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1.33k reviews by:
readwithrhys
*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*
I was ecstatic to receive a copy of The Midnight Girls to review, and it was enjoyable, from what I read. I made it to about the 50% mark before giving up (for now!). I’m hoping to get a copy from my library in 2022 so I can finish the rest of it. I’m just not in the mood for this type of fantasy right now.
The pacing was alright, found a few places to be lacking but overall not too bad. Currently, I think this is a 3.5 star read.
It’s a sapphic enemies to lovers fantasy, which I am hoping I will love once finishing a published copy!
Don’t take my review to be negative, I don’t want that. Take it as someone who has not finished the book (duh) but wants to finish because it was enjoyable!
UPDATE:
i finished the whole thing and omg why didn’t i finish it when i had the arc? that was f-cking phenomenal
I was ecstatic to receive a copy of The Midnight Girls to review, and it was enjoyable, from what I read. I made it to about the 50% mark before giving up (for now!). I’m hoping to get a copy from my library in 2022 so I can finish the rest of it. I’m just not in the mood for this type of fantasy right now.
The pacing was alright, found a few places to be lacking but overall not too bad. Currently, I think this is a 3.5 star read.
It’s a sapphic enemies to lovers fantasy, which I am hoping I will love once finishing a published copy!
Don’t take my review to be negative, I don’t want that. Take it as someone who has not finished the book (duh) but wants to finish because it was enjoyable!
UPDATE:
i finished the whole thing and omg why didn’t i finish it when i had the arc? that was f-cking phenomenal
*Thank you to HCCFrenzy for a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Out of the Blue is one of my most anticipated releases, and it did not disappoint at all! I loved Jays Gay Agenda, and I was expecting some of that same humour, and we got it! I loved that type of humour in Jays Gay Agenda, that teenage queer humour that I didn’t really experience as a teen. I love seeing it in books.
Out of the Blue follows Sean, a sixteen year old high school human on his schools swim team who recently got dumped, and Crest, a merperson from Pacifica on their Journey of helping a human. They meet when Crest washes up on shore, and Crest agrees to help Sean win back his ex by making him jealous. Fake dating has its pros, but also has its cons. Will Sean and Crest work through fake dating?
Rep included: non-binary MC, plus sized MC, gay MC, bi, unlabelled MC (sexuality), sapphic side relationship (parents), and much more that I’m definitely forgetting.
Jason June has such a unique style of writing that I can’t describe. It’s one that I can sit down to read and not realize I just read half the book. I love when authors have such a captivating writing style that I forget I’m reading for hours.
Sean and Crest are two MCs I love, for different reasons. Crest is non-binary, but described as masculine presenting. I love that even though society might view them as a guy, Crest is very much not, and is very much in the middle. They were described as wearing anything from a sweatshirt to skinny jeans and a tight top with heels. Crest is very much comfortable in any body they are in, and I love seeing that. Sean is our plus sized human MC, and can I just give him a hug? I love seeing plus sized characters who are also athletic. Sean is one of the best swimmers on his high schools team, and I love that he breaks that stigma around fat people being lazy/not athletic.
Sean, when he first meets Crest, refers to them with he/him pronouns. However, he quickly changes when Crest tells him what pronouns they use. I love when authors have these types of conversations in novels. It’s so nice to see how fast Sean changes his use of pronouns when talking about Crest.
I seem to be in the minority based on other reviews, but I really did enjoy this. This is easily a 4 star read, maybe even 4.5. I loved all the characters, I love all the deep conversations, I love when the characters realized they messed up and how they try to fix it. The only critique that I’m giving it is I felt the end to be a little rushed. It was all brought together nicely, but definitely could’ve been done a bit better. I still loved the entire book, and will definitely be recommending it!
Out of the Blue is one of my most anticipated releases, and it did not disappoint at all! I loved Jays Gay Agenda, and I was expecting some of that same humour, and we got it! I loved that type of humour in Jays Gay Agenda, that teenage queer humour that I didn’t really experience as a teen. I love seeing it in books.
Out of the Blue follows Sean, a sixteen year old high school human on his schools swim team who recently got dumped, and Crest, a merperson from Pacifica on their Journey of helping a human. They meet when Crest washes up on shore, and Crest agrees to help Sean win back his ex by making him jealous. Fake dating has its pros, but also has its cons. Will Sean and Crest work through fake dating?
Rep included: non-binary MC, plus sized MC, gay MC, bi, unlabelled MC (sexuality), sapphic side relationship (parents), and much more that I’m definitely forgetting.
Jason June has such a unique style of writing that I can’t describe. It’s one that I can sit down to read and not realize I just read half the book. I love when authors have such a captivating writing style that I forget I’m reading for hours.
Sean and Crest are two MCs I love, for different reasons. Crest is non-binary, but described as masculine presenting. I love that even though society might view them as a guy, Crest is very much not, and is very much in the middle. They were described as wearing anything from a sweatshirt to skinny jeans and a tight top with heels. Crest is very much comfortable in any body they are in, and I love seeing that. Sean is our plus sized human MC, and can I just give him a hug? I love seeing plus sized characters who are also athletic. Sean is one of the best swimmers on his high schools team, and I love that he breaks that stigma around fat people being lazy/not athletic.
Sean, when he first meets Crest, refers to them with he/him pronouns. However, he quickly changes when Crest tells him what pronouns they use. I love when authors have these types of conversations in novels. It’s so nice to see how fast Sean changes his use of pronouns when talking about Crest.
I seem to be in the minority based on other reviews, but I really did enjoy this. This is easily a 4 star read, maybe even 4.5. I loved all the characters, I love all the deep conversations, I love when the characters realized they messed up and how they try to fix it. The only critique that I’m giving it is I felt the end to be a little rushed. It was all brought together nicely, but definitely could’ve been done a bit better. I still loved the entire book, and will definitely be recommending it!
*Thank you to Airic Fenn for a copy for me to review*
When I got the email asking if I’d like to review this book, the synopsis immediately drew me in. I started reading the first chapter on the authors website but stopped because I was going to want to read it all. And I was correct, the first chapter sucked me in. This book is a whirlwind and never leaves you bored in its 442 pages.
The Dreamer and the Marked follows Krystal who never quite believed her Mam’s stories that her biological mother wasn’t human. That is, until she meets Draqa, a stranger from her dreams who tells her she’s part fae. She does the unthinkable and follows him back into his world, Arai, without understanding that Draqa could be executed if she was found out to be someone from the human realm. Draqa wants to get Krystal off his hands before anything could happen, but unrest is high among the fae and those who they deem enemies.
This fantasy world was definitely something different and I loved it. There are half fae, half dragons, fae, brownies, and so many more.
Draqa and Krystals relationship from the beginning is rocky. Draqa is someone who doesn’t trust easily. I love how their relationship grows so steadily throughout the entire book.
As for representation, we have a bi MMC, asexual & demiromantic FMC, queer side character, and trans side character.
I highly suggest looking at this book! It was really good and I think fae lovers would love this. It’s both political but also lots of adventures. Romance is not a big part of the story, but there is one side relationship, and I can see Airic is doing something between 2 of the protagonists ;)
When I got the email asking if I’d like to review this book, the synopsis immediately drew me in. I started reading the first chapter on the authors website but stopped because I was going to want to read it all. And I was correct, the first chapter sucked me in. This book is a whirlwind and never leaves you bored in its 442 pages.
The Dreamer and the Marked follows Krystal who never quite believed her Mam’s stories that her biological mother wasn’t human. That is, until she meets Draqa, a stranger from her dreams who tells her she’s part fae. She does the unthinkable and follows him back into his world, Arai, without understanding that Draqa could be executed if she was found out to be someone from the human realm. Draqa wants to get Krystal off his hands before anything could happen, but unrest is high among the fae and those who they deem enemies.
This fantasy world was definitely something different and I loved it. There are half fae, half dragons, fae, brownies, and so many more.
Draqa and Krystals relationship from the beginning is rocky. Draqa is someone who doesn’t trust easily. I love how their relationship grows so steadily throughout the entire book.
As for representation, we have a bi MMC, asexual & demiromantic FMC, queer side character, and trans side character.
I highly suggest looking at this book! It was really good and I think fae lovers would love this. It’s both political but also lots of adventures. Romance is not a big part of the story, but there is one side relationship, and I can see Airic is doing something between 2 of the protagonists ;)
*Thanks to Ben Alderson for giving me an ARC for me to review*
A Kingdom of Liesstarts right whereA Betrayal of Stormsended, and oh boy, what a f*cking whirlwind this book was.
Ben has a style of writing that makes it so easy for me to sit down and read 100+ pages in one go without realizing it. It’s so easy to get lost in his worlds, andA Kingdom of Liesdid exactly that.
A Kingdom of Lies,likeA Betrayal of Storms,has sex scenes, and god damn, so good. I love when authors don’t use stupid metaphors to describe genitalia, and Ben never uses those metaphors.
A Kingdom of Lieskept me on the edge of my seat for the whole book. Robin’s development through the book itself was amazing.
The plot twists in this too are all over the god damn place. I love that. It kept me guessing what would happen next, and Ben got a few of my reactions first hand. Let’s just say I was a tad bit crazy while reading the last 100 pages.
Once I finished and read the absolute fucking CLIFFHANGER, I gave Ben the nickname of ‘King of Cliffhangers’, because god damn, I need book 3 immediately. If he doesn’t fulfil his promise of book 3 eventually, I’m gonna scream.
A Kingdom of Liesstarts right whereA Betrayal of Stormsended, and oh boy, what a f*cking whirlwind this book was.
Ben has a style of writing that makes it so easy for me to sit down and read 100+ pages in one go without realizing it. It’s so easy to get lost in his worlds, andA Kingdom of Liesdid exactly that.
A Kingdom of Lies,likeA Betrayal of Storms,has sex scenes, and god damn, so good. I love when authors don’t use stupid metaphors to describe genitalia, and Ben never uses those metaphors.
A Kingdom of Lieskept me on the edge of my seat for the whole book. Robin’s development through the book itself was amazing.
The plot twists in this too are all over the god damn place. I love that. It kept me guessing what would happen next, and Ben got a few of my reactions first hand. Let’s just say I was a tad bit crazy while reading the last 100 pages.
Once I finished and read the absolute fucking CLIFFHANGER, I gave Ben the nickname of ‘King of Cliffhangers’, because god damn, I need book 3 immediately. If he doesn’t fulfil his promise of book 3 eventually, I’m gonna scream.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for an arc*
Xiran Jay Zhao is easily one of my favourite authors. I read Iron Widow last year and fell in love with their writing. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Empire has writing just like Iron Widow, yet funnier.
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Empire is described as Chinese Percy Jackson meets Yugioh, and that is a perfect description. If that description alone doesn’t make you want to read it, just think of how funny a Chinese Percy Jackson could be with an Emperor possessing his AR headset. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Xiran wrote this book to be funny, yet also tackling heavy topics but never letting it get too heavy or dampening. There are talks of racism in China towards ethnic minorities, and as a white passing Metis person who didn’t know about some things that happen in China, Xiran made this book funny and adventurous yet educational.
Zack is 12-years-old, just like Percy Jackson was in The Lightning Thief, and the amount of times I laughed in both books is equal. Reading middle grade novels is always fun to see how authors write pre-teens. Zack makes mistakes like pre-teens do, and I love when authors don’t make their characters perfect.
If you’ve read Iron Widow, you know how Xiran Jay Zhao can write cliffhangers. And beware, this one also has one. Is it still worth it to read now? ABSOLUTELY it is. It’s not the worst cliffhanger I’ve read (*ahem*Elizabeth May*ahem*), but I still need the second book.
When I started this book, I completely forgot that there is LGBTQ rep in it. Zack is gay, and every time he talked about having butterflies around other 12-year-olds, I was surprised. Like I don’t know why it slipped my mind that the MC is gay.
I highly recommend this book. Middle grade is an amazing age range, and this book is one that will be enjoyed by pre-teens, teens, and adults!
Xiran Jay Zhao is easily one of my favourite authors. I read Iron Widow last year and fell in love with their writing. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Empire has writing just like Iron Widow, yet funnier.
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Empire is described as Chinese Percy Jackson meets Yugioh, and that is a perfect description. If that description alone doesn’t make you want to read it, just think of how funny a Chinese Percy Jackson could be with an Emperor possessing his AR headset. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Xiran wrote this book to be funny, yet also tackling heavy topics but never letting it get too heavy or dampening. There are talks of racism in China towards ethnic minorities, and as a white passing Metis person who didn’t know about some things that happen in China, Xiran made this book funny and adventurous yet educational.
Zack is 12-years-old, just like Percy Jackson was in The Lightning Thief, and the amount of times I laughed in both books is equal. Reading middle grade novels is always fun to see how authors write pre-teens. Zack makes mistakes like pre-teens do, and I love when authors don’t make their characters perfect.
If you’ve read Iron Widow, you know how Xiran Jay Zhao can write cliffhangers. And beware, this one also has one. Is it still worth it to read now? ABSOLUTELY it is. It’s not the worst cliffhanger I’ve read (*ahem*Elizabeth May*ahem*), but I still need the second book.
When I started this book, I completely forgot that there is LGBTQ rep in it. Zack is gay, and every time he talked about having butterflies around other 12-year-olds, I was surprised. Like I don’t know why it slipped my mind that the MC is gay.
I highly recommend this book. Middle grade is an amazing age range, and this book is one that will be enjoyed by pre-teens, teens, and adults!
