People do a terrible job describing this book! And the official description also isn't super helpful. I picked it up at the urging4.5 stars rounded up
People do a terrible job describing this book! And the official description also isn't super helpful. I picked it up at the urging of a friend and I'm glad that I did. My only real complaint is it is a little too long and I think some of the later part of the book could have been scaled back. But this was originally self-published so that sometimes comes with the territory. Otherwise I really liked this and would like to eventually re-read it because I'm sure I missed some details.
When the Moon Hatched is a spicy fantasy romance following a brash and sassy young woman with ties to the underworld who consistently gets herself into trouble. Oh, and occasionally has blackouts where she can't remember anything she did. When she must face her own execution, she is saved by a hot and mysterious king. A man who she believes stands for everything she hates- the oppression of economic and ethnic minorities. There is lots of banter, danger, dragon moons, and secrets from the past. I feel like every description I've seen focuses on the world-building and while yeah, there is a fairly well-developed fantasy world, that's not what is going to determine if you are into this or not. I would say it's reminiscent of how Sarah J Maas does characters and romance, but with more nuanced attention to the world and writing that is a bit more flowery. It also has lots of easter eggs that are supposed to be important for future books, and I do love a good easter egg!
Yes, there is a glossary but honestly I would just dive into the writing and figure it out as you go along. I think people find that intimidating but if you're a fantasy reader I really think this is more accessible than it seems. I liked it and intend to continue with the series! ...more
I don't do a ton of self-help type books but I love Law Roach's styling and vibe so I was interested. And maybe I read this at the right time in my liI don't do a ton of self-help type books but I love Law Roach's styling and vibe so I was interested. And maybe I read this at the right time in my life where I'm in a transitional period, but I loved this. It was interesting and encouraging. I like how he discusses style and beauty as story-telling and being more yourself, not about looking a certain way. And also the importance of taking care of your health and not overworking! He narrates the audiobook himself and it's great. I received an audio review copy from Libro.FM, all opinions are my own....more
I'm glad I finally read this! While it's a little slow in a few parts, it's generally a really great start to a sci-fi series with4.5 stars rounded up
I'm glad I finally read this! While it's a little slow in a few parts, it's generally a really great start to a sci-fi series with interesting characters and a twist that made me re-think some things. So much happens too! I've only seen the first season of the TV show but I can understand why this book was split across 2 seasons. I look forward to continuing....more
This collection of essays is largely about Haiti and the Haitian diaspora in ways that are both personal and political. We get bit4.5 stars rounded up
This collection of essays is largely about Haiti and the Haitian diaspora in ways that are both personal and political. We get bits that are more like memoir where Danticat shares about her childhood, about being a mother, adjusting to life in the United States, and about the COVID pandemic. But then it deals with the impact of a hurricane or political violence in Haiti. There is a strong sense of voice and perspective throughout and I'm glad to have tried something from this celebrated author. I was given a copy of the audiobook from Libro.FM and the author reads it herself which is always cool for nonfiction. I think this is an easy introduction to this author's work and it was a well-written set of essays....more
I really enjoyed this modern take on Twelfth Night! The way Veera and Deepak end up accidentally sort of married is clever and I enjoyed the movement I really enjoyed this modern take on Twelfth Night! The way Veera and Deepak end up accidentally sort of married is clever and I enjoyed the movement of their friendship into a real relationship. It was a bit spicier than I was expecting, but that dynamic was also interesting given what these characters are like. Thematically, this is about feeling like the odd one out when you're the last of your friend group to be in a long-term relationship, and also about how there can be a different kind of strength in women who are "nice" but not pushovers. I enjoyed it and would recommend it if you like her writing! ...more
I suspect I might have done better reading this physically rather than listening as an audiobook, but there were parts of it I liked. Motherlands is aI suspect I might have done better reading this physically rather than listening as an audiobook, but there were parts of it I liked. Motherlands is a modern poetry collection in conversation with the political and personal complexity of being from China, among other things. I received an audio review copy via Libro.FM, all opinions are my own....more
This is such a smart book that is subversive in a really fun way! Long Live Evil follows a young woman dying of cancer who is give4.5 stars rounded up
This is such a smart book that is subversive in a really fun way! Long Live Evil follows a young woman dying of cancer who is given one chance to save her own life, but must enter the world of her favorite book series as the female villain. Suddenly in a strong, curvaceous body that she never had in the real world, she relishes the opportunity to be wicked.
It's doing so much to subvert ideas about suffering being connected to goodness, and of what it would mean for someone with chronic illness and pain to suddenly be thrust into a healthy body. Not to mention what changes when we begin to see people in stories as real rather than fictional- what if you had an actual villain rather than one we can romanticize from afar?
This book is also very funny and has great hidden references to all kinds of things from the real world. Part of the humor is playing on the fact that this fantasy is taking place in a created world filled with tropes and ideas from the author. It's very meta and I loved it. I will say, there were a couple points that the story dragged for me and I do think it could have been a little bit shorter, but in general I had a great time and I love what the book is doing! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own....more
Wow! This was pretty dark and sexy for a YA book but I really liked it. Immortal Dark is a dark academia fantasy with Black vampires and an angry, depWow! This was pretty dark and sexy for a YA book but I really liked it. Immortal Dark is a dark academia fantasy with Black vampires and an angry, depressed heroine bent on revenge. It deals with some really intense topics like self-harm and suicidal ideation, so content warnings for that. But the writing is excellent for a debut - it's evocative and sucked me in from page 1. It's also a really interesting and fresh take on a vampire story.
Kidan is an orphan and heiress, but her sister has been taken (supposedly by an ancient vampire attached to the family house) and she's out to find her sister and get revenge. She's ruthless and violent in seeking her ends and ends up having to attend a school in order to officially be the heir to the estate, while living with this vampire that she hates.
This was pitched as Cruel Prince meets Ninth House and I don't think they're far off on that. This is a dark and fairly violent book with an prickly, angry heroine and complex world-building. It easily could have been sold as an adult novel and as it is, it's definitely on the higher end of the age spectrum. But I'm invested and will definitely read book 2. The audio narration is really good- it gives the atmosphere you want and fits well with who this character is. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
If you are a parent I think this is well worth reading. While I think there are a few blindspots and I don't fully agree with everything, I think the If you are a parent I think this is well worth reading. While I think there are a few blindspots and I don't fully agree with everything, I think the general message is an important one. Modern parents tend to be too overprotective in the real world while not doing nearly enough to protect their kids in the virtual one. The Anxious Generation draws on social science research and creates a compelling argument for delaying smart phones and social media, and having phone-free schools while also allowing our kids more free play time and age-appropriate independence. I found it helpful and thought-provoking.
That said, there are some real-world suggestions made here that would be far less safe for kids of color or visibly gender-queer kids than they probably are for the children of the author. There are good reasons why we don't do sleepovers, and I wouldn't do sleepaway camp until the teen years. But not every family and child is the same. I also don't love how heavily gendered everything in this book is because it makes some sweeping assumptions and doesn't really offer help for families with trans or gender-expansive kids.
I am coming away from this thinking of ways I can allow more independence for my kids, and feel good about the fact that I wasn't going to let them have smartphones or do social media any time soon anyway. I think he also taps into the fact that parents are often not having conversations about things like pornography and sexting early enough with their children. This stuff often starts happening in late elementary school and while it may be uncomfortable, by the time our kids are nearing their tween years we need to be having open discussions and educating them....more
Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)
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