Ravensong - T. J. Klune (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 11/07/2024

Author: T. J. Klune

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

Ravensong is the second book in the Green Creek Series, the beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and family.

“Complex and startling... Green Creek is the perfect setting.” —Charlaine Harris

The Bennett family has a secret: They're not just a family, they're a pack. Ravensong is Gordo Livingstone's story.

Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack that left him behind, he sought solace in the garage in his tiny mountain town, vowing never again to involve himself in the affairs of wolves.

It should have been enough.

It was, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. And when his town is caught in the jaws of a beast, Gordo is summoned back into the life that left him.

“Gordo, you must rise. For your pack. For us. I must ask you to become the witch to the wolves.”

Now, a year later, Gordo has once again found himself the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the song that howls between them.

But time is running out. Something is coming. And this time, it’s coming from within.

Review:

        After reading 'Wolfsong', the first book in the series and the huge letdown I felt, I was not that enthusiastic about this second book. So what drew me in you might ask. It is Gordo Livingstone's story. Because when all is said and done, this alpha thing sounds terrible. Especially if that is a hereditary thing and is inborn. Joe was never up to the task. And Gordo was the only one against the wolves (even though he joined the pack later) and I loved him. While the first book mentions his past history with Mark, Ravensong delves deeper into the resolution of their story.

       The first part was not that intriguing, since it was the repetition of events from 'Wolfsong' in Gordo's perspective. Once you pass that hurdle, the story starts growing on you. No wonder, I found it more captivating than the first book. Klune's writing has notably improved, seamlessly blending humor and terror.  I loved the trio - Rico, Tanner and Chris - the book would have been dull without them.

       The love story between Gordo and Mark is almost similar to that of Ox and Joe. Still, I loved that Gordo waited till the last moment to forgive him. Mark definitely needed to do some gruelling for leaving him like that. The book has more action than the previous one culminating in a shocking revelation at the end. The big villain is still out there. But 'Ravensong' proves that together with your chosen family, it is possible to overcome anything.

Meet the author:

TJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.

To a Darker Shore - Leanne Schwartz (#Blog tour & #Review)

Date of Reading: 2/5/2024

Author: Leanne Schwartz

Publisher: Page Street YA

Publication Date: April 30, 2024

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Colored Pages Book Tours)

About the book:

A da Vinci-esque teen girl inventor on a Dante-esque journey through hell to save her best friend.

Plain, poor, plus-size, and autistic, Alesta grew up trying to convince her kingdom that she’s too useful to be sacrificed like so many of their country’s poor to appease the infernal monster across the poison sea in hell.

When Alesta’s attempt to prove herself with inventions goes awry, her best friend and heir to the throne, Kyrian, takes the blame expecting leniency―and ends up tithed in her place.

To end the sacrifices forever, Alesta plans to kill the monster that killed her friend. She travels to the depths of hell only to find Kyrian, alive, but monstrously transformed.

There’s no escaping hell or their deeper feelings for one another, and the farther they go, the closer they come to uncovering a truth about the tithings that threatens to invoke the wrath of not only monsters but the gods as well.

Review:

       Can you believe that this is my first plus-size novel? Hmm, we all have to begin somewhere and I am so glad to start with this adventurous tale. Though the blurb doesn't mention it, I found this story to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling in an entirely different world with its own set of rules. 

       Alesta lives in an island country where beauty is considered a virtue and ugliness an abomination. Every three months a youth is tithed off to the monster lurking in the sea to appease its wrath and it could be Alesta's turn any day. She is an orphan, fat and does not meet anyone's beauty standards. All she can offer is her sharp mind and the inventions it creates. When her latest creation goes awry, she seeks Kyr's help to take the blame and it results in him being the next tithe. 

        With the assistance of Kyr's cousin, Mico, Alesta embarks on a mission to kill the monster who took her closest friend. She finds Kyr alive only to find him transformed. Together they travel through hell finding that everything is not as they are taught to be. 

     The story was predictable but that doesn't make it any less engrossing. The deepening bond between Kyr and Alester as they face dangers together was truly heartwarming, all thanks to the dual POV. A compelling and engaging read, showcasing the strength of true love and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.

Meet the author:

Leanne Schwartz is the author of the young adult fantasies A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore, as well as the upcoming adult romcom My Kind of Trouble, writing as L. A. Schwartz. She has spent about half her life at either the library or the local theater, where she has played Lady Macbeth, Lady Capulet, and Hera―perhaps one reason she writes such vengeful, murderous girls. When she’s not writing, she can be found baking pizzelle and singing along to showtunes. She lives in California with her family.  

Get yourself a copy from Amazon today    

In the Lives of Puppets - T. J. Klune (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 17/3/2024

Author: T. J. Klune

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: March 14, 2024

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommissioning, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Inspired by Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.

Review:

        Alright! Confession time, folks!!! I could not complete the previous two books by T. J. Klune. Not that anything is wrong with the storyline, but they were all a tad bit slow for me. But the hype around them is too loud to ignore and I just wanted to complete one of his books. What is a better way to do that than committing to a blog tour? So here I am, finally finishing his latest work and . . . loving it to the core.

        The blurb may mention a Pinocchio-inspired plot, but to me, it felt more like a modern twist on The Wizard of Oz. There is a journey involved albeit for a different reason and evolved machines with feelings. We could predict the story to some extent, so don't expect any surprises there. The novel was enjoyable all thanks to one character, The Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate and Drill or Nurse Ratched for short. There are no dull moments with her around.

       Oh! I can sense some resentment from someone around here. Don't worry Rambo, I could never forget you (I would like to have my ear drums intact, thank you so much). Despite your rambling, you are the cutest little vacuum I have ever come across. I am sure no one will dare to disagree.

        Guess you got the gist of what you can expect from this novel. Even with the light-hearted tone, the story doesn't fail to deliver a powerful message. A warning to be cautious so as not to be overpowered by our own creations. Will that deter us from doing what we want? Only time will tell. 

Meet the author:

TJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.

Heir to Thorn and Flame - Ben Alderson (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 3/7/2023

Author: Ben Alderson

Publisher: Second Sky

Publication Date: July 31, 2023

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3/5

About the book:

Married to a ruthless prince…

For years, Max had to serve and obey the vicious magical nobles. Now he is one of them.

When the heir to the throne attacks him, Max accidentally responds with a lethal burst of magic. Max is certain he will be executed. But his power is too rare and precious for that…

Instead, the king forces him to become the boy he killed, taking on the identity and duties of the heir. That includes an arranged marriage—to the dangerously attractive Prince Camron.

Living a lie, Max knows he can trust no one. Not Camron. And definitely not Simion, a handsome, dragon-riding spy sent to test his loyalty.

As a deadly struggle for power begins and desire sparks, Max must protect his secret and his heart at all costs.

Heir to Thorn and Flame is a passionate and page-turning fantasy romance that will have you reading late into the night. Featuring slow-burn, dark secrets, arranged marriage and found family, it is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Elise Kova and C.S. Pacat.

Review:

        'Heir to Thorn and Flame' is the first book in the War of the Wood series. I am no stranger to Ben Alderson's style and even though this story may not quite reach the heights of  'Lord of Eternal Night', it undeniably serves as a fantastic kick-off to the series. Mages, dragons, familial bonds and treacherous betrayals . . . what is not to like?

        Accidentally killing the heir to the throne, Max is forced to wear his mantle and marry Prince Camron. Plagued by uncertainty and torn between loyalties, he finds himself in a precarious position as his parents remain captive in the clutches of his enemies. Whom should he trust? Dangerously attractive Camron or Simion the dragon riding spy or his loyal but secretive friend, Beatrice? Delving further into the plot will only spoil your reading experience, and thus, I better refrain from divulging any more details. 

       I should warn you though . .. there is sort of a love triangle in the beginning which is almost resolved towards the end. Aaah!! I do hope that the author will pick that plot point again . . . at present my sympathies lay with the (presumed) villain. Sigh! Can't wait to read the next one.

Meet the author:

Ben Alderson is a #1 Amazon bestselling author. His stories are set in fantasy worlds filled with magic, adventure and MM romance. Ben lives in Oxfordshire and, when not writing, can be found reading, taking Winston - his Labrador - out for long walks, or obsessing over Marvel’s The Scarlet Witch.

Best Men - Sidney Karger (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 21/5/2023

Author: Sidney Karger

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: May 25, 2023

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

When two best men in a wedding party fall for each other, they realize love isn't a piece of cake in this hilarious and heartfelt romantic comedy debut by screenwriter Sidney Karger.

Max Moody thought he had everything figured out. He's trying to live his best life in New York City and has the best friend a gay guy could ask for: Paige. She and Max grew up next door to each other in the suburbs of Chicago. She can light up any party. She finishes his sentences. She's always a reliable splunch (they don't like to use the word brunch) partner. But then Max's whole world is turned upside down when Paige suddenly announces some huge news: she's engaged and wants Max to be her man of honour. Max was always the romantic one who imagined he would get married before the unpredictable Paige and is shocked to hear she's ready to settle down. But it turns out there's not just one new man in Paige's life--there are two.

There's the groom, Austin, who's a perfectly nice guy. Then there's his charming, fun and ridiculously handsome gay younger brother, Chasten, who is Austin's best man. As Paige's wedding draws closer, Max, the introverted Midwesterner, and Chasten, the social butterfly East Coaster, realize they're like oil and water. Yet they still have to figure out how to coexist in Paige's life while not making her wedding festivities all about them. But can the tiny romantic spark between these two very different guys transform their best man supporting roles into the leading best men in each other's lives?

Review:

      I would rather this book be called 'Best Friends'. For one, romance is just a side plot while the evolving relationship of Max and Paige  takes centre stage. It is also Max Moody's story where Chasten, for sure, has a part to play, but all the same, it is also about Max finding his life's calling. He is such an endearing character it is hard not to like him. Funny, loyal and down to earth -- Max Moody is this and many more. Finding humour in the most awkward situations (the first encounter with Chasten, for instance) he pulls you along in this laugh-out-loud ride.

        Max is one of the many things I loved about this book. A character-driven story like this cannot be enjoyed without someone like him. His friendship with Paige is really one of a kind and no wonder he felt threatened by Chasten's arrival in the scene. Chasten is the ideal gay guy, outgoing and smart to boot in contrast to Max who doesn't enjoy crowded events. While their chemistry is undeniable, I am a bit sceptic about Max-Chasten relationship. The whole thing works on the opposites attract concept, but will it make them stick together for an eternity?

        So I demand a sequel. I am curious how it turned out for both of them. The road ahead is bound to be bumpy, but that's just another story I can't wait to sink my teeth into. 

Meet the author:

Sidney Karger is an award-winning screenwriter for film and television. He is a former writer/director with Comedy Central, MTV and AMC, among other networks, and contributing writer for Saturday Night Live, Billy On The Street and McSweeney's. He currently lives in New York City with his partner and their Australian Labradoodle, Zelda. Best Men is his debut novel.

Total Creative Control - Joanna Chambers & Sally Malcolm (#Review)

Date of Reading: 3/3/2023

Authors: Joanna Chambers & Sally Malcolm

Publication Year: 2021

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

Sunshine PA, meet Grumpy Boss... When fanfic writer Aaron Page landed a temp job with the creator of hit TV show, Leeches, it was only meant to last a week. Three years later, Aaron's still there...

It could be because he loves the creative challenge. It could be because he's a huge Leeches fanboy. It's definitely not because of Lewis Hunter, his extremely demanding, staggeringly rude...and breathtakingly gorgeous boss.

Is it?

Lewis Hunter grew up the hard way and fought for everything he's got. His priority is the show, and personal relationships come a distant second. Besides, who needs romance when you have a steady stream of hot men hopping in and out of your bed?

His only meaningful relationship is with Aaron, his chief confidante and indispensable assistant. And no matter how appealing he finds Aaron's cute boy-next-door charms, Lewis would never risk their professional partnership just to scratch an itch.

But when Lewis finds himself trapped at a hilariously awful corporate retreat, Aaron is his only friend and ally. As the professional lines between them begin to blur, their simmering attraction starts to sizzle

... And they're both about to get burned.

Review:

        As an ardent fan of 'Enlightenment' series, I am all too familiar with the style of Joanna Chambers. Still, I was skeptical of her shift from the regency era to the contemporary and that too as a collaboration. No wonder it was on my TBR for so long. It is a recent review I chanced upon on one of my Facebook groups (gushing about how amazing it is) that propelled me to finally give it a chance. So this review is my paying it forward. Dear reader, do not make the same mistake I did by nearly skipping over this wonderful story.

        Good slow-burn romances with the right amount of angst are always hard to come by. That is exactly why this felt like unearthing a treasure. Lewis and Aaron, boss and PA, could be cliche characters, but under the deft hands of Chambers and Malcolm, they have gained a new sheen. Their banter makes you pine for more and the couple's chemistry is just off the charts. The setting that revolves around the hit TV show 'Leeches' merges so perfectly with the storyline that I am left with no more words of praise.

        If you have a penchant for mm romances, indulge yourself a little bit. This hilarious story will leave you wanting more.

Meet the authors:

Joanna Chambers has a day job and family but manages to find time to write by not cleaning the house or watching television. She is shockingly ill-informed about popular culture. You can find her on Twitter being distracted, on Instagram being confused, and – most happily – in her FB group, Joanna’s Chamber, talking about reading and random stuff with her reader pals.

Sally Malcolm was bitten by the m/m romance bug in 2016 and hasn’t looked back. It’s fair to say she’s obsessed with the genre. She has four contemporary m/m romances out, set in the fictional Long Island seaside town of New Milton. She's also the author of eight Stargate novels and novellas, including the hit "Apocalypse" trilogy. She has penned four Stargate audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, including Stargate SG-1: "An Eye for an Eye" starring Michael Shanks, Claudia Black, and Cliff Simon. Sally lives in South West London.

Reforged - Seth Haddon (Review)

Date of Reading: 19/09/2022

Author: Seth Haddon

Publisher: Blind Eye Books

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Source: BookSirens

Rating: 4.5/5

About the book:

Since time immemorial the warriors of the Paladin Order have harnessed arcane powers to protect their rulers. For Balen, who has given up his chance at love and fought his way to the top of the Paladin Order, there can be no greater honour than to serve his king. But when assassins annihilate the royal family, Balen suddenly finds himself sworn to serve the very man he abandoned.

Now with their nation threatened by enemies both within and outside the kingdom, Balen must fight hidden traitors and unnatural assassins, while also contending with the biting wit and dangerous charm of young King Zavrius. To save themselves and their nation they will have to put aside their past and reforge that trust they lost so long ago.

Review:

        If it is not for the preview available in GoodReads, I would have passed over this book, all thanks to that cover which gives off a different vibe. Let me clarify it for you then. It is not a spicy heated love story as implied (apart from two scenes towards the end), but a very slow romance with ample political intrigue in the mix. It was like reading The Captive Prince series again, all in one book. The story might be different, but the teasing, eluding king won't fail to remind you of a certain prince.

        Balen and King Zavrius were sweethearts once, but he gave up his love for the prince for his career as a Paladin. Fate had other plans though. Zavrius's siblings are killed making him the last of the royal line and therefore the new king Balen is sworn to protect. With their old chemistry still intact, this has proven to be a much more laborious task. Oh, Zavrius sure makes him pay for ditching him . . . and the angst was worth waiting for.

        The battle scenes are another factor that I enjoyed. Haddon has a way of pulling us to the fights and the twists that come one after the other keep you always at the edge. Mallet and Lance, our sidekicks/brothers provide the necessary comic relief. If I could only have another story featuring these brothers! Lance, you sure are awesome!

        All in all an action-packed, swoon-worthy romance with hilarious moments that will give you an irresistible time. Highly recommended!

Meet the author:

Seth Haddon is a queer Australian writer of fantasy. He is a video game designer and producer, has a degree in Ancient History, and previously worked with cats. He lives in Sydney with his partner and their two furry children. Some of his previous adventures include exploring Pompeii with a famous archaeologist and being chased through a train station by a nun.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor - Xiran Jay Zhao (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 13/7/2022

Author: Xiran Jay Zhao

Publisher: Rock the Boat

Publication Date: July 7, 2022

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

A middle-grade contemporary fantasy that follows a young boy as he journeys across China to seal the underworld shut and save the mortal realm.

Zachary Ying never had many opportunities to learn about his Chinese heritage. His single mom was busy enough making sure they got by, and his schools never taught anything except Western history and myths. So Zack is woefully unprepared when he discovers he was born to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China for a vital mission: sealing the leaking portal to the Chinese underworld before the upcoming Ghost Month blows it wide open.

The mission takes an immediate wrong turn when the First Emperor botches his attempt to possess Zack’s body and binds to Zack’s AR gaming headset instead, leading to a battle where Zack’s mom’s soul gets taken by demons. Now, with one of history’s most infamous tyrants yapping in his headset, Zack must journey across China to heist magical artifacts and defeat figures from history and myth, all while learning to wield the emperor’s incredible water dragon powers.

And if Zack can’t finish the mission in time, the spirits of the underworld will flood into the mortal realm, and he could lose his mom forever.

Review:

        I am so invested in Chinese web novels these days, and so it goes without saying that this story captivated me. Who wouldn't? It is a Chinese version of Percy Jackson after all. And don't make me start on that gorgeous cover page. I was hooked from the start. This is one of the rare moments when I regret not getting a physical ARC. These stunning colours invite you to make a place for them on your shelf.

        As you might have guessed, the story keeps in line with the fantasy traditions set by Percy Jackson and Harry Potter series. A trio of twelve-year-olds (two boys, one girl) travels across China to complete their mission of sealing the leaking portal that connects the mortal world and the spirit world. One couldn't but compare this with Percy Jackson series. The similarities are astounding beginning with Zach's powers which involve water. But the story doesn't feel that solid as there are no prophecies to make sense of or mysteries to uncover. No, what makes this a spectacular read is its engagement with the immigrant condition.

        Zach is a Hui Chinese immigrant whose dad was killed for voicing against the Chinese government. Leaving the country in pursuit of an American dream like many others doesn't produce the intended results. They are left struggling in a country which is reluctant to accept them however accommodating its policies are. We find Zach leaving his lunch unopened for fear of alienating his newly acquired friends but in spite of these sacrifices he remains another Asian kid to his classmates.

        This unwanted quest comes as an eye-opener not only for him but also for the readers. We do get a lot of history lessons in between and it is never boring. Representation of Chinee minorities is another fact that endears this story to me. Zack is Hui Chinese, Muslim and also queer. Melissa Wu is a Miao who intends to project her ethnicity by becoming a fashion idol. With these newfound friends, Zach is finally at home.

        Simon and Melissa make excellent sidekicks and their emperors are absolutely awesome, especially Wu Zetian. I am already intrigued by the snippets of her life story to add the TV series to the watch list. Then there is Qin Shi Huang. He might be a tyrant according to history books, but the author has created such a wonderful character out of it, we cannot help but love him to the core. He is definitely my favourite. 

        Well, this series is far from being over. The ending has left me heartbroken yet hopeful about the fate of the Dragon Emperor. Eagerly awaiting the sequel . . .

Meet the author:

Xiran Jay Zhao is the #1 bestselling author of the Iron Widow duology. A first-gen Hui Chinese immigrant from small-town China to Vancouver, Canada, they were raised by the internet and made the inexplicable decision to leave their biochem degree in the dust to write books and make educational content instead. You can find them @XiranJayZhao on Twitter for memes, Instagram for cosplays and fancy outfits, TikTok for fun short videos, and YouTube for long videos about Chinese history and culture. Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is their first middle grade novel.

A Magic Steeped in Poison - Judy I. Lin (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 2/5/2022

Author: Judy I. Lin

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: March 29, 2022

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Colored Pages Tours)

About the book:

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, "These are the hands that buried my mother."

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favour from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Review:

        I have been waiting to read this book for a long time. For one, even though this is part of a duology (I hate cliffhangers, by the way), the sequel is only months away from being released. And it is all about the art of tea making and the magic brewed with it. That is something I cannot say no to. Glad to say that the story doesn't disappoint.

        Ning is on a mission to save her sister from the brink of death. Her mother has already succumbed to the poison found in the tea leaves provided by the imperial coffers. Her only chance lies in winning the competition organised by the princess. Am I the only one here getting the 'Hunger Games' and 'Goblet of Fire' vibes? Well, don't expect something that nerve-racking; except for the last part, the story follows an even pace as soothing as the morning tea.

         That brings us to the most interesting part: the magic of the shennong-shi, masters adept in the art of tea-making. In a palace riddled with mysteries where every step could lead to danger, the competition adds another layer to the political intrigue. Not everything or everyone is what they seem. As Ning progresses through each round we are introduced bit by bit to the beauty of this art and when the shennong-tu's hands wield the tea, all the chaos seems to recede.

        The story explores the power of female relationships and thus all the major characters are women, except for Kang - the adopted son of the banished prince. His background is still shrouded in mystery, that is something to wait for in the sequel. Their sudden progress from friends to lovers might have taken me by surprise, still, I am rooting for this duo.

        A beautiful story that will ensnare you from the very beginning. Drinking tea will never be the same anymore.

Favourite quotes:

"Grief has a taste, bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness"

"The nice thing about getting old is you realize everything circles back on itself"

"Human hands make mistakes, Ning, but they are the hands the gods gave us. We use them to make amends, to do good things"

"We all have people we care about, those we would give our lives for. It puts us in danger, or makes us dangerous"

"There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it"

Meet the author:

Judy Lin was born in Taiwan and moved to Canada when she was eight years old. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now divides her time between working as an occupational therapist and creating imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughter.

Radio Silence - Alice Oseman (Review)

Date of Reading: 3/11/2021

Author: Alice Oseman

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Publication Date: February 25, 2016

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong?

Frances has been a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. Then Frances meets Aled, and for the first time, she's unafraid to be herself.

So when the fragile trust between them is broken, Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be. Now Frances knows that she has to confront her past. To confess why Carys disappeared…

Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

Engaging with themes of identity, diversity and the freedom to choose, Radio Silence is a tour de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.

Review:

        I just sort of want to say something before we continue.

        You probably think that Aled Last and I are going to fall in love or something. Since he is a boy and I am a girl.

        I just wanted to say -

        We don't.

        That's all.

        If you want me to point out the exact place I fell in love with this beautiful, one of a kind story, it is right when I read the above lines. Don't know whether such a thing is possible in our shrewd, deceptive, narrow-minded worlds. I just wish it were real. Oh, I am not talking about the boy-girl platonic friendship (that is not a really rare occurrence anymore). But if your best friend from another gender is also your soul mate, then what will be their position in your life compared to your significant other? Who is going to be the third wheel here? Or will there be one?

        Well, I was glad to see the best friend occupies prime importance here and Frances, you are totally worth it. Even with all the angst and self-doubts, some relationships can change you for the better, it may even help you perceive everything in a new light.

        Alright, I know I am rambling. If they haven't made any sense, then let me enlighten you. This is the story of two friends and the lengths a brave girl goes to preserve the only true friendship she has. Set in a school environment, the novel also issues a severe criticism against our academic practices where grades still rule. Are our students still defined by the credits they score? Even with all the evidence to the contrary, it is such a shame our educational institutions can't stop giving credibility to such lowly measures. Well, change comes from within.

        Meet Frances Janvier. Head girl and a nerd with perfect grades. Her aim - to get into Cambridge, study English lit and get a perfect job. And so far everything is going as planned . . . until she meets Aled Last and his podcast 'Universe City'. A helpless insecure boy and a 'weird' girl with a secret hobby. Isn't this enough intro for you to start delving into this charming story?

        Some books grow beyond descriptions. For me, this is one of them.

Meet the author:

Alice Oseman is an author/illustrator and was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She has written four YA contemporary novels about teenage disasters: SOLITAIRE, RADIO SILENCE, I WAS BORN FOR THIS and LOVELESS. She is also the creator of LGBTQ+ YA romance webcomic HEARTSTOPPER, which is now published in physical form by Hachette Children's Books.

Alice’s first novel SOLITAIRE was published when she was nineteen. Her YA novels have been nominated for the YA Book Prize, the Inky Awards, and the Goodreads Choice Award, and HEARTSTOPPER has been optioned for TV. She can usually be found staring aimlessly at computer screens, questioning the meaninglessness of existence, or doing anything and everything to avoid getting an office job.

She Who Became the Sun - Shelley Parker-Chan (Review)

Date of Reading: 26/6/2021

Author: Shelley Parker-Chan

Publisher: Pan Macmillan, Mantle

Publication Date: July 22, 2021

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan's She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

To possess the Mandate of Heaven, the female monk Zhu will do anything

“I refuse to be nothing…”

In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.

When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.

After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother's abandoned greatness.

Review:

        Transporting 14th century China to a magical realist setting, combining elements of 'Mulan' and 'The Song of Achilles' is no doubt an ambitious project. Well, Shelley Parker-Chan has done it splendidly. It is not flawless and I would have preferred a much more conclusive ending, but that doesn't affect the immersive pleasure we are promised.

        What I loved the most about the book is the narration. The first part is told entirely from the point of view of the girl who later poses as her brother Zhu Chongba. Her name is never revealed and remains a part of the desolated life she switched with her brother: unknown and unrecognised. Her perseverance and keen intelligence which even forces destiny to give her a helping hand glows brightly throughout finally taking into a physical form.

        Once the other characters, especially Ouyang, start taking important roles, the narrative switches to multiple POVs. I thought this could be confusing in the beginning, but it did present the political situation rather well. Ouyang's side of the story was something to look forward to all the time.

        Basic knowledge of Chinese history might give you a better understanding of the story (after all this is a reimagining of the life of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty with genderqueer characters), though it is not necessary. My grasp of ancient Chinese history is akin to zero and so some random search on Red Turbans helped a great deal. But as I have said, this is not needed if you don't want to bother too much about the history behind it. As always, this is a universal story. If you are a believer of predestined fates, Zhu Chongba's story may convince you otherwise.

Meet the author:

Shelley Parker-Chan (she/they) is an Asian-Australian former diplomat and international development adviser who spent nearly a decade working on human rights, gender equality and LGBT rights in Southeast Asia. Named after the Romantic poet, she was raised on a steady diet of Greek myths, Arthurian legend and Chinese tales of suffering and tragic romance. Her writing owes more than a little to all three. In 2017 she was awarded an Otherwise (Tiptree) Fellowship for a work of speculative narrative that expands our understanding of gender.

The Ghosts We Keep - Mason Deaver (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 30/05/2021

Author: Mason Deaver

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: June 1, 2021

Source: Edelweiss+

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Hear Our Voices Book Tours)

About the book:

Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, this book will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process.

When Liam Cooper's older brother Ethan is killed in a hit-and-run, Liam has to not only learn to face the world without one of the people he loved the most, but also face the fading relationship with their two best friends.

Feeling more alone and isolated than ever, Liam finds themself sharing time with Marcus, Ethan's best friend, and through Marcus, Liam finds the one person that seems to know exactly what they're going through, for the better and the worse.

This book is about grief. But it's also about why we live. Why we have to keep moving on, and why we should.

Review:

        After reading 'I Wish You All the Best', I was as anxious as the author about this latest release. Will this live up to the fame garnered by the first one or become a disappointment? Well, I found mixed reviews on this, but for me, this was even better than the former work.

        There is no plot as such to speak of. This is more or less a record of how Liam and their family cope with the grief of losing the eldest son of the family. A word of warning, Liam is not an easy character to like. As the book asserts, grief can always make you do complicated, messy and ugly things and considering Liam's age, it does create a lot of complications. They lash against the parents, withdraw from friends and practically shuts the whole world off and drowns in grief. I won't blame them.

            Part of this reaction comes from a feeling of guilt, thinking of the time lost and gone forever. Along with that comes the burden of the only son left now, the one who needs to take the vacant position of the family's golden son. They don't have anyone to turn to, neither can they acknowledge that they need professional help.

        Yes, it's a total mess. As expected of Mason Deaver, the words are honest and raw and each page adds another spear to your heart. There are no miracles or surprises, but the book delivers what is intended just like a teacher who doesn't have to raise his voice to keep the class in control. I was glad it didn't pursue Marcus' point of view. That would have broken me completely.

Favourite quotes:

"I didn't know how I was feeling; I couldn't feel anything except numbness. Simple, reliable concepts like time moving forward, or even the space around me, didn't feel real. It felt more like a dream that I'd wake up from soon"

"Because grief is a complicated, ugly, messy thing. And it makes you do complicated, ugly, messy things"

"Sometimes poetry is more about the feeling the words give you, the emotion, the placement, and not necessarily the words themselves"

"What I wanted was to disappear. To blink out of existence, to be forgotten by everyone who ever knew me. I didn't want to be here anymore, to have to think, to have to feel. What was the point anyway? The older I got, the more people would vanish"

"I'd still love him, whether he was here or not. Because he'd always be here with me, no matter what happened. He was a ghost I'd keep with me for the rest of my life"

Meet the author:

Born and raised in a small North Carolina town, Mason Deaver is an award-nominated, bestselling author and designer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Besides writing, they’re an active fan of horror movies and video games. As you can see from the photo above, they’re a big fan of plants as well.

Zara Hossain is Here - Sabina Khan (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 19/4/2021

Author: Sabina Khan

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: April 6, 2021

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Hear Our Voices Book Tours)

About the book:

Zara's family has waited years for their visa process to be finalized so that they can officially become US citizens. But it only takes one moment for that dream to come crashing down around them.

Seventeen-year-old Pakistani immigrant, Zara Hossain, has been leading a fairly typical life in Corpus Christi, Texas since her family moved there for her father to work as a paediatrician. While dealing with the Islamophobia that she faces at school, Zara has to lay low, trying not to stir up any trouble and jeopardize their family's dependent visa status while they await their green card approval, which has been in process for almost nine years.

But one day her tormentor, star football player Tyler Benson, takes things too far, leaving a threatening note in her locker, and gets suspended. As an act of revenge against her for speaking out, Tyler and his friends vandalize Zara's house with racist graffiti, leading to a violent crime that puts Zara's entire future at risk. Now she must pay the ultimate price and choose between fighting to stay in the only place she's ever called home or losing the life she loves and everyone in it.

From the author of the "heart-wrenching yet hopeful" (Samira Ahmed) novel, The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali comes a timely, intimate look at what it means to be an immigrant in America today, and the endurance of hope and faith in the face of hate.

Review:

        I am no stranger to the works of Sabina Khan, having read 'The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali'. This one, I must say, far surpasses the former with its deft and clear portrayal of everyday reality that a Muslim immigrant faces in America. Each and every page of this novel is a testimony of the fact that how the fear that is rampant in the country destroys the sense of security of a group of people who have come to see this country as their own.

        The prank of a teenager goes out of hand (I believe, in his mind, all that racist remarks that came out of jealousy was just a prank) and destroys the lives that Zara's Pakistani family has built up in America for years. With the right connections, the victim is turned into the criminal revealing another face of a country that often assumes the position of the international police force.

        Racist theme aside, Sabina Khan also voices the prejudice and discrimination the LGBT+ community faces in their Catholic school. When they demand to assert their liberty to form their own club, the school reacts by shutting down all social clubs. And the treatment meted out to Chloe, Zara's girlfriend, adds another reminder that acceptance of your identity still remains a dream for many.

        Powerful and poignant, Sabinal Khan has created a masterpiece that exposes the harsh truths we often try to disregard. Highly recommended!

Favourite Quotes:

"... the very least that white people can do after colonizing our subcontinent for hundreds of years is appreciate our flavorful cuisine"

"I swear they think that I'm some sort of mastermind who single-handedly controls the entire Muslim ummah. It's always the same. I'm exhausted from the burden of representing almost two billion people"

"It's so easy to paint all the people you don't want to accept with the same brush. That way you can tell yourself you're just protecting your way of life and that they're the ones encroaching upon your space"

"I deserve the dignity to exist as I am. In a perfect world I would be able to do just that. But I'm not so naive that I think the world is perfect"

"How do I deal with someone who's convinced that his right to exist in this world trumps mine?"

Meet the author:

Sabina Khan is the author of  ZARA HOSSAIN IS HERE (Scholastic/ April 6, 2021) and THE LOVE & LIES OF RUKHSANA ALI (Scholastic, 2019). She is an educational consultant and a karaoke enthusiast. After living in Germany, Bangladesh, Macao, Illinois and Texas, she has finally settled down in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, two daughters and the best puppy in the world.