Indie – The Bookish Mutant

Book Review Tuesday (1/27/26) – A Swift and Sudden Exit

Posted on January 27, 2026 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Tuesday, bibliophiles!

First off, I figured I would share this resource with you all. My heart continues to break from seeing ICE violence wracking Minneapolis. If you’re financially available, here’s a post with a comprehensive list of places to donate to support the good people of Minneapolis. If you’re not financially able: continue to spread the word! When the government continues to propagate blatant lies, your words are the best weapon to use against them. Rest in power to Renee Nicole Good, Keith Porter, and Alex Pretti. ABOLISH ICE.

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Here’s another book that I got with some gift card money for Christmas. I’m always on the hunt for more books with good bisexual rep, especially when it’s in genre fiction. This indie-published time travel romance between a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic 2050’s and an immortal caught my eye immediately, in no small part thanks to the wonderfully comic book-y cover. Though it wasn’t without its flaws, A Swift and Sudden Exit was an emotional and action-packed romp through time and space.

Enjoy this week’s review!

A Swift and Sudden Exit – Nico Vicenty

Zera lives in a post-apocalyptic 2058, where a geomagnetic storm nearly two decades ago plunged Earth into almost uninhabitable conditions. The remains of the military are scrambling to make things right, and the only way out of the wasteland is time travel. But when Zera travels back to 2040—the date of the geomagnetic storm that started it all—she sees a woman who claims to have known her, and may just be immortal. Zera follows this woman over centuries as she struggles to find the missing piece of the puzzle, but will this mysterious, immortal woman be more than just a means to reverse the apocalypse?

TW/CW: homophobia, violence, police brutality, vomit, abuse, suicidal ideation, stalking, blood, murder, loss of loved ones

Maybe the real geomagnetic storm was the bisexual romance we made along the way?

A lot of the reviews for A Swift and Sudden Exit that I’ve read have talked about how this novel couldn’t seem to make up its mind on whether it wanted to be sci-fi or romance. This problem never popped up for me, and I think that might be the novel’s hidden strength. It wasn’t afraid to put the sci-fi and romance elements at equal importance. Vincenty did an excellent job of developing these aspects in tandem, and it made for a very unique mix of genres. The worldbuilding was sound for the most part, but the same attention was paid to making Zera and Katherine’s romance into something that had a very real, slow-burn progression. I felt just as much tension with Zera trying to prevent the geomagnetic storm as I did with her will-they-won’t-they dynamic with Katherine. It’s such a fun premise to begin with—a romance between a time-traveler and an immortal—but Vincenty delivered on both aspects. A Swift and Sudden Exit succeeded for me in part because equal effort was put into the two most disparate parts of the novel, and the merging of the two felt seamless.

The most compelling parts for me were how Vincenty explored both the past and the future. The radiation-wracked future was appropriately bleak, and I loved the atmosphere she created with Zera and the others in their bunker. Just the same, I loved Zera and Katherine’s journey through time. My only critique was that I wanted to see more of the 1884 period—I feel like the whole failed Arctic expedition subplot was way too interesting to only get a single chapter. Come on. Yet beyond that, I loved seeing the different time periods across the United States. Vincenty had a great balance of having some fun, romantic notions of the time periods that Zera and Katherine visited, but also of the very real dangers they presented for queer women like them. Zera and Katherine both being bisexual made my heart so happy, but I appreciated Vincenty’s approach to writing them navigating more unsafe time periods; it didn’t shy away from queer-related issues (including police brutality and the AIDS crisis), but it never veered into full-on trauma porn territory. Vincenty’s strength in this novel is balance.

However, throughout A Swift and Sudden Exit, I found myself unable to fully suspend my disbelief. Although the worldbuilding was fairly solid—I’m honestly fine with the immortals bit not being explained fully—it was the stakes that made me suspicious of the story. Even though this is presumably an incredibly dire situation with world-ending stakes, the remains of the military seemed completely content to let Zera go on all manner of borderline frivolous missions that conveniently lined up with her meeting her sexy immortal girlfriend. Sure, you’ve got to let some plot conveniences go just to keep the story going, but given that Zera’s pretty low in the chain of command (and on Colonel Vylek’s nerves almost constantly), it didn’t make sense that she hadn’t been demoted or kicked off the mission at least halfway through the novel. Additionally, a lot of the problems got resolved far quicker than they should’ve—the funding getting cut for the time travel initiative comes to mind. Seems like a huge problem, and yet it got resolved in the span of maybe 1, 2 chapters tops? It didn’t make sense. I can chalk part of it up to the pacing—A Swift and Sudden Exit has very swift and sudden pacing, giving us little time to rest; it worked when it came to some of the more climactic scenes, but not when glossing over important plot points.

Additionally, I found Vincenty’s writing style to be a bit bare-bones. It was entertaining, but I never found myself thinking that it was great. She did an excellent job with describing the historical time periods and post-apocalyptic 2058, but I think there could’ve been a lot more done with the character writing. Zera and Katherine were developed well, but a lot of the other characters, even the more important ones, felt like window dressing at best. Until the last quarter, Kissi didn’t function as much else than a witty sidekick for Zera. Without spoiling anything, the twist about Byrd came out of nowhere, but I feel like that’s more of a consequence of his character rarely appearing and not getting much development other than quirky banter. Colonel Vylek was much more secondary, but even though I gather her presence was meant to feel like a threat, she never did; maybe that’s because all of the obstacles that she put in front of Zera got resolved so quickly. Had they been developed more, especially Byrd and Colonel Vylek, I think the stakes issue might have been partially resolved. They never felt like real antagonists (or even just roadblocks, in Vylek’s case). I’m not saying that they needed to be on the importance level of Zera and Katherine, but given the roles they had, they could’ve been more distinct and developed.

All in all, an ambitious debut that didn’t fulfill all of its promises, but provided an adventurous, sapphic journey through time nonetheless. 3.5 stars!

A Swift and Sudden Exit is a standalone, but Nico Vicenty is also the author of Bone Dresser and Death Between the Stars.

Today’s song:

love love love crab day!!

That’s it for this week’s Book Review Tuesday! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Music

Sometimes, Forever – Soccer Mommy album review

Posted on July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

In a continuation of my assertion that 2022 is the year that the music gods have blessed us, here’s a review of one of my most anticipated albums of the year!

I’ve been a fan of Soccer Mommy since hearing her on the radio years ago, listening to all of her albums and even seeing her live a few times (once opening for Vampire Weekend, the next time headlining—the crowd SUCKED for that one but she was great). So when I heard that she had a new album coming out this June, I was ECSTATIC. Unfortunately, the album ended up coming out on the same day that they announced that Roe v. Wade was overturned, so…yeah, that soured my mood for the whole weekend. But when I was able to get back out of the muck, I listened to this album, and it solidified itself as my favorite album of hers—each one just keeps getting better and better, and Sometimes, Forever was particularly adventurous!

(for my review of the album before last, color theory, click here!)

Enjoy this album review!

SOMETIMES, FOREVER – SOCCER MOMMY ALBUM REVIEW

TRACK 1: “Bones” – 8.5/10

You make me feel like I am whole again,
But I think your heart could use a tourniquet…
Soccer Mommy, “Bones”

Especially with the rest of the album to contextualize it, “Bones” is the perfect opening track for Sometimes, Forever. It feels just enough like classic Soccer Mommy that it feels timeless, but it’s a catchy, familiar-feeling song that eases you into the different direction that the rest of the album goes. On its own, it’s the perfect little indie-pop song: hooky, lyrically witty, and filled with bright guitars.

TRACK 2: “With U” – 9/10

This is where the album starts getting adventurous, and I’m 100% here for it! Lyrically, Allison is sharper than ever, but the addition of the more electronic instrumentals combined with her classic guitar work makes an immersive soundscape that swept me off my feet on the first listen. LOVE IT.

TRACK 3: “Unholy Affliction” – 10/10

This. THIS.

“Unholy Affliction” was the second single to be released from this album, and after “Shotgun,” this is what made me certain that I was going to love the album. My family and I agreed that it sounded like a Chelsea Wolfe song, something completely unexpected—and highly successful—for Soccer Mommy! Dark, immersive, and pulsating, “Unholy Affliction” was an instant favorite on the album, and one of her most daring songs to date.

TRACK 4: “Shotgun” – 8/10

Look at your blue eyes like the stars,
Stuck in the headlights of a car…
Soccer Mommy, “Shotgun”

This was the first single to be released for the album, and while it’s not the best on the album, like “Bones,” it’s an instantly catchy indie-pop song. In comparison to the rest of the album, it almost seems like Allison is playing it safe, but it’s also proof that even when she’s holding back, she can produce something as fun and memorable as this.

TRACK 5: “newdemo” – 7.5/10

Hear the city roar,
A creature that feeds behind closed doors…
Soccer Mommy, “newdemo”

Dizzy and strangely sweeping, “newdemo” strays into new territory like “Unholy Affliction” did. It’s clear that Soccer Mommy and company had fun messing around with different synths and distortions while producing this song; it feels like it’s actively being warped around as you listen to it, veering slightly off-key but bringing itself back together just as swiftly. Not quite as successful as some of its counterparts, but still a success in and of itself.

TRACK 6: “Darkness Forever” – 9/10

Again with the Chelsea Wolfe sounds!! “Darkness Forever” edges close to metal on several occasions, with a creeping bassline and heavy, distorted guitars. Just like “Unholy Affliction,” Soccer Mommy’s experimentations with darker sounds lead to nothing but success—definitely one of her best songs in recent years!

TRACK 7: “Don’t Ask Me” – 8.5/10

With its fast, punchy guitars and Soccer Mommy’s airy, alluring voice, “Don’t Ask Me” has an easy time of cementing itself as one of the highlights on Sometimes, Forever. While it doesn’t delve completely into darkness like “Darkness Forever” or “Unholy Affliction,” it’s unafraid to get heavier, which works completely in its favor. An instant earworm and one of my favorites off this album!

TRACK 8: “Fire In The Driveway” – 9.5/10

Saw it in your blue eyes
When you were just a small child,
Now you’re only ashes of a man…
Soccer Mommy, “Fire In The Driveway”

“Fire In The Driveway” grounds Sometimes, Forever after the fast-paced “Don’t Ask Me,” delving into the nostalgic melancholy that makes Soccer Mommy so memorable. With its instantly memorable lyrics and bright, echoing guitars, this one is an easy standout on an already fantastic album.

TRACK 9: “Following Eyes” – 7.5/10

The lyrics are as potent as the rest of the album, but there’s something about this that puts it lower on the list for me. It’s still a fantastic song, no question, but it’s almost as though it tries to mesh older Soccer Mommy with her newer, darker sound. It’s very close to making it, but there’s some tiny bit missing, something that doesn’t quite piece the whole thing together. Nonetheless, still a great song.

TRACK 10: “Feel It All The Time” – 8/10

Like “Bones” and “Shotgun,” this feels like a timeless Soccer Mommy song—if you had told me that it had been from color theory or even Clean, I would’ve believed you. Yet still, it easily finds its place on this album, deftly adding to the mix of borderline-playing it safe to exploring new territory.

TRACK 11: “Still” – 9/10

I don’t how how to feel things small,
It’s a tidal wave or nothing at all…
Soccer Mommy, “Still”

For the closing track, Soccer Mommy brings it home with a somber acoustic piece laced with ghosts of the strange synths that adorned a good portion of the album. Unlike “Following Eyes,” the blend feels natural, and Allison’s knack for bringing genuine emotion to the forefront creates a beautiful end to the album, and a beautiful song that can stand by itself.

I averaged out my ratings for this album, and it came out to about an 8.6! I’d say that’s right on the mark; with every album, Soccer Mommy gets better and better, and Sometimes, Forever is her best work yet—dark and bold, but unafraid to return to her candid, emotional roots. Love it!

Since this is an album review, consider the whole album today’s song.

That’s it for this album review! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Music

WE – Arcade Fire album review

Posted on May 19, 2022 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Thursday, bibliophiles!

Welcome to another installment of “2022 is the year that the music gods have blessed us”…

Arcade Fire has been a fairly constant presence in my life for as long as I can remember; for years, I’ve been hearing and loving songs from Funeral and The Suburbs in my car, and I nearly got to see them live on their last tour (the concert was on the same day as a school trip I had 😭). So I was so excited to hear that they had another album on the way a few months ago—and now that I’ve listened to it, I love it!

Enjoy this album review!

(note: I will be excluding track 3, “Prelude,” from my review, as it’s only 30 seconds long of vague bonking noises and static.)

WE – ARCADE FIRE ALBUM REVIEW

Track 1: “Age of Anxiety I” – 8.5/10

Right off the bat, I was so impressed by this song! One of my favorite songs on the album, and the perfect opener too. With its steady beat and timely lyricism, it perfectly sets up the landscape of the rest of the album—love it!

Track 2: “Age of Anxiety II (Rabbit Hole)” – 7.5/10

Continuing the momentum from “Age of Anxiety I,” “Rabbit Hole” keeps its steady pace. As long as it is, it manages to keep itself afloat for the full seven minutes and still be consistently listenable throughout. Not as good as I, but still a wonderful continuation.

Track 4: “End of the Empire I-III” – 8/10

“End of the Empire I-III” takes a turn into slower, more introspective territory. Its lulling and waving melodies feel immersive and welcoming, and it demonstrates the extent of Win Butler’s lyricism, the intense introspection and reflection that makes Arcade Fire stand the test of time.

Track 5: “End of the Empire IV (Sagittarius A*)” – 8/10

Most of the songs on WE have at twin of some sort, and I’ve noticed a pattern—they’re never interchangeable, but they’re nevertheless inextricably connected. In the instance of “Sagittarius A*,” it’s a continuation of the slow, measured reflection of the strange mess of the world in the last two years. The lyrics are far more on the nose here (repetition of “I/we/she/etc. unsubscribe[s]), but they’re nevertheless timely. I love the little electronic strains at the end as well.

Track 6: “The Lightning I” – 8.5/10

The two “Lightning” songs were the first singles to come out of WE, and this one reminded me of why I love Arcade Fire so much. So many people, so many instruments, all in exuberant harmony—just the kind of energy that we need in these unpredictable times. Ties into the general theme of the album, from what I can discern—clinging onto hope and togetherness in a time bent on tearing us apart.

Track 7: “The Lightning II” – 8.5/10

It makes sense that the music video for the two “Lightning”s is all in one; unlike the other twin songs, this one is has the smoothest transition from one song to the other. And it continues its contagious, exuberant joy, bringing the album to a hopeful, explosive crescendo.

Track 8: “Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)” – 7/10

This is my least favorite song on the album, but it’s nonetheless sweet, especially considering that Win Butler wrote it for his kid. The lyrics are more than a little on the nose, but they’re lyrics that everybody needs to hear growing up, which is what makes them so lasting. Sweet stuff.

Track 9: “Unconditional II (Race and Religion) (feat. Peter Gabriel)” – 10/10

MORE REGINE CHASSAGNE PLEASE AND THANK YOU

I’ve had this on repeat for a solid week—my favorite song on the album! Régine Chassagne’s vocals have an infectious joy and excitement to them, and combined with the harmonious music and message, it makes for the best song on the whole album. It’s already the highlight of the album, but having PETER GABRIEL, FOR GOD’S SAKES—that makes it even better!

Track 10: “WE” – 7.5/10

A gentle, slow ease out of a fantastic album. Even though Arcade Fire’s strength is in their numbers and varied instruments, sometimes their acoustic pieces are almost just as good. That’s the case of “WE”—not the best song on the album, but a perfect segway out of an adventurous album and a softer comedown from “Race and Religion.”

I averaged out all my ratings from each track, and it came out to a solid 8.2! I feel like that’s an accurate portrayal of my thoughts; WE is, without a doubt, high in the ranks of my favorite albums of 2022 so far—timely, but still rife with the infectious joy that makes me love Arcade Fire as much as I do.

Since this is an album review, consider the entire album to be today’s song.

That’s it for this album review! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (9/28/20)–Song of the Dryad

Posted on September 28, 2020September 29, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, bibliophiles! Hard to believe that September’s almost over, but at least SPOOKY SEASON starts on Thursday! 🎃🦇☠️🍁😈

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme created by Lauren’s Page Turners. All you have to do to participate is pick a book from your Goodreads TBR, and explain why you want to read it.

I put this novel on my TBR at the very beginning of this year. I haven’t heard much about it–it’s from an indie publisher, so I haven’t seen many reviews, if any, floating around the blogosphere–but it looks like an intriguing fantasy!

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (9/28/20)–SONG OF THE DRYAD by Natalia Leigh

Amazon.com: Song of the Dryad eBook: Leigh, Natalia: Kindle Store

Blurb from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Barclay is still haunted by an encounter she had eight years ago – a run-in with a fairy beast that had eyes like witchlight and a taste for flesh. Charlotte has avoided the Greenwood ever since, pretending fairies don’t exist and choosing instead to focus her energies on graduating from high school and perfecting her audition piece for the Bellini Institute. However, everything changes when her mom goes missing, kidnapped by the fairies that haunt the forest behind Charlotte’s home.

When Charlotte’s search for her mom leads her into the fairy realm, she discovers that she hails from a line of Shrine Keepers – humans tasked with maintaining ancient fairy shrines. Charlotte’s family has failed their duties to the fae, and now she has no choice but to strike a deal with the dryad, an ancient and powerful tree nymph responsible for her mom’s disappearance. But the dryad only gives her a month to complete her task: retrieve five stolen fairy stones and return them to the ancient fairy shrine. If she doesn’t return the stones in time, the dryad has threatened to imprison another of Charlotte’s loved ones.

Charlotte dives into a world as magical as it is deadly, coming face-to-face with fairy creatures that never get mentioned in the story books – including the creature that haunts her dreams. She must embrace her task and conquer her fears, or else she’ll never see her mom again.

So why do I want to read this?

Imgur | Forest art, Fantasy, Fantasy landscape

Accidentally wandering into the realm of Fae and discovering that you have a connection with it is a fairly common trope I see in a lot of YA fantasy, but Song of the Dryad looks like it’s put an inventive twist on it! I also hardly ever see dryads as the star of the show as far as mythical creatures go in fantasy novels, so I’m excited to see how Leigh handles them. They hold so many possibilities for twists and plotlines, not to mention atmospheric imagery.

All in all, Song of the Dryad admittedly has the possibility of falling into several unfortunate tropes, but having the plot center around a dryad is giving me enough faith to keep reading.