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ninetalevixen
I received a review copy through First to Read. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
3.5 stars.
Literary fiction generally falls outside my comfort zone, but this one has a kind of charm that I can't quite explain. The writing alternates between plain and function (in a good way) and so-accurate-it-almost-hurts observations wherein nothing is sacred and no one is safe; there are quiet stop and smell the roses moments, bemused people-watching scenes, pithy remarks on modern society, et cetera.
I related intensely and embarrassingly to aspects of Ethan's and Maggie's lives. (Arthur, not so much. His POV was very "cis straight privileged male" which means probably exactly what you're thinking: there's a lot of staring at female undergraduates and wounded masculinity.) This is very much focused on character and theme, not so much in the way of plot — there are definite plotlines and lots of tension, but it's kind of a slow-moving narrative. (Still waters and all that.)
Although the progression and development were interesting, something about the ending wasn't quite satisfying. It wasn't too abrupt, because the transition felt natural and the chronology/timeline was well-established, and it all did seem a logical continuation/closure for the established arcs, but on some level it just felt a little off to me.
content warnings:
rep:
3.5 stars.
It was practically the Alter family credo, an anti-Hippocratic oath: First, Do No Good.
Literary fiction generally falls outside my comfort zone, but this one has a kind of charm that I can't quite explain. The writing alternates between plain and function (in a good way) and so-accurate-it-almost-hurts observations wherein nothing is sacred and no one is safe; there are quiet stop and smell the roses moments, bemused people-watching scenes, pithy remarks on modern society, et cetera.
He was not at ease around people and regarded those who were with envy and suspicion. Whenever Ethan caught someone looking at him on the subway, his first thought was that he was doing something wrong. Standing wrong. Breathing wrong. Then his cheeks would flush with anger. Why should he doubt himself? Why should he make himself small, when lesser souls sat on life with their legs spread open?
I related intensely and embarrassingly to aspects of Ethan's and Maggie's lives. (Arthur, not so much. His POV was very "cis straight privileged male" which means probably exactly what you're thinking: there's a lot of staring at female undergraduates and wounded masculinity.) This is very much focused on character and theme, not so much in the way of plot — there are definite plotlines and lots of tension, but it's kind of a slow-moving narrative. (Still waters and all that.)
Although the progression and development were interesting, something about the ending wasn't quite satisfying. It wasn't too abrupt, because the transition felt natural and the chronology/timeline was well-established, and it all did seem a logical continuation/closure for the established arcs, but on some level it just felt a little off to me.
content warnings:
Spoiler
kinkshaming, minor sexual content, dysfunctional marriages, infidelity, unhealthy/potentially disordered eating habits and mentions of subsequent weight loss, off-page death of parent due to cancer, kleptomaniarep:
Spoiler
Jewish main characters (Alter family), gay primary character (Ethan), diverse minor characters
I received a review copy through YA Bound Book Tours. This does not affect my rating or opinions. You can find my blog tour post here.
The premise and setting of this book are so unique, and it really comes through; Under is super creepy, with kind of a Tim Burton-esque cast, and I personally didn’t find the descriptions too graphic (YMMV). For me this was definitely the biggest draw, and I’m also intrigued by the idea of distilling one’s name and identity into a single physical object — that might not even be what you actually valued most, because (being dead and all) you don’t get to choose what you’re buried with.
As you might expect from a plot surrounding murder and (un)death, there are some dark themes, including blood magic, betrayal, and abuse, and for the most part they were complex if not quite as nuanced as I would have liked to see. (Proceed with caution if this is something that bothers you, though I’ll note again that I didn’t find it to be excessively graphic.) Plenty of action in the present timeline, mixed with flashbacks from Key’s life and memories with her new friends, keeps the narrative moving forward, though there are quite a number of tropes at play so I didn’t find myself quite as intrigued as I’d hoped.
I really appreciated seeing all the different types of relationships — romantic, platonic (friends), familial — and how they affected the characters and their actions. Despite my general cynicism towards heterosexual YA couples, there was one flashback in particular that made me stop and smile and kind of just pause to bask in the wholesomeness of a courtship built on respect, a shared sense of humor, and adventurousness.
That said, I was not a fan of the love triangle or the emphasis on platonic love being “not enough” just because the other party fell in love. (Can we do away with this male entitlement going forward, pretty please?) And there were some points where I felt that romantic drama subsumed the rest of the plot, up to and including Key’s journey of self (re)discovery (which is what interested me most, though the murder mystery was of course a close second).
But overall, this was a vivid and memorable read, and I would recommend it to YA readers who are looking for something that’s a little different without being revolutionary.
Quotes are taken from an Advance Review Copy and may change upon publication.
content warnings:
“You’re dead, darlin’. This isn’t hell, but it’s the next best thing.”
The premise and setting of this book are so unique, and it really comes through; Under is super creepy, with kind of a Tim Burton-esque cast, and I personally didn’t find the descriptions too graphic (YMMV). For me this was definitely the biggest draw, and I’m also intrigued by the idea of distilling one’s name and identity into a single physical object — that might not even be what you actually valued most, because (being dead and all) you don’t get to choose what you’re buried with.
There are sounds echoing through the giant cavern. A laugh, a hiss, a whisper. A reminder there are monsters here.
As you might expect from a plot surrounding murder and (un)death, there are some dark themes, including blood magic, betrayal, and abuse, and for the most part they were complex if not quite as nuanced as I would have liked to see. (Proceed with caution if this is something that bothers you, though I’ll note again that I didn’t find it to be excessively graphic.) Plenty of action in the present timeline, mixed with flashbacks from Key’s life and memories with her new friends, keeps the narrative moving forward, though there are quite a number of tropes at play so I didn’t find myself quite as intrigued as I’d hoped.
I really appreciated seeing all the different types of relationships — romantic, platonic (friends), familial — and how they affected the characters and their actions. Despite my general cynicism towards heterosexual YA couples, there was one flashback in particular that made me stop and smile and kind of just pause to bask in the wholesomeness of a courtship built on respect, a shared sense of humor, and adventurousness.
He’s strong, adventurous, funny. A bit mysterious, perhaps, but we’ve only known each other a few weeks. He challenges me. His conversation is thought-provoking. He makes it seem possible to achieve more than what’s expected of us in this life.
And he occupies my every waking thought, along with every midnight dream, in a way no one ever has before.
That said, I was not a fan of the love triangle or the emphasis on platonic love being “not enough” just because the other party fell in love. (Can we do away with this male entitlement going forward, pretty please?) And there were some points where I felt that romantic drama subsumed the rest of the plot, up to and including Key’s journey of self (re)discovery (which is what interested me most, though the murder mystery was of course a close second).
But overall, this was a vivid and memorable read, and I would recommend it to YA readers who are looking for something that’s a little different without being revolutionary.
Quotes are taken from an Advance Review Copy and may change upon publication.
content warnings:
Spoiler
death, murder, minor gore, blood magic, mild sexual content, mentions of physical abuse
I received an advance review copy from the author through #ReviewPit. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
3.5 stars.
I read this one in about two sittings, because the story flows so smoothly: each development feels natural and keeps the reader engaged. The premise is touching; I love the equal emphasis given to different types of relationships (familial/friend/romantic) as well as more personal/individual concerns, i.e. Emma's survivor's guilt and her grandmother's dementia; all the different components — running, for her mom; applying to Ohio State University, for her brother; working at the animal shelter to save up to visit Greece, for her dad; and general high school stuff — all fit together in a cohesive narrative.
The main thing is just that I felt like I knew exactly where this story was going. With a single exception, there weren't really any moments that surprised or startled me; this isn't necessary to an objectively good narrative, of course, especially since this one does still have moments of tension, but it's something that I personally would've liked to see. That said, this is a nice, comforting read and I'm grateful to have gotten an early copy!
3.5 stars.
I read this one in about two sittings, because the story flows so smoothly: each development feels natural and keeps the reader engaged. The premise is touching; I love the equal emphasis given to different types of relationships (familial/friend/romantic) as well as more personal/individual concerns, i.e. Emma's survivor's guilt and her grandmother's dementia; all the different components — running, for her mom; applying to Ohio State University, for her brother; working at the animal shelter to save up to visit Greece, for her dad; and general high school stuff — all fit together in a cohesive narrative.
The main thing is just that I felt like I knew exactly where this story was going. With a single exception, there weren't really any moments that surprised or startled me; this isn't necessary to an objectively good narrative, of course, especially since this one does still have moments of tension, but it's something that I personally would've liked to see. That said, this is a nice, comforting read and I'm grateful to have gotten an early copy!
Buddy read with Michelle! ❤
I received a review copy from Netgalley. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
This book has basically everything I want: an independent-minded, ambitious, and witty protagonist (I have a weird personal bias against describing heroines as "strong" and "sassy," but that's what Rhen is!); an estranged childhood friend (who, as a bonus, got hot and has "anatomically perfect lips"); magic, including mythical creatures like sirens and ghouls, and a bit of mystery; intriguing riddles/puzzles that the reader can try to solve alongside the heroes; and even lots of creative cursing.
The writing itself is also beautiful; while I'm not generally a fan of big epiphanies about society / humanity / one's self, or of cheesy romantic declarations, they're used judiciously and balanced with enough action and character development to balance out. I laughed at so many brilliantly executed lines, and the tension between a certain pairing just sizzles. (Which is saying a lot, coming from me, the eternal cynic!)
Rhen Tellur, the heroine, is far and away my favorite part of this story. She's got a bit of a temper, but she's also determined to pursue science and cure diseases. Her cousin is an Upper (i.e., Seleni's family is rich and disowned Rhen's mother for marrying her poor scientist father) but Rhen lives near and is friends with many people from the poorer part of town: so she kind of has a foot in both worlds, giving her some advantages and limitations of each, and making her a really nuanced and sympathetic character. In a society that would like her to be quiet and defer to her future husband, she flouts convention to stand up for herself and her friends.
The rest of the cast is varied as far as family background and personal goals, and all are either really lovable or lots of fun to hate — though, as far as I'm aware, there's no explicit PoC or LGBT+ representation. I do wish the author had included some, because I think it fits with all the social issues being addressed and could have been as simple as a mention in passing or a very minor sidestory. (This is a big part of where I deducted half a star from my rating, because intersectionality is really important to me.)
I will add that I personally don't think The Scorpio Races is a good comp title — beyond a number of surface similarities (a girl enters the annual traditional competition traditionally meant for boys/men, special cakes to celebrate the occasion, and a love interest who loves the ocean and loves the protagonist because she is "untamable" like the ocean) they just feel like completely different stories to me, with very different moods; that said, this is of course an entirely subjective opinion. And to be clear, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, either! Just that I noticed the blurb and don't think it's entirely accurate.
A final note: It is a testament to this book's merits that I loved it so much despite Adobe Digital Editions freezing up every few pages — of course in an ideal world it wouldn't make a difference since technical difficulties have nothing to do with the actual story, but were this story less compelling I would certainly not have persevered to the end.
I received a review copy from Netgalley. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
This book has basically everything I want: an independent-minded, ambitious, and witty protagonist (I have a weird personal bias against describing heroines as "strong" and "sassy," but that's what Rhen is!); an estranged childhood friend (who, as a bonus, got hot and has "anatomically perfect lips"); magic, including mythical creatures like sirens and ghouls, and a bit of mystery; intriguing riddles/puzzles that the reader can try to solve alongside the heroes; and even lots of creative cursing.
The writing itself is also beautiful; while I'm not generally a fan of big epiphanies about society / humanity / one's self, or of cheesy romantic declarations, they're used judiciously and balanced with enough action and character development to balance out. I laughed at so many brilliantly executed lines, and the tension between a certain pairing just sizzles. (Which is saying a lot, coming from me, the eternal cynic!)
Rhen Tellur, the heroine, is far and away my favorite part of this story. She's got a bit of a temper, but she's also determined to pursue science and cure diseases. Her cousin is an Upper (i.e., Seleni's family is rich and disowned Rhen's mother for marrying her poor scientist father) but Rhen lives near and is friends with many people from the poorer part of town: so she kind of has a foot in both worlds, giving her some advantages and limitations of each, and making her a really nuanced and sympathetic character. In a society that would like her to be quiet and defer to her future husband, she flouts convention to stand up for herself and her friends.
The rest of the cast is varied as far as family background and personal goals, and all are either really lovable or lots of fun to hate — though, as far as I'm aware, there's no explicit PoC or LGBT+ representation. I do wish the author had included some, because I think it fits with all the social issues being addressed and could have been as simple as a mention in passing or a very minor sidestory. (This is a big part of where I deducted half a star from my rating, because intersectionality is really important to me.)
I will add that I personally don't think The Scorpio Races is a good comp title — beyond a number of surface similarities (a girl enters the annual traditional competition traditionally meant for boys/men, special cakes to celebrate the occasion, and a love interest who loves the ocean and loves the protagonist because she is "untamable" like the ocean) they just feel like completely different stories to me, with very different moods; that said, this is of course an entirely subjective opinion. And to be clear, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, either! Just that I noticed the blurb and don't think it's entirely accurate.
A final note: It is a testament to this book's merits that I loved it so much despite Adobe Digital Editions freezing up every few pages — of course in an ideal world it wouldn't make a difference since technical difficulties have nothing to do with the actual story, but were this story less compelling I would certainly not have persevered to the end.
Buddy read with lots of friends from the Bookish Collision discord server! ❤
IT WAS NICE KNOWING YOU ALL BECAUSE I AM DECEASED.
From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing, the setting, the characters, the plot — this is one of those novels that is more than the sum of its parts because each of those parts is a masterpiece on its own, but put together ... it's beyond words. So it's hard to know what to say about Descendant of the Crane except that it's revolutionary and heartbreaking and so alive.
Also, it deserves to be a saga longer than Game of Thrones.
IT WAS NICE KNOWING YOU ALL BECAUSE I AM DECEASED.
From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing, the setting, the characters, the plot — this is one of those novels that is more than the sum of its parts because each of those parts is a masterpiece on its own, but put together ... it's beyond words. So it's hard to know what to say about Descendant of the Crane except that it's revolutionary and heartbreaking and so alive.
Also, it deserves to be a saga longer than Game of Thrones.
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
3.5 stars.
The premise and general mood of this novel are so unique; it really conveys that creepy but slightly hazy (pun intended) feeling of a bad dream — come to think of it, the vibe reminds me a bit of the TV show Falling Water (which I had not realized had a second season! After finishing this book, I kind of want to watch it now, inevitable nightmares notwithstanding).
Anna's character is wonderfully nuanced, with moments of determination and of depression and grief; she's humanly flawed and dynamic and constantly developing, and I really enjoyed that. The other characters felt a little more flat, though they have a perverse quirky appeal — except Teej; he seems relatively normal, if mysterious — and hopefully we'll get more insight into the remaining Dreamers and Metiks as the series goes on.
Plot-wise, I did get a little confused since the scenes tend to flow into each other, which does fit with the blurring of reality/dream (Basine/Haze) but isn't the most pleasant reading experience in my opinion. The action is continuous: there are some lulls, but on the whole it's a really immersive reading experience.
Overall, this was a fascinating read and a solid start to the trilogy; I'm looking forward to the sequels!
content warnings:
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious.
3.5 stars.
The premise and general mood of this novel are so unique; it really conveys that creepy but slightly hazy (pun intended) feeling of a bad dream — come to think of it, the vibe reminds me a bit of the TV show Falling Water (which I had not realized had a second season! After finishing this book, I kind of want to watch it now, inevitable nightmares notwithstanding).
Anna's character is wonderfully nuanced, with moments of determination and of depression and grief; she's humanly flawed and dynamic and constantly developing, and I really enjoyed that. The other characters felt a little more flat, though they have a perverse quirky appeal — except Teej; he seems relatively normal, if mysterious — and hopefully we'll get more insight into the remaining Dreamers and Metiks as the series goes on.
Plot-wise, I did get a little confused since the scenes tend to flow into each other, which does fit with the blurring of reality/dream (Basine/Haze) but isn't the most pleasant reading experience in my opinion. The action is continuous: there are some lulls, but on the whole it's a really immersive reading experience.
Overall, this was a fascinating read and a solid start to the trilogy; I'm looking forward to the sequels!
content warnings:
Spoiler
roofies (date rape drugs), [implied] substance abuse, depression, suicide ideation, blood, death, minor gore, some ableist languageRecommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious.
3.5 stars.
I was hooked from the beginning chapter, because while my parents are very supportive and understanding — relative to some of the other Asian immigrant parents I've known, at least — I could definitely relate to Mei's drive and self-pressure to succeed and even uncertainty about what she wants to do with her life. (Though, for the record, I grew up in the SF Bay Area with lots of friends who looked and spoke like me, so although I was aware of being "different" from mainstream-media protagonists I did feel comfortable in my Taiwanese-American identity.)
That said, although Chao absolutely nailed some aspects of our culture in a way that rings wonderfully true, other aspects felt exaggerated and even Westernized. At first I was delighted by the casual dropping of particularly colorful or evocative Chinese phrases, though some instances felt a little awkward (which is possibly hypocritical as someone who herself is prone to thinking/speaking a mix of English and Mandarin, but I'm just generally not a fan of including seemingly-arbitrary "foreign-language" phrases in the dialogue/narration); Part of it might just be that unique lens that second-generation kids (myself included) grow up looking through, but in the end especially it almost felt as though Taiwanese/Chinese culture was being condemned as antiquated and overly patriarchal. And it is, in some ways, but it's also lovely in so many ways, and replacing it with "modern"/American traditions definitely isn't going to fix the problem.
And what really frustrated me is that this book had the potential to explore more facets of that Asian-American identity. There was no shortage of Asian-American characters, each of them in a unique situation (even Mei's brother Xing, who was disowned by their parents) — and I do applaud their inclusion, even if I wish it had been developed further! Obviously this is just one specific narrative (as Chao acknowledges in the author's note) and the ideal would be a varied collection of Asian-American stories that this one can help round out, but unfortunately that's not the case yet.
Still, I enjoyed following along with Mei's journey to figure out her identity and personal values, and Darren is kind of cute ... though the family and friend relationships are really where this book shines, I think.
Recommended by Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts.
I was hooked from the beginning chapter, because while my parents are very supportive and understanding — relative to some of the other Asian immigrant parents I've known, at least — I could definitely relate to Mei's drive and self-pressure to succeed and even uncertainty about what she wants to do with her life. (Though, for the record, I grew up in the SF Bay Area with lots of friends who looked and spoke like me, so although I was aware of being "different" from mainstream-media protagonists I did feel comfortable in my Taiwanese-American identity.)
That said, although Chao absolutely nailed some aspects of our culture in a way that rings wonderfully true, other aspects felt exaggerated and even Westernized. At first I was delighted by the casual dropping of particularly colorful or evocative Chinese phrases, though some instances felt a little awkward (which is possibly hypocritical as someone who herself is prone to thinking/speaking a mix of English and Mandarin, but I'm just generally not a fan of including seemingly-arbitrary "foreign-language" phrases in the dialogue/narration); Part of it might just be that unique lens that second-generation kids (myself included) grow up looking through, but in the end especially it almost felt as though Taiwanese/Chinese culture was being condemned as antiquated and overly patriarchal. And it is, in some ways, but it's also lovely in so many ways, and replacing it with "modern"/American traditions definitely isn't going to fix the problem.
And what really frustrated me is that this book had the potential to explore more facets of that Asian-American identity. There was no shortage of Asian-American characters, each of them in a unique situation (even Mei's brother Xing, who was disowned by their parents) — and I do applaud their inclusion, even if I wish it had been developed further! Obviously this is just one specific narrative (as Chao acknowledges in the author's note) and the ideal would be a varied collection of Asian-American stories that this one can help round out, but unfortunately that's not the case yet.
Still, I enjoyed following along with Mei's journey to figure out her identity and personal values, and Darren is kind of cute ... though the family and friend relationships are really where this book shines, I think.
Recommended by Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts.
3.5 stars
As a Taiwanese-American girl, I might go into Gloria Chao books with unrealistically high expectations. And to be fair, there are more than a handful of little moments that hit home — bilingual puns, for example — but for the most part Ali just infuriated me with her selfish decisions and lack of empathy or accountability.
For all Ali talks about her identity crisis (Allie vs Ali, American vs Chinese), I didn't feel like she had much self-discovery or character growth throughout the narrative. It felt more like a crusade, Ali and against their parents and the rest of the world. She does a lot of preaching at other people, despite being humanly-flawed herself and not seeming to learn from her mistakes. And while I can empathize with the generational/cultural gap between Ali and her parents, it really doesn't feel like she makes any effort to understand or appreciate where they're coming from, which seems almost hypocritical when she's constantly calling out her classmates' racism.
Perhaps my biggest issue is the overproliferation of cliches:. I'm sure things still happen that way in real life — and I know I've been extremely fortunate not to experience it myself — but it's hard for me to really care when microaggressions are portrayed in extremes and cliches.
Honestly, I wanted to root for Ali and Chase but the scenes between them read more awkwardly than romantically — and while enthusiastic consent is certainly important in relationships, the way it was indicated in-text felt jarring and too overtly PC. (And this is coming from someone who identifies as an intersectional feminist.) The pacing of their relationship felt choppy, adding to my inability to wholeheartedly ship it.
I appreciate the attempts to be more intersectional throughout the book, though there are parts where the phrasing is incorrect or nuanced issues are glossed over with "it's okay if you feel that way"; it's far from perfect, though it's a step in the right direction, and that deserves recognition.
Also, while I'm talking about phrasing, there are several instances where the use of teenage slang is incorrect and made me cringe. I'm not saying authors can't use phrases that the cool kids are saying these days, but sometimes it seems like they're trying too hard to be Relatable^TM. The pop culture references went over better, since they're used sparingly and (perhaps more importantly) aren't comprised entirely of Harry Potter and Marvel allusions.
So overall, while the rep in this book delights me to no end and the premise contains so much promise, I can't help feeling that the execution could've used some polishing.
content warnings:
rep:
-----------
CONVERSION: 9.2 / 15 = 3.5 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: N/A
As a Taiwanese-American girl, I might go into Gloria Chao books with unrealistically high expectations. And to be fair, there are more than a handful of little moments that hit home — bilingual puns, for example — but for the most part Ali just infuriated me with her selfish decisions and lack of empathy or accountability.
Spoiler
There doesn't seem to be a single moment when she accepts any real blame for her objectively poor decisions, though apparently her parents' good intentions don't count for much when they're not executed the way Ali would like. "Sorry" doesn't fix everything, apparently unless the one apologizing is a well-intentioned YA protagonist.For all Ali talks about her identity crisis (Allie vs Ali, American vs Chinese), I didn't feel like she had much self-discovery or character growth throughout the narrative. It felt more like a crusade, Ali and
Spoiler
Chase and YunPerhaps my biggest issue is the overproliferation of cliches:
Spoiler
Ali's (brief) hesitation to play nice with Chase because she was "burned" before when Yun (understandably) didn't want to be best friends after the well-meaning but insensitive way she reacted to his being gay; Ali's decision to not only keep secrets from but mislead Chase about her plans to find out about his family history; phrases like "a look that communicated more than words could say" and "in all the right places"; "Ali-fucius"; "sexy ninja Confucius"; the microaggressions Ali experiences, including Chinese food being called gross, racist jokes about being "yellow", mocking Asian accents; et cetera, et ceteraHonestly, I wanted to root for Ali and Chase but the scenes between them read more awkwardly than romantically — and while enthusiastic consent is certainly important in relationships, the way it was indicated in-text felt jarring and too overtly PC. (And this is coming from someone who identifies as an intersectional feminist.) The pacing of their relationship felt choppy, adding to my inability to wholeheartedly ship it.
I appreciate the attempts to be more intersectional throughout the book, though there are parts where the phrasing is incorrect
Spoiler
unless some people do say "coming out to [their] parents about being a lesbian", which I personally have never heardAlso, while I'm talking about phrasing, there are several instances where the use of teenage slang is incorrect and made me cringe. I'm not saying authors can't use phrases that the cool kids are saying these days, but sometimes it seems like they're trying too hard to be Relatable^TM. The pop culture references went over better, since they're used sparingly and (perhaps more importantly) aren't comprised entirely of Harry Potter and Marvel allusions.
So overall, while the rep in this book delights me to no end and the premise contains so much promise, I can't help feeling that the execution could've used some polishing.
content warnings:
Spoiler
racism & microaggressions, loss of loved ones (secondary character's parent), mentions of torture & suiciderep:
Spoiler
Taiwanese-American MCs & family, gay Chinese-American major character-----------
CONVERSION: 9.2 / 15 = 3.5 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: N/A
Surprisingly, it was the rising and falling action that really caught and held my interest. The climax took a little while to land — possibly because the chapters skip around in the chronology? I'm not sure — but the mood is strong with this one. It's kind of muted, an intentional sense of distance, which is of course fitting for a novel that revolves around dreams and sleep behaviors. Also, it's so satisfying to discover that the storylines actually match the intriguing title! (I've read quite a few books with lovely titles that turn out to be unrelated to the narrative, and that's always a letdown.)
In parts of the middle I was kind of on the fence about whether this was a "good" or "great" read, though I'm tempted to go back and reread it in light of that Big Reveal: I suspect it'll be even better a second, or even third, time around; while I didn't put the clues together, they were definitely there and I did pick up that "something's not right here" creeping unease. Again, very strong atmosphere — kind of slow and subtle, but so intriguing if you're in the right mood for it.
In parts of the middle I was kind of on the fence about whether this was a "good" or "great" read, though I'm tempted to go back and reread it in light of that Big Reveal: I suspect it'll be even better a second, or even third, time around; while I didn't put the clues together, they were definitely there and I did pick up that "something's not right here" creeping unease. Again, very strong atmosphere — kind of slow and subtle, but so intriguing if you're in the right mood for it.
1.5 stars.
I really wanted to like this, because there are so many different ways to make a villain, and I had high hopes for many of these (well-established) YA authors. But whether it was due to the short-story form or some kind-of weird prompts, I felt like most of these were underdeveloped and/or not nuanced enough, creating unsympathetic cartoon villains; a lot of the "analyses" that followed read like middle-school book reports with plot summary and surface-level interpretations, more focused on the writer's own reaction to the story (i.e., how much they "loved" what the author did with their prompt) than any contributions to a broader conversation about ethics and morality and personal tragedy and crime.
Usually with an anthology like this I'll rate each work individually, but honestly they all kind of blended together and I don't have much else to say.
Exceptional stories, i.e. the ones I actually enjoyed:
- "Beautiful Venom" by [a:Cindy Pon|2471183|Cindy Pon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1259643400p2/2471183.jpg]
- "Death's Knell" by [a:Victoria Schwab|3099544|Victoria Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336685438p2/3099544.jpg]
- "You, You, It’s All About You" by [a:Adam Silvera|7577278|Adam Silvera|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414725025p2/7577278.jpg]
- "Julian Breaks Every Rule" by [a:Andrew Smith|26810|Andrew Smith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
- "Sera" by [a:Nicola Yoon|7353006|Nicola Yoon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1411143980p2/7353006.jpg]
Exceptional essays:
- "Dear Death" by Jesse George
- "Glamorized Recovery: Expectations vs. Reality" by Whitney Atkinson
I really wanted to like this, because there are so many different ways to make a villain, and I had high hopes for many of these (well-established) YA authors. But whether it was due to the short-story form or some kind-of weird prompts, I felt like most of these were underdeveloped and/or not nuanced enough, creating unsympathetic cartoon villains; a lot of the "analyses" that followed read like middle-school book reports with plot summary and surface-level interpretations, more focused on the writer's own reaction to the story (i.e., how much they "loved" what the author did with their prompt) than any contributions to a broader conversation about ethics and morality and personal tragedy and crime.
Usually with an anthology like this I'll rate each work individually, but honestly they all kind of blended together and I don't have much else to say.
Exceptional stories, i.e. the ones I actually enjoyed:
- "Beautiful Venom" by [a:Cindy Pon|2471183|Cindy Pon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1259643400p2/2471183.jpg]
- "Death's Knell" by [a:Victoria Schwab|3099544|Victoria Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1336685438p2/3099544.jpg]
- "You, You, It’s All About You" by [a:Adam Silvera|7577278|Adam Silvera|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414725025p2/7577278.jpg]
- "Julian Breaks Every Rule" by [a:Andrew Smith|26810|Andrew Smith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
- "Sera" by [a:Nicola Yoon|7353006|Nicola Yoon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1411143980p2/7353006.jpg]
Exceptional essays:
- "Dear Death" by Jesse George
- "Glamorized Recovery: Expectations vs. Reality" by Whitney Atkinson