This started out really strong with such a fun and quirky FMC. The writing was funny and witty. Apocalypse and post-apocalypse stories are right up myThis started out really strong with such a fun and quirky FMC. The writing was funny and witty. Apocalypse and post-apocalypse stories are right up my alley, so I couldn't say no to this arc.
But after halfway through, it read like a typical superpowered teenagers in a magical apocalypse story. Maybe I've read one too many Marvel comic books about very similar situations, so it didn't grab me as much as it would've if I were a newbie to this specific genre. At times, I even felt like it'd serve better as a comic book run instead of a novel.
What I really loved was the audiobook narrator, Eunice Wong. She really brought it all and was very expressive when it came to emotional dialogue or when the scene called for it. I was really impressed! There was a previous hard sci-fi book she narrated that I wasn't a huge fan of, but she did amazing with this one! Consider me a new fan!
Even though this book didn't work out for me, I'd still love to read more of Robin Wasley's work. We don't really see a lot of transracial adoptee ownvoices, so I'm excited to follow her career....more
I applaud the author for doing the research and writing a story that feels really authentic. The author's note at the end is definitely a must-read ifI applaud the author for doing the research and writing a story that feels really authentic. The author's note at the end is definitely a must-read if you're interested in religious syncretism and colonization's effects on Indigenous beliefs.
Within the first few chapters, you can feel yourself immersed in Aynila's lush tropical island setting while also feeling constricted by the Codicían's oppressive society. I was really impressed with how the world felt lived-in, with its cast of characters from different backgrounds and their respective positions within this colonized society.
There's definitely a wide gulf between the Indigenous Aynilans on their side of the island vs. the Codicían colonizers in their Palisade, but I think the author did well with showing how the Aynilans have been forced to live with the Codicíans and adhere to their beliefs and way of life.
Praise aside, I really wish this had been a more engaging read for me. I would've rated this much higher if it hadn't read so melodramatic and even YA at certain parts. There were some odd phrasings here and there. And some aspects made zero sense to me.
I honestly didn't understand the magic system.
"[...] a tide-touched needed their tongue to pull waves, and a firetender their hands to calm a volcano or shape flame."
Okay, makes sense.
"'I'm a stormcaller!" Lunurin exclaimed in frustration. 'Unless you keep my hair shaved, I will call storms with it!'"
But it turns out that Lunurin, a stormcaller, uses her hair to create storms??? And letting even one strand loose meant that a breeze will blow, while letting her entire hair down meant a thunderstorm???
There was a scene between Lunurin and Alon, her male love interest, where he washed her hair. And it started to rain because... her hair was down?? Lord, I was so lost.
Points for creativity, I guess.
There was a scene where Lunurin asked Alon to safeguard her mutya, a mother-of-pearl comb and hairstick that she uses to put up her hair to... lessen the effects of her magic(?) (I think?) or maybe control her magic(?) idek.
Anyway. So, because she didn't have her mutya, the goddess, Anitun Tabu, goes out of control and... possesses her???
If she grew up with this magic power, then shouldn't she have known that that would happen??? Sure, that entire scene/plot arc was a lot **SPOILERS** (view spoiler)[(she was almost assassinated and then she became half-dead half-alive for her own wedding?? HUH???) (hide spoiler)], but giving up the one thing that would control her powers/put her goddess on mute made absolutely NO sense to me.
And another thing...
I was under the assumption that the marriage of convenience trope applied to Lunurin and Alon. But there was a point where Lunurin was unhappy that Alon was busy governing his community and wanted him to spend more time with her. Before that entire scene where she complained that he left her alone for an entire week, I didn't get the vibe that she actually wanted this marriage.
And Lunurin kept implying that she was still in love with Cat, but she also wanted to take this marriage of convenience with Alon seriously.
And this wasn't a poly situation either. It was all so messy and I was so lost.
This is why I'm aromantic. I hate this stuff. Truly.
And lastly, the queer rep...
Cat was the only other fully fleshed out queer character, and for her character arc to go the way that it did felt really... off to me. Idk. I'm waiting to see what other reviewers will say.
Anyway...
If you've made it this far, here are a couple of things that confused me and made me chuckle (and not in a good way...):
She bit back every hiss and grunt of discomfort as Catalina tried to devour her, a memory, a sacrifice, one final time to lie together in sin. The freshly knit edges of Lunurin’s skin, where metal bars had gouged her flesh, gave. She bled sluggishly onto the pallet, but at last, Cat lay over her, drenched with sweat, panting, and smiling as she only did when she’d finally sated her appetite.
There was no lead up to this random rough sex scene, so I was left feeling confused more than anything. Did Cat eat Lunurin? What in the world...
And this one:
Goddess but he was so much, like wet silk wrapped around a furnace.
What in the Harlequin mass market paperback romance novel
Anyway.
If you like melodrama and stories about oppressed peoples with magic, then this is definitely for you. I just wish it was less melodramatic and more cohesive. It was all over the place and at times, it felt like it was trying to take on way too much all at once.
I'm more critical when it comes to my favorite genre (fantasy), but a couple of my friends liked this, so I cam4.5 stars rounded up.
Call me a new fan!
I'm more critical when it comes to my favorite genre (fantasy), but a couple of my friends liked this, so I came in excited to read it.
And boy, I had fun! Definitely read this if you love playing RPGs, especially something along the lines of The Witcher.
There was a great mix of comedy and lightheartedness, along with much more serious and darker moments. The author really excelled in balancing the two and I applaud her for that. I think it's a difficult balancing act, and more often than not, I haven't seen this work out in previous books I've read.
I absolutely loved the Thai-inspired setting and how the author incorporated her heritage into an action fantasy story. When it comes to this specific fantasy subgenre, I'm more used to typical Western settings, so to have something different (yet with similar underlying themes of heroism and sacrifice) was such a breath of fresh air.
I loved the MCs, Ex and Narissa. I also loved the Hound. The author definitely excels at writing flawed characters you can root for.
I think the novel would've been better with an additional POV from Arinya, the love interest. Her background (a concubine who used to be a muay-boran boxer) sounded really cool, so seeing the whole story with her POV would be even cooler. Instead, she didn't really feel as well-rounded as she could be.
Also, the final boss battle seemed way too easy and I wanted more oomph. But everything else that led up to it was pretty cool, especially for action-adventure RPG lovers like myself.
But despite my complaints, I still had a lot of fun!
This is one of those novels where I wish there was a special edition because I'd love to see illustrations of the characters and the setting.
Anyway, I can't wait to read more from Salinee Goldenberg!
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for this arc....more
Ren definitely enjoyed this a lot more than I did. To me, it just read like any other iteration of a YA fantasy novel with a ChoseBuddy read with Ren!
Ren definitely enjoyed this a lot more than I did. To me, it just read like any other iteration of a YA fantasy novel with a Chosen One MMC.
But despite my personal feelings, I think this is a great book for YA readers to transition to more adult fantasy.
I was expecting something more adult, but this read like YA to me. I loved the first third because it set up an epic setting, pulling race and politics into play with nations either feuding or creating alliances. And I'll always be down for a BIPOC protagonist entrenched in white society.
But after that, it was very hero's journey/Chosen One trope where readers are stuck with the MMC. It wasn't really engaging for me, sad to say.
It also felt like the author pulled so many ideas from other fantasy series, so it felt like a Frankenstein's monster of fantasy tropes. ***SPOILER ALERT*** (view spoiler)[We have a Red Wedding situation. Soulgems sound a lot like soul gems from Skyrim. I'm sure there are others, but I tuned out halfway through. (hide spoiler)] ***END SPOILER ALERT***
I agree with other reviewers who say that the secondary characters weren't given enough attention, so it was hard for me to care about them. The love interest is a badass, but the author never let her come into her own. It felt like her character was just there to cater to the MMC's goals and feelings.
The book itself was also unnecessarily long. Some scenes could've been tightened up for a more intense read. I found myself struggling to continue and finish.
I doubt that I'll continue with this series.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc....more
Catfish Rolling is one of those novels where the reader has to do the legwork and int3.5 stars rounded up.
This is definitely not a read for everyone.
Catfish Rolling is one of those novels where the reader has to do the legwork and interpret its meaning. There are themes of grief (and all its stages), growth (as both a young person experiencing trauma and grief), and living in liminal spaces where time moves faster, slower, or normally.
There are a few examples of how different people experience these emotions and their reactions to them. For example, Sora's grief manifests in a different manner than her father's grief. This can be seen throughout the novel. Her father refuses to accept his invisible illness, but Sora can see it quite clearly.
There's an ethereal, abstract quality to the novel that's very in line with magical realism. I'd say it's the kind of soft and emotional sci-fi that reminds me of Lars von Trier's Melancholia (2011) and Mike Cahill's Another Earth (2011). Sci-fi is used as a metaphor for the human experience, which is definitely a YMMV type of thing.
There are also themes of belonging. Over and over again, Sora, a hafu living in Japan, is seen as an Other. Some of the Japanese people she encounters just assume that she's a foreigner who doesn't speak Japanese. There's a biting scene where Sora's father's boss says that her Japanese is really good, and she responds along the lines of, "And so is yours." As a brown immigrant living in the US, this is definitely relatable.
I loved how Sora's relationships (with her father, her missing mother, and her guy friend) are messy and complicated. It's very lifelike and realistic. The author did really well with this.
All in all, I'd recommend this if you're looking for a YA novel that's complex and multifaceted in the ways that it deals with grief and trauma.
Thank you to Recorded Books and NetGalley for this arc....more
Current grown-up me gave this 3 stars, but teen me would've loved it and given it 4 stars.
A lot of it feels like it's meandering,3.5 stars rounded up.
Current grown-up me gave this 3 stars, but teen me would've loved it and given it 4 stars.
A lot of it feels like it's meandering, and I think other reviews mentioned that the ending was vague? But honestly, the vague ending was my favorite and was really bittersweet, yet hopeful.
I also loved how the FMC talks about her Filipino roots. And the regret she feels over not connecting with her mother before her death feels really realistic.
Her unhealthy coping mechanisms were also realistic. And the author (and audiobook narrator!) did really well with giving each character their own voice, so you can tell who's speaking....more
This was such a fun YA novel with witty dialogue and funny characters! It did really well balancing lighthearted moments with hea3.5 stars rounded up.
This was such a fun YA novel with witty dialogue and funny characters! It did really well balancing lighthearted moments with heavier, emotional moments.
It excelled with portraying teen emotions. The MC, Cordelia, feels a lot of guilt and angst for what she did to her abusive father, and I thought that was portrayed really well.
The cast of characters were fun, although most felt very one-dimensional. The only two characters that were well-rounded were Cordelia and Fred, the school counselor/demon. Everyone else gave me filler character vibes, even the love interest, Veronica. But even then, the dialogue and interactions were written well.
I loved the theater production aspect of the story. It was woven so neatly into the storyline that it felt natural and not forced. Everyone involved in the play was funny to an extent and had loud personalities.
The second half lagged for me because it was really tropey. Everything unfolded as it should've and there weren't really any fun plot twists to keep me on my toes.
I liked the inclusion of Filipino mythology, even though it was very light. Cordelia had a kalis blade and there was an aswang. I wish there was more.
The audiobook narrator just didn't do it for me. They had a strange way of narrating dialogue and different character's voices that was very stilted, like they were reading word for word on a script. It didn't feel natural at all and kind of irritated me at times since they did well with general narration.
Overall, I'd recommend this YA novel for a quick, fun contemporary fantasy read. I can't wait to read more from Alex Brown.
Thank you to Recorded Books and NetGalley for this arc....more
I honestly wish I could understand the hype around Olivie Blake's novels. I love her writing, even though it's really wordy and full of purple prose tI honestly wish I could understand the hype around Olivie Blake's novels. I love her writing, even though it's really wordy and full of purple prose to the point where the plot (or lack thereof) becomes muddled and obscured.
But this one... I just can't, honestly. The premise sounded so cool. The FMC is a vampire cat. (lol) There are all sorts of cool paranormal characters. There was an actual plot, albeit very thin and loose.
But nothing made sense to me. Vi, the FMC, is trying to sell a haunted house. And then there's a ledger or something that the paranormal cast of characters are trying to get. And then there was an immortal game run by the angels Gabriel and Raphael? That's all I understood.
There were times when I actually liked the prose and the characters and the plot, but they were rare occasions. There were too many characters to keep track of, and their conversations sounded like a paranormal circle jerk. There were so many scenes where I wondered, "Wtf is the point?"
Steve West, the audiobook narrator, knocked it out of the ballpark, as usual. But even his lovely narration couldn't save this mess.
I love Olivie Blake as a person. (I've been to two of her bookstore events.) I really liked The Atlas Six because the characters were so unique and her writing style is so exquisite. But I think she's become that niche author where you either get it or you don't. And to me, she might even be a one hit wonder.
But we'll see. I'm still open to reading more of her work. Idk why I can't give up on her.
Anyway, I really wish I understood the hype.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc....more
I don't think Shelby liked this all too much, but I had a lot of fun!
I loved the Fullmetal Alchemist type of magic. The dialogue and banter between Zilan and her cousins, and Zilan and the prince were great! There were lighthearted moments mixed in with darker situations. The humorous dialogue made me chuckle a few times, while the zombie and qi stealing situations were disgusting enough for me to make faces while I listened to the audiobook at work.
The entire vibe was very YA though, and the ending was too rushed for my liking. The villain was also too Marvel movie villain for me to take too seriously. It made me wish that this novel was more grownup, but I digress.
I really wanted to like this novel, but it's utterly forgettable. I finished it a few days ago and I can't really remember anything that stood out to I really wanted to like this novel, but it's utterly forgettable. I finished it a few days ago and I can't really remember anything that stood out to me other than the FMC's, Asuka's, biracial identity and how she struggled with it while growing up. I really liked that aspect of the story.
The tone of voice is very YA, even though it's listed as adult fiction. And if I look at it from the perspective of a YA novel, this actually wouldn't be that bad. But reviewing it as an adult novel makes it seem really juvenile.
The sci-fi is very soft, which I'd be okay with, but it's to the point where it's really generic. Everyone could be on a road trip instead of an interstellar mission and it'd read the same. The sci-fi felt more like an afterthought.
I didn't vibe with the FMC or any of the other characters. They're in their 20s in a small ship that'll colonize Planet X (wut) and there are so many petty complaints and infighting, I felt like I was reading about a bunch of college kids living in a dorm. There are random people pregnant to prepare future generations for colonization and that just seems... Not well thought out. Wouldn't that hinder the mission itself??
The first part starts out very generic space sci-fi disaster scenario (an explosion on the ship!). That grabbed my attention, but as the story went on, everyone sort of acted like it wasn't that big of a deal. You'd think there'd be urgent and mistrustful vibes on the ship, but all the fights and arguments just seemed so petty.
Even before the midpoint, the story felt like it was dragging so much I mostly tuned out until the saboteur reveal. After finding out who caused the explosion, I realized I didn't care anymore.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this arc....more
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