Review to come winter 2022. But for now —
What this book is not: a light-hearted rom-com or comedic slice-of-life set in a quirky, rosy depiction of the publishing industry. What this book is: a semi-autobiographical life-at-a-crossroads contemporary work of fiction that is the most accurate portrayal of the publishing industry I've ever read. (It was so accurate that it was a slightly traumatizing read for me. But a good book, nonetheless.)

An impressive conclusion to Raybearer, one of my favorite books of 2020, but I didn't enjoy reading this one nearly as much as I did the first. I also don't think it's quite as well paced or cleverly developed as the first, but there's A LOT going on here, so if you liked Raybearer you'll certainly find plenty to enjoy in this one, too.

• Tarisai remains a courageous, determined, principled main character facing nearly impossible tasks (some of the difficulties she endures and works through are powerfully haunting, but also become somewhat repetitive)
• Dayo, Sanjeet, Kirah, and Ai Ling are here as her supportive counsel siblings (though I would've liked to have them around more), and a whole host of new characters are introduced (some strikingly drawn and interesting, some suffering from underdevelopment or cliche)
• Tarisai's quest to end and correct the nightmarish sacrifices of the Redemptor system is broadened as she discovers and understands other unjust, exploitive systems; there's also a nice subversion of the chosen one trope
• The fantasy world continues to be built out with amazing detail (it seems to lean a little harder than the first on borrowed cultural traits, though it's possible I just noticed it more)

And if you haven't read Raybearer (and you're for some reason here reading to the end of a review about its sequel … no judgment!), then I think you're in for a treat — you get to read them back to back, which I suspect would've greatly increased my overall enjoyment of the duology. I'm just not a person who is meant to go a full year between parts of a story. Ifueko does an admirable job of getting us back up to speed, but I still struggled to remember some of the main characters and plot points, let alone the specialized vocab.

Topics, tropes and themes: power, love, justice, legacy, right to govern, exploitation, socioeconomic stratification, revolution, sacrifice, worth, guilt, conviction, commitment, inheritance; chosen one, found family, sacrifice, love triangle, ancient magic, underworld, working for a future world

Content notes: death, undead haunts and attacks, battle violence, assassination attempt, parental neglect and manipulation, revolutionary fervor, mental health and communication issues

Ouch. This is a favorite for a few of my trusted romance reader/reviewer friends, but it hit me wrong from beginning to end. I did really appreciate how smart, capable, caring, and honorable our main characters are. Full marks for that! But I didn't like much of the rest of it. *sad trombone*

Topics, tropes and themes: chronic illness, infertility, family, friendship, grief, toxic parents, mental health, integrity, fireman/paramedic, friends with benefits, boss bitch, boss babe, "not like other girls," hard choices, tragedy, sacrificial love, reconciliation
Content notes: chronic illness, infertility, loss of a partner, loss of a best friend, drunk driving, motorcycle accident, hospital scenes, coma, tumors, stroke

The first Jasmine Guillory I've ever read, and I probably shouldn't have started with one about a Hollywood star and a confident ad exec — that's not really my scene or interest. The mental health rep is great, the respect and sensitivity the guy shows is great, the growth/breakthrough for each character is great, but overall I thought this one was just okay.

Full review to come closer to the pub date. This was a 3.5 for me and if you love a culinary cozy mystery, you'll want to look for this in May! It's an #OwnVoices tale of a Filipino American millennial trying to find her place in the world and reluctantly discovering that it might be back in her hometown with her nosy aunties, high school besties, and yes, the occasional frenemy. She's sure she could figure it all out IF people could just stop getting murdered for a moment so she could gather her thoughts, priorities, and creative baking ideas. [Bonus content: glossary and pronunciation guide for Tagalog, recipes in the back, and a DACHSHUND NAMED AFTER A FILIPINO SAUSAGE — Longganisa!]

Content notes: fat-shaming, poisoning, murder, corrupt authorities and scams targeting minorities

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the digital ARC.

This one was not for me but you might like it if you're looking for:
• a second-chance romance with a sex positive vibe and descriptive sex scenes
• an #OwnVoices Vietnamese American perspective with an ethnically diverse cast
• foodie fiction with Vietnamese, soul food, and New Orleans flare
• a strong female lead with short- and long-term career goals that contribute to the sexual health, wellness, enjoyment, and education of underserved populations
• the friends with benefits trope with a twist, more like exes-trying-to-maybe-be-friends-but-definitely-wanting-those-benefits-either-way trope
• a Boss Babes squad of supportive characters
• a neighborhood community of supportive friends and elders
• a story that touches on first gen immigrant and minority children and the pressures of family, community, and cultural expectations
• a story that touches on gentrification

And you're not turned off by:
• extended steamy sex scenes and frank language about sex and sex toys
• strong language
• death of a parent (background); health scare involving a parent
• writing that doesn't convey the depth of the relationships or characters, leaning hard on signposting dialogue and sexual chemistry between the leads

No idea why it took me so long to get to this one. Absolutely loved it. All the Firefly and Farscape feels.