Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.14k reviews by:
ishouldreadthat
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A debut from a promising new writer, The Collarbound explores magic, identity, and belonging.
I really enjoyed The Collarbound! It's a book that is a little slow to start - I went in expecting something a little different - yet I couldn't put it down. I loved the world Zahabi created, from the windswept Nest that houses and educates mages to the incredibly cool mind-link magic and mindbrawls, to the Kher - the humanoid race that is treated as second class citizens. In fact, the exploration of the Kher community and ways of life were the best bits of The Collarbound. My favourite chapters were when our characters were in the Kher quarter of the city and saw first hand how they are treated by humans - these chapters and their revelations were incredibly powerful.
Zahabi takes a lot of care with building her characters and it is those characters that really shine in this book. Our POV characters are Tatters, a collarbound mage who has escaped his master, and Isha, the human novice mage with a Kher tattoo. Both of these characters were great and well-written (especially Isha, who truly embodies the sense of not-belonging that is pervasive through the book), but I have a real soft spot for Arushi, the Kher guard that befriends Tatters, and her family.
I expected The Collarbound to be an action-packed adventure and was pleasantly surprised to find it was not. It is a quiet, character-driven, slow burn of a book. Zahabi creates a world that feels fresh and unique and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
CW: racism, slavery
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A debut from a promising new writer, The Collarbound explores magic, identity, and belonging.
I really enjoyed The Collarbound! It's a book that is a little slow to start - I went in expecting something a little different - yet I couldn't put it down. I loved the world Zahabi created, from the windswept Nest that houses and educates mages to the incredibly cool mind-link magic and mindbrawls, to the Kher - the humanoid race that is treated as second class citizens. In fact, the exploration of the Kher community and ways of life were the best bits of The Collarbound. My favourite chapters were when our characters were in the Kher quarter of the city and saw first hand how they are treated by humans - these chapters and their revelations were incredibly powerful.
Zahabi takes a lot of care with building her characters and it is those characters that really shine in this book. Our POV characters are Tatters, a collarbound mage who has escaped his master, and Isha, the human novice mage with a Kher tattoo. Both of these characters were great and well-written (especially Isha, who truly embodies the sense of not-belonging that is pervasive through the book), but I have a real soft spot for Arushi, the Kher guard that befriends Tatters, and her family.
I expected The Collarbound to be an action-packed adventure and was pleasantly surprised to find it was not. It is a quiet, character-driven, slow burn of a book. Zahabi creates a world that feels fresh and unique and I couldn't help but fall in love with it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
CW: racism, slavery
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I'm a big fan of Christine Lynn Herman's Devouring Gray doulogy and was really excited to pick up The Drowning Summer. This was a fine read, but I didn't end up loving it as much as I would have hoped.
I'm always here for witches, especially in contemporary fantasy, and throw in a murder mystery and ghosts? Yes please. I really loved the way that Herman created the medium magic that is so pervasive throughout this book - give me a magic system with rules and structure, and I will eat it up! The mystery of the murdered teens and the paranormal aspects of the book were well done as well.
However, I had some really mixed feelings about the writing. It felt incredibly clunky at times -Mina is always going on about ocean metaphors and Evelyn is comparing everything to the environment in her mind. I understand wanting your characters to feel three dimensional, but literally no one talks like this. This, in part, led to the characters feeling incredibly flat. They didn't really have any life to them, unlike the characters in The Devouring Gray, and they didn't seem very bright. I just wanted to grab them both by the shoulders and shake them at times, however in their defense, I am more than twice their age. They aren't really meant to relate to me!
The Drowning Summer had a lot of promise, but the most important aspects of the book (i.e. the writing) fell flat for me. I will, however, keep an eye on her future books.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
CW: biphobia
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I'm a big fan of Christine Lynn Herman's Devouring Gray doulogy and was really excited to pick up The Drowning Summer. This was a fine read, but I didn't end up loving it as much as I would have hoped.
I'm always here for witches, especially in contemporary fantasy, and throw in a murder mystery and ghosts? Yes please. I really loved the way that Herman created the medium magic that is so pervasive throughout this book - give me a magic system with rules and structure, and I will eat it up! The mystery of the murdered teens and the paranormal aspects of the book were well done as well.
However, I had some really mixed feelings about the writing. It felt incredibly clunky at times -Mina is always going on about ocean metaphors and Evelyn is comparing everything to the environment in her mind. I understand wanting your characters to feel three dimensional, but literally no one talks like this. This, in part, led to the characters feeling incredibly flat. They didn't really have any life to them, unlike the characters in The Devouring Gray, and they didn't seem very bright. I just wanted to grab them both by the shoulders and shake them at times, however in their defense, I am more than twice their age. They aren't really meant to relate to me!
The Drowning Summer had a lot of promise, but the most important aspects of the book (i.e. the writing) fell flat for me. I will, however, keep an eye on her future books.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
CW: biphobia
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I loved Murata's Convenience Store Woman, and was curious to see what her short stories would be like. As with any short story collection there were some that I liked and some that I didn't, but overall this is a fantastic collection of strange and thought-provoking stories on taboo topics.
Standouts for me were:
-Life Ceremony: your loved ones consume your body after your death in a celebration of life
-First Rate Material: human material products (i.e. human hair sweaters) are prized possessions
-Two's Family: two women in an unconventional relationship reflect on their life together
-Eating the City: an office worker hunts for fresh plants to eat in Tokyo
-Hatchling (my favourite of the bunch): a woman has created different personalities around the expectations others have placed on her.
Life Ceremony is uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and totally fascinating. I'd definitely recommend this to people looking to read something a little different, however it wont be for everyone.
CW: body horror, cannibalism, incest
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I loved Murata's Convenience Store Woman, and was curious to see what her short stories would be like. As with any short story collection there were some that I liked and some that I didn't, but overall this is a fantastic collection of strange and thought-provoking stories on taboo topics.
Standouts for me were:
-Life Ceremony: your loved ones consume your body after your death in a celebration of life
-First Rate Material: human material products (i.e. human hair sweaters) are prized possessions
-Two's Family: two women in an unconventional relationship reflect on their life together
-Eating the City: an office worker hunts for fresh plants to eat in Tokyo
-Hatchling (my favourite of the bunch): a woman has created different personalities around the expectations others have placed on her.
Life Ceremony is uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and totally fascinating. I'd definitely recommend this to people looking to read something a little different, however it wont be for everyone.
CW: body horror, cannibalism, incest
Check out more book reviews and content here!
How do you take a book about the Manson Family and make it boring?
How do you take a book about the Manson Family and make it boring?
Check out more bookish thoughts and content here.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A Marvellous Light is a really lovely book and I liked it, but it really could have been a great one! I liked the characters and the relationship, but found the pacing and structure totally off and that kept me from getting really invested in the story. I didn't think the romance and mystery plots meshed well together, but would have stood up well on their own. This felt like a strong early draft, but maybe could have used a little more work in terms of structure.
That being said, Robin and Edwin are lovable idiots that you just wanted to scream 'JUST KISS' at.
I particularly liked Edwin and the way he worked through his traumas and securities -- I'm a big softie for his kind of character. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the way it worked (I'm a huge nerd when it comes to magic systems, forgive me).
Overall, A Marvellous Light was a fine read, but could have been a really great one. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A Marvellous Light is a really lovely book and I liked it, but it really could have been a great one! I liked the characters and the relationship, but found the pacing and structure totally off and that kept me from getting really invested in the story. I didn't think the romance and mystery plots meshed well together, but would have stood up well on their own. This felt like a strong early draft, but maybe could have used a little more work in terms of structure.
That being said, Robin and Edwin are lovable idiots that you just wanted to scream 'JUST KISS' at.
I particularly liked Edwin and the way he worked through his traumas and securities -- I'm a big softie for his kind of character. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the way it worked (I'm a huge nerd when it comes to magic systems, forgive me).
Overall, A Marvellous Light was a fine read, but could have been a really great one. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
Check out more bookish thoughts and videos on my YouTube channel.
I received a copy of the US edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
While I hadn't read any of her books before, I have always known Jen Williams as a very well established fantasy author. When I heard she had written a crime novel, it's safe to say I was intrigued! Dog Rose Dirt is a dark and thrilling crime novel filled with secrets and lies
I tend to have mixed reactions to crime thrillers, but I ended up really enjoying this one! Williams creates a dark and atmospheric story that is tense, believable, and harrowing. There were twists and turns aplenty, and I really appreciated Heather as a realistic, although sad, character. She's not an unreliable narrator, but she's messy and conflicted and I really enjoyed reading her point of view. I also enjoyed the fact that she isn't the only POV character — Dog Rose Dirt shifts between past and present, from character to character, in an incredibly effective way.
As per usual, I don't feel like I should say too much when reviewing a crime or thriller book, so I won't say much more. If you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers, I'd highly recommend picking this book up! Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down — it is a perfect read for your autumn TBR!
Content warnings: Suicide, murder, animal death
I received a copy of the US edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
While I hadn't read any of her books before, I have always known Jen Williams as a very well established fantasy author. When I heard she had written a crime novel, it's safe to say I was intrigued! Dog Rose Dirt is a dark and thrilling crime novel filled with secrets and lies
I tend to have mixed reactions to crime thrillers, but I ended up really enjoying this one! Williams creates a dark and atmospheric story that is tense, believable, and harrowing. There were twists and turns aplenty, and I really appreciated Heather as a realistic, although sad, character. She's not an unreliable narrator, but she's messy and conflicted and I really enjoyed reading her point of view. I also enjoyed the fact that she isn't the only POV character — Dog Rose Dirt shifts between past and present, from character to character, in an incredibly effective way.
As per usual, I don't feel like I should say too much when reviewing a crime or thriller book, so I won't say much more. If you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers, I'd highly recommend picking this book up! Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down — it is a perfect read for your autumn TBR!
Content warnings: Suicide, murder, animal death
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah is a debut adult fantasy novel inspired by the 1001 Nights. With a lovely setting, great characters, and a compelling plot, it's definitely one to pick up if you enjoy:
-Badass and clever women
-Hot jinn dads
-Cinnamon roll princes
-Friendships!!
-The power of storytelling
-Non-European settings
I listened to the audiobook for this one, and really enjoyed the narrators, but the editing leaves a lot to be desired (lots of repetition and strange cuts). I hope they go in and edit these issues, because it's a great way to read this book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah is a debut adult fantasy novel inspired by the 1001 Nights. With a lovely setting, great characters, and a compelling plot, it's definitely one to pick up if you enjoy:
-Badass and clever women
-Hot jinn dads
-Cinnamon roll princes
-Friendships!!
-The power of storytelling
-Non-European settings
I listened to the audiobook for this one, and really enjoyed the narrators, but the editing leaves a lot to be desired (lots of repetition and strange cuts). I hope they go in and edit these issues, because it's a great way to read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I have been pondering picking up The Watchers for awhile - it catches my eye every time I go into a bookstore and see the gorgeous red edges. As a horror fan, I love a claustrophobic tale filled with tension and terror, and The Watchers fits the bill. Although I had some issues getting into the book at the start (it is written in a much more literary style than I am used to when it comes to horror books) and have some serious questions about the mechanics of the ending, it's a book that I really enjoyed.
Read this if you like:
-Literary horror
-Claustrophobic and intense books
-Irish folklore
-More twists and turns than a country road (please stay off the country roads)
I have been pondering picking up The Watchers for awhile - it catches my eye every time I go into a bookstore and see the gorgeous red edges. As a horror fan, I love a claustrophobic tale filled with tension and terror, and The Watchers fits the bill. Although I had some issues getting into the book at the start (it is written in a much more literary style than I am used to when it comes to horror books) and have some serious questions about the mechanics of the ending, it's a book that I really enjoyed.
Read this if you like:
-Literary horror
-Claustrophobic and intense books
-Irish folklore
-More twists and turns than a country road (please stay off the country roads)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Violence
Check out more book reviews and content here!
Was I tempted by the absolutely beautiful cover? Yes.
Am I usually a romance reader? No.
Did I absolutely love this book? 100% yes.
You Made a Food of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi is a new favourite - it was my first book by them but it certainly wont be my last. While it is a romance, it isn't a neat and tidy one - our characters deal with with grief and trauma and moving on after the love of your life dies. Feyi is an incredible character (I would die for her) and, despite the age gap (a trope that usually gives me the ick), I absolutely loved her love interest as well. Their interactions and budding attraction was a joy to read, despite the outside issues they faced.
In this book, you'll find:
-A certified DILF
-The best friend we all wish we had
-The beauty of art and how it can help us work through trauma
-Romance, but not particularly fluffy
-Bisexuals in love
You Made a Food of Death with Your Beauty is one of my favourite books of the year and I can't wait to get my hands on more of Emezi's books!
CW: Toxic relationships, threat of violence, grief
Was I tempted by the absolutely beautiful cover? Yes.
Am I usually a romance reader? No.
Did I absolutely love this book? 100% yes.
You Made a Food of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi is a new favourite - it was my first book by them but it certainly wont be my last. While it is a romance, it isn't a neat and tidy one - our characters deal with with grief and trauma and moving on after the love of your life dies. Feyi is an incredible character (I would die for her) and, despite the age gap (a trope that usually gives me the ick), I absolutely loved her love interest as well. Their interactions and budding attraction was a joy to read, despite the outside issues they faced.
In this book, you'll find:
-A certified DILF
-The best friend we all wish we had
-The beauty of art and how it can help us work through trauma
-Romance, but not particularly fluffy
-Bisexuals in love
You Made a Food of Death with Your Beauty is one of my favourite books of the year and I can't wait to get my hands on more of Emezi's books!
CW: Toxic relationships, threat of violence, grief
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Check out more book reviews and content here!
I'm not sure what I can add to the Legends & Lattes discourse that hasn't already been said. I absolutely loved this book - the characters were absolutely amazing and the plot was so low-key and comforting. This is a perfect palatte cleanser if, like me, you usually like your fantasy books to be really bleak and depressing.
Come for the cosy, stay for the amazing characters.
Warning: have a cinnamon roll on hand. You'll be craving them after a few chapters.
I'm not sure what I can add to the Legends & Lattes discourse that hasn't already been said. I absolutely loved this book - the characters were absolutely amazing and the plot was so low-key and comforting. This is a perfect palatte cleanser if, like me, you usually like your fantasy books to be really bleak and depressing.
Come for the cosy, stay for the amazing characters.
Warning: have a cinnamon roll on hand. You'll be craving them after a few chapters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury