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The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
well, my expectations were destroyed so i guess i got what i wanted 🤡 The second book syndrome was strong in this one. If you’ve read my review for The Jasmine Throne you know how much I loved that book (i think i described it as one of the best fantasy novels out there)…sadly I…
2 STARS, 3rd pov, Adult, ANGST, battles, british indian author, court intrigue, DEATH, f/f, FANTASY, female authors, high fantasy, indian inspired setting, LESBIAN, lgbtq+, myths, political intrigue, published in 2022, queer, read in 2022, revenge, ROMANCE, royals, sapphic, siblings, TASHA SURI, temples, The Oleander Sword, war -
The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim
why are all my most anticipated 2022 releases so disappointing 😭 Please, let there be no love triangle If you’ve read my review for Six Crimson Cranes you know just how much I loved that book. While I was concerned that the sequel would include a wholly unnecessary love triangle angle, I wasn’t at all…
1st pov, 3 STARS, adventure, AMERICAN AUTHOR, bad guy is bad, BOOK REVIEWS, curses, DRAGONS, drama, Elizabeth Lim, FAIRY TALES, female authors, high fantasy, japanese inspired setting, love triangle, MAGIC, My reviews, myths, Not Like Other Girls, palace, published in 2022, read in 2022, reading, ROMANCE, royals, sea, Six Crimson Cranes, The Dragon's Promise, YOUNG ADULT -
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
“My stepmother had broken me. She’d cast me away from my brothers, my family, my home. Even from myself.” First things first: that cover. I mean….words cannot describe how beautiful it is.Ever since watching early 2000s Barbie movies reading Juliet Marillier’s spellbinding books I’ve had a soft spot for retellings and I’m happy to say…
1st pov, 4 STARS, adventure, AMERICAN AUTHOR, arc, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, brothers, chinese inspired setting, curses, Elizabeth Lim, evil stepmother, FAIRY TALES, FANTASY, female authors, great storytelling, high fantasy, japanese inspired setting, MAGIC, My reviews, myths, netgalley, palace, published in 2021, read in 2021, reading, RETELLINGS, ROMANCE, royals, siblings, Six Crimson Cranes, the brothers who were turned into birds, YOUNG ADULT -
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
Despite its short length (100 pages or so), it took me several attempts to actually finish The Empress of Salt and Fortune. The first time I picked it up I only managed to reach the halfway mark. A few months later I tried again (from the start) but once again found myself growing bored by…
AMERICAN AUTHOR, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, chinese inspired setting, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), empires, FANTASY, female authors, high fantasy, lgbtq+, MAGIC, My reviews, Nghi Vo, non-binary side characters, NOVELLA/SHORT STORY, palace, published in 2020, queer, read in 2021, royals, story within a story -
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
“Trust me, her face said.That was the problem with making allies. At some point, inevitably, there came a moment when a decision had to be made: Could this one be trusted? Had their loyalty been won? Was their generosity a façade for a hidden knife?” I more or less inhaled this 500+ page novel in…
3rd pov, 4.5 STARS, Adult, big books, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, british indian author, court intrigue, DEATH, f/f, fantastic worldbuilding, FANTASY, female authors, high fantasy, indian inspired setting, LESBIAN, lgbtq+, MAGIC, morality, myths, netgalley, political intrigue, published in 2021, queer, re-reads, read in 2021, read in 2022, revenge, royals, sapphic, siblings, TASHA SURI, temples, THE JASMINE THRONE, violence -
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Although I am no longer an avid YA reader, I do like to now and again pick up a YA title, especially if, like in the case of Girl, Serpent, Thorn, it promises to be sapphic. While Melissa Bashardoust’s prose is readable enough, even if it does occasionally veer into purple territories, her story and…
1st pov, 2.5 STARS, AMERICAN AUTHOR, BISEXUAL/PANSEXUAL, curses, DEMONS, drama, f/f, FAIRY TALES, FANTASY, female authors, Girl Serpent Thorn, high fantasy, LGBTQ+ Author, love triangle, MAGIC, MELISSA BASHARDOUST, palace, persian inspired setting, published in 2020, read in 2021, RETELLINGS, ROMANCE, royals, sapphic, weak worldbuilding, YOUNG ADULT -
Breach of Peace by Daniel B. Greene
I am always hesitant to read books by youtubers or other public figures I like as alas they tend to disappoint (and then I kind of guilty for not liking their stuff). Luckily, Daniel Green’s debut is promising indeed. Set over the course of one day, Breach of Peace begins with one of our main…
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Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
I was intrigued by this novella’s premise—The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in a Vietnamese inspired setting—by its cover and of course by the promise of sapphic love story. Sadly, I can’t say that Fireheart Tiger was a particularly good read.As per usual, if you are thinking of reading this I recommend you read…
1st pov, 2.5 STARS, Aliette de Bodard, court intrigue, f/f, FANTASY, female authors, Fireheart Tiger, French American Vietnamese author, high fantasy, lgbtq+, LGBTQ+ Author, MAGIC, netgalley, NOVELLA/SHORT STORY, palace, published in 2021, queer, read in 2020, ROMANCE, royals, sapphic, Vietnamese inspired setting -
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
Three years after I purchased my copy of The Stone Sky I finally got round to reading it. I’m not sure why it took me so long but I thought it best to re-read the first two instalments before approaching its final chapter. As I loved re-reading The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate I…
3 STARS, Adult, afrofuturism, apocalyptic, Black & Black heritage authors, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), environmental, fantastic worldbuilding, FANTASY, favourite authors, female authors, high fantasy, lgbtq+ side, MAGIC, morality, mothers & daughters, N.K. Jemisin, nature, philosophical, POWERS, PUBLISHED IN 2017, read in 2020, SCI-FI, social issues, SPECULATIVE FICTION, The Broken Earth, The Stone Sky, trans side characters -
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
“Alas: in the Stillness, destroying mountains is as easy as an orogene toddler’s temper tantrum. Destroying a people takes only a bit more effort.” Now this is how you write a sequel.Jemisin has done it again. This series is simply spectacular. “It’s not hate that you’re seeing. Hate requires emotion. What this woman has simply…
5 STARS, ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, afrofuturism, AMERICAN AUTHOR, Black & Black heritage authors, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), environmental, fantastic worldbuilding, FANTASY, favourite authors, FOLKLORE, high fantasy, lgbtq+ side, MAGIC, morality, mothers & daughters, N.K. Jemisin, nature, philosophical, POWERS, published in 2016, queer side characters, re-reads, read in 2016, read in 2020, SCI-FI, SPECULATIVE FICTION, survival, The Broken Earth, The Obelisk Gate, trans side characters