Krys
At the center of Issunboshi is the lesson that there is no one too small to make a positive change. This is an incredible graphic novel that brings the Japanese fairy tale to life. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is well constructed to bring the reader along despite not knowing the cultural and historical context of the story. This would be an incredible book for any middle- or high-school classroom. I was absolutely floored by the artistic choices made that help bring this entire book to life. Visually stunning and incredible story that leaves you wanting to know what is next in the incredible life of Issunboshi.
This was absolutely phenomenal. I love that the author is using D&D and the (inevitable) table dynamics to give the reader an opportunity to explore challenging aspects of being a social human. The art was perfect and the similarities that were drawn in to connect player to player character was perfect. I loved that the character arcs in the story aligned with the character arcs of the humans. I can't wait for volume 2.
The third and final installment of the poetry series.... and the perfect ending. Lovelace weaves poetry, personal journey entries, and reminders with beautiful art to create a stunning experience that will rip your heart out, give you hope, and give you a cup of coffee for the adventure ahead.
If you enjoyed the first two books of the series, you just can't miss this final chapter.
Six incredibly powerful initiates are chosen chosen to spend one year in a competition to see who will gain membership to the Alexandrian Society. One will be eliminated.
What I loved most about this story was the exploration of the pursuit of power. It is placed squarely in dark academia and given gripping human context. Humans don't seek power and knowledge devoid of their past experiences and Blake brings out the best in how death, neglect, abuse, and loyalty can shape our pursuits.
It also has a really interesting magic system, where the type of magic you can do is classified and able to be refined in a special college. Magic can often come about because of great pain or loss. This puts a whole new spin on the undercurrents and ideals behind magic users.
For those of you looking for a darker look at power, knowledge, and magic.... you've found it.
McGonigal does it again with another fabulous book that challenges her readers to look past what they think they know into the wild beyond.
Futurist thinking challenges us to look past what is predictable and venture into the realm of “what if.” McGonigal walks you through several futurist thinking challenges and teaches you how (and WHY) you are looking at things this way and how to do it as a solo activity and with a group.
The book itself has been fantastic and is a great exercise for individuals interested in shifting the narrative and the viewpoints of the future.
The audiobook, which I was offered as an ARC, was made even better because it is an author-narrated audiobook. The pacing was what you would expect after watching her speak. She is clear, concise, and actually a pretty great narrator. It is somewhat difficult to do the exercises she suggests as a part of the audiobook so just be prepared with your pause button to do the work!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I don't know what I was expecting when I threw my name in the metaphorical hat to review Not a Lot of Reasons to Sing. I haven't often thrown myself into the poetry world since leaving the classroom but something about the mix of sci-fi and poetry had my attention. And I was not disappointed.
If you look for your poetry to have the face slap, scream the truth from a stage bite of slam poetry, this has it.
If you look for your poetry to teach you something about the life best lived, this has it.
If you prefer poetry that forces you into yourself to seek the tiny kernels of truth, identity, and power.... this has it.
Myhre has taken us out of this world into a future that is both like and unlike the society we live in to force us to face all of the ugly injustices we do to ourselves, our neighbors, and to our futures both in the light of day and in the dark recesses of our private thoughts. That bitterness is chased by the ever-present undercurrent of hope and possibility. Myhre is both challenging us to face what we are and what we can become.
Were I still teaching, this would make an instant addition to my curriculum for creative writing and multicultural lit.
I had picked this up as a “soon-after-Christmas-but-let's-still-count-it” read after utterly failing in my attempt to read winter-themed books for December. Here are a few of my reactions:
It was a Christmas dinner story that takes place during COVID lockdown. I didn't hate that as much as I think other people have. It was nice to see someone having an experience and connection during a time we all know has been very isolating.Apparently, it gives an “update” for a character I've forgotten from another Rainbow Rowell book. I've read the book, I honestly must not have cared too much because I don't remember them. This book would probably appeal more to individuals that want the “what's next” for Landline.
The family politics are spot on. I loved that there is so much “new normal” in here that is just kind of out there. And she finds a person who has a similar “new normal.” I can't believe I just used “new normal” in a review. Please forgive me.
I would suggest this book for lovers of Landline (because apparently it gives updates to key characters) or for anyone not so done with COVID that you can't take a present-set book. I actually enjoyed it.
Tina is actually a being from another planet that is being hidden and raised here until it is her time to try to save the world.
Of course it activates when she is a teenager.... because if YA fiction has anything to do with it, we're going to need an army of teenage girls with ennui to save us. And of course she takes her BFF forever with her and she falls in love with the hottest person on the ship. The premise is so old at this point.
What this book does that bumped it up a few stars for me is that it has a cool look at representation. I wouldn't expect anything less from Charlie Jane Anders, of course. I loved that being who you were was just an accepted part of the story, never given too much attention as being “weird.”
Other than that, I might just have to stick to adult fantasy/sci-fi for a bit.
Savannah is an editor for a literary publisher and (secretly, of course... if her publishing house found out she was writing frivolous fiction.... the scandal..... ) is facing a submission deadline for her romance novel manuscript . She is walking out of the conference room at work and falls, dropping her manuscript at the feet of her new supervisor. She might have just blown her cover, so she hustles to hide her precious manuscript in a secret hideout. When she returns, a mystery person has added some not-so-welcome editing advice. When her manuscript is rejected by the editor for deep revisions (with a 44-day due date for resubmission), Savannah starts to listen to those marginal notes.
For those of us that fall in love with and through books, this rom-com is such a welcomed escape. What I loved most about this book is that it is more about the growth of Savannah than about the romance itself. She faces some pretty difficult learning curves for herself - learning to put herself first, grow as an individual, and explore what it means to be a good friend, coworker, partner. It is about the harsh realities of chasing your dreams and your dream person and what it means to be attracted to someone.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone that has a bookish bend and is looking for a good rom-com to keep them company. :D
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Cleo is turning the big 3-0 and still hasn't found the one to settle down with. Mack was happily married and living the life Cleo dreamed about until he wasn't. Both are hoping to find solace in Otter Lodge on Sanctuary Island.
This novel is everything I look for in a romantic comedy. The characters are adult, believable, and flawed. They grow. They discover themselves and evolve as a human. The romance is authentic and one that you wish you could find yourself.
The writing in this novel shows how much the author has grown in her storytelling craft. It is a wonderful, heartwarming novel that is definitely recommended for fans of Christina Lauren and Talia Hibbert.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am a huge fan of video games, fantasy novels, and a good magic system. I had heard about this book coming out and was so excited. It seemed like it would be right up my alley.
The storytelling was juvenile, the main character stereotypical to the point it was offensive, and the pacing of the novel left me wishing it were over on page 3. The author should have kept this one on the hard drive and tried again or maybe wrote from his own perception and not tried to do LGBTQIA female gamer. What came out was a weird cross between cheap cable TV fantasy and a cancelled Nickelodeon show.
Read literally anything else. This novel was absolute drivel and a waste of time.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Schwab is a phenomenal storyteller. In my humble list of favorites, her writing and storytelling ranks up there with Rothfuss, Okorafor, and Becky Chambers for me. I don't always love the stories she tells (sorry, I'm one of those that was very “meh” on Addie LaRue) but she could tell me the story of how she bought spinach at the grocery store last week and I'd stick through to the end just for the descriptions.
Gallant was different. It didn't waft through centuries exploring personal connection and sacrifice. It stared down the deepest parts of youthful vehemence and the need to belong and challenged you to confront yourself. The story drags you along into battle to understand what it means to form a family and fight for it.
It is the tale of Oliva, whose father died before she was born and her mother left her at a home for independent girls as a young child. She has no voice, sees a few ghouls, and thoroughly hates where she has ended up. She finally is given a chance at a real home when a long-lost uncle writes and invites her home.
This book is a gutsy, emotional ride through self-discovery when all you have fought for is hanging in the balance. If you are looking for the teenage child of Coraline meets Shades of Magic.... this will not disappoint. If you are seeking another taste of the storytelling that only somewhat saved Addie LaRue, this is for you.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I can't tell you how excited I was that I was chosen to review the audiobook for this novel. I absolutely loved Cerulean Sea but just could not enjoy the audio due to the narrator.
This book translates beautifully to audiobook. The story is easy to follow, the narrator uses voices that beautifully mesh and are distinct enough that you know without any kind of indicator exactly who is talking. The story is paced well and is written in such a way you're not confused about what exactly is happening.
As for the story itself, it is the type of beautiful story you would expect from TJ Klune. His storytelling is masterful, his characters so perfectly flawed. As much as you want to hate Wallace, you can see pieces of yourself and the people you hold dear in him. You don't even notice it as you slip from wondering why Klune would create such a detestable character into actually rooting for him. He uncovers and pokes at all of the raw places of our hearts that are love, loss, and family.
If you are interested in a story that would be the lovechild of Ghost and Good Will Hunting... try this out.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I had originally picked this book up because it was cheap and... well.... I often feel like a 40-something f**k up. Seemed directly up my alley.
When I opened it and read the opening bits of the book, my first thought was “did someone actually take their podcast and just.... turn on speech-to-text to write a book?” I seriously spent the entire time reading this book thinking I was reading someone's memoir.
Contrary to what I thought... it actually isn't a memoir. I mean, it may be somewhat autobiographical (yup....I saw myself in many of those situations) but it isn't a memoir. I guess that goes to show that if this was the tone she was going for, she got it. Dead on.
It is the story of Nell (no, I did not think to look at the author's name and I was reading on a kindle so I didn't stare at the book cover day in and day out) as she is living post-break up in a social media fueled world. Her friends are living perfect lives and everyone seems to have this whole life thing figured out and perfected. Except her.
It was an enjoyable fluff read. If you're looking for someone to commiserate with about lacking the insta-perfect house, kids, and spouse.... this book is for you.
Recommended for: Anyone looking to see what would happen if a Lifetime movie had a baby with a Kevin Smith movie and raised it on fine British culture.
What happens when a group of romance writers take common romance tropes and give them life using a multicultural and LGBTQ+ cast? You get some stellar short stories that breathe life back into some tired literary devices. This book is fantastic if you are looking for short stories situated within the romance genre that features BIPOC and queer characters. The stories aren't especially “spicy” and not all of them were incredible but the anthology as a whole is fantastic if you're looking for some romance escapism.
Some of my personal favorites included “Silver and Gold” by Natasha Ngan, “Passover Date” by Laura Silverman, and My Best Friend's Girl by Sara Farizan. The stories are easy to read, many of them are perfect length and tempo for a quick read before bed, and the characters are often incredibly believable.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
What a wonderful look at a difficult year from the perspectives of so many incredible poets. The 2021 edition of The Best American Poetry not only dives into some of the uncomfortable realities and unrests of the past year, but the editors seem to have taken special care to ensure that a variety of viewpoints are represented, There is a wide breadth of voices represented, which is incredible for an anthology of poetry.
Another thing that sets this anthology apart from other contemporary collections is that it doesn't only feature the well-known names you would expect to find. There are many poets that are lesser known and several I had never read before.
All-in-all, this is an incredible, broad look at poetry and a fantastic reflection of poetry as it exits in our world today.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I will openly admit that I am a narrative adventure nerd. Tabletop RPGS, MMORPGs, JRPGs... you name it and I'm diving in. I love going on adventures. Growing up, however, I had no idea choose your own adventure novels existed. By the time I learned I could raid my older brother's bookshelves, he was past the “targeted age” for those books. So, I missed out.
Until recently. I found “Into the Dungeon” when I was looking for more not-specifically-made-for-kids choose your own adventures. As usual, Jeff Bezos's well-oiled machine found me, smacked me in the face with it, and gave me a nice little discount to give him my paycheck. Which I, of course, did.
This book absolutely did not disappoint. Unlike the Wizards of the Coast D&D based adventures, this one you get character sheets. You lose HP. You pick up weird little trinkets that come in handy in the oddest ways. You discover secrets that you die attempting to solve. You could get invited to a dinner party or you could get out and float on a river.
It is so well written. Conner did such a great job of writing things so that the adventure feels authentic no matter what path you have taken to get there. There aren't weird holes or stutters like “you brandish your sword” when... you never had a sword or you gave your sword away three steps ago.
If you are looking for a COYA, pick it up. It is fantastic.
I did actually read mine on my Kindle Paperwhite. Being able to click and go directly to where I wanted to go was amazing. Some of the pathways didn't work so well to get set-up (like going to look at character sheets and then trying to get back to where you were to continue the set-up process) but you can't fault that.
Persephone has been alone for most of her life. Any time she tries to get close to someone, she looks into their eyes and they go insane. So, when Persephone finally meets Hyacinth and they begin to talk, Hyacinth invites Persephone out to her island home. There, Persephone begins to discover who she is, what she is capable of, and what it means to be connected to people.
This book is a lovely story of becoming for people who loved Practical Magic or the storytelling style of Magic for Liars. It takes you on an adventure through a woman's discovery of love, family, connection, and her own capabilities. The author's lovely descriptions of the island, the family, and the connection between the sisters alone makes this book worth reading.
My complaint is that the main character reads too much like a lost teenager and less like a young woman. I understand that human connection is difficult to master for some people but the decisions and ideas she has feel too much like the thoughts of a teenager, which kills some of the immersion for me. I was shocked at one point to realize she is supposed to be late-20's, not late teens.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If you are a fan of V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series or you really, really enjoyed the TV series “The Librarians,” this may be a good book for you to pick up.
I had waited for a while to get my hands on this book as there is a gigantic wait for it through my local library. I have to admit, it was well worth it. The book is set in 1980's England. It wasn't so heavy-handed on the 80's pop culture references as Ready Player One (and now that I'm thinking back on my reading of it, I could probably only list off a handful of references in general) but knowing the time period really isn't relevant for the story. Perhaps it is a missed opportunity to give us 80's kids some nostalgia.
What I did love was everything that was done well. The gender-fluid Merlin. The fact that the booksellers are the fighting force, keeping malevolent magic at bay. A mysterious father and a forgetful mother. I also loved that the main character was a refreshingly non-conformist person that we so rarely get to enjoy in YA fantasy.
Magic exists in the real world but the two (Old World vs New World) rarely touch. The main character is suddenly thrust into a magical world that very much wants to kill her for reasons she doesn't understand. The mystery and “who is trying to kill me” aspects of the book aren't grossly overdone. While it is somewhat predictable in parts, it isn't annoyingly so.
Overall, a lovely read that I'm somewhat disappointed that I don't own. I'd be interested to see this world continue with our new heroine and her person by her side, battling ancient sovereigns. But, this also is perfeclty lovely as a standalone adventure for those who need a little magic.