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luckylulureads's reviews
385 reviews
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
HOW DO I GO ON AFTER THAT?
Ever since One Dark Window, I knew Rachel Gillig would be one of my favorites. When The Knight and the Moth was first announced, I knew by the title alone that it was ~for me~. And now that I’ve read it, I’m blown away. It’s better than I imagined. With every book better than the last, Gillig has moved mountains with TKATM.
The Knight and the Moth is a story of belonging and purpose, of religious trauma and the weight of legacy, of burning bridges and forging new paths.
Six, once known as Sybil, is our leading heroine. She and the cast of characters in the book are so full of life, I’m a little amazed at how much they mean to me in only 400 pages. Even the characters who go missing are given ample page time for us to love them.
And the BANTER?? Oh god, the Rory banter is unreal. I love him, I love them. It’s not enemies to lovers, it’s even better: they love to loathe each other. If you like a slow burn full of tension and YEARNING veiled by snark and quips, do yourself a favor and pick this up. The way Gillig writes men needs to be studied.
The world-building here is also just stunning. We’re plopped into a kingdom that’s not altogether that old, but very steeped in religion and myth. The way that it’s all tangled together is masterfully done.
This book is for you if you loved how deeply romantic Rebecca Ross’ Elements of Cadence series was, mixed with the quirkiness of the books in T. Kingfisher’s The World of the White Rat.
I’m grateful to have received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Ever since One Dark Window, I knew Rachel Gillig would be one of my favorites. When The Knight and the Moth was first announced, I knew by the title alone that it was ~for me~. And now that I’ve read it, I’m blown away. It’s better than I imagined. With every book better than the last, Gillig has moved mountains with TKATM.
The Knight and the Moth is a story of belonging and purpose, of religious trauma and the weight of legacy, of burning bridges and forging new paths.
Six, once known as Sybil, is our leading heroine. She and the cast of characters in the book are so full of life, I’m a little amazed at how much they mean to me in only 400 pages. Even the characters who go missing are given ample page time for us to love them.
And the BANTER?? Oh god, the Rory banter is unreal. I love him, I love them. It’s not enemies to lovers, it’s even better: they love to loathe each other. If you like a slow burn full of tension and YEARNING veiled by snark and quips, do yourself a favor and pick this up. The way Gillig writes men needs to be studied.
The world-building here is also just stunning. We’re plopped into a kingdom that’s not altogether that old, but very steeped in religion and myth. The way that it’s all tangled together is masterfully done.
This book is for you if you loved how deeply romantic Rebecca Ross’ Elements of Cadence series was, mixed with the quirkiness of the books in T. Kingfisher’s The World of the White Rat.
I’m grateful to have received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
The premise of the book is that Diviners can recieve visions from the gods by almost drowning, so there are many scenes or mentions of the main character being drowned or experiencing trauma related to said drownings. It can be quite detailed.
Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Toast by
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Venom & Vow by Elliott McLemore, Anna-Marie McLemore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
The Tatami Galaxy by Tomihiko Morimi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Big incel energy from the main character. Immediately no. I wanted tk love this one but I couldn’t stand another second with the protagonist.
A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Witchwood Knot is everything I’ve come to expect from Olivia Atwater’s writing. It’s at once heartfelt, cunning, and cozy in all the best ways. While this is the beginning of a new Faerie Tale era, it builds off of the world and characters we’ve come to know in the Regency series. I lobe interconnected universes like this. However, with that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. I think to fully grasp the scoop of this world, you’ve got to read the first trilogy. That way you know the history and the landscape of the world. Each story is technically a standalone about a different couple, but they’re all building toward larger stories, it seems.
Of Atwater’s Faerie Tale world, Winifred my be one of my favorite heroines yet, next to Dora. She’s clever, cunning, and willing to do what she needs to do in order to survive a world of faeries and monsters. She has a traumatic past, but seeing her reclaim her own desire was amazing.
This is a delightfully gothic tale, with all the classic trappings of the genre. The mysterious, dilapidated manor, the gothic father/monster duology, and an atmospheric sense of isolation. Atwater combines this flawlessly with her existing world. It’s creepy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a great time. While I occasionally found myself a bit confused, I felt that by the end I had all the answers I needed. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Of Atwater’s Faerie Tale world, Winifred my be one of my favorite heroines yet, next to Dora. She’s clever, cunning, and willing to do what she needs to do in order to survive a world of faeries and monsters. She has a traumatic past, but seeing her reclaim her own desire was amazing.
This is a delightfully gothic tale, with all the classic trappings of the genre. The mysterious, dilapidated manor, the gothic father/monster duology, and an atmospheric sense of isolation. Atwater combines this flawlessly with her existing world. It’s creepy, it’s heartfelt, and it’s a great time. While I occasionally found myself a bit confused, I felt that by the end I had all the answers I needed. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
This Place: 150 Years Retold by Sonny Assu, Katherena Vermette, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Jen Storm, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Brandon Mitchell, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Chelsea Vowel
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75