Posted in Books

Undercover LGBTQ+ Books for Closeted Readers

Happy Friday, bibliophiles!

I’ve seen lists like this floating around on some bookish Reels on Instagram, and I figured that I wanted to make a list of my own for the blogosphere.

What I mean by “undercover” is this: if you’re a closeted reader and you’re in a homophobic space/community, you can read these books without anyone else knowing that you’re LGBTQ+, but you can still get the LGBTQ+ rep that you want to see. These are books that have great queer representation, but aren’t explicitly queer from the cover or synopsis. That way, if you’re in an unsupportive/homophobic space, you can still seek out good LGBTQ+ books without outing yourself. These are mostly YA books, but we’ve got several genres in the mix. I know I’m lucky to have supportive family and friends, but it sadly isn’t the reality for all queer people, so I thought I’d provide this list for others in that situation.

And as always, never forget: you are loved, you are valid, you are beautiful, and nobody has any say in your identity except for you. 💗

Let’s begin, shall we?

🌈UNDERCOVER LGBTQ+ BOOKS FOR CLOSETED READERS🌈

Dare Mighty Things – Heather Kaczynski

Amazon.com: Dare Mighty Things: 9780062479860: Kaczynski, Heather: Books

GENRES: sci-fi, thriller

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Cassandra, the main character, is asexual, and there’s also a secondary character who is bisexual! This one’s a must read if you love high-stakes competitions and sci-fi mysteries and thrillers.

Fire With Fire – Destiny Soria

Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria

GENRES: fantasy, paranormal, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I got this one as an eARC last year, and it was such a fun fantasy! Dani, one of two POV protagonists, is bisexual as well as mixed-race (white/Latine), and frankly, there’s not much better than queer girls and dragons, so this one’s a must-read.

Spellhacker – M.K. England

Amazon.com: Spellhacker: 9780062657701: England, M. K.: Books

GENRES: sci-fi, urban fantasy, fantasy

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

There’s no shortage of great LGBTQ+ rep in this novel – Diz is queer, her love interest is nonbinary (as well as the author!), and there’s several wlw and mlm couples interspersed throughout. I’ll always recommend this one for fans of both sci-fi and fantasy – it’s a great blend of the two genres!

Victories Greater Than Death – Charlie Jane Anders

Victories Greater Than Death | Charlie Jane Anders | Macmillan

GENRES: sci-fi, space opera

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This one’s sure to please all the YA space opera fans – lots of strange aliens, sudden powers, and intergalactic battles. There’s no shortage of good queer rep in this one – Tina is bi/pan, her love interest is a Black trans woman, and there’s a wide variety of pronouns used for the many (MANY) characters!

On a Sunbeam – Tillie Walden

Amazon.com: On a Sunbeam: 9781250178138: Walden, Tillie: Books

GENRES: graphic novels, sci-fi, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t use masterpiece lightly, but On a Sunbeam absolutely is one. With simplistic but stunning artwork and a multiracial wlw relationship told in alternating timelines, there’s no excuse to pass this one by.

Sawkill Girls – Claire Legrand

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand – The Hub

GENRES: horror, paranormal, fantasy

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t normally go for horror, but this was an unexpected 5-star read for me! All three protagonists are queer – Marion is bisexual, Zoey is asexual, Val is a lesbian, and there’s a wlw relationship!

Other Words for Smoke – Sarah Maria Griffin

Amazon.com: Other Words for Smoke: 9780062408914: Griffin, Sarah Maria:  Books

GENRES: paranormal, horror, magical realism

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

None of Sarah Maria Griffin’s books are talked about enough – Other Words for Smoke is hauntingly beautiful and well-written in every sense of the word. There’s a lesbian relationship in this one, and it’s unrelentingly feminist as well.

Wild Beauty – Anna-Marie McLemore

Buy Wild Beauty: A Novel Book Online at Low Prices in India | Wild Beauty:  A Novel Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in

GENRES: magical realism, fantasy, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I highly recommend anything of Anna-Marie McLemore’s – their novels always have the most gorgeous prose, combined with fairytale-like fantasies and Latine culture and mythology. Their books always include queer characters, but this one in particular features an entire cast of queer sisters and a genderqueer love interest!

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Did you like any of these books? Do you have any undercover LGBTQ+ recommendations? Tell me in the comments!

Books to Celebrate Pride Month | Penguin Random House Canada

Today’s song:

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

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Posted in Book Tags, Books

Out of My Comfort Zone Book Tag

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Hello again, bibliophiles!

Now that I’ve got more time on my hands thanks to this whole COVID-19 deal, I decided to look up a few more book tags to do. I’m thinking of creating my own soon, as I said, but I’m still working out the details there, so stay tuned. 😉

In the meantime, I found this tag on Madame Writer, and the tag was originally created by Emmmabooks.

RULE: 

  • Choose one genre/category of books that you frequently talk about in tags and don’t use ANY books from that genre for answers.

[gulps] goodbye, sci-fi…

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1. A book that is an exception when it comes to genres or elements in books that you don’t typically like.

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Normally, I have quite a lot of trouble with the use of the 2nd person. In most instances, it takes me out of the story, and it leaves me feeling confused or disconnected. But Other Words for Smoke manages to utilize it masterfully, putting the reader in the headspace of Bevan just as seamlessly as if it were in the 1st or 3rd person.

 

2. A book you enjoyed from a genre you previously held some stigma about.

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Technically, Descendant of the Crane could be categorized as fantasy, mystery, or fiction, but the mystery element hooked me more than any other element (sort of a murder mystery?), which is something that doesn’t often happen to me with novels.

 

3. A book you didn’t know was actually out of your comfort zone until you started reading it.

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I knew going into it that I Am Still Alive was waaaaaay out of my comfort zone (survival fiction/adventure), but all of the different elements woven into it surprised me at every turn–ones that usually turn me off to a book, but were so well-executed that they worked for me. Whew, this one’s a rough ride.

 

4. Pick a friend that motivates you to pick up books you might not normally be interested in. What is one book out of your norm that they convinced you to give a try?

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One of my dear friends from school (and one of the few people who I’ve managed to convince to join my school’s book club) recommended The Poet X to me around two years ago. Our taste in books tends to be similar, but this one was most definitely out of my norm, mostly because of the aspect of a novel in verse, which I’ve found to be rather hit-or-miss. To my pleasant surprise, this one was a MASTERPIECE.

 

5. A book that is out of your comfort zone that you would like to read.

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This one’s been talked about a lot for the past few years, and though I’ve found the reviews to be INCREDIBLY polarizing, I definitely want to at least give The Night Circus a try. I don’t usually read historical fiction, but the melding of that and a dash of fantasy seems like it would be entertaining, at best.

6. A book or genre so out of what you normally read that you’ll probably never give it a(nother) chance.

I’m probably never going to touch any sort of bodice rippers. That’s just completely out of the question. I mean, I’m all for romance, but…nope. Not today, nor ever, likely.

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I tag anyone who would like to participate!

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Since I’ve already posted once today, you can head over to Book Review Tuesday (3/24/20)–Crown of Coral and Pearl to see today’s song.

 

That just about wraps up this tag! Have a wonderful day, and take care of yourselves!

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Posted in Book Tags

Women’s History Book Tag

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Afternoon, bibliophiles!

I found this tag on The Comfy Reader, and as soon as I saw that it had to do with Women’s History…COUNT. ME. IN. The tag was created by Weird Zeal.

Rules:

  • Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post.
  • Link to the creator’s blog in your post
  • Answer the questions below using only books written by women
  • Feel free to use the same graphics
  • Tag 8 others to take part in the tag

 

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Lei from Girls of Paper and Fire is the ultimate disobedient, fierce, and patriarchy-smashing protagonist. I just got started with the sequel (Girls of Storm and Shadow), and though it’s not quite as potent as book 1, I’d forgotten how much I loved her and Wren.

 

Ada Lovelace

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Alouette from Sky Without Stars is a character that I always love to see in a female protagonist–daring and determined, but also incredibly intelligent, and VERY bookish!

 

Queen Elizabeth 1

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One of the perspectives that I enjoyed the most of Catherine in The Smoke Thievesand her later struggle (and GREAT successes) of ascending to the throne as Queen of Brigant.

 

Virginia Woolf

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The prose in Wild Beauty was one of the elements that most stood out to me in the book, as flowery as the gardens of La Pradera.

 

Joan of arc

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Although this was only a three-star read for me, Sky in the Deep was what immediately came to mind. Eelyn was most definitely a Wonder Woman-ish character, in an almost Viking setting.

 

Mae Jemison

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Ooh, boy, I’ve got a lot to choose from…

A Conspiracy of Stars stands out so much in the YA sci-fi genre, with its spectacular world-building and memorable writing. WHERE. IS. BOOK. THREE.

 

Rosalind Franklin

(Heeeeey, we learned about her in my bio class not long ago!)

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Chilling and masterfully written, it honestly saddens me how little recognition Other Words for Smoke (and anything by Sarah Maria Griffin, really) has gotten.

 

Marsha P Johnson

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Another vastly underrated novel, Everything Grows is a beautiful and deeply relatable book about exploring one’s sexuality.

 

Amelia Earheart

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I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again: The Poet X deserves every ounce of hype that it has received.

 

Your Choice

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Sally Ride has been one of my personal heroes ever since I did a project on her in 8th grade. The first American woman in space and an LGBTQ+ icon, she is continually one of my biggest inspirations. 💗

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With its tackling of many issues that plague our modern society today, This Time Will be Different inspires me to not just look at the big picture, but to look within local communities to remedy these ills.

 

I tag anyone who’d like to participate during this lovely Women’s History Month! 

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Today’s song:

 

That’s it for this post! Have a wonderful day, and take care of yourselves!

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Posted in Book Tags

Marvel Avengers Book Tag

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Happy Leap Day, everyone!

Sorry about this week’s general sluggishness; I’ve gotten over the hump of this week’s back-to-back quizzes and tests, so I’ll attempt to make up for it a bit this weekend. Behold Exhibit A.

I found this lovely tag over at Brianna’s Books and Randomness. (If you don’t follow her already, I highly recommend that you do!) Though I’m more of an X-Men fan myself, I still adore the Avengers and most of the MCU, so I thought this would be a fun tag to do!

Here we go…

IRON MAN: A BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD

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You all know exactly what the answer is for this one…but I swear that Good Omens made me laugh like no other book ever has.

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA: A BOOK THAT SENDS A POSITIVE MESSAGE

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(Unpopular opinion: Cap. Is. Overrated. Except for in Endgame. My mind will not be changed.)

Despite the historical circumstances (and how the story ultimately ends), White Rose portrays a beautiful message that no matter what, hope will always prevail in the end, even in the darkest of times.

 

THOR: A BOOK WITH A CHARACTER’S STRENGTH YOU ADMIRE

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Arsinoe from Three Dark Crowns has always been my favorite of the triplets, personally; it takes a special kind of strength not only to battle for control of a kingdom, but to go against your own blood, to boot.

 

BLACK WIDOW: A BOOK WITH A BUTT-KICKING FEMALE PROTAGONIST

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I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again…two words. Smoke ThievesBoth Catherine and Tash are true forces to be reckoned with.

HULK: A BOOK THAT MADE YOU ANGRY

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(I quote this line more than I’d like to admit…)

Ooh…there’s a long list, where to begin?

How about Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters? The premise seemed so inventive (and the cover was stunning…), but the dialogue just killed me…so stilted…

 

HAWKEYE: AN UNDERRATED BOOK THAT YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO 

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Anything by Sarah Maria Griffin, really. Both Spare and Found Parts and Other Words for Smoke are such inventive and unique novels; it’s such a shame how little attention they get.

 

*BONUS* LOKI: A BOOK WITH A TWIST OR A SURPRISE THAT YOU DIDN’T SEE COMING

Image result for loki gif it varies from moment to moment

Without question, ThunderheadThe worst part about it was that I had to wait almost two years before I found out how that whole situation ended. Yeesh.

 

If any of you would like to participate, go ahead! Have at it! 🙂

 

Today’s song:

EEEEEEEEEE NEW MUSIC FROM CAR SEAT HEADREST I REPEAT NEW MUSIC FROM CAR SEAT HEADREST–

 

That just about wraps up this tag! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Posted in Book Tags, Books

The Quick Fire Fantasy Tag

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Hello again, bibliophiles!

I found this tag over at Kayla’s Wordsmithy (thank you!), and I thought that I’d give it a try! I haven’t given as much love to fantasy lately, so I figured this would be a nice change. The tag was originally created by The Book Worm Dreamer.

RULES:

  • Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post
  • Link to the creator’s blog (thebookwormdreamer.wordpress.com) in your post
  • Answer the prompts below – all fantasy books!
  • Tag 5 others to take part
  • Enjoy!

 

5 STAR BOOK

Image result for the demon world sally green

The last fantasy that I rated five stars was The Demon Worldthe sequel to The Smoke Thieves. I know I blab about this one a lot, but hey…

  • Several butt-kicking women
  • Romance
  • Demons

What’s not to like?

ALWAYS GOING TO RECOMMEND

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Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy is the ideal gateway to YA fantasy, and a richly-imagined, heart-pounding ride from start to finish.

 

OWN IT BUT HAVEN’T READ IT YET

Um….shoot, I think I’ll have to skip this one. Everything that I’ve bought recently I’ve already read, and not much of said book haul is fantasy.

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WOULD READ AGAIN

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I’m devastated that I borrowed Other Words for Smoke at the library, because this was an absolute MASTERPIECE.

 

IN ANOTHER WORLD

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Fennbirn, the island setting of Three Dark Crowns is lush and rife with detailed mythology. A true feat of literature, in that respect, and an unforgettable series. The whole system with the Queens and their gifts is incredibly fascinating.

BACK ON EARTH

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Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere (another five-star fantasy for me) is set in both the human city of London and London Below, a magical and unpredictable underbelly of the city, where all manner of strange creatures lurk. What a gem of a book ♥️

(Since I’ve already posted once today, just head over to this week’s Goodreads Monday if you’d like to see today’s song. 😉)

I tag anyone that would like to participate! I never know if the people I tag will end up participating in the tag, so I’ll just open it up to anyone who wants to. 🙂

 

Thanks so much for reading! Have a great rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Posted in Book Tags, Books

Halloween Creatures Book Tag

Hi there, fellow bibliophiles!

First of all, sorry for forgoing this week’s Book Review Tuesday. I went to a concert last night (Chelsea Wolfe!), and I had very little time at home as a result. Hopefully this will make up for it. 😉

 

I saw that Rae @ waesmiles reads had done this tag, and I figured I’d have a go. It was originally created by Anthony @ Keep Reading Forward, and the rules are as follows:

  • Follow the Categories
  • You Must Be Honest
  • You Must Answer All Questions to the Best of Your Ability
  • You Must Tag At Least 3 People
  • Have Fun!
  • Credit Would be Greatly Appreciated! (Keep Reading Forward)

 

Alright…here we go!

 

WITCHES–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT IS MAGICAL

My obvious choice here would be the Grisha trilogy. Hands down, one of the most well-crafted, magical universes I’ve ever come across. (On an unrelated note, I’m simultaneously worried and excited to see how Netflix pulls it off…)

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MUMMIES–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT YOU CAN’T WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND

Wrap…I see what you did there…[ba-dum tsssss]

For this, I’d have to say Miryem from Spinning Silver. Without spoiling anything major, I’ll just say that it absolutely baffled me that her relationship with a certain character turned from forced (and borderline abusive) to perfectly happy.

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VAMPIRES–A BOOK, SERIES, OR AUTHOR YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Hmm…lots to pick from here, but the first one that comes to mind is the Heart of Iron duology. There’s so many aspects of that series that have earned it an especially soft spot with me. I really need to re-read Soul of Stars soon…

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WEREWOLVES–A BOOK THAT IS BEST READ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

I…well…

I can’t quite think of any. I can only read more intense books during the daytime, and I don’t read around midnight much anyway…

Guess I’ll have to skip this one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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ZOMBIES–A BOOK YOU PICKED UP FOR THE 2ND TIME OR CONTINUED AFTER DNFING IT

Oof, I might have to skip this one, too…

Usually, when I DNF a book, it’s because of a deep-seated loathing; this usually prevents me from ever picking up the book again, so…

 

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GHOSTS–A CHARACTER YOU SAW RIGHT THROUGH OR A BOOK THAT YOU EASILY PREDICTED THE TWIST/ENDING

I read this one a while back, but the one thing I remember with clarity about Earth Force Rising was that I could see all of the major plot points coming from a mile away. Dear Lord, that was such a cringey book…

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FRANKENSTEIN–A BOOK THAT TRULY SHOCKED YOU

Hands down, Other Words for Smoke. I had pretty average expectations, but once I got into it, I could NOT put it down. The writing was beautiful, and there were out-of-this-world twists around every corner…

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SKELETONS–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT CHILLED YOU TO THE BONE OR TICKLED YOUR FUNNY BONE

If we’re going for the funny bone route here, then I have the perfect example: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, WitchI haven’t laughed that much in a very, very long time.

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GHOULS–A BOOK THAT LEFT YOU HUNGRY, OR A RECIPE YOU WANT TO TRY FROM A BOOK

This one seems like a cliche answer, but my immediate choice is With the Fire on HighThere’s nothing I wouldn’t do to try some of Emoni’s cooking.

Okay, maybe not nothing, but you know what I’m saying. It all sounded delicious…

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GOBLINS–A GREEDY CHARACTER OR A CHARACTER THAT LOVES GOLD OR JEWELRY

Though she certainly isn’t greedy, per se, Genya from the Grisha trilogy was my first thought; there’s no way that she didn’t put some bling on her eyepatch. (And every other article of clothing.)

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DEVIL–A DARK, EVIL CHARACTER

This isn’t the most classic of examples, but my first thought was The Mage from Carry On. Deceitful, manipulative, and…well, y’know, the general evil that comes along with being the equivalent of a black hole for magic.

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GRIM REAPER–A CHARACTER YOU LOVED OR HATED THAT DIED

Essentially, everyone who got killed off in Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsI don’t think I’ve completely gotten over any of them, even though I haven’t read it in years.

Especially Dobby.

DOBBYYYYYY

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SCARECROWS–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT SCARES YOU

I can’t think of any character or book that really scared scared me, but for this, I’ll go with Xifeng from Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. I mean, you’ve got the classic, tragic hero descending into madness storyline, sprinkled in with some tyranny and eating human hearts. Y’know, just another day at the office.

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MONSTER MASH–TAG YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN! 

I tag:

 

 

Thank you so much for reading! Have a wonderful rest of your day! 🙂

 

Posted in Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (8/13/19)-Spare and Found Parts

Hey, everyone, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

Remember how I said in my last post that I was REALLY wowed by Other Words for Smoke (you can read my review here), and I was really excited to read some other works by Sarah Maria Griffin? Namely, Spare and Found Parts? 

Well, I got around to reading it a few days after I wrote that post, and I must say, it was incredible! 

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A richly developed, futuristic world, with lush and atmospheric writing and a chilling story, reminiscient of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. And…dare I say…even better than Other Words for Smoke. And I ADORED that one.

Enjoy this week’s review!

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Spare and Found Parts

In an isolated town in the near future, the townspeople have all been devastated by an epidemic. Now, they all bear scars–metal limbs, eyes, hands, and feet, all created by Julian Crane, the now world-renowned scientist who revolutionized the world of prosthetics.

For as long as she can remember, Nell Crane has lived in the shadow of her father. Her epidemic scars aren’t as visible as others–instead of an appendage, her heart is made of metal, ticking like a time bomb inside her chest. Her father is always too engrossed in his work to pay her any mind, and to much of the town, she’s a freak, the girl with the metal heart who’ll never live up to her father. But after Nell discovers an abandoned, artifical hand on the beach, an idea comes to her–maybe she, with the right parts, can build a companion, a friend who truly understands her and doesn’t care about her inorganic heart and her legacy. Nell is determined to make her wish come true at any cost–but what will it mean for a world that fears computers more than anything else?

 

Spare and Found Parts was a success in all respects.

With a determined and strong-willed heroine, immersive and chilling prose, and a plot that was simultaneously poignant and enchanting, Spare and Found Parts is a truly unforgettable novel. 9.5/10 on my rating scale, 4.75/5 on Goodreads, and lots of love from the bottom of my heart.

On that note, this book is seriously underrated. I mean…it’s got a 3.53 average on Goodreads. I’m not saying that 3.53 is a bad rating, per se, but Spare and Found Parts does not, by any means, deserve a rating like that. It’s a little sad. I don’t know.

 

Like Other Words for Smoke, Spare and Found Parts is a standalone. These seem to be the two major YA books that Griffin has written, and I have no idea if she’s working on/will work on anything more in that vein. Fingers crossed that she is, because this world needs more of her brilliant storytelling.

 

Thank you so much for reading this review! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and enjoy summer while it lasts! (I start school again tomorrow… “Hello, darkness, my old friend…”)

 

 

 

Posted in Book Review Tuesday

Book Review Tuesday (8/6/19)-Other Words for Smoke

Hey, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome to the first Book Review Tuesday of August 2019!

 

This one’s been on my TBR for a while…I don’t exactly remember how long, but a fairly long stretch of time, nonetheless. Anyway, I was just scouring through said Goodreads TBR while looking for somethign to check out at the library last week, and this one just happened to be available. I had virtually no expectations whatsoever (other than what came to mind from that ✨gorgeous cover✨), but Other Words for Smoke was an unforgettable, spine-chilling novel! With a perfectly-melded blend of small-town fantasy and an uncanny horror reminiscient of Edgar Allan Poe, this novel lends itself to be one of the best books of 2019.

Enjoy this week’s review!

 

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Other Words for Smoke

With their parent’s marriage falling into chaos, fourteen year old twins Mae and Rossa are sent to live with their estranged aunt Rita for the summer. Rita is nothing short of eccentric, and the twin’s cousin Bevan seems to have her fair share of shifty secrets. But the house itself holds the most secrets, and is home to two age-old powers–powers that require an ample amount of love, fear, and sacrifice. With Bevan slave to the more nefarious of the two, Mae and Rossa are left to discover the house’s secrets on their own. They knew that their summer wouldn’t be normal–but none of them expected anything as chilling as this.

 

 

WOW. Now THAT was a wild ride.

 

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Normally, I’m not quite one for horror, but Other Words for Smoke had the perfect balance of creepiness, whimsy, action, and intrigue. With an unpredictable cast of characters, rich, suspenseful writing, LGTBTQ+ representation, and a gripping plot that kept me reading for hours on end, this novel is a true fantasy-horror masterpiece. Also, I kind of imagined one of the characters having a voice like that of Sir Patrick Stewart, so that probably added a half-star to my rating. (Just kidding about the last part of that 😜)

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Solid 9 on my rating scale, 4.5/5 stars on Goodreads. I highly recommend this book. 🙂

 

This book is a standalone, but the author has another, more dystopian novel (called Spare and Found Parts) that came out a few years ago, but I haven’t yet read. I think it’s available on the Kindle library, so I think I’ll have to check it out soon… 😉

 

Before I go, let me just say that I’ve got a few plans for different posts coming up soonish, but they may or may not be halted by my going back to school in a little over a week…😬 Hopefully I’ll get to a few of them by the end of the summer. Stay tuned, folks.

 

Thank you so much for reading this review! Have a wonderful rest of your day, take care of yourselves, and keep on reading!