Category: [fiction reviews]

Cover of "The Witch Who Trades With Death" by CM Alongi, decorated with a red frog, a red number 9, a spear, and a dark green tunnel going off into the distance
Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “The Witch Who Trades with Death” by C M Alongi

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: The Witch Who Trades with Death
Author: C M Alongi
Published: March 11, 2025 by Angry Robot
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Action & Adventure, LGBTQ+
Edition Details: 384 pages, hardcover (my copy was 488 pages, paperback)
Source: ARC – Requested directly
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I followed this author on TikTok ages ago for her CaFae Latte skits, long before I realized she had published anything. When this book was described, I found myself intrigued by this potential twist on a story where Death is a character. I even wondered if it’d be written along the lines of a Persephone retelling, where the witch would fall in love with Death himself… but regardless, the description of a witch having to make deals with Death to survive had me jump at the opportunity to apply for an ARC.

Themes listed: trauma and overcoming it; fear vs courage; refugees; racism & xenophobia; toxic vs healthy relationship; found family & the power of friendship.

Content Warnings listed: graphic violence; sexual abuse; death; self-harm.

Positive Bits

Right off the bat, I’m in awe of how well Alongi handled all of the heavy topics listed for this story. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I was prepared to be made uncomfortable as we followed the story of an unwilling concubine. It implies certain experiences have to occur. While we do bear witness to abuse at the hands of the Emperor, it’s written with such nuance that we don’t have to experience it directly to recognize and hold its weight. The level of writing craft that went into this story will have me re-reading it for tips on how to do the same in my own work.

One of my favorite characters in this story is an old whore from a brothel with a no nonsense attitude and a twinkle in her eye. Sex work is treated as a completely valid and even borderline respected industry in the culture of our witch Khana’s new refuge. Similarly, all forms of representation are handled as vitally normal within the story. We see sign language used by someone with an injured throat, an amputee with a prosthetic leg, and a wide range of ability or disability among warriors in their village. We see a variety of relationships, including a hilarious request by a woman’s mother that she provide grandchildren with her AFAB nonbinary partner by either finding a third or adopting (she’s not picky). All in all, it was the way all of these diverse and unique characters were woven in as natural to the world they exist in that made the representation feel authentic instead of tokenized.

I appreciate closure in a story, especially if there’s a clear Bad Guy and Good Guy in the situation. Without getting too into the weeds or providing spoilers, I can say that the end of the story left me satisfied. There weren’t any frustrating loose ends or unanswered questions, and Khana got to grow into herself as both a witch and a person. The emphasis on found family and community made me teary eyed in the best possible way! All in all, this book full of heavy topics is surprisingly uplifting (at least to me) and left me in a good mood once I finished it.

Less Enjoyable Bits

I want more, but that’s the epic fantasy reader in me. Even if we’ve reached the end of the current problem, there are still bad people doing bad things out there. I would be very happy to hear Alongi say she’s planning another book in this world, even if it has nothing to do with Khana’s story.

There’s a fine line for those with trauma when it comes to reading about someone else’s. While I thought the balance in this story was perfect and didn’t trigger me, I could see it being a difficult read for someone with fresher wounds (especially anyone who has experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse). Go into this story expecting it to be hard in some places, but know that healing is part of their experiences as well. I trusted Alongi’s writing to handle the topics as well as her skits do on TikTok, and that trust was well placed. I just urge caution.

Is it weird to say I wanted more Death? While Death plays a vital role as a character and even gains a personality as we watch interactions between Death and Khanna, I found myself wanting to see more of those moments. We’re given enough to understand Death as a being with specific rules and attitudes, but that’s it. None of Death’s decisions or actions surprised me, but I still felt like I was missing something from them. Then again, I have a deep love for Death as a major character in stories, so this might just be a me thing.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

She didn’t truly believe in gods. And if they were real, they have ignored her prayers and those of all the other concubines. If they existed: she hated them. And yet, desperate times…

How did we get from me teasing you about your obvious crush to you both making me feel feelings? I’m outnumbered. This is unfair.

There was a place for her here. People who cared about her and who she cared about in turn. A future of joy and contentment and maybe some tragedy, but also healing and love. She was home.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – I had planned to buy this book before asking for the ARC, so I already thought so. Now? Heck yeah, it’s an amazing piece of writing craft and a great story to boot!

The Legend of Meneka by Kritika Rao
Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “The Legend of Meneka” by Kritika H. Rao

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: The Legend of Meneka: A Novel (The Divine Dancers Duology 1)
Author: Kritika H. Rao
Published: January 21, 2025 by Harper Voyager
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Adult Fiction, Mythology Retelling, Hindu Mythology
Edition Details: 368 pages, hardcover (my copy was paperback, 357 pages)
Source: ARC – requested and won via Goodreads
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I’m a deep lover of mythology retellings, but I’ve made it a personal challenge to find non-Greek stories to read. I’ve yet to be disappointed by a retelling, even for myths I had no background understanding of before reading.

That said, I happen to love unique magic and requested this book when I read that apsaras used dance as the focus of their magical workings. Add in the enemies-to-lovers listed on the book’s listings, and I had to enter to win an ARC.

Positive Bits

Right off the bat, I want to note that I appreciated the use of spice fit perfectly into the story and the main relationship’s growth at the time. As apsaras are described on the book blurb as warriors of seduction, I honestly expected there to be gratuitous scenes to demonstrate that purpose. The author instead used spice as a delicious seasoning to enhance the story where it best applied, while making it make sense in the context of the myth being told.

The author managed to deftly use the enemies-to-lovers trope without falling into its less entertaining traps. I find myself struggling with the trope most often when miscommunication is the sole basis of the “enemy” side of the equation. I personally find that miscommunication in romances turns me off, kicking me out of immersion in the story as I consider all the simple solutions to the problem at hand. This story is woven to make the shift from enemies-to-lovers feel natural and expected in all of the best ways.

As I read the author’s notes at the end, I appreciated that she chose to take Meneka’s myth and expand upon her character. The idea was to make her real and whole in a way the original myths don’t allow, and I think this book truly honors that goal by following Meneka’s story of self-discovery as the primary thread holding the romance and fantasy portions of the book together.

Less Enjoyable Bits

The ending disappointed me, but in an expected way. There’s a hard cliffhanger, because we hit the crescendo of the action and then stop – with book 2 presumably picking up from there in the future. I knew there was a high chance of a cliffhanger, but I was still bummed at where it stopped. (And yet, it just makes me eager for book 2, so maybe it had the intended effect?)

I appreciated the glossary at the start of the book, but I would’ve liked to see other items and words included on the list. It mostly includes mythological people and objects, but there were pieces of clothing and other cultural references I had to look up on my own. Since I was reading a physical book, I didn’t have my phone readily at hand to clarify what we were looking at.

Given the notes of “an empowered, seductive FMC” and “spice & yearning”, I found the amount of seduction and spice actually found in the story to not match my expectations. I didn’t mind the discrepancy per se, but I feel like it’s important to point out for anyone who might be interested in the spicy side of the story more than the mythology. I still enjoyed the story and Meneka’s character arc, with or without more heat.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

My heart skitters in my throat. I totter on the precipice of something terrible, something beautiful.

We are two opposites bound to each other in this game of mark and seducer, each of us taking either role, unknowing, unaware. The lust I saw in him is mine, the empowerment of everything I can be, realized through the mirror he holds up to me.

We dance, and create, and hope.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – If you like retellings of mythology, this is a wonderful story! Also, it’s great even if you aren’t familiar with Hindu mythology. I had very little base knowledge, and I still followed along and enjoyed the story on its own. I look forward to the second book and plan to get it once it’s written/available.

The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez (book cover image)
Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “The Name-Bearer” by Natalia Hernandez

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: The Name-Bearer: Flowers of Prophecy Book 1
Author: Natalia Hernandez
Published: October 11, 2022 by Amazon Publishing (KDP)
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Hispanic & Latino American Literature
Edition Details: 296 pages, ebook
Source: Purchased
Rating: {4/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I remember when I first ran across this author on TikTok (@NataliaHernandezAuthor), long before her books came into being. She had just experienced a wild dream, one with flowers that named the royals as they were born.

I’m so happy she decided to take that idea and run with it! I picked up this book when I was lucky enough to do so for free during a sale.

Positive Bits

This world is unique and interesting as we explore it via the main character’s life. The author used Guatemalan culture and mythology to color her worldbuilding, and it comes through as rich and beautiful descriptions of the people and locales of the story. The bits of Spanish woven in have their meanings generally spelled out or clear within context, whether you would choose to look up their translations or not. You don’t have to speak the language to enjoy the story, while it enriches the world by reminding us of the source inspirations.

The plot of this story is what originally drew me in, and it doesn’t disappoint. I can’t get into specifics without spoilers, but overall the Name-Bearer weaves in friendship and romance as subplots that fit into the bigger story being told. I also appreciate that she explains the meanings of names (as knowing them has been part of her training). As a writer, I know how much thought you can put into the meaning behind names… and this seems like the perfect plot-appropriate way to share those meanings with the reader. And in a world where magical Flowers name the royals, it makes sense that people would be more selective and purposeful in naming their children as a whole.

I think the setup for Book 2 has been done well, as far as hints dropped within Book 1. I’ll only know for sure when I read Book 2 down the road, but it seems like important characters are given their own goals and reasons to continue being part of the story. I have theories…

Less Enjoyable Bits

As a queer polyamorous person, I’m fiending for clarity on the romance front. I knew to expect a female romantic interest, but there are layers to the Name-Bearer’s experience that leave me wondering if there’s going to be a choice in the future. I’d love to see a “why choose” style situation instead, but I’m biased! Mostly, the romantic options seem a little too ill-defined as we meet Person 1, Person 2, and what appears to be Person 3. I was left trying to track where the romance was heading, and it disappointed me.

This book is written to cover about a decade of the Name-Bearer’s life in one story. This isn’t a spoiler so much as a warning. I started reading the 13 year old girl’s story with the expectation that the first chapter was a prologue… only to discover that we would follow her life between the moment of the Flowers refusing to name the Prince to adulthood. If you don’t like time jumps or struggle to stay on track, consider this a warning.

While I enjoyed this book and didn’t put it down unless required (for work or parenting duties), the style is something that didn’t connect for me personally. The format of the story reminds me of listening to a storyteller or reading a screenplay. Descriptions of scenes and the locations they occurred in were extremely detailed, but the actions of the characters themselves were often described to the reader rather than shown on the page. For example, the Name-Bearer could ask someone where they came from, and that person would then have a paragraph along the lines of “he proceeded to describe his childhood, here are the details he shared”. With how elaborate the scene setting was written, it left me yearning for the characters’ voices rather than a summary of what they said.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

For the goddess Danray is the goddess of both battle and transition. That is why both the butterfly and the phoenix are so prevalent in Danrayen culture. They are both creatures undone to become something more than they once were.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – if this sounds like your cup of tea or ran across your FYP at some point before it was written, consider picking it up. Book 2 is coming out at the end of June 2023, so you won’t have to wait long to continue the story.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea” by Rebecca Thorne

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea: A Cozy Fantasy Steeped with Love (Tomes & Tea Cozy Fantasies #1)
Author: Rebecca Thorne
Published: September 15, 2022 by self-publishing
Genres: Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, LGBTQ+ Romance, LGBTQ+ Fantasy
Edition Details: ebook
Source: Purchased
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

As I stated in my review of A Pirate’s Life for Tea, I read the two books of this series out of order on purpose. I wanted to see if Book 2 could be read as a stand alone (it can), but then I needed to know how it all started.

Positive Bits

I think I’ve found a romance trope or plot that I prefer above all others: the pre-existing relationship! We start the story with Kianthe and Reyna already being a couple, and we follow the changes (and challenges) of their relationship in this book rather than watching a new romance blossom. To each their own, but I deeply enjoyed having a story that started with a couple making choices to deepen their relationship.

My understanding of our main couple in Book 2 fit who they were in Book 1. Knowing they end up alive and well by the end of the story, it was still nice to see where some of the plot points originated here. The stakes in this book seemed higher, but this *is* a cozy fantasy… so no one was maimed in the making of this story.

Without ruining anything, I can say that I enjoyed the tension of this story largely living outside of the relationship. It gives a healthy taste of “us against the world” for Kianthe and Reyna, and we get to celebrate their successes (and share their failures). The side characters are given enough depth to feel like more than props for the main characters to act upon/around.

Less Enjoyable Bits

I’m dying to know more about the two powerful forces we hear about in this series over and over. The murderous queen from the book blurb feels like a Disney villain, and I prefer the kind of villains that make you question which side is right. We just don’t know enough about her (yet?) to understand her motives.

The same can be said about the Magicary, which is a nebulous location full of mages found *somewhere over there* and not used as an active location for the story. There’s enough information to hint that the elders there are stuffy old mages, but I’m left wanting to know far more about the place. How do you end up there for training? How many people are mages in this world? How many different kinds of magic are there? I feel like I’m missing out on interesting stuff hidden in the Magicary’s walls, especially as we meet someone else who attended there with Kianthe.

My only other complaint is that a couple who ends up together by Book 2 isn’t really brought together by the end of Book 1. We get to find out they like one another (begrudgingly), and they start to grow close due to events requiring them to work together… but then they’re together in Book 2, as far as I recall. They’re another fun side couple, so I’m disappointed they didn’t get a chance for an “on screen” heart-to-heart in this story.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

I had to dig for quotes that don’t spill the beans…

You know I wouldn’t choose someone for their coin. I love you because you’re amazing. You find worth in me, not my title or magic… No one else sees past that. Ever.

How in every hell did I fall in love with someone so intelligent, and somehow so, so stupid?

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – Rebecca Thorne’s cozy fantasy novels are fun and heartfelt. They have queer representation all around, great communication between romantic partners, and lots of jokes to lighten the mood.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “This Gilded Abyss” by Rebecca Thorne

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: This Gilded Abyss
Author: Rebecca Thorne
Published: June 6, 2023 by self-publishing
Genres: Fiction, LGBTQ+ Horror, LGBTQ+ Fantasy
Edition Details: 287 pages, ebook
Source: ARC – requested directly from author
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I thoroughly enjoyed Thorne’s writing style in her cozy fantasy novels, but I’m glad she decided to try a different genre here. I like a variety of genres, and cozy fantasy limits you on the amount of action and trouble the characters can get into.

There’s a detailed list of content warnings for the book, and I believe they cover all of the topics you might find triggering.

Positive Bits

This story handles worldbuilding with a deft hand, keeping us from drowning in details but also providing enough information for us to come along for the ride. Anytime I found myself curious about a royal title or a historical reference mentioned, it was explained just pages later for us.

The enemies to lovers relationship between Nix and Kess (referenced in the description) feels authentic. The reason they fell apart in the past makes sense, allowing us to experience Nix’s hurt and grief as well as her processing of those emotions. I find many romance plots lean on misunderstandings in a way that feels silly or frustrating, but Thorne made their conflict feel real and important. We get to watch the tension of the main plot and the romance grind forward in ways that can’t be ignored.

In the intro of the book, Thorne left a note for her mother that there was spice in Chapter 23. This is true, but I wanted to make note for those who aren’t as interested in spicy stories. The intimacy between Nix and Kess isn’t just spice – it’s so well done! It feels necessary to the plot, showing us their connection and using their actions (spicy and not) to show us how they’re feeling.

Less Enjoyable Bits

I don’t like cliffhangers! The story ends without resolving the major problems at hand (at least a few of them), and we’re not safe and sound when the last page turns. I’m eager for book 2 in 2024, but I’ll admit I often avoid series of books for this reason.

Without ruining any plot points, there are details about the world’s conflicts (war, different countries, etc) that I just didn’t get enough information about yet. This plays a large role toward one of the main plot points, and it’s largely on purpose as a device to build tension. I enjoy more info dumping than most people, though, so perhaps this is just a me thing.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

Not yet, little speck.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – Rebecca Thorne’s book is fast-paced and imaginative. Assuming none of the content warnings are huge red flags for you, I think this book is a fun ride worth taking.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “A Pirate’s Life for Tea” by Rebecca Thorne

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: A Pirate’s Life for Tea (Tomes & Tea Cozy Fantasies #2)
Author: Rebecca Thorne
Published: February 23, 2023 by self-publishing
Genres: Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, LGBTQ+ Romance, LGBTQ+ Fantasy
Edition Details: ebook
Source: ARC – requested directly from author
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

This book can be read without first reading Can’t Spell Treason with Tea. I requested a copy of this book when Thorne mentioned on TikTok that she wanted readers who hadn’t read book one yet.

My only awareness of this series before reading book two was that it included [1] lesbians, [2] magic, and [3] tea.

Positive Bits

I have a soft spot for cozy fantasy and fluff fiction. In a world that’s so chaotic and overwhelmingly bad at times, having guaranteed happily ever afters is more important than ever.

This book is an interesting outsider’s view of a romance as it blooms. The main characters from book one, Kianthe and Reyna, switch back and forth in perspectives as they watch two other women fall in love. You know how it feels when you read a corny romance book and wrinkle your nose at something silly the characters have done? Kianthe and Reyna join the reader in reacting to the antics of Bobbie and Serina. And if you love puns, you’ll definitely love Kianthe…

The plot kept me interested outside of the “relation-shipwreck” (ha!) as we dig into a regional lord and his questionable activities. There were plenty of tie-ins to the first book that were detailed enough to avoid confusion but vague enough to make me want book one ASAP. The dragon eggs mentioned in the book’s description played far less of a role than I expected, but there were hints as to why (both past and future) that might be the case. For those easily bored with too much cozy in their cozy fantasy, this book offers a bit of action and danger to spice things up. Given the genre, it’s obvious that no one dies or experiences traumatic loss (thank the gods!), but we have enough friction to keep the overarching plot relevant outside of the romance in progress.

Less Enjoyable Bits

My version of the book was an advanced copy, so there was still time to make adjustments when I read it. Thorne asked readers to reach out with any issues or comments, so I did. I won’t ruin any plot details, but I made a comment about a character introduction that was taken seriously (and positively). I know how hard and uncomfortable it can be to receive feedback on your work, so I appreciated her openness to discussion.

There’s a bit of a distance in observing the budding relationship between Bobbie and Serina that’s odd. I think this is largely in part to only experiencing their relationship as viewed by Kianthe and Reyna as outsiders. In a standard romance story, you’d get some of the internal dialogue from the romantic partners in addition to witnessing their interactions. The romance is still believable and acceptable as the story progresses, but I don’t know that I favor reading romance from a couple of steps away.

I almost wish this story had been a little less cozy! There are a couple of points where the tension is high enough to be more than a speedbump to the characters, but overall the main couple Kianthe and Reyna stayed almost too calm and happy the entire time. It didn’t hurt the plot, but it didn’t necessarily help either. It felt like maybe they were getting some downtime after book one being a bit spicier?

Tidbits Worth Repeating

My favorite quotes give away plot details, so I can’t include them. However, I loved this:

To the people who gave me one star reviews because the first book “had lesbians.” I doubled the lesbians in this one. Just for you. – Dedication

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – Rebecca Thorne’s book is cozy and funny and has lesbians AND pirates. What are you waiting for?

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “Hurricane Summer” by Asha Bromfield

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: Hurricane Summer: A Novel
Author: Asha Bromfield
Published: May 4, 2021 by Wednesday Books
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Contemporary, BIPOC Representation
Edition Details: 400 pages, hardcover
Source: ARC – offered by Wednesday Books, via NetGalley
Rating: {4/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

This book landed on my radar after I saw a couple of ads for it online. One of the ads allowed interested bloggers and readers to sign up for the official blog tour. I applied to participate, because I thought it’d be great to read the book before it came through our local library on my TBR. I received a free e-book ARC via NetGalley for Hurricane Summer after signing up.

Positive Bits

I need to break from my normal pattern here to share the first line that hooked me and drew me in. It comes from the dedication page, and it set the stage of what would be a heartfelt and raw story of family and self-discovery.

For Little Asha,
And all the girls with holes
in their hearts,
the size of their fathers.
You are worthy.
You are resilient.
You are love.
I poured my heart onto
these pages,
With the prayer that it
would give you the courage
To set yourself free.

That said, the second bit that excited me was the word bank included before the first chapter. I don’t think enough people appreciate the ideal placement of a language glossary at the front of a book, particularly in e-book format. As Patois (the dialect of English spoken in Jamaica) plays a constant role in the story, being able to review and get familiar with some of the common phrases before diving into the meat of the story helped immerse me in it. Instead of struggling through unfamiliar words and phrases, I had a rough understanding of the dialect going into the story. My understanding also matched that of Tilla, our main character, so we were left on equal footing with the narrator.

Tilla’s deep love and need for her father gripped me from early in the story and kept me captive in her desperation to be loved back. As the book’s description says, he’s a man who’s traveled to and from his family in Canada to be back home in Jamaica for half of every year. In coming to visit his homeland, she hopes to find out why he never stayed with them for long – she wants to understand that the siren call of Jamaica sounds like, to be so much more powerful than the love of a family. And I think, by the end of the book, Tilla gains that knowledge as well as a clearer image of who her father is as a person. Forgiveness plays a role in various layers throughout Tilla’s summer, and how she chooses to give or abstain from giving forgiveness plays a crucial role in who she grows into by the end of it all. I may not have made the same choices as she did, but each one she made fit who she was at that moment.

Aside from her father, there are a dozen or so characters who play a role in Tilla’s coming of age over the course of this summer in Jamaica. However, my favorite would be her cousin Andre. They were close friends as children, over a decade ago when Tilla’s family all came down to the island to visit. Experiencing their rekindled friendship felt the same as my own relationships after moving around with the military my whole life; there are just some people who you connect with instantly and consistently. Andre is Tilla’s best friend in the way only a cousin can be, and without his involvement I don’t believe her summer would’ve been so alive. He provides the perfect foil to Tilla’s more privileged life in Canada, compared to his life in the countryside of Jamaica – but without judging her for it. Andre plays the part of both her safe haven and the devil on her shoulder that dares her to do something reckless, and I only wish there were more of him to go around.

Less Enjoyable Bits

This book should’ve had a trigger warning, but I can see how including it might’ve ruined the plot. Still, sexual violence of any kind is a heavy topic that deserves a head’s up. That said, I will note that the violence isn’t explicitly graphic or used as the only method through which a character can grow as a person. It fit the story, so just be aware as you read that Jamaica isn’t all paradise.

It’s hard to really consider the pieces of the story I didn’t enjoy, because most of those moments are key to the story. Hurricane Summer is about the father-daughter dynamic in the context of an absentee father who’s coming and going to Jamaica constantly throughout Tilla’s life. As someone with their own complicated father-daughter relationship, I think I just get frustrated by someone being either too kind or too harsh to either party in the dynamic – all based on my biased opinion of who is in the wrong, of course. Add in the difficulty of tackling topics like classism and colorism while pointing the blame at the primary culprit (society), and much of what I didn’t like about the story was meant to be unlikeable. Instead, it’s a mirror into how flawed families, communities, and even paradise itself can be.

The same could be said for the family dynamics at large, from cousins to aunts and uncles to the community itself. I both understood and disliked them for being inherently human and flawed. That’s the point, though. By the end of any good story, we find ourselves more aware of the humanity in both the heroes and the villains. The author did this amazingly well, leaving us as wrung out and changed as an island battered by a hurricane.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

Your skin is dark and magical. And every time you get darker, it’s just proof that the sun is wrapping itself around you. Hugging you. Tight. Every ray of sun that darkens your skin is proof that you’re soaking up all of God’s light. – 43%

“Only God know di heart weh ah beat from yuh chest. Yuh understand?” he whispers. “Yuh haffi decide who you are before di world does. Don’t mek nobody decide fi yuh. Only you decide dat. You and God.” – 86%

This summer you have traveled a sea I will never have knowledge of. Your heart has fought battles that I will never, ever know. But if there is one thing I knew for sure when I sent you on the plane, I knew that you would be victorious, Tilla. Because you are our child. I know what you are made of, and you are so strong. – 94%

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – Asha Bromfield did an amazing job capturing the pain and paradise of growing into a woman, as well as learning about where you come from and who you want to be. Her heart is on these pages, and you’ll cry at least once before you reach the end.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “Amelia Unabridged” by Ashley Schumacher

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: Amelia Unabridged
Author: Ashley Schumacher
Published: February 16, 2021 by Wednesday Books
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Books About Books
Edition Details: 304 pages, hardcover
Source: ARC via NetGalley
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I thought this book looked pretty while scrolling through NetGalley for my next set of ARC requests, and then I saw that it was published by Wednesday Books. So far, the books I’ve read from that publisher happen to be very poignant in their themes and the authors’ voices. Added to that, this is a book about books (or more specifically, a book about the author of some books). I’m a nerd for that!

Positive Bits

This is clearly a book about grief. The description tells us that Amelia’s best friend dies after an argument, leaving her hurt and lost. Grief is a deeply personal thing, but I think the author does an amazing job at showing us Amelia’s grief rather than telling us she’s grieving. To put that into perspective, I teared up within the first few chapters of the book and continued to ache and cry with Amelia throughout her story. When you look at the quotes I chose to share below, you can see pieces of how we’re handed the hurt of loss and being lost.

If we didn’t follow Amelia through her journey to find healing, the grief might’ve made this story unpalatable. Instead, we get to watch her rediscover herself without her best friend or the future they thought they had planned out together. The author wove healing into Amelia’s life without skipping the way grief returns unexpectedly, again and again. It was amazingly real (and better for it).

I happen to enjoy realistic stories, particularly when there’s romance and family involved. The way Amelia’s relationship exists with her own family, her best friend’s parents, and those she meets in her travels are all authentically flawed. People are allowed to fail. Some are even given opportunities to grow beyond their failings, only to fall short of personal growth. Maybe that’s not for everyone, but I appreciate the honest approach to relationship dynamics, especially as someone with similarly complicated relationships.

Less Enjoyable Bits

While I enjoyed the imagery and weight given to Amelia’s grief, I imagine this book will be a difficult read for anyone who’s recently experienced their own loss. Consider this your fair warning.

The characters are all very dynamic, whether they’re part of the main cast or not. However, the locations we visit with Amelia might as well be Anywhere, America. I had issues with remembering whether the nearby body of water was a lake, river, or ocean. I couldn’t remember the layout of a repeatedly visited building, other than one or two small details that I found quirky. Setting didn’t play a huge role in Amelia’s story, even when it might’ve had the need to do so.

While it was written in an entertaining style, I didn’t enjoy the epilogue. It felt rushed and unnecessary to the story itself. Then again, I generally expect a realistic story like this to end in a similar vein. Life doesn’t give us epilogues, because the story doesn’t end until we’re dead.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

While some kids waited for their letter to be delivered by owl or for their closet to one day reveal a magical land with talking animals and stone tables, I’d waited for the other shoe to drop. Because if there’s one thing I learned from books, it’s that life is fair and unfair, just and unjust.

I imagine whales swimming in the air between the trees, the forests of Orman rising up with their dark branches to mingle into the Michigan landscape. I pretend I am not real; Wally and Alex are not real. The world is one giant story and I’m only a figment of some author’s imagination, a discarded character that never made it onto a page. Strangely, it makes me feel a bit better.

I am different, but like the stories, I will hold up to more readings, even if those readings are drastically changed in my after.

There are a hundred thousand ways to tell a story. Medical students help people live longer and continue their own stories. Engineering majors tell a story of technology that goes back to caveman with rocks and sticks. Marine biologists piece together shreds of plot until they know where whales sleep at night and where fish live in coral reefs. Everything is a story, not just writing. You need to find the story that means something to you, a story you like telling.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – this story will make you ache to your bones and then soothe the hurt.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “Lore” by Alexandra Bracken

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: Lore
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Published: January 2021 by Disney Hyperion
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology, Contemporary Fantasy
Edition Details: 576 pages, hardcover
Source: ARC via NetGalley
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This review is spoiler free. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I’m a sucker for anything involving a revised version of mythology, particularly Greek mythology. So when I saw this book on NetGalley while browsing for advanced copies to request, I couldn’t resist. The idea that some of the gods were being punished with a hunt in mortal bodies sounded gritty and exciting!

Positive Bits

The slow feed of information on the Agon and the people within it was done well. There weren’t a bunch of info dumps to slug through while reading; instead, the details were woven into the story and explained as needed within the context of the story. It helped that one of the main characters isn’t part of the Agon’s world, so we gain lots of explanations via his questions to the other characters.

I enjoyed Athena’s role in the story. As the goddess of strategy and reason, her choices made sense the way you’d expect a deity to consider choices (as opposed to a mortal person). The other gods were interesting in their own ways, but she held a unique place in Lore’s adventure.

An overall theme of being raised within a culture and wanting to leave it played well into the plot, from start to finish. It echoed a familiar thread seen in people who leave certain churches or political factions for their own well-being, and thus it really hit home how lost Lore felt and how hard the entire experience was for her.

Less Enjoyable Bits

Maybe it was just me, but I was left confused several times in the beginning. While the book is written in third person following Lore’s point of view the entire time, there are moments when the scene slips out of focus. I think part of that had to do with reading too fast in sections that included explanations of this Agon event and the world-within-our-world in which it occurs.

Some plot points disappointed me, largely due to the letdowns between culture and choices made by various side characters. If you live in a culture were honor and glory are key to everything, I don’t understand how betrayal of your people fits into that picture. Ever. So sometimes I was left scratching my head and wondering how choices made sense.

I had envisioned a different ending (or two, or three). There’s nothing wrong with the ending that we got, but I personally hoped for more. And without spoiling anything, I had hoped that the person with Poseidon’s power would be more involved in the story. They were mentioned enough to seem important, but then they came and went from the actual plot with little fanfare.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

Fear is a foreign land I shall never visit and a language that will never cross my tongue. [ebook – 33%]

Monsters lived in the shadows. To hunt them, you couldn’t be afraid to follow. And the only way to destroy them was to have the sharper teeth and the darker heart. [ebook – 58%]

I was born knowing how to do three things – how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you. [ebook – 83%]

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – This book is an action-packed reimaging of the Greek gods, and I think it’s worth a read. I can’t help but wonder if the author will release any similar myth-based stories in the future, because I’d grab them too!

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “The Boneless Mercies” by April Genevieve Tucholke

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: The Boneless Mercies
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Published: October 2018 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genres: Fiction, YA Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, High Fantasy, Mythology Retold
Edition Details: 352 pages, trade paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: {4/5 stars}

This review is spoiler free. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

This book has been on my TBR list for ages, but I kept putting it back in an effort to avoid buying too many new books when my pile of unread books is already unmanageable. And yet, when our local book club asked for suggestions on books to read, I immediately thought of this one. It gave me an excuse to finally buy it!

Positive Bits

This world is harsh but beautiful. The fact that the Mercies and their trade are needed, that people would pay to die at their hands, tells you something about the kind of reality they live in. And yet, each death we witness has its beauty. Even the deaths of “bad” people are done in such a way as to be a mercy killing, so that we walk away with the feeling that death is both a kindness and an inevitability.

I adored the variety of girls involved in the Mercies, particularly when their origins come out during the course of the story. Letting each girl be so different while remaining so close spoke to me, and they felt real compared to a gaggle of photocopy children running wild together. Each girl played an important role toward the finale of the story, all feeding into the plot with their actions. Juniper is my favorite from start to finish, particularly as her story is told.

The end left me both satisfied and a little sad. Without ruining it, I can only say that I had hoped each girl would get to make different choices for their futures after leaving behind the Mercies. More than once, though, we see them at a fork in the road without an obvious path to choose; as we follow them down their choice, we can see all of the potential futures they left behind. The fact that each choice feels like a reasonable one is what makes this book so good!

Less Enjoyable Bits

This book never mentioned that it’s a retelling of Norse mythology or a clever twist on Beowulf. The blurbs mention it, but I honestly skip blurbs on covers out of irritation; I prefer a proper book description rather than snippets of someone’s opinion. Honestly, the mythological tie-ins are a bonus rather than a notch against this book, but they should’ve been part of the marketing.

While it doesn’t bother me, the book does run light on the descriptive imagery. We get an introduction to each person and location with vaguely sketched lines, and then we move on with the plot. For some, that means more space for our imaginations to run amok. But for others, this might be an issue.

There’s a romantic subplot that’s woven throughout the book, only to have no real payout. Again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was a letdown. If it had been treated as a small detail, the lack of follow through would’ve been just fine. When it’s brought up often enough to feel very important, you kind of need to make something out of it by the ending. Added to that, there’s an almost sapphic energy between the Mercies that’s never explained or explored – another disappointment and, at least in my opinion, a missed opportunity.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

Glory. I wanted to touch it. Taste it. I wanted it so deeply I thought my heart would swell up, claw its way out of me, and float away on the wind, cawing like a Sea Witch raven, a prayer caught in its beak.

I’d experienced joy before. Not often, but enough to know what it was, enough to ache for it late at night when I sat quietly beside the fire. Joy was different from peace, though. Peace was slower, calmer, and lasted longer. I hadn’t know this kind of tranquility could exist.

We didn’t speak. There was no need. I felt her heart against mine, and it sang the same sad song.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – I will always recommend a good retelling of mythology or folktales! This weaving of magic and Norse-flavored myth is perfect for someone with little familiarity of the base materials.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “Black Sun” by Rebecca Roanhorse

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1)
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Published: October 2020 by Gallery / Saga Press
Genres: Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Native American Literature, LGBTQ Fantasy
Edition Details: 464 pages, trade paperback
Source: Advanced Reader’s Edition won via Goodreads Giveaway
Rating: {5/5 stars}

This review is spoiler free. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.

First Glance

I enter giveaways on Goodreads if the book sounds like something I might read. In the case of this book, the description had me entering to win in the first sentence:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Resistance Reborn comes the first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.

I’m a sucker for any story based in mythology, but I particularly enjoy magical worlds reimagining unfamiliar cultures. In her acknowledgements and credits at the end of the book, the author points out how often “epic fantasy” only seems to apply to European-flavored stories. I agree, which is why I often seek out those written in different lands.

Positive Bits

The world we’re brought into is beautiful and deadly. Isn’t that the best kind? We visit a land with a holy city run by Priests of the non-Christian variety, as well as wild seas and a crescent coast full of different peoples and cultures. Even without visiting some of the locations mentioned by characters, we’re given enough details to have a taste of their individual quirks. The worldbuilding was done skillfully enough that I never had a moment where I fell out of the story due to confusion over a custom or description.

As a queer woman, I greatly appreciated the fact that LGBTQ folks exist throughout the story without being the story. Representation is important, and I love a good queer-focused story as much as the next person, but the best kinds of representation are when being queer is treated the same as being short or tall – as in, it’s natural and a part of some characters’ stories without being the entirety of their plotline. Also, there’s a nonbinary person throughout this first book who uses the pronouns xe/xir, and I found that inclusion to be done skillfully enough to explain and then move us along to the actual reason xe was introduced.

Trilogies by their very nature have to end unfinished, but there’s a skill needed to leave us wanting more without leaving us at a confusing cliffhanger. This book handles that balance well, leaving us with just enough closure to be satisfied while maintaining enough loose threads to keep weaving the story in the next book. The specific characters who end up together at the end due to circumstance definitely had me wishing for more.

Less Enjoyable Bits

Sometimes, I find details I dislike that are important to the story. I think that might be the case here. For example, one character struggles with alcoholism or at least regularly uses alcohol to seek oblivion, and there’s a decent portion of the story where it’s not given context. It’s just a vice they have, and it gets them tossed in jail (to have them meet up with other important characters, of course). Much later, we learn a few details about their past that hint at why they drink so often, but it’s not particularly satisfying. Then again, maybe any family or personal experience with alcoholism or alcoholics makes this plotline hit different?

We’re given hints of each main character’s past, but sometimes it’s not balanced in the first book of a trilogy like this. While I became thoroughly invested in each of the characters as they came across the page, it disappointed me that we didn’t get more information on the Teek. Considering how their people and culture play into the first book’s story, I would’ve expected to hear more about them than a passing mention. The story in book one still makes sense without those details, but it might’ve been enriched with more of them included.

My only other complaint is on the magic system(s) used in this world. I enjoy fantasy worlds where magic is standard, especially if there are different kinds based on culture or class. That said, this book didn’t flesh out the magic existing in their society. We get hints here and there for plot purposes, but there’s never a really good explanation of what is and isn’t possible with magic (or how). Again, this might be a trilogy issue rather than an issue with this book directly. I can only wait and see in book two.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

She was only ten, then, her destiny far from decided. She had not yet learned that she was poor and that people like her only went to the celestial tower as servants, or that once you were poor, people hated you for it even when you weren’t poor anymore.

“Villain,” he mouthed, liking the sound of it, the weight of the word on his bloodied lip. If protecting his crows made him a villain, then a villain he would be.

Even when armed with blade and bow, even with an army of a thousand at her command, a spearmaiden’s greatest weapon is her tongue.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – if you enjoy reading fantasy based in non-European cultures, this book is a great add to your collection. Also, the queer representation is woven throughout the story, so that’s a major bonus!

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “Practical Magic” by Alice Hoffman

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: Practical Magic
Author: Alice Hoffman
Published: Reissue edition from 2003 by Berkley
Genres: Fiction, Family Saga, Magical Realism, Paranormal, Fantasy
Edition Details: 286 pages, trade paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating: {4/5 stars}

First Glance

I’m not a movie person. Period.

That said, Practical Magic is one of the few movies I still call a favorite, even as the years progress and the filming style (i.e. special effects, acting methods, directing, etc.) become more and more aged. I had no idea back in 1998 that the movie was based on a book; I was an eleven year old in a world without internet in everyone’s house, so I enjoyed the movie and moved on.

I only found out about the book when the prequel showed up on our bookstore’s display during my birthday trip. I picked up both books and added them to my TBR list, and a friend’s decision to create an online book club led to me bumping Practical Magic up to read next.

Positive Bits

This review contains spoilers, because this book and movie have been out for years. Fair warning!

Hoffman’s voice is unique in the way she tells her story. Instead of reading a story as though we are the omnipotent viewer, we get to experience the story as though we’re listening to a storyteller as they tell us the story. There’s not a ton of dialogue, but we get a taste of each character’s inner world through the descriptions of what they’re doing and feeling. It’s an interesting approach to telling a story that you don’t see often.

Kylie (Sally’s younger daughter of thirteen) is probably the most interesting character in the book. I enjoyed experiencing her sudden onset of aura and energy awareness, as some of the descriptions really hammer home the way someone with high empathy can feel. She felt like the character who was given the most depth, which is amusing when you consider that her main role in the movies was to be the little girl that saw Jimmy’s ghost. I think the story benefited overall from having teenagers instead of children in the family, as teenagers can provide another pair of nearly-adult eyes to view the story.

If I completely ignore the fact that a movie of this book exists and measure the book on its own standing, then I enjoyed the story. The magical realism involved is extremely subtle (i.e. almost non-existent), but I think it lends just enough suspension of disbelief to make the rest of the story believable. Without the hints of magic, the events that happen and the characters’ reactions to them wouldn’t make any sense.

Less Enjoyable Bits

My wife had to keep correcting me as I talked about this book. In my head, the movie has existed since I was a kid but the book only came into existence (for me) this year. Every difference I noticed came out as “they took out the part where…” instead of “the movie added a part where…”. Regardless, my problems with this book were largely based on what never happened outside of the movie. Some of my favorite scenes included the love spell meant to keep love away and the PTA phone tree calling in a volunteer coven to help save the day… neither of which existed in the book. Basically, the book had none of the movie’s magic woven into the story, and that was disappointing to a fan of the movie’s version of events.

Aside from artistic differences between the book and movie, I took issue with some of the random vulgarity in the descriptions. Hoffman’s prose is generally soft and floaty, like you’re listening to a storyteller, but she randomly tosses in details like “Maybe it’s because she’s just realized who it was she was fucking and calling sweetheart all that time. (page 223)” that become jarring as they enter the scene. There were a handful of times where the that kind of sharp note showed up unannounced, and I don’t feel like they were necessary to tell the story. Sometimes these moments also occurred within tangents in the prose, leaving them to feel both uncomfortable and unnecessary.

This book is labeled as magical realism, but it’s disappointingly mundane. Sure, the aunts are witch-like women who occasionally perform a love spell for someone foolish, but mostly they make soap to sustain themselves. They ride a bus to go down and help the girls out. One of Sally’s daughters can see auras when she turns thirteen, but it’s not important except to explain her seeing Jimmy’s spirit around the garden where he’s buried. She sees a pair of men leave a bar drunk, and her ability to see auras isn’t needed to see that they’re troublemakers; in fact, her ability plays no part in her own story outside of seeing Jimmy’s spirit off and on. Most of the story is based in the kind of world Sally wants to live in: a normal one.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

It doesn’t matter what people tell you. It doesn’t matter what they might say. Sometimes you have to leave home. Sometimes, running away means you’re headed in the exact right direction. – page 56

On especially hot days, when you’d like to murder whoever crosses you, or at least give him a good slap, drink lemonade instead. – page 193

Although she’d never believe it, those lines in Gillian’s face are the most beautiful part about her. They reveal what she’s gone through and what she’s survived and who exactly she is, deep inside. – page 265

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – as long as you’re not looking to read the movie in book form. They’re nothing alike, but I think the book stood up well on its own.

Posted in [fiction reviews]

[Fiction Review] “What Should Be Wild” by Julia Fine

Posted on by Larissa Lee

Full Title: What Should Be Wild
Author: Julia Fine
Published: May 2019 by Harper Perennial
Genres: Fiction, Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Adult Fiction
Edition Details: 368 pages, hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: {3.5/5 stars}

This review is spoiler free.

First Glance

My wife’s coworker gave her this book after hearing about some of the other books I’ve read. She said it was my kind of weird. Considering the description includes a family curse and the power to kill at the slightest touch, I figured she was right.

Positive Bits

I happen to enjoy stories that switch perspectives, as long as we’re given clear guidance on who the speaker is for each section. The author did so throughout this book, swapping from the main character Maisie to her female ancestors to build the story. It played an important role in fleshing out the family curse and Maisie’s personal experience of it. Each change in perspective was clearly marked.

Magical realism is that dark kind of lovely to read. It always feels like zooming into a story with magic, whereas we often view it from high above. Instead of showing me how hard it is to live with deadly touch, the author has Maisie weeding the garden by touching certain vines at their base (efficient!). Her actions have a hesitant kind of grace, born of necessity as she dances around touching the living things in her life. I think the real beauty of magical realism is in how successfully it brings magic into our reality, playing it out to its obvious conclusions.

The story of Maisie’s family and the ancestors we meet are tragic and deeply intertwined with Maisie’s own story. Each is fleshed out in a way that builds someone with their own personality and goals, rather than a prop to tell the main character’s story. The other characters in the cast (outside of her family) are equally well told, allowing you to ride along with Maisie while understanding the actions and motives of those around her. Any surprises are based on purposeful plot points, rather than accidental plot holes.

Less Enjoyable Bits

I struggled with what to rate this book, honestly. In my personal rating system, I used 1-10 as options; the 3.5 stars would be 7 in that system, listed as “the book was good, but there were plot holes or tropes that got in the way of full enjoyment – will not keep.” To be fair, “will not keep” just means I have limited shelf space and likely won’t reread this book.

As for the things that got in the way of full enjoyment, there’s not a lot of specifics I can give without ruining the plot. I found that the primary and secondary antagonists we meet just don’t sit well with me. Maisie is made a victim and rests in that place for quite a while, making me frustrated and uncomfortable with her lethargy in the face of being misused. Later, the “climax” kind of fizzles out with the main antagonist not antagonizing Maisie at all once they finally meet. The ending is what I expected it to be, but it was built up to something dramatic only to be solved with a handshake, so to speak.

Because of the ending more than anything else, I don’t know how I’d recommend this book to someone. If asked about this book directly or asked for suggestions on books with magical realism done well, I’d say it’s an interesting read and definitely weird in a good way. But I don’t think this book will be one I choose to suggest to others outside of that window.

Tidbits Worth Repeating

Nothing begs question of permanence, of sin, like the power to kill and revive. Nothing promises revival like a fairy tale.

Tamed. A word for a wild girl made obedient. A word for a hawk with clipped wings, a declawed tiger. A word that made me safe.

Peter would have said that behaviors are determined by principles, theories. That the difference between Theory of God and Theory of Not God was actually quite slim, each a slightly different lens through which to choose to view the world. One a shade lighter, the other negligibly darker – what mattered was that both were held up to the eye and used to filter our experience.

Is it worth the coin?

Yes – if you’re looking for a book with magical realism and a dark family history, this is a good choice.