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lilyrooke's reviews
465 reviews
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
5.0
Utterly beautiful and painful. I'm so thankful for the Sebastian chapters because, as someone who related hugely to him and his family situation, I thought they were a necessary window into his mind and his actions. This book takes extremely complex topics like identity, religion, family, acceptance, and delivers them in an impressively nuanced way while remaining engaging and pacy throughout.
It's another one of those books I think I'd find it hard to re-read, because some of the details like Sebastian's forced stoicism - to the point where he's essentially disconnected from his own wants and desires - plus the emotional abuse he suffers all just got a bit too much to handle at times. I feel like Sebastian is a marmite character because if you don't understand how that feels, if you haven't grown up being shaped by it, it doesn't make sense to act that way, and the damage it's doing is obvious. But I thought it was an authentic and brave portrayal of a complex character that didn't shy away from necessary events and choices, no mattter how difficult they must have been to write.
It's another one of those books I think I'd find it hard to re-read, because some of the details like Sebastian's forced stoicism - to the point where he's essentially disconnected from his own wants and desires - plus the emotional abuse he suffers all just got a bit too much to handle at times. I feel like Sebastian is a marmite character because if you don't understand how that feels, if you haven't grown up being shaped by it, it doesn't make sense to act that way, and the damage it's doing is obvious. But I thought it was an authentic and brave portrayal of a complex character that didn't shy away from necessary events and choices, no mattter how difficult they must have been to write.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
5.0
Hilarious, terribly sad at the same time, a portrait of loneliness and difference and weirdly life-affirming at the same time. Put me in mind of a modern-day 'Notes from Underground'.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
2.0
This is such a difficult book to review. What even are my thoughts on it? I can't say that I liked it, but 2* feels a little unfair in some ways, so I'll try to explain.
[Spoilers follow.]
I thought the story became much more interesting when they left for the capital. Hawke's gang appealed to me a lot as characters and I hope we get to see more of them. Naturally, Poppy's role as the Maiden limited what she could realistically do/take part in for the earlier part of the novel, but for me that meant there was a bit too much disconnect between the plot events of the Craven attacks compared to Poppy's active involvement in them. Maybe it might have been different if we had had some POV chapters from Hawke, Vikter or even Kieran? But I felt as though I was too separate from the main events of the plot for a lot of the book.
Maybe a part of the problem for me is feeling as though FBAA couldn't decide if it wanted to be pure Romance, or Fantasy with a romance in it. The balance felt off at times for me (again, roughly until they left for the capital), and that's a big part of what makes it hard for me to rate the book. The pure romance elements I thought were pretty solid, and those were definitely my favourite scenes ;)
With that said, the author later dives into tropes that I just hate with a passion, and which I won't apologise for seeing as shady AF. I can see some maybe being subverted? Hopefully? in the sequel, but for me there's no coming back from having sex with someone else while not being honest about your identity, because you know she wouldn't want to have sex with you if you were being honest with her. I mean. There's a word for that. It kind of hurts more as well because of how thematically significant Poppy's role as the Maiden is. I also don't like this trend of giving male characters abusive pasts without showing it having any real impact on them beyond a shock value sad backstory.
There's a lot I found intriguing about FBAA. The Craven, the whole 'truth' about the Ascended and the Atlantians, and what they're doing. I like how hints were dropped earlier in the novel that really arrived at a 'Oh wow!' moment with that reveal. Since the character I'm most interested in, who appealed to me most, who seemed most worth following (Malik), doesn't actually appear on the page (I really hope he does in the sequel) I'm definitely going to read the next book to meet him.
It was definitely an interesting concept and I'm glad I read it!
[Spoilers follow.]
I thought the story became much more interesting when they left for the capital. Hawke's gang appealed to me a lot as characters and I hope we get to see more of them. Naturally, Poppy's role as the Maiden limited what she could realistically do/take part in for the earlier part of the novel, but for me that meant there was a bit too much disconnect between the plot events of the Craven attacks compared to Poppy's active involvement in them. Maybe it might have been different if we had had some POV chapters from Hawke, Vikter or even Kieran? But I felt as though I was too separate from the main events of the plot for a lot of the book.
Maybe a part of the problem for me is feeling as though FBAA couldn't decide if it wanted to be pure Romance, or Fantasy with a romance in it. The balance felt off at times for me (again, roughly until they left for the capital), and that's a big part of what makes it hard for me to rate the book. The pure romance elements I thought were pretty solid, and those were definitely my favourite scenes ;)
With that said, the author later dives into tropes that I just hate with a passion, and which I won't apologise for seeing as shady AF. I can see some maybe being subverted? Hopefully? in the sequel, but for me there's no coming back from having sex with someone else while not being honest about your identity, because you know she wouldn't want to have sex with you if you were being honest with her. I mean. There's a word for that. It kind of hurts more as well because of how thematically significant Poppy's role as the Maiden is. I also don't like this trend of giving male characters abusive pasts without showing it having any real impact on them beyond a shock value sad backstory.
There's a lot I found intriguing about FBAA. The Craven, the whole 'truth' about the Ascended and the Atlantians, and what they're doing. I like how hints were dropped earlier in the novel that really arrived at a 'Oh wow!' moment with that reveal. Since the character I'm most interested in, who appealed to me most, who seemed most worth following (Malik), doesn't actually appear on the page (I really hope he does in the sequel) I'm definitely going to read the next book to meet him.
It was definitely an interesting concept and I'm glad I read it!
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
4.0
This was so cute and funny and original. Nick lives in Nova City where there are two rival 'Extraordinaries' - Shadow Star and Pyro Storm - whose aggression against each other keeps mounting, and Nick likes one of them in particular. He has a lot of feelings and writes a lot of fanfiction. But in school, Nick is also dealing with ADHD and conflicting messages from his sort-of-ex Owen and childhood best friend Seth.
Klune's witty dialogue steals the show, powering the story along and providing a lot of laugh out loud moments as well as some moving ones too, especially with Nick's dad. I didn't get much of a sense of place - although maybe that was the point, that Nova City could be anywhere? My biggest issue was with the cast of the police department, who all seemed incredibly chill about Nick's erratic behaviour, which, in a book about superheroes, stood out as the aspect which caused me to suspend my belief most.
Klune's witty dialogue steals the show, powering the story along and providing a lot of laugh out loud moments as well as some moving ones too, especially with Nick's dad. I didn't get much of a sense of place - although maybe that was the point, that Nova City could be anywhere? My biggest issue was with the cast of the police department, who all seemed incredibly chill about Nick's erratic behaviour, which, in a book about superheroes, stood out as the aspect which caused me to suspend my belief most.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
3.0
“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.”
Darius is an American-Iranian teen dealing with depression and bullying. When his grandfather is diagnosed with a brain tumor he and his family fly out to Iran to spend time with the Persian side of his family before it's too late. There, he learns about his heritage, his family, and himself.
I learnt a huge amount about Persian culture by reading this book. So much of it, like the food, architecture and general community culture, is beautiful. But the author doesn't shy away from some of the scarier aspects, like being separated from your family at the border or how one character's father is sent to the notorious Evin prison.
I liked reading it for sure. I don't know why, but something about the story just felt flat for me. The Afterword on depression by the author is very moving.
Darius is an American-Iranian teen dealing with depression and bullying. When his grandfather is diagnosed with a brain tumor he and his family fly out to Iran to spend time with the Persian side of his family before it's too late. There, he learns about his heritage, his family, and himself.
I learnt a huge amount about Persian culture by reading this book. So much of it, like the food, architecture and general community culture, is beautiful. But the author doesn't shy away from some of the scarier aspects, like being separated from your family at the border or how one character's father is sent to the notorious Evin prison.
I liked reading it for sure. I don't know why, but something about the story just felt flat for me. The Afterword on depression by the author is very moving.
Shield & Sorrow by J.E. Ridge
4.0
A quick, engaging, fun read. Something is going on in the kingdom of Bellacosta. Young King Silas, who never expected to inherit the crown, has headaches and feels disorientated, but despite his apparent frailties he's determined to address the escalating tensions with the neighbouring kingdom and it's king, Archer. Despite some initial reservations, Archer decides that an 'abduction for Silas' own good' is necessary, and the adventure begins in earnest.
I was invested in Silas from the beginning of the story, and thought the plot unfolded at a rewarding pace. There were also some really interesting concepts in the novel such as the truth behind Silas' symptoms and the mental shields. Protect Penn 2021!
I was invested in Silas from the beginning of the story, and thought the plot unfolded at a rewarding pace. There were also some really interesting concepts in the novel such as the truth behind Silas' symptoms and the mental shields. Protect Penn 2021!
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
5.0
"Don’t you get it? All of this shit already happened, and you can’t make it not happen, no matter what you do."
I've wanted to read In the Dream House since it was published, but I didn't feel ready until now. I'm still not sure if I'm ready. It left me shaking and tearful. I lost track of how many times I cried. I think it's probably the most important and impactful book I've ever read (certainly memoir/non-fiction).
"You’re not allowed to write about this. Don’t you ever write about this." The book is full of moments that punched me full-on. I couldn't look away from how it made me feel. There were so many times where I felt seen, understood, spoken to, in ways I never have done before. 'The Dream House as Choose Your Own Adventure' in particular, was devastating.
I feel both wrung-out and uplifted having read this book. Essential reading.
I've wanted to read In the Dream House since it was published, but I didn't feel ready until now. I'm still not sure if I'm ready. It left me shaking and tearful. I lost track of how many times I cried. I think it's probably the most important and impactful book I've ever read (certainly memoir/non-fiction).
"You’re not allowed to write about this. Don’t you ever write about this." The book is full of moments that punched me full-on. I couldn't look away from how it made me feel. There were so many times where I felt seen, understood, spoken to, in ways I never have done before. 'The Dream House as Choose Your Own Adventure' in particular, was devastating.
I feel both wrung-out and uplifted having read this book. Essential reading.
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
2.0
I really thought I would love The Nature of Witches. The premise of seasonally-affected witches attempting to avert climate catastrophe was so intriguing, and I was so excited to learn about Clara as an Everwitch and get invested in her journey. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me, particularly in terms of plot, characterisation, and worldbuilding. Most of TNOW felt like a prelude to a much more exciting and thematically powerful story. I kept waiting for something more to happen, since the stakes were theoretically so high, but it never really did. The characters and worldbuilding felt somewhat shallow, in the sense I've forgotten most of them already. It's a shame because I felt like there was so much potential in this story, but it just wasn't for me.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
3.0
The scope of this story is truly impressive, and when I started, I thought I would love it. During a terrible famine, a nameless girl takes on her dead brother's identity and dedicates herself to survival above all else. The beginning was amazing. I felt the agony of Zhu's hunger and the heat of the scorched earth, and her commitment to survival beyond all odds. But then there was a timeskip following the monastery years, and I felt as though her personality changed completely, but we didn't get to see any of this development happen. If anything there was some real 'badass decay' from her character, which was disappointing.
However, the other main character, eunach general Ouyang, stepped in to fill her shoes beautifully. His pain and suffering as he plots his revenge, coupled with the conflicting feelings he tries so hard to repress - towards himself, Prince Esen, women in general - were depicted powerfully, and were the best part of the novel for me. To have two genderqueer protagonists in one story was hugely refreshing, and done very well, I thought. Unfortunately, in the end I felt like there were too many POV characters, which bulked the narrative unnecessarily, and the pacing that was set up so well at the start lagged as the story went on. I'd encourage anyone who enjoys a good revenge plot to give this a go, though! It reminded me a little of A Game of Thrones, at times.
However, the other main character, eunach general Ouyang, stepped in to fill her shoes beautifully. His pain and suffering as he plots his revenge, coupled with the conflicting feelings he tries so hard to repress - towards himself, Prince Esen, women in general - were depicted powerfully, and were the best part of the novel for me. To have two genderqueer protagonists in one story was hugely refreshing, and done very well, I thought. Unfortunately, in the end I felt like there were too many POV characters, which bulked the narrative unnecessarily, and the pacing that was set up so well at the start lagged as the story went on. I'd encourage anyone who enjoys a good revenge plot to give this a go, though! It reminded me a little of A Game of Thrones, at times.
The Waltz of Wolves: Part 2 by Esme Carmichael
5.0
"What did you accomplish?"
Finally, we learn the terrible secret of Campbell's past. As the Dagger Rebellion makes the most of the time he has given them, Campbell is left to confront his own terrible guilt and shame. Esme Carmichael does an incredible job at delving into Campbell's emotional torment, such that you feel it on every single page. And that's before things get really bad ...
'The Waltz of Wolves: Part 2' will rip your heart to pieces and leave you feeling internally shredded. I had the pleasure of reading this novella as it was being drafted, and even though I knew what was coming, it was as powerful, shocking and brutal as if it had been the first time.
I also have to commend the author on the LGBTQIA+ representation in this novella. In such a short space of time, multiple relationships that are deeply believable and moving are set up and explored, along with difficult emotions that are handled with supreme care.
If you've enjoyed any of the books in The Connection Series so far, read 'The Waltz of Wolves: Part 2' as soon as you can. It won't let you down!
Finally, we learn the terrible secret of Campbell's past. As the Dagger Rebellion makes the most of the time he has given them, Campbell is left to confront his own terrible guilt and shame. Esme Carmichael does an incredible job at delving into Campbell's emotional torment, such that you feel it on every single page. And that's before things get really bad ...
'The Waltz of Wolves: Part 2' will rip your heart to pieces and leave you feeling internally shredded. I had the pleasure of reading this novella as it was being drafted, and even though I knew what was coming, it was as powerful, shocking and brutal as if it had been the first time.
I also have to commend the author on the LGBTQIA+ representation in this novella. In such a short space of time, multiple relationships that are deeply believable and moving are set up and explored, along with difficult emotions that are handled with supreme care.
If you've enjoyed any of the books in The Connection Series so far, read 'The Waltz of Wolves: Part 2' as soon as you can. It won't let you down!