Scan barcode
wandererreads's reviews
281 reviews
Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake
4.0
Gifted & Talented 𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆⭒
"That someday, if you want to you'll feel alive again."
I'm in love with everything Olivie writes, and the way she blends magical realism into her stories. This is a heavily character driven story about three rival siblings forced to work through their long standing differences after the sudden death of their father and CEO of Wrenfare Magitech.
While waiting to hear who will take over their father's company, and how the rest of their inheritance will be split, they discover there is an issue with the will that delays this process.
The children all have complex relationships with their father and are forced to unpack that as well as a slew of other issues.
Meredith the eldest daughter and owner of her own tech company, invented a device claiming to provide happiness, is now about to be exposed as a fraud by her ex boyfriend.
Then we have Arthur, the middle child and congressman, who is a chronic people pleaser. He also happens to be married to a successful lawyer, and a polyamorous relationship with an aristocrat and race car driver. Oh and did I mention he can resurrect after death?
Lastly the youngest, Eilidh, a former star ballerina turned marketing executive. Often overlooked by everyone and has a crazy ability to cause apocalyptic events in moments of serious distress.
There are a handful of side characters that add a lot to the plot, specifically their father's former assistant and someone two of the Wren siblings previously betrayed that they now need help from.
It's an interesting read with a lot of buildup, but everything snaps into place nicely.
A few highlights:
•satirical tone
•complex family dynamics
•character driven
•magical realism
•interesting side characters
Thank you to Netgalley and TOR for the eARC.
Rating: 4
Release date: April 1st 2025
"That someday, if you want to you'll feel alive again."
I'm in love with everything Olivie writes, and the way she blends magical realism into her stories. This is a heavily character driven story about three rival siblings forced to work through their long standing differences after the sudden death of their father and CEO of Wrenfare Magitech.
While waiting to hear who will take over their father's company, and how the rest of their inheritance will be split, they discover there is an issue with the will that delays this process.
The children all have complex relationships with their father and are forced to unpack that as well as a slew of other issues.
Meredith the eldest daughter and owner of her own tech company, invented a device claiming to provide happiness, is now about to be exposed as a fraud by her ex boyfriend.
Then we have Arthur, the middle child and congressman, who is a chronic people pleaser. He also happens to be married to a successful lawyer, and a polyamorous relationship with an aristocrat and race car driver. Oh and did I mention he can resurrect after death?
Lastly the youngest, Eilidh, a former star ballerina turned marketing executive. Often overlooked by everyone and has a crazy ability to cause apocalyptic events in moments of serious distress.
There are a handful of side characters that add a lot to the plot, specifically their father's former assistant and someone two of the Wren siblings previously betrayed that they now need help from.
It's an interesting read with a lot of buildup, but everything snaps into place nicely.
A few highlights:
•satirical tone
•complex family dynamics
•character driven
•magical realism
•interesting side characters
Thank you to Netgalley and TOR for the eARC.
Rating: 4
Release date: April 1st 2025
The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia
4.0
I went into this with low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. The Poisoner is a gothic vampire romance set in Victorian London. Everyone knows Alina as a botanist, as she has taken over her dad's business, but she also has a more sinister hobby. Alina has been working as a poisoner in her free time taking out abusive men.
At a party she attracts the attention of Silas Forbes, also known as the creature, who takes an immediate interest in her (think Zade from Haunting Adeline vibes). She is aware he is going to try to hunt and kill her, but not if she can get to him first.
A cat and mouse chase begins between the two of them, but in this case the mouse bites back.
Read this if you like:
•gothic setting
•dark romance
•enemies to lovers
•vampires
•banter
•unreliable narrator
I will say the end through me for a bit of a loop, but I am looking forward to the next book.
At a party she attracts the attention of Silas Forbes, also known as the creature, who takes an immediate interest in her (think Zade from Haunting Adeline vibes). She is aware he is going to try to hunt and kill her, but not if she can get to him first.
A cat and mouse chase begins between the two of them, but in this case the mouse bites back.
Read this if you like:
•gothic setting
•dark romance
•enemies to lovers
•vampires
•banter
•unreliable narrator
I will say the end through me for a bit of a loop, but I am looking forward to the next book.
Beyond Those Gilded Walls by Jessica S. Taylor
3.0
I had high hopes for this one. A dark gothic romantasy inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, sounds like something I would love, but unfortunately the delivery fell flat. It was pretty repetitive and the FMC drove me crazy. The ending felt like it came out of nowhere, it was like the author didn't know how to wrap up the book.
The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up by Evanna Lynch
5.0
I don't read memoirs often, but when I came across this one I knew I had to. The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting written by Evanna Lynch, otherwise known as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, is a raw and honest look at her battle & recovery with anorexia, growing up as a woman, and how she got into acting/landed her role as Luna. While the main chunk of the book is about her recovery, there is more to the book. She details her life experience, allowing creativity back into her life, veganism, and her love of animals.
A few standout quotes
•"And I decide, now, in this moment, that I want it; I want this body. I want to inhabit her, enjoy her, care for her, and defend her in this world. And I no longer want to be yet another voice telling her she’s disgusting or embarrassing or inadequate or too much. I want to be one of those arresting voices of love and compassion, to offer her a space where she can go to restore, to feel safe, to grow."
•"We're afraid that if we fully surrender to our darkness, we'll never come back from it. We´re afraid our darkness will go on and on and on, that there is no end to it and that we will get lost in it. We're afraid that if we show these ugly, unpalatable parts of ourselves, it will be too much for others; that nobody will love and accept us, and we'll be left alone with only the worst parts of ourselves for company."
•"And maybe I will live a happier, wilder, more colourful and unpredictable life if I can finally abandon the debilitating and brutal pursuit of perfection. If I can learn to love butterflies from afar, and watch them fly away."
I loved how authentic she was while recounting her story. I honestly couldn't put this down, I think I binge read the first half in a day. I would recommend checking this one out. If you are into audiobooks, Evanna does the narration.
A few standout quotes
•"And I decide, now, in this moment, that I want it; I want this body. I want to inhabit her, enjoy her, care for her, and defend her in this world. And I no longer want to be yet another voice telling her she’s disgusting or embarrassing or inadequate or too much. I want to be one of those arresting voices of love and compassion, to offer her a space where she can go to restore, to feel safe, to grow."
•"We're afraid that if we fully surrender to our darkness, we'll never come back from it. We´re afraid our darkness will go on and on and on, that there is no end to it and that we will get lost in it. We're afraid that if we show these ugly, unpalatable parts of ourselves, it will be too much for others; that nobody will love and accept us, and we'll be left alone with only the worst parts of ourselves for company."
•"And maybe I will live a happier, wilder, more colourful and unpredictable life if I can finally abandon the debilitating and brutal pursuit of perfection. If I can learn to love butterflies from afar, and watch them fly away."
I loved how authentic she was while recounting her story. I honestly couldn't put this down, I think I binge read the first half in a day. I would recommend checking this one out. If you are into audiobooks, Evanna does the narration.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
5.0
"Be selfish," he whispered. "Be brave."
Wow, I am forever changed after finishing this one. I went into this book blind, and luckily I managed to avoid spoilers over the last two years.
I don't really know how to properly review it, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it! Don't let the size of the book scare you off, I think the writing is easy to digest. I did read a little slower than my normal pace, but there is a lot of information to take in. There are some heavy topics covered like colonialism, racism, and sexism.
I was a little nervous going into this one, as I knew it is a historical fiction, which is not something that I gravitate towards. I was instantly pulled in by Kuang's writing style and the academic backdrop. I found the etymology based magic system to be really unique and interesting, I've never read something like it.
Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going a twist would occur. I feel like I went through an emotional rollercoaster. I was shocked, angry, and sad. This is one of those stories after you finish reading you need to sit and silence and process.
A few quotes that stood out to me:
•"It's violent work that sustains the fantasy."
•"You're lost, brother. You're a ship adrift, searching for familiar shores. I understand what it is you want. I sought it too. But there is no homeland. It's gone."
•"That’s just what translation is, I think. That’s all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they’re trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands."
This was my first time reading a book by R.F. Kuang, I think I want to check out her Poppy War series next.
Wow, I am forever changed after finishing this one. I went into this book blind, and luckily I managed to avoid spoilers over the last two years.
I don't really know how to properly review it, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it! Don't let the size of the book scare you off, I think the writing is easy to digest. I did read a little slower than my normal pace, but there is a lot of information to take in. There are some heavy topics covered like colonialism, racism, and sexism.
I was a little nervous going into this one, as I knew it is a historical fiction, which is not something that I gravitate towards. I was instantly pulled in by Kuang's writing style and the academic backdrop. I found the etymology based magic system to be really unique and interesting, I've never read something like it.
Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going a twist would occur. I feel like I went through an emotional rollercoaster. I was shocked, angry, and sad. This is one of those stories after you finish reading you need to sit and silence and process.
A few quotes that stood out to me:
•"It's violent work that sustains the fantasy."
•"You're lost, brother. You're a ship adrift, searching for familiar shores. I understand what it is you want. I sought it too. But there is no homeland. It's gone."
•"That’s just what translation is, I think. That’s all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they’re trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands."
This was my first time reading a book by R.F. Kuang, I think I want to check out her Poppy War series next.
Lovely Tangled Vices by Olivie Blake
5.0
Lovely Tangled Vices by Olivie Blake was a perfect fall read with witches, magic, a bit of mystery, and dark academia vibes.
This book has a little of everything, but the story mainly focuses on the Locke sisters who are twins and the last of a dwindling line of witches.
They are pulled in separate directions, as Ariadne gets caught up with a mysterious profiteer and Aurora is led to a sorority of witches with a sinister past. Yet somehow these choices tangle their paths together and they find themselves on two different sides of a conflict.
A few of my favorite quotes:
•"But what is a fairy tale, if not the lovely trappings of an ugly truth?"
•"There is always someone who makes us weak"
•"It's only a wise man who fears getting what he wants. I, on the other hand, am generally an idiot, and vastly more afraid of the opposite."
•"There is always a particular sense of peacefulness that can't be trusted; always a stillness that precedes a storm."
I will never stop recommending books by Olivie. She is one of my favorite authors, and I always find her stories to be captivating. I love the complexity of her characters and plotlines.
This book has a little of everything, but the story mainly focuses on the Locke sisters who are twins and the last of a dwindling line of witches.
They are pulled in separate directions, as Ariadne gets caught up with a mysterious profiteer and Aurora is led to a sorority of witches with a sinister past. Yet somehow these choices tangle their paths together and they find themselves on two different sides of a conflict.
A few of my favorite quotes:
•"But what is a fairy tale, if not the lovely trappings of an ugly truth?"
•"There is always someone who makes us weak"
•"It's only a wise man who fears getting what he wants. I, on the other hand, am generally an idiot, and vastly more afraid of the opposite."
•"There is always a particular sense of peacefulness that can't be trusted; always a stillness that precedes a storm."
I will never stop recommending books by Olivie. She is one of my favorite authors, and I always find her stories to be captivating. I love the complexity of her characters and plotlines.
We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees
4.0
"Where did a hero end and a monster begin?"
We Shall Be Monsters was an enchanting read! It is told through alternating POV by Virginia and her daughter Gemma. They live in a remote area, where Virginia runs an antique shop, with a mysterious woods adjacent to their home. Gemma knows that she is not allowed in the woods, her mother has told her multiple times, but curiosity gets the best of her.
Some of Virginia's POV takes place in the past, we learn she is all too familiar with the lure of the woods, which provides insight as to why she is adamant about keeping Gemma out. There is a curse on someone in their family, which leads Gemma on a quest through the fae lands to find a way to break it.
This was my first time reading a book by the author, I really enjoyed the lyrical writing style. Wees explores multiple topics like what it truly means to be a monster and how far we will go for the ones we love.
A few highlights
•atmospheric read
•dark fairy tale
•mysterious woods
•curses
•multiple POV
•forbidden love
•fae & other mythical beings
•complex family dynamics
Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Rating: 4⭐
Release date: November 12th 2024
We Shall Be Monsters was an enchanting read! It is told through alternating POV by Virginia and her daughter Gemma. They live in a remote area, where Virginia runs an antique shop, with a mysterious woods adjacent to their home. Gemma knows that she is not allowed in the woods, her mother has told her multiple times, but curiosity gets the best of her.
Some of Virginia's POV takes place in the past, we learn she is all too familiar with the lure of the woods, which provides insight as to why she is adamant about keeping Gemma out. There is a curse on someone in their family, which leads Gemma on a quest through the fae lands to find a way to break it.
This was my first time reading a book by the author, I really enjoyed the lyrical writing style. Wees explores multiple topics like what it truly means to be a monster and how far we will go for the ones we love.
A few highlights
•atmospheric read
•dark fairy tale
•mysterious woods
•curses
•multiple POV
•forbidden love
•fae & other mythical beings
•complex family dynamics
Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Rating: 4⭐
Release date: November 12th 2024