Nikki
Caralee, a ‘traverser', works as a universe-hopping agent in this quiet but not entirely easy read either. The book touches upon some topics which do get dark, especially the few snippets of Cara's abusive relationship and her dealing with deaths. It's not too detailed but I do wish that the author dedicated more time into this but I understand that that might've not be the focus for the story.
The book reminds me a lot of Darkest Minds by Blake Crouch in terms of concept but I think this will make for a more slow and relaxing read. It was interesting to get to know about the different Earth's and the whole uncovering of Cara's identity. The book surprised me a few times when I least expected it too and that was fun too. I like the romance aspect of the book too, albeit it wasn't very forefront as I would've liked it to be but I am satisfied with what the author provided.
A decent read overall, I expected the ending already but it was a worthwhile read!
I wanted to dip my toes into some of Becky Chamber's work and so I decided to try this novella by her and I like it! Her writing style definitely vibes with me, its simple and not too distracting from the story she's trying to tell. This is a book which does not come with too much stress like some other fantasy/sci-fi books which I tend to read so it was a nice palette cleanser in between them. I won't go into the plot much but the story is set in the outer space and basically, they lose communications with the people on Earth. The characters here are diverse which I appreciate a lot. I definitely didn't see the book ending this way but it was fairly satisfying.
When the world you know is out of reach, nothing is more welcome than a measurable reminder that is still exists.
Overall, I had a good time with this and I will definitely try more stuff by this author out! Would recommend to those who wants to read something different and more relaxing.
1st reread: A lot less confusing the second time around! Will recommend listening to this podcast https://www.lockedtombpod.com/ where the hosts discuss a lot of details that might've been missed the first time around or little theories that could interest you.
Original review:
This entire book was so CONFUSING but I love it. The book starts off with a 2nd-person point of view which felt unnatural to me since I usually only encounter those in fanfic but I persevered. To those who gets put off with the writing style, I would say just be patient because it plays a very important part in the story.
I enjoyed the newness of everything here, we get to see a lot of things through Harrow's eyes which is interesting. The humor in this is definitely different since its not Gideon anymore but its a nice kind of different. There's more worldbuilding here now and new characters introduced. We also get to see our old pals from the 1st book which was delightful for me! I really enjoyed seeing the other characters from GtN here because I thought for sure I would never be seeing them again. When it comes to pacing though, I do feel like that takes a hit due to the odd switching of timelines but by the end of the book I was so used to that.
So, TLDR: I loved this as much as the 1st and questions were answered but more questions arise too.
2nd read 2022: I think this series REQUIRES rereads. The amount of clues and foreshadowing that I never gave a tinge of attention to the first time around is so fun to encounter in this second reading. This is a series that brings fans together theorizing every single possibility and beyond, and I think it's only going to go further with the release of Nona this coming September. Will definitely revisit HtN because that is a whole other level of satisfying-confusing material right there.
Orginal review:
This was a deadly good read! In all seriousness though, I went into the book with some spoilers for the ending but still got so many surprises out of this. I didn't expect it to be so whack? The best way I could describe the overall vibes of this book is the novel And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie but combine that with NECROMANCY. This is my first necromancy-themed fantasy book that I've read so I don't have much to compare to but I found the world building incredibly interesting. The author is very clever to never reveal too much at once and leaves you wanting to know more about something but only to get that answer you want much further in the book.
The characters in this were top-notch too. I'll have to say that Gideon Nav is definitely one of my favorite protagonists of the year. Her humor is relatable and I loved her interactions with everyone too. Her relationship with Harrowhark was also stellarly done and I can't wait to see how they will affect each other in the sequels.
Gideon, here's a bed of writhing babes. It's the cloisterites, though, so they're ninety percent osteoporosis.
Finally, I think overall I really enjoyed this. There were moments where I got lost in the story but most of them were explained(loosely sometimes) but I have high hopes for the sequels and I hope they live up to this incredible debut! It's a book with humor, action, friendships and MOVING BONES/SKELETONS. Also, there are hints of romance between the two protagonists but we'll have to see how that plays out in the series.
Oh wow, this entire book had me rooting for a murderer and I am at awe at how well the author intertwined the two POV's, Scarlett and Carly, together. The best way to read this is definitely to go in to it blind, I really did not expect the ending at all and I'm still recovering from all that.
This is a fast-paced book which alternates from the two POV's and it might seem like they have nothing to do with each other at first but by the middle of the book, you'll see that they are very much entangled in each other's story line. It's really hard to say how good this book is without spoiling it so I'll just say it here, if you want a book about how a bisexual woman kills men(who rapes/abuses/assaults women) and has massive Killing Eve vibes, look no further!
Also, I'll like to add that there is a f/f-centered relationship which is not the main focus of the story but was a great addition to an already excellent book.
Fun read about queer witches! Can't wait for the sequel :))
Also, a great quote from the book which I love:
Don't do that. Never do that. Don't ever say you're not beautiful, not ever, okay? Girls are just beautiful. That's the way they are.
Give a chance to this new debut to sweep you away into a fun adventure-ish book filled with witchcraft and queerness!
Night Shine was an incredible read, I couldn't put the book down and finished it within 2 days. I'll be honest, what intrigued me was the premise of the enemies-to-lovers romance between the main character, Nothing, and her enemy, The Sorceress Who Eats Girls. The book starts out with her setting out with Sky, to save the prince, Kirin.
I loved how queer this book was. It wasn't just the f/f romance but literally almost every single character here was queer in a way. Nothing had a few instances where she was attracted to other female characters and Kirin + Sky was another relationship besides the main which I really enjoyed!
Our voices are the most powerful tool any of us have. What is something if it does not have a name?
Names play an important role in this story. It's ultimately a journey where Nothing finds her own name, and becomes Something. I really liked this whole concept with names that the author used here, it kept it really mysterious from the start of the book but it wasn't confusing or anything like that. Also, the author's writing style was definitely another reason why I enjoyed the book. The writing didn't seem too dense or complicated but it felt really atmospheric.
I liked it. I like you, Nothing. I like what you are now.
Okay, the romance in this book was so good. It was definitely a slow burn but it's rightfully so because it felt really rewarding when everything fell into pieces. The Sorceress interests me from the start to end and I enjoyed every scene Nothing and her had. The tension between them was great and Tessa Gratton wins the award for the best first kiss scene ever. Seriously though, it was really good!
This was a well deserved 5 star read! Ah, and also if I didn't know anything about the plot and had to read it based off the cover, I probably wouldn't but don't let that happen to you!
4.25 stars
A great sequel to an already great debut! I enjoyed this a lot and I finished it fairly quickly. The alternating POV's kept it engaging and I had to read on. This is also a whole gayer than I thought it would be, it was satisfying to finally see Ayla accepting her feelings for Crier and just both of them pining for each other. There were a few twists here and there that I didn't see coming but overall I think it was predictable-ish? That isn't bad though don't get me wrong, it was still a good read nonetheless. Aside from that, I did find myself hoping for a little more, I wish the author had maybe touched upon the letters that Crier intended to send Ayla in the epilogue, it felt like it was forgotten? It would've been nice to see how Ayla would've reacted to the letter but that's just me nitpicking...
I'll end this with a quote which I love from the book and hopefully you'll enjoy this as much as I did!
It's you, the wash of starlight, the old paradox: if the Universe were static, I could stand anywhere in this world and I swear my line of sight would end on you. I swear I'd find you in the dark. (yes it is THAT GAY and I love every single moment of it)
4.5 Stars
Reading this was truly a roller coaster of emotions from start to end. The first half of the book was pretty tame, there was a lot of explaining and world building and it's concept and execution were done well. I like the whole idea of getting ‘high' on opium to conjure gods and the characters are very interesting to get to know about. I'm glad I took up this book, what fascinated me first was the Chinese history influence but the fictional aspects were really fun too! Here's a few quotes from the book which might interest you into reading it :D
I am a mortal who has woken up, and there is power in awareness.You rest. Sometimes you must loose the string to let the arrow fly.They're coming, and we're staying, and at the end of the day whoever is alive is the side that wins. War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who remains.
Great read, a new book to add to the comfort-reads shelf definitely. I found the writing very calming, even when the topics discussed aren't. This is not a plot heavy type of book, but by the end of the book I felt so much for Ari and Dante. I love this a lot and I can't wait to see where the story goes in the sequel.
There are worse things in the world than a boy who likes to kiss other boys
Came across this in a Buzzfeed article yesterday night and had a sudden urge to read it. And boy did it meet its expectations! I liked the plot and how Nirrim slowly gains confidence to stand up to Ravenn, it didn't felt rushed and the pacing was overall good.
People can refuse to see a possibility. Maybe they don't want it. Maybe it never occurs to them, or is even awful to them. But people make bad choices when they don't know the full range of choices. People come to wrong conclusions if they don't understand all the possible questions.
But, I think the romance between Nirrim and Sid is the strongest part of the book, at least for me? I loved reading the two of these interacting. Sid is the queen of flirting and I like how flustered Nirrim gets whenever she realises Sid was doing so. The character Sid gives me a lot of Swift vibes from The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie too!
“Ask me what I thought when I first met you,” she said. “Ask me how I felt when I first saw your face. Ask me how it is to stand in front of you and know how angry you are, how much I deserve it, how awful it is to have hurt you when I have only ever wanted your happiness.”
However, the ending did catch me by surprise! It felt like it all came a bit quickly but sort of made sense too? It ended at a fairly cliff hanger-y note so I can't wait for the 2nd book to be released! Also, apparently we're getting alternating POV's for Sid and Nirrim which will be interesting, hopefully that would be executed well.
First and foremost, I would just like to say that this book sort of gave me The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth vibes? I don't know what exactly makes me feel that way but I suppose it's the lighthearted yet at the same time touches upon some more serious topics? I enjoyed this through and through, stayed up late till 2 am just so I could finish it and I was satisfied. I like the main character, she's driven with her passion of music and the romance, although I believe isn't the main focus, was really cute too.
I would recommend this for those who like lighthearted and fairly quick-to-read books!
A great book about depression with many helpful tips and information regarding the topic. There are a couple of quotes which stuck to me when I was reading so I thought I would share some here!
You hate yourself. That is because you are sensitive. Pretty much every human could find a reason to hate themselves if they thought about it as much as you did. We're all total bastards, us humans, but also totally wonderful.I have been ill before, then well again. Wellness is possible.You need to feel life's terror to feel its wonder.People place so much value on thought, but feeling is as essential. I want to read books that make me laugh and cry and fear and hope and punch the air in triumph. I want a book to hug me or grab me by the scruff of my neck. I don't even mind if it punches me in the gut. Because we are here to feel.
As a fellow Malaysian, this book means a lot to me. Anyone living in Malaysia knows that the government doesn't do a very good job in educating the people regarding the 13 May incident. The text book literally has 2-3 sentences which might as well not be there.
Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung. Have you heard this before? It means where we plant our feet is where we must hold up the sky. We live and die by the rules of the land we live in. But this country belongs to all of us! We make our own sky, and we can hold it up–together.
Ahh, the infamous peribahasa (proverb) every SPM student would know, besides ‘bagai aur dengan tebing' of course! I love this quote a lot that I had to share this in my review. I enjoyed this story a lot, even though I felt tense extremely tense throughout the entire book as there were many themes that might make readers uncomfortable(do check the trigger warnings!). The representation for mental health and racism is done well and I loved how the author ended the book too. I think this book should be read by every single Malaysian, or somehow integrated into the Malaysian education system instead of mindlessly analyzing poetry.
This is overall a great debut and I'm excited to see more by Hanna! Also, if this ever becomes a movie I'm definitely going to cry watching it...
Great book about how a middle-aged, married woman discovers her queerness and navigates through the journey. It was interesting to read how her and her ex-husband dealt with this in particular. This was fairly easy to go through, I liked how she related astronomy with her topics and how there's a lot of quotes and citations from other works too! It's nice to see more representation of queer people finding their identity and that it's not limited to the stereotypical closeted teen.
To ignore my inconsistencies, my pliancy, my “errors,” would be a mistake, because at their center is me.
I don't often read memoirs and I usually take a longer time to get through them but this was an exception for sure. I really enjoyed Madden's writing style throughout the entire book. I can't exactly pinpoint what I like about it exactly but I did. The book felt incredibly honest and I found my eyes watering at the ending of the memoir. I don't think I've actually felt this way about any other memoirs I've read. Reading about her parents' life, her family and how her journey to discovering herself allowed me to reflect on my own life too. I hope the author would continue writing more and I would probably read anything she puts out!
This is a book which all teens, however they identify, should read. Heck, even adults could read this and learn a bunch of stuff about asexuality in general. I loved how Georgia slowly finds out that there is indeed a label that suits whatever she was feeling her whole life. The characters in this book is just so likable, even Rooney, Georgia's roommate who at first didn't give me very good impressions ended up being one of my favorite. I loved how this book emphasizes on platonic love which I haven't seen much of in queer books so far. The friendship between Georgia, Rooney, Pip, Jason and Sunil is so wholesome and that's definitely one of the strongest points of the book here. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, Alice Oseman, which I found really easy to read and suitable for books like these. This book gives hope to those who identify as asexual, or who has yet to realize that they too, might just be like Georgia and its so important that more media like these are more accessible because it would help those who need it tremendously. I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to read this, I didn't really have any knowledge of the asexuality/aromantic sexuality besides their vague definitions but I now know more then I had previously and then some. Seriously though, if you're hesitant in getting this, please just try the book out!
3.5 Stars
I took almost an entire month to finish this and it's mostly because I found this book's plot to be almost non-existent. Truly, I mean there is one but it doesn't seem like much actually happens in the books until around 80% in. But even with the slow-moving story, I found the writing really enjoyable. The author writes in a way that's simple but at the same time lyrical, if that makes sense. I liked how Death narrates some parts of the book too although it does spoil certain parts. The end of the book got me. Really, after spending an entire month with all these characters, how could I not? It felt like it came from nowhere but also you knew what you were going into from the start. I like this book, genuinely, it was slow for the majority of the entire book but I think the characters and the writing made it well worth the read. I'll have to come back some time in a few years to revisit Liesel and her family and friends!
This was a fast-paced book for sure for me, it felt like the plot of was almost constantly moving forward which is nice since I've been reading some slow books recently. I love the world building in this, it's so interesting and explores classes well, I'm excited to see how everything goes in the sequel, fingers crossed it'll be just as good as this or even better! The chemistry between Crier and Ayla was excellent, I enjoy the classic enemies-to-lovers trope so this made it even better...
