If "Bloody Spade" made sure to introduce us to the wonderful Cardplay Duology in an unforgettable way, "Bleeding Heart" turns its finale into an epic If "Bloody Spade" made sure to introduce us to the wonderful Cardplay Duology in an unforgettable way, "Bleeding Heart" turns its finale into an epic celebration of fantasy. Iori, Ellen, Alexander, and Kyani have already been through a lot, but Blackjack isn't going to let them off the hook easy—particularly now that there's an ancient and powerful entity on their side. A villainous man now rules the city with an iron fist, and things have never looked this bad for the Empowered. Four Suits were created to keep the balance, and all four must Awaken if the world's to fend off Circ's malevolence. Only one of them is left, and now that they know who the Keeper of the Heart is, Cardplay must make a move before Blackjack gets a check-mate.
There are many things that stand out to me in this series, but I must, first and foremost, remark how absolutely lovely and heartfelt the characters are. Character building is what makes or breaks a book for me, and in this case, I couldn't get enough of Ellen and Iori in particular. Ellen's soft, kind heart was a tricky thing to attempt, in the sense that the fine line between compassionate and Mary Sue is thin and treacherous, but Willows manages to create a remarkable female main character whose strength lies in the softness of her soul. On the other hand, Iori grows throughout the duology so much that, by the end of it, I felt like I was watching my own child graduate.
Despite how bright Iori and Ellen shine, the rest of the cast holds up remarkably well too. Alexander and Kyani made me feel all warm more than once—Alexander, in particular, showed a lot of maturity and vulnerability that I wasn't expecting to find in such a buff, tough character—, and I can't stress enough how loving and excellent the aroallo rep was in this book. It's one of my first times ever seeing an aro MC in a book that's not dehumanised, or made to be a loner or some sort of irremediably traumatised and broken person, and it was incredible.
In terms of plot and action, this book packs more than a punch or two. I only released that breath I didn't know I was holding when I reached the epilogue! Although a lot of stuff was happening, it wasn't hard to follow, and I found myself utterly enthralled by the world and the story. So much so, that I made up fake migraines to stay in the car and keep reading while my fam went to Costco (and no, I'm not making this up). The conclusion to the story tied all loose ends neatly, and did not disappoint.
Overall I can absolutely feel this Duology becoming a comfort series for me that I'm sure to come back to more than once in the future! Can't wait for more stories by Willows!...more
Well, what a BOOK! I knew that I couldn't go wrong with such gorgeous cover and character artwork , but I wasn't expecting to enjoy the ride this muchWell, what a BOOK! I knew that I couldn't go wrong with such gorgeous cover and character artwork , but I wasn't expecting to enjoy the ride this much. "Bloody Spade", book 1 in the Cardplay Duology, follows four main characters: homeless thief Iori Ryone, Cardplay's golden boy Alexander Jane, sweet and loving Ellen Jane, and mysterious Kyani Oto. Known as the boy who might've triggered the Reemergence of magic, and thus the presence of Empowered people in society, Iori is the Keeper of the Spade, one of four legendary Suits that come with extraordinary powers entrusted to them to safeguard the balance of the universe.
When he, Alexander, and Ellen cross paths in a gruesome battle, and Iori gets seriously injured, he doesn't expect the youngest Jane sibling to want to help him - who'd want to lend a thief a hand? -, but she does. From there on, Iori and Ellen will navigate their way through the Cardplay organisation's rehab program for Iori, and their classes to become Jokers and keep the city safe from monsters known as Inkblots. But Alexander isn't all too happy about it, Kyani might have more than one secret of her own, and three other Suits lie dormant in the face of imminent war.
One thing that immediately stood out to me was the dynamism and action-packed pacing of the story. This book reads the way anime feels! I was hooked throughout the entirety of the duology, and this book in particular felt really cosy and comforting. My favourite character has to be my lovely boy Iori, who's happy to be a little gremlin and a menace to society while secretly moping on the inside. He was exceptional, and so very well written in so many ways - as a PTSD and GAD sufferer, as a bisexual person, as an orphan, as someone with poor self-image. But there was also Ellen, whose sweetness and determination to make things right won me over right away. They're the most wholesome main characters ever!
The worldbuilding was absolutely exquisite, and although it did take me a little while to fully grasp all of the concepts, once I did I wished I lived inside this story. In a nutshell, so you have a cheat sheet, we find ourselves in the city of Hildegrand, in which mysterious monsters known as Inkblots terrorise the city every now and then. Cardplay's trained Empowered people, also known as Jokers, possess magical powers that they use to keep the city safe, but it's only after graduating their Third Year that they can become full-time Jokers. But Inkblots aren't their only enemy, since a criminal organisation known as Blackjack seems bent on letting all hell loose.
Overall the book had me turning pages long past bedtime for several nights in a row, and had me on such a chokehold! I was really worr..., er, invested!, in what my sweet children would face next, and the subtle clues regarding a much larger conflict in Hildegrand kept me guessing until it all unraveled.
Would definitely recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy, well-written magical adventures, and lovers of upper YA stories. I'd love to offer up some titles that can compare, but this is quite a unique book IMO!
***
TWs: Amnesia, Anxiety, Body horror (light), Blood, Bullying, Coarse language, Car accident (discussed, glimpsed in flashbacks), Death of a parent, Explicit character death, Graphic violence, Gore (light), Grief, Panic attacks, Non-con kiss (not romanticised or sexualised), Physical violence, Poisoning, PTSD, Torture (moderate), Trauma related to kidnapping and abuse, Vomiting...more
Este libro es una montaña rusa de emociones que te dejará sin respiración más de una vez. En su debut, Marilyn nos presenta el mundo de la familia RomEste libro es una montaña rusa de emociones que te dejará sin respiración más de una vez. En su debut, Marilyn nos presenta el mundo de la familia Romano: una de la que Ambrose Romano daría cualquier cosa por escapar, así como una en cuyas garras está a punto de caer Callum Brecker. Hay un año entero de su vida que Callum es incapaz de recordar debido a su amnesia disociativa, y que lo ha dejado luchando por superar el día a día con su tía tras la desaparición de sus dos primos y mejores amigos. Cuando se cruza con un tal Ambrose, éste parece conocerlo. Y a partir de entonces la lectura nos sumerge en lo que ocurrió hace siete años, cuando Callum y Ambrose se conocieron..., y se enamoraron.
Esta es una lectura con temática de la mafia, por lo que siempre estás al borde del infarto con lo mucho que se juegan los personajes. A mí me mantuvo en vilo todo el tiempo, devorando capítulo tras capítulo, porque no podía esperar a ver qué pasaba. Ahora, que MENUDO FINAL. ¿En serio? ¿Dónde está la parte dos, que la necesitaba para ayer?
Los personajes principales, Ambrose y Callum, son complejos y tridimensionales. Me gusta que la autora invirtiese tiempo y esfuerzo en asegurarse de que no son planos, sino que tienen sus luces y sombras. Si tuviera que elegir un favorito, sería Callum. Es neurodivergente (no se dice de forma explícita, pero tiene toda la pinta de ser un chico autista con bajas necesidades de apoyo) y demisexual, y me sentí muy cómoda leyéndolo. No solo es un chico dulce que quiere que las cosas vayan bien, sino que también protege con fiereza a todas las personas a las que quiere. Meterse en el oscuro mundo de la mafia implica dejar atrás, poco a poco, su inocencia, y a medida que Callum sufre y va abriendo los ojos, no puedes evitar pasarlo mal tú también. Por otro lado está Ambrose, que lucha por digerir la vida que le ha tocado vivir. Es el hijo y heredero de un miembro prominente de la mafia, por lo que hay cosas que no puede tener; y cosas a las que no puede negarse. Sus capítulos están llenos de angustia, sentimientos encontrados, y la necesidad subyacente de hacer todo el bien que su posición le permita. Se trata de un chico complicado, contradictorio, e imposible de no querer. Y, por supuesto, cuando se encuentran Callum y Ambrose nace un romance lento, pero explosivo.
En cuanto a la trama, la historia comienza mostrándonos cuál es el presente de Callum y Ambrose ahora que se acaban de cruzar tras siete años separados, y que sólo Ambrose recuerda toda su historia. Pero pronto viaja en el tiempo, y nos muestra cómo fueron las cosas cuando ambos eran adolescentes. Aunque en este sentido me habría gustado poder ver un poquito más del presente salteado con el pasado, estoy segura de que futuras entregas de la serie harán que así sea.
¡Me encantó, y no puedo esperar a leer el siguiente!...more
All the stars in the fucking galaxy wouldn't even begin to be enough. The universe is supposedly still expanding (what into? Who knows, but the officiAll the stars in the fucking galaxy wouldn't even begin to be enough. The universe is supposedly still expanding (what into? Who knows, but the official lore of the universe says that it is and who am I to question that), yet no matter how much it does so, it'll never have enough celestial bodies in it to give this masterpiece a proper rating.
"The Kings of Nowhere" picks up right where "The Boy Who Steals Houses" left off, but from a different perspective; Avery Lou's, Sammy's brother who finds himself without his tether and living with the family Sam has come to love as his own. As he tries to navigate living with a found family that's Sam's, not his, without his brother, Avery starts realising that maybe, perhaps, there's room for him too in other people's hearts.
So. As I was saying. Not enough celestial bodies. This book grabs your heart and jumps back and forth between beating it up in a dirty alley wearing rings on all its fingers, and cuddling on the couch with a pint of ice cream while watching the fire. One of the things about C.G. Drews' writing that fascinates me the most is the way she makes writing look easy. She grabs a stream of emotion and weaves into a neat little paragraph, and even when it's broken and messy, you just know that it's supposed to be there and look like that and give you these exact feelings in this exact way, and honestly I don't even know how to describe how brutally underrated her work is. Her prose is raw, brutal, unapologetic, and yet sweet and smooth, and by god, it's a literal crime that some people out there haven't read her books yet.
One of the main focuses in this book is Avery's experience as an autistic boy that's been in and out of trouble with the system during most of his life. The book does not flinch as it depicts the many ways in which ableism hurts autistic people, although you might as you try to keep your lunch down, and it does not apologise either. Just like the Lou brothers, this story hasn't been made to bury its head in the sand. Instead it's a brutally honest, raw, and heartfelt outcry at the system, at a neurotypical-oriented society that hurts people who are different every single day with a thousand papercuts.
Another one is Jeremy De Lainey's struggle with anxiety (and, in my humble opinion, with undiagnosed ADHD, like. I know my people when I see them) and the unprocessed grief over the loss of his mother. No matter how much he tries to be everyone else's silver lining, Jeremy hasn't been okay for a while now, and this depiction of anxiety was so genuine and well done that I can't believe that Jeremy is a fictional character. The subtle ways in which anxiety creeps in and poisons Jeremy's life in a seemingly capricious way will give you the shivers, and his silent battle against it will leave you in tears. Because Jeremy is far from the first person who tries to spare everyone the pain of his anxiety, and he's far from the last person who will try.
I just can't ever hope to convey how much these books, and this second one in particular, mean to me, how close they are to my heart, how they make me want to go get them tattooed all over my skin and my soul so that everyone knows how much they mean to me and how they're a part of my soul forever.
Go read these books.
***
Rep: ADHD (potentially, not canon or explicitly stated), autism (diagnosed and undiagnosed both), anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, stuttering and non-verbal episodes
TWs: (view spoiler)[Ableism (internalised and external; challenged); Abusive relationship (challenged); Alcohol; Anxiety and anxiety attacks; Beatings (on-page); Blackmail; Blood; Child neglect and abuse (challenged); Death threats; Emotional abuse; Family loss; Gang violence; Grief; Gun violence and firearms; Hospitalisation; Kidnapping; Knife violence; Physical violence; Retrospective acknowledgement of grooming; Systemic ableism; Torture; Verbal violence (hide spoiler)]...more
This book broke my heart, and I'm thankful that it did. A loose reimagining of Pinocchio, ITLOP follows a gang of mismatched misfits as they go on a qThis book broke my heart, and I'm thankful that it did. A loose reimagining of Pinocchio, ITLOP follows a gang of mismatched misfits as they go on a quest to rescue Giovanni Lawson, main character Victor's father and the one person that ties them together.
Although I must confess that I'm curious about what TJ's uncensored version would've looked like, I nonetheless loved this final copy to bits. It destroyed my heart in more ways than just one, and at the same time it felt like an invitation to sit back and enjoy what makes us human, which might not necessarily include being a member of the human race. Also, the asexual rep was absolutely lovely.
I know that I'll go back to this story multiple times in the future, and I can't recommend it enough so you can discover this gem, and do the same....more
Although this wasn't a bad book, it still wasn't great, in my opinion. It tells us about two friends, Dylan and Leighton, who have been feeling tense Although this wasn't a bad book, it still wasn't great, in my opinion. It tells us about two friends, Dylan and Leighton, who have been feeling tense around each other after a life-changing accident that put them in summer camp. As they try to get a good enough evaluation, so that their futures will be safe, they start finding out more things about themselves - and about what happened - than they could've anticipated.
Summarising this book was hard mainly because I found it difficult to understand the plot for the first 60% or so. There are many timeskips back and forth, which offers the advantage of having two different timelines that end up coming together; but also the inconvenient of making the story hard to follow at some points. In fact, I only understood why they seemed to hate the summer camp by the time the big accident was revealed; before that, I hadn't grasped why they needed this evaluation the counsellors kept threatening them with, and so I was unable to fully immerse myself in the story. Still, I reckon that this would make for a great sense of mystery for other readers!
What I particularly didn't like was how Leighton's queerness was represented. Although Leighton is labelled as ace on the page (and I was happy for the explicit rep), the way she approaches it and acts about it suggest aromanticism as well, and I've never been a huge fan of ambiguities that may lead people to mistake aro and ace or - and this is sadly very common - assume that they're one and the same. She kept insisting that she could never "love anyone that way" (romantically), that she couldn't change this for anyone (that is, she'd never fall in love), and yet the story classified that as asexuality. Hi, I'm an ace person who IS in love, and I can tell you that ace doesn't automatically mean aro. Far from. I would've liked to see more nuance here, since it's an easy misrepresentation of the aro and ace spectrums that has been going strong for way too long.
But I did appreciate the fact that there was any rep at all, since it's still quite scarce outside of aspec circles. I also really liked having a non-binary main character who explicitly called out the benevolent transphobia they experienced, and how everyone assumed that their issues were all caused by their gender identity instead of actually treating them as a whole person, and understanding the actual struggles they were going through. Dylan was an endearing character that I grew to love and cherish, and at some points I couldn't even understand why they'd stick to Leighton when Leighton kept giving them mixed signals. They're too good!
Oh my, what a rollercoaster of a book! I'm struggling to catch my breath!
In her stellar debut, Marilyn Bordelon introduces us to the world of the RomaOh my, what a rollercoaster of a book! I'm struggling to catch my breath!
In her stellar debut, Marilyn Bordelon introduces us to the world of the Romano family—one that Ambrose Romano would give anything to escape, as well as one Callum Brecker doesn't know he's about to fall into. There's one entire year in Callum's life that he's unable to remember; diagnosed with Dissociative Amnesia, he lives with his aunt and the painful absence of his two cousins and best friends, and is just trying to get by. But when he crosses paths with one Ambrose Romano, Ambrose seems to know him. From there on, we're catapulted into what happened seven years ago, back when Callum and Ambrose first met... And first fell in love.
As the blurb states, this was a mafia read, which meant that the stakes were permanently high, and the thrill was neverending. This book had me at the edge of my seat, turning the pages and dying to see where the story went next! What was THAT ending, though!? Are you serious!? Where's the rest of the booook, I need to know what's coming! This isn't a book that will leave anyone indifferent.
The main characters, Ambrose and Callum, are complex and multi-faceted. I loved how Bordelon made sure to build three-dimensional characters, with their flaws as well as their virtues, and if I had to choose a favourite, that would be Cal—by a narrow margin. Although not stated explicitly, Callum is neurodivergent (my best guess is, he's autistic, and has low support needs) as well as demisexual, and I felt very safe and seen while reading about him. Not only was he a sweet boy who just wanted everyone to be okay; he soon became a fierce protector of all the people he holds dear. As he descended into the dark pit of the mafia, Callum slowly left his halo of innocence and purity behind, and I had my heart full of worry and affection for him! On the other hand, there's Ambrose, who struggles so much to live the life he's been born into. As a mafia member's son and heir, there are some things he can't have; and some things he can't refuse. His side of the story was filled with angst, self-conflicting feelings, and the underlying need to do as much good as his position allowed him to. He has to be the most endearing mafia MC I've ever read about! Their romance was slow to start, and quick to burn with passion and love.
In terms of the plot, the story starts out introducing what the present looks like for Callum and Ambrose—who just crossed paths again after sever years apart, even if only one of them remembers this—, and soon turns back time to narrate how things went when they were teenagers. In this sense, I would've liked to see a little more of the present once we started getting bits about the past, since after a certain point we never heard about it again.
Overall, this was an incredible read, and I can't wait for the next part!!!...more
Heartwarming, diverse, and poignant, "Tears in the Water" was an incredible read from front to back. In this book we follow Alex, a professional swimmHeartwarming, diverse, and poignant, "Tears in the Water" was an incredible read from front to back. In this book we follow Alex, a professional swimmer who struggles with anxiety and refuses to acknowledge that she's also struggling with her gender. Even though Alex keeps mostly to herself, and to her best friend Xiujing, she finds herself hanging out with volleyball players Uriah and Tate despite having started with the wrong foot with Tate. As Alex begins to develop feelings for Tate, and the swimming championships approach, different ups and downs will put her to the test.
One of the key strengths this novel has to offer is its diversity. We have a gender-questioning protagonist, and a transmasc love interest; we have pan, bi, ace, demi, and aro representation; and half of the main cast is not White. It was absolutely incredible to see this much diversity in one place, since it felt like an accurate depiction of today's world. Regarding gender, it was particularly lovely to see a genderqueer main character who only starts to realise this as an adult—since it was a genuine and much needed reflection of the reality of many genderqueer people, many of whom don't get access to the vocabulary and concepts they need to figure themselves out until later in life.
There was also a lot of focus on mental health. Our main character struggled with anxiety, and unspecified neurodivergent symptoms; they also go non-verbal at a certain point. As someone who has only recently realised that what happens to me is non-verbality, I can't express just how much it meant to see it represented and accurately depicted. Alex's anxiety was also depicted with nuance and care, although sometimes I felt like her thoughts and verbalisations about it leaned towards info-dumping, and thus took me out of the story a bit.
Alex's romance with Tate was beautiful. I was moved by the amount of communication and consent that they had, with frequent check-ins before exchanging any sort of physical affection and unwavering support through the other's struggles. Even though I would've liked to see a bit more graduality in the development of Alex's feelings for Tate, and for it to have been shown rather than told, I still really enjoyed them once they were together, and I rooted for them enthusiastically. In contrast, I found it hard to feel invested in Xiujing's relationship, since we got little to no background on the love interest and they were dating almost right away.
A particular conversation that struck me as really positive, and kind, was that in which Uriah figured his identity out. I found it to be really well-written, nuanced, and informed.
Un roman éxcellent par une autrice qui vous adorerez!
"Nous Sommes les Braises" nous présent l'histoire de trois adolescents: le sorcier Eugene, la herUn roman éxcellent par une autrice qui vous adorerez!
"Nous Sommes les Braises" nous présent l'histoire de trois adolescents: le sorcier Eugene, la herboriste Alice, et le mystérieux Yuri. Quand Yuri aide Alice à sauver son frère Eugene de mourir dans un accident avec son magique, tous les trois commencent a développer une amitié qui les conduira à des secrets obscurs sur le passé d'Yuri.
Je suis une grosse fan des livres de urban fantasy, mais c'est difficile de trouver des romans qui font quelque chose de différent. Dans un monde plein de shifter romances, c'était merveilleux de lire une histoire sur sorciers qui n'ont pas la responsabilité d'éviter une prédiction rocambolesque sur le destin du monde. "Nous Sommes les Braises" a été comme un câlin qui prenait toute mon attention pendant la lecture, et aussi après de fermer le livre pour le jour! J'ai aimé tous les personnages, qui étaient complexes et avait bien de développement.
Mon personnage préféré a dû être Eugene. Il était un jeune en cherchant de soi-même, qui manque d'assurance sur son futur, et en avant besoin d'un câlin. J'ai aimé l'exploration de sa bisexualité, et aussi son fier amour pour sa soeur n'importe combien des disputes ils avaient. Sa peur du futur, et sa confusion en regardant ce qu'il veut vraiment, étaient racontés d'une façon très proche à laquelle j'ai pu m'identifier, et j'ai aimé bien son progrés à travers le roman. J'ai aussi été très amoureuse d'Alice, qui est une femme autistique qui est en train d'explorer son asexualité. Sa journée pour comprendre lui-même était poignante, et m'a fait pleurer plus d'une fois!
Avec un style d'écriture impeccable, des personnages tellement émouvantes, et bien de magie, "Nous Sommes les Braises" a été un vrai plaisir.
Je voudrais remercier l'autrice, Rash., pour me contacter pour un service presse. Toutes les opinions exposées ici sont les miennes....more
Never has an eerier ode to delulu been written, and honestly? Good for them!
Aussie author C.G. Drews makes an extraordinary comeback to the publishinNever has an eerier ode to delulu been written, and honestly? Good for them!
Aussie author C.G. Drews makes an extraordinary comeback to the publishing scene with "Don't Let the Forest In", a dark academia novel where eldritch forest horror ends up being the least of the main characters' problems. Even though Andrew Perrault has never been any good at making - let alone keeping - friends, him and his twin sister Dove have always had Thomas, the autumn-haired boy with as many freckles as he's got issues. The boy with an insane talent for drawing, whose pencil brings Andrew's eerie fairy tales to life... Perhaps all too literally.
Something I always look forward to when reading dark academia is the at times fever dream-ish, at times truly angushing, vibe. Confusion and vague impending doom are exactly what the subgenre is all about, and I can't express how well C.G. Drews understood the assignment. With every turn of the page, Andrew and Thomas' grip on reality slips a little bit further away, to the point that one doesn't know whether they are reading about two boys, about a forest, or about neither and both at once. Despite how vague the stakes may seem at times, nothing about this story lacks polishing. Instead, every single line helps build up a sense of uneasy strangeness that will keep you glancing over your shoulder just in case.
Although there are countless ways in which this little gremlin of a book stands out, one of the most important ones is the nuanced asexual representation. Being both autistic and ace, Andrew does not experience attraction the way others might, and what might have fallen flat had this been written by a great but not brilliant author shines bright with C.G. Drews. One cannot separate autism from everything else, and I personally found this book to be extraordinarily nuanced in terms of showing the reader how autism intersects with everything else the person is or feels or wants.
This book reads like the bastard child of the Tunnel of Horrors and a particularly haunted forest, and it's one of those stories that will stay with you for weeks once you've turned the last page. I must thank the author and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy, which was given to me in exchange for an honest review! Now, on to buying a physical copy as soon as it's released!!
"I promise that from now on, as long as I'll breathe, I'll treat your heart as gently as you're treating mine."
In "When We Were Out Of The Ordinary",
"I promise that from now on, as long as I'll breathe, I'll treat your heart as gently as you're treating mine."
In "When We Were Out Of The Ordinary", the third installment in the Italian Romance series, by-now personal favourite author Elen Chase introduces us to Kim and Alec. Having worked in the same building for years, the pair has been waging prank war on each other from the moment they met. Gorgeous, witty, and guarded, Kim can't stand the hipster scientist upstairs—whereas outgoing, loco, and carefree Alec can't quite make sense of the uptight teacher he's neighbours with. One day, Alec proposes celebrating their "rivalniversary", and the next thing Kim knows, he's been enrolled in a trip to Rome with Alec and some kids. Over the course of this adventure, Kim and Alec find themselves becoming friends, and maybe even something else entirely.
"Data gathered. Analysis? My life sucks."
Sometimes I remember that I stumbled upon Elen Chase's books basically by accident, and I count my blessings all over again. If you haven't read any of her works, you should—since they're the most beautifully-written, gloriously queer, and tenderly emotional romance novels ever. With complex and three-dimensional characters wherever you look, Elen's works are a true blessing to any shelf. So, to any reader who wants to know how true, unconditional love feels like: please, read these books.
This story follows Kim, who was already featured in book 2 ("When We Were Fire on Fire") as one of MCs Eric and Fra's friends. As we learn in the very first chapter, Kim identifies as arospec asexual, and he's only ever been in love once: with his best friend, who's now engaged and about to marry the love of his life. Which means, or so Kim thinks, that his only chance at romantic love has vanished... As WWWOOtO unfolds, we get to explore Kim's identity alongside him. I was an absolute fan of having a sex-favourable asexual person who explicitly labelled themselves as such, since most ace rep going around is sex-repulsed. Not that there's anything wrong with being so, but a lot of ace individuals are either neutral towards, or interested in, sex. In this sense, Kim was a very refreshing rep to have, as well as a magnetic character you can't help falling in love with. Despite how on guard he is all the time, once we start breaking through his barriers we can discover a soft person who feels incredibly lonely, and who just wants to be seen. I could relate a lot to him in this aspect, and I think that many readers will connect to Kim through this longing for connection.
On the one hand, Kim is aroace; on the other, Alessandro is pan. Together, they provide a very nuanced exploration of more invisible queer identities. In this sense, both characters have scenes in which they adress their sexual and romantic orientations explicitly, which were an absolute delight. For aro and ace people, rep is quite scarce still—and, as mentioned above, asexuality tends to be represented as sex-repulsion only—, so finding both A's represented this lovingly and carefully means the world. So is finding a queer relationship in which both parties understand and respect each other's orientation, and try to make everything work in a way that makes the two of them comfortable. Kim's asexuality isn't a burden, for which I'm endlessly thankful!
Regarding Alec, I can't quite remember if he's explicitly labelled as neurodivergent, but the kiddo gave me serious ADHD vibes—well-done ones at that! I feel like a lot of adult people living with ADHD will find that Alec resonates with them heaps, no matter whether he has an official diagnosis or not. In fact, since a lot of ADHDer adults don't have one themselves, it would be yet another way in which he represents *real* people with ADHD in their adulthood! This, coupled with the fact that Alec is a brilliant scientist nonetheless, turns him into a perfect book boyfriend who will give many neurodivergent readers both the joy of being seen, and the joy of seeing someone with a different brain wiring succeed.
Since Alec and Kim are busy with a prank war, this book featured a lot of witty banter between them that was both hilarious, and shipping material. I caught myself crying from laughter more than once, actually, as well as low-key giggling from how powerful the chemistry between the two MCs was from the very first page. But then... As they started to trust each other more deeply, Alec and Kim started taking off their masks, and what lied beneath broke my heart. Without explaining much to spare everyone potential spoilers, I'll say that Alec and Kim's insecurities and childhood trauma were enough to move me to tears a handful of times, and that it's impossible to not love the people they've become after all they had to endure.
Acceptance is a really big part of this book, since both Kim and Alec have their own journeys of letting themselves be seen, and most importantly—letting themselves be accepted and love as they truly are. Finding somewhere they belong, and allowing themselves to stay.
I could go on and on and on forever, but I think it's best to let this book speak for itself. Forever a favourite!...more
If the first installment of Charlie and Vasco's tale was all about finding oneself, its sequel focuses on
"Though shattered, he remained unbreakable."
If the first installment of Charlie and Vasco's tale was all about finding oneself, its sequel focuses on how to face the place where that quest has taken you. Without going into much detail, since I want to avoid spoilers, I can tell you that this is a story about trauma and the ugly scars it leaves us with. Stuck in the Casimir coven forest after escaping Nikolai Ignatiev's viciousness, Zuriel and Vasco are now outcasts, meeting hostility and hatred everywhere they go. Zuri knows that he won't be able to rest until he's gone back to Elysia to rescue Seren, the girl who saved his life at the cost of her own freedom; meanwhile, Vasco is feeling lost about everything. He knows that he still loves Charlie, but can he be reached at all, after all that's happened to him? And can Vasco himself learn how to navigate both Zuri's trauma, and his own, before they both drown in the pain?
Heartbreaking, brutal, and yet always hopeful in the end, "We Become Shadows" is a tale about trauma, survival, and what it takes to keep going in the face of darkness. With a skilled quill and a swift prose, Lily takes us on Charlie's journey as he struggles with his ever-increasing load of suffering. Torn apart by everything life is throwing at him, Charlie doesn't have any place left to run away to. As such, he finds himself cornered, and the bitterest parts of his pain pour out like acid, splattered all over the page in a testimony to his heavy heart. Sometimes you find yourself wanting to hold his hand, and just let him give in and cry. Some others, when fear turns into white-hot fury, you find yourself wondering if there's any hope left for Charlie. And, all along, you can't stop aching for the boy whose only crimes were being a child, and trusting people. In a nuanced, respectful way, this book delivers the lesson that we're never to blame for the pain others decided to inflict upon us, even if we're responsible for the choice to heal from it. Many, many times, Charlie's trauma resonated with me deeply enough to move me to tears, and left me gasping for breath. I can't stress enough how insanely talented Lily is for having managed to capture something as multifaceted, complex, and messy, as trauma, and how much I admire them for having been able to put it all onto the page.
Then there's Vasco, who definitely stepped up to the task of being a co-narrator. Having his point of view added to the book was an absolute blessing, since it allowed us to see Charlie through different eyes. Drowning in self-loathing and constantly cutting himself with his own jagged edges, Charlie isn't the monster he believes, and Vasco's kind, loving gaze allows us to truly see him and understand the extent to which he's hurting. Not only that; Vasco has his own journey, as a child who was physically abused and then indoctrinated into a lethal weapon. Despite the goodness and tenderness in his heart, Vasco has been living under everyone else's thumb for the longest time, and has now found himself devoid of anyone to give him a command, or tell him what his place ought to be. All of this while surrounded by witches; the very kind he's been taught to loathe, and hunt.
"Sweet child, you will never mend until you stop believing that even a single piece of you is broken. "
One of my favourite parts of this book was how atmospheric it was. If “The Dying Light” made us all feel the grime and grit of Penumbra, “We Become Shadows” offers us an immersive look at the Casimir coven’s forest. Vibrant with life and warmth, this was a place I loved spending time at, since it felt like a warm hug. Of course, since nothing can ever seem to go right for our poor Charlie, at one point we return to Elysia; and the chill that set in my bones during that part of the book will stay with me for a long time. I believe that Lily’s skills to bring places to life through their words is truly unique, and definitely unlike anything I’ve seen before.
"'Witch' was a slur used by those who did not understand the truth of their kind. However, she grudgingly accepted that if this generation wished to claim the term for themselves and create a new story out of the ashes of his past, she would not stand in their way."
This book is also informative and reivindicative in many ways, either through metaphors such as the one above - which, at least to me, reads like a direct allusion to how the LGBTQIA+ community has reclaimed the term ‘queer’ - or through direct narration. In regards to trauma and its sequels, it’s an extraordinary look at the bleeding heart of someone who’s been through hell and back, which will make the reader flinch and struggle to find their breath at times. In no way is Charlie’s past glorified or romanticised; in no way is his suffering sugarcoated.
All in all, “We Become Shadows” not only manages to live up to its predecessor; it manages to be an even greater work. I can’t wait to see what Lily has in store for “Morning Star Rising”!...more
I actually read this webcomic a few years ago, but I only just found out that it's here on Goodreads! This is a must read for anyone and everyone lookI actually read this webcomic a few years ago, but I only just found out that it's here on Goodreads! This is a must read for anyone and everyone looking for a good high school romcom with queer and BIPOC rep, as well as swoonworthy romance and hilarious moments. ...more
(Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of "The Reckoning" from the author, in exchange for an
"Kindness isn't right if it gets you killed"
(Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of "The Reckoning" from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Kayla!)
Since Lightbloods and their magic disappeared from the land of Alterra, famine and violence have slowly taken over, pushing the Alterran citizens to the verge of starvation--and revolution. To have the people distracted enough that they don't plan any uprising, the Darkblood King of Alterra decides to celebrate the Reckoning: a competition in which those Chosen for the challenge will fight to death for the chance to serve their kingdom as fierce, powerful warriors. Being the heir to the Alterran throne, Ki's not surprised to be Called. Neither are his best friends Harrison, bearer of a heavy burden and bethroted to Ki's sister, and Daniel, an army general known for his ruthless command. But Tyler Skyy? She's just a famined farmer girl. What could the Reckoning have to do with her, if there isn't a single ounce of magic running through her veins?
Kayla Knue's debut could be described as the kind of dark fantasy you'd get if The Hunger Games met Beauty And The Beast, and had a queer child. From the first moment, The Reckoning offers rich LGBTQ+ representation, featuring demisexual, bisexual, homosexual and non-binary characters. The aspec rep, in particular, was incredible to see, as there's barely any of it out there. My heart was so happy to have all this rep!
But don't be mistaken: this is not the kind of book that will make you happy. For there's also rep of very important, triggering issues, which Knue tackles fearlessly to give silenced victims a voice (please check CWs at the bottom of this review, they're important). Even though I would have personally liked to see the psychological mid- and long-term aftermath of rape be explored in more depth, for I think its devastating consequences are all-consuming and would logically affect the person in every single aspect of their life for a long time, no matter the net of support (or lack of thereof), it wasn't handled poorly, and I, again, really appreciate the inclusion of such an important, delicate, and stigmatized topic as ftm sexual abuse.
Something I thoroughly enjoyed was the character development. Ki has to be my favourite; he undergoes a major development arc as the book progresses, which is, in my humble opinion, masterfully executed. He slowly learns to open up, even if he's not used to let anyone near his heart (not even Harrison and Daniel, his best friends), and comes to terms with the vulnerability that comes with trusting someone else. I also particularly enjoyed his discovery of his demisexuality, which is a sexual orientation that gets little to no rep and has been handled excellently here. (And the boy journals to ease his mind! I MEAN--)
There were also other characters that really stuck with me, of course! Even though I really hated Daniel at first, for his really crude behaviour and attitude, I later on understood him, and even grew fond of his green arse. Then, Harrison really stole my heart from the moment he appeared, and even though I'm frankly scared about wherever he's going in the next books, he's still a complex character I loved reading about. He's most probably Not Going To Be Okay, tho, so... Here's to suffering in the next installments of the Intertwined series!
Regarding the plot and setting, Knue's novel does make the reader reminisce THG. I'm personally a sucker for deadly competitions and tourneys, so the second the Reckoning was mentioned, I was sold! There still are original twists, such as the intervention of magic or the familiars, that make Knue's deadly games different from Suzanne Collins'; it's the tension, mostly, that they share.
Speaking of which... WHAT. A. PAGE-TURNER. I've stayed up real late three days in a row, because I was so mesmerized with TR, I simply couldn't drop it!!! Not kidding! I thought this read would take me a while, but it was actually fast because of how insanely addictive the story is. There was no info-dumping at any given point, the stakes were high, the characters felt real--and I just couldn't stop reading. There was also a very nice worldbuilding, with stories of shamans and deities, different races, and magic, that I was charmed by. I can't wait to hear more about the Gods and Goddesses of Alterra! Hopefully we'll get a deeper insight into the religious system in future books!
My only constructive criticism would be in regard to the sex scenes. I can't quite put my finger on why, but they didn't really ring entirely true. There was a certain detachedness to them. Again, this is simply my personal perception; and I'm not even a fan of sex scenes, at all, so I didn't mind it much lol. There was also the aforementioned issue of developing the aftermath of sexual trauma, which (again, only in my opinion! And it isn't poorly handled, don't take me wrong) I would've liked to get more of. It's something that shakes a person's foundations, after all, and I would've liked to see that reflected in the story and the character's arc way more than it was.
All in all, "The Reckoning" is definitely a very strong debut for Knue! They have written a dark and addictive story any and every THG fan should put at the top of their TBR, and from the looks of the ending, there's going to be even a bigger ride in future installments. Don't even doubt it: pick up your copy of The Reckoning as soon as it comes out on April the 14th.
[Content Warnings//CWs: Beatings, Blood and gore, Death, Loss of a loved one, Murder, Physical violence, Psychological abuse, Rape (explicit description), Sex, Sexual violence, Trauma, Victim blaming]...more
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