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icanreadish's reviews
275 reviews
The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur
3.75
alexandria bellefleur is not a 'must read' for me, but i was immediately drawn into this by the cover art and the obvious bedazzled influences (bellefleur uses several direct dialogue quotes from the fraser-hurley film in the beginning). i love the idea of a corporate-y demon running around, so there was some promise that i would enjoy this one over other sapphic rom coms.
it didn't disappoint - the devil she knows is a very accessible, fun candy-coated read. i wouldn't actually purchase it due to the genre, but it's a lighthearted winner i wouldn't be upset about if i picked it up from my local library. and since rom coms are in vogue, i could see this being a winner for several of my patrons.
there are a few shortcomings - as other readers have pointed out, it's hard to see sam and hannah's connect in a way that would make sam spend 5 of 6 precious wishes on. hannah isn't portrayed as particularly nice or loving at any point in their relationship, or in any of her scenes in general, so while sam explains her attachment towards the end of the novel, her 'love' doesn't quite hit. and because sam spends so much time wishing and pining for hannah's attentions, we don't get a lot of focus on sam and daphne's development until the latter fourth of the novel, in which their story becomes more instalove than anything. (and ... honestly quite boring for it to involve a demon and a human but daphne is cute and i do like sam as a character)
it's perfectly palatable story. i imagine if you like bellefleur's other works then you'll like this one.
thanks to netgalley and berkely publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
it didn't disappoint - the devil she knows is a very accessible, fun candy-coated read. i wouldn't actually purchase it due to the genre, but it's a lighthearted winner i wouldn't be upset about if i picked it up from my local library. and since rom coms are in vogue, i could see this being a winner for several of my patrons.
there are a few shortcomings - as other readers have pointed out, it's hard to see sam and hannah's connect in a way that would make sam spend 5 of 6 precious wishes on. hannah isn't portrayed as particularly nice or loving at any point in their relationship, or in any of her scenes in general, so while sam explains her attachment towards the end of the novel, her 'love' doesn't quite hit. and because sam spends so much time wishing and pining for hannah's attentions, we don't get a lot of focus on sam and daphne's development until the latter fourth of the novel, in which their story becomes more instalove than anything. (and ... honestly quite boring for it to involve a demon and a human but daphne is cute and i do like sam as a character)
it's perfectly palatable story. i imagine if you like bellefleur's other works then you'll like this one.
thanks to netgalley and berkely publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
All Nights Die Young by Mario Luxxor
??????????? literally what.
i'm hoping that as a ~filmmaker, the author continues to create, draft, create some more, etc. etc. maybe write with a playlist so we get a mood that's more than sadvaguelyhornyboi vibes. there's a ghost of an interesting story here and a necessary voice within queer literature for the representation of this kind of nightmare, but this is a premature publication needing more attention and care.
Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
1.0
i'm going to be so real - i requested this book for the vibes of the cover art alone. and have been DUPED IT'S AI ALSKDFJAFDLK fucking hell -.5 stars for that
it's awkward when i receive and advanced copy of something and have to lug myself along the finish line, half-paying attention to what's on the page just because i want it to be done.
disappointingly, this book was not for me. nearly incoherent scenes, disjointed narrative, and rushed plot points left me like ?????? for most of the reading time. i didn't find the writing style enriching or particularly captivating, and never got that #vibe feeling promised in the blurb and cover art. promised a neon-soaked venture into heartbreak and loss around the gay/queer bdsm scene, what we get is a play by play of our character's every move, thought, dialogue and backstory mingled in with scenes of sexual assault and drug use. (there's even a scene where a character has changed their name, but two go back and forth like derrick? no, dante! derrick? dante! for like, a whole page good grief it wasnt even meant to be funny it didn't have a point) which - fine. like, that can work and be a heartbreaking story itself. bad things happen and bad things should happen in literature.
i would be more forgiving if i enjoyed the writing style, or if i cared for the characters. but a backstory and a synopsis of a bad childhood doesn't necessarily make me want to know what happens to someone in the end, it doesn't make them engaging main characters. and the writing style.... we need some work and help. there's an effort here, which! love and applaud, but this gives first draft so hard and we needed at least two more between there and publication.
also definitely some reflection needed on the way women are depicted. it's so r/menwritingwomen take this excerpt:
it's awkward when i receive and advanced copy of something and have to lug myself along the finish line, half-paying attention to what's on the page just because i want it to be done.
disappointingly, this book was not for me. nearly incoherent scenes, disjointed narrative, and rushed plot points left me like ?????? for most of the reading time. i didn't find the writing style enriching or particularly captivating, and never got that #vibe feeling promised in the blurb and cover art. promised a neon-soaked venture into heartbreak and loss around the gay/queer bdsm scene, what we get is a play by play of our character's every move, thought, dialogue and backstory mingled in with scenes of sexual assault and drug use. (there's even a scene where a character has changed their name, but two go back and forth like derrick? no, dante! derrick? dante! for like, a whole page good grief it wasnt even meant to be funny it didn't have a point) which - fine. like, that can work and be a heartbreaking story itself. bad things happen and bad things should happen in literature.
i would be more forgiving if i enjoyed the writing style, or if i cared for the characters. but a backstory and a synopsis of a bad childhood doesn't necessarily make me want to know what happens to someone in the end, it doesn't make them engaging main characters. and the writing style.... we need some work and help. there's an effort here, which! love and applaud, but this gives first draft so hard and we needed at least two more between there and publication.
also definitely some reflection needed on the way women are depicted. it's so r/menwritingwomen take this excerpt:
Susan Loft was 48 years old, and in any ordinary mirror, she'd appear over 50. But in her own mirror, she managed to look barely 40, and since the forties are the new thirties, she would dress in form fitting attire, showcasing her legs and décolletage. In the bygone era when she was considered a knockout, her breasts had possessed a captivating beauty, but over time, the grasping hands of many men had gradually chipped away at their allure, leaving them now as a simple functional assets.
??????????? literally what.
i'm hoping that as a ~filmmaker, the author continues to create, draft, create some more, etc. etc. maybe write with a playlist so we get a mood that's more than sadvaguelyhornyboi vibes. there's a ghost of an interesting story here and a necessary voice within queer literature for the representation of this kind of nightmare, but this is a premature publication needing more attention and care.
Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Ascension by S.T. Gibson
4.5
I'm thrilled to have the second part of this series by S.T. Gibson. Evocation - the first - was an incredibly fun read, and while Ascension is (somehow??) darker in tone, it's just as gripping and enjoyable to get through.
The first followed David, and took it's time to establish the magic system alongside some light worldbuilding. However, the bulk of Gibson's attention and plot development centered around the love triangle / developing polyamorous relationship between the core three main characters: David, his ex Rhys and Rhys's wife Moira. In this follow-up - which doesn't have to be read back to back with the first since we mostly have a different plot altogether - we center on Rhys, who grapples with overwhelming power, self doubt, and jealousy. We also get tastier worldbuilding with the kick-off Plot Problem of a rogue (? possibly!) sorcerer who's public display draws attention to the world of the occult. As the leader of the Society, Rhys grapples with the issue of navigating his new leadership role with his desire to remain private since he's not "out" (as bisexual or a sorcerer) to his normie parents.
Rhys was so fun to follow. He's ridiculously relatable and thoughtfully flawed, but his hunger and ambition drive the plot forward. (he's not as immediately lovable as billionaire playboy philanthropist David, but his prickly nature and industriousness are just, ugh, so endearing sdkljf he tries so hard!!!!!! he does so well!!!!!! ish) David and Moira get their own time to shine - though, disappointingly, I found Moira less present in this one than in the first novel (confusingly, since she's Rhys's wife and soulmate. The bulk of Gibson's romance drama centers around David and Rhys, so I hope the third in this series really allows Moira to step forward, as I'm curious for what her story will unfold to be.)
Wonderful. Wicked fun. Cozy and suspenseful and delicious.
Big thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for a review.
The first followed David, and took it's time to establish the magic system alongside some light worldbuilding. However, the bulk of Gibson's attention and plot development centered around the love triangle / developing polyamorous relationship between the core three main characters: David, his ex Rhys and Rhys's wife Moira. In this follow-up - which doesn't have to be read back to back with the first since we mostly have a different plot altogether - we center on Rhys, who grapples with overwhelming power, self doubt, and jealousy. We also get tastier worldbuilding with the kick-off Plot Problem of a rogue (? possibly!) sorcerer who's public display draws attention to the world of the occult. As the leader of the Society, Rhys grapples with the issue of navigating his new leadership role with his desire to remain private since he's not "out" (as bisexual or a sorcerer) to his normie parents.
Rhys was so fun to follow. He's ridiculously relatable and thoughtfully flawed, but his hunger and ambition drive the plot forward. (he's not as immediately lovable as billionaire playboy philanthropist David, but his prickly nature and industriousness are just, ugh, so endearing sdkljf he tries so hard!!!!!! he does so well!!!!!! ish) David and Moira get their own time to shine - though, disappointingly, I found Moira less present in this one than in the first novel (confusingly, since she's Rhys's wife and soulmate. The bulk of Gibson's romance drama centers around David and Rhys, so I hope the third in this series really allows Moira to step forward, as I'm curious for what her story will unfold to be.)
Wonderful. Wicked fun. Cozy and suspenseful and delicious.
Big thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for a review.
WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai by John Powers, Wong Kar Wai
5.0
a gorgeous retrospective on such a visionary filmmaker. loved the interview and the full spread of screengrabs.
Catherine the Ghost by Kathe Koja
3.75
vibesssssss so goth and creepy, koja never disappoints with the Vibe. i've actually never finished wuthering heights, so i can't speak to how this adds to the catherineheathcliff universe, but this was an enjoyable read nonetheless. loved reading from the perspective of a haunt.
A Song For You And I by K. O'Neill
4.0
beautiful and cozy. k o'neill never disappoints with their art and palettes.
The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent by Kazuo Ishiguro
4.0
beautiful lyrics and artwork. the two together was a vibe. one day i'd like to re-read and listen to the songs together.
Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan
3.0
engaging, but has a disorganized timeline and a penchant for tabloid'isms.