Dee
I just finished this and I want to read it again.
Jam and her parent's relationship is beautiful. How easily and wholly they embraced her, how comfortable she feels using her voice around them, how loving they all are to each other.
Jam's protectiveness over Redemption, while equally beautiful, had me worried that she wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done.
Pet. Where do I begin with Pet? I completely understand why Jam and her parents were so wary of Pet in the beginning. The very description, the speech pattern, the reason for its existence? I wants no parts. But, somehow, before the book was over, I wanted nothing more than to spend more time with them.
I love that Emezi made a world where ppl were held accountable for their actions to the point that people were too afraid to do those things any more. Where acceptance was more normal than discrimination. And yet...it happened again. Because humans cannot be trusted when there's no one looking over their shoulders.
Read it.
That. Ending. Omg I'm freaaaaking out.
I couldn't put this book down during the last few chapters as so much was happening and I was way too into it. This one was everything that I had wanted King of Scars to be. The character arcs and plot finally made sense, the favourites in the group got a moment to shine and all that they were working towards finally came to a head. I really wanted Genya to get her happy ending but at least SpoilerZoya and Nikolai and Nina and Hanne got theirs. Can't wait to see where this goes.
Critically, I can see why people may not like this one. It's chaotic as hell, the POVs are cousins and not twins (Nina is by far the superior until Spoilerwe get to Ketterdam, and then I couldn't give two what's about Nina and Hanne's budding romance..
This was fan service through and through, and I am grateful. The only things that would have made it better were for SpoilerDavid to not have died and for Kaz and Inej to have spent some time together.Spoiler
Clementine is a stubborn, strong-willed little heroine, who is desperate for acceptance and love. Her destiny, however, is set in stone, on a path of fear and isolation. This novel is full of heart and growth, with so many fantastical moments (unicorns, grimoires turned into chickens and witches casting body-altering spells). I can envision many a child sitting and reading this, not wanting to put it down, as that was exactly how I felt as an adult. I sincerely wish that I had this when I was growing up because I never would have left the clouds.
There is adventure, there is action, there is hurt/comfort, there is hope and there is hopelessness. Above all of this, there is the chance for something has never gotten before: unconditional love.
This book has the capacity to take you through the gambit if you let it.
I sincerely hope that you let it.
I honestly thought I had reviewed this already...but apparently raving about it on Twitter, Instagram and discord doesn't count???? Doesn't seem right but okay...
At first, I tried to pick this one up a few months ago, but I was not in the right space for it. Not for the death of her mother, not for the micro-aggressions and certainly not for the very intricate magic system. Fast forward to the 12th and I decided that this time was perfect for breaking my own heart.
What I loved about this book:
1. How often do you find Knights of the Round Table retellings but with black people? Exactly.
2. Sel. That snarky ferocity was welcomed (although it took some time for him to grow on me. He was so mean to poor Bree haha)
3. Nick.
4. Bree's full force ahead, I'll deal with the consequences as I go attitude.
5. The social commentary. This book does not shy away from the harsh realities of black folks in the southern parts of America (or most of America if we're being real. I watch the news.)
6. The growth each of these characters make from the start was chef's kiss. The trauma they had to overcome in order to get to a place where they can fully trust and work with each other. My God!
What I didn't like
* Why would you leave us like that Ms. Deonn??? You don't think there was enough heart palpitations in the last few chapters that you had to go and do THAT in the end? Nah. That's foul!!!! And now we have to wait AN ENTIRE YEAR for another one? I don't like it one bit.
Overall, there were some real gems in here. Ones that were so creepy and disgusting that you get chills. But then there were the ones that really didn't do it for me.
What I wish this didnt do: include that r*pe scene, have weirdly unnecessary sexism in order to explain female attraction, fat shaming.
What I wish it did more of: Creatures messing with the humans because of their stupidity.
Did I expect anything other than to love this one? God. Elizabeth Acevedo owes me at least two therapy sessions to deal with the trauma her books give me.
Certainly not my favourite in the bunch, but it pulls the heartstrings in much the same way as you expect from an Acevedo. But it also pisses you off on another level. The choices made by Spoilerthe adults in this book makes me fume every time I think about it! But also, the fact that Camino refused to ask for help in a situation that was clearly above her capacity level. You in danger, girl!
A beautiful story that tells of love for a father scene only through rose coloured glasses, and then the inevitable pain that comes with its removal. It tells of determination, growth and self discovery.
Go read it
Be warned, this gets gory.
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I've read books that felt like a fever dream before. None have been quite as hallucinatory as this.
I was prepared for this being weird and not exactly logical, so when that's what I got, I didn't hate the experience at all. I expected to feel confused so when I couldn't figure out what was real and what was in their mind, I chalked it up to part of the journey that Jones wanted me to go through.
Being in Lewis' head was the most trippy part of this whole thing, so if it was all his POV this book would have been 10x better. The only other POV that could closely match the delirium would be that of Spoilerthe elk head woman. Her inner monologue gave me chills. I understood her anger and her need for vengeance even if I also wanted the men to somehow come out of this alive. It wasn't a logical desire, but it was there all the same.
What I wish had gone differently was the ending. It all felt too neat so I had to dock a star, otherwise, this book was exactly what I went into it expecting.
Ugh, this book.
2.5 stars
Do not read this book if: CW Spoilerrape, grooming, grey ‘consent' between an adult and a minor, heavy gore involving rats and cockroaches, sexism, implied physical abuse of a minor character, nazi apologizing are things you don't want to read about.
I was fairly enjoying myself in this story up until about 83% in when our antagonist decided to be a full-on creep in a way that goes beyond what I'd forgive as being Vampire. SpoilerThere are so many adults in the neighbourhood, why does he constantly target CHILDREN??? Yes, they're younger so more ‘life' to suck out, but these adult women weren't on death's door so they are a perfectly acceptable substitute. There was no need for Hendrix to go this route. At all. I could have ignored the men in this book being ABSOLUTE trash, treating the women like little children who are wholly incapable of having logical thought or agency, who need to be managed rather than partnered with. But at that point I couldn't stomach any more.
This book is infuriating and gross, so I can't in good conscience recommend it to ANYONE.
Now I'm wondering if I want to pick up all those other ‘highly acclaimed works' of his.
Comparison is the thief of joy - and every one of these characters has been robbed.
CW/TW: Spoiler self-hate, suicide, toxic beauty standards, harmful relationship with food and body image, implied eating disorder, miscarriages and the trauma associated, cheating, physical punishment
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There are so many instances of characters comparing themselves to each other and finding themselves falling short. Every bit of this book and these character's stories made me unbelievably sad. Their circumstances felt hopeless, their self-hate and the external pressures were overwhelming. All I want is to hug them and make it all better, but that isn't the way life works. Especially when you live in a world that so boldly tells you what you can and can't be, what you should look like and what you should want for yourself. Good grief Frances Cha, what did I ever do to you?
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‘It is easy to leap if you have no choice.'
I feel like that perfectly sums up the storyline of each of these characters. Their lives were all on an inevitable trajectory where the only option is to leap or endure the pain of standing in place. What a beautiful leap of faith this was.
Mi'a is exactly the badass character I went into this wanting, but so is Sara. They are fierce and love each other unapologetically and I get behind those mother-daughter relationship goals.
The premise of the book intrigued me from page one. The clinical way that the characters set about accomplishing that task was an added bonus. Need to get x to y location, but there are obstacles? Ok, well lying works...but so does killing, so if the first doesn't work well then RIP.
The bits of history that was so intricately woven in (that the author went on to further explain in his discussion) was perfect. It made the story feel authentic.
On the flip side, the relationship that was developed between the main character and her love interest didn't feel genuine to me. I didn't buy it nor did I care for it. I would have loved it if she would have been as clinical about it as the others had been. It didn't fit with who they were as a people. This sudden development of emotions distracted from the single-minded focus that I'd come to appreciate from them.
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I need book two immediately. I am ready for them to be the 100 and to see how the Kibsu responds.
I knew that this book was going to make me feel for the victim. What I didn't expect was to also want to rally for the accused as well. So many things stacked against him, a future cut off at the legs.
The audio for this book went by so quickly that I hadn't realized that the physical book was actually over 300 pages. The topics covered never felt too much but instead provided the exact context needed to get into both Sasha and Richard's head.
I'm really happy that I stumbled upon this one and I want more people to read it so that I can discuss it with someone.
Some secrets were best left at sea, between sisters.
This above all else is a story of two sisters fighting to find their way back to each other, while also trying to rediscover themselves. There's mystery, there's budding romance and there's hurt and comfort.
I loved every moment of reading this, with the uncertainty and hopelessness that was woven throughout, even as the girls were so determined to not give up.
I would recommend this for fans of the sci-fi/dystopian genre, for fans of girls saving themselves, and above all for fans of unreliable narrators because the layers that this book had kept you fed on the crumbs of information you get at every step of the way.
This book weaves its way into your psyche and suddenly you find yourself in love. You begin to realize that this book is about the naivete and ambition of youth juxtaposed to the reasoning that comes with age.
There are moments of this book that are so painful to read (so many hate crimes, colourism, sexism) but ultimately we take a journey through Libertie's growing up: all the highs and lows of life. It's not an obvious shift but one that is so subtly mundane that if you blink you'll miss it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, please read it!
At first, I didn't know what to rate this but I think 4 stars seems reasonable.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a conversation started between parents/guardians and kids to help teach kids how to take charge of their own destiny. It speaks to finding your own sense of agency (there's even a guide to starting your own protest in the back) that I personally think will help broaden any child's horizon. However, this book is appropriate for all ages as the information and time period that it covers means that there's bound to be at least one cause/protest that you didn't know much about.
Very accessible.
I couldn't begin to tell you what I just read, but I can tell you EXACTLY how it made me feel. You know when you're high off your mind on cold medication? Groggy and not quite sure what's real and what's hallucinated, slightly feverish and with the urge to grind your teeth, but you still feel ten times better than before so you're grateful. That's what reading this book is like. A full-on fever dream that is so entertaining that you don't want the fever to ever break. Sadie...oh Sadie, you are the vicious protector of my dreams.
I wish this book was longer if only to get more hunting time, but also to finally bask in the close knit relationships conjured up by Clark. I get why this was everywhere when it first came out. How much begging do you think I need to do for this to become a series????