Beattz
This was exactly what I wanted in the moment, I'm so thankful my Libby hold came through when it did! All the vibes you get from the cover of this book are exactly what you find in it's pages. It's cozy, it's picturesque, it has fantastical creatures and hidden magics. The relationship that buds between the FMC and her neighbor is just the sweetest thing in the whole world, transparent with all the initial fumblings and struggles to be who you are unapologetically, but also learning to be accommodating and make room for someone else in your life, especially when it's wholly unexpected. Complete with sentient plant sidekick, this fantasy is a delight from start to finish.
This was exactly what I wanted in the moment, I'm so thankful my Libby hold came through when it did! All the vibes you get from the cover of this book are exactly what you find in it's pages. It's cozy, it's picturesque, it has fantastical creatures and hidden magics. The relationship that buds between the FMC and her neighbor is just the sweetest thing in the whole world, transparent with all the initial fumblings and struggles to be who you are unapologetically, but also learning to be accommodating and make room for someone else in your life, especially when it's wholly unexpected. Complete with sentient plant sidekick, this fantasy is a delight from start to finish.
I picked this up bc it was Colbert's first (and last, I'm assuming) sci-fi/fantasy book club pick.
This book being the 2024 Booker Prize winner felt exactly like when a super arty and daring movie wins the Oscar for best picture. Is it objectively good? Yes. Did anyone enjoy it? Eh.
Most of the writing rolled right off me. You get to know precisely one thing about each of the characters, and anytime you interact with them, it's just more about that thing. There's no plot to speak of, and certainly no climax or resolution. I'm not even sure what the timeframe of the book is. Sixteen orbits, which they made clear is not the same as days, so even that left me feeling at a loss.
I understand that's all probably a big part of the point. We get a slice of life in a space station, where, truly, nothing happens. Their days are the same over and over. The people sharing the space aren't friends, and don't know anything about one another. Time is meaningless because the sun rises multiple times in the awake period.
So I'm left with this work of fiction in my hands, and I don't know what to do with it. Or say about it. Or even feel about it. It's like I'm in zero gravity and all the parts just floated past me, having zero impact on my trajectory.
I picked this up bc it was Colbert's first (and last, I'm assuming) sci-fi/fantasy book club pick.
This book being the 2024 Booker Prize winner felt exactly like when a super arty and daring movie wins the Oscar for best picture. Is it objectively good? Yes. Did anyone enjoy it? Eh.
Most of the writing rolled right off me. You get to know precisely one thing about each of the characters, and anytime you interact with them, it's just more about that thing. There's no plot to speak of, and certainly no climax or resolution. I'm not even sure what the timeframe of the book is. Sixteen orbits, which they made clear is not the same as days, so even that left me feeling at a loss.
I understand that's all probably a big part of the point. We get a slice of life in a space station, where, truly, nothing happens. Their days are the same over and over. The people sharing the space aren't friends, and don't know anything about one another. Time is meaningless because the sun rises multiple times in the awake period.
So I'm left with this work of fiction in my hands, and I don't know what to do with it. Or say about it. Or even feel about it. It's like I'm in zero gravity and all the parts just floated past me, having zero impact on my trajectory.
I joined a certain Discord server back in April, just 2 weeks too late to have participated in the buddy read and consequential 3 hour long voice chat to discuss the intricacies involved in Morning Glory Milking Farm. It will go down in history as one of my biggest regrets.
It's hard to sit here and try to write a serious review about a book that is so serious in regards to minotaur “milking”. It's all very clinical - when you ignore the fact that the FMC Violet's very first solo mission results in her falling in love first, with an appendage, and then, eventually, the bull to which it is attached. There's scrubs, and sterilization (not that kind, obvs) procedures, and barcode labels and industrial strength lubricant.
But it wouldn't be a romance book if there wasn't also the compulsory sweet moments when they meet outside of the farm for the first time, or she learns that he always eats dessert first, and he comforts her when there's a death in the family, etc. There's personal growth and shared intimacies and hallmark jokes.
All in all it's not nearly appalling as one would assume. The writing is decent, although, once again, it would benefit from a stronger editor as there were several typos in my copy, and that just gets under my skin. I don't know that I'll read the entire series, but being a Mothman fan, you know I picked up Sweet Berries, so I'll report back in after I read that one.
I joined a certain Discord server back in April, just 2 weeks too late to have participated in the buddy read and consequential 3 hour long voice chat to discuss the intricacies involved in Morning Glory Milking Farm. It will go down in history as one of my biggest regrets.
It's hard to sit here and try to write a serious review about a book that is so serious in regards to minotaur “milking”. It's all very clinical - when you ignore the fact that the FMC Violet's very first solo mission results in her falling in love first, with an appendage, and then, eventually, the bull to which it is attached. There's scrubs, and sterilization (not that kind, obvs) procedures, and barcode labels and industrial strength lubricant.
But it wouldn't be a romance book if there wasn't also the compulsory sweet moments when they meet outside of the farm for the first time, or she learns that he always eats dessert first, and he comforts her when there's a death in the family, etc. There's personal growth and shared intimacies and hallmark jokes.
All in all it's not nearly appalling as one would assume. The writing is decent, although, once again, it would benefit from a stronger editor as there were several typos in my copy, and that just gets under my skin. I don't know that I'll read the entire series, but being a Mothman fan, you know I picked up Sweet Berries, so I'll report back in after I read that one.
This book is awesome. I honestly forgot how much I enjoyed it the first time I read it. It's just really good storytelling. The stakes are high, the characters are layered and flawed and intriguing. There's magic and a mystery to be solved. There's sacrifice for the greater good versus being emptied over and over again for a system that does nothing but take, giving nothing in return.
I cannot wait to read Fevered Star.
This book is awesome. I honestly forgot how much I enjoyed it the first time I read it. It's just really good storytelling. The stakes are high, the characters are layered and flawed and intriguing. There's magic and a mystery to be solved. There's sacrifice for the greater good versus being emptied over and over again for a system that does nothing but take, giving nothing in return.
I cannot wait to read Fevered Star.
This installment in the SoS series was a bit of a miss for me. I still very much enjoyed my time in this world, but less so the characters it focused on, and the hero's flaw that needed to be "worked out". It may very much have been the case because I was doing audio this time, and so I wasn't as locked in to the story, but I don't think that's all of it. But there were also no gnoles in this book, and that was completely unfair.
Tbh, this book just really made me want a book for Wren.
This installment in the SoS series was a bit of a miss for me. I still very much enjoyed my time in this world, but less so the characters it focused on, and the hero's flaw that needed to be "worked out". It may very much have been the case because I was doing audio this time, and so I wasn't as locked in to the story, but I don't think that's all of it. But there were also no gnoles in this book, and that was completely unfair.
Tbh, this book just really made me want a book for Wren.
Added to listBook Club/Buddy Readswith 50 books.
Added to listRe Readingwith 135 books.
Added to listLibrary Loanswith 74 books.
This installment in the SoS series was a bit of a miss for me. I still very much enjoyed my time in this world, but less so the characters it focused on, and the hero's flaw that needed to be "worked out". It may very much have been the case because I was doing audio this time, and so I wasn't as locked in to the story, but I don't think that's all of it. But there were also no gnoles in this book, and that was completely unfair.
Tbh, this book just really made me want a book for Wren.
This installment in the SoS series was a bit of a miss for me. I still very much enjoyed my time in this world, but less so the characters it focused on, and the hero's flaw that needed to be "worked out". It may very much have been the case because I was doing audio this time, and so I wasn't as locked in to the story, but I don't think that's all of it. But there were also no gnoles in this book, and that was completely unfair.
Tbh, this book just really made me want a book for Wren.