E.L. Massey has published 3 books so far. I've read all 3 of them in 2024. I loved them all and gave 5 stars. And all 3 of her books made it to the liE.L. Massey has published 3 books so far. I've read all 3 of them in 2024. I loved them all and gave 5 stars. And all 3 of her books made it to the list of "my favourite books of 2024"! Quite impressive no?
Guess it's high time I add E.L. Massey to the list of my favorite authors
"All Hail the Underdogs" is the third book in the Breakway series, which is a mm hockey romance series. It's neither young adult nor adult; I guess we could call it new adult romance. Our two main characters, Damien and Rome, are so precious. I loved the characterization in this book. The author takes her sweet time to slowly but perfectly develop the characters over the course of the story. Especially Rome's personal growth was pretty impressive. I just felt like a proud parent!...more
Finally I've found a book that I just couldn't stop reading....
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is glamourous, dramatic and heart-wrenching in the Finally I've found a book that I just couldn't stop reading....
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is glamourous, dramatic and heart-wrenching in the best way possible. It is indeed a dazzling journey through the most illustrious years of Hollywood.
And I loved every single second of reading this book. I regret not reading it earlier...
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" was quite a cinematic tale. At the core of the story, we have Evelyn Hugo - a film legend and a Hollywood icon. Now 79 years old, she's long retired. The reclusive former movie star is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
Determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to leaving show business in the 80s-and, of course, the seven husbands along the way-Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidded love. But as Evelyn's story nears its con- clusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Moniques's own in tragic and irreversible ways....more
This book had lots of potential. It could be so much better. But unfortunately it failed to live up to the high expectations I had, after reading the This book had lots of potential. It could be so much better. But unfortunately it failed to live up to the high expectations I had, after reading the author's debut novel Ace of Spades. It didn't need to be so long. And the ending? I hated the ending : (...more
There is a reason why I don't like reading young-adult romcoms anymore....
This book was such a disappointment, sigh! I absolutely loved All That’sThere is a reason why I don't like reading young-adult romcoms anymore....
This book was such a disappointment, sigh! I absolutely loved All That’s Left in the World, Brown's debut novel and was very hyped up to see what he'd do in his sophomore novel. I was good at the first few chapters, even though the I thought the retirement home for old folks thing was pretty boring. It could have been a lot more fun.
At first, I really liked our main character Tommy. I thought he was funny and hilarious and had a charming personality. But he started becoming more and more annoying as the story progressed. Selfish, rude, manipulative and never really reflected on his behavior. I think this story would've been so much better if he had that moment of reflection and apologized from there. Tommy is honestly the main reason why I'm giving this book such a low rating.
The sided characters were a lot more fun than Tommy and Gabe. I absolutely loved Brad, he was such a sweet characters. Also really liked Ava, Tommy's best friend.
As for the writing, I thought it was pretty good not just in its storytelling, but also in its character writing. All the characters added something to the story, which I loved....more
WANTED - Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life's finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply.
They must consume bWANTED - Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life's finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply.
They must consume blood but there's no vampire in this book!!
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. This book was disturbing, creepy, atmospheric and really gore. I was enthralled by it. The prose was so eloquent. I loved our protagonist. I thought she fit the role of Marion perfectly. I loved the setting and how slowly but surely the story unfolded. If you ask me, I would describe House of Hunger as a sensual gothic fiction. This captivating reinterpretation of a classic vampire tale intricately explores themes of class and privilege, seamlessly integrating them into a thoughtfully crafted and engaging fantasy world. It's really been since I last enjoyed reading a gothic novel this much. The ending however, was wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking. I would've loved it better if it ended with the horrying note the rest of the book carried. Overall I really enjoyed reading House of Hunger. Highly recommended....more
Finally a 5 stars horror read! "The Hollow Places" is genuinely dark, twisted, super weird, fast paced, terrifying and scary...A wild mind boggling riFinally a 5 stars horror read! "The Hollow Places" is genuinely dark, twisted, super weird, fast paced, terrifying and scary...A wild mind boggling ride.
It's a story about a portal world. Spoiler alert: It's not Narnia. It's the Willow world.
A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle's house, leading to madness and terror...
Pray they are hungry...
The story starts off when Kara, a freshly divorced graphic designer, winds up moving in with her Uncle Earl to help him work his museum, The Wonder Mesuem. When he gets called up for surgery, Kara is to take over running the museum until he’s rested and ready to return. This would be great, except that after he leaves, a hole to another dimension appears behind one of the walls. It doesn't seem dangerous at first. Simon, her neighbour promises to help to to close this hole. They starts investigating how this mysterious appeared and where it leads to. Soon enough, Kara and Simon stumbles into is a realm filled with terrifying beings beyond comprehension and they’ll need all their wits and a healthy dose of luck to survive.
Kara was an interesting protagonist to follow. Her narrative insights and commentary were indispensable and she had me snorting and rolling my eyes in amusement, ever when the situation wasn't really...amusing. Kara is sarcastic and hilarious. She's strong, determined, straight forward and has a very likable personality. Then we have our second main character Simon, the barista who works at the coffee shop next too to the mesuem. I really loved him. He's an amazing friend. His involvement made the story ten times better. I wouldn't want to embark on such terrifying journey with anyone other than this duo. They were insightful individuals and also fantastic as a duo. They are friends, don't expect to see them as a couple cause that's not gonna happen. Yet their chemistry is incredible...natural and flows effortlessly throughout the entire book.
The characters were undoubtedly the best part of the book. But I really loved the horror aspects too. T. Kingfisher takes us to an innovative and scary world that would definitely take you breath away and make you scream inwardly. The description are graphic and gore. Some parts of the book scared me to death. I listened to the audiobook, which is really really good. Listening to it enhanced my reading experience by a lot. I got scared, I was terrified and I LOVED every minute of it. Most of all, the ending is very satisfying. A good ending is a rare thing to find in a horror book. All in, I really enjoyed this book. A perfect Halloween read. Can't wait to read more from this author....more
I would recommend this book. Just make sure to keep your expectations in check.
Earthflown, FrancEarthflown: A Potable Study of Love and Collusion
I would recommend this book. Just make sure to keep your expectations in check.
Earthflown, Francis Wren's debut novel, is set in a utopian world where it explores the Earth’s water crisis and the complexities of human emotions with great sensitivity. The story features a unique elemental magic system.
When Ethan, a healer, saves the life of Corinna Arden, heiress to a powerful pharmaceutical empire controlling Britain’s water supply, he finds himself entangled in more than just a routine medical case. Corinna’s twin brother, Javier, begins to court Ethan while hiding a terrifying secret. Meanwhile, journalist Ollie stumbles upon a corpse that leads him to uncover a dangerous conspiracy surrounding Project Earthflown, a massive reconstruction effort aimed at combating rising sea levels. As Ethan navigates a whirlwind romance and deadly intrigue, the fate of the world’s water supply hangs in the balance.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Earthflown for two years. It had been on my TBR list ever since I first heard about it, and I followed the author closely. After several delays, the book finally came out in 2024, and I grabbed a copy immediately. Despite my excitement, it took me a couple of months to start reading it. My expectations were sky-high for this debut novel.
First, let me clarify: Earthflown is a good book. For a debut, it's quite impressive. However, it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
One major surprise was realizing this isn’t a standalone novel, as I initially believed it to be. Discovering midway that it’s the beginning of a series was unexpected, and the ending left me unsatisfied. It felt anti-climactic and left me yearning for more.
The plot is brilliant, but the execution feels somewhat messy. The world-building, in particular, is quite confusing. While the author provides additional details about the world, characters, and magic system on their website, I unfortunately read the book during a time when I had no internet access due to a countrywide curfew. I believe a book should be able to stand alone in explaining its world to the readers without requiring external resources. Earthflown failed to deliver in that aspect. It basically fell short in making me visualize its futuristic setting.
The characters were another sticking point. There are three POV characters: Javier, whom I found to be a pushover; Ethan, who came across as extremely selfish and annoying; and Oliver, who was nosy and self-centered. He doesn’t respect anyone and strings his girlfriend along for years. The side characters didn’t fare much better, as everyone seemed to want to control everyone else, ignoring the concept of **minding their own business**. Among the characters, Jav was my favorite, and even then, I *barely tolerated* him. That says a lot about the other characters, doesn’t it?
In conclusion, while Earthflown has its merits, it didn't quite live up to my high expectations. The brilliant plot is marred by confusing world-building and unlikable characters. Despite this, it’s a commendable effort for a debut, and I’m curious to see where the series goes from here....more
A unique, dark, gripping and deeply moving YA horror-fantasy book. It not only creeped me out but also made me sob. A Must Read for The Pride Month.
"A unique, dark, gripping and deeply moving YA horror-fantasy book. It not only creeped me out but also made me sob. A Must Read for The Pride Month.
"Hell Followed With Us" is a genre bending novel and one of the best in that category if you're wondering. It's got the perfect blend of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and emotions. It is a story about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Andrew Joseph White is a talented author. It really did not feel like a debut novel. From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. Loved the writing style specially...
"Hell Followed With Us" has the most wondrous variety of representation. It features a cast of characters with a wide range of pronouns, coming from different cultures and states and following different religion and belief. This book defies gender norms and acknowledges that all transgender poeple are infact not the same. One of our protagonists has autism. One of our main characters and some of the side characters go through loss and trauma. In a sentence, it is really really informative and eye opening. The author himself mentioned that this book is a product of anger. And I can totally see that. Hell Followed With Us is written in such a unfiltered way, followed by an ocean of raw emotions - it's stunning.
This book might be YA but definitely didn't feel like one. It is way too dark. Blood and gore is everywhere. Please don't forget to check the list of trigger warnings before starting to read it. I personally love horror. So I thought I would be 'okay'. Guess what, I wasn't. I really don't like body horror. And this book have those elements in a overwhelming amount. It was a lot to take for me. Again, Hell Followed With Us is a relatively short book. But the author puts too many stuffs inside it. Lots of important parts aren't emphasized enough as a result. The world he takes us to isn't well developed. I'm still very very confused. These are the reasons I'm restraining myself from smashing the 5 stars button. However there's no way to deny that this novel is a absolute masterpiece. I have read (or heard) anything like it before. "Hell Followed With Us" is chaotic, but in a wonderful way. It's got everything I look for in a Queer book.
This book was a marvellous journey. A unique, unusual and vigorous tale. "Hell Followed With Us" is obviously going to be added to the list of my favourite horror books. It will be realesed on the 7th of June. Make sure to pick it up. I promise, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
｡☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆｡
☆ Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing me the arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. ...more
I'm bawling my eyes out. Why did I pick this book up right after finishing "My Dark Vanessa"! I like to torture myself, that's why...
My heart
I'm bawling my eyes out. Why did I pick this book up right after finishing "My Dark Vanessa"! I like to torture myself, that's why...
My heart is not a lion’s. I fear everything. Especially the truth. Maybe a day will come when I can tell you: This frightened heart is yours.
"Boy Shattered" caught my eyes because of its title. Yes, the title reminded me of the movie "Boy Erased". I instantly knew that I had to read this book. But I was also scared. I was frightened to read it cause I knew it'll shatter my heart completely. So, waited. I waited for an entire year before I finally had the courage to read it. And guess what? I wasn't wrong. "Boy Shattered" shattered me...to a point where I had literally no idea how to get over it. Book hangover, that's what you call it, right?
You smile at me And I can move mountains, Dive to the bottom of the sea Just to bring you a pearl. I keep my admiration inside my coat pocket, Buried deep with my other secrets, With the things I fear to say And the things too dangerous to feel.
“I love you as a man loves a woman, but we both know that love is not bound by such narrow terms. So instead let me simply tell you that I love you
“I love you as a man loves a woman, but we both know that love is not bound by such narrow terms. So instead let me simply tell you that I love you."
Reading this book was like devouring my favourite cheese cake. Every moment was a treat; every second - sweet and delightful. "A Lady for A Duke" is ultimately a comfort read but still manages to make you shed some tears. At least, I CRIED.
A best friends to lovers queer romance featuring a trans heroine and a grieving self destructive hero. This book is about self discovery and finding love when you aren't even expecting to!
"A Lady for A Duke" isn't very different from any other good historical romances out there. Lush setting, polished prose, noble society, friends, families, conspiracies, humor etc etc. But Alexis Hall adds an exceptional TWIST to the mixture. This book features a trans heroine. I didn't about it when the book first came out. So I didn't pay much attention to it. But when I found out that "A Lady for A Duke" casts a trans woman as the main character, I was absolutely mind blown. This is the first historical romance I have come across to where queer poeple are not only recognised but also are treated with utmost respect. I have read a lot of books featuring trans man. It might come as a surprise but I had never read a book with a trans woman as the main character before this one. And, I never thought I would find my perfect, desired scenario in a historical romance. I am mind blown will be a understatement to be honest.
I loved the cast of characters. The characters in A Lady For a Duke are all beautifully drawn. The main two characters, as well as, the supporting characters are amazing. Viola is the strongest, fiercest and loveliest heroines I have read about, in a long time. I loved her so much. I loved her strength, her intelligence, her determination and most of all her blunt nature. Viola had to give up everything she knew, in order to be her authentic self. Hall doesn’t just blatantly have Viola say how hard living her new life has been, but instead shows the reader through Viola’s actions and interactions with both friends from her old life as well as her new. I really enjoyed the transgender representation. Alexis Hall handles the topic with care and caution. The book community has made a lot of progress during the last few years. Wonderful trans rep is not anything new tbh. But Hall takes it to another level. I can't really explain it. So, I am gonna let it be with saying, I loved it!
Though I loved Viola, the the Duke of Gracewood was my favourite character in this book. He's the most caring, supportive and understanding hero I have ever met. He never let Viola feel "fake" or "unwanted". From the moment, he finds out that his former best friend wasn't a man but a woman, he starts referring her as "She". It made me so happy. I was crying happy tears after witnessing that such amazing men exist; might have existed even centuries ago...Loved Justin's character. He isn't perfect by any means. He is ill-tempered, grumpy and self destructive. But he's also become one of my favourite characters of all time. The portraiture of his grief and PTSD was (once again) perfect.
Now let's talk about the ROMANCE. God! How gorgeous the romantic relationship is! Their banter, their communication, mutual respect, understanding, love - everything were absolutely breath taking. "A Lady for A Duke" is a sweeping historical romance that is equally fluffy and emotional. From pet names to lovely monologues confessing deeply hidden feelings, Hall knows how to write an emotionally fulfilling main couple. The only word to describe it is beautiful, and yet that word is inadequate for how Viola and Gracewood’s unfolding love story will make you feel.
I loved Hall's prose in this book. Of course, it was different from the author's usual rom-com books. It did felt a little stiff at time but I rarely noticed because I was busy in swooning over the main couple. Basically, what I mean is, even if you aren't a regular historical reader, you'll still enjoy the heck out this book.
The pacing was a bit messy. That's the only complain I have with this book.
"A Lady for A Duke" isn't just a romance book, it's an artful masterpiece. One of the best queer romances out there. I would highly recommend everyone to read it....more
"You hate the cold and I love it, but I love you more. So always, even in winter, I pray for heat."
As it happens once in a lifetime or so, I
"You hate the cold and I love it, but I love you more. So always, even in winter, I pray for heat."
As it happens once in a lifetime or so, I picked up a book at random and it turned out to be a masterpiece.
“All you need is love.” The truth: you need a hell of a lot more than that.
This book was absolutely incredible, heart wrenching and riveting. I never knew I could feel so much. I never imagined I would feel so much - at once. Funniest part of all is, I thought poetry wasn't my scene but I might have been dead wrong. Poetry loves me and I? I have been falling since the moment I started reading "Nothing Burns as Bright as You". It definitely burned me. The burn was both painful and sweet. Burned my heart, bruised my soul and left hundred of scars. And I am pretty sure these scars will never fade away, I shall always bear them as reminders of what a brilliant piece of art this book is.
“Opposites attract.” The truth? Magnets attract. Opposites fit together like (fucked up) puzzle pieces.
Friendship, family, first love, first times - almost every fragment of life receives a place in this fabulous novel. This book, written in verse, spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent. Woodfolk is exceptionally talented in curving out poems from remnant of human emotions. "Nothing burns as Bright as You" is written in a speculative style that would leave the scenes playing out like movie scenes in your mind. Though I must admit, it's less about any particular event and more about how our protagonist felt in that moment. Woodfolk also conveys the highest peaks and deepest valleys of her two characters’ relationship. They feel as real as you and me, bursting off the page in a messy and glorious blaze of love and friendship. The characters are so real, so faulty, so human. They literally brought me back in reality and reminded me that youngsters are anything but perfet.
“Love is blind.” “Time heals all wounds.” The truth? Love can see just fine. But it’s nearsighted. Shortsighted. And distance is the only thing that heals.
My mind is a mess after reading "Nothing Burns as Bright as You"; my thoughts scattered all around me. I am desperately trying to arrange them in an order and form a coherent sentence to describe this book. But it's probably impossible. So I am going to quote a few sentences from the author's note. These few words of her is enough to convey what I want to say but failing to do so.
⋆⋆I wanted to write a book that showed that the end of a relationship doesn’t mean you failed, or they failed, or you weren’t meant to be. It just means you were meant to be for a time. And even when you get hurt, the feelings and experiences are still real and important and meaningful.⋆⋆...more
☆ Unbelievably good. Nothing but awe-inspiring perfection. I'm unequivocally IN LOVE....
"All That's Left in The World" is a YA post-apocalyptic queer ☆ Unbelievably good. Nothing but awe-inspiring perfection. I'm unequivocally IN LOVE....
"All That's Left in The World" is a YA post-apocalyptic queer romance which features two boys who have miraculously managed to survive the apocalypse.
Congratulations to Andrew and Jamie for still being alive; for outliving the apocalypse. But are they ready to face what comes next?
Andrew and Jamie finds love in the most unlikely situation. They find solace and strength in each other's company. They are strong together. But both of them are hopeless when it comes to love. They might have survived the apocalypse. But are they willing to chase their love and happiness till the end of the world?
The road ahead of them is long and dangerous. To survive, they'll have to shed their secrets carefully. The future ahead is uncertain. The boys are conflicted. Only one thing feels certain: all that's left in their world is the undeniable pull they have toward each other....more
"Everyone wants to think they see the best in everyone else, but when the bad comes out, they want to pretend that’s all they ever saw."
Conso✯✯✯✯✯
"Everyone wants to think they see the best in everyone else, but when the bad comes out, they want to pretend that’s all they ever saw."
Consolidating their wild imagination, lyrical writing and flowery prose all together, the author casts a enchanting spell that will lure you into the pages of this book and transport you to a otherworldly place under the waters of Lakelore. Lakelore is where magic happens, this is where your emotions adopts mythical forms....
"Once you get past the fear of being seen, you can get to the part where you know you’re not alone."
"Lakelore" follows two non-binary, trans, neurodivergent, Mexican teens as they discovers a magical world under a lake. Everyone who lives near the lake knows the stories about the world underneath it, an ethereal landscape rumored to be half-air, half-water. Then again, they also believe it all to be just a myth. But Bastián Silvano and Lore Garcia has seen that world, they are the only ones who have been there.
Bastían and Lore were only nine when they met. But they never got to know the other one's name. It was only a chance encounter, only for a few minutes. Yet it somehow changes the course of their lives. Then seven years after, they meet again....The world under the lake drifts above the surface. If Bastián and Lore don’t want it bringing their secrets to the surface with it, they have to stop it, and to do that, they have to work together. Now, can they trust each other with the very things they are trying to hide?
"Whoever said the only things you regret in life are the things you never do probably didn’t have ADHD."
Anna Marie's books are immersive and emotional in a way that they will fill you up with all those feelings that you never knew you could feel. They are vulnerable and astonishingly beautiful works of art. "Lakelore" is no exception to the pattern. It's so achingly exquisite and written with such tenderness that I just want to passage through these pages and take residence under the waters of the said Lake.
Anna-Marie McLemore truly knows how to captivate the hearts of the readers with their lyrical prose with so much symbolism and metaphors combined. When I say metaphor, some of you may feel a bit discouraged to read this book. But trust me their metaphors are never hard to understand. You don't even need to understand them properly, only have to feel and these symbolic words will sweep in your heart within a blink of an eye. I was utterly fascinated and immersed in the way they wrote every sentence like a magical spell to keep to engaged and never bored.
The author creates a magical world with various kinds of mythical-magical beings. But all of these metaphorically represents the emotions and feelings of our two main character.
Through alternating first-person points of view, this magnificent YA novel urges acceptance and love, reminding readers that different isn't always a bad thing. We all are different from each other. And we are beautiful in our own way. This book explores gender transitioning and genderfluidity with brilliant precision. Anna tells us a story of two teenagers whose lives should have been simple but the journey they overtake was anything but easy. Just because somethings seems easy to your eyes doesn't mean it'll be the same for everyone. The author does their best to create aware about so many important matters. And I thought it was a successful attempt.
"LakeLore" is an enthralling and thought provoking book that will lure you into a wondrous magical world and will keep your focus captured until you're done reading the whole book. It's an invitation to believe in the power of friendship and love. Your acceptance and care could change another's life. So, why don't you try to stretch your hands out and catch someone who's falling? At least once in a lifetime?
This is very short book to read. But the author packs so much within it. There are so many amazing representation to speak about. And all of those are well handled and unequivocal. Both Bastián and Lore are dealing with their own struggles in their daily lives. Lore is new in town and struggling with their dyslexia while Bastien is trying their hardest to manage their ADHD syndromes, especially as they are trying to take T shots on their own. While I can’t speak to the representation of the former, the representation of ADHD is really well done. The author themself have both ADHD and dyslexia. So, this book is as "own-voices" as they come. I myself have ADHD. So Bastían's struggles and failure to act as they are expected to be - I found extremely relatable. My heart broke for them. I have first experience of what it takes to come in term with your ADHD; how upsetting it to struggle to do even the simplest of works. Everything new tend to overwhelm Bastìan. And I feel the same. I can't explain how happy it made to find such a accurate representation of ADHD. The book just made me feel seen and understood. This is such a heady feeling to deal with but obviously in a good way.
"Lakelore" is a thought provoking, tears-jerking, soul-crushing, poignant and emotionally impactful book. It will break your heart in thousand pieces and then stitch them together again. Yet scars would remain and with those scars this book will stay with you in years to come. But thinking about this book wouldn't only remind you of those scars but also fill your heart with an astounding sense of hope and love.
My ADHD is made out of paradoxes and contradictions. It’s having weirdly high energy and then getting tapped out fast. It’s making impulsive decisions and then being unable to make them at all. It’s inattention and hyperfocus. It’s being so sensitive I can feel everything around me and being so oblivious I miss things that seem obvious. It’s acting too fast, and being too slow. It’s thinking everything is possible and then wondering if anything is possible for me. My brain is a shifting landscape. It will always have light and shadow and color, but the shapes and shades will change.
.....................》 《......................
I'm soo ready for This Book. And the fact that it features two non-binary teens as main characters aka protagonists!! Fabulous.
No one believed it when I said I’d seen the world under the Lake.
There was no one else here who’d seen the world under the lake, or who even pretended they had.
"Ocean's Echo" was one of my most anticipated books of the year but....
Before starting this review, I wanna mention a few things. I am a huge fan of E"Ocean's Echo" was one of my most anticipated books of the year but....
Before starting this review, I wanna mention a few things. I am a huge fan of Everina Maxwell's debut novel, "Winter's Orbit". It's one of the best books I have read in 2022. It even made it to my list of best books of the year. So, obviously, I was really excited to read her sophomore novel. Ocean's echo made out just the day before my birthday. I thought it would make an awesome present and so I got myself a copy of it. However, it took me a while to read the book as my finals were going on during that time. I had such high expectations from this book. Compared to my expectations, it was a let down. Ocean's echo isn't a bad book by any means. It just failed to provide me what I was hoping for....
"Ocean's Echo" was too complicated for my liking. I had trouble wrapping my head around the world building. I hardly could understand what was going on. much politics and too little romance. I knew it was a sci-fi with a romantic subplot. But 50% in, I was yet to catch any glimpse of the said romance. The characters were shallow and uninteresting. However, my main complaint with the book was on how little build-up the romance had. I couldn't see why should I root for this couple. Like they had no chemistry, no banter and also not enough distinct qualities for me to like them as individuals....I personally don't enjoy books with deep political conflicts. All in, "Ocean's Echo" didn't had anything interesting going on which I could enjoy. This book was a disappointed. However, I liked Maxwell's writing. So, I would probably check out her future releases. This was just wasn't for me.......more
"Boys Come First" is an inspiring and hilarious debut novel written by Aaron Foley. The book follows three Black, gay millennial men searc➳ 4.25 stars
"Boys Come First" is an inspiring and hilarious debut novel written by Aaron Foley. The book follows three Black, gay millennial men searching for love, friendship and professional success in the Motor city - Detroit.
"When you're gay and Black at the same time, you just have to be extra, extra careful about the gay part."
Aaron Foley is a talented writer. His writing is very accessible and easy to follow through. The prose is exquisite. I personally didn't come across to a single dull moment while reading this book. The story, the setting, the dialogues, the communications between the characters - everything felt very real. It's also hilarious and very funny. I loved the humour in this book.
Dominick, Troy and Remy are wonderful characters. They aren't perfect. They are faulty; even frustrating at times. But I still couldn't stop myself from loving them because their voices are so raw that I could actually feel their pain as my own.
The pacing of the story is steady and flows smoothly. The author takes time to get us accustomed to the situation and to know the characters well. I never liked too much of the back-stories of the characters. I always felt they make a story unnecessarily long. But Aaron Foley proved me wrong. I loved to get to know Dom, Troy and Remy. The author doesn't shy away from letting us see how imperfect the characters are. The men- all three of them - makes irritating and horrible mistakes. The mistakes are such that I wanted to slap them. But soon after, they realizes their misdeeds and come into their senses. The characterization is so perfect that I was in awe. It truly couldn't have been better.
The voices of the characters are raw and unfiltered. They are infuriated and angry all the times. And I could actually feel their angry through the amazing narration. Sometimes, the comments they make, seemed too harsh. They are e way too much judgemental at times. I was hesitant about what to make of those parts. It felt the characters were venting their frustration on every white poeple out there. But soon enough, I understood, that is exact the point. Dom, Troy and Remy are angry and they are showing their anger. They are venting. Yes, they are harsh and judgemental, but you are bound to be that way at times when you have been wronged for too long -of course unless you are a SAINT. I have personally been in their shoes. I have first hand experience of racism. I had been criticised for my dark skin in the past. I still do get such comments from now and then. I know how angry it makes you. So, it is understandable that the three men are angry to see their town being taken over by the White minority. Though I was okay with the characters' behaviour in this book, I want to say that This is NOT right. You can't judge everyone under the same light, you shouldn't. If we end up hating all the white poeple because of the wrong deeds of some, it would raise the concern of White Fragility. So, Dom, Troy and Remy is not your perfect example. Be aware of that. It's okay to be angry but it's not ideal to act on it. That's all I have to say. Not going to go in deep because I don't think I'm learned enough to talk about these kind of sensitive topics.
Another thing I noticed while reading this book is that the voices of our protagonists are not unique or distinct. It is hard to identify them as individuals. All felt the same to me. I felt a little irritated at first. But when I looked closely I found it a praiseworthy thing. The characters aren't special as individuals. But when they came together; started nworking together - their voices turned into a powerful force. Together, they became a fire that would be extremely hard to extinguish.
I also want to mention something personal. Troy is half-Bangladeshi. I, myself as a Bangladeshi, am very proud to be represented. The small cultural things the author mentioned are correct. Whenever Troy cooked something of our cuisine, I found myself bouncing around with joy. It was a wonderful experience. Many many thanks to the author.
AND the opening line is - "I better not get my Black ass pulled over in hoe-ass, bitch-ass Pennsylvania...."
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☆Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me the arc in exchange for my honest review. All the opinions are my own. ...more
In this manga, we follow Asahi Suzumura and Mitsuki Sayama as they continue their travels around the world. This is the second volume of the manga. InIn this manga, we follow Asahi Suzumura and Mitsuki Sayama as they continue their travels around the world. This is the second volume of the manga. In this instalment, Mituki and Asahi visits
Asahi and Mitsuki might seem like an odd couple. They are totally polar opposites. Where Asahi is super serious, Mistuki is laid-back and easy going .But they have made a deal; they'll vacation around the world and when they get back to Japan, they'll get married.
Our Not so Loneley Planet Travels is an interesting manga to read. Through the eyes of these characters we get to explore different cities in the world and learn about various cultures and traditions. We also see them meeting new people from various origins and tasting duff kinds of delicious cuisines. I would suggest you to not read this manga when you're hungry. Because food is definitely a big part of Asahi and Mistsuki's travels.
I appreciated the author's realistic approach to the romance. Being in a same sex relationship in the Asian countries is not easy. So I liked the fact that the romance wasn't rushed or presented as chessy. Asahi and Mitsuki's relation was very realistic. Asahi's parents are homophobic. It was easy to understand why he wasn't ready to come out. I loved that Mistsuki respected his decision and was extremely supportive. I also loved how much they cared for each other and willing to fight for their love - together.
I am pretty surprised at how the author managed to capture so many important things in such a short volume. The manga felt like a literal travel guide, but a fun one. And the characters development is amazing too. I can't wait to read more books from this series. Mitsuki and Asahi has become my ultimate favourite. Eagerly waiting for the next volume to come out.
｡☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆｡
☆ Thanks to Net-Galley and publishers for providing the arc in exchange for my honest review. ...more
“Strange, isn’t it? To love a book. When the words on the pages become so precious that they feel like part of your own history because... they are“Strange, isn’t it? To love a book. When the words on the pages become so precious that they feel like part of your own history because... they are.
The beauty of "The Starless Sea" is so scarce, so bewilding, so enchanting that it crosses the horizon of being worldy and soon becomes something more, something so very magical that it hurts to read the book but you still don't want to stop...
"No story ever truly ends as long as it is told."
It's impossible to describe what The Starless Sea is about; it would be a endless list. "The Starless Sea" is basically the paradise of stories. Starless sea is where stories are alive. It is where your dreams come true...Erin combines, alternates and weaves a montage of folktales together with the story of our main character, Zachary. Stories fold into other stories and wander into snippets of lost myths and forgotten tales.
“I know why you are here,” the man says as though he can hear Zachary’s thoughts.
“You do?”
“You are here because you wish to sail the Starless Sea and breathe the haunted air.”
Erin is undoubtedly the queen of violet prose. I love good writing and flowery prose. The prose is so lyrical that the words would be immediately absorbed by your brain and for a fleeting moment you may feel as though something just stabbed you in the heart. There’s a surreal, dreamscape quality to the prose. It lured me in immediately after starting the book. Yes, it took me too long to finish this book because I got distracted. Otherwise I would have enjoyed it a lot more. So I would suggest to start The Starless Sea in your leisure, when you actually have time to invest on this magical book.
If I have to describe "The Starless Sea" in a word, I would probably call it - Enchanting. It's beautiful and sweeping, mysterious and engrossing. For the fairy tales lovers, this book will prove to be a masterpiece. I personally ain't a fan of fairy tales or short stories. Yet I immensely enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend you to listen to the audiobook of it. It's better if you listen to these stories instead of reading them...
My only complain with "The Starless Sea" is it's too vague for my taste. The countless stories inside it, the gigantic cast of characters do not connect together until the very end. For the better part of the book, you'll feel that you're reading several books at the same time. All of it, the vagueness, the obliquity, made it very difficult for me to read this book. One thing is for sure, if you're to get the most out of this book, you have to remember lots of details. And I suck at it. So, the twisty nature if the book did nothing but dampen my level of enjoyment. I still really really liked it overall. Poeple may say that "The Starless Sea" is pointless, it doesn't serve any purposes. I do agree with them. But being pointless and disoriented doesn't make it less beautiful. Not all the beautiful serves meaningful purposes. Absolutely pleasure, sweet happiness is all it offers...And for me, that's more than enough......more
~ DNF at 47% (I want to protect my sanity, at least what remains of it.) ~
I was so excited when I got approved for an arc of this book. "Young Mun~ DNF at 47% (I want to protect my sanity, at least what remains of it.) ~
I was so excited when I got approved for an arc of this book. "Young Mungo" was my first book by Douglas Stuart. I haven't read his acclaimed debut novel "Shuggie Bain". But I heard so much praises of that one that I was immediately intrigued to read the author's next book, which is "Young Mungo". Sadly, it didn't work for me. I had such a hard time with it. Trust me no one is more disappointed than me at my dnf of this book.
★ I have always claimed myself as a versatile reader. I like to read books from almost all genres and very few things can trigger me. Unfortunately this books proved to be extremely triggering for me. Rape, body horror, abuse on children - these three things are (probably) are the only contents that can make me uncomfortable and triggers my mental health. And 45% into this book, there is a on page rape scene. Then we witness it repeating again and again. Though the scenes weren't graphic, rape of a fifteen years old, made me too uncomfortable. Soon after, I stopped reading this book. On page rape is something I really can't deal with. It might be just me, but come on... "Young Mungo" is being marketed as "a deeply moving and highly suspenseful story of the dangerous first love of two young men". False marketing at most. There are better books out there which offer us the exact same thing but in way better quality. However, Please be cautious if you're planning to read it.
★ The writing style was too wordy and desprictive. Too hard to get into. The pacing is not smooth either. It was, in a word, frustrating and boring.
★ Though English is not my first language, I'm fluent in English. But this book made me start doubting that for a long moment. "Young Mungo" is set in a rural housing estate in Glassglow. All of the characters were Glassglow natives and they were speaking English in their native tongue. Their accent was too thick to read the book effortlessly. I had to struggle a lot to get into it and continue reading until the 47% mark. This book literally took a toll on me. Never had I ever before, went through such hardship to read a book. I would highly suggest you to stay away from this book if you aren't a native speaking.
★ The book jumps between two timelines. In the first, we meet Mungo’s family, Mungo and James fall in love, and we look at the families and individuals who live around Mungo. The second is a camping trip from hell. The constant back and forth between the timelines was exhausting. The alterations were not smoothly done. Though Mungo is our main protagonist, there are also some other characters who narrate the story from time to time. The shifting of these povs were abrupt and too sudden. It was a real pain to keep track that's going on. And all of these was absolutely for nothing. It felt as though the author was complicating there unnecessarily. Lots of time, I had to go back and read some paragraphs several times to make sense of them. Yet mostly, I received nothing out of them. So, why make it difficult when it could have been as easy and calming as the gentle breeze of Spring?
✧ Thanks to Netgallery and publishers for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
｡☆✼★━━━━━━━━━━━━★✼☆｡
~ Currently Reading ~
Took me long enoughto get around reading this book. 3 months...why am I so lazy??
....... ......
So this is going to be my first read of 2022
I can't believe I got approved for an arc. I mean it's Douglas Stuart!! ...more
♧ The ShadowHunter world has always been a place of comfort for me. But Lords of Shadows seriously disappointed me. 2 stars for Ty, Kit and Liv.
Kit a♧ The ShadowHunter world has always been a place of comfort for me. But Lords of Shadows seriously disappointed me. 2 stars for Ty, Kit and Liv.
Kit and Ty were the only highlights of this book. I knew from the very beginning that I'm going to love Kit. And did I love him!! Wow. He was so cool and awesome. I loved seeing him bonding with the twins. From pulling pranks to going on missions - in everything - the trio was badass. So, of course the ending made me very sad.
Apart from these three, Kit, Tyler and Liv, I also liked Christina. She was my favourite character in the first book. Though my fondness for her had reduced a lot in this instalment, I still liked her very much.
Other than these characters, everything else was shitty. All the other characters were one dimensional and had literally Zero personality. They made me bored and irritated to no extent.
The plot was so messy. The whole story was mainly focused on romance. I generally never complain about romance in fantasy books. Infact, I look forward to them. But here, the romances were shitty and cringe. All of them. Everyone kept falling in love with the ones they shouldn't, then they continued crying because of heartbreaks. Most of all, Literally All The Characters were Kissing each other. The concept and mismatch gave me serious cringe. Is kissing everyone some of ShadowHunter tradition??? I wasn't aware of that. Ever if it is, I hated that. Sorry but I didn't sign up for this nonsense.
I had heard so much praises of "Lord of Shadows" from my friends. Now, I am really disappointed. I don't want to read Queen of Darkness. But maybe I still will because of Kit and Ty....more
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