*3.5 stars
(triggers at the end)

this went by so quickly, i feel like there was a portion in the middle i don't remember? like where was i when everything was going down? because i do not remember them, that's for sure :(

anyways, i feel like this was still a really solid read, all in all! i could understand what yvonne's responses and reactions were all about, even if they were irrational at times; they were not for her, and if i think in her shoes, i can see why she made them. the plotpoint spoken about in the descriptions end doesn't come into play until the like last third of the book? but it was still interesting, even if i feel like there could've been more to unpack there.

good shit, miss brandy, good shit.

trigger warnings for
unexpected pregnancy, abortion, deceitful relationship, parental abandonment

i won't be rating this one bc it doesn't make too much sense for me to rate a collection of letters

this was inspirational, honestly, and it made me feel more enlightened thinking about my own creative situations and things i love to do in my life; but i also wouldn't say it pushed me, it just gave me a new light. jason reynolds has always told very interesting, introspective stories that have given that new light. it might've been something i was always inspired to think about or do, but the way he writes about topics gives a new spark.

i dunno, i really liked this for what it was! jason reynolds is fantastic.

Received this copy for review through Netgalley. Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada!
(triggers at the end)

a solid start to what i feel is about to be an amazing, strong series! i was in for the synopsis and the fact that it was pitched to me as very adventure-filled, very queer, and very much like an RPG game. all of those were incredibly correct.

the plot is fast-paced from the start, with events and situations happening and the main characters having to figure out what to do and who to work with along the way. i have to admit, however much i enjoyed the general plot and the overarching themes, i found myself reaching a point near the middle where it was not hooking my interest. that could entirely be a me thing, and it feels like it wa,s but it took me over a month to finish this book

(from before i read the book lol) lesbophobia? not on my watch!
(triggers at the end)

c.l. polk never misses, now do they? i absolutely loved the first book, witchmark, and i found myself having the same excitement reading this one!

characters
the characters have always been the strong points of these books, and in this one it's no different, with grace at the front and centre this time instead of miles, but she held everything up and really proved herself worthy of leadership from the last book. i adored her in witchmark, but in this book, she was commanding whole spaces with her perseverance alone and it felt like no one could get in her way; it was like if grace wanted something, she'd get it done! legendary behaviour.

side characters were fantastic, as well; we had miles and tristan supporting grace and leading whole revolutions with her, and they felt very much as fleshed out as they did in the first book. the love interest avia, who was also in the first book, was quipey and sharp-witted and so fucking smart, she matched grace perfectly. robin, prince severin (? i think is how you spell his name lol), and others apart of the story felt well-developed for their roles- and robin's going to head the final book, so i'm super excited!

plot
in this one, it's very much following the direct aftermath of the first book, with trying to right the wrongs of government officials and years and years of oppression of witches not recognized by those same government officials. i really enjoyed reading from grace's perspective in this instance, because she is apart of this government that is incredibly oppressive and harmful for those they don't think deserve power, and she is the daughter of someone involved directly. her grappling with all of that and her desire to fix things, trying to get allies in these spaces, and working through her own past mistakes was so fantastic and introspective to read about.

conclusion
all in all, i feel like people need tog et on this series, especially if you love political intrigue, interesting magic systems based around nature and aspects of nature, as well as great characters and wonderful romances! (also loads of queer characters as well hehe). i need the third book, like, yesterday pls

trigger warnings for
trauma, imprisonment, torture (off-page), past abusive relationship, aftermath of war, PTSD

AHHH IM INCOHERENT RIGHT NOW BC THAT WAS A ROLLERCOASTER OF A LAST THIRD
RE-READ 02/21/2021 - no one can stop me rip
(triggers at the end)
12/10/2020 holy shit better review to come maybe if i ever gather my thoughts but ... this is what ive been needing, i just know it in my bones. so close to the end and i have a new favourite to add to the list! i love it here!

bye while i go rewatch some merlin

REREAD 02/21/2021 - AND IT ONLY GOT BETTER! how did i read this the exact same way i did before but still find new ways to enjoy it and feel fulfilled by this story? there is just so much amazingness within these pages and i still don't think i'm ready to write a whole review about it just yet lol

for now, just know i love these characters, this plot, this storyline, the tough topics spoken about, everything about it is just spectacular in every way, shape, and form.

i've finished merlin since the last time i read this book, but now i shall go and rewatch it once again farewell

trigger warning for
death of a parent, grief, violence, past and present traumatic events, death (on-page), gore

*4.25 stars
(content warnings at the end)

i'm sure we're over the "this should be essential reading" phrase on this site, but this is something people should really go out of their way to read.

self-disclosure, i'm from toronto, which is where the majority of desmond's anecdotes are based in, so the cases and situations he recalls are ones i remember vividly. the years of 2015-2017 were some of the more tense times in toronto surrounding blm and police brutality, i remember the coverage being incredibly lacking for the incidents mentioned- and the ones not mentioned as well; there were so many points in which the populace of toronto who were BIPOC and subsequently, were attacked by members of the police who are meant to "serve and protect"

i also really, really enjoyed how desmond cole makes sure to mention many different marginalized communities, like black muslims, indigenous people, and immigrants. there are also whole chapters on black LGBTQ+ people, and it really showed that intersectionality is a large part of our lives and should be a focus in the movements. when you say black lives matter, include black immigrants. black muslims, black queer people, black trans people.

in a world where performative activism is seen as scraps that we should accept instead of seeing them for what they are: scraps. in black history month, i'm not really seeing anyone keep to their words. "focus on black books, educate yourselves, read black authors" where's the same energy when it actually comes to it? there's a good emphasis on traction for the blm movement in certain times, but in others, there isn't much to it in the public spheres. if we want to start somewhere, keep your word @ white allies.

anyway, this was a really good book, i can see the merit within the pages, and i feel like it'd be very beneficial for people to read. so yes, READ THIS BOOK! actually read black authors! jfc

content warnings for
police brutality, racism (systemic, intentional)

i don't know how to rate non-fictions really, but i truly found myself within these pages- so 5 stars
(content warnings at the end)

this book was a memoir of patrisse khan-cullors' life, but it also felt like the origin story for the black lives matter movement. for she was an original founder and organizer for the movement, it felt like we were getting the backstory of the movement's organizational beginnings, but also what it was before the naming and opening.

this story, her story, covers so many different aspects of her life; from her home life, her relationships with her family members, especially with her brother and her father, and her adulthood with starting this movement due to the happenings around her. i really felt for her, for all the situations happening to her, and how i could relate so deeply as situations similar to hers have happened to me and my loved ones.

many topics were covered here: the poor treatment of those with mental health issues, especially black folk, the school to prison pipeline, the overwhelming population of black and brown people incarcerated in the states, the war on drugs, the 3 strike rule- so much covered with autobiographical anecdotes for those to understand how it truly feels to witness this and live through what black and brown folks have to live through day to day.

people should read this book in junction with [b:The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power|50870424|The Skin We're In A Year of Black Resistance and Power|Desmond Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570443003l/50870424._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71391500] and [b:The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness|6792458|The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness|Michelle Alexander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328751532l/6792458._SX50_.jpg|6996712] , get that rounded reading experience with both american and canadian perspectives. to understand why prisons are simply a new form of slavery and indentured servitude, how the representation of black, indigenous, and other people of colour within the prison population is incredibly high for how little of the population we make up usually.

content warnings for
police brutality, racism (systemic, intentional), PTSD. poor treatment of those with mental health issues, homophobia, misogynoir

*4.5 stars but i'll happily round that up!
(trigger warnings at the end)

longer review is to come later but i just needed to finish this story immediately, even if i'm snug in bed and maybe highly emo about how everything made me feel oof

idk how to do the bold thing on mobile so:

triggers warnings for
death of an animal, abuse, forced sterilization, trauma, grief

*4.5 stars, that .5 is for kitay
(trigger warnings at the end)

where do i start? what do i say? am i meant to have coherent thoughts at this moment?? im so damn confused, with how i feel, how i'm interpreting parts of the story, what i think about certain characters. i don't know if i could ever properly voice or express what this type of experience was like.

experience and triggers overview
i read the audiobook, so hearing what was going on felt like a fever dream of sorts- there were points where my mouth was just agape at hearing the atrocities that were occuring, and the whole time in my mind, i had to remember: this is accurate to history. perhaps without the magical flames and water beings and calling on gods, but the violence and genocide written within these pages have happened before. it was downright sickening to read, and the majority of the triggers i listed down below are made up from chapters 21, 23, and 25. those were particularly distressing and i HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading the triggers before going into this book because you'll think you're prepared, but you might not be and i do not want anyone's mental health increasingly hurt by this story.

characters
the characters were so dimensional within these pages, they were so real. so tangible, it was like i was sat in there and listening to them strategize as well as hurt. the pain these characters go through is expertly portrayed with care. it was shocking, yes, but i do not think any characters were tortured for shock value, no, their trauma was a stab to the heart and it trickled into aspects following them.

rin is our main character and she is probably one of the most complex main characters i've ever read about. she had me going through hoops trying to figure out how i felt about her; her need for power was so visceral, i was terrified and concerned all at the same time. it was like i was her parent, concerned for the choices she made throughout the story, and you have to remember, she's only 19. that's an adult, but she was also hardly exposed to the happenings of the world for a majority of her life. the relationships she builds within this book are some of her first major connections to people, and i adored it!

other characters i incredibly enjoyed were kitay, venka, and and nezha. i feel there is so much potential withint hese 3, and yes, i'm biased, i ADORE kitay. he is a light against rin's growing darkness, and he is unafraid to set her in her standards when she makes mistakes. venka and nezha, imma need more from them, because the things these two could do... nezha could become a fave, and i'm already liking venka a whole lot.

notable characters who deserve more are the cike clan! AYO GIMME MORE OF THEM! badass assassins who are all quite morally gray and concerned with very little besides themselves and their orders... i'm looking at qara and chaghan very respectfully. i do not beg, but i will ask 84 times for more of qara and chaghan THANKS. also is it just me, or do both of them gimme.. yknow... [limp hand] energy? i'm not the only one, right?

plot
now, i'm not expert in plots- i read books usually for characters, but the way this book is paced.. i'm salivating. there's no way you wouldn't expect me to salivate at the beauty displayed in this pacing, sis. the first half, PERFECTION. this is some of the best pacing ever, i was intrigued, laughing, crying, on the edge of my seat. i couldn't stop listening.

then the second half came and smacked me in the face. i think that's why i couldn't give it the full 5 stars, there were parts within the second half that went by way too quickly for my liking. some things i needed more time to digest. oh, especially the ending! ma'am, lemme soak in it for a hot second, please.

conclusion
in conclusion, i'm an actual wreck. how you do that to me, miss kuang. i read this book so fast, now i gotta wait until i get my hands on the dragon republic. but what's stopping me from rereading this book already, hm?

*4.5 stars (triggers at the end)

this book was rather slow and a lot of inner monologue, but it felt like a true character-driven story, and i love characters over plot so it worked well in my favour. i have a feeling the story will get much better through the books and the journey fitz goes through :( that's my boy, for real, imma get you outta there, baby!

following fitz from when he's about 6 to where we end off in the book gave such a well-rounded development arc that i know isn't close to being finished, but was it fantastic already.

trigger warnings for
violence (explicit), torture, murder (attempted and completed), misogyny, abuse (physical, mental, emotional), neglect, death of an animal, intense bodily injury, suicidal ideation