summerpy's reviews
57 reviews

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This dystopian YA fantasy explores the oppressive world of Brightland where people born with a magical gift of Songlight (a complex form of telepathy?) are hunted, tortured, dehumanized and enslaved. The rest of society are manipulated by propaganda to fear and hunt down anyone with the gift. Friends and family are encouraged to turn each other in at any sign of the gift.

The story is told from multiple POV: main characters Elsa and Nightingale, Elsa’s brother, her boyfriend, and Swan a propagandist. At a few points I got really frustrated and impatient with the POV changes, but don’t skip them! They end up adding a lot to the overall story. By the second half, it was much much easier for me to settle in.

The world building is incredibly set up and terrifying. We have a hyper patriarchal social system where boys are trained young as soldiers and girls are married off as quickly as possible to have babies. Any independent thought or nonconformity can place someone in danger.

This book is a stunning debut novel and the first of a trilogy. I am thankful to have read the e-arc from netgalley and emotionally invested enough to have preordered a physical copy, coming out 9/3/24. Will be looking forward to the sequel!

The Doll's House by Lisa Unger

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lisa Unger’s The Doll’s House is an intriguing short novella that follows widow Jules and her daughter Scout as they navigate a new chapter of their lives. Jules has met Kirin, a hot well off artist, and found new love. Scout is struggling with the loss of her dad and separation from friends as she and her mom move away from the city into Kirin’s technologically advanced mansion.
I really enjoyed the ramp up of creepiness from descriptions of the house and the passively ominous AI. It was a tightly paced but still has space to address some of the complexities of grief and mourning. I read it in one go. Great entrance into spooky season!
Thank you netgalley for this e-arc.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

It’s just not for me but many of my friends have loved it.

Wolfsong by TJ Klune

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emotional mysterious medium-paced