#vampyria

The Familiar This one was my absolute favourite reads of the year. I loved the historical setting, the fantasy elements, and the romance. The ending had me on the verge of tears, and it's a read I will treasure. Leigh really took her time to make sure to respect the characters and their setting well, which I appreciate as historical fiction is a very big hit-or-miss for me. In this case, big hit!

The Poppy War I've only read the first so far, as I'm eagerly awaiting my turn at the library for the second book in this series. I'd long been recommended this one as a darker toned adult fantasy novel, and at first, it definitely felt more YA because of the academy setting, but once it kicked into gear, there was absolutely no question who the target audience was, and it was ME. I'm very eager for the next.

One Dark Window I've only read the first of the duology as I am once again waiting my turn for the second in the series at the library, but I am eager. I loved the vibes of this book, with the tarot card like magic, the haunted forest and how the environment itself is almost a character. The romance was cute, and I liked the larger cast of characters dynamics with each other.

Vampyria I've read the Vampyria trilogy and I really enjoy it. Vampires at Versailles? I mean you had me there but throw in the morally grey protagonist and the little romance and I was sold. This series is originally in French, and that's the language I read it in, but for Anglophones, you may find it as "The Court of Shadows" by Victor Dixen.

A Fire Born of Exile So interestingly, I added this one to my list as a Fantasy Romance, and it turned out to not be fantasy at all. Nonetheless, I quite enjoyed this Sci-Fi Space Opera Sapphic Romance based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Set in the Xuya Universe, I was a bit lost as I was thrown into the deep end of world-building (honestly I'm still not fully sure I understand what mindships are) with no help. I just kind of accepted that though and kept going, and I'm glad I did - I loved the characters, the themes of revenge, grief, familial piety, etc. I'm definitely going to read more by this author!

Firefly Lane I often see posts about how friendship is underrated by storytellers and to everyone who wants a story focused on friendship: This is for you. I swear. We follow the lifelong friendship of two women, through ups and downs, trials and tribulations, through moving across the country, through marriage, through childbirth, through career, etc. There's also a netflix show, which is how I ended up stumbling onto the book - both are great imo.

I'll be Waiting I loved this horror stand-alone for its exploration of grief, the past haunting us, etc. I also really appreciated that the protagonist has a chronic illness, because it's not the type of thing I see in many novels, and while I'm not an expert in CF to know how well the representation was done, I liked that it was something integral to the character - not something to 'overcome' but to live with.

Those Across The River This one came highly recommended to my by my husband as soon as he finished with it. He said that as a fan of gothics, I had to read it, and I'm glad I did! This historical fiction is a southern gothic and explores the concept of sins-of-the-father with a particular horror monster I love but is rarely seen in gothic novels. So finding a gothic novel that actually has that monster? Hell.Yes. Now excuse me while I go put a hold on every book this author wrote in my library.

IT Oh, IT. This one I have mixed feelings about, but it was definitely one of the books that occupied a lot of my brain space during the year, and I enjoyed it quite a bit for the most part, so it earns it's spot in my top 10. For much of the book, I felt it was Stephen King at his prime, weaving a tale of slow horror with a large cast, a whole town to wreak havoc in, and multiple time periods. I really did like this book and the characters a lot… but I really didn't like the ending. Still, for the first ~90+%, I was super there for it.

It literally starts at the beginning with what seems like a cold open. The guards are banging on the protagonist's door. But instead of showing any character acting, all we get is a lenghty monologue of backstory and worldbuilding - interrupted by more threats from outside. Are her family members, who know about the rebellion, just standing there doing nothing while Jeanne monologues??? The pacing of the scene urges the Froidelacs to act, but Jeanne's inner monologue, which gives no dedcription of actual action, is a stark contrast to this urgency.

This happens again much later in the book when Proserpina and Diane hide while the other students rush past them on the stairways. The narration describes that they don't have much time or else they'll be discovered, but Proserpina takes her sweet fucking time telling Diane her entire sad backstory in one continuous paragraph! Nobody talks like that!

Another one that caught my eye was towards the end, where the torturer has Diane/Jeanne in chains, and they both slowly realize that both of them are rebels. Montfaucon just monologues two giant paragraphs without any sort of break or flavour text or interjection from Jeanne. It is a slog to read through! Granted, I can believe it a bit more from him since he is a teacher and therefore lecturing a student without pause may fit him more, but not like that! Not in this honest, personal way!

At that point I realized that this felt less like I was reading a novel and more like I was reading a stage play where the characters have to tell the audience sitting right in front of them about what their motivations are.

Granted, the book got back on my good graces with the ending. The reveal that Tristan's revolution would benefit only the nobles and leave the peasants even worse was great! I loved how it forced Jeanne's hand into turning against him.

Then the second book starts with an immediate spiral into stupidity again. Diane immideately reveals to this peasant boy who tried to kill her who she really is - both are as honest and non-clandestine as can be - and a guard obviously hears them loudly talking about peasant revolutions and kills him. Then the guard in turn also immediately talks about his life and his benefits and how much of a traitor Diane is and uuuuuuuuughhhh

TALK! LIKE! NORMAL! PEOPLE!