“Bravely” by Maggie Stiefvater (Review)

May 31, 2022June 1, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Stiefvater, Maggie. Bravely. Los Angeles: Disney Press, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1368071345 | $19.99 USD | 367 pages | YA Historical Fantasy

Blurb

Merida goes on an all-new, life-changing adventure in this original YA novel set several years after the close of Brave!

What if you had one year to save everything you loved?

ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love.

TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences.

THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself?

FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on the final copy. All opinions are my own.

While Brave is one of the Disney/Pixar films I’m less familiar with and have watched fewer times than others (I am intrigued to do a rewatch!), Merida nonetheless stands out as a fierce heroine among her Disney Princess peers, without being too “not like other girls.” So, I was intrigued at what Maggie Stiefvater would do with this spin-off/sequel novel, Bravely. And while I had little concept for what it would be about, I ended up really liking the results.

The focus on Merida’s relationships with her family is something that has always stood out in the film, but her relationship with her mother was the dominant one. So it’s only natural for other media to step in to do more work in this world. Merida and Elinor’s bond gets more layers, but I liked seeing more of the other members of her family, as each of them are part of the quest she must undertake. I particularly liked the fleshing-out of her triplet younger brothers and giving them individual issues to navigate, as they felt like such a one-dimensional unit in the film, primarily for the sake of comic relief.

And while I’ve never read Maggie Stiefvater before (she’s one of those authors whose books I fleetingly considered, but never heard much from friends and trusted reviewers to motivate me to pick them up), but her writing is great. She conveys the sense of Scottish culture, folklore, and magic that was so unique about Brave, but on a deeper, textual level. From the world building for the various kingdoms Merida travels to, to the conveying of the magic and the gods, it’s a beautifully rendered story that gives you similar vibes to those I vaguely remember from the film.

Pacing wise, it does feel a bit uneven. The inciting incident happens fairly quickly, and Merida’s varied adventures provide excitement for the most part. It does slow down at certain points, but it ultimately feels worth it.

This book is a treat for anyone who is even a casual fan of Disney/Pixar and Brave. It’s a worthy sequel from a writer who is in tune with the canon narrative and the reasons for fans’ connection with it.

Author Bio

Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Raven Cycle, the Shiver trilogy, and other novels for young and adult readers. She is also an artist, an auto enthusiast, and a bagpiper. She lives on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, two children, and an assortment of fainting goats.

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“Four Ways to Wear a Dress” by Gillian Libby (ARC Review)

May 31, 2022May 31, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Libby, Gillian. Four Ways to Wear a Dress. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1728247205 | $15.99 USD | 320 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Debut author Gillian Libby brings you a bright and hopeful story about friendship, self-discovery and acceptance, and fighting for your own happiness, even if it looks a little different than everyone else’s. You’ll love this funny and charming story that reminds you:

You are capable of more than you think you are–don’t give up on your happiness
Your friends are your fiercest champions
It’s good to admit to your mistakes, but sometimes it’s also okay to pretend your crush is really your Instagram Boyfriend
The perfect dress can help you get through anything

Buy But Peacock Bay is full of mega influencers who have perfected the look of the surf lifestyle, and a minor misunderstanding has Millie and her magical dress joining their ranks. Now she has to convince her crush Pete Santana that pretending to be her Instagram Husband will help bring new business to his struggling hotel and help her launch her influencer career. But maybe posting all her failures isn’t the best way to win Pete’s heart, no matter how good it is for his business. When she reveals her biggest screw-up of all–their fake relationship–there’s a good chance she could lose not only her new following, but Pete as well… Millie Ward has been fired. Again. She’s tired of feeling like a failure, and she refuses to blame her ADHD the way her parents do every time she hits one of life’s speed bumps. This time, she’s going to let that speed bump actually slow her down,and jumps at the chance to visit her best friend–and Instagram influencer–Quincy in California. And she wouldn’t mind if that invitation also involved getting closer with Quincy’s brother, Pete. When her best friends Kate and Bree help her pack, they rediscover the little black dress they shared in college. This dress helped them during first dates, exams, and job interviews–bringing each woman who wore it a bit of luck and confidence. Whatever comes during Millie’s next chapter, this dress will help.

Review

3 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Four Ways to Wear a Dress is a lot of fun, a pretty decent summer read. It’s light and readable for the most part, and while there are issues, it’s a nice book to read between more intense ones.

While I’m not super knowledgeable about influencers and the lifestyles they lead, I did find this reasonably interesting, especially as someone who occasionally digs into gossip around certain “influencer” scandals.

Millie is a pretty interesting character. I can somewhat relate to her feeling of professional failure; never been fired, but I’ve also never been gainfully employed due to my own disability and neurodivergence. And as someone who has felt like a burden because of these conditions, Millie’s feelings of failure and resolve to break free from that mentality as far as her ADHD is concerned were cathartic for me to read.

And I did, in theory, like the “fake dating” scenario between her and Pete, with high stakes for both of their respective careers as their “relationship” helps things take off. While I wasn’t super won over by them as a couple, I do get it…kind of.

And the whole concept of the dress these women share and fits all of them, blessing them all with luck…it gives Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants vibes, and I adored those books when I was younger. It did not feel super well integrated with the rest of it (I’d have loved if fashion was more of a “thing” they were into as part of their respective brands), but it’s a nice touch nonetheless.

While I’m not jumping for joy and yelling about this book to the rooftops, it’s a fine enough book with some pretty good points, even if it didn’t entirely come together in the end. If you’re looking for a lighthearted read to dive into this summer, you might consider this one.

Author Bio

Gillian Libby left New York City after many years and many jobs. She worked in PR: marketing film/TV and was a SoHo shopgirl. She tried her best to become a traveling surf bum, but it didn’t stick. She now writes books in Connecticut with her husband and two children near a beach with no waves.

Twitter: @GillianLibby

Instagram: @gillian_libby

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“Wrath Goddess Sing” by Maya Deane (ARC Review)

May 30, 2022May 30, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Deane, Maya. Wrath Goddess Sing. New York: William Morrow, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-0063161184 | $27.99 USD | 464 pages | Historical Fiction

Blurb

Drawing on ancient texts and modern archeology to reveal the trans woman’s story hidden underneath the well-known myths of The Iliad, Maya Deane’s Wrath Goddess Sing weaves a compelling, pitilessly beautiful vision of Achilles’ vanished world, perfect for fans of Song of Achilles and the Inheritance trilogy.

The gods wanted blood. She fought for love.

Achilles has fled her home and her vicious Myrmidon clan to live as a woman with the kallai, the transgender priestesses of Great Mother Aphrodite. When Odysseus comes to recruit the “prince” Achilles for a war against the Hittites, she prepares to die rather than fight as a man. However, her divine mother, Athena, intervenes, transforming her body into the woman’s body she always longed for, and promises her everything: glory, power, fame, victory in war, and, most importantly, a child born of her own body. Reunited with her beloved cousin, Patroklos, and his brilliant wife, the sorceress Meryapi, Achilles sets out to war with a vengeance.

But the gods—a dysfunctional family of abusive immortals that have glutted on human sacrifices for centuries—have woven ancient schemes more blood-soaked and nightmarish than Achilles can imagine. At the center of it all is the cruel, immortal Helen, who sees Achilles as a worthy enemy after millennia of ennui and emptiness. In love with her newfound nemesis, Helen sets out to destroy everything and everyone Achilles cherishes, seeking a battle to the death.

An innovative spin on a familiar tale, this is the Trojan War unlike anything ever told, and an Achilles whose vulnerability is revealed by the people she chooses to fight…and chooses to trust.

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Wrath Goddess Sing is undoubtedly the most daring retelling of Greek mythology I’ve read (and that’s saying a lot, given the Greek-inspired books I’ve read recently). I love how it digs deep into the classic myths of these famous figures and subverts them, with Achilles being a trans woman being just one of many radical, but appropriate, changes made to the narrative.

I expressed my complex feelings about Achilles in my review of the upcoming Katee Robert book, and I appreciate that Deane doesn’t deviate too much from the often “unlikable” image I had initially of the character. She’s incredibly self-centered and petty, and not always the easiest to like. But that’s also what made her interesting…there was no attempt to make her more than she was just because she’s a trans woman, when both trans and women characters in fiction are often dinged for “undesirable” traits acceptable in cis ones (especially men), not to mention the highly uneven expectations for their real life counterparts. But her trans identity enhances her as a person, and I love the exploration of her alongside other trans women, kallai, and their ceremonial traditions. It’s a wonderful reminder that trans people have always been here, even if the precise words haven’t been around for very long.

I generally really enjoyed the choices made for the rest of the Greek pantheon as well. I was skeptical of Helen being the villain, as she’s already vilified in many interpretations of her story, and from a cishet, patriarchal lens. But I like that this incarnation also focuses a lot on her ambition and gives her agency in her own way.

This book is long, but it definitely doesn’t feel that way. From the battles to the mythological intrigue to the compassionate rendering of transfeminine joy and sisterhood, there’s a lot to keep the reader invested and turning pages.

Given the multitude of books that came before it and the expectations the myths carry, it’s easy to imagine that people might attach expectations to it that aren’t fulfilled. But this take is incredibly well-researched and impeccably done, and perfect for someone who wants a fresh, trans-inclusive take on Achilles and the Trojan War.

Author Bio

Maya Deane (she/her) is a novelist, visual artist, and avid student of all the arts of civilization attributed to Inana by the first known writer, Enheduana.

She would love to talk to you about the history of forks, cannabis-hotboxing Amazons in the archeological record, the top three most famous 18th century French trans women, how to cook ancient Canaanite food (hint: import bananas from India), and what it’s like making friends with a scholarly feline. (Shout out to Apollo!)

She is a graduate of the Rutgers-Camden MFA in creative writing.

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“Ashton Hall” by Lauren Belfer (ARC Review)

May 29, 2022May 29, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Belfer, Lauren. Ashton Hall. New York: Ballantine Books, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-0593359495 | $28.00 USD | 416 pages | Historical-ish/Gothic Thriller (ish)

Blurb

An American woman and her son stumble upon the dark history of a rambling English manor house in this “masterful, riveting, and atmospheric” (Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist) novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Belfer.

“With vibrant prose, Lauren Belfer shepherds us through a centuries-old mystery and into a modern-day introspection on motherhood, marriage, and love.”—Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones

When a close relative falls ill, Hannah Larson and her young son, Nicky, join him for the summer at Ashton Hall, a historic manor house outside Cambridge, England. A frustrated academic whose ambitions have been subsumed by the challenges of raising her beloved child, Hannah longs to escape her life in New York City, where her marriage has been upended by a recently discovered and devastating betrayal.

Soon after their arrival, ever-curious Nicky finds the skeletal remains of a woman walled into a forgotten part of the manor, and Hannah is pulled into an all-consuming quest for answers, Nicky close by her side. Working from clues in centuries-old ledgers showing what the woman’s household spent on everything from music to medicine; lists of books checked out of the library; and the troubling personal papers of the long-departed family, Hannah begins to recreate the Ashton Hall of the Elizabethan era in all its color and conflict. As the multilayered secrets of her own life begin to unravel, Hannah comes to realize that Ashton Hall’s women before her had lives not so different from her own, and she confronts what mothers throughout history have had to do to secure their independence and protect their children.

“Infused with the brooding, gothic atmosphere of Jane Eyre or Rebecca” (Melanie Benjamin, author of The Children’s Blizzard) and rich with female passion, strength, and ferocity across the ages, Ashton Hall is a novel that reveals how the most profound hauntings are within ourselves.

Review

3 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Ashton Hall is full of potential, but I don’t know if I ever felt it was realized. The issue is that it promises too much, and was at least somewhat mismarketed. It’s not historical enough for the historical fiction lover in me, although history does make up a good part of the story, and does have creepy atmospheric vibes, but I don’t know if I’d call it a conventional “mystery.” As such, it’s so easy for the reader to go in with the wrong expectations.

I did like the history that was conveyed, although it is largely secondhand through the contemporary characters’ research. And the way it discusses the role of women, both in secular and religious cultural contexts, and compares it to the issues women face today is pretty well done, and I ultimately feel like Hannah, with all she’s been through, is the right person to bring to light Isabelle’s story.

And the atmosphere is super well done, and I love how the environs of Ashton Hall feel so real. And to find out at the end that it was inspired by Blickling Hall, where Anne Boleyn, a real-life tragic woman of the Tudor period, spent her early years, adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

But I had mixed feelings about Hannah’s narrative overall. As alluded to prior, there are some parallels, like Hannah being in a marriage falling apart, and depending on her husband for financial security, but being hurt by his infidelity and secrets. I love mess, so I did enjoy reading about the soapy elements of her life. But I can’t say I was as endeared to her as I was to Isabelle, even with my small glimpses of her. She just lacks any real spine, because of how she’s backed into a corner. The only consolation is that the husband is worse in his manipulation of her.

I also had mixed feelings about the son, Nicky. He’s depicted as neurodiverse, and that feels like a mixed bag for me. He contributes to the “research” part of the storyline in a positive way, but I also feel like he is often treated by both his parents as “difficult,” with emphasis on his challenges. It’s something we often see with the portrayal of neurodivergent people, especially from an outside perspective. And while this may have been a safe perspective to take, as based on the author’s note, Belfer herself is likely neurotypical, it still comes off as disingenuous to say that he’s the “real star” of the book.

While this book was a disappointment for the most part, there are some redeeming features. However, I’d caution people to go in aware that this isn’t straight historical or mystery, but a contemporary with vibes of both. If you go in with that mindset, I think you’ll enjoy this a bit more than I did.

Author Bio

Lauren Belfer is the New York Times bestselling author of And After the Fire, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; A Fierce Radiance, a Washington Post and NPR Best Mystery of the Year; and City of Light, a New York Times Notable Book, a Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, and an international bestseller. Belfer attended Swarthmore College and has an MFA from Columbia University. She lives in New York City.

https://laurenbelfer.com

Instagram: @Laurenbelfer1

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“Hollow Fires” by Samira Ahmed (Review)

May 28, 2022May 28, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Ahmed, Samira. Hollow Fires. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-0316282642 | $18.99 USD | 404 pages | YA Thriller

Blurb

Safiya Mirza dreams of becoming a journalist. And one thing she’s learned as editor of her school newspaper is that a journalist’s job is to find the facts and not let personal biases affect the story. But all that changes the day she finds the body of a murdered boy.
Jawad Ali was fourteen years old when he built a cosplay jetpack that a teacher mistook for a bomb. A jetpack that got him arrested, labeled a terrorist—and eventually killed. But he’s more than a dead body, and more than “Bomb Boy.” He was a person with a life worth remembering.
Driven by Jawad’s haunting voice guiding her throughout her investigation, Safiya seeks to tell the whole truth about the murdered boy and those who killed him because of their hate-based beliefs.
This gripping and powerful book uses an innovative format and lyrical prose to expose the evil that exists in front of us, and the silent complicity of the privileged who create alternative facts to bend the truth to their liking.

Review

5 stars

I went into Hollow Fires not knowing much, but expecting it would be hard-hitting, just like Samira Ahmed’s previous books. And it is, digging deep into the racism and xenophobia of our current times, while also highlighting how history often “rhymes” in terms of these issues and their intersection of the way society privileges those from white upper-class backgrounds. The interweaving of Leopold and Loeb style pathology to the killers, motivated by “affluenza” and Nietzsche-esque nihilism, works incredibly well with a contemporary hate crime, as the same issues of the various bigotries against marginalized people remain largely unaddressed in contemporary society, particularly as they’ve continued to mutate and become more subtle and insidious.

I really liked the format and flow of the book. It starts off a bit oddly, timeline wise, as it starts off in the future, and it jumps back in time to explain how it all happened. However, it’s ultimately very effective in centering the narrative around that pivotal moment of the discovery of Jawad’s body, then going back and exploring the events leading up to that, plus what followed. And the way it allowed for multiple perspectives really allowed for an unsanitized view of the situation. Most of the narrative is viewed through Safiya’s eyes as she searches for answers, and later, for justice. Jawad’s perspective complements hers beautifully, focusing on how he was singled out for racist and and Islamophobic treatment because of who he was in life and death, as well as allowing him to be a guiding light for Safiya, even if they weren’t necessarily close when he was alive. Their perspectives are also complemented by many blog posts, tweets, interviews, news clippings, etc., highlighting the progress of the investigation and the later trial. While fictional, it’s sad how the antagonistic, racist ones are so reflective of what real racist people would say.

The mystery was really well paced, and I was sucked in almost immediately (once I got past the timeline thing). I pretty much couldn’t stop reading, as I had to know what would happen next, even if some of the things that occurred were difficult. And the ending, with the conclusion of the case and Safiya making a statement? Absolutely beautiful and moving. This book hits the right notes, balancing between the pacy intrigue of a thriller and the compassion required of a hard-hitting “issue”-based contemporary with compassion and care.

This is my favorite of Samira Ahmed’s books to date. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially if you enjoy thrillers with heavy emphasis on social issues.

Author Bio

Samira Ahmed is the New York Times bestselling author of Love, Hate, & Other Filters; Mad, Bad, & Dangerous to Know; Internment; and Hollow Fires. She was born in Bombay, India, and has lived in New York, Chicago, Kauai, where she spent a year searching for the perfect mango. She invites you to visit her online at https://samiraahmed.com and on Twitter and Instagram @sam_aye_am.

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“How to Fail at Flirting” by Denise Williams (Review)

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Williams, Denise. How to Fail at Flirting. New York: Jove, 2020.

ISBN-13: 978-0593101902 | $16.00 USD | 343 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.

When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship–except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.

Review

4 stars

I initially approached How to Fail at Flirting with some unease, because of the initial setup of the one-night stand, something that is very hit-or-miss for me. However, upon giving it a serious go, I found it endearing, because of how unsexy the first time was…and yet things still proceeded romantically.

Naya is an easy heroine to root for. She’s very career-driven, using it to compensate for the void left upon the demise of a previous, abusive relationship. She’s generally a rule-follower and doesn’t challenge the status quo in any way until her friends motivate her to step outside her comfort zone. That really spoke to me, as while I don’t share her experience with abuse, I love seeing someone who is sheltered for whatever reason start challenging herself, and find that very aspirational for my own life.

Jake is incredibly charming and funny and just what Naya needs to come out of her shell. There are some complications, like the fact that he’s still in a sham marriage for the sake of appearances, and he doesn’t tell her until his wife is literally at the door, and there’s a conflict of interest at work where his firm is in charge of evaluations at the university she works at. However, the situations are handled with maturity and for the most part.

While the story is mostly sweet and fun, there are some serious and even suspenseful moments that amp up as the story goes on. Naya is continuously barraged with threatening texts from her ex which come to a head. I can understand why some may not like the direction this one took, especially if they weren’t aware of the heavy issues beforehand, but I will acknowledge that at least this one mentions the “abusive ex-boyfriend” in the blurb. Quite often, you don’t even get that. But it would have been nice to have some kind of extra warning, especially as the author ends the book with a page with resources for those going through intimate partner violence.

I enjoyed this book overall and look forward to reading more from Denise Williams in the future. If you’re looking for a generally sweet romance with an ambitious heroine and a sweet hero, and don’t mind some of the darker undertones of domestic violence being depicted and unpacked, I recommend giving this a try.

Content warnings available here.

Author Bio

Denise Williams wrote her first book in the second grade. I Hate You and its sequel, I Still Hate You, featured a tough, funny heroine, a quirky hero, witty banter, and a dragon. Minus the dragons, these are still the books she likes to write. After penning those early works, she dominated second grade and eventually earned a PhD in education, going on to work in higher education. After growing up as a military brat around the world and across the country, Denise now lives in Iowa with her husband, son, and two ornery shih tzus who think they own the house.

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“The Merciless Ones” (Deathless #2) by Namina Forna (ARC Review)

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Forna, Namina. The Merciless Ones. New York: Delacorte Press, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1984848727 | $17.99 USD | 464 pages | YA Fantasy

Blurb

Fans of The Gilded Ones and Children of Blood and Bone will love the second book in an epic fantasy series about a girl who is the key to saving the empire–or its greatest threat.

It’s been six months since Deka has freed the goddesses and discovered who she really is. There are now wars waging across the kingdom. Otereans now think jatu are traitors to the nation. Deka is called a monster.

But the real battle has only just begun and Deka must lead the charge. Deka is tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses. Only as she begins to free them, she begins to see a strange symbol everywhere in places of worship and worn on armor. There’s something unnatural about that symbol; just looking at it makes Deka lose her senses. Even worse, it seems to repel her powers. She can’t command or communicate with the new deathshrieks. In fact, she can’t even understand them when they speak.

Deka knows freeing the goddesses is just the beginning. She can tell whatever dark force out is powerful and there is something sinister out there threatening the kingdom connected to that symbol–something merciless–that her army will need to stop before humanity crumbles. But Deka’s powers are only getting stronger…and her strongest weapon could be herself.

In the series

#1 The Gilded Ones

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Merciless Ones is a solid sequel to last year’s The Gilded Ones. It builds relatively well on its predecessor, developing the concepts introduced and continuing to follow Deka as she leads the fight against oppression.

Namina Forna’s writing has a way of hooking you immediately from page one, starting with a visceral image that perfectly captures the moment Deka is in. While it does have a somewhat slower start, it soon picks up again and remains relatively consistent throughout. The plot twists aren’t always the most surprising, but it maintains excitement nonetheless.

And while the main focus in the first book was racial and gender-based oppression and that does carry over into this one, I loved seeing more expansive representation in a positive light to counteract that, particularly in terms of sexuality and gender identity.

This was a good second installment, and I’m excited for what’s to come in the final book. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll like this one too.

Author Bio

Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the New York Times bestselling epic fantasy YA novelThe Gilded Ones. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, she moved to the US when she was nine and has been traveling back and forth ever since. Namina loves telling stories with fierce female leads and works as a screenwriter in LA.

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“By the Book” (Meant to Be #2) by Jasmine Guillory (Review)

May 25, 2022May 26, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Guillory, Jasmine. By the Book. Los Angeles: Hyperion Avenue, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1368053389 | $15.99 USD | 313 pages | Contemporary Romance

Blurb

A tale as old as time—for a new generation…

Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before.

Best-selling author Jasmine Guillory’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is a romantic triumph of love and acceptance and learning that sometimes to truly know a person you have to read between the lines.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own.

By the Book is the second of Disney’s line of adult romances, this one a Beauty and the Beast retelling by Jasmine Guillory. I was intrigued, if a little concerned, about how Guillory would adapt the story, as I feel there are certain aspects that have often been poorly interpreted in magic-less renditions, but Guillory’s retelling is more or less solid.

First of all, having Isabelle, known as Izzy to her close friends, work in publishing is super cool. It’s one thing for the heroine to be bookish, but I love that she uses that passion to do her part to shape the publishing market. However, prior to the beginning of the book, she’s a mere editorial assistant, and the work she puts in is not well-acknowledged, an unfortunate reality of the industry. I appreciate how the book shines a light on that in a subtle way, while also providing hope that one day those on the lower rungs of the ladder will receive the appreciation they deserve for their work.

Beau is one of the areas in which the book could have fallen flat, but doesn’t. Far too often, the “Beast” character is an unrepentant asshole, using his tragic past as justification for his crappy behavior. But while Beau doesn’t make the best first impression, he has self-awareness about his missteps, perhaps a bit too much at times, given how much he’s burdened by his past. And there truly is common ground in the losses he and Izzy have both faced, making for a strong emotional bond that grows alongside the simmering slow-burn romantic attraction.

And while, historically, the “Beauty and the Beast” story has been associated with the captor/captive or forced marriage tropes, even in some more contemporary retellings, having the setup be focused around Izzy’s relationship to her job and wanting a promotion, and being put in a forced-proximity situation with Beau due to flying across the country to his home in order to help him with his book. It adds compelling stakes, while being cognizant of the dynamics at play.

I had mixed feelings on the POV choices. I did like keeping Beau a bit of a mystery early on, dropping breadcrumbs here and there. But towards the end Isabelle gets the opportunity to read from a journal Beau wrote from the time they met, and while it’s sweet, it felt really out of place and dragged the ending out needlessly.

This is a cute, sweet read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys Beauty and the Beast retellings or enemies-to-lovers romances.

Author Bio

Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times best-selling author of novels The Wedding Date, the Reese’s Book Club selection The Proposal, and While We Were Dating. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Bon Appétit, and Time, and she is a request book contributor on the Today show. She lives in Oakland, California.

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“For the Throne” (Wilderwood #2) by Hannah Whitten (ARC Review)

May 25, 2022May 25, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Whitten, Hannah. For the Throne. New York: Orbit, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-0316592819 | $17.99 USD | 496 pages | Fantasy Romance

Blurb

Read the breathtaking sequel to FOR THE WOLF, the instant NYT and USA Today fantasy bestseller. Red’s sister Neve is trapped in a mysterious land of twisted roots, lost gods, and mountains made of bone, and the only clues to her rescue are a magic mirror and a dark prince who wants to bring the whole thing crumbling down.

The First Daughter is for the Throne

The Second Daughter is for the Wolf…

Red and the Wolf have finally contained the threat of the Old Kings but at a steep cost. Red’s beloved sister Neve, the First Daughter is lost in the Shadowlands, an inverted kingdom where the vicious gods of legend have been trapped for centuries and the Old Kings have slowly been gaining control. But Neve has an ally–though it’s one she’d rather never have to speak to again–the rogue king Solmir.

Solmir wants to bring an end to the Shadowlands and he believes helping Neve may be the key to its destruction. But to do that, they will both have to journey across a dangerous landscape in order to find a mysterious Heart Tree, and finally to claim the gods’ dark, twisted powers for themselves.

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

For the Throne is the perfect second installment of the Wilderwood duology. Where For the Wolf both sets up the conflict and world and primarily follows Red and Eammon, while foreshadowing Neve’s role, this book shifts the dynamic, with Neve in a more central role, and Red as a supporting role. It’s the perfect compromise of keeping the previous leads relevant, while also giving the star of the book her time to shine.

Neve was an…interesting…character for me in book one, and I didn’t entirely know how to feel about following her more closely. However, she ultimately makes for a compelling protagonist in her own right and she endeared herself to me over the course of this one.

I also really enjoyed her dynamic with Solmir. Given her side of things is more political than Red’s, I love that her romance builds from a place of being reluctant allies, and starting off as enemies. I also appreciated how his characterization further explored the definition of what it means to be considered monstrous, much like Eammon’s in the first book.

Whitten’s world building retains its dark fairytale flair, and I really enjoyed getting a more expansive view of it, especially as we visited new locations like the creepy Shadowlands. The lore of the Gods and Old Kings also is quite intriguing.

Despite its length, edging close to tome status, the book makes for a fast-paced read. I could barely put it down, and found myself absorbed in every twist and turn, until I found I had completed the book in more or less one sitting. And while it’s recommended you read in order, this isn’t one of those second installments that drops you into it without any context, regardless of how long it’s been since you read the first book. It’s subtle, but it helped me get up to speed as I got my bearings.

This is a wonderful conclusion to Hannah Whitten’s first duology, and I’m excited for what’s to come. If you enjoy romance-heavy or fairy-tale inspired fantasy, I recommend giving this a try.

Author Bio

Hannah Whitten has been writing to amuse herself since she could hold a pen, and she figured out sometime in high school that what amused her might also amuse others. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, making music, or attempting to bake. She lives in a farmhouse In Tennessee with her husband, children, a dog, two cats, and probably some ghosts. You can find her online at https://hannahfwhitten.com, and @hwhittenwrites on Twitter and Instagram.

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“Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality” (Pandava #5) by Roshani Chokshi (Review)

May 24, 2022May 24, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Chokshi, Roshani. Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality. Los Angeles: Rick Riordan Presents, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1368055444 | $16.99 USD | 373 pages | MG Fantasy

Blurb

The Pandavas only have until the next full moon to stop the Sleeper from gaining access to the nectar of immortality, which will grant him infinite power. But how can Aru, Mini, and Brynne hope to defeat him without their celestial weapons? The Sleeper and his army are already plundering the labyrinth, and the sisters can’t even enter. Their quest to get in will have them calling on old friends, meeting new allies, and facing fearsome trials, like…performing in a rock concert? When the moment of confrontation finally arrives, it’s up to Aru to decide who deserves immortality, the devas or the asuras. The most unexpected answer will come from a most unexpected place.

More surprises and delights, gods and demons, and laughs and tears await in this immensely satisfying conclusion to the wild ride that began with the lighting of a lamp.

In the series

#1 Aru Shah and the End of Time

#2 Aru Shah and the Song of Death

#3 Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

#4 Aru Shah and the City of Gold

Review

5 stars

Aru Shah’s adventures have gotten better and better, book-by-book, and the finale, Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality, absolutely does not disappoint. After the major setback at the end of the previous book, the stakes are high and it makes for a compelling final adventure.

The cast of characters remains delightful, even amid some dramatic shakeups that have taken place and really changed the dynamics among the group. Kara is now an enemy, and each of the other members of the core group have evolved so much. Aru is such a strong lead, and has grown into herself over the course of the series, and each of them really came of age thanks to the trials over the course of the series.

While the stakes are a lot higher, there’s still time for the occasional appropriately timed injection of humor, which is also reflective of the characters’ quirky, lovable personalities and the way they play off each other.

This was such a fun series, and I love the blend of Indian culture and mythology with modern pop culture. If you enjoy the Percy Jackson series, and haven’t tried these yet, you should check this series out.

Author Bio

Roshani Chokshi is the author of the New York Times bestselling first book in the Pandava series, Aru Shah and the End of Time, and its best-selling sequels. Her acclaimed novels for young adults include The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes, The Gilded Wolves, The Silvered Serpents, and The Bronzed Beasts. The Pandava series was inspired by the stories her grandmother told her, as well as Roshani’s all-consuming love for Sailor Moon. Rosh lives in Georgia and says “y’all,” but she doesn’t have a Southern accent, alas. For more information, visit her website https://www.roshanichokshi.com, or follow her on Instagram @RoshaniChokshi.

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