This was so cute oh my god??? Clumsy witch girlfriend and himbo vampire boyfriend whom she accidentally turns into a cat. What’s not to love? The art This was so cute oh my god??? Clumsy witch girlfriend and himbo vampire boyfriend whom she accidentally turns into a cat. What’s not to love? The art style is bubbly and sweet, and the story is pretty lighthearted aside from some witch vs vampire clan feuding. Morgana can do no wrong, and seeing Oz slowly fall for her is adorable. Can’t wait to read the rest of this webtoon!!!...more
A cliche yet wholesome high school romance! Anything involving childhood friends to lovers immediately has my interest, so I’m not surprised to have lA cliche yet wholesome high school romance! Anything involving childhood friends to lovers immediately has my interest, so I’m not surprised to have liked this. Ren and Kai were so considerate of each other in a way only best friends are; any miscommunication between them was short lived, and their brief confession + romance was really sweet. For a one shot, this was pretty good!...more
Cassandra Jean's art is so charming, the pastel colours and cute character designs make this such a calming graphic novel to get lost in. Cuckoo3.5 ⭐️
Cassandra Jean's art is so charming, the pastel colours and cute character designs make this such a calming graphic novel to get lost in. Cuckoos Three is a simplistic meet-cute romance between a farm boy and the new move-in, though it also briefly touches upon some more serious themes involving mental health and homophobia. Murry and Jacob are such sweet main characters, I just wish there was a little more development between them before they got together. This is a really cute graphic novel!...more
Hockey romances are so entertaining. I used to religiously follow the NHL, which probably explains why I've been gravitating towards books like this rHockey romances are so entertaining. I used to religiously follow the NHL, which probably explains why I've been gravitating towards books like this recently. Pairing high-stakes sports with a slow-burn romance is always enough to grab my attention.
Casey and Landon were a great instance of opposites-attract, one being an antisocial backup goalie, the other being a chatterbox winger. Their chemistry was palpable from early on! I loved seeing Landon grow more comfortable with himself thanks to Casey's gentle encouragement and wit. Learning about the fears they keep close intrigued me even further; Casey's loneliness paired with Landon's guilt–and the way both athletes gradually open themselves up to each other–was so well done. Their romance was so sweet.
I wasn't initially a fan of Reid's writing, though the narrative began to flow much more smoothly as the book progressed. The pacing was perfect, I don't think Landon and Casey's romance budded either too fast or slow. I'm glad to have read this one!
Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for the arc!...more
“In my greater and lesser moments, I fear that I must be fated for sainthood.”
Holy crap this book was so good. I don’t know how else to pu
“In my greater and lesser moments, I fear that I must be fated for sainthood.”
Holy crap this book was so good. I don’t know how else to put it, just wow. Everything I love about dark academia and adult fantasy was laid out in Cursebreakers so masterfully. The mental health representation across the board—particularly when it comes to our lead character—was so well done it had me in tears; Adrien has got to be one of my favourite protagonists ever. Thus is a truly impressive debut by Nakamura.
~★~ Characters ~★~
Cursebreakers follows Adrien Desforneaux, a magics professor with a dark past. Ridiculed by both his peers and students for a mistake he can never forget, Adrien’s mental health begins to fail him, with fits of akrasia and his ‘daemon’ tending to control him at the worst of times. When the military starts surveilling the academy on orders of a witch hunt, it becomes apparent that people across the city are falling mysteriously comatose. Adrien becomes immediately caught up in the conspiracy, with only Gennady—a young and broken soldier—posing as his reluctant ally.
────── {⋆★⋆} ──────
You know those books that hook you from the first line? This was definitely one of them. That quote above is the opening line of Cursebreakers, and in my opinion it establishes both a great sense of anticipation for the plot to come, and immediate intrigue towards the protagonist. I adored the almost pretentious quality to Adrien’s internal monologue, eloquent even when he felt like crumbling from the inside out. His self-destructive tendencies—paired with a keen sense of self-awareness—made it impossible not to root for his happiness and ultimate recovery. Nakamura does a spectacular job representing his mental health struggles (I was in so much pain) while leaving room for hope in the small moments that Adrien finds solace in friends like Gennady and Malise.
Characters are the lifeblood of every story I read. While Adrien alone was enough to maintain my interest, I was almost equally as enraptured by Gennady. Having a young solider (who’s ideals should oppose yours) follow you around and pretend to hate you? While they’re actually kind of eager to be your friend? It is such a sweet dynamic. The initial hostility between Adrian and Gennady dissipates into a really beautiful friendship, like a platonic enemies to lovers!!
Speaking of lovers….. there’s no real romance in Cursebreakers, but the unrequited love Adrien feels for his best friend is a constant throughout most of the story. It hurts so good, I felt tiny swoops in my stomach at some of the offhand lines Adrien thought towards him. The yearning. Wanting someone with your whole heart, knowing you’ll never have them…. I never knew the trope would hit me so hard.
This is an unexpected favourite for sure, but a new favourite nonetheless. Nakamura really did her thing… I’ll be looking out for her future works for sure!
Thank you to Netgalley and Red Hen Press for the arc!...more
“I hated him, who he was, what he’d done. But I also understood him, perhaps more than he understood himself. And the truth? He was my enemy,
“I hated him, who he was, what he’d done. But I also understood him, perhaps more than he understood himself. And the truth? He was my enemy, and I knew that. It really was that simple. The only thing I didn’t know was why.
A dark fantasy about a jester secretly wreaking havoc upon his court (for reasons….) can’t not be entertaining. This entire book was pretty wild, and the constant thrill of betrayal certainly kept things very high-stakes. I never knew who I could trust; even the main romance threw me for a loop more than once…
Lark was a really peculiar protagonist. Over the span of the entire book I went from being amused by him, to hating him, to pitying him, to finally really loving him. The rollercoaster of emotions evoked by each plot twist ensured that I was always engaged, constantly vying for new pieces of information that would make sense of Lark and his true self hidden deep beneath his carefully curated persona. Lark initially reads as an antihero—cocky to a fault, and uncaring towards the feelings of others—though this flimsy image slowly begins to crumble as he begins to rediscover his true self through Arin and the Court of Love.
The last third of Fool Me Once really blew me away. I was sure the plotline involving Razak’s crowns didn’t interest me in comparison to Arin’s story, but once everything came together for a truly explosive climax, I was proven wrong yet again. The vast scope of dramatic events unfolding all at once had me flipping pages like a madwoman, desperate to find out who would make it out alive, and at what cost. The setting of this grand finale was also gorgeous; I adored picturing the vast sand dunes of the Court of War, with a castle like Egyptian architecture or a museum exhibit. The romance trajectory also left me really curious… I haven’t seen other reviewers mention it yet, but I suspect we might have a future throuple between Lark, Arin and Draven.
As I mentioned before, Fool Me Once is a really dark book. If you think you might need to look at the trigger warnings, I’d definitely suggest doing so! I’m a big fan of darker fantasy, and still found myself taken aback by some of the scenes that played out after the first third of the book (either because I’d never read anything like them in general, or not in as much detail as here). Nash did an amazing job ensuring tensions ran high throughout this entire book; that climax and ending sequence was phenomenal. I seriously can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel when it releases!!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an arc!...more
Pretty art style, confusing story. Season of the Bruja follows three magical friends (a bruja, chupacabra and werewolf) who work in a paranormal museuPretty art style, confusing story. Season of the Bruja follows three magical friends (a bruja, chupacabra and werewolf) who work in a paranormal museum to protect their powers and stories from fading into history. The premise seemed simplistic and fun, so I was surprised to find myself really lost throughout the entire story.
From the very first page, we are thrown into the middle of a fight scene, where the magic system and scope of fantastical creatures already becomes a bit confusing. From then on, more and more magic was piled on in a way that never quite clicked to me. The high-fantasy lover in me can usually scrape by with assumptions to fill the gaps, but my boredom took over halfway through this graphic novel. My dwindling interest never heightened, though I did enjoy a lot of the character designs and visuals! The villains and demons in particular were really cool. Overall though, this wasn’t for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and Oni press for sending me an arc!...more
Gwen & Art—a princess & a noble—are betrothed to be married, but find themselves far from loving each other considering they're both queer. Gwen can’tGwen & Art—a princess & a noble—are betrothed to be married, but find themselves far from loving each other considering they're both queer. Gwen can’t help admiring the only woman competing in the palace’s tournament of knights, while Art is falling for Gwen’s brother, the prince soon-to-be king.
Unconventional royal romances are a lot more fun that I give them credit for. This one was an all-around good time with easy banter between protagonists, and several heartwarming moments between both couples. Art and his bodyguard were too funny for their own good, while Gwen and her brother tugged at my heartstrings all throughout this story. I flew through this book in a day, which is a commendable achievement considering how slowly I’ve been reading because of school.
Art was easily the standout character for me. Something about effortlessly charming (and effortlessly dumb) character have the key to my heart. The consistent drunken humour was top tier. This, paired with the fact that he began falling for Ben because of how kindly he treated his bird (and animals in general) was possibly the greatest thing ever. Animal lovers rule!
My only qualm with this book was the flimsy world-building. I found it hard to care about the magical politics in a book that is centrally focused on romance, so I didn’t piece together much of what was going on in that regard until the final scene. To Croucher’s credit, I was honestly shocked by how crazy the climax was. When I tell you I was stressed for these characters, I mean it. It’s a shame the ending wasn’t a bit longer, I really wanted more!! This was a really fun story, with so much genuine heart and meaning spread throughout both protagonists’ experiences!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc!...more
Swept away by a circus crew, this main character was not…. (I definitely made assumptions based on the title…) Loved Circus follows Kei, an unassuming Swept away by a circus crew, this main character was not…. (I definitely made assumptions based on the title…) Loved Circus follows Kei, an unassuming man buried in debt after spending his money to help a call girl he’s fallen in love with. Living in his car and on the run from loan sharks, Kei contemplates suicide, though he is saved from death by the employees of Circus—a male brothel. With no other way to repay the money he owes, Kei is coerced into working for Circus, becoming quickly acquainted with the strange bunch that call the place home.
────── {⋆★⋆} ──────
This story was certainly unconventional, though entertaining as ever. Each member of Circus was enjoyable for their charisma and banter, which made it even better seeing Kei find his footing through their easy friendship. I could have sworn there was a romance in Kei’s trajectory, though the ending didn’t really fulfill as much as I expected in that sense. The art style was really eye-pleasing since it felt familiar to me (I’ve read a few webtoons with a similar style). Overall, a quick and enjoyable read!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an arc!...more
This anthology was phenomenal. Each short story was creative beyond belief, answering a multitude of questions the main trilogy left me with regardingThis anthology was phenomenal. Each short story was creative beyond belief, answering a multitude of questions the main trilogy left me with regarding the fascinating system of scythes and the Thunderhead.
The greatest stories from Gleanings were those that revisited characters who already appeared in Arc of a Scythe, villains and fan-favourites alike. The particular story I adored the most was easily A Martian Minute, partially because space operas are my favourite ultra-specific subgenre, but more importantly because of how insane the world-building and plot was for such a brief tale. The concept of interplanetary colonists preparing Mars for future inhabitants has certainly been done before, though I knew the addition of the Thunderhead would shake things up drastically. Goddard was a downright malicious villain for 3 books, so it was awesome to finally experience his hardcore origin story through a glimpse of his youth in space, of all places.
Another favourite of mine was Anastasia’s Shadow, following scythe Anastasia’s brother Ben in between harrowing events of the series. While this was definitely one of the more tame stories in this collection, the character-driven reader in me was eager to learn about the younger brother who (from what I remember) didn’t have much of a presence in the trilogy. It made me unbelievably happy to see him fight for love, though his circumstances certainly kept me on my toes throughout.
There were a few stories that I thought were just okay, though the majority more than made up for any falters. This anthology was a lot of mindless fun, while also managing to include a number of really impactful messages. I loved gushing about the crazy twists to my sister and best friend. This anthology was unexpected, but so worth it for Arc of a Scythe fans!!...more
I think most contemporary romances are better off as standalones. While I definitely had fun with this sequel, I don’t think it was strictly necessaryI think most contemporary romances are better off as standalones. While I definitely had fun with this sequel, I don’t think it was strictly necessary because of how well Boyfriend Material concluded. Luc and Oliver never fail to make me smile, though, so I still looked forward to their future endeavors (which based on this title, I thought entailed the next level of their previous fake-dating …maybe fake-fiancés?). It was nice to see the progression of their domestic life together two years into their relationship, though it was hard to ignore the plot going in circles, with Luc and Olievr having essentially the same argument for what felt like the course of this entire book.
Hall’s writing is still super fun, especially since Luc’s narration maintained the humorous undertones I came to love in Boyfriend Material. Despite this, I like that Hall still manages to address some more serious topics amidst the broader storyline. Seeing Oliver coming to terms with his family’s mistreatment of him and his brother—as well as dealing with some grief later on—gave a lot of extra substance to his character.
The main aspect I grew annoyed with was the main plot of this book…. all of the weddings Luc and Oliver were invited to. I think there was four or five? While some of them were amusing, others kind of got on my nerves (like Bridget’s, since the girl had pretty much nothing in order and needed her friends to fix everything). I admit it was entertaining to see Lucien deal with the less-than-ideal circumstances that arose at most of the weddings, though many of them mainly made me hate the side characters when I feel like I wasn’t really supposed to.
The ending was also pretty abrupt, which I wasn’t a fan of until I noticed there’s apparently going to be two more books?? I don’t know if they’ll focus on Luc and Oliver again, but the description says they’re set in the Boyfriend Material universe. Guess we’ll have to wait and see!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an arc! ...more
Me, naively thinking a Romeo & Juliet retelling would end happily: ಥ_ಥ
“What are you afraid of?” Roma Montagov asked. Juliette’s lips parted. She exMe, naively thinking a Romeo & Juliet retelling would end happily: ಥ_ಥ
“What are you afraid of?” Roma Montagov asked. Juliette’s lips parted. She exhaled a short, abrupt breath. “The consequences of love in a city ruled by hate.”
Reuniting with my favourite Shanghai gangsters after the explosive ending to These Violent Delights had me anticipating two things above all else: Roma and Juliette trying to kill each other attractively (premium enemies to lovers content) and Benedikt and Marshall finally, you know, communicating. (kissing). I’m lying, there’s a third thing: KATHLEEN!! I love her so much.
Alas, Chloe Gong is an evil genius and I was not spared. The plot was a lot more exciting in Our Violent Ends, whereas it kind of went in circles with the monster hunt in book 1. The stakes were much higher than before; I found myself far more attached to the protagonists, fearful of the danger they would inevitably face.
Gong does a masterful job retelling Romeo & Juliet while also crafting an undoubtedly unique story. I loved the “ohhhh” moments when making connections back to the source material; the plot twists were so cleverly thought out!
Our Violent Ends was an amazing conclusion to this duology. It takes everything from the first instalment and amps it up a few notches. Such a breathtaking ending, I can’t wait for it to be published!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc! ...more
“The universe rarely gives us what we want. Sometimes we must content ourselves with what we are given.”
Before We Disappear was easily one of my m“The universe rarely gives us what we want. Sometimes we must content ourselves with what we are given.”
Before We Disappear was easily one of my most anticipated books of the year. The premise of a historical fiction rivals-to-lovers between magicians was too good to pass up, so I was ecstatic to be approved for an audiobook arc! While my expectations definitely weren’t met, I still had a fun time following Jack and Wilhem through their shenanigans.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Set during the 1909 Seattle Alaska-Yukon-Exposition, Before We Disappear follows two rival magicians’ assistants as they fight to become the greatest show around. When Jack’s parents died, the Enchantress took him in to be a part of her show. Wilhelm, however, was kidnapped at a young age due to his secret ability to teleport—making him a very useful asset to the magician Laszlo. Jack and Wil cross paths during the Exposition, stumbling into a secret romance that further complicates Wil’s chance at escaping his captor.
~★~
I have a hard time pinpointing how I felt about this book. It was more than just okay, but less than great. Most of it was good enough to keep me reading, despite not much sticking out as particularly memorable. I do think I would have enjoyed this a little more if I read it psychically, because the audiobook was in a synthetic voice with the same tone for each character, making it hard to differentiate them at times.
The representation was great, with a main gay and lesbian relationship plus very prominent poc characters. I liked that Shaun David Hutchinson decided to eliminate homophobia in this version of the 1900’s, but I was left wondering why racism and sexism still existed. It just felt strange to create a half-utopia when he could’ve went all the way there (though I liked his commentary on how wrongfully women and poc were treated back then).
Jack and Wilhelm had great chemistry, which was in my opinion the highlight of the story. Wil’s sweetness paired with Jack’s tendency to be reckless was amazing; their interactions definitely made up for the lackluster plot. The power dynamics demonstrated through Laszlo an the Enchantress were great (I hated them both, which is a sign of a well executed villain). Overall, this was a decently enjoyable read, with characters who make up for the repetitive storyline.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen for the audio-arc!...more
As a kid, The Pirates of the Caribbean was my favourite movie franchise. Even now, I tend to love reading about pirates and sea adventures when they’rAs a kid, The Pirates of the Caribbean was my favourite movie franchise. Even now, I tend to love reading about pirates and sea adventures when they’re present in stories. This is why it’s especially unfortunate that this graphic novel didn’t live up to my expectations.
Nemesis follows a pirate named Raven, who is known for his bad luck. He embarks on a journey to steal the governors treasure, and finds himself in a lot more trouble than he bargained for when he meets the prisoner Lady Darksee.
I expected this story to be at least partially inventive or unique, but sadly it was quite ordinary compared to other adventures I’ve read. The characters felt two dimensional; I could hardly distinguish any of their personalities aside from the protagonists Raven and Darksee. Several scenes felt unnecessary in terms of plot development, and I found myself ultimately bored with the whole thing. The art was decent, but otherwise I was left feeling pretty disappointed by this graphic novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the arc!...more
You've Reached Sam was easily one of my most anticipated releases this year. That being said, I was disappointed to find it pretty mediocre. The side You've Reached Sam was easily one of my most anticipated releases this year. That being said, I was disappointed to find it pretty mediocre. The side characters were two dimensional, and the plot didn’t evoke as much emotion as I expected.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Julie is left heartbroken when her boyfriend, Sam, tragically dies. She threw out his things and missed his funeral to try and forget, but desperate to hear his voice one more time, she calls him intending to listen to his voicemail. And then Sam picks up the phone. Julie believes this is her last chance at goodbye, but Sam’s time is more limited than she knows.
~★~
It wasn’t long before I knew this book wouldn’t live up to my expectations. The first chapter was compelling with a flashback to how Julie met Sam, but from there her character grew a bit irritating. She would treat her friends pretty terribly due to the loss of her boyfriend, not realizing that they, too (Sam’s best friend and cousin) were missing him just as much, if not more. Regardless, her frustrations were understandable due to the circumstances. Sam was likeable, but I don’t think there was much depth to his character. A few memories paired with Julie’s phonecalls weren’t enough for me to feel attached to him. Most of the side characters didn't serve a purpose except to emphasize Julie's character development, which I didn't like.
In my opinion, Thao’s writing was just okay; it needed more substance to make up for what the characters lacked. Don’t get me wrong, there were certain moments that made me emotional (view spoiler)[Like when Oliver and Julie had a heart-to-heart about their love for Sam (hide spoiler)] but to be honest, reading this synopsis led me to believe I’d ball my eyes out like many other reviewers said they had. It’s unfortunate, but You’ve Reached Sam was one big “meh” for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc!...more
“You shine bright, Teddy Spenser. So bright I’m almost blinded.”
Contemporary romances are typically a hit-or-miss for me, so I was surprised to di
“You shine bright, Teddy Spenser. So bright I’m almost blinded.”
Contemporary romances are typically a hit-or-miss for me, so I was surprised to discover that this one fell somewhere in the middle. It was enjoyable, though not without faults.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love is an enemies-to-lovers romance where the protagonist (Teddy) and his workplace rival Romeo are sent on a business trip together. The two are meant to pitch their product to a famous businesswoman, but the trip doesn't turn out as expected. Teddy and Romeo are forced to undergo bonding experiences which reveal their complicated feelings towards each other.
~★~
The first few chapters didn’t really capture my interest; hearing about Teddy’s life and workplace habits weren’t enough to get me truly invested in the story. As soon as Romeo was introduced, however, things changed for the better. While the whole “enemies” part of the enemies-to-lovers romance didn’t last long, it wasn’t a huge deal for me; I really enjoyed the playful dynamic between Teddy and Romeo!
Kim Fielding’s writing was pretty ordinary, though some of the humour between characters made up for what the diction lacked. This was a very trope heavy romance, which made for an entertaining though not very memorable story. A lot of the events that took place during Teddy and Romeo’s business trip felt unrealistic, but I tried to look past that for the sake of personal enjoyment. Essentially, this is a fast and fun read, but also one that I’ll forget entirely within a few weeks. There a ton of more memorable / well written romances out there!
Thank you to Netgalley and HARLEQUIN for the arc!...more
Eerily atmospheric, Tales of the Mist illustrates strange paranormal activity afflicting a 1930’s Spanis
“When man is tormented, the devil smiles.”
Eerily atmospheric, Tales of the Mist illustrates strange paranormal activity afflicting a 1930’s Spanish village. Told through short stories following different protagonists, Laura Suárez does a great job portraying what the lives of Spaniards might've been like back then. I especially loved the interventions between chapters, where the author speaks on stories passed down to her by Spanish relatives.
The art in Tales of the Mist had an odd charm to it, one that I quickly took a liking to. It’s hard not to admire the time it takes to craft a graphic novel of any sort, and this one in particular had an abstract sort of feel that really impressed me.
The reason I didn’t rate this higher is because I didn’t form a connection to any of the characters. Each story was fairly short; there wasn’t enough time to get a good sense of the protagonists and their personalities. Although the paranormal aspect was really interesting here, I tend to prefer character driven stories over plot driven ones. Regardless, this is an evidently well put together graphic novel, and one I’d still recommend....more
This book definitely succeeded at something: making me hungry.
Besides that, I was saddened to find the characters flat and hard to differentiate asideThis book definitely succeeded at something: making me hungry.
Besides that, I was saddened to find the characters flat and hard to differentiate aside from their hobbies. The perspectives were so similar sounding that for a few chapters I thought both protagonists were women, until a specific pronoun clued me in that I’d been completely wrong about Bao. I found it a little funny that I could be so mistaken, but it has to be a fault of the narrative that led me to believe it for quite some time.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
A Pho Love Story is kind of like Romeo & Juliet between rival family-owned restaurants. Linh wants nothing more than to pursue art, but her parents would never approve of her doing so. Bao is unsure of his future career path, so with senior year coming to an end, he’s hoping to figure it out quickly. They both work for their parents’ Pho restaurant, and when they meet, they feel an instant connection despite their parents warning them to never speak with each other. Linh and Bao meet up in secret, and grapple with the possibility of disaster if their parents ever find out about their relationship.
~★~
It’s a shame that I didn’t enjoy this book, because the prose sounded really lovely. As I mentioned before, the protagonists didn't have much depth outside of their interests, which I felt took away from the book largely. I didn’t mind Linh and Bao in the beginning, but once the romance sparked I lost even more interest due to the odd pacing and execution of their relationship.
“But in anything you love, isn’t there always some bit of sadness, some essence of suffering? That, to me, is what makes art worth it. Suffer through it—mine the emotions you keep inside yourself, face whatever’s emotionally burdensome, take control of it—then emerge reborn in the end.”
Loan Le’s writing was probably the best thing about this book. I was able to get through it in two days or so despite not liking it, which is testament to the accessible narrative. It wasn’t the most unique writing style, but I can’t fault it much since it propelled the story even when the plot and characters didn't. Another small aspect I liked was the familial conversations near the ending. I was glad to see Linh and Bao’s parents learn from their past mistakes and work towards betterment.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon Schuster for the arc!...more
The problem I often find with short fantasy novels is that there’s just not enough time to develop a believable world. I was really looking forward toThe problem I often find with short fantasy novels is that there’s just not enough time to develop a believable world. I was really looking forward to Wings of Ebony, so I'm sad it underwhelmed me. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, and discovered that the magic and worldbuilding elements really fell flat for me.
Before I begin with my criticisms, I feel I should say this: Wings of Ebony is not a terrible book. Sure, some parts of the story weren’t as great as I expected, though I seem to be in the clear minority with my rating. That being said, take my review with a grain of salt, as the vast majority have discovered a profound love for this tale.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
After the death of her mother, Rue discovers her godly ancestry. She is taken to a place called Ghizon where her powers are unlocked, meeting the father she never knew in the process. When her sister back in the real world is endangered, Rue does everything she can to save her, except there’s one problem—she can’t touch humans anymore, or Ghizon’s magical history will be revealed.
~★~
It’s hard for me to discern what I enjoyed about Wings of Ebony, mostly because I began skim reading by the 80% mark.
Useless information was doled out in clumps. We learn backstory of different magic factions and go through a sorting ceremony only to realize that none of it is relevant for the rest of the novel. I had a really hard time picturing the magical Ghizon alongside Houston, as not much about it is really described.
Kudos to J. Elle for addressing the ever-present problem of racism unapologetically and without remorse. I really appreciated the parallels drawn between the magical world and colonization, plus the discussions about racism. Everything is handled in a way that is immediate and in your face, which is what needs to happen when it comes to these topics.
There isn’t much left I can say. This was an objectively decent book. I wish I loved it more. I’m sad I didn’t. Would I recommend it? That’s hard to say. I think other reviewers will help you formulate a better opinion in that regard. Anyways, thanks for reading my review!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!...more
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