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
Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Writing Style: 5 - Whilst I enjoyed it so very thoroughly, I can see an argument for the extremeNETGALLEY / WILLIAM MORROW ARC
Plot: 5 Characters: 5 Writing Style: 5 - Whilst I enjoyed it so very thoroughly, I can see an argument for the extremely flowery nature being a bit too much for some readers. Cover: 5 - Cover is so pretty, I want to choke. MUCH love. Enjoyment: 5 Buyable/Re-readable?: Ohhh yes. As of now, this will make my Top 2023 list.
This is almost a Beauty and Beast reimagining, in that it's thought to be the origin story and inspiration, with historical fiction (Medici family, characters who were real people. etc).
"This story is, above all, a work of fiction. Though I tried to stay faithful to the facts that are known about the Gonzales family, as well as to those that scholars have deemed most likely, for the sake of a more coherent narrative I did take liberties with history. In places, time lines have been blurred and historical sites, and even people, combined. The song that Catherine sings is a modified translation of a traditional Italian lullaby. Animal-husband tales have appeared in cultures all over the world for centuries upon centuries. One� Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s The Beauty and the Beast� has spawned countless variations. Whether the historical protagonists in this book might have been the inspiration for Villeneuve’s story is� like so much else about their lives� a matter of conjecture, though one that sparked my imagination." - Molly Greeley
The story is written in third POV and in 7 parts that time-jump. It's told through both Pedro (our would-be 'Beast') and Catherine, his wife. It kicks off with the death of Pedro and then flawlessly weaves the tapestry of their lives in the past up to the present; from 1547 to 1619. It takes place in Italy, mostly, with a few visits elsewhere. I know how underwhelming it is to say 'it's a great book', but seriously, this is such a wonderful novel. The build-up, the world building, the interactions, the brutal honesty and exposure to life at court for living beings (little people, exotic animals, people with deformities, and so on) turned into entertainment for the privileged. It is absolutely a story of resilience. I found the changes made to be agreeable (especially those done to Ludovico).
Also? Molly includes some biology with regards to childbirth that hardly anyone else includes or discusses, so kudos for going there, thank you very much.
Molly Greeley includes sources and suggestions for further reading, as well, for those interested in extending their exploration. Always a plus....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 picture book promotes upcycling, recycling, waste/trash, vigilance, empathy, and inclusion via Brown main characters and twNETGALLEY ARC
3.5 stars
This picture book promotes upcycling, recycling, waste/trash, vigilance, empathy, and inclusion via Brown main characters and two languages (English and Spanish). I feel like it could have benefitted from being longer and including more resources or options other than a recycling center, but at least this gets the conversation started. There is also a nifty breakdown from Patagonia about what went into producing the physical book, which again can only trigger interest for those wanting to do more and change things.
The unusual art style is refreshing (although the scene inside the recycling center is, uh, a choice). The longer you look at certain pages, the more animals and the like you see....more
Educational with an extremely important message in an easy to digest format; highlights the benefitsNETGALLEY ARC
I just adore the artwork.
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Educational with an extremely important message in an easy to digest format; highlights the benefits of controlled fires whilst bringing to attention the perils of climate change/climate change-caused fires, and gives much deserved recognition of Indigenous Peoples. Includes a Glossary and Fact Page in the back!...more
Essential read for anyone and everyone. Powerful and undaunting, Saad exposes whilst also providing examples and resolutions. She ends heNETGALLEY ARC
Essential read for anyone and everyone. Powerful and undaunting, Saad exposes whilst also providing examples and resolutions. She ends her points with a 'Recap, Reflect, Respond', she defines every word and phrase extensively so that it leaves no room for misunderstanding (and since everyone learns differently, I appreciated this because sometimes her re-wording suddenly made the thing make more sense). She of course lists a plethora of resources in the back of the book and encourages readers to engage with the book like a journal project, providing tools for everyone. She is adamant about honoring and acknowledging the things you're feeling while reading this and that every emotion is valid and normal. It's okay to feel guilty, it's okay to feel uncomfortable. As with mental health tools, being antiracist is a daily practice, not just something we learn about and are done with.
As a third generation, very white-passing, cisgender female, I learned. I relearned. I will unlearn....more
So very honored to have been granted access to this pivotal book before its official release. Thought provoking, comfort delving, it comeNETGALLEY ARC
So very honored to have been granted access to this pivotal book before its official release. Thought provoking, comfort delving, it comes from a place of respect and love. Thoroughly researched with a plethora of references of studies and surveys. Each chapter ends with studious sources, many of which the reader can access of their own accord. This is a very important book that looks at bisexuality, from the jubilant to the gruesome. The author includes personal anecdotes as well, which for me, helped with the whole comfy feeling of it all. Like how the right therapist and their space feels. I also think that for anyone questioning whether or not they're bi, this is a necessary tool in said discovery. Pacing and book length are adequate, language is approachable and it's not a dry read....more
A Broken Zebra
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