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828 reviews by:
olivialandryxo
CW: ableist language
This novel deserves every ounce of hype it gets and more. I loved and thoroughly enjoyed this from the first page.
A list of good things // reasons to read this:
— the Chinese folklore. I only knew about the tale of the Monkey King because my sister likes it, but I knew essentially nothing about it. I really liked that specific tale.
— Genie was a badass (and Chinese) protagonist.
— tall girl and short boy, being fierce alone and together
— the realistic student representation. I don’t study as hard as Genie and definitely don’t have the same pressure on my shoulders, but seeing a character that was so dedicated to school was refreshing.
— similar to the last point, the tagline is “a demon invasion is no excuse for bad grades” and it cracks me up every time.
— Genie and Yunie’s friendship
— Genie’s family. Her parents are divorced, but she still loves and spends time with both of them. (When she’s not fighting demons.)
— the humor. 10/10
I highly recommend this book! Especially if you’re a fan of Rick Riordan.
This novel deserves every ounce of hype it gets and more. I loved and thoroughly enjoyed this from the first page.
A list of good things // reasons to read this:
— the Chinese folklore. I only knew about the tale of the Monkey King because my sister likes it, but I knew essentially nothing about it. I really liked that specific tale.
— Genie was a badass (and Chinese) protagonist.
— tall girl and short boy, being fierce alone and together
— the realistic student representation. I don’t study as hard as Genie and definitely don’t have the same pressure on my shoulders, but seeing a character that was so dedicated to school was refreshing.
— similar to the last point, the tagline is “a demon invasion is no excuse for bad grades” and it cracks me up every time.
— Genie and Yunie’s friendship
— Genie’s family. Her parents are divorced, but she still loves and spends time with both of them. (When she’s not fighting demons.)
— the humor. 10/10
I highly recommend this book! Especially if you’re a fan of Rick Riordan.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[second read, February 2023]
Rating raised from 3 stars to 4.
Why do I give all the best books lower ratings, and all the worst books higher ones?
Seriously though. This might not be one of my all-time favorites, but upon revisiting it, I’ve realized it’s still absolutely DELIGHTFUL to read. Seeing Jude’s descent into moral ambiguity, and all of the earliest signs that, already, Cardan is the biggest simp for her? Watching them bicker and banter and one-up each other? It’s just so much fun!
And don’t even get me started on how completely hilarious it is to witness Jude repeatedly misinterpret everything Cardan says and does. I didn’t notice this the first time, but like. It’s actually so obvious how fast he catches feels. Their every interaction is peak entertainment, truly.
Looking through my old review, I’m stunned by just how differently I feel this time around.And by how much of a fool I was at 17.
“The best way to sum up my thoughts would be wasted potential”?
A) Rude.
B) Not even remotely true. Holly Black is actually so clever for this.
“I liked the world-building, but I wanted more from it”?
I actually think Elfhame is fascinating. Terrifying, yes, but still fascinating.
“I liked Jude, but she never really had a plan and she was kind of whiny”?
The only whiny one here is past me, clearly. Jude is iconic.
“I liked Locke”?
FOOL.
“As for Cardan, he can walk into a volcano”?
FOOL.
“Needless to say, I don’t ship Jude and Cardan”?
FOOL.
Someone get me a time machine, because I was clearly born in the wrong time and missed my calling as a court jester.
Seriously though. The bit about Cardan was particularly painful to read, seeing as I’ve now found the light and know he’s an absolute cinnamon roll. He needs to be kept away from any and all volcanoes. He needs a hug.
And I most certainly do ship Jude and Cardan. I love them so much.
[first read, June 2018]
People say you either love this book or you hate it. Personally, I’m in the middle. It was an average read, and a disappointing one.
The best way to sum up my thoughts would be wasted potential. This book could’ve been great, but it just fell short. And I didn’t ever really *feel* anything? At all? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I liked the world-building, laughable as the name Faerieland may be. However, I wanted more from it.
I liked Jude, but she never really had a plan and she was kind of whiny. I think she could’ve used more character development, aside from growing more and more brutal.
I liked Jude’s relationship with her sisters, but I wanted more from it. Her interactions with Taryn did nothing but create drama, in my opinion, and Vivi was practically absent until she could help further a scheme.
The prologue intrigued me. I thought that starting a story with a murder would mean a consistently quicker pace and plenty of twists, but I was wrong. I wanted more action from the story. A lot of things seemed impromptu and not very entertaining, up until the last 65 pages.
And what even was the point of all that trash between Jude and Cardan and his crew??? The world may never know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I liked Locke. I liked Jude and Locke’s relationship. I was disappointed when that twist came up, but not surprised.
As for Cardan, he can walk into a volcano. I’m sorry he had a trash family and a rough childhood and that he was abused. I am. It sucks. But being abused doesn’t excuse being abusive. He was rotten from the start, and to me there was really no improvement.
Needless to say, I don’t ship Jude and Cardan. Nope.
I liked the end, particularly the Target scene. I think the sequel could be interesting, given Jude and Cardan’s last interaction, but I don’t know. I won’t be reading it.
The theme here is me wanting more. If more things were elaborated upon, I think this could’ve been a good book. I think I would’ve liked it. As it stands, I didn’t dislike it. I was rather neutral, and found it underwhelming.
And that’s all I think there is to say about that.
Representation:
Rating raised from 3 stars to 4.
Why do I give all the best books lower ratings, and all the worst books higher ones?
Seriously though. This might not be one of my all-time favorites, but upon revisiting it, I’ve realized it’s still absolutely DELIGHTFUL to read. Seeing Jude’s descent into moral ambiguity, and all of the earliest signs that, already, Cardan is the biggest simp for her? Watching them bicker and banter and one-up each other? It’s just so much fun!
And don’t even get me started on how completely hilarious it is to witness Jude repeatedly misinterpret everything Cardan says and does. I didn’t notice this the first time, but like. It’s actually so obvious how fast he catches feels. Their every interaction is peak entertainment, truly.
Looking through my old review, I’m stunned by just how differently I feel this time around.
“The best way to sum up my thoughts would be wasted potential”?
A) Rude.
B) Not even remotely true. Holly Black is actually so clever for this.
“I liked the world-building, but I wanted more from it”?
I actually think Elfhame is fascinating. Terrifying, yes, but still fascinating.
“I liked Jude, but she never really had a plan and she was kind of whiny”?
The only whiny one here is past me, clearly. Jude is iconic.
“I liked Locke”?
FOOL.
“As for Cardan, he can walk into a volcano”?
FOOL.
“Needless to say, I don’t ship Jude and Cardan”?
FOOL.
Someone get me a time machine, because I was clearly born in the wrong time and missed my calling as a court jester.
Seriously though. The bit about Cardan was particularly painful to read, seeing as I’ve now found the light and know he’s an absolute cinnamon roll. He needs to be kept away from any and all volcanoes. He needs a hug.
And I most certainly do ship Jude and Cardan. I love them so much.
[first read, June 2018]
People say you either love this book or you hate it. Personally, I’m in the middle. It was an average read, and a disappointing one.
The best way to sum up my thoughts would be wasted potential. This book could’ve been great, but it just fell short. And I didn’t ever really *feel* anything? At all? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I liked the world-building, laughable as the name Faerieland may be. However, I wanted more from it.
I liked Jude, but she never really had a plan and she was kind of whiny. I think she could’ve used more character development, aside from growing more and more brutal.
I liked Jude’s relationship with her sisters, but I wanted more from it. Her interactions with Taryn did nothing but create drama, in my opinion, and Vivi was practically absent until she could help further a scheme.
The prologue intrigued me. I thought that starting a story with a murder would mean a consistently quicker pace and plenty of twists, but I was wrong. I wanted more action from the story. A lot of things seemed impromptu and not very entertaining, up until the last 65 pages.
And what even was the point of all that trash between Jude and Cardan and his crew??? The world may never know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I liked Locke. I liked Jude and Locke’s relationship. I was disappointed when that twist came up, but not surprised.
As for Cardan, he can walk into a volcano. I’m sorry he had a trash family and a rough childhood and that he was abused. I am. It sucks. But being abused doesn’t excuse being abusive. He was rotten from the start, and to me there was really no improvement.
Needless to say, I don’t ship Jude and Cardan. Nope.
I liked the end, particularly the Target scene. I think the sequel could be interesting, given Jude and Cardan’s last interaction, but I don’t know. I won’t be reading it.
The theme here is me wanting more. If more things were elaborated upon, I think this could’ve been a good book. I think I would’ve liked it. As it stands, I didn’t dislike it. I was rather neutral, and found it underwhelming.
And that’s all I think there is to say about that.
Representation:
- bisexual side character in a sapphic relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Suicide
Self-harm: Jude stabs herself through the hand (coercion) and repeatedly consumes various poisons (willingly). Parent death: both of Jude’s parents are killed on-page in the prologue. Physical abuse: Jude witnesses another character get beaten by someone in their family. Suicide: committed by an extremely minor side character, but on-page nonetheless. She drowns. Drug use: occasional use of fantasy drugs by side characters. There’s also a scene where Jude is drugged and acts against her will, though the situation doesn’t escalate to anything worse.
WOW.
THIS WAS BRILLIANT. AMAZING. EXQUISITE.
WHY ARE Y’ALL SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK??!
Ahem.
I don’t know why I’m suddenly enthralled by time travel stories, but I’m going with it. First Invictus, and now this. This work of art. I’m not even exaggerating; I loved this so much.
This book is definitely driven more by characters than plot, but both are amazing. There’s time travel and thievery, deception and romance, and an extremely intricate web of events that goes beyond time itself. You know how some 500 page books drag, and when you’re finished you wonder why it needed those last 100-150 pages? Not this time. Despite its slower pacing, this book pulls you in and keeps you guessing, keeps you intrigued from the first page to the last.
Our protagonists include a badass, quick-witted thief, a roguishly charming prickmuffin/magician*, and an array of well-developed side characters. One is a bit like Kaz Brekker in the 1900’s, cane and all. There’s also a gay Italian assassin and an Asian** spy. I love them all. It’s the kind of thing one just can’t help.
*to be used interchangeably, depending on the chapter
**I can’t remember his specific ethnicity and I don’t want to mislead anyone.
The aforementioned thief and magician have a marvelous hate-to-love romance, complete with sneaky kisses, denial, constant attempts to outdo each other, and A+ banter. That bedroom scene still makes me laugh.***
***don’t be dirty, it’s not like that
I was invested from the start, but the last 150 pages especially roped me in. There were a bunch of twists and I had no idea what was real and what wasn’t. The end wasn’t a cliffhanger, but it was written skillfully in a way that has me not-so-quietly, figuratively dying for the sequel.
There’s also gangs, magic, alchemy, heists, and theater performances. This book truly does have everything. Whatever sprinkles your donut, it’s probably here somewhere.
In all honesty, I went into this book with no expectations. I didn’t think it would be that great, but it was. It really flipping was, and I can’t get over it. I’m not sure if it’s in my top 5 favorite books, but it’s definitely in my top 10. Ever. Of all time.
So in case I haven’t made it incredibly obvious, I liked this book. A lot. So much. I’m running out of words.
You should read it. Don’t sleep on this book. It deserves better.
The sequel comes out in 121 days and I’m ready. At least, I think I am. ~*end rant*~
THIS WAS BRILLIANT. AMAZING. EXQUISITE.
WHY ARE Y’ALL SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK??!
Ahem.
I don’t know why I’m suddenly enthralled by time travel stories, but I’m going with it. First Invictus, and now this. This work of art. I’m not even exaggerating; I loved this so much.
This book is definitely driven more by characters than plot, but both are amazing. There’s time travel and thievery, deception and romance, and an extremely intricate web of events that goes beyond time itself. You know how some 500 page books drag, and when you’re finished you wonder why it needed those last 100-150 pages? Not this time. Despite its slower pacing, this book pulls you in and keeps you guessing, keeps you intrigued from the first page to the last.
Our protagonists include a badass, quick-witted thief, a roguishly charming prickmuffin/magician*, and an array of well-developed side characters. One is a bit like Kaz Brekker in the 1900’s, cane and all. There’s also a gay Italian assassin and an Asian** spy. I love them all. It’s the kind of thing one just can’t help.
*to be used interchangeably, depending on the chapter
**I can’t remember his specific ethnicity and I don’t want to mislead anyone.
The aforementioned thief and magician have a marvelous hate-to-love romance, complete with sneaky kisses, denial, constant attempts to outdo each other, and A+ banter. That bedroom scene still makes me laugh.***
***don’t be dirty, it’s not like that
I was invested from the start, but the last 150 pages especially roped me in. There were a bunch of twists and I had no idea what was real and what wasn’t. The end wasn’t a cliffhanger, but it was written skillfully in a way that has me not-so-quietly, figuratively dying for the sequel.
There’s also gangs, magic, alchemy, heists, and theater performances. This book truly does have everything. Whatever sprinkles your donut, it’s probably here somewhere.
In all honesty, I went into this book with no expectations. I didn’t think it would be that great, but it was. It really flipping was, and I can’t get over it. I’m not sure if it’s in my top 5 favorite books, but it’s definitely in my top 10. Ever. Of all time.
So in case I haven’t made it incredibly obvious, I liked this book. A lot. So much. I’m running out of words.
You should read it. Don’t sleep on this book. It deserves better.
The sequel comes out in 121 days and I’m ready. At least, I think I am. ~*end rant*~
CW: abuse, alcoholism, car accident, gaslighting, toxic relationship, homophobia, sexual content
This is the June pick for prideathon, and I had high expectations. Every one was met and exceeded, and once again, Jen has knocked me off my feet with her novel.
My favorite thing about this novel is its realism. While I’m nowhere near Emmy’s situation, I could relate to many of her core struggles: questioning her sexuality, self-doubt, unsureness, trying to do the right thing. This is one of the most accurate contemporaries I’ve read in some time, and the characters’ flaws drove that feeling home.
I’d be totally okay if Emmy’s parents and Jessie walked across a room of legos and fell off a cliff, and I want to give all of the main characters a big hug and protect them. I loved that the Queens of Geek characters had a cameo.
This book includes two other things I think make it all the better. Any book I’ve read with music in it seems to be either a character that idolizes a musician or band, or an aspiring musician. Reading about a legitimate band was refreshing, and a lot of fun. I loved the songwriting, the recording, the performances. It was all included and very enjoyable to read.
Also, I honestly appreciate Jen’s inclusion of social media and other media, and how consuming and present it is in daily life. Emmy talks about, checks, and posts to various platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Snapchat throughout the book. There’s also ample discussion of media sites, of headlines and assumptions and the affect of it on reputation as well as mental health.
While this is definitely a harder book to read, it’s effortlessly diverse and I’d highly recommend it if you can.
- Emmy is bisexual
- Alfie is pansexual and genderqueer
- Ryan is Korean and bisexual
- Chloe is black, bisexual, and a nonbinary femme that uses they/them
And those are just the main characters. If I forgot anything or anyone, please let me know, as it was unintentional and I want to be as accurate as I can be.
Going off of that, there’s an f/gq slow-burn romance, a side m/m romance, and a side f/f romance. Basically, everyone’s at least kind of gay and there’s lot of drama and angst and kissing, oh my. These ships quite literally sail* and it was slightly agonizing but mostly wonderful to read.
*there’s an extended period of time where all those involved in said ships are on a yacht. I think I’m funny.
With this novel, I think it’s safe to say that Jen Wilde has become one of my auto-buy authors. This is the second book of hers that I loved, with its lovable characters and satisfying blend of fluff and tougher subjects. It’s relevant, it’s fun, and overall a great novel that I sped through in just a few hours. Very much recommended.
To end, a couple of my fav quotes:
“At least let me eat my damn Froot Loops before you start trolling me about how much of a loser I am.”
“Oh yeah, we’re here and we’re queer and we won’t slow down,
We’re here and we’re queer, white, black, and brown,”
“Don’t mess with the girl in the purple lipstick!”
This is the June pick for prideathon, and I had high expectations. Every one was met and exceeded, and once again, Jen has knocked me off my feet with her novel.
My favorite thing about this novel is its realism. While I’m nowhere near Emmy’s situation, I could relate to many of her core struggles: questioning her sexuality, self-doubt, unsureness, trying to do the right thing. This is one of the most accurate contemporaries I’ve read in some time, and the characters’ flaws drove that feeling home.
I’d be totally okay if Emmy’s parents and Jessie walked across a room of legos and fell off a cliff, and I want to give all of the main characters a big hug and protect them. I loved that the Queens of Geek characters had a cameo.
This book includes two other things I think make it all the better. Any book I’ve read with music in it seems to be either a character that idolizes a musician or band, or an aspiring musician. Reading about a legitimate band was refreshing, and a lot of fun. I loved the songwriting, the recording, the performances. It was all included and very enjoyable to read.
Also, I honestly appreciate Jen’s inclusion of social media and other media, and how consuming and present it is in daily life. Emmy talks about, checks, and posts to various platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Snapchat throughout the book. There’s also ample discussion of media sites, of headlines and assumptions and the affect of it on reputation as well as mental health.
While this is definitely a harder book to read, it’s effortlessly diverse and I’d highly recommend it if you can.
- Emmy is bisexual
- Alfie is pansexual and genderqueer
- Ryan is Korean and bisexual
- Chloe is black, bisexual, and a nonbinary femme that uses they/them
And those are just the main characters. If I forgot anything or anyone, please let me know, as it was unintentional and I want to be as accurate as I can be.
Going off of that, there’s an f/gq slow-burn romance, a side m/m romance, and a side f/f romance. Basically, everyone’s at least kind of gay and there’s lot of drama and angst and kissing, oh my. These ships quite literally sail* and it was slightly agonizing but mostly wonderful to read.
*there’s an extended period of time where all those involved in said ships are on a yacht. I think I’m funny.
With this novel, I think it’s safe to say that Jen Wilde has become one of my auto-buy authors. This is the second book of hers that I loved, with its lovable characters and satisfying blend of fluff and tougher subjects. It’s relevant, it’s fun, and overall a great novel that I sped through in just a few hours. Very much recommended.
To end, a couple of my fav quotes:
“At least let me eat my damn Froot Loops before you start trolling me about how much of a loser I am.”
“Oh yeah, we’re here and we’re queer and we won’t slow down,
We’re here and we’re queer, white, black, and brown,”
“Don’t mess with the girl in the purple lipstick!”
CW: extreme homophobia, violence toward gay characters, abuse, assault, bullying, grief, suicidal ideation, depression
This is without a doubt a very powerful and important novel. I didn’t expect it to be fluffy going in, but I also didn’t expect it to be what it was: an ownvoices story about a Greek boy in a religious family that’s severely abused by his mother because he’s gay.
I find this review challenging to write, as any criticism I have is also indirectly criticizing the author’s own life. The author’s note tells readers that this novel closely mirrors his own childhood, making it all the harder to review. This is why I don’t read autobiographies or memoirs.
There were plenty of ups and downs throughout the book. Evan and Henry were good characters on their own, but I don’t think their relationship was a good idea, as Evan is still recovering from his mother’s abuse and doesn’t have a solid support system beyond Henry. I liked Evan’s father, but too often he took his wife’s side over his son’s or stepped back from the situation entirely. This book features religion more prominently than most others I’ve read, and included the nuances of it and the effects it could have on other parts of life. I liked the Greek culture intertwined throughout, as well as Evan’s use of art to escape and to express.
My favorite thing about this novel was Henry’s family. They loved Evan like a second son, a second brother, and they cared for him. It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, but when it was there, it was a nice reprieve.
My least favorite thing was the texting. I’ve lost count of how many times I or another teen in the book community have expressed our dislike of the way authors abbreviate in such conversations. It’s no longer realistic and is now cringeworthy, if I’m being honest. The texts had words that were abbreviated by removing the vowels, and it looked strange. When Evan or his friends would say “for this” or “to that,” it was instead written as “4this” and “2that.” I’ve never texted like that and I’ve never seen texts like that. It’s 2018, authors, please don’t do that.
Although this ended up being an average read for me, it’s definitely an important novel. Queer abuse is unfortunately a part of the queer experience for many, and all parts of the community should be represented, however unpleasant. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, but if you believe you’re up for the content, then absolutely go for it. It’s a moving story that deserves to be read.
This is without a doubt a very powerful and important novel. I didn’t expect it to be fluffy going in, but I also didn’t expect it to be what it was: an ownvoices story about a Greek boy in a religious family that’s severely abused by his mother because he’s gay.
I find this review challenging to write, as any criticism I have is also indirectly criticizing the author’s own life. The author’s note tells readers that this novel closely mirrors his own childhood, making it all the harder to review. This is why I don’t read autobiographies or memoirs.
There were plenty of ups and downs throughout the book. Evan and Henry were good characters on their own, but I don’t think their relationship was a good idea, as Evan is still recovering from his mother’s abuse and doesn’t have a solid support system beyond Henry. I liked Evan’s father, but too often he took his wife’s side over his son’s or stepped back from the situation entirely. This book features religion more prominently than most others I’ve read, and included the nuances of it and the effects it could have on other parts of life. I liked the Greek culture intertwined throughout, as well as Evan’s use of art to escape and to express.
My favorite thing about this novel was Henry’s family. They loved Evan like a second son, a second brother, and they cared for him. It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, but when it was there, it was a nice reprieve.
My least favorite thing was the texting. I’ve lost count of how many times I or another teen in the book community have expressed our dislike of the way authors abbreviate in such conversations. It’s no longer realistic and is now cringeworthy, if I’m being honest. The texts had words that were abbreviated by removing the vowels, and it looked strange. When Evan or his friends would say “for this” or “to that,” it was instead written as “4this” and “2that.” I’ve never texted like that and I’ve never seen texts like that. It’s 2018, authors, please don’t do that.
Although this ended up being an average read for me, it’s definitely an important novel. Queer abuse is unfortunately a part of the queer experience for many, and all parts of the community should be represented, however unpleasant. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, but if you believe you’re up for the content, then absolutely go for it. It’s a moving story that deserves to be read.
CW: sexual assault, transmisia, outing, attempted suicide, assault
Let’s start with a disclaimer. This book is about a trans girl, written by a trans woman, and I’m cis. Take what I say with a grain of salt.
I finally read this! It’s the most recommended trans story I’ve seen, and it’s been on my tbr for a couple of years now.
I’ve read very few books starring trans characters; if I thought about it, I could probably count them on one hand. I’m not sure how many, if any, are by trans authors. I liked the discussions in this novel, and if you can handle the content I’d recommend reading it. It’s undeniably important.
As for my own enjoyment, I liked this to a certain extent. Amanda was a well-rounded protagonist with a distinctive voice. I liked her parents’ character arc, and her supportive group of girl friends. However, Anna, Layla, and Chloe kind of ran together; a friend’s review called them “the religious one, the gay one, and the other one,” and though it slightly pains me to admit it, they’re right. I loved how accepting they were and the way they instantaneously drew Amanda into their circle, but on their own they were weak. Bee was a genuinely good friend and Grant was a super sweet boyfriend. Both of them had secrets and didn’t fit any mold.
This is a novel that’s simultaneously dark and hopeful, and I think it’s written well. It talks about the challenging parts of Amanda’s transition and how other people handled it, her suicide attempt, and her recovery.
“I deserved to live. I deserved to find love. I knew now—I believed, now—that I deserved to be loved.”
I’m not a Star Wars fan, but I liked seeing the references throughout. I know the extreme basics because my mom and sister are big fans. I think it added an extra element to the story, and made it a bit more fun and lighthearted at times. I liked the Halloween party and the homecoming proposal.
What lowered this book’s rating for me was the homecoming scene and its aftermath. AMandan was outed, and unfortunately I saw it coming. I don’t like that it happened or that it was used as a plot twist. I can sort of see why it was written that way, to further Amanda’s character development in the long run, but I didn’t like it. What happened after was nothing short of a hot mess. While it was a good book regardless, I feel that these events took it down a notch or seven.
I liked that the ending was open. Usually that bothers me, but I think this was done really well, and it still managed to satisfy me. As long as Amanda never interacts with three specific characters again, I’ll be good.
This was an enjoyable novel, and an important one to read. I liked most aspects, but couldn’t look past others. I might check out what Meredith publishes in the future.
Let’s start with a disclaimer. This book is about a trans girl, written by a trans woman, and I’m cis. Take what I say with a grain of salt.
I finally read this! It’s the most recommended trans story I’ve seen, and it’s been on my tbr for a couple of years now.
I’ve read very few books starring trans characters; if I thought about it, I could probably count them on one hand. I’m not sure how many, if any, are by trans authors. I liked the discussions in this novel, and if you can handle the content I’d recommend reading it. It’s undeniably important.
As for my own enjoyment, I liked this to a certain extent. Amanda was a well-rounded protagonist with a distinctive voice. I liked her parents’ character arc, and her supportive group of girl friends. However, Anna, Layla, and Chloe kind of ran together; a friend’s review called them “the religious one, the gay one, and the other one,” and though it slightly pains me to admit it, they’re right. I loved how accepting they were and the way they instantaneously drew Amanda into their circle, but on their own they were weak. Bee was a genuinely good friend and Grant was a super sweet boyfriend. Both of them had secrets and didn’t fit any mold.
This is a novel that’s simultaneously dark and hopeful, and I think it’s written well. It talks about the challenging parts of Amanda’s transition and how other people handled it, her suicide attempt, and her recovery.
“I deserved to live. I deserved to find love. I knew now—I believed, now—that I deserved to be loved.”
I’m not a Star Wars fan, but I liked seeing the references throughout. I know the extreme basics because my mom and sister are big fans. I think it added an extra element to the story, and made it a bit more fun and lighthearted at times. I liked the Halloween party and the homecoming proposal.
What lowered this book’s rating for me was the homecoming scene and its aftermath. AMandan was outed, and unfortunately I saw it coming. I don’t like that it happened or that it was used as a plot twist. I can sort of see why it was written that way, to further Amanda’s character development in the long run, but I didn’t like it. What happened after was nothing short of a hot mess. While it was a good book regardless, I feel that these events took it down a notch or seven.
I liked that the ending was open. Usually that bothers me, but I think this was done really well, and it still managed to satisfy me. As long as Amanda never interacts with three specific characters again, I’ll be good.
This was an enjoyable novel, and an important one to read. I liked most aspects, but couldn’t look past others. I might check out what Meredith publishes in the future.
CW: abuse, domestic violence, death/murder, attempted suicide
Recently I’ve seen Amber’s novels throughout the book community, and my interest was piqued. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one as much as I’d hoped to.
A novel with topics like this one — domestic violence, family, moving on — should be emotionally charged. It should make you feel things, make you empathize. 95% of the time, I didn’t feel anything. The situation Brooke and her family were in, before and after the murder, was horrible. No doubt about that. But the only thing I consistently felt while reading was secondhand embarrassment regarding some of things Brooke did and said.
This book is marketed as lgbtq+, and while there was a slow-burn f/f romance, I feel like I was cheated out of a gay story. The gayer the better, right? Brooke and Dani didn’t get much page time as a couple, and in the second half Brooke treated Dani so terribly. They avoided each other until the end, when they seemed to make up and tentatively get back together. I know each story is different, but if a story is marketed as lgbtq+, I’d like the relationship to be at least one of the main focuses.
I feel like every character but Brooke was kind of brushed aside and not fully developed. Even she didn’t make sense all the time. At the start, she was extremely studious and dedicated to school, whereas in the second half, she skipped school frequently and seemed to stop caring. I can completely understand why she’d lose focus, given the situation, but at the same time, she didn’t even try to recover. It felt out of character for her, since her studious tendencies were so thoroughly established in the beginning.
Lastly, I want to say that I was hoping for a bit more regarding the familial relationships. The way they were written definitely seemed realistic; I know some families lash out and break apart in rough times rather than coming together to help each other through it. However, in the middle, the siblings mostly ignored each other, and in the end there was only some healing and reconnecting. Each of them lived somewhere else; I don’t even know where Aaron was. I liked their grandmother, though, and toward the end Brooke’s relationship with her mother and her sister respectively improved.
I know I had a lot of criticism, but ultimately this wasn’t a bad novel. I think that in many places, the execution left more to be desired. Despite that, this novel has important themes and I’m glad I read it. I’ll be picking up Amber’s other book in the future.
Recently I’ve seen Amber’s novels throughout the book community, and my interest was piqued. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one as much as I’d hoped to.
A novel with topics like this one — domestic violence, family, moving on — should be emotionally charged. It should make you feel things, make you empathize. 95% of the time, I didn’t feel anything. The situation Brooke and her family were in, before and after the murder, was horrible. No doubt about that. But the only thing I consistently felt while reading was secondhand embarrassment regarding some of things Brooke did and said.
This book is marketed as lgbtq+, and while there was a slow-burn f/f romance, I feel like I was cheated out of a gay story. The gayer the better, right? Brooke and Dani didn’t get much page time as a couple, and in the second half Brooke treated Dani so terribly. They avoided each other until the end, when they seemed to make up and tentatively get back together. I know each story is different, but if a story is marketed as lgbtq+, I’d like the relationship to be at least one of the main focuses.
I feel like every character but Brooke was kind of brushed aside and not fully developed. Even she didn’t make sense all the time. At the start, she was extremely studious and dedicated to school, whereas in the second half, she skipped school frequently and seemed to stop caring. I can completely understand why she’d lose focus, given the situation, but at the same time, she didn’t even try to recover. It felt out of character for her, since her studious tendencies were so thoroughly established in the beginning.
Lastly, I want to say that I was hoping for a bit more regarding the familial relationships. The way they were written definitely seemed realistic; I know some families lash out and break apart in rough times rather than coming together to help each other through it. However, in the middle, the siblings mostly ignored each other, and in the end there was only some healing and reconnecting. Each of them lived somewhere else; I don’t even know where Aaron was. I liked their grandmother, though, and toward the end Brooke’s relationship with her mother and her sister respectively improved.
I know I had a lot of criticism, but ultimately this wasn’t a bad novel. I think that in many places, the execution left more to be desired. Despite that, this novel has important themes and I’m glad I read it. I’ll be picking up Amber’s other book in the future.
second read, June 2018
CW: outing
I watched Love, Simon for the first time last night and loved it, so of course a reread was necessary. I loved it all, honestly. Not sure what I can say that hasn’t already been said. Simon and Blue are adorable nerds and Martin can walk into a volcano. 10/10 will probably reread again, maybe every Pride Month.
——
first read, September 2016
Full review and more on Heir of Glitter.
This book exceeded all of my hopes and expectations, and I totally understand why everyone loves it. Simon is such a relatable character, and his relationship with Blue is adorable. I loved how quirky and present his family was, and that he had a large group of friends rather than being a loner. I'll definitely be reading Becky's new book when it comes out, and until then, I'll just read a million more fluffy LGBTQ+ books. :)
I've seen this quote everywhere and now that I've actually read it I love it even more!
Bram is Blue?! I never saw that coming! I honestly thought it was Cal... and I'm so glad it wasn't Martin. I can't believe I didn't put the pieces together, because Blue's email was a major clue. But I'm glad I didn't, because the reveal at the carnival was adorable!
CW: outing
I watched Love, Simon for the first time last night and loved it, so of course a reread was necessary. I loved it all, honestly. Not sure what I can say that hasn’t already been said. Simon and Blue are adorable nerds and Martin can walk into a volcano. 10/10 will probably reread again, maybe every Pride Month.
——
first read, September 2016
Full review and more on Heir of Glitter.
This book exceeded all of my hopes and expectations, and I totally understand why everyone loves it. Simon is such a relatable character, and his relationship with Blue is adorable. I loved how quirky and present his family was, and that he had a large group of friends rather than being a loner. I'll definitely be reading Becky's new book when it comes out, and until then, I'll just read a million more fluffy LGBTQ+ books. :)
White shouldn't be the default any more than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default.
I've seen this quote everywhere and now that I've actually read it I love it even more!
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I’ve read a decent amount of sci-fi in the past couple of years. Plenty of have been good, some have been amazing, and a handful sucked.
This book may be the best sci-fi I’ve ever read.
The story is slower and meanders a bit, but that’s okay. It’s still intriguing, and the pace allows focus to shift to the characters and complexities of the galaxy. The execution is spot-on.
There’s so much to love about this. Everything is so intricate. The aliens were so creative and they had in-depth cultures and customs. The galaxies this story spanned were just as expansive, with elite planets and fringe planets, life and no life, and everything in between.
Additionally, everyone is so lovable (even Corbin) and uniquely badass. Rosemary, Ashby, Sissix, Kizzy, Jenks, Corbin, Dr. Chef, Ohan, and Lovey are one of my new favorite group casts. They’re an interspecies crew and each member has their own discernible strengths, weaknesses, and personality. The found family dynamic was heartwarming, and their banter and loyalty and friendship and acceptance was basically perfection. This crew has my heart. (Or part of it. I’ve got too many all-time favorite characters and not enough heart. #booknerdproblems)
This novel also discusses important topics such as racism and xenophobia, and consistently includes gender-neutral pronouns (they/them) for a crew member and other characters (xe/xyr) they meet along the way. It talks about learning and respecting other cultures and the differences from your own. While it’s primarily a captivating space opera, it also has very relevant discussions that were effortlessly woven in.
There are three romances that develop over the course of the book. One is f/f while the other two are m/f, but all three are interspecies in some way. I won’t specify characters, but they’re all passionate in their own way and I was absolutely on board. One made me really, unexpectedly sad. I hope to see more of the others in the sequel.
I think all aspects of this book were written superbly. There was so much detail and development, and it’s so interesting to drink it all up while going on this unpredictable galactic adventure. I was hooked from the start, and although reading this took me a bit longer than I’d hoped, I found it gripping through to the very last page.
I feel like this book deserves a longer, more eloquent and laudatory review, but truly, my love for it goes beyond any words I can conjure at almost 11 pm. (Or any time, let’s be honest. I’m rarely eloquent.)
So, all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was my first adult sci-fi read, and I think I’ll have to try more. This was a huge surprise, albeit a pleasant one, and I’d absolutely recommend it, even if you aren’t usually a sci-fi fan. I think this book could change your mind.
This book may be the best sci-fi I’ve ever read.
The story is slower and meanders a bit, but that’s okay. It’s still intriguing, and the pace allows focus to shift to the characters and complexities of the galaxy. The execution is spot-on.
There’s so much to love about this. Everything is so intricate. The aliens were so creative and they had in-depth cultures and customs. The galaxies this story spanned were just as expansive, with elite planets and fringe planets, life and no life, and everything in between.
Additionally, everyone is so lovable (even Corbin) and uniquely badass. Rosemary, Ashby, Sissix, Kizzy, Jenks, Corbin, Dr. Chef, Ohan, and Lovey are one of my new favorite group casts. They’re an interspecies crew and each member has their own discernible strengths, weaknesses, and personality. The found family dynamic was heartwarming, and their banter and loyalty and friendship and acceptance was basically perfection. This crew has my heart. (Or part of it. I’ve got too many all-time favorite characters and not enough heart. #booknerdproblems)
This novel also discusses important topics such as racism and xenophobia, and consistently includes gender-neutral pronouns (they/them) for a crew member and other characters (xe/xyr) they meet along the way. It talks about learning and respecting other cultures and the differences from your own. While it’s primarily a captivating space opera, it also has very relevant discussions that were effortlessly woven in.
There are three romances that develop over the course of the book. One is f/f while the other two are m/f, but all three are interspecies in some way. I won’t specify characters, but they’re all passionate in their own way and I was absolutely on board. One made me really, unexpectedly sad. I hope to see more of the others in the sequel.
I think all aspects of this book were written superbly. There was so much detail and development, and it’s so interesting to drink it all up while going on this unpredictable galactic adventure. I was hooked from the start, and although reading this took me a bit longer than I’d hoped, I found it gripping through to the very last page.
I feel like this book deserves a longer, more eloquent and laudatory review, but truly, my love for it goes beyond any words I can conjure at almost 11 pm. (Or any time, let’s be honest. I’m rarely eloquent.)
So, all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was my first adult sci-fi read, and I think I’ll have to try more. This was a huge surprise, albeit a pleasant one, and I’d absolutely recommend it, even if you aren’t usually a sci-fi fan. I think this book could change your mind.
4.5 stars
CW: anxiety, talk of & attempted suicide, death
I feel like I should have a stronger reaction, to be honest. I’ve officially read all three of Adam’s released novels and haven’t shed a single tear. This one definitely broke my heart more than the others, but it didn’t have the same effect on me as it apparently did on everyone else. I’ll chalk that up to my heart of stone, haha.
That aside, this was a brilliant novel. I’ve never really read speculative fiction, but I enjoyed this. It manages to discuss death while celebrating life. It’s dark and heartbreaking but also kind of hopeful, and just really well done.
For protagonists, we’ve got Mateo, a queer Puerto Rican boy with anxiety, and Rufus, a bi Cuban-American boy. They’re very different dynamically, but I ended up loving them both. Mateo is (understandably) terrified and paranoid, while Rufus has mostly accepted what’s going to happen. They help each other develop on their End Day and bring out the best in one another. I liked that Rufus was a photographer.
Normally, romances like theirs that take place so quickly don’t work for me. But it wasn’t insta-love, and I don’t know, their relationship is just the exception. They’re two sweet queer boys about to die, of course I ship them. They were adorable while they lasted. (Too soon?)
I didn’t really understand the whole Death-Cast thing. The story takes place in September 2017; how does anyone know when people will die? I know it’s speculative fiction and an answer to that question isn’t necessary, may not even exist, but I couldn’t help but wonder while I read.
Additionally, I didn’t have anything against the other perspectives, but I have to admit that I didn’t really see their purpose.
I’m not going to say anything specific about the ending, because part of the fun of this novel (for lack of a better word) is finding out if they both do die at the end. This was the saddest, most emotional part of the story for various reasons. Things happened that had to happen and then it was open-ended. I mean, I can guess what happens next, after the story ends, but another paragraph would’ve been nice. Just a tiny bit more to really conclude the story.
So, yeah. I’m not distraught like people said I’d be, but my heart does hurt. And although this novel wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, it was still phenomenal and packed a punch. I’ll be thinking about it for a bit, and I’m looking forward to reading what Adam does next.
CW: anxiety, talk of & attempted suicide, death
I feel like I should have a stronger reaction, to be honest. I’ve officially read all three of Adam’s released novels and haven’t shed a single tear. This one definitely broke my heart more than the others, but it didn’t have the same effect on me as it apparently did on everyone else. I’ll chalk that up to my heart of stone, haha.
That aside, this was a brilliant novel. I’ve never really read speculative fiction, but I enjoyed this. It manages to discuss death while celebrating life. It’s dark and heartbreaking but also kind of hopeful, and just really well done.
For protagonists, we’ve got Mateo, a queer Puerto Rican boy with anxiety, and Rufus, a bi Cuban-American boy. They’re very different dynamically, but I ended up loving them both. Mateo is (understandably) terrified and paranoid, while Rufus has mostly accepted what’s going to happen. They help each other develop on their End Day and bring out the best in one another. I liked that Rufus was a photographer.
Normally, romances like theirs that take place so quickly don’t work for me. But it wasn’t insta-love, and I don’t know, their relationship is just the exception. They’re two sweet queer boys about to die, of course I ship them. They were adorable while they lasted. (Too soon?)
I didn’t really understand the whole Death-Cast thing. The story takes place in September 2017; how does anyone know when people will die? I know it’s speculative fiction and an answer to that question isn’t necessary, may not even exist, but I couldn’t help but wonder while I read.
Additionally, I didn’t have anything against the other perspectives, but I have to admit that I didn’t really see their purpose.
I’m not going to say anything specific about the ending, because part of the fun of this novel (for lack of a better word) is finding out if they both do die at the end. This was the saddest, most emotional part of the story for various reasons. Things happened that had to happen and then it was open-ended. I mean, I can guess what happens next, after the story ends, but another paragraph would’ve been nice. Just a tiny bit more to really conclude the story.
So, yeah. I’m not distraught like people said I’d be, but my heart does hurt. And although this novel wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, it was still phenomenal and packed a punch. I’ll be thinking about it for a bit, and I’m looking forward to reading what Adam does next.