Dnf at page 102/35%.

Here we have my third dnf of the month and my first one-star read of 2018. I went into this with fairly low expectations, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Yes, I know it was written in 2005, but I’m not holding that against it. As much as I hate to say it, I can’t really think of any positives regarding this novel.

From the first chapter, I was bored. I decided to give it a chance, and ended up falling asleep unintentionally around page 54. I thought it was merely off to a slow start, but I regret to say that, in my opinion, it didn’t get any better.

I didn’t like any of the characters. Gen was a plain protagonist, snarky and always complaining. I don’t know why the magus and the other characters were so antagonistic. Everyone was unnecessarily contemptuous and didn’t have much personality beyond that.

As for the world-building, again, I figured it would improve as the book progressed. Guess what? It didn’t. In chapters four and five, there was a lot of info-dumping under the guise of the magus quizzing his apprentices and telling stories of the old gods. The fourth chapter had about three pages of information about landscape, wars, trade, and leadership, while the fifth had not one but two lengthy myths. When I ask for world-building, I mean for it to be incorporated throughout the story, not dumped in a couple of chapters like someone using a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon.

Since I only read 100 pages, I can’t say much else. Please know that I have nothing against the author or those who enjoy this book and its sequels; they’re just absolutely not my cup of tea. Needless to say, I won’t be continuing the series. Good night.

CW: abuse

I was so determined to not dnf another book. But after four days and not even getting through fifty pages, I just can’t keep going. Dnf, page 47. Normally I get at least a hundred pages in, but this was honestly unbearable. And although I feel a bit bad about rating a book based off of 47 pages, I truly think this book deserves it.

The one good thing, in my opinion, was the world-building. In this world, there are magic storms that give magic to those strong enough to survive or beat it. It was an interesting concept, and had a lot of potential if not for the overbearing “romance.”

Admittedly, I don’t know much about the “romance,” because again, I only read 47 pages. However, what I did read was full of harmful, disgusting content. Cassius was abusive and manipulative, and the epitome of toxic masculinity. He talked of conquering Aurora, the protagonist and his bride through an arranged marriage. How do I say this? NO.

For more information on the problematic aspects, I recommend reading this review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2030582872

I have nothing against the author or those of you who enjoyed this book. However, I was extremely bored and I’ve got two more library books due in as many days, so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I read this for my Lit Foundations class, and while it wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t good either. It was a bit dense, and seemed to be more of a mystery/crime story rather than one exploring the extent of Victorian era morals, as my teacher led me to believe. At least it was a quick read; I didn’t suffer *too* much. It’s an interesting concept, but not great execution. If someone were to write a modern retelling focused on Jekyll and Hyde rather than Jekyll’s acquaintances, I think I’d enjoy that. But this one, as it exists, isn’t my cup of tea.

Also, it jumped around a lot?? It’s about 125 pages, and spans from October one year to March the next, and if you aren’t careful you’ll miss the rather abrupt transitions. “A week later, around a fortnight passed, on January 8,” etc. It also confused me why, whenever the date was fully mentioned, it was written: [month] [day], 18—. Just tell us what year your story takes place in, Bob!

This book did teach me one thing – Harry is a nickname for Henry. Prior to reading, I’d never heard of that, and for the first half of the story I was so confused because Dr. Jekyll was referred to as both Harry and Henry. SINCE WHEN IS THIS A THING? (Apparently since the Victorian era. Mind = blown.)

Lastly, I felt that the last two chapters dragged a bit. Together they’re only 30 pages, so not long (unless you’re being forced to read a book haha), but they seemed kind of unnecessary. At the very least, they could’ve been shorter.

And pro tip: don’t include what’s supposed to be the major twist in the synopsis on the back cover. I’m sure most people know the gist of the Jekyll and Hyde story, but for those who don’t, it’s entirely too easy to accidentally spoil yourself.

The story itself was kind of interesting, but it was also dense and skipped around a lot. Sometimes I couldn’t tell right away if it was in the present, the past, or someone telling a tale.

The worst part of this was undoubtedly Beowulf himself. He was so cocky and annoying — I know boasting was normal in that time period, but honestly I’m not sure if he ever said anything that wasn’t about himself or God. Beowulf isn’t a demigod or anything, just a mortal man, but he can apparently stay underwater for hours and lift a sword that no other man ever could. Blah, blah, blah. I’ll pass, thanks.

I’m not sure what was going on with this timeline. There was a monster, said monster’s mother, and a dragon, but between the mother and the dragon it was subtly said that about fifty years passed. It really could’ve been done better.

And there was no need for about thirty different characters to be named, especially since half had a very small role or no role at all.

I know this is one of the oldest intact pieces of literature we have and that’s significant, but to me, its age shows, and not in a good way. Let’s just say that I’m very glad books have made as much progress as they have, because if not … I probably wouldn’t be a reader. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

4.5 stars

CW: car accident, death, grief, anxiety

Last year I read and loved Noteworthy, so I was really excited for this novel. It didn’t disappoint.

It’s very character-driven, but the characters were so three-dimensional and in touch with themselves that I didn’t mind. The protagonist Laila is a pansexual, Ecuadorian, fat girl with anxiety. Her friend Hannah is a Korean lesbian. Throughout the story, there are passages that discuss the nuance of Laila’s identities and how they overlap, as well as how she feels about them alongside everything else in her life. As I don’t share any of her identities, I’ll leave it at that.

I loved the incredible slow-burn Laila and Hannah had. It wasn’t even really hinted at until around the halfway point, and by then I was rooting for them so hard. They were sweet and passionate and I loved it. Queer girls always steal my heart.

Let’s not forget the iconic friend group: Laila, Hannah, Felix, and Leo. They marathoned their favorite show, made fun of one another in their group chat, planned trips to the mountains together. Friend goals.

I also loved the focus on writing. Although I wasn’t a big fan of Nazarenko, she did play a major part in Laila’s development as a writer. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that emphasized writing and the terrifying thrill of sharing something personal, or the constant strive to improve. The snippets of Laila’s stories were a fun addition to the story.

However, this isn’t a fluffy read. The fact that it isn’t adds more depth, and gives more chances to really get to know the characters. An important side character gets hit by a car. There’s grief, death, and more grief. It wasn’t said outright but I do wonder if Laila also had a depressive spiral. This book does a good job of invoking emotion and expressing what it’s like to move past something so life-changing. It wasn’t the same situation as Laila’s, but at its core I could relate to it.

And honestly, this story is an ode to being a teenager: the looming idea of finally graduating, stepping out of your comfort zone, doing things you probably shouldn’t do, stressing about college and how it will affect the relationships you made in high school. It’s so realistic and relatable, as someone only a few months away from finishing high school.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Riley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I can’t wait to read more from them. Or to shove this book at everyone. 😉

CW: death, grief, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, attempted suicide, rape, racism, fatmisia, slut-shaming, ace erasure

I’m not sure how to feel about this book. On one hand, it’s an undoubtedly relevant read — it discusses culture, mental illness, grief, immigration, poverty, and more. But personally, I didn’t really enjoy it.

For the first half of the novel, Julia was obnoxious and confrontational. She was short-tempered and said some truly horrible things. She did have an impressive character arc, though; she learned to be nicer to herself and others, and more confident. While I liked that, I don’t think it fully redeems her earlier behavior.

The other characters were okay, not good or bad. I loved Connor when we first met him, but then I realized he was just a rich white boy and he kind of lost his appeal. I guess that’s a good thing, too, because in the end he doesn’t play as big a role whatsoever.

Julia is a first generation Mexican-American fat girl, her best friend Lorena is black, and their friend Juan is Latinx and gay. I’ll leave it at that, as the only similarity I have is being gay, but I’m a white girl, so it’s not the same.

I found two things that bothered me while reading.

One, there seemed to be a bit of ace erasure. There were two quotes that rubbed me the wrong way: “I know that sex isn’t evil, that it’s a normal part of being a functioning mammal,” (200) and “Sex is a normal part of the human experience,” (236). And then there was this one, which wasn’t bad, just strange to me, “the young therapist with the asexual mom haircut,” (222). What does that even mean??

And two, I wasn’t sure what to make of Lorena’s reaction to Julia’s mental illnesses. When she goes back to school after finishing an outpatient program, Lorena is upset and worried, all “Why didn’t you tell me? How could you do something like that?” (233). Maybe because, whenever she brought it up, you were definitely not supportive? After Julia opens up about how she hates her life, everything hurts, and she’s kind of suicidal, Lorena says, “Jesus, Julia. What the f*ck? How can you say that?” (144) and slaps her on the arm. Direct quote. I can see how hearing your friend say something like that can be alarming, but it’s also a sign that they might need help. Getting angry is not going to help. Lorena seemed to have a change of heart after Julia comes back to school, but the whole situation still bothered me.

(All of this quoting reminds me of writing essays for school, haha.)

I did really like Julia’s time in Mexico with her family. They were supportive and sweet, and I think that was my favorite part of the book, if I’m being honest.

This was definitely a darker story than I expected, and even slightly mysterious. However, despite the issues I had, I think it worked well. I especially liked that the ending was hopeful, and full of possibility. It was kind of open, yet there was still a good resolution, if that makes sense.

CW: rape (prior to story), slut-shaming, racism, emotional abuse, substance abuse

I feel kind of bad giving this two stars, but I can’t think of anything that warrants even an extra half star. This wasn’t a terrible book, but in my opinion, there wasn’t anything good about it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The protagonist Penny is Korean, which is good, and incredibly judgmental, which is not good. She had a very holier-than-thou attitude and criticized everything. There’s nothing wrong with being judgmental sometimes — I know I am — but Penny took it to the extreme.

As for Sam, I wasn’t sure what to think of him. Sometimes he was a stereotypical bad boy, others he was a gentle, friendly guy. He would do something good, then regress back to his more questionable habits.

One thing that concerned me was the unchallenged mental illness comment. I believe it was Mallory that said that “depression suits Sam.” Sorry, what? What does that mean? How is that acceptable?

I liked Penny and Sam’s relationship even though I had issues with them themselves. It developed almost entirely through text messages, which as an introvert is something I appreciate, and it was kind of slow, very friends to lovers. They respected boundaries and were overall very chill in all stages of their relationship.

The last thing I want to mention is the writing style. It felt to me that Mary was trying too hard to use “teen speak,” something I, as a teen, hardly understand. It was not a good attempt, and sometimes the dialogue was cheesy or plain cringeworthy.

After seeing the considerable hype leading up to and following this novel’s release, I must say that I’m disappointed.

CW: racism, assault, homomisia, mention of death

This was a unique yet relatable novel that followed Saaket, or Scott, an Iranian Muslim teen with commitment issues and absolutely no idea what to do post high school. Just months ago, I was in the same boat. Well, almost. I didn’t run away to DC, I just decided to not go to college.

Topics throughout the story include politics, self-doubt, grit, and crossword puzzles. It wasn’t a fascinating story, as it had slow sections and was very much character-driven, but it was good nonetheless. I liked Scott’s voice and the general raw honesty of the narrative.

I also liked Trent – he’s a cool, determined gay and aspiring politician. Underrated character. However, I wasn’t sure what to think of Fiora. I liked her and she was undoubtedly different in a good way, but sometimes she just rubbed me wrong.

Although the story didn’t end how I expected, everything wrapped up nicely. It was a satisfying end to a gritty story, and I think there’s a good chance I’ll pick up Arvin’s future work.

4.5 stars

I’ve only read a few, but I’m realizing now that I love novels written in verse. This one was no exception. It was beautiful and honest and emotional; it was a quick read but a deep one. With discussions of religion, culture, love, and identity, it’s the first book I’ve read in some time that really made me feel something. I loved Xiomara and admired her strength and growth. I wanted to protect her sweet, gay twin Xavier. I liked that her teacher was so supportive. I liked basically everything about this novel, and can definitely see myself recommending it. Possibly my favorite read of the month.

4.5 stars

CW: blood, murder, abuse, OCD

To start, let me say that I absolutely believe this book is better than the first one in the series. Although it's a companion and not a sequel, I think that in general, it was better written and better executed. Even if you weren't a huge fan of [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140] and you aren't sure if you want to continue the series, I recommend picking this one up.

Whereas the previous novel was set on our world, in our time, this takes place in one of the mysterious worlds the first one alluded to and I loved it. The Moors were dark and eerie, intriguing and paranormal, without being creepy. There are vampires, werewolves, and sea creatures, and it's almost a constant state of twilight.

If I had to choose between the twins, I would absolutely choose Jack. I already preferred her going in, because in the first book Jill didn't have much of a personality, to be honest. However, as I read, it quickly became easy to pick a favorite. I won't fault Jill for being self-absorbed, since their parents made her that way, or for being unlikable, as that isn't necessarily a bad trait. But Jill was more malicious in the end, and Jack was better to her than she deserved. Through everything, even becoming a mad scientist's apprentice, she was still at least a little bit pure at heart.

I'm not sure about this, as it was only mentioned a few times in the last third of the story, but I think Jack has some form of OCD: she only touches/uses certain things, only touches people, if she deems them clean or cleans them herself. I don't have OCD so I'll leave it at that, but it's something I noticed.

One thing I especially liked about this book that might not make sense was the family. Now, I'll say it outright - the girls' parents sucked, and I wish Gemma Lou (their grandma) had been allowed to stay. Their parents were more concerned with having the perfect family than letting their daughters be who they wanted to, and kept them separate so each parent could make one girl what they wanted. The girls aren't taught to love each other, or at all, but as they navigate the Moors, they find new family. Even if Jill's ultimately goes downhill and costs Jack hers, I think this was crucial to their development. Side note: Dr. Bleak grew on me. I like him. He's the best mad scientist I've read, and a good somewhat father-like figure. Read it and it'll make sense.

There's exactly one reason I didn't give this book five stars, and that's the use of the bury your gays trope. I was excited to talk about the super cute queer girl relationship...and then this happened.

In the second half of the story, when the girls are older, it's established and openly, frequently mentioned that Jack has a girlfriend, a soft fat girl named Alexis. They're adorable. However, in a desperate effort to prove to Master (whose name I'm admittedly curious about) that she's ruthless enough to be turned early, Jill follows Alexis into the woods and kills her, fully aware that she's Jack's girlfriend. Technically, I get where Jill was coming from and why the author chose this route, but I didn't like it whatsoever. Not to mention that using a queer character's death as means to further the plot is never a good idea, regardless of the circumstances.

Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was another quick, fun, and unique read, like its predecessor, and I hope to pick up the third one ASAP. I would also consider these books to be good Halloween reads for those that, like me, are squeamish and/or lighthearted.