I really enjoyed this one!! I need the sequel immediately. Kissen is my fave and I need more of her.
Rep: bisexual cis female MC with one leg and chroI really enjoyed this one!! I need the sequel immediately. Kissen is my fave and I need more of her.
Rep: bisexual cis female MC with one leg and chronic pain, BIPOC cis male MC with PTSD, cis female MC, deaf queer cis female side character, queer side characters. CWs: Fire/fire injury, death, violence, death of parent, death of child, blood, injury/injury detail, war, grief, murder, cursing, mental illness, gaslighting, hate crime, panic attacks, xenophobia, religious bigotry, past mentions of child abuse, animal death, sexual content (one scene), body horror, genocide, trafficking, ableism, alcohol consumption, toxic friendship, mentions of slavery, trafficking and genocide....more
Thank you to Colored Pages Tours & Simon Teen for the physical ARC in exchange for promotion and an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Forget Me NThank you to Colored Pages Tours & Simon Teen for the physical ARC in exchange for promotion and an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Forget Me Not is a story about love, finding true friendship and embracing your own identity. I enjoyed She gets the Girl a lot and this story, while much more heartbreaking, was just as well written and full of relatable characters.
In this we follow Stevie and Nora. The two have been secretly dating for two years and are working on a plan to escape their suffocating small town and homophobic families. They carved out a space for themselves but everything comes tumbling down when Stevie takes a terrible fall. When she wakes up all her memories from the past two years are gone. Nora is devastated, but when Stevie inevitably finds her again, she’s determined to make her girlfriend fall for her all over again.
My best advice for reading this book is to pack tissues. There are many tender moments and some that are completely heart wrenching. Especially Stevie first waking up after her fall ...more
Glory is an allegory of Animal Farm set in the historical background of the Zimbabwe revolution (1980s-2019). We follow various animals as they fills Glory is an allegory of Animal Farm set in the historical background of the Zimbabwe revolution (1980s-2019). We follow various animals as they fills roles of historical figures and we see how dictatorship follows the patterns laid out in Orwell's fictional piece.
This was a very compelling and emotional story. I loved the way repetition and humor were used as tools in the narrative. The audiobook narrator (Chipo Chung) was absolutely incredible and brought a rhythm to the story with the way they repeated words with various intonations.
Bulawayo did a beautiful job of crafting this intricate historical fiction. I am glad I read this immediately following Animal Farm. Such an interesting juxtaposition. There were so many characters followed in this story, but I was most invested in Destiny's and my heart felt all the emotions. *insert tears*
Rep: All Zimbabwean cast.
CWs: Violence, genocide, war, rape, police brutality, murder, colonisation, death, gun violence, grief, misogyny, sexual assault, torture, blood, classism, sexual violence, religious bigotry, sexism, injury/injury detail, child death, gore, physical abuse, racism. Moderate: suicide (off-page action, on-page mention), xenophobia, mass shooting, death of parent, animal death, body horror, cursing, homophobia/homomisia, slavery, panic attacks, fire/fire injury, vomit. ...more
Thank you to Wednesday Books for a physical ARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book wasThank you to Wednesday Books for a physical ARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book was so good. Forever crying over it.
Rep: Mexican-American gay nonbinary MC, Mexican bisexual cis male side character, Mexican-American lesbian cis female side characters, mainly Mexican and Mexican-American side characters....more
So far my biggest complaint of this series is there aren't any openly queer characters. I really want at least one Pandava to be queer. There was one So far my biggest complaint of this series is there aren't any openly queer characters. I really want at least one Pandava to be queer. There was one side character who might possibly be trans but I'm not certain about that.
Aru Shah and the City of Gold continues the adventures of the Pandava sisters. Aru has been separated from everyone else and is trapped in the Sleeper's Realm. When she wakes up, she meets Kara, the Sleeper's other daughter. Aru doesn't know whether she can trust Kara, but Kara is her only way back to her friends. We then follow Aru and co as they make their way to Lanka, the city of gold. Then they have to pass three tests to prove their loyalty and take control of Lanka's golden army. But do they have enough time and will they be able to stand against the Sleeper's armies?
This was a great installment of the series. Full of adventure and Aru's humor/attitude that I've come to know and love. This was such a fun quest book and I really enjoyed seeing the girls become closer. I'm curious to see how everything will be wrapped up in the next book!...more
I love this duology so much! It’s just so lovely, and Natalie Naudus’s narration is perfect for it! I have loved listening to these books and being s I love this duology so much! It’s just so lovely, and Natalie Naudus’s narration is perfect for it! I have loved listening to these books and being swept away to the Celestial Kingdom.
Without any spoilers, Heart of the Sun Warrior has the same charm as Daughter of the Moon Goddess. We see Xingyin continue to grow as a person and I love her character so much. She’s so easy to relate to and root for. We get to see Xingyin start to figure and decide what and who she wants in her life. I really liked the message that just because you love someone, doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your every happiness for them. The ending turned out even better than what I had hoped for! Highly recommend this duology for lovers of mythology, legends and epic fantasy worlds!
CWs: Death, grief, war, violence, child death, blood, murder, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, death of parent, alcohol consumption (wine). ...more
Wow this was an incredible memoir. Abuse in the queer community isn't talked about enough. I hope this book helps to change that. Anyone can be an abuWow this was an incredible memoir. Abuse in the queer community isn't talked about enough. I hope this book helps to change that. Anyone can be an abuser, and the people who survive it never deserve it. I hope Carmen has found happiness and healing after finally leaving this relationship. ...more
Rep: white pansexual cis female alien MC, Black Brazilian trans-nonbinary bisexual femme MC, white fat cishet female MC with anxiety, Indian cis femal
Rep: white pansexual cis female alien MC, Black Brazilian trans-nonbinary bisexual femme MC, white fat cishet female MC with anxiety, Indian cis female side character in a QPR with a female alien, achillean Black British genderfluid side character, Chinese cishet male side character, queer and nonbinary alien side characters.
CWs: Death, gun violence, murder, injury/injury detail, mental illness (anxiety). Moderate: genocide recounted, war themes, xenophobia, sexual content. Minor: Abandonment....more
Rep: Taiwanese-American cishet female MC, Taiwanese-American cishet male MC with asthma, Taiwanese-Chinese American cisThis was an amazing retelling.
Rep: Taiwanese-American cishet female MC, Taiwanese-American cishet male MC with asthma, Taiwanese-Chinese American cishet female side character, various Taiwanese/Chinese-American side characters.
Thank you to Wednesday Books for a physical arc and promotion box with a hardcover in exchange for an honest review. ALC from Libro FM in exchange forThank you to Wednesday Books for a physical arc and promotion box with a hardcover in exchange for an honest review. ALC from Libro FM in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Narrated by the one and only Natalie Naudus!!
This was so good. I loved the messy queer babies.
Rep: Bisexual white cis female MC, white lesbian-questioning cis female side character, Black demisexual-queer questioning cis male side character with dyslexia, Black genderqueer-questioning queer side character, white queer nonbinary side character, white lesbian cis female side character, sapphic cis female side character, WLW side couple.
CWs: Religious Bigotry, biphobia/bimisia, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, general queerphobia/queermisia, bullying, cursing, alcohol consumption (side characters), infidelity, sexism, misogyny, body shaming (sexist dress code), abandonment. Moderate: Dysphoria, racism, emotional abuse, attempted outing, transphobia/transmisia, gaslighting, sexual harassment. Minor: Classism, drug use mentioned, ableist language, acephobia/acemisia, toxic friendship. ...more
Thank you to B2 Weird Bookclub and Saga SFF for a physical copy in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
Can't believeThank you to B2 Weird Bookclub and Saga SFF for a physical copy in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
Can't believe I have to wait another year (or more!) to see how it all ends. *cries forever*
Fevered Star immediately picks up where Black Sun leaves off: the convergence has happened and Year 1 of the Crow has begun. Once again we follow Naranpa, Serapio and Xiala as they figure out their paths and how the events surrounding the city of Tova will shape them.
I seriously love this series so much. The characters are just freaking amazing and I would die for basically all of them. We see a lot of growth from them all, but especially Naranpa in this one. I’ve liked her from the beginning so I am only excited to continue to see her grow.
We also get more worldbuilding and mythology/history of The Meridian. I would love to read a fictional non-fiction about this world. I want to know everything! I love seeing how the clans work, and then all the various outsiders and the way the past and now their future desires are shaping conflict. It’s a work of art.
Fevered Star pulls no punches and is an incredible addition to the series.
Rep: All Native/Indigenous cast. Pansexual cis female MC, queer cis female MC, blind cishet male MC, cishet (presumed) male MC, queer bayeki (two spirit/nonbinary specific term) side character, two spirit/nonbinary side characters (use neopronouns), various queer side characters.
CWs: Violence, blood, grief, injury/injury detail, body horror, death, gore, confinement, cursing, physical abuse, suicide, torture, death of parent recounted, murder, alcohol consumption, war themes. Moderate: Sexual content (consensual). Minor: Child abuse, rape, self harm....more
I really enjoyed this one! I hope there's a sequel or companion, because that ending has me so curious!
Also Natalie Naudus did a stunning job as alwayI really enjoyed this one! I hope there's a sequel or companion, because that ending has me so curious!
Also Natalie Naudus did a stunning job as always with Ahn's part. I will never be tired of hearing her narrate fantasy books.
Jade Fire Gold is part of the Xianxia genre, fantasy stories that use elements of Chinese mythology, Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese cultural elements including martial arts, medicine, alchemy, folk religion, and more. This novel follows Ahn, a nobody with a past she doesn't remember, and Altan, former royalty that everyone thinks is dead. When the two randomly cross paths, they feel an instant connection, but when they meet again, they find out they're on opposite sides of a battle field.
I really enjoyed this! I was immediately swept away to this world, and especially enjoyed Ahn's storyline. I think orphaned misfit with magic and an unknown past is my type. Also girls with swords! While Ahn doesn't have one in the beginning, the story revolves around two swords of legend. I loved learning the mythology around them and the journey to find them.
I was surprised with how much happened in this book. There was so much action. Altan and Ahn also do a lot of travelling. It was thrilling to be along for the ride.
Rep: Chinese coded cast. Cishet female MC, cishet male MC with one eye, sapphic cis female side characters, achillean cis male side character, elderly cis female side character with a chronic illness (unspecified condition).
CWs: Death, suicide, torture, blood, grief, death of parent, murder, fire/fire injury, child abuse, self harm, violence, suicide attempt, gaslighting, injury/injury detail, medical content, child death, past mentions of domestic, emotional and physical abuse as well as some on page instances, kidnapping, religious bigotry, war, classism. Moderate: chronic illness, confinement, vomit, medical trauma, misogyny, sexism, eating disorder, toxic relationship (parent/child), colonisation. Minor: Gore, animal death, infidelity. ...more
AM can do no wrong!!! I loved Finn so much and this book shocked me several times!! I want a series that follows these vampires. Also the narrator of AM can do no wrong!!! I loved Finn so much and this book shocked me several times!! I want a series that follows these vampires. Also the narrator of the audio was perfect!!!...more
Would just like to update this now that it's been six months and express that I still FUCKING HATE this ending! No thank you sir.
I haven't decided on Would just like to update this now that it's been six months and express that I still FUCKING HATE this ending! No thank you sir.
I haven't decided on an overall rating because I fucking HATE the ending so much. The very last chapter is fucking stupid. Negative stars from me. NEGATIVE. To be clear I mean the last labeled chapter, not the epilogue. The epilogue was fine and I better get answers on how that plotline proceeds in the next book.
The rest was fine. But my enjoyment from it is basically null because of how much I do not like the ending.
Yeah I don't have much to add currently. I am really disappointed in the way this was ended. I don't care so much about the cliffhanger, but the (view spoiler)[ crossover with ACOTAR is a fuck no from me. (hide spoiler)] No thank you. Let's go back thank you. Also I'm still mad Danika is dead.
Rep: Fat half-fae half-human white cishet female MC, BIPOC angel cishet male love interest, Black sapphic fawn female side character, sapphic female side character, sapphic BIPOC witch side character, side MLM pairing, sapphic female side character, several BIPOC side characters.
CWs: consensual sexual content (graphic, multiple scenes), violence, blood, death, cursing, torture, war, slavery, murder, gun violence, alcohol consumption, injury/injury detail. Moderate: past mentions of physical child abuse, colonisation, confinement, genocide, drug use, addiction, misogyny, sexism, sexual violence, sexual assault. Minor: mentions of possible infertility (never confirmed), trafficking. ...more
I read this as part of a group on Instagram lead by my friend Bee in partnership with Reading Revolutionaries.
Wow. I don't have enough words for how I read this as part of a group on Instagram lead by my friend Bee in partnership with Reading Revolutionaries.
Wow. I don't have enough words for how life changing this book is. There is so much information in the 600+ pages and all of it is so important. This is a book everyone in the USA should be reading, but especially white people.
The 1619 Project traces the roots of slavery in the USA, which started in 1619, and shows how this brutality has shaped the nation. The history is violent and bloody and much of it has not been reckoned with, but it still plays a role in politics to this day.
The way this is set up is truly amazing. Each chapter is followed by a timeline and we trace history as it unfolds. Almost every chapter is written by a different Black expert (besides NHJ who does 2 chapters and the intro), and focuses on different areas. This book is expansive and it does it's best to cover everything. In the pages it has, it really nails it. The information might be new and challenging, but it is presented in easily digested bits. I was never confused by any of the conclusions presented, as all the facts are well laid out before them.
This book is also so easy to read. The chapters each have a compelling factor to them that I don't know how to describe. But every time I started a new chapter, I would have to finish it. The information was too interesting to think to put it down. I know I have a privilege reading this because I can disconnect from many of the stories. Many Black people do not have that privilege. Maybe they can't trace their family all the way back to slavery, but they know that's their history. Seeing that trauma recounted and how it still impacts the Black community to this day can be painful to read. So white readers, make sure you are reading responsibly. This book is important. It deserves the respect and reverence it is due. The USA is past due to reckon with it's past for slavery and colonization of Native peoples to start with, and yes that would include reparations.
I will for sure be reading this again. The information in this book is essential to dismantling the systems of power and understanding how this nation was intentionally and deliberately shaped to exclude and make people of color, but especially Black people, feel inferior. I thank Nikole Hannah-Jones for starting and leading this project, she deserves so many accolades for this and I hope she, and every other contributor get their due for this project.
Buy this one immediately.
CWs: Racism, slavery, racial slurs, violence, death, murder, hate crime, physical abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, torture, police brutality, colonisation, confinement, emotional abuse, genocide, gun violence, grief, medical trauma, war, classism, cancer, child abuse, chronic illness, mental illness, misogyny, sexism, forced institutionalization, xenophobia, trafficking, kidnapping, fire/fire injury, cultural appropriation, gaslighting, abandonment, injury/injury detail, medical content, mentions of COVID-19. Minor: abortion. ...more
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