I cannot wait to read other reviews of this, because it totally lost me as a book. I know the movie was not entirely faithful, but I feel like the forI cannot wait to read other reviews of this, because it totally lost me as a book. I know the movie was not entirely faithful, but I feel like the format would be better for me personally. My book club is discussing it, and I'm excited.
The good: art is done incredibly well and has tons of unique choices, like using the clock motif to match the plot progression, regularly subverting expectations by zooming out on an image to show it in a different context, adding non-comic elements like interviews, newspaper articles, and other bits to further the exposition... Conceptually, I think it's really strong. Who DOES watch the watchmen? It's an interesting moral exploration on what is right and wrong.
The execution, for me, was really confusing. I noticed that the art style and/or colors would change when we began to follow a new perspective, but not all of the shifts made sense. What was the deal with the pirate subplot? I didn't understand its significance at all. Then, when the actual crux of the story is revealed... I struggled to follow or care, because I didn't truly know who everyone involved even was. My interest took a nosedive around 70%, and it felt like an imperfect mash of an ending rather than an intentional one. Couldn't tell you why it ended the way it did. Seems like this book was influential to the genre, though, so that's cool.
Strong content warnings for violence, animal abuse/death, genocide, sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse/neglect, and some racism and homophobia.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (revolution & rebellion, hard mode); also fits family matters, historical (hard mode), antihero, urban fantasy, non-human protagonist, mental health (hard mode), and no ifs, ands, or buts....more
3.5/5 - This book falls squarely into the divide of one I think was done well, but I personally did not love it. I did like it.
The good: it feels very3.5/5 - This book falls squarely into the divide of one I think was done well, but I personally did not love it. I did like it.
The good: it feels very well-researched, the plot is tight, and the characters are solid. I love the interpersonal relationships and think the narration style was perfect for seeing through the eyes of the main character. For a book set in space, it felt pretty versatile in its setting, which this non-fanatic of space appreciates.
The bad: if you are not a science person, this will probably lose your interest. I think it suffers from big chunks of time devoted to calculations, experiments, and explanations in technical jargon. While they do feel necessary to the story, the placement and length of them made me sooooo bored. If there had not been so many, I could have overlooked it, but there were multiple parts that took me out of the enjoyment I could have (it did get better about this).
Bottom line: if you like science fiction laden with the detailed, technical stuff, then you will probably like this. It plays with apocalypse in a way that doesn't feel so hopeless and impersonal. It's unique and pretty well-written. If you need more relationships and character-driven stories, then you might not be able to tough out the beginning.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (set in space, hard mode); also fits standalone, weird ecology (hard mode), anti-hero (maybe), Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey (hard mode), and No Ifs, Ands, or Buts....more
Such a charming book! I really enjoyed this, and I am dismayed to say that it was my first time reading anything by an Indigenous person (to my knowleSuch a charming book! I really enjoyed this, and I am dismayed to say that it was my first time reading anything by an Indigenous person (to my knowledge). Seeing how the story incorporated Native culture and beliefs added something special, and I appreciate the nods to conservation and caring for the Earth. The concept of two converged worlds was really cool, and the author did a great job balancing the perspectives of multiple characters to tell the story. Following a story with multiple distinct personalities was never difficult, and I always adore a ragtag team. I would love to know more about the Reflecting World! Lots of things here made me smile.
I did have two big issues with the book, and I struggled on whether I'd give this 3.5 or 4 stars... I ultimately decided that, while annoying and very noticeable, the problem didn't take away so much from the many parts that were good. It bothered me how many unnecessary details were added in depth, almost as if the author wasn't sure how to make the world seem real without erroneous pieces of information. (Ironically, they did a good job without them already.) It's not important to explain every detail of the video-sharing app Nina uses, for example, and someone can have an easy-to-understand motivation without needing to explain a specific relationship that doesn't affect the story. Name-dropping multiple students in the school was irrelevant, and the one line about a main character being ace didn't matter at all beyond being a fun fact. It felt bad to have that as a throwaway. Lastly, I did not like Nina's speaking at all. We follow her across multiple ages throughout the story, and all but one follow the same cadence and sentence structure for speaking; this is especially jarring since that structure sounds like a prepared speech most of the time. It was not realistic ever, but especially not in the earlier years. I suppose you could argue that she did write down her long passages before doing videos, but it never sounds like words a teenager (nor someone younger) would say.
Used for 2o22 r/Fantasy Bingo (non-human protagonist, hard mode); also fits family matters (hard mode), shape-shifters (hard mode), weird ecology (hard mode), standalone (hard mode), non-linear time (hard mode), BIPOC author (hard mode)....more
4.5/5 - Two quick notes: 1) I do not recommend reading the whole blurb for this book. It has spoilers for basically the entire story. 2) I'm almost en4.5/5 - Two quick notes: 1) I do not recommend reading the whole blurb for this book. It has spoilers for basically the entire story. 2) I'm almost entirely unfamiliar with Norse mythology, so take that how you will.
A friend recommended this to me, and I went in fully unaware beyond that. It was surprising how quickly it started, but I think it works; the feeling is like that of a fable or fairy tale, where "once upon a time" is really all you need to get going. I fully accepted that we weren't going to learn everything there was to know about Angrboda, but it was so satisfying as the exposition unfolds in real time. It added to the story for me, following alongside someone who is growing and changing. Other reviews mention not liking some of the characters and having trouble rooting for them - totally valid. I would have loved a 100% happy story but felt this was more realistic and very interesting. For me, it totally worked.
Character-driven, lots of development, surprising choices, and a very approachable angle to what I'm sure is only a sliver of the mythology... Can't say whether it was fully accurate, but I had a very good time. Only reason I can't give it a perfect score is that the names were a bit unapproachable to me as a first-timer. The guide in the back also had spoilers, rendering it unhelpful to me, and the similarity of certain names next to others without reminders scrambled my brain a little. I don't mind having to make my own cheat sheets but don't love it. Overall, though, I figured it out with context and didn't suffer too much. The book is strong and does a nice job sharing a perspective that stands alone but makes me interested in more. Bonus points, as always, for the casual and lovely queer representation, too.
Content warning for pregnancy/pregnancy loss, violence, self-harm, torture, infidelity, and grief.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (family matters, hard mode); also fits revolution & rebellion (hard mode?), non-human protagonist, mental health (hard mode), award finalist but not winner (hard mode), and shapeshifters (hard mode)....more
Perfection; I savored this book. The prose is beautiful, evocative and fitting for a centuries-old vampire while managing to be unpretentious and modePerfection; I savored this book. The prose is beautiful, evocative and fitting for a centuries-old vampire while managing to be unpretentious and modern. The story unfolds carefully but with enough tension that I couldn't wait to see what came next. The author weaves fantasy with realistic, distinctive characters in a way that makes it fully immersive, even without knowing the source material of Dracula. The second-person narration is so unique, too, and it fit this book perfectly. Not to mention the casual queer relationships (of multiple kinds) and the VERY spicy smut... I think it did everything incredibly well, and I am so glad I followed a friend's recommendation to pick it up.
I appreciated the content warnings on the first page and felt they were appropriate for the book. I am very squeamish with injuries and didn't feel they were gratuitous at all.
Lastly, I rarely read previews of something when they are included at the end of what I've just read, but I had to know how this story continues. The first few pages of book #2 have a totally different narration style, main character, and voice, yet it already feels so seamless. I am excited to read it and anything else the author does - what a talent.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (award finalist but not winner, hard mode); also fits for non-human protagonist, author uses initials, anti-hero, mental health, and maybe urban fantasy (hard mode)....more
This book is excellent, and I'm so glad a friend suggested it to me! It's by far the best science fiction I have read, as I am still warming up to theThis book is excellent, and I'm so glad a friend suggested it to me! It's by far the best science fiction I have read, as I am still warming up to the genre. I give it 4/5 stars because, to me, the backdrop of space was the part I liked least. Had they been camping or doing anything else, I think I would have been fine. As it is, the bits of space tech generally did not interest me at all.
What did interest me is the storytelling and characters - Chambers expertly creates a rich, expansive world of multiple species and cultures. It's so fun to see the depth within the interactions, the idiosyncrasies of each race, and the ways their personalities influence the story. I love the way the characters interact and felt the split narration was perfectly used to build intimacy with each of them. I adore a ragtag team, and the one on board the Wayfarer is top-notch. The author also somehow manages to explain past and present without making the story drag on, and it's perfectly contained as one book while leaving plenty of room for the series to continue.
If you want a charming, evocative science fiction novel with rich character work and that doesn't require expert knowledge in the genre, then I highly recommend this book.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (book club choice); also fits for set in space (hard mode) and LGBTQIAP+....more
3.5/5 - What a visual masterpiece! The work that went into this book... Illustrated novels stun me every time. The new fairy tales are very sweet and 3.5/5 - What a visual masterpiece! The work that went into this book... Illustrated novels stun me every time. The new fairy tales are very sweet and thoughtful. The reason I can't rate this higher as an overall book is because the stories don't all feel complete. Out of seven, I adored two but felt that three of them ended in a weird place. While I fully respect how challenging it must be to create new stories in such a weathered genre, it felt like just a bit more length would have completed the moral of the tale. When putting these next to the introduction and conclusion of the book, things become even less cohesive. I am glad to have the book and will revisit bits of it again, though it doesn't all hit perfectly for me.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (five short stories, hard mode); also fits weird ecology, standalone, published in 2022, shape-shifters, and no ifs, ands, or buts....more
3.75/5 - While not perfect at all, this book was wholesome and definitely cute. There were some grammatical errors & editing mistakes, and I can see t3.75/5 - While not perfect at all, this book was wholesome and definitely cute. There were some grammatical errors & editing mistakes, and I can see that not everyone would enjoy the clearly-YA emotions of the characters. That said, I like it! I took awhile to fully immerse into the world, as it had a lot of details and depth that I could not remember at first. The story itself was unique and flowed beautifully as new information was revealed. I loved the way that details tied in from different parts of the story; it felt very intentional. Snaps for multiple instances of casual, queer representation!
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (cool weapon); also fits family matters (hard mode), urban fantasy, and BIPOC author....more
I'm sure this book hits some people in a special way, but it was just 'okay' to me. It wasn't as cohesive as I prefer stories to be... The number of mI'm sure this book hits some people in a special way, but it was just 'okay' to me. It wasn't as cohesive as I prefer stories to be... The number of minor and/or throwaway bits distracted from the overall plot, which was spread out so far that I struggled to find its point. The world of Qanaag is clearly quite complex, yet the imagery fell flat and did not explore much of the details beyond short, scattered mentions. It also ended in a weird place, and it seems more unfinished than open-ended. Cool concept but non-ideal execution, if you ask me.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (urban fantasy); also fits mental health and family matters (hard mode)....more
Wow. I was not expecting to be hit so hard by this. I have not read a ton of fantasy retellings, but I know this one is a good one. The author took thWow. I was not expecting to be hit so hard by this. I have not read a ton of fantasy retellings, but I know this one is a good one. The author took the concept of a re-imagined Peter Pan and gave it so much depth. The reveals are fantastic and show a new angle to everything I remember from the original story. My only wishes are that the pace had been slower, allowing the reader to really feel every bit, and I can't get over the mistakes mentioning Captain Hook having two hands. That's just sloppy. I love the main characters separately, I love the romance, and I loved the perspective choice for this book.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (mental health); also fits standalone and LGBTQ+....more
3.75/5 - This was a cool idea! It was a new experience for me, as I cannot remember the last time I read a graphic novel. It's written like the strate3.75/5 - This was a cool idea! It was a new experience for me, as I cannot remember the last time I read a graphic novel. It's written like the strategy guide to a video game that does not exist, though I would definitely play the game if I could. I loved the creative characters and locations as well as the unique types of bosses and enemies. I also loved seeing a main character with a limb difference! I wish it had a little more substance within the story, but that's likely more of a personal preference, since I don't have much comparison to use. I think it did what it set out to do.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (shape-shifters); also fits for published in 2022....more
Unfortunately, I did not care for this book. I finished it anyway because it was short, and I was curious.
First, I'll say that it's doing what it doesUnfortunately, I did not care for this book. I finished it anyway because it was short, and I was curious.
First, I'll say that it's doing what it does well, it's just not for me. I can still recommend it to someone, unlike the worst books I've ever read that I don't want anyone to read. This one is written SO MUCH like poetry, which I did not enjoy. Reading that one of the authors is a poet was funny, because it could not have been more obvious. I love imagery that serves a purpose, and this imagery rarely did for me. This story was myriad details without any substance. I never found a reason to care about the characters being mentioned, and I was even less interested in their surroundings. The twist caught me off-guard in a positive way, so I did enjoy that part onward. Won't be seeking out anything by the one author, though, and I will be curious to see my thoughts on the other author some day.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (two or more authors); also fits weird ecology & non-linear time....more
Someone mentioned this book being like a hug, and it really is. Not often does a story pleasantly surprise you, create a full range of emotions, and sSomeone mentioned this book being like a hug, and it really is. Not often does a story pleasantly surprise you, create a full range of emotions, and still feel realistic and well-done. Not only was this adorable and charming, but is also includes some of my favorite tropes (magical kids, a rag-tag team, found family). It had undertones of deep, important issues (most notably, racism) that made it feel more grounded, too. I loved it so much!
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (LGBTQ+); also fits standalone....more
Stunning, incredible, clever, unmatched, YES. I loved this book in every way. It's so beautifully written, and you can tell that each word is chosen pStunning, incredible, clever, unmatched, YES. I loved this book in every way. It's so beautifully written, and you can tell that each word is chosen precisely. It reads like poetry. I stopped multiple times while reading in order to appreciate the art that is Madeline Miller's prose. The development of the main characters across time, locations, and life is intricate and realistic, unfolding with perfect detail that never feels superfluous. Even the hardened characters show growth, and the narrative shift that happens is an excellent choice. In my opinion, a good book does not have to avoid bad things, but it does need to treat its story with care. This does exactly that, and I couldn't be more satisfied.
Chosen for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (a name in the title); also fits family matters, standalone, historical fiction, and LGBTQ+....more
I recently learned the word 'glib' and have seen it defined as 'lacking thought or substance'. That is what this book is to me. It is the reading equiI recently learned the word 'glib' and have seen it defined as 'lacking thought or substance'. That is what this book is to me. It is the reading equivalent of a cleaning video. So little happens, and the characters have almost no personality. The main goal of the book has not even been completed by the end, which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that almost nothing stood in their way. The pace is unbelievably slow, and I struggled to care about anything that happened. The ladies mentioned literally dozens of times that they were unmarried - I get it! Is this how all slice-of-life books are written? I hope not. Two stars for being somewhat competent and having the beginnings of an idea, but I hated this.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (self-published); also fits family matters, historical, and an author who uses initials....more
4.5/5 - I really enjoyed this! I loved this type of book as a kid and still do. It has some of my favorite tropes (smart kids as protagonists, found f4.5/5 - I really enjoyed this! I loved this type of book as a kid and still do. It has some of my favorite tropes (smart kids as protagonists, found family, unlikely teams) and a lot of tight character development and plot work. I loved seeing a significant character with a limb difference, and there were some challenging but important themes for kids. I agree with reviews saying it was a touch too long, though.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (weird ecology, hard mode); also fits standalone and family matters....more
Um. Wow. Okay. In short, consider this my anti-recommendation. I don't think anyone should read this book.
Three stars because it's incredibly evocativUm. Wow. Okay. In short, consider this my anti-recommendation. I don't think anyone should read this book.
Three stars because it's incredibly evocative, mostly coherent, and has a really unique concept. People with small-scale magic and animal attachments that come out of trauma? Very interesting. But the threads of discomfort I felt throughout the whole book came down REALLY hard in the last 100 pages, and I am horrified.
Content warnings for nearly everything, and let me be clear - this book does not have mere mentions of things. It has brutal, agonizing descriptions that are far more detailed than they need to be. Reading the acknowledgements, the author did her research, so good job?? Specifically, this book contains drug abuse, violence, racism, brief homophobia, assault, sexual assault, animal abuse, murder, addiction, child abuse, emotional manipulation, and trafficking of minors.
The worst part of this book is that alongside all of its intense topics, a lot of the plot points don't matter. The main character says she has killed someone, and we open on her being accused of another murder. Besides making her more brooding and potentially criminal, it doesn't make any difference to the main story. The magic system is kept in secrecy, and social interactions of the world are convoluded, which is annoying when so many of the people come up again (and have tons of nicknames) but aren't really important at all. Imagine trying to recall the plot of a movie where you fell asleep, and you'll understand the feeling of remembering characters in this book.
It's like the author needed a way to make every piece a little bit more interesting, so she threw in as many things as she could possibly imagine. The core idea is simple: woman with dark past has a talent that leads her to both jobs and trouble. Why did we need to meet the roommates, multiple lovers, an annoying neighbor, other neighbors, and other people who each had some horrible & detailed scenario to share? Maybe I'm picky with exposition, but it felt messy and made me wonder where the story was going.
In essence, if you like following a path that takes tons of detours (but they don't really matter at all) AND reading descriptions of graphic violence, then this book is for you. Get a better writer for this blurb, because it's hardly representative of the twisted story in these pages.
Used as part of 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (set in Africa, hard mode); also fits mental health, anti-hero, standalone (hard mode), urban fantasy, family matters, and no ifs, ands, or buts....more
Wow. Everything about this book is so unique, and I am so glad to have stumbled upon it. Reading something brought about with such thoughtfulness and Wow. Everything about this book is so unique, and I am so glad to have stumbled upon it. Reading something brought about with such thoughtfulness and collaboration is incredibly cool, not to mention that the primary author is a queer POC - what a joy to find.
The story itself is fantastic. I've never read a historical retelling into fantasy that felt quite like this, and the topics handled here are so impressive. The book covers family, community, identity, loss, generational trauma, and what it means to exist alongside others. Despite having no immediate similarities to the situation of the Wajinru, I felt the emotions so deeply that it was hard to not be moved by this book. The words craft clear images while reading, and it's evident that every piece is an intentional choice. It's beautiful, and I will be thinking about it for a long time. Highly recommend.
Edited to add: Oh! Big fan of the casual demi/intersex/non-binary representation, too.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (BIPOC author); also fits for weird ecology (hard mode), two or more authors (hard mode), arguably historical SFF (hard mode), standalone (hard mode), revolution and rebellion, set in Africa, non-human protagonist (hard mode), mental health (hard mode), and family matters (hard mode)....more
The protagonist in this book is incredibly unstable in a way I can't relate, which made it hard for me to read. I'd argue that it's a bit of a hard reThe protagonist in this book is incredibly unstable in a way I can't relate, which made it hard for me to read. I'd argue that it's a bit of a hard read anyway, because deep, psychological ramblings are unlikely to be anyone's favorite. The smut in this book is excellent, and I do think it did a great job executing its premise... Simply wasn't a book for me to love. If it sounds good to you, I think you'd like it!
Big content warnings for suicidal ideation, discussion of substance abuse, and animal mistreatment.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (standalone, hard mode); also fits mental health....more
4.5/5 - Whew. I don't know what I expected when I picked this up, but it was SUCH a ride. I don't even remember the initial pitch a friend gave beyond4.5/5 - Whew. I don't know what I expected when I picked this up, but it was SUCH a ride. I don't even remember the initial pitch a friend gave beyond saying that they thought I'd like it and that there was time travel. Haha.
I can't give it a perfect score; while I was immediately intrigued by the story and details of the curse, I wanted to learn about it faster than the book offered. It's personal preference, but I wish it hadn't started quite as slowly. That said, once this book sinks itself into your brain, it is like one of those thrill rides that gives you a moment of security before whipping you into high speed again. It's easy to follow but hurls one twist after another, one-upping itself at every chance and making you question if anything is stable. The narrative style adds to this, too, unfolding the story in such a magical yet timeless way that fits all of the timelines it crosses, ethereal enough to create an air of intrigue, yet never going so far that the reader can't relate. The author chose a perfect voice for this book, if you ask me, and every detail felt intentional, down to the frequent and casual mentions of queer characters (which I both enjoyed and feel objectively enhanced the story).
Without giving too much away, I think this book is excellent for people who like to be surprised, people who like fantasy, AND people who want mostly romance and character moments without much magic. It's unique and is diverse enough to interest a lot of people. Also, you're going to want to know the word 'palimpsest'; it comes up about 10 times.
Content warning for drug abuse, suicidal ideation, questionably-consensual sex, loss, and some relationship trauma.
Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (wibbley wobbley timey wimey; hard mode?); also fits mental health (hard mode), name in title (hard mode), author uses initials, historical fantasy (hard mode), standalone (hard mode), book club, urban fantasy (hard mode), shape shifters (hard mode), and family matters....more
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