šBook Review Blog, mostly SFF but up for anything fiction, often read queer or [East/SE] Asian fiction!⨠// Aspec They/Them Writer+BookselleršŖ»// Slowly returning from hiatus āļø
Book: Platform Decay by Martha Wells
Publishes: May 5, 2026
Iāll keep this a bit short, because if youāve read Murderbot Diaries, then it doesnāt take much for me to convince you to read it. But if you havenāt ready Murderbot Diaries, then WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? This one literally comes out the day after this review is posted.
As always, Wells makes a perfect mix of action with a tinge of Murderbotās sarcastic humor and a touch of its unintentional wholesomeness. Our aroace icon is to rescue one of its humanās family members from being hostage through a whole structure that surrounds a planet. It never ceases to amaze me how much grander and cosmic the worldbuilding gets in these books.
Also, if you are a fan of Three cameos, youāre in luck!! (I am such a big Three fan, lowkey underrated character). Murderbot, our monarch of the stars though it would hate that level of attention - I will absolutely praise the great joy of the Murderbot Diaries. Seriously, if you arenāt already reading these, start now.
Whatās good to note is that if you havenāt read book 7 (System Collapse), thatās alright, you won't be spoiled too much (but Iāll just silently judge why youāre skipping randomly in the series). You do still need context from some previous books before that though, so keep that in mind. If youāre debating on picking up the next in the series, please absolutely read this one! Thereās a slightly more wholesome tone to it than the last couple that I surprisingly really liked (and needed).
It also wouldn't be right for me to not hype up Kevin R. Free reading for the audiobook. I did not get an ALC, but he has done such a consistent job all across the board for every book so far, so if you are considering about getting the audiobooks, treat yourself because he does such a perfect job of capturing Murderbot, truly.
Nevertheless, I want to thank Tor Publishing Group and Edelweiss for gifting this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review of the book. Thank you, Martha Wells, for bringing such a fun and iconic aro-ace character to life. I also want to thank you for reading and supporting this blog. In this silly and strange universe, you matter to me. Take it easy out there. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, buy it from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
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Book: The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
Publishes: May 5, 2026
The concept of a samurai in a science fiction setting already had me intrigued. I was also pleasantly surprised to see a middle-aged protagonist. So much current sci-fi/fantasy feels like it centers on characters in their 20s, and sometimes maybe their 30s (excluding all those fae that are hundreds of years old or whatever). So much of just the concept of this book was already pretty refreshing to come into. I do wish I had the time and energy to have read this sooner, but life happens, and Iām glad I can even get this review out by the time of the bookās release (the day after this review comes up).
The premise Iāve pitched this book for others to read is a sci-fi samurai who investigates the mysterious disappearance of her worst ex-apprentice in a foreign, icy world that has been isolated from Earth for centuries, and now this world is corporation-run and corporation-ruled as they work to slowly warm the deadly cold climate. I recognize it isnāt a pitch that will catch everyone, but I feel like it encaptures the aspects that intrigued me the most.
When I started reading the first couple chapters, I recognized the slow pace and had that bad feeling I might DNF (because I really canāt stand slow paced books, sorry), but I found myself surprised that I couldnāt put this book down. I kept going and going, wanting to find out the next part of the mystery, figure out what happened in both Isakoās and Martimās careers as she uncovers more of what happened. I found myself so curious about this world and the internal conflicts within the corporate entanglements of the story.
The characters intrigued me so much. The level of detail that is given to their characterization and moral beliefs, where and when lives interweave between the characters, and the different history that Isako shares with each of them (or even their history with each other) had me making constant mental notes. Also, for once, the protagonist knowing such a large amount of characters beforehand (because sheās been in the industry for such a long time). Plus, I actually felt that every characterās strengths and weaknesses were very balanced. Nobody felt too strong, too safe, or even too smart, leaving every conflict and encounter as a pretty fair coin toss. I am not fond of mysteries outside of my occasional dabbles into Nancy Drew stories, but this was one mystery I needed to get to the bottom of with Isako.
Even though I was able to predict a couple events in the novel, getting to the point they happen in the story still hit me like a punch to the gut. The emotional beats that Isako encounters really hit more than I anticipate, and I - like Isako - found myself more attached to other characters by the end of the novel than I anticipated (so get ready for some nice and somewhat subtle character development).
My only nitpick with the book - which is surprising that I would even be one to write this (as I clock in about a 0.75 on the apple visualization scale of 0-5); I did end up wanting more visual description of the world itself. There are descriptions for specific buildings and rooms, but never really describing the city in visual detail that makes it specific or iconic to itself compared to that of a normal city. Itās completely possible I forgot a paragraph, but I would have liked to know what certain cities looked like more compared to others. It didnāt lower my enjoyment of the book much, itās more of a small preference.
A 500+ page read is a hard pick for people who donāt often read that length, I get it. But this really is a book to take your time with - absorb the information, organize out the clues, piece together your theories - then come back to read more. For anyone looking for a good slow-paced intersection between mystery and sci-fi, this book is such a good pick.
In any case, I want to thank Orbit Books and Edelweiss for gifting this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review. I also want to thank Fonda Lee for creating this incredible novel that Iām pretty sure Iām going to dwell on for the next few weeks. I, of course, want to thank you for reading and supporting this blog, and a reminder, dear reader, that in this infinite and cold universe, you matter to me. With spring rains coming around, make sure to take a moment to cozy up and enjoy the gentle comfort of the rain; you deserve a break every once in a while, too. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, buy it from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
Book: Break Room by Miye Lee, translated by Sandy Joosun Lee
Publishes: April 28, 2026
What are we like to the people around us in the break room? We find ourselves at work as us at our most normal, whatever that may entail. This is the same sentiment Iām sure many of the contestants within the Break Room walked in thinking.
I felt like I had walked in and right out of this novella. It was shorter than I expected, and I found myself going back repeatedly, picking up new details and putting together new ideas in my head about each of the characters and myself. There is very little I can share without spoiling, so I highly recommend you read the book yourself, set it down for a couple days, then come back and read it again.
This book had me reflecting on things about myself. I find most of the things I do at work pretty ānormal,ā whatever normal means, I suppose. The few things I do out of the norm has been a delight for my coworkers (i.e. my sense of whimsy and propensity to dance a little jig when a good song comes on). Perhaps this is what makes me not be the office villain, but when I went to work the day after I finished this book, I went for my lunch break and felt a smidge more conscious of each thing I did. Is there about my routine that is weird? Is it weird that I have a routine? I like to think that me turning on the exact same Markiplier video every time I am stressed and gone to lunch is the only weird thing I do. (FNAF: Help Wanted 2 - Part 5, by the way)
Following Ice Cube as he figured out the rules of the show and clawed for new information about his fellow contestants had me leaning in like listening into office gossip. Lee has such a good hand on keeping just the information you are curious about just far enough out of reach. It has left me thinking for days after finishing this story about the characters, the show, the showās reception, the main character, and maybe even the possible cast for the supposed second season of the show.
My largest complain about this book, to be blunt, is the cover. The US cover it is releasing with is one of the ugliest book covers I have ever had the displeasure of seeing. This is also why I have both the US cover and the beautiful UK/original cover up for this review. I have no clue who is behind the design decision for the US cover, but this feels like an absolute crime of the arts to replace the lovely cover with the tacky colors, minimalist-of-the-minimalist picart style, inconsistency in the lining of the various objects, and the jarring choice of title/author arrangement. This does not knock down my opinion of the bookās content itself, but I needed to make it clear how disappointed I am with the art for the US cover.
Aside from that, my only other issue I took is that the book feels a bit too short. I feel there was a bit more content within the show that could have shed some light on things I felt didnāt get satisfyingly concluded, though that may also have been through condensing phrases in translation. That isnāt to say the translation is bad, just the opposite.
The translation by Sandy Joosun Lee is incredible. I like to believe that when a work is translated, you gain a new layer of interpretation within a text - something between the reader and the author. Translating itself is an art, and it was clear Sandy Lee was very intentional and thoughtful in the placement and choice of every single word in this book. There is still a sense of magic despite the setting being a totally contemporary world. While I have not read the original Korean text, I think this is one of the best translations Iāve read.
Thank you to Miye Lee for bringing this fresh perspective into the world and Sandy Joosun Lee for expanding it for others to read. It is a blessing. Thank you to Bloomsbury Press and NetGalley for gifting an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review of the book. I also want to thank you for reading and supporting my reading blog! A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this strange and vibrant universe, you matter to me. Stay hydrated and stay cool out there. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, pre-order it from one of these links here! Please remember that this book releases on April 28, 2026! Bookshop.org - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore to preorder from which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby to go ahead and show your interest for your library to carry this title!
+ Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
+ Platform Decay by Martha Wells [ARC]
+ The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee [ARC]
+ Sleeping on Paper Boats, Vol. 2 by Teki Yatsuda
I know I have been doing a hard take off on all my reviews this last week. I am out of the depressive hellscape of winter, but my real life has been a whirlwind so far this year! I think I ended up slowing down to about a book or two a month? Of course, I donāt expect myself to beat my insane count of over 120 in 2024, but Iāve since shifted my goals out of reading quantity. Last year had been about expanding my reading, and this year is now trying to lower down the TBR list.
Some life updates. I started doing full time classes in college and still working part time at my favorite bookstore, so last yearās absence of posts was mostly time management. I donāt intend to regularly post, but whenever I finish a book, I do plan to post it up here, if I get around to it. My entire bookcase/bookshelves crashed, so about 85% of my books are now sitting in unorganized stacks on a spare desk in my study/office room. I have yet to find a good bookcase at the moment, but they all seem fairly happy where they sit at least. Although, honestly, seeing them in so many stacks does really place the pressure on how much my physical TBR has truly grownā¦
My bingo board I made earlier this year has yet to have a single mark, which really stems from me getting through my ARCs, which is what pushed me to read and review the last few posts on my blog. I am lucky I have enjoyed all of them thus far, I feel bad when I DNF ARCs, but Iāve made a habit of DNFing books I donāt like past page 50, considering how short on free time I have amidst my studies. Hopefully, it isnāt a habit that sticks too tight after graduation.
I also recently read Come Closer by Sara Gran. I had debated on making a review for it, but I worried it may be too harsh. I was utterly bored with the book the entire way through, but I also know I wouldnāt have picked it up if it werenāt picked for a horror book club I like to attend. I can tell it is decently well written, but I just wasnāt a fan throughout the entire book. I had even worried about reading it at night (which I tend to avoid reading horror before bed), only to wind up reading the whole thing past midnight and had zero feelings about the characters except maybe a minor annoyance. Iām still unsure about posting a legitimate blog review, but let me know if youād like to see one.
Iām excited about my upcoming reads. Iāve been recommended by every queer and their mother to read Gideon the Ninth, every one touting it is absolutely my vibe (which, come on, lesbian necromancers in space is absolutely something I would be into). Now that itās been picked for my sci-fi/fantasy book club (which if you want to read along, we do have a Storygraph challenge up). I will always love Murderbot, so Iām excited to see the next installment. Sleeping on Paper Boats had been an impulse purchase back in November. It was such a beautiful cover, but I donāt read much yaoi manga in particular (or just manga in general), but when I saw it was also classified under horror, I decided to pick it up. Iāve been meaning to read volume 2, but just never got around to it among other reads, but I loved the first volume and am a bit sad it is so short, but supposedly, all the best manga are (according to my friends). [Also, this has led me to purchase the first volume of The Summer Hikaru Died, which is on my shelf and will read⦠eventually.] Lastly, Last Contract of Isako is the one I know least about. Iāve had my eye on Jade City, Fonda Leeās other book, but I was gifted this ARC and- as much as it is a chonker compared to my other recent reads (though it will be comparable to Gideon), I look forward to giving this book a shot.
This has already been a much longer starlog than I anticipated, but if you enjoy seeing my funky update on my life and reading, let me know. I may post a starlog a month or something (hopefully shorter), Iām not sure yet. Weāre just coasting through the cosmos at the moment, going where the cosmic current takes us.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting my blog. A reminder, dear reader, that in this vast and infinite universe, you matter to me. Make sure to stay hydrated and - maybe listen to a nice peppy song the next time you reach for music. Happy spring time. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
Book: Year of the Mer by L.D. Lewis
Publishes: April 7, 2026
If there is ever a way to sell me on a book, the words āsapphicā and āfantasyā are gonna immediately catch my attention. I was pitched this ARC with those being in the first sentence and all else I glanced was some inspiration from The Little Mermaid, whether it Hans Christian Andersenās or Disneyās, it didnāt matter because I knew I'd eat it up. I read a mermaid princess book a long time ago and was heartbroken it didnāt lead to her getting with her loyal best friend and instead the merman who showed up in book 3. I needed my sapphic mermaids like ten years ago.
Let me settle the Little Mermaid expectations before hyping you for this book because I need others to read this novel so I can talk about it with them. The inspiration is a sort of far off continuation, the future descendant of Ariel and how the world of mers and humans went on with a mer princess becoming queen to a human land. While it took me a while to put the pieces together, I must confess it was because I was an idiot who did not even recognize how Queen Arielleās name being similar to Ariel until about 75% through the book (I know, I know, but I glanced back through the book and saw everything else tie together, so trust me on this one). This isnāt a retelling by any means, and I love it so much more for that. (Frankly, Iām a little tired of retellings lately).
The book takes a bit longer than I expected to setup but in retrospect, it actually works out much better. It sets up the political tension in a period of peace time that doesnāt feel like itāll last. It sets up Princess Yemayaās ambitions, her relations to each of the characters the support the Crown, including her romance with her loyal very personal guard, Nova. Thankfully, history isnāt shoved all in the beginning and is instead interspersed throughout the novel, coming up when relevant to provide context. The twists throughout the plot feel well supported but also not too predictable; there were a handful of twists that I did not predict myself.
The tone of the book is dark and fairly serious with many brief moments of characters poking fun or taunting each other that brings a levity that neatly breaks up the heavy overtones of the story. Bloodthirst is a common running theme throughout the novel that really intrigued me. Running parallel to this bloodthirst is the consistent warnings to Yemi to not be tempted or cave into rage or revenge, and yet within her is a vindictiveness with an underlying thirst for blood. Yemiās temptation and chase for this is something many marginalized peoples feel but learn to tame so early on. All around Yemi, she is surrounded by people who have no luxury to right any wrongs they are done. Yemi, being a princess, is too privileged in her incoming power to recognize what consequences, what life others will have to go through in the aftermath of whatever revenge she intends to exact. Yet at the same time, there is a satisfaction to following Yemi on this crimson path. Where the path leads and what happens on it, Iāll leave you to read and find out.
As much as this is a fantasy story about merpeople and an impulsive princess with her loyal lady knight, it is also a tale of feminine rage, of power, and of revenge. I was also lucky enough to obtain an ALC for this book, and Janina Edwards brings a smoothness like breath below an ocean current to this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The teasing between Yemi and Nova was sweet and fun in Edwardsā voice, and I loved her voice for Ursla. Absolutely phenomenal job. This book is amazing in both print and audio format for either audience. Anyone looking for an unhinged main character, look no further.
I want to give a thank you to L.D. Lewis for bringing this awestriking work into the world. While I place no immediate pressure, I truly hope to see more of the land and waves of this murky, bloody story (if there is a continuation). Thank you, Edelweiss and Saga Press for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Additionally, thank you Libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio for a nice glimpse into the ALC. I will absolutely be hyping up this book in my bookstore and to all my reader friends, especially as I think this will make a nice dark start to the warmer seasons of this year. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog! A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this vast ocean of stars and cosmos, you matter to me. Stay hydrated this season and keep cool. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, pre-order it from one of these links here! Please remember that this book releases on April 7, 2026! Bookshop.org - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore to preorder from which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby to go ahead and show your interest for your library to carry this title!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Book: The Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens
Publishes: May 26, 2026
As someone who is a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons, this book definitely felt like a D&D adventure. The tone matches with the playful and clumsy vibe of the typical adventuring party.
In the past, I had read and reviewed So This is Ever After which I had described similarly. In comparison, this new book is far more adventurous and focuses less on romance, which worked perfectly for this story. When I reread So This is Ever After with one of my book clubs, more than one of us had mentioned wanting to know what happened on their quest and wondering how Lukens might write such a tale. While this follows a completely new adventuring party and likely a very different, slightly more fantastical world, I think it was very fun for Lukens to take the readers on this great adventure across the kingdom of Avoury. The shenanigans and hijinks the party goes through across their travels kept me wanting to come back for more, always curious what happens next. Itās an excitement for adventure Iāve always related to my youth.
I enjoyed the bits of world-building interwoven through the novel alongside the ecological world-building of the fauna across the land. Not enough fantasy books go into the ecology of fantasy creatures aside from dragons, so it was very refreshing to see the behaviors of things like little pixies and manticores - where they might rest, where they stand on the food chain, how are they affected by human disturbance. Also, the range of monsters featured across the book was very fun and truly felt like the adventure I often search for in adventure novels, yet the way Ellinore goes about such encounters also sort of subverts the expectations placed on a typical hero. The party as a whole makes me think of my own D&D party, especially in our early days and our sillier, low-level adventures.
The romance is a bit awkward at times, but I think Lukens wrote it that way purposefully. While I donāt typically like YA romance plots because of the strong second-hand embarrassment/cringe from the characters over-analyzing or over/under-reacting around their crush is a bit too much for me, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic and interactions between Ellinore and Aven. I do particularly enjoy a good rivals-to-lovers trope, even if I didnāt get the strongest sense of rivalry to start. This romance felt a bit weaker in comparison to Lukensā other novels, but I donāt mind it taking a backseat to the high fantasy aspects of the adventure, though I know some usual readers of Lukensā YA novels may tend to prefer the romance. (I personally enjoy anything from F.T. Lukens, romance or fantasy or both!)
Ellinoreās character development across the novel was very satisfying to read, which is something I donāt comment on very much. The other characters had their own unique color, but they also worked very well into highlighting Ellinoreās strengths, acting as simultaneously good hype support and good lesson teaching. It truly showed a bit more of Ellinoreās internal vs external struggle more. These dynamics sort of felt to me that Ellinore gives the vibes of Geralt (from the Witcher series), but in much lighter of a setting and holding a higher propensity for silliness. The dialogue between each of the characters is fun and feels fluid. While it doesnāt follow typical high fantasy style, the casual tone aids this book being a quick and fun read.
Out of the couple Iāve read so far, this is probably my favorite of Lukensā novels. Anyone looking for a fast, easy read that is just an overall fun, high fantasy adventure, Iād definitely recommend this. I think for people who like fantasy media and are having a hard time coming back into reading, this is also a fantastic book to start.
Thank you, F.T. Lukens, for creating this fantastic adventure! (Also, if you ever wrote a TTRPG One-Shot campaign booklet, Iād totally get it!) I definitely look forward to the release of The Last Best Quest Ever, and I hope it receives attention across all the lands! Thank you, NetGalley and Margaret McElderry Books for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. While Iām sure she wouldnāt enjoy it, I hope Ellinore receives all the attention from our world, too. Thank you all for reading and supporting my blog! A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this often dreary and slowly more dystopian world, there is magic in the right places when you know where to look, especially within you, and remember, you matter to me. I hope you are having a lovely spring and holding tight in the wavering temperatures, and also staying safe wherever you are. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, pre-order it from one of these links here! Please remember that this book releases on May 25, 2026! Bookshop.org - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore to preorder from which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby to go ahead and show your interest for your library to carry this title!
Book: Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne
Publishes: July 7, 2026
Cozy scifi truly is the future. I admit I was hesitant at first - the cozy fantasy subgenre has started to wear down on me, honestly. Iāve had some of the most difficult few months in my life, and this book provided not only a comforting place within the Destitute but also gave me the wonder of exploring new places in the galaxy, the good warm feeling of having completed an adventure, and the peace to know that no matter how difficult it gets, Iāll be okay.
I found myself dropping all my other books to find solace in this one, and it truly came to me in a time I really needed it. Even so, I will give a thoroughly honest review. I do love this book a lot, and I will absolutely sing its praises as always with Rebecca Thorne. I very much enjoyed the Tomes & Tea series, and this exploration surprised me. The aspects I found lacking/disliked in Tomes & Tea are completely gone in this book. Threats actually feel legitimate and the stakes feel real in many ways in this book. There isnāt a lot of safety nets already in place when risky decisions are made, which makes those decisions hold more weight when the characters take them.
The worldbuilding feels simultaneously more fleshed out and not overbuilt. There is a healthy balance between the storytelling and worldbuilding, which I appreciate not being drowned in it within the first few chapters. Details actually work their way into narration fairly naturally in most cases, which made the read easy.
I do run into one common issue I have with Thorneās writing usually which is that the ending always feels a little rushed. Not as in it was written super fast, but - like many other endings Thorne has written - this one also feels like the pace picks up way faster than any other part of the book in the last ~50 pages. Some of the characters feels a little flat or gimmicky at times outside of a single deeper moment, but the main cast of characters all feel pretty fleshed out. I found myself particularly liking Lyric, while they are a main character, the details and personality just made me so happy and my heart set aflame. Nasra and her alien species really drew me in, too; I found myself absorbing every little detail about her, though (again, outside of a singular moment), she felt a bit flat/2-dimensional as a character (though that may just be my personal reading).
I can easily see the comparison to Murderbot Diaries in terms of character interaction and the overall feeling of each character, but they and their dialogue has Thorneās own flavor to it, which is nice and carries a little more diva energy and flair for drama in a wonderful way. I think people who enjoy Murderbot would quickly find a favorite character in this book, but even for those who somehow didnāt find Murderbot taking up their every waking thought, the cozy atmospheric moments tied with everything else that goes down in this book make it easy to love.
As said, I do plan to hype this book up at my bookstore and book clubs. Despite my complaints, I did enjoy every moment through this book. I really appreciated this book being here in this time of my life especially when comfort and coziness is exactly what I need. Thank you for always being the awesome you, Rebecca Thorne! What an icon. Thank you NetGalley and Bramble Books for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to this release and I want all my cottagecore sapphics all over this book, including all the masc cottagecore sapphics (I see you hiding in the back, this starship wouldnāt run without yāall <3).
Thank you all for reading and supporting my blog. A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this starry & sometimes lonely galaxy, you matter to me and you are never alone. I hope you take a good moment to relax and enjoy the air on our lovely Earth, to appreciate the life we have. You are made of stardust, made of the very material that makes everything. So as you love the stars, love thyself. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, pre-order it from one of these links here! Please remember that this book releases in July 2026! Bookshop.org - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore to preorder from which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby to go ahead and show your interest for your library to carry this title!
This year, I will be tackling my physical SFF TBR via Bingo Board
I have a primary board, and if there is a slot I wish to fill but may not want to read yet, I can replace it with the same slot on the alt board. If you got a lot of these on your TBR, feel free to join!
Today in "don't judge a book by its cover," I'm hoping to put some of you onto The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon, which is neither romantasy nor YA, despite what the cover might suggest. My review is here if anyone's interested.
From my review because I'm too lazy to reword it: This is a dark fairytale with folklore, politics, a little bit of horror, and a toxic (complimentary) f/f subplot. Hellevir has the power to bring back the dead, though it comes at a price (a few drops of blood, a lock of hair, the tip of a finger, then a whole oneāand each time, a piece of her soul). When she successfully resurrects the princess Sullivain, she's naive enough to think that will be the end of it, but of course it isn't. There was a brutal civil war in recent history and the royal family will hold onto the crown at all costsāmeaning Hellevir is soon conscripted into service as the princess's personal necromancer, undoing her would-be assassinations. This is all complicated by a deal Hellevir has made with the god of death (yes, he's also here), a religious conflict brewing in the city and within Hellevir's own family, and Hellevir and Sullivain's growing feelings for one another.
This book seems to have been a bit mis-marketed as romantasy, disappointing people who were looking for a straight love story with shadow magic and battles and so on (nothing wrong with all that). But I think it's quite good and hope it can find its audience! The sequel is already out and it looks like people who liked the first one liked the sequel as well.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Since my last update, over a month ago, it feels everything has become so heavy suddenly - weāre 4 months into 2025 and it feels like itās been an entire year since New Years. This isnāt a new sentiment, Iām sure, and many of my own issues are an echo with many others - college tuition, chaotic work schedule, a transphobic father. There are times these things weigh too heavy, and I spent January through March reading far too many books dealing with heavy topics (a surprising amount about grief), all of which I reserve my opinions until possibly later this year since it was for judging for an award (of which I will not disclose).
I went through the beginning half of this month recovering from a reading slump, working on other hobbies to rest my brain during my off time until I was ready to return. I hope my few readers here have also partaken in some other hobbies in my absence. Without further ado, letās see what books Iāve been consuming and could potentially become future reviews here.
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
Iāve only just barely gotten into this one, but I read the blurb and was immediately curious about what was going on here. I have heard of an individual who was married to the Eiffel Tower. I had always been peripherally interested in objectophilia, mostly because learning about the ways people can be unique from one another often intrigues me. This book follows Linda who seeks to marry her soulmate plane. I especially felt interested in this book because people who know me in real life often know I love planes (in a vastly different way from Linda here).
There was a period of my life I considered joining the U.S. Air Force, until I learned itās a decently low chance I would get to be a pilot. Unfortunately, it wasnāt financially an option for me to start any classes that may lead to me being a pilot, and Iām far from considering it as a career option currently. But a book about planes and a person who keeps going on planes? Iām absolutely gonna pick it up. The feeling of take-off and being in the sky is a high nothing else can give me.
Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad
Last year, my reading goal was to read a minimum of 63 books to encourage me to read more to make up for several years of not reading outside of school assignments. I was proud to have read a little over 120 books, nearly doubling that goal. This year, one of my reading bingo board squares is to read a book by an author and/or include a character of the same ethnicity to match each major heritage month. I fell behind this month, but April is National Arab American Heritage Month, so I set out to find a book by an Arab author, surprised I didnāt already have any on my shelf nor TBR (80% of it is filled with East Asian authors).
Iāve barely gotten into this one, and Iām listening to it as an audiobook, narrated by Suehyla El-Attar Young, who does a wonderful job. Itās become easy to be immersed in this book and Amiraās family dynamics as she grows into adulthood. There are a lot of themes and cultural details that have had me looking up info on Arab and Islamic culture, the struggles they face day-to-day (in the US particularly), and Arab-American history. Iām happy this reading goal has helped me recognize areas I am ignorant in, and Iād highly recommend other people try it. I look forward to finishing this book, learning more about the cultures it includes, and sharing my insight in hopes other people like myself can open their eyes to another major part of our world.
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
For the LGBTQ+ Book Club Iām a part of, theyāre reading this book for May. I was already particularly interested since Iāve had a coworker talk about how much she loved this book. Iāve heard the main character is on the autistic spectrum, which I often pick up books with neurodivergent characters as someone who is neurodivergent myself (also because the first two books I read with ND protagonists were horrible misrepresentations of ADHD and I now spitefully look for good representation). Iām guessing she may have a hyper-fixation on space, which Iām so excited if that is the case because I also love space and hearing people talk about it.
Aside from that assumption, I know rather little about this novel, but Iām still looking forward to reading this one.
Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge
I was bitterly disappointed at DNFāing John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin (mostly because of the frequent use of the r-slur), but I had no other audiobooks or ebooks waiting for me (or that I wanted to read) on Libby or Libro.fm, so I randomly looked about and found this ebook. The cover caught my eye - a purple moon on a black-and-white backdrop. Something called out to me about it. I read the blurb and saw it follows a cryptozoologist seeking to find creatures that live amongst people. As a fan of cryptids (to the point I made a completely homebrew TTRPG setting for my plays on hunting cryptids), I knew this book was it for me. Iām excited to see what comes of this book!
The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
I finally caved. A lot of people recommended I start reading danmei (or light novels in general), but I had kept away from it because the attention I saw around it felt similar to the phenomenon of straight women reading MLM romances written by straight women. While I donāt want to completely diminish this phenomenon of why it likely exists, Iāve stayed away from it because - as a queer person - I want to read books written from a perspective understanding of queer people.
That being said, this series isnāt absent of misunderstanding, but it can be suspended a little more because of the setting. I think this series particularly sucked me in because the enemies-to-lovers with so much respect already existing between both parties is written fantastically. I cannot tear myself away from Chu Wanning and Mo Ranās love-hate relationship. Iām only on volume 2, but Iāve already begun collecting future volumes in the series, which I never do (always waiting until Iām confirmed to love the trajectory of the series before buying further). I plan to write a review on this as a series rather than book by book, so it will be awhile before I cycle around to this one on the blog.
The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton
In the Sci-Fi/Fantasy book club I lead, I chose this book. I will be completely transparent in saying I chose this 6 months ago and all I know is it is sapphic and in space. The cover looked nice, and Iām absolutely ready to read this. Plus, there was some nice fanart I saw for this book that has really pulled me in further. The last time I got a book because of the fanart was for Banh Mi For Two, and that worked out amazingly, so letās see if the pattern continues! (I am very optimistic.)
We are at the beginning of May, so Iāll be finding two books to match up with AAPI Heritage Month and Jewish-American Heritage Month. I have plenty of Asian-American authors in my TBR, but I may aim for a book written by a Pacific Islander to expand my awareness in at least one of the many cultures that exist in the Pacific. This goes the same for finding a book by a Jewish author, since I know a surprisingly little amount about Judaism and Jewish culture (living in the Bible belt really has made me more ignorant than I realized). If you have any recommendations, please let me know! Also, if there are any resources to spread awareness on any of the aforementioned cultures, please feel free to share with me and Iāll try to reblog it whenever Iām next online!
Iām slowly coming back into reading again, so itās quite possible I wonāt have a blog post next week. It may be a hot minute before I get back into weekly blog posts. Nevertheless, I appreciate you being here, and I want to thank you for reading and supporting my blog. A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this vast, infinite universe, you matter to me. Itās storm season for those in the US, so if youāre East of the Rockies, please be careful and keep an eye on the weather. I hope you all remain safe and okay. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in any of these books, buy them from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Powellās Books - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
Book: Interstellar Megachef by Levanya Lakshminarayan
ā 5 / 10
The giant donut on the cover was a brilliant marketing decision. I bought 36 donuts to my sci-fi/fantasy book club to match the cover, only for all of us to be disappointed that not a single donut appeared in the book. This very much felt like a recurring theme in my experience of reading this book.
I went into this book having expected some kind of Chef Showdown type of show, maybe even a Gordon Ramsay-type character calling the protag an idiot sandwich (as said by a friend at the book club). What I got was only just below 10% actual cooking competition and 90% space politics. I wouldnāt have minded this as much if the marketing hadnāt colored my expectations for the book (via pull quotes at the front of the book, its cover, and its blurb beginning with āMasterchef in spaceā) to be a much lighter atmosphere of story.
I could not bring myself to care for Serenity Ko (or any other character we randomly switching perspective to), who proved herself to be nothing more than an ignorant asshole from beginning to end with the end of her supposed arc being āthereās no I in teamā despite her consistent mistreatment of Saraswati, of which her being forgiven felt like it happened too easily. As much as this book succeeds in its accurate parallels of xenophobia in this universe to the racism in current-day English-speaking countries [which I can only speak for the US], it falls short in creating a satisfying awakening and education on bigotry to Serenity Ko (not that it needs to be super thorough, it just felt like it never really happened).
The casual inclusions of both every character formally introducing themself with their pronouns and the featuring of a few characters that actually used neopronouns (both went by some form of xe/xir and were both not human but I canāt complain) made my heart happy at the queer normativity within the setting. The sapphic romance developing between Saras and Ko felt pretty rushed (in writing) and didnāt feel like it actually fit into their stories. As much as I love a good sapphic romance (and I sure do love collecting them too), this just fell short of my expectations.
With as harsh of a review I feel Iām posting, I want to back up by acknowledging again that this book was written fairly well in terms of the kinds of xenophobic conflict between Earthlings and Primians. The representation of food in this conflict was also made impressingly well. Iāve had my own experiences and heard many more from other friends very similar experiences as Saraswati faced in the kitchen from Good Cheer Chaangte. These portions of the book were written so well that I feel they make this book worth the read. I would have given this book a higher rating if its marketing hadnāt clouded my expectations so much which ended up coloring much of my opinion as a reader.
Despite my low rating, Iād still recommend this book to other people with a heavy disclaimer as to the actual focuses of the book rather than what the marketing team led consumers to believe. This book stands incredibly as its own story and I would have preferred it be allowed to shine in that way.
In any case, thank you for reading and supporting my blog. A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this flavorful galaxy, you matter to me. I hope you get a good stretch in as spring slowly blossoms into the winter cold. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, buy it from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Powellās Books - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
Iāve always been fond of the idea of dust storms (not their actual existence in reality of course). Perhaps that stems from my intense fascination (because obsession is a word too far) for severe and strange weather phenomena. A tornado in Wyoming turning red from all the red dirt it pulls up, lightning spreading out like a web and lasting several seconds before blinking out of existence because of the intensity of its electrical power.
This book takes place in the 30s, in the midst of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Following Stella, who dreams to make it out of this Southern town and become a Hollywood star, sells moonshine and helps her aunt take care of a boarding house where a drifter comes to stay that seems to particularly charm Stella. By this point, I expected this story to become a steamy historical romance, of which I am not the biggest fan of. I was pleasantly surprised when the plot took a turn as Stella, the charming drifter, and her two sisters are out getting wood from a deteriorated, abandoned house when they get caught in a dust storm. Escaping the dangerous winds and blinding dust, they take a leap into a pocket dimension with a particularly kind, ghostly gentleman who may have been crossed in his deal with the devil.
Alongside the fantastical plot, Lynn writes an intriguing look into life in the 1930s. Stellaās close relationship with her sisters, her developing feelings for Lloyd, the scars (literal and figurative) and the histories behind them from each character, the bits of Romani stories and culture shared between the sisters, and the details in the lives of background characters pulls the story together in a way that makes the daily life part of it real.
While this is a great book, my gripes are mostly from the fact I am simply not a fan of historical fiction. Iām not quite sure why it isnāt my preference, to each their own. The ending also felt a smidge rushed in my opinion. All the central conflicts were wrapped up and concluded, but I felt Archie came to his own forgiveness a little too easily. Speaking of forgiveness, while I understand sheās Stellaās sister, I feel like Lavinia was still let off the hook a little too easily for the way she treated Mattie and Stella.
All in all, I still enjoyed this novel and Iād recommend it to anyone interested in a fantastical twist on a Dust Bowl era story of 3 sisters sticking together in Great Depression Kansas.
In any case, I want to thank you for reading and supporting my blog. A reminder to you, dear reader, that in this (star-)dusty and colorful galaxy, you matter to me. I hope you have a wonderful, cozy winter. Stay warm and until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, buy it from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Powellās Books - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
Book: So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
ā 8 / 10
Iāve noticed a slow uptick in D&D related romances, of which Iāve only read one and decided it wasnāt for me. Many of their blurbs feel like they are written for people who want to play D&D but havenāt, so they dream via reading a group in a book. This book doesnāt feel like that at all.
To anyone who plays TTRPGs, particularly of the high-fantasy caliber, this book properly feels set within that setting, without the strange zoom-out of seeing the players outside of the game. Each of the characters feel colorful with their own unique personalities and backgrounds, yet they all weave together well as a group that was once strangers at the start of their quest, but this book isnāt their adventure - this book is for the players who wonder what comes after? When we defeat the Vile One and his legion of the dead, when we restore the throne and put the crown upon our heroās head, what happens after?
It plays such a delightful twist on the heroic story where the after isnāt absent of its own story. All the while, we as readers get to appreciate a good friends-to-lovers slow burn across Arekās shenanigans. We follow the new King Arek as he realizes placing the crown upon his head unleashed a curse tethering him forevermore to the throne. Not wanting to be king and not wanting to panic his friends, he tries to find a way to break the curse or live through it, all the while hoping to avoid cursing anyone else.
I first read this book last year as an audiobook. I return to it this month with a physical copy to truly appreciate my favorite part of the whole book - the side characters all finding love for themselves, too. Set within this queernorm fantasy, they are each an absolute mess that I adore (Sionna is my favorite). They each do so well within their roles of the adventuring party and as the kingās council. Sionna, Rion, Bethany, and Lila are the true stars of the show in this novel.
While I know many people can appreciate a slow burn, and I liked this one, I typically canāt stand it (most of the time). Matt and Arek are denser than neutron stars and their constant misunderstandings of each otherās feelings do start to grind my gears as it continues to happen. They are very cute together, but multiple times, I found myself rolling my eyes at Arek misinterpreting Mattās feelings (or vice versa).
Despite their annoyances, I still do love this book. I have two other titles from Lukens which I intend to read this year, but I couldnāt help but want to come back and give this one another read. Iād highly recommend this to anyone looking for a funny and sweet fantasy romance, not just for the main pair, but for the rest of the adventuring party, too.
In any case, thank you for reading and supporting my little blog. A reminder to you, dear reader, than in this fantastical and often sweet Milky Way galaxy, you matter to me. Stay hydrated and keep warm under the covers with a good book. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, buy it from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Powellās Books - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
Book: I Am Not Jessica Chen by Anna Liang
ā 6 / 10
DISCLAIMER: I want to thank Harlequin Audio and Libro.FM for gifting this ALC to me through their bookseller program. I was not paid to do this review, I have only received this free as a gift in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Thereās this one quote that really stuck with me from high school that I donāt identify with quite so much since Iāve left the small bubble that was my teenage world, but itās a phrase I can never quite let go of. Having attended a very competitive school where most of the groups I had wanted to fit into were all AP/Honors students that dedicate every minute of their lives to their success and hope of getting into an Ivy League school. I did not take all AP classes (just one), I did not get straight Aās (but close, Aās and Bās), I was not top 10%, and I took statistics instead of complex calculus classes.
Having identified much of my early life closer to my Asian ethnicity, I felt like nothing encapsulated my high school experience more than when one of my classmates joked halfway across the classroom from me - āIām not even an Asian at this point, Iām a Bāsian.ā Having straight Aās, being a perfect student, perfect child, perfect person, doing everything to an inhumane level of perfection was always the high expectation placed around my Asian identity - and many other Asian-Americans could agree, Iām sure, the impossibly high standards set by parents or family members, then held up by our peers and teachers in schools - having doubts about whether it is even possible but watching someone else achieve it all effortlessly.
In this experience, Ann Liang absolutely kills it in this novel. Jennaās experience in her constant comparison and living in the shadows of her perfect cousin, Jessica, are not only incredibly relatable but also a surprising recreation of the same feelings and experiences Iāve heard from dozens of people before. Iām aware these experiences arenāt just within the Asian community but also happen and are relatable to many others, too.
For this novel in particular, however, I truly like the subtle nods to specifically Chinese culture - Jennaās family never drinking cold water (always hot), always having to bring something to the family gathering even when insisted not to by the host, and other little details really made me feel like I could see my friendsā families in the place of different characters. It all truly felt so real. Jennaās relationship to it all is also written very well in a tender way that elevates the emotional aspects of the story and makes her so relatable. For most of the book, these were all the elements I really loved.
Now, I want to talk about Aaron. I cannot stand Aaron. He felt somewhat like a pointless addition when he was first added in as his part of the dynamic kind of stuck out to me compared to the familial tension going on with Jenna and her family. As the book progresses, there comes a period where he becomes a stronger focus in the story, and - I feel - he takes over Jennaās inner journey, making everything she was beginning to learn and understand to this point become a lot less meaningful. The story does come around, but I personally think that Aaron took away from the story so much.
Jennaās self-discovery and slow journey to finding her self-love and the meaning of her life was already such a strong core to the novel, and Aaron could have been completely removed from the story, and it would have made this novel so much more meaningful. It already is meaningful, donāt get me wrong, but it lacks what it could have been because of the shoe-horned romance.
Honestly, I did get some The Picture of Dorian Gray vibes from this book, and I loved how her self-portraits are such a magnificent symbol throughout the book in parallel to her identity. There is so much to this book I really enjoyed, but Aaron really decimated so much of my enjoyment. Aside from him, I did have to take breaks to pace the amount of heaviness this book presents.
I donāt often read YA that deals in such heavy topics (I donāt generally read non-SFF YA to begin with), but the narrator really helped ease the weight. Katharine Chin did well in this audiobook, particularly in the different voices in dialogue for each character. It really felt like a different person voiced each character instead of the same actress - very impressive. Iād highly recommend the audiobook if you plan to read this.
Funnily enough, I almost didnāt pick up this audiobook. When I see pretty covers, I usually hesitate and back off since I find myself burning each time I pick up a book because I found the cover pretty (as in the only reason). I had thought the author sounded familiar and realized I had not one but two books by her on my TBR. After reading this, both If You Could See the Sun and A Song to Drown Rivers have moved up my list. Liangās writing impressed me. As much as I disliked Aaronās addition, his romance with Jenna wasnāt badly written. On its own, it was actually pretty sweet most times (some times he got on my nerves). It was Liangās writing on emotion, subtle hints of culture that are seamless with the environment and story, and character development and experience throughout the novel that has me very interested in the other two novels. Iāll definitely be reading them at some point.
In any case, I want to take a moment to thank Harlequin Audio and Libro.FM for gifting me this ALC through their bookseller program. I also want to thank Ann Liang for giving a microphone to amplify the Bsian teenage experience I (and many others) have been waiting to hear, youāre changing lives. Last, but certainly not least, thank you for reading and supporting this blog; a reminder to you, dear reader, that in this spectacular and peculiar universe, you matter to me. Stay warm and be kind to yourself this winter. Until next time, Iāll be reading!
If youāre interested in this book, buy it from one of these links here! Bookshop.org - Powellās Books - Libro.fm [audiobook] or from your local bookstore which you can find on IndieBound! Alternatively, support your local libraries by signing up for a library card and finding this title on Libby!
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very happy to present incredible cover art for LUCKY DAY. beautiful work from LA BOCA capturing the spirit of this strange and terrifying and existential and absurdist horror novel. PRE ORDER HERE AND SUPPORT THE ART YOU LOVE
i have talked on this many times, but i would like to use this opportunity to say again, ESPECIALLY NOW, taking a moment to directly support queer, neurodivergent, counterculture, or outsider art is so important and POWERFUL. WE CAN BEND TIMELINES TOWARDS LOVE but it takes trotting together.
LUCKY DAY is about a lot of things. its my bisexual erasure book, but also about how we deal with a world that seems so full of overwhelming grief. its about finding hope amid chaos and trotting forward with love. please take a moment to preorder if you can.Ā
Already pre-ordered 4 months ago, the moment I heard a new one was on the way!!! IM SO EXCITED!!! When this releases, it'll surely be my lucky day hehehe! šāØš
Also this cover is so fun!! I am seriously counting down the days to this book release! š