damn I read a lot of good non-fictions in 2019! This was one of the top 3 for sure. I loved this. Such a fresh view of Jack the Ripper and managed to incorporate so much information about the time and society which formed these women but also the notions we have of them. Very deserving of the GoodReads award

Agh okay why do I ALWAYS read a book in December that needs to go on my Favs of the Year list *face palm*

This book was freaking amazing and I so HIGHLY recommend listening along with the audiobook. The narration and cast are fantastic!

I got so many damn feels for the main cast. I knew I shouldn't cause...like...well it's Europe during WWII but I failed. I loved them. I want the best for them. I'd cover up a murder for them, okay?!

I loved the switching between our world and the trial or the gods and I particularly loved the Hades character.

I adored that this book took on the role of soldiers of colour. We don't tend to acknowledge the racism in society an show it leaked into the structure of military.

Julie Berry has very quickly become an author I am hyped to read all of the content she releases.

Rep: African American and mixed race romantic relationship

It doesn't make sense that this is a debut work. At all. I loved the Chinese influences which is/was pretty rare until like...last year to have. It's strength is absolutely the characters but I also just love the mystery of the world's history/magic. There's still a lot up in the air and I can't wait to see what book 2 brings. We better serve some karma to the Empress.

So...I'm not generally a fan of contemporaries without some diversity which made me a little...nervous for this...BUT that goes out the window in December when I turn into a basic bitch and mass consume Netflix holiday films. This was an excellent time for me to read this. It's very romance and family relationship leaning but not to a nauseating degree. I liked Sophie and her family overall. The concept was fun and pretty well executed. No real complaints.

The upside to having no physical energy because food poisoning wiped me out: I finished it in a day.

This book has been hyped the hell up to me everywhere. Though I don't necessarily think it is mind blowing, it's a very strong debut which I enjoyed the romance and magic of. Plus there was a lineage reveal which I'm always a sucker for. I'm definitely picking up the sequel.

So this is my third Julie Berry book read and while it's probably my least favourite, it's quite fascinating. I love it when we take like completely unknown historical event, item or person and build something around it. I've always found religion in a historical context and its use to impose power of (predominately) rich men. Dolssa was a fascinating character on her own but I loved the surrounding cast as well. I couldn't quite see the settings being painted but everything else was good. I don't think this is really a read for someone who doesn't like history.

This was so much damn fun! I don't know a ton of West African folklore but I know I've interacted with it in very brief capacities through out films and TV and some books. It was cool to have a contemporary setting that pulls in West African folklore. It was all fun and quick. I loved Tristan Strong as a character. His life hasn't been easy but he has pieces that...honestly most people can see a connection to. I am super curious to see how we will fix the fantasy world/setting which was ripped open. I want to look up a lot of the cultural influences in this now.

Rep: Black own voice

...i stand by my statement from book 1. It makes no sense that this is a debut series. None at all!

Honestly this book is a hotmess but I don't mean that as a bad thing. The entire plot and characters and conflict are a total shit show as they should be after what went down at the end of The Poppy War. Somehow I have no idea who I align with. Everyone's done some messed up shit and then the political conflicts going on are such a mindfucker that I just...don't know what to do! Could book 3 come out ASAP so I can like...make my brain decide what to do with my feelings?!

The politics were complicated enough in The Poppy War but it triples with the traveling and division of alliances between all the leaders and religion. I always find religious allegiances to be weirdly interesting (probably because it seems so crazy in the real world and fantasy worlds) so I just ate this shit up.

I don't know that this was necessarily unique in the world of YA fantasies but fuck me if this isn't a really well written book--especially for a debut. I think my only problem was the beginning was a little bit awkward for me. It very quickly went from "introducing this world, characters and conflicts" to "assuming you know the world." It maybe needed another chapter or two of introductory vocabulary.

I really liked the characters. I am trash for the magic--I can't deal with how much I love magic systems that have structure like elements...or that have a set number of categories of magic (sort of like having the elements). It kept unfolding and developing and I can't wait to read the sequels.

Also, this wonderful book is from an Asian Canadian author (shout out to diverse Canadian authors) ANDDDDD I kinda love this cover.
rep: m/m romance