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river24's reviews
325 reviews
Key Lime Sky by Al Hess
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
4/5
A lime green sky hung above, and I took small comfort that at least the constellations peeking through were still our own.
I had such a fun time reading this book! Our main character Denver—a nonbinary, autistic pie blogger—witnesses a UFO explode over xyr small town, Muddy Gap. No one will acknowledge what Denver has witnessed, everyone ignores xem when xe speaks of aliens, but the people of Muddy Gap start acting stranger and stranger and then start disappearing altogether! Alongside Ezra, a new arrival to their town, Denver sets out to discover the truth. And the ad revenue from xyr blog isn't half bad when xe starts to post about xyr extra-terrestrial findings.
This was such a comforting, heartwarming story about autistic alienation, found family and community. It simultaneously critiqued the rumour mill of small town gossips and the judgement that comes from knowing every little thing about everybody, yet also showed the undercurrent of love and community that persists in these small towns that only grows stronger when put through hardships.
It was a bleeding heart of a journey for Denver as we got to witness all xyr struggles to connect with the people of Muddy Gap. We saw how painfully xe was often treated, yet we also saw people rally around xem. We were eventually able to perceive just how much love Denver had in xyr small town after all.
I, above everything else, loved the autistic representation. I thought it was done with great care and was instantly recognisable as authentic, Own Voices storytelling. I love finding more and more SFF books with autistic main characters and I particularly loved finding it in this cosy sci-fi.
I loved unravelling the sci-fi mystery of Muddy Gap, although I will say if you are a hard sci-fi lover who wants answers to all your sci-fi questions, this is not that kind of book. This is a very cosy take on an alien invasion that is much more focused on the characters than on the intricacies of the how and the why. And it is the characters that make this story so brilliant.
Denver was a great protagonist, I loved so much about xem and felt such compassion for all the risks xe took and care xe held for others. There was quite a bit of ableism hurled at xem in many different ways, but it was never there for shock value, but instead to critique and criticise the ignorance and sometimes cruelty of other characters. I thought it was done very well and I loved how kind most of the supporting characters proved themselves to be in these situations.
Ezra was a great character too, he was unfailingly kind to Denver and I really loved how their relationship blossomed. He was a breath of fresh air in a stifling small town and I loved all that we were able to learn about him. Trevor and Taisha only became true supporting characters later on, but I really enjoyed what they added to the story as well.
I don't want to die when I've only just started to live.
Ultimately, the town of Muddy Gap had a lot more heart to it than we first got to experience and I loved this sense of growth, both for the citizens of Muddy Gap and for Denver xyrself. I loved that Denver found more support, love, kindness and community than xe ever expected to find as the perpetual outcast. It was forever hopeful, even when it seemed like there was nothing left. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Muddy Gap, learning that there is more love in the world than hate. Hoping so, at least.
Thank you Angry Robot for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A lime green sky hung above, and I took small comfort that at least the constellations peeking through were still our own.
I had such a fun time reading this book! Our main character Denver—a nonbinary, autistic pie blogger—witnesses a UFO explode over xyr small town, Muddy Gap. No one will acknowledge what Denver has witnessed, everyone ignores xem when xe speaks of aliens, but the people of Muddy Gap start acting stranger and stranger and then start disappearing altogether! Alongside Ezra, a new arrival to their town, Denver sets out to discover the truth. And the ad revenue from xyr blog isn't half bad when xe starts to post about xyr extra-terrestrial findings.
This was such a comforting, heartwarming story about autistic alienation, found family and community. It simultaneously critiqued the rumour mill of small town gossips and the judgement that comes from knowing every little thing about everybody, yet also showed the undercurrent of love and community that persists in these small towns that only grows stronger when put through hardships.
It was a bleeding heart of a journey for Denver as we got to witness all xyr struggles to connect with the people of Muddy Gap. We saw how painfully xe was often treated, yet we also saw people rally around xem. We were eventually able to perceive just how much love Denver had in xyr small town after all.
I, above everything else, loved the autistic representation. I thought it was done with great care and was instantly recognisable as authentic, Own Voices storytelling. I love finding more and more SFF books with autistic main characters and I particularly loved finding it in this cosy sci-fi.
I loved unravelling the sci-fi mystery of Muddy Gap, although I will say if you are a hard sci-fi lover who wants answers to all your sci-fi questions, this is not that kind of book. This is a very cosy take on an alien invasion that is much more focused on the characters than on the intricacies of the how and the why. And it is the characters that make this story so brilliant.
Denver was a great protagonist, I loved so much about xem and felt such compassion for all the risks xe took and care xe held for others. There was quite a bit of ableism hurled at xem in many different ways, but it was never there for shock value, but instead to critique and criticise the ignorance and sometimes cruelty of other characters. I thought it was done very well and I loved how kind most of the supporting characters proved themselves to be in these situations.
Ezra was a great character too, he was unfailingly kind to Denver and I really loved how their relationship blossomed. He was a breath of fresh air in a stifling small town and I loved all that we were able to learn about him. Trevor and Taisha only became true supporting characters later on, but I really enjoyed what they added to the story as well.
I don't want to die when I've only just started to live.
Ultimately, the town of Muddy Gap had a lot more heart to it than we first got to experience and I loved this sense of growth, both for the citizens of Muddy Gap and for Denver xyrself. I loved that Denver found more support, love, kindness and community than xe ever expected to find as the perpetual outcast. It was forever hopeful, even when it seemed like there was nothing left. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Muddy Gap, learning that there is more love in the world than hate. Hoping so, at least.
Thank you Angry Robot for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25/5
He was my brother.
Antigone, they could never make me hate you!
He was my brother.
Antigone, they could never make me hate you!
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5
I teach you to be warriors in the garden so you will never be gardeners in the war.
I really loved the world of this book, Orïsha, and the incorporation of the Yoruba deities. It was fascinating and so magical. The first part of this book was the strongest in my opinion, I loved being introduced to the world and to the politics of the land. We learnt so much about the maji, the eradication of their magic and the slaughter of their people. We learnt of the secret ways they were forced to live, the cruelty of the guards and the monarchy. It set itself up very nicely to explore a rich and intriguing world.
I also really enjoyed two of our main protagonists, Zélie and Amari. They were both such fierce characters, but in such different ways. I loved their dynamic and how it continuously developed and changed throughout the story. I thought they were definitely the most well-written characters, Amari's growth really stood out to me in particular.
There's another main protagonist that I vehemently disliked, but you're not exactly supposed to like them. (I don't care if you're the most evil villain in the world, it is a crime to be as annoying as this character!)
I do think that the pacing moves entirely too quickly, however I can see this factor being something that other people love. I just prefer much more slower-paced stories and this certainly isn't that. We very quickly move from one thing to the next and I was always wishing for a moment for the story to catch its breath and to develop more of the emotional context surrounding a lot of the situations. I know it's a YA book, however I do think that the characters acted incredibly young and it often irritated me when they made some incredibly inconvenient (some might even say stupid) decisions.
My biggest criticism, however, is probably about the romantic relationship that gets introduced as the narrative progresses (I obviously won't say between who to avoid spoilers). It just made no sense to me as these characters despised each other and had very good reasons to. I thought that this sudden attraction happened far too abruptly and just made very little logical sense. It was a poor man's enemies-to-lovers cranked up to full speed. I suppose this is just a magnified iteration of the problem I have with the pacing of this book. I think a vast amount of my issues with the book could have been solved, or at least mended a little, if the story had approached some of its plot points in a slower and more intentional way.
I don't mean to sound incredibly negative though, I still had a lot of fun with this story. I really do love the world and I'm so glad that stories like this exist. We always need more West African-inspired fantasy!
I teach you to be warriors in the garden so you will never be gardeners in the war.
I really loved the world of this book, Orïsha, and the incorporation of the Yoruba deities. It was fascinating and so magical. The first part of this book was the strongest in my opinion, I loved being introduced to the world and to the politics of the land. We learnt so much about the maji, the eradication of their magic and the slaughter of their people. We learnt of the secret ways they were forced to live, the cruelty of the guards and the monarchy. It set itself up very nicely to explore a rich and intriguing world.
I also really enjoyed two of our main protagonists, Zélie and Amari. They were both such fierce characters, but in such different ways. I loved their dynamic and how it continuously developed and changed throughout the story. I thought they were definitely the most well-written characters, Amari's growth really stood out to me in particular.
There's another main protagonist that I vehemently disliked, but you're not exactly supposed to like them. (I don't care if you're the most evil villain in the world, it is a crime to be as annoying as this character!)
I do think that the pacing moves entirely too quickly, however I can see this factor being something that other people love. I just prefer much more slower-paced stories and this certainly isn't that. We very quickly move from one thing to the next and I was always wishing for a moment for the story to catch its breath and to develop more of the emotional context surrounding a lot of the situations. I know it's a YA book, however I do think that the characters acted incredibly young and it often irritated me when they made some incredibly inconvenient (some might even say stupid) decisions.
My biggest criticism, however, is probably about the romantic relationship that gets introduced as the narrative progresses (I obviously won't say between who to avoid spoilers). It just made no sense to me as these characters despised each other and had very good reasons to. I thought that this sudden attraction happened far too abruptly and just made very little logical sense. It was a poor man's enemies-to-lovers cranked up to full speed. I suppose this is just a magnified iteration of the problem I have with the pacing of this book. I think a vast amount of my issues with the book could have been solved, or at least mended a little, if the story had approached some of its plot points in a slower and more intentional way.
I don't mean to sound incredibly negative though, I still had a lot of fun with this story. I really do love the world and I'm so glad that stories like this exist. We always need more West African-inspired fantasy!
Agrippina: The Most Extraordinary Woman of the Roman World by Emma Southon
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
4.5/5
Southon's writing is so easy to read, incredibly accessible and humorous. I loved every minute of it! It's such a brilliant way of discovering all the different reigns of the Julio-Claudian emperors (of whom I knew very little about before this) whilst looking through a more modern, feminist lens. I appreciated how Southon laid out all the evidence (or lack of evidence) and explicitly stated when her theories were just theories. It must be so difficult to try and piece together any semblance of a narrative throughout this period, with such a lack of sources, the surviving ones all contradicting each other and adding a little extra drama in here and there, or being influenced by their own biases. I really admire how well-researched and knowledgeable Southon is on the subject and am excited to begin my own readings on Roman history. This was an amazing starting point.
The Romans were a messy bunch! (But it just makes their drama all the more delectable!) I appreciated how funny and absurd it was at times, I loved Southon's very refreshingly modern take. It reminded me a lot of Natalie Haynes, if you like her nonfiction writing style I'm sure you'll love this too. But, for all its humour, it also held a lot of poignancy.
It was genuinely heartbreaking to read about some of the things that befell them, and it struck me every time Southon mentioned how often Agrippina lost the illumination of history, and how many deemed much more insignificant than her we will never get to hear about. Agrippina was only included in writings when she was doing something 'wrong', when she refused to be a good Roman wife or mother. It devastates me, as I'm sure it devastates Southon and other Roman scholars and historians even more, that Agrippina's own writings and memoirs are lost.
Although so much is lost or forgotten, it always astounds me how much remains. It's incredible that we have any texts at all from such a long time ago, that there are still structures standing. Even in the city where I live, there are still Roman ruins, so much history imbued into the place.
There's always a very existential feeling that comes after I read any book about history, and I find it so important to hold onto that. To think about all those history has forgotten and all those it will forget, and to know that those lives that aren't remembered were still worth everything to the people that lived them.
I want so much more! I want to read novels upon novels about Agrippina, about so many women and marginalised people throughout history. (I am a lover of the feminist retelling renaissance through and through!) It's so fascinating to read about such a wildly different time and place that also holds elements of the familiar, a place that innovated the structures that lots of our countries continue to implement. We still drive Roman roads!
I, very obviously, loved this book and it's definitely one that I will return to. I'm in awe of it and I hope to continue to learn much more. I'll definitely be reading Southon's other books, and feel free to comment if you have any other recommendations! I'd highly recommend Agrippina.
Southon's writing is so easy to read, incredibly accessible and humorous. I loved every minute of it! It's such a brilliant way of discovering all the different reigns of the Julio-Claudian emperors (of whom I knew very little about before this) whilst looking through a more modern, feminist lens. I appreciated how Southon laid out all the evidence (or lack of evidence) and explicitly stated when her theories were just theories. It must be so difficult to try and piece together any semblance of a narrative throughout this period, with such a lack of sources, the surviving ones all contradicting each other and adding a little extra drama in here and there, or being influenced by their own biases. I really admire how well-researched and knowledgeable Southon is on the subject and am excited to begin my own readings on Roman history. This was an amazing starting point.
The Romans were a messy bunch! (But it just makes their drama all the more delectable!) I appreciated how funny and absurd it was at times, I loved Southon's very refreshingly modern take. It reminded me a lot of Natalie Haynes, if you like her nonfiction writing style I'm sure you'll love this too. But, for all its humour, it also held a lot of poignancy.
It was genuinely heartbreaking to read about some of the things that befell them, and it struck me every time Southon mentioned how often Agrippina lost the illumination of history, and how many deemed much more insignificant than her we will never get to hear about. Agrippina was only included in writings when she was doing something 'wrong', when she refused to be a good Roman wife or mother. It devastates me, as I'm sure it devastates Southon and other Roman scholars and historians even more, that Agrippina's own writings and memoirs are lost.
Although so much is lost or forgotten, it always astounds me how much remains. It's incredible that we have any texts at all from such a long time ago, that there are still structures standing. Even in the city where I live, there are still Roman ruins, so much history imbued into the place.
There's always a very existential feeling that comes after I read any book about history, and I find it so important to hold onto that. To think about all those history has forgotten and all those it will forget, and to know that those lives that aren't remembered were still worth everything to the people that lived them.
I want so much more! I want to read novels upon novels about Agrippina, about so many women and marginalised people throughout history. (I am a lover of the feminist retelling renaissance through and through!) It's so fascinating to read about such a wildly different time and place that also holds elements of the familiar, a place that innovated the structures that lots of our countries continue to implement. We still drive Roman roads!
I, very obviously, loved this book and it's definitely one that I will return to. I'm in awe of it and I hope to continue to learn much more. I'll definitely be reading Southon's other books, and feel free to comment if you have any other recommendations! I'd highly recommend Agrippina.
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5
One should learn the lessons of history. The mistakes of the past need only be made once.
The action really kicks off in this book. Abercrombie proves his immense skill in every fight scene, from the moment-by-moment desperation of survival to the large and swarming mess of battle. I adored how much more we got in this, I loved getting to see so much of the world!
Glokta's chapters in Dagoska often proved to be my favourites, I adored all the political machinations that constantly seemed to engulf him. He's resourceful, I'll give him that! And he's an absolute delight to read about, despite (and often because of) all his moral failings. I did like that his morality was further nuanced in this book.
All the chapters in Angland were incredible as well, I loved following the Named Men and West's intriguing narrative. The Named Men (surprisingly, given who they are and all the blood on their hands) add a lot of heart to the story because of the long roots of their camaraderie. And something about a cold, snowy setting always makes me adore the story, I don't know why I have this bias, but it holds true!
Our chaotic band traveling to the edge of the world could not be any stranger if they tried, but I loved every single one of their chapters too. (There's not a single chapter that I don't enjoy in these books!) I've always adored Logen, Jezal's arc this story was incredible and (even though it's shocking to everyone) I really enjoy him as a character now, Ferro had a little more depth added to her character, and Bayaz and Quai were as mysterious and untrustworthy as we'd expect. I really loved the odd friendships formed. (Note the word friendship!)
Every man who's worth a damn feels fear. It's the use you make of it that counts.
So why isn't this higher rated? I really enjoyed almost every moment of it. That's the word, almost.
I hate the way Abercrombie writes women. I know he's admitted this himself and I've heard that he gets much better, but I really struggled with it in this book, even more so than in the last book for some reason. I think in this book I despised the sexualisation which was more prevalent, there were just more moments overall that I grimaced at. And the fact that there aren't any complex female characters doesn't help to counteract this. He doesn't write Ferro with the same intricacies as he does the other male main characters and it's a shame, because she seems like she could be fascinating.
As I said, I still really enjoyed this book overall, but I think this is important to bring up and acknowledge so that others know this before going in. I am very excited to continue my First Law journey though!
We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged.
I read this with Abby's First Law World book club on Fable and it was so much fun getting to discuss it with everyone!
One should learn the lessons of history. The mistakes of the past need only be made once.
The action really kicks off in this book. Abercrombie proves his immense skill in every fight scene, from the moment-by-moment desperation of survival to the large and swarming mess of battle. I adored how much more we got in this, I loved getting to see so much of the world!
Glokta's chapters in Dagoska often proved to be my favourites, I adored all the political machinations that constantly seemed to engulf him. He's resourceful, I'll give him that! And he's an absolute delight to read about, despite (and often because of) all his moral failings. I did like that his morality was further nuanced in this book.
All the chapters in Angland were incredible as well, I loved following the Named Men and West's intriguing narrative. The Named Men (surprisingly, given who they are and all the blood on their hands) add a lot of heart to the story because of the long roots of their camaraderie. And something about a cold, snowy setting always makes me adore the story, I don't know why I have this bias, but it holds true!
Our chaotic band traveling to the edge of the world could not be any stranger if they tried, but I loved every single one of their chapters too. (There's not a single chapter that I don't enjoy in these books!) I've always adored Logen, Jezal's arc this story was incredible and (even though it's shocking to everyone) I really enjoy him as a character now, Ferro had a little more depth added to her character, and Bayaz and Quai were as mysterious and untrustworthy as we'd expect. I really loved the odd friendships formed. (Note the word friendship!)
Every man who's worth a damn feels fear. It's the use you make of it that counts.
So why isn't this higher rated? I really enjoyed almost every moment of it. That's the word, almost.
I hate the way Abercrombie writes women. I know he's admitted this himself and I've heard that he gets much better, but I really struggled with it in this book, even more so than in the last book for some reason. I think in this book I despised the sexualisation which was more prevalent, there were just more moments overall that I grimaced at. And the fact that there aren't any complex female characters doesn't help to counteract this. He doesn't write Ferro with the same intricacies as he does the other male main characters and it's a shame, because she seems like she could be fascinating.
As I said, I still really enjoyed this book overall, but I think this is important to bring up and acknowledge so that others know this before going in. I am very excited to continue my First Law journey though!
We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged.
I read this with Abby's First Law World book club on Fable and it was so much fun getting to discuss it with everyone!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
For the ones who dream of stranger worlds.
There is a certain magic to a V.E. Schwab book that is almost impossible to put into words. It's a uniquely magical, fantastical, atmospheric touch that holds true even amongst all the wildly different stories they love to tell. A Darker Shade of Magic is no different.
I adored exploring all the different Londons (V.E. Schwab, I just adore your mind!), I loved that they each felt so distinctive. Grey London is our smog-filled, Victorian Era-inspired London, familiar to us but dulled to the world's magic. Red London is full of pure, exuberant magic and you can feel its life in every step, its beyond our wildest dreams, a gleaming red river where our Grey, sewage-filled Thames would otherwise be. White London is haunting and so vivid in its terror, you can hear the echoes of each footfall, feel the hollow bones of this war-ravaged city. Black London is gone, consumed, the dark shadow of a memory.
I think my favourite part of the entire book was right at the beginning as we traversed across each London and were introduced to each one's peculiarities. It was immensely magical in a way that eludes description. I implore you to read it, I guarantee you'll be swept away to wholly different worlds.
Kell was a brilliant main character and the perfect guide to each London. Lila was also a phenomenal addition and I loved her role in every step of the story. I adored Holland and all the complicated politics of his narrative. The characters gave each city such life, I adored even the much more minor ones, like Barron. Schwab's utilisation of short chapters where we sometimes hopped to otherwise insignificant characters' heads added greatly to this. We were able to experience the world through new sets of eyes, if only for a short time.
I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.
My only small criticism would be that the ending was wrapped up extremely quickly. I was surprised when the story had reached a certain point and there were still about fifty more pages to go, I was surprised it hadn't ended already. It continued to surprise me by going through in those fifty pages what I thought would be the basis of the plot for the entire trilogy! I didn't realise it was as self-contained a story as it is, it could completely be read as a standalone. (I assume that's how it sold, as a standalone with series potential?) I'm incredibly intrigued to see what happens in the rest of the series!
The worlds are truly what entirely captivate me about this story. There's something to it that is utterly spell-binding. With every book I read by her, I grow increasingly confident that I can always trust Schwab to deliver! I can't wait to make my way through all their works!
For the ones who dream of stranger worlds.
There is a certain magic to a V.E. Schwab book that is almost impossible to put into words. It's a uniquely magical, fantastical, atmospheric touch that holds true even amongst all the wildly different stories they love to tell. A Darker Shade of Magic is no different.
I adored exploring all the different Londons (V.E. Schwab, I just adore your mind!), I loved that they each felt so distinctive. Grey London is our smog-filled, Victorian Era-inspired London, familiar to us but dulled to the world's magic. Red London is full of pure, exuberant magic and you can feel its life in every step, its beyond our wildest dreams, a gleaming red river where our Grey, sewage-filled Thames would otherwise be. White London is haunting and so vivid in its terror, you can hear the echoes of each footfall, feel the hollow bones of this war-ravaged city. Black London is gone, consumed, the dark shadow of a memory.
I think my favourite part of the entire book was right at the beginning as we traversed across each London and were introduced to each one's peculiarities. It was immensely magical in a way that eludes description. I implore you to read it, I guarantee you'll be swept away to wholly different worlds.
Kell was a brilliant main character and the perfect guide to each London. Lila was also a phenomenal addition and I loved her role in every step of the story. I adored Holland and all the complicated politics of his narrative. The characters gave each city such life, I adored even the much more minor ones, like Barron. Schwab's utilisation of short chapters where we sometimes hopped to otherwise insignificant characters' heads added greatly to this. We were able to experience the world through new sets of eyes, if only for a short time.
I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.
My only small criticism would be that the ending was wrapped up extremely quickly. I was surprised when the story had reached a certain point and there were still about fifty more pages to go, I was surprised it hadn't ended already. It continued to surprise me by going through in those fifty pages what I thought would be the basis of the plot for the entire trilogy! I didn't realise it was as self-contained a story as it is, it could completely be read as a standalone. (I assume that's how it sold, as a standalone with series potential?) I'm incredibly intrigued to see what happens in the rest of the series!
The worlds are truly what entirely captivate me about this story. There's something to it that is utterly spell-binding. With every book I read by her, I grow increasingly confident that I can always trust Schwab to deliver! I can't wait to make my way through all their works!
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by J.A. Burrow, Unknown
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25/5
I read Tolkien's translation and it was beautiful.
I read Tolkien's translation and it was beautiful.
Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
You're only a monster if you choose to be.
I love this world and these characters with all my heart! It was so much fun to return to this series, I would read books and books and books more about all of them! Thank you Aiden Thomas for the perfect queernorm, Latine Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games series of our dreams! This comp perfectly describes the first book, The Sunbearer Trials, so if that sounds even remotely appealing to you, go read it!
Celestial Monsters continues directly after the big reveals at the end of the last book, we're thrust into the action straight away. It follows more of a quest storyline than the trial structure of the first book. Instantly, we have our goal and now we must follow Teo, Niya and Aurelio on their long and arduous path. We also get Xio's perspective as well which adds so much depth to the story.
The characters are truly the life force of this series, they're simply phenomenal. I adore Xio with all my heart, I loved seeing into their mind and all the conflicting motivations at play inside of them. I loved seeing their view of the other characters, their view of the past events. It was fascinating and made for such a fun and dynamic reading experience as we flicked back and forth between their situation and Teo's.
Teo has my entire heart as well, I honestly just adore all these characters. Teo has grown so much from the beginning of the series and it's amazing to watch his confidence soar and to see him embrace the hero's journey. Yet throughout all of this, more than anything, Teo has always had his compassion. He's always looking out for the underdog, always understanding of others in a way sometimes even Niya and Aurelio can't manage. It's Teo and his steady heart that drives the entire story. It's Teo that has the ability to change the world for the better, and the ability to convince others that they can too.
Niya is always a joy to read, she's brilliant and absolutely hilarious. My favourite moments were always the moments of banter between Teo and Niya (and especially the moments where they ganged up to tease Aurelio), they have such a beautiful friendship that Thomas writes phenomenally. He easily captures the pure love that they hold for each other and the lengths that they're always willing to go to for each other, and we get to bask in the beauty of it. It's so refreshing to read about such an unalterable friendship.
Aurelio was an incredible addition to Teo and Niya's merry band, I loved his steadfast energy, but I loved when we were able to see beneath his façade and into his moments of weakness even more. They all played off of each other so well.
I am exactly the type of person who enjoys Fellowship more than any of the other parts of Lord of the Rings and so inevitably I adored the wandering quest aspect of the story the most. I loved the small moments of happiness, the side quests, the heartwarming conversations, the strange and funny situations they somehow found themselves in. It was such a fun read and I enjoyed every minute. Because of this, I sometimes wished the action-heavy second half of the book would sometimes slow down a little, but I think that's just a me thing! I always like the slower moments more, but, for all its action, it still managed a lot of heartfelt moments amongst it all.
I loved how Teo's connection to birds was used all throughout, I always found it so sweet and such a warm and nurturing kind of connection to feature. I adored how the birds played their part as they are such a huge part of Teo's life and it was really nice to see that shown in this book as well. It's the little things that make the difference, that add the heart to a story!
Another thing I loved was the questioning of the world order all throughout. More than anything, I adored getting to see so many of the different cities and landscapes of the world and how every one was so unique not only in structure but also in how they operated. I really appreciated how these differences became such eye-opening events for Teo, I loved how they infused into this overarching question. Now that the world has been turned inside out, can we finally question it? As we fight to rebuild it, can we fight also for a better one? Maybe we don't want things to just go back to the way they were, maybe we need to force it to change instead. I adored this theme running as an undercurrent all throughout the book, influenced this way and that by any number of new sights, conversations and revelations.
I think this is truly such a wonderful series, it's incredibly fun to read and I'd highly recommend it! I think so many people of all ages would really enjoy this, it's so diverse and uplifting and centres trans characters as the heroes of their own stories. I adore reading fantasy set in queernorm worlds, books about queer and trans struggles are so immensely important, but stories where queer and trans characters simply get to exist are immensely important too! We always need more queer joy and I adore, adore, adore how Aiden Thomas has such well-written, but casual representation all throughout their stories. From Teo's jade green top surgery scars, to Xio figuring out who they are, to the easiness of queer love, I adored every moment. (This carries over from the first book where I absolutely sobbed at one of the most gender-affirming and beautiful moments!)
Books like these are so astoundingly important, especially for teens and a YA audience, which this is for. I'm so grateful and so happy that this exists! Thank you Aiden Thomas, I will read everything you ever write!
Thank you Macmillan Children's Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
You're only a monster if you choose to be.
I love this world and these characters with all my heart! It was so much fun to return to this series, I would read books and books and books more about all of them! Thank you Aiden Thomas for the perfect queernorm, Latine Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games series of our dreams! This comp perfectly describes the first book, The Sunbearer Trials, so if that sounds even remotely appealing to you, go read it!
Celestial Monsters continues directly after the big reveals at the end of the last book, we're thrust into the action straight away. It follows more of a quest storyline than the trial structure of the first book. Instantly, we have our goal and now we must follow Teo, Niya and Aurelio on their long and arduous path. We also get Xio's perspective as well which adds so much depth to the story.
The characters are truly the life force of this series, they're simply phenomenal. I adore Xio with all my heart, I loved seeing into their mind and all the conflicting motivations at play inside of them. I loved seeing their view of the other characters, their view of the past events. It was fascinating and made for such a fun and dynamic reading experience as we flicked back and forth between their situation and Teo's.
Teo has my entire heart as well, I honestly just adore all these characters. Teo has grown so much from the beginning of the series and it's amazing to watch his confidence soar and to see him embrace the hero's journey. Yet throughout all of this, more than anything, Teo has always had his compassion. He's always looking out for the underdog, always understanding of others in a way sometimes even Niya and Aurelio can't manage. It's Teo and his steady heart that drives the entire story. It's Teo that has the ability to change the world for the better, and the ability to convince others that they can too.
Niya is always a joy to read, she's brilliant and absolutely hilarious. My favourite moments were always the moments of banter between Teo and Niya (and especially the moments where they ganged up to tease Aurelio), they have such a beautiful friendship that Thomas writes phenomenally. He easily captures the pure love that they hold for each other and the lengths that they're always willing to go to for each other, and we get to bask in the beauty of it. It's so refreshing to read about such an unalterable friendship.
Aurelio was an incredible addition to Teo and Niya's merry band, I loved his steadfast energy, but I loved when we were able to see beneath his façade and into his moments of weakness even more. They all played off of each other so well.
I am exactly the type of person who enjoys Fellowship more than any of the other parts of Lord of the Rings and so inevitably I adored the wandering quest aspect of the story the most. I loved the small moments of happiness, the side quests, the heartwarming conversations, the strange and funny situations they somehow found themselves in. It was such a fun read and I enjoyed every minute. Because of this, I sometimes wished the action-heavy second half of the book would sometimes slow down a little, but I think that's just a me thing! I always like the slower moments more, but, for all its action, it still managed a lot of heartfelt moments amongst it all.
I loved how Teo's connection to birds was used all throughout, I always found it so sweet and such a warm and nurturing kind of connection to feature. I adored how the birds played their part as they are such a huge part of Teo's life and it was really nice to see that shown in this book as well. It's the little things that make the difference, that add the heart to a story!
Another thing I loved was the questioning of the world order all throughout. More than anything, I adored getting to see so many of the different cities and landscapes of the world and how every one was so unique not only in structure but also in how they operated. I really appreciated how these differences became such eye-opening events for Teo, I loved how they infused into this overarching question. Now that the world has been turned inside out, can we finally question it? As we fight to rebuild it, can we fight also for a better one? Maybe we don't want things to just go back to the way they were, maybe we need to force it to change instead. I adored this theme running as an undercurrent all throughout the book, influenced this way and that by any number of new sights, conversations and revelations.
I think this is truly such a wonderful series, it's incredibly fun to read and I'd highly recommend it! I think so many people of all ages would really enjoy this, it's so diverse and uplifting and centres trans characters as the heroes of their own stories. I adore reading fantasy set in queernorm worlds, books about queer and trans struggles are so immensely important, but stories where queer and trans characters simply get to exist are immensely important too! We always need more queer joy and I adore, adore, adore how Aiden Thomas has such well-written, but casual representation all throughout their stories. From Teo's jade green top surgery scars, to Xio figuring out who they are, to the easiness of queer love, I adored every moment. (This carries over from the first book where I absolutely sobbed at one of the most gender-affirming and beautiful moments!)
Books like these are so astoundingly important, especially for teens and a YA audience, which this is for. I'm so grateful and so happy that this exists! Thank you Aiden Thomas, I will read everything you ever write!
Thank you Macmillan Children's Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
On a long enough timeline, endings are inevitable.
Tragedy is inevitable.
Fortunately, so is joy.
This was amazing! I enjoyed literally every moment, even the ones where I could feel my heart in my mouth. This was just so good, I don't even know where to start.
I loved the bordering-satirical, terrifying-in-its-absurdity tone of this book. I adored how meta it was, it's a book about horror and the tropes and themes of that genre, and it does an expert job of exploring them with nuance and fascination.
Our main character, Misha, is the writer of a show that instantly brings to mind X-Files and Supernatural and Buffy, and I loved seeing those influences in this depiction. Misha is given an ultimatum by the suits who run the studio; either don't make the two lead characters of his show gay, or make them gay and kill them off because 'queer tragedy sells'. Misha doesn't want to do either of these things, he's actually pretty pissed at being forced to choose between these two options. But what if fighting for a happy ending will cost him everything?
I don't want to give anything away because part of the excitement is slowly discovering what the hell is going on, it makes the book unputdownable, but I am dying to talk to someone about how absolutely genius this book is! It's the perfect story for me that I didn't even know I wanted!
I adored seeing the battle Misha had to fight to find his way out of a horror story of his own creation, I adored how meta and insightful it was. It's blatantly clear how well-versed Tingle is in horror tropes and themes, I adored all the in-world horror movies and villains he constructed, the villains of Misha's stories were full of so much intrigue and—for all their horror—vibrant life. They were so creative and so essential to the story Tingle wanted to tell.
And while tragedies are important stories to tell, our appetite can be satiated with more than just suffering.
I loved how crucial queerness was in so many aspects of this story. I adore queer horror, I think it is so necessary and speaks to such nuanced pain and forced concealment and painted-upon villainy, but I love the fact that queerness was able to play an important part in many other subsequent themes. It introduced a lot of complexity to Misha as a character that not only delved into his shame but also his acceptance, without demanding from him trauma. We were also able to explore queer joy and queer friendship and the importance stories like these hold. Queer people deserve more than just one type of story. I adored how intelligently Tingle handled this, in his skilled writing we were able to see the capitalistic greed of corporations above all else. Whether homophobic or pinkwashed, corporations prioritised money above everything.
This takes me neatly to the crux of the story: corporations are not your friends and they do not care about your art or your joy or your lives! So true, Chuck Tingle (he says it in a much more eloquent and slightly more subtle way), so true! There is theme after theme after theme packed into this rather short novel and I adored that about it because it handles each one with cleverness and wit and rage. It's a book that has so much to say and never fumbles the point. There is so much to discover in this story and I know it's one that will stay with me for a very long time, I don't imagine I'll ever stop thinking about it or that it'll ever not be relevant.
"Your stories aren't worth your life."
My stories are my life.
Do yourself a favour and pick up this book! I am so excited to read Camp Damascus and any other horror novels Chuck Tingle bestows upon us! I have been converted, I am a true Tingler (I have no idea if I just made that up or if that is potentially what Chuck Tingle fans already call themselves, but if they don't they absolutely should)!
I will not be able to look at any worm-shaped creature for a very long time! (Tingle writes incredible gore and body horror, I'm as in awe of it as I am disgusted by it! But, oh my goodness, check the trigger warnings if either of those things affect you!) Also, point zero zero three one six two will haunt me just as badly as the worm, now that is horror!
What a fun, terrifying, powerful and phenomenal book!
Thank you so much Titan Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review. If you couldn't tell, I loved it!
On a long enough timeline, endings are inevitable.
Tragedy is inevitable.
Fortunately, so is joy.
This was amazing! I enjoyed literally every moment, even the ones where I could feel my heart in my mouth. This was just so good, I don't even know where to start.
I loved the bordering-satirical, terrifying-in-its-absurdity tone of this book. I adored how meta it was, it's a book about horror and the tropes and themes of that genre, and it does an expert job of exploring them with nuance and fascination.
Our main character, Misha, is the writer of a show that instantly brings to mind X-Files and Supernatural and Buffy, and I loved seeing those influences in this depiction. Misha is given an ultimatum by the suits who run the studio; either don't make the two lead characters of his show gay, or make them gay and kill them off because 'queer tragedy sells'. Misha doesn't want to do either of these things, he's actually pretty pissed at being forced to choose between these two options. But what if fighting for a happy ending will cost him everything?
I don't want to give anything away because part of the excitement is slowly discovering what the hell is going on, it makes the book unputdownable, but I am dying to talk to someone about how absolutely genius this book is! It's the perfect story for me that I didn't even know I wanted!
I adored seeing the battle Misha had to fight to find his way out of a horror story of his own creation, I adored how meta and insightful it was. It's blatantly clear how well-versed Tingle is in horror tropes and themes, I adored all the in-world horror movies and villains he constructed, the villains of Misha's stories were full of so much intrigue and—for all their horror—vibrant life. They were so creative and so essential to the story Tingle wanted to tell.
And while tragedies are important stories to tell, our appetite can be satiated with more than just suffering.
I loved how crucial queerness was in so many aspects of this story. I adore queer horror, I think it is so necessary and speaks to such nuanced pain and forced concealment and painted-upon villainy, but I love the fact that queerness was able to play an important part in many other subsequent themes. It introduced a lot of complexity to Misha as a character that not only delved into his shame but also his acceptance, without demanding from him trauma. We were also able to explore queer joy and queer friendship and the importance stories like these hold. Queer people deserve more than just one type of story. I adored how intelligently Tingle handled this, in his skilled writing we were able to see the capitalistic greed of corporations above all else. Whether homophobic or pinkwashed, corporations prioritised money above everything.
This takes me neatly to the crux of the story: corporations are not your friends and they do not care about your art or your joy or your lives! So true, Chuck Tingle (he says it in a much more eloquent and slightly more subtle way), so true! There is theme after theme after theme packed into this rather short novel and I adored that about it because it handles each one with cleverness and wit and rage. It's a book that has so much to say and never fumbles the point. There is so much to discover in this story and I know it's one that will stay with me for a very long time, I don't imagine I'll ever stop thinking about it or that it'll ever not be relevant.
"Your stories aren't worth your life."
My stories are my life.
Do yourself a favour and pick up this book! I am so excited to read Camp Damascus and any other horror novels Chuck Tingle bestows upon us! I have been converted, I am a true Tingler (I have no idea if I just made that up or if that is potentially what Chuck Tingle fans already call themselves, but if they don't they absolutely should)!
I will not be able to look at any worm-shaped creature for a very long time! (Tingle writes incredible gore and body horror, I'm as in awe of it as I am disgusted by it! But, oh my goodness, check the trigger warnings if either of those things affect you!) Also, point zero zero three one six two will haunt me just as badly as the worm, now that is horror!
What a fun, terrifying, powerful and phenomenal book!
Thank you so much Titan Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review. If you couldn't tell, I loved it!