June 2020 Wrap Up

Hello! This month was pretty difficult in terms of reading as I had final exams the first two weeks of June and a one week break before starting summer school. I also got way too distracted by mobage and Animal Crossing and may have spent more time playing games than reading (whoops). And with everything going on in the world, it was sometimes difficult to fully immerse myself mentally in a book.  Please check https://currentinfo.carrd.co/ to find petitions and gofundmes to support those facing global tragedies.

I managed to read a total of 4 books this month and will be continuing to read one book into July. Although I didn’t get through my June TBR, I’m still happy I managed to get through most of it! I hope to read at least 6 books next month (though who knows… there’s the Animal Crossing July update coming…)!

Books Mentioned:

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Wicked + The Divine Volume 1 by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

The Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag 2020

It's halfway through the year already!!

I started reading more books last December and have been steadily reading more as this year progressed!

Since I went a few years without reading new books, I was really interested to see how my taste in books has changed since I was younger. I still love reading fantasy books and I don't think I'll ever stop reading them. There is just something about this genre of books that provide a lot of comfort and enjoyment when I read them. I also learned that I am interested in new adult books and contemporaries and I am hoping to read more books of these genres in the future!

I honestly haven't read that many books so far this year, but I still wanted to participate in this tag!! I read 12 books so there might be some overlap! So yeah here we go!

[BOOK REVIEW] Circe by Madeline Miller

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.25 stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Trigger Warnings: violence, rape, sexual abuse, war themes

Synopsis:

“In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.”

[BOOK REVIEW] Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4 stars

Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction

“Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there's Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn't know about his most recent act of vengeance.

Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.”

[BOOK REVIEW] The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

Rating: ★★★★★ 4.5 stars

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

Synopsis:

“With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.

A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage. Alone and sometimes reviled, she has only her servants on her side. This evocative debut chronicles her rise to power through the eyes of her handmaiden, at once feminist high fantasy and a thrilling indictment of monarchy.”

I really enjoyed reading this book! Although it was only about 100 pages, Nghi Vo impressively expressed a great deal within those pages. The prose was beautiful, though I was a bit confused at the beginning since I jumped into the book without reading the synopsis beforehand. Nevertheless, I was still pulled into the story, with its riveting storyline and flashbacks. I really loved how there were stories within the stories told: stories of resilience, rebellion, and feminism. However, I read this book over a couple of weeks due to school, so the story didn’t have as strong an impact on me than if I were to read it in one sitting. I feel like because of this I don’t have anything else to say, beside that it is a beautifully written and interesting book with a diverse cast! I am excited to read where Chih’s journey takes them next!

- lian

[BOOK REVIEW] The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

Rating: ★★★★★ 4.75 stars

Genres: Grimdark, Historical Fantasy

Trigger warnings: war (violence and gore), drug use, rape

Synopsis:

“In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies.

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.

But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance.”

June 2020 TBR

I have a couple of books I plan to read this month! I probably won't start reading until mid-June, so I might not get through this list but we'll see. Below are the books I plan to read this month with the synopsis and my expectations! :)

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

I am SO excited to read the sequel to Vicious! I absolutely fell in love with Schwab’s writing style and this series. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the world of Vicious; it took a lot of effort to not get through the book in one sitting. I don’t really know much about what the second book will be like but I am very sure it’s going to meet my expectations!

[BOOK REVIEW] The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.50 stars 

Genres: Grimdark, Historical Fantasy

Trigger warnings: war, gore, self-harm, rape, drug use, racism, genocide, body horror

Synopsis:

“When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.”

Non-Spoiler-ish Review:

“War doesn’t determine who’s right. War determines who remains.”

This book is not for the faint of heart: it’s classified as grimdark and has several trigger warnings (which are listed above). I love this book for so many reasons: the writing style, the setting, the story, and the character development. I was instantly hooked when I first read it and I had to constrain myself from reading it all in one sitting. 

I really fell in love with Kuang’s writing style (although this might have been because I read this novel right after reading ACOTAR and the vast differences between writing styles made me appreciate this book even more). I realized early into the book that Kuang’s depiction of war between Nikan and Mugen is strongly influenced by the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s, and specifically the Nanjing Massacre. The horrors of war are gruesome, and Kuang is able to depict this well while also building the plot at the same time. She is also really good at building tension, and I found myself not knowing when to feel excited or terrified, as I wondered if Kuang was going to pull a twist or turn in the plot that would leave me speechless yet wanting more.