thoroughly entertaining story. It's a heist, but it's also personal in some ways for the players, so it makes for a more intriguing plot. This was total fun from beginning to end and I remained hooked. I wouldn't mind if we get more stories featuring Dolly and her shenanigans.

More of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.

These days, I'm always excited to pick up any book which has historical cdrama vibes, so I was immediately interested when I encountered this book. Also, Dee Renjie/ Judge Dee/ Detective Dee is a historical figure I remember reading a bit about and also know that he is quite a popular character in fiction. So I too wanted to see what kind of character he is and how he solves cases.

I love how the author manages to balance the mystery of the murder with the larger political implications and imperial power struggles. And it's always interesting to read a book where you know who the possible murderer is but need to figure out the motivations and accomplices. The way Judge Dee and his assistant Yang Rong go about investigating is nothing too unique or unpredictable but how they connect all the threads was cool.

But I think the best part was the writing. It is a historical book set in Tang dynasty but the author's writing style is very modern, so it's easily accessible while still giving the olden times vibes. The audiobook was also mostly good except I thought maybe the pronunciation of the names were a bit westernized. And having found a new fascination for Empress Wu Zetian since last year, I found it very interesting to learn a bit about how the officials and scholars and common people saw her reign as against Confucian principles, even if she was pretty competent. Albeit it is a fictionalized account of her rule, nevertheless it's a short glimpse which I enjoyed and would love to read more books about her.

And as one of the main characters is Xuanji, a poetess, I loved how the author incorporated her poems throughout, the meaning in their words giving clues as to her mindset and motivations. I know ancient Chinese poems can't translate well into English because of the limitations of the language, but I still liked how they were interwoven into the story. And the appendix with the poems and some historical context for them was absolutely amazing. Maybe it'll be fun to find the original poems and read them even if I can't understand Mandarin.

Overall, this was a fun mystery with some cool characters, lots of reflection on political and spiritual matters and an interesting look at the imperial dynasty of the time. I can see that the rest of this series is set in modern times and this was the only spin-off, so I don't know if I'll check them out. But I'm definitely more interested in books like this one. Hopefully I'll discover similar ones in the future.

I didn't think I was gonna pick up this sequel so soon after reading the very fiery and bloody The Rage of Dragons but the characters were still on my mind, and I decided to continue before I forget what I loved about this world. And I was definitely right to do so.

The author takes us right back to where we ended in the first book but there's no time to breathe. Right from the get go, there are plans to make, betrayals to endure, warlords to kill and a civil war to win. This book pits the Lessers against the Nobles, demons against humans, Xiddeen against Omehi, dragons against dragons, and sister against sister. Along with the dragon fight sequences, we also have multiple encounters with demons in their world and those action sequences were some of the most brutal. But the one showdown I was anticipating the most felt quite anticlimactic and I missed feeling the emotions going through the heads of the fighters during it. It's all still brutal and violent and extremely fast paced, hardly leaving any time for contemplation or mourning. And there is a lot to mourn for - the author breaks our and the characters' hearts over and over again but leaving none of us any time to grieve, because there is more to fight for if they need to survive. I almost felt numb after a point because I couldn't process so much painful heartbreak.

But despite the relentless and very well written action sequences, we also get to know more about the history of the Omehi people, the reasons for the hierarchy of power between the Nobles and the Lessers, and the author leaves us a lot to ponder about - which history is true, are some people naturally powerful than others, does that necessitate oppression, what does destroying this privilege and making everyone equal entail, is such drastic change even possible after centuries of discrimination and fighting. These are questions that linger in the minds of our characters, especially the ones who have been historically oppressed, as they continue to fight for the Queen in the hope that change may be possible in their lifetime.

This book is very much still about Tau's revenge. His ultimate goal is to kill Abasi Odili and he will not be stopped at any cost. But his character arc is paved with grief and pain and the author has decided he needs more of it. Even as he believes he only has revenge in his heart, he loses more people he cares for, sometimes making him question the price of his purpose. But he knows he can't stop even if it destroys him. But I was very glad that his friends and Sword brothers support him every step of the way. He may be the champion and Hadith maybe grand general, but they are still always questioned by the nobles about their worth, but I was glad that they all stood up for themselves and their people, proving that they are anyone's equal.

It was nice to get some perspective from Tsiora and see what she is feeling about this civil war with her sister. She is young but definitely determined, has a goal in mind and is totally set on achieving it, whatever it takes. She could be sweet at times, but there were also times she displayed her cruelty. And watching her through her sister Esi's POV gave me pause about her true nature. But Esi herself has her own beliefs and prejudices and despite her childhood trauma, I couldn't sympathize with her enough because of her attitude towards Tau and the Lessers. Nyah is a very competent vizier of the Queen, always ready to protect her, even from herself. She butted heads with Tau a lot because of their differing opinions about what needed to be done, but her loyalty was commendable. Hafsa is a healer who is another character very good at her job, lending both voice and support for her patients, and saving as many people as she can. I was so glad to see so many interesting women in this book and I'm hoping it continues.

In the end, this was a throughly engaging and action packed sequel, battering the reader's hearts with more pain and heartbreak. It also expanded the scale of the already epic story, ending on such a dreadful note that it's obvious that the next book will open with another thrilling battle, and bring more violence and death to our characters. That's ofcourse not gonna stop me from devouring the next installment of this series as soon as I can get my hands on it, and I can only hope that it will be before the end of this year.

This is my first experience of the author's writing and I was a bit skeptical right from the beginning. It's an interesting dystopian world and I loved the way the past is mentioned - how the world changed, how people survived, what rich people did. This story is also about the difference between generations - a mom's desire for things to remain the same and her daughter to be close by, a daughter wanting to be on her own, think about life outside of their bubble and just wanting something more - this leads to conflicts and words flung at each other but it's obvious that the love is ever present. But it also doesn't feel like anything happened and the writing style just wasn't for me. The ending was also pretty abrupt and it left me with many questions. Overall, I think this is for readers who prefer more literary speculative fiction than us SFF genre readers.