Shame the series got cancelled. I really wanted to know what was up with AWC and the peaches.

A difficult read, no way around it. This is the most realistic of any of Butler's work. I enjoyed the problem solving bits of figuring out what would be best to bring from 1976 California to Antebellum Maryland. On the whole, I'd describe my reading experience as like taking medicine - unpleasant but I'm better for it. It was really hard for me to read the first 1/3 and then I was able to settle into a reading rhythm (not sure why that is because the violence and abuse ramps up as the story goes on). I'd already read the graphic novel and knew the general plot. If I hadn't already known the ending, I think this would have been a much slower read for me.

The various storylines in the YouNeek Universe are starting to meld. This volume deals a lot with Malika's relationship with various family members. There's a big reveal that felt muted because I don't think it was given enough buildup, but there was another reveal that I think will take the story interesting places. Malika's relationship with Nadia is touching and tragic and one of my favorite parts of the story right now.

An experimental, experiental novel. This story discusses irregularities in time at the particle scale and applies them to our scale to get the reader to think of time as something other than linear. Due to this, there were multiple ways to read the novel. I've started reading another way, and I'll say it's a bit confusing. This book is also a scavenger hunt of literary references and takes a similar approach to the plot - readers aren't outright explained the ending and have to piece it together through various accounts and sources. I thought the writing style was a bit inconsistent. There were moments where I really enjoyed the descriptions and times when they felt threadbare. This story is a collage of scientific information (quantum physics, psychology, and ) and the narrative. It was heavier on the scientific information than I would've liked, and it made some plot lines feel neglected.

I really enjoyed Fabiola's adjustment to Detroit, the cultural exchange between her and her cousins, and the central part that Fabiola's religion/ faith in the Orisas played in the story. I was a little thrown off because the part about the federal agent and the deal for Fabiola's mom's immigration papers seemed unrealistic to me, and it distracted me throughout the book. If there was a real-life incident that set precedent for this, I would've appreciated that being mentioned at some point.

I loved the art of the zombies. I think the scenes that happen indoors got a little monotonous because of the backgrounds. Story was gripping and engaging.

Loved the whimsy, the characters, and the worlds. Favorite stories were "Two Moons", "Harvest". "What the Heart Wants", "A Rose for Brescia", and "Cosmic." This collection is poignant, full of sapphic yearning, disturbing transformations, and mystery.

A joy to read. Baptiste is masterful in her descriptions of the jumbies. They were all memorable and spooky in their own way, especially the douens and the main antagonist. I actually shuddered while reading some of the descriptions. While the plot is a bit typical (special/ gifted main character fights Big Bad), the villain had some complexity, and the end of the book introduced some nuance to how the jumbies and humans have co-existed. Corinne and her friends had distinct personalities, and I enjoyed the unexpected arcs her relationship with each of them took. Corinne was a very endearing protagonist, and I can't wait to read the sequels and hear more about her adventures.

The art of the kissing and cuddling was great. Wish there'd been more because I think Jemisin does a great job writing that stuff in her novels. We learn more about the Councilor and his motivations and how elites view the use of Switchoff.