corabookworm's Reviews (264)

Thoughts:
- I loved this book!
- Lots of witty comments, easy and fun to read
- His love for his wife is absolutely adorable I need a relationship like theirs
- Super interesting, lots of advice that's mostly "this is how i do things and why, it may or may not work for you" and "destroy it. kill your darlings. be mean but not too mean"

Might shape this into a real review later, but for now enjoy these bullet points.

A perfect sequel! We got to explore the world a little more and see the characters develop further. I still feel like the length is hindering this story: I would love to see some relationships explored more deeply, more exploration of the world, and a “conclusion” to the characters’ arcs. It still feels like they’re dealing with the same problems they have since the beginning of book one, and while they talk about it a lot, they haven’t come to any real revelations or changes. Which is, maybe, realistic? But I just want MORE from these books, which I can’t really get out of 150 pages :(

This book was such a soft, comforting, and colorful read. Becky Chambers created a bright, hopeful world and a sweet, emotional story, along with a lovely companionship between a wild robot and a nonbinary tea monk. (I adored them.) The only real problem with this book is the length: I want more! Especially of the worldbuilding and character emotions! It was there but it was so brief give me more! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, and Psalm for the Wild-Built is now officially one of my comfort reads.

In 1955, in an event called the Mass Dragoning, thousands of women transformed into dragons and disappeared into the sky, leaving fire and destruction in their wake. Alex’s aunt was one of them. Shamed into silence, the girl struggles within the dynamics of her family and the oppressive world they live in.

When I read this book back in January, I expected exactly what the blurb pitched: a fiery feminist historical fantasy focused on female rage. Which I got. But (at least the first half of) this book was so much more. It covered complex themes of grief and motherhood and sisterhood and loss and love and shame and guilt and I devoured every single word. (And cried. Parts of this book struck close to home and OUCH.)

The concept itself is intriguing, and Barnhill’s execution is brilliant, packed with gorgeous prose and raw emotion. Parts of the story remain almost a mystery, unraveling through the passages between chapters and little clues scattered throughout the pages. 

This book definitely has its flaws, as well. A few other reviewers have pointed out that this book views feminism through a very white and middle-class lens, which is a fair criticism and something to think about while reading. There’s some events that stretch reality a little (not including the whole turning-into-dragons thing) and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea–it’s slow-paced, with lots of focus on characters and concepts. 

However, if you enjoy literary fiction and historical fantasy, with a focus on the complexities of girlhood and female relationships, I’d check this one out! (Also there’s women. And dragons. <3)

Initial Thoughts:
Absolutely wonderful sequel, just as fast paced and interesting as the first book. Not quite as good, but I still loved it. <3

Series Review:
I absolutely adored this duology. 

Kalynn Bayron created an lively, diverse cast of characters and an intriguing story that I genuinely *enjoyed* reading. It covered some tougher topics while still being a fun read, filled with mythology and poison and goddesses and gardens. The concept was captivating, and Bayron executed it nearly perfectly.

I loved that the dialogue and character interactions felt very genuine, and the uniqueness of the magic. Though I had a rough idea of where the story was going, the plot twists still took me by surprise!

Also, the cliffhanger at the end of This Poison Heart convinced me to pick up the sequel IMMEDIATELY, and I was hooked right away. Bayron successfully avoided second-book-syndrome and created a vibrant, exciting adventure that took the ideas of the first book to a whole new level.

If you’re looking for a quick YA book with a contemporary setting, mythology, powerful women, and a sapphic romance, I highly recommend this series!

Initial Thoughts:
Absolutely LOVED this book. The magic/worldbuilding/history was fascinating, the characters were amazing, and the plot itself was a perfect mix of mystery and adventure. I need to read the sequel right now.

Series Review:
I absolutely adored this duology. 

Kalynn Bayron created an lively, diverse cast of characters and an intriguing story that I genuinely *enjoyed* reading. It covered some tougher topics while still being a fun read, filled with mythology and poison and goddesses and gardens. The concept was captivating, and Bayron executed it nearly perfectly.

I loved that the dialogue and character interactions felt very genuine, and the uniqueness of the magic. Though I had a rough idea of where the story was going, the plot twists still took me by surprise!

Also, the cliffhanger at the end of This Poison Heart convinced me to pick up the sequel IMMEDIATELY, and I was hooked right away. Bayron successfully avoided second-book-syndrome and created a vibrant, exciting adventure that took the ideas of the first book to a whole new level.

If you’re looking for a quick YA book with a contemporary setting, mythology, powerful women, and a sapphic romance, I highly recommend this series!

Zara wants to raise her murdered sister from the dead. Jude is being slowly destroyed by the demons she cursed herself with. And Emer lives in the shadows, writing dangerous curses for desperate women. But those women are dying, brutally murdered and robbed of their magic. The three fierce girls, all connected to the occult in some way, unite to hunt down the killer.

The Invocations was delightfully disgusting and absolutely thrilling. 

While Zara’s character felt a little flat to me at times, her love for her sister and her cleverness won me over. I also ADORED Jude and Emery. I was charmed by both Jude’s witty flirting and Emer’s feral fierceness. Reading the interactions between the three of them, and the side characters, made me laugh and cry and blush. (I have a soft spot for angry queer girls, I guess.)

The notes I wrote for myself after finishing this book included “ew but in a good way”, which accurately sums up Sutherland’s bloody body horror. This book definitely isn’t for the faint of heart—some of the descriptions had me shuddering, and the story itself is very dark. But the writing was absolutely delicious. If you enjoy horror books like Hell Followed With Us, you’ll absolutely devour this one.

In terms of plot, the concept was fantastic. A feminist, witchy mystery with demons and murder and sapphics? Yes please. I did predict the big plot twist, but enjoyed the story anyway. Sutherland constructed the mystery incredibly well, and slowly putting the puzzle pieces together was so fun. The slower-paced build-up was worth it for the action-packed climax, and the book had a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, The Invocations was absolutely incredible. Krystal Sutherland has once again created a haunting masterpiece packed full of vicious magic, furious women, and gorgeous writing. I loved it.

Lilith by Nikki Marmey is the story of Adam’s first wife and her journey to rescue the Queen of Heaven and spread Her message of Wisdom across the world.

The story itself is very compelling. The first chapters are filled with the vibrant gardens of Paradise, Adam’s heart-wrenching betrayal, and the arrival of Eve. After Lilith’s exile, it turns to a fantastic historical fiction as she explores the ancient world—Lilith interacts with many religious and historical figures, from God and Adam and Eve to Noah and his family on their arc to the Queen of Ancient Israel, Queen Jezebel.

Nikki Marmey’s writing style is very “Madeline Miller,” with rich prose, amazing quotes, and beautiful descriptions. When I annotated it, I felt like I was underlining every sentence. It was STUNNING.

This book is also VERY feminist; the oppression/power of women is what drives the plot. I personally loved it, but the absorption in that theme and the prose-like writing definitely distracted from the characters’ emotions and made the story feel a little more artificial at times. That being said, if you’re interested in feminist literature, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

ALSO. It should’ve been sapphic. Sorry, I know I’m biased. But when books are all about female power and epic women and then she falls in love with an annoying, mediocre man, it breaks my heart. Lilith had a million times more chemistry with people like her “beloved” Jezebel than she did with her love interest. But I’ll look past it, just this once. :) 

In conclusion, this book is a stunning work of art, with vibrant descriptions, a bold feminist plot, and many interesting historical and religious characters/stories. If you’re looking for a good historical fantasy, check this one out!

(NOTE: For best reading experience, listen to Hozier and/or Paris Paloma while reading)

This book was amazing! In some ways, it was much better than River of Teeth, because there was a bigger focus on the characters and their relationships. But this was also hindered by the first book's lack of focus on it; Houndstooth's obsession with Hero, for example, felt out of place after their short and undeveloped romance in Book #1. The characters were also separated in Taste of Marrow, which meant less banter and bickering. It was cool to see different people forced to work together, though, and watch some new relationships bloom.

Altogether, though this book wasn't perfect, it was playful and adventurous and brimming with emotion, and I enjoyed listening to it. I love the hippos so much. <3

Very rarely when I read short stories/novellas do I wish they’d been longer. But this is one of those rare occasions where I can say, without hesitation, that this book would’ve been so much better as a full-length novel. Not just because I want to see more of the characters and hippo lore (though that is one of the reasons), but also because it would’ve allowed for so many plot points and emotions to get the page time they deserve. The romance storylines, the betrayals, the deaths, and even the action sequences were far too short and rushed for my taste. Sarah Gailey easily could’ve expanded this, turning it from a delightful short story to a tense, action-packed heist novel.

All that being said, however, this story was delightful. I loved the characters and the hippos and the way the story unraveled. I just also wanted more.