Review: How You Get The Girl by Anita Kelly

Title: How You Get The Girl [Love & Other Disasters #3]
Author: Anita Kelly
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2024
Publisher: Forever
GoodReads

Synopsis:

When smart-mouthed Vanessa Lerner joins the high school basketball team Julie Parker coaches, Julie’s ready for the challenge. What she’s not ready for is Vanessa’s new foster parent, Elle Cochrane—former University of Tennessee basketball star. While star-struck at first, soon Julie persuades Elle to step into the unfilled position of assistant coach for the year.
 
Even though Elle has stayed out of the basketball world since an injury ended her short-lived WNBA career, the gig might be a way to become closer to Vanessa—and to spend more time with Julie, who makes Elle laugh. As the coaches grow closer, Elle has a hard time understanding how Julie is single. When Julie reveals her lifelong insecurity about dating and how she wishes it was more like sports—being able to practice first—it sparks an intriguing idea. While Elle still doubts her abilities as a basketball coach, helping Julie figure out dating is definitely something she can do. But as the basketball season progresses, and lines grow increasingly blurred, Julie and Elle must decide to join the game—or retreat to the sidelines.

Review:

This is my first Anita Kelly book and it was okay. I want to say it was amazing, but unfortunately it just didn’t click right with me, which is hugely disappointing since it had everything I basically like (outside of the main trope, which didn’t click as the main trope until I was in it).

Immediately, I got hooked on the writing. The story started off strong but their brains being abuzz over one another immediately turned me off. I appreciated both of their respect for one another – green flag characters all around – but the fangirly-ness of it all was not for me (the whole love arc takes place across 2 months only).

Then there was the practice dating. I’m not usually a practice dating kind of person, the trope is very hit or miss for me, and this time around it was a miss. The priorities felt off and some of it felt way too fast, but again that might be a me problem.

I did like the mental health discussion, the chats about feeling behind because of a lack of dating (and possibly being aro/ace/demi), and the feeling of being mildly directionless, but for some reason it just didn’t gel with me like these discussions usually would (cause hi, directionless, mentally ill demi here). I did love the reassurance that no label is really needed though, that was very gratifying. Also, the MC’s relationships were also really well developed (though maybe the large cast was part of why I didn’t love it??). Both MCs have full lives – family who they love and interact with, friends who pop in and help them through problems – and I loved that they had that, but it was a lot of take in. Maybe if I’d read the first two books I would have had a better handle on all the secondary characters.

Like I said, the writing was good, but something just didn’t click for me and I’m as disappointed by that as you probably are. Might give their other books a try one day, but this was just okay for me.

Rep: sapphic, MC with depression and chronic migraines, MC questioning

TW: sexual content; mentions drug abuse, addiction, parental neglect

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 3/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.27/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever via Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

Title: The Emperor and the Endless Palace
Author: Justinian Huang
Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2024
Publisher: Mira
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Synopsis:

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor — but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.

In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead.

And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.

Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them.

As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.

An unpredictable roller coaster of a debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a genre-bending romantic thriller that challenges everything we think we know about true love.

Review:

Much more sex than I had expected, but this was a fantastic reimagining of the Cut Sleeve story (featuring classic characters like Huang Jiulang and Dong Xian, as well as a third present voice) that takes you across centuries.

Told from three perspectives, we see the characters journey through three reincarnations with you guessing a bit on who’s who and why. With masterful storytelling, the narrative is addictive and heady, fitting the toxicity and greediness of the romances well.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that this story was fast-paced, full of both budding romance and toxic love, a little mysterious, and a bit magical. Some character arcs surprised and dazzled me, while others felt like a betrayal (in the best kinds of ways). This book didn’t feel like a debut, especially because of the writing. The Emperor and the Endless Palace is so well-crafted, and the stories so intricately tied to each other, that you won’t want to look away!

TW: sexual content, death, injury detail, alcohol consumption, infidelity, sexual assault, drug use, drug abuse, homophobia, animal death (not dog), ableism; mentions rape, death of a parent, cancer, vomit

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.23/5

eBook gifted via Edelweiss by MIRA via HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Red Tigress by Amélie Wen Zhao

Title: Red Tigress [Blood Heir Trilogy #2]
Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: Mar 2, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
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Synopsis:

Ana Mikhailov is the only surviving member of the royal family of Cyrilia. She has no army, no title, and no allies, and now she must find a way to take back the throne or risk the brutal retribution of the empress. Morganya is determined to establish a new world order on the spilled blood of non-Affinites. Ana is certain that Morganya won’t stop until she kills them all.

Ana’s only chance at navigating the dangerous world of her homeland means partnering with Ramson Quicktongue again. But the cunning crime lord has schemes of his own. For Ana to find an army, they must cross the Whitewaves to the impenetrable stone forts of Bregon. Only, no one can be certain what they will find there.

A dark power has risen. Will revolution bring peace–or will it only paint the streets in more blood.

Review:

I liked this a lot more than book 1. I still found some things were lacking in terms of characters learning their dang lesson (not me screaming at them to stop going into danger alone every other chapter), but I found I really enjoyed Brigon and getting into the groove of the found family we made in Blood Heir.

I found Linn gave Toph vibes, and Sorcha gave Azula energy. Both characters were great additions to the cast, I loved seeing more of Linn after her introduction at the end of Blood Heir. I did find Linn’s devotion to Ana a bit strong for what transpired in Blood Heir, but past that, she’s a strong character. I didn’t think I’d read the final installment halfway through, but now I’m so curious about our three MCs as we reach the finale of the series.

This installment had a better and stronger climax than Blood Heir, and I found myself rooting for the characters more than rubbing my temples in frustration. Definitely didn’t suffer from second book syndrome! I’m also glad that we tied up some storylines in this one, thus setting the stage for Crimson Reign.

All in all, a strong sequel, and a great setup for the finale of the series! I’m really loving the crew we’ve put together and I’m excited to see how their story ends.

TW: blood, murder, injury detail, torture, alcohol consumption, violence, child abuse, fire/fire injury, death; mentions infidelity, death of a parent, death of a child, kidnapping

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.94/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Delacorte Press via Random House Children’s in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Title: Descendant of the Crane
Author: Joan He
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Publisher: Roaring Brook
GoodReads

Synopsis:

TREASON

For princess Hesina of Yan, the palace is her home, but her father is her world. He taught her how to defend against the corruption and excesses of the old kings, before revolutionaries purged them and their seers and established the dynasty anew.

Before he died, he was supposed to teach her how to rule.

TRIAL

The imperial doctors say the king died a natural death, but Hesina has reason to believe he was murdered. She is determined to uncover the truth and bring the assassin to justice.

TRUTH

But in a broken system, ideals can kill. As the investigation quickly spins out of Hesina’s control, she realizes that no one is innocent. Not the heroes in history, or the father she thought she knew. More blood will spill if she doesn’t rein in the trial soon―her people’s, her family’s, and even her own.

Review:

What an absolutely stunning book. I read this back in 2019 as an eARC, but I didn’t have the words at the time to properly express how amazing I found this book, even more so today than I did back then.

At its heart, Descendant of the Crane is a book about morality. We all want to do the right thing, we all want to believe in the systems that have been put in place, and we all want to hope that the people around us are true, faithful, and honest. This book breaks down the concept of morality and truth and makes Hesina, our MC, question what is real and what is a veneer over a broken system.

What I love most about this book is that it showed the truth of humanity – no matter your position, your intentions, or your heart, humans are fallible and we make mistakes. Hesina makes choices that she believes are right and will lead her to the truth, but the brokenness of the system results in consequence after consequence, loss after loss. And she owns up to them, which is so rare to see, but you can see her taking accountability and bearing the weight of the losses on her shoulder.

The twist at the end still haunts me and I wish that we could’ve gotten a sequel for this one. Alas, not in the cards, but where it ends, there’s hope for everyone left and I loved the potential we’re left with.

Descendant of the Crane remains a favourite for me, and I definitely recommend picking this one up. I think it’ll surprise you.

TW: death, grief, torture, violence, blood, injury detail, genocide, slavery, racism (of a magical group of people); mentions suicide, war, vomit

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.62/5

eARC gifted by Joan He’s previous problematic publisher (Albert Whitman & Company), so I won’t be thanking them, but acknowledging the gifted copy.

Review: Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan

Title: Fathomfolk [Drowned World #1]
Author: Eliza Chan
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: Feb 27, 2024
Publisher: Orbit
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Synopsis:

Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears.
 
But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk — sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas—who live in the polluted waters below.
 
For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to reform. At last, she has the ear of the city council and a chance to lift the repressive laws that restrict fathomfolk at every turn. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn’t hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when a water dragon is exiled to the city.
 
New arrival Nami is an aristocratic water dragon with an opinion on everything. Frustrated by the lack of progress from Mira’s softly-softly approach in gaining equality, Nami throws her lot in with an anti-human extremist group, leaving Mira to find the headstrong youth before she makes everything worse.
 
And pulling strings behind everything is Cordelia, a second-generation sea-witch determined to do what she must to survive and see her family flourish, even if it means climbing over the bodies of her competitors. Her political game-playing and underground connections could disrupt everything Nami and Mira are fighting for.
 
When the extremists sabotage the annual boat race, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Even Nami realises her new friends are not what they seem. Both she and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth it, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.

Review:

Not my first ever gifted book from Orbit being an absolute dud. I have never been so disappointed by an anticipated release. The fact that this is categorised as adult fantasy is criminal.

The world building in Fathomfolk is immaculate – from the political systems, to the Fathomfolk races, to the hierarchal classes within their military and government, to the machinations in the background, to their history and lore – everything is so detailed and well established that you feel like you’ve just popped into this fantastically flawed world. It mirrors ours so well in its discourse around politics, immigration, history, and activism. The fact that this was so well built is a testament to Eliza Chan’s skills.

This skill bled into her characters, to an extent. I appreciated seeing Mira as a biracial half-siren, half-human struggle between worlds. Not human enough to be respected by humans, not Fathomfolk enough to be respected by Fathomfolk. It vibed well with real feelings that mixed people often have to contend with.

Serena was also a very interesting character, as she has her own plans and machinations in the background as she pulled strings and threads together to fulfill her personal goals.

And then there was Nami. Fricking Nami. She’s young and brash and naive, and just happens to be the catalyst to like half the problems in this book. I really wish Nami would just not. As Kai’s younger sister, she’s always been very head strong, up in her righteous anger, and ready for action, and despite mistake after mistake, she never learns to sit down and think critically about anything before acting and it literally kills people. I was so frustrated with her from the start, and it only got worse over time. I feel like there’s a statement somewhere in there about young and impressionable people jumping head first into activism without all the facts, but I’m not even going to look that deep. If that was the lesson I was supposed to take away from this book, then it should’ve been a YA novel.

The fact that half of this book’s plot is people not realizing that their actions have consequences, that knocking down one domino takes out the whole lot, is wild to me. Like that’s not plot, that’s chaos. The only standout to me is the Kai is an angel amongst hellions. He was too good for everyone else in this book.

I’m not even going to touch the end of this book with a ten-foot pole. Thank you, next.

All in all, an absolute disappointment. The setup was strong, but this was a miss for me.

TW: racism (speci-ism?), classism, torture, death, murder, blood, injury detail, drug abuse, addiction, sexism; mentions fetishization, sexual assault

Plot: 1/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 1/5
Overall: 1/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.41/5

Finished copy gifted by Orbit in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan

Title: Women of Good Fortune
Author: Sophie Wan
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: Mar 5, 2024
Publisher: Graydon House
GoodReads

Synopsis:

Lulu has always been taught that money is the ticket to a good life. So, when Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor surprises her with a proposal, the only acceptable answer is yes, even if the voice inside her head is saying no. His family’s fortune would solve all her parents’ financial woes, but Lulu isn’t in love or ready for marriage.

The only people she can confide in are her two best friends: career-minded Rina, who is tired of being passed over for promotion as her biological clock ticks away; and Jane, a sharp-tongued, luxury-chasing housewife desperate to divorce her husband and trade up. Each of them desires something different: freedom, time, beauty. None of them can get it without money.

Lulu’s wedding is their golden opportunity. The social event of the season, it means more than enough cash gifts to transform the women’s lives. To steal the money on the big day, all they’ll need is a trustworthy crew and a brilliant plan. But as the plot grows increasingly complicated and relationships are caught in the cross fire, the women are forced to face that having it all might come at a steep price…

Review:

Heisty, reflective, and chaotic, Women of Good Fortune is a fast-paced read that explores familial expectations and the weight the next generation carries because of them.

Examining beauty standards, the impact of the one child rule, societal and familial standards for both men and women, and relationships (both with friends and love), I was surprised by the depth we got for all these characters. Of course, we couldn’t fully dive into everything, but the large cast really helped to build this image of Chinese society and everything that comes with it. All the rot under the glittering facade.

A big focus is the heist and the three MC’s friendship. We have Lulu, the bride-to-be who’s always been trapped by her family’s guilt for letting her (the second child and daughter) live; Jane, who’s always been told her face was nothing pretty and is married to a man who originally wedded her for her apartment; and Rina, a workaholic who’s afraid to let go of control. They have been friends for years, and want to use the heist to take back the reins of their lives.

I loved the exploration of their friendship along with their personal relationships – with their parents, their partners, and other people in their lives. The development of everything came together so well at the end that I was honestly a bit surprised. There are some relationships that I felt like needed a bit more page-time and a bit more work to get to where it all stands at the end, but overall, I was really happy with this chaotic ride of a story.

Women of Good Fortune is really great at providing an introduction to how Chinese society looks and feels, and shows that gilded cages are still cages. All in all, definitely a strong read and a solid debut from Sophie Wan!

TW: body shaming, emotional abuse, sexism, burnout, classism, misogyny, vomit, alcohol; mentions abandonment

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.98/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Graydon House via HarperCollins Canada.

Review: Conditions of a Heart by Bethany Mangle

Title: Conditions of a Heart
Author: Bethany Mangle
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2024
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
GoodReads

Synopsis:

Brynn Kwan is desperate for her high school persona to be real. That Brynn is head of the yearbook committee, the favorite for prom queen, and definitely not crumbling from a secret disability that’s rapidly wearing her down. If no one knows the truth about her condition, Brynn doesn’t have to worry about the pitying looks or accusations of being a faker that already destroyed her childhood friendships. She’s even willing to let go of her four-year relationship with her first love, Oliver, rather than reveal that a necessary surgery was the reason she ignored his existence for the entire summer.

But after Brynn tries to break up a fight at a pep rally and winds up barred from all her clubs and senior prom, she has nothing left to prop up her illusion of being just like everyone else. During a week-long suspension from school, she realizes that she doesn’t quite recognize the face in the mirror—and it’s not because of her black eye from the fight. With a healthy sister who simply doesn’t understand and a confused ex-boyfriend who won’t just take a hint and go away like a normal human being , Brynn begins to wonder if it’s possible to reinvent her world by being the person she thought no one herself.

Review:

I want to just put a GIF of Captain Holt saying, “Pain,” and end my review there, but this book deserves so much more so I’m going to try to put all my feelings on paper (screen?).

This book resonated with me on another and put so many feelings into words. I loved how the book sets up situations to build empathy in its readers. Even if you can’t relate to the core of Brynn’s feelings, the author makes it easy for people to understand why she’s frustrated, why she’s tired, and why things are just HARD. It was a phenomenal break down of both her emotions, her relationships, and her disabilities and needs.

If you have a disability, invisible or otherwise, I feel like you’d be able to relate so well to Brynn. From her pushing herself through pain, to her negotiating with her body to just do-one-more-thing-dang-it, to her feeling trapped beneath the weight of everyone’s hovering and the idea that being chronically ill is pitiable and unimaginable. I loved that the author canonically included COVID-19 into the story to truly show that the world left us behind. Brynn feels so much throughout the story and Conditions of a Heart is truly a masterclass in turning feelings into words. I sobbed so much, yet also laughed a lot. Sometimes both at the same time which had be choking on my joy, which felt apt for this book.

I want to also shoutout the familial relationships that were addressed throughout the story, the idea that we need to be more than our disabilities to ourselves, but also to our family. The conversations they have are so important and I loved that it showed that growth is messy and full of errors and missteps, but putting in the effort shows that you’re listening and learning. This made me so happy, and it was definitely a highlight of the story.

I also loved the end. While we get a nice HEA for Brynn, there are still things left open-ended. I think this worked well because it was truly showing that there’s always more work to be done as people with disabilities continue to fight to be heard, seen, and respected. It was realistic and didn’t try to paint the world with rose-coloured lenses.

In the end, I have so many feelings around this book, and so much love for Bethany Mangle and the characters she created. Please just read it and scream unintelligibly at me as you do!

Note: As an aside, as I feel like it’s more of an editing issue than a writer issue – the final copy I read had some typos (words missing, weird turned around words), as well as inconsistencies (the whole issue with her car kept confusing me, her eating whatever off the street with her problems was weird, along with a couple other spots), which didn’t ruin the book for me (obviously), but did make me question the editor for a sec. So this isn’t the perfect book, but it’s also perfect, so read it.

Rep: MC with hEDS, MCAS, and POTS, father with hEDS

TW: violence, injury detail, medical content, discussions around ableism and classism; mentions racism, panphobia, biphobia

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.49/5

Finished copy gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Simon Teen in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin

Title: Rebel Skies
Author: Ann Sei Lin
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2024
Publisher: Tundra Books
GoodReads

Synopsis:

Kurara has never known any other life than being a servant onboard the Midori, a flying ship serving the military elite of the Mikoshiman Empire, a vast realm of floating cities. Kurara also has a secret — she can make folded paper figures come to life with a flick of her finger. But when the Midori is attacked and Kurara’s secret turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, a gut-wrenching escape leads her to the gruff Himura, who takes her under his wing. Under Himura’s tutelage, and with the grudging support and friendship of his crew, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami — wild paper spirits sought after by the Princess of Mikoshima.

But what does the princess really want with the shikigami? Are they merely enchanted figures without will or thought, or are they beings with souls and minds of their own? As fractures begin to appear both across the empire and within Kurara’s understanding of herself, Kurara will have to decide who she can trust. Her fate, and the fate of her friends — and even the world — may rest on her choice. And time is running out.

Review:

This felt like YA ADSOM meets Pokemon ethics, which is a very specific niche, but it worked.

The real star of this book is the world building – the dynamics of the political system, the concept of paper magic and shikigami, the flying ships and pirate-esque vibes of the crew – it was all so well developed, I felt like I was in the world. This is definitely where the ADSOM comparison come in – the depth of the world-building and the unique magic system made me feel like I was a part of the action.

Pokemon ethics is very specific, but the concept of these magical paper creatures, shikigami, having a master versus having autonomous thoughts feelings and the ethics behind it was a huge part of the story. What gives people the right to have governance over something/someone else? Because they’re magical creature, why aren’t they allowed the right to live freely? It provides interesting insight into a similar kind of ethics system and was a huge part of Kurara’s story line. Honestly, one of the aspects of the story I found most interesting as her own history and shikigami history and autonomy was explored more.

I also liked the three POVs and how they contrasted each other in thought and end-goals, and how they helped to build the world. It felt like we got more of the larger picture as a result of the three POVs as well as different perspectives regarding politics and magic. That being said, I feel like this gave less time for character and relationship building – Kurara’s POV was mostly ethics and Haru focused; Himura’s POV looked more at Kurara’s training and Crafters’ knowledge limitations, as much of their history was lost; and the Interlude POV that was focused on the Sorabito people and the Sohma rebellion. There wasn’t much room for the secondary characters as a result, and it felt like we didn’t really get to the hearts of our three leads either because there was a lot to juggle.

While there was an overarching plot to this book, the end felt abrupt. We were left with a lot of loose ends, and while I know this is a trilogy, I felt like there wasn’t anything solidly settled by the end and it felt unfinished as a result. I definitely will pick up the second book, as I’m so curious about the shikigami and exploring more of that magic system, but I do hope future instalments delve deeper into the characters and their relationships to one another.

TW: fire/fire injury, death, murder, injury detail, animal death (paper animal death, not dog), kidnapping (of sorts), slavery (of magical creatures), militaristic abuse of power; mentions war

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.87/5

ARC gifted by Tundra Books via Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C. L. Miller

Title: The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder
Author: C. L. Miller
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publication Date: Feb 6, 2024
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
GoodReads

Synopsis:

What antique would you kill for?

Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.

Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?

Review:

What is queued up as a Knives-Out-esque mystery thriller ended up being more of an Eat Pray Love sort of situation.

Freya has been out of the Antique Hunting business for over twenty years after the betrayal of her mentor. However, when that mentor dies, she gets back on the hunt at a turning point in her life. Now forty-something, with her daughter off at school and ex-husband selling their house, she turns her mind to the mystery in front of her – who killed her mentor and why is he posthumously sending her and her aunt to an antique retreat in the country?

The premise enticed me, but the execution was messy. With disjointed sentences and a repetitive inner narrative, I dragged myself through the first half of this book. The turning point wasn’t even something I really cared about by the time I got to it because one of the more impactful things hadn’t even been mentioned until that moment. There was an air of mystery around it, but the moment didn’t hit me in the way I think it was intended to.

The different perspectives really didn’t lend much to the progression of the story, and as a result the plot felt stilted, even as the pace picked up in the second half. I’m very curious about the intentions behind adding the other characters’ POVs because the value just wasn’t there for me.

One thing I do appreciate is the fact that this book really was saying that life doesn’t end after XYZ happens. Freya’s daughter leaving for college, Freya losing her house; she was so morose over these events at the start of the story, but we see her tackle the mystery with renewed vigor as the story progressed. I don’t think enough stories do this, so it was nice to see her getting on with her own life and rediscovering herself. That being said, I did find her own feelings about the events of her life overshadowed any of the mystery’s fun and excitement. She was like a wet blanket over her own story, which is what gave it that soul-searching quality that was not quite what I’d signed up for.

At the end of the day, I can’t say I was super invested in the mystery or in Freya’s life. The writing being messy, repetivie, and disjointed didn’t help my reading experience either. My hope is that the final version that sees the light of day is more polished and snappy, but we shall see I guess.

TW: death, murder, gun violence, blood, injury detail, alcohol; mentions fire, fire injury, death of parents; domestic abuse

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 2/5
Pacing: 1/5
Overall: 2/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.69/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao

Title: Blood Heir
Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2019
Publisher: Delacorte Press
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Synopsis:

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are deemed unnatural–even dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, is one of the most terrifying Affinites.

Ana’s ability to control blood has long been kept secret, but when her father, the emperor, is murdered, she is the only suspect. Now, to save her own life, Ana must find her father’s killer. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is one where corruption rules and a greater conspiracy is at work–one that threatens the very balance of Ana’s world.

There is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to the conspiracy’s core: Ramson Quicktongue. Ramson is a cunning crime lord with sinister plans–though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.

Review:

I don’t know how I feel about this one. It presented an interesting depiction of slavery and indenturement positioned in a world outside of the Americas. But the execution kind of fell apart at the end.

Ramson was not the hardened criminal mastermind we were promised. He does think through his plans, but, whether it’s his age or his original privilege, he is outsmarted by basically everyone he comes across. Some of his plans bear fruits, but he really does go through it, at the end of the day, despite all his planning. I did love how his character was fleshed out through flashbacks, but I couldn’t get behind his overall characterization.

The same goes for Ana. She’s said to be fierce and a badass, but she loses her battles often too. She doesn’t have a good handle on her power and her own limitations (until suddenly at the end). Again, I loved how her story is built up, but there’s definitely something missing from her.

It was so interesting seeing the Affinites’ different powers. It really helped with the world building and the magic. Again, the slavery and indenturement aspect was so interesting and full of nuance in a way that breaks your heart. Additionally, the rebellion is presented in a way that you want to get behind, but also notes the impact and consequences of overcorrection. There are a lot of questions of morality, particularly what action goes too far? At what point is the hero a villain?

Lastly, the end was so staged. I hated how dramatic it was cause I thought of the solution immediately and it made me mad that everything was just yelling in a court room. Felt flimsy, though, again, I guess it was the age showing, in that Ana believed yelling crimes out in court would really change the tides. I don’t know. This was a miss for me for the most part, but I truly do feel like this will set up the rest of the series well. I’m also curious to see how Amelie’s writing improves as I go through her repertoire.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 2/5
Writing: 3/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 2/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.83/5