Tag: retelling

Lets Talk: My Favorite Books of 2022

Robin2 Comments

My top reads of 2022, are coming at you four months late, but as Harper Collins workers advocated for a fair contract these past several months, It was necessary to delay this. Looking back at 2022, I am left feeling like there were so many books that I didn’t get around to reading. Nevertheless, this year was very successful for me. I read a whopping 373 books which is the highest amount I have ever reached since I started documenting my reading, and a majority of these were 4-5 star reads. 2022 marked my deep dive into historical romance and fantasy, two genres I feel I had not been reading enough of prior to the start of the year, and as these were my two most prevalent genres in 2022, I can definitively say that went off without a hitch. Narrowing down my favorite reads of the year presented quite a challenge, but I managed to decide upon my top twelve. Given that I started bookselling this year I thought it would be fun to present them with the shelf-talkers I display at the store. It’s safe to say that there were many books I left out of this, but expect some romance and fantasy features in the coming month!

Top Reads of 2022

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

A revitalized look into the life and times of Joan of Arc, from her startings in Domrémy France, to her martyrdom and eventual rise to sainthood. Katherine Chen has created a version of Joan of Arc completely unheard of in our time, emphasizing the woman beneath the image, flawed and unyielding. With as much of a focus on the history surrounding the Hundred Years War as its central figure, this story slowly enraptured me. Joan is perfect for fans of historical fiction, or even readers wanting to take a stab at the genre. A brilliant novel for the ages.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, war

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The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Roshani Chokshi breathes life into this gothic novel centered around fairytales, myth, and the treacherous secrets of a marriage. Wandering the halls of the crumbling House of Dreams, Chokshi spins her tale, interweaving fairy tales into the central narrative amidst broken promises and childhood dreams. Expertly crafted, with lush writing and an unsettling undertone, this is everything you could possibly wish for in a gothic novel. The way it slowly approaches the final act will leave you breathless in its downfall.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, murder

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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In a secluded estate far removed from the conflict on Yucatans peninsula, Carlota Moreau lives an isolated existence. That is, until the arrival of two strange gentlemen dissolve her fragile world into chaos. Layering in themes of colonization, class, and subjugation, Moreno-Garcia examines possession and the relationship between creator and subject. This is her best work by far. Wonderfully romantic and intense in its resistance.

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, abuse, death, gun violence, suicide, experimentation

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Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

Last of the true witches in all of Oblya, Marlinchen and her sisters spend their days tending to their clientele, and placating the unending appetites of their cursed wizard father. A chance connection spells freedom, but at a price that may be too monstrous to pay. Gorgeously gruesome and brutal in its design, Juniper & Thorn is a twisted gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, imbued with memory, a poignant examination of abuse, and survivorhood in all forms.

Trigger warnings: violence, emotional abuse, gore, blood, death, murder, body horror, cannibalism, eating disorder (bulimia), vomiting (graphic), sexual assault, antisemitism, xenophobia, drug use 

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A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

In an isolated manor on the edge of town, sharpshooter Margaret Welty lives alone. When she spots the legendary Hala in the woods one evening, she knows that the annual halfmoon hunt is about to commence. The only problem? She appears to be short a partner. Allison Saft’s sophomore novel is purely evocative, with hunts in a moonlight wood, an exquisite exploration of loneliness, and a rediscovery of love lost. Full of words that drown you in their depths and a striking fantasy atmosphere, I loved every second of this (Margaret + Wes forever have my heart).

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, emotional abuse, neglect, antisemitism, xenophobia, nationalism, animal death and injury, ableism, parental death (mentioned), PTSD

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Babel by R.F Kuang

What can I say about this extraordinary book that hasn’t already been said? Babel is one of those books that slowly leads you through a flawed world and characters seeking to make it better and then leaves you to grapple with its legacy. R.f Kuang explores the longevity of empire and whether or not violence and sacrifice have become the only translatable actions. Through the eyes of a translation student at Oxford and five acts, Kuang conducts her discordant symphony and four students’ slow descent into disillusionment. I needed a whole month to recover from this (as well as several scones) and you will too.

Trigger warnings: racism, racial slurs, death, murder, war, slavery, colonization

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A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

There’s so much I could say about Rebecca Ross’s Elements of Cadence duology that would fall woefully short. This duology is a raging fire of community, belonging, love, and sacrifice that slowly rekindled my adoration for enemies to lovers and slow-burn fantasy. This series follows a suffering bard and his childhood enemy-turned-wife as they navigate clan wars, mysterious illnesses, and a world thrown out of balance. There’s so so much yearning and desperation to understand the world and our place in it. I’m absolutely obsessed with the main two couples in this book and I’m begging everyone to give this series a try.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, grief

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The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Declared the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa by the prophet of the nameless god, Malini wages war to get back what was taken from her. Meanwhile, Priya faces an unsettling situation back in Ahiranya. This follow-up to The Jasmine Throne stole my heart and destroyed my soul with a slow and delicate grace. Intensely ruthless and brutal at its core, The Oleander Sword is an astonishing sequel that blooms with betrayal, romance, and unintended sacrifice. Tasha Suri’s Burning Kingdoms is an exemplary fantasy series, altogether epic and expansive.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, war, suicide

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The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

In a world where the color of your blood determines your standing, two young women switched at birth to ignite a failed revolution reunite in an effort to achieve what they both desire. This is easily one of my favorite fantasy debuts of the whole year — ruthless and entirely ambitious. El-Arifi has poured her soul into this expansive story where loyalties are tested and history is not as truthful as it appears. Do yourself a favor and pick up this epic and queer fantasy debut.

Trigger warnings: blood, addiction, child abuse

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The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

When her father is discovered dead in his office at the New York Public Library, in possession of the very map that tarnished her reputation and destroyed their relationship, Nell Young is drawn into an investigation with greater consequences than she could have ever imagined. Peng Shepherd draws together an incredible narrative of belonging, secret societies, personal history, and magic. I flew through this in one afternoon and could not stop thinking about it for weeks afterward. This book is unexpectedly ingenious and I could not put it down.

Trigger warnings: death, grief, murder, violence

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Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

Amy Lea’s follow-up novel to Set on You quickly flew to the top of my radar. Romance novel obsessed Tara Chen has had more than her fair share of heartbreak. After an inspiring interview, Tara gets an idea: revisit all of her past romances and reevaluate them with the hope of securing the time-honored trope, the second chance romance. Amy Lea has written the romance heroine of my dreams and one of my all-time favorite friends-to-lovers romances. A true love letter to every romance aficionado out there, and funny as hell!

Trigger warnings: sexism, gaslighting

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Happy Place by Emily Henry

Happy Place is absolute magic, bottled up and delivered in the form of saccharine summer days, happiness, teary moments, and newfound longing, and I loved every single second of it. Its wonderfully unique friendships and signature blend of past and present merge to deliver a truly unforgettable romance. Prepare to fall in love with Wyn, Harriet, and a friend group together across the years. Emily Henry is the master of the romance novel and Happy Place is her best one yet!

Trigger warnings: death, grief, alcohol consumption

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And that’s a wrap on my favorite reads of the year. So many amazing reads marked my journey through 2022, and I can’t wait to see what I get to in the coming year. There were many of my favorite reads that did not make the final cut (gone but never forgotten) and I will be highlighting those in a future post or collection so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I’d love to hear if any of these were on your list and what books really impacted you in 2022.

Lets Talk: Novellas

Robin2 Comments

With a little over a month left in the reading year, and still no end in sight with my yearly goal, I thought It would be interesting to visit the mountain of novellas that have been piling up these past few months. I spent a whole weekend reading my backlog of various novellas, both published and unpublished, in the hopes of getting ahead of my reading and discovering some new favorites. Several of these titles are coming from authors that have read in the past and loved, but there are a few standouts that I was wanting to try. I mostly stuck to science fiction fantasy this way out the gate but did hit some of the horror novellas that I had missed from my October reading. This novella romp was so much fun, so without further ado, here are my thoughts on the eight novellas I read over the weekend!

Novellas I loved

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

“I wanted to be one. I wanted to be the monster that kills other monsters.”

It shall come as no surprise that Fonda Lee wrote another book I’m completely obsessed with. Her previous Green Bone Saga series launched her to the top of my favorite fantasy authors last year, and when I heard about her upcoming novella I knew it was going to hit just as hard. Untethered Sky follows a young woman consumed by vengeance, and her career path as a Ruhker, trainers of the giant predator rocs that are taught to hunt the very Manticores that destroyed her family. This extraordinary novella confronts the limitations of obsession and the one-sided love between man and predator. Through the partnership between Ruhker and fledgling, Lee tries the bounds of love and loyalty, against inner nature.

Trigger warnings: violence, blood, death, gore

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Even Though I Knew the End by C.L Polk

“I called to the devil, and the devil came to me.”

Angels, demons, and magic combine in this gorgeously queer novella tinged with romance and heartache. An insightful and entertaining romp through 1940s Chicago, following a Lesbian detective determined to get back the soul she bargained away years ago, and thus secure a future with her great love. When I heard about this sapphic historical fantasy novella by C.L Polk I knew that I was in for a wild ride. I loved their previous historical novel The Midnight Bargain, so naturally, I had high hopes for their newest novella. Even Though I Knew The End is a well-rounded story that managed to deliver on every possible front. Inquisitive, Sapphic, and fun. Give it a try!

Trigger warnings: death, misogyny, homophobia, forced institutionalization

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The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

“Mothers fly away like migrating birds. And fathers die too young”

The Crane Husband is a peculiar story of a fifteen-year-old girl managing the affairs of her family after the death of her father. When her mother brings home a crane to stay with them, generations of family trauma and grievances are brought into the open as her mother begins to lose herself piece by piece in the crane’s menacing clutches. Barnhill composes an unsettling futuristic fable that is part retelling and part inquisition into abuse, abandonment, and children placed into parental roles far too young. The Crane Husband skillfully details a family slowly falling apart and a horror at the center of the household. The perfect novella for anyone looking to read a futuristic spin on Japanese folklore tangled up in a sinister family tragedy.

Trigger warnings: death, illness, domestic abuse, blood, violence,

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The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

“Myths are full of lies. This is not one of them.”

The Salt Grows Heavy is a gruesome tale tracking a mermaid who destroyed her husband and his kingdom, and a plague doctor as they wander an entangled forest. They happen upon a strange village, where children compete in a brutal game for a chance at immortality and supposed saints safeguard the treacherous truth. Cassandra Khaw delivers easily the most horrific and violent novella I have ever read. There’s a dangerous underbelly to its language that slowly ensnares you at its surface, and once beneath, morphs into something truly terrifying. Seriously, the descriptions in this were bone-chilling and morbid to the point of needing to put the book down at times. The Salt Grows Heavy is the perfect novella for horror (and bloodthirsty mermaid) fans.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, murder, disembowelment, torture

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Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo

“Singing Hills knew that the truth showed up in its own time, often late and entirely unlooked for”

Nghi Vo continues The Singing Hills Cycle, following the cleric Chih as they travel to the Riverlands to record the prominent tales of the martial artists that torment the area. Chih and Almost Brilliant journey with two young women and an older couple whom they quickly fall in with while navigating the changing landscape. Nghi Vo once again delivers a stellar addition to her Singing Hills Cycle series with Into the Riverlands, a novella that continues to emphasize the power of storytelling and the passing down of stories through the generations. Vo lets us peek behind the curtains of various fables and myths to view the kernel of truth at their center. This is a brilliant series that continues to delight year after year. Can’t recommend it enough!

Trigger warnings: violence, death

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The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

“It sounded like the seismic breath of stars…It sounded like a conversation between gods”

The Scourge Between Stars is a thrilling science fiction horror novella about a temporary captain that confronts the threat of an alien intruder whilst trying to keep the crew alive on a ship approaching extinction. Everything about this was just incredible. It reads like a full-length science fiction novel from the amount of detail Ness Brown poured into the worldbuilding and the wide array of characters present. From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat as Jacklyn unearths the truth about this threat and deals with the pressures passed down by her absent father. An incredible story of perseverance and the deep manifestations of trauma contended within the wide expanse of space. Look no further for your next thrilling queer sci-fi horror, it’s here.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, blood, gore

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Novellas I Didn’t Love (as much)

The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman

“If she had ever thought of herself as a rose, it would be a withered one -crisp, dry, delicate”

Annae is a graduate student focused on psychiatric magic, but she harbors the uncanny ability to read the minds of the people around her. Her abilities allow her to protect herself and provide her colleagues and superiors with exactly what they expect. With a premise as amazing as this one, the actual story was very much a letdown. The Two Doctors Gorski is the perfect example of a novella that was attempting too much and was confronted with its own limitations. I appreciated the conversation this was trying to have with academic abuse and women starting a career in a male-dominated field, but its short page count left more to be addressed, and there was simply too much going on that I was left pondering over many unanswered questions.

Trigger warnings: death

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Spear by Nicola Griffith

“A name, she thinks, is what makes a person who they are. A name is how they know themself”

I had high hopes for Spear, a novella twisting Arthurian legend and chronicling the journey of a young woman disguised as a man trying to find her place among knights and kings. The beautiful prose sharply hit its mark and I fell easily into the flow of the ever-shifting narrative. This feels like the type of story read by the fire on a cold winter night, that warms your bones and brings comfort in times of need. Spear is a fantastic queer fantasy novella, but there were several things that held it back. The prose, while stunning, weaved a dense web that made it hard to navigate the events that occurred, and the last half was very slow going. Not my least favorite novella, but not worth contending with my other favorites.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, infertility, blood

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So ends my weekend journey into my various novellas of the past year. Many of these have an expected publication in the coming year, so be advised that most of the quotations above are coming from a proof and are subject to change. I had such a fun time with this. I’d been feeling a bit behind on my reading goal and uninspired as to what to read next so this helped me a whole lot! I will definitely be keeping up with any new novellas in the upcoming year and looking out for any new ones to read that are already published. If any of these sound interesting, please consider pre-ordering a copy through the links provided, and do let me know what you think when you get around to reading!

Lets Talk: Gothic Reads for the Fall Season

Robin4 Comments

Everything gothic, from retellings, to gothic horror

Fall is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and what better way to celebrate its arrival than by sharing some of my favorite gothic novels from the last two years. If you’re like me, then fall is the time that you reach for gothic novels and horror more than anything. Something about the leaves falling and the temperature dropping puts me in the mood to read about desolate castles, blood, and murder. Even if you aren’t the biggest gothic fan, fall is undoubtedly the perfect time of year to give it a try or another shot. This post will reach everything from vampires to haunted castles, and retellings. Of course, these are just a select few of my favorite gothic reads. Regardless of the time of year, I am always looking for more, so please drop a recommendation if you feel like it. Spooky reading!

Gothic Recommendations

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher is a new author I have discovered this year, with an extensive backlist in both fantasy and horror. Their new novel, What Moves the Dead is an unsettling gothic retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. Following the retired soldier Alex Easton, coming to the aid of a dying childhood friend, we explore the house of Usher run amok with mushrooms and unpredictable wildlife, and set around the malevolent murky depths of a lake. What Moves the Dead has a suspenseful build to it, leaning more towards the classic horror I have come to love. Perfect for the everyday Poe fan, or someone looking to read more of the genre.

Trigger warnings: Body horror, animal death, death, war, suicide, gore

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House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Queer horror has definitely had a resurgence this year, and House of Hunger is one of my favorites of them all. There’s a sprawling estate with plenty of secrets inside and a vampiric regime that preys on impoverished women. Henderson has perfected the gothic atmosphere, combining the horrific, an analysis of desire, and a sweeping narrative that ensnares the senses. Following heroine Marion, as she applies for the position of bloodmaid, and discovers the truth behind the illustrious houses of the North, this novel delves deep into its corrupted heart. House of Hunger comes packed with a gruesome twist that you won’t want to miss!

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, gore, murder, torture

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A Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson

An exquisite reimagining of Dracula’s Brides in the form of an open letter from the first bride Constanta; A Dowry of Blood is an achingly haunting and beautiful novel that spans centuries in the life of its narrator. S.T Gibson devises an evocative narrative, chronicling the quiet descent from love into violence over many years. This queer polyamorous vampire novel has re-debuted this October through Orbit and what better time to read it than the Halloween season. Everything about this is exquisite, a combination of sapphic yearning at the opera, found family, and a moving exploration of relationship abuse.

Trigger warnings: Emotional abuse, blood, death, murder, abuse

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Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

Continuing the trend of retellings, Juniper & Thorn is one of my favorites, a gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree that just released this year. Honestly, Ava Reid is THE author for fantasy and the gothic, and they always manage to deliver an impeccable story that ticks all the boxes. Juniper & Thorn is a phenomenal story full of monsters that await you down dark hallways and the ones within. Its examination of survivorhood, defiance, and the monstrous is something I will carry with me for a long time. If any gothic horror is going to stick with you, it’s going to be this one.

Trigger warnings: violence, emotional abuse, gore, blood, death, murder, body horror, cannibalism, eating disorder (bulimia), vomiting (graphic), sexual assault, antisemitism, xenophobia, drug use 

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The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

The Death of Jane Lawrence has been aptly compared to Crimson Peak, with a narrative so mind-boggling it completely threw me over. Set in a dark version of Post-War England, we follow the bright and practical Jane Shoringfield as she makes a marriage of convenience centered around a bargain she won’t be able to uphold. This is one of the most brilliant and unnerving books that I have ever read within the horror genre. Starling weaves a startling story with layers that cannot be fully parsed with just one glance and one that I continue to think about to this day. It’s gothic horror with a historical layer and a side of discontent.

Trigger warnings: Blood, gore, medical procedures, drug use, child death, death, gaslighting

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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

An instant recommendation of mine is always going to be Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This is comped as Rebecca meets The Yellow Wallpaper, and honestly, nothing could be a more accurate comparison. A gothic that burns slowly and then doesn’t catch its breath until the very end —complete with a twist that still keeps me up at night, Mexican Gothic is a great venture into gothic horror. Moreno-Garcia is one of my all-time favorite writers, with an insane capacity to genre-shift and spin the stories that stay with you. Mexican Gothic is arguably her most well-known novel, and for good reason. It’s got a creepy family estate, and a horrific family legacy to unpack before its smashing conclusion.

Trigger warnings: Violence, death, body horror, sexual assault, sexism

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This is coming a bit late into the season so I’ve already had the chance to revisit a few of these and try some new reads. The books above remain my absolute favorites of what the gothic has to offer, and if you try and like any, be sure to reach out and let me know. Every single one of these authors has other works I have adored, and I cannot recommend delving into their backlist, especially if you liked any of them. Currently, any and all of Jennifer McMahon’s books are on my upcoming reading list, as well as a few of Paul Tremblay’s horror novels. Both authors have provided a fascinating dive into the horror genre and I hope to read more before the season is out!

Review: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

As the only mortal of the Gorgons, Medusa knows true weakness. Residing with her sisters in their windswept cave by the sea, she and the Gorgons are fully at the mercy of the whims and desires of the gods. When the sea god Poseidon enacts a violence against her in the Temple of Athene, Athene takes her revenge, transforming Medusa from a young woman into a monster. Armed with a head full of snakes and a piercing gaze that can turn any viewer to stone, Medusa becomes a proper Gorgon. Resigned to never harm a living thing, she retreats to a life of solitude, until a quest blinded by arrogance places the hero Perseus on her shores. With quests and complicated deals at play, limiting the scope of her power may be impossible when divine intervention reigns supreme and women are mere tools for the beings above.

Natalie Haynes transforms the Medusa story we’ve been fed into a layered history of the women at its center and the monster we’ve all been taught to fear. Stone Blind delivers exactly the kind of retelling I have been craving, inexplicably rich, lyrical, and wound up in tragedy. Distinctive with this one is the emphasis on the intersection of time and place, with all characters that coalesce in the Medusa myth. There is not a singular focus on the figure of Medusa, as Haynes grasps at the threads binding the story together, fashioning an elaborate tapestry that rivals that of Athene. I was pulled into the story almost immediately with Medusa’s golden childhood by the sea, completely torn asunder by the acts of violence against her by Poseidon and Athene. Like the tide returns to the sea and back again, there is a constant give and take in Haynes’s narrative, with seemingly insignificant events that take shape, strike, and then fade into the background. Every action leaves behind an echo that lingers, leaving an imprint on every event that takes place further on. There are a broad range of voices present, from godly beings to nymphs, and even animals lending their eyes to the narrative voice. With every delicate line and merciless moment, Haynes dismantles the complex relationships and powerful forces at play within the Medusa myth, creating a wholly authentic view of the monster and existing as a woman within the sphere of the gods. As the focus shifts back to Perseus, it’s clear that existing in spite of these overtly monstrous qualities can equate to a loss of agency in the wrong hands. Stone Blind is the kind of story that will forever be imprinted upon me, long after I have managed to look away from its pages. Natalie Haynes crafts a Medusa retelling that will withstand the test of time, bringing new meaning to the Medusa figure and every woman held within the confines of her myth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Trigger Warnings: rape, death, sexual assault, violence

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Review: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

In a secluded estate far removed from the conflict on Yucatán’s peninsula, Carlota Moreau lives an isolated existence. The only daughter of the venerable scientist Doctor Moreau, she spends her days surrounded by the beauty of the Yaxaktun property and the hybrid creatures held captive by their domineering creator. Backed financially by the wealthy Lizaldes, Doctor Moreau is sent a new overseer, the pensive Montgomery Laughton, to assist in his experiments. Six years pass and the fragile atmosphere at Yaxaktun is altogether upended by the arrival of two unexpected gentlemen, one being Eduardo Lizalde, the son of Moreau’s benevolent benefactor. With the sudden arrival of their unforeseen guests, the problems outside the bounds of the jungle loom ever closer, and as Carlota becomes all the more inquisitive, her father’s secrets threaten to expose a truth far more harrowing.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia astounds with a gothic science fiction historical set against the background of late nineteenth-century Mexico. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a fascinating reimagining of H.G Wells’s novel “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” that completely extends upon the original with its themes of colonization, class, and subjugation. Stepping into this novel felt akin to wading into a crystalline pool, as main character Carlota slowly draws together a hazy picture of her world, one that is refined and sharpened as she begins to question her reality and gain agency. Similarly to Mexican Gothic, this novel seizes a quiet pace, bringing forth an enthralling expose into the obsessions of a mad doctor, and just who the real monsters are. Dual narrators Carlota Moreau and Montgomery Laughton are altogether delightful, providing the opposing perspectives necessary to relay the unsettling nature of the entire narrative. Where Carlota is the quiet lonesome voice in the darkness, Montgomery is the brooding moody tone in contrast. While it can be said that both characters captivate, Carlota is beyond a doubt the one who dazzles. Her escape from the clutches of her father’s influence, to uncovering the truth about his creations, and unleashing the monster within was absolutely earth-shattering. Moreno-Garcia interlays a gripping examination of possession, prejudice, and the relationship between creator and subject beneath it all. With an added afterword on the history of the Yucatán region and the caste war, the influence of historical events from the text is all the more apparent. It seems as if every time I find myself reaching for a new book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I have to prepare for the fact that it will surpass all of my expectations and leave me completely dumbfounded. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a powerhouse, and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a startling addition, wonderfully romantic and intense in its resistance.

Thank you to Edelweiss for providing the arc.

Trigger warnings: abuse, violence, blood, death, gun violence, suicide

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Review: A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow

Robin2 Comments

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Professional rescuer and part-time substitute Zinnia Gray has spent the last five years traversing the multiverse, saving every damsel in distress that she possibly can. After a dozen or so rescues, weddings, and burned spindles, Zinnia has begun to grow tired of her role in rewriting the narrative, yet duty awaits her hand on the spindle. At an afterparty one rescue later, when Zinnia glances into a mirror, she sees another woman staring back at her, and falls into the last fairytale she ever expected, Snow White. Coming face to face with the fabled Evil Queen, desperate to escape her own fate, Zinnia is tasked once again with saving someone trapped by their story. Eva is convinced that Zinnia is the way out of her predestined ending, and is willing to do anything to change her future, that is if Zinnia can be convinced to save the last person in this world she would want to.

The Fractured Fables novellas draw to a close with A Mirror Mended, a sequel that ups the ante that A Spindle Splintered had previously left to be amended. Alix E. Harrow is back at it, drawing together an adventurous narrative crammed full of meaningful prose, and tied in with an expanded critique on storytelling and their villains. Where A Spindle Splintered previously intersected a conversation surrounding damsels in distress in folklore and their saviors, Harrow turns her attention to the villainization of women in her continuation of the series. More closely, The Evil Queen, a figure that has consistently captivated audiences with her jealousy and enacted rage against her stepdaughter for her supposed beauty. As a huge fan of evil women in the fantasy genre, the examined motivations, and background of a classic fairytale villain intrigued me, to say the least. Eva is a layered character, well-written and trapped by her own situation and predetermined role. Narrative agency is an issue that Zinnia has constantly battled, even from book one, and it was nice to see that transferred over to an iconic villain like the Evil Queen. Eva’s situation is very closely mirrored in Zinnia’s, as they both are trapped by their role in the narrative of their story. The bond that grew between the two characters, as a result, made a lot of sense and was really satisfying to witness (falling for the hot villain was absolutely on-brand for Zinnia). I delighted in Eva and Zinnia’s back and forth snark alongside the deeper moments of multiverse chaos. The added tension from the multiverse fracturing and blending into one another propelled this installment to an entirely new level from the previous one in my mind. Once again I am left awed by Harrow’s storytelling ability and the complex twist in traditional fairytales. A Mirror Mended is a razor-sharp exploration of feminist agency and the weight of the roles we carry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Trigger warnings: terminal illness, violence

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Review: Misrule by Heather Walter

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Out of the ashes of the Briar realm arises a new dominion for its destroyer. Alyce, now called Nimara, rules over her newly established Dark Court and a manor of beasts once kept in the shadows. In the century since the decimation of the Briar realm, Aurora still lies under her sleeping curse, and Alyce has become the very thing she once feared to be. Though Alyce has tried, she cannot break the curse holding her love captive, and Aurora lies hidden away from the prying eyes of the court. When a young man washes up on shore everything changes, waking the princess and descending the realm into chaos. With war looming closer, and her lost love returned, Alyce must decide how far she is willing to go to enact her revenge and discover if love can even thrive in a world so entangled with it.

Where its predecessor Malice led me softly through its thorny brambles, Misrule pushes back the thickets to reveal a reality far more malevolent. In the hundred years since the destruction of the Briar realm, Heather Walter explores the intricacies of revenge, and the lengths one will go to make it endure. Expanding on the scope of the world, and the plethora of beings within, a new side to the story emerges – one teetering on the edge of change and the balance between good and evil. As the curse upon Aurora flourishes, a war against the fae looms nearer, and a simmering tension between the dreams of a century past and the present day draws breath. By the time Aurora awakens from her slumber these moving pieces are amplified, paired against the fallout from the ashes of a fallen kingdom. The strain on Alyce and Aurora’s relationship ensuing from these transformations is central to the closing of the series. While the two grapple with this new reality and who they have both become, they search for forgiveness and a way to still build a future together. These components of the story were not what I expected for the characters going into the finale, but the complexity of forgiveness ensuing out of them was splendid. Albeit a little emotionally damaging. Alyce’s ties to the Vila were expanded upon even further here, something I’d been looking forward to since the end of Malice. Tested loyalty is my bread and butter and Misrule served it well, especially with Alyce, Aurora, and the Dark Court. Misrule is truly a book where morally gray characters thrive, constantly shifting the narrative and making moves that are never anticipated by the audience. The introduction of new beings and characters brought that even further into the foreground. Coming around to the inevitable conclusion had me very much wrecked, yet drawn into its essence of hope and repairing what is lost. Full of violence, the brutality of vengeance, and the unraveling of prejudice, Misrule makes for an enthralling ending to the Malice Duology. One that will remain with me for the considerable future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Trigger Warnings: blood, gore, violence, death, murder, grief, trauma

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Review: Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

Robin4 Comments

Rating: 5 out of 5.

It’s 1927, and Shanghai stands divided by blood. Allied to the Scarlet Gang through family ties, Juliette Cai gambles the safety of those around her to protect those she loves from the inevitable fallout. Having chosen a necessary betrayal over her own heart, Juliette is completely undone, possessed by an impossible need to prevail against the White Flowers and her own family. Roma Montagov believes her cruelty for the supposed murder of his comrade, but Juliette must keep up the game if she ever hopes to keep her cousin from ousting her as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. Deep within the city, something far more dangerous lurks primed to strike. It brings with it great evil, a final chip in the marble that could bring Shanghai to its knees. A betrayal may have torn their reunion asunder, but Juliette and Roma will have to shed the hatred binding them together to become something far greater to each other and to the city that they hold dear.

The thing about Our Violent Ends is that I didn’t want the ends to be violent. I spent most of my time reading this denying that the duology was in fact a Romeo and Juliette retelling and instead choosing to focus solely on vibes. Right from the start, Chloe Gong does not hold back, amping up the action and drawing an exquisite picture of betrayal and intrigue. The complexities arising from the conclusion of the previous book stay strong, give or take some added angst that set my soul ablaze. There’s just something about the betrayal trope that drives forth this finale into something dark and tragic. A foreboding atmosphere that seeps into every crevice of the story, threatening to fracture apart growing relationships and the fate of the characters. Much like the previous book in the series, the politics, and complicated alliances play against the emergence of an outside threat, but one far greater than before. Roma and Juliette really excelled here, as they ultimately reach the tipping point for compromise and a search for power amidst the blood feud that has fueled the city for decades. Seeing all of these complex feelings play out, especially after the events that concluded the last book, was simply delightful. Gong has a talent for keeping the emotions of her characters in check until the last second, which drove me completely insane. By the time that the inevitable reconciliation came around, I was utterly ruined by it. Roma and Juliette have this passion mixed with a tenderness that is so rare to read about. I certainly won’t be getting over their journey anytime soon. With so many allusions to the original text, I was afraid of how this was going to end, but Chloe Gong crafts a compelling and bittersweet ending that simultaneously tore my heart to pieces and restored my faith in love. In this explosive finale set in the chaos of a city divided, two people find their way back to one another and must fight against the bonds determined to destroy them both.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review

Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, gun violence, death, murder

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Review: A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Sleeping Beauty comes crashing into the multiverse by way of Alix E. Harrow, author of The Once and Future Witches and The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Destined to not survive her twenty-first birthday due to a rare genetic disorder, Zinnia Gray has always felt a strong affinity to sleeping beauty, someone who shares in her fate. Then miraculously her birthday arrives and nothing of note occurs, that is until her best friend decides to throw a birthday party worthy of sleeping beauty herself. All Zinnia does is prick her finger on the spindle of the spinning wheel and she’s transported far from her hometown to a strange world, one not so different from her own. Though the world may be lacking in some respects there in it also lies a girl desperate enough to escape her fate. Together Zinnia and Beauty rally other sleeping beauties from across the worlds to try to change their circumstances, taking their destinies into their own hands.

Well Alix E. Harrow certainly never misses the mark when it comes to crafting a fascinating story I would sell my soul to read immediately. This time it’s a short sleeping beauty retelling that spans a little over a hundred pages but crosses multiple worlds. I would say this is in the vein of Into the Spider-Verse since it deals with multiple dimensions and characters of similar titles joining hands. Just as her first two novels completely mesmerized me, this one was no different. Turns out even when Harrow writes a shorter novel I am still bound to enjoy it as much as the others, to the point where my only complaint is that I wish it was longer. Sleeping beauty was never one of my favorite fairy tales for the reasons Zinnia so aptly points out at the beginning of the novel. However, I am happy to say I have changed my tune now that Harrow has sunk her teeth into a reimagining of the story. This crossed a search for agency with the original tale so brilliantly I cannot stop thinking about it. There is just something about finding unity among those to which you share similar situations with that Harrow has exemplified in her writing time and time again. Though Zinnia and Beauty are from different worlds and backgrounds, there is a sense of solidarity that binds them and the other sleeping beauties together as they go forward on their quest. It really was one of the more compelling parts of the text. Not that the entire novel did not sway my emotions and make me have deep feelings at any other point than that. A Spindle Splintered is Alix. E Harrow’s love letter to the transcendence of sisterhood and the common struggles that bind all women. Ties that can bring us together oftentimes in strange ways, but are by no means any less powerful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review

Trigger warnings: blood, genetic disorder, terminal illness, rape (mentioned)

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