talislibrary's Reviews (339)

I read this as part of Indie Author Month. This collection of poems is devastatingly dark and emotion-filled, leaving me thinking about them days after reading. I look forward to seeing what the author puts their hand to in the future.

Felix is trans, he knows he made the right decision but is still struggling to find a label that works for him. Throw in an unknown classmate who has outed Felix with his deadname, and photos, and Felix finds this school year is going to be a journey of self-discovery, and first love.

I read this for Indie Author Month and very much look forward to reading what this author creates in the future. Whilst this didn't work for me due to the length (I wanted more space to delve into the intriguing storyline), I enjoyed the characterisation of Loki and his emotional turmoil, alongside him being portrayed as a queer character.

Based on the comics, this novelisation takes place after the first volume (I believe) and follows a group of teenagers who have one thing in common, fencing! When their coach says they must learn to bond as a team, each approaches it in their own way, leading to some wonderful realisations about each other, and true character development.

I read this for Indie Author Month and genuinely enjoyed this YA mystery. Marly finds her best friend Rae after her apparent unaliving. Told through a non-linear way, you follow Marly as she pieces together the hints from over the last year as she tries to work out who could have been involved in Rae's death.

Magpie is barely keeping afloat, over the last six months everything in her life has fallen apart and Magpie can hardly hold on anymore. Despite meeting some new friends that like her for her, when Magpie realises her notepad has created a new world, she knows she can use it to get revenge on those that ruined her life.

Cal is a successful social media journalist, who has his life mapped out, however, it all falls apart when his dad gets accepted into the space program. Now Cal must move from Brooklyn to the middle of nowhere in Houston, be involved in a space race tv show, and give up on his hopes and dreams. Amidst the chaos, he meets a fellow Astrokid, and finds his dreams aren't as over as he feared.

This novella offers some background to the Grishaverse, but can be read as a standalone. A beautiful girl finds her father doesn't have her best interests at heart when finding her a husband, but rather what he can get from her suitors.

This short folk tale offers some background to the Grishaverse, but can be read as a standalone. The woods near Duva eats girls, which Nadya accidentally delves into when her father remarries.

 This graphic memoir is brutally honest, raw and eye-opening. Nagata Kabi reflects on her experiences discovering her sexuality, coming to terms with her mental health disorders, and her hope for her future. This is a painful read at times, but it is an important one.