Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.25k reviews by:
paragraphsandpages
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Fiske
Spoiler Free: I was so happy when I saw I was approved for this book on NetGalley! I’d been hearing quite a lot about it, and seeing it all over instagram, so I was thoroughly hyped!
Overall, it ended up being a phenomenal story, and I absolutely love the world and characters the author created! I was hooked for most of the story, and the end thoroughly wrapped everything up. But this was not just a simple story about vikings and war, but ended up holding quite an emotional story. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but this story is just as much about understanding and learning to accept one another as it is about fighting.
My main qualms with the story have to do with the beginning and the synopsis. First off, I felt the beginning was rather chaotic, as we are both thrown into a brand new world with tons of characters, and thrown into battle within the first chapter. It ended up being hard to follow both, and I ended up having to focus more of my attention on learning how characters aligned to each other and why they were fighting rather than the fight itself. Additionally, the synopsis for this story wasn’t done in the best way. It reveals event that don’t happen until 50%-60% of the story, and seems to spoil the entire story arc almost. This ended up leading to a story where I kinda already knew most of what was going to happen.
Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the story, especially the last 40%. In that last 40%, I ended up really connecting with the MC and her love interest, and my worry over them added to the suspense of the final parts of the book. Additionally, I love how well-rounded the ending was, while still giving the reader space to think and wonder what will happen in the future. It didn’t just abruptly end after the final battle was fought, but rather worked to describe the aftermath, which was just as big a part of the plot as the enemy they had to fight.
Lastly, while I did admittedly feel detached from characters at first, which was most likely due to our MC needing time to connect with the side characters as well, I did end up loving almost all of them, especially Eelyn and Fiske. The characters were all solid, and the morals they held close to them weren’t lost just because they fell in love/made a new friend/etc. It felt realistic, and the emotional problems they went through all molded well with the physical plot.
In the end, I do highly recommend for all you guys to check out this book when it comes out in April! (I’ll still be picking it up myself, I need that gorgeous cover on my shelf!)
Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Fiske
Spoiler Free: I was so happy when I saw I was approved for this book on NetGalley! I’d been hearing quite a lot about it, and seeing it all over instagram, so I was thoroughly hyped!
Overall, it ended up being a phenomenal story, and I absolutely love the world and characters the author created! I was hooked for most of the story, and the end thoroughly wrapped everything up. But this was not just a simple story about vikings and war, but ended up holding quite an emotional story. I won’t spoil it for anyone, but this story is just as much about understanding and learning to accept one another as it is about fighting.
My main qualms with the story have to do with the beginning and the synopsis. First off, I felt the beginning was rather chaotic, as we are both thrown into a brand new world with tons of characters, and thrown into battle within the first chapter. It ended up being hard to follow both, and I ended up having to focus more of my attention on learning how characters aligned to each other and why they were fighting rather than the fight itself. Additionally, the synopsis for this story wasn’t done in the best way. It reveals event that don’t happen until 50%-60% of the story, and seems to spoil the entire story arc almost. This ended up leading to a story where I kinda already knew most of what was going to happen.
Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the story, especially the last 40%. In that last 40%, I ended up really connecting with the MC and her love interest, and my worry over them added to the suspense of the final parts of the book. Additionally, I love how well-rounded the ending was, while still giving the reader space to think and wonder what will happen in the future. It didn’t just abruptly end after the final battle was fought, but rather worked to describe the aftermath, which was just as big a part of the plot as the enemy they had to fight.
Lastly, while I did admittedly feel detached from characters at first, which was most likely due to our MC needing time to connect with the side characters as well, I did end up loving almost all of them, especially Eelyn and Fiske. The characters were all solid, and the morals they held close to them weren’t lost just because they fell in love/made a new friend/etc. It felt realistic, and the emotional problems they went through all molded well with the physical plot.
In the end, I do highly recommend for all you guys to check out this book when it comes out in April! (I’ll still be picking it up myself, I need that gorgeous cover on my shelf!)
Stars (Out of 10): 6/10 Stars
Spoiler Free: This book was a lot of build up towards the ending/twist, and since I had read so many reviews from friends beforehand, I expected a lot. Unfortunately, I guessed what I thought was part of the plot twist really early on, and it turns out that was the whole plot twist :(
Generally, I wouldn’t mind having most of the book being build up, or just being slow in general, but then you’re usually rewarded with a twist or action near the end. And while I did really enjoy how the end shaped up, and Romy herself more towards the end, the twist just seemed way too easy to guess early on.
Additionally, while I loved the mystery on what was going on in The Infinity’s history, I kinda gave up on guessing at some point because it kept being hinted at without getting more information until way too late in the story (in my opinion.)
Overall, I think if the pacing was made a bit better, and the twist made either more hidden or more extensive, I would’ve loved this book. Unfortunately, the book exists as it currently is, and that’s why I’ve given it the star rating I would have.
(Mini extra note, the story does do a good job of showing how Romy deals (or not deals) with being alone and her nightmares, and I really enjoyed how all of that was shown instead of written. I think if you go into this book expecting more of an emotional growth/contemporary style novel rather than a twisty epic sci-fi novel, you’ll get more out of it!)
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: Mini explanation on why I didn’t like the twist.
Early on, it was kinda easy to see that J was totally pretending to be Jayden. As soon as we started getting descriptions and hobbies, Romy immediately started comparing him and Jayden, and how similar he was. At that point, I realized how that totally could not be a coincidence, and knew J was lying about something.
While I didn’t know he made the entire UPR stuff up, it ended up making the final twist worse for me. I expected all the crazy stuff going down on Earth to be true, and therefore expected more parts to the final twist besides just J lying about who he is and why he’s there.
Spoiler Free: This book was a lot of build up towards the ending/twist, and since I had read so many reviews from friends beforehand, I expected a lot. Unfortunately, I guessed what I thought was part of the plot twist really early on, and it turns out that was the whole plot twist :(
Generally, I wouldn’t mind having most of the book being build up, or just being slow in general, but then you’re usually rewarded with a twist or action near the end. And while I did really enjoy how the end shaped up, and Romy herself more towards the end, the twist just seemed way too easy to guess early on.
Additionally, while I loved the mystery on what was going on in The Infinity’s history, I kinda gave up on guessing at some point because it kept being hinted at without getting more information until way too late in the story (in my opinion.)
Overall, I think if the pacing was made a bit better, and the twist made either more hidden or more extensive, I would’ve loved this book. Unfortunately, the book exists as it currently is, and that’s why I’ve given it the star rating I would have.
(Mini extra note, the story does do a good job of showing how Romy deals (or not deals) with being alone and her nightmares, and I really enjoyed how all of that was shown instead of written. I think if you go into this book expecting more of an emotional growth/contemporary style novel rather than a twisty epic sci-fi novel, you’ll get more out of it!)
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: Mini explanation on why I didn’t like the twist.
Early on, it was kinda easy to see that J was totally pretending to be Jayden. As soon as we started getting descriptions and hobbies, Romy immediately started comparing him and Jayden, and how similar he was. At that point, I realized how that totally could not be a coincidence, and knew J was lying about something.
While I didn’t know he made the entire UPR stuff up, it ended up making the final twist worse for me. I expected all the crazy stuff going down on Earth to be true, and therefore expected more parts to the final twist besides just J lying about who he is and why he’s there.
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 7.5/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Elen-ai
Spoiler Free: Ever since the release, and popularity, of the Throne of Glass, tons of books following the lives of teenage/young adult assassins. While there have been many hits, and very many misses, I have to count this one amongst the hints.
Prefacing this, I am not sure if the copy I read is a finalized copy or not, but there were admittedly a ton of editing mistakes. Some had typos that ended up changing the meaning of the sentence (although I was usually still able to determine the true meaning), but the most annoying issue that came from this was the constant changing in spelling of names. At first I mainly noticed this for characters with suffixes in their names, such as Elen-ai, alternated between having that dash and having the two parts connected with no space (ex: Elenai). While this I got used to, near the end Gidyon’s name also started being spelled as Gideon, and this was much more off putting. Basically, the book needs a look through by an editor to catch all these tiny mistakes, as it did end up drawing a bit from the book itself.
However, that is probably the biggest issue I had with the book! When it came to the characters, the author showed us the traits of the characters, not simply told us (a issue many people had with Celaena from Throne of Glass), and this especially applied to her killing skills. No matter the scene unfolding, you constantly see her on alert and paying attention to her job. And even with that, you grow to like her, and see her as more than just an assassin. Additionally, you see this in the relationships between all the characters, specifically the familial relationships. Having Elen-ai as our narrator means we also have a close eye on all the characters and how they interact, and whenever Elen-ai told us a revelation, it was backed up constantly throughout the story.
Additionally, while the book is shown as only 250 pages, it reads almost like a 300-350 book. Every moment means something, and I found myself enjoying every line and page. I also wasn’t left with the feeling the book had gone by too fast or had been rushed! (I am dying for the next book though! Wish there was a clear release date somewhere for that.)
In terms of the world, there were some minor issues in the beginning with an overload of information, as we had numbered countries, seven Families, and The Family all to learn about and keep separate from each other (personally I think the assassin’s guild should’ve been referred to as something else). But in the end, I fell in love with the world and quickly caught on to the secrets each held. (Just don’t quiz me on the goods of each Family!)
Lastly, I really enjoyed the plot. It kept a good amount of intrigue and tension without having to rely on overused and annoying tropes (which I see many smaller novels do), and I was hooked from the first chapter. I am super excited to see where the next book takes the world!
Stars (Out of 10): 7.5/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Elen-ai
Spoiler Free: Ever since the release, and popularity, of the Throne of Glass, tons of books following the lives of teenage/young adult assassins. While there have been many hits, and very many misses, I have to count this one amongst the hints.
Prefacing this, I am not sure if the copy I read is a finalized copy or not, but there were admittedly a ton of editing mistakes. Some had typos that ended up changing the meaning of the sentence (although I was usually still able to determine the true meaning), but the most annoying issue that came from this was the constant changing in spelling of names. At first I mainly noticed this for characters with suffixes in their names, such as Elen-ai, alternated between having that dash and having the two parts connected with no space (ex: Elenai). While this I got used to, near the end Gidyon’s name also started being spelled as Gideon, and this was much more off putting. Basically, the book needs a look through by an editor to catch all these tiny mistakes, as it did end up drawing a bit from the book itself.
However, that is probably the biggest issue I had with the book! When it came to the characters, the author showed us the traits of the characters, not simply told us (a issue many people had with Celaena from Throne of Glass), and this especially applied to her killing skills. No matter the scene unfolding, you constantly see her on alert and paying attention to her job. And even with that, you grow to like her, and see her as more than just an assassin. Additionally, you see this in the relationships between all the characters, specifically the familial relationships. Having Elen-ai as our narrator means we also have a close eye on all the characters and how they interact, and whenever Elen-ai told us a revelation, it was backed up constantly throughout the story.
Additionally, while the book is shown as only 250 pages, it reads almost like a 300-350 book. Every moment means something, and I found myself enjoying every line and page. I also wasn’t left with the feeling the book had gone by too fast or had been rushed! (I am dying for the next book though! Wish there was a clear release date somewhere for that.)
In terms of the world, there were some minor issues in the beginning with an overload of information, as we had numbered countries, seven Families, and The Family all to learn about and keep separate from each other (personally I think the assassin’s guild should’ve been referred to as something else). But in the end, I fell in love with the world and quickly caught on to the secrets each held. (Just don’t quiz me on the goods of each Family!)
Lastly, I really enjoyed the plot. It kept a good amount of intrigue and tension without having to rely on overused and annoying tropes (which I see many smaller novels do), and I was hooked from the first chapter. I am super excited to see where the next book takes the world!
“What if she made herself vulnerable only to have her faults thrown back in her face? No, no, it was safer to stay angry, she’d concluded, where nothing could ever touch her.”
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Benyamin
Spoiler Free: As soon as I finished Furthermore, I knew I needed more of the world as soon as possible. But unfortunately book club books and busy schedules got a bit in the way, but here I am, just having finished it, and even more excited for Restore Me on tuesday!
Overall, this book lived up to the expectations created by Furthermore, matching bar in some places and exceeding it in others!
My general claim is that while the world was less twisty/unpredictable, since it took place in a town more like Ferenwood, the plot was much better than that of Furthermore. (Don’t get me wrong! I still absolutely loved the town of Whichwood, but you could tell it wasn’t as much the focus of the novel.)
In terms of plot, it kept tricking me! Whenever I expected something to finally go right, it went so very wrong, and my expectations and theories kept being rejected at every turn! Additionally, I was much more invested in the quest of the characters in this novel, and therefore was more involved in the plot in general. It also had a certain level of darkness that I did not expect from what I thought was a middle grade novel, and ended up being quite emotional and philosophical at points!
Lastly, I really loved the combination of old and new characters we found in this book. And rather than there being a divide between the characters based on their experiences, you saw Alice and Oliver quickly getting attached to the characters from Whichwood, rather than sticking to themselves as a pair the entire time. Additionally, just because Alice and Oliver had had an adventure before did not make them the heroes of this adventure necessarily, and they found themselves both relying on and helping the kids from Whichwood.
As always, I absolutely loved the writing and narration style Mafi employed here (the use of an outside narrator that is super mysterious is a thing I have started to love), and her magical words and descriptions kept me hooked on every line!
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Benyamin
Spoiler Free: As soon as I finished Furthermore, I knew I needed more of the world as soon as possible. But unfortunately book club books and busy schedules got a bit in the way, but here I am, just having finished it, and even more excited for Restore Me on tuesday!
Overall, this book lived up to the expectations created by Furthermore, matching bar in some places and exceeding it in others!
My general claim is that while the world was less twisty/unpredictable, since it took place in a town more like Ferenwood, the plot was much better than that of Furthermore. (Don’t get me wrong! I still absolutely loved the town of Whichwood, but you could tell it wasn’t as much the focus of the novel.)
In terms of plot, it kept tricking me! Whenever I expected something to finally go right, it went so very wrong, and my expectations and theories kept being rejected at every turn! Additionally, I was much more invested in the quest of the characters in this novel, and therefore was more involved in the plot in general. It also had a certain level of darkness that I did not expect from what I thought was a middle grade novel, and ended up being quite emotional and philosophical at points!
Lastly, I really loved the combination of old and new characters we found in this book. And rather than there being a divide between the characters based on their experiences, you saw Alice and Oliver quickly getting attached to the characters from Whichwood, rather than sticking to themselves as a pair the entire time. Additionally, just because Alice and Oliver had had an adventure before did not make them the heroes of this adventure necessarily, and they found themselves both relying on and helping the kids from Whichwood.
As always, I absolutely loved the writing and narration style Mafi employed here (the use of an outside narrator that is super mysterious is a thing I have started to love), and her magical words and descriptions kept me hooked on every line!
Stars (Out of 10): 4/10 Star
Favorite Character: I want to go for a side character, but each time I think of one I find issues with them :(
Spoiler Free: I really really liked the concept of this book, and even parts of the book itself, but the execution overall was not good.
On the subject of plot, it was overall good but stalled a lot. In the end, I liked how the plot started and ended (not the actual ending of the book, mind you), even though the final twist wasn’t all that surprising. The twist itself was hinted at way too much, and even said by a side character, but the main character was just not entertaining the possibility.
Additionally, while the world was interesting, it feels like we didn’t get enough of it. We got the bare minimum explanation needed for each point of the book, and any questioning of the world/magic was met with one of the characters mentioning the five-eyed god and not to question it, that’s just how things were. I hope this improves in the sequel, although I am unsure yet if I’m reading it.
I did actually like most of the side characters, but it feels like most of them weren’t actually developed enough. This was mainly due to the constant switching of friends the MC experienced, and as soon as someone new was introduced, the older characters seemed to be forgotten about. For example, when we meet Valoria/when she starts playing a bigger role in the story, Odessa starts moving away from her long-time friends, Jax and Simeon. This led to them occasionally showing up still, but never getting anymore character building/attention. This happened a second time as well, as another character was introduced after Valoria and the MC moved on quickly again.
Overall, I think Odessa is probably my main cause for disliking this book. I did not agree with how she handled things for the most part, and her dramatics. First off, she acted as if she cared so much about her friends, yet ditched them at every turn (as mentioned above). Additionally, her addiction plot was originally being pulled off well, but it disappeared as soon as the plot kicked back in again, making it seem like filler plot.
I also was not a fan of the relationships within this book, as there were cheap moments of tension (further explained below due to spoilers.)
Lastly, parts of the writing style also annoyed me. While overall it was decent, it was overly annoying in the first 100 pages, and extremely noticeable. From everyone winking at each other to things being mentioned but never explained, I was put off very quickly, and that probably caused me to judge each later part of the book more harshly.
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: In terms of leaving her friends, I was really disappointed in Odessa in the end. She supposedly has a revelation on how important it is to show your friends you love them while they’re still here, but then ditches them all without a goodbye at the end of novel (on Valoria’s coronation day as well! When she is worried about having to rule!)
Additionally, it seemed like the entire book was built on Odessa and having her identity rooted in being the Sparrow, in being a necromancer. However, instead of discovering her own identity, and learning to accept herself regardless of how famous she is to the public, she instead just adopts her dead boyfriend’s dreams/identity when she leaves to go on his adventures. Like that’s sweet and all, but doesn’t follow the arc of the book well at all.
Lastly, a friendship between Meredy and Odessa could’ve been amazing, them learning to live with their grief together. However, the author instead forms a romance between them (to hit the LGBT boxes maybe? I dunno, the whole bi arc of Odessa felt cheaply done at moments, and unnatural.) Not only was it weird because Meredy was the sister of Odessa’s dead boyfriend, but Meredy is also freshly grieving. And then in the end, when they find each other on the ship, it seems like there were never any romantic feelings at all?? Honestly, it was just all over the place.
Favorite Character: I want to go for a side character, but each time I think of one I find issues with them :(
Spoiler Free: I really really liked the concept of this book, and even parts of the book itself, but the execution overall was not good.
On the subject of plot, it was overall good but stalled a lot. In the end, I liked how the plot started and ended (not the actual ending of the book, mind you), even though the final twist wasn’t all that surprising. The twist itself was hinted at way too much, and even said by a side character, but the main character was just not entertaining the possibility.
Additionally, while the world was interesting, it feels like we didn’t get enough of it. We got the bare minimum explanation needed for each point of the book, and any questioning of the world/magic was met with one of the characters mentioning the five-eyed god and not to question it, that’s just how things were. I hope this improves in the sequel, although I am unsure yet if I’m reading it.
I did actually like most of the side characters, but it feels like most of them weren’t actually developed enough. This was mainly due to the constant switching of friends the MC experienced, and as soon as someone new was introduced, the older characters seemed to be forgotten about. For example, when we meet Valoria/when she starts playing a bigger role in the story, Odessa starts moving away from her long-time friends, Jax and Simeon. This led to them occasionally showing up still, but never getting anymore character building/attention. This happened a second time as well, as another character was introduced after Valoria and the MC moved on quickly again.
Overall, I think Odessa is probably my main cause for disliking this book. I did not agree with how she handled things for the most part, and her dramatics. First off, she acted as if she cared so much about her friends, yet ditched them at every turn (as mentioned above). Additionally, her addiction plot was originally being pulled off well, but it disappeared as soon as the plot kicked back in again, making it seem like filler plot.
I also was not a fan of the relationships within this book, as there were cheap moments of tension (further explained below due to spoilers.)
Lastly, parts of the writing style also annoyed me. While overall it was decent, it was overly annoying in the first 100 pages, and extremely noticeable. From everyone winking at each other to things being mentioned but never explained, I was put off very quickly, and that probably caused me to judge each later part of the book more harshly.
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: In terms of leaving her friends, I was really disappointed in Odessa in the end. She supposedly has a revelation on how important it is to show your friends you love them while they’re still here, but then ditches them all without a goodbye at the end of novel (on Valoria’s coronation day as well! When she is worried about having to rule!)
Additionally, it seemed like the entire book was built on Odessa and having her identity rooted in being the Sparrow, in being a necromancer. However, instead of discovering her own identity, and learning to accept herself regardless of how famous she is to the public, she instead just adopts her dead boyfriend’s dreams/identity when she leaves to go on his adventures. Like that’s sweet and all, but doesn’t follow the arc of the book well at all.
Lastly, a friendship between Meredy and Odessa could’ve been amazing, them learning to live with their grief together. However, the author instead forms a romance between them (to hit the LGBT boxes maybe? I dunno, the whole bi arc of Odessa felt cheaply done at moments, and unnatural.) Not only was it weird because Meredy was the sister of Odessa’s dead boyfriend, but Meredy is also freshly grieving. And then in the end, when they find each other on the ship, it seems like there were never any romantic feelings at all?? Honestly, it was just all over the place.
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
“You shouldn't jump to conclusions about people, Mr. Gideon. I contain multitudes."
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Jane!
Spoiler Free: When I first heard about this book last year, I was already super excited. I was in a mood of Hamilton and American History, having just found one and come out of an AP US History class.
Even though that phase has very much died down now, this book still exceeded any expectations I had for it. It was brutal at points, heartbreaking at others, and unbelievably honest at all times. It took the hidden secrets (or not so hidden secrets) of America’s history in the 1880’s and before, and aired it out for all to see. But it did so in a way that was both entertaining and thought-provoking. Yes, the Civil War was interrupted by zombies, but that did not erase the differences that provoked that Civil War, and the common enemy did not unite the people.
I also really love how Justina Ireland played with history while still sticking with it. She gave the prominent members of post-Civil War America new stories that fell in line with the world, while still relating their new tales to their old ones. Additionally, the zombies/undead only added to the tale Ireland spun, rather than take away from it/make it unrealistic. I also loved the spin she did on the “reformation” Americans forced on the Native Americans, and spun a whole tale on that being spread to other minorities.
The voice of the main character was also extremely unique, and extremely fitting. It wasn’t the style of how we speak today, but rather adapted more to the style of speech back then. It added another layer of realism to the story overall, and stole me deeper into the story. Additionally, the narrator herself, Jane, was just an amazing mind to be in. No, I couldn’t necessarily connect with the pain she faced on a daily basis just due to her skin color (I’m a white person, after all), but the way that pain was narrated and thought on was something I could almost understand, could empathize with. And it made me see her as an even stronger person.
In terms of plot, I was also amazed at every twist and turn the book took, the secret reveals and parallels between past and present. Additionally, the hidden thoughts between every word spoken and every letter written was amazingly fun to untangle and follow. I cheered for our protagonists every step of the way, which is not something I find myself doing often.
Lastly, I loved the parallels this book had to today. From the white Survivalists fighting to “go back to the glory of the days before the dead,” and the focus on a religion that outcasts people based on differences they cannot control, it felt oddly like the political situation today in America. Because of this, I am really hoping this book is one of the big releases this year, and garners all the love and attention it deserves.
“You shouldn't jump to conclusions about people, Mr. Gideon. I contain multitudes."
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Jane!
Spoiler Free: When I first heard about this book last year, I was already super excited. I was in a mood of Hamilton and American History, having just found one and come out of an AP US History class.
Even though that phase has very much died down now, this book still exceeded any expectations I had for it. It was brutal at points, heartbreaking at others, and unbelievably honest at all times. It took the hidden secrets (or not so hidden secrets) of America’s history in the 1880’s and before, and aired it out for all to see. But it did so in a way that was both entertaining and thought-provoking. Yes, the Civil War was interrupted by zombies, but that did not erase the differences that provoked that Civil War, and the common enemy did not unite the people.
I also really love how Justina Ireland played with history while still sticking with it. She gave the prominent members of post-Civil War America new stories that fell in line with the world, while still relating their new tales to their old ones. Additionally, the zombies/undead only added to the tale Ireland spun, rather than take away from it/make it unrealistic. I also loved the spin she did on the “reformation” Americans forced on the Native Americans, and spun a whole tale on that being spread to other minorities.
The voice of the main character was also extremely unique, and extremely fitting. It wasn’t the style of how we speak today, but rather adapted more to the style of speech back then. It added another layer of realism to the story overall, and stole me deeper into the story. Additionally, the narrator herself, Jane, was just an amazing mind to be in. No, I couldn’t necessarily connect with the pain she faced on a daily basis just due to her skin color (I’m a white person, after all), but the way that pain was narrated and thought on was something I could almost understand, could empathize with. And it made me see her as an even stronger person.
In terms of plot, I was also amazed at every twist and turn the book took, the secret reveals and parallels between past and present. Additionally, the hidden thoughts between every word spoken and every letter written was amazingly fun to untangle and follow. I cheered for our protagonists every step of the way, which is not something I find myself doing often.
Lastly, I loved the parallels this book had to today. From the white Survivalists fighting to “go back to the glory of the days before the dead,” and the focus on a religion that outcasts people based on differences they cannot control, it felt oddly like the political situation today in America. Because of this, I am really hoping this book is one of the big releases this year, and garners all the love and attention it deserves.
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 7/10 Stars
Since this is an anthology, I’ll be writing a short review for each individual story!
As a whole, this was a pretty good anthology. Most of the stories seemed to fit the theme, and there was a variety of characters and stories. While each story did hinge on the idea of diversity, they focused on a variety of other things as well, making the stories much more fleshed out overall. Lastly, the message in each of the stories usually came across quite well, except in some cases where it may have been too hidden or too forced.
Out of the 12 stories, my favorites would have to be “Super Human”, “Catch, Pull, Drive”, and “Eraser Tattoo”!
Eraser Tattoo: I haven't read any if Jason Reynolds full novels (have seen them around though!), but this story makes me want to! It was fairly simple, but in the few short pages it lasted, I was already loving the characters. The message in this one was also fairly obscured, but I think the small references to the unfairness of the situation only added to the overall effect of the story.
Meet Cute: Exactly fits the name! The setting was interesting too, since it's during a con and there's quite a few references! Only issue is, if the reader doesn't automatically know where the characters are from (since it's not revealed until later), parts of the beginning fall a little flat since it is pretty heavy in references
Don’t Pass Me By: I think story fits my expectations for this anthology more than the other two so far. While the beginning it was difficult to follow since I had to orient myself in a culture I didn't necessarily have experience with, that quickly resolved itself. Overall, this story just made me angry (at the white teacher and the white students and ugh)
Be Cool For Once: Overall I thought this was a super cute story, but it didn't seem to fit in the anthology as well as others
Tags: I really liked the format and idea behind the story, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the story myself. It felt a bit short and all over the place, and I only really sympathized with one or two of the characters
Why I Learned to Cook: This story was super cute! I love how it blended both diversity in sexuality and in culture! I especially liked that this story fostered a love both between acceptance and family, as many stories involving sexual diversity focus on the hatred from the parents.
A Stranger at the Bochinche: While I liked the premise, the story felt as if it was trying to accomplish too much in too few pages, and it left me feeling lost at points. However, I did like the stark contrast of ancient gods/an older setting + fancy tech
A Boy’s Duty: I wasn't as big a fan of this story, as I felt it dragged a bit and took a while to get to its point, but I still enjoyed it. If anything, I think I liked the characters the most.
One Voice: Okay, so don't read this if you haven't read Something In Between because this basically spoils the entire book. Also, I'm never really a fan of short stories in anthologies being from other series :/ additionally, the story itself felt too short, and made the message feel forced while also having a fairly abrupt ending. This one would have to be my least favorite.
Paladin/Samurai: I get why the comic book story was so short, but it almost felt waaay too short. However, it still was able to carry a message more subtle than One Voice, so for that I applaud it
Catch, Pull, Drive: I really loved this one! Not only the message, but the way it was written as well! Having it set during the middle of a swimming race heightened the tension dramatically, and the inner thoughts complimented that really well also.
Super Human: I really really enjoyed this one. It seemed one of the only stories that didn't have a positive ending, and the openness of the ending combined with the lack of positivity made it all the more powerful. Overall, it feels as if this story carries the message of the anthology the most.
Stars (Out of 10): 7/10 Stars
Since this is an anthology, I’ll be writing a short review for each individual story!
As a whole, this was a pretty good anthology. Most of the stories seemed to fit the theme, and there was a variety of characters and stories. While each story did hinge on the idea of diversity, they focused on a variety of other things as well, making the stories much more fleshed out overall. Lastly, the message in each of the stories usually came across quite well, except in some cases where it may have been too hidden or too forced.
Out of the 12 stories, my favorites would have to be “Super Human”, “Catch, Pull, Drive”, and “Eraser Tattoo”!
Eraser Tattoo: I haven't read any if Jason Reynolds full novels (have seen them around though!), but this story makes me want to! It was fairly simple, but in the few short pages it lasted, I was already loving the characters. The message in this one was also fairly obscured, but I think the small references to the unfairness of the situation only added to the overall effect of the story.
Meet Cute: Exactly fits the name! The setting was interesting too, since it's during a con and there's quite a few references! Only issue is, if the reader doesn't automatically know where the characters are from (since it's not revealed until later), parts of the beginning fall a little flat since it is pretty heavy in references
Don’t Pass Me By: I think story fits my expectations for this anthology more than the other two so far. While the beginning it was difficult to follow since I had to orient myself in a culture I didn't necessarily have experience with, that quickly resolved itself. Overall, this story just made me angry (at the white teacher and the white students and ugh)
Be Cool For Once: Overall I thought this was a super cute story, but it didn't seem to fit in the anthology as well as others
Tags: I really liked the format and idea behind the story, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the story myself. It felt a bit short and all over the place, and I only really sympathized with one or two of the characters
Why I Learned to Cook: This story was super cute! I love how it blended both diversity in sexuality and in culture! I especially liked that this story fostered a love both between acceptance and family, as many stories involving sexual diversity focus on the hatred from the parents.
A Stranger at the Bochinche: While I liked the premise, the story felt as if it was trying to accomplish too much in too few pages, and it left me feeling lost at points. However, I did like the stark contrast of ancient gods/an older setting + fancy tech
A Boy’s Duty: I wasn't as big a fan of this story, as I felt it dragged a bit and took a while to get to its point, but I still enjoyed it. If anything, I think I liked the characters the most.
One Voice: Okay, so don't read this if you haven't read Something In Between because this basically spoils the entire book. Also, I'm never really a fan of short stories in anthologies being from other series :/ additionally, the story itself felt too short, and made the message feel forced while also having a fairly abrupt ending. This one would have to be my least favorite.
Paladin/Samurai: I get why the comic book story was so short, but it almost felt waaay too short. However, it still was able to carry a message more subtle than One Voice, so for that I applaud it
Catch, Pull, Drive: I really loved this one! Not only the message, but the way it was written as well! Having it set during the middle of a swimming race heightened the tension dramatically, and the inner thoughts complimented that really well also.
Super Human: I really really enjoyed this one. It seemed one of the only stories that didn't have a positive ending, and the openness of the ending combined with the lack of positivity made it all the more powerful. Overall, it feels as if this story carries the message of the anthology the most.
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 5/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Albaric
Spoiler Free: When I checked out the Goodreads reviews after being accepted for this book, I was quite worried. It was sitting around a 3.06, and that’s probably the lowest scored book on Goodreads I’ve ever read. While in the end I did like it more than expected, there were many things I agreed with in some of the negative reviews I read.
Let’s start at the premise. The main selling point of this book will be the Faerie influence, as that’s a hot subject in YA Fantasy at the moment. Unfortunately, I have to say that this book fails to deliver much of anything on that front. The main purpose of the Faerie/Elfland was to give a backstory to Albaric, but besides that, it doesn’t mean anything at all. In fact, the entire “plot” of the book revolves instead around an entirely unrelated set of lore, and therefore I don’t classify this book as a Fae one at all.
When it comes to the writing, this seems to be a hit or a miss with most readers. While I enjoyed it stylistically, it made everything take ten times as long, since no sentence was ever simple. However, without it, I doubt I would’ve even liked the book at all.
In terms of the characters, this is where I feel the book succeeded the most. The main reason this book wasn’t a DNF was due to the interesting relationship between Aric and Albaric, and while it feels like insta-love but a sibling version, it does get explained later. Additionally, the pure love and caring between these two brothers was just interesting to read, since sibling rivalry is much more common in YA. Additionally, when it came to other characters, most played into the story quite well, and the complex relationships between everyone was where this book truly shined.
However, that did not fully make up for the lackluster plot and under explained world. While the world being weakly developed wasn’t that much of a problem due to its irrelevance to most of the plot, it was a bit frustrating not understanding the situation the book takes place in. We get hints here and there of Vikings and weaker civilizations outside of Calidon, but not much more than that. Even the inner workings of Calidon itself isn’t truly explained, and this leaves the plot unsupported and dull.
Additionally, the plot itself is rather overshadowed by the characters themselves. Aric doesn’t care about much besides Albaric, and therefore really only feels through Albaric, instead of feeling himself for the actions going on around him. We see his worry for his mother and father at times, but it is always overshadowed by the bond between Aric and Albaric. Lastly, the plot itself isn’t actually a tough thing to solve, and when the characters actually are forced to face the problem, it gets solved in a chapter. This ended up making the middle of the book feel very boring, with most of it consisting of Aric and Albaric frolicking around with occasional plot heavy chapters here and there.
All in all, I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book. It is an interesting tale about family and kinship, and an emotional one at times, but not much more than that.
Stars (Out of 10): 5/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Albaric
Spoiler Free: When I checked out the Goodreads reviews after being accepted for this book, I was quite worried. It was sitting around a 3.06, and that’s probably the lowest scored book on Goodreads I’ve ever read. While in the end I did like it more than expected, there were many things I agreed with in some of the negative reviews I read.
Let’s start at the premise. The main selling point of this book will be the Faerie influence, as that’s a hot subject in YA Fantasy at the moment. Unfortunately, I have to say that this book fails to deliver much of anything on that front. The main purpose of the Faerie/Elfland was to give a backstory to Albaric, but besides that, it doesn’t mean anything at all. In fact, the entire “plot” of the book revolves instead around an entirely unrelated set of lore, and therefore I don’t classify this book as a Fae one at all.
When it comes to the writing, this seems to be a hit or a miss with most readers. While I enjoyed it stylistically, it made everything take ten times as long, since no sentence was ever simple. However, without it, I doubt I would’ve even liked the book at all.
In terms of the characters, this is where I feel the book succeeded the most. The main reason this book wasn’t a DNF was due to the interesting relationship between Aric and Albaric, and while it feels like insta-love but a sibling version, it does get explained later. Additionally, the pure love and caring between these two brothers was just interesting to read, since sibling rivalry is much more common in YA. Additionally, when it came to other characters, most played into the story quite well, and the complex relationships between everyone was where this book truly shined.
However, that did not fully make up for the lackluster plot and under explained world. While the world being weakly developed wasn’t that much of a problem due to its irrelevance to most of the plot, it was a bit frustrating not understanding the situation the book takes place in. We get hints here and there of Vikings and weaker civilizations outside of Calidon, but not much more than that. Even the inner workings of Calidon itself isn’t truly explained, and this leaves the plot unsupported and dull.
Additionally, the plot itself is rather overshadowed by the characters themselves. Aric doesn’t care about much besides Albaric, and therefore really only feels through Albaric, instead of feeling himself for the actions going on around him. We see his worry for his mother and father at times, but it is always overshadowed by the bond between Aric and Albaric. Lastly, the plot itself isn’t actually a tough thing to solve, and when the characters actually are forced to face the problem, it gets solved in a chapter. This ended up making the middle of the book feel very boring, with most of it consisting of Aric and Albaric frolicking around with occasional plot heavy chapters here and there.
All in all, I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book. It is an interesting tale about family and kinship, and an emotional one at times, but not much more than that.
“She was a girl born in fire and raised in the stars, and she would burn against the darkness.”
Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Di!
Spoiler Free: Overall, this book kept surprising me with how well developed it felt! I haven’t read this author’s other book yet, but this really makes me want to!
This book was chock full with action and plot! The first 25% of the book could’ve been an entire book on its own almost, in terms of quantity of plot and action. For the most part, I loved the fast pace and the way this book constantly kept me on my toes, but I can also see how it’s super overwhelming/overdoes the twists, and it keeps getting harder and harder to surprise the reader. Additionally, nothing that happened was all that surprising, but I do like the set up this book does for the rest of the series (especially the villain!!)
In terms of world and characters, I also felt the author did a fairly good job! She tackled a very complex world with many races/ideologies that all were an important part of the story, as well as a sea of different characters as well. While at points some things were under explained or certain characters were not given enough meaning before their death, I was overall quite impressed with the author’s general ability to show and not just tell!
I honestly cannot wait until the next book, and am excited to see where the plot continues to go!
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers:
Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Di!
Spoiler Free: Overall, this book kept surprising me with how well developed it felt! I haven’t read this author’s other book yet, but this really makes me want to!
This book was chock full with action and plot! The first 25% of the book could’ve been an entire book on its own almost, in terms of quantity of plot and action. For the most part, I loved the fast pace and the way this book constantly kept me on my toes, but I can also see how it’s super overwhelming/overdoes the twists, and it keeps getting harder and harder to surprise the reader. Additionally, nothing that happened was all that surprising, but I do like the set up this book does for the rest of the series (especially the villain!!)
In terms of world and characters, I also felt the author did a fairly good job! She tackled a very complex world with many races/ideologies that all were an important part of the story, as well as a sea of different characters as well. While at points some things were under explained or certain characters were not given enough meaning before their death, I was overall quite impressed with the author’s general ability to show and not just tell!
I honestly cannot wait until the next book, and am excited to see where the plot continues to go!
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: