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#August only has a goodreads
chloegong · 2 months
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The king's games are over, now the palace games begin.
PRESENTING THE SEQUEL TO IMMORTAL LONGINGS, AND BOOK 2 IN THE FLESH AND FALSE GODS TRILOGY... ✨VILEST THINGS✨ coming September 10, 2024.
it's filled with angst, it's off the walls insane, and it's driven by toxic love and power-hungry politics... all the juicy stuff necessary for something inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, of course, and I'm so excited for you to read it RAHHHHHHH
Brace yourself for both US and UK covers to be revealed (truly out of this world gorgeous) and preorder links are slowly making their way out but you can add to Goodreads in the meanwhile to prepare for the drama to come <3
OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION:
Calla Tuoleimi has succeeded in the impossible. Despite the odds, she has won San-Er’s bloody games and eliminated King Kasa, her tyrant uncle and the former ruler of Talin. She serves now as royal advisor to Kasa’s adopted son, August Shenzhi, who has risen to the throne.
Only Calla knows it isn’t really August.
Anton Makusa is still furious about Calla’s betrayal in the final round of the games. In an impossible feat, he took over August’s body to survive, and has no intention of giving up this newfound power. But when his first love, the beautiful, explosive Otta Avia, awakens from a years-long coma and reveals a secret that threatens the monarchy’s authority over Talin, chaos erupts. As tensions come to a boiling point, Calla and Anton must set their conflicts aside and head to the kingdom’s far reaches to prevent anarchy… even if their empire might be better off burning.
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aeide · 25 days
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hi friends, old and new. this is my semi-irregular post about a book I wrote called MEMENTO MORI, coming out in august. it is a real book that not only has a title, but also a cover and maybe even a plot!
well, it definitely has a cover (below). as for the plot, one could say it's about eurydice, orpheus, persephone, and hades, although it's not a greek myth retelling in the traditional sense—probably the biggest difference being that the book revolves around korean-american identity and family, which I am not sure were of great concern to the greeks.
at its core, this is a story about grief, mourning, and love. if nothing else, I hope anyone who has experienced these things will, for a brief moment, feel a tiny bit less alone, and a tiny bit more understood.
I made a website for the book, by which I realize I am doxxing myself, but please let's keep this secret between us and the entirety of tumblr. I also have a sideblog. reblogs, follows, and any other boosts are immensely appreciated, because the more I can pretend I am doing publicity work here, the less I feel obligated to learn other social media (please don't make me create a tiktok). and the less time I am obligated to spend on other social media, the more quickly I can get back to my true love (kassidas fanfic).
more details beneath the cover art, including what ao3 tags would apply if trad publishing used them!
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release date: august 13, 2024
genre: literary fiction
if bookstores used ao3 tags: grief/mourning, angst, greek mythology, korean-american, major character death (SORRY), sexual violence, epistolary, story within a story, siblings, family, memory loss, unreliable narrator
insufferable marketing blurb:
Did Eurydice want to return from the underworld? Did anybody ask? In this astonishing work of “ferocious intellect and clarity,” debut author EH weaves together Greek mythology, neuroscience, and the saga of a Korean family to create an “unexpected and thrilling story that features myth without being just a simple retelling.” Recasting the myths of Eurydice, Orpheus, Persephone, and Hades through the lens of a Korean American family, Memento Mori explores grief and love through a “beautifully written and impressively candid meditation on family secrets and the ties that bind.”
where to buy: preorder links here. to summarize, I personally love local bookstores, but you can also buy from all of the major retailers like barnes & noble and that other big online store.
other ways to acquire:
for library enthusiasts, you can request the e-book from your local library through libby by opening that link and clicking "notify me". if there are any librarians or bookshop owners here, an early draft is up on edelweiss!
if you don't want to preorder now, but are not repulsed by the existence of this book, I would love it if you could add it on goodreads, storygraph, and/or any other trackers you use!
if you are interested in the book but cannot afford it and do not think it is likely that your library will acquire it, please send me a chat here or on discord (or to my sideblog, if you're not able to message this account). you can also message me through the website contact form (which will have the bonus benefit of letting me know whether that works). I'll see whether I'm able to send you one of my comp copies once I receive them, since of all the people who don't want to buy my book, you lot are my favorites. seriously, at no point will I be getting rich from this book, so I'm happy to give away what I can without incurring the cataclysmic wrath of my (very lovely!) publisher. my only goal is for this book to find people who will love it or at least will enjoy displaying it on a shelf somewhere.
relatedly, if you happen to be a book reviewer and you want an ARC, please let me know!
with release date in a few months (!), I might be promoting my book here and on the sideblog semi-regularly, instead of irregularly to nearly never. if you don't want to see these, please don't be shy about muting the tag "memento mori" which I use on all book posts. no hard feelings, I promise!
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ofliterarynature · 6 months
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AUGUST 2023 WRAP UP
[ loved liked okay no thanks DNF (reread) bookclub*]
Witch Week | A Perilous Undertaking | 2 AM At the Cat's Pajamas | The Last Sun | The Lives of Christopher Chant | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* | (The Angel of the Crows) | The Enchanted April | The Art of Prophecy | A Curious Beginning | Q's Legacy | The Grimoire of Grave Fates | Charmed Life | Ocean's Echo | (Band Sinister) | (Unfit to Print) | Camp Damascus | Wanted, A Gentleman | Translation State | The Mistress of Bhatia House
I’m late I’m late I’m late! Oops
It’s only a month late, right? ‘Only’ lol, work has been exhausting! Anyways:
At this point I wonder if Ann Leckie can ever do wrong, Translation State was good! I was completely enthralled, which is all I ask, even if I don’t get as passionate about it as the main trilogy.
I continued the KJ Charles reading, with these supposed stand alones that are also kind of related? Honestly it’s no less of a stretch than Society of Gentlemen to Lilywhite Boys, so I don’t know why she can’t officially list them together. Anyways, mostly fine, and Band Sinister is still a delight!
Camp Damascus…I’m thrilled for Chuck, really, and I think he’s a delight to follow, but this one wasn’t for me. Religious trauma is turning out to be a hard no.
Ocean’s Echo was good! In some ways I definitely thought it was better than Winter’s Orbit - miscommunication is the worst I’m sorry, this story was more consistently engaging! I just like the characters from WO a bit more.
Chrestomanci! I’ve been going by the suggested reading order on Goodreads, and while I wasn’t particularly enthused by Charmed Life, once I had a grasp on the world the other books have been fun! Im very sad this might be my last DWJ, as I seem to have exhausted my library’s collection of her audiobooks :(
Grimoire of Grave Fates had a really interesting premise that lured me in, despite my reservations - an anthology where all the stories work together to solve the mystery of a murder at a magic boarding school? I thought it worked fairly well (and could definitely spin itself out into a series of novels), but just ok for me. Maybe one day I’ll finally concede I can’t read YA or boarding school books anymore.
Q’s Legacy was the last (I think) of the 84 Charing Cross Road books, and honestly the worst. It had its interesting moments, but it lacked the cohesion of the other two, speed,-running the before and during of those stories, to then spend the second half on the adaptations. It was not at all what the descriptions led me to expect. Maybe worth a single read but not a revisit.
I will also be honest, I didn’t really like the first Veronica Speedwell! The plot felt a bit contrived, and Veronica was so blunt as to almost read as rude or mean. Also very unexpectedly…clinically horny? Does that make sense? I’m not quite sure what prompted me to continue, but I’m now several books in and enjoying it! To be blunt myself, the historic setting is just set dressing, the plots can feel contrived, the mysteries are mediocre, but the real draw is the Veronica and Stoker show once they get themselves settled in and comfortable with each other. It’s a hoot.
I’d heard good things about The Art of Prophecy, but I still didn’t know quite what to expect going in. It was wonderful. Maybe a little long, but if you’re looking for a fantastic fantasy with lots of fight sequences, no romance, and some fascinating characters, this is a great read. The sequel comes out soon and I can only hope it doesn’t take as long for my library to get the audiobook as it did for this one.
I don’t know where I first found An Enchanted April, but it’s been on my TBR for a little bit, and I thought it would be the perfect fit for my classics challenge I gave myself this year! It wasn’t what I expected at all - it’s entirely character driven and very focused on their flaws, and the entire first half I thought I was going to hate it. But the second half, there’s a twist, almost, born of some very  naïve optimism that nonetheless works out. Very improbably, but I was happy for them, you funky little weirdos. 
What can I say about The Angel of the Crows except that it is still very good! It’s maybe lost a little of the shine it held when I got obsessed with it for a few months last year, but it is definitely now one of my comfort books. I really ought to read more canon Holmes though lol.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was, to be fair, one of my suggestions for book club. It was OK, but there were definitely parts that really did not work for me, the frame narrative in particular. The other members of the club really liked it but I don’t have any plans to read more of the authors work.
I’m almost tempted to put The Last Sun last just so I can yell more. I’d heard such good things about this series, but turns out my expectations were a bit skewed - it is not historical or secondary fantasy world, oops. So we got off to a bit of a rough start, not to mention all of the Capital Words. Not usually a good sign. And while I still wouldn’t say I love the worldbuilding necessarily, or that these are the next great work of fantasy, the action is really great, and the characters are flipping fantastic. You’ve got a pair of 30 year olds who are bad ass fighters, have a traumatic past, are immature assholes, can be so so kind, and accidentally adopt a posse of troubled teenagers? Sign me up, I love them, this reminds me so much of my days reading tons of Teen Wolf fanfic AUs.
My history with 2 AM At the Cat's Pajamas is that they cannot stop recommending this thing on the Book Riot podcasts. When I found a copy at Goodwill, I thought surely it’s meant to be! Well. It was not bad, but it was not great. I don’t know. It just wasn’t for me and I will not be keeping my copy. I probably should have DNF’d it, but I continued in hope.
Only one actual DNF this month though, The Mistress of Bhatia House - the newest Perveen Mistri book. I was actually fairly excited for it despite my reservations about the earlier books, but I hit a mental roadblock with this one. There was some contrived feeling tension with her sister-in-law, but really, I realized that one of my main problems with this series is that, despite being in a very precarious social position, Perveen is just incredibly reckless - usually in the name of doing good! - but it just hit all the wrong nerves at the moment. I’m hoping there will be a better time to read this, but not right now. 
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kmenright · 5 months
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COVER REVEAL - MISTRESS OF LIES
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The cover for my debut is HERE.
Thank you to Abel Klaer for the gorgeous art. He did a fantastic job of capturing Shan, my mean, villainous girl in all her glory, and I can’t wait for you to meet her (and the two great loves of her life) next August!
Descriptions and links below the cut!
FATE IS A CRUEL MISTRESS The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge. Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he's drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he's worked so hard to avoid - and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king. Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Bloodworker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan's plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.
Add to Goodreads here!
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🦇 One Last Stop Book Review 🦇
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❓ #QOTD If you could live in a different time and place, when and where would you choose? ❓ 🦇 August expects moving to New York will only prove her cynicism right. The only way to live is to do it alone. That is, until a mysterious girl on the train hands her a scarf, sparking not only a major subway crush on the Q, but an adventure that will alter August's perspective of the world forever.
💜 Oh. My. Goddess. This book. THIS BOOK. This book hit me like a freight train (yes, yes, I see the pun). It's been a month since I read it because I couldn't find the words...I still can't. But I'll try. 💜 This. Book. Why did NO ONE tell me about this book?! 💜 From page one, this book is a childhood friend reaching out and tugging you into a warm, solid embrace before lifting you off your feet, spinning you around, and causing the word to blur. Casey McQuiston's narration is familiar, inviting, intimate. I couldn't stop annotating. August is raw and vulnerable and real, but still figuring out who she is away from her mother and messy childhood. We're only lucky enough to discover the woman she is alongside her. 💜 I don't want to spoil this story for anyone who hasn't read it yet, because there's a moment that changes EVERYTHING -- the genre, the plot, August, EVERYTHING. It's executed so well that I still feel the impact. WHY am I tearing up writing a review for this a MONTH later?! 💜 The underlying messages in this story are so heavy and impactful, yet written with such ease and grace and respect. There's: 🚇 Beautiful representation and discussion about virginity 🚇 Kisses for evidence-gathering 🚇 Exploration into New York's queer history 🚇 A Chinese lesbian displaced during the 70s 🚇 Lost memory 🚇 HIV/AIDs activists 💜 Beyond that, there's a beautiful sapphic ship, quirky cast of queer side characters, and sense of found family that's beyond heart-warming. I'm completely onboard for whatever Casey McQuiston has planned next.
💜 Literary Awards: 🚇 ALA Alex Award Nominee (2022) 🚇 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romance (2021) 🚇 RUSA CODES Reading List for Romance (2022) 🚇She Reads Best of Award Nominee for Romance (2021)
🦇 Recommended for all readers; namely fans of Delilah Green Doesn't Care, She Gets the Girl, and Imogen, Obviously. This book is absolute magic. I read this in February but I can already say it's one of my top reads for the year. Yes, I'm still tearing up. What is wrong with me?
✨ The Vibes ✨ 🩷 Queer Found Family 🚇 Bisexual FMC 🩷 Diverse Cast 🏙️ Coming-of-Age 🩷 Sapphic Ship 🚝 Smut 🩷 Sci-Fi Twist
💬 Quotes ❝ Truth is, when you spend your whole life alone, it’s incredibly appealing to move somewhere big enough to get lost in, where being alone looks like a choice. ❞ ❝ August looks at her as the train reverses past Gravesend rooftops, this girl out of time, the same face and body and hair and smile that took August’s life by the shoulders in January and shook. And she can’t believe Jane had the nerve, the audacity, to become the one thing August can’t resist: a mystery. ❞ ❝ "Your friendly smile of acceptance—from the safe position of heterosexuality,’” Jane reads aloud, “‘isn’t enough. As long as you cherish that secret belief that you are a little bit better because you sleep with the opposite sex, you are still asleep in your cradle … and we will be the nightmare that awakens you.’” ❞ ❝ August laughs and wants so badly to know what it feels like to show off the person who’s yours from across the crowd...Maybe what she really wants is to be the person across the crowd who belongs to someone. ❞ ❝ “The attraction between you two is literally a spark, and it’s the same spark that’s bringing her back into reality." ❞ ❝ “I fell in love with you the day I met you, and then I fell in love with the person you remembered you are. I got to fall in love with you twice. That’s—that’s magic. You’re the first thing I’ve believed in since—since I don’t even remember, okay, you’re—you’re movies and destiny and every stupid, impossible thing, and it’s not because of the fucking train, it’s because of you. It’s because you fight and you care and you’re always kind but never easy, and you won’t let anything take that away from you. You’re my fucking hero, Jane. I don’t care if you think you’re not one. You are.” ❞
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djservo · 8 months
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HI CAS!!! you beat me to it for real i also completely forgot about the month ending oopsie <3 but i'm here to ask about your july reading/watching and what's on the list for august??
FEELS SO GOOD TO FINALLY WIN ONE <3 here's july's (vaguely red-themed) shelf:
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I have no idea how i read 7 books this month like they were mostly all under 200 pages but that still averages to almost 2 books a week which does not sound right when I reflect on my month but Ok sure we'll go with it
Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas
it didn't really click as I read it but then I watched the film adaptation (Head On '98) and let it all marinate throughout the month I think the distance has made me appreciate the story much more! reminded me a little of Camus's The Stranger (<- girl who has only ever read The Stranger LOL 🫥) in that cold disaffected "why even bother" way, but infused with that self-destructive 90s gay angst + Greek-Australian culture clashes. the film was better to me at constructing the differences of the worlds Ari (the protag) inhabited - the visuals and sounds of Greek language + spaces juxtaposed with 90s electronica + seedy alley hook-ups whereas the written form seemed more focused on illustrating Ari's disillusionment/attitude. there's another book by Tsiolkas I'm curious in (The Slap) but it's like 450 pages and IDK if his style of writing will grip me that long / if it'll feel Worth It by the time I finish ykwim... TBD
Pageboy by Elliot Page
I wanted to like this so bad but it was kinda a mess to get thru :-( nonlinear form so it was hard to follow along as it hopped back and forth from childhood to adulthood and I know that's probably an intentional/artistic choice but there wasn't really a clear thread pulling these drastically different parts of his life together where it justified this random shuffle - mostly just took me out of each stage of life he constructed. it feels unfair to criticize a memoir for content because ofc there's no right/wrong way to reflect and write about your own life experiences but I mostly agree with Nin's review on goodreads re: lack of introspection, especially since this memoir touted itself as an interrogation (as the book description puts it) of his inner journey. there was this one part where he brings up his second-ever experience at a gay bar (with Alia Shawkat!!) but abruptly stops himself and is like "but that's a story for another book" and I was like WHY THO!! this is 10000% a story for THIS book WDYM 'another book'!! sighhhh sigh whatever I still love him and will probs pick up this taunted "other book" when it comes out bc i'm a cuck
Try / Guide / Period by Dennis Cooper
the final 3 of the George Miles Cycle, read obsessively within the span of 2 weeks bc I couldn't bring myself to escape his world!! feels wrong to lump them all in one but I'll be here all day if I talk about them individually, so As A Whole I'm just really in awe of Cooper's style and characters and world-building and blurring of lines of surreal horror and violence + occasional earnest smatterings of autofiction + humanity stripped to its core. one review said the last book read as if it was collapsing into itself, and I think that translates to the series as a whole because his form seems to get more experimental as the series goes on. and while each book felt so distinct in their own tone/form, they all ultimately dissolve into like a singular bare naked truth amidst bleak depravity at the very end, which I really liked. since finishing the cycle I've immersed myself completely in interviews + videos + just about anything i can find about Cooper and realized it's been a minute since I've been this bewitched by an author — so fun!
Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker
in the same realm of Cooper with dark/taboo themes + sexual transgression + teen angst. I feel like I might have been put off by this if I hadn't read Cooper first because things get so blunt and nasty at times, but I feel like I'm better at kind of poking through the rubble of like graphic depictions of moralistic decay to read between the lines/understand the bigger picture of inner-adolescent-torment. I remember watching Welcome to the Dollhouse ('95) when I was like 11 and it just seemed cool and punky and kinda funny kinda weird but then I rewatched it in my 20s and was stunned with how bleak and heavy it was and I feel like there's something there with my feelings towards these angsty teenage requiems, like there's a sort of shock value that doesn't really click when you're younger and in the thick of it because you aren't fully privvy to the extent of how harmful power dynamics work or something .. IDK much 2 think about....
Desire/Love by Lauren Berlant
not too long or dense to make your brain fog, but Freud/Lacan-packed enough to make you feel a little stupid for not reading more Freud/Lacan. I love when I read a nonfiction book and end up adding 458349 of its references to my TBR, it's truly the gift that keeps giving! kinda enlightening, kinda disheartening. made me think of when I read Venus in Furs in college and it rocked my world and put me into a crisis about love + desire + fantasies + the projections we place onto people + whether or not anyone can truly See and Love a person for who they are or if we're all just doomed to subconsciously inject our own imagination of who they can be in our lives ...... light summer reading!
viewing-wise I've taken on the thankless task of watching all 48534 Friday the 13th movies so once I finish I'm sure I'll need a slasher break. a friend and i are also summer buddy reading starting with A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf (my first Woolf!), then pivoting to a sorta dark boyhood in classic lit theme with Quarry by Jane White, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. I'll probably read other books on the side myself (I'm in the middle of Looking For Mr. Goodbar right now) but I'm excited at the thought of a themed plan + discussions for the month(s) ahead! i forget sometimes how rewarding it feels to experience and unpack a book with someone else <3
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Book Review: This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab
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One of the most interesting take on monsters that I've come across in some time. I loved the notion that flesh eaters (Corsai), blood drinkers (Malchai), and soul eaters (Sunai) are only able to come into being after some unspeakable - often violent - tragedy. Schwab has a knack for twisting familiar concepts in unforeseen ways that can't help but pull me in by the teeth.
Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed the dystopian feel of this with the humans being sectioned off from the monsters in safe zones throughout the city...until they weren't. Readers can feel a war brewing with every turn of the page, and I liked how Kate and August were both a catalyst and a juxtaposition for that impending collision course in Verity, with each of them fighting to subdue their inner monster while also trying to safeguard their last shreds of humanity. It was a suspenseful read. Good storytelling.
3.5/5 stars
**Follow me on Goodreads
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dkafterdark · 9 months
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*I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Cover image & summary from Goodreads*
What will win; love or revenge? The people of Ridderden have always been at war with the dragons that has gone on and off for thousands of years. Losses heavy on both sides haven't deterred the ruling Families who continue to push the conflict despite it bleeding the land dry. Lay Scáth, caster and the only scholar of dragons, has fled after his family were all killed. He is determined to stay out of the fight until Damen, a half dragon and the country's only hope for peace, crashes into his life. The only issue is Damen is a Skyborn, the Family responsible for ruining Lay's life. A journey across Ridderden to reach the Home of the Dragons shows both enemies and friends and Lay is forced to make a choice. Follow through with his plan to get revenge or put them aside for the handsome man whose honesty starts to break him from his armor.
Dragons, secrets, a tragic backstory, a daunting mission... Lay has all of these and more! In a world where the ruling humans have made war against the dragons for centuries, Lay is a rarity - a dragon scholar who longs to see peace return to the country of Ridderden. He's a classic hero in hiding with mad fighting skills, magic, and dashing good looks (including a distinctive facial scar). He's primed for a quest when one literally lands in his backyard! Damen is a half dragon who needs Lay's unique expertise to stop the conflict between humans and dragons. 
I am not immune to the power of a good book cover, and Sky Heart's cover is stunning! It definitely captures the vibes of the story. The cover and book summary drew me in with the promise of dragons and magic, revenge and romance, and this book definitely delivers. 
Lay is an interesting and complex character with an intriguing combination of secrets, pain, and impressive inner strength. He's suffered so much, and his loss has shaped him and his path in a harsh way, yet he still has his goodness and faith in others. I liked that Lay has a curious mind and he's always learning and putting his smarts to good use. He's also able to find allies at every turn and build alliances. He's lonely but still trying to make the world better. Damen is a great companion for Lay. He radiates protect vibes and always has Lay's back. Their slow burn relationship is really sweet (with a side of spice)!
I don't want to spoil anything about the plot, but major truths are revealed, battles are fought, and friendships are forged. It's a satisfying fantasy and a promising start to a series. In future books I'd love to spend more time with the dragons, especially my fave gender neutral dragon! 
Pub date August 30, 2023
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sapphicbookclub · 8 months
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Author Spotlight: Lee Swanson
The Sapphic Book Club is excited to participate in Lee Swanson's Virtual Book Tour for Her Dangerous Journey Home, a current club read! Check out the full article below to hear more about the No Man Is Her Master series, and stay tuned to Goodreads for club member reviews.
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Succeeding in the Male-Dominated World of Medieval England: One Woman’s Approach
Over the course of the series No Man is Her Master, my strong female protagonist’s life changes in ways she could never have dreamed possible. No longer is Christina Kohl just an impetuous teenager living in her parents’ home in the German imperial city of Lübeck. As the third novel in the series begins, young Christina is a master among London’s merchants as well as a courageous knight in the service of King Edward II. Her achievements are only possible through her most profound transformation; when she assumes the identity of her lost brother, Frederick. If king or commoner learn of this deception, her new life will certainly come crashing down around her.
Christina must constantly be on guard lest she betray herself through an unthinking word or action. Even relieving herself must be carefully planned as it is customary to do so openly, particularly amongst men. Concealing her gender is not easy, as she leads a very public life as a merchant. She also has a knack for attracting violence; repeatedly engaging male opponents throughout the series with sword, knife, and fist. Should Christina be seriously injured in one of these encounters, the bandaging of her wounds to save her life could also endanger it by revealing her true sex to those providing her aid.
An advantage in passing herself off as a man is that she is larger than most women of the time, about five feet ten, with broad shoulders and an athletic build. Christina’s facial features are strong; she is handsome rather than pretty. Her breasts are small; easily hidden by linen bindings worn beneath the loosely-fitting tunics and cottes she favors. The width of her hips is concealed by the length of her garments. Her legs are muscular, and her feet are far from petite. She speaks with a rich contralto voice, deeper in tone than many men.
Just as important as her physical appearance is her inherent self-confidence, made stronger by the arrogance of her youth. She is decisive, assertive, and unafraid to speak her mind. She is also a risk-taker; assured her knowledge and abilities will cause her to prevail over any challenge. Since most men of the fourteenth century believe women incapable of such qualities, it stands to reason that they would believe Frederick Kohl to be a male.
Despite her best efforts, her masquerade is not able to fool everyone she encounters. Some individuals, such as her friend Piers Gaveston and her lover Lady Cecily Baldewyne, readily agree to protect her secret. Those less amenable are quickly silenced by her blade. The possibility that her true gender could be discovered at any time is a constant worry to Christina and creates a tension that is a central aspect of the series.
            Lee Swanson is author of the No Man Is Her Master sapphic historical quadrilogy.
Book III in the series, entitled Her Dangerous Journey Home, releases August 1, 2023.
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thelivebookproject · 6 months
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July - September 2023 | Reading Wrap Up
[Jan-March] [April-June]
Autumn is here, and with it, my summery wrap up! And speaking of summer... Here is my recap of Forgotten YA Gems' V Summer Bingo Reading Challenge, complete with fancy card. As usual, I loved it. I love a good literary bingo ;)
Note: Our beloved Forgotten YA Gems group, after several years of joyful activity, has closed its door on the Goodreads group, but is still active in Discord, for those of you who might be interested!
And now, onto the wrap up!
Code: books read in English are in black, books read in Spanish are in red and the book I read in French is in blue.
JULY (8)
Los hombres no son islas. Los clásicos nos ayudan a vivir - Nuccio Ordine, translation into Spanish by Jordi Bayod
A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove #3) - Tessa Dare -> 3/5
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen -> 5/5
Historias d’antis más de Biscarrues - Ed. Sandra Araguás [Only available in Spanish] -> 3/5
The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies #1) - KJ Charles -> 3.5/5
Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey #1) - Dorothy L. Sayers -> 3/5
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon - Sarah Hawley -> 3/5
Tintin in America (Tintin #3) - Hergé, translation into English by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper & Michael Turner -> 2.5/5
July was fun. Nuccio Ordine's philosophical analysis of the importance of classical books for the humanisation of our society was perhaps not fun, but it was surprisingly less dry than I expected it to be. Some good romances came along afterwards, as well as a collection of local myths and stories from Spain, a murder mystery, and my first Tintin! I'd had it aroung for years, it was part of a present from many years ago when my English wasn't yet good enough to read it and then I just never got around to it until this summer... Overall, nothing exceedingly remarkable (except for my dearly beloved P&P), but good vibes in the melting heat.
AUGUST (7)
Flight 714 to Sydney (Tintin #22) - Hergé, translation into English by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper & Michael Turner -> 2/5
Cigars of the Pharaoh (Tintin #4) - Hergé, translation into English by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper & Michael Turner -> 3/5
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism - Amanda Montell -> 4.5/5
The Blue Lotus (Tintin #5) - Hergé, translation into English by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper & Michael Turner -> 3/5
Broderies - Marjane Satrapi -> 3/5
The Near Witch - Victoria Schwab -> 3.5/5
Murder in the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot #9) - Agatha Christie -> 4.5/5
August was good! More Tintin (I have now finished all of the comics I had lying around in my parents' house), an amazing non-fiction book on linguistics by Amanda Montell (she also wrote Wordslut, which I loved, so clearly her writing is quite up my alley and I can't wait for her to publish her third book), a very good spooky story by Victoria Schwab, another autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi that I hadn't read yet, and my first time reading Murder in the Orient Express in English (although the book itself I've read like six times). Can't complain.
SEPTEMBER (3)
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Dangerous Damsels #3) - India Holton -> 4/5
Prosa completa - Alejandra Pizarnik -> 1/5
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold (Stephen Fry’s Great Mythology #1) - Stephen Fry -> 4/5
Welllllll apparently what I need to sit down and read is horrifying heatwaves because my September reading went down a notch. Alejandra Pizarnik's complete prose was absolute horrific, derailed my entire month, and I'll never get close to her writings ever again, but the other two were very good at least! And I was definitely entertained.
And thus another three months have gone by... I am not particularly close to reaching all of my reading goals, but I am also doing better than I was this time last year so I shall count it as a win. We'll see what the last quarter of the year holds!
A couple of last-minute links:
The Lesbrary is looking for reviewers!
I am asking for Portuguese-written book recs!
How was your summer reading?
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nateriverswife · 4 months
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Wow, authors request of you to review their books? That's so cool!
not exactly lmao it happened once with this one specific author. under the cut the story, cuz i find it kinda funny lmao
2021, in February or so, one of my former best friends brought this book to school, thinking that I may like it. don't know if she meant it to be a gift or whatnot, but this will be important later. I started reading it in class, since we weren't doing much, and I hated every single word of it.
The MC is a female cop, that is portrayed as the only woman in the entire universe who can do anything, and everyone is in love with her, so I got the ick immediately. I read only the first few pages in which it's described the dynamic of the crime scene, which is thought to be homicide-suicide.
And those were the only pages I read for a few months, because exams got in the way.
Late June, I took my exit exam and, for reasons, I stopped talking to my ex best friend, and I started to wonder: "do I have to give her this book back?". I waited to see if she wanted it back and apparently she didn't, because I still have it.
I read the book in August 2021, during my one-month holiday in my home country, and gosh, I wanted to burn it. The plot was boring, because it shifted from a thriller to a love story between the MC and the main suspect for the crime, but she didn't even care to look for clues to see if he's guilty or not. She almost forgot that she's a cop. so, my disdain was obvious.
In December 2021, I wrote a 1.5k words review (i would link the review if i knew how and it wasn't in italian lmao), because I got fed up that I seemed to be the only one to dislike it (at that time it had almost a 4 star rating).
The main points I remember were:
- it didn’t feel like a thriller.
- the male MC seemed like a self-insert, and he was so annoying and was just saying disgusting stuff about human nature and women.
- the female MC didn't know how to be a cop and seemed there just to feed his ego.
And I left it there, not thinking too much of it.
Fast forward seven months, I got a message on goodreads from the fucking author.
He created an account just to talk to me, which left me speechless. I'm still one of the only two friends he has on that app, and he tagged a book I studied for my modern history exam as "I want to read", so okay.
He said that my review impressed him, that he has never seen someone deconstruct a book like I did and yada yada yada. basically, he asked me to read the sequel.
BUT
The funny thing is... He's a cop. I literally told a cop that he doesn't know anything about his job. I still laugh at this lmao
He sent me the sequel and I read it in August of 2022 and reviewed it (2.7k words) in December 2022. The things I said for the first book were still valid for this one; some of them were even toned up a notch, and there were new ones, like dismissing institutional racism (i mean, what do i expect from a cop) or fascism in italy (like, we have a fascist PM right now, what). anyway, it was bad,
After a few months, I had to personally contact him to let him know that I did what I was supposed to, so he wouldn’t think that I just took the book and didn’t fulfil my duties. And it’s here that he said that apparently, I was too critical to be believable, as if it’s my fault that the book sucks. Just write better books.
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not-poignant · 2 years
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August Writing Round-Up
Here's the monthly round-up of everything written and posted in August 2022!
The Ice Plague 38
The Ice Plague 39
The Ice Plague 40 (end) (Goodreads)
Falling Falling Stars 139
Falling Falling Stars 140 (end) (Goodreads)
The Nascent Diplomat 23
The Nascent Diplomat 24 (Patreon early access $5+)
All That We Were, All That We Will Ever Be 01
All That We Were, All That We Will Ever Be 02
All That We Were, All That We Will Ever Be 03
Underline the Black 01
Chapter commentary 1 - Falling Falling Stars 15 (Patreon only $3+)
Chapter commentary 2 - Falling Falling Stars 60 (Patreon only $3+)
The following two stories were also released and are ongoing at my Wattpad account. For those who prefer to read on the Wattpad app, or who prefer shorter chapters, you can currently find these stories ongoing there:
Stuck on the Puzzle
The Wildness Within
I also worked on an Efnisien/Arden oneshot for Faedom Week 2022, and worked ahead on All that We Were, but I don't have anything else right now because technically August was meant to be a month off, but I had a knee injury that made taking any time off kind of useless.
In the end I wrote 31,616 words! A huge thanks to the patrons on Patreon, but also to all of you who read, like posts, offer kudos, comment, or lurk, you’re all great. :D
I still may take some time off at some point, but September should bring more of Underline the Black and the end of All That We Were, All That We Will Ever Be. I haven't forgotten about Smoke in Autumn! And nor have I forgotten about Mallory & Mount. I've also been working up on building up some more covers for Goodreads and Wattpad, and they're here! Not all of them are up yet, and I have more to come. :D
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It has actually been a busy and productive month, assisted by the commencement of ADHD meds, lmao.
I'll see you all in September! I probably won't have done this much by the end of that month though. Thank you for joining me. :D
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bgallen · 8 months
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A birthday list for August
25 years ago yesterday, my maternal grandmother died on a beautiful day on a farm hidden in the mountains of Virginia. A loss that was incredibly sad, yet at 11 years old was hard to grasp the enormity of. Four years ago yesterday, we buried my paternal grandmother in a sleepy town in the Pine Belt of Mississippi. A loss that was incredibly painful and deeply impacted my life. My love for both of my grandmothers has always been deep and they both have made an indelible mark on my life. What you don’t fully grasp at 11, at 32 you grasp more than you would like to grasp. And my paternal grandmother’s loss at 32 also brought about grief about having lost my maternal grandmother at 11 and realizing on a deeper level what I had missed. I do not have the words to accurately portray the importance of all four of my grandparents in my life. I am who I am because I have been deeply loved by wonderful people who have taught me so well. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Today, is my birthday and I have made a list of some of my favorite things. As always, I hope that you enjoy this list and find something that you like. Have a wonderful weekend, and stay cool!
Favorite book(s) –
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy | Goodreads
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas | Goodreads
Favorite quotes (from said books) –
“You have a consistent character yourself and you wish all the facts of life to be consistent, but they never are. For instance, you despise public service because you want work always to correspond to its aims, and that never happens. You also want the activity of each separate man to have an aim, and love and family life always to coincide – and that doesn’t happen either. All the variety, charm and beauty of life are made up of light and shade.”  Tolstoy
“Tell the angel who will watch over your future destiny, Morrel, to pray sometimes for a man who, like Satan, thought himself, for an instant, equal to God; but who now acknowledges, with Christian humility, that God alone possesses supreme power and wisdom. Perhaps those prayers may soften the remorse he feels in his heart. As for you, Morrel, this is the secret of my conduct towards you. There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life. Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, - ‘Wait and hope.’” Dumas
Favorite songs (top 3) –
Luciano Pavarotti sings "Nessun dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994) - YouTube
Avicii - Wake Me Up (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube
Yo-Yo Ma - Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude (Official Video) - YouTube
Favorite place to travel –
Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau - Unique Mackinac Island, MI Vacation
Favorite movie –
REMEMBER THE TITANS Trailer (2000) Denzel Washington Movie - YouTube    
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fairrryprose · 8 months
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[BOOK TOUR] SEA OF SOULS (SEA OF SOULS SAGA #1) // N.C. SCRIMGEOUR
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"The men are the monsters, and the monsters men."
Welcome to my stop on the book tour for SEA OF SOULS, book 1 in a dark fantasy series involving selkies and blood-drenched seas by N.C. SCRIMGEOUR, hosted by ESCAPIST BOOK CO.!
This was such a darkly spellbinding read following strong-willed fish-out-of-water Isla, a girl who ran away from home to follow her heart to the seas in search of belonging, a girl with the sea in her blood, as she makes a deal with the dangerous selkies who have longed terrorized her homeland of Silveckan to aid them, after the death of her mother which brought her home from the seas and a selkie attack that claimed the life of her father, uncovering long-kept secrets along the way that will upend everything she thought she knew. Along with her estranged brother and a brooding bodyguard with secrets of his own, she finds herself on a journey of discovery, unraveling a tale of identity, belonging, sacrifice, family, and love amidst blood, gore, and endless horrors and secrets.
Every character was special and integral to the story, and the bonds forged between them treacherous as the currents of the selkie-filled seas, navigating betrayal and belonging, and what it means to truly love and to sacrifice. As Isla aids a selkie in a quest to retrieve a stolen pelt, she learns more about the selkies and their lore and finds a kinship with them, realizing that perhaps selkies and humans are not so different after all.
The writing was as smooth and inviting as the sea itself, vivid and darkly beautiful, every word pulsing with the heartbeat of an ocean, with every deftly-placed clue coming together in a riotous ending - or, it may be more apt to say, a new beginning - that will leave you wanting to plunge yourself into the depths of more.
Isla's character growth and the full-circle moments of her finding the crux of her identity, the pieces of her she's been searching for for seven years slipping into place, are so satisfying. As we embark on a scintillatingly tumultuous new beginning at the end of the novel, I can't wait to see where the rest of this series takes us, especially exploring more of the selkies and magic and more.
An easy 4.5/5 star read for me ✨
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Interested in the book? Here are the links for you to get your hands on your own copy:
Universal Link: https://mybook.to/SeaOfSouls
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/145923932-sea-of-souls
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Book Information:
Sea of Souls by N. C. Scrimgeour Series: Sea of Souls Saga Genre: Dark Fantasy/Folklore Fantasy Intended Age Group: Adult Pages: 413 Published: August 4, 2023 Publisher: Alcruix Press (Self Published)
(for CW/TWs, see below)
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Book Blurb:
Dark be the water, and darker still the creatures that lurk within…
Free-spirited Isla Blackwood has never accepted the shackles of her family’s nobility. Instead, she sails the open waters, searching for belonging on the waves.
But when tragedy calls Isla home, she realises she can no longer escape the duty she’s been running from. Selkie raiders have been terrorising the island’s coasts, and when they strike at Blackwood Estate, Isla is forced to flee with her hot-headed brother and brooding swordmaster.
To avenge her family and reclaim her home, Isla will have to set aside old grudges and join forces with an exiled selkie searching for a lost pelt. The heirloom might be the key to stopping the bloody conflict—but only if they can steal it from the island’s most notorious selkie hunter, the Grand Admiral himself.
Caught between a promise to the brother she once left behind and an unlikely friendship with the selkie who should have been her enemy, Isla soon realises the open seas aren’t the only treacherous waters she’ll need to navigate.
As enemies close in on all sides, she must decide once and for all where her loyalties lie if she wants to save what’s left of her family—and find the belonging she’s been searching for.
See Also: 
(This is our attempt at a bit of fun. We ask our authors to come up with a few short, clever, possibly pop culture laden, descriptions of their books just to give a little taste of what’s to come for readers.)
A Compass that Doesn't Point North • Under the Sea • How Dangerous Can a Seal Really Be, Anyway?
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About the Author:
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​N. C. Scrimgeour is a science fiction and fantasy author whose books focus on character-driven stories in vibrant worlds, from folklore fantasy to space opera.
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and marketing and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing story-driven RPGs, watching and reading all things science fiction and fantasy, and getting outdoors with the dog for a good walk!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scrimscribes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/scrimscribes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scrimscribes 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scrimscribesGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21463940.N_C_Scrimgeour
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Content/Trigger Warnings:
Alcohol/alcoholism
Amputation
Animal death (fictional/in-world creatures)
Assault
Attempted murder
Blood
Bodies/corpses
Body horror
Bones
Child death (off-page, mentioned only)
Classism
Death
Decapitation
Emotional abuse
Forced captivity
Gore
Gun violence
Hallucinations
Hunting
Injury
Murder
Physical abuse
Poisoning
Pregnancy
Prejudice (fictional/in-world)
Profanity
Self-harm (ritualistic)
Skeletons/skulls
Violence
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Check out the other stops on the tour here!
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aliteraryprincess · 1 year
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I posted 7,574 times in 2022
218 posts created (3%)
7,356 posts reblogged (97%)
Blogs I reblogged the most:
@englishgradinrepair
@agardenandlibrary
@ninja-muse
@therefugeofbooks
@just0nemorepage
I tagged 683 of my posts in 2022
#books - 204 posts
#booklr - 108 posts
#this is me - 84 posts
#booktube - 82 posts
#youtube - 80 posts
#conversations - 71 posts
#answered - 38 posts
#elizabeth's life - 27 posts
#bookish asks - 24 posts
#truth - 20 posts
Longest Tag: 133 characters
#also i read a book semi-recently that i can't remember that involved a class of students revolting when their teacher assigned lolita
My Top Posts in 2022:
#5
youtube
Okay folks, how are we feeling about this?
44 notes - Posted August 11, 2022
#4
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Pink Book Stack
I was tagged eons ago by @therefugeofbooks​. Thank you!
💕 Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
🌺 We Ride Upon Sticks by Quam Barry
🎀 How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
🩰 The Idiot by Elif Batuman
🧁 Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
🌸 Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones
🍨 A Struggle for Fame by Charlotte Riddell
I’m not going to tag anyone since I think everyone I know has done this. But if you haven’t, consider yourself tagged!
44 notes - Posted August 12, 2022
#3
Winter always feels like a fantasy season for me, so have a list of all the fantasy novels I’ve read. Or all the ones I could remember anyway. I’m sure I missed plenty from my childhood. How many have you read?
52 notes - Posted December 3, 2022
#2
He hated this place. He loved it. He resented how it treated him. He still wanted to be a part of it--because it felt so good to be a part of it, to speak to its professors as an intellectual equal, to be in on the great game.
R. F. Kuang, Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
99 notes - Posted August 23, 2022
My #1 post of 2022
Why is Goodreads automatically updating when I finish a book on my kindle? Don’t they realize that it is one of my great joys in life to manually update my status for the book? Why are they taking this joy from me?
212 notes - Posted June 6, 2022
Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →
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richincolor · 2 years
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New Releases -- Week of August 9, 2022
There's a nice variety of books coming our way this week. We have a little bit of magic, mystery, a few zombies, messy families, and a few other interesting situations. What are you excited to read?
Blood Like Fate (Blood Like Magic #2) by Liselle Sambury Margaret K. McElderry
Voya Thomas may have passed her Calling to become a full-fledged witch, but the cost was higher than she’d ever imagined.
Her grandmother is gone. Her cousin hates her. And her family doesn’t believe that she has what it takes to lead them.
What’s more, Voya can’t let go of her feelings for Luc, sponsor son of the genius billionaire Justin Tremblay—the man that Luc believes Voya killed. Consequently, Luc wants nothing to do with her. Even her own ancestors seem to have lost faith in her. Every day Voya begs for their guidance, but her calls go unanswered.
As Voya struggles to convince everyone—herself included—that she can be a good Matriarch, she has a vision of a terrifying, deadly future. A vision that would spell the end of the Toronto witches. With a newfound sense of purpose, Voya must do whatever it takes to bring her shattered community together and stop what’s coming for them before it’s too late.
Even if it means taking down the boy she loves—who might be the mastermind behind the coming devastation. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
The Lies We Tell by Katie Zhao Bloomsbury YA
Anna Xu moving out of her parent’s home and into the dorms across town as she starts freshman year at the local, prestigious Brookings University. But her parents and their struggling Chinese bakery, Sweetea, aren’t far from campus or from mind, either.
At Brookings, Anna wants to keep up her stellar academic performance and to investigate the unsolved campus murder of her childhood babysitter. She there she also finds a familiar face – her middle-school rival, Chris Lu. The Lus also happen to be the Xu family’s business rivals since they opened Sunny’s, a trendy new bakery on Sweetea’s block. Chris is cute but still someone to be wary of – until a vandal hits Sunny’s and Anna matches the racist tag with a clue from her investigation.
Anna grew up in this town, but more and more she feels like maybe she isn’t fully at home here — or maybe it’s that there are people here who think she doesn’t belong. When a very specific threat is made to Anna, she seeks out help from the only person she can. Anna and Chris team up to find out who is stalking her and take on a dangerous search into the hate crimes happening around campus. Can they root out the ugly history and take on the current threat?
The Lies We Tell is a social activism/we all belong here anthem crossed with a thriller and with a rivals-to-romance relationship set on a college campus. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta Algonquin Young Readers
Sisters Cheta and Zam couldn’t be more different. Cheta, sharp-tongued and stubborn, never shies away from conflict—either at school or at home, where her mother fires abuse at her. Timid Zam escapes most of her mother’s anger, skating under the radar and avoiding her sister whenever possible. In a turn of good fortune, Zam is invited to live with her aunt’s family in the lap of luxury. Jealous, Cheta also leaves home, but finds a harder existence that will drive her to terrible decisions. When the sisters are reunited, Zam alone will recognize just how far Cheta has fallen—and Cheta’s fate will rest in Zam’s hands.
Debut author Rimma Onoseta deftly explores classism, colorism, cycles of abuse, how loyalty doesn’t always come attached to love, and the messy truths that sometimes family is not a source of comfort and that morality is all shades of gray. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
The Undead Truth of Us by Britney Lewis Disney-Hyperion
Death was everywhere. They all stared at me, bumping into one another and slowly coming forward.
Sixteen-year-old Zharie Young is absolutely certain her mother morphed into a zombie before her untimely death, but she can’t seem to figure out why. Why her mother died, why her aunt doesn’t want her around, why all her dreams seem suddenly, hopelessly out of reach. And why, ever since that day, she’s been seeing zombies everywhere.
Then Bo moves into her apartment building―tall, skateboard in hand, freckles like stars, and an undeniable charm. Z wants nothing to do with him, but when he transforms into a half zombie right before her eyes, something feels different. He contradicts everything she thought she knew about monsters, and she can’t help but wonder if getting to know him might unlock the answers to her mother’s death.
As Zharie sifts through what’s real and what’s magic, she discovers a new truth about the world: Love can literally change you―for good or for dead.
In this surrealist journey of grief, fear, and hope, Britney S. Lewis’s debut novel explores love, zombies, and everything in between in an intoxicating amalgam of the real and the fantastic. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
The Memory Index Thomas Nelson
In a world where memories are like currency, dreams can be a complicated business.
In an alternative 1987, a disease ravages human memories. There is no cure, only artificial recall. The lucky ones--the recollectors--need the treatment only once a day.
Freya Izquierdo isn't lucky. The high school senior is a "degen" who needs artificial recall several times a day. Plagued by blinding half-memories that take her to her knees, she's desperate to remember everything that will help her investigate her father's violent death. When her sleuthing almost lands her in jail, a shadowy school dean selects her to attend his Foxtail Academy, where five hundred students will trial a new tech said to make artificial recall obsolete.
She's the only degen on campus. Why was she chosen? Freya is nothing like the other students, not even her new friends Ollie, Chase, and the alluring Fletcher Cohen. Definitely not at all like the students who start to vanish, one by one. And nothing like the mysterious Dean Mendelsohn, who has a bunker deep in the woods behind the school.
Nothing can prepare Freya and her friends for the truth of what that bunker holds. And what kind of memories she'll have to access to survive it. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
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