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The art is stunning, bits of action and fun dialogue, would've loved more background on the characters (WHY is she stealing these things, for example, would be something I'd love to know more about), but that might be more present in volume #2.
Boyfriend Material is probably one of my favourite reads of 2020 so far. Luc's inner voice is so tragically relatable - awkward, insecure, but also loving and hopeful - anyone who's ever been hurt will instantly understand Luc's vulnerability. Also, Luc is an absolutely lovable trainwreck in social situations, but they're so LUC that you just end up wanting to give the poor guy a hug.
This book is simply life - there's no HUGE drama that permeates the story - it's all relational, and I appreciated that. There's a big emphasis on support networks, friends, family, and love. Both Luc and Oliver have great friend groups, and the author found it important to give them all unique voices and ways of supporting the two lovebirds. Luc and Oliver themselves are also super supportive of one another - they don't let each other get beaten down by assaholic relatives, or their own inner demons. All the little details of their relationship made them perfect for each other despite their differences and I loved every second of their love story!
I'd recommend it to those who loved If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane and Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. To set expectations, this is a fairly wholesome book - more fade-to-black than explicit - so don't go into it expecting lots of sordid sex.
Boyfriend Material is chalk full of humour and ALL the feels. Despite its general lightheartedness, there's a lot of psychology and emotion for the two MCs to work through. Full of heart and love, I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.21/5
eARC obtained via Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
This book is simply life - there's no HUGE drama that permeates the story - it's all relational, and I appreciated that. There's a big emphasis on support networks, friends, family, and love. Both Luc and Oliver have great friend groups, and the author found it important to give them all unique voices and ways of supporting the two lovebirds. Luc and Oliver themselves are also super supportive of one another - they don't let each other get beaten down by assaholic relatives, or their own inner demons. All the little details of their relationship made them perfect for each other despite their differences and I loved every second of their love story!
I'd recommend it to those who loved If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane and Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. To set expectations, this is a fairly wholesome book - more fade-to-black than explicit - so don't go into it expecting lots of sordid sex.
Boyfriend Material is chalk full of humour and ALL the feels. Despite its general lightheartedness, there's a lot of psychology and emotion for the two MCs to work through. Full of heart and love, I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.21/5
eARC obtained via Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
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I read the original Trylle trilogy back in 2012 (I even reviewed it! Please ignore how amateur it was). I absolutely loved it – Hocking created a magical world embedded within, yet hidden from, our own. The characters were feisty and the narrative addictive.
The magic of her world is on full display in The Lost City. Ulla, a half-breed troll of unknown origins, begins the book in Northern Canada (Nunavut, if you’re curious). Already, we’re sucked into the story through Hocking’s lyrical, yet straight-forward narrative that quickly throws us into the world of trolls and myths. As I knew a lot of the history from my memory of the Trylle series, it wasn’t too hard for me to digest the different branches of trolls, with there even being a callback to the Trylle series in one of the first few chapters. However, there are a lot of info-dumps. There’s lots to absorb when it comes to the history of the trolls, and I think a big part of this method of world-building is driven by the fact that Ulla, our MC, is diving into troll history and studying her own origins. As a result, this information is necessary in order to understand their world as much as it is to understand the character. As such, I appreciated the short-chapter format the story is told in, as it definitely helped make the story more manageable and easy to process.
Ulla’s journey to self-discovery made this book very relevant to current events. In a time of protests against sexism, racism, among other major societal issues, The Lost City takes on some of these issues and makes them both fantastical and topical.
“It was more than a tad, honestly, and it was the kind of thing I’d heard used a hundred times to dismiss me. Because I was Omte, and everyone knows they’re the dumbest of the tribes. Because I’m a half-breed, and everyone knows that mixed blood makes them weak and stupid. Because I’m from Iskyla, and everyone knows that only the unsophisticated and naïve live there.
Because I’m female.
Because I’m asymmetrical and overweight.
Because I’m blond.
Because I’m an orphan.
Because.
Because.
Because.”
I felt that quote in my bones, and I was very surprised and pleased to see these topics being addressed. Throughout the book, we continuously get to see Ulla crash through the stereotypes attributed to her and I absolutely loved that.
Beyond Ulla, the development of the secondary characters was fantastic and how each one had a chance to grow with the story and its events. Similar to the original Trylle trilogy, there were moments where I wanted just a little more depth with the characters and with the story, but this is only the first book so I guess there are plenty of chances to get everything I want in the upcoming sequels!
All in all, it was fantastic jumping back into this world and I had so much fun with this new cast of characters. I’m curious to see where this series leads!
Plot: 4/5
World Building: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads: 3.8/5
eARC obtained via St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from advanced proof and may not match the final book.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
The magic of her world is on full display in The Lost City. Ulla, a half-breed troll of unknown origins, begins the book in Northern Canada (Nunavut, if you’re curious). Already, we’re sucked into the story through Hocking’s lyrical, yet straight-forward narrative that quickly throws us into the world of trolls and myths. As I knew a lot of the history from my memory of the Trylle series, it wasn’t too hard for me to digest the different branches of trolls, with there even being a callback to the Trylle series in one of the first few chapters. However, there are a lot of info-dumps. There’s lots to absorb when it comes to the history of the trolls, and I think a big part of this method of world-building is driven by the fact that Ulla, our MC, is diving into troll history and studying her own origins. As a result, this information is necessary in order to understand their world as much as it is to understand the character. As such, I appreciated the short-chapter format the story is told in, as it definitely helped make the story more manageable and easy to process.
Ulla’s journey to self-discovery made this book very relevant to current events. In a time of protests against sexism, racism, among other major societal issues, The Lost City takes on some of these issues and makes them both fantastical and topical.
“It was more than a tad, honestly, and it was the kind of thing I’d heard used a hundred times to dismiss me. Because I was Omte, and everyone knows they’re the dumbest of the tribes. Because I’m a half-breed, and everyone knows that mixed blood makes them weak and stupid. Because I’m from Iskyla, and everyone knows that only the unsophisticated and naïve live there.
Because I’m female.
Because I’m asymmetrical and overweight.
Because I’m blond.
Because I’m an orphan.
Because.
Because.
Because.”
I felt that quote in my bones, and I was very surprised and pleased to see these topics being addressed. Throughout the book, we continuously get to see Ulla crash through the stereotypes attributed to her and I absolutely loved that.
Beyond Ulla, the development of the secondary characters was fantastic and how each one had a chance to grow with the story and its events. Similar to the original Trylle trilogy, there were moments where I wanted just a little more depth with the characters and with the story, but this is only the first book so I guess there are plenty of chances to get everything I want in the upcoming sequels!
All in all, it was fantastic jumping back into this world and I had so much fun with this new cast of characters. I’m curious to see where this series leads!
Plot: 4/5
World Building: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads: 3.8/5
eARC obtained via St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from advanced proof and may not match the final book.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
We Hunt the Flame wasn't at all what I expected. It was a mystical adventure through a dessert island abandoned by the beings who created it, with deep, rich world building that brought to life a world slightly grey - deprived of the magic that once saturated the air and ran through people's veins. Honestly, I came for the gender swap, but stayed for the ancient Arabian inspired landscape and the friendships forged throughout this book.
Zafira is such a strong female character. Introduced as the Hunter, she's the only person who can navigate through the Arz - forest that shifts and grows over time, and has magic in it that can confuse even the best navigators. To her village, the Hunter is their saviour. At the time where the Arz is growing and the land is cold, Zafira provides for her village pelts and meat. Her character grows so much throughout this story, and she learns to be comfortable and badass as herself, not just as a woman masquerading as a man.
There is one point in the book where she loses someone important to her, and the death affects her for all of 3.5 seconds and haunts her every 50 pages or so, and that person is all but forgotten by the end. The story takes place over about two weeks to a month. I lost a close friend around the same age and it's been three years and I still think about them every couple days. I get that she was busy saving the world and stuff, but like where's the gut-wrenching heartbreak, and the tears, and grief. This is the one thing about this book that just didn't like. Just because a girl is strong doesn't mean she doesn't feel. I hate when protagonists are badasses and therefore aren't allowed to breakdown and hurt. That's not a realistic expectation to put on people, no matter their age. Pain is pain, and people (everyone) should be allowed to wallow in it, process it, and then move on. That's the healthy way at least... /rant over/.
Nasir is compassionate and that is seen as his biggest weakness. I love that the author created this character for the same reasons I hate that she decided that Zafira just had to get over it - compassion, empathy, and love are all a part of being human. Nasir's biggest battle is his wish to throw his feelings out the window and be the strong, emotionless person his father expects him to be. I liked seeing that struggle because of how relevant it is in today's culture. The idea that men need to fulfill a certain level of authority without showing weakness. That was Nasir. And his compassion didn't make him any less badass, which is such an important message.
I'm not even going to touch on the secondary characters here or else this whole review will be pages long. I loved the characters as a whole - their friendship and camaraderie make this book enjoyable. Faizal brings her characters to life and makes you feel for them, makes your heart break for them. This story was phenomenal - the magic, the world building, the wonderful prose - and I'm super excited to read the sequel!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.89/5
eARC received via Indigo Books & Music via NetGalley.
Zafira is such a strong female character. Introduced as the Hunter, she's the only person who can navigate through the Arz - forest that shifts and grows over time, and has magic in it that can confuse even the best navigators. To her village, the Hunter is their saviour. At the time where the Arz is growing and the land is cold, Zafira provides for her village pelts and meat. Her character grows so much throughout this story, and she learns to be comfortable and badass as herself, not just as a woman masquerading as a man.
There is one point in the book where she loses someone important to her, and the death affects her for all of 3.5 seconds and haunts her every 50 pages or so, and that person is all but forgotten by the end. The story takes place over about two weeks to a month. I lost a close friend around the same age and it's been three years and I still think about them every couple days. I get that she was busy saving the world and stuff, but like where's the gut-wrenching heartbreak, and the tears, and grief. This is the one thing about this book that just didn't like. Just because a girl is strong doesn't mean she doesn't feel. I hate when protagonists are badasses and therefore aren't allowed to breakdown and hurt. That's not a realistic expectation to put on people, no matter their age. Pain is pain, and people (everyone) should be allowed to wallow in it, process it, and then move on. That's the healthy way at least... /rant over/.
Nasir is compassionate and that is seen as his biggest weakness. I love that the author created this character for the same reasons I hate that she decided that Zafira just had to get over it - compassion, empathy, and love are all a part of being human. Nasir's biggest battle is his wish to throw his feelings out the window and be the strong, emotionless person his father expects him to be. I liked seeing that struggle because of how relevant it is in today's culture. The idea that men need to fulfill a certain level of authority without showing weakness. That was Nasir. And his compassion didn't make him any less badass, which is such an important message.
I'm not even going to touch on the secondary characters here or else this whole review will be pages long. I loved the characters as a whole - their friendship and camaraderie make this book enjoyable. Faizal brings her characters to life and makes you feel for them, makes your heart break for them. This story was phenomenal - the magic, the world building, the wonderful prose - and I'm super excited to read the sequel!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.89/5
eARC received via Indigo Books & Music via NetGalley.
I don't usually review graphic novels - I love them, but they're often so short that I find it hard to get beyond general fangirling.
However, Displacement is a book that deserves a full review.
First of all, this is a mix of memoir and historical fiction. While Kiku puts herself and her family into the story, she doesn't have all the facts of her family history, as she states in her author's notes. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, over 120,000 people in the US and about 12,000 people in Canada were put into internment camps where they were isolated, mistreated, and wrongfully murdered. This event led to people being scared that their culture, language, and history could and would be used against them on the streets, in the court of law, and in school/business. It is not a time that victims want to remember, but it is an event that has impacted how their story has been told and passed on.
East Asian culture is about endurance - people often take on the weight of the world while saying it's light as a feather. As someone of Chinese descent, born and raised in Canada, my family rarely talks about our history. Our story is told in bullet points. Succinct, factual, and without emotion. It's easier that way. And I think that's how American and Canadian internment camps have been talked about. Not with human empathy, but as a fact of history that we can walk away from.
Displacement demands that we put empathy and humanity back into the narrative. Not only are we brought back in time to the internment camps to witness the treatment of Japanese people after Pearl Harbour, but we're also asked to reflect and question the dogma of today's politics. Those who have experienced oppression in the past should be fighting against travel restrictions for Muslims and the captivity of children from Mexico. Beyond what's noted in the book, this call to action asks us to fight for the BLM movement that we're deeply entrenched in now.
Displacement is a quick, impactful read that sheds light on a moment in history that's often forgotten by the rest of the world, and even those connected to it. Definitely a must read for everyone, and in particular a fantastic selection for MG and YA readers!
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.41/5
eARC obtained via Turn the Page Tours via First Second Books/Fierce Reads in exchange for an honest review.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
However, Displacement is a book that deserves a full review.
First of all, this is a mix of memoir and historical fiction. While Kiku puts herself and her family into the story, she doesn't have all the facts of her family history, as she states in her author's notes. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, over 120,000 people in the US and about 12,000 people in Canada were put into internment camps where they were isolated, mistreated, and wrongfully murdered. This event led to people being scared that their culture, language, and history could and would be used against them on the streets, in the court of law, and in school/business. It is not a time that victims want to remember, but it is an event that has impacted how their story has been told and passed on.
East Asian culture is about endurance - people often take on the weight of the world while saying it's light as a feather. As someone of Chinese descent, born and raised in Canada, my family rarely talks about our history. Our story is told in bullet points. Succinct, factual, and without emotion. It's easier that way. And I think that's how American and Canadian internment camps have been talked about. Not with human empathy, but as a fact of history that we can walk away from.
Displacement demands that we put empathy and humanity back into the narrative. Not only are we brought back in time to the internment camps to witness the treatment of Japanese people after Pearl Harbour, but we're also asked to reflect and question the dogma of today's politics. Those who have experienced oppression in the past should be fighting against travel restrictions for Muslims and the captivity of children from Mexico. Beyond what's noted in the book, this call to action asks us to fight for the BLM movement that we're deeply entrenched in now.
Displacement is a quick, impactful read that sheds light on a moment in history that's often forgotten by the rest of the world, and even those connected to it. Definitely a must read for everyone, and in particular a fantastic selection for MG and YA readers!
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.41/5
eARC obtained via Turn the Page Tours via First Second Books/Fierce Reads in exchange for an honest review.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
If you've had an itch for magical performances, fantastical circuses, and a bit of mystery - you've come to the right place!
Where Dreams Descend is a slow burn masterpiece that brings to life a forgotten city, filling it with magic and intrigue. I fell in love with the magic of this world and the beauty of the performances - I hung onto every detail, every wonderful moment. I loved how well this world was built and the prose is probably the biggest reason this book gets my love! The mystery also lends itself to the plot. I appreciate that this book isn't all just one big hullabaloo - the author gives events time to breathe, lets the dust settle, and then drops the other shoe when you least expect it. It's both terrifying and fantastic. Because of this, I've honestly been unable to get this book out of my head!
On top of the beauty of the magical world, I love Kallia. I appreciate how she just storms through these crowds of people who are ready to tear her apart and performs so amazingly that they're just struck with awe. She is a badass protagonist who refuses to take anyone's crap, and yet we grow to know her weaknesses and understand her fears. Yes, she can be immature at times, and she doesn't always ask the right questions, but I love her and the Conquering Circus crew for being amazing, powerful women who crash through the obstacles society puts in their way.
Where Dreams Descend is the first book in a duology. With all the mystery and secrets, it's clear that much of this book is setting up for its sequel. And that's fine. However, I wish there was a lot more communication between characters and more character development for Daron and Jack. There's so much left unsaid that it becomes frustrating at points, especially with Jack. As much as I loved the tension that's present with both of them and Kallia (for very different reasons), I feel like their characters could have been explored more, at least for the eyes of the reader. I predict, and pray, that the sequel will be more focused on Daron or Jack in order to round out the series, as this book was very much Kallia's book, with Daron as the side act.
As a whole, Where Dreams Descend is a strong debut that builds up slowly, layering up drama, mystery, and magic for you to marvel at by the end. I'm desperate to get my hands on book two (even though book one isn't even out yet, ahh!!), and I'm excited to unlock whatever secrets Jack and Glorian hold!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads: 3.85/5
eARC obtained via Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages
Where Dreams Descend is a slow burn masterpiece that brings to life a forgotten city, filling it with magic and intrigue. I fell in love with the magic of this world and the beauty of the performances - I hung onto every detail, every wonderful moment. I loved how well this world was built and the prose is probably the biggest reason this book gets my love! The mystery also lends itself to the plot. I appreciate that this book isn't all just one big hullabaloo - the author gives events time to breathe, lets the dust settle, and then drops the other shoe when you least expect it. It's both terrifying and fantastic. Because of this, I've honestly been unable to get this book out of my head!
On top of the beauty of the magical world, I love Kallia. I appreciate how she just storms through these crowds of people who are ready to tear her apart and performs so amazingly that they're just struck with awe. She is a badass protagonist who refuses to take anyone's crap, and yet we grow to know her weaknesses and understand her fears. Yes, she can be immature at times, and she doesn't always ask the right questions, but I love her and the Conquering Circus crew for being amazing, powerful women who crash through the obstacles society puts in their way.
Where Dreams Descend is the first book in a duology. With all the mystery and secrets, it's clear that much of this book is setting up for its sequel. And that's fine. However, I wish there was a lot more communication between characters and more character development for Daron and Jack. There's so much left unsaid that it becomes frustrating at points, especially with Jack. As much as I loved the tension that's present with both of them and Kallia (for very different reasons), I feel like their characters could have been explored more, at least for the eyes of the reader. I predict, and pray, that the sequel will be more focused on Daron or Jack in order to round out the series, as this book was very much Kallia's book, with Daron as the side act.
As a whole, Where Dreams Descend is a strong debut that builds up slowly, layering up drama, mystery, and magic for you to marvel at by the end. I'm desperate to get my hands on book two (even though book one isn't even out yet, ahh!!), and I'm excited to unlock whatever secrets Jack and Glorian hold!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads: 3.85/5
eARC obtained via Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- Review byBetween Printed Pages