Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
4.25/5 gifted by the publisher
I enjoyed this multigenerational tale following four generations of women in a family and the different mother-daughter dynamics. The examination of how one forgives & moves forward with their trauma is the most intriguing aspect.
I wish we spent more time on the adult women and their second coming of age though. There’s a lot of teenage drama from the youngest generation’s perspective. And while that’s understandable, I just wish her POV wasn’t so focused on romance and other passions of hers (the ballet arc kinda got forgotten and I was expecting more from that)
I enjoyed this multigenerational tale following four generations of women in a family and the different mother-daughter dynamics. The examination of how one forgives & moves forward with their trauma is the most intriguing aspect.
I wish we spent more time on the adult women and their second coming of age though. There’s a lot of teenage drama from the youngest generation’s perspective. And while that’s understandable, I just wish her POV wasn’t so focused on romance and other passions of hers (the ballet arc kinda got forgotten and I was expecting more from that)
ARC gifted by the publisher and ALC by @prhaudio
How do we move forward when we are severed from our motherland, mother tongue, and birth mother? This is the thesis of HOMBRECITO, where Sanchez deftly examines the feeling of being caught between cultures, identities, and parents as an immigrant, queer child, and struggling adult. I am in awe of Sanchez's breathtaking prose and extraordinary talent, and I cherish every moment of reading HOMBRECITO. The themes of severed motherland remind me of MOTHER ISLAND (Jamie Figueroa), and the exploration of complex mother-gay son relationship makes this a phenomenal companion read with BLESSINGS (Chukwuebuka Ibeh). What an absolute honor to read HOMBRECITO, and I can't wait to read whatever Sanchez writes next.
How do we move forward when we are severed from our motherland, mother tongue, and birth mother? This is the thesis of HOMBRECITO, where Sanchez deftly examines the feeling of being caught between cultures, identities, and parents as an immigrant, queer child, and struggling adult. I am in awe of Sanchez's breathtaking prose and extraordinary talent, and I cherish every moment of reading HOMBRECITO. The themes of severed motherland remind me of MOTHER ISLAND (Jamie Figueroa), and the exploration of complex mother-gay son relationship makes this a phenomenal companion read with BLESSINGS (Chukwuebuka Ibeh). What an absolute honor to read HOMBRECITO, and I can't wait to read whatever Sanchez writes next.
ARC gifted by the publisher
In this collection of intriguing and refreshing essays about Asian/Asian American identity, Wu examines the relationship between diaspora and fashion, whether fashion can be separated from capitalism and consumerism, and how to center joy in a world where ethics is presented as a grayscale. I particularly love the essays about interracial competition—how tokenized Asians and other POCs in "elite" institutions are used as virtual signaling rather than systemic change. The article on "self-orientalizing" to reclaim one's definition of being Asian is another fascinating topic that had me thinking about my own fashion choices. While some essays stand out more than others, I find DANCING a stimulating read that doesn't center on the trauma of Asian diaspora but rather our endless possibilities for joy and collaboration.
In this collection of intriguing and refreshing essays about Asian/Asian American identity, Wu examines the relationship between diaspora and fashion, whether fashion can be separated from capitalism and consumerism, and how to center joy in a world where ethics is presented as a grayscale. I particularly love the essays about interracial competition—how tokenized Asians and other POCs in "elite" institutions are used as virtual signaling rather than systemic change. The article on "self-orientalizing" to reclaim one's definition of being Asian is another fascinating topic that had me thinking about my own fashion choices. While some essays stand out more than others, I find DANCING a stimulating read that doesn't center on the trauma of Asian diaspora but rather our endless possibilities for joy and collaboration.
.jpg)
ARC gifted by the publisher
A trans woman sets out to exploit wealthy tech workers and their health insurance for surgeries, only to fall under their spell of glamorous and hedonistic lifestyles in San Francisco. With unlikeable characters, on-the-nose satire, and blistering commentary on hypocritical "woke" liberalism, WORLD is a tough book to read that I almost dnfed—mostly because I resonated so much with the story that it hurt to read. I felt loneliness, hopelessness, and rage as I trudged through WORLD, especially when Kanakia exposed how transactional SF's "activism" actually is. This isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone, but for those interested in exploring class, race, and gender divisions in liberalism and the hypocrisy of "found family," give WORLD a try!
A trans woman sets out to exploit wealthy tech workers and their health insurance for surgeries, only to fall under their spell of glamorous and hedonistic lifestyles in San Francisco. With unlikeable characters, on-the-nose satire, and blistering commentary on hypocritical "woke" liberalism, WORLD is a tough book to read that I almost dnfed—mostly because I resonated so much with the story that it hurt to read. I felt loneliness, hopelessness, and rage as I trudged through WORLD, especially when Kanakia exposed how transactional SF's "activism" actually is. This isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone, but for those interested in exploring class, race, and gender divisions in liberalism and the hypocrisy of "found family," give WORLD a try!
ARC gifted by the publisher
Set in a reimagined 15th-century West Africa, when the warrior king abducts Òdòdó from her hometown and chooses her as his future wife, Òdòdó must tread carefully among shaky loyalties and ever-changing political alignments or risks losing everything—including her life.
MASQUERADE is a fast-paced and unputdownable debut based on the myth of Persephone. While there are fantasy elements, the story always retains its steam with just the right amount of world-building that eases the readers into this reimagined historical drama. Sangoyomi perfectly blends historical fantasy, thrilling plot twists, and character development into an adrenaline-filled story. I love following Òdòdó's journey as she navigates complex politics and hidden loyalties; I devoured MASQUERADE in a day and would happily read another 500 pages.
If you're tired of mainstream romantasy and want something different (read: more diverse), if you love reading about unhinged women, female rage, and morally gray characters, if you want to give fantasy a try, if you adore magical elephants (who doesn't?), then definitely don't miss MASQUERADE! I highly recommend this unputdownable debut to fans of KAIKEYI (Vaishnavi Patel) and THE POPPY WAR series (R.F. Kuang).
-
notes
If you love KAIKEYI, you’ll love this even more! I enjoy the morally gray characters and great pacing. FMC reminds me of Rin from THE POPPY WAR series (yes to unhinged WOC haha). Love the inspiration of Nigerian mythology! What a great debut. So fun and unputdownable
Set in a reimagined 15th-century West Africa, when the warrior king abducts Òdòdó from her hometown and chooses her as his future wife, Òdòdó must tread carefully among shaky loyalties and ever-changing political alignments or risks losing everything—including her life.
MASQUERADE is a fast-paced and unputdownable debut based on the myth of Persephone. While there are fantasy elements, the story always retains its steam with just the right amount of world-building that eases the readers into this reimagined historical drama. Sangoyomi perfectly blends historical fantasy, thrilling plot twists, and character development into an adrenaline-filled story. I love following Òdòdó's journey as she navigates complex politics and hidden loyalties; I devoured MASQUERADE in a day and would happily read another 500 pages.
If you're tired of mainstream romantasy and want something different (read: more diverse), if you love reading about unhinged women, female rage, and morally gray characters, if you want to give fantasy a try, if you adore magical elephants (who doesn't?), then definitely don't miss MASQUERADE! I highly recommend this unputdownable debut to fans of KAIKEYI (Vaishnavi Patel) and THE POPPY WAR series (R.F. Kuang).
-
notes
If you love KAIKEYI, you’ll love this even more! I enjoy the morally gray characters and great pacing. FMC reminds me of Rin from THE POPPY WAR series (yes to unhinged WOC haha). Love the inspiration of Nigerian mythology! What a great debut. So fun and unputdownable