I've never read anything in the omegaverse before, but the concept was definitely intriguing to me, and as an avid reader and devoted fan of Aster's wI've never read anything in the omegaverse before, but the concept was definitely intriguing to me, and as an avid reader and devoted fan of Aster's work, I knew it would be done well in Hopeless, Breathless. It has been such a delight to watch Aster's writing develop over the years, poem by poem, book by book, and now to be able to experience them taking their distinct voice and lovable relatable characters to delve into different genres, my heart feels full to the brim.
We often see writers conform to some lucrative genre and embrace formulaic writing, and for rabid consumers of specific tropes, character profiles, time periods, settings, their itch is scratched again and again in slightly different ways until they move on to the next fixation where they begin again. Of course, there's no sense in finding fault with this self-sufficient ecosystem. No harm done. We see evidence of similar cycles of niche creation and consumption in all forms of media, binge culture satisfying that innate human trait of addictive behavior and our love for just the right degree of predictability. But in choosing to thus confine ourselves again and again, both on the creation and the consumption side of things, the beauty and whimsy and unhinged fun that is creative experimentation, and the hope of ever creating something truly new, can be lost.
I'm aware I've digressed, but with all this grandiose nonsense filling my head, it's easy to understand why I love to see an author whose each work is unique and progressive from the last. Such is the joy of the indie author community–a freewheeling ragtag community of diverse and fiercely independent creators unbound by stifling industry standards
As I mentioned, I'm not familiar with the omegaverse, but Aster does a great job of bringing the reader seamlessly into this alternate universe without ever feeling too instructive or dry about conveying the information. The focus remains where it belongs: on Josh and Noah's love story. Some of the true magic of this book lies in how–despite the fantastic nature of the setting–the struggles of the main characters are entirely familiar. The risk of taking a friendship into uncertain territory, the stress and catharsis of honest communication, the depth of affection between two caring individuals... it's the realism in this tale of magical realism that really lands. Just as in all of Aster's other works, the interior landscape of each character's psyche is exquisitely done through an immersive stream of consciousness narrative, the pacing relaxed enough to fully examine and process each emotion.
Bite-sized as this novella was (pun intended), I consumed the story in a single ravenous night and emerged feeling warm and fuzzy with a few new kinks in my arsenal. As much as I would enjoy something full-length with further development and more conflict within this omegaverse, I'm also content to sit back and trust that wherever Aster's writing takes us next will be equally exciting and satisfying....more
Let me open by saying I went into this book knowing it'd be way outside my wheelhouse, and that's okay, because I think Scot writes with something of Let me open by saying I went into this book knowing it'd be way outside my wheelhouse, and that's okay, because I think Scot writes with something of an intent to break apart everyone's wheelhouse, including her own, and that's the best way to go about creating true raw art. Optimist and idealist that I am, I hold out hope for happy endings. In my little world, everyone recovers, learns, grows, blossoms. But that's not necessarily real life now, is it? This book marks the first time I ever agreed with the notion of death as a kind release.
No subject, no emotion, no primal urge is off limits here, and even in the darkest moments, Scot shies away from nothing. Kiddy gloves are off and disdainfully disposed of, and tar is crystal compared to the darkness achieved in these pages. And despite the extremism, the story and its characters don't really feel farfetched. Isobel's believability lies in the familiarity of that frustration you feel watching someone else make obvious but ultimately unavoidable mistakes. The character study plunges so deep, and the plot so gradually descends into depravity that while one isn't numbed to the carnage and cruelty, one is able to empathize with Isobel despite it all. Her choices aren't choices I would make, but I've never been in her shoes, and I hope to god I never will be.
Plot and characters aside, the writing is vivid and evocative–an unnerving poetic pendulum slowly but surely lulling you into the savage crannies of your mind only accessible via nightmare.
*I received a free ARC of this book, and this is my honest, voluntary review....more
I threw this one on my shelf to get into the spooky mood for fall and ended up absolutely tearing through the pages way before October could roll arI threw this one on my shelf to get into the spooky mood for fall and ended up absolutely tearing through the pages way before October could roll around. That said, this book is one for all seasons! I didn't initially make the connection that the title is a reference to Rip Van Winkle (Stavs was too clever for me there ...more
I can't wait to read this again, but it may have to wait until I read everything else Miller has written!
Like many, I can simply never get enough of PI can't wait to read this again, but it may have to wait until I read everything else Miller has written!
Like many, I can simply never get enough of Pride and Prejudice, but this is actually my first time delving into the rich universe of Austen retellings and I now know it won't be the last! Miller does an amazing job capturing the characters and developing upon them in delightful, believable ways, and the added aspect of murder mystery made slipping back into a familiar setting so much fun! The twists and turns, the slow burn, the suspense, the surprising climax, the satisfying ending... all immaculately paced and executed with true expertise! That's to say nothing of the actual writing–gorgeous, evocative prose full of emotion and vivid imagery. Furthermore, the amount of research that undoubtedly went into crafting this book is nothing to sneeze at. This book and these characters stay with you as the perfect charming extensions of the original tale and cast already in your heart....more
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