Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Disclaimer: I have not read Hamlet, and thereforThank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Disclaimer: I have not read Hamlet, and therefor my experience with this book might be different than someone who has (E.G plot twists etc.)
I knew I would love this book the moment I heard the premise; "Hamlet but queer". I've been fascinated by Shakespear for a while now, and having previously only read 'If We Were Villains', I thought a Hamlet retelling would be perfect to further fuel this fascination, and boy oh boy was I correct.
This book was, with its beautiful writing style, fast pace and short chapters, addicting. I had to force myself to put it down, and had I not, I would've devoured this in only 2 or 3 sittings. Though, I'm glad I took my time, as this meant I had more time with these characters whom I absolutely adored. Magical, badass Ophelia who loves her father, her brother, her Otherworld family and who just wants to do whats best for Denmark, and the queer mess that is Prince Hamlet. They were filled with unique personality and I could do nothing but root for them the entire time. I loved reading about Ophelia and her struggles as a lady in a royal court, alongside her struggles of using her magic to try and keep Denmark free of the corruption, and the love she shared with Hamlet was so sweet. Oh and the fact that she's ACE, god she's just like me. Now, Hamlet. He was such a troubled boy, and reading about his yearning and internalised homophobia saddened me. Though, I really enjoyed the banter he shared with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz (and the rest of the characters, but especially these two). It was heartbreaking reading about the betrayals tragedies they both went through (though, I might've seen them coming, had I actually read the original source material, but whatever, it only added to my misery and enjoyment). The characters in general were so lovable (except for you, Claudius), unique and complex that I just wanted to learn more about them and never felt the "Urgh when does this character stop talking" feeling.
The magic system with the corruption and the Otherworlds and the seight guids and everything was so well done, and fascinated me a lot. The descriptions of the corruption and the corruption-creatures were gross, and I LOVED it. The whole thing felt so original, and I just wanted to read more.
I might not have read a lot of historical fiction, but Yves Donlon managed to capture the time period perfectly, which only made me enjoy this book even more. The writing style was, as previously mentioned, beautiful and only added to this. I know I will think about this book in the next forseeable future because Oh my god. I know this review probably made no sense, and was just me yapping without actually saying anything intelligent, but trust me, you will not want to miss out on this book once it releases.
I might be a bit biased as a Dane, but shh it only made the story feel more special to me. ...more
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
So, I absolutely loved this book. I've seen a couple of people sThank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
So, I absolutely loved this book. I've seen a couple of people say this was very much giving barbie and the diamond castle, and I could honestly not agree more. Two girls who are clearly in love living together who wants nothing more than to spend the rest of eternity with each other. Amazing. They are the definition of "and they were roommates..", and I loved that. The mutual pining, looking at each others lips, not wanting to confess because keeping the other person is far more important *chefs kiss*. It also gave off a bit of dnd, steampunk fantasy vibes. This is so just me yapping, but I just really enjoyed the vibes overall. Both the vibes of their cozy clocktower apartment, but also the glam of the absinthe underground.
Esme and Sybil were lovely. Esme just wanted her cats, clocks and quiet life while Sybil wanted more adventure, and even though they were opposites, their dynamic was so good. I loved seeing them interact and work together, but also just to see their individuel personalities shining through. Their growth throughout the story was also just so good, especially Esme's.
The world building was interesting, and I wish we would've seen more of the fae world. I feel like there's a lot more to explore, which I would love for Jamie Pacton to write about in a novella or anything of that sort. The items and courts would be especially interesting to learn more about, but also the background and what it was like before the doors closed. Though, it wasn't lacking anything. I never had more questions than answers. It would've also been nice to read more about Chloe and Hyacinth, as they seemed like promising characters with an interesting backstory.
The story was fast paced, and the girls had it a liitle easy, but I quite enjoyed the pace. It didn't drag, but it didn't rush through events either. For me it worked well. Oh and the reunion towards the end was really sweet. I need more sapphic books in my life, and I'm glad I was able to add this one to my list. This review definitely doesn't do the book justice, so go read some more and snatch yourself a copy when it comes out....more
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I was promised sapphic witches inspired by Hozier music, and I sure was gThank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I was promised sapphic witches inspired by Hozier music, and I sure was given just that! I almost exclusively listened to Hozier while reading this book, and the vibes were just *chefs kiss* I loved everything about this book, but let's break it down.
I loved Rhia and Valerie so much, and how much they both grew throughout this book. Their love for each other was also so sweet and felt very realistic. It wasn't just some instalove where they got together immediately, there was SO MUCH mutual yearning and things they had to go through, before they could fully love each other. I'm also just a big fan of opposites attract.
Not only were the main characters deep and very well developed, but so were the side characters. I especially loved Quinn and Tristan. They had a purpose and a reason and went through their own things, Quinn most of all. Them finding out about their own magic and family secrets were a nice addition.
This book had so much casual representation, and we really need that more in books. Almost every introduction included pronouns, which I really liked, as it's a thing we need to normalise. There was also uses of neopronouns, which is also super rare in books, but super nice to see. Almost everyone was also just queer in some way. Very realistic, as queer people usually come in groups.
I adored the magic system. Books about witches can quickly become very fantasy-like, but here it was kept very modern, and a lot the magic they used actually seemed like something you could use in real life. I'm almost certain I've heard of people using similar magic. I liked this, as low-fantasy is my favourite kind of fantasy.
Most of the book was very feel-good, which I didn't mind AT ALL as we need more happy queer books. The autumn vibes, the casual magic, the yearning and loving between Rhia and Valerie, the platonic love between Quinn and Valerie and Rhia and Tristan and just Rhia's love for her family and the love and bond they shared with each other just made me so happy. The last 100 pages or so where all the family secrets started to be revealed and stuff just went south had me HOOKED, and I loved learning about it all. If it hadn't been for life I would've devoured this book in no time.
Another thing keeping me hooked was Philline Harms' writing style. It was super addicting, and just beautiful. The way she described everything was just so >>> and it was full of emotion. You could easily feel the vibes of what was going on, and what the characters were feeling.
The chapter titles being tarot cards and their meaning was such a genius and nice touch. I almost want to get into tarot readings now, no joke. Oh and the soundtrack by the end of the book?? Absolutely brilliant.
I cannot recommend this book enough if you're looking for sapphic witches. It sure was everything i needed....more
Thank you to S.M. Pearce for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
What originally got me hooked on this book was, of course, the premi*4,5 stars
Thank you to S.M. Pearce for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
What originally got me hooked on this book was, of course, the premise, but also the fact that it contained a QPR, something i crave more of in books.
I loved the relationship between Blythe (aromantic allosexual) and Kalen (gay, non-binary he/they). It was so sweet how much they cared about each other and the way they were always there for one another. The uncertainty about whether or not the other felt- and wanted the same felt very realistic, and I loved seeing them have their own little family in the end. The found family lover in me was THRIVING.
speaking off, the characters involved in said found family was overall very likeable, with some good development, or just good debt in general. Saidth and Frida were enjoyable characters from the beginning, especially Frida. Kalen was my favourite character for sure, and seeing them overcome their fear of water due to his trauma made me really happy because my god did he deserve it. He had it rough, from the abuse to what happened to our sweet little servant boy (that part made me cry a little). The Viper/Arabella's character development was something I didn't really see happening, but was very happy about. She wasn't the most likeable character, though very interesting, but seeing her break free from her 'guilded cage' and join the others in the end was very sweet. Blythe was kind, and just wanted to help to the best of her abilities, but seeing her struggle with her morals got a bit tiring at times, even though it was very understandable, seeing as she came from a quiet life, raised by a father with strong morals himself. I even want to go as far as to say she struggles a bit with religious trauma as well, as her father was rather religious, and raised her on said religion(which, the religion, was an aspect I enjoyed as well). Oh and seeing her snap and kill a certain character was a girlboss moment, and I loved it.
On the topic of characters, S.M. Pearce managed really well to make us hate Marius because fuck him, honestly. He was the worst. I almost suspect his 'charm' was magic, but I guess we'll never know.
The world was very homonormative, which was really refreshing, as that's usually not a thing in fantasy books, but there were just so many queer characters. Blythe and Kalen, of course, but also Marius and many of the nobles. I'm also pretty sure Saidth is Asexual and I think I've seen the author mention Frida being Sapphic?
I am a sucker for made up fantasy languages, and seeing it used throughout the book and being told about the different nations was so cool. And the Glossary!! I am begging more fantasy authors to use this.
Overall a really enjoyable story, and I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy queer, dark fantasy long-con heist books. ...more
Thank you to the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
So, I've never really been into poetry, but I've always liked thThank you to the author for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
So, I've never really been into poetry, but I've always liked the idea. Therefore I was delighted when Alannah Radburn DM'ed me on instagram, asking if I wanted an ARC. The poems were beautiful, I could see that, but, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy them as much as I thought I would. Even though I did like the focus on queer relationships, feminism and the likes, it felt repetitive at times. The last line being separated and in cursive sometimes worked really well, and sometimes just felt kind of random and off.
Overall the poems were separated well, but the one about school shooting came out of nowhere. It was good and definitely hit me right in the feels, but it would've fit better in at the end, or in another collection.
The problem was not the poems themselves, but the fact that I prefer a different style. Though I'm certain people with a preference for this exact style will enjoy them a lot and I highly encourage poetry lovers to go check out this collection. We need more poems with focus on queerness and all it's beauty, and I applaud Alannah Radburn for writing just that....more
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew Joseph White for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I loved 'Hell Followed With Us' so to say my expectations wThank you to Netgalley and Andrew Joseph White for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I loved 'Hell Followed With Us' so to say my expectations were high is definitely an understatement, but oh boy were those expectations beyond met. Horror has never really been my genre. I don't like horror movies, so why should I want to read about it? Well, I simply can't get enough of AJW's horror, and his books are honestly making me want to deep dive into the genre.
I love the way he mixes relevant issues in todays society with a fantasy/horror element. Silas is trans, autistic and born a woman. Everything looked down on in victorian England, but certainly also today. Oh, and he can also open the veil and communicate with the dead. I love love LOVED the world building and the whole concept in general. 'HFWU' was absolutely disturbing and I was uncomfortable the entire way through. This book, however, was different. Was this book disturbing? Absolutely! Silas preforms an on-page c-section and all the uncomfortable details are fleshed out in great detail. There are transphobia, ableism, sexual assault, suicidal ideations, a LOT of medical gore and all kinds of abuse. It was also extremely sad. It pained me to see Silas get treated so terribly, simply by being himself, and not wanting to conform to societies expectations put on him. Not only was he mistreated, but so were the girls at Braxton. Deemed sick simply because they 'misbehaved' and didn't want to do everything the men told them to do. And because they just happened to be born with purple eyes, and the ability to open the veil. What happened if they didn't give in? Not deemed able to cure? Simply killed off. The ones deemed cured? Taken by older, rich, influential men and turned into housewives. Poor Agnes, she was only 14. They were all just children, by the end of the day. Little girls abused by men society allowed to do whatever they please with their bodies. That broke my heart. It broke my heart more, how that's happening in real life too.
Now something less sad, was the bonds Silas formed with many of the girls. The way they all just wanted to protect and comfort each other was so bittersweet. And then there's Daphne. Sweet, sweet, lovely Daphne. I fell in love with her so quickly, and the way she treated Silas was so comforting to read about. Not only were their relationship super sweet, because they understood each other, but it was also T4T, which I loved. The way Silas described her was almost poetic.
I loved reading about Silas, Daphne and Mary trying to solve what's happening at the school, and how to stop it. It was, in a super weird way, comforting. It made me feel that, with enough willpower, you can make a change. You don't have to be powerful or be high up in the social rank to do so. The book was filled with rage, and it made me so happy to see Silas get revenge and live as his true self. I would honestly love to just read about him and Daphne live their day to day life, where Silas is hopefully a surgeon.
This book had me in a chokehold from the very beginning, and hadn't it been for my exams, I would've read it so much faster, because I almost couldn't put it down. AJW's writing is addicting, and I can't wait to read all his future books. If you can get past the triggers, I would highly encourage everyone to give him a chance. He's absolutely become a go-to author for me....more
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