#BookReviews

[reviewsthatburn]

THE WITCH KING by Martha Wells is excellent and I had a great time reading it. The worldbuilding is nuanced and well-developed, with factions and history in a way that implies much more going on, but not getting bogged down in little details that don’t matter to this particular story. It deals with colonization and empire from the perspective of a quasi-immortal character (Kai) who has not been around forever, but has been around long enough that things which are part of his culture and history are now details that would fascinate only historians. The narrative shifts between two time periods in his life. This means that some events are mentioned before they were actually shown, but it was generally in a way that made the whole thing easier to follow. The two timelines are connected, as the main characters are trying to figure out whether the plan they were working on when they were betrayed is still salvageable. 

Full Review at Link

[tealeavesand-roses]

Status: read Rating: 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

Simply in awe. Weyward by Emilia Hart has stolen my heart and is easily my favorite read of the year. Weyward is a beautiful historical fiction tale with themes of witchcraft, nature, womanhood, and gothic horror, this story delves into the lives of three women throughout scattered periods of time. Altha's story takes place in 1619, Violet's takes place in 1942, and Kate's takes place in 2019. Each woman's story is as captivating as the next.

As I was finishing Violet's chapter regarding her mother and her family's history, I began to tear up, I flipped the page to the next chapter and I stumbled upon a beautiful white feather. I began to sob. My boyfriend had gotten me this book from a second-hand online shop and the previous owner must have left it in there. I felt like the feather was fantastically symbolic of what I was feeling and I felt so connected in that moment to myself, to nature, and spiritually to those in my life who have passed.

Could not recommend this book enough 🪶🌿🪲🐦‍⬛

[readersmagnet]

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[bigheartedbibliophile]

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summary: 👩🏿👩‍❤️‍👩👩🏿‍🔬

Read: April 2021

Grace Porter works harder than most people. She has to, as a queer, black woman in the astronomy field. Her whole life, she’s been planning for her dream career. She has been in school nearly her entire life, and now, with her PhD. in hand, finding a job should be easy, right? When she wakes up in Vegas to find that she’s married to a random girl and doesn’t get the job her professor said she was a shoo-in for, Grace realizes she needs a break. She leaves her entire plan behind to truly get to know the woman she married - and herself. This book is about self-love, mental health, and finding your place in the world. It’s about being okay with not being perfect, finding your family, and choosing who you want to be.

I laughed. I cried. I'm still crying. This book was so well written and so relatable. This book will rip your heart out and sew it back together. 💖

[gabsreadingagain]

🌺⚽️🎨 Review: Cruel King by Rina Kent

Where do I even start with this book? Buckle up y'all its gonna be a wild ride. I just love Rina Kent men (I should seek help).

Astrid is quiet & to herself and honestly just trying to make it out of RES unscathed. When Astrid meets Levi unexpectedly, any plans that she had for laying low and flying under the radar her senior year of RES just went out the window. Levi is intent on making sure that doesn't happen. He's set is sights on Astrid and he's determined to break her. Now she's got RES's Cruel King's attention and he's not going anywhere.

Levi is possessive, broody, alpha, and everything we love in our fictional bully boyfriends. Levi might be the KING but Astrid definitely showed him that she's the QUEEN. Whatever Levi threw her way she gave it back tenfold. She is such a powerful FMC and we love her for that.

Astrid's story really got me in my feels, I deff cried a couple times. She struggled through so much. Her life was plagued by stress, trauma, death, and lots of family issues. If I could square up with their stupid stepmom I WOULD. Levi has also been through some shit. His father is dead, he lives with his Uncle who he hates, he's got reason to be as cruel as he is. Levi is a complex character in the best way. The way Astrid and Levi are connected is so INSANE. The twist is so good you won't even see it coming. Levi was HOT. H.O.T HOT. The spice was spicing as usual in Rina's masterpieces.

Beautiful start to set up the rest of the Royal Elite Series🥀.

[its-suanneschafer-author]

ICYMI BOOK REVIEW: #SongsForTheBrokenhearted by #AyeletTsabari. A lovely book about a belated coming of age after returning home. 

[moonshadowmystique]

Starting My Tumblr: Figuring Out What to Post

Hey Tumblr friends! 👋 I’m super excited to say this is my very first post! After finally creating my Tumblr, I’m still figuring out what kind of content I want to share. There are so many cool options, and honestly, I’m a bit torn. Should this space be for personal thoughts, creative work, or just a mix of everything I love? 🤔

What Should I Post? Exploring Ideas

There’s a ton of inspiration around Tumblr, which makes it exciting but also tricky to decide on a direction. Here are some of the options I’m considering:

1. Personal Blog

I could use this space like a journal, sharing daily life experiences, thoughts, or even mini life updates. It would be a more casual, authentic vibe, letting me connect with others who might relate to what I’m going through. Plus, it could be a great way to document life and look back on my personal growth.

2. Creative Writing and Poetry

I’ve always had a passion for words. Whether it’s short stories or poetry, Tumblr seems like the perfect space to share that creative side. I could post snippets of my writing or even work on a longer project in chapters. There are so many amazing writers on Tumblr that I’ve come across, and it would be fun to join in on that creative community.

3. Book Reviews and Recommendations

As an avid reader, I’m always discovering new books and authors, so why not use Tumblr to share my thoughts on what I’m reading? Whether it’s detailed reviews, quick recommendations, or even bookish discussions, it could be a great way to connect with fellow readers. Plus, I could keep track of my reading journey and maybe even inspire others to pick up a new book.

4. Reblogging and Curation

Let’s be real: Tumblr is a goldmine for cool content. I could simply focus on reblogging things I love, like funny memes, aesthetic photos, inspiring quotes, or interesting posts from others. Curation is its own form of expression, and it might be a fun way to explore and share my favourite rite things without overthinking it.

Finding My Style

One thing I’m quickly learning about Tumblr is that it doesn’t have to be just one thing. I can combine different types of content — writing, reblogging, books, and more. My Tumblr can be a mix of everything I enjoy, which feels true to who I am. Right now, I’m open to experimenting and seeing what resonates with me (and with all of you!).

What’s Next?

For now, I’m going to try out different types of posts and see what feels right. Maybe this space will evolve over time, or maybe I’ll find a clear direction soon. Either way, I’m excited to start this journey, and I’m grateful to have you along for the ride!

[thegrimmlibrarian]

Hello! Do you love reading fairytale, folklore, and mythological retellings? I’m always on the lookout for new retellings to add to my TBR on Goodreads and review on my blog (links in bio). Please respond to this post or reblog with any recommendations you have.

Have you written a book that retells an old fairytale, folklore, or myth? I’ve done ARC reviews and interviews for other authors on my blog, promoting their books to fellow retelling lovers. If that’s something you’d be interested in, please send me a DM with a description of the book! I love supporting authors, be they self, indie, or traditionally published.  

[diannestorytime]

My Best Reads of This and That - 2 The Jungle (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1511809367-my-best-reads-of-this-and-that-2-the-jungle?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=Diannestorytime Reviews and recommendations of the best books I have read. Inspiring, enchanting, sad, tragic, fantasy, exquisitely crafted, fiction, non-fiction, all that gives books a life of their own. For if a book is not read, it does not live. Come read with me and live.

[peterrsthomas]

Book Review: Ashen Dawn

Ashen Dawn, the second book in the Midnight Wars sci-fi/space opera saga, follows on where Vermillion Flames left off. We accompany Silas, Kaya, and Aron as they continue their respective quests—Silas to bring the Pandora fleet back to fighting strength, Kaya as she finds herself stranded on Earth, and Aron as he continues the fight on Mars.

As with the first book, Fernandez builds a rich and expansive universe, revealing a deep history as we progress through the story. The reader is left with a sense that there is much to explore, and that these adventures are only scratching the surface. The role of religion is again central—it is foundational to how the society functions, and it forms a core part of Silas’ motivation. The author does well to explore how faith can be at odds with the theocratic systems of power, in a way that helps the reader deeply sympathise with the character’s struggles. Indeed, one of my favourite parts of the book was when Silas, through a traumatic event, comes to accept how he can move forward against the established religious system with his faith still in tact. I won’t spoil it, but that passage is as vivid and engaging as anything Fernandez has written.

Kaya, too, continues to grow in confidence, asserting herself as she explores the remains of Earth.  Here she uncovers many dark secrets…

The plot itself is a rollercoaster, with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you reading. It is told through multiple points of view. This choice in itself is effective, though I did find the pacing to be a little off. Successive chapters focus on the same character, and I felt that these could have been more evenly spread. Regardless, the different perspectives do help capture the varying parts of an intricate storyline. The inclusion of Aron and, later on, Henry as POV characters is welcome. And, as before, the battle scenes are engaging and the side characters are endearing (Marcus, once more, a personal favourite!). 

The ending of the book is satisfying but, as one would expect, as some questions are answered, more are raised, and we are left eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

[irkjournal]

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

5/5 ☆

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig is just that, a comforting book. Even to a self-proclaimed “skeptic” of the self-help genre, I found myself enjoying Haig’s words and was hesitant to put it down for even a moment. His quotes about the truths of life come off as relaxed - the kind of confessions you might make to a friend during a late-night chat - making the book more relatable, accessible, and realistic.

For those who typically detest the self-help genre, each book tends to blend together and read the same. A constant circle of get up early, work more, just smile, make more money, and the worst of all - “just get over it.” Even books that herald themselves for breaking the mold of the genre end up saying the same so-called “advice”, just written in a different-colored pen. Matt Haig’s book stands out amongst the sea of impractical advice, proving a certain comfort to his readers. 

Based in his own struggles with mental illness, Matt Haig describes the ideas and actions that helped him overcome. When you struggle with severe mental illness and are healing from it, regardless of where you are in that journey, there are going to be bad days. Harder days. The Comfort Book does not promise a life of complete sunshine, but does promise that time will pass, and so will the negatives. Matt Haig encourages readers to confront those feelings and break the consistent cycles of pain. “Walking one foot in front of the other, in the same direction, will always get you further than running round in circles.”

For those that still doubt the book’s stand-out nature, Matt Haig understands how difficult it can be to confront those feelings and to have hope. Other self-help books will tell you that having hope will bring you happiness and positivity in your life. But in Haig’s mind, “Hope isn’t the same thing as happiness. You don’t need to be happy to be hopeful. You need instead to accept the unknowability of the future, and that there are versions of that future which could be better than the present. Hope, in its simplest form, is the acceptance of possibility.” Personally,  accepting possibility is more practical than immediately finding happiness.

Reading this as my first book of 2025, although unintended, was a great start to the new year. Although the book is all of 275 pages, there is a lifetime amount of words to consider. The Comfort Book is destined to be a book readers can return to throughout the challenges of life. As the entire world relaxes into the change of the new year, ready to take on new challenges and goals, Matt Haig gives readers some comforting advice to begin anew:

“You can’t change the past. You can’t change other people. You can change you though. You narrate this story. So start to write a new chapter.”

Favorite Quotes:

“Curiosity and passion are the enemies of anxiety. Even when I fell into anxiety, if I get curious enough about something outside of me it can help pull me out. Music, art, film, nature, conversation, words. Find the passion as large as your fear. The way out of your mind is via the world.”

“The best thing about rock bottom is the rock part. You discover the solid bit of you. You discover the solid bit of you. The bit that can’t be broken down further. The thing that you might sentimentally call a soul. At our lowest we find the solid ground of our foundation. And we can build ourselves anew.”

“You have survived everything you have been through, and you will survive this too. Stay for the person you will become. You are more than a bad day, or week, or month, or year, or even a decade. You are a future of multifarious possibilities. You are another self at a point in future time looking back in gratitude that his lost and former you held on. Stay.”

“The sky isn’t more beautiful if you have perfect skin. Music doesn’t sound more interesting if you have a six-pack. Dogs aren’t better company if you’re famous. Pizza tastes good regardless of your job title. The best of life exists beyond the things we are encouraged to crave.”

[reviewsthatburn]

UNDER THE SMOKESTREWN SKY brings Avery, Zib, and their companions to the Land of Ash and Embers. As fire is the most obviously transformational of the four elements in this series, I appreciate how this book focuses on transformations and the endpoints after major decisions.

As the final book in the quartet, UNDER THE SMOKESTREWN SKY wraps up many dangling narratives, including but not limited to the fate of the missing queen, whether Avery and Zib make it out of the Up-and-Under, and whether any of them reach the Impossible City. There’s a mostly new storyline which didn’t appear in the other three books, as the general goal of finding the missing queen becomes their specific task at hand. To this end they begin searching the Land of Ash and Embers on their way to the Impossible City. There’s a crisis related to Zib which is introduced and resolved in this book. As the story nears its end, Baker's narration is at times concerned as much with the emotional state of the reader as she is with the decisions made by any of the characters. A foundational assumption in Seanan McGuire's writing is that knowing something changes the person who finds it out. This is said quite explicitly in the narration as Baker discussing how you can only read the story for the first time once, after that you'll never view it the same way again.

Full Review at link

[jesswallflowerreviews]

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

5 Stars

This book was incredible. The plot moved fast and the characters had interesting and intense backstories that were relevant to the story and did an amazing job of providing context as to their actions and motivation. The world around them was developed without taking away from the plot and the dark elements of the romance were dark without being disturbed. The romance is well developed, though obsession may be a more accurate word for what is being portrayed. The touch-her-and-die effect of the MMC made a lot of sense in this context and for his character. The conflict of the book was unexpected and exciting.

[tealeavesand-roses]

Status: Read Rating: 3/5 🌟🌟🌟

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering. I watched the Hulu show Tell Me Lies trailer two years ago and decided at that moment to keep the show at bay because I wasn't interested in watching something of that caliber. Last week, I found myself browsing endlessly through multiple streaming services, and because the second season of Tell Me Lies just dropped (the advertising for the show has been pretty aggressive), it popped up at the top of my Hulu profile. I decided to throw it on. I binged through the first two episodes and had this visceral reaction to Stephen. His behavior made me feel this constant pit in my stomach because it was reminiscent of someone I had a situationship with a decade ago (click "keep reading" if you want the tea lmao).

Moving on, after binging through the first two episodes, I decided to pause watching the show and quickly read the book. I finished the book within 3 days and was stunned at how even more diabolical Stephen comes across in the book, likely because of how much access we have to Stephens's pov, inner monologue, etc. So far, I'm finding the changes from the book to the show interesting (e.g., morphing Jackie and Pippa into one person and having Macy be Lucy's roommate instead of a childhood acquaintance). I wonder if they'll still have the character Gabe (Macy's older brother) because I feel like this slight change shifts the trajectory of certain plotlines. Overall, the book was fine; the characters aren't necessarily likable, but the content is relatable in the worst ways lol. Hence why, I have a lot of feelings. I think the author did a pretty incredible job of displaying a sociopath with narcissistic attributes. As the reader, you're almost being manipulated by Stephen's plotting and reasoning for his actions, yet simultaneously, you're disgusted with him. Lastly, I wish he had gone to prison for what he did to Macy; I'm pretty upset about that.

*Flashback* I remember once thinking that this person and I had such an amazing evening together, and months later, I saw on his ex's Instagram that he had been with her earlier that evening (the picture was her on his lap, and they were making out). I once saw screenshots of texts that he had sent to a girl, which basically were the same lines he had said to me, down to a t. I had a dream one night that he did something, and the following day, I found out that he had hooked up with my old coworker. I could go on and on, but regardless, I remember feeling like he was calculated and intentional, and I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that someone could be so cruel and manipulative. There were probably so many other girls I'll never know about, and that's fine. I'm just glad the situationship only lasted 4 months.

[inkcurlsandknives]

We've reached 100 Goodreads Ratings!! Thanks you to everyone who's read and reviewed Saints. I can't tell you how much reviews mean to a debut author. Huge shout out to all the ARC readers and reviewers and to the launch week binge readers! You're amazing!!

You'll love Saints if you want a Filipino-inspired Avatar the last Airbender, except the Avatar is NOT a pacifist.

If you wanna support Saints Add it on Goodreads!

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[nealshustermanreal]

If we could sit down for a cup of coffee, what's the one thing you'd want to ask me?