I just want to start off by saying that this book is beautifully written and has many quotable moments and sayings in this story.

Zafira is the huntress who hides her identity and who she really is to the world. Nasir is the heartless hashshashin who is doomed to never love again. Both are set off on a journey orchestrated by the Silver Haired Witch to find the jarawat and bring magic back to Arawiya.

Going off my first statement, this book is beautifully written, however one of my complaints is that a lot of chapters felt like they were doing nothing in the beginning. But, I understand it was to build the time spent between Zafira, Nasir, Altair, etc. I'm going to say it now I love Altair - I'm reading the next book for that man alone lmao The wittiness and sarcasm I love it lol He's giving me Petyr Baelish vibes but mostly in he has connections and you don't really know much about him until its important for you to know kind of thing lmao Either way he was one of the sole reasons I kept reading.

You have the classic slow-burn, enemies to lovers between fights with different mythological beings and them finding out the truth of the journey and their lives. Overall, it was pretty good!! I enjoyed it especially after the 50% mark where it seems like stuff was just happening left and right and more information coming to light.

I'd recommend this to somebody who enjoys YA fantasy with slow-burn, enemies to lovers, secrets, pre-Islamic and Islamic mythology, & west asian representation.

*4.5*

This book gave me big Romeo & Juliet vibes crossed with Twilight (because of the supernatural elements). I thought the concept was well done even if tho it had those kind of vibes.

Joan a half human, half monster in love with a monster slayer, has to escape with a rivaling monster family member when tragedy strikes in the beginning of this book. Joan must find a way to repair everything that's happen. This book was super fast paced, things happened one after another and you can feel that Joan and the gang were constantly running until they weren't. I'm glad that the ending had a happy for now kind of feeling, it leaves room for a second book for sure. With Joan only remembering the true events and one other person remembering fragments, I wonder what could happen in a second book.

I gave this a 4.5 because I feel like it's missing something and I can't quite put my finger on it. But, I did enjoy this a lot more than I thought I would being the tragic romance it is. I'll definitely be looking forward to another book if there is one!

For now, I'd definitely recommend this to people who love the sound of a fast-paced tragic romance, supernatural beings, time-travel, & fated-lovers trope.

Portrait of a Thief follows five Chinese-American college students across various countries trying to steal back a part of history lost to colonialism. I'll be honest I loved the concept of this book, but not so much the execution of it. I had really high hopes going into this read and maybe that fault lies with me.

I'll start off by saying the portrayal of the diaspora experience amongst the members of the heist was probably the most well done and it being a major focus in the book. However, I didn't really like any of the characters that much - they felt very one dimensional and literally only played the part of leader, con-artist, thief, getaway driver, and hacker. Oh, I'm sorry Irene did have a have a horrible personality - one constantly putting down Alex for over half the book and she also leads on a straight man who's been in love with her since they were kids - but knowing fully well that she is a lesbian and has only dated women. It's a no for me for that character.

I also had high hopes for the heists that also fell flat. More times than not the heists had no suspense, and if they did it just some how miraculously worked out. Let alone the heists did not start until close to the 50% way mark and them preparing for the heists was just watching a bunch of movies and taking notes lol it was mostly 5 college students goofing their way around obstacles and somehow managing to get the art.

Another thing I had high hopes for was the discussion of the colonization of art and its reduced to art = power with no further discussion really. As a person who loves history and appreciates art within history, I wish this book could have focused more on this aspect and in depth.

I also feel like the writing style was super repetitive and hard to get through sometimes. It's hard for me to write such a negative review for a book I was super hyped to read but it may have been my own fault on that one. Overall, I'd say if I went into it knowing that mainly focused on the experiences and reflections of the characters and the heist and art history part was just a backdrop not necessarily the forefront I probably would have enjoyed this more. I think this book just wasn't for me and I truly hope it finds the people that it is meant for!

Disclaimer: I received Portrait of a Thief as an ARC through NetGalley and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

Ren, a biracial Japanese Shinagami and British Reaper, is essentially accepted by no one. She is sent off to find her destiny when the Reapers of London can no longer stand her.

~I really enjoyed the mythology behind this dark fantasy. The yomi were interesting and so were the gods. I did think the MC was a bit repetitive in her choices, which is understandable for everything she goes through. But, the way Ren treated Neven irked me to hell and back. I guess we'll see how she feels in the next book after that ending.

~There was a knock-off brand enemies to lovers between Ren and Hiro. A lot of talking back to each other and what not, but I didn't feel like it was well fleshed out in the end. It was more of a trauma bond to me lol But, I'll give Ren that Hiro sounded hot for the smartass he was lol

~Overall, I did enjoy this fantasy and I do want to see how Ren changes after the ending of this book. I just wish she wasn't so dense sometimes and all she does is say "this is how I am" when it comes to being selfish and cold to others- like come on bro grow up, you treated your brother like he was nothing compared to Hiro, just because you felt understood. But, Neven literally followed you to the depths of hell just for you??? asdfghjkl

This is an adorable children's book with South East Asian rep!! I loved the art style and it fit the story well! I also enjoyed learning new words for everyday things like coffee with sugar or without sugar, oh and the fact that Nenek means grandparent <3

I received Nenek Tata and the Mangrove Menace through NetGalley and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

This book scratched my itch for a heartbreaking fantasy.

You have the land of Ravence built on a family's legacy and religious fanatics. Those of Ravence know sacrifice well, but there are bordering kingdoms hoping and plotting for Ravence's downfall. You have a King hell-bent and stuck in his ways, the daughter who wants nothing of the sort, the partner of convenience, and the man that is said to be everyone's enemy.

I thought this book was so well written. I have so many quotes highlighted on my kindle, it's unreal. I loved the way the author described the scenery and emotions of the characters. I think the daily struggles of Yassen could relate to those dealing with chronic pain. Also, I felt Elena's pain when she said she never grieved in her past and when everything tumbles down, it takes everything in you to not breakdown and wail into the abyss.

I'd definitely recommend this to those that love:
~enemies to lovers + slowburn romance (but not necessarily the main focus)
~war and prophecy
~morally grey characters
~wrathful women
~lore and history
~south asian inspired fantasy
~the poppy war and all the hurt it brought
~unhinged dilf?

This was a cute, cozy mystery to read for October. All the Filipino food mentioning made me hungry - now I want some adobo lol I loved the fact in this mystery, the MC dipped her hands into the investigating. There were characters that were connected to Lila romantically in some way and I'm glad that wasn't the main focus. Also, there are recipes included in the book too?? This is too cute. I might have to try them haha This was just a good read with a close knit family/community - like a small town with all the gossip - and the mystery and crimes to fuel the gossip and investigations. I also listened to the audiobook with this and the narration is great!!

~This was such a cute story. I feel like it was more about Serendipity's becoming an adult and dealing with life than it was a romance - but the small romance moments the story did have were so cute!
~You follow most of the characters, especially Sere, through their teens and up to their mid-twenties. I feel like this story is really about taking risks for chances at life and finding your happiness, even if it isn't what you planned or what you expected.
~I'd definitely recommend this to people who obviously love tennis (there were a lot of references I didn't get but it didn't deter me from the story) and those that love a wholesome, slow-burn romance! Also, to the one's that want a coming of age story about a woman in her mid-twenties too (I feel like I rarely see coming of age stories with anybody in the young adult age range).
~I think if I weren't expecting more romance in this, I'd give it 5 stars.

Disclosure: I received Chances for Serendipity as an ARC and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

-I don't know what to do now that the story of Tali is done. I had to sit on this review for a night due to me being in shock after the last 200 pages of this book in the series and I still don't know if I can make sense using words lmao
-Tali has come so far from the events in Anzhao and the first book. Seeing her process her emotions towards the men of her life, whether it be: Khine, Rai, Agos, or Yeshin was so well written. This book is really about breaking generational curses and being your own person beyond what everybody perceives you as. Tali had so many times she could've just broken down and given up, but never did. She had every right to with everything laid out for her the way it was. She had the traits of her father honest, good lord was Yeshin obnoxiously insistent. I'm glad to see the way the life of Tali played out at the very end. This series has made me laugh, cry, hurt, and love so kudos to KS Villoso. I'd also like to point out that Villoso wove in discussions of imperialism and colonialism, the effects of war, and the erasure of history into this series (I'm sure much more that I'll see when I reread again). This series will live forever in my head rent free.
-I'd highly recommend this to anybody who loves a character driven epic fantasy with an intricate magic system and political intrigue. It is inspired by Filipino culture and mythology. It's also a grimdark series if you're into that genre! This book series gave me A Song of Ice and Fire vibes and ramped it up - and honestly it has replaced ASOIAF as my favorite fantasy series.

CW: violence, gore, sexual assualt, murder, and strong language

This is such a great character-driven fantasy. Queen Talyien, or Tali, doesn't know who to trust and what is to come next most of the time. As a reader, neither did I. This book is so well written that you can feel the anxiousness, the mistakes, the hurt. I honestly did not see the end of this book coming seeing from Tali's view. I think this series will be yet another favorite of mine this year. I'm anxious to see what is to come in the final book. Also, can I say I love Khine and the whole Lamang family with all my heart. <3