The writing is this is so beautiful. Seriously, it moved me. I didn't expect much from this little novella, but I kept hearing about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Wow. I'm so glad. It was magnificent and I am now planning to read the rest of the trilogy later this year.

Nghi Vo is an incredible storyteller. The prose is wonderful and the characters are incredibly rich for a story that is less than 100 pages long. The mythos is amazing, reminiscent of an Imperial era China, and the commentary on the patriarchy is inspiring. I love the strength and cunning of Empress In-Yo and I was pleasantly surprised by the trajectory of the narrative.

Highly recommend for anyone loving fantasies with a magical/mythological feel. Short and sweet, but packs a magnificent punch.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I do love me a weird book and this totally fit the bill. I also love books about books, so...bonus! This is a total genre bender and I loved it. A bit historical fiction, a bit mythology, a bit fantasy, a bit thriller, and all of it a lot of fun.

The writing is super ambitious, as is the premise, and I thought it was executed wonderfully. Do not expect this to be a fluff read, as it does require attention and inquisition along the way. The reader does need to be an active participant to glean the full intent.

I read it in the Baroness Sequence, but do want to read it again in the original order. The story is very complex and there are a LOT of characters to keep track of, but the story is still very well-written and intriguing. It feels like a book where pieces are continually found in rereads. I'm still left with a bit of a swimming head and will need at least one reread to feel like I grasp the situation enough.

There is a lot of time jumping and switching of POVs by reading in the Baroness sequence, so those who prefer one POV at a time and a more linear style of story will do better to read it as written. I can see the potential of it being slightly less enjoyable in this way, but not detrimentally so if you keep in mind that the stories are meant to connect. I am glad that I read it in the order I did as I think it helped me weave the story together a bit more solidly.

I loved the weaving of different cultures, historical events, and people. It is such a clever book with atmospheric writing that does not feel overly flowery or inaccessible. It is a monumental work spanning several decades and lifetimes. There is so much at work here that I cannot help but be truly impressed with the intelligence and creativity it must have taken to create. This will be a book that I will be putting on my own bookshelf to enjoy again in the future and I will be looking forward to more of Landragin's work.

I loved this book! I had read Harrow's novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January prior and gave it 5 stars, but I liked this one even more.

I found the premise (and the fact that I enjoyed said previous novel) intriguing enough to put this on my TBR, but SERIOUSLY underestimated where it could go. The Once and Future Witches goes far beyond your typical "witchy" novel. It is an incredibly well-written and magical story that takes history, fairytale, and children's rhymes and tosses them together with liberal alteration to create something ridiculously creative and gripping.

The characters and atmosphere were both amazing. Typically a book is either character-driven or plot-driven. This was very easily both. The characters were brilliant. Distinct personalities, well-demonstrated flaws, and individualized motivations were present for all three protagonists in even balance. Even the supporting characters had dynamic development and followed full character arcs. Brilliant.

The world-building was intricate and just kept wowing me. The usage of "believable" magic was fantastic, with the use of simple "spells" from childhood rhymes and the need for basic items and herbs. This was incredibly well thought out and entertaining. There are little historical nods and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the narrative in a way that makes it immensely fun to read.

The pacing is great throughout the story. Despite the fact that it is a lengthy read, not a bit of the plot felt wasted. There is a constant build of tension created in a way that took advantage of the surroundings, made things feel dark and foreboding, and took use of historical and fantastical license well. Every page and chapter served a purpose and added to the story, either through plot movement or vibrant background information that occasionally left me giddy.

This book was beautiful and amazing. The only (fairly minor) flaw for me was the inclusion of an epilogue, which I felt took a little fire and power out of the ending. Still...hard 5 stars. I will definitely read this one again and will be putting a copy in my permanent collection.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

A fun cover and a great premise drew me to add The Midnight Library to my TBR. It was a good, no GREAT choice. I had a wonderful time reading this one and didn't want to put it down. It moves quite nicely at a medium pace and has great emotional content. There are moments of high tension, but it is mostly a ride that pulls at the heartstrings and made me contemplate pieces of my own life.

Haig's writing is beautiful, but accessible. It feels comfortable while still creating a vibrant atmosphere and shaping Nora's character in a masterful way. I could have used a bit more development in the supporting characters, but they were not completely flat and did add some value to the story.

The exploration of lives and the use of Nora's librarian friend, Mrs. Elm as a guide were executed very well. I savored the progress of this book and just found myself sinking in to the narrative.

The ending was somewhat, though not completely, predictable. It was a good, solid close to the story, but not quite as powerful as I would have liked. Still, the journey itself was magical and impactful and I very much enjoyed my reading experience. This is a book that will find itself a permanent place in my collection.

I thought this would be a fun read, something a little different from my normal tastes, but instead it totally caught me off guard and sucked me right in. This feisty little pirate adventure story is one of the most fun things I've read this year.

The writing is great and I need to read more of Adrienne Young's work. It is a perfect mix of lyrical and to the point and there is such a great weaving of atmosphere. The setting is a perfect world of pirates, misfits, darkness, and deception. There's something of a Pirates of the Caribbean feel, but then again...I may feel that way because it's my only real exposure to another pirate tale. I DID NOT see myself loving a pirate story, but here we are.

Fable herself is a strong female protagonist with skills, guts, and a desperate longing for a family. She is fantastic and I rooted hard for her. The other characters are somewhat thin, but this is the first book in a series and they did gain some additional depth toward the end of the novel. As it is, they are a colorful bunch and I loved the dynamics.

I SO enjoyed this book. The pace was perfect and I didn't want to put it down for the majority of my read. The ending is killing me and I need the sequel YESTERDAY.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

"An AK-47 in a white hand has more rights than a Black kid with Skittles."

Amazing! This was one of my favorite reads of 2020 and it hit hard. Reminiscent of The Hate U Give, this read was intensely powerful and hard-hitting. I'm having a hard time gathering up all of my thoughts because this was so impactful. There is so much here to consider and unpack.

This is My America so honestly and unflinchingly delivered thoughts on and examples of systemic racism that explored areas I hadn't even considered. It is an incredibly emotional read and really lays bare all of the ways that our communities, our police systems, our educational systems are biased and unnecessarily more critical of and harsh on those of color. I was absolutely dumbfounded by this book and couldn't read it fast enough. Johnson's writing is beautiful and fully accessible, feeling both comfortable and unsettling at the same time. It made me really explore my own predispositions and recognize the bigger picture. It left me still somewhat reeling and breathless.

Tracy is a wonderful character and the choice to deliver the story from her point of view was brilliant. I love exploring this subject through the eyes of someone who is still developing, still deciding who they should be and how they should approach the world. Tracy is strong, resourceful, and determined. She definitely has things to learn and her age does add some vulnerability. These things serve only to make her a more realistic and sympathetic character. I loved that she had so much education behind her and was used to demonstrate that Black individuals are often having to learn and consider things in their daily lives that go beyond the pale. No one should have to fear for their lives just because they wear a hoodie or walk with their hands in their pockets in a neighborhood that isn't their own.

This is an incredibly important read that needs to be put in the hands of every person. My heart and gut just ached through the majority of this story. It was one of those things where you know this kind of stuff is out there, but it's just so easy to go on with your own life and forget that others have to deal with this kind of disrespect simply because of the color of their skin.


* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I continue to adore Kristoff's writing style. I find it engaging and humorous and it just seems to fit the world-building really well. There is a LOT of movement and action in this book and it didn't really fall into the sequel trap that so often turns middle books in a trilogy into info dumps. This book had a lot going for it.

There is a lot more introduction to the surrounding world in this installment and I enjoyed the nods to the "historical" relevance of these places. The action sequences are really well-written and the description makes it easy to fully visualize the scenes in my head. It's all quite vibrant. And, though things feel like they're moving really fast, I didn't get left behind at all.

I'm really enjoying the character development and saw great value in some of the added characters. I love being able to be inside their heads a little bit and watch the changes that are happening based on their different experiences.

The book ended on a pretty good cliffhanger, so I'm excited to see where it goes now.

Wonderful! Beautiful writing, great cultural context, gripping story & excellent protagonist. And all of this in a debut! Can't wait to read what Darcie Little Badger puts out next.

* Full review to come. *

Meg Elison really shows that she has range with the release of Find Layla. This YA contemporary is hard-hitting and impressive. It is raw and heartbreaking, incredibly impactful, and gripping.

The writing blew me away. It's SO well done. The teenage perspective is very well handled and it truly feels like Layla leading the story rather than an adult writer. I sunk right into the pages and it felt like reading a diary. The detail to the senses is both impressive and assaulting. The detail to the squalor of Layla's living conditions was amazing, but so horribly evocative. I got seriously nauseated just imagining it.

Layla is a very well constructed character. She felt real. She is a strong, yet very sympathetic character. She is incredibly resilient and does not give up, despite the ridiculous obstacles she face.

The depictions of Layla's mother were interesting. The story is told by Layla, so the only views we have of the mother are what Layla sees, understands, and wishes to share. This limited narration is super powerful in its own way, drawing the reader even more completely into Layla's frame of view.

Find Layla is a short, but amazing novel. It is a great read for the upper middle grade and YA reading set, exploring the effects of bullying and the ways that circumstances and challenges are often hidden and/or misunderstood by those outside the situation. The book also is terribly relevant for adults, exploring the failures of CPS systems and the ability to allow all children to have a quality of life and a chance to succeed.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *