30something_reads's Reviews (820)

This is truly one of those situations where it is not the book, it is me. 

I am in a major reading slump and even things that would normally appeal to me (THIS!!!!) are a real struggle to get into. 

Whenever I get back on track, I'll come back to this. 

 “But I don’t want this to end here because I’m afraid if it does, I’ll be a memory for you, and you’ll be a curse for me.”

There are three things I've learned over the course of reading Freydis Moon:
1. Every story they write has such a mystical atmospheric setting that I will obsess over long after I've finished.
2. Moon is an expert at creating tension and such visceral longing.
3. The aching tenderness and devotion that their characters show one another is unmatched.

The spice is fantastic but I think it's the intimate quiet moments in between that really undo me in this particular story.

TWs: discussions of infertility 

 Some people are born in the mountains, while others are born by the sea. Some people are happy to live in the place they were born, while others must make a journey to reach the climate in which they can flourish and grow.

Between the ocean and the mountains is a wild forest. That is where I want to make my home.

4.5⭐ but rounding up to 5⭐

The stream of consciousness narrative style was a little disjointed at times, especially in the graphic novel format. Maybe distinguishing "chapters" of sorts would have made some of those jumps a little less confusing.

But overall, this was a wonderful memoir.

TW: visuals of blood and minor body horror 

 “When there’s people around who we don’t trust, we let them think we’re the kinds of people who are allowed to exist.”

I liked this but I think I needed more context for this setting to really have more impact. I have so many questions about the world and the politics and what happened to get to this point.

I loved Esther's journey of finding purpose and self-love though… which, you know, maybe is the point? (I also really liked Cye.) The "be gay, do crimes" vibe was excellent.

A fun read via Audiobook though 👍🏻I definitely want to check out more from this author. 

“I could worship you,” Ariel whispered raggedly.
“I would let you,” Diego said.

Consider me deceased. This is it. This is the blueprint for all Angelic love interests going forward. Oh your angels look human and have fluffy wings? Absolutely not. No thank you.

Freydis Moon is an artist and officially an auto-buy author for me. Their writing is so stunning. I could feel the desert setting in my bones.

The spice was phenomenal. The romance, again, was so achingly tender. Moon really nails longing and knows how to build tension with the simplest of touches.

Obsessed is an understatement. 

 3.25⭐

"... When I left," Amaruq said, "you were at the forefront of my mind." With his heart in his mouth, David whispered, "Why?" "That's where you always were."

Another sweet installment from this historical romance series but this time with more angst and pining. 🤌🏻

✔️ M/M Friends to lovers
✔️ I hate you for making me chase you down in the middle of nowhere, but wait just kidding, I've been in love with you for years.
✔️ Alone in the wilderness of Northern Canada
✔️ One bed to stay toasty
✔️ Sweet wolf-doggy companion

I almost wish this one had been longer. More pining! More tension! More pretending that they aren't hopelessly in love with one another! (Also the whole backstory is very tragic)

I loved Amaruq's magic and the connection with his indigenous culture.

And I can't forget Nukka because she is a good girl 🥹❤️

CW: suicide of a supporting character before the events of the book take place. 

3.25 ⭐

Such a fluffy little world that Arden Powell has created in this series.

This one is not quite as good as The Bachelor's Valet (but that's to be expected since it was only 49 pages.)

A recent graduate of botany, his older grumpy mentor, and a carnivorous plant with aphrodisiac properties get trapped in a greenhouse. Magic and delightful antics ensue. 

 4.25⭐ 😭 I'm not crying, you're crying.

When the guy looks at me, he sees a brown girl. And I am a brown girl, just like I’m a brown boy, just like I’m both and neither, in different proportions depending on the day. I’m the gradients of blue and green and violet and silver that the lake turns.

This is one of those books that I am so glad exists for adolescents today. I wish younger me had these kinds of books with this kind of representation.

On the surface, it’s a story told in dual POV about two trans teens, Bastian and Lore, and their discovery of a mysterious world beneath the lake. But when the world beneath the lake begins integrating with their real world, they must figure out a way to stop it.

This is also a story of two teens meeting and feeling fully seen for the first time by one another. Not only for being latine, queer, and trans, but also for their neurodivergency. And all of the intricate ways they must navigate society- Bastian with their ADHD and Lore with their dyslexia.

Once you get past the fear of being seen, you can get to the part where you know you’re not alone.

The depiction of these characters experiences with ADHD and dyslexia were so poignant. It’s so clearly personal to the author, but it also brought tears to my eyes because my neurodivergent ADHD brain felt so seen in those moments.

How do you tell someone that you had to work to learn not follow every impulse your brain has?... That you came into the world with so much quicksand you needed professional help to learn to steer around it?

Beautiful writing. Wonderful representation. A book everyone should read. 

 Colin hadn't realized he would've begged for intimacy until right then. Would have crawled across hot coals, would've swallowed false sainthood, would have battled another Marquis of Hell, just for a chance at this.

You guys!!! The tenderness that was tucked away in this little gothic horror romance just grabbed me by the throat.

I adored this so thoroughly.❤️

TWs: sexual content, body horror, animal death (and resurrection), horror, depiction of dysphoria, murder, graverobbing, discussion of racism, gore 

At the moment, this is just not it for me. I wanted to try for the bookclub but I can't make myself.

I don't know exactly why this isn't working... maybe its the formatting? Maybe it's the way it feels rambley? 

Maybe I'll come back to it in time.