Alix

Wow. This book was so beautifully written in blew me away. What a powerful story of healing. 

I loved the beginning but it got sooooooo slow at the end 😩😬

I looooved this collection so much. I almost dropped it during the first story because it was a bit gorey but I'm glad I stuck with it. Really made me want to explore more Filipino mythology. 

Isabel Yap really captured some quintessential elements of woman and girlhood in this collection. 

Lol this was so bad. Lots of “men writing women” moments and telling instead of showing. Bummer because I liked the concept and the beginning! But it was just poorly written and the sex scenes were cringe. 

I knew this book would be 100% my shit but have tried to start it many times and failed. Finally, I persevered and it was so worth it 😭

I felt like this book was too slow but I did stay up too late reading it, so what does that tell you?

Also, if you're not a fan of the miscommunication trope (I am not), be warned it comes up a LOT in this book (for justifiable reasons mostly but still not my fave thing). Also there was pretty much no nuance to the villains. Like, the maid who was poisoning Kham literally being named Belladonna? Or Reika's last name being Villani (villainy). Like...lol

But overall I did like it! 

I really enjoyed this book! While I felt that it was clear Azad was not who he said he was in the beginning, and I cringed awaiting that reveal , I really enjoyed the conclusion of the story and watching the main character come into her own.

Loved this. Scratched a Stormlight itch I didn't even know I had. 

Read this because we're teaching it this spring and it's excellent!

I really loved this book! I hope there are more to come. Very Fern Gully meets DnD vibes. 

Reviewing all my books for 2022 book bingo! Read this for the Book Club square.

I really enjoyed this! I wish that the vampire-y/eidolism aspects of the plot had been fleshed out more, but that might just be personal preference as a reader (and much more a reader of fantasy than of romance). I thought the concept of vampirism as a chronic illness to be interesting - the idea that most people die within 5 years or so of contracting it due to the difficulty was a take I haven't seen before. It was nice to have main characters that are middle aged and still figuring out aspects of their identities (though Sol read as much younger to me than Else!)

Reviewing all my books for 2022 book bingo! Read this for the shapeshifter square.

A classic for good reason. I had been meaning to read Le Guin for some time and this was the perfect excuse to finally do so. It's hard to believe this book is so old because it really does read as contemporary fantasy to me. I only wish it had been longer, as I think there were parts of the plot that deserved more attention.

This book literally devastated me in so many ways

I read this because we're reading it in 7th grade ELA this year; it starts out okay for a middle grade novel but falls apart for me by the end. The death at the end doesn't really seem to serve a purpose and a lot of the character growth feels ham-fisted. Also, the constant parenthetical asides and fairly outdated references make her seem less realistic as a character.

I really wanted to love this; a local-ish author! Own voices! But I think there are better options out there.

such a great exploration of language, empire, and what it means to be “human”

this was such a cozy little book! the stakes might have been low, but i was invested in the well-being of each and every character. highly recommend this if you are looking to be delighted.

One of the most excellent short stories I have read in a long time.

I liked the uncomplicated friends-to-lovers romance, but there wasn't enough conflict or action in this book until the very end. I'll probably still read the sequel though.

I feel obligated to write a review for this book because I loved this series so much and I'm so sad to have finished it, and to leave the Three Worlds. Wells does something truly exceptional with the worldbuilding in this book, and the construction of so many unique and interesting fantasy races. If you love immersing yourself in new places, read these books. The journey of Moon going from finally finding where he belongs to truly feeling that way is excellent, without sacrificing the plot or adventures along the way.

I was looking for a great standalone epic fantasy novel, and I found it! But by the end, I wished it had honestly been a series - the pacing felt very rushed in the last quarter of the book, and I wish I had gotten to see more of Tane' in general. I also didn't particularly care for Roos and found his redemption arc to feel kind of sudden? But I really loved the world, and the story, and the romance! I especially loved that Ead and Sabran didn't abandon their callings in life for each other in the end; it was bittersweet, but it felt right.

This is the best book I've read so far this year. I laughed (rare for me in books), I cried (slightly less rare lol).

If you love necromantic magic systems, engaging characters, and the occasional well done meme reference - please read this book!

I have tried so many times and I just do not care about Feyre. Maybe one day.