Scan barcode
burnedoutbookdragon's reviews
394 reviews
She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
More please!
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: African
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I could not get enough. I'm sad it was a novella. I wanted more of Najeeba's story. The self-empowerment. The struggle of balancing identity, personal fulfillment, and familial obligations are all relatable themes. The loss of relationships when you step into your own worth and power. Najeeba is quiet but strong. Ooof, more please! I'm ready for the next one in this series and I will definitely be reading more from this author.
RECOMMENDATION:
I can't see any sci-fi/fantasy lover not enjoying this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: African
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I could not get enough. I'm sad it was a novella. I wanted more of Najeeba's story. The self-empowerment. The struggle of balancing identity, personal fulfillment, and familial obligations are all relatable themes. The loss of relationships when you step into your own worth and power. Najeeba is quiet but strong. Ooof, more please! I'm ready for the next one in this series and I will definitely be reading more from this author.
RECOMMENDATION:
I can't see any sci-fi/fantasy lover not enjoying this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Dad Camp: A Novel by Evan S. Porter
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Rating: 4⭐
Diversity: no
SUMMARY:
This debut novel by Porter is heartwarming and humorous about a father desperately trying to reconnect with his pre-teen daughter before she enters middle school. John decides to book a remote father-daughter summer camp for a week in hopes of rekindling their strong bond.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved that we got to see different perspectives and struggles of dads. I find we often get a one-note version of how dads are perceived. In this book, we get to see the different types of dads (stay-at-home, unavailable because he's always working, hyper-masculine ideals, etc.) and see why they are the way they are (or feel they need to be) and see these men be able to get vulnerable and challenge stereotyping.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is for anyone who's looking for a sweet and funny story about girl dads.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4⭐
Diversity: no
SUMMARY:
This debut novel by Porter is heartwarming and humorous about a father desperately trying to reconnect with his pre-teen daughter before she enters middle school. John decides to book a remote father-daughter summer camp for a week in hopes of rekindling their strong bond.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved that we got to see different perspectives and struggles of dads. I find we often get a one-note version of how dads are perceived. In this book, we get to see the different types of dads (stay-at-home, unavailable because he's always working, hyper-masculine ideals, etc.) and see why they are the way they are (or feel they need to be) and see these men be able to get vulnerable and challenge stereotyping.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is for anyone who's looking for a sweet and funny story about girl dads.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Gotta love K-dramas
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5⭐
Diversity: East Asian/Korean
SUMMARY:
She's a nine-tailed fox who daydreams of the good ole days of seducing men and heating their hearts. Now she's stuck working a coffee shop and she hates coffee. He's a fallen trickster god (think Korean Loki) sullen and moody because he lost his powers after attempting his brother's thrown. These two are thrown together trying outsmart each other while capturing a revengeful demon. What could possibly go wrong?
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
This book read like a funny rom-com K-drama and I'm surprised I ate it up. The witty banter and playfulness. The gods and goddesses of this storyline are reminiscent of the chaebol families of South Korea (think "China Rich" rich families). Even the paparazzi headlines were comical. I felt the pacing and story build-up were just perfect. The comedy balanced the darker themes in the book.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you love K-dramas, rom-coms, enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy or Thor (the beautiful blend of humor and dark stories), or looking for a fun escape, this book is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5⭐
Diversity: East Asian/Korean
SUMMARY:
She's a nine-tailed fox who daydreams of the good ole days of seducing men and heating their hearts. Now she's stuck working a coffee shop and she hates coffee. He's a fallen trickster god (think Korean Loki) sullen and moody because he lost his powers after attempting his brother's thrown. These two are thrown together trying outsmart each other while capturing a revengeful demon. What could possibly go wrong?
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
This book read like a funny rom-com K-drama and I'm surprised I ate it up. The witty banter and playfulness. The gods and goddesses of this storyline are reminiscent of the chaebol families of South Korea (think "China Rich" rich families). Even the paparazzi headlines were comical. I felt the pacing and story build-up were just perfect. The comedy balanced the darker themes in the book.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you love K-dramas, rom-coms, enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy or Thor (the beautiful blend of humor and dark stories), or looking for a fun escape, this book is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
That's how you do a mythological retelling!
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: South Asian/Indian
SUMMARY:
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel is a reimagining of the story of Ganga, the river goddess, who is cursed to live as a human. After being forced to marry King Shantanu, Ganga bears him a son, Devavrata, but is compelled to leave him behind just as her curse lifts. Devavrata, unaware of his mother's curse, swears never to claim his father’s throne, a decision that sets in motion events leading to war. Patel’s novel weaves themes of duty, destiny, and the complex bond between mother and son in a tale exploring Ganga's struggle for freedom and Devavrata's tragic legacy.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved this book! We start with Ganga in her purest form as a river goddess called down to Earth. There is incredible character growth in Ganga. She distrusts and judges the humans because she does not understand them, even when she is forced to live among them as one. It's not until she has her son that we see her learn more about humanity. This book was a masterclass in philosophy. There were so many themes to explore and ponder, like what does it mean to be honorable and keep your word if doing so harms others? Does freedom mean you get to do whatever you want?
The only thing I didn't like was it was a slow read but that wasn't a deal breaker. There was so much to take in. This book is something I will revisit because I know I'll learn something new each read.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is perfect for those who love mythology retellings like Circe and the philosophical context found in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: South Asian/Indian
SUMMARY:
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel is a reimagining of the story of Ganga, the river goddess, who is cursed to live as a human. After being forced to marry King Shantanu, Ganga bears him a son, Devavrata, but is compelled to leave him behind just as her curse lifts. Devavrata, unaware of his mother's curse, swears never to claim his father’s throne, a decision that sets in motion events leading to war. Patel’s novel weaves themes of duty, destiny, and the complex bond between mother and son in a tale exploring Ganga's struggle for freedom and Devavrata's tragic legacy.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I loved this book! We start with Ganga in her purest form as a river goddess called down to Earth. There is incredible character growth in Ganga. She distrusts and judges the humans because she does not understand them, even when she is forced to live among them as one. It's not until she has her son that we see her learn more about humanity. This book was a masterclass in philosophy. There were so many themes to explore and ponder, like what does it mean to be honorable and keep your word if doing so harms others? Does freedom mean you get to do whatever you want?
The only thing I didn't like was it was a slow read but that wasn't a deal breaker. There was so much to take in. This book is something I will revisit because I know I'll learn something new each read.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is perfect for those who love mythology retellings like Circe and the philosophical context found in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Could not get into the characters and I was not invested enough to find out what happens.
What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you liked Celeste Ng's "Little Fires Everywhere", you'll enjoy this book.
Genre: literary fiction, mystery
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: all the things
Method: hardback
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
Although this isn't a slow read, I took my time with it. There were so many quotable lines and moments in which I wanted to sit with. This was so beautifully written. The characters, who are fictional, are actual people who walk amongst us. Their stories we may never know unless we are so inclined to show a moment of kindness and empathy.
There are so many themes explored in this book and I won't name them all. The biggest theme is how secrets and lack of connection hurt us all. What happens if we're truly vunerable and share all of ourselves? The other themes are best revealed and explored as you read along. This book felt like a love letter to the city of L.A., immigrant life, the diversity of the city, and the human experience are the same, even if we're experiencing it differently.
The author artfully weaves all of this into a suspenseful story of a mysterious death, a missing person, and how it affects an Asian-American family.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is great if you love a suspense novel that explores what it means to keep secrets and keep parts of ourselves hidden from the world and those we love.
Genre: literary fiction, mystery
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: all the things
Method: hardback
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
Although this isn't a slow read, I took my time with it. There were so many quotable lines and moments in which I wanted to sit with. This was so beautifully written. The characters, who are fictional, are actual people who walk amongst us. Their stories we may never know unless we are so inclined to show a moment of kindness and empathy.
There are so many themes explored in this book and I won't name them all. The biggest theme is how secrets and lack of connection hurt us all. What happens if we're truly vunerable and share all of ourselves? The other themes are best revealed and explored as you read along. This book felt like a love letter to the city of L.A., immigrant life, the diversity of the city, and the human experience are the same, even if we're experiencing it differently.
The author artfully weaves all of this into a suspenseful story of a mysterious death, a missing person, and how it affects an Asian-American family.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is great if you love a suspense novel that explores what it means to keep secrets and keep parts of ourselves hidden from the world and those we love.
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: Asian-American, immigrant life
Method: audiobook
This book talks about generational trauma and complex PTSD. Please check your trigger warnings before proceeding.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
WHHEEEW! This book is heartbreaking, poignant, and UTTERLY GUTTED ME! In the first few chapters, Foo shares her experience with childhood trauma (Although they are not graphic, there is mention of verbal and physical abuse, please check yourself if these are not what you're ready for.) and I was triggered. Although my personal experiences were not as extreme as Foo's, the gaslighting, the name-calling, and her mother's general frustration with life being taken out on her is something I unfortunately can relate to.
We follow Foo, a successful adult who cannot manage her emotions or keep close relationships. She goes through the journey of investigating her childhood, challenging what she remembers, learning about C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Disorder), and sharing some of her lessons from therapy.
This book is heavy and I had to take it in sections and sit with it. I'm glad I read it. It helped me understand my childhood trauma, why therapy has only helped me so much, and help me not feel alone. I loved how the author shares how immigrant parents from war-torn or unstable governments harbor their trauma and if left unhealed can trickle down, not just through the relationship but through the DNA also. She humanizes her parents without the need (or excuse) to forgive them or excuse their actions. She's decided to take the steps to heal herself and give herself what she needs.
RECOMMENDATION:
There's a lot to learn from this book and the author's experiences. If love personal stories of resilience and the healing journey, and want to understand C-PSTD more, then this book is for you.
Diversity: Asian-American, immigrant life
Method: audiobook
This book talks about generational trauma and complex PTSD. Please check your trigger warnings before proceeding.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
WHHEEEW! This book is heartbreaking, poignant, and UTTERLY GUTTED ME! In the first few chapters, Foo shares her experience with childhood trauma (Although they are not graphic, there is mention of verbal and physical abuse, please check yourself if these are not what you're ready for.) and I was triggered. Although my personal experiences were not as extreme as Foo's, the gaslighting, the name-calling, and her mother's general frustration with life being taken out on her is something I unfortunately can relate to.
We follow Foo, a successful adult who cannot manage her emotions or keep close relationships. She goes through the journey of investigating her childhood, challenging what she remembers, learning about C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Disorder), and sharing some of her lessons from therapy.
This book is heavy and I had to take it in sections and sit with it. I'm glad I read it. It helped me understand my childhood trauma, why therapy has only helped me so much, and help me not feel alone. I loved how the author shares how immigrant parents from war-torn or unstable governments harbor their trauma and if left unhealed can trickle down, not just through the relationship but through the DNA also. She humanizes her parents without the need (or excuse) to forgive them or excuse their actions. She's decided to take the steps to heal herself and give herself what she needs.
RECOMMENDATION:
There's a lot to learn from this book and the author's experiences. If love personal stories of resilience and the healing journey, and want to understand C-PSTD more, then this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Pit Stop by Ellis Mae
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you love grumpy x sunshine, second chances, and the power of human connection, this book is for you!
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
This a cute and heartwarming queer romance! Even though the book has some heavy topics, the author did an amazing job creating complex characters, sharing real stories, and tugging at your emotional heartstrings. All the characters were likable, even grumpy John, haha. The pacing of the love story was great and felt real. It didn't feel rushed or unbelievable.
I would have liked to see more scenes of Isamu's interactions with the public and not necessarily PTSD triggering. I'm an Army brat and have several military veterans as friends, and we (civilians) don't get to see what it's like for them enough (those stories aren't shared enough). This doesn't take away from the story and probably wouldn't be necessary. I can see this being made into a Netflix or Hallmark movie.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you're in the mood for a cute romance, then this book is for you. Please avoid, if you are easily triggered about family members with alcoholism and experience PTSD. Scenes are not graphic but are shared enough to give background to the characters.
WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
This a cute and heartwarming queer romance! Even though the book has some heavy topics, the author did an amazing job creating complex characters, sharing real stories, and tugging at your emotional heartstrings. All the characters were likable, even grumpy John, haha. The pacing of the love story was great and felt real. It didn't feel rushed or unbelievable.
I would have liked to see more scenes of Isamu's interactions with the public and not necessarily PTSD triggering. I'm an Army brat and have several military veterans as friends, and we (civilians) don't get to see what it's like for them enough (those stories aren't shared enough). This doesn't take away from the story and probably wouldn't be necessary. I can see this being made into a Netflix or Hallmark movie.
RECOMMENDATION:
If you're in the mood for a cute romance, then this book is for you. Please avoid, if you are easily triggered about family members with alcoholism and experience PTSD. Scenes are not graphic but are shared enough to give background to the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Genre: fantasy
Diversity: Asian representation
This was one of the books I was most excited to read, however, I was very disappointed. The cover is gorgeous and the author's note, in the beginning, explaining her inspiration for the book was compelling and made me excited for the book. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to like this book.
What I did love about the book was the magic system and the conflict is based off other civilization from another world through a portal. The writing was descriptive and beautiful.
What fell flat for me was:
- the colonial civilization was called Rome but they were modern with technology and clothing. Everything else is made up in the book with inspirations to Chinese civilizations or modern life. This may have been intentional for the author, so the reader can contextualize something familiar. It just didn't work for me.
- The FMC Ruying is not believable and unlikeable. I can chalk it up to being an unreliable narrator but I don't think it fits. Some of her actions and thought processes were inconsistent. For example, she was taught many things to survive and be politically savvy, but none of that shows. With all the references to what she was taught by her grandmother, I expected some Margaery Tyrell behavior and we did not get that.
- There were many repetitive phrases and thoughts by Ruying throughout the book that felt like the author was beating a dead horse. This might be something this debut author will work out as she grows in her writing.
This book is part of a series. I like the premise of the book and I think the themes of the story are important to share. I hope the author finds her stride in the rest of the books of this series. I wouldn't recommend this book as I found this wasn't an enjoyable read. If it wasn't a debut author, I would have DNF'd it. I pushed through hoping the climax and ending would be redeeming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Diversity: Asian representation
This was one of the books I was most excited to read, however, I was very disappointed. The cover is gorgeous and the author's note, in the beginning, explaining her inspiration for the book was compelling and made me excited for the book. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to like this book.
What I did love about the book was the magic system and the conflict is based off other civilization from another world through a portal. The writing was descriptive and beautiful.
What fell flat for me was:
- the colonial civilization was called Rome but they were modern with technology and clothing. Everything else is made up in the book with inspirations to Chinese civilizations or modern life. This may have been intentional for the author, so the reader can contextualize something familiar. It just didn't work for me.
- The FMC Ruying is not believable and unlikeable. I can chalk it up to being an unreliable narrator but I don't think it fits. Some of her actions and thought processes were inconsistent. For example, she was taught many things to survive and be politically savvy, but none of that shows. With all the references to what she was taught by her grandmother, I expected some Margaery Tyrell behavior and we did not get that.
- There were many repetitive phrases and thoughts by Ruying throughout the book that felt like the author was beating a dead horse. This might be something this debut author will work out as she grows in her writing.
This book is part of a series. I like the premise of the book and I think the themes of the story are important to share. I hope the author finds her stride in the rest of the books of this series. I wouldn't recommend this book as I found this wasn't an enjoyable read. If it wasn't a debut author, I would have DNF'd it. I pushed through hoping the climax and ending would be redeeming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Murder, and Colonisation
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If you're a writer, author, or someone who loves bookish stories, this book is for you.
Genre: literary fiction
Diversity: Latina community. Dominican & Dominican-American
Set against the backdrop of a small village in the Dominican Republic, Alvarez invites readers to follow a celebrated author, Alma Cruz, who is seeking to bury all the stories she couldn't finish. Hoping this will give her characters and herself peace.
Alvarez's writing is both poetic and rich, seamlessly blending elements of historical fiction and magical realism. I loved as a reader we got to see a different side of authors. I feel like this book was cathartic and maybe personal for Alvarez. Here we get to see a side of authors who are at a point done with their career and don't know what to do with the untold stories they carry.
We get four different perspectives sprinkled in perfectly, between Alma, Filomena, and two of Alma's story characters. This is a character driven plot, that may feel slow for any action or climax. The alternating of Alma and Filomena's perspective helps alleviate the slowness feeling tedious.
Thank you to Ms. Alvarez's team and Algonquin Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: literary fiction
Diversity: Latina community. Dominican & Dominican-American
Set against the backdrop of a small village in the Dominican Republic, Alvarez invites readers to follow a celebrated author, Alma Cruz, who is seeking to bury all the stories she couldn't finish. Hoping this will give her characters and herself peace.
Alvarez's writing is both poetic and rich, seamlessly blending elements of historical fiction and magical realism. I loved as a reader we got to see a different side of authors. I feel like this book was cathartic and maybe personal for Alvarez. Here we get to see a side of authors who are at a point done with their career and don't know what to do with the untold stories they carry.
We get four different perspectives sprinkled in perfectly, between Alma, Filomena, and two of Alma's story characters. This is a character driven plot, that may feel slow for any action or climax. The alternating of Alma and Filomena's perspective helps alleviate the slowness feeling tedious.
Thank you to Ms. Alvarez's team and Algonquin Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Sexual assault, and Violence