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Book Review: The Winter of the Witch, by Katherine Arden

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Fantasy readers, fans of Russian folklore

Quick review: Tidy wrap-up for the series, but there was just too much in this last book. The second book was my favorite of the trilogy.

Full review: This action-packed third book in the Winternight trilogy picks up immediately after the end of the second book. Moscow has narrowly avoided destruction for the time being, leaving the characters to absorb the events at the end of the second book and, in many cases, to start facing the consequences and after-affects of those events. Vasya, with her new understanding of magic, must discover her role in the magical realm and join forces with both chyerti and mortals to save Moscow and Russia.

This book was a roller coaster of events, with characters frequently shifting alliances and traveling to and from the magical realm. Although the ending perfectly rounded out the trilogy and tied up the complex jumble of loose threads, there was just too much packed into this last book. It was sometimes difficult to keep track of Vasya's plans and strategies ("Wait, why is she doing this again?"), who was good or evil ("Wait, weren't they just trying to destroy that guy?"), and the magical rules and assumptions ("Wait, how the heck did that work?"). However, I loved seeing Vasya's character and confidence continue to build, as well as her relationship with Morozko. This book also introduced some new characters and realms that I adored, including the house by the lake with its little domovaya and Ded Grib the mushroom chyerti. Overall I enjoyed this trilogy and appreciated the introduction to some Russian history and mythology. The stories were well-written and vivid, and the characters were extremely relatable and multi-faceted. This probably won't be one of my go-to series that I recommend, but if Russian folklore is your jam you should definitely check this series out.

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Peace is everywhere, especially in books and in furry creatures.

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Book Review: The Library of Legends, by Janie Chang

My rating: 3 / 5 stars

Recommended for: I’m having a hard time recommending this for anyone...

Quick review: This book was just disappointing; there's no other way to put it. I had such high hopes for it, as it checked all the boxes: historical fiction, romance, fantasy, protagonist on a quest. Plus the cover is beautiful and it was selected for a Book of the Month so it had to be good, right? Right??? Wrong...

Full review: The premise of the book sounds perfect. Set in China in 1937 as the Japanese are dropping bombs across China, the book centers around Hu Lian, a student at Minghua University in Nanking. For the safety of the students, and to preserve the priceless Library of Legends, the university evacuates west to safety from Japanese bombing. The university primarily travels on foot, stopping at villages and monasteries along the way. Lian befriends a fellow student, the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming, as well as his family servant Sparrow. However, Sparrow is more than just a servant. She is helping the gods and guardians across China evacuate through the Palace gates in the Kunlan mountains back to the Queen Mother of Heaven. Furthermore, Sparrow has her own divine task that she must accomplish. Meanwhile, Lian finds her feelings for Shao growing stronger, but it almost seems that some divine intervention is keeping them apart. Unfortunately, the book didn't have the level of emotion needed to turn this interesting premise into a knockout, 5-star read. The danger and level of discomfort experienced on the university's journey often seemed relatively tame. The romance was barely more than a spark. The details on the historical setting were bland. The glimpses of the assorted deities as they evacuated to the heavens were few and far between, and had little interaction with any other characters. It was like the whole book was a washed-out photograph when it should have been full of vibrant colors. It really seems like the author was too focused on historical accuracy and should have taken significantly more artistic license to really make this story come alive. The book was well-written from a technical perspective, so I'm giving it three stars instead of two. I'm also really appreciative that the author chose to write about this time period in history and the Library of Legends, because I wasn't familiar with either and I'm glad to have been introduced. But in the end, the book just really let me down.

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@liolaliola

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Book Review: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, by Josie Silver

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy an emotional book and a good cry

Quick review: This wasn’t really a romance like I was expecting, but it was a beautifully written story about grief, self-discovery, and healing.

Full review: Let me start this review off by clarifying that this book is not a romance novel. You might be tricked into thinking so, as I was, by the pretty pink cover and the way that the official book description is worded. However, it is not a romance book. It is a book about life and grief and self-discovery, and sure, there is a little bit of romance included, but it is not a romance novel. I'm just trying to set your expectations so that you are free to immerse yourself in the story and you're not left wondering when the romance will kick in. Lydia Bird and her fiance, Freddie, have been together since they were teenagers. Their lives and their stories has become so entwined that Lydia can't imagine life where they aren't together. After Freddie is killed in a car accident, Lydia's world is cracked apart and she is overwhelmed by her grief. However, through extraordinary circumstances, Lydia finds a way to visit another version of her life where Freddie is alive and well. As she moves back and forth between reality and this alternate life, the consequences start to build. She's losing sleep; she's neglecting her family, her friends, and her job. Worst of all, she's sabotaging her own journey through grief and healing that she desperately needs. Ultimately, this story is about the ways that profound grief changes us and about finding the motivation to carry on after loss.

I thought the book was beautifully written. The range of human emotion examined in this story is outstanding; the nuances between the different emotions in the stages of grief are all there. The book's seriousness, however, is balanced well with humor and classic British wit. I thought Lydia's character arc was well-written in terms of where she started and where she ended; she wasn't anywhere near a perfect person at the beginning or the end, but I really felt the shift in her character and the ways in which her journey through grief transformed her. I will admit that the character arc wasn't spread out evenly through the book, though; too much time was spent on Lydia's obsession with her alternate reality and not enough time spent on her transition to a healthier mindset. Also...there could have been a little more romance. Overall, though, I loved the emotional journey of reading this book. It made laugh out loud and definitely made me cry, although I was pleasantly surprised to find that the scene that made me cry the hardest...was a happy one.

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Book Review: The Happy Ever After Playlist, by Abby Jimenez

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Readers who like romcoms but are looking for one with a little more depth and emotion

Quick review: The Happy Ever After Playlist is a sequel to The Friend Zone. While TFZ followed Kristen as the main character, THEAP follows Kristen's best friend Sloan. Personally, I liked THEAP much better than TFZ, and it's all because of the characters - I am 100% team Sloan. I had a love-hate relationship with TFZ, mostly because Kristen's stubborn "rationality" drove me crazy. For more, see my review for The Friend Zone here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Full review: If you're planning to read TFZ, I would definitely read that one first, as THEAP has significant spoilers for the ending of TFZ. This review even has some spoilers for TFZ (though not about the main TFZ romance story line), so proceed with caution if you have TFZ on your to-read list.

In THEAP, it has been two years since Sloan's fiance passed away, and Sloan is still anchored by her grief. She has stopped taking care of herself - she doesn't cook for herself, doesn't keep the house clean, rarely does her hair and makeup, doesn't find joy in hanging out with her friends. Worst of all, she has stopped painting what she wants to paint and instead makes an income painting astronaut cats and other mass-produced art. Then one day she finds a stray dog named Tucker, and though she calls the number on his collar everyday, the owner doesn't call her back. Sloan finds that Tucker helps her open up - she's taking him on long walks, hanging out with her friends, cooking for herself. Until Tucker's owner, Jason, finally calls back after two weeks, claiming he's been backpacking in New Zealand and didn't get her calls; he wants Tucker back. At first Sloan is distraught to lose Tucker, but then she and Jason start texting and talking more, and they can't help but be drawn to one another. But will their blossoming relationship survive Jason's growing music career? I loved the romance between Sloan and Jason - it's one of those loves that's rare and true and beautiful. I loved both of their characters individually, too - Jimenez developed them both with deep and complex backgrounds and personalities. As someone who has experienced intense grief in life and watched those close to me grieve, I connected with Sloan on a very personal level. Despite this seriousness, the book was also very light, funny, and heartwarming much of the time. I appreciated the book's ability to switch between light and dark. However, though the first and last thirds of the book had a great pace, the middle third of the book dragged a little. Also, like in the TFZ, THEAP sometimes focused too much on traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity, which was off-putting. As a whole, though, I really loved this story and its characters, and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a feel-good read!

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Book Review: Lady Midnight, by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Fantasy fans; Shadowhunter fans, particularly those that prefer the Mortal Instruments series over the Infernal Devices series.

Quick review: So far, I like it much better than the start of the Mortal Instruments series. I love the characters and the plot; I’m annoyed by another frustratingly forbidden romance.

Full review: When I read The Mortal Instruments series, I wasn't a huge fan of Clary, the female lead, because she seemed a little too pathetic and needy and yet was still somehow unfairly destined for greatness in the Shadowhunter community. However, this is absolutely not the case for Emma Carstairs, the female leading character of Lady Midnight and The Dark Artifices series. Emma is strong, independent, driven, hard-working, and fiercely loyal, and I love her!

It's been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire in the Mortal Instruments series. Emma has grown into an extremely talented Shadowhunter and a force to be reckoned with, but she is still searching for answers regarding her parents' mysterious murder. The Clave claims the Carstairs were murdered by Sebastian Morgenstern during the Dark War, but Emma doesn't believe it. She trains as hard as she can and tracks down any lead she can find in the hopes that she will find a way to avenge their deaths. When a string of murders of Downworlders occurs in LA, Emma can't help but notice the similarities between these deaths and those of her parents. The LA Institute strikes a secret deal with the faeries of the Wild Hunt to help solve these murders, and Emma is hoping she'll find answers. But something much darker than Emma could have expected is lurking ... I love the plot for the start of this series and I'm intrigued to see what the next book will hold. The very end of Lady Midnight left a nail-biting opening for the continuation of the series. I love all the characters, too: Emma and Julian are great as parabatai, I enjoy Emma and Cristina's friendship, and the whole Blackthorn family dynamic is adorable. But dammit...there's yet ANOTHER heart-crushing, absolutely-forbidden, no-way-they-could-possibly-be-together, Cassandra Clare romance that you KNOW will somehow magically and happily resolve itself by the end of the series, and I am already OVER it. ...okay just kidding, I'm totally waiting to see how the romance turns out. I'm still giving it four stars, though, out of spite and principle.

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There are no monsters in the world, and no saints. Only infinite shades woven into the same tapestry, light and dark. One man's monster is another man's beloved. The wise know that.

The Winter of the Witch, by Katherine Arden

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Book Review: From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, by Tembi Locke

My rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy memoirs, fans of stories with an Italian setting

Quick review: It’s a sweet story and I enjoyed the Italian/Sicilian setting, but it only gets a solid “meh” from me.

Full review: I'm having a difficult time pinpointing why this book was "only okay" for me. It's a lovely, sweet story about the author's journey through grief and healing after her husband, Saro, passes away. The author, Tembi Locke, writes about the three summers after her husband's death when she and her daughter traveled to her husband's home town in Sicily. Tembi and Saro's love story is so beautiful, and the relationship that Tembi strengthens with her Sicilian mother-in-law after Saro's passing is heartwarming. I'm currently learning to speak Italian, so I loved the Italian setting and the Italian language generously sprinkled throughout. I think I really would have liked this better if it were the same story but with fictional characters. As I review more books and get better at consciously recognizing what I do and don't like in a book, I'm realizing that my connection to the characters in a book is very important to me. I never really felt a strong connection with the author in this memoir; while her story was a deeply personal one, she still seemed guarded, like she was holding some deeper truth or emotion back. I realize it's extremely difficult to make yourself truly vulnerable about one of the hardest times of your life, which is why I think this would make a great fiction novel. It's easier to make a fictional character vulnerable than to display your own true vulnerability for the world.

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Book Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown, by Talia Hibbert

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Romcom and romance fans

Quick review: Really cute overall with great themes, despite being awkward in places.

Full review: This romcom had a lot of awkward moments, but overall I thought it was adorable. Chloe Brown is introverted, reserved, and rigidly adheres to the structure she has set for her life. Her cold exterior, plus the fact that she comes from a wealthy family, makes her seem unfriendly and unapproachable to anyone but her family. However, when Chloe is nearly hit by a car, her near-death experience forces her to take stock of her life. As a lover of lists, Chloe creates her "Get a Life" list, including items like "Ride a motorcycle," "Go camping," and "Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex." Once she starts her list, though, she finds that it's harder than she thought to break out of her shell. She enlists the assistance of Red Morgan, her apartment building's handsome superintendent in exchange for helping him build a website to showcase his art. What neither of them expects is the attraction that starts to build between these two seemingly opposite people.

I really loved how the author approached the themes of this book. There were so many possible options to discuss: race, class differences, chronic pain, abusive relationships, body image, and more. However, the author chose to focus on two primary topics - chronic pain and recovery from abusive relationships - without letting the story get bogged down by other themes. I loved how Chloe's fuller body shape was not even a thing in the story; Chloe was completely comfortable in her own skin and Red thought she was beautiful, period. Race and class differences were touched on very briefly, but did not detract from the main themes. I thought Chloe's perspective as a person with chronic pain was enlightening (and of course I adored how Red worked so hard to make life easier for her). I also thought Red's perspective as a male coming from an emotionally abusive relationship was a unique perspective for a romance novel. The out-of-the-ordinary themes for this book really earned my four stars. Some of the romance, though, was soooo awkward. Sometimes the flirting and banter made me laugh out loud, but at other times it seemed so forced and unrealistic. Some of the more intimate scenes were satisfyingly steamy, but others were super cringey, especially some of the, uh...peripheral scenes? Yeah, I'll leave it at that. Overall, though, I definitely enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to reading about Dani Brown (Chloe's sister) in the next book!

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Book Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Mystery and suspense fans, historical fiction fans

Quick review: FANTASTIC mystery, a little long, unlikable characters

Full review: It is very difficult to give a synopsis of this book without giving too much away. It's one of those books where I feel like even the official description on the back of the book has some spoilers. Let's just say that it's a story set at an old manor house in the early 1900s. Somebody is murdered (okay, it's Evelyn Hardcastle). Somebody else has to keep living the same day over and over again until he solves Evelyn's murder. The feel of the story is Clue ("Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick") meets Groundhog Day (with Bill Murray, of course) meets The Great Gatsby (glamorous parties and lots of drunk people).

From a story and details perspective, this book is phenomenal. The mystery kept me guessing right up until the last chapter. The attention to detail is incredible, which I really appreciate in a book. I love a good mystery, and this book definitely delivered. However, I also really need to connect with a book's characters and I didn't really care for any of these characters. To be fair, I don't think the characters are really supposed to be likable in this book, but it still made it harder for me to get into the story. Also, the amount of detail was a double-edged sword - the details bogged down the pace in beginning and other places of the story line. I'm glad I read a hard copy of the book so that I could keep referring to the map and the list of characters in the front, as well as flip back to previous chapters; I think it would be difficult to listen to the audiobook. Overall, though, I definitely recommend this one to mystery and suspense fans.

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Day II by Millie Clinton. on Flickr.

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Isn’t this just beautiful? Leatherbound edition of the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

@bibliophilicwitch ’s tomes and tea

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I ordered The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, from bookshop.org and I am SO excited to read it. I loved, loved, LOVED The Starless Sea, and I’ve heard so many good things about The Night Circus. Can’t wait!

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Erin Morgenstern // The Starless Sea