![luce [is reading]](https://wishfullyreading.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/9429655-1.jpeg){kind=small}
-
The Night Eaters, Vol. 1: She Eats the Night by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
Intrigued by the title and cover of this latest graphic novel by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda, I decided to give it a shot despite not being a fan of ‘Monstress’. Sadly, it seems that this creative duo is just not for me. In She Eats the Night we follow twins and restaurant co-owners, Milly…
2 STARS, Adult, America, asian american, asian diaspora, bars & restaurants, Contemporary, FANTASY, Graphic Novels, haunted house, hawaii, hong kong, HORROR, ISLAND, JAPANESE AUTHOR, monsters, PARANORMAL, published in 2022, read in 2022, Sana Takeda, Sequential Art, She Eats the Night, siblings, Taiwanese American Author, The Night Eaters, twins, URBAN FANTASY -
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
“It felt scary, as if she were stepping across some invisible boundary, as if she might not know herself afterward. As if she were becoming the self she’d always thought lurked just underneath her skin. Her coolest possible self.” The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is very much old-school Holly Black: edgy aesthetics, gritty/snarky dialogues, and…
3.25 stars, 3rd pov, Adult, adventure, age gap, America, AMERICAN AUTHOR, atmospheric, balls, bi side characters, DEATH, drama, dystopia, FANTASY, favourite authors, female authors, gritty aesthetics, HOLLY BLACK, HORROR, it’s about the *aesthetics*, lgbtq+ side, monsters, no plot just vibes, PARANORMAL, published in 2013, queer side characters, re-reads, read in 2013, read in 2022, revenge, road trip, ROMANCE, SPECULATIVE FICTION, survival, The Coldest Girl, trans side characters, URBAN FANTASY, VAMPIRES, violence, YOUNG ADULT -
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Pet is my second book by Akwaeke Emezi and while I did find it to be an engaging read it didn’t quite hit me the way as their The Death of Vivek Oji did. I had a similar experience when I read All Our Hidden Gifts, Caroline O’Donoghue’s foray into the MG/YA genre. I couldn’t…
-
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
“Every time I was around them, they acted like I was a monster. So I said goddamnit, I’ll be the worst monster you ever saw!” This novella takes place in 1920s New York. Charles Thomas Tester is a bit of a ‘hustler’ who sings and plays his guitar on the streets even if he isn’t…
1920s, 20th century, 3 STARS, 3rd pov, Adult, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, Black & Black heritage authors, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, FANTASY, Harlem, HISTORICAL FICTION, HORROR, Lovecraftian, male authors, monsters, My reviews, NEW YORK, NOVELLA/SHORT STORY, occult, RACE, reading, revenge, The Ballad of Black Tom, TOR novella, URBAN FANTASY, Victor LaValle -
No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
My review for No Gods, No Monsters will not make a lot of sense. The main reason for this is that, to be quite frank, I did not ‘get’ this novel. I did try, I persevered in spite of my mounting confusion, hoping that at some point I would be able to understand the what/why/who/hows…
3 STARS, Adult, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, Black & Black heritage authors, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, Cadwell Turnbull, confusing for the sake of being confusing, Contemporary, cults, different styles (1st/2nd/3rd povs), FANTASY, gay side characters, HORROR, lgbtq+, MAGIC, male authors, monsters, My reviews, MYSTERY, No Gods No Monsters, PARANORMAL, polyamory, published in 2021, queer, read in 2021, reading, social issues, SPECULATIVE FICTION, SUPERNATURAL, TRANSGENDER, URBAN FANTASY, violence, werewolves -
Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge
Strange Beasts of China certainly delivers on the ‘strange’ suggested by its very title and premise. This novel consists of 9 interconnected chapters, each one presenting us with a self-contained story about a certain type of ‘beast’. Strange Beasts of China reads like a contemporary and unique bestiary in which, through the eyes of our…
1st pov, 3 STARS, Adult, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, books about writers, China, chinese author, DEATH, FANTASY, female authors, interconnected stories, LITERARY FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM, monsters, My reviews, philosophical, published in 2006, read in 2021, reading, science, SPECULATIVE FICTION, Strange Beasts of China, suicide, TRANSLATED FICTION, unnamed narrator, Yan Ge -
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
“Dark, dangerous things happened around the Hollow sisters.” Brimming with beauty and danger House of Hollow is a spellbinding modern fairy tale. Written in a tantalising prose that seems to echo traditional fairy tales House of Hollow presents its readers with a beguiling tale about sisters and monsters. “We were taken. We came back. None…
1st pov, 4 STARS, ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, atmospheric, AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR, BISEXUAL/PANSEXUAL, BOOK REVIEW, BOOK REVIEWS, Booklr, Contemporary, creepy setting, dark fantasy, england, FAIRY TALES, fairytalesque prose, FANTASY, female authors, girlhood, great storytelling, HORROR, House of Hollow, it’s about the *aesthetics*, Krystal Sutherland, lesbian side characters, lgbtq+, LONDON, MAGIC, MAGICAL DOORS, missing girls, missing persons, monsters, My reviews, MYSTERY, PARANORMAL, portal fantasy, published in 2021, queer, re-reads, read in 2021, read in 2022, road trip, scotland, SISTERS, URBAN FANTASY, YOUNG ADULT -
Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse
Usually, I don’t go back on DNFs (there’s plenty more books in the sea and all that) but I also get that sometimes my enjoyment of a book depends on me getting to read it at the ‘right time’. The reason why I’d DNFed Storm of Locusts after reading just a chapter or so was…
1st pov, 4.25 stars, action, Adult, America, American, AMERICAN AUTHOR, apocalyptic, bi side characters, Black & Black heritage authors, FANTASY, female authors, FOLKLORE, found family, friendships, gods, indigenous, indigenous author, lgbtq+ side, MAGIC, monsters, myths, native american & first nation, Native American & First Nation authors, PARANORMAL, post-apocalyptic, published in 2019, read in 2021, Rebecca Roanhorse, Religion, road trip, SPECULATIVE FICTION, Storm of Locusts, the sixth world, the sixth world series, URBAN FANTASY -
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…
-
Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
“So many secrets between them. So many lies.” That’s it. That’s the book. (i am only half joking) Actual review: Although Chain of Iron is one of Cassandra Clare’s least action/mystery driven books the drama between the various characters is sure to keep you turning pages. Chain of Iron picks up 4 months after its…
3rd pov, 5 STARS, ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE, adventure, Alastair Carstairs, AMERICAN AUTHOR, ANGST, bi side characters, BISEXUAL/PANSEXUAL, Cassandra Clare, Chain of Iron, Cordelia Carstairs, curses, DEMONS, drama, Edwardian era, england, f/f side, fake dating, FANTASY, favourite authors, female authors, friendships, gay side characters, ghosts/spirits, great storytelling, HISTORICAL FICTION, lesbian side characters, lgbtq+, LONDON, m/m side, MAGIC, monsters, PARANORMAL, published in 2021, queer, read in 2021, ROMANCE, serial killers, shadowhunters, siblings, The Last Hours, TLH, wedding drama, YOUNG ADULT
luce [is reading] 