booksblabbering's reviews
1906 reviews

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

3.5

Very simple, mundane, and boring. Yet I stayed up till 1:30am to finish this in two sittings.

36 year-old Tokyo resident Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when she finds solace and purpose working at the Hiiromachi branch of Smile Mart.

Keiko doesn’t have a better position, she doesn’t have a husband, kids, not a partner, no ambitions. She is content with her life as it is, and no one can stand it.

This is mainly about an autistic woman who finds peace in routine. Maybe I felt so engaged as I felt so seen by some of Keiko’s inner dialogue and her actions.
It lets us laugh at the absurdity of the world that we see through Keiko’s oddball, fresh perspective.

When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why. I found that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck. Sometimes I even wanted to hit them with a shovel to shut them up, like I did that time in elementary school. But I recalled how upset my sister had been when I’d casually mentioned this to her before and kept my mouth shut.

I am reading this in preparation of reading all of the author’s other books.

The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry

4.25

A book written for readers. 

As an avid reader and an English major who also studied law - this felt made for me. It was filled with literary references, academic insights and jokes, a love for reading that only true bookworms could ever understand. 

<b>So I’ll be drifting in words, absorbing, and the words I absorb will be racing through my bloodstream. Every nerve, every neuron will be sparking and catching fire, and my heart will be quickening to carry it through faster, and my eyes will be tearing ahead to take in more and more. This isn’t magic yet, or whatever the word is. (It’s always annoyed me that I can’t find the word.) This is just reading a book.</b>

Rob’s brother Charley is not only a genius, but he can also bring characters from books into the real world. Rob has always felt slightly jealous and angry with his brother’s peculiarity and just is very happy to lead a normal life as an adult working as a lawyer. 

Then Charley returns to town as villainous Dickerson characters start causing havoc and the hound of Baskerville starts barging down doors. 

While each character took on a life of the their own once they were read into being, their identity is shaped by how readers and authors view them. So we have four Mr. Darcy’s who are invisibly the same person but have slightly different traits or habits or preferences. Our own experiences can influence our own reading of a book or character and this can change how different people understand the same story. 

<b>Charley sneezed, and made a face. “Oh, wonderful. I’m going to catch cold from a pathetic fallacy.

</b>

This isn’t only all fun, whimsy, and imagination. There is also a real focus on identity, belonging, and feeling loved.

There is a strong sense of family, protectiveness, and respect. 

<b>It’s.

Not.

Fair.

I know that life isn’t.

But stories are. Or if they’re not fair, they’re not fair with purpose.

I wish I could tell better where stories end and life begins.

</b>

Things didn’t always flow smoothly , but this is a book where characters come to life so plot holes can literally be excused. 

Also, Dorian Grey is one of the most witty characters and does exceedingly well in the modern world.

If you enjoyed Inkheart - definitely pick this up!

<b>

The Victorians don’t mind coincidence—they wanted the world to make sense. They love people turning out to be related, especially people with titles. Seriously, if you bump into a kind aristocrat in a Dickens novel, he will turn out to be your uncle by chapter fifty-seven, so aim well.”</b>

Tottering between four and five stars. 

The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.

Dnf at 27%

One of my 2025 goals was to not feel so bad dnf’ing. 

I couldn’t care about any of the characters and I found the plot boring. 

I went in expecting this to slow-paced, but I love political fantasy and this was supposed to be about a Second Apocalypse through a Holy War. The only two women mentioned were a whore or a reviled Duchess/Empress (I can’t remember) who had no power except from through her sons. 

Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans

4.0

A favourite romantasy series. 

This book and series perfectly balances the romance and the plot. The characters and the magic. The world-building and the politics. 

Princess Sultana Naime was not a man, not a prince, whose temper would be seen as strength or whose unusual methods might be seen as visionary instead of disruptive. Neither was she a princess the way they believed she should be. With her father’s decline, she would rule a Council that saw her as nothing more than a steppingstone for their sons to the Sultan’s seat.

Thankfully, Naime had an affinity, for plans and schemes and seeks an alliance against her Council’s wishes with Sakram - a generations-old enemy.

Makram is the second born, disliked by his parents and feared for his magic, only elevated by his brother, the ruler, to Commander of his armies. 

Makram and Naime are the prime example of opposites attract and fit. Their love is soft, but passionate. Gentle, yet fierce. Naime is used to being seeing as a woman, as beautiful. Makram makes her feel like a Woman and Beautiful with capital letters. Her as Naime rather than her as a pawn.

<b>“If I let go“—Naime sucked in a shaking breath—” we will spend this time picking up all my broken pieces.” 

“I want them,” Makram said. “I can help you carry them.” His arms tightened around her. An imaginary fissure opened in her chest, the pain of it real enough.

</b>

You can be strong and fall apart. Makram is Naime’s number one fan and champion and utterly in awe of her. 

The world-building is also so interesting with mages and different levels of power etc. There is also a Wheel that needs to be balanced which is Naime’s goal and will be the overarching objective of the series. 

<b>“I can shine like dawn, and you bring the peace of dusk.” She pulled her hand away. “Beginnings and endings. That is why there must be balance. To relieve the terrible with the beautiful, to make the beautiful more precious, for the threat of its absence.”

</b>

There is spice towards the end, but it never overwhelms and the small part I did read (I am not a big fan of reading it!) was delicious, slow burn, fiery, all-encompassing. 

It is available on Kindle Unlimited! 

Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano

3.25

The son of a demon aiming for great evil and domination and a blonde, bubbly, cinnamon roll romance book lover are accidentally magically chained together. Damien must put up with Amma, this tender thorn in his side. Amma must up with this villain, this burn the world down hero for her. 

This was like candy floss. Sweet, over-the-top, lacking substance, yet quite addicting. 

<b>Damien had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. 

“Surely, I don’t look like that.” 

“It’s close,” she warned, features relaxing. “You have resting villain face.” 

“I am a villain.” 

And then Amma, the girl he had abducted, dragged across the realm, and threatened to murder, actually rolled her eyes at him.

</b>

The innuendoes were hilarious. 

Damien’s demon was a chaotic mood. 

The tension was intense.

The necessary heroine becoming drunk scene and being too open-mouthed was hilarious.  

Yes, Amma was too naive. 

No, Damien isn’t truly evil incarnate. 

Yes, the big twist/reveal was obvious from the start. 

Overall, don’t take the book, yourself, or the jokes too seriously and you’ll have a fun time.

Available on kindle unlimited! 

The audiobook is great as it has two narrators for the dual pov. 

An Accident of Stars by Foz Meadows

3.0

This felt like being dropped in the middle of a series and I did have to check this was a book one. 

Saffron follows a woman into a portal into the multiverse and world of magic based on a culture of matriarchs and complicated polymers political marriages. 

 

This had such an impactful opening chapter in the contemporary world. The predations of a boy is ignored with the whole ‘boys will be boys’ spiel that I have been so accustom to hearing myself. 

Then, to be whisked away into a queer normative world filled with acceptance and respect was so refreshing. 

<b>“Life is hard. Some days we get our asses kicked, but apathy breeds more evils than defeat. So, you know. Keep fighting.”

</b>

However, this was just so confusing so find your placing. We jump between numerous perspectives following the fallout of a coup which some of the characters helped facilitate here realising the man now in charge betrayed them all. 

There is currently a rebellion in plan and Saff is just chucked right in the middle of it the key players. 

 

That’s what I mean by feeling like this should have been a book two or three or even sequel series. 

This also lacked the purposeful, gorgeous prose and character study of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance also by this author which I adored. 

Ultimately, ambitious and promising, but needed polishing up.

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card

4.0

I want to hug Bean, but I think he would think I’m trying to strangle him and would come up with a way to get me killed.

We start with Bean in the streets taking on gangs, hunger, and bullies. Then in space for battle-school where he trains to fight an alien invasion. 

Bean is a lot more likeable than Ender and, I believe, cleverer. It can be startling and disconcerting to have a four year old talking and acting the way he does, especially as we end the story when he is seven years old and he is making decisions and acting like an adult. 

However, if I just told myself - hey, this a sci fi where weird things can make sense like toddler geniuses.

Weirdly, I cannot tell you much about the aliens or their attack. This is a more a character and human study. My favourite kind of story where the character happens to the plot instead of the character being a piece of the story.

<b>God gives us the freedom to do great evil, if we choose. Then he uses his own freedom to create goodness out of that evil, for that is what he chooses.

</b>

Just like with Ender’s Game, I would recommend the audiobook for an immersive experience. 

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

3.25

As you know, I am a sucker for found family and I love lyrical writing and unconventional narrative. I really enjoyed The Spear that Cuts through Water and immediately added this to my TBR. 

This one sadly let me down. 

I think it is because I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and felt like the found family aspect was massively overplayed. 

Nia is captain of a ship, alone as she passes through different planets unable to put down roots or have lasting relationships. When she finds a boy who has crash landed on one of her trading planets, she is drawn to him, his oddness, and love for music.

Honestly, I am not going to say anymore because the real plot doesn’t start or even get revealed until almost 45% in. 

<b>I expected many things from this trip. I did not expect a family.

</b>

The writing is bittersweet and introspective. It was a satisfying standalone. 

However:

The side characters were barely distinguishable. The descriptions teased at much greater imagery and world-building and science, yet never fully delivered.  

I am very disappointed by this one as I had been saving it up to start by 2025 with a bang like Spear started off my 2024. 

Not a bad book by any means - I just went in with extremely high and different expectations. 

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

3.25

This was a mix of a Studio Ghibli movie and Before the Coffee Gets Cold. 

Hana inherits a pawnshop that collects choices. She has never stepped out into the outside world, but when her father goes missing, she is forced to venture outside her comfort zone to search for answers.

She is joined by physics major Keishin who is curious about everything, and when he stumbles into Hana, he is deeply intrigued and wants to help.  

This is whimsical, nothing makes sense, and each scene is almost scene where they venture into a new location, dimension, or memory. 

<b>“Why did you do it?” 

“For the same reason all fools give up good things. We look at our hands and wonder what we could hold if they were empty.”

</b>

I think this tried to be philosophical and melancholic, yet was too magical and simplistic and predictable for it to fully achieve this. I love magical realism, but this one felt like it was written to be a Japanese movie rather than a flowing book. 

The romance was hard to buy in to and I wasn’t a fan of any of the ‘twists’ per se. 

It was a book that felt soft, whimsical, and pondering. I typically don’t tend towards these books, but it was a nice change of pace. 

It was sweet and reflective. 

Physical arc gifted by Transworld.

All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows

3.5

We love communication. We do not like self-flagellant characters. 

Cae is still grieving and feeling guilty over his sister’s treachery and his father’s death. 

Vel is anxious about the future of their marriage. What if Cae gets bored of him? What if he becomes too much or too boring? 

We get a new perspective in Asrien who is blackmailed into following Cae and Vel to Tithena to seduce them away from each other to end their marriage and the diplomatic union. 

I liked how we got to see Cae develop into his desires. He knew how to want in secret, but wanting openly was something else altogether and now suddenly he is allowed. Having to navigate this is almost as difficult as the constant assassination attempts. 

<b>“I love him,” I choked out, cheeks burning with the admission. “I don’t know when it started, but I—I love him, Markel.” I laughed. “It’s terrifying.” Markel raised an eyebrow. “More terrifying than half a dozen people trying to kill you?”

</b>

This was not quite as strong as book one for me.

This was a lot spicer which isn’t my thing and the addition of Asrien felt unnecessary and weird. 

This had so much potential for more political machinations and yet this felt hard to follow and rushed when Meadows suddenly wanted the plot to progress to add drama or better pacing to/for the relationship. 

There is a shout out to Stray Kids in the acknowledgements and I had to mention that because I snagged tickets to see them and I cannot wait.