Beautiful Minds By @Egwuji Genre: adult, romance, historical fiction Content warnings: depiction of sex, misogyny, gender-based discrimination Description: “Lord Robert Stark is a Marquess, science genius, business mogul and, more importantly, the Rake of London. His latest work in progress, a moon lamp, has caused catastrophic stirs in London, both good and bad. But the person most fascinated by his work is eighteen-year-old Ella Fetherington, who wants him to be her teacher. Between overriding societal rules and pressures put on ladies, Ella cannot follow her dream job as a scientist. But when one lucky ball makes her meet Robert, she takes a brave step no lady in her time would dare take. As a result of her bravery, Robert is caught in a dilemma because letting her work for him would be considered too risky, but his ego can't help but want to prove that women don't belong in the workplace. With a sizzling romance budding between them and a business rival who is out for their neck, they must overcome the odds, for they have beautiful minds which shall not be put to waste.” Egwuji’s Beautiful Minds is an endearing and intriguing romance novel that takes place in the British Victorian Era. While I only read the first thirteen chapters, I found the book to be a delight to read with its versatile cast and engaging plot. What I enjoyed: -I found the main characters Robert and Ella to be particularly interesting. The two are paralleled well with one another as characters both with ambition yet limited by their roles in society with Robert by his family’s prestige and Ella by the sexist institutions and mindsets around her. While the novel takes time for the two to meet, you definitely will get caught up in each of the character’s stories in the meantime. -The plot itself is very driven by the characters’ dreams of promoting and creating moon lamps, but also by their friction with their parents. I found the characters’ relationships with their parents and particularly Robert’s protective nature toward his sister to be especially intriguing to read. I liked how the novel gets into the complexity of Robert as both being demeaning and sexist toward Ella while also having a loving relationship with his sister. Whether intentional or not, this seeming contrast helps challenge the misconception that just because a man has female family members, he is exempted from problematic beliefs and actions. -As with all of Egwuji’s books I have read, Beautiful Minds does a good job of providing fast-paced chapters that keep you swiping the page to see what happens next. Each time the perspective changed, I found myself engrossed in the character at hand. What I thought could be better: -As I only was able to read the first thirteen chapters, I can’t judge the plot and character development too much, but I am interested in seeing how Ella and Robert’s relationship develops because where I left off, Robert is still quite condescending toward her. I am a bit wary of romance novels that use sexism and other forms of discrimination mainly as a roadblock to relationships without challenging the more structural issues, so I would be interested in seeing how this novel handles the topic as it moves forward. Overall, I found Beautiful Minds to be very entertaining. The novel is strongest when it explores the main characters and their motivations and relationships, so if you are looking for a quick, fun read that takes a trip back in time, then this book is the one for you!
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The Bridge Home By Padma Venkatraman Genre: middle grade, realistic fiction Content warnings: domestic abuse, abuse of children, death of children, poverty, houselessness, tsunami, severe illness Description: “When Viji and her sister, Rukku, whose developmental disability makes her overly trusting and vulnerable to the perils of the world, run away to live on their own, the situation could not be more grim. Life on the streets of the teeming city of Chennai is harsh for girls considered outcasts, but the sisters manage to find shelter on an abandoned bridge. There they befriend Muthi and Arul, two boys in a similar predicament, and the four children bond together and form a family of sorts. Viji starts working with the boys scavenging in trash heaps while Rukku makes bead necklaces, and they buy food with what little money they earn. They are often hungry and scared but they have each other--and Kutti, the best dog ever. When the kids are forced from their safe haven on the bridge, they take shelter in a graveyard. But it is now the rainy season and they are plagued by mosquitos, and Rukku and Muthu fall ill. As their symptoms worsen, Viji and Arul must decide whether to risk going for help--when most adults in their lives have proven themselves untrustworthy--or to continue holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.” Padma Venkatraman’s middle grade novel The Bridge Home was a powerful, emotional book to read. From the start, you know that this story will not be holding back from showcasing the painful experiences of unhoused children. I strongly encourage all readers to read the author’s note of this book as it details the author’s experience listening to the stories of unhoused children and the hope of this author “that children everywhere will someday live in a world that treasures and nurtures them” (191). What I enjoyed: -Main character Viji’s voice comes so strongly through this novel. We really feel her frustration and anger at the domestic abuse occurring in her home, her love for her sister and their newfound brothers, and her pride in the work that she and her found family are doing. I appreciated how this novel emphasizes the insulting nature of pity and the importance of humanization, especially of people who are unhoused. -Additionally, this novel does a great job of delving into the complexities of faith. We see a few different faiths within this book, Christianity and Hinduism being the main ones represented, and we see various characters’ reactions to these belief systems ranging from seeing faith as a source of hope in a brutal reality to being a useless distraction from brutal reality. Venkatraman does not force readers to choose a particular side but rather humanizes both of these viewpoints to allow readers to choose for themselves how faith should play a role in their lives and encourages readers to respect others’ decisions. -I also appreciated how this book does not completely fall into the trope of showcasing the trauma of marginalized people just for entertainment. While, of course, with the topic of this book, discussion of trauma and traumatizing events is unavoidable, I never felt reading this novel that the author was trying to trivialize the experiences of real people. Rather, it seems that through humanizing her characters and their beliefs, Venkatraman is trying her best to honor the real stories she has listened to and ensure that readers recognize the dignity of unhoused children while also being encouraged to make changes in their own communities so fewer people are forced to be unhoused. What I thought could be better: -I had no major issues in reading this book. I will say that there is a main character with developmental disabilities and I do not feel qualified to speak on the quality of the representation, so I encourage readers to read carefully. Additionally, there is a scene where the main character is visited by her abuser and while the novel emphasizes that she does not have to forgive him, the situation can definitely still come off as uncomfortable at times. Overall, I found The Bridge Home to be a powerful read that explores important subjects of houselessness, abuse, and poverty. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story that humanizes its characters and encourages readers to take action in their communities. The Kingmaker By YouCanCallMeCorn Genre: fantasy, adult Content warnings: death, violence, slavery, racism, ethnic discrimination, colorism, classism, sexism, imperialism Description: “Kuroko Tetsuya hasn't experienced true freedom in years. But when Crown Prince Akashi Seijuro offers him an opportunity to break free from slavery, he knows he must take it. That is, if he makes Aomine Daiki, the cursed prince of their rival kingdom, a king.” If you have a Wattpad account and you haven’t read YouCanCallMeCorn’s fantasy novel The Kingmaker yet, then you should definitely get started! This novel, using the names of characters from the manga Kuroko no Basuke, is a compelling story that grapples with the intricacies of power among those who have it and those who do not, the complex effects of systemic discrimination on the psyche, as well as how love becomes complicated by and endures through all of these intricacies and suffering. While at the time of this review, only twenty-eight chapters are out, I still found myself gripped by everything I read. What I enjoyed: -The strength of this novel comes from its characters. Each character from main character Kuroko to his sworn brother Ogiwara to the three princes Kuroko encounters to the pirates, servants, and other officials we meet are portrayed in such a nuanced way that allows their strengths, weaknesses, and stories to really engage with the reader. I loved how YouCanCallMeCorn uses perspective to its full strength. The author expertly uses unreliable narration as well as the simple fact people can never know what another is truly thinking to their advantage. Throughout the novel, we are constantly only getting one perspective of a conversation or situation and this only further complexifies the characters and the story overall. By grounding itself in the complexities of its cast, The Kingmaker strengthens its worldbuilding, conflicts, and themes. -Additionally, by focusing much on the relationships between the characters, the novel highlights how uneven power dynamics due to slavery, imperialism, and discrimination along class and ethnic lines affects those with much and little social power and traps everyone within an abusive system. We see this both at a smaller scale within the castle Kuroko is enslaved within as well as through the legacy of the Northern Kingdoms’ imperialism in the south. By exhibiting these dynamics through character interactions and relationships, these vicious systems become more personal to the reader’s eye and therefore, more reminiscent of the real violent systems of racial, ethnic, and class discrimination in today’s world as well as their damaging psychological and interpersonal effects. -The fact this novel wrestles with so much complexity and pain, only makes the moments where it feels the characters are having a genuine connection matter even more. The love between Kuroko and Ogiwara was simultanously so heartwarming and so heartbreaking to read. I do not want to say much in order to allow future readers to come across this story on their own terms, but I truly loved reading about these boys’ relationship as they try to be together in a world that is cruel. What I thought could be better: -I found nothing major that kept me from reading this book. I will say, if you are looking for a fantasy adventure, you may want to keep in mind that this novel’s strength is in its characters and their relationships, so this book may come off as a little slow to you. Even so, I highly encourage you try this novel out. Additionally, keep in mind that you will see depictions of racism and classism that are not overtly challenged by the characters, yet, if you read more closely, are challenged through the overall themes of the novel. It is incredibly clear that YouCanCallMeCorn spent a lot of time and effort on their worldbuilding and thematic undertones and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read this book. YouCanCallMeCorn’s The Kingmaker is a powerful read that masterfully tackles complex characters, situations, and themes and I highly recommend this novel to anyone that is looking for a fantasy novel that will really make you think. When the Sea Turned to Silver By Grace Lin Genre: fantasy, middle grade Content warnings: mentions of death, forced labor Description: “Pinmei's gentle, loving grandmother always has the most exciting tales for her granddaughter and the other villagers. However, the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller. Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Determined to have her grandmother returned, Pinmei embarks on a journey to find the Luminous Stone alongside her friend Yishan, a mysterious boy who seems to have his own secrets to hide. Together, the two must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save Pinmei's grandmother--before it's too late.” As with Grace Lin’s other books, you can feel the love and care put into When the Sea Turned to Silver’s characters, plot, and setting. In the same vein as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky, Lin expertly engages with Chinese folklore to tackle deep questions about humanity, immortality, and the power of stories. What I enjoyed: -The novel's main theme about the importance of storytelling creates a powerful conclusion to this series. I love how even though this book can be read without reading the other two, if you have read Lin’s other Chinese folklore-inspired novels, you will recognize little allusions to the characters, plots, and themes of those tales. This connectivity only further emphasizes the book’s main theme. -I also loved the little twists Lin inserts in the story as you learn more about the characters. While to an older audience–or if you have knowledge of Chinese language or mythology already–these twists may seem obvious, but they’re still satisfying to read even if you already guessed them. -The artwork is fantastic as always with these books and really enhances the story. You can really see the detail that Lin places into each frame and chapter heading. What I thought could be better: -I will be honest that this is the third time I have attempted to finish this book. I tried reading it two times before but kept losing interest about a third of the way in and while I have finally completed the novel and wholeheartedly enjoyed it, I will say this book may feel slow if you are used to faster-paced, conflict-focused novels. On the other hand, the more character-driven, non-linear style of this book is a nice change of pace from many of the other middle-grade fantasy books I’ve read. -I do believe how the book handles disfigurement should be read critically as disfigurement is often used for punishment in a way that is not really challenged or complexified in this novel. Overall, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a powerful read that asks and answers big questions about humanity, immortality, and storytelling and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves Lin’s other novels or just wants a compelling answer to the meaning of life. The Great Escape By Apple_Brooklyn Genre: young adult, supernatural Content warnings: death, discrimination (challenged by narrative), gore, violence Description: “Paranoid and frightened, Ada bears the scars of her past on her charred skin and tortured mind. Slaving away in Count Monroe's mansion, she hopes to find her brother soon. All the while struggling to keep her true identity under the wraps. However, as a string of deaths ties around the Mansion like a noose, Ada finds herself plunged into the icy water of death, betrayal, conspiracies and a secret she wished she had never unearthed. Throw a secretive Marquess, an unpredictable Lady, two equally stupid friends and an even stupider employer to whom she owes her life into the mix- Ada would face a disaster her grandmother's teaching could have never prepared her for.” Apple_Brooklyn’s The Great Escape was a thrilling read that touched upon the difficulties of identity, family legacy, and trauma. While I only read the first twenty-four chapters, I enjoyed what I read and I hope the author continues writing, whether this particular story and/or an entirely different one! What I enjoyed: -As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I am not naturally drawn to the supernatural genre, but The Great Escape’s ability to dive into the intricacies of identity within the novel’s supernatural world definitely drew me in. I appreciated how much care was given to Ada’s storyline as she grapples with the discrimination her family has faced as witches as well as being a witch forced to hide her identity in order to survive. These are struggles that many can relate to in real life. -Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was how the narrative tackled kindness and selfishness. I loved how we see the kindness and love between Ada and her friends who all share the burden of being servants at the mansion as well as the complexity of Lady Kiara’s and Lea’s attempts to live up to their values. The characters are all trapped within systems of class and discrimination and we see through their choices how they manage to survive and support one another. On the other hand, we also get a glimpse at extreme violence and selfishness. I would be interested in seeing as the story goes on how these tensions are resolved thematically. -In general, the story does a fantastic job of emphasizing the tension within the scarier parts of the tale and allowing the readers to really get inside the characters’ minds. There definitely were moments where I had to pause and take a breath because I was feeling just as frightened as one of the characters. The mystery elements of the story are certainly intriguing and kept me turning the page. What I thought could be better: -Since the story isn’t finished yet, I can’t really be too critical, but I would love the story to explore the complexity of Lady Kiara even more. She is already introduced as a complicated character who claims to want to protect witches and cares about her servants but also isn’t afraid to spy and keep secrets. I hope as the story goes on, we get to see her really engage with the difficulties of enacting her ideals and whether or not she will have the motivation to push forward or will fall into cynicism. All the characters within the novel are set up very nicely and I would love to see how they continue to evolve over the course of the story. I really enjoyed reading The Great Escape and I recommend the story to anyone looking for an exciting supernatural tale with a wide range of characters that explores the nuances of identity, legacy, and trauma. Elatsoe By Darcie Little Badger Genre: young adult, supernatural Content warnings: death, grief, descriptions of dead bodies, discussion of colonization Description: “Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream. There are some differences. This America has been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day. Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.” After reading and loving Darcie Little Badger’s short story in Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time, I knew I had to read Little Badger’s debut novel and I was not disappointed! I used to say I wasn’t into supernatural novels, but Tehlor Kay Mejia’s Paola Santiago and now Elatsoe have convinced me that I need to give more credit to the genre. Elatsoe’s worldbuilding, themes, and characters are all incredible and I am so glad that I read this novel. What I enjoyed: -The worldbuilding is amazing! I love how Little Badger brings together so many supernatural entities from fairies to vampires to wizards to ghosts. The book particularly draws on Little Badger’s own Lipan Apache heritage and you can really feel the love and respect the author has for her culture. Beyond simply including all these different belief systems, Elatsoe makes each inclusion meaningful by connecting these powers to messages not only about the history and realities of colonization, racism, and the failures of the state, but also more importantly to family, inheritance, and love as well. -What Elatsoe has to say about protecting what you love and learning from the past is all so powerful. I love how we get to look at the beauty and complexity of mother-daughter relationships, friendships, and family in general. The book also has poignant things to say about revenge and justice and while at times, the book may seem a bit cynical, the novel finds a balance between avoiding sugarcoating pain and showcasing the things we should love and protect. -Grief is a central part of this novel and is handled with such care. I appreciated how we see an adult character who displays their grief in a way that may be perceived as unhealthy by some. I believe it is so important to give space to a wide range of grief and experiences with grief and Elatsoe does just that. -Finally, I just need to say that Rovina Cai’s artwork is gorgeous. Each drawing was a joy to view. What I thought could be better: -As is becoming the norm with the books I choose to review, nothing major really stuck out to me. I started this book in October of last year and it’s May now, so I read this book off-and-on and all I can say is that each time I picked up the book, I found it hard to put it back down. Overall, Elatsoe was an incredible read that brought up powerful themes about family, inheritance, friendship, and the willingness to protect what you love. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is searching for a deep, beautifully-written story that will make you angry, sad, joyful, and at peace all in the course of a single tale. The Fifth Season By N.K. Jemisin Genre: science fiction, fantasy, adult Content warnings: death, child abuse, slavery, natural disasters, sex (consensual) Description: “Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze -- the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization's bedrock for a thousand years -- collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman's vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries. Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.” (TLDR: Read this book!) N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season is such a powerful, yet painful book to read. This novel does an incredible job of building a world that makes sense internally to the characters, but externally to the readers as well. The novel draws strong parallels to the real-world history and reality of slavery, anti-Blackness, racism, and imperialism. While on the surface, this book may appear simply cynical and nihilistic, if you read closely you will find negotiations with the complexity of hope and wanting to create change in a world and society that seems intent on breaking itself down. What I enjoyed: -Broken people are allowed to be broken in this novel. I loved how all the main characters who have faced intense discrimination and persecution for their abilities as orogenes were allowed by the narrative to be complicated and imperfect. In a lot of stories I read where discrimination takes place, characters are often written to be “perfect victims” who are easily sympathetic or are through the narrative told that they need to be “better than their abusers.” Those types of stories aren’t always necessarily wrong, especially if the authors do go into the complexity of these pressures, but it’s refreshing to read a story where the characters are not forced to be “good people.” They can murder, lie, and bully, and as readers, we can be uncomfortable with that but still understand and sympathize/empathize with why they make those decisions. -The worldbuilding was excellent. While, as with any story, it definitely took me a while to figure out the specific details such as how exactly a comm works or what precisely orogenes can do, but I loved how we see this world through the characters’ eyes. There are hints at a larger world with an empire and a history of kingdoms and wars, but to the main characters, it’s all in the past and while affecting them, not really having any seemingly direct impact on their lives. I also loved how the book highlights how what is written down as history can be purposely misleading. As I mentioned in my first paragraph, the novel draws on real-world history and reality, too, with slavery, imperialism, and anti-Blackness. This is especially important as while this story takes place in another world, it is written for this world and it is important that our stories reflect what is happening in real life. -While at first glance, this story seems to fall into cynicism and nihilism–and it definitely plays with those outlooks–but the story does bring up every now and then a desire to create change as well as questioning the possibility of being able to do that in a world so thoroughly broken. While I won’t say this is a hopeful, uplifting book by any means, that does not mean the book is hopeless. I find this careful inclusion of hope so important for a book that does allude to real-world problems because believing that things should and can change is what is going to mobilize people in the end. What I thought could be better: -Nothing major. While the middle of the book felt a little slow to me, it all paid off in the end. After spending months reading this book (I started the novel last June and finished it this March), I read the last 100 pages in a couple of hours. So stick to the end because it’s worth it! Overall, The Fifth Season is a novel that will definitely be on my mind for a while! I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a book that engages deeply with the complexity of pain, hope, and brokenness while drawing connections to our world’s hardships with slavery, anti-Blackness, racism, and imperialism. Everything Sad is Untrue By Daniel Nayeri Genre: autobiographical novel, middle grade Content warnings: death, violence, racial slurs (challenged), domestic abuse, body horror Description: “At the front of a middle school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much. But Khosrou's stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful, and terrifying, from the moment he, his mother, and sister fled Iran in the middle of the night, stretching all the way back to family tales set in the jasmine-scented city of Isfahan, the palaces of semi-ancient kings, and even the land of stories. We bounce between a school bus of kids armed with paper clip missiles and spitballs, to the heroines and heroes of Khosrou's family's past, who ate pastries that made them weep, and touched carpets woven with precious gems. Like Scheherazade in a hostile classroom, author Daniel Nayeri weaves a tale of Khosrou trying to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. And it is (a true story). It is Daniel's.” I love middle-grade novels that delve into challenging situations and questions sincerely and thoughtfully. Daniel Nayeri’s autobiographical novel Everything Sad is Untrue does that and more. In this tale, Nayeri explores his own childhood memories growing up in Oklahoma as a refugee and the complicated history of his family in Iran. By engaging with this story, readers not only gain insight into one person’s perspective on life but are also propelled to question their own assumptions and certainties. What I enjoyed: -Nayeri’s voice shines throughout this novel. Reading this book very much provides the experience of listening to someone tell you a story orally. Nayeri does not shy away from difficult topics or from going in-depth into deeply uncomfortable moments that make will make you wince. At the same time, by telling the story through the voice of his middle schooler self, Nayeri provides the target audience with someone they can relate to whether or not they have had similar experiences with being a refugee, being poor, or living in a house with domestic violence. Also, there is something unique in reading about complex and disturbing situations through the eyes of a child that forces readers to think deeply about how much the world and the institutions within it are failing children and families and how children and families find agency and hope in spite of these societal failures. -While Nayeri emphasizes that the stories within the novel are more about the journey rather than leading up to an all-encompassing moral, Everything Sad still shares plenty of philosophical points relating to discrimination, assumptions, and faith. I began reading this novel over the summer and finished it in January, more than six months later. My slow approach to reading this novel had nothing to do with a lack of excitement or interest, but rather that the messages this book shared were often so poignant and caused me to spend days thinking about them and wrestling with how I can relate them to my own life. -I love how this novel is essentially a love letter to Nayeri’s mother. While there is a lot to say and challenge about the stereotypes and roles we force mothers into, the deeply personal nature of this story and the complex ways Nayeri depicts his mother and her choices make this motive of the novel less essentializing of all mothers and more about how his mother’s own strength provided stability for himself through painful times. What I thought could be better: -Nothing incredibly major. As mentioned, Nayeri does not hold back from depicting complex and difficult situations. I do not have a problem with that and I believe tweens have so much to learn from reading a book like this. This book does a great job of encouraging its readers to be critical thinkers. For instance, there are some moments where stereotypes are used or discussed, but they are usually challenged such as Korean food being smelly, but also being mentioned to be the tastiest food, and stereotypes about Roma that are directly challenged through the narrative. While I am sure there are stereotypes that I missed that weren’t completely challenged, overall, the novel’s emphasis on challenging our own certainties and assumptions will prompt readers to be critical thinkers while engaging with this book as well. Everything Sad is Untrue is a beautiful story that encourages its readers to think deeply about complex topics and situations. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that will make you feel a tumble of emotions, but also remind you that while the world holds many horrors and much sadness, there are moments and people that will help us get through it all. The Dawn of Yangchen By F.C. Yee Genre: fantasy, young adult Content warnings: death, violence, family separation Description: “Plagued by the voices of Avatars before her for as long as she can remember, Yangchen has not yet earned the respect felt for Avatar Szeto, her predecessor. In an era where loyalty is bought rather than earned, she has little reason to trust her counsel. When Yangchen travels to Bin-Er in the Earth Kingdom on political business, a chance encounter with an informant named Kavik leads to a wary partnership. Bin-Er is a city ruled by corrupt shang merchants who have become resentful of the mercurial Earth King and his whims. To extract themselves from his influence, the shangs have one solution in mind: a mysterious weapon of mass destruction that would place power squarely in their hands. As Yangchen and Kavik seek to thwart the shangs’ plan, their unlikely friendship deepens. But for Yangchen to chart her course as a singularly powerful Avatar, she must learn to rely on her own wisdom above all else.” F.C. Yee’s third installment in the Avatar universe, this time exploring Avatar Yangchen, delves into the intricacies of trust and manipulation and the struggle of holding true to your values in a complicated world. I loved how The Dawn of Yangchen sensitively portrays the effects of tense politics on young people in a way I’m sure other young adults will be able to relate to and think with. What I enjoyed: -I loved the themes this book brought up and how much they relate to the struggles teens and young adults encounter today. The story takes place in a time of strained politics influenced by powerful individuals hungry for control and money. As a 20-year-old myself, watching main characters Yangchen and Kavik interact in this world was quite intriguing. Yangchen’s emphasis on being proactive instead of reactive as past Avatars were is definitely a struggle many young people today face as they push for radical changes to save the world from systemic injustices that were created and reproduced by those who came before. (Of course, there are plenty of older people in these movements too, but young people especially are depicted by today’s media as being active changemakers.) On the other side, we see Kavik, who still cares like Yangchen but is more motivated by personal relationships, delve into the grittier side of the world as he endeavors to bring his family together again. Seeing these two characters come together with their, at times, conflicting values was one of the strongest points of the novel. -While frustrating at first, I loved how this novel subverted my expectations of Yangchen and the spiritual side of the Avatar. Fortunately, having listened to a review before reading this novel, I knew there wasn’t going to be much new information on past Avatars in this tale, so that allowed me to focus on the story I was receiving rather than waiting for more reveals. Additionally, I loved how Yee acknowledged the lack of information about past Avatars in the story itself and made it part of Yangchen’s motivations. I loved how Yangchen’s experiences negotiating with humans around spiritual issues influences her character and her willingness to resort to lying and manipulation. The struggle between being a good Air Nomad and being a good Avatar was compelling to read. -In terms of wordbuilding and new lore, I loved learning more about Water Tribe culture and the political setup of Yangchen’s early Avatarhood. It’s interesting seeing how the political environment shapes how Yangchen acts and the methods she uses. What I thought could be better: -The action sequences could sometimes feel quite convoluted and I had to read them a couple of times to understand what was happening. I had the same issue with the Kyoshi books, too. While the majority of the book is pretty understandable, there were a few parts that took more time to comprehend. Overall, I really enjoyed this addition to the Avatar universe. The themes this novel tackles, the portrayals of Yangchen and Kavik, and the worldbuilding were a lot of fun to dive into and I look forward to its sequel. I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to see a new era in the Avatar universe that delves into struggles and motivations many individuals today may experience. The Lioness Who Roared By Conquestofthesomnium Genre: realistic fiction, mystery, thriller young adult Content Warnings: violence, death Description: “Francesca hoped for a relaxing and fun vacation in her mother's hometown -- Priene. She expected the place to be everything her mother described it to be -- a paradise. At first glance, it was. Not until the entire family got ambushed. The foulness of the place started unraveling. The town she pictured to be a paradise turned out to be infested with injustices, corruption, and tyranny.” I was lucky enough to read the first fifteen chapters of Conquestofthesomnium’s thrilling and thought-provoking novel The Lioness Who Roared on Wattpad. Even in its draft form, Lioness shows tremendous potential as a story through its engagement with difficult topics and its balance of plot and character development. What I enjoyed: -I loved how the novel was willing to delve into topics of class and change. The main character Francesca, who comes from financial privilege herself, is intent on trying to better the lives of the people who live in Priene, particularly the farmers who are abused and manipulated by the different wealthy factions within the town. I appreciated seeing the challenges Francesca has to face in earning the trust of the people she wants to support as well as gaining the assistance of other wealthy individuals in the town. -Another aspect of the novel I appreciated was its discussion of legacy. We inherit a lot from who came before us, good and bad, and this novel discusses the effects of complicated legacies on how others view us and how we view others. -The novel also does a good job moving the plot along while developing Francesca as a character. I appreciated the moments where we see Francesca talking to the people of Priene and how listening to their experiences influence her. What I thought could be better: -As I mentioned previously, this novel is a draft at the time of my review, so there is plenty of room for the story to grow. While I do love that the novel is taking the time to explore class relations, I still feel Francesca gains the trust of the village people a little too easily. The one person who consistently challenges her is treated as a nuisance to Francesca rather than someone to take seriously. I wish more complexity was given to the discussion of class because creating change in that area is no easy fix. It’s definitely emphasized in the story that what Francesca is doing will take time and is hard work, but from what I have read so far, Francesca has faced relatively few barriers and she hasn’t had to truly wrestle with her own privilege. Of course, the novel is only fifteen chapters in, but I would like to see some hinting at these complexities earlier on. Overall, Conquestofthesomnium’s The Lioness Who Roared is a thoughtful story and I can see it becoming a great novel in the future that really challenges its readers to think. |
AboutI'm Darcy Hongyue, appreciating stories that whisk me away to new horizons. I mostly review fantasy and realistic fiction. They/them [Image Description: black background with the words "Social Justice and Mental Health Resources" in white in the center /end ID]
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