heartbrekker's Reviews (797)

I missed the Arc of a Scythe series desperately, so it was a wonderful surprise to not only find this short story collection coming out but also be accepted to review an early eARC. Neal Shusterman is just as captivating and witty with this world. The level of detail and thought put into this world beyond the trilogy baffles me. He's created such a realistic and vibrant world that it can thrive off of the characters and atmosphere alone. I am worried about accidentally spoiling fans, so I'm choosing to leave my rankings below with the titled story. On release day, I'm planning to update my review with descriptions and analysis. I just don't want to do that now, especially because the eARC was protected.

1. The First Swing (technically a poem) ★★★★/★★★★★
2. Formidable ★★★★★/★★★★★
3. Never Work With Animals ★★★/★★★★★
4. A Death of Many Colors ★★★.75/★★★★★
5. Unsavory Row ★★★★/★★★★★
6. A Martian Minute ★★★★★/★★★★★
7. The Mortal Canvas ★★★★★/★★★★★
8. Cirri ★★★★.5/★★★★★
9. Anastasia’s Shadow ★★★.5/★★★★★
10. The Persistence of Memory ★★★★/★★★★★
11. Meet Cute and Die ★★★.25/★★★★★
12. Perchance to Glean ★★★/★★★★★
13. A Dark Curtain Rises ★★★★.75/★★★★★

By far my favorite overall was A Martian Minute, and y'all will understand why. The three five star short stories just hit my heart in a way that I still can't seem to not think about. They left me with some deep thoughts after finishing, and I had to lay back and digest them. What I loved the most about these stories is that they're an even mix of answers for many questions left unanswered in The Toll and fun, innovative takes on Gleaning. This world didn't start with Faraday or Citra—definitely not Goddard—and I love that Neal allows us to grow with other scythes and people. It made me really happy to explore the larger expanse of this world, beyond the planes of earth or not.

9/20: Thirteen wonderful stories that made me wish I could have an eternity longer with this world—these characters!!

You’ll get some answers that were left unsaid in The Toll, but also, you’ll be left with even more questions. Great right?! Lol.

"What we know is that we don't know anything."

I had some complicated feelings coming out of this book, and while it is still phenomenally hysterical and genius, it's my least favorite of the series so far. That being said—I still gave this a 4/5 star review, so I'm being a bit melodramatic like Nona herself in describing my overhyped feelings.

"Come on, love. Guys as careful as me don't have accidents."

Hands down, Nona is the best part of this book. She has a child-like wonder with the world even amidst the chaos of impending zombies and rebellion drama. She is unlike ANY character that we’ve met before—a breath of fresh air honestly—and you’ll be questioning her and the entire cast for essentially 3/4 of the book. Whose side is anyone actually on? Who is Nona really? And most importantly—where the f**k are Harrow and Gideon?! As always, readers have to read between the lines to comprehend any of The Locked Tomb books. Although, I do think Nona is slightly easier than Harrow when it comes to comprehension. You’ll still be scratching your head and theorizing to the ends of the universe about this installment, so no worries there!

"Poor Ninth... imagine the hopes and fears of the whole universe contained in one dead little red star."

Probably the best part of this novel besides Nona is the level of history and backstory Tamsyn unfurls; it’s not completed by ANY means, but we’re starting to really understand what brought the world to this point. John takes a major role in this story through the Interludes that are sprinkled like breadcrumbs across the board. They were great glimpses into his psyche and past that only Nona herself could bring out into the open. Now this isn't a backstory point to the book, but Nona and entourage even live on a planet/ within a city that we’ve not interacted with before. The first two books center hard on the special individuals from every House or the Lyctor headquarters, so I loved getting to see a larger, regular setting. Basically, we get to see the civilians of this universe and Y'ALL I'm going to pray for their asses every night. This world is not kind to them at all! So, again, I loved the world expansion and history.

"Long time no drown. You're the one who bragged about spading my mum."

Moreover, Nona contains a plethora of surprises. A few times I had to shut the book and look around my space as if to say “did I read that right?” and “NOPE.” At one point, I even had to reread a dialogue sentence multiple times because I couldn't be reading this right; I just couldn't. The third reread of the sentence I almost threw my book against the wall too. Essentially, a lot has changed in this world with only a bit of time between books two and three, so you’ll be quite... aghast by each reveal.
"I'm Princess Kiriona Gaia the First, Her Divine Highness, First Lieutenant of the Cohort, Emperor's Life Guards, non-auxiliary—honorary title but who cares—heir to the Emperor Divine, first of the Tower Princess. And I'm mega dead."

In terms of my comment at the start of this review, Harrow the Ninth is still my favorite of the series (need to reread Gideon to be sure), and a big part of that involved me having issues with Nona the Ninth’s flow and pacing. Even when nothing action packed is going on, Harrow and Gideon’s plots felt fast paced and intense because every conversation meant a step closer to learning a new truth/ reality, very high stakes, but with Nona they’re a few points where the story slows to a lull. That’s not to say Nona’s conversations weren’t important to moving the story along, but the shift from Harrow to Nona is quite jarring in terms of pacing. I marathoned these books over the summer, so it's a unique situation to read them back to back.

"There's no skeleton like a home skeleton."

Overall, The Locked Tomb fans are going to eat this sequel up! It’s a great bridge to Alecto the Ninth, and I’m so upset that the wait begins for the finale. I just know it’s gonna be a heart wrencher!

"Get in line, thou big slut."

Thank you to Tordotcom for the finished copy. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

9/13: What the absolute f**k did I just read. Can I have Alecto the Ninth now please?!

If Mary Shelley and Jane Austen had a sapphic book baby, it would be this gothic beauty.

"We are all alike in the fact that our great life's work is deciding who and what we are willing to bleed for."

I have never read an Alexis Henderson novel before, but it fit my wildest, gothic dreams. House of Hunger is not marketed as a vampire book— simply because its not—but there is significant blood consumption and bloodletting. It is sensual, lustful, and absolutely ravenous. Cue the flicking tongues and never-ending hunger.

"Death, memory, grief, none of it belongs to any one person. It's all a collective. A kind of living legion."

Marion Shaw, our defiant lead, is a bloody joy to follow. She's definitely not heroic by any means, far more morally ambiguous, but her ambition for a better life is downright magnetic. She's a lead that you'll want to follow into the deep underbelly of the story. House of Hunger actually begins with Marion at a crossroads debating whether to stay in her city as a maid or answer a call to becoming a bloodmaid, young girls sent to the Houses in the north and used for their tantalizing blood. Obviously, Marion answers the call and leaves blood in her wake as her journey begins. Upon arrival, she meets Countess Lisavet of the House of Hunger and immediately leaves a notable... impression.

"Hunger makes monsters of the kindest souls. And to be honest... I've never been particularly kind."

Thus, we are thrown into grueling bloodmaid politics, sapphic pining, and cartons of blood worth of betrayal. Overall, I loved Alexis's lyrical writing. It was gorgeous to picture her metaphors and imagery. She's also somehow able to write a 304 page book masterfully. A lot of authors may write a short book, but the pacing and flow fo the story is typically choppy. Not the case with this one. The writing style actually enhanced the quick moving plot and overall short book length. I can't wait to dive into The Year of the Witching to see more of Alexis's work.

"Sometimes I fear that whatever natural virtue I once possessed has been drained down to the dregs."

One of my favorite parts to this book was the fact that side characters, sometimes even minor, are given the proper characterization. Lisavet, our leading second lady, felt at times like the main character because of her level of detail. I'm really excited to see reactions to her character, in particular, once the book releases because she is sophisticated and sexy. But even then, she's a tragic character—in more than one way. Moreover, other characters like Mae, Irene, or even Cecilia will memorably enhance the story. While the plot is important to the story, the characters drive it far beyond its reaches by the end because of their willingness to... simply live and be more than fictional.

"Lovers lie entwined until night dies into morning. They spend their days together. They make promises to each other that they know they can't keep."

All in all, I urge any sapphic, gothic, vampy fan to pick House of Hunger up this October because it will satiate all of your spooky tastes. Yes, it releases technically in September, but it will send chills down your spine if you read it during the scariest month of the year.

"Sometimes I feel like I've been building you a House out of my own bones. And still, you look at me, with so much contempt and mistrust. You complain because there are gaps in the roof of my ribs, and you ask me to give more of myself to fill them. You want my hips to be the bowl you drink from. My shoulders, your bed. My arms, your walls. My legs, the very ground you stand on. You want your fill of my blood whenever you crave it."

Thank you to Ace Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die.”

On September 13, ALATLTG releases into the world, and I strongly urge all of you to pick it up immediately. It isn’t even out yet, and I’m certain it’ll be a classic for all the years and decades to come. Zoulfa created a poignant story about love and loss, violence and freedom, hope and strength.

"Empires have collapsed throughout history. They rise, they build, and they fall. Nothing lasts forever. Not even our pain."

Now Zoulfa is a genius when it comes to her raw prose and lyrical descriptions, which is even more impressive because this is her debut book! I can’t count the number of times I cried while reading, and the stark portrayal of grief, mental health, and—most importantly—hope is one of the most powerful that I have ever read. This entire book is simply a necessity for people to read. Her characters have to make some hard, upsetting decisions for their own survival, so it's going to be a tough book for readers to get through. Make sure you have a carton of tissues on standby. Don't be like me and think you can deal with your tears without a box.

"We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival... The world is not sweet or kind. The ones outside are waiting to eat us and pick their teeth with our bones."

The novel follows Salama Kassab, an eighteen year old pharmacist turned doctor, during the Syrian Revolution. She lives with her pregnant sister-in-law/ best friend Layla because that’s the only family she has left. To make matters worse, a physical manifestation of her fear embodies an imagined figure named Khawf. He haunts her relentlessly, especially as the violence and bombs worsen around their household and the hospital, so Salama must decide whether to leave Syria as Khawf demands or stay to continue helping patients and fellow Syrians. Then a chance meet with a fateful boy may throw everything into chaos..

"Time is the best medicine to turn our bleeding wounds to scars, and our bodies might forget the trauma, our eyes might learn to see colors as they should be seen, but that cure doesn't extend to our souls."

I’m not going to say anything more because I do think this book is best told by its own words. Again, I urge you all to grab it on release day and read it.

Thank you to NOVL for sending me an ARC to review. I feel very honored that I got to review this book before release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Adrienne Young's novels have always been a love-hate relationship for me. I've fallen quickly in love with her lyrical sentences, dynamic characters, and interesting synopses, but the endings always lack resolution and a satisfying end. Spells for Forgetting was my last ditch effort for Adrienne's work because it's her first step into adult, which requires a different writing style, especially within the techniques of storytelling. For basically 95% of this story, I believed wholeheartedly that Spells for Forgetting finally broke the trend when it comes to my relationships with Adrienne's books... And with only 2% left in the story... The climax ends abruptly, and we are thrown into a six years time jump that gives us zero answers or clues about what happens post-climax. I'm planning to write a full spoiler review probably after the publication date because I REALLY want to get into the details via this book.

But let's backtrack because I do want to talk about the elements I initially was in love with. Spells for Forgetting made me think of Stars Hollow meets We Were Liars with a splash of island magic. It was a wonderful blend of interesting plot elements, and I was DYING to read this. I've been drawn to contemporary fantasy for all of 2022, so it was no surprise to me that this book fit the bill perfectly.

Anyway, there's multiple POVs, but the two main ones are August Salt and Emery Blackwood. The two were high school sweethearts before the fateful night where their friend Lily was murdered and August's family orchard burned, leading the people of Saoirse to believe August as the prime subject. Spells for Forgetting starts with August returning to Saoirse after nearly a decade and a half away from the island (his mom and him vanished shortly after he was not charged), and he's returned to bury his mother's ashes and sell what's left of his family's orchard and belongings. With romantic tension, unsolved mysteries, and cunning citizens of Saoirse, the story has loads of details and side plots to unpack as well as the overarching one.

First up in terms of characters—August. He was my favorite part of this story because he is in such a unique position. He's been away from the island and the manipulative/ toxic tendencies embedded within the people who live there for over a decade. But he's also felt the island calling out to him. What is this and what does it mean—is a driving question for the book. His mother wanted to be buried back on Saoirse for a reason, so what power does this island hold over its inhabitants? Now in a separate vein, August hates his family history and connection to the orchard. He has a lot of bad memories connected to it, so his feelings in returning to the island are not only complicated because Emery, the love of his life, is there but also his twisted family memories too. Cue the cruel, horrific grandpa! Basically, August's honestly just along for the ride because he's done very little wrongs to Saoirse (that was know of hehe), yet everyone claims he's the biggest monster.

Switching to Emery, I wholly enjoyed her character because she's also been through a lot, but in a different lens since she decided to stay on Saoirse. I could never imagine losing a friend at such a young age, not to mention my boyfriend disappearing shortly after, and then being forced to move on with my life. Her mini detective skills were amateurish but endearing to watch unfold too. My one gripe is that Emery makes a lot of stupid decisions. She's not careful when it comes to her clues, and she trusts the absolute wrong people. Obviously, that's a main factor to the people of Saoirse and the plot, but I was not excited to see it happen. Adrienne really leans into character mistakes, which I typically love, but at a certain point you have to cool it or you risk your character looking dumb. Better yet make August look more dumb so its equally distributed haha and not just the woman lead.

In terms of the island Saoirse— I have way too many questions and issues. I touched on it a bit earlier with my question surrounding the island, but I thought the ending would give me plenty of closure about the particular details to the island's magic. At times it seems as if the island is sentient. It gives magic to certain individuals and can take it away. It knows and feels what is happening. Yet there is never a moment where this is truly addressed, and granted, not all stories need their magic systems to be addressed but the fact that Saoirse seems to surpass the normal parameters of an island makes me want more information. A main quote sprinkled throughout the entire book is "if you left the island, it would always call you back." Why is that? It's certainly not the people, so again, what specifically is calling August and his mother back? What is making their bodies feel drawn to this piece of rock floating on water? I thought the climax would address this, but it didn't.

Now I'm jumping into the deep end that is this ending. There is simply too many open ended questions and parts to this story during both the climax and epilogue. Honestly, the epilogue upset me even more than the climax because it doesn't even address the consequences of the final scene. What happened to the bad guys? The information? The island?! We are left dangling over a cliff, and instead of helping guide us down the rocky terrain, we're pushed off with no hope of a safe landing. It's essentially just the two surviving characters running and then nothing. I don't know if Adrienne is trying to purposefully leave the island and everything open to interpretation, but that decision was not good. ALSO—complete side note—Lily was done SO dirty. I can't really go into more detail at this point, but my mouth was gaping like a fish as I read her chapter. I'm all for complicated female friendships, but this one was just... Not good.

I think what hurts the most is that the set up and first 90% of Spells for Forgetting were absolutely phenomenal. I was so excited to unravel the secrets of Saoirse and its people, and for those secrets to be underwhelming and lacking detail just sent me off the rails. My disappointment hasn't been this strong in a long time. I'm leaving my ranking at a two because I want to acknowledge the lyrical writing and great start to my reading experience, but I cannot give this higher after what the ending did to me.

Thank you to Delacorte and NetGalley for the allowing me to review an eARC.

9/3/22: RTC but that ending has waaaay too many issues and open ended questions. We jump from the climactic scene to an epilogue 6+ years in the future? Is Saoirse (the island) sentient or not? And if it is—why is there never a clear scene depicting this revelation? I’m so confused. Make that make sense.

I’ve always had a mixed feelings relationship with Adrienne’s books, but this one takes the cake because I actually REALLY enjoyed it. It is her top novel in my book because of her dynamic plot, alluring setting/ tension, and even the complicated characters. You can see her growth as a writer, and I was hyped during like 95% of this book. BUT this ending made me mad, kinda enraged to be honest because I was enjoying it so much. I was glancing nonstop between my 98% completed and the text itself because where was the rest? There. Had. To. Be. More. And there wasn’t. I had no satisfaction with this ending, and it dropped this book from a ★ 3.75 or 4 to a ★ 3.25. Maybe that’s too harsh but I’m truly so upset with this ending, essentially dropping me off into the ocean without a life jacket and drowning with the lack of closure and answers.