Sometimes it’s clear from the beginning that a book is something special. This World is Not Yours grabbed my attention from the first page, and dragged me into its lush and dangerous world with alarming swiftness. Ashing-Giwa’s brand of horror is creeping, inevitable, and beautiful, with prose that feels like a love letter even as it rips you apart. This novella strikes an admirable balance in illuminating both the human and extraterrestrial as horrific; even as the characters experience fantastical circumstances they feel grounded and real enough to become deeply invested in. As a lover of queer horror, I appreciated that the queerness in this book is a matter of course as opposed to the primary thrust driving the violence. Sometimes we just want to see gays going through it for some other reason than their gayness, and this is a stellar example queer identities existing and being explored without being the cause of the horror. Some novellas leave me feeling like the form is an excuse to not fully flesh out the plot/setting/circumstances, but in this case, Ashing-Giwa obviously took precisely the amount of pages she needed to tell the story, and not one word more or less is included. I have no frustratingly unresolved questions, no feeling of being cheated out of a more complex story. I honestly can’t think of one negative thing to say about this book.

*e-arc provided by netgalley

The conclusion to the Sunbearer Duology has been a highly anticipated read for many. With the sun gone and the apocalypse in full swing, Teo, Aurelio, and Niya journey through Reino del Sol and Los Restos to rescue their friends and battle the Obsidian gods that have the all-important Sol Stone. Meanwhile, Xio grapples with what they’ve done and who they want to be. Celestial Monsters balances action, explorations of power and structural inequities, and heartfelt teen journeys of romance and identity with the skill we are familiar with seeing from Thomas. The cast of teen characters bring humor and honesty, making choices, owning up to mistakes, and navigating their independence with a tireless conviction that is refreshing and joyful. The fantastical quest/buddy road trip structure is familiar territory for fantasy reads, but does somewhat lessen the immediate stakes of the apocalypse. Overwhelmingly readers will find Celestial Monsters a rewarding conclusion to Teo’s story. André Santana’s narration is engaging and distinct; well worth the listen. 

*I received an advanced audio copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Really enjoyed the characters and  magic! Pacing was great, but I really wanted more from the worldbuilding. Was shaky on what kind of world we were in to the point of distraction. Pretty typical of romantasy in my experience. Was an enjoyable read though and will def be reading the sequel.