#i had sooooo many dnfs this quarter like more than all of last year put together

[wormwoodandhoney]

quarter one favorites! tw: suicide, grief, murder & depression mention in descriptions below.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner - a memoir about a young woman & the death of her mother. Reading about other people's grief helps me understand my own.

The Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang - a fantasy about a mother with a violent past and her teenaged son struggling to prove himself as he begins to realize that the empire he serves may not be as pure as he once thought. Really cool use of elemental powers here, and incredible fight scenes. I love reading books with unique characters/relationships, and these are definitely unique. Graphic made here.

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson - sequel to one of my favorites from last year (Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone). Funny and voicey and incredibly meta, I love these books and I hope there are more!

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura - Translated from Japanese, this is such a unique blend of fantasy and coming-of-age. Kokoro is a middle school student who is can no longer bring herself to attend school. As she struggles with her depression, she finds a portal in her mirror to a mysterious castle. Six other children are there, and they begin to understand each other. Trigger warnings for depression & suicidal ideation. Graphic here.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett - I LOVE Janice Hallett's books, which are all mysteries told through emails, interview transcriptions, diary entries, chat logs, etc. This one is about a journalist investigating a years-long cold case about a cult who brainwashed a young woman into believing her baby was the Antichrist. When the young woman realized her mistake and called the police, the cult committed suicide and the baby & mother disappeared. As the journalist digs through case files in order to find them, she finds herself drawn into becoming part of the mystery.

Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez In one timeline of 1985, Anita De Monte is a rising art star married to a much more famous man. She dies unexpectedly and her legacy in lost. In 1998, art student Raquel begins to uncover the truth as she does her thesis on Anita's husband.

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed A mean little fantasy horror novella that pulls no punches. Middle aged Veris is the only person who has ever successfully rescued a child from her village's surrounding wild and magical forest. After the land's tyrant's children disappear into the forest, he commands Veris to fetch them.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st St by Karina Yan Glaser This one came in right under the wire as my last read of March! It's just an incredible, sweet, cozy middle grade novel about a large family desperate to stay in their beloved brownstone. Graphic here.

#books #quarterly favorites #i had sooooo many dnfs this quarter like more than all of last year put together #q