Gina Lucia

Not really feeling the coloniser vibes that don't seem to get addressed. 

 Love in Colour is a delightful collection that offers a diverse range of love stories, each with its own unique charm. If you're in the mood for some heartwarming tales that'll leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, this book is definitely worth picking up.
I absolutely loved each short story in this collection. They feel complete, like little nuggets of emotion packed into a short space of time. It's so easy to get lost in each story, to immerse yourself in the world the author creates.
Maybe I haven't read enough romance, but each one feels refreshingly different. The characters are so distinct from each other that I could easily drop out of one story and flow right into the next without missing a beat.
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A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking perhaps was just not made for me. 
The story is cute, the characters perhaps even cuter (and also weird), but I just couldn't get into it.
The main character is a 14-year-old girl, and this, I think, is where I struggled. I listened to this one as an audiobook and the narrator was so adult, imaginging a child instead of a grown (and very posh) woman, was difficult.
Aside from that, the MC's inner voice was so adult-like and mature, it threw me. 
I do think the audiobook contributed to all of this. Id I'd have read the physical book, I may well have felt differently.

Welp, that was a rollercoaster.

  Thank you Gollancz for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had high expectations for The Hymn to Dionysus, but it still surprised me. Rather than a straight retelling, it's more of a mythology-inspired story, blending ancient Greece with unexpected mechanical elements. It took a bit to adjust to, but it added an interesting layer to the world.
The characters are what really made the book for me. Phaidros, a soldier dealing with PTSD after years of war, is such a well-drawn, complex character. His struggle to adjust to life after battle - especially in a society that values control and discipline above all else - was really compelling. Then there's Dionysus, who is the complete opposite: chaotic, otherworldly, and untamed. Their dynamic was fascinating to watch unfold, shifting from wary tension to something much more meaningful.
Pulley's writing is fantastic. Though the book is on the slower side, it lingers on moments, giving the characters and world time to breathe, which makes the emotional beats feel earned. It won't be for everyone, but I found it powerful.
This is definitely one that's going to stick with me.
Wondering if this mythology book is for you? Here's some at-a-glance info:
* Spice levels: More suggestive than anything. * Fantasy levels: Magic features heavily. * Rep: Disability rep, queer rep, and more. * Trigger warnings: War, violence, slavery, and quite a lot more. * The format I read it in: Physical.