"There is no sisterhood. How can there be, when white supremacy has done such a thorough job of setting White Womanhood apart?"

An insightful yet concise & thought-provoking read unpacking the weaponization of white women's perceived vulnerability. While I learned a lot, the organization of some of the material was confusing and the language veered between simple + modern to a bit too repetitive + dry. However, it was clearly well-researched and I appreciated the breadth of information (Hamad covers a LOT of history) and the many accessible examples.

Ayana Gray pulled me in quickly and kept me captivated. The world-building? Immaculate & creative. The pacing? Perfect - we lingered in suspenseful moments and powered through action-packed fights & frights. The POVs? All 3 were equally engaging, specific, and well characterized.

The magic and the religion and the creatures .. SO fascinating. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end to learn more about the African mythology and real-life references utilized in the world of Beasts of Prey.

I loved the banter between the two MCs and the slow & sweet development of their relationship.

My heart is still POUNDING from this cliffhanger - oh my! I can't wait for the sequel.

CW: death & murder, blood, violence, death of parent, drug use/drugging, animal cruelty, animal death, physical abuse, fire, mental illness, panic attacks

This is a compelling, haunting, fast-paced tale with a queer Jewish narrator. The place (late 1800s Chicago) sets the scene for theming around assimilation, injustice, community/belonging, and resilience. 

At its heart, this is a story of oppressed folks on the outskirts of society reclaiming their power. It's a story of justice and a story of vengeance. It's sinister and paranormal (our main character is possessed by a dybbuk) and mysterious .. but also charming and filled with love and a deep appreciation for Jewish culture. 

It was so exciting to see Jewish representation and culture and Yiddish & Hebrew language deeply woven into a story (that is not centered around the Holocaust). Yes, this book was DARK. But there was such comfort (for me) in reading about Jewish customs. I also liked how words & phrases were naturally included within the text (with a separate glossary at the end for those who are unfamiliar). I much prefer this versus over-explaining every term for goyim.

I wanted WAY more Raizel. Please! She was fascinating & I loved the inclusion of the anarchy plotline. 

CW (there are lots): anti-semitism (explicit & in many forms), violence, murder/death, homophobia, sexual assault, rape, pedophilia, fire & fire injury, slurs, xenophobia, grief, animal cruelty & death (slaughterhouse scenes)

There's a slasher coming to Proofrock. But Jade's the only one who sees the signs .. the history .. the groundwork for a night of horrors from a masked killer. 

I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this. As many other reviewers have shared, you need to be patient. This is a slow, smoldering story until the last ~100 pages. 

But just because it's slow doesn't mean it's not worth it. There's so much depth in the groundwork here - Jade is an incredibly complex teenager and we are given an inside look into her heart and her struggles. It's for sure a better read if you have at least some knowledge of classic slasher films. But Jade's a good teacher if not! SGJ also writes with a bite - I loved the humor throughout the book.

And then the final showdown is just electrifying. I couldn't put it down.

This book isn't for everyone. I get that. But if you have a bit of patience, it's worth it.

CW: murder, gore, suicide attempt & self harm, murder, rape, child abuse, sexual assault, animal death, body horror, incest, alcoholism, vomit, addiction, drug use

I adored this book! The writing style was beyond charming, and I was deeply attached to our two POVs and the development of their relationship. 

I love the way Zayneb and Adam support each other, how connected they are to their families, and how they are unapologetic and warm about their faith.

The representation was thoughtful and detailed - we get to know a variety of Muslim characters with various backgrounds and connections to their faith. Additionally, as someone with a chronic illness I appreciated the inclusion of the MS storyline and the care it was given.

There are a lot of Harry Potter references (this book was published in 2019) .. just as a heads up.

CW: islamophobia, chronic illness (MS), grief, death, medical content, cultural appropriation, racism

i have chills. the poppy war captivated me and revolted me and terrified me. an absolutely brilliant debut. the world-building was beyond thoughtful and the writing style simply "clicked" for me.

i'm so grateful i started this series after all 3 books were published - i can't imagine waiting so long to finish.

CW (if helpful, there is one incredibly graphic chapter that can be skipped that would avoid many of these): genocide, murder/death, rape, violence, gore, war, drug use, addiction, torture, violence, self harm, animal cruelty, animal death, classism

 It’s so wonderful to embrace the FUN in reading - and Shadow of the Shapeshifter was exactly that. This was a delightful (& short) tale for young audiences (middle grade?) featuring magical creatures and bumbling sidekicks and just the right amount of puns. I laughed aloud and shook my head and simply enjoyed the ride. This book is actually quite light on the fantasy elements (making it very easy to comprehend) and filled with charm. Stone’s heart and joy and playfulness were apparent on every page. It felt like an adventurous bedtime story that became more absurd & ridiculous the further we went on. 

CW: death, animal death & animal cruelty, violence, blood, kidnapping

 

(Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.) 

 (Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.) 

 

This was an 800+ page book … that simply FLEW by. I had so much fun reading (and heartbreak, and stress, and all those glorious intense feelings most readers delight in). Eri Leigh has a gift for creating simmering tension and seamlessly integrating worldbuilding in a way that wasn’t tedious or info-dumpy at all. The writing was easy to follow and the characterization was great. 

 

I enjoyed each of our 3 main POVs – all adult women. While Marietta feels like the “main” MC, I appreciated the switches in perspectives and rooted for all 3 leading ladies. Additionally, because of the whiplash of court politic moves, it was helpful to watch events play out from the eyes of a variety of characters holding different amounts of power. 

 

Something AMAZING the author did was to create an online treasure trove of resources. You can scan a QR code at the front of the book and be led to a site with some typical tools (pronunciation guide, maps, court roles) but also some fun & creative elements (Pinterest boards for the main characters, playlists ... I think she may add some recipes?). This helped immerse me in the world and was a great reference for new-fantasy-world confusion. 

 

While there is LGBT+ rep (one of the 3 main POVs is gay), the scenes with sexual content were straight. Just as a heads up! 

 

There was one scene that made me roll my eyes a bit when the characters were trying to be sly .. and talking in the worst “code” possible. That was probably the only moment where I took a step back from the action. 

 

The last bit was twist after twist after twist ... and I loved it. 

 

A Queen’s Game doesn’t quite end on a cliffhanger but it DOES leave an opening for followup books. There are so many threads I’m excited to follow! I can’t wait to dive deeper into Eri Leigh’s creative world. 

CW: kidnapping, sexual content, sexual harassment/assault, domestic abuse (physical assault, emotionally abusive relationship), toxic relationship, drug & alcohol use (sometimes without consent), depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, death, confinement, chronic illness.