The hare has hopped to Poland! Thank you so much @sapphicunderground! What a beautiful gift for the beginning of August!
I absolutely love all the books, although I have to admit the most anticipated by me was "Dangerous Game." That's why I decided to start with it.
A few thoughts on some poems:
Hare Season
This one made me angry. The reality makes me angry. In today's world, the value of human beings is measured by their social status (aka the amount of money) and not by their heart and soul. Often making us think about ourselves as less. Long live capitalism.
Esther and Joan
I first read this piece on Instagram, and it amazed me how seamlessly and comprehensively it captures the relationship of the "The Bell Jar" characters in just a few lines. This is absolutely one of my favourite poems.
Fun fact: Tessa used cards 2 and 7 as a background for this poem, and I was 27 when I read it for the first time (I like little coincidences). Technically I still am 27, but only until Pluto Demoted Day (aka nothing to celebrate).
The Auckland Rape
Very strong and very accurate. All of the poems regarding sexual violence (and violence against women in general) are powerful, especially for me as Polish because of the current socio-political environment in Poland under the leadership of Law(lessness) and (in)Justice. Even with my Stoic nature, I'm unable to preserve calm.
***
I absolutely adore every single one of the poems in Dangerous Game, not only those mentioned above. It's even better and more intimate than I expected. Among my favourites are: Jaqueline, Lola, Mango, All In, We Were Only Talking, The Everlasting Sleep, The Chessboard, Someone Like You, and Blood Stains. And the cover is just marvellous.
Soon I'll start reading the other books!
It's a pleasure to support such a talented woman!
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The Forest Grimm
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Genre: fantasy, fairytale reimagined.
Format: novel.
Serie: yes, tome 1 of 2. (Tome 2 out in October)
Editions: Micheal Joseph/Illumicrate
Romance: allodyacishet romance with a love triangle. Kissing. No sex.
Other representation(s): disabled main character (scoliosis, chronic pain, MC wears a shoe lift)
Tw: blood, attempted murders, poisoning, scary woods, non consensual drug use, matricide, infanticide, cannibalism, starvation, ghosts, suicidal ideations (kind of).
Rating: 6.5/10
Tea association: a berry-flavoured black tea or a Pu'er.
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I the small village of Grimm's Hollow, villagers used to live prosperous lives. Until their most precious possession, given by the mysterious Forest Grimm, the Book of Fortune, a strange oracle with the power to grant one wish to every villager after they turned 16, was taken back by that same forest after one villager used the book for a nefarious wish.
Soon after, villagers start disappearing in the Forest Grimm never to be seen again; they are called the Lost. And no one can go and look for them to bring them back because the trees of the forest themselves will stop any attempt at passing the treeline.
Three years later, Clara, the daughter of the first Lost, is still determined to find a way into the forest and reclaim her mother.
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Honestly I had a hard time getting in the book at first, despite being intrigued. The second half was way better. In the end I wanted more, that is, the second book, which is not out yet unfortunately. Though the author actually give us a good enough final to not feel dissatisfied and the end of this first tome. But the epilogue is intriguing and set the foundation for the plot of the next book.
It's an overall good read. I genuinely enjoy this story, despite my aversion to love triangle, though I have to admit that as far love triangles go, this one wasn't completely unpleasant and actually made sense.
The plot itself had a few twists I should have seen coming in insight, some that I've partially seen coming, and some that just plain caught me totally by surprise.
The world building is set mostly on the Grimm fairytales, but twisted, cutted in pieces and used as the author please. The result is quite fascinating, It is actually fun to look for the clues of which characters is from which tale. Sometimes it's not what you'd expect. Sometimes the original fairytale is twisted beyond recognition.
This was a good debut! Worth your time.
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Note about the fairyloot edition: it's really gorgeous.
The dust jacket design is fairly close of the original except for the background that went from white to a beautiful green. The dust jacket is reversible and the other side is absolutely gorgeous with the main characters all depicted on it.
The naked book it also sublime and is a rendition of the book from the story, "Sortes Fortunae" (the book of Fortune), with foil on the hardcover.
The end pages show Clara and Axel.
And the sprayed edge is beautiful, with it's depiction of Clara in her red cape near the black wolf with the forest in the background.
This is an overall gorgeous edition. I just would have like a real binding, and not the sheets just glued together. It makes the book really fragile. I was scared several times to damage the book while reading. Not the best experience.
Though I'm really hoping that fairyloot will publish the second tome too. I definitely want the whole set.
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