I don't recommend reading this book in your semi-dark apartment near midnight, but if you do, just make sure you have a friend on video call.

Me the last third of this book:

"OH MY GOSH."

"WHAT."

"SHE ATE THEM???"

"THE PLATES."

"Omg thank god they're good at cleaning up blood."

"WAIT. No no no no. Omg no."

"Oh my gosh what."

"Why????!!!"

Cora Zeng doesn't know who she is without her sister Delilah. She's always followed in her sister's shadow, but after her sister's horrific murder, Cora is left drifting like a spirit in a world who sees girls like her as lesser; scapegoats for a pandemic that she has nothing to do with. 

I don't think I've read a book that takes place in 2020 during the early months of COVID, but it's a very weird experience going back to the first few months and remembering the toilet paper crisis, the empty streets, the confusion on how long to quarantine, and which masks were better/would keep you safe. I felt for Cora so much, and like in the author's note, she doesn't realize that she will probably still be wearing a mask 4 years into this pandemic. 

Cora's OCD is what really made me feel for her as a character, especially since it mimics my own OCD. I feel like more and more books with characters who have OCD try to step away from contamination and focus on other manifestations, since most people associate OCD with hand washing and sanitizing. But it is nice to see this kind of OCD in books, especially in a character who had this before covid came into the picture. Cora's awareness of her coworkers noting how often she sanitizes her hands made me feel so seen, because I know my coworkers notice me wiping down my pens and stethoscope and phone at the end of a shift. OCD really does take over your life, and it's not just the compulsive behaviours, but also the intrusive thoughts and catastrophizing. You live always predicting the worst possible outcome so that you're as prepared as possible for when it happens, and if it doesn't, you're prepared anyway. I honestly loved the representation in this book. There is one scene where Cora gets covid and feels almost relieved that her worst fear has become reality and it's not actually as horrible as she thought it would be (even though she does feel like death) and I honestly wanted to hug her and say "oh sweetie, you don't even know about long covid yet". 

The serial killer mystery aspect of this book kept me on the edge of my seat, especially as Cora and her friends were getting closer and closer to figuring out the truth, while also trying to help Cora with her "hungry ghost problem". The dynamic between Harvey and Yifei was so fun to read and really provided the comedic relief this book needed in between all the dark and gory parts. 

I love how this book doesn't shy away from social and political issues either. We already know how corrupt the NYPD is and how people in power can coerce and manipulate what cases are considered "important" and what the media should/shouldn't cover. It's no surprise that our world doesn't care about anyone who isn't white, and it's only become even more obvious since covid began. I also really appreciated the mention of Jesus being from Palestine. I know it made the zionists angry, which always makes me happy.

This book is dark and gory and disturbing. But it also feels very real because the purposeful targeting and murder of minorities is our present reality and has been for some time. It's sad and frustrating watching white supremacists and nazis rising into power yet again, and creating a space where people like them are emboldened/encouraged to be hateful and racist. 

The ending of this book does leave you feeling hopeful, because resistance, and sometimes violent resistance, is necessary to achieve justice and freedom for everyone.

4.25/5 stars

Cozy feel-good fantasy

Adorable romance that did not make me cringe or gag

Sentient plants who I would die for

Sprinkle in a little stress because *plot*

Very fitting commentary on how the rich like to hoard knowledge and wealth and resistance is always justified 

Winged cats who honestly deserved more page-time

Autism rep that just felt so real

Found family/friends who make you feel like there are still good things left in this world

Raspberry jam and freshly toasted bread

Meep

And the last chapter made the L&D nurse in me so happy. The 4 at once made me LOL though

Also, relationships do not require having to share a living space!!! 

I loved this book so much, and I can't wait for The Enchanted Greenhouse!

This was cute and I loved the colours

This was sweet

This was really cute and a little sad. I loved the art style so much!

I love ending the year with a great book, and this one exceeded all my expectations. 

I went into this not having read Raybearer, so it did take me a while to get into the story and the world it takes place in, but I absolutely loved the way Jordan introduces the setting to the reader. Immediately going in, you feel like you're being told a story, so when there are moments that might seem a bit info-dumpy, referencing things that have probably happened in Raybearer, it didn't take me out of the reading experience, but flowed very smoothly.

I loved every single character (except maybe Finnric–who just gives off major finance bro vibes–and of course Mamadele) and the romance was impeccable which is high praise coming from me. The chemistry was there from the second Sade meets the Crocodile and it just grew and developed so well even though it was over a shorter period of time. It didn't feel instalovey at all, and I was honestly rooting for the both of them.

Also the disability rep?? I was not expecting that going in, but wow was it done really well. And the ending almost made me cry in so many ways. This is the kind of rep I want to see in every book. 

What I most loved about this book is the commentary on our world and the capitalistic systems that run it. I honestly need to go back and reread some passages one day and highlight all the conversations Sade has with the Crocodile. It was so interesting seeing the way the Crocodile wanted Sade to become a voice for the revolution and Sade realizing she didn't want to be a giant overlooking and running a revolution but she wanted to be one of the ants working together to make change. When I look at everything that has happened in our world the past year and a bit, I feel like this book captured all of that so well. The scene we get where the Crocodile takes Sade up to a tower overlooking Unity Square was not just empowering for Sade, but also left me with more hope for our world. It reminded me of all the students in universities and colleges around the world getting together to create encampments for Palestine. It reminded me of the voices and chants, and the protests where everyone gathered together to fight for justice. And recently it reminds me of the murder of a certain CEO and people realizing that our world, our governments, and the people profiting off of our labour and tax dollars are the true enemies and that none of this was ever meant to benefit us.

There's this certain part of this book that also made me think of an article I read the other day...

<blockquote>"If the wealthy could not survive without menial labourers, I realized, then they would create a world where such workers were always available. Always desperate. Plentiful and ripe for the picking, like fruit at a produce stall."</blockquote>

The criminalization of homelessness, the prison systems, and even the way our governments are handling COVID and now bird flu...They are creating a world where they can have never-ending labourers, so that they can continue to live in luxury and comfort, while we, the general population, suffers. The one thing Sade points out is that the other side may be louder, and they may be able to call on someone who makes you doubt what your purpose is, but we are many, and we're stronger and bigger united because without us and our skills and trade, nothing would work the way it does now. It's why strikes like the Canada Post strike, and now the Amazon and Starbucks strikes freak out the CEOs, because they realize how much their power is dependent on the complacency of the people who work under them. And when the people realize how important they are and the rights they should be due, and rise up, it threatens the status quo.

<blockquote>"Because the common people do not trust the nobles. They know that these lords and ladies do not want to share the space at all.

"So 'order' will mean guards with spears, whom the nobles will bribe to harass unwanted commoners. 'Beauty' will mean removing benches where people could sleep and erecting statues in any open space in which a large group could loiter, especially for the purpose of protest."</blockquote>

I keep think about Indigo CEO Heather Reisman bribing Toronto police to break into protestors houses and arrest them in the middle of the night. And I think about UofT claiming the Student Encampment for Palestine was taking over spaces where other students just wanted to "eat breakfast."

This book just reflects our current world so well I could not possibly rate this anything under 5 stars. 100% recommend picking this one up and I can't wait to read Raybearer one day and then reread this book!

This was actually a more emotional read than I was expecting. I had no idea going in that an actual archive of heartbeats exists, but now I really want to visit and record my own heart and listen to others. 

The friendships and relationships in this book really stood out to me the most, especially Kenta and Suichi. And the little plot twists as we learn more about Suichi and Kenta's past were actual stabs to my chest. The ending was the perfect culmination to this book.

Something about books that take place in Japan always leave me feeling at peace with the world, especially when there doesn't seem to be a lot of peace right now. This was also a very quick read, and since I was feeling slumpy, it was perfect.

Loved this one so much! Almost made me cry