It's not every day that I read a book that destroys me so much that I go from laughing at the insanely dark humor to gasping to tearing up and then prIt's not every day that I read a book that destroys me so much that I go from laughing at the insanely dark humor to gasping to tearing up and then promptly calling up a friend to rant about the entire thing because I'm in such dire emotional distress, all within the span of 2 hours. But this book did all those things and more.
From a writer perspective, I'm obsessed with how Torrefranca pulled this off. My little reader heart, on the other hand, is absolutely crushed.
The shining point of this series is its characters. Don't get me wrong, the worldbuilding is unique enough without the usage of magic, and this book in particular highlights the Underground rebel group in a way that serves to build on the overarching stakes. But even more so, this new perspective this book offers—both in new POVs & settings—builds tension between the characters themselves. In a time of war, where violence is rampant, their relationships, loyalties, and values are put to the test in so many ways. The friendships & relationships they’ve forged in both the first book and the start of this one make the matter so much more complicated, especially when Yahshi & Vell find themselves on opposite sides of the war from their fellow Academy graduates.
This book also brought romance into the series—and some pretty tough situations to go with it. To what extent do you go to protect the person you love when your very livelihood, and all you’ve ever known, is on the line? Mel doesn’t just touch on this, but delves into the mixed emotions of a couple facing the costs of their romance. It added a layer of depth to a trope that’s somewhat overdone, and I appreciated that. The characters were never one-dimensional, but fully fleshed out beings with values and traumas of their own, and seeing yourself in every single one of them makes every scene hit all the more harder emotionally.
Overall, I went into this book with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. It’s one of those books that’s insanely complex and completely takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, diverting from anything you’d ever expect, but still manages to be deep and thought-provoking. Would recommend!
(Special thanks to Lost Island Press for a digital advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own)...more
The Second Lives of Withered Dreams by R. L. Nguyen stands out as my personal favorite from this collection. Wrapped up in beautiful prose & riddled wThe Second Lives of Withered Dreams by R. L. Nguyen stands out as my personal favorite from this collection. Wrapped up in beautiful prose & riddled with botanical vocabulary, the leisurely plot lends itself for plenty of symbolism as we follow the main character's healing journey. I appreciated Camilla's maturity and quiet strength as a character, and the tiny glimpses infused into the characters that gave the sense that there is much more to the small cast of characters than just this singular story.
Another favorite is Shannae Grace's The Department of Lost Things. It possesses a similar tone to Mark Haig's The Midnight Library, but hones in on the raw grief of losing a close friendship and the main character's attempts to recover an item of significance from the loss. The main character walks a delicate balance between slightly cynical, sarcastic, and relatable, but overall maintained a sense of depth that made it easy to connect with her. And the buildup to the end was immaculate. Those final few lines in particular really did hit hard....more
Following three sisters who've once ridden the waves of the music industry, but now find themselves scrambling for a soThis book absolutely gutted me.
Following three sisters who've once ridden the waves of the music industry, but now find themselves scrambling for a sophomore album to stay afloat, this story explores so many different familial dynamics in the face of one sister's incarceration. There's Josie, the responsible one, who won't hesitate to drop everything—even a supposed vacation—to try and make everything okay. There's Emma, the irresponsible one with the artistic vision. And then there's Araminta, the drummer, trying and failing and trying again to recover from drug addiction.
The entire story is very character-focused, with just enough plot to pull you in, but not enough to completely overtake it. Their complex family dynamics and visceral responses to the incarceration, as well as the aftermath, hit me hard. I particularly found Josie the most resonant, especially how blind she was to her self-sabotaging actions in the name of bearing all the responsibility.
This is an honest book. It doesn't shy away from difficult relationships or emotions. But it does, ultimately, show the value of familial and community support. It's a sad book, but a good one, and I'd recommend it.
(Special thanks to Atria Books for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own) ...more
This book still sticks with me months after reading, but in a bad way.
For context, I am not a reader of long fiction. Anything in the 350�400-page raThis book still sticks with me months after reading, but in a bad way.
For context, I am not a reader of long fiction. Anything in the 350�400-page range, and you better bet I'm expecting some sort of emotional payoff for all that time and energy. Especially when, in the case of this novel, I have to wade through so many magical elements that not only are unexplained, but also serve no obvious thematic purpose.
There were good moments in the story, moments where I genuinely thought there was some semblance of a meaningful theme, a purpose for all the loss of stability Aubrey went through because of her curse. The scene with her returning home to her family emotionally hit hard. But the story would skim over those scenes and continue onward, following Aubrey and her travels in a way that would be nonsensical if the situation wasn't just sad.
And in the end, nothing was explained. This story pulls you in with a compelling concept, lovely prose, and all the travel vibes, but by the end, the wonder and appeal of traveling the world is stripped away and you're left with nothing but confusion and exhaustion. Confusion because the curse wasn't meant to be symbolic or hint at some larger theme, and exhaustion because all the details and magical elements and odd interactions between characters make the story feel so much more longer than it really is.
But hey, this book made me feel things, even if they weren't necessarily good. So I guess if the author was intentionally trying to leave readers as exhausted and frustrated as Aubrey, he did succeed at that. It's just at some point it becomes too much....more
Backman does it again—blending humor and insight in a seemingly effortless way.
While most of the situations & interactions require a certain suspensioBackman does it again—blending humor and insight in a seemingly effortless way.
While most of the situations & interactions require a certain suspension of belief, the dry humor and utter ridiculousness culminate into a surprisingly heartfelt character arc and ending. It's short but still packs a punch, and the characters feel both chaotic and authentic—almost as if they could be your apartment neighbors. ;)
Also, Linda is my spirit animal and I aspire to be as unhinged as her.
I highlighted the heck out of this 67-page story, but here are just a few of my favorite lines:
"I don't live alone, I have a cat. People with cats live longer. There's research!" the woman informs him. "Okay," says Lucas in the way you say that if you really mean: But would one really want to live longer if one has to have a cat?
But then, Lucas has never loved a cat, so what does he really know about life?
Then they stand in silence, the three people, a breath away but with whole lives between them.
But once it wasn't junk, Lucas thinks, once it was all things. Once someone bought that frying pan or that ice skate, thinking: Maybe THIS is what will make me happy?
"And do what, Linda? What are we going to do with the pit?" Heads One and Two ask with great concern. "Oh, you know? Put things in? Maybe people?"
One neighbor wants a playground, another wants to ban children, definitely from playgrounds but preferably from the planet too.
Overall, I loved this and I can't wait for My Friends in 2025!...more
I struggle to read anthologies, being one of those readers who takes forever to get invested in characters. This collection in particular is generallyI struggle to read anthologies, being one of those readers who takes forever to get invested in characters. This collection in particular is generally made up of stories that are very plot-central, with conflicts grounded in the worldbuilding, so I could see this anthology being a good fit for those who are looking for a low-intensity read and want to flip through a variety of stories over time.
That said, as usual, this is a solid set of stories! Very proud of these authors and all the hard work they’ve put into refining their craft.
My personal favorites were What Lives Beneath the Skin by Joseph Brink, The Sword Rose by Caleb E. King, The Journal in the Attic by Kira Rosengren, and The Poet Who Lived on Pickpocket Lane by Sarina Louise.
Middle-grade horror—or horror in general—isn't really my thing, but What Lives Beneath the Skin is just the perfect balance of realism and subtle spookiness (with a killer twist, and no, that's not a pun). From the very first page, we're pulled into the setting, with thick walls, excessive latches to keep the night away, and the overwhelming, sickeningly sweet smell of peaches. The story utilizes fears I think most readers can understand or relate to at one point, from the unfamiliarity of spending the first few nights in a new house to the way holes in walls can be so uncanny in a very specific way. Overall, it's very brilliantly done, and the adorable sibling dynamics don't hurt.
I’m not a huge reader of medieval fantasy, but whenever I see one of Caleb E. King’s stories, they make me want to start reading more of the genre. The Sword Rose is no exception. Right off the bat, the setting and central conflict feel grounded and familiar, making it easy to connect with Pierce’s internal conflict as he’s torn between competing for the betterment of his family’s future and spending moments with them in the now. At its core, it’s a simple story, but the simplicity of it is ultimately what makes it all the more impactful. I also appreciated the insight we got into some of the side characters, such as Pierce’s father, in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming but still served to aid the overall theme. The ending only served to enhance the realism, how it concluded Pierce’s arc while still maintaining the bittersweet nature surrounding this story.
I have a soft spot for grief stories, and Kira Rosengren’s The Journal in the Attic fits that category perfectly. But with that also comes the concern that the healing journey will feel rushed and inauthentic due to the length of a short story. This wasn’t the case with The Journal in the Attic. It’s written from a gently encouraging perspective, one that empathizes with your grief but doesn’t allow it to hold you down. I also loved the writing, the way Rosengren pulls out little details that enhance the realism of the story—from our main character’s love of mashed potatoes, to the Redwoods trip (as a Cali resident this makes me so happy), to the way apple cider has to cool to reach a drinkable temperature. All of it was just perfection.
And of course I wasn’t surprised by Sarina Louise’s short story in the best possible way. She’s a highly skilled writer, and The Poet Who Lived on Pickpocket Lane wraps the theme of love and loss in gorgeous gorgeous prose, an atmospheric setting, and a cast of vivid characters. There were also so many small insights on being a creative and being able to craft beauty from pain and grief that were so timely. If you’re the kind of person to highlight beautiful lines, you will absolutely need to get your pens out for this one, because let me tell you: there will be plenty.
Those were just my personal favorites, indicative of my own personal reading tastes, but the fun thing about anthologies is that in reading them, you’ll find a set of your own to love. So if you generally enjoy middle-grade, fantasy, and plot-central stories (as a majority but not all of these stories are), I’d recommend giving this one a try!...more
From the first page, it grabbed my interest and swept me away on a thrilling adventure. At first, I read the book simply for thThis book is brilliant.
From the first page, it grabbed my interest and swept me away on a thrilling adventure. At first, I read the book simply for the ride - rather out of pure enjoyment of the suspense and action rather than the themes or characters.
But as I started to delve deeper into the pages, the interwoven themes started standing out to me. And goodness, there were so many.
Friendship, how we view others and life, technology, sacrifice, grief, mental illness - it's all in CAPSULE.
The characters were amazing - and while I didn't like most of them in the beginning, they all held so much depth that made them all relatable as the story progressed.
I think my favorite part of this novel is just how Torrefranca wove all those thought-provoking themes into an action-packed, suspenseful thriller novel.
The biggest thing I didn't like was the profanity. It just didn't seem necessary to me. There was quite a bit of it, too, and while that much usually would make me stop reading, I was too invested in the story and characters to do so.
Overall, this book managed to be both suspenseful and thought-provoking, with a touch of mystery. I'd recommend it to pretty much any YA reader who doesn't mind profanity. I would definitely be interested in reading Torrefranca's other works! :)
*Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Merged review:
This book is brilliant.
From the first page, it grabbed my interest and swept me away on a thrilling adventure. At first, I read the book simply for the ride - rather out of pure enjoyment of the suspense and action rather than the themes or characters.
But as I started to delve deeper into the pages, the interwoven themes started standing out to me. And goodness, there were so many.
Friendship, how we view others and life, technology, sacrifice, grief, mental illness - it's all in CAPSULE.
The characters were amazing - and while I didn't like most of them in the beginning, they all held so much depth that made them all relatable as the story progressed.
I think my favorite part of this novel is just how Torrefranca wove all those thought-provoking themes into an action-packed, suspenseful thriller novel.
The biggest thing I didn't like was the profanity. It just didn't seem necessary to me. There was quite a bit of it, too, and while that much usually would make me stop reading, I was too invested in the story and characters to do so.
Overall, this book managed to be both suspenseful and thought-provoking, with a touch of mystery. I'd recommend it to pretty much any YA reader who doesn't mind profanity. I would definitely be interested in reading Torrefranca's other works! :)
*Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.* ...more
I'll say it off the bat: I may harbor a slight bias, because I love Eowyn Ivey's books. The Snow Child—an impromptu read based off of the pretty coverI'll say it off the bat: I may harbor a slight bias, because I love Eowyn Ivey's books. The Snow Child—an impromptu read based off of the pretty cover—turned into one of my all-time favorite books years ago, and so when I heard she was at long last releasing another one returning to the familiar backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, I instantly tried to get my hands on a copy. You can imagine my excitement when the e-ARC arrived in my inbox.
There's something so haunting about this book. In part a Beauty and the Beast retelling, in other parts hinting at Frankenstein or of Mice and Men, in a fairytale style it depicts the contrast between the capacity for humans to be wild and destructive, but also protective and loving.
At its core, it's a simple story. It follows two characters: Birdie, nicknamed after her constant search for freedom and peace from her rough childhood, and Emaleen, her five-year-old daughter who has a relatively isolated childhood and bears the brunt of her mother's bad decisions.
And then there's Arthur. A recluse who, despite his mysterious past, is simultaneously capable of great love and great cruelty.
In a similar style to The Snow Child, it's set in the Alaskan wilderness, where isolation poses a threat to all three central characters. And while it's not classified as horror, some scenes will stick in your head because of just how vivid and real they feel. I could feel everything—from Emaleen's desperation and fears of her mom leaving her, to Birdie's warring desires for a new life but also loyalty to her daughter, to Emaleen's fears that her younger self tried to cover dark truths about her childhood with imagination. With every step these characters took, and the impossible choices they faced, I hurt with them and hoped they would get their happy endings. Somehow.
Speaking of the ending, it was close to perfect. Ivey excels at these endings—the ones that walk the thin line between being tragic and hopeless and being hopeful and resonant. Despite how dark this story turned out to be, the ending was more uplifting than I expected.
This is a beautiful story. Read it in winter, in the dead of night, with the light of a candle, preferably with hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Or chamomile tea with honey. Iykyk.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Merged review:
I'll say it off the bat: I may harbor a slight bias, because I love Eowyn Ivey's books. The Snow Child—an impromptu read based off of the pretty cover—turned into one of my all-time favorite books years ago, and so when I heard she was at long last releasing another one returning to the familiar backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, I instantly tried to get my hands on a copy. You can imagine my excitement when the e-ARC arrived in my inbox.
There's something so haunting about this book. In part a Beauty and the Beast retelling, in other parts hinting at Frankenstein or of Mice and Men, in a fairytale style it depicts the contrast between the capacity for humans to be wild and destructive, but also protective and loving.
At its core, it's a simple story. It follows two characters: Birdie, nicknamed after her constant search for freedom and peace from her rough childhood, and Emaleen, her five-year-old daughter who has a relatively isolated childhood and bears the brunt of her mother's bad decisions.
And then there's Arthur. A recluse who, despite his mysterious past, is simultaneously capable of great love and great cruelty.
In a similar style to The Snow Child, it's set in the Alaskan wilderness, where isolation poses a threat to all three central characters. And while it's not classified as horror, some scenes will stick in your head because of just how vivid and real they feel. I could feel everything—from Emaleen's desperation and fears of her mom leaving her, to Birdie's warring desires for a new life but also loyalty to her daughter, to Emaleen's fears that her younger self tried to cover dark truths about her childhood with imagination. With every step these characters took, and the impossible choices they faced, I hurt with them and hoped they would get their happy endings. Somehow.
Speaking of the ending, it was close to perfect. Ivey excels at these endings—the ones that walk the thin line between being tragic and hopeless and being hopeful and resonant. Despite how dark this story turned out to be, the ending was more uplifting than I expected.
This is a beautiful story. Read it in winter, in the dead of night, with the light of a candle, preferably with hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Or chamomile tea with honey. Iykyk.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. ...more
This is basically the adult version of those choose-your-own-adventure books, enhanced with time-travel and mystery elements, all set on a reality TV This is basically the adult version of those choose-your-own-adventure books, enhanced with time-travel and mystery elements, all set on a reality TV show. It's an unexpected and fresh combination, but somehow it manages to work for the first half of the story.
However, the latter half was where things started to get redundant. The excessive "telling" and repetition undercut the most emotional moments, making it difficult to root for or sympathize with Marsh even when she was supposedly living her best life. And while I admire the concept, the weak writing style (& attempts at humor), unsatisfying endings, and dull cast of characters made it difficult for me to enjoy it fully.
Biggest takeaway? If I named my child Marshmallow because they're so "sweet and soft" I would not be able to live with myself. I'm sorry, Marsh, it's not you, it's me, but I could not bring myself to take you seriously....more
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