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niaamore's reviews
249 reviews
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White
adventurous
medium-paced
2.0
Yikes, I DNFed this one real quick. This book should have been pitched as a Middle Grade. The main character was super annoying, throwing finger guns on the first page was a choice. It also felt like the setting switched between a 21st century contemporary and a medieval fantasy, sometimes within the same page. We have magical brightly colored ancestral hair and a medieval monarchy, but we see them eat hot dogs and poutine? That took me right out of the story.
I see some reviewers have enjoyed this book. If you don’t mind a wacky fun plot, this book may be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for this ARC.
I see some reviewers have enjoyed this book. If you don’t mind a wacky fun plot, this book may be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for this ARC.
Confounding Oaths by Alexis Hall
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
r/Fantasy 2024 Book Bingo Challenge | Judge A Book By Its Cover
The nobleman Mr. Caesar finds love on his quest to save his sister from the tricky magical fey.
This book is very charming, told with a Regency air, and full of fantasy and magic. The romance between Mr. John Caesar and Captain James was passionate and sweet, but often pushed back to make room for the plot. I have not read Mortal Follies, so I was surprised to find a third party narrator. It was mostly enjoyable, however they were a bit much at times. I also think being out of Mr. Caesar’s head had made the romance less emotional, if you get my meaning. That being said, the scenes we did get were still swoon-worthy.
All in all, this makes for a good fantasy novel! Fans of Mortal Follies are sure to love this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC.
The nobleman Mr. Caesar finds love on his quest to save his sister from the tricky magical fey.
This book is very charming, told with a Regency air, and full of fantasy and magic. The romance between Mr. John Caesar and Captain James was passionate and sweet, but often pushed back to make room for the plot. I have not read Mortal Follies, so I was surprised to find a third party narrator. It was mostly enjoyable, however they were a bit much at times. I also think being out of Mr. Caesar’s head had made the romance less emotional, if you get my meaning. That being said, the scenes we did get were still swoon-worthy.
All in all, this makes for a good fantasy novel! Fans of Mortal Follies are sure to love this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC.
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
| Favorite Quote | It may be the wrong decision, but fuck it, it's mine.
| My Review | This review is going to be a personal one. So, before I go on and on, here is the overall review.
This book is one of a kind. I don’t know if I can recommend reading it. It’s weird, disturbing, and very very sad. Everyone seems to have a different experience with it. If you’re curious, I urge you to give it a try.
Now for the personal bit. This book was a favorite of an old friend of mine, a ten year long friendship, with a person I’ve lost contact with. It’s funny how life can turn your closest friends into strangers. Oftentimes it’s the little things that make you drift apart, like a busy work schedule. You may never see them again, but every so often, you’ll come across something that reminds you of them, and you feel all the old memories resurface. Finding this book at the back of my closet did just that.
I promised him I’d read this book, and I can now say that I have. The cruel twist of fate is that the experiences I’ve had since our friendship has made me appreciate this book even more than I would have if I read it before splitting ways. It’s safe to say, the experience I had reading House of Leaves was a whirlwind of emotions.
The synopsis of House of Leaves is deceiving. It’s pitched as a story about a man named Johnny who discovers a dead man’s manuscript about a film called The Navidson Record. The film is about a creepy house and the family that lives in it. The catch? The film never existed, and the man writing the manuscript, Zampano, is blind.
Creepy, right? This is the type of book that crawls under your skin. I couldn’t sleep the first night I started reading it. Then, by accident, I got spoiled by a fan theory I found in a comment section of a youtube video about unique books with strange formatting. I don’t want to spoil the book, so the next section will be marked as such. It’s about the story behind the story. I recommend reading the book first, if you haven’t, as the theory may ruin the horror.
House of Leaves is a book about a man named Johnny Truant who was severely traumatized by his abusive father, and is grieving the death of his schizophrenic mother. We learn early on that Johnny has a talent for storytelling. His friend Lude would often throw out a prompt, and Johnny would then create a story around it on the spot. The editors, who have been tasked to make sense of the manuscript Johnny had given them, add both Johnny's father’s eulogy, and his mother’s letters while in a care facility. Through this, we learn of his trauma, and of his mother’s illness. We also learn that his mother is an exceptional writer. A talent Johnny seems to have inherited.
All of these hints allude to the fact that Zampano, along with The Navidson Record, are entirely made up by Johnny himself. The theory is that this book was written just after his mother’s death. The symptoms he experiences are likely early signs of schizophrenia. The story of The Navidson Record is symbolic of his trauma. The endless dark hallways represent the trauma within, the outside of the house being the mask he wears, and the fate of the characters who venture into the house represent the struggle of dealing with said trauma. The monster in the house is sometimes referenced as a minotaur in a labyrinth, a Greek mythological story about a man with a bull’s head who is forced to roam in a maze until he is slain. The myth and the book both allude to the mix of sympathy and horror we feel towards the beast.
Knowing now that House of Leaves is actually a story about trauma, and the quest one must go on to heal from it, gave me closure I didn’t know I needed. My friend always had a taste for the dark and depressing. His other favorite collection of novels is Pun Pun, a manga series arguably more dark and depressing than this book. I even once saw him read A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara with a straight face. It’s safe to say, he faces the darkness head on. I’m more of a love sick optimist, one who lives for stories with found family and happy endings. I may avoid books with heavy themes such as this in the future, but I’m glad I got to read this one.
I doubt he’ll read this review, but I still wish him well. I also wish you well, dear reader. Even if you stumble and fall, and make some bad decisions along the way, just know they are yours, in the end. And if you can learn from them, that is something to be proud of.
| My Review | This review is going to be a personal one. So, before I go on and on, here is the overall review.
This book is one of a kind. I don’t know if I can recommend reading it. It’s weird, disturbing, and very very sad. Everyone seems to have a different experience with it. If you’re curious, I urge you to give it a try.
Now for the personal bit. This book was a favorite of an old friend of mine, a ten year long friendship, with a person I’ve lost contact with. It’s funny how life can turn your closest friends into strangers. Oftentimes it’s the little things that make you drift apart, like a busy work schedule. You may never see them again, but every so often, you’ll come across something that reminds you of them, and you feel all the old memories resurface. Finding this book at the back of my closet did just that.
I promised him I’d read this book, and I can now say that I have. The cruel twist of fate is that the experiences I’ve had since our friendship has made me appreciate this book even more than I would have if I read it before splitting ways. It’s safe to say, the experience I had reading House of Leaves was a whirlwind of emotions.
The synopsis of House of Leaves is deceiving. It’s pitched as a story about a man named Johnny who discovers a dead man’s manuscript about a film called The Navidson Record. The film is about a creepy house and the family that lives in it. The catch? The film never existed, and the man writing the manuscript, Zampano, is blind.
Creepy, right? This is the type of book that crawls under your skin. I couldn’t sleep the first night I started reading it. Then, by accident, I got spoiled by a fan theory I found in a comment section of a youtube video about unique books with strange formatting. I don’t want to spoil the book, so the next section will be marked as such. It’s about the story behind the story. I recommend reading the book first, if you haven’t, as the theory may ruin the horror.
House of Leaves is a book about a man named Johnny Truant who was severely traumatized by his abusive father, and is grieving the death of his schizophrenic mother. We learn early on that Johnny has a talent for storytelling. His friend Lude would often throw out a prompt, and Johnny would then create a story around it on the spot. The editors, who have been tasked to make sense of the manuscript Johnny had given them, add both Johnny's father’s eulogy, and his mother’s letters while in a care facility. Through this, we learn of his trauma, and of his mother’s illness. We also learn that his mother is an exceptional writer. A talent Johnny seems to have inherited.
All of these hints allude to the fact that Zampano, along with The Navidson Record, are entirely made up by Johnny himself. The theory is that this book was written just after his mother’s death. The symptoms he experiences are likely early signs of schizophrenia. The story of The Navidson Record is symbolic of his trauma. The endless dark hallways represent the trauma within, the outside of the house being the mask he wears, and the fate of the characters who venture into the house represent the struggle of dealing with said trauma. The monster in the house is sometimes referenced as a minotaur in a labyrinth, a Greek mythological story about a man with a bull’s head who is forced to roam in a maze until he is slain. The myth and the book both allude to the mix of sympathy and horror we feel towards the beast.
Knowing now that House of Leaves is actually a story about trauma, and the quest one must go on to heal from it, gave me closure I didn’t know I needed. My friend always had a taste for the dark and depressing. His other favorite collection of novels is Pun Pun, a manga series arguably more dark and depressing than this book. I even once saw him read A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara with a straight face. It’s safe to say, he faces the darkness head on. I’m more of a love sick optimist, one who lives for stories with found family and happy endings. I may avoid books with heavy themes such as this in the future, but I’m glad I got to read this one.
I doubt he’ll read this review, but I still wish him well. I also wish you well, dear reader. Even if you stumble and fall, and make some bad decisions along the way, just know they are yours, in the end. And if you can learn from them, that is something to be proud of.
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
| Favorite Quote | “Because those who are good question themselves. Because those who are good always wonder if there was a better way, a way that could have helped more and hurt less. That feeling is why you are good.”
| My Review | Oof, I cried at the end. Like all my favorite novels, there isn’t much I have to say. Please give this book a read. It’s loving and heartbreaking at the same time. I honestly wanted a longer ending just so I could see Kaikeyi get the apology she deserves, but I know the tragedy is that she likely never will. Oh, to be a mother…
Fair Warning: If you have any personal or religious connections to Ramayana, I urge you to proceed with caution. This retelling changes the narrative, and thus, the Gods and Goddesses are not portrayed in the way you may be used to seeing. Rama especially.
| My Review | Oof, I cried at the end. Like all my favorite novels, there isn’t much I have to say. Please give this book a read. It’s loving and heartbreaking at the same time. I honestly wanted a longer ending just so I could see Kaikeyi get the apology she deserves, but I know the tragedy is that she likely never will. Oh, to be a mother…
Fair Warning: If you have any personal or religious connections to Ramayana, I urge you to proceed with caution. This retelling changes the narrative, and thus, the Gods and Goddesses are not portrayed in the way you may be used to seeing. Rama especially.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
| Favorite Quote | The only difference between lying and acting was whether your audience was in on it, but it was all a performance just the same.
| My Review | Hmm, I have mixed feelings.
This book was inspired by Passing by Nella Larsen. The parts of this book that mirrored Passing were my favorites. I wanted the story to stay with Desiree and Stella, jumping between the two as we see how their lives were shaped by their values and decisions. Instead, a good chunk of the book follows their two daughters, who are a lot less compelling.
I don’t think the story tackles colorism all that well. We don’t see any consequences Stella faces for living a lie. I feel like Bennet missed out on diving deep into what Stella gave up in order to live her “ideal” life as a white woman. She shows no remorse for abandoning her family. In the end, I pitied her mother and twin sister. Stella is best left forgotten.
I also feel weird about the implied comparison between passing as white and transitioning. It’s a dangerous comparison, I feel.
Overall, it’s meh. I read this long after the craze has died down, so I can say with confidence, I don’t get the hype.
| My Review | Hmm, I have mixed feelings.
This book was inspired by Passing by Nella Larsen. The parts of this book that mirrored Passing were my favorites. I wanted the story to stay with Desiree and Stella, jumping between the two as we see how their lives were shaped by their values and decisions. Instead, a good chunk of the book follows their two daughters, who are a lot less compelling.
I don’t think the story tackles colorism all that well. We don’t see any consequences Stella faces for living a lie. I feel like Bennet missed out on diving deep into what Stella gave up in order to live her “ideal” life as a white woman. She shows no remorse for abandoning her family. In the end, I pitied her mother and twin sister. Stella is best left forgotten.
I also feel weird about the implied comparison between passing as white and transitioning. It’s a dangerous comparison, I feel.
Overall, it’s meh. I read this long after the craze has died down, so I can say with confidence, I don’t get the hype.
Et Cetera: An Illustrated Guide to Latin Phrases by Maia Lee-Chin
informative
medium-paced
5.0
What a cute quick read. Perfect for language lovers and Greek or Roman mythology readers alike!
Paired with beautiful illustrations, this book has all the Latin phrases we hear in academia, or have seen on tattoos out in the wild. I loved learning the history behind them all. I can’t wait to place this book on my coffee table.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC.
Paired with beautiful illustrations, this book has all the Latin phrases we hear in academia, or have seen on tattoos out in the wild. I loved learning the history behind them all. I can’t wait to place this book on my coffee table.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC.
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
adventurous
hopeful
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? No
3.0
| Favorite Quote | We are defined by our hardships, and how we face them. We are made stronger or weaker by those we hold closest to us.
| My Review | Year of the Reaper is one of my favorite books of all time. Being written by the same author, I had high expectations coming into Dragonfruit. I wish I could say I loved it as much as YOTR, but I think it’s just okay.
Lucier’s characters in YOTR felt so real, they each had their own voice and motives. In contrast, Hanalei and Sam felt flat and tropey. With so many characters in the story, we had little time to get to know them.
I wish Lucier took her time to tell this story. It’s rich with Pacific Island mythology, complete with magical tattoos and sea dragons! There are so many details to explore, but it all felt so rushed. Even the romance felt unnaturally insta-love-y.
Overall, I think this is a good book that could have been great! I still recommend giving it a read. If not, definitely pick up Year of the Reaper!
| My Review | Year of the Reaper is one of my favorite books of all time. Being written by the same author, I had high expectations coming into Dragonfruit. I wish I could say I loved it as much as YOTR, but I think it’s just okay.
Lucier’s characters in YOTR felt so real, they each had their own voice and motives. In contrast, Hanalei and Sam felt flat and tropey. With so many characters in the story, we had little time to get to know them.
I wish Lucier took her time to tell this story. It’s rich with Pacific Island mythology, complete with magical tattoos and sea dragons! There are so many details to explore, but it all felt so rushed. Even the romance felt unnaturally insta-love-y.
Overall, I think this is a good book that could have been great! I still recommend giving it a read. If not, definitely pick up Year of the Reaper!
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
| Favorite Quote | The unfortunate status quo is that it is tough for women everywhere, and female friendships are what will carry us through the darkness and absurdity of life. Such connections, however, are not always easily forged in a world keen to divide, mark, and label as “other”.
| My Review | I was so ready to love this book. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
What a premise! I couldn’t wait to read a book about women coming together and creating a community that opposes the oppressive men and patriarchal systems in their lives. What I got was a lot of horrific depictions of India, playing on stereotypes and creating an image that was poor, dirty, and backwards. I was appalled.
The characters come off as bitter and nasty. We see Geeta fat shaming in the first chapter, dissing mothers while being jealous of their lives. The women in the book shamelessly manipulate their friendships. They spread rumors and backstab, and have a cruel disregard for abused victims. I can understand character development, but these women would need books, not chapters, to correct their behavior! I can also understand that these aspects can be found in society. To highlight them in an antagonist would serve as good social commentary. But the protagonist? She is no better than the women she disregards.
I also found the dialogue inconsistent. Often, it follows a believable contemporary dialect, with Indian proverbs and religious references. Then, sprinkled in, you find American slang that takes you right out of the story. Greeta saying “The fuck’re you doing?” to Farah, then saying her behavior is “super weird” made me question if this was taking place in India or America.
I do not recommend this book. There are so many other great books on strong Indian women who create and lead inclusive communities. Might I suggest giving Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel a try.
| My Review | I was so ready to love this book. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
What a premise! I couldn’t wait to read a book about women coming together and creating a community that opposes the oppressive men and patriarchal systems in their lives. What I got was a lot of horrific depictions of India, playing on stereotypes and creating an image that was poor, dirty, and backwards. I was appalled.
The characters come off as bitter and nasty. We see Geeta fat shaming in the first chapter, dissing mothers while being jealous of their lives. The women in the book shamelessly manipulate their friendships. They spread rumors and backstab, and have a cruel disregard for abused victims. I can understand character development, but these women would need books, not chapters, to correct their behavior! I can also understand that these aspects can be found in society. To highlight them in an antagonist would serve as good social commentary. But the protagonist? She is no better than the women she disregards.
I also found the dialogue inconsistent. Often, it follows a believable contemporary dialect, with Indian proverbs and religious references. Then, sprinkled in, you find American slang that takes you right out of the story. Greeta saying “The fuck’re you doing?” to Farah, then saying her behavior is “super weird” made me question if this was taking place in India or America.
I do not recommend this book. There are so many other great books on strong Indian women who create and lead inclusive communities. Might I suggest giving Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel a try.
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
| Favorite Quote | No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.
| My Review | I’ll save you some time: the parts of this book worth trying are the Morning Pages and the Artist Dates. You can skip all the spiritual stuff.
Morning pages are like daily journaling. Every morning, write out 3 pages of whatever is on your mind. Your worries, fears, annoying chores and daily tasks, just anything. Get it all on paper and out of your mind. It helps to clear the way for your creativity.
Artist Dates are solo weekly activities designed to fill up your creativity bar. Maybe you like reading, or art museums, or long walks in the park. Do whatever makes you happy and inspires you to create.
The spiritual side of this book just isn’t for me. It can come off as privileged and pretentious at times. I do believe anyone can tap into their creativity and create art. I just don’t think you need a spiritual guide, as Cameron claims she is. She takes a lot of credit for her readers’ work, and it rubs me the wrong way. Journaling and seeking creative inspiration are not new or ground-breaking ideas. Skip the book, and try out the exercises!
| My Review | I’ll save you some time: the parts of this book worth trying are the Morning Pages and the Artist Dates. You can skip all the spiritual stuff.
Morning pages are like daily journaling. Every morning, write out 3 pages of whatever is on your mind. Your worries, fears, annoying chores and daily tasks, just anything. Get it all on paper and out of your mind. It helps to clear the way for your creativity.
Artist Dates are solo weekly activities designed to fill up your creativity bar. Maybe you like reading, or art museums, or long walks in the park. Do whatever makes you happy and inspires you to create.
The spiritual side of this book just isn’t for me. It can come off as privileged and pretentious at times. I do believe anyone can tap into their creativity and create art. I just don’t think you need a spiritual guide, as Cameron claims she is. She takes a lot of credit for her readers’ work, and it rubs me the wrong way. Journaling and seeking creative inspiration are not new or ground-breaking ideas. Skip the book, and try out the exercises!
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
| Favorite Quote | I would have found something else to lose myself in. If you were pushed off a cliff, you’d grab hold of anything resembling safety.
| My Review | Lesson learned: I need to read blurbs before picking up enticing books I see on BookTok! Please read the content warnings.
I was told this book is about queer obsession, and it is…but it’s also about self sabotage, cheating, and dealing with past traumas.
Pizza Girl, the only name given to our protagonist, is eighteen, pregnant, and has quickly become obsessed with a customer, Jenny, who orders pickles on pizza for her distressed son. And by quickly, I mean in a matter of seconds through hearing the customer’s voice over the phone. It’s concerning. I think this story would fit right in with the Limerence subreddit.
Pizza Girl also has trauma around her alcoholic father, who is dead at the start of the book. This makes her relationship with alcohol extremely unhealthy. Be warned, she is pregnant throughout the story, so this plot point is extra distressing.
We also learn that she has a loving mother and boyfriend, who are excited about the pregnancy and are supportive throughout. This is where I take issue with the story. Self sabotage is a tricky subject, and I don’t enjoy reading it. I have sympathy for victims of abuse, and I understand that trauma can cloud the morality around cheating. That being said, I still can’t give it a pass. Billy, the boyfriend, deserves better.
I don’t think I can put my feelings aside and enjoy this book the way it’s meant to be enjoyed. I only read it as distressing and sad. The ending alludes to a happier future, but I have my doubts. This book is not for everyone.
| My Review | Lesson learned: I need to read blurbs before picking up enticing books I see on BookTok! Please read the content warnings.
I was told this book is about queer obsession, and it is…but it’s also about self sabotage, cheating, and dealing with past traumas.
Pizza Girl, the only name given to our protagonist, is eighteen, pregnant, and has quickly become obsessed with a customer, Jenny, who orders pickles on pizza for her distressed son. And by quickly, I mean in a matter of seconds through hearing the customer’s voice over the phone. It’s concerning. I think this story would fit right in with the Limerence subreddit.
Pizza Girl also has trauma around her alcoholic father, who is dead at the start of the book. This makes her relationship with alcohol extremely unhealthy. Be warned, she is pregnant throughout the story, so this plot point is extra distressing.
We also learn that she has a loving mother and boyfriend, who are excited about the pregnancy and are supportive throughout. This is where I take issue with the story. Self sabotage is a tricky subject, and I don’t enjoy reading it. I have sympathy for victims of abuse, and I understand that trauma can cloud the morality around cheating. That being said, I still can’t give it a pass. Billy, the boyfriend, deserves better.
I don’t think I can put my feelings aside and enjoy this book the way it’s meant to be enjoyed. I only read it as distressing and sad. The ending alludes to a happier future, but I have my doubts. This book is not for everyone.