Well now I adore 2 artificial intelligences. I love Murderbot so much and I read this one in a day. Cannot wait for the Apple + series! 

Every review I encountered of this book told me I’d love it and they were absolutely right. Somehow this is both tense and cozy in the best way, and I flew through this in less than 48 hours. I highly recommend the audiobook too! 

Usagi has big bi energy and I’m really here for it. My first manga and my favorite anime from childhood!

I loved this duology. Incredibly original and the most ‘vibe-y’ book I’ve read since I don’t know when. Expert story telling and character work, and I want to read everything Gillig writes from now on. Read this if you love fantasy, tarot, spooks, and dark nights in the woods. 

My least favorite Brandy Sandy to date, but still a solid 4 stars. I had no idea how the pieces would all come together until there were maybe 40 pages left and then I was of course blown away by how he did it. 
Throughout the book I did feel like this was the ‘magic system’ that was just too much. It took away from the story, and the characters, while well developed, didn’t get enough attention because there were so many POVs we were constantly bouncing between. 
Definitely need a little fantasy break after this one. 

Not my favorite Ali Hazelwood but I still enjoyed it. I like her STEM working characters a little more because they nerd out more. I did enjoy hearing more about diving/swimming, but the relationship didn’t quite hit it for me. 

Spoilers below: 

I really disliked Pen as a character - or at least the way Hazelwood wrote her. She created this constant feeling of unease that led me to think the other shoe would drop and you would realize she actually sucked the whole time. So when she turned out fine - I was confused. What was the point of the other divers who warned the main character about  Pen? I just don’t think it was handled super well. 

Very very nearly 5 stars. The atmosphere of this book is incredible - the perfect blend of spooky and woodsy and folky. I loved the magic system and the thought put into the history of the magic itself and how it’s tied to the location. Cannot wait to see where book 2 leads. 

Most original and fun Spider-Man story in ages. MJ is a real person!

Great intro to the spider-verse. Loved it, and really well done splitting time between the Spideys. 

Definitely the weakest Brandy Sandy I’ve read so far - but 4.5 stars is nothing to scoff at. Even with his earliest work you get an intensity to the setting and magic that I’m not getting from other authors right now. The story was slow but the pay-off was great. I want more of this series.