laurelthebooks's reviews
624 reviews
The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon
This book is full of bad decisions, various descriptions of personhood, corrupted AI deities, unexplained shady governments, mechas, and oddly appealing random food descriptions. No, seriously - it’s a wild ride. Think of smashing the tone of Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb Series and Neon Yang's The Genesis of Misery together and you’ll have a decent grasp on the tone of the entire book.
To give the main character, Sunai, at least some credit they are self-aware to identify that they are making bad decisions they just continue on with them anyways. Despite being character driven this is a book with plenty of overlapping perspectives (especially near the end) that I definitely expect to be confusing for people! If you got through Harrow though I have faith in you.
To give the main character, Sunai, at least some credit they are self-aware to identify that they are making bad decisions they just continue on with them anyways. Despite being character driven this is a book with plenty of overlapping perspectives (especially near the end) that I definitely expect to be confusing for people! If you got through Harrow though I have faith in you.
Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis
2.5
There were some gems in this book hidden among some of the conversations, but overall it was a very mediocre read for me. I didn’t appreciate any of the characters, but if you enjoy first contact novels, this may be something you enjoy.
Pig by Sam Sax
challenging
reflective
I didn't expect to deeply contemplate the many facets of the word, animal, and connotation of 'pig', but I suppose that only speaks in favor of Sax's poetry collection as that was indeed what I ended up doing. There's a near viscous quality to their writing that mires you as the reader into the poetry. Was reading this pleasant? Hmmmm...no. Was it fascinating and engrossing? Absolutely.
If you're one for visceral description and uncomfortable contemplation over a wide breath of tangential topics this will be in your wheelhouse. I know there are specific sections of poems that I rather want embeded in my brain although my personal enjoyment of the individual poems varied wildly throughout the collection.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance digital copy to review.
If you're one for visceral description and uncomfortable contemplation over a wide breath of tangential topics this will be in your wheelhouse. I know there are specific sections of poems that I rather want embeded in my brain although my personal enjoyment of the individual poems varied wildly throughout the collection.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance digital copy to review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Sexual content
Ebony Gate by Ken Bebelle, Julia Vee
adventurous
fast-paced
If urban fantasy is your jam, I would highly suggest picking up Ebony Gate. With a mysterious theft, clan debts being called in for payment, death gods, and a healthy dose of magical sword fights this book definitely keeps you on your toes. The San Francisco setting gave me a new appreciation for relearning a city again as well. Personally, one of my favorites parts was Emiko’s love of weaponry and the occasional sword discussion.
Overall, a fun romp that I can see being an exciting series. While there are plenty of details to absorb the plot isn’t especially intricate, so go ahead and plan on tearing through it if you like action packed reads.
Overall, a fun romp that I can see being an exciting series. While there are plenty of details to absorb the plot isn’t especially intricate, so go ahead and plan on tearing through it if you like action packed reads.
Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho
4.5
A short, yet still phenomenal memoir - Cho dives directly into her experience with psychosis, from the loose connections she had with reality to the day to day life of involuntary admission to a psych ward. You would think that the stories of her life prior to this admission would detract from the psychosis narrative, but instead they work together to paint an image of Cho both past and present. A masterful use of split narrative, Inferno is a captivating memoir.
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
adventurous
inspiring
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Dragons. Family. Determination. Erasure. Consent. Friendship. Power. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose touches on all of these themes and even more (not going to put them all here - if these pique your interest grab the book!).
Anequs’ practical mindset was beautiful to me. She’s straightforward and caring and enters a world where neither of those qualities are considered of benefit. She doesn’t let that stop her. Anequs and her bonds to not only her dragon but to her home, family, friends, and the world around her are a powerful part of this book. Blackgoose’s descriptions of the world and sciences here are in-depth which I appreciated. I love elaborate detail. Not to mention how well the cultural contexts of our narrator, Anequs, shine through.
This is a stunning work of character, happenings, thought, and story. This book was tough to put down, and I cannot understate how much I adored flying through this story.
Anequs’ practical mindset was beautiful to me. She’s straightforward and caring and enters a world where neither of those qualities are considered of benefit. She doesn’t let that stop her. Anequs and her bonds to not only her dragon but to her home, family, friends, and the world around her are a powerful part of this book. Blackgoose’s descriptions of the world and sciences here are in-depth which I appreciated. I love elaborate detail. Not to mention how well the cultural contexts of our narrator, Anequs, shine through.
This is a stunning work of character, happenings, thought, and story. This book was tough to put down, and I cannot understate how much I adored flying through this story.
Beautiful Malady: Poems by Ennis Rook Bashe
dark
emotional
4.5
Dark fantasy poetry with an absolutely stunning frame of disability - it took me a few poems to really sink into the language but I adored it. I’m going to reread many of these poems.
Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
An animal companion book with the magical murder bird that is a roc? Sign me up!
That was me when I first heard of this book, in my gleeful forgetting that animal companion books always wrench the knife into your heart and twist. (Black Beauty taught me this young. I should've known better.)
Knife-twisting aside, this is a magnificent novella. Simultaneously monstrous and courageous, so much of this story circled around obsession and perseverance in a stunning manner.
"I've already given you everything of myself. I've left my home, I've braved death, I've devoted myself to your care and training. I hunt with you and for you, I deliver all the bloodshed you crave, I worship you with my weak human frailty. In return, you must stay."
That was me when I first heard of this book, in my gleeful forgetting that animal companion books always wrench the knife into your heart and twist. (Black Beauty taught me this young. I should've known better.)
Knife-twisting aside, this is a magnificent novella. Simultaneously monstrous and courageous, so much of this story circled around obsession and perseverance in a stunning manner.
"I've already given you everything of myself. I've left my home, I've braved death, I've devoted myself to your care and training. I hunt with you and for you, I deliver all the bloodshed you crave, I worship you with my weak human frailty. In return, you must stay."
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older
slow-paced
The Mimicking of Known Successes manages not only to be an oddly cozy reconnection between two lovers who have grown since they parted ways and a satisfying mystery reminiscent of the classics of the gene.
If you like your Holmesian mysteries with a little bit of sci-fi, and perhaps a touch of steampunk, give this one a try.
If you like your Holmesian mysteries with a little bit of sci-fi, and perhaps a touch of steampunk, give this one a try.