[Edit, March 2021: I haven’t reread this, but I decided to bump my rating up to 5 stars because I frequently think of this book and occasionally reread some scenes from it, and both make me very happy.]

Despite the fact that Red, White and Royal Blue is one of my all-time favorite books, I have absolutely no experience aside from it with the romance genre. I didn’t plan to read this book, but once again, the hype on book Twitter convinced me to give it a try. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. I sped through the book in less than 24 hours. I loved Chloe and Red; I was thoroughly invested in their story. Even as an asexual person with zero interest in anything sex-related, fictional or otherwise, I had fun reading this. It was definitely steamy, but I liked the characters and plot enough to not mind. Those last few chapters had me stressed, and then the epilogue had me so, so unbelievably happy.

Part of why I loved Chloe was the fact that she liked video games, and my fave, The Sims, was mentioned. I’m not sure which one, but I’ve never seen the franchise mentioned in a book and it was an exciting little thing for me. In general, the modern tidbits and overall realism and relatability really added to my enjoyment.

I also loved Red, and Chloe’s sisters. Red was interesting and, thankfully, not one of the stereotypical hipster artists I’ve read so many times before. To each their own, but it’s not my cup of tea. As for Chloe’s sisters, Dani and Eve, they were a lot of fun even though they didn’t have a bunch of page time. I liked the dynamic between the three of them and I’m already interested in the sequels following Dani and Eve, respectively.

I don’t think I’d call this a favorite, but I’m glad I picked it up and I’ll definitely read the next book. Consider me a Talia Hibbert fan.

Representation

I absolutely adored this book. The characters are some of my favorites; they’ve all got a special place in my heart, which is thoroughly broken right now. I’m distraught. Roshani Chokshi is an evil genius. She put a brilliant ensemble cast, heartwarming friendships, agonizing romantic tension, mysterious treasure hunts, multiple explosions, banter aplenty, intriguing magic,  unbelievably high stakes, and relevant discussions on many topics including racism and antisemitism all in one book barely over 400 pages. She really did that. I don’t even know what to say. I can only express myself through sad memes as I wait desperately for book three.

Representation:

Skyhunter is one of my favorite books of 2020, and of all time. I went in unsure exactly what to expect, as I’ve had varied opinions on Lu’s previous novels. I firmly believe this is her best book yet.

The prologue intrigued me, and there’s action and more intrigue immediately. I was emotionally invested before the first chapter ended. The whole book is intense and exciting, nerve-wracking and heartbreaking.

I loved the characters so much. Talin, Red, Adena, and Jeran are brilliant and complex, and I love the four of them. I especially love Talin and Red, who are both resilient and strong and in need of a hug. The former’s determination was admirable, and the latter is a warrior that’s soft on the inside, aka one of my favorite kinds of characters. I liked them individually and together, although there’s no romance; I’m referring to their friendship and how they work together.

Lu has always excelled at writing close-knit groups, and this was no exception. Talin, Adena, and Jeran have a great dynamic, and I enjoyed seeing Red slowly become part of their group despite everyone’s prejudices and doubts.

Lu is also phenomenal with world-building, as is evident in all three of her prior series and now this new one as well. Skyhunter’s story is set in a futuristic world full of ruins of the Early Ones’ civilization, now occupied mostly by the Federation, a cruel, power-hungry empire. The only free country on the continent is Mara, a small, struggling nation the Federation is eager to conquer. It was set up and explained so well, interesting and new and never confusing.

The world is intricate, full of things good and bad, and the worst is the Ghosts. The Federation poisons people with a substance that contorts and transforms them into unrecognizable beasts, then unleashes the feral creatures onto enemy territory. Well, there’s one thing worse than the Ghosts, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what that is.

I had to read most of this quickly in order to finish it in time to return the ebook to the library, but I think I would’ve devoured it all the same even if I had all the time in the world. I was fascinated by the world and characters Lu created, and when I wasn’t reading, Talin and company were still on my mind.

I know for sure three things I’ll be doing:

I’m excited and scared for the sequel. I want my babies to be okay, but I don’t think they will be. Lastly, I really hope that the sequel is as brilliant as this book, because so far I haven’t read a series conclusion from Lu that I truly loved. Fingers crossed Skyhunter 2 will be different, whenever it releases. Now go read Skyhunter, y’all!!

Representation:

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read an adult science fiction novel until now. I haven’t heard much about Sleeping Giants, but it’s been on my tbr for some time and I was eager to finally read it.

It was a mess.

I will say that the plot was unique and I was intrigued from the start. I also liked that the book was told solely through interviews and the occasional recording or transcript. Unique formatting in books almost always interests me. However, the format also made it difficult for me to really connect with any of the characters. I liked Rose, but I wasn’t invested in her story or anyone else’s.

My main issue is with three events in particular. No spoilers, but:

I was kind of bored in the second half, with the politics and what not. It’s not exactly what I expected. Some events made more sense to me than others, and some didn’t make any sense. Maybe they just went over my head. I’m not sure.

If I’m honest, by the time I reached the end, I was ready for it to be over. I didn’t think I’d continue the series, but that epilogue.... CRAP. I’m so confused and curious. I’ve already got the second book on hold through Libby. We’ll see if I regret that decision soon enough.

The Poppy War was nothing like what I expected, but it was still a unique, darkly compelling and unpredictable story. It was complex and brutal, and it deserves every bit of praise.

My mind is blown. My heart hurts. I’m simultaneously in love with and terrified of Fang Runin. She was brilliantly written, unlike any character I’ve read about before. I loved Kitay and Altan. Jiang amused me. Even Nezha grew on me. I’m invested in these characters and afraid for their lives. Well, at least, the ones that are still living.

Kuang crafted a fascinating world, rich with history and mythology and rife with political tension. I know this was based off of Chinese history, but I unfortunately don’t know anything about Chinese history and can’t contribute to that. I shouldn’t, anyway, since I’m white. Also, I’m in awe of the fact that Kuang wrote this when she was 19 and published it when she was 22. I’m 19 and I can’t stick with a project for two chapters. So much respect.

One thing I appreciate is that there’s no romantic relationship either present or developing in this book. There’s so much going on already, and as much as I love kissing and angst, I think the book is better off without any of that.

I have so many thoughts and no idea how to put them into words. I was surprised by how shamanism was integrated into the world and the plot. One twist involving Rin didn’t have much effect on me, as I remembered something I saw on Twitter and put the pieces together easily. But plenty of other twists shocked and destroyed me. That ending? Painful. [redacted]’s reaction? Also painful.

The slow pacing didn’t bother me. While it seemed uneven, with some intense action scenes followed by a lot of drudgery, Kuang made it work. I was so invested in the second half of the story and I read it fairly quickly. I had to know what happened.

The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because I felt that the time jumps were done a bit awkwardly. They were easy to miss, in my opinion, and in a few instances I had to reread the previous page or paragraph to make sure four months did just pass in one sentence. I understand why it was done, and I wouldn’t change it. I would just make it stand out a bit more.

That, and the last couple of chapters were sort of confusing? I didn’t always know exactly what was happening. The temple scene and the aftermath are mainly what I’m referring to. This is mostly just a personal problem, though.

I’m well aware that this review is a mess, but in my defense, it’s after midnight and I’m also a mess. While The Poppy War is definitely not for the faint of heart—I’m surprised I was able to get through it, squeamish as I am—I definitely recommend it to those interested. Consider me the newest addition to the online masses obsessed with this book. Now, the question is whether or not I dive into The Dragon Republic as soon as possible to find out what happens, or wait a bit and give myself a break before my heart is broken more...

Representation:
• Protagonist of color
• Some side characters of color

I really enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; in fact, I’ve read it twice. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Reid’s newest book. I remember seeing a lot of excitement surrounding it around and just after its release, but as far as I’m aware, most of that hype died down.

I enjoyed parts of Daisy Jones & The Six, mainly because it’s a unique book that doesn’t shy away from the rough parts of the characters’ lives. I also enjoyed the heavy focus on music, as that’s something I like in books but don’t read about very often. Usually because I can’t find books about music that intrigue me.

I didn’t realize that this book was told entirely in an interview format. I wasn’t bothered by it, but I do think the book might’ve been better if it had been told the way Reid told Evelyn Hugo, with one timeline focusing on the celebrities and another secondary timeline focusing on the interviewer, with the whole thing being in the traditional novel format. Just an opinion.

While there were emotional moments, for the most part I didn’t care about any of the characters. Individually, they were cliché and/or boring. Together, especially in the last third of the book, they acted like overdramatic, hormonal teenagers, and I’m just not here for that nonsense. Also, in the synopsis it literally says the band breaks up after a specific show, so there was no shock value. It was just me waiting to see which bit of petty drama would escalate enough to ruin everything.

Overall, Daisy Jones was not as good as Evelyn Hugo. It was a quick read and it was fine. I don’t particularly like or dislike it, and I’m mostly ready to be done with it. May or may not remember it in a few months. Most likely won’t seek out anything else by Reid.

This review is spoiler-free. Content warnings for the book are listed at the end.

@ everyone hyping this book up: y’all were right. This book is freaking fantastic, and it singlehandedly renewed my interest in adult fantasy.

Lee built an incredibly complex yet easy to understand world, and it was so easy to get lost in. Even though the pacing in the first half was a bit too slow for my tastes, the second half more than made up for it. Politics and war and family dynamics—I’m here for all of it. I also liked that Hilo and Wen were already together, and aside from their relationship, there was no romance. That allowed the focus to stay on the Kaul family and tension between the clans, and rightfully so.

The last fifty pages were so much more stressful than I expected and I don’t appreciate it. Anden is about my age, everyone else is older than me, but I’m attached to these characters and I DON’T WANT ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO THEM. I love Hilo, Shae, and Anden, and I WANT TO PROTECT THEM. But everyone talks about how devastating these books are and this is only the first, so..... to say I’m scared is an understatement.

Also, I legit can’t find the second book anywhere, at the library physically or digitally, and I am sad. I have so many other books I’m excited to read but I also lowkey only want to read Jade War.

If you’re on the fence about reading this, do it, and stick with the book even if you’re kind of bored at first. I was, and now I’ve got yet another book I’m obsessed and in love with.

Representation:
• One of the protagonists is queer

I haven’t read much adult fiction, but if there’s more like this, maybe I should. I found this to be a unique story with well-developed characters and great writing. My only issue is that I didn’t get particularly invested in any part of the book, and certain perspectives weren’t as interesting to me as others. While I did like the romance, I would’ve liked more from it. As for the ending, it wasn’t what I expected and didn’t make sense to me at first; after some consideration, I understand and respect the author’s choice. Not many books, in my experience, sacrifice love for plot and consistency. This one does, in a way. It’s hard to describe. In general, my feelings on this are hard to articulate. Nevertheless, I would recommend it, especially for people looking to test the waters of adult fiction.

Representation:
• Mexican protagonist
• Multiple characters of color

This review is spoiler-free. Content warnings for the book are listed at the end.

I’m honestly so confused by this book. While it was entertaining at times, and there were some charming side characters, I wasn’t overly invested in the protagonist or her journey. The world-building didn’t make any sense. I feel like the author tried to cram too much into her story; instead of being a well-balanced book, it ended up a jumbled mess.

My biggest issue is with the world. It seems like ours, yet different. There’s a Potomac and a New York and an England, and places with different names that are extremely similar to Norway, Finland, and Russia. I’m not sure if it’s set in our world or an alternate version of it or one completely new. I also don’t know when the story takes place. At first I thought it was during medieval times, but if it is indeed similar to our world, the fact that America exists means it must be at least the 1800s. But about halfway through Selah discovers a secret radio her godmother smuggled into her luggage, and the first radio wasn’t invented until the end of that century and developed in the early 1900s. (History gurus, if that’s wrong, please don’t attack me. I only did one (1) Google search.)

So the world-building made no sense to me. That doesn’t even include the fact that some of the names looked like gibberish. Two legit names of places in this book are “Shvartsval’d” and “Neukatzenelnbogen”, and honestly, those look like fandom Twitter keyboard smashes.

I’m also not sure that either of the pitches for this book are accurate. It’s supposedly Cinderella meets The Odyssey, but there are only two vague similarities between this and Cinderella. Those who’ve read The Odyssey (I have not) say this isn’t a good retelling of that, either. If you want to read this because of the pitch, try not to set your expectations too high. To be honest, Bright seemed to want to include multiple fairytales and old stories. There’s mention of Baba Yaga and Sir Gawain. Once again, I have no clue what is happening.

Enough of my confusion. Moving on to the characters, Selah, our protagonist, was fine, but not super interesting or memorable. I didn’t particularly care about her, though I did approve of some choices she made. None of the characters were especially interesting or memorable, now that I think about it, but I was more intrigued by some of the ship’s crew members and Norge royals than Selah.

And then there’s the romances. Yes, plural. There’s a love interest briefly mentioned in the first few chapters, the one that rejects her and prompts her international quest, as mentioned in the synopsis. Said quest was an unwelcome surprise from Selah’s stepmother, who essentially said to come back engaged to one of the pre-approved royal suitors or don’t come back at all. The first stop on her journey is England, where she falls in love with the prince’s guard instead of the prince. Then at the second stop, Norge, she falls in love with the actual prince. Good for her. But that’s two whirlwind insta-love romances in about a month, as each stop lasted two weeks, and both times she’s ready to get married to the guy. Admittedly, each relationship had moments I thought were cute, and I was genuinely rooting for Selah and the Norge prince. But I have a hard time believing she loved either of them, as two weeks is not enough time to get to know a stranger enough to want marriage. I might be a hopeless romantic, but no. Just no.

As I read the final third of the book, I was on the fence about whether I’d read the sequel. The last couple of chapters helped me decide that no, I wouldn’t waste time on something I wasn’t invested in already. Not only did Bright try to push too many fairytales into one story, she added another subplot in at the end that felt half-baked and out of place. It was obvious that the second book would continue that part of the plot, with this book’s story and the unanswered questions surrounding it most likely pushed to the back burner. I don’t know what’s going to happen to Selah or Potomac. I don’t know how this new plot point will help solve Selah’s problems. I don’t know anything, apparently.

Oh, and that last plot twist in the final pages? I called that at the very beginning. It was kind of obvious, in my opinion.

So yeah. I didn’t think I had so much to say about The Beholder, but I guess I did. I’m not sure who to recommend this to, since it’s such a mishmash of multiple things, but if you think you’ll like it, go for it. It was enjoyable at times but rather messy, and not my cup of tea overall.

Representation:
• A few Black side characters
• A few East Asian side characters
(All are minor. Wouldn’t recommend reading this for representation.)

Representation:
• Korean-Brazilian protagonist
• Chinese love interest
• Black side character with anxiety
• Mexican-American side character
• gay side character