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603 reviews by:
dame_samara
Did you love Spirited Away? Did you also desperately need Chihiro and Haku to be reunited at the end of the Movie?
Well then this book is the book for you!
Mina is so incredibly tenacious while also being so incredibly caring towards those around her. I loved her so much.
Shin and his friends have a really interesting dynamic, in how they treat and respect each other but also how they respect Mina and her choices. *chefs kiss*
Then there are Mask, Dai and Miki whose storyline brought me to tears.
This book also has some really gorgeous scenery descriptions, that do honestly feel like they could be something out of a Miyazaki Movie.
TLDR I will be shoving this book down everyone's throat for the foreseeable future, and is likely one of my favorite books ever.
Well then this book is the book for you!
Mina is so incredibly tenacious while also being so incredibly caring towards those around her. I loved her so much.
Shin and his friends have a really interesting dynamic, in how they treat and respect each other but also how they respect Mina and her choices. *chefs kiss*
Then there are Mask, Dai and Miki whose storyline brought me to tears.
This book also has some really gorgeous scenery descriptions, that do honestly feel like they could be something out of a Miyazaki Movie.
TLDR I will be shoving this book down everyone's throat for the foreseeable future, and is likely one of my favorite books ever.
I read this in one sitting, finishing it at 5:30am, because I became quickly invested in this book. Way faster then I had any right too.
I found Psyche and Eros to be an incredibly adorable couple. But most specifically the way Eros is so enraged by how people talk about Psyche and is incredibly protective of her. Also the progression of Eros referring to Psyche as his wife.
Overall this book was super sweet, with a handful of spice.
I found Psyche and Eros to be an incredibly adorable couple. But most specifically the way Eros is so enraged by how people talk about Psyche and is incredibly protective of her. Also the progression of Eros referring to Psyche as his wife.
Overall this book was super sweet, with a handful of spice.
CW: Assault, Blood, Child Death/Death, Drugs, Gore, Gun Violence, Human/Medical Experimentation, Hospitalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Needles, Poison, Torture, Minor Transphobia, Violence, And War.
It would be wrong to say "It's Gay and It Slaps" but this book does squarely sit in the Queer Rep, category. With Celia taking a much more prominent role in this book alongside her sister Rosalind, who we find out sits somewhere in the ace spectrum.
This book was honestly a blast from beginning to end for me, I enjoyed the switch in Point of Views between Rosalind, Orion, Celia, and Oliver. Though later we drop off more to just Rosalind and Orion's POV.
I was a sucker for the Married for The Mission plotline, paired with Rosalind trying to do Spy work when normally her normal area is strictly assassinations. Also Orion and and Rosalind's banter is top notch the entire time, and also adorable especially the way Orion's terms of endearment shift towards Rosalind as they grow closer.
Other fun things you can find: Stereotypical Sexualized Gun Vehicle Fight Movie Scenes
The twists that are pulled out or the woodwork at the end of this book. Had me honestly so excited, because I'm normally the type of person who puts pieces together before the big reveal but I was genuinely shocked, I had to pause and get up from my desk at work to process what just happened after the first reveal because it was so shocking.
Then our second reveal, I do feel like I have to reread this book with that knowledge to see if I can find any clues in the text that would have clued me into them as our BBEG.
The third reveal ended up being the only one that I was even semi close on and even then I had uncertainty on who that individual was, especially after the first reveal. But looking back all the close Gong gives since in alluding to them.
TLDR: This Book was great, I love this series, someone come read it with me so I can gush about it.
It would be wrong to say "It's Gay and It Slaps" but this book does squarely sit in the Queer Rep, category. With Celia taking a much more prominent role in this book alongside her sister Rosalind, who we find out sits somewhere in the ace spectrum.
This book was honestly a blast from beginning to end for me, I enjoyed the switch in Point of Views between Rosalind, Orion, Celia, and Oliver. Though later we drop off more to just Rosalind and Orion's POV.
I was a sucker for the Married for The Mission plotline, paired with Rosalind trying to do Spy work when normally her normal area is strictly assassinations. Also Orion and and Rosalind's banter is top notch the entire time, and also adorable especially the way Orion's terms of endearment shift towards Rosalind as they grow closer.
Other fun things you can find: Stereotypical Sexualized Gun Vehicle Fight Movie Scenes
The twists that are pulled out or the woodwork at the end of this book. Had me honestly so excited, because I'm normally the type of person who puts pieces together before the big reveal but I was genuinely shocked, I had to pause and get up from my desk at work to process what just happened after the first reveal because it was so shocking.
Then our second reveal, I do feel like I have to reread this book with that knowledge to see if I can find any clues in the text that would have clued me into them as our BBEG.
The third reveal ended up being the only one that I was even semi close on and even then I had uncertainty on who that individual was, especially after the first reveal. But looking back all the close Gong gives since in alluding to them.
TLDR: This Book was great, I love this series, someone come read it with me so I can gush about it.
So I will be honest, I didn't read the description of this book before I checked it out from the library, I had just previously seen it as book 3.5 in the Secret Shanghai series and was like add it to the stack. I don't need to know anything else, I will start it after Foul Lady Fortune and that is what I did.
So when I started the audiobook, I was diving in head first and did not look back at any point. So both parts were very much a surprise to me. When I found out the second half of this book was about Benedikt and Marshall... I may have made a sound that spooked the Cats that inhabit my home. I also can't say I regret the decision of going in blind either. It meant this brought me so much more joy then it otherwise would have.
Like I loved Foul Lady Fortune, but I of course missed Roma and Juliette, as well as Benedikt and Marshall. SO getting to take a step back from Shanghai and getting to see Roma and Juliette living their cute little domestic lives together in the quiet countryside, making their living RUNNING AN UNDERGROUND WEAPONS RING. Waking up together, finding out about their failed domestic projects, saving a young woman from being hunted down and possibly murdered, their relationships with the people in Zhouzhuang it was all super cute.
In follow up, it was also interesting to see how Juliette came to terms with getting back involved in the affairs of "the city" and reaching out to her family.
Benedikt and Marshall, out here trying to warm my cold queer heart. Thinking the need to have their "Murder on the Orient Express" C plotline and making me enjoy it, a ton and while the reveal wasn't as good as the ones in Foul Lady Fortune I did enjoy it a lot.
TLDR: It's (half) Gay and It Slaps! (It's Bi? lol) Also it did a really good job at trying to cure my cold depressed heart and I appreciate the attempt.
So when I started the audiobook, I was diving in head first and did not look back at any point. So both parts were very much a surprise to me. When I found out the second half of this book was about Benedikt and Marshall... I may have made a sound that spooked the Cats that inhabit my home. I also can't say I regret the decision of going in blind either. It meant this brought me so much more joy then it otherwise would have.
Like I loved Foul Lady Fortune, but I of course missed Roma and Juliette, as well as Benedikt and Marshall. SO getting to take a step back from Shanghai and getting to see Roma and Juliette living their cute little domestic lives together in the quiet countryside, making their living RUNNING AN UNDERGROUND WEAPONS RING. Waking up together, finding out about their failed domestic projects, saving a young woman from being hunted down and possibly murdered, their relationships with the people in Zhouzhuang it was all super cute.
In follow up, it was also interesting to see how Juliette came to terms with getting back involved in the affairs of "the city" and reaching out to her family.
Benedikt and Marshall, out here trying to warm my cold queer heart. Thinking the need to have their "Murder on the Orient Express" C plotline and making me enjoy it, a ton and while the reveal wasn't as good as the ones in Foul Lady Fortune I did enjoy it a lot.
TLDR: It's (half) Gay and It Slaps! (It's Bi? lol) Also it did a really good job at trying to cure my cold depressed heart and I appreciate the attempt.
A TikTok book that actually meets the hype set for it.
It's beautiful and chaotic and wonderful. I found myself going back a re-listening to chapters like one would go back and read letters from a beloved.
I also at other times felt compelled to pick up the book physically and consume it that way to see those words in front of me.
When I got to the end of this book I realized that I had listened to it at normal speed, which is incredibly abnormal for me as someone who typically listens to something at 1.3-2.0x speed because my brain processes it better. But this book kept me so engaged without needing to do so.
Also this book definitely scratched the itch I have for well written Soulmates in fiction.
It's beautiful and chaotic and wonderful. I found myself going back a re-listening to chapters like one would go back and read letters from a beloved.
I also at other times felt compelled to pick up the book physically and consume it that way to see those words in front of me.
When I got to the end of this book I realized that I had listened to it at normal speed, which is incredibly abnormal for me as someone who typically listens to something at 1.3-2.0x speed because my brain processes it better. But this book kept me so engaged without needing to do so.
Also this book definitely scratched the itch I have for well written Soulmates in fiction.
2.5 ⭐
So Slow, So Hard to follow... But honestly I think it is just further proof that Schwab isn't an author who's writing style I vibe with.
But I do think that this story is a that a much younger Sam would have resonated with a lot more with.
While I typically find myself also drawn into stories where people find places they belong this one just didn't scratch that itch.
It was a very unique audiobook experience though.
So Slow, So Hard to follow... But honestly I think it is just further proof that Schwab isn't an author who's writing style I vibe with.
But I do think that this story is a that a much younger Sam would have resonated with a lot more with.
While I typically find myself also drawn into stories where people find places they belong this one just didn't scratch that itch.
It was a very unique audiobook experience though.
This book is a lot, like a lot a lot, a cast of 15 others outside of Gideon and Harrow is a lot to juggle, especially as they traipse across the entirety of Canaan House.
Is it a reference? Yes it's a reference. Meme, Historical, Mythical, Fictional, it's there.
While there are a lot of references, understanding them aren't obligatory to enjoying the book, they are like a tasty little treat along with your meal.
Muir is out here being an author after my own heart, putting an insane amount of symbolism in her characters name's.
The banter between Gideon and Harrow, was fantastic, it had me laughing more then once.
I also felt a personal connection to Gideon going to say something semi-reasonable, only for what comes out to sound like it comes out left field.
-1 ⭐ for the feeling that the ending fell into the Kill the Gays / Fridging the "Love Interest" tropes
Is it a reference? Yes it's a reference. Meme, Historical, Mythical, Fictional, it's there.
While there are a lot of references, understanding them aren't obligatory to enjoying the book, they are like a tasty little treat along with your meal.
Muir is out here being an author after my own heart, putting an insane amount of symbolism in her characters name's.
The banter between Gideon and Harrow, was fantastic, it had me laughing more then once.
I also felt a personal connection to Gideon going to say something semi-reasonable, only for what comes out to sound like it comes out left field.
Spoiler
-1 ⭐ for the feeling that the ending fell into the Kill the Gays / Fridging the "Love Interest" tropes
Weird. May cause you to bleed from the ears. You will want to invest in a "murder board" with red string.
It is incredibly interesting and will keep you wanting more as you try to unravel everything set in front of you.
I wouldn't recommend listening to the audiobook version though, as the way the book reads sometimes does not lend itself well to the adaptation.
It is incredibly interesting and will keep you wanting more as you try to unravel everything set in front of you.
I wouldn't recommend listening to the audiobook version though, as the way the book reads sometimes does not lend itself well to the adaptation.
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Content Warning: Alcohol, Blood, Bones, Death, Gore, (Gun) Violence, Hostages, Torture, Murder, Profanity, Self-Harm, War
Updated Review:
I apparently did not actually retain the beginning or end of this book in my long term memory, just the premise and the middle bits. Because I had written a completely different meeting at the beginning, followed by completely yeeting that ending into the abyss
I adore the dynamic and banter between Eris and Sona. I previously classified this as enemies to lovers. The beginning roles fall more certainly within Unexpected Allies.
Consider this book if you also enjoy Todoroki/Bakugou (My Hero Academia) fan fiction, because the dynamic is incredibly similar to how they are depicted in fanon.
Original Review from August 2021:
I have never found interest in Mecha as an anime genre. But boy, does it hit different as a written work.
I had a hell of a time putting this book down. Both because it was jarring to leave the world Zoe Hana Mikuta has built, but also because you're constantly on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There are no stops on this train, and you must be ready for the long haul.
It's GAY! and it slaps! Literally, since it is Enemies to Lovers.
Updated Review:
I apparently did not actually retain the beginning or end of this book in my long term memory, just the premise and the middle bits. Because I had written a completely different meeting at the beginning, followed by completely yeeting that ending into the abyss
Spoiler
Like up until the end I was 100% certain I remembered them getting out of the city.I adore the dynamic and banter between Eris and Sona. I previously classified this as enemies to lovers. The beginning roles fall more certainly within Unexpected Allies.
Consider this book if you also enjoy Todoroki/Bakugou (My Hero Academia) fan fiction, because the dynamic is incredibly similar to how they are depicted in fanon.
Original Review from August 2021:
I have never found interest in Mecha as an anime genre. But boy, does it hit different as a written work.
I had a hell of a time putting this book down. Both because it was jarring to leave the world Zoe Hana Mikuta has built, but also because you're constantly on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There are no stops on this train, and you must be ready for the long haul.
It's GAY! and it slaps! Literally, since it is Enemies to Lovers.
