Originally posted to I Should Read That

Girls of Paper and Fire has been on everyone’s lips ever since its publication was announced in 2018. As an  f/f romance set in an east Asian-inspired imperial court that deals with the trauma of rape and sexual assault, it got a lot of attention and hype from the YA book community. As excited as I was to read this book, I’m always wary of the hype that can surround new releases, and didn't pick it up until now. However, I’m so glad that I read it -- it's an beautifully written and powerful book.

The world in Girls of Paper and Fire is vast and incredibly well built. I love the way that Ngan managed to weave in references to other provinces and regions so effortlessly -- there’s no info dumping at all, and given how rich the world is, that’s a pretty huge accomplishment. I absolutely loved her descriptions of the food, clothing, and architecture at the palace in particular. The way that everything, especially the dresses that the paper girls wear, has a deeper meaning was just great.

I admit that I did really struggle with the beginning of the book, partially due to my inability to connect with Lei as a narrator (see below). It took me absolute ages to get engaged with the story, however once I reached the halfway point it began to pick up for me and I was fully immersed in the book.

For a book told in the first person, I was surprised by the fact that I just didn’t really connect with Lei. There's no doubt in my mind that she's a great character -- she stays strong while facing circumstances that would make others crumble and she’s so fierce in her beliefs and ideals. However, I just didn’t quite click with her. Wren, on the other hand, oh my god. She is easily one of my new favourite heroines ever. The way that Ngan teased out her story and background was so skillful and Wren was such a magnificent character in this book. She initially isn’t around much, however you can feel her presence on the page and she was such a force of nature by the end.

One of the best things about Girls of Paper and Fire is actually the romance between the two. The love that grows between Lei and Wren is one of the most natural I’ve ever read in YA -- it is so beautifully written, especially in the context of the trauma that they undergo at the hands of the Demon King. 

Overall, Girls of Paper and Fire is an excellent book that deals with dark themes incredibly well. Some people may not agree that YA books should include this kind of trauma, however, to me, the book wasn’t really about that. Girls of Paper and Fire is about the strength of women and how the power of friendship and love can be healing in the most devastating of circumstances -- this is something that all people, especially young women, should have access to. 

CW: Fade to black rape and on-page sexual assault, animal death, slavery

An intriguing start to a graphic novel series!

3.5 out of 5 stars

A lovely, totally bizarre, weird, and memorable book. RTC!

Originally posted to I Should Read That

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

Prosper’s Demon was one of my most highly anticipated January releases, in part because of its astonishing cover -- yes, I am shallow. While this horror novella wasn’t necessarily what I expected or craved, I enjoyed this strange and snarky tale of demonic possession and exorcism.

This novella is a funny one, because while it does everything it says in the blurb it is much more literary than I expected. Novellas are obviously shorter than your standard book, so space on the page is at a premium. I really liked the plot, but the focus of the book wasn't the plot. There were pages of musings on philosophy and art that, although I enjoyed them, didn’t seem to quite fit in with the novella format. I think I expected a more straightforward narrative and while I did like this aspect of the book, it prevented me from adoring this book as much as I might have otherwise and I think it will turn off some readers. 

Despite this, Prosper’s Demon is a fun and snarky romp through a historical fantasy setting, mostly due to the fantastic nameless narrator. He’s an exorcist and self-proclaimed asshole who is incredibly morally grey -- the book opens with him waking up next to a dead body and he is mildly annoyed and inconvenienced rather than horrified. I really think that his voice and morally dubious nature is the factor that ties this story together -- Prosper’s Demon might otherwise have just been a forgettable novella with some good ideas.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and am so pleased I had the chance to read it. If you’re looking for an unconventional and entertaining novella, I’d highly recommend Prosper’s Demon. 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Originally posted to I Should Read That

I’m not usually a horror reader -- I’m pretty much frightened of my own shadow -- but a lovely and trusted bookish friend had been telling me about Dark Matter for ages and it caught my interest. I was totally delighted to receive a copy from my Amazon wishlist from my amazing friend Jenn in December! I cracked it open and, for the first time in a long while, was unable to tear myself away. I was completely lost in this chilling ghost story and I loved it.

In the great tradition of writing reviews for horror and thriller novels, I don’t want to say too much here, as it’s best for you to just experience this book on its own. Dark Matter ticks so many of my boxes: it is a beautifully written, historic ghost story set in a remote location with a single person facing the unknown. Paver does an incredible job of setting up Jack’s backstory and desperation, then kicks his support system out from under him. This book is an absolute masterclass in writing tension,  isolation, and the horrible breakdown of the mind.

The only downside to this essentially perfect book is the ending -- it didn’t quite work for me. However, I don’t think this is through any fault of Paver’s, as I find any kind of solution or revelation in a tense, spooky story to be a letdown. It’s like seeing the Weeping Angels move or catching a full glimpse of the monster in the shadows -- the reality ruins the tension. However, I think she did a great job of wrapping up the story in a satisfying way.

If you’re interested in historical horror, a story with a unique setting, or just a thumping good read, I cannot recommend Dark Matter more highly! It is definitely a new favourite of mine.

CW: Implied animal death, implied gore

Originally posted to I Should Read That

Thornbound continues directly from Snowspelled and it is just as delightful as the first book. Where Snowspelled focuses mostly on Cassandra as the only female magician in Angland, although she has lost her powers, Thornbound sees more and more women practicing magic with Cassandra as their teacher. I really enjoyed seeing Cassandra move forward with her school and continue to push the boundaries of polite society, but I’m also glad that the book shifts its focus from just her to include an entirely new group of women. I’m absolutely fascinated by the gender politics in this world and can’t wait to see how Burgis continues to play them out!

The story arc of the book is both bitterly frustrating with what Cassandra and her family are forced to deal with, yet also incredibly sweet and satisfying. Reading this book was an absolute treat! I cannot recommend the audiobooks more highly -- Emma Newman is a fantastic narrator and her voice perfectly suits the tone!

Originally posted to I Should Read That

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

I’ve been hearing buzz about The Deep for a few months now and the amazing concept captured my interest. I’ve never read a book by Rivers Solomon before and admit I am unfamiliar with the song and artists that inspired and helped work on this book, so I didn’t know what to expect. This novella is an absolutely powerful story of memory, pain, history, and surviving in the face of adversity. 

I think this book will be marmite for some readers, mostly due to the writing style. While I loved the slow burning, atmospheric, beautiful writing style of The Deep, I’m not sure it will click with every reader. Despite its short length, it’s a book to be read slowly and savoured rather than devoured in an evening. The pacing is a little slow, so if you’re expecting an action-packed book you’ve been warned!

I absolutely fell in love with the wajinru -- the descendants of the unborn babies of enslaved African women thrown overboard from slave ships crossing the Atlantic. The pain of their ancestry is too painful for all the wajinru to bear, so the Historian carries the memories of all those who came before. This is a completely brilliant way of exploring the wounds of the past and how a shared history can impact those living in the present. Solomon does a fantastic job of exploring the traumas of slavery across the generations and the book is so heartbreaking.

I really loved the wajinru as a people and Solomon builds out everything from their culture to their physiology incredibly well. In particular, Solomon explores sexuality and gender identity, social norms, familial relationships, and more through the wajinru. The way they handle their cultural identity and history is absolutely brilliant.

Yetu is an interesting character because while she is obviously so incredibly strong, she has been bearing a horrible burden for most of her life. As the Historian for her people, she feels she has lost her own identity under the burden of her people's shared history. Her actions and reactions to this position are absolutely fascinating and while she may be difficult at times, Yetu is an incredibly sympathetic character and it's easy to understand why she makes particular decisions in the book.

Overall, The Deep is a powerful, stunningly beautiful novella that is sure to be a favourite of many readers. Solomon does a fantastic job of capturing so many difficult and dark themes while providing a ray of hope for the wajinru people.

CW: slavery, murder

4.5 out of 5 stars

Originally posted to I Should Read That

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

I’m not familiar with Luke Arnold’s acting career, however I was still intrigued by his debut novel, The Last Smile in Sunder City. I had heard good things about it and was incredibly curious to try it for myself. I admit I was a little wary going in because the book seemed to have some similarities to The Dresden Files, a series that I very much dislike, however The Last Smile in Sunder City proved to be exactly what I wanted from The Dresden Files. 

I enjoyed the heck out of The Last Smile in Sunder City -- Arnold manages to strike the perfect balance between grit and snark, as well as magic and reality. As a huge fan of film noir, I can confidently say that he manages to capture the spirit of noir and crafted the book with such care and passion -- never once did it fall into caricature or cartoonishness, which I sometimes find with books that attempt a noir setting. 

I absolutely loved the world and world building in this book -- the concept of a land that has lost its magic years before and the impact that loss has on the magical and non-magical citizens was incredibly compelling. Arnold did a fantastic job of painting a bleak picture of Sunder City’s present day, while giving the reader the story of its past. The various types of magical creatures and how everything from their lifestyles to physiology changed after the Coda was so awful, yet totally fascinating and inventive. I really enjoyed that he included so much about how the magically-enhanced technology crumbled as well, launching the world into a bizarre modern dark ages. I was completely absorbed by the events of the Coda and would love to read more in this setting and about this world. 

I absolutely, unexpectedly, adored the character of Fetch Phillips. He’s a refreshing and updated (and not a misogynist! What a concept), yet completely identifiable noir detective. He’s a hard drinking, unkept mess of a man trying to atone for the sins of his past, but you never doubt for a moment that he cares deeply for the people he is investigating or for the lives of the formerly magical folk whose lives have been torn apart. I really enjoyed his back story and the way that details of his past are teased out over the course of the book.

I did find the pacing a little choppy at times, especially with the long flashback sequences tucked in between events. It didn't slow down things down, but I found that it did pull me out of the story a little. However, I did really appreciate those sequences because they added so much richness to Fetch's backstory.

Overall, The Last Smile in Sunder City was an absolute treat to read. The perfect crossover between fantasy and noir, it’s a fast-paced read that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Originally posted to I Should Read That

I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but when I do pick it up I tend to lean toward history books. My friend Amber listened to the audiobook for The Five over the summer and it sounded so intriguing! I ended up picking it up and absolutely loving it too, not just for the social history aspect but because it, for the first time, gives a voice to the women who were murdered by England’s most infamous serial killer. 

I’ve got a serious interest in true crime, however I have never been interested in the Jack the Ripper case. I couldn’t quite figure out what my reasoning was, but The Five helped me realise that it’s due to the glorification of this sinister figure. These days, Jack the Ripper seems to be remembered in a way more similar to a folk hero than a murderer who did unspeakable things to his victims. Those women, often referred to as the canonical five, seem to have been lost in the fascination with their murderer. Rubenhold does not hold back her anger and frustration over Jack the Ripper’s glorified legacy, and that’s one of the things that made me absolutely love this book. Anyone who considers themselves a feminist and has an interest in true crime must read this book.

I think if you go into The Five expecting a true crime book, I think you will be disappointed. Instead, this book dives into the lives of the canonical five and how they, and the other women of their class, would have lived and survived. She dispels myths about these five women (particularly the idea that they were all prostitutes) and examines how alcohol played an instrumental role in destroying their lives, putting them in a position to be noticed by a notorious murderer. Each woman is represented in her own section, starting with her birth and background and examining her life up until the murder, but does not go into detail about the case or the investigation. The incredible research that Rubenhold does really helps bring these women to life and gives them a level of respect and dignity that has been so lacking in their legacy thus far. 

The Five is not only an insight into how these five women lost their lives, it also reflects on Victorian society and the horrible treatment of impoverished and homeless women at the time, which played into the reporting of these crimes and how the victims were portrayed. It not only dispels the myth and legend surrounding Jack the Ripper, but also our often glorified image of the Victorian age. This is easily one of the best history books I've read, and is well deserving of its recent Baillie Gifford Prize win.