[BOOK REVIEW] This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.00 stars

Genres: Science Fiction, LGBT

Trigger warnings: war, violence

“Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.

Except the discovery of their bond would mean death for each of them. There's still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war.”

[ARC] The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

 

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.25 stars

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, LGBT

Trigger warnings: violence 

“The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.” 

*Thank you Goodreads for this ARC!

[BOOK REVIEW] The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Rating: ★★★★★ 5 stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology

Trigger warnings: war themes, slavery, rape, character death, human sacrificing

“Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.”

[BOOK REVIEW] On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.25 Stars

Genre: Fiction, LGBT

Trigger warnings: bullying, abuse, drug addiction, mental illness, homophobia

“A letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family's history that began before he was born — a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam — and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation.”

[BOOK REVIEW] Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.25 stars

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

Trigger warnings: depression, implied suicide

“Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.”

[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 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.”

[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. 

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.25 stars)

Synopsis:

“Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords-and hunt for allies in unexpected places.”

This book turned out to be exactly as people described. It took me forever (approximately a week or two) to get through this last book, and part of me regrets even reading it in the first place. There wasn’t much I liked about this book besides maybe a few parts of it. Everything else after was just… not it. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book where Feyre is as petty as she can be towards Tamlin. I lived for Feyre deceiving Tamlin and being petty toward him and his betrayal and overall shittiness as a person. She sacrificed so much to save him and in return he abused her and betrayed and sold out her sisters and Prythian. It was also nice to see Feyre go against Ianthe and just overall be a petty person for valid reasons! (Fuck those bitches up Feyre!!)

I also enjoyed how this book was a bit more plot focused compared to the other two. It gave more direction to where the story was going (but the plot itself is another story I’ll get to soon). I also enjoyed Feyre and the Night Court getting super badass old gods on their side to join them in the war. The process of convincing those gods to fight alongside them was also really fun to read. The only other thing I liked about this book was Mor coming out as bisexual! We love a bisexual queen! 

But in all honesty the critiques heavily outweigh the praises in this review. The plot itself just wasn’t good and I felt like there were some plot holes and inconsistencies in the magic system. Why would SJM hype up all these strong, old gods to have them die moments into the final battle? How is it that when the other High Lords resurrected Rhysand, he didn’t get their powers like Feyre did? And what the hell is Amren supposed to be? There were so many unanswered questions that detracted some of my enjoyment of this book.

In terms of writing, it was so much worse than the previous books. The battle scenes felt rushed and it became apparent that SJM doesn’t really know how to write good battle scenes. Sentences were choppy and terse, making it harder to read and get through the book. And I was so fucking tired of the word “mate.” It was overused (around 200 times according to one GR user) and at one point it felt cringey; even now I can barely look at the word without dying a little inside. The fact that SJM tried to give Tamlin a redemption arc… bitch I think NOT. Him telling Feyre to “be happy” doesn’t erase his manipulativeness and abusiveness and doesn’t come close to excusing his actions toward her. Lastly, the way Mor’s sexuality was written bothered me. Just because she is bisexual doesn’t mean she is up for threesomes?? Like definitely bisexuality doesn’t work that way, and the way SJM wrote it showed how SJM herself is cis. There were some enjoyable moments but there were so many problems I had with this book that it took all my willpower to get through it.

- lian

Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3 stars

Synopsis:

“Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court–but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms–and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future–and the future of a world cleaved in two.”

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. The plot, the characters, the writing was so much better and refreshing. I really enjoyed Feyre’s development as a character though her healing and her learning to love herself and her powers. Feyre learned to heal her broken heart and soul, realizing how she is her own person with the power to make the choices she wants in her life. I cannot separate her character development without mentioning her relationship with Rhysand, because it is one of the reasons that she was able to heal and find self-love in the first place.

The entire book was just Feysand slow-burn and I loved it. I loved reading about their interactions and their banter and how Feyre gradually opened up to Rhysand and realized that she didn’t love Tamlin anymore. Rhysand treated her with care and valued her thoughts, her choices, her freedom. He treated her in a manner that Feyre desperately needed in order to heal and love herself. I loved Feyre’s realization that compared to Rhysand, Tamlin was abusive as fuck: he ignored her PTSD, never gave her the freedom to voice her thoughts, didn’t let her engage in politics, and trapped her in his house (which became a source of trauma for her). Feyre finally learned to say “fuck Tamlin and his fucking court” and I was absolutely here for that!! Feyre and Rhysand’s relationship development and pining throughout the book was also lovely to read. I love slow-burn and angst and SJM was able to deliver them well enough.

On another note, I also liked the found family aspects of this novel (despite the fact that Feyre found a new family that already existed for like 500 years or so). I am an absolute sucker for this trope and I am honestly down to read any novel as long as it has this trope. Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren became her support system, her mentors, her friends, her family. I loved reading their interactions and their connections with one another.

Despite my love for the characters, there were also some parts of the book that I did not enjoy. The pacing of this book mirrored that of the first: slow in the beginning and action-packed and rushed at the end. The plot itself was a little better this time so the effect of the pacing wasn’t as bad, but it still bothered me. However, some parts of the plot felt like a filler and could’ve been shortened to make reading more enjoyable. I am curious to see how the series will conclude and hope it isn’t as bad as many have rated it to be.

- lian

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 2.50 stars

Synopsis:

“When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it…or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.”

I honestly didn’t know much about this series when I first read this book. I heard it was a popular series among the booktube and book Twitter community and decided to give it a shot since I enjoy reading faerie/fey stories. I liked Feyre’s character and how she developed throughout it. It was interesting to see her adapt to living in Prythian and further taking it upon herself to attempt to break the curse that looms over the land. I like how she decided that she was going to try to break the curse and free everyone despite being human. She went against what people expected of her and became involved in this situation to save the person she loved (I know, it’s cliche). 

However, the pacing of the novel was inconsistent: the majority of the book was extremely slow until the last few parts of the book where Feyre decides to fight back and break the curse. There was really nothing happening during the first part of the book (besides the relationship development between Tamlin and Feyre) until the second part, in which everything seemed to happen all at once. 

Another aspect I didn’t enjoy is a scene in the first part that is regarded by many as problematic. One night, Tamlin, who is, for a lack of better words, in heat, pushes himself up against Feyre and proceeds to bite her without her consent. She told him a few times to stop what he was doing but he proceeded to bite her until letting her go. I just didn’t vibe with that nonconsensual part and it made me understand why Feyre doesn’t end up with Tamlin in the end (bless, because if she did I would’ve rioted). 

The plot itself was mediocre for the most part as the novel is a retelling of The Beauty and the Beast. The story didn’t pull me in until the latter half with all the action and important plot points. I still enjoyed some parts of the book, but if I hadn’t known who Feyre ends up with in the end I honestly wouldn’t have read the other books.

- lian