Who knew a book with death in the title could have some of the most wholesome found family dynamics I've ever read about?
Death's Flow is a fantasy novWho knew a book with death in the title could have some of the most wholesome found family dynamics I've ever read about?
Death's Flow is a fantasy novel that really emphasizes found family (aka my favorite trope) and the coincidences that bring them together. I wasn't expecting to find it as wholesome as I did, although there were plenty of parts that almost made me cry too. It was also refreshing to read about a found family that didn't entirely consist of teenagers with questionable backstories and morals, although I do love those too. The story follows Zaleck, a young, albino farm boy, after he is captured by slavers who intend to deliver him to a priest to complete a dark ritual. He is rescued by two other captives: Arneth, a scholar who can predict (and maybe control) the future, and Vellis, a huntress with a mysterious past. The plot is fast-paced and high-stakes (there's a reason I read it in just over 12 hours), and there's so much emotional weight packed into such a quick story. The ending is satisfying, although I noticed that there might be more books (?), and I would be more than willing to read about where the crew is off to next. I really, really loved the characters and their dynamics. Arneth reminded me a lot of an older, wiser, balder Jude from There Will Come a Darkness. I liked seeing him interact with Derith, especially once she was dragged into the family. I also wish we got to see more of Keltrak. Vellis was such a cool character, and her dynamic with Zaleck has to be one of my favorites of all time, especially given her backstory. Zal was so sweet, and his character development was incredibly well done. I really enjoyed watching him grow to appreciate Vellis and vice versa. Death's Flow is a fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy novel about found family, fate, and how the choices we make define us. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
This felt like a mix of R.F. Kuang's Babel, Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series, and Micaiah Johnson's The Space Between Worlds, and I think I'll havThis felt like a mix of R.F. Kuang's Babel, Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series, and Micaiah Johnson's The Space Between Worlds, and I think I'll have to revisit it in the future.
Metal from Heaven is not a light book by any means. It can be a bit hard to navigate at times, and the themes are incredibly deep and heavy. It challenges societal issues we still face now, and it approaches them fearlessly and without sugarcoating. Also, the prose is beautiful. I am always jealous of people who can write purple prose so easily, and the narration style of this novel was strikingly beautiful, especially in the last few chapters. The reason I didn't rate this book as highly is because I struggled with the plot and the pacing. This could be me going into a reading slump, or it could just be that I missed early details accidentally, but I felt that the pacing jumped around a lot, and every time I got a firm grasp on what was happening and what would come, I was thrown into a whole new setting. At its heart, this book is a story of vengeance and revolution. It's bloody, it's ruthless, and it's full of important messages. That being said, I just struggled to find myself fully engrossed in the story. The beginning and the ending were great, but the middle lost me a bit. (I'm also not typically a fan of political fantasies, so my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. I also found it a bit difficult to relate to the characters. That's probably the point; the cast is mostly unlikable, but that's to prove a point. I did enjoy Marney's narration style and her arc as she pursued revenge. However, I didn't feel attached to many other characters, partially because they were frequently introduced all in one chunk, so I sometimes struggled to differentiate between them. Metal from Heaven is a gritty, revolutionary novel about vengeance, greed, and what happens when a person is pushed to their limits. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
This series might be my new favorite set of fairytale retellings while simultaneously having one of the cringiest characters I've ever seen.
As the conThis series might be my new favorite set of fairytale retellings while simultaneously having one of the cringiest characters I've ever seen.
As the conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles series, Winter brings together all of the characters from the previous books for an epic finale that does not disappoint. Overall, I love the vibes of the series. From found family to action-packed rebellions and no shortage of sarcasm, the Lunar Chronicles has it all. With all of the characters finally gathered together, it's finally time for rebellion. While I did find the pacing to be a little off in the middle, I really enjoyed this book and all the plots and subplots it had to offer. I liked how characters were mixed around, offering new dynamics (like Cress and Kai, Scarlet and Winter, etc). Also, the climax? It finally delivered everything I'd been begging for from the beginning of the series. All things considered, I think this might be my favorite in the series plot-wise. I absolutely loved the found family dynamics between all of the characters, and I liked that Iko was included, too. Wolf and Scarlet are probably still my least favorite of the main couples; I just don't love their vibes, although I did appreciate the angst. Winter and Jacin were intriguing, but I had mixed feelings about Winter's hallucinations and Jacin's unwavering devotion to her. As far as couples go, Kai and Cinder were my favorites. I don't really have a reason, but I think they're the most developed, and I like how they trust each other almost unconditionally. I like Cress and Thorne a lot, too, and Thorne is my favorite on his own. If they were developed some more, they'd probably be my favorite. I also thought Levana finally proved herself to be a formidable villain in this one (she has mind control but never uses it on the heroes, and it drives me nuts). The Lunar Chronicles series is a fast-paced space adventure based loosely on classic fairytales sure to be enjoyed by fans of found family, witty banter, and stories of rebellions.
So I may or may not have read Cress in less than 12 hours, and in my defense... a) I had nothing betteOkay, okay, I'm jumping on the Thorne bandwagon.
So I may or may not have read Cress in less than 12 hours, and in my defense... a) I had nothing better to do today and b) a lot of Thorne and not much Wolf is just the combination I needed. I've heard that this is the best book in the Lunar Chronicles series, and I think I'm inclined to agree. The narrative becomes even more complicated in this one, with a total of 6 (I think?) main POVs. Kai is still stuck in the palace with an impending marriage to Queen Levana. Meanwhile, Cinder and her team scour the skies for a way to break Kai out of this marriage while simultaneously preventing an all-out war between the people of Earth and Luna. I think the pacing was phenomenal (hence why I read it in 3 sittings) and while the plot twists weren't incredibly twisty, I did enjoy the chaotic ending and the action scenes scattered throughout. My only complaint is that the "danger" the characters endure seems to be resolved fairly quickly in most cases, and I wish there was just a little more sense of impending doom (which is probably too much for a YA novel). I was glad that Scarlet and Wolf took a backseat in this one, as they're probably my least favorite of the main couples so far...although I am sensing some angst pending in the next book. Cinder's arc is very intriguing to me, and I also look forward to seeing how Kai fits into the found family. I didn't like Cress as much as I expected to (she's a bit too delicate, in my opinion), but I'm hoping she grows. Thorne is obviously my favorite, although if he keeps his hero complex without any semblance of a tragic backstory, I might be switching to Jacin because I really like his vibes. So far Cress is my favorite book in the Lunar Chronicles, and I 100% recommend this series to fans of unconventional fairytale retellings. 4.5/5...more
Steampunk vibes, a mini murder mystery, angsty princes with mysterious motives, and metallic dragons? This book really took a bunch of my favorite booSteampunk vibes, a mini murder mystery, angsty princes with mysterious motives, and metallic dragons? This book really took a bunch of my favorite book tropes and tossed them into one story.
Of Jade and Dragons is a "silkpunk" retelling of Mulan with plenty of action, mystery, and banter. I'm a big fan of steampunk/silkpunk settings, so I really enjoyed the vibes of the worldbuilding. The only thing I would suggest is possibly a family tree written out for the High Commander and his fourteen sons...because all of the names blurred together after a while. Also, I noticed a lot of the biggest complaints about this book involved it feeling very YA, but I didn't mind it as much. The story begins with the murder of Ying's father, who was once a famous engineer for the empire. Determined to uncover the assassin, she swears to infiltrate the Engineer's Guild (as they left a note warning her not to investigate) disguised as her brother. Between a handful of engineering trials, Ying's alliance with the mysterious prince Ye-yang, and several more assassination attempts, I found the story to be paced quite well. I saw a review saying there should have been a higher focus on mystery than the engineering trials, which I agree with a little bit given the ending, but I still enjoyed it. Also, the ending and the implications set up for a very interesting sequel. As far as characters go, there were a fair amount of them who weren't super relevant, so I didn't really care for them. Of the main three, Ye-yang was probably my least favorite. I liked him at first, but then I kind of got bad vibes from him (although I'm excited about his character arc). I liked Ye-kan much more because of his banter with Ying and how he acted like a younger brother. I also liked Ying as a protagonist, although I'm more excited about her arc in the sequel as well. Of Jade and Dragons is a YA "silkpunk" Mulan retelling with plenty of drama, intrigue, and mystery that acts as the beginning of a promising new series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
I was addicted to this series as a kid (and have since then apologized to my parents for making them buy, like, fifty of them), but I never got to reaI was addicted to this series as a kid (and have since then apologized to my parents for making them buy, like, fifty of them), but I never got to read the first one.
Well, now I have. My life is complete. I know how Kirsty and Rachel met, and I know how they got roped into all that fairy business.
No thoughts, just the goblin illustrations having ruined my imagination of goblins for the rest of my life....more
So apparently I need to get back into the apocalypse genre because I forgot how enjoyable it can be, especially when paired with mild horror...
Take AlSo apparently I need to get back into the apocalypse genre because I forgot how enjoyable it can be, especially when paired with mild horror...
Take All of Us is a story about an apocalypse and what it means to take up space as a person. While I think the "horror" aspects were more "gore" than anything, I did really enjoy the world and the messages the story shared. We follow Ian, an epileptic teen who just happens to hit his head and die at the beginning of this apocalypse, transforming him into what is basically a zombie-in-progress. He teams up with the handful of others left behind in the evacuation as they try to save their town - and Ian - from turning completely into the undead. There was a lot of build-up to an ending that might be considered by some to be unsatisfying or abrupt, but because it wraps up most of the loose ends, I was willing to accept it. (However, I do think it could be more in-depth because there are some moral issues that we just gloss over and accept without considering the consequences). I really liked the found family vibes that developed throughout the story. Ian's personality reminded me a lot of some of my favorite characters, although I can't pinpoint exactly who. Angel was a bit annoying at times, but I didn't mind her or Monica and their developing friendship. Zoey didn't get much development, so I can't say much about her. However, I didn't trust Eric for, like, the whole story, and I see everyone else saying he's amazing, but I still got bad vibes from him that I struggled to ignore as the story progressed. If you're looking for a YA sci-fi with apocalypse and found family elements with bits of romance, horror, and action, look no further than Take All of US. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
So what we learned in this is that both of Alena's love interests have horrible judgment when it comes to women...
Stolen Fates is a novella containingSo what we learned in this is that both of Alena's love interests have horrible judgment when it comes to women...
Stolen Fates is a novella containing four (more like three) short stories from before the events of When Gods Fall that help to clarify how characters got to where they are at the beginning of the actual book. I'm going to admit right now that it's been several months since I've read the original novel, so I may have missed some easter eggs with smaller details. (Also, I think I spent more time trying to remember what all happened by rereading my apparently 147 annotations from the original book...most of which were very not helpful). Alena and Katell's chapters focus on Katell's botched marriage. It helped to emphasize the relationship between the sisters, and it also helped to prep Scylas's character (who I think is important later?). Nik's story details how he was captured by the arena people, just as Leukos's explains how he ended up in the slave caravan to begin with. I thought both of these stories were really beneficial, given we don't find out much backstory during the original novel. While both stories were similar in specific ways, I found them interesting. As a prequel, Stolen Fates certainly helps to shed some light on the character dynamics and backstories in the Gifts of the Gods series.
My bookish red flag is that I'm physically incapable of hating August Shenzhi.
Vilest Things, second book in the Flesh and False Gods series, is the fMy bookish red flag is that I'm physically incapable of hating August Shenzhi.
Vilest Things, second book in the Flesh and False Gods series, is the final book of my Top 5 Most Anticipated Reads of 2024...and it delivered. I'm shook. Like, legitimately, one of the best endings of the year. I'm going to be thinking about this for a while. And when the next book comes out... It's hard to describe the plot of this book because it's so chaotic, and there are so many twists that I can say very little without giving them away. I think the pacing was a bit slower than in the first book, but the tension was so much higher that I didn't mind it (and also, I'd waited so long for this book that I read it in less than a day). The last 25% or so picked up the pacing dramatically, and I didn't try to predict the plot twists with this one, so I was completely blown away. I also liked that the slower pacing allowed for more character backstory (especially for Galipei!) and also worldbuilding. I'm super excited for the next book already. The characters are all so incredibly complex, and in typical Chloe Gong fashion, I love all of them. Calla is such a strong character, and I really look forward to seeing where her arc goes next. I appreciated more Anton POVs in this book as well, and I liked seeing how his relationship with Calla changed. I love Galipei and his loyalty, and he's definitely my favorite, along with August. As I've said before, I don't have a defense for why I like August so much. Otta is...I have strong feelings and they aren't really positive. Vilest Things is the thrilling sequel to Immortal Longings, and it's just reconfirming my claim that Chloe Gong can't write a bad book.
This book told me exactly how it would end in the first chapter, and yet I was still surprised by the ending (and emotionally wounded...I need the seqThis book told me exactly how it would end in the first chapter, and yet I was still surprised by the ending (and emotionally wounded...I need the sequel immediately).
Vultures in the House of Silence is a fantasy that subverts the Chosen One trope and mixes a fun cast of characters with a fast-paced adventure. Firstly, I'd like to note that the storytelling narrative form is slowly becoming a favorite of mine. Similar to in The Ruin of Kings and The First Binding, the book is narrated by Khurafa retelling his story, and the reader knows where his adventure will end. Speaking of adventure, I always forget how enjoyable classic adventure stories can be. Khurafa has a prophetic vision of the end of the world (which reminded me a bit of There Will Come a Darkness) and sets off to save the world with his mentor, Shaykh Nariman, and his new mind-reading friend, Zakiyya. It was extremely fast-paced and there were plenty of plot twists. I probably could have read it in one sitting if I tried to. And even though the ending is revealed in the first chapter, it still hurt me and I'm still upset. I also absolutely adored the dynamics of the crew. I don't know how old Khurafa and Zakiyya are, but they bicker like siblings and I love it. Khurafa is also stupid enough that he continuously gets himself into trouble and Zakiyya rescues him every time. Shaykh Nariman is the embodiment of the "Would you love me if I was a worm" meme, and I love Kedi too because cats always give books bonus points. I didn't love Shahid, but I didn't hate him. I don't know when the sequel is coming out, but I will read it immediately because you can't just leave me like that! If you're a fan of banter, adventure, and fantasy books that play with unusual tropes and narratives, Vultures in the House of Silence is a book you won't want to miss. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC! 4.5/5...more
Okay, so Abby might have a new favorite fairytale retelling series.
Look, my cousin has been begging me to read Cinder for years, but I didn't actuallyOkay, so Abby might have a new favorite fairytale retelling series.
Look, my cousin has been begging me to read Cinder for years, but I didn't actually add it to my TBR until I saw the author post art of the love interests from her series, and I am only slightly ashamed to admit that I chose to read this because of pretty pictures. That being said, I am once again learning that my cousin may or may not know my book tastes better than I do because I read this in less than 24 hours. Essentially, the story is a Cinderella retelling but with androids, cyborgs, and evil moon colonists with mind control. Cinder is a cyborg and a mechanic, and after meeting Prince Kai in the market one day, she becomes embroiled in politics, plagues, and an evil queen's plot for world domination. While it follows the familiar "girl goes to the ball" pattern, I was surprised at how many subplots could fit into one story. There are plagues, robots, princely politics, and fast pacing to keep me occupied. I found the plot twists to be a bit predictable, but given this reads as younger YA, I forgave that (because I would not have seen it coming a few years ago). I'm also a bit mad at the ending because I didn't realize the series would continue Cinder's story and was expecting more closure. I thought the cast of this book was very enjoyable to read about. Peony being a "nice" stepsister was unexpected, and I liked Iko as the family's android, too. I still have mixed feelings about the doctor. I really liked Kai (because I've always been a fan of princes with morals who just want to be green flags), although I wish we got to see more of Levana's manipulation of him, considering she has the power to; she just never really did. Cinder is an intriguing protagonist, given she knows about as much about her backstory as the reader does, and I thought her stubborn personality, mixed with her technological knowledge, was unique for a "Cinderella" character. Cinder is the first book in a sci-fi series of fairytale retellings that promises action, intrigue, and characters you'll root for from beginning to end.
"She terrified him. She grounded him. She should have been named after an epithet of the sun instead of an epithet of the moon, because it was inevita"She terrified him. She grounded him. She should have been named after an epithet of the sun instead of an epithet of the moon, because it was inevitable that everything in Phoebe Hong's vicinity would circle her in orbit."
"How could he put voice to the fact that her happiness made him happy, because even when they were little kids, it was so clear that she had found her place in a world where very few managed the same?"
So it took three books but I think I finally figured out March's eye color (is it silver?)
I read The Burning Kingdoms in less than 24 hours and I'm stSo it took three books but I think I finally figured out March's eye color (is it silver?)
I read The Burning Kingdoms in less than 24 hours and I'm still trying to figure out why and how. It's not a short book (even though I had an ebook, which generally makes me read faster), and as much as I want to say it was action-packed...it wasn't? I mean, I read it in practically four sittings, but I still feel like I have another half of a book to read. The thing I've realized about this series is that it somehow manages to be incredibly fast-paced while simultaneously doing very little plot-wise. I think part of the reason I read this so quickly is because I saw a review saying Edyon suffered so much, and I was excited to get to that part...only to never find it, so I guess I tricked myself into reading fast. Overall, I just felt like a lot of this book was "filler" in the sense that everyone is constantly preparing for a battle that never really arrives. The ending also felt very anticlimactic because the solution to everyone's problems came out of nowhere, and suddenly, the day was saved... Maybe it's the characters that kept me intrigued, but when I say characters, I mean March and Edyon. Catherine and Ambrose are still very "meh" to me, although Ambrose finally realized he's in the friend zone and decided to stop being a child predator, so congrats to him for that character arc. I see a lot of people saying they love Tzsayn and Garatan, and I don't really care for either of them nor did I care for Byron because I knew better than to get emotionally attached. Last book, I really liked Tash, but she didn't get a ton of attention in this one, so I didn't care for her. March and Edyon were really the only ones I cared for, mostly because of the angst and also because they have ended up in prison in every single book. The Burning Kingdoms is the fast-paced conclusion to The Smoke Thieves trilogy, and it definitely closes the series in a way that answers most of the questions. Link to Libby Annotations
"'There's no one else I'd rather be here with at the end than you.'"
To be honest, the cover was what originally landed Cities of Smoke and Starlight o"'There's no one else I'd rather be here with at the end than you.'"
To be honest, the cover was what originally landed Cities of Smoke and Starlight on my TBR, but I'm so glad I read it because the steampunk adventure far exceeded my expectations. It reminded me a bit of Tara Sim's Timekeeper mixed with bits of a whole bunch of other sci-fi books - and I've heard that it has similarities to Star Wars. The book takes place around the year 4500, and it's implied that the characters live on another planet. A scholar and pilot embark on a mission with a handful of others to seek help from a mysterious race in the hopes of preventing war. There's plenty of action to keep readers intrigued throughout, and even though I admittedly found the pacing a bit slow at times, the ending was amazing and I can't wait to see where the story goes next. The main plot twist was foreshadowed enough that I was able to call it but there was still enough shock factor in the reveal to make it impactful, and while I didn't cry, I wanted to. However, the real strength is in the characters. I didn't really like Zeke or Ben all that much, but I absolutely adored Ebba (she reminded me of Cassie from Timekeeper). And then there's Hallie and Kase... Hallie reminded me a bit of Fi from The Bone Spindle, but her interest in translating ancient texts intrigued me and I liked her character. I can't pinpoint exactly who Kase reminded me of, but his snark and temper meant liked him a lot as well. And the tension between them? Immaculate. They reminded me a bit of Iris and Roman from Divine Rivals and just strengthened my claim that rivals to lovers is infinitely better than a true enemies to lovers. The slow-burn was 100% worth it. If you're looking for a unique genre-blending read or a steampunk adventure with a found family of sorts, be sure to check out Cities of Smoke and Starlight. 4.5/5...more
We need more families fighting the Faerie folk in books.
Shadows Over London is one of the few Faerie books that I actually enjoyed. I'm not generally We need more families fighting the Faerie folk in books.
Shadows Over London is one of the few Faerie books that I actually enjoyed. I'm not generally a fan of the Fae books because they always tend to follow the same tropes, but this story didn't. Rather than focus on a love story between teenage girls and men hundreds of years older than them, this book follows the story of a family divided by their loyalties to the Fae courts. Justice is a young girl whose life is thrown out of balance when her father returns to London and forces her entire family to flee to a strange mansion in the woods. It turns out her parents are on opposing sides of the upcoming Faerie war, and the siblings must choose who to believe. There's a good deal of action, some mysteries that need to be solved, and some really cool plot points are set up for the next book. It took me a bit to get into, but once Justice, Faith, and Henry were on the run, I read it basically in two sittings. Although Justice is the main character, there are two other POVs - two of her brothers, Henry and Benedict - and I actually liked them more than Justice. Henry is fourteen and he's just an innocent baby and I will not be happy if anything bad happens to him. I also thought Benedict was interesting because he's been out of the house for years so he doesn't really know his siblings, but I also like where his story is going. Neither of them had much closure and I want to read the next book ASAP purely to find out what happens to them. I didn't really like Justice or Faith as much, but I can see myself liking them more in the sequel. Justice was cool and I liked her magic, I just didn't love her stubborn personality at times. If you're looking for a quick fantasy that focuses on family over romance, but still has enough action to keep your attention, Shadows Over London is the book for you. 4/5...more
This is why British, middle-aged, white guys shouldn't be allowed to go on adventures.
I actually pulled Neverwhere from my TBR jar about two months agThis is why British, middle-aged, white guys shouldn't be allowed to go on adventures.
I actually pulled Neverwhere from my TBR jar about two months ago, but I didn't pick it up from the library until a few days ago. It sounded a bit like A Darker Shade of Magic, so I was pretty excited about it. I also haven't read much Neil Gaiman (I read Stardust for school two years ago). That being said...I'm not sure I'm really a fan of Gaiman's writing style. This story is about a 30-year-old British dude named Richard who "falls between the cracks of London" and ends up in London Below, a dark fantasy world filled with secret markets, all kinds of creatures, and doors to other realms. The plot is relatively fast-paced, and I rounded my rating up because of the plot twists at the end, which I didn't predict but wasn't super surprised about, either. That being said, there are a lot of POV switches to characters/scenes that are partly irrelevant. And, as I said before, I'm not a huge fan of the style. I'd consider this book to fall into the category I call "quirky fiction," which is always a hit or miss for me. There's a lot of general "weirdness" and oddly specific descriptions, and while I know it's meant to be humorous, I just wasn't a fan of it... and I don't know why. I also didn't love any of the characters. The marquis was my favorite, but I don't have an explanation. I thought Door was cool, too, and I didn't hate Hunter. The villains were fairly cool, especially following the plot twist. I just hated Richard, which is a horrible thing to say when he's the main character. I found him annoying and whiny, and I disagreed with the majority of the decisions he made. I don't know what it is about authors picking middle-aged, white British businessmen with no real personality to be their narrators, but I'm not a fan. While I'm sure fans of the author will enjoy Neverwhere, I personally found that it fell a bit flat of my expectations, and I didn't enjoy the narrative style.
"And what a cruel and terrible thing it is, to be a divine with such power and magic, and yet find yourself so small-minded and afraid that you decide"And what a cruel and terrible thing it is, to be a divine with such power and magic, and yet find yourself so small-minded and afraid that you decide to live out your endless days harming others."
I knew Ruthless Vows was going to be angsty, but it exceeded my expectations. As the sequel to Divine Rivals, it possesses the same enchanting romance and beautiful prose. To avoid spoilers for the first book, I won't go into too much detail about the plot. However, I will say that the entire thing is peppered with angst (and I loved every second of it). It's much darker than the first one and there's a lot more danger. We also got to see a lot more of Girlboss Iris, which I really loved. I didn't cry, but I did tear up and I think the conclusion was quite satisfying. It also expands on the worldbuilding a lot and I found the myths very intriguing. Overall, I felt that I enjoyed the plot of this one far more than the plot of the last. We also got introduced to some new characters, as well as saw a larger focus on the side characters. There were no characters I disliked except for the obvious antagonists. Of the side characters, my favorite was probably Tobias. He reminded me of Brandon from Timekeeper and I just thought he was neat. Once again, Iris and Roman's romance was lovely and there was so much angst and I loved it all so much. Iris really showed off her strength in this book and Roman raised the standards even higher. They're probably one of my favorite book couples. If you enjoyed Divine Rivals, Ruthless Vows is a book you do not want to miss. The Letters of Enchantment series as a whole is wonderfully written and 100% worth the read for any "romantasy" fans looking for a less lusty series. 4.75/5...more
I've decided I want to run away and join a found family of spies.
So as it turns out, Foul Lady Fortune does indeed make a lot more sense when it's reaI've decided I want to run away and join a found family of spies.
So as it turns out, Foul Lady Fortune does indeed make a lot more sense when it's read after the original series (These Violent Delights) and it's also a lot more enjoyable. I've wanted to reread it for a while, and I'd forgotten how bad the cliffhanger is so now I need to go buy the next one ASAP. The story follows two spies - Rosalind Lang and Orion Hong - as they infiltrate a company to investigate the series of murders taking place around the city. There are also plenty of subplots with Celia Lang and Oliver Hong, as well as Alisa Montagova, Silas Wu, and Phoebe Hong. I loved how all of the subplots weaved together by the end. There was plenty of action (I'm specifically thinking of the car chase scene that lives rent-free in my head when it absolutely should not) and I'm still not over the plot twist because...yeah, it was a good one. Chloe Gong excels at creating some of the best characters and dynamics as well. Orion is your typical sarcastic, written-by-a-woman love interest type man and he's amazing. I didn't realize Rosalind was demi the first time, but I caught it this time. She's also a great example of a strong female character that isn't completely overpowered, and I love her for that. Of the main characters, Celia and Oliver were my least favorite but we also didn't see much of them and I still liked their banter. Phoebe and Silas are adorable and I will cry if they don't get together. And Alisa Montagova is an aroace queen who hates romance and loves bread (and that's why she's one of my all-time favorite characters). They're set up (in my opinion) to be a sort of found family in the next book and I'm really excited about that. If you enjoyed These Violent Delights or are looking for a spy story with crazy twists and a great story, Foul Lady Fortune does not disappoint. 4.5/5...more
This was my most anticipated book of 2024, and it really delivered...in the form of my tears.
The Heart of the World is the stunning conclusion to the This was my most anticipated book of 2024, and it really delivered...in the form of my tears.
The Heart of the World is the stunning conclusion to the Isles of the Gods series, and it's filled with angst and banter, and also what is quite possibly one of my favorite found families of all time. My e-book is filled with so many highlights and annotations (most of which are me screaming), but I enjoyed this so much. Picking up right where the previous book left off, Leander, Selly, and Keegan have just arrived home after Leander became the Messenger (aka vessel) for his goddess of war, Barrica. Meanwhile, Laskia is the Messenger for Macean, the god of risk. War is brewing as the rivalry between the gods is reborn once more, and it's up to the main cast of characters to put a stop to it before the whole world is destroyed. The first half of the story was extremely angsty (which I loved), and I also enjoyed the contrast with Selly now being the one out of place in palace life. I thought the ending was satisfying (if a little cliche, which is one of my only complaints) and I cried...a lot. My only other issue was that pacing really slowed down in the middle for character development, but I still enjoyed it. My favorite part of this duology, though, is probably the characters and their dynamics. I loved seeing Selly's character growth as she adjusted to a new world and how her stubbornness kept her sane. Leander, of course, was amazing as well. He was especially angsty (which I loved), and I enjoyed seeing his character arc. Keegan is literally me, and I love how he fits into Selly and Leander's dynamic. I surprisingly also liked Kiki, especially because she complements Keegan so well. I also liked Jude a lot more in this one because he's Extra Sad Boy now, and Laskia grew on me too. The Heart of the World is the long-awaited sequel to The Isles of the Gods, and it's filled with angst, love, banter, and libraries. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC! (No, really, I almost cried when I got the email that my request was accepted.)
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