abookishidentity

[abookishidentity]

[abookishidentity]

Books I recently checked out of the library

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty- I have wanted to read this book for a while now. It's just it wasn't always at the library and I was sure it was never going to come back. People online have said this book was good and someone at my work said that they loved this book. I am currently reading it. It's good so far.

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente- I think I saw this book on the shelf one day and I thought it sounded fun.

The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull- Pretty sure this was recommended to me by goodreads.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen- Same as above. Also I occasionally do need to read fiction.

[abookishidentity]

I work at a library. I was given a task to peel off the "this book can be only checked out for two weeks" sticker and put a red dot above the blue dot on the book.

During this task, I was able to look at the books. I found two that seemed like books I would enjoy so I put them on my reading list.

One of the books was called Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo and I would be interested to read that as I read The Sleepless by this author.

The other book was called When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. Of course I read the Divergent series when I was younger but Veronica Roth also writes aimed for adults which is cool. Like Poster Girl. That was entertaining to read.

I have no idea when I will read these books. It's nice that they exist though 

[abookishidentity]

I finished reading A Power Unbound by Freya Marske yesterday. I really liked The Last Binding trilogy. I'm glad I read it.

It's good to know that queer historical fiction/fantasy is something I might enjoy. Occasionally I need to read more than just Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy.

[abookishidentity]

📚 The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles - Book Review

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6997389051 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: Science-Fiction, adult, novella, LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, and themes, detectives, mystery, investigations

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novella’s epigraph says it all: “There are other ways to live.” The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older is a poignant treatise on ethics, community, discrimination and class conflict, the myths we tell ourselves about our past and self-sufficiency, and the importance of being respectful toward other points of view.

While its worldbuilding captivated me the most, this science fiction novella that is a detective story also has a key underlining sapphic romance, and Older kept me reading page after page with a pleased smile on my face. I am absolutely delighted that there will be more books in this series, not least because its overarching plot threads just keep thickening.

I was luckily able to gush about how much I adored this novella for Strange Horizons, where you can read the full review: http://strangehorizons.com/non-fictio...

[abookishidentity]

Travel Destination: Nigeria

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu

Onyeka has always been uncomfortable with her hair, people always stare and whisper behind her back, until her best friend nearly drowns and her hair comes to life and saves her.

Her mother reveals a shocking truth Onyeka’s psycho-kinetic powers make her a Solari, one of a secret group of people with super powers unique to Nigeria, where she’s sent to train, however she’ll soon have to put her powers to the test against a battle between truth and lies.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

AO has never really felt...natural, and that's putting it lightly. Her parents spent most of the days before she was born praying for her peaceful passing because even in-utero she was "wrong". But she lived. Then came the car accident years later that crippled her even further. Yet instead of viewing her strange body the way the world views it, as freakish, unnatural, even the work of the devil, AO embraces all that she is: A woman with a ton of major and necessary body augmentations. And then one day she goes to her local market and everything goes wrong.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

In a war torn futuristic Nigeria ravaged by climate change and nuclear disasters, where the lucky ones have left the planet and those left survive using mechs, bionic limbs and artificial organs to protect against the harsh environment.

Two sisters dream of more, peace, hope and a future together, and they willing to fight an entire war to get there.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Twelve-year-old Sunny lives in Nigeria, but she was born American. Her features are African, but she's albino. She's a terrific athlete, but can't go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits in.

And then she discovers something amazing--she is a free agent with latent magical power. Soon she's part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But will it be enough to help them when they are asked to catch a career criminal who knows magic too?

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor

When a massive object crashes into the coast of Lagos, 3 peoples life are intertwined, Adaora the marine biologist, Anthony a rapper famous through Africa and Agu a troubled solider.

In a race against time to save a country they love and the world itself.

[abookishidentity]

Books I recently checked out of the library

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske- I read A Marvelous Light and I thought it was pretty damn good. I decided to check out the two other books because I like the world building so much.

A Power Unbound by Freya Marske- Might as well get the third book as well. I was going to wait until I read more of my reading list but I didn't want to wait.

A Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C. M. Waggoner- This book seemed interesting to me. However I didn't realize this was a sequel until just now so I can't really read it. i need to research books more. The first book isn't at my local library but it's at a different library so at least theres that.

Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley- This is the sequel to The Rook which I liked but I wasn't going to continue. After thinking about it I decided I would read it.

[abookishidentity]

[abookishidentity]

[abookishidentity]

Tried reading All This and More by Peng Shepherd but what I didn't anticipate was the reality tv show element. It made everything sound so cheesy and I wasn't feeling it.

Always feel bad giving up books but hey at least it was a library book.

[abookishidentity]

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six.

When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka’s ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She’s found her final candidate.

But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn’t have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan’s kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul’s worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline.

As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.

[abookishidentity]

Books finished in October 2024

-Fire With Fire by Charles E. Gannon started September 30, 2024 and finished October 4, 2024- 3/5 stars. This book was a bit boring. If the book focused more on first contact then it would be more interesting. I just felt bad for the main character the entire time. He was cryogenically frozen for like 13 years and forever being manipulated by these two dudes for most of the book. I also didn't like that there was a woman who was in the same boat and they essentially used her and put her together with the main character. That bothered me. Not going to finish the rest of the series

-The Naming of the Beasts by Mike Carey started October 4, 2024 and finished October 7, 2024- 5/5 stars. I enjoyed this series so much. I wish the final book wasn't $40 and less than 200 pages? Anyway Felix was able to save his best friend in this book. Would have loved them to tearfully reunite with each other but his friend saying "Fix" and then passing out is good enough.

-The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman started October 7, 2024 and finished October 10, 2024- 4.5/5 stars. This is an excellent start to a series. I need to read more of this series. It's such a cool world.

-The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz started October 11, 2024 and finished October 13, 2024- 4/5 stars. I am glad I read this book. It had such cool ideas and such interesting characters. The world buidling was super interesting too. Need to check out more of Annalee's books.

-The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown started October 14, 2024 and finished October 16, 2024- 4.5/5 stars. This book was excellent. As soon as the book of doors was revealed to let you travel through time (spoilers) it became much more interesting. This is like the third book in which in order to change the future the character has to live in the past for a while. Utterly fascinating though. Don't see the point of a character of getting her memory wiped only for her to be tortured for information and slowly learning back her memory anyway? Also you can show a man is evil without making him racist and misogynistic right?

-Velocity Weapon by Megan E O’Keefe started October 17, 2024 and finished October 20, 2024- 3/5 stars. This book was a little long for my taste. Three stories taking place. The main character, her brother, and this woman who is in a gang of tech thieves? I didn't really care for the final side of the story. She didn't interact with the two other characters. It seemed pointless. Book became much more interesting when it was revealed that the AI rogue robot ship lied to the main character and it wasn't 200-300 years later but merely like 2 years. Not going to continue the series.

-Wicked reread by Gregory Maguire started October 20, 2024 and finished October 23, 2024- 4/5 stars. I reread this book because the musical movie is coming out soon and there will be more stuff from the book in it. Just dont' know what they would include. The book is a lot more raunchier than I remember. Still a good book though.

-Apostles of Mercy by Lindsay Ellis started October 24, 2024 and finished October 27, 2024- 4/5 stars. This book was better than the second book at least. I thought Cora was going to leave with Ampersand to space in the last book but this book picks 18 months later and they are still on earth. I know this is my own fault but I am getting sick of reading sci fi in which the earth is doomed. Ahh well at least this book didn't end with genocide.

-A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske started October 28, 2024 and finished October 31, 2024- 4.5/5 stars. Oh this book was quite good. I like the magic system in this book. Felt for the main character who was magicless and was thrust into the world because of a clerical error. I don't usually read books in which the romantic pairing is with two men but it was quite entertaining and interesting to read. Maybe its the aroace in me but these men only knew each other for a week before they had sex with each other. And after they nearly died twice. Still it was written very well. I need to read the other two books in this trilogy. Maybe the two men appear in it again.

-Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor started and finished October 31, 2024- 3/5 stars. Short book. Interesting characters and world building. Should read more of Nnedi's work.

[abookishidentity]

Books I recently checked out of the library

A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske- I can't remember if this is a book I found by browsing the library catalogue or it was recommended to me through my goodreads. It sounds like urban fantasy and something I would like. It is described as "Delightfully Queer" and I am curious to read the budding relationship between two men. Edit: It's not urban fantasy. It does not take place during modern day. It's historical fiction.

Big Time: A Novel by Ben H. Winters- I think this was on my list and I took it off at one point? Maybe it was because I didn't think I wanted to read it anymore? Looking at the book jacket I definitely want to read it. Anything with time is cool to me.

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor- I have read other books by this author and her work is quite neat.

All This & More by Peng Shepherd- I have read two other books by this author and they were both really good. It looks like it's "Choose your own adventure" type of book which is interesting. Haven't read one of those in years. I hope its not annoying.

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor- This book is rather short so thats why I have checked out more than four books this time. Her stuff has cool ideas in them.

[abookishidentity]

Me when I THINK a tickle scene is about to happen:

FUCK

Me when a tickle scene I THOUGHT was going to happen DOESN'T happen:

FUCK

[abookishidentity]

[abookishidentity]

Books I recently bought

I don't usually buy books unless it's a gift for a birthday or Christmas. When I do buy books its usually from Barnes & Noble.

Apostles of Mercy by Lindsay Ellis- I really like Lindsay Ellis' work whether it comes down to books or video essays. I am hoping this book is better than Truth of the Divine. It was a good book I just didn't care for a certain character and didn't like a lot of book centered around him.

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan- I bought this book as a gift for my family member as they really like dragons and I heard about this book online. It sounds like I would read this book.

[abookishidentity]

It's a good feeling to read a book and then think "I need to check out the rest of the series."

I'm glad I was finally able to read The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. I wanted to read it for some time. Such an interesting world that's set up.