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July's reading roundup! I went on a Holly Black bender and enjoyed almost every second of it! I'm going to do more in depth reviews for my reads from now on. Let me know if you have any recommendations!

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The little bird and the hag - Suren and Bogdana

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Queen Suren and Prince Oak - childen of Winter and Summer

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Some nights I wake and everything hurts a little. It is amazing how long a ruined thing will burn.

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— Virginia Woolf

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Sylvia Plath

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Love the rivalry between Jude and her stepfather.

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jude was so badass for making herself immune to poison. like that girl literally poisoned herself in small amounts everyday just so no one could have any sort of power over her.

🎨: frostbite studios

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All hail High Queen Jude!

“But to traitors and oath breakers, I offer my queen’s hospitality instead. The hospitality of knives.”

ARTIST: frostbite.studios.

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elithienart.

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cardan and jude ♔

idk if i like this but whatever

this will also be available to buy on my inprnt so stay tuned 🫶🏻

(based on dolce&gabbana 2006 fall/winter collection cover by Steven Meisel)

characters by Holly Black

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Lovers of Elfhame by Frostbite Studios

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"If she was doomed to be a lit match, Charlie may as well find stuff to burn..." - Chapter 16, Book of Night

Book of Night – Holly Black

Title: The Book of Night

Author: Holly Black

Genre: Fantasy, Magical-Realism, Thriller

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Holly Black’s debut into adult fiction is a captivating adventure into a fantasy world where shadows are powerful and dangerous. Black is an expert in blending together romance, dark fantasy, and a gripping storyline that will keep their readers’ gasping at each twist and turn.

The world building of this novel is absolutely astonishing in its ability to establish that the world over has changed with the discovery of magic and how shadows are the key part of the ability to wield magic. Through this intricate world-building, Black brings forth a world where science is trying to understand magic that was previously unknown to the public within the world of Book of Night.

Plot:

Book of Night is written mostly in the point of view of the main anti-hero Charlie Hall as she tries to put her criminal past behind her and go straight. Unfortunately, through the many twists and turns that Holly Black throws their reader’s through like a child on a poorly built slide. (Not to say that’s a bad thing, I thoroughly enjoy whiplash-inducing twists!) The world that Charlie lives in is a world where shadow magic has become public knowledge, and Black does an excellent job putting fantasy side-by-side with science. It’s not often any type of speculative fiction strays from the idea of having a “Flux Capacitor.” Instead of just saying “Yeah, it’s a magical world,” Black brings forth how modern science would react to this newly discovered magic rather than the world just accepting it.

Characters:

Charlie Hall: The main protagonist of the story. In her own words, she has spent “half her time trying to blunt her fangs and the other half hunting.” Charlie wants a better, non-criminal life, but keeps getting sucked back into the seedy underworld of shadow magic.

Posey Hall: Charlie’s little sister that seems to only add an emotional motivation for Charlie. Posey is intrigued by shadow magic and wants to be a part of that world, which brings forth arguments between the sisters, but there’s love there. Posey’s character is a great way to show how complex sibling relationships can be.

Vince: Mysterious past, boyfriend of Charlie, lots of secrets. He also wants a normal life. Favorite quote: “I learned to be a person for you.”

Themes:

The main themes, in my opinion, are of power, corruption, identity and being able to reclaim one’s own identity.

Power/Corruption: Power corrupts. It’s an indisputable fact, unfortunately. Black is able to show just how far people will go for power, especially magical shadow powers.

Identity/Reclaiming Identity: Charlie’s arc focuses on somehow finding a way to redeem herself for everything she’s done. While a happily ever after for Charlie doesn’t seem to be in the books (SPOILERS!!) she does bring the book to a close with one of my favorite quotes, stating “If you can make a stupid decision, I can, too.”

In conclusion, Holly Black has delivered an amazing novel and a wonderful debut into the realm of adult fiction. This novel’s exploration of corrupted power, identity, and trying to redeem oneself while set against the backdrop of shadow magic, I believe this book truly is a must-read for those who love twists, turns, and an ambiguous ending that still warms your heart.

My rating:

Four out of Five Bees. While the book was wonderfully written, I was stunned by the ambiguous ending. (AKA I was hella pissed while also happy,

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This is my fun list of ratings.

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I just miss talking about books.

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One day, I am going to light Shakespeare on fire—not one of his works. Shakespeare—the man, the myth, the mistake.

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“Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.” - George Orwell, 1984