I liked certain aspects of this book (letter writing, poetic descriptions, etc.), but I don't care for the Asian stereotyping. A Japanese woman has written in detail about this and her feelings on the matter should be taken seriously.
Even if that hadn't been a concern, I  have 9 other library books checked out and this one is taking too long to go through.

This is the second time this month where I've finished a book and can honestly say I've never read anything else quite like this.
The balance of environmental and mental horror was incredible. Gyre is one of the best examples of unreliable narrator I've ever seen.
Gyre and Em have such a toxic relationship, yet manage to save each other from physical death, and work through intense trauma. Gyre's loneliness and Em's desperation are both so palpable. During each chapter I wondered how could the situation get any worse, and it continued to.
Starling has written a raw description of the call of the void, which is unsettling in and of itself.
My partner would love to see a horror video-game adaptation of this work and I agree that this book has strong adaptability.
The only criticism I have is the scene

towards the end when Gyre faces off against the tunneler feels like a dramatic tonal shift from other scenes. I was thrilled to finally see the tunneler and it was terrifying when she first observes it. I understand why, from a characterization perspective, that she shouted at it to turn around and face her, though it felt a little too cinematic to me.

This work is a stunning achievement as a debut novel and iconic addition to horror as a genre. I can't wait to read more of Starling's work.

This book is unlike any other I've read.
The science fiction and horror elements were incredibly well executed. Every detail mattered.
Having dealt with domestic abuse, the situations outlined here were intense and authentic.
Sarah Gaileys' acknowledgement at the end confirmed what I feared, but I'm thankful that their work has hopefully helped them, and I know helped me.

Full review to come.

Comic anthologies can be tricky sometimes, where traditionally a reader might like certain comics, but not care for others. This collection is the exception. Every single comic was fantastic! I loved that history, satire, and personal stories were highlighted. This is a must read for Queer folk young and old. I also really appreciate the blurbs on all the artists at the end, making it much easier to support their work and find similar content.

This book is definitely well written, I'm just not as motivated to read anthologies or short stories as I am novels right now. I'll definitely be coming back to this one when in the mood for it.

I love the character relationships and the emotional scenes in this book. It's just been a few months since I've read it and I need to refresh my memory before tackling the conclusion.

This book was incredible. N. K. Jemisin has woven a distinct fantasy love letter to NYC. 
I wouldn't trust any other author to nail characterization perfectly for people representing each borough. I'm (regrettably) from Staten Island, and my parents from Brooklyn, so I loved the nods throughout this work. I'd die for Bronca. I knew this would be wonderful from the moment I saw the Brooklyn neighborhood shout outs on the map.
The concept of diverse people fighting fascist entities from another universe preying on folks already leaning into gentrification and racism is genius. Moments when the borough avatars break down barriers amongst themselves to work together are immensely satisfying.

The twist near the conclusion was perfectly executed, and the family oriented beach scene made me sob.

I'm so excited for the next book in this series. 

The beginning of Winter's Orbit feels like a strong opening for a sci-fi romance series, but I have to return it to my local library. Although I personally have a stutter sometimes when I'm nervous or in other situations, I find myself no longer immersed in a scene if there's awkwardness resulting from stuttering. 

 

I don’t write reviews for every book I read, but since I would like to see the sequel, and there’s less than 30 reviews published, let’s give it a shot!

This is one of those books where I’d rate the first half around 3 stars, and the second half

once they reach the Once City <spoiler/> 5. 

In a truly unique fantasy environment, Kindred finds herself at a crossroads after the presumed death of her grandmother and the Errant crew’s refusal to join a corporate guild. As the crew is on the run, loyalties are tested and Kindred’s techniques with the fire become more creative.

As other reviewers have noted, the frequent flashbacks in the beginning of the book results in a slower pace, that discourages some readers, and may cause them to put the book down. I’m glad I decided to tread on, but I understand. The flashbacks create relevant context, but can feel like an interruption during action or a more exciting scene.

I enjoyed that this book features a storyteller who is narrating the events after the fact, that we sometimes check in on. I’ve encountered this recently in other books like The Empress of Salt and Fortune.

It also felt like a funny meta moment at the end when the survivors are disappointed at the story not reaching a proper conclusion, as we the readers are left with a cliffhanger to be addressed in book 2.

The Forever Sea’s primary strengths are its unique world concept and memorable characters. I loved the Sapphic romance between Kindred and Ragged Sarah, and their disagreements were reasonable. Little Wings’ character arc and Captain Carroway’s democratic leadership style highlighted some great character moments. The political struggles between the cities and motivations to fight made sense, given the current state of the world. Now that the foundations of this world have been laid out, I’m curious to see Johnson address more of the

mysterious under sea

elements in Book 2.