thebiasedbibliophile's reviews
661 reviews

Sound the Gong by Joan He

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR Strike the Zither AHEAD!!!

About a year and a half ago, when I first read Strike the Zither by Joan He after finding it on BookishFirst, I had no idea that I’d just discovered a new favorite author! And reading the sequel, Sound the Gong, reaffirmed Joan’s venerated place on my list of all-time favorite authors! As readers, every now and then we’ll come across a book that is on another level when compared to other books, a book we think everyone should read, a book that changes who we are. Both the books in the Three Kingdoms duology are those kinds of books!

As if Strike the Zither wasn’t enough of a rollercoaster ride, Sound the Gong had my stomach jolting in surprise with all the twists and turns. Zephyr and Crow are two of the most morally gray characters I’ve ever read, and I really appreciate how He didn’t hold back with their morally grayness. At the same time, she juxtaposed a strong sense of justice in both of them. The contrast adds a higher level of plausibility and makes you root for them all the more.

Similarly, anyone would have a hard time convincing me that Joan He isn’t an absolute genius! You don’t have to read her books super closely to enjoy them, but if you do, your mind will be blown at all the subtle references and foreshadowing. As someone who’s just starting to explore writing, it is authors like Joan who inspire me to be a better writer. The flood of joy I’d feel whenever I found a little clue that alluded to the previous book or foreshadowed a later event was thrilling.

Additionally, Joan’s sense of humor with her writing is so memorable. I love the way she takes what could be a pretty depressing story and infuses it with lightheartedness and hilarious moments. Simultaneously, she does not shy away from addressing deep emotions. I particularly enjoyed Joan’s depiction of Zephyr working through her grief for Lotus.

As a whole, you NEED to read both Strike the Zither and Sound the Gong if you haven’t yet! In my mind, they are masterpieces! (Also, your heart will need the bonus story “In Another Life,” after reading STG. Just to forewarn you.) :)

My Throat an Open Grave by Tori Bovalino

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I absolutely loved Not Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino, so when I saw the cover of My Throat an Open Grave, I wanted to read it right away. I have to say, I’ve read quite a few books in under 48 hours over the years, but it has been a long time since I’ve read one in under 24 hours, but that was the case with My Throat an Open Grave.

First off, the lore behind the story was so compelling. The main character, Leah, lives in a small, religious town and has heard stories of the Lord of the Woods since childhood. Every several years, a child goes missing, and a woman is ultimately sent after the baby to “pay for her sins.” When Leah’s baby brother is taken by the LoW, her mother sends her after him, turning the whole town against her.

From the start, the myth of the Lord of the Woods was compelling, but what hooked me even more was a sharp sense of empathy and injustice for Leah. She didn’t even want a baby brother, why should she have to go after him?

Similarly, Leah copes with depression and suicidal thoughts throughout the story, which I thought Bovalino did an exceptional job of depicting. I definitely recommend reading this book when you’re in a good headspace because the depressive atmosphere is very immersive, which made the story feel more realistic.

Finally, Leah’s relationship with Tristan added a lot to the story and felt right for the story. I also appreciated the social justice messages tied into the story. As a whole, My Throat an Open Grave is a must read, regardless of whether you’re typically a fan of horror. 

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

4.0

I really enjoyed So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole! The magic system and its ties to the characters ancestors was compelling. There were a few twists throughout the story that were a bit surprising. I really liked Faron and Reeve's relationship and appreciated the aspec representation (and the queer rep in general). It was nice that Reeve was also Elara's friend, as I think a lot of stories focus too much on romantic relationships as opposed to other forms of love. The layering of conflict was well done and many fantastical elements of the story felt plausible. The only thing I didn't like was that the pacing was pretty slow for a good portion of the book. Regardless, I think it's definitely worth reading, and I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

The Winter Prince by Constance Lopez

5.0

Beauty & the Beast retelling and Constance Lopez? Yes, please! The Winter Prince is the book I was most looking forward to in the Once Upon a Prince Series, and Lopez did not disappoint!

This was one of those books that I completely lost myself in, so much so that I forgot to take notes while reading. The Winter Prince quickly became one of my favorite Beauty & the Beast retellings. I loved the way Lopez built on the original fairy tale and made it her own.

I appreciated the fact that Revi’s motivation for keeping Kienna as a prisoner was believable, however misplaced it might’ve been. Despite his abrasive personality, his care for his people was apparent when reading from his perspective. And, Revi and Kienna’s romance was cute and drew in the reader’s emotions perfectly. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the ending! I won’t give anything away, but I loved the fact that Lopez mixed aspects from the original fairy tale with her own ideas. The ending felt true to the story and really capitalized on the building emotions between Revi and Kienna. 

Overall, this is the second book I’ve read and loved by Constance Lopez, and I hope to read many more in the future! 

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

5.0

I read this book months ago, and I still think about it all the time! After reading Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez, I suspected I would enjoy anything she wrote, and that suspicion was confirmed when I read What the River Knows.

I was captivated from the start of the book! While I normally take extensive notes while reading, I wrote one thing down before I completely fell into the story. I loved the fact that Inez’s story is motivated by loss. Her grief is intertwined with her story without overtaking it; she doesn’t let it stop her from living her life and finding answers.

Similarly, I appreciated the fact that Ibañez chose to write Inez’s story in particular. We get to see the way her family’s money gives her privilege, while her gender in the time period she lived creates obstacles for her. Despite those hardships, Inez is determined to forge her way in life.

Additionally, although I typically enjoy romance novels despite the romance, I actually loved this one largely because of the romance. Inez and Whit’s relationship was full of suspense and angst. The sections from his perspective added a lot of depth to the story. 

AND THAT ENDING?!?! I audibly gasped when I read the end! Talk about a cliffhanger! I desperately need the sequel ASAP!

I bought the OwlCrate edition of What the River Knows (which is stunning, by the way), and I’m praying OwlCrate does the sequel because I need it in my life! 

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

5.0

Check & Mate is the first Ali Hazelwood book I’ve read, and I was so impressed! I flew through the book in less than a day, and I’m already wanting to pick up another book by Hazelwood.

I loved so many things about this book! The story is centered around the game of chess, and while I’m not a huge fan, it was interesting. If you enjoy chess, I think you’ll definitely love this book, but if not, it doesn’t take away from the story at all. One thing I particularly enjoyed about the story was the way Hazelwood addressed gender inequality in chess. 

The romance was cute, but I never really focus on romance, even in romance novels, and there were so many other compelling aspects of this book that made it stand out. Mallory was such a well-crafted character. I liked that she was not perfect and made many mistakes throughout the course of the story. The way she put her family first and tried to provide for her mom and sisters was endearing. Related to that, I appreciated the chronic illness representation in Mallory’s mom. Mallory’s motivation of wanting to help her family was perfectly executed and added a lot of plausibility to the story.

On a similar note, I thought Mallory came across as neurodivergent, which I enjoyed. The queer representation, in Mallory and multiple secondary characters, was excellent. Many of Hazelwood’s characters viewed queerness as the norm, which I loved, especially in Mallory’s younger sisters.

Furthermore, in relation to the plot, I enjoyed the way Hazelwood slowly revealed backstory, especially information related to Mallory’s dad and his relation to chess.

Finally, the supporting characters were exceptional! I loved so many of them, but Oz in particular was very likeable despite his grumpiness. I adored the fact that he supported Mallory throughout her journey in the world of chess.

Overall, I will certainly be reading more of Hazelwood’s books because this one was an absolute gem! 

Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer

adventurous challenging dark emotional

5.0

What’s better than a YA zombie apocalypse novel? How about a YA zombie apocalypse novel with a sapphic love story! I was so excited to read an early copy of Hearts Still Beating by debut author, Brooke Archer, and trust me, this is a story you don’t want to miss.

First off, the novel gives off major Warm Bodies vibes in the best way possible. I’d imagine that this story could take place several years after Warm Bodies, and I loved that aspect. In the novel, the world is a few years into the zombie apocalypse, and there is a cure…well, sort of. Some of the undead can be given a medication that allows them to regain their free will if taken regularly. I really enjoyed how Archer developed the world, both in the features that reflected the deterioration of society and those that showed an attempt to rebuild it.

Additionally, one of my favorite things about the story was the themes Archer explored. Not only does she explore humanity (which any author writing about the apocalypse should), she also explores themes of grief and blame in a unique and refreshing way. Many of the characters misplace blame and cope with immense grief, and I appreciated the way Archer showed how that changed the characters on a deeper level.

Furthermore, family was another wonderful theme in the story. I loved the way both Rory’s and Mara’s families are broken, and both characters deal with that in different ways. Mara’s past greatly impacts her relationship with her sister. Similarly, both Mara and Rory grieve for their parents, Mara in a more traditional sense, and Rory in a metaphorical one.

On a side note, I liked that Rory had adopted siblings. I adored the fact that she could see her mother in her adoptive brother’s mannerisms, and I often forgot that she wasn’t related to her brother and sister by blood. It was a nice twist on the found family trope, which ironically juxtaposed a theme of losing family too.

I loved both Rory’s and Mara’s characters. I thought Rory insisting on being called “Rory” instead of “Aurora” was a nice way to be more direct in showing how the zombie apocalypse changed her. And, the fact that Mara called her “Aurora” was symbolically pleasing.

Related to that, Mara is an Altered (a former zombie who takes medication to maintain her humanity). I thought her perspective was compelling, and I loved the way her character was contrasted with her sister, Carter, who in many ways lost more of her humanity than Mara did.

Finally, the love story was everything I could’ve asked for. At times, it was heartbreaking, but mostly it was a feel-good touch to an otherwise somber yet interesting story. The way Rory’s and Mara’s personalities clashed was perfect, and I enjoyed the flashbacks to their younger, more awkward selves. 

As a whole, this novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys YA zombie apocalypse stories, and even if you don’t like stories about the zombie apocalypse, I still think there is a lot to love about it! 

Being Ace: An Anthology of Queer, Trans, Femme, and Disabled Stories of Asexual Love and Connection by Madeline Dyer

5.0

When I saw the cover of Being Ace, I immediately knew I wanted to read it, regardless of the genre. But when I realized it was an anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories, I was elated! And there were so many wonderful stories in this anthology, too. It’s a book that is greatly needed within the LGBTQIA+ community, and it simultaneously is a wonderful addition to the YA SFF genres.

As a whole, I absolutely loved the way the stories focus on love! I think so many people equate being ace or aromantic with not loving, and that’s a misconception that harms our community and allows people to think of aroace people as “less than human.” Oftentimes, I’ve found that aroace folks seem more than human in that they experience everything very deeply, so I was moved by these stories that show this side of being a-spec.

Additionally, I enjoyed nearly all of the stories, and I was blown away by a handful of them. “Across the Stars” by Akemi Dawn Bowman was an adorable scifi story that explored themes of loss and finding love in the midst of it. I was not surprised by how much I loved this story because Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman is one of my all-time favorite books. The way she combines grief with finding love and hope is beautiful.

“Give Up the Ghost” by Linsey Miller was the story that shocked me the most! I have to admit, I read Miller’s What We Devour, and I was not a big fan, but “Give Up the Ghost” literally brought me to tears and convinced me to add more of her books to my TBR list. The friendship in her story was beautiful, and I appreciated the way she incorporated and broke stereotypes about the ace community.

“Sealights” by Emily Victoria was possibly my favorite story in the anthology. Again, I wasn’t entirely surprised because I’ve read some of Victoria’s other work, but I was impressed by the amount of emotion she elicited from me with such a short story. I loved the way the protagonist’s story went deeper than a love story without taking away from that love story. I still think about “Sealights” now, months after first reading it.

“Moonspirited” by Anju Imura stuck out to me because it focused on the protagonist’s love for her sister. I adored the magic and whimsy in the story and the way Imura mixed it with darker themes. The originality was certainly memorable, too.

I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to like “The Third Star” by RoAnna Sylver, but it ended up being another one of my favorites. I can’t remember if Sylver explicitly stated whether the protagonist was neurodivergent, but they definitely came across as autistic, and I appreciated that representation. I also liked the polyamorous relationship in “The Third Star” and the way Slyver explored both the entire relationship and the protagonist’s individual relationship with each person in the relationship. The themes in this story really made it stand out as well.

“No Cure for Doubt” by Jas Brown was another phenomenal story! I loved the contrasting belief systems between the protagonist and the love interest, as well as the tragedy surrounding their story. This was another one that brought tears to my eyes. Similarly, I liked the theme of fighting corruption and how Brown tied being queer to being superhuman.

As a whole, this anthology really has something for everyone! I think it’s incredibly important that we have more stories that show a-spec people as human and as capable of loving. I really don’t have the words to say how much it means to have stories that depict a wide range of relationships as love, whether they’re platonic, romantic, familial, or something else entirely. It’s refreshing to see authors exploring the depths of what it means to be a-spec and how very human that makes us. 

The Candlelight Gifts: A Keeper's Tale by J.A. Andrews

5.0

The Deal is Struck: A Keeper's Tale by J.A. Andrews

5.0