Book Review: Sage and King by Molly Ringle

First things first, I absolutely love Molly Ringle’s books! I was so excited to get a chance to read this one early. Sage and King was loosely inspired by King Arthur and Merlin, which, if I hadn’t already been desperate to read it, would have convinced me to pick it up. The story is set in a magical world, in the country of Lushrain. I really love the way Molly Ringle creates new worlds. I loved Eidolonia in Lava Red Feather Blue, and I love Lushrain.

In Lushrain, magic is forbidden, but the crowning of a new king means that there’s the chance to change the rules. We meet Zaya, the irresponsible young prince who is unexpectedly crowned king, Col, his tutor, a young sage with strong magical powers, and Orzei, the villain of the story, a character who is both mysterious and interesting. Zaya and Col need to work together to navigate politics, magic, and the threat of Orzei, but secrets and lies threaten to get in the way of their budding relationship.

Something I love about Molly Ringle’s books is that queer people get to just exist. The main characters are queer, but there are also side characters that are queer as well, and it’s done so casually. These characters get to exist and live and love and as a queer person that’s something that’s just really nice to see.

I adore Zaya and Col. I really like the ‘I don’t know if I like you yet but damn you’re attractive’ trope. (Is that a trope? I don’t know but I like it). I really enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, and the slow growth of understanding and acceptance between them. Also the flirting. The flirting!! This is definitely a pairing that will be living in my mind for a long time, I can tell. But as well as the romance, I also really liked the friendships, especially the one between Col and Trivin.

And then there’s Heartwood, home of the sages. Oh my goodness. This place is magical. The descriptions are so vivid. Also, I want to visit the Heartwood library because it sounds wonderful. I really love the system of magic as well. The way that it works through plants is so unique, and really clever.

I adored this book. It’s definitely going on my reread list. When everything goes down, oh my heart. I was on tenterhooks because I cared so much about the characters. I admit, I cried a little, and I don’t usually get that emotional over books.

Please read this book when it comes out, I need people to talk to about it!

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Once Upon A Time I Lived On Mars by Kate Greene

This book is a memoir by Kate Greene, about the simulated Mars mission that she took part in during 2013. She lived in a geodesic dome for four months, living as if she was on Mars, with a crew of scientists. The book is not chronological. Instead, it is a series of essays about her experience, each chapter focusing on a different topic or theme. Greene has a friendly tone that is very readable. The science isn’t too complicated and the focus is on the more human side of things.

Reading the introduction, where Greene talks about seeing the same people, eating the same food, seeing the same view, every day, made me think about quarantine. It was interesting to be reading this book at this time, while so many of us are experiencing a similar thing of being locked in with the same people.

I found the background facts interesting, although I already knew a lot of them as I read a lot about space exploration. I found the psychology angle most interesting. I took less from the more philosophical musings, but that’s because I don’t find that kind of thing particularly interesting. If that is your thing then this book would be a great read. I did find a few parts of the book a little disjointed and hard to follow, but overall I enjoyed reading it.

Greene talks about what the experiment means for potential future Mars missions, but she also talks about what she took from the experience personally, and how it relates to her own life. I found the discussion of the potential for disabled people as astronauts particularly interesting, as someone with disabilities. The idea that some disabilities could actually be beneficial for space flight was not something I had considered, but perhaps in the future disabled people will be a vital part of the conversation around space exploration. Greene also highlights how even completely able and typical bodies need adaptations for space, showing that context for disability is everything. It made me think about how astronauts returning to earth often experience symptoms of orthostatic intolerance, something I experience on a daily basis as someone with PoTS. What could we learn about bodies in space from looking at disabled people on earth, and what could we learn about treating certain illnesses from looking at astronauts in space? The possibilities are endless, and fascinating.

On a final note, just as a heads up, there is a chapter which briefly discusses the use of guinea pigs in scientific research which, as a rodent lover, I did find difficult to read, although it was interesting.

Overall this book is an interesting read with some unique points of view, well worth reading for anyone interested in space exploration.

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Lava Red Feather Blue by Molly Ringle

Lava Red Feather Blue is a magical fantasy tale about Merrick Highvalley, a modern day witch, experiments with charms and accidentally wakes Prince Larkin, who has been in a magical sleep since 1799. Breaking the spell releases the faery Ula Kana, and Merrick and Larkin myst stop her from eradicating humans from the island of Eidolonia.

This book is by Molly Ringle, and I absolutely loved All The Better Part of Me, so I had already preordered Lava Red Feather Blue. However, when I spotted it on netgalley I jumped at the chance to read it early. So when it comes out I will have three copies, the netgalley ebook, the actual ebook, and a paperback version to look pretty on my shelf with all my other favourite books. I have zero regrets about this. This book literally ticks all my boxes. I mean, a bumbling demifae messing in magic beyond his comprehension meets a sexy ancient prince with a sword. What’s not to love? I have to admit that a lot of my notes for this review are just squeeing or heart emojis because I loved it so much, so hopefully I can form a coherent review out of them that expresses just how much I adore this book.

I love this kind of fantasy story. There’s quite a lot of exposition near the beginning of the book to explain the world but it’s so worth it. Everything is just so magical. And the fae realm is enchanting. I particularly loved the woodstriders!

I also love all the characters. Merrick is a great protaganist. He’s a bit of a trouble maker, but not on purpose. I have to admit I got jealous of his endo witch abilities, he has some handy tricks up his sleeve. Larkin is great as well. Every conversation between him I was just like ‘aaaaaaa’ because I love them both, and there’s so much emotion and tension between them. And the side characters are great as well. There’s a nonbinary character, Cassidy, who I really liked. They were like a voice of reason to counter Merrick’s occasional bad decisions. Also, there’s a giant pet rabbit, and Elemi, who is an utter delight of a person.

There’s sacrifice and heroism, a quest, romantic and sexual tension, magic, and plenty of danger and excitement. Every glimpse of the romance is just wonderful, and I couldn’t put the book down. This book tore out my heart and stomped on it several times, which is exactly the kind of thing I look for in a book. I just love it so much. I’m looking forward to rereading it multiple times in the future.

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Book Review: The Mortician’s Daughter by Nan Higgins

When Aria Jasper turns twenty two she learns that she can communicate with ghosts. She has to give up her blossoming music career in order to join the family company, After Corps, and start a new job helping ghosts to pass on. During training, she meets Sloane, the only other student in the business, and they quickly become close. When a ghost claims that something evil is happening at After Corps, and accuses Aria’s father of being evil, Aria and Sloane need to work together to sort things out.

The Mortician’s Daughter is a fast, fun read with a unique premise and appealing, engaging characters. I found it really easy to get into the world and the story, and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely love the premise. The idea of a corporation helping ghosts, with courts and lawyers, and punishments for crimes committed whilst living, was really intriguing.

I also really liked all of the characters. I felt so bad for Aria having to give up her planned career, and all of the internal turmoil she had coming to terms with her new life. I loved the contrast between Aria and Sloane in that way, with Aria being the reluctant ‘chosen one’ and Sloane being the one who is desperate it. I also loved Macy, Aria’s best friend. The budding romance is super cute, and I really appreciated how organically the romance happens. There’s a time and a place for big coming out scenes and dealing with homophobia, but this book doesn’t deal with those things and it was actually a breath of fresh air, in my opinion.

The plot had me hooked all of the way through. I won’t give spoilers, but I thought the ending was great!

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Book Review: The Artful Dickens by John Mullan

This book is a nonfiction book about Charlies Dickens, and his novels. It’s about why Dickens’ books were and are so loved, and how creative and clever he was as a writer, even though critics often have a lot of negatives to say about his novels. The book is made up of thirteen different essays, each one focused on a different topic. The book is predominantly engaging, although occasionally a little dry. It’s a lot more academic than I had expected from reading the blurb. There’s a close analysis of his books, lots of quotes, comparisons to other novelists of the time, and quotes from his drafts and notes that show his writing process. It also includes his own words about his writing, from a collection of his letters. At times, it’s like seeing into his mind even though he’s been dead for so long. It’s really quite fascinating. The book is extensively referenced, as well.

The book has some tantalising insights into Dickens’ mind and how he worked and wrote. It shows how he developed as a writer over the course of his career, from his very first novel to his final unfinished work. He was creative and inventive, constantly improving his methods and exploring new techniques. This book opened my eyes to some of the more fantastical elements of his works. There are also discussions on his clever use of cliches, his innovative uses of language, and how he chose the names for his incredibly memorable characters.

I have read a fair number of Dickens’ novels. I found the parts of this book that talked about books I had already read the most interesting, but also, reading about books I haven’t yet read made me excited to read them. This is not really a book to dip in and out of for trivia, more something to absorb and think about. It’s probably most interesting to people who are big Dickens fans, or who are interested in literature.

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1408866811/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sin?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sin_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

Book Review: All Or Nothing by Riina Y T

Hey everyone. This is a book that came out last year. I was lucky enough to get a copy on netgalley, and I wrote the review on goodreads, before I set up this blog. It’s a christmas book, so I thought I’d bring back my review now that it’s Autumn. If you’re already planning your festive reads for this year, check this one out!

This book was so cute! Reading it made me really happy!

It’s nice, sometimes, to sit down with a book that’s all about the fluff and romance without too much drama or pain. There are so many heterosexual romance books that fit that description, but I rarely come across a good gay romance that isn’t all about the pain of coming out and rejection, or other horrible things that happen to LGBT people in real life. This book is an escape from all that. Not to say that nothing dramatic happens in this book though, it’s not certainly not a boring story!

I liked the alternating point of view, it was nice to see the story from both characters’ perspectives. And I liked both characters. Carter and Remmy both had distinct voices and personalities and I enjoyed both of them.

If you’re looking for a gentle christmas read, or a cute gay romance, definitely pick up this book, it’s great. 

Book Review: Tokyo Love by Diana Jean

Kathleen Schmitt has moved to Tokyo to become the project head for Personal Love Companions, a love robot made to match the customer’s preference. She recieves her beta model for testing and it’s a replica of her neighbour, Yuriko, who has been helping her settle in to Tokyo. The concept of this book was so bizarre that I was instantly hooked. There’s a kind of crazy set up, where Kathleen, who has been working on the project, ends up having to do the beta test on her own. She doesn’t want a robot partner, and finds the whole thing kind of weird, since she knows exactly how the thing has been programmed, but she’s forced into the situation by her boss. The specifics for her robot are lifted directly from her mind using a high tech scan, but what she recieves completely surprises her.

I really liked both Kathleen and Yuriko. At first they don’t get along. They work for the same company, and there’s a little bit of a rivalry since Kathleen works in software and Yuriko works in hardware. Kathleen is also a bit of a bumbling foreigner, and relies on Yuriko to help her understand the transport system and read labels at the supermarket. The book is pretty slow burn, with lots of ignoring the obvious from both sides. At times I wanted to shake the two of them! But it’s a really sweet story, with a bisexual awakening. We also get lots of little bits of Japanese culture, plenty of cute scenes like hanging out at an onsen, and visiting temples, and watching the fireworks. This story would make a really cute anime, I think. The characters are cute, and definitely awkward, and honestly I was rooting for them the whole way through.

I was a little confused as to when this book is set. I’m assuming a near future, because all of the technology is more advanced than what we currently have, including AI that is almost indistinguishable from an actual human. I found the concept intriguing, which is why I picked up the book, but I have to admit this isn’t a future I want! I found the idea of sex doll robot girlfriends with artificial intelligence pretty creepy.. Although by the end I cared about Ai, the robot, as much as I did the human characters. And, although I’m assuming this is set in the future, there is still a very traditional Japanese approach to LGBTQ+ relationships, which I felt seemed a little old fashioned when contrasted with the new technology. I can’t judge how authentically Japanese it is, because I’m not Japanese, but I would have liked to see Yuriko involved with Japanese queer culture. She seems very isolated, and I know that there is a queer community in Japan, even if it’s not as visible as in America or the UK.

It’s a weird concept, and I’m still not fully sold on the sex robots, but this is a really sweet story and I enjoyed reading it.

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tokyo-Love-Diana-Jean-ebook/dp/B084QH4ZCF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tokyo+love&qid=1598970034&sr=8-1

Book Review: The Day I Disappeared by Brandi Reeds

Four year old Holly Gerbhardt is kidnapped. Three months later she reappears with no memory of what happened. Twenty years later, another girl goes missing in similar circumstances and detective Jason Guidry recruits Holly to help him solve it. All she has to do is try to remember.

This story is told predominantly from Holly’s point of view, but it is interspersed with chapters from Holly’s mother Cecily’s point of view. Holly, now an adult, doesn’t really know her place in the world. She doesn’t quite fit in. She’s tried to move on from her past but it’s not that easy and she’s still scarred. Her life is blighted with complicated relationships. She never had the greatest of relationships with her mother. But now Cecily is in hospital in a coma after a car accident. She’s haunted by the abduction as well, and her point of view takes the form of her memories of the past as she fights for her life in the present. The pieces of the past slowly come together, some from Cecily’s recollections, some from Holly, as she slowly starts to remember the things she forgot.

I expected this book to be a typical detective crime thriller, but it’s more people than procedural. It’s definitely more about the family secrets, relationships, and a hidden past that perhaps shouldn’t be uncovered. There’s a definite focus on relationships and feelings, and the detective doesn’t actually feature that much in the narrative. It’s very slow burn, with a long build up and then most of the action taking place in the last 3/4 of the book. Each memory throws up more questions, and I found the slow drip of memories and information really intriguing. I was kept guessing the whole way through. The plot itself is kind of wild, and trying to put together the pieces made this a fun read.

The one character I really didn’t like much was Kitten. She’s Holly’s best friend, who witnessed her abduction as a child. She seems kind of disconnected from Holly, even at one point saying ‘if I’ve moved past it, so can you’, showing she really doesn’t understand what Holly’s been through. Kitten is preparing for her wedding, and I found her a bit of a bridezilla at times. Although that might be just because I don’t really understand the appeal of marriage and big, perfect weddings.

Overall this book is a good read, with plenty of mysteriousness that made me want to keep reading.

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-I-Disappeared-Brandi-Reeds-ebook/dp/B081NKYK85/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+day+i+disappeared&qid=1598274635&sr=8-2

Spotlight #2: Books by Black Authors

For these spotlight blogs, I’ll be focusing on different marginalised identities. Today’s post is another round up of books by black authors. These are all mini reviews which have already been posted on my instagram. I choose the books purely based on what I’ve read and enjoyed recently.

Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman

Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman is a dystopian YA novel about Kaspar, who joins the Guardians, the peacekeeping force in his city. It has always been his goal to follow in his parents’ footsteps and joint the Guardians, but he quickly learns that his government has been keeping some dangerous secrets. This book was published after I ‘grew out of’ YA fiction so it’s not one I’d read before. This book is pretty standard dystopian YA; exciting, thought provoking, with plenty of action scenes. It’s a pretty good read. I listened to the audiobook and I was hooked the entire way through.

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard is about Helen Thomas, a teenager who is half mortal, half Greek God. She moves in with her dad, Zeus, and the rest of her immortal family, and chaos ensues. It’s a teen drama with a black lead, with Greek Gods in a contemporary setting. I loved this book. I love pretty much everything that involves Greek mythology so this was right up my street. I really liked Helen and her friends. I loved the hijinks that the Greek Gods got up to, and all the chaos that they caused. I also really liked the ending. This is a really fun read!

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo is a difficult book to sum up. It tells the intertwining histories of twelve people, most of them women, most of them black. It explores race, gender, feminism, and the many different ways to be British. For the most part I really loved this book. All of the chatacyers felt so real, with full lives and backgrounds. I loved the way each character subtly linked with the next. I loved getting to know the characters and seeing life from multiple different perspectives. The one issue I had with this book was the chapter for the one nonbinary character. They felt less well rounded that the other characters, and both they and their trans woman girlfriend felt more like cookie cutter stereotypes rather than the fully fleshed out people all the other characters were. I wanted more from their stories. I also didn’t appreciate the transphobic narratives of ‘all trans people know they’re trans from a young age’, ‘trans women mansplain to women about being a woman’ and ‘all the different genders are unnecessary and complicate things’ which seemed to be presented with no counter point. Other issues in the book were explored from both sides. This is a very subtle form of transphobia. I didn’t see outright hate in the book and I don’t believe that Evaristo is transphobic, so don’t let this put you off from reading the book, it really is very good. It’s just as a trans person, I see these narratives permeate almost everything and they may not be as damaging as ‘trans women are violent predators’ or ‘trans people shouldn’t be allowed to transition’ but they do still cause some damage none the less.

Surge by Jay Bernard

Surge by Jay Bernard is a beautiful, heartbreaking book of poetry. Exploring the Black British archive, the poems cover the New Cross Massacre and the Grenfell fire. (If you haven’t heard of those, read this book, and then do some googling). I struggle to review poetry; either it clicks with me or it doesn’t, it’s hard to go into detail as to why. This book clicks. These poems are a very original way of exploring the collective trauma of Black British people, and queer Black British people. It is also insight into the systemic racism here in Britain, making it a very poignant read for the current times.

Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor

Home by Nnedi Okorafor is the second book in the Binti trilogy. In this book, Binti returns home to her family, with Okwu by her side. In this book we learn more about Binti and her family, and we meet the mysterious desert people. But going to Oomza Uni has changed Binti, and going home is difficult. I am really enjoying this trilogy. I love the world, I love the chatacters. This instalment is just as exciting, mysterious and interesting as the first book and I’m looking forward to finishing reading this series.

Book Review: Non-Binary Lives – An Anthology of Intersecting Identities by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker and Kat Gupta

This book is a collection of writings by nonbinary people, about their lives as nonbinary and how their identities intersect. It is a very moving book, definitely worth a read. I am nonbinary, which made it a particularly emotional read for me, but I think everyone, cis or trans, binary or nonbinary, should read this book.

The pieces of writing are all very personal, it really feels like you’re getting to understand the writers and their identities and lives. Some of the pieces occasionally take on a more informative tone, which, given that this book is talking about topics that not everyone knows much about, is helpful. I know there was some information about queer history and feminism that I didn’t know much about, despite being both queer and a feminist myself. Each piece of writing shows a different person’s journey to their identity. There are so many different ways to be nonbinary, and so many ways to figure out that you are nonbinary, and I think this book does a really good job of showing that.

I particularly liked that the writers are a very diverse group. There are stories that talk about religion, disability, being a person of colour, and how those things affect the person’s identity and story. One of them, focusing on disability, really moved me, because it rang very true to my own experience. This is a good book to read both to learn about other people but also to see yourself in the writing as well. Older nonbinary people have voices in this book, which is incredibly important because it often gets seen as a phase, just teenagers ‘trying to be special’.

I found the chapter about a nonbinary child, written by a nonbinary parent, particularly moving.

There is a nuanced discussion about definitions and language at the start of the book, which I really appreciated, because different people use different terms in different ways. Even the word nonbinary can mean different things to different people!

There are also cartoons at the start of each chapter, which I loved!

Ultimately, this is a wonderful book, and I really do think everyone should read it. Because the writings are split up into chapters, roughly grouped into themes, it would be easy to dip in and out if you didn’t want to read it in one sitting (although it’s engaging enough to read it all through at once!). 

I received this book from Netgalley for free in return for an honest review.

Buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Binary-Lives-Anthology-Intersecting-Identities/dp/1787753395/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=nonbinary+lives&qid=1596798221&sr=8-1