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Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong.
Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign, Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time - hope. But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And there is another danger they cannot escape…that of the dragonfruit itself.
I'm extremely burned out from a new temporary job so while I think I would have normally rated this a 4 because the pacing didn't really feel urgent, calm but engaging was exactly what I needed and thus gets a 5.
The island setting was lush and descriptive...a perfect backdrop for a seafaring islander adventure involving pirates and seadragons. I loved the Pacific Island naming and elements. The magic was light (though I do feel it shouldn't have been island-specific). The characters were well developed as well as the theme of greed, sacrifice, and cost. I really liked that the story didn't focus on the marriage aspect or even the budding affection between Hanalei and Sam. It was very much an undercurrent that gave it flavor without being overwhelming.
To the seadragons and magic tattoos!
Recommended for peeps that like a sleepier fantasy with dragons.
5.0
Every wish demands a price.
Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong.
Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign, Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time - hope. But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And there is another danger they cannot escape…that of the dragonfruit itself.
But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning.
I'm extremely burned out from a new temporary job so while I think I would have normally rated this a 4 because the pacing didn't really feel urgent, calm but engaging was exactly what I needed and thus gets a 5.
The island setting was lush and descriptive...a perfect backdrop for a seafaring islander adventure involving pirates and seadragons. I loved the Pacific Island naming and elements. The magic was light (though I do feel it shouldn't have been island-specific). The characters were well developed as well as the theme of greed, sacrifice, and cost. I really liked that the story didn't focus on the marriage aspect or even the budding affection between Hanalei and Sam. It was very much an undercurrent that gave it flavor without being overwhelming.
To the seadragons and magic tattoos!
Recommended for peeps that like a sleepier fantasy with dragons.
Lightlark by Alex Aster
These lands have been cursed for 500 years. They're losing magic and therefore their people are dying. The Wildlings, in particular, are cursed so that they have to eat a human heart every month to survive and they kill whoever they fall in love with.
Where do they get that many human hearts? Literally how is this sustainable when you're sequestered on an island with only your people? Aster tries to explain this away by thieves because their land is rich in precious stones...but THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF THIEVES. Also, maybe trade your diamonds for hearts instead of just thinking of them as useless baubles??? And give me some sort of idea to the struggles this has caused your people.
But fine. I could have ignored that if it was all. But no.
We're repeatedly told (at least five times) that the land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial.
Do you see how annoying this would get? Reminder: this is the first 10% people.
But then! The six rulers get to the Centennial and you find out that in the first time the rulers tried to kill each other (because one of the rulers has to die to break the curse so that would make sense right?) but were so good nobody could manage to kill anyone else other than the island inhabitants. And that was apparently so uncouth that now the rulers can't spend HALF THE TIME EVERY 100 YEARS THEY HAVE TO BREAK THE CURSE from killing anyone.
Excuse me??? Your people are dying and you're just going to say, "okay, first fifty days is parlay," rather than...I don't know...maybe, "any ruler that kills someone other than another ruler forfeits their life?" Just...what?
And then you find out the MC doesn't have magic because her mother didn't kill her love...except, excuse me. Isn't the curse supposed to kill those you love? What's that? Apparently it just makes your kid magicless? Oh, that's a shame. THEN DON'T SAY YOU'RE CURSED TO KILL THE ONES YOU LOVE.
Last but not least I'm calling it right now: love triangle with Grim (dark and handsome) vs Oro (blonde and beautiful).
Just based on Grim's dialogue alone, I would rather have my nails ripped to the beds than finish this book. I am gobsmacked it has so many positive reviews.
I just literally cannot with this book and you shouldn't either.
1.0
DNF @ 10%. I wasn't even going to rate this but then decided it would be a disservice not to.
This book does not make sense. We'll start with the history:
This book does not make sense. We'll start with the history:
Five hundred years before, each of the six realms—Wildling, Starling, Moonling, Skyling, Sunling, and Nightshade—were cursed, their strengths turned into their own personal poisons.
These lands have been cursed for 500 years. They're losing magic and therefore their people are dying. The Wildlings, in particular, are cursed so that they have to eat a human heart every month to survive and they kill whoever they fall in love with.
Where do they get that many human hearts? Literally how is this sustainable when you're sequestered on an island with only your people? Aster tries to explain this away by thieves because their land is rich in precious stones...but THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF THIEVES. Also, maybe trade your diamonds for hearts instead of just thinking of them as useless baubles??? And give me some sort of idea to the struggles this has caused your people.
But fine. I could have ignored that if it was all. But no.
We're repeatedly told (at least five times) that the land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial. The land is cursed. It can only be lifted by the Centennial.
Do you see how annoying this would get? Reminder: this is the first 10% people.
But then! The six rulers get to the Centennial and you find out that in the first time the rulers tried to kill each other (because one of the rulers has to die to break the curse so that would make sense right?) but were so good nobody could manage to kill anyone else other than the island inhabitants. And that was apparently so uncouth that now the rulers can't spend HALF THE TIME EVERY 100 YEARS THEY HAVE TO BREAK THE CURSE from killing anyone.
Excuse me??? Your people are dying and you're just going to say, "okay, first fifty days is parlay," rather than...I don't know...maybe, "any ruler that kills someone other than another ruler forfeits their life?" Just...what?
And then you find out the MC doesn't have magic because her mother didn't kill her love...except, excuse me. Isn't the curse supposed to kill those you love? What's that? Apparently it just makes your kid magicless? Oh, that's a shame. THEN DON'T SAY YOU'RE CURSED TO KILL THE ONES YOU LOVE.
Last but not least I'm calling it right now: love triangle with Grim (dark and handsome) vs Oro (blonde and beautiful).
Just based on Grim's dialogue alone, I would rather have my nails ripped to the beds than finish this book. I am gobsmacked it has so many positive reviews.
I just literally cannot with this book and you shouldn't either.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Misery Lark is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres.
Weres are ruthless and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory.
I put off reading this forever because a couple of my friends disliked it and I'm so upset that I did! This is a solid 5 star read for me...and I'm hoping with that singular sentence at the end we get an offshoot for Serena in the future. As I will it, so mote it be.
Some didn't like the book because they felt Misery was a horrible vampire. I argue this is the same as saying someone isn't "[race] enough" just because they didn't grow up in the culture of their heritage. I would also argue it's one of Misery's strengths and why she was the perfect liaison in the first place. While she understands the overall hatred of weres, she is also not too stuck on them herself.
I know some reviewers weren't her biggest fan but I actually love how snarky she is. While it seems a little crazy marrying someone in order to find out what they know about your missing best friend, it also makes a lot of sense when you know that she's literally been the ONLY positive and constant in Misery's life. Like...Misery's and Serena's friendship is so REAL when this was Misery's daily existence:
I also liked the inclusion of her tech-savvy background...and it made for a nicely steamy event. She's also extremely considerate of her "stench" (read: she smells so tasty, Lowe definitely doesn't want to let that on) and is so supremely cute with Ana that I fully believe that alone would have endeared her enough to make the marriage official-official.
While we're speaking of not meeting species expectations...there wasn't much that screamed "werewolf" for Lowe other than smell, the word Alpha, a reference to mate, and a very brief wolf fight. And you know what? He was still perfect. Lowe, like all of Hazelwood's beaus, is helplessly in love with Misery and just doesn't know how to properly show it.
While the denial of Misery's discovery was stupid, it didn't last more than a page and provided the much-needed circumstance to move the plot to the finale. So while I wish there had been a better way of doing it, I wasn't too annoyed over it. I just found it a bit unbelievable that Lowe would decide THAT was the proper way to protect her freedom after all the other things he'd done to care for her.
I'd also be remiss not to mention Misery's brother. That ending and the reason for it? Chef kiss.
Recommended for the romance lovers with flavors of marriage of convenience, found family, and he's head over heels.
5.0
One venue, three species, five centuries of conflict, and zero good faith.
Misery Lark is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres.
Weres are ruthless and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory.
Two things can be true at once. For instance: I like Alex, because he’s an intelligent, pleasant young man. And: spending time together and watching him be terrified of me sparks joy.
I put off reading this forever because a couple of my friends disliked it and I'm so upset that I did! This is a solid 5 star read for me...and I'm hoping with that singular sentence at the end we get an offshoot for Serena in the future. As I will it, so mote it be.
Some didn't like the book because they felt Misery was a horrible vampire. I argue this is the same as saying someone isn't "[race] enough" just because they didn't grow up in the culture of their heritage. I would also argue it's one of Misery's strengths and why she was the perfect liaison in the first place. While she understands the overall hatred of weres, she is also not too stuck on them herself.
"I might stab her. But I’m not going to sass her."
I know some reviewers weren't her biggest fan but I actually love how snarky she is. While it seems a little crazy marrying someone in order to find out what they know about your missing best friend, it also makes a lot of sense when you know that she's literally been the ONLY positive and constant in Misery's life. Like...Misery's and Serena's friendship is so REAL when this was Misery's daily existence:
There was little fight left in me, and I simply couldn’t afford to spend it on something hopeless and unchangeable when waking up every morning in a hostile world was already so exhausting.
I also liked the inclusion of her tech-savvy background...and it made for a nicely steamy event. She's also extremely considerate of her "stench" (read: she smells so tasty, Lowe definitely doesn't want to let that on) and is so supremely cute with Ana that I fully believe that alone would have endeared her enough to make the marriage official-official.
While we're speaking of not meeting species expectations...there wasn't much that screamed "werewolf" for Lowe other than smell, the word Alpha, a reference to mate, and a very brief wolf fight. And you know what? He was still perfect. Lowe, like all of Hazelwood's beaus, is helplessly in love with Misery and just doesn't know how to properly show it.
Above all, I won’t take her freedom. Not when so many others have already done so.
While the denial of Misery's discovery was stupid, it didn't last more than a page and provided the much-needed circumstance to move the plot to the finale. So while I wish there had been a better way of doing it, I wasn't too annoyed over it. I just found it a bit unbelievable that Lowe would decide THAT was the proper way to protect her freedom after all the other things he'd done to care for her.
I'd also be remiss not to mention Misery's brother. That ending and the reason for it? Chef kiss.
Recommended for the romance lovers with flavors of marriage of convenience, found family, and he's head over heels.
The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty
With a sharp tongue and an unruly temper, Sage Fowler is not what they’d call a lady―which is perfectly fine with her. Deemed unfit for marriage, Sage is apprenticed to a matchmaker and tasked with wrangling other young ladies to be married off for political alliances. She spies on the girls―and on the soldiers escorting them.
As the girls' military escort senses a political uprising, Sage is recruited by a handsome soldier to infiltrate the enemy ranks. Amid secret identities and a tempestuous romance, Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom.
I've been aggressively focused on reducing my TBR pile this year. The Traitor's Kiss has been on the list for quite some time and I had been coming off of two books that just couldn't capture my interest (enough to delete them from my shelves without a rate). I was wondering if it was me...and then I got sucked in and finished this in a day.
NOTE: I'm so sad this book wasn't a standalone (it was literally perfect for one). I'm mentally rewriting the last couple of pages and pretending that the next two books don't exist.
The novel starts with Sage having to attend the matchmaker. She tries her best to do right by her family and still gets disgraced by being herself. That said, it's little wonder she lost her temper when the entire appointment was the antithesis to the value her much loved and deceased father instilled in her. To Sage's shock, it was actually the matchmaker's plan all along. She knew that Sage was not one for marriage and used it to make her more pliable to what she really wanted: Sage as an apprentice. And she's actually a darn good apprentice.
Too often in these time periods it's all too clear what women can't do (or control) in their own lives, the rampant classism, and their petty squabbles—certainly present here—but what I loved was also how it highlighted some of the ways in which women are powerful despite their circumstances. It's not necessarily so different from some of the subtle manipulations that women have to do in modern day society but it's still a highlight that makes a huge impact on the story. Through astute observations, sharp intelligence, and her ability to read people and their motivations, Sage is an integral part of the plot...in the most subtle of ways.
Quinn is an up-and-coming captain of a military unit. The closeness his unit displays really communicates that they've been through it together...and I actually like ALL of them. When Quinn's unit is assigned to guard the important group of brides—part in punishment, part in trust—he assigns a member (Ash) to go undercover.
Sage is slightly awkward when left to her own devices and happens to irritate Ash when conversing together in the library. Trying to cover for the flash of temper, Ash lets Sage believe he can't read. Wanting to make up for her overstep, she offers to teach him...and thus starts an intriguing relationship wherein Sage starts noticing inconsistencies and Ash suspects she may be a spy for the enemy. As they each try to sus each other out, we're teased with more and more details behind the political threat. When they finally join forces, Ash and Sage grow closer through mutual admiration. It's a perfect blend of military tactics with secrets and spying.
And when Sage figures out the political threat...battle commences and I was enthralled until the end. I cannot praise Beaty more for her intriguing characters and a great plot. No lags, no fluff, all greatness.
Recommended for lovers of smart female leads with men that appreciate them for it.
5.0
Anger was a cloak she wore out of habit, even though it never brought lasting warmth.
With a sharp tongue and an unruly temper, Sage Fowler is not what they’d call a lady―which is perfectly fine with her. Deemed unfit for marriage, Sage is apprenticed to a matchmaker and tasked with wrangling other young ladies to be married off for political alliances. She spies on the girls―and on the soldiers escorting them.
As the girls' military escort senses a political uprising, Sage is recruited by a handsome soldier to infiltrate the enemy ranks. Amid secret identities and a tempestuous romance, Sage becomes caught in a dangerous balancing act that will determine the fate of her kingdom.
"My father once told me there are some animals that can’t be controlled. It doesn’t make them bad, just wild beyond taming."
I've been aggressively focused on reducing my TBR pile this year. The Traitor's Kiss has been on the list for quite some time and I had been coming off of two books that just couldn't capture my interest (enough to delete them from my shelves without a rate). I was wondering if it was me...and then I got sucked in and finished this in a day.
NOTE: I'm so sad this book wasn't a standalone (it was literally perfect for one). I'm mentally rewriting the last couple of pages and pretending that the next two books don't exist.
The novel starts with Sage having to attend the matchmaker. She tries her best to do right by her family and still gets disgraced by being herself. That said, it's little wonder she lost her temper when the entire appointment was the antithesis to the value her much loved and deceased father instilled in her. To Sage's shock, it was actually the matchmaker's plan all along. She knew that Sage was not one for marriage and used it to make her more pliable to what she really wanted: Sage as an apprentice. And she's actually a darn good apprentice.
While blacksmiths bend iron to their will, matchmakers bend people to theirs.
Too often in these time periods it's all too clear what women can't do (or control) in their own lives, the rampant classism, and their petty squabbles—certainly present here—but what I loved was also how it highlighted some of the ways in which women are powerful despite their circumstances. It's not necessarily so different from some of the subtle manipulations that women have to do in modern day society but it's still a highlight that makes a huge impact on the story. Through astute observations, sharp intelligence, and her ability to read people and their motivations, Sage is an integral part of the plot...in the most subtle of ways.
We each play several roles in life—that doesn’t make them all lies.
Quinn is an up-and-coming captain of a military unit. The closeness his unit displays really communicates that they've been through it together...and I actually like ALL of them. When Quinn's unit is assigned to guard the important group of brides—part in punishment, part in trust—he assigns a member (Ash) to go undercover.
Sage is slightly awkward when left to her own devices and happens to irritate Ash when conversing together in the library. Trying to cover for the flash of temper, Ash lets Sage believe he can't read. Wanting to make up for her overstep, she offers to teach him...and thus starts an intriguing relationship wherein Sage starts noticing inconsistencies and Ash suspects she may be a spy for the enemy. As they each try to sus each other out, we're teased with more and more details behind the political threat. When they finally join forces, Ash and Sage grow closer through mutual admiration. It's a perfect blend of military tactics with secrets and spying.
And when Sage figures out the political threat...battle commences and I was enthralled until the end. I cannot praise Beaty more for her intriguing characters and a great plot. No lags, no fluff, all greatness.
Recommended for lovers of smart female leads with men that appreciate them for it.
The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen
1.0
Originally I wasn't going to rate this but with seeing all the high rates...I wish I'd had someone mention these things before I tried to read it myself. If you couldn't tell, I DNFed this book and I seem to be in the vast minority.
Things I disliked:
- The setting from in the past (first time meeting boy), to present (trying to stop boy from essentially suiciding by riddle), to past (to catch up to present) was jarring af
- Not only was it jarring, it severely disengaged me from even WANTING to know how we got to present day because we already know she loves the guy and you can probably guess that throughout the journey is when she falls, blah blah blah
- I skipped ahead. I never skip ahead. But literally nothing that happened during the journey (that I skipped over) mattered because the ending doesn't even reference it except for one tinsy part...it pretty much picks up right after it stopped so I ASK YOU WHY THE JOURNEY NEEDED TO HAPPEN AT ALL
- The ending is unsatisfying af. No, I didn't know this was based off an opera and the ending is how it is but it's still unsatisfying af and I stand by that
Things I liked:
- It was well-written and would have been engaging had it been an entirely different plot.
I'm undecided if I'll try another book by her in the future.
Things I disliked:
- The setting from in the past (first time meeting boy), to present (trying to stop boy from essentially suiciding by riddle), to past (to catch up to present) was jarring af
- Not only was it jarring, it severely disengaged me from even WANTING to know how we got to present day because we already know she loves the guy and you can probably guess that throughout the journey is when she falls, blah blah blah
- I skipped ahead. I never skip ahead. But literally nothing that happened during the journey (that I skipped over) mattered because the ending doesn't even reference it except for one tinsy part...it pretty much picks up right after it stopped so I ASK YOU WHY THE JOURNEY NEEDED TO HAPPEN AT ALL
- The ending is unsatisfying af. No, I didn't know this was based off an opera and the ending is how it is but it's still unsatisfying af and I stand by that
Things I liked:
- It was well-written and would have been engaging had it been an entirely different plot.
I'm undecided if I'll try another book by her in the future.
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
The dead of Loraille do not rest. Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.
When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but with all knowledge of vespertines (priestesses trained to wield high relics) lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.
As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.
I wasn't sure if I'd end up liking this before I picked it up...but I was pleasantly surprised! There was enough mystery surrounding why the spirits were suddenly restless and attacking everyone that it kept you on your toes throughout the whole novel...and the twist at the end!!
While the revenant's and Artemisia's relationship wasn't quite as much enemies-to-allies that I wanted, it was still very well portrayed. I think my favorite parts were when they were reluctant allies and the revenant was bullying Artemisia into taking care of her body. Learning about her traumatic past and how that effects her approach to life and how the revenant just automatically adjusted was *chef kiss.* Imagining Artemisia blazing with her revenants power at The Battle is something I'd absolutely love to see on film.
The only thing keeping this from five stars is the lack of origin of the Revenants, and the whole Raven King story. Both needed to be expanded. However, given the almost openness of the ending that hints there could be more the author may decide to explore this more in future.
Recommended for warrior nun fans.
4.0
The revenant had devoured the populations of entire cities; it was also the entity who ordered me to eat my pottage.
The dead of Loraille do not rest. Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.
When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but with all knowledge of vespertines (priestesses trained to wield high relics) lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.
As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.
"I fear that an age of saints and miracles isn’t something to celebrate, Sister Marie. The Lady sends us such gifts only in times of darkness."
I wasn't sure if I'd end up liking this before I picked it up...but I was pleasantly surprised! There was enough mystery surrounding why the spirits were suddenly restless and attacking everyone that it kept you on your toes throughout the whole novel...and the twist at the end!!
While the revenant's and Artemisia's relationship wasn't quite as much enemies-to-allies that I wanted, it was still very well portrayed. I think my favorite parts were when they were reluctant allies and the revenant was bullying Artemisia into taking care of her body. Learning about her traumatic past and how that effects her approach to life and how the revenant just automatically adjusted was *chef kiss.* Imagining Artemisia blazing with her revenants power at The Battle is something I'd absolutely love to see on film.
The only thing keeping this from five stars is the lack of origin of the Revenants, and the whole Raven King story. Both needed to be expanded. However, given the almost openness of the ending that hints there could be more the author may decide to explore this more in future.
Recommended for warrior nun fans.
Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.
Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything: he has a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.
4.5 stars rounded down because of that ending. It isn't a bad ending - it just felt like a little bit of a cop out. Everything was super realistic up until that and I think it could have been a hopeful note rather than a complete pivot.
Regardless! As a person that has both ADHD and autism, the representation in this book was AMAZING. I loved the conversations...I loved peering into both of their heads...the way they navigated comparisons when trying to explain their quirks...and especially the supporting friendship that develops with both circles. I absolutely will consider this one of my comfort reads going forward.
Reading the quote above hit me particularly hard. The way he views and loves color is the way I hear and love music. It took me a long time to realize why I reacted differently than others...but I think that's beautiful, too. Because just as Oliver is entranced by Tilly and sees the beauty in things he never considered before because of her wonder, so do I and others with our mutual passions.
Overall, I loved the underlying positivity in being who you are and finding the right space for yourself. As the author so eloquently put it: To my fellow neurodivine individuals navigating a world not built for them. Your brain is beautiful, and I’m so glad you’re here.
4.0
GUARD THY LOINS flashes on the screen. Oh good, a call from my mom.
Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.
Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything: he has a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.
Dogs get so excited they shake their butts into little torpedoes, start whining and hopping, then go grab their favorite toys to show you like they’re telling you all about them. And we love that about puppies. Their excitement. Their outpouring of uncontrollable joy, something they wouldn’t dare try and control. Why can’t we love that about humans who stim, too?
4.5 stars rounded down because of that ending. It isn't a bad ending - it just felt like a little bit of a cop out. Everything was super realistic up until that and I think it could have been a hopeful note rather than a complete pivot.
Regardless! As a person that has both ADHD and autism, the representation in this book was AMAZING. I loved the conversations...I loved peering into both of their heads...the way they navigated comparisons when trying to explain their quirks...and especially the supporting friendship that develops with both circles. I absolutely will consider this one of my comfort reads going forward.
I look at Tilly, my eyes scouring her raven hair. Those thundercloud eyes. The bright yellow of her dress and the touch of pink in her cheeks. But she’s more than those. She’s the sweetness of cotton candy blue, the effervescence of gold, and the complexity of copper. She’s deep like emerald and light like lilac.
Reading the quote above hit me particularly hard. The way he views and loves color is the way I hear and love music. It took me a long time to realize why I reacted differently than others...but I think that's beautiful, too. Because just as Oliver is entranced by Tilly and sees the beauty in things he never considered before because of her wonder, so do I and others with our mutual passions.
Overall, I loved the underlying positivity in being who you are and finding the right space for yourself. As the author so eloquently put it: To my fellow neurodivine individuals navigating a world not built for them. Your brain is beautiful, and I’m so glad you’re here.
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Marra never wanted to be a hero. As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, she escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate—and Marra cannot watch her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince.
Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning. Joined by a disgraced ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother, an enigmatic gravewitch (and her fowl familiar), Marra sets off to save her sister.
This book is going to rely heavily on your mood. The first time I tried reading it, I quit within a couple of pages which seems to be a theme with a couple of reviewers. That said, once I picked it up again I read it in a day!
I guess the most stand-out comment I might have is that I thought this book would be a lot more comical than it ended up being. With a bone dog, a godmother, a gravewitch, and a demon chicken I felt this was a recipe for a jolly good time. And it was...but ultimately what I got was actually the perfect balance between light heartedness and seriousness. The machinations of the royals, the abuse, and the prince himself were heavy reading. The dust-witch and the godmother in particular were bright spots of levity and banter that the story sorely needed to keep it from being too dark.
All in all, a good library read for the fairytale fans. Just don't expect it to be too deep.
3.0
It was hard to be frightened of the unknown when the unknown kept chickens.
Marra never wanted to be a hero. As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, she escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate—and Marra cannot watch her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince.
Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning. Joined by a disgraced ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother, an enigmatic gravewitch (and her fowl familiar), Marra sets off to save her sister.
"How did you get a demon in your chicken?" "The usual way. Couldn’t put it in the rooster. That’s how you get basilisks."
This book is going to rely heavily on your mood. The first time I tried reading it, I quit within a couple of pages which seems to be a theme with a couple of reviewers. That said, once I picked it up again I read it in a day!
I guess the most stand-out comment I might have is that I thought this book would be a lot more comical than it ended up being. With a bone dog, a godmother, a gravewitch, and a demon chicken I felt this was a recipe for a jolly good time. And it was...but ultimately what I got was actually the perfect balance between light heartedness and seriousness. The machinations of the royals, the abuse, and the prince himself were heavy reading. The dust-witch and the godmother in particular were bright spots of levity and banter that the story sorely needed to keep it from being too dark.
All in all, a good library read for the fairytale fans. Just don't expect it to be too deep.
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe. As the lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found.
Nizahl’s armies continue to hunt its people—treating them as less than human. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier. In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.
A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind.
4.5 rounded up. I cannot believe this is a debut and also WHY IS THE SECOND BOOK NOT OUT YET????
Some will not like the pacing of this book. It's a hefty 500+ pager and it drags slightly between 30-40% though I very much maintain it is worth it. Hashem has put a lot of thought into her world and the first portion clearly gives you a great feel for how Sylvia's current life is: stressful, hidden, always watching, always hiding, never able to be herself or make connections...she's not living, just surviving. And this is very much a mentality that is shared with her people as a whole as her people are hunted to the ends of the earth, put into sham trials, and executed. Hashem really wants to steep you in her world and the world's struggles.
Sylvia is a delightfully complex character. Early on, it's clear she is very much a survivor as life has beaten her down into her most base form: survive or die. However, despite her best efforts, there are a few attachments she's made. When they are threatened, her magic leaks free from her magic restraining cuffs for the first time in ten years and lands her in a whole lot of trouble. Deeply conflicted by her new circumstances of collaborating with the very kingdom that slaughtered hers, she struggles with her guilt and her past. Throughout her journey, she unravels troubling details about Jasad that force her to question all she knew of her family, her cuffs, and her kingdom. With two different groups vying to recruit her or kill her for Jasad's future, and the constant danger of training with Arin to fulfill her bargain without revealing her true identity, it's no wonder this was a win for me.
Arin is a villainous delight. He is icy, shrewd, emotionally distant, utterly brilliant and able to sniff out lies like a bloodhound. Cast as the direct opposition to Sylvia, it is the PERFECT recipe for enemies to lovers...and in fact, they are quite fond of trying to kill each other. Multiple times. Forced proximity continues bringing them closer against their will and results in the slowest slow burn I've experienced. It is believable as it is exquisite because while they grow, they do not change fundamentally. Every moment is earned. The two slowly learn to trust each other as reluctant allies and then friends...with feelings coming into play only towards the end of the novel.
Recommended for those that love a character driven story and sloooooow burn romances.
5.0
In the measure of monster or man, what tips the scales?
Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe. As the lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found.
Nizahl’s armies continue to hunt its people—treating them as less than human. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier. In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.
A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind.
I would rip his head from his shoulders with my teeth before I took his shackles.
4.5 rounded up. I cannot believe this is a debut and also WHY IS THE SECOND BOOK NOT OUT YET????
Some will not like the pacing of this book. It's a hefty 500+ pager and it drags slightly between 30-40% though I very much maintain it is worth it. Hashem has put a lot of thought into her world and the first portion clearly gives you a great feel for how Sylvia's current life is: stressful, hidden, always watching, always hiding, never able to be herself or make connections...she's not living, just surviving. And this is very much a mentality that is shared with her people as a whole as her people are hunted to the ends of the earth, put into sham trials, and executed. Hashem really wants to steep you in her world and the world's struggles.
"There is no such thing as a worthy sacrifice. There are only those who die, and those willing to let them."
Sylvia is a delightfully complex character. Early on, it's clear she is very much a survivor as life has beaten her down into her most base form: survive or die. However, despite her best efforts, there are a few attachments she's made. When they are threatened, her magic leaks free from her magic restraining cuffs for the first time in ten years and lands her in a whole lot of trouble. Deeply conflicted by her new circumstances of collaborating with the very kingdom that slaughtered hers, she struggles with her guilt and her past. Throughout her journey, she unravels troubling details about Jasad that force her to question all she knew of her family, her cuffs, and her kingdom. With two different groups vying to recruit her or kill her for Jasad's future, and the constant danger of training with Arin to fulfill her bargain without revealing her true identity, it's no wonder this was a win for me.
"You entered a world where magic is corrosive and Jasadis are inherently evil. I entered one where turning a shoe into a dove made my mother laugh. Have you considered, in that infinite mind of yours, that the truly brilliant people are the ones who understand the realities we build were already built for us?"
Arin is a villainous delight. He is icy, shrewd, emotionally distant, utterly brilliant and able to sniff out lies like a bloodhound. Cast as the direct opposition to Sylvia, it is the PERFECT recipe for enemies to lovers...and in fact, they are quite fond of trying to kill each other. Multiple times. Forced proximity continues bringing them closer against their will and results in the slowest slow burn I've experienced. It is believable as it is exquisite because while they grow, they do not change fundamentally. Every moment is earned. The two slowly learn to trust each other as reluctant allies and then friends...with feelings coming into play only towards the end of the novel.
"I won’t say you were right, only that you weren’t as wrong as usual."
Recommended for those that love a character driven story and sloooooow burn romances.
To Poison a King by S.G. Prince
Selene is the youngest daughter in a gifted line of healers, born to serve as the king's royal physician. Yet when Selene's mother Persaphe embroils her in a plot to kill the king, Selene finds herself poisoning the very man she is sworn to protect. But the poison doesn’t work, and the king doesn’t die. Rather, he awakes from his coma paralyzed, aware of the attempt on his life, and furious.
With the palace in a state of upheaval and everyone hunting the king's poisoner, Persaphe flees, leaving Selene the task of rehabilitating the man she aimed to kill, all while hiding her true role in his demise. The more their relationship develops into unlikely friends…the more her secret weighs on her, as does her growing fear that Persaphe—having failed to kill him once—might return to try again.
What an AMAZING read. I had asked a friend group for recommendations on books I call "teas and tinctures." Since this was on Kindle Unlimited and sounded up my ally, this was the first to try. Immediately after finishing it, I bought it for keepsies.
I cannot properly convey how much I absolutely loved both Selene's and Elias' personal growths...the slow burn development from resentment to neutrality to interest to more...the raw despair and burning desire in equal measure...the mind behind the potions...the experimental failures before the successes...the mental health and physical limitations...AND THAT ENDING! MY. GOD. THAT ENDING.
Prince is a master at taking complicated characters and weaving such an intriguing tapestry of events, feelings, thoughts, and personal growth together. This was the slow burn fantasy with a pinch of romance that I needed. While only the first novel I've read by Prince, it will certainly not be the last.
Recommended for everyone that loves deep character development and them herb witch vibes.
5.0
A blessing, they called me when they needed me. A witch, they called me when they did not.
Selene is the youngest daughter in a gifted line of healers, born to serve as the king's royal physician. Yet when Selene's mother Persaphe embroils her in a plot to kill the king, Selene finds herself poisoning the very man she is sworn to protect. But the poison doesn’t work, and the king doesn’t die. Rather, he awakes from his coma paralyzed, aware of the attempt on his life, and furious.
With the palace in a state of upheaval and everyone hunting the king's poisoner, Persaphe flees, leaving Selene the task of rehabilitating the man she aimed to kill, all while hiding her true role in his demise. The more their relationship develops into unlikely friends…the more her secret weighs on her, as does her growing fear that Persaphe—having failed to kill him once—might return to try again.
Who would we be without our scars? Who would we become without our pasts?
What an AMAZING read. I had asked a friend group for recommendations on books I call "teas and tinctures." Since this was on Kindle Unlimited and sounded up my ally, this was the first to try. Immediately after finishing it, I bought it for keepsies.
I cannot properly convey how much I absolutely loved both Selene's and Elias' personal growths...the slow burn development from resentment to neutrality to interest to more...the raw despair and burning desire in equal measure...the mind behind the potions...the experimental failures before the successes...the mental health and physical limitations...AND THAT ENDING! MY. GOD. THAT ENDING.
Prince is a master at taking complicated characters and weaving such an intriguing tapestry of events, feelings, thoughts, and personal growth together. This was the slow burn fantasy with a pinch of romance that I needed. While only the first novel I've read by Prince, it will certainly not be the last.
"What if the moral is that sometimes, everything we desire already stands before us, if only we are wise enough to see it?"
Recommended for everyone that loves deep character development and them herb witch vibes.