The premise of this book should be perfect for me, but even within the first chapter, it fell flat.
I could've lived with that, the dry nature of the narrative, if not for the racism and xenophobia. Of course Chinese villagers don't have access to proper medical care and are just silly and superstitious. Of course there's an organ black market in China, and shady doctors in Brazil are doing operations. Of course it's called 'African rabies'. Of course the Israelis save the day and the Palestinians are just terrorists who refuse to listen.
I don't know why I didn't stop sooner, in truth. But I'm glad I did.
I could've lived with that, the dry nature of the narrative, if not for the racism and xenophobia. Of course Chinese villagers don't have access to proper medical care and are just silly and superstitious. Of course there's an organ black market in China, and shady doctors in Brazil are doing operations. Of course it's called 'African rabies'. Of course the Israelis save the day and the Palestinians are just terrorists who refuse to listen.
I don't know why I didn't stop sooner, in truth. But I'm glad I did.
Tracy Deonn I love you for this. I'm utterly OBSESSED.
As a Cymro and a lover of Arthurian legends, this is utterly beautiful, incredible, and amazing. I immediately fell in love with this and the love and care put into the world-building, the original legends, and modernising them (in a sense) made me love it even more. Genuinely can't even say how much I love it, there's not enough words.
Immediately getting Bloodmarked, I have to read more!
As a Cymro and a lover of Arthurian legends, this is utterly beautiful, incredible, and amazing. I immediately fell in love with this and the love and care put into the world-building, the original legends, and modernising them (in a sense) made me love it even more. Genuinely can't even say how much I love it, there's not enough words.
Immediately getting Bloodmarked, I have to read more!
Bloodmarked: TikTok made me buy it! The powerful sequel to New York Times bestseller Legendborn (Volume 2) (The Legendborn Cycle) by Tracy Deonn
Usually, to me, sequels don't often live up to the hype of the first book. But Bloodmarked DEFINITELY did, even surpassed it!
Just like with Legendborn, there's genuinely not enough words for me to describe my love and adoration for this book. It is utterly incredible and had me completely HOOKED.
The Rootcraft and the expansion of it might be my favourite part of this book, as well as learning about Volition. And Valec being Pearl's daughter?! Amazing. I love learning about the Rootcraft community, I love it all. Saying I love experiencing what life is like for a Black person (especially a young Black woman) feels wrong, but it is very eye-opening and whilst I do understand what Black folks go through everyday, especially so in the American South, it's different to see it firsthand, so to speak? I will say I do love seeing the community Bree finds herself in, especially with Mariah and Dr Patricia Hartwood, and their interactions together, it's amazing.
Just like with Legendborn, there's genuinely not enough words for me to describe my love and adoration for this book. It is utterly incredible and had me completely HOOKED.
TRACY DEONN NEVER MISSES WTF
I devoured this over the course of like. . . 6 hours. I was HOOKED all the way through. I love everything about this, I can't be made to pick just one.
Though, as a Welsh pagan, the inclusion of the Shadow King being Arawn and his hounds made me LOCK IN too.
I devoured this over the course of like. . . 6 hours. I was HOOKED all the way through. I love everything about this, I can't be made to pick just one.
The Principle of Moments: The biggest SF fantasy debut of 2024 and the first ever winner of the Future Worlds Prize by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
This is not only a love letter to Doctor Who, but to sci-fi in general. This book is utterly beautiful and I'm truly in love with it. I love the worldbuilding, I love all the characters, I love the plot. It's all incredible.
Now to wait for the sequel — I'm HYPED
Now to wait for the sequel — I'm HYPED
I was right, this book did in fact ruin me
Soft DNF around 33% - I did like it for what it was, but it just isn't the book for me really! Found it harder to get into that The Poppy War
I did absolutley love this book, but it was. . . so confusing at times. There was a lot to focus on, and it felt hard to keep up at times. Casey especially, whilst I loved him, it felt hard to keep up with him. I absolutely loved the world though, absolutely LOVED Nola so much and the culture!
that was so fucked up, but again, AJW nevER MISSES, 5 stars
this book just ripped my heart out my chest
I see so few authors capture the relationship between Moriarty and Moran so well, but Gareth Rubin manages it easily. I like that he made Moriarty seem more human too, rather than this cold, unfeeling, reptilian man. You really get the feeling that they are just the foils of Holmes and Watson.
I love the amount of Victorian slang in this, was pleasantly shocked I recognised so much of it!
My arachnophobia had no love for this, though, in fact it's almost reignited it
I love the amount of Victorian slang in this, was pleasantly shocked I recognised so much of it!
TWs:
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Panic attacks, sexual content
Brief: N/A
IT'S SO CUTE. Marvin is such a nerd, so is Olan, and they're so cute together.
Working through their issues and communicating (sort of) is SUCH breath of fresh air and things resolving things too, with both working through things heathily and they manage to get on board with the important thing in the others life.
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Panic attacks, sexual content
Brief: N/A
IT'S SO CUTE. Marvin is such a nerd, so is Olan, and they're so cute together.
Working through their issues and communicating (sort of) is SUCH breath of fresh air and things resolving things too, with both working through things heathily and they manage to get on board with the important thing in the others life.
TWs:
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, violence, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, panic attacks
Brief: Bullying, toxic friendship, misogyny, homophobia
Edwardian era? Fantasy? Gays? I was immediately hooked even before I picked up this book, this is the quickest way to my heart!
I love that we can learn about the magical system and underworld, for want of a better word, from the perspective of Robin Blyth. I'm glad it differs from other books where the one MC learns about magic and feels lost and out of place; instead, Robin is obviously shocked by the magic he sees but does just take everything in his stride.
I'm glad that the homophobia is next to non-existent, there is perhaps the briefest mention (naturally there would be, given the time period), but it is just incredibly brief. None of the other characters seem to bat an eyelid aside from the few who mock Edwin, but even then, it's nothing outrightly terrible, it is such a nice breath of fresh air.
I love the author's writing style and found it very difficult to put down - genuinely cannot wait to read the other books in the series!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, violence, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, panic attacks
Brief: Bullying, toxic friendship, misogyny, homophobia
Edwardian era? Fantasy? Gays? I was immediately hooked even before I picked up this book, this is the quickest way to my heart!
I love that we can learn about the magical system and underworld, for want of a better word, from the perspective of Robin Blyth. I'm glad it differs from other books where the one MC learns about magic and feels lost and out of place; instead, Robin is obviously shocked by the magic he sees but does just take everything in his stride.
I'm glad that the homophobia is next to non-existent, there is perhaps the briefest mention (naturally there would be, given the time period), but it is just incredibly brief. None of the other characters seem to bat an eyelid aside from the few who mock Edwin, but even then, it's nothing outrightly terrible, it is such a nice breath of fresh air.
I love the author's writing style and found it very difficult to put down - genuinely cannot wait to read the other books in the series!
TWs
Graphic: Violence, death, murder, sexual content, rape, pregnancy, miosgyny
Moderate: Animal death, alcohol, pedophilia, sex trafficking, domestic abuse, injury/injury detail, incest, slavery
Brief Fatphobia, cursing, suicide, vomit, excrement, ableism
This series is genuinely among one of my favourites; I love the worldbuilding, the lore, the character progression, and the different POVs! Fully cannot wait to properly read the rest of the series — and if it please the gods, let TWOW be released. . .
Graphic: Violence, death, murder, sexual content, rape, pregnancy, miosgyny
Moderate: Animal death, alcohol, pedophilia, sex trafficking, domestic abuse, injury/injury detail, incest, slavery
Brief Fatphobia, cursing, suicide, vomit, excrement, ableism
This series is genuinely among one of my favourites; I love the worldbuilding, the lore, the character progression, and the different POVs! Fully cannot wait to properly read the rest of the series — and if it please the gods, let TWOW be released. . .
TWs:
Graphic: Religious bigotry, apocalypse, death, injury/injury detail, transphobia, deadnaming/misgendering, vomit, blood, body horror
Moderate: Violence, gun violence, toxic relationship, murder, death of parent
Brief: Gaslighting
This book just fuels my 'I need to be a monster, I need to ruin my enemies', I feel so SEEN.
It feels quite slow at first, but it definitely vamped up the pace. I'm utterly in love with just the somewhat casual representation, and the fact there's not a major focus on the transphobia that the MC faces. The euphoria Benji experiences when gendered correctly and people use his real name, I still relate so much to it even now, after being out for 8 years.
The author's writing style is absolutely amazing, I'm constantly gripped and genuinely found it hard to put the book down
Graphic: Religious bigotry, apocalypse, death, injury/injury detail, transphobia, deadnaming/misgendering, vomit, blood, body horror
Moderate: Violence, gun violence, toxic relationship, murder, death of parent
Brief: Gaslighting
This book just fuels my 'I need to be a monster, I need to ruin my enemies', I feel so SEEN.
It feels quite slow at first, but it definitely vamped up the pace. I'm utterly in love with just the somewhat casual representation, and the fact there's not a major focus on the transphobia that the MC faces. The euphoria Benji experiences when gendered correctly and people use his real name, I still relate so much to it even now, after being out for 8 years.
The author's writing style is absolutely amazing, I'm constantly gripped and genuinely found it hard to put the book down
TWs:
Graphic: Misogyny, sexism, blood, death, transphobia, forced institutionalisation, gore, medical content, mutilation, injury/injury detail, torture
Moderate: Pedophilia, sexual assault, murder, gaslighting, grief, pregnancy (of a child)
Brief: Miscarriage
I will say this is not for the faint of heart, due to what goes on. PLEASE heed these TWs.
This story is genuinely incredible. I love how Andrew Joseph White writes, it's gut-punching and amazing. A harsh look at how society used to be and what did happen, paranormal aspects aside.
I genuinely love how, in his stories, there is always a focus on how supportive people around the MC can be, to offset the horrid transphobia they have to face. There is always a focus on the positive; yes, transphobia is obviously present, but the MC is not constantly hindered by it, and is able to push through her. The small twists every so often always caught me off guard, never failed to keep me hooked.
I also love that, in the end, there is always a happy ending. I bloody love the ending to this, it is SO satisfying to me, and so heartwarming too. Silas and Daphne deserve the absolute world. 11/10, wish I could read for the first time again.
Graphic: Misogyny, sexism, blood, death, transphobia, forced institutionalisation, gore, medical content, mutilation, injury/injury detail, torture
Moderate: Pedophilia, sexual assault, murder, gaslighting, grief, pregnancy (of a child)
Brief: Miscarriage
I will say this is not for the faint of heart, due to what goes on. PLEASE heed these TWs.
This story is genuinely incredible. I love how Andrew Joseph White writes, it's gut-punching and amazing. A harsh look at how society used to be and what did happen, paranormal aspects aside.
I genuinely love how, in his stories, there is always a focus on how supportive people around the MC can be, to offset the horrid transphobia they have to face. There is always a focus on the positive; yes, transphobia is obviously present, but the MC is not constantly hindered by it, and is able to push through her. The small twists every so often always caught me off guard, never failed to keep me hooked.
I also love that, in the end, there is always a happy ending. I bloody love the ending to this, it is SO satisfying to me, and so heartwarming too. Silas and Daphne deserve the absolute world. 11/10, wish I could read for the first time again.
This is How You Lose the Time War: The epic time-travelling love story and Twitter sensation by Amal El-Mohtar
I am utterly obsessed now. Went through about 50 different emotions in the second half.
TWs:
Graphic: Extreme transphobia, murder, violence, hate crimes, body horror, gore, injury/injury detail, pandemic, medical content
Moderate: Dysphoria, rape, grief
Brief: Pregnancy
It's a horrifying look into what the world would become, and feels like it's on the way to actually becoming - yet also littered with trans triumph and joy throughout, showing we're still here and always will be, no matter how much the world hates us and turns against us.
The characters are all incredible, even the TERFs (in that this highlights just how terrible, vile, and conniving they are, even nowadays). The trans unity is awe-inspiring, and I'm utterly in love with it.
It's such a genuine look into the lives of trans people and that we're not all sweet and innocent, and how we may navigate a hormone-based apocalypse. Gut punching, bittersweet ending, but it was also really beautiful.
Graphic: Extreme transphobia, murder, violence, hate crimes, body horror, gore, injury/injury detail, pandemic, medical content
Moderate: Dysphoria, rape, grief
Brief: Pregnancy
It's a horrifying look into what the world would become, and feels like it's on the way to actually becoming - yet also littered with trans triumph and joy throughout, showing we're still here and always will be, no matter how much the world hates us and turns against us.
The characters are all incredible, even the TERFs (in that this highlights just how terrible, vile, and conniving they are, even nowadays). The trans unity is awe-inspiring, and I'm utterly in love with it.
It's such a genuine look into the lives of trans people and that we're not all sweet and innocent, and how we may navigate a hormone-based apocalypse. Gut punching, bittersweet ending, but it was also really beautiful.
TWs:
Graphic: Outing, sexual content, alcohol, cursing
Moderate: Homophobia, death of parent, grief, colonisation, racism
Brief: Sexual abuse, xenophobia, stalking
Graphic: Outing, sexual content, alcohol, cursing
Moderate: Homophobia, death of parent, grief, colonisation, racism
Brief: Sexual abuse, xenophobia, stalking
This book was genuinely so nice and cosy. I was initially hesitant to read it because I thought it'd trigger an existential crisis with me, but instead it was so comforting and like being wrapped in a warm hug. I love the world-building, I love Sibling Dex and Mosscap, I love everything about this book. Becky Chambers is an incredible author.