NETGALLEY ARC Plot: 5 Characters: 4.5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 5 (both versions that I saw; the woman with aqua dusted hands, and then the one with SinNETGALLEY ARC Plot: 5 Characters: 4.5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 5 (both versions that I saw; the woman with aqua dusted hands, and then the one with Sinan [falcon]). Enjoyment: 5 Buyable/Re-readable?: Ohhhh yeah, I will be seeing this series through. Another Top Ten of 2022.
Firstly. this book has a fun AF magic concept. Tea ceremonies and spices? Let's go!
"The tea must be taken in silence, allowing the drinker to dwell on the Great Spirit’s gift and prepare to receive the magic."
Both taste and smell vary, as well, from ceremony to ceremony, which is a fine detail. And this magic system also has consequences, which I appreciate.
It has this magical (pun intended? Probably) flow to it; Ibrahim's style and passion are just...you want to consume it like the characters do their tea. And it's forever nice getting glimpses into other cultures, even if they're Arabian fantasy world types. Spice Road is told in first person POV Ã la our main lady, Imani. I was able to accept the romance and attraction between her and another character when remembering that we the reader are coming into their relationship two years later, and thus, things have occurred off-page that we're not privy to. So, while it almost feels out of no where, it's two years in the making. However, there is another interest that, had I not loved the eff out of this book, would have been more problematic to swallow. The assumptions I applied are; maybe this person is akin to, say, a vampire, in that it's very difficulty to resist them. I am also wondering if it'll come out in another book that Imani has a past connection to said other interest, in which case, it would make a lot of sense why they're drawn to one another. And if those aren't the case? Then I will take issue with the execution of their interactions, because this one does come out of nowhere and has no build up or the like. It's not enough to ruin this gem of a book, but it will be enough to knock off a star. We shall see. I cannot wait!
â–� Contains: sorcerers, Shields, djinns, ghouls, sand serpents, skin- changer (ex: turns into lion), beastseer (ex: controls birds), werehyenas, giants, geomancy. Plus, adventure, non-story-dominating romance, family dynamics. â–� Has the name Bayek, which is an "Assassin's Creed" character and nifty reference. â–�
"In the dirt by my slipper crawls a black scarab, the first reaches of morning sun shimmering on its curved back. Startled, it emits a high-pitched squeak and flails its rayed legs."
-- I totally YouTubed a beetle squeak.. â–� Line highlight (there.are.SO.many!!1!) :
"I hopelessly search for a glimmer in her eyes. They are the painted glass lamps one would find in a bazaar back home. Beautiful but hollow without the light."
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. The tale may be well known to most, but that doesn't deter from this eye-candy edition. It's a lovely way to introduce aGorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. The tale may be well known to most, but that doesn't deter from this eye-candy edition. It's a lovely way to introduce a new audience or a nice addition to one's own collection. Briana even gets clever with the lyrics to keep in the theme of celebrating and loving nature, which is charming and refreshing (she says, quote, "The lyrics of the song became a playground for me to find new meaning in ancient words"). The song's text is presented on one side whilst the number and featuring subject is on the opposite. There's even a "This Book Belongs To" at the front! I always enjoy those. There is also a section in the back breaking down each flora and fauna drawn (ex: "The pear branch is surrounded by amaryllis flowers, which grow from a bulb that is commonly brought indoors at the holidays.")
Having recently learnt the term, I would say the art is like whimsical cottagecore. I want to frame basically every number entry. xD
And I kind of adore the author and illustrator;
"Briana loves to make art about the overlooked details of the Atlantic coast. The underdogs of nature are a huge source of inspiration: weeds, moths, periwinkles, and fog are some of the star subjects in her work."
I mean, how can you not?
I am absolutely buying this; another Top Ten of 2022.
Plot: 4.5 Characters: 4.5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 4.5 Enjoyment: 4.5 Buyable/Re-readable?: YES. I will follow this series through, hands dNETGALLEY ARC
Plot: 4.5 Characters: 4.5 Writing Style: 5 Cover: 4.5 Enjoyment: 4.5 Buyable/Re-readable?: YES. I will follow this series through, hands down.
I think this is another contender for Top Ten of 2022. Hm. Yes, indeedy I do. I requested this on whim too, not entirely certain I'd enjoy it; turns out it was hard to put down, making it difficult to finish since I was also reading Tommy and the Order of Cosmic Champions (Grate/Rapino), which was also difficult to stop reading. xD
"And if you see yourself in these pages, I want to tell you what I wish someone had told me. You are exactly the way you were meant to be, and you are the hero of your own story." - Housman
� Told in first person POV, steadily paced with plenty of action, downtime bonding/fleshing out, character growth, and little to no romance. � Divided into three parts. � Includes dragons, fae/faeries, shapeshifters, changelings, magic, enchanters, brownies, etc And it is magic with consequences. - "It’s greedy.....Magic always takes, from someone or something. Even if you don’t see how at the time. It won’t� it won’t want you to forget the price." � Tackles inclusion; "How do you write about autism without using the word autism? This book was inspired by the theory that changeling mythology is an early description of autistic children." � I'll admit that I didn't quite follow the adoption/kidnap thing. At least, not until the end did it make a tiny bit more sense. � Ohhh, their wagon is similar to Thistlefoot (GennaRose Nethercott)! Magic gives it personality. � Iselia/Seelie sometimes reminded me of Elsa from Frozen. She is also quite clumsy, and as someone who is also clumsy, I like this. � At first, the sister, Isolde, is almost Mary Sue-ish? But Seelie acknowledges this, and there's something at the end that could explain it. And it's sort of like in Harry Potter, where it’s borderline meta acknowledged that All Things Happen to Potter. Didn't ruin anything, either. � Alright, so maybe it’s a YA, etc dealy, in that the books can be repetitive in general? And I only notice when it's a book I don't like? Something to do with teen/tween attention span? I don’t know, but when Seelie did repeat herself to us, more often than not, it didn’t grate my nerves like it has previously done....more
I connected with this novel so very much, from octopi/octopuses being a favorite animal, to being extremely empathetic, to adoring animals period, to giving a shit about the earth, etc, AND because I was fortunate enough to meet a lovely lady octopus. I had the honor of meeting her (nameless, in compliance with an olde seafaring superstition that giving names equates death) at the Houston Zoo for a birthday. Because I would visit her every time I went to the zoo - and this was often, because we lived within walking distance and purchased passe - she came to know my face (it's true what the book says that they remember faces). Upon doing the behind-the-scenes encounter, she recognized me! It was beyond words and when she died, I was heartbroken. Needless to say, I pictured her throughout this amazing, unique, fun, emotional, relevant novel. The passion and research put into Nayler's work is so very obvious and I appreciate everything. We get multiple, third person POV chapters, nearly all of which have their own voice. It wasn't 100% at all times, but it was certainly close enough. The chapters are broken by two articles/essays; one written by a main character and the other by an important secondary character. I personally enjoyed them both enough to read the entire essay, so if you feel like releasing that, Ray, I'm down. The passages are, of course, pertinent to the following scenes. Also, ummmm, does this mean we're getting a sequel??? Gimme.
Along with Kaikeyi, Ray Nayler's The Mountain in the Sea makes my Top Ten of 2022.
P.S. I see what you did with the cover. Clever....more
"So that we encourage and bolster the world’s hunger to thrive. And not just because that would benefit us, although it certainly would, but because other life-forms have as much right to flourish as we do and don’t exist for our use." - Kristin Ohlson
I want to thank everyone involved in getting this book made and to whomever allowed me the honor of reading it.
Yes. Just yes. Read this book, devour it, soak it in, listen to it.
We need this research and information out there, because Kristin Ohlson reveals how everything is literally connected and amazing. Animals and bacteria and urban spaces and people and on and on, that we are not red in tooth in claw, but the opposite. It will resonate with those who appreciate and revere nature, those who respect and love it, those who feel a connection to flora and fauna and Earth and life, it'll resonate with farmers and scientists and just...yes.
The photos are a wonderful compliment to the text, some being downright stunning. The people Ohlson chose to interview, follow, include, etc are essential and so very important, the kind of not-all-heroes-wear-capes sort. They're the people we need for the change(s) we need and they're doing such phenomenal work already. This book simply instills HOPE. She gives proper credit, extensive amounts of material, and writes in such a fashion that the book isn't dry or dull; her personality and vivacious passion sing though the pages (I want to meet her. I need to meet her.). The pace, the style, the content, they're all A+, *chef's kiss*, perfect. Important and vital and magical. I geeked out over parts (tree language, hello??) and was constantly chattering about what I was reading to my husband. There were fun quotes at the beginning of each chapter and a well-deserved near novella's work list of names of all involved. Honestly, I feel like I could write a novella myself about how much I appreciate and adore Sweet in Tooth and Claw. This book makes Top Ten of 2022.
I will buy this book. I would buy this book for library or classroom if I had one, I'll buy it for my nephew or niece.
"The whole point of our evolution, it seems to me, is for us to find a way to fit back into the world as it is, rather than try to remake the world to fit us." - Brian Doyle
This is, hands down, going to be one of my Top Three books of 2022. If I didn't have other obligations, I would have devoured this book in two days; couldn't put it down, it was the only thing I wanted to do. I feel more than confident it will be on other lists and win at least something. It's flowery and beautiful, transporting you into the world easily. The main character is someone you want to stick with for the ride because she's so well developed and interesting and amazing (honestly, most of the characters are fleshed out and wonderful to read about). I don't know how you feel chemistry on a page, but damn, did I fall in love with the chemistry between Kaikeyi and her twin, and Kaikeyi and her husband.
I went into this book mostly blind, knowing little to nothing about the story or mythology. After skimming a summary of the source, I am enthralled by and support the choices the author made. I will be buying this book....more
A Broken Zebra
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