This book is absolutely epic. Standalone fantasies are often hit or miss (they require such careful world-building and character development in ONE bound book), but this was a big win for me. It’s an extremely slow-burn, deep dive into the dynamics of the Matsuda family who have the ability to command and wield water. We journey along the perspectives of young Mamoru, his mother Misaki, and his father Takeru. With Misaki’s prominent voice, we bear witness to her past as an experienced fighter throughout the book, providing context when their village is attacked in the present day. There is great loss in this book, but the execution is brilliant. The fight scenes, alone, can extend into multiple chapters, but aren’t boring at all. Wang’s martial arts background bleeds through the pages, as well as her ability to write believable stories about empires, the perpetuation of generational oppression, and how they can subsequently crumble when the oppressed rise up to meet them.

My only complaint is that there is no longer a series to continue on the story of our Theonites. I would gladly read several more volumes to learn more about how the actions in this novel impact the rest of our beloved character’s stories. People have compared this book to Avatar: the Last Airbender and honestly, yeah - it’s like AtLA on steroids designed for adults. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Wang has quickly become an author that I’ll keep up with to snatch up any future releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for letting me read an e-ARC of Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya! This book releases on February 4, 2025, so prepare to reserve it at your local library.

The author’s writing is slow-paced, but the slow pace allows readers to take their time with each word, sentence, paragraph, and let them languish in interpretation. The description and title led me to believe that we’d explore the concept of “bibliophobia” in relation to Chihaya’s experience with an aversion to books after being institutionalized. What unfolds is a journey through the author’s history and relationship to books. She takes a deep dive on specific titles that have deeply impacted her (considered “Life Ruiners” by the author) and the ways in which they have shaped her relationship with the world, books, and her critical interpretations of the written word.

While I have criticisms of the way that Chihaya leads readers somewhat astray about the book’s contents, it’s clear that she is a talented writer, as I found myself highlighting massive sections of text where she describes her experiences while reading deeply impactful books (ironic considering she tears apart the way readers identify with characters and themes in books later on in the text). I thoroughly enjoyed the process of reading this book, but it’s hard for me to pinpoint an audience to whom I’d recommend it. All things considered, I would read more by this author, and I’m curious to see if she’ll ever churn out any fiction that is more likely to cross my path in the future. If you experience any challenges reading personal stories containing references to self-harm, suicidal ideation, and the harms of academia, I would consider skipping this one. Check StoryGraph for CWs, as always.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Bloomsbury Publishing for letting me read an e-ARC of The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon! The long-awaited fifth installment (out of seven) is releasing February 25, 2025! The revised copies of books 1-4 are available everywhere (check your local bookstore or library), so there’s no excuse not to start The Bone Season today! I can promise that after the first couple of chapters, the world will wholly consume you and you won’t want to stop reading.

We open with Paige in a strange place outside of Scion and with the last six months wiped from her memory. We hit the ground running as she escapes the clutches of her unknown captors and works to get her bearings, and, hopefully, her memories back. What follows is non-stop action. Paige Mahoney is not known for being a character who gets much of a break or downtime to breathe and the same is true for much of this novel. Readers, and Paige, are granted a sweet, sweet reprieve from life-threatening action for two blissful chapters as the plot and world slows down just a smidge for a few days (in-book time, of course). Naturally, time doesn’t stop when we want it to, and the adventure and fight to be free of Scion’s clutches continues on.

I held my breath for at least the last quarter of the book and couldn’t put the book down until the very end. The twists and turns were some of Shannon’s best in the series so far and have me wanting to start a series reread to see if I can pick up more foreshadowing than the first time I read them! My only complaint about this book is that I finished it a month before its release and now I’ll have to wait for at least another year for the next book to release! All of my personal sadness aside, this was a phenomenal read and I’m once again convinced there’s nothing Samantha Shannon can’t do.

An absolutely wonderful second installment in this series. It felt very timely and I loved the passion the main character had about sustainable practices in general, even though it was a point of friction for her and other characters. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this young friend group POVs, so hopefully Dåsnes has more in store for readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for letting me read an e-ARC of At the Fount of Creation by Tobi Ogundiran! The follow-up novella to In the Shadow of the Fall releases January 28, 2025, so you have lots of time to check out the first book before devouring this one right after!

“For four hundred years, the world’s remaining Orisha have fought to survive the rapaciousness of the soul-stealing Godkillers and the charismatic words of the singular, mysterious figure who leads them, known as the Teacher. Now they seek to kill the one person whose existence defies their very mandate.

Ashâke carries within herself the spirits of the surviving Orisha, and she is on the hunt for allies who can help her defeat the encroaching army of Godkillers. But their influence is everywhere, and no one is immune—not even Ashâke. If she is to succeed, Ashâke will need to answer the question the Godkillers pose—are the Orisha even worth saving?”

This was an absolutely wonderful return to our main character, Ashâke’s, world as the Guardian. Where I found the first installment occasionally tepid, this sequel and conclusion was white-hot and traveled at a breakneck speed. There was so much growth in the characters and everything about the world felt so much more fleshed out. In hindsight, honestly, the first book is mostly world-building and setup for this epic conclusion. The twists and turns kept me hooked and I loved the big reveal that comes out of the handful of interludes throughout the novella. The ending was unexpected (but, then again, I’m very bad at predicting plot - I just enjoy being along for the ride), but I thought it wrapped up the storylines nicely in a lovely bow, especially after such a brutal climax.

I would gladly read more novellas or a full-length novel about this world and our characters. I found them enthralling thanks to this second story. If you’re looking for a fast read or a great fantasy duology with lots of West African inspiration - I’d recommend this series!

This was my first graphic novel by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. The art style, the coloring, the storyline! It was very messy and queer and unapologetic. This is definitely a graphic novel I’d recommend for those who are exploring their queerness for the first time or who have gone through their first queer breakup. It was so good!!!

THIS WAS SO FUN!!! A collection of sexual fantasies and desires compiled in one anthology by Gillian Anderson?? What more could you want?? The audiobook was HOT. Very spicy. But it was so interesting to hear from a wide range of women about their deepest sexual longings. 

In an attempt to read more nonfiction this year, I picked this one up as a recommendation from one of my favorite authors (and conservationists), Jeff VanderMeer. I found it very interesting to hear about Brown's experience with buying an empty lot and finding ways to rewild it amidst the industrial landscape. This book was an intriguing look into how nature takes over (scratching that post-apocalyptic itch for me) and how its resilience guarantees its survival, even if humans do not. 

My one gripe is that this isn't an achievable goal for the average human - not everyone has the ability to just purchase an empty lot to rewild land and help the Earth heal, but I'm grateful for the few people who have done and continue to do so. While there are many sad situations in this book, there was a beacon of hope throughout every chapter reminding readers of their ability to take the future into their own hands - for the better.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read an e-ARC of All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall! This book releases on January 7, 2025, so there’s plenty of time to preorder this book or to request it from your local library!

In a world ravaged and drowned by climate disaster, Nonie and her family must abandon the life they knew and find a new way to survive the world as it has become. They start a settlement on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH, pronounced like “Amen”) and live in relative harmony and safety, never letting in strangers, hunting and growing food in Central Park, and trying to preserve the massive collections of human history and science. Nonie keeps her own records of life, the collections, and much more. When they must abandon the place they’ve come to call home, they take a boat and ride the swollen Hudson river hoping to make it to her mother’s old home in the north. As one would expect in a climate disaster story, they encounter all types of unsavory characters who have found other ways of surviving. Readers are sure to encounter themes of grief, coming of age, community, love, the importance of history and knowledge, and question the ways in which humans choose to survive.

I really really wanted this to be a 5-star read (especially since it’s compared to some of my favorite dystopian stories like “Parable of the Sower” and “Station Eleven”), but this missed the mark. I found it slow-paced, repetitive, and at times a little *too* much like the comparison titles. That being said, if you want an atmospheric, post-climate-disaster world, slow-burn read – this is a great option! Even though I had higher expectations, I really enjoyed Caffall’s writing style and tone, which brought the character’s voices and experiences to life. I genuinely look forward to seeing what else she crafts in the future!