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simonlorden's Reviews (1.38k)
This was a nice F/F sci-fi adventure, with a lot of focus on the romance and crew relationships. I liked Frank, the alien best friend, and my favourite scene was probably the pretending to be rich assholes part. Overall I don't really have any complaints, but it also didn't grab me that much, so... 3.5 stars?
3.5 stars
I was more bored by this than expected, but there were good parts
I was more bored by this than expected, but there were good parts
I liked this book, although honestly I was more interested in Biz trying to stop the kidnapper than all the high school drama, and the focus was more on the second despite the blurb. That's why I'm wary of the second book too - I'm interested in her powers, but I'm so not hyped about the implied jealousy plotline in the blurb, so I'll decide later if I wanna continue this.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was both brutal and brilliant, and I'm really not sure how to put this into words. The Poppy War describes the events of several years, Rin's time at the Academy, and her time with many different teachers and comrades. It is also more than 500 pages.
Rin is one of the best protagonists I have ever seen - desperate and brutal and loveable and infuriating. Even though this book had every horrible thing I could think of (including genocide, graphic description of rape, killing children, gore, drug addiction, self-harm and many more - a list of trigger warnings would be longer than this review), I devoured it in two days because I had to know what happened next.
I also knew from the set-up that not everyone would make it out, and yet I kept hoping until the last page that my favourites would be all right.(Seriously, what was that about Nezha supposedly hiding something? We never really found out.)
In all honesty, I wasn't sure what to think of the end, and I think I'm still processing it, but I can't deny that this was a brilliantly written novel.
((note: it was super weird to see poppy seeds exclusively referred to as drugs and hallucinogens when we just. put that stuff in our food casually where I'm from.))
This book was both brutal and brilliant, and I'm really not sure how to put this into words. The Poppy War describes the events of several years, Rin's time at the Academy, and her time with many different teachers and comrades. It is also more than 500 pages.
Rin is one of the best protagonists I have ever seen - desperate and brutal and loveable and infuriating. Even though this book had every horrible thing I could think of (including genocide, graphic description of rape, killing children, gore, drug addiction, self-harm and many more - a list of trigger warnings would be longer than this review), I devoured it in two days because I had to know what happened next.
I also knew from the set-up that not everyone would make it out, and yet I kept hoping until the last page that my favourites would be all right.
In all honesty, I wasn't sure what to think of the end, and I think I'm still processing it, but I can't deny that this was a brilliantly written novel.
((note: it was super weird to see poppy seeds exclusively referred to as drugs and hallucinogens when we just. put that stuff in our food casually where I'm from.))
damn. I liked this, and I want to know what happens next, but I was a little disappointed to find that the next book switches POVs and isn't about Alex anymore.
I was going to give this 5 stars until the last two chapters, but now I'm just sad and I don't like where the third book seems to be going
5 (thousand) stars
content warning for public outing
There was so much goodness in this book, I barely know where to start.
Red, White & Royal Blue is written from the perspective of Alex, the biracial son of the first female president of the United States. His parents are divorced, but his Mexican father is still a supportive presence in his life. Along with his older sister and their bisexual friend Nora, they form the White House Trio. And of course, there’s Prince Henry – grandson of the Queen of England, who has been Alex’s rival for years, and he’s all boring and white and not handsome or cute, not at all, not even a little bit.
Henry and Alex go from rivals to forced friends to real friends to secret lovers, separated by an ocean, as well as the expectations of their families and their entire countries. Through long-distance calls, pop culture references, quotes from love letters by historical figures and a painting of Alexander Hamilton, this romance is one history will remember.
Interwoven with the romance, there is also heavy criticism of British imperialism, corrupt and predatory politicans, racism and homophobia in history, the price of trying to keep a traditional image, and more. Henry and Alex are surrounded by families and friends who love their respective countries and wish to see them flourish, but without ignoring the bigotry in their past and present.
Also: give me more New Adult fiction with 20-something protagonists!
In short, this book is easily one of my favourite reads this year.
content warning for public outing
There was so much goodness in this book, I barely know where to start.
Red, White & Royal Blue is written from the perspective of Alex, the biracial son of the first female president of the United States. His parents are divorced, but his Mexican father is still a supportive presence in his life. Along with his older sister and their bisexual friend Nora, they form the White House Trio. And of course, there’s Prince Henry – grandson of the Queen of England, who has been Alex’s rival for years, and he’s all boring and white and not handsome or cute, not at all, not even a little bit.
Henry and Alex go from rivals to forced friends to real friends to secret lovers, separated by an ocean, as well as the expectations of their families and their entire countries. Through long-distance calls, pop culture references, quotes from love letters by historical figures and a painting of Alexander Hamilton, this romance is one history will remember.
Interwoven with the romance, there is also heavy criticism of British imperialism, corrupt and predatory politicans, racism and homophobia in history, the price of trying to keep a traditional image, and more. Henry and Alex are surrounded by families and friends who love their respective countries and wish to see them flourish, but without ignoring the bigotry in their past and present.
Also: give me more New Adult fiction with 20-something protagonists!
In short, this book is easily one of my favourite reads this year.
Content Warnings
The characters are publicly outed against their will.
