howlinglibraries's Reviews (1.85k)

DNF @ 64%

There's nothing at all wrong with The Art of Losing — in fact, it has a lot going for it! — but I don't have a lot to say about it in this review. I mean, the characters are enjoyable, the writing is solid, and the author takes a long and honest look at a lot of really important themes that affect teens in a big way, such as:

1) the effects of irresponsible drinking
2) the potential risks of any substance abuse
3) the ability for teens and young adults to become addicts
4) the fact that society tends to not hold young men in authoritative positions (i.e., white cishet star athletes) to the same standards that their marginalized counterparts would be held to

(There's also some great representation involved, such as the fact that our main character Harley is plus-sized and her love interest is Latinx!)

All of that said, I had a hard time really connecting to The Art of Losing (which surprises me, since substance abuse and addiction is something that hits very close to home for me after having many related experiences with family members) and just never seemed to find myself compelled to keep reading. I tried both the eARC and the audiobook, and neither was ever able to "hook" me. I'd give this a solid 3.5 stars, though for Goodreads' sake, I'll round up to 4.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Not bad! The author mentions being inspired by creepypasta and r/NoSleep, and you can definitely feel those influences in the story (which is a good thing to me, as I never get tired of either of those areas of horror shorts). I think the story could've benefited from being longer, but the overall premise was intriguing and fun and I would more than likely pick up more work from Kelvin Teo in the future.

3.5 stars

#1 The Wicker King ★★★★★
#1.5 The Legend of the Golden Raven ★★★★☆

After that thought, all at once, like a horrible cacophony of sound, the voice that lived behind his teeth whispered:
This is the love of your life.

Ahhh, I've missed you too much, little Jack and August (and Rina!). ♥

This was a lovely glimpse into Jack's side of things, and I enjoyed it so much. I only wish it had been longer and had focused more directly on Jack and August, and less on the (metaphorical?) side story of the brother kings in Jack's fantasy world. Had this been a much longer novella, that side story probably would've enchanted me every bit as much as its writing deserved to, but all I could really think about during those sections (aside from being hypnotized by how gorgeous K's prose always is) was how impatient I was to see more of our odd little pyros.

#1 The Wicker King ★★★★★
#1.5 The Legend of the Golden Raven ★★★★☆

I originally read this book as an ARC, and was really bothered by a few things in it. I was so disappointed that I gave it 2.5 stars, but as the finished copy released, I started receiving messages from friends, saying it was different from what I had reviewed. I was confused, but didn’t look too deeply into it until the author contacted me and explained. She told me she had changed a lot of what bothered me in the ARC, and asked would I like to read the finished copy.

She was so kind, and I had wanted so badly to love this book, so I reread it, assuming that I would be at least marginally more pleased with the finished release. I never expected her to have fixed it so perfectly that I would love it this much. I am so happy that I gave this book a “second chance”, and after much deliberating, have actually decided to remove my old review entirely, because honestly, this book is entirely worth your time. <3

“They have stories about you, songs. They call you the Raven, the Golden Bird, the King’s Lionheart. Women smile at you as we walk in the streets; men talk about you over their fires. It’s written all over the walls. They love you and you can’t even see them… my Lionheart. Can you imagine?”

August and Jack are such odd little characters, and I love them so much. They’re broken kids at their cores, truly; Jack’s parents are so absent and neglectful it genuinely hurts to watch, and August’s mother is only present in the physical sense, yet so rarely in a proper mental state to take care of him that he’s forced to compromise his own future through drug dealing, just to keep the lights on. These are two kids who have found themselves raising themselves, and one another, and it doesn’t always turn out pretty.

Jack owned him. In a way. It was difficult to explain, but the feeling was as familiar to him as his own name.

When I first read the ARC of this book, I was left with a lot of questions about the relationship between August and Jack, but the finished release answers them all, and more. This book is incredibly unique in the fact that it is the first time I have ever seen a dom/sub relationship like this in a YA contemporary book, and I lived for it!

He fell. Groaning. Thinking of chapped lips, strong arms, and freckles.

I constantly feel like I am yelling into the void when I ask for sex positivity and healthy kink in YA books, to show teens and young adults that it’s just fine to like things that might not be “vanilla” enough for the general masses, but reading The Wicker King, I felt like the author was hearing me (and those of you who have shared similar sentiments) loud and clear.

(ETA: I actually even found this through the author’s twitter, which does have some spoilers, but also offers bona fide proof of the intended D/S mechanics, in case anyone is curious.)

“I see you the same. I don’t think it will ever change… It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing my colors or dressed like this. You’re always just you.”

Now, don’t get me wrong—this isn’t just a story of two boys finding one another; it’s also an adventure tale through Jack’s hallucinations, and those scenes are often confusing in the best way. It’s a whirlwind at times, and I even found myself wondering more than once, “What’s real? Is this actually happening?” It’s utterly captivating, and magical, and I would happily be first in line for another book of their adventures and Jack’s seemingly accidental romanticisms.

Jack laughed. “How romantic. My knight in shining fucking armor.”

I don’t want to spoil anyone for anything in this book, so I won’t say much more, but what I will say is that I don’t remember the last time I rooted this hard for a pair of characters in a YA contemporary. August and Jack are some of the most unique, authentic, and genuinely interesting characters I have met in a long time, and I would love nothing more than to spend so much more time with them.

Thank you so, so much to the author of this beautiful little book, and everyone I’ve spoken to about it, for convincing me to give it another try. I will carry it with me in my heart, and I know this is a story I will revisit time and time again. I absolutely cannot wait to see what K. Ancrum creates for us next.

I never get tired of Catana's comics, and this collection was just as adorable as I expected it to be. My spouse and I always love these because we feel like they're so very us. Honestly, nobody nails "relatable" humor quite as well as Catana does when it comes to cute, casual couple stuff!


(^ literally me)

If it tells you anything about how much I loved this, despite being the sort of person who almost never pre-orders finished copies of comic collections, I ran off to pre-order this the moment I finished my eARC because I needed it for my shelf (just like I did with Catana's last collection, which I reread often, and fondly ♥). I absolutely recommend picking it up, especially if you're in a long-term relationship and can relate to the cute, goofy things comfortable couples do with each other.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Vol 1: ★★★★☆
Vol. 2: ★★★★★
Vol. 3: ★★★★★
Vol. 4: ★★★★★
Vol. 5: ★★★★★
Vol. 6: ★★★★★
Vol. 7: ★★★★★
Vol. 8: ★★★★★
Vol. 9: ★★★★★
Vol. 10: ★★★★★

I feel like this series just gets nearer and dearer to my heart with every single volume, and right now, I'm just so sad that I've finally reached the point where I have to wait on a new volume!

“Nothing comes for free. We just don't know what it'll cost.”

I can't believe it's taken me three months to write this review, but every time I sat down to attempt it, I just couldn't get the right words on paper. This book meant so much to me. I honestly went into it not expecting very much, but something about it just resonated so strongly with me that, even now, months later, I read the quotes I highlighted and I get instant chills. I think Emily Lloyd-Jones is an incredible artist, and I'm unspeakably eager to read her future works.

A person could trade away a piece of themselves for a wish come true.

Hearts is set in an alternate reality, in which demons walk among humans, offering wishes for a price. Dee never thought she'd be taking a demon up on his offer, though, until her scholarship ran dry and she was suddenly faced with the prospect and leaving her entire life, her future, for days spent cowering in fear of her father.

She was a girl held together by knitted yarn and magic.

→ Dee ←
Dee is such an enjoyable protagonist; she's tough, bright, caring, and brave. When you read as much YA as I do, the characters sometimes begin to run together, but Dee stands out in my mind as a really special one. She's also funny and I related so much to her spiel about being a child of the internet, raised on stories and fiction that gradually grew darker as her world did, too.

The abuse that Dee undergoes is brutal to watch - partially because it feels so authentic and real, and partially because she is so likable that my heart broke every time she had to go home. The genuine feel behind the abuse portrayal is downright nausea-inducing, and I'd strongly caution readers to be in the best possible mental state before going into this story if abuse is a trigger in any way for you.

That made her feel safer; nothing truly bad could happen while there was a herd of toddlers trundling about like slightly drunken wildebeests.

→ James ←
From the moment James was introduced, and I got to witness his bizarre nature and his witty banter, I loved him. He's the "weird artist" stereotype in all the best ways, but he's so genuinely kind-hearted and precious. He's been through his own hell, like most who make these deals, but it never tarnishes his edges. Plus, he's a super Harry Potter geek, and that's worthy of a few brownie points on its own.

There are a few twists regarding James throughout the story, and while I won't spoil any of them for you, I will tell you that he broke my heart more than once, and I welcomed every tear-filled moment of it.

Side note: It wasn't enough to warrant its own section in the review, but James' and Cal's banter is everything I want in a friendship portrayal. It's precious and it made me laugh out loud so many times.

She had walked willingly into a fairy tale, into a world where she could trade her heart for her freedom. She may as well have donned a red cloak and strode into a darkened forest.

She had always known there would be wolves.

→ writing ←
While the story is fantastical, and the characters are lovable beyond description, I think what sold me the fastest on The Hearts We Sold was Emily's writing. It's so stunning, truly; the above quote is just one example of many in which her phrasing is flawless. There's a lyrical quality to the story without being over the top, and the metaphors she uses seemed to fit the situation without fail.

Actions fueled by desperation. They were the worst kinds of decisions, because desperate people could see the error of their ways and simply not care. They would rush headlong into a bad situation because they could see no other options.

There is only one thing in this book that I disliked. Without spoiling it, a character makes a very poor decision that directly causes a terrible thing to happen to another character. Her decision is fueled by desperation, and is irrevocable and horrific, but it's never really addressed thoroughly enough. It felt a little bit like it was written for shock value more than anything, which isn't something I generally ever appreciate in stories.

This was how normal people survived their own fairy tales. They became their own kind of monster.

→ final thoughts, rep, & warnings ←
All in all, I cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially if you enjoy paranormal fantasies, gorgeous prose, and lovable characters. There is some incredible rep portrayed, including a lesbian character and a trans character, both of them being precious and hilarious. I would only like to advise caution as there are some content warnings for abuse, alcoholism, body shaming, depression, and transphobia (all of which are challenged in the text).

I didn't realize how much I needed more folk horror in my life until reading this, but wow. This was so enjoyable, though the ending did go off the rails for me a bit (enough to knock this down to a 4-star rating, but it's still a VERY HIGH 4 stars, maybe even closer to 4.5!). Full review coming soon, but I highly recommend this one!

update: Screw it. I've been thinking about this book all damn day. 5 stars.

Grisha:
#1 Shadow and Bone ★★★☆☆
#2 Siege and Storm ★★★☆☆
#3 Ruin and Rising ★★★★☆

Six of Crows:
#1 Six of Crows ★★★★★
#2 Crooked Kingdom ★★★★★

Something about Leigh's writing always strikes deep in my bones. This collection of stories might actually be my favorite work of hers so far. ♥

———

Buddy read with Taylor!

update feb 09, 2018: if you go here, you can read issue #1 for free through Vault Comics' website!

A graphic novel about a lesbian viking who's been exiled from her home, so she goes off on an adventure to save the former queen of the Valkyrie, Brynhild, and to rescue other LGBTQ+ individuals so they don't have to fear the same fate she underwent?

Do you think it was even possible for me to read this fast enough?!

This story was AMAZING. The artwork is stunning, the characters are warm-hearted and pure, and the plot is so intriguing and fantastic. I'm always a sucker for a warrior heroine - especially a lesbian one! - and Aydis is genuinely just... flawless. She has such a good soul and wants so badly to do the right thing, and I loved every moment of getting to know her character.

Every side character in this story is also absolutely splendid. There's Brynhild, who's a raging badass despite nurturing her own inner turmoils. Freyja, who is mischievous and scheming and yet altogether a complete sweetheart. There's Saga, the fantastic horse, and the wolf brothers, Skull and Hati, who are endearing and a little bit comical... I just can't say enough good things about the cast of this graphic novel.

I cannot wait to read more of Aydis' story! I'd recommend this to anyone who likes a good fantasy adventure, especially if you enjoy solid queer rep and some fun viking lore.

Content warning: This book does have some minor nudity as well as portrayal of homophobia, so proceed with caution if either of these things bother you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Literati Press for granting me a review copy of this graphic novel! All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.