I’ve finally finished this gem. I actually read Circe first, but they don’t seem to be dependant upon each other. I loved it. This book has brought the myth of Achilles to life in a way I haven’t seen before - it’s beautiful. Her world building and characters are very solid and real. I’m now definitely a fan of Miller’s work.

I’ve been holding onto this book for awhile - almost afraid of it not living up to the hype. But I’ve finally read it, and the hype is definitely warranted.

A Monster Calls is about a 13 year old boy named Conor and his struggles while trying to come to terms with his mother’s terminal illness. Conor meets a monster made out of a yew tree who, rather than being terrifying, actually helps Conor to accept the truth and start healing. Needless to say, it’s quite an emotional read. It’s a quick book that really packs a punch.

Conor’s rage and some of his actions while with the monster have an almost cathartic aspect, and the abrupt ending was perfect; leaving the reader with only a vague idea of what the future holds for the boy. The story is perfection, and I would love to now watch the movie and see how it holds up.

When is a children’s book not really for children? When it’s written by Neil Gaiman of course!

The Sleeper and the Spindle is an illustrated tale melding Snow White and Sleeping Beauty into one epic story. The images are gorgeous and at times a bit scary, and the tone/verbiage is quite fairytale-like. There were a couple of twists that I did not see coming but totally loved.

The story lacked some detail and a lot of backstory, but I feel like it worked well that way - it allowed me to fill in some gaps myself and left me with lots of questions. I love when books make you think. The only downside was the length, I wish it wasn’t quite so short!

The Mermaid by Christina Henry just blew me away - I love it. It reimagines the story of PT Barnum and his Fiji mermaid - with a fantasy twist.

Even as a retelling of a historical event, it still felt really original and fresh. Henry’s characters are solid and feel quite real, and the world she has created is incredibly detailed. It is also quite an emotional book, diving through the many layers of grief, rage and love. The pacing lagged at times, but overall it was still an engrossing read.

A good book overall, with a fascinating premise. I was all-in, right to the second last chapter. But then there was a sudden time jump and the resolution of a major relationship in a single chapter that felt much too sudden. Like the author wasn’t sure how to wrap it up, maybe? I don’t know, it just felt very off to me. If the ending had flowed in a more natural manner, this would have easily been a 4/5.

I am struggling to put into words just how powerful a book Homegoing is. It is beautiful, touching and thought provoking; destined to become a classic that I strongly believe everyone should read.

The plot is a truly unique concept, covering the 300 year history of one family through a series of short stories. It starts with two sisters - one stays in Ghana, while the other is kidnapped and shipped off to America as a slave. The chapters alternate between the two branches of the family, following one person on each side per generation. There is a family tree at the front of the book that I referenced back to for every chapter - thank goodness for that, because it really helped to keep all the names and events straight in my head.

It’s a beautiful, stunning book. Please - go read it.