I know everything is coming up COVID on this blog, and I'm going to try to turn that around. With that said, you'll have to bear with me as it is admittedly difficult to think about anything else.
Here are some things I'm currently obsessed with: Psych. I used to love this show, and I've recently started watching again! The best part of rewatching an old favorite is being able to have a connection to the characters and know what journey they're about to go on, but still allow myself to be surprised by the plot twists and mysteries. Y'all know I love a good mystery, so it's no surprise that I'm drawn to this epic adventure series. Secondly, my NEW obsession is The Witcher on Netflix! How did I ignore this show for so long??? Everyone was yelling about it in December and I'm so disappointed that I missed out on what could have been four more months of LOVING Henry Cavill's gorgeous hair. I need all of the merch, all of the fanart, all of everything. Mostly, I need season 2! (But also, if anyone has any leads on The Witcher candles, let me know. Girl's desperate here.) Watch the show. Any fan of high fantasy will find it all in here--magic, creatures, kingdoms... and a very attractive monster hunter who can be quite soft at times. It's book related, I promise! The Witcher is actually an adaptation of a series of novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, and I'm planning to read them as soon as I can get library books again. Some pictures, to conclude this post and allow you all to see how correct I am. I don't know how tuned in you all are to global happenings, but I'm willing to bet you know about COVID-19. Even on this book blog, it's one of the only things I have to talk about right now. However, this is a bit different than my usual #QuarantineReads posts. This complaint and solution set is SPECIFIC and targeted at my least favorite company ever. Amazon. Now, I know Amaz*n is kind of unavoidable--they own Goodreads. They own Audible. They own Book Depository. However, in response to COVID-19, they have slowed their processing time on book orders, cut earnings rates for publishers, and all around hurt the book community.
That's why I'm so happy to say that my most recent order is coming from bookshop.org, an independent website that shares a percentage of your order with independent bookstores! I have chosen one of my local indies, and they will receive 30% of my order, but you can also shop unaffiliated and contribute to a fund that benefits all indies! Your local shop doesn't have to work on your order, which is fulfilled through Ingram's warehouses, but you're able to support them all the same. I love independent bookstores. They are truly the heart of a community, a place to share and receive book recommendations, shop, and bond with other booklovers. I look forward to the day when I can visit my local shops again, but until then I will still be supporting them. Please join me in shopping local and helping these wonderful stores stay afloat! Many indies operate on incredibly small margins, and may be struggling to stay open during this time of low revenue. Now for the book haul! My goal for my "to-buy" list is this: for every book I purchase that I've already read (books from the library that I loved, or eARCs I received), I will also buy a book I haven't read yet. I'm not much of a rereader, so this is to keep me involved with current books and make sure I don't stop exploring. Today's picks are Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and Toil & Trouble ed. by Tess Sharpe and Jessica Spotswood. RWRB is one of my favorite romance books ever--it's not YA, but I still love the story and I find so much meaning in it. Toil & Trouble is to satisfy my recent fantasy cravings, and the witchy mood I've been left in after watching the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I've read anthologies edited by Jessica Spotswood before, so I trust that this one will also be amazing. I'm so excited to receive these orders, and even happier that I could uplift an indie bookstore while doing so! I definitely plan to continue in the future, so send me your best book recs--what should I keep my eye on next?
I know. It’s unrealistic. In this world of e-galleys and Libby library books, quitting e-readers isn’t something to do at the drop of a hat. In the past I have vaunted the advantages of using Libby to borrow library books, which is definitely a consideration now that I can’t access the library at all. And yet I find myself wondering if I would feel better, read better, or stay healthier by putting down the Kindle and picking up hard copies. Over the past few weeks, I noticed I developed a lack of motivation when it came to ebooks. I struggled to focus for long periods of time, and frequently switched between books. This led to me having a really long currently-reading shelf and a mountain of half-finished books. Eventually, I stopped reading at all. I think it was the light, combined with the tiny screen, that made it difficult to absorb the words and get hooked on a story. After a week or so, I picked up Serpent and Dove—the first physical book I’d read in almost a month at that point—and couldn’t put it down. That weekend was fantastic for my reading. I finished three books and started another, which lead me to think it was the Kindle that caused my reading slump. Fantastic! I thought. I’ll finally be able to finish a book again. Except… not so fast. I can cite studies showing e-readers cause eye-strain or lessen abilities to connect with characters until I turn blue in the face, but I’m still unsure that I can quit e-reading. Just this week, I was lucky enough to receive a Netgalley approval for The Friend Scheme, a highly anticipated Cale Dietrich novel that releases this July. To read and review… you guessed it. I’ll have to download the novel. Sighs. Perhaps there is an alternate solution. For now, I’m going to put off my e-reading obligations. I’ll focus on my physical TBR pile, and when it comes time to shorten my currently-reading shelf, I’ll alternate between reading hard copies and e-books. How do you feel about e-reading? Is it something you lean on to supplement a physical collection, or do you not care for it at all? If you’ve been on Book Twitter in the past week, you already know what the controversy du jour is. You also know from reading this blog that I have nothing to do but share my own opinions, loudly, on the internet! I didn’t comment on the main tweet thread because I didn’t want to be targeted if there was a debacle, but I’ll say here that I firmly agree with Rin Chupeco, the (wonderfully talented) author who raised the issue to the community. I promise I’m not writing this just to gossip, but instead to make a larger point about the value of books and working relationships.
What is the issue, you might ask. Well, in short, Mackenzi Lee, a YA author who works at an indie bookstore, decided to sign and doodle in other authors' books, without those authors’ permissions. She frequently signed on the title page, where the author themselves would sign if the reader were to bring the book to an event or conference. It goes without saying that this is… ridiculous. Some authors might not care if someone else signs their work, but I think it’s audacious not to even ask permission. Furthermore, to attach your OWN NAME to someone else’s work is just… very bold. I don’t care for it. The signatures and the doodles were at the request of readers in their online order forms, but personally, I don’t think the bookstore should offer this as an option at all. It’s disrespectful to authors and supports overstepping of boundaries. That’s just one half of the mess. When readers started asking questions, Lee’s response was to delete all pictures of the signatures from her Instagram—one (unfortunately humorous) instance occurred when a reader commented “You missed one when you were deleting evidence” and Lee responded “Oops, thank you!” Her employer doubled down on the decision, denying any wrongdoing or malpractice. Ordinarily I wouldn’t bring anything up. However, I’ve been thinking about this incredibly strange circumstance and I’ve decided it’s not something I can stand. As an author, I would imagine Lee understands that the value of a book is far more than its sticker price—it also includes the hard work that goes into writing it, the joy it will bring a reader, and the sheer magic of starting with a Word doc and ending up with a book. All of that starts with an author. Books *literally* wouldn’t exist if they weren’t written by someone, and I take that to mean that the value of any novel is created by the author. I cannot imagine a situation where anyone other than THE AUTHOR THEMSELVES should get to enhance that value by signing a book on the title page. It’s so disrespectful to fellow writers, as well as to readers, who can’t get their books signed by the person who wrote them. The book community (comprised of writer, readers, and publishing professionals) is large, but I wouldn’t say so large that it doesn’t matter if you’re inside or out of it. You feel a lot less alone if you’re part of the group. I struggle to understand why Lee would disrespect writers who are essentially her colleagues by literally writing inside their books. I welcome any and all thoughts on this, but please keep it polite! I know there are a lot of opinions out there, and I’d love to hear a range of them. How are y'all keeping your heads up? I'm kind of... losing my mind over here. Every day feels like the one before it. Nothing different ever happens. However! Two things HAVE happened to me recently. Firstly, as you may have seen on my bookstagram, my Flick the Wick order has arrived! I've loved my shopping experience with Flick the Wick--they've kept their shop open and processed my order very efficiently given the circumstances! I also adore the candles themselves: they smell delicious, and the labels are gorgeous. I'll definitely be starting a collection of the jars, so if you have any ideas for what to do with them, drop 'em below!
The second thing is the slew of online events I've been able to attend. When we could go out, one of my favorite things to do was to attend release events and book festivals at local venues. That has ceased, but since then I've received lots of invites to accessible festivals and author chats! I'll definitely be attending YALLSTAYHOME, the online version of the YALLwest conference, and the Everywhere Book Festival. These conferences offer panels and giveaways, just as in-person events do. If you have the time, check their websites out! Thank you to Candlewick Press for sharing a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review!
All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free. Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. Set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world, Christina Soontornvat’s twist on Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a dazzling, fast-paced adventure that explores the difference between law and justice — and asks whether one child can shine a light in the dark. This magical middle grade novel teaches the power of friendship and the struggles of privilege and power differences. The comparison to Les Miserables is spot-on. The book is equally addictive and I know it will stick in my mind the same way. Soontornvat tuned it for a younger audience, though, which I thought was lovely. She kept the magic alive—literally. The orbs of Chattana that glow in different colors made for a beautiful landscape, both on the cover and in my imagination. I especially loved how Soontornvat expanded on Pong’s stay with the monks. That has forever been a Les Mis moment that I wish would be more detailed, and she nailed it. Pong’s connection with Father Cham is so unique and beautiful. I loved Father Cham’s blessings, and his way of giving each child exactly what they needed, which coincided with Pong’s need to atone for his perceived wrongdoings. This is the sort of healing connection I think everyone needs right now. Pong and Nok, the central characters in this story, are magical in and out. The journeys they go on lead them to become better versions of themselves right in front of readers’ eyes. Pong’s quest to reduce the suffering he and those around him face conflicts with Nok’s adoration of the Governor and her certainty that he can do no wrong. Luckily, both of them learn to challenge their views in a way that, again, delightfully parallels Les Miserables. Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend A Wish in the Dark for any reader—it’s a Middle Grade novel that will appeal above and beyond the bounds of that genre. 4/5 stars for this wonderful new release! Welcome to #QuarantineReads, where I detail my reading life in our new and scary world! This isn't a regularly scheduled feature, so if you have a topic you want me to discuss, go ahead and email or comment! I'm open to anything. Really. A N Y T H I N G. I need more ideas.
I’ve been told to start a diary. Apparently I should value posterity more than my own well-being, which has never been helped by some external compulsion to record my feelings every day. I don’t think I will be journaling during my quarantine. Instead, I’ll let my reading choices speak for me. So far, I’ve read Serpent and Dove, The Devouring Gray, the Alice in Wonderland books, and made progress on Call Down the Hawk and A Wish in the Dark. Notice the similarities? All fantasy books. Fantasy usually benefits readers by reflecting societal and personal problems in a new setting, so that readers can connect with the hero and learn how to solve their own problems in a new context. I wholeheartedly agree. I want to read characters who are placed in impossibly strange situations and work themselves out of problems in inventive ways, because I need to learn that now. I’m retraining my brain to problem-solve. to live in a different habitat, to work on new routines. Besides, a little dose of magic usually makes my day. Tell me, readers, how are you escaping? Or are you escaping at all? Who’s the brave soul picking up a light contemporary in some comfortable beanbag chair, or window seat with a view of the trees? Let me know in the comments what you’re reading! 4/9/21 Disclaimer: this review was written before I learned about Emily's bullying of authors of color, antisemitism, and attacks on CSA survivors. To read my statement about that, click here. Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Darkness never works alone... Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who--and what--he’s become. As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. They’re pieces on a board, being orchestrated by someone… or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer. I am so in love with this novel. Maybe even more than I loved the first in its series, Wicked Saints. Dark and holy, bloody and monstrous and yet, so deeply romantic, it’s just my style. I’ve mentioned before that I’m growing into a dark fantasy person, and this book is one of the catalysts. I’m having a hard time even writing this review because all I can do is scream about how addicted I am to this trilogy. Please! If you haven’t started already, make Something Dark and Holy your priority! First of all—it is absolutely unfair of Duncan to torture us with these characters. They all need hugs. Immediately. Malachiasz especially. The found family dynamic is strong in this novel, continuing the trend from Wicked Saints. Parijahan continues to be another favorite of mine, and I was glad to see that her character was more fully explored in Ruthless Gods. I don’t think I can get through this review without a whole paragraph on the ROMANCE, so I’m sticking it up here. Nadya and Malachiasz have my whole heart. Their relationship is all about emotion, and how they challenge each other and worked their way under each others’ skin and into their hearts. I didn’t expect to fall so hard for this relationship, but for me it’s the emotional crux of the novel. So dark! So gothic! Every time I read one of their scenes, I end up clutching my e-reader and squealing. It is terribly unbecoming of me, but I can’t hold in the feels anymore. This is the very definition of an enemies-to-lovers romance, which is my favorite trope. In fact, I also love that Nadya and Malachiasz remain somewhat enemy-adjacent, as they often have theological debates that turn into somewhat blasphemous romance scenes. I love this. It’s a very effective way to make me fall in love with a book. I’m also in constant adoration of Duncan’s writing. Nadya’s dry wit, Serefin’s suffering, Malachiasz’s light masochism and divinity-seeking—all bleed through the pages and straight into my heart. Her character voices feel so authentic. Even those I disagreed with, I completely understood their reasoning and had empathy for their arcs. It’s interesting to me how some of the characters paths intersect and mirror each other—I’m no spoilers here, so I won’t specify, but read the book and then come talk to me! In terms of plot, I’m blown away by her deft handling of what seems like endless threads of gut-wrenching twists. Everything in this book feeds into itself later, and I find myself making connections across chapters to things I’d thought unimportant earlier. The pacing was *kisses fingers like a chef* MARVELOUS! Duncan struck the right balance between action and character building, which is hard in a fantasy novel. I appreciate a good slow burn plot, and this is perfect. I think it’s faster than Wicked Saints, but the sheer length quite makes up for that. The plot in general, is simply genius. There’s so much intrigue and internal conflict in all of the characters, which adds to the complexity and uniqueness of the story. I am so excited for book three, and really sad that I have to wait a whole year for it! I think I was spoiled in receiving this ARC, as I now have a longer wait between now and book 3, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. (To help me with this, I wouldn’t say no to an ARC of book 3 when they’re made… *wink wink*) If you can’t tell, Ruthless Gods is a total 5/5 for me, and one of the books I will forever be yelling about. Please, please, please, if you listen to a single one of my recs, hear this one! The Something Dark and Holy trilogy has changed. My. Life. Hello! I'm so sorry these took so long to get out, but here is a list of books for your perusal. They are all, in fact, nautically themed. I wish I could have found more scifi, though. That seems like such an interesting intersection--the cross between the deep blue and the technological. Regardless, I present this list, as well as this link to a previous oceanic rec list of mine, Sea Sorcery. Reviews: Seafire House of Salt and Sorrows (a personal favorite of mine) FantasyScience FictionInto the Drowning Deep Mira Grant MysteryHistorical Fiction & Contemporary |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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