DNF Reviews#ownvoices / Cult / Fantasy / magical powers / monsters / Motorcycles / Native Americans / POC author / Post apocalytpic2 Comments
Dear Rebecca Roanhorse, I purchased Storm of Locusts, the second book in your post-apocalyptic Sixth World series featuring monster hunter Maggie Hoskie, because I liked your debut novel and Storm of Locusts prequel, Trail of Lightning. I was also interested because the series is #ownvoices. As an indigenous author, you ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviews / DNF Reviews#ownvoices / 18th-century / brothel / Earl / English countryside / high-school / Korean American / London / murder mystery / POC / POC author / prostitute / Reading lists / Regency Romance / YA5 Comments
Death and the Harlot by Georgina Clarke I read 39% of this book historical mystery set in mid-eighteenth century London before quitting. The period detail seems quite good and the book is pretty page-turning but unfortunately, the heroine’s motivations don’t make sense. Lizzie Hardwicke is a sex worker in a ... more >
B Reviews / B+ Reviews / Recommended Reads#ownvoices / Fantasy / Fantasy Romance / India / India-based world / Magic / POC / POC authorNo Comments
Dear Tasha Suri, I greatly enjoyed your 2018 debut romantic fantasy novel, Empire of Sand, so I was eager for Realm of Ash, your recently-published follow up. The two books are interconnected despite being centered on different characters, so I recommend reading Empire of Sand first. Besides filling out the ... more >
B Reviews / Recommended Reads#ownvoices / 1970s / coming-of-age / crime novel / Deception / Mexico / noir / POC / POC author / Suspense / villageNo Comments
PLEASE NOTE: It’s almost impossible to discuss this novel’s strengths and weaknesses without giving away spoilers, so if you prefer not to be spoiled, read no further. Dear Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I don’t generally read crime novels, but the description of Untamed Shore as a “novel of suspense with an eerie ... more >
A Reviews / A- Reviews / B+ Reviews / Reading Lists / Recommended Reads / Top Ten Lists#metoo / #ownvoices / 1870s / 1920s / 1970s / accountant / Agent/Spies/Undercover / arranged-marriage / Asian heroine / Asperger's / audiobook / book editor / California / class differences / Contemporary / custody battle / dragons / enemies to lovers / epistolary / f/f / Fairyland / fake relationship / family / Fantasy / farming / friends-to-lovers / gods / heroine in disguise / high-school / historical romance / Hong Kong based world / illegitimate-child / LGBTQ / Literary fiction / London / look alikes / mafia / magical powers / Malaysia / martial arts / Mexico / nobleman / Northern Ireland / nurse / POC / POC author / political intrigue / quest / Reading lists / reformed hero / Regency-based world / romantic-elements / roommates / saga / single dad / streetwise heroine / Time-Travel / Vietnam / waitress / war19 Comments
I was tempted to make a list of my favorites among the 2019-published books I read this year. In the end I decided to focus on my favorite 2019 reads (first time reads; I didn’t include books I had read / reviewed in prior years) without regard to their year ... more >
B+ Reviews / C Reviews#ownvoices / ableism / beautiful food / biracial hero / brain tumor / California / Chef / Contemporary / diversity / Indian American / multicultural / POC / POC author / Pride-and-Prejudice / Retelling / surgeonNo Comments
Trigger / content warnings: Dear Sonali Dev, As is evident from its title, your recent novel, the start of a series about the Raje family, is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I know what some readers of this review must be thinking: Does the world really need ... more >