Among other things, 2021 was a great year to read. Reading is an activity ready-made for COVID: it's done alone, often at home, but it also creates communities—both on the page and around the world. Featuring dark academia, science fiction, and reading slumps.
Book Review | To Kill a Kingdom
The Little Mermaid source material is taken to stunning, fresh heights in this expertly-crafted YA fantasy. This novel's high quality writing and immensely intriguing concept carry it to four stars—brought down only by a satisfactory plot structured almost entirely around a big ol' mcguffin to search for and a very predictable ending.
November Wrap Up | 5 Books
This month was a mixed bag of genres and feelings, but not quality - from romance to to economic nonfiction to afrofuture to high fantasy, I loved everything I read this month!
Good Trash Bad Trash | Killer Beauty
In my new series, I let you know if the trashy romance novel is GOOD trash or BAD trash. And look. I liked KILLER BEAUTY a lot.
October Wrap Up | 6 Books
This was a month of nonfiction and heaviness, broken up only by Kerri Maniscalco's lovely sequel to Kingdom of the Wicked, Kingdom of the Cursed.
Book Review | Kingdom of the Cursed
Kingdom of the Cursed feels like a bridge. A flat bridge, beautiful but slightly unimpressive, that soars above all the interesting stuff really going on below. The reader can see the general outline of what it's going to look like, way down there below the bridge, but is not allowed to see it in full.
Book Review | Death Fugue
Banned in China for its political implications relating to Tiannamen Square, Death Fugue manages to encompass art, philosophy, and love in an eerie story that sucked me in like quicksand.
September Wrap Up | 4 Books
Despite reading far fewer books than usual, the books I picked up were HUGE! Plus I loved them. This was a very successful reading month!
Book Review | Shatter Me
The beginning of Shatter Me was an exquisite mix of beautiful, unique prose, complex character, and expert soft worldbuilding. But after that big bang beginning, it gets...soggier. I think if anything, I'm more disappointed by the lost potential than by the actual product. Because I really did enjoy myself in the reading...
Book Review | Zodiac Academy
Brooding inner turmoil and big muscles do not excuse stripping someone naked in public, biting them when they beg you not to, or general assault.
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