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So many good books!
Had so many assignments due at the same time that I sent so many books back to the library unread over the last few weeks! But I've emerged from that post-writing fugue again so:
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik. So I picked this up because I adored both Spinning Silver and Uprooted and then I read the blurb and was like? Ooookay this isn't high fantasy, it's like a historical AU with inserted fantasy elements?! Basically, the premise is: what if the Napoleonic Wars had also had Dragons? So I went in skeptical over the wildly AU concept but I ended up loving it! Temeraire is just such a reasonable, lovely dragon and the way Laurence grows and adapts to having him in his life is really lovely. Wonderfully detailed worldbuilding as always, and such easily readable style. Already have the next book in the series on hold.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Really enjoyed this first in a series too! Loved the worldbuilding and the main characters and their central conflicts, although I am slightly cringing at the ship baiting already going on. Ugh Love Triangles in Fantasy books: do we really have to? But prophecies are just one of my favorite plot devices, and this series promises to do a good job of making the central prophecy come true in unexpected ways. Already have the next on hold too!
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did because the previous book I'd read by this author disappointed. But this was a fantastic take on the fae and living in Faerie and the joys of being a lying liar who lies, with wonderful worldbuilding and a gripping plot with ever rising stakes. This already feels like an enemies to lovers ship based trilogy, but I'm quite enjoying it despite/because the two central characters haaaate being attracted to each other. LOL Can't wait for the next!
The Silence between us by Alison Gervais. I wanted to like this but didn't- MC is a deaf girl who changes from a deaf school to a hearing one. Not sure if it was deliberate teenage POV or if it was actually the author's HEARING PEOPLE ARE SO OBLIVIOUS TO OUR NEEDS message, but neither makes for sympathetic reading. How DARE there not be a translator when I need one?! How DARE boy ask questions about why I can speak but choose to sign! The way people act in this just isn't emotionally honest either- nobody goes from being treated like a punching bag to bending over backwards to learn sign language so mean new girl can scoff and insult you some more. And then it turns to love! That is... just not how people work. Lost me so much that the message fell flat, although I know logically that it is Important.
A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan. Another great feminist historical romance. This one highlights the hypocrisy of slut shaming and the pains of dealing with a mentally ill parent. Just a novella, so short and sweet. She has a new book coming out in September and I can't wait to read it!
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik. So I picked this up because I adored both Spinning Silver and Uprooted and then I read the blurb and was like? Ooookay this isn't high fantasy, it's like a historical AU with inserted fantasy elements?! Basically, the premise is: what if the Napoleonic Wars had also had Dragons? So I went in skeptical over the wildly AU concept but I ended up loving it! Temeraire is just such a reasonable, lovely dragon and the way Laurence grows and adapts to having him in his life is really lovely. Wonderfully detailed worldbuilding as always, and such easily readable style. Already have the next book in the series on hold. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Really enjoyed this first in a series too! Loved the worldbuilding and the main characters and their central conflicts, although I am slightly cringing at the ship baiting already going on. Ugh Love Triangles in Fantasy books: do we really have to? But prophecies are just one of my favorite plot devices, and this series promises to do a good job of making the central prophecy come true in unexpected ways. Already have the next on hold too! The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did because the previous book I'd read by this author disappointed. But this was a fantastic take on the fae and living in Faerie and the joys of being a lying liar who lies, with wonderful worldbuilding and a gripping plot with ever rising stakes. This already feels like an enemies to lovers ship based trilogy, but I'm quite enjoying it despite/because the two central characters haaaate being attracted to each other. LOL Can't wait for the next! The Silence between us by Alison Gervais. I wanted to like this but didn't- MC is a deaf girl who changes from a deaf school to a hearing one. Not sure if it was deliberate teenage POV or if it was actually the author's HEARING PEOPLE ARE SO OBLIVIOUS TO OUR NEEDS message, but neither makes for sympathetic reading. How DARE there not be a translator when I need one?! How DARE boy ask questions about why I can speak but choose to sign! The way people act in this just isn't emotionally honest either- nobody goes from being treated like a punching bag to bending over backwards to learn sign language so mean new girl can scoff and insult you some more. And then it turns to love! That is... just not how people work. Lost me so much that the message fell flat, although I know logically that it is Important. A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan. Another great feminist historical romance. This one highlights the hypocrisy of slut shaming and the pains of dealing with a mentally ill parent. Just a novella, so short and sweet. She has a new book coming out in September and I can't wait to read it!