[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 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