Ah, more reasons to fear climate change, for who knows what the frozen depths will unthaw for us. Nothing good, if you ask Mr. Lebbon. The premise is Ah, more reasons to fear climate change, for who knows what the frozen depths will unthaw for us. Nothing good, if you ask Mr. Lebbon. The premise is fairly straightforward: two groups of folks end up unearthing some messy stuff in the Arctic. The ramifications will not be good. This is why greed is no bueno. Ditto climate change.
Dean and his group are trying to find some kind of... idk, let's say Expensive Earth Junk™ for lack of a better term. Who cares, doesn't matter. Bethann and her group are trying to stop people like Dean's group from ruining all the things. This is how they find themselves together in this less-than-optimal situation. And, of course, Bethann and Dean have some Backstory, so you know that will be a thing.
This story is incredibly atmospheric, and I kept thinking what an amazing show or movie it would make. There is a lot of action, and very cool imagery that would be so fun to see on screen! Obviously, the stakes are high too- imagine the implications if some sort of millenia-old junk escaped, right? So that obviously kept me turning the pages! My only minor qualm is that I never felt that connected to Bethann or Dean? Like- we did get to know a decent amount about them, which was great! I just didn't get a huge feel for who they were deep down. But alas, that is often par for the course when people are trying to survive and save everyone!
Bottom Line:
A very intense and atmospheric cautionary tale about what could be lurking under the ice!
Well, this was a sweet book! It reads a bit on the younger end of YA, and features protagonist Hazeem, who has lost his father but seemingly gained thWell, this was a sweet book! It reads a bit on the younger end of YA, and features protagonist Hazeem, who has lost his father but seemingly gained the ability to save lives. Unbeknownst to Hazeem, he has not been able to just throw out time willy-nilly, but has been in effect borrowing from his own life. When he accidentally gives away too much time, he basically breaks time as we know it, and has to figure out how to get the world back to working order, with the help of Time Personified, as well as his should-be-long-dead hamster, Mary Shelley.
Now, this obviously is going to require some suspension of disbelief, but the story is just so heartfelt that it is easier to do so. Hazeem is struggling, and he's struggling bad after the loss of his dad. And his mom has been super distant, because she is going through her own grief, but that isn't exactly helping Hazeem. While he's quite literally saved their lives, he's become quite estranged from his friends, and the only companionship he currently has are the hamster and his grandmother.
I adored the spin on A Christmas Carol, even though Time has made it very clear that it is not their job nor desire to help Hazeem figure out his life. (Time, by the way, is quite entertaining and sarcastic, and I loved it.) But Time does want to get back to the business of... timing, I guess, so they agree to let Hazeem figure some stuff out by visiting the moments that he saved his friends, and what happened in the aftermath, so figure out who to take time back from.
Through it all, Hazeem has to come to terms with what happened with his dad, as well as the reasons his friendships fell apart. In some cases, he needs to work on things himself, but in some cases, he simply has to come to terms with life being messy. It's a lot for a young person going through such grief to handle, but the author does such a good job of allowing Hazeem that time to heal- even if Time Personified isn't thrilled with it! It's a very moving story, and I loved the portrayal of the father-son relationship. Frankly, we need more of this, especially in YA, and extra especially showing healthy, loving, and emotive father-son relationships. Ditto the friendships, really.
Bottom Line: No Time Like Now is a very charming and heartfelt story about a young person dealing with grief and relationships in a fun and unique way.
Story time! When I started this book, I was really not feeling it. At all. So I went to look at some reviews, as one does, to see if it is worth it. Story time! When I started this book, I was really not feeling it. At all. So I went to look at some reviews, as one does, to see if it is worth it. This review convinced me that it was, and I am happy to report that I am so very glad I listened! It starts off slowww, but that is really my only complaint about this book. Once I got into it, I was hooked, could not put the thing down, and at that point it definitely did not feel long.
There are six main characters who end up sort of thrown together for a project which takes them out of their comfort zones (let's just say these six were not exactly running in the same groups until this project). But it takes an unexpected turn when they see some at a mine party. And I do mean Some Stuff™. The book alternates between the past, during the summer that changed their lives, and the present, when they reunite- minus one- to figure out what happened to their fallen friend.
I don't want to give much away, but the mines are so atmospheric and creepy (also, I very much hope that they were kind of based off Centralia, which I have always wanted to incorporate into a book of my own). To add to the sketchiness of the town, there is a mega-church which is culty at best, frankly. It gives those vibes- you know the vibes. Some of our characters' families are deep in the culty church scene, but the whole town is affected by it one way or another. And then you have murdery shenanigans happening, and a lot of questions.
The mystery was so good, I could not stop reading. I also loved the characters, and being able to see them both as teens and then adults was pretty fun- you see how all they have been through has changed them, and it makes things even tenser when they have to go back to their hometown and revisit the junk that made them get out of there to begin with. So to summarize, we have great character development, an incredibly compelling mystery, high stakes and murder, some humor to make it palatable, relationships to navigate, some commentary on the creepy mega churches, and it all adds up to a simply unputdownable book.
Bottom Line:
It may start out slow, but it gets so good that I promise you won't care.
Another solid sequel here! We pick up where we left off, with a lot of fighting and messy political turmoil. And some magic, which let's be real, is tAnother solid sequel here! We pick up where we left off, with a lot of fighting and messy political turmoil. And some magic, which let's be real, is the last thing politicians need. (I will say, one of my favorite parts of this book was the political and war commentary, which felt incredibly relevant in today's global climate.) I enjoyed the characters, though perhaps a bit less than the first book- Damian has undergone some unfortunate changes, and while it makes perfect narrative sense, it made me sad for his character, and for Roz having to watch it happen.
I loved that the world-building was taken to the next level in this installment, and a lot of my questions from the first book were answered. As always, I loved the ensemble cast that accompanied our main characters, and there was certainly a ton of action and adventure to keep the reader on their toes. The ending was both satisfying and narratively appropriate, and I can't really ask for much else!
Well, this was a bizarre book! I won't lie, it took me some time to get into. Like, to the point where I thought about stopping because I was so 3.5*
Well, this was a bizarre book! I won't lie, it took me some time to get into. Like, to the point where I thought about stopping because I was so lost? But at some point it just... started growing on me? I don't fully understand how or why, but I ended up feeling invested in the character and story, so there you have it.
It's the future, long after some apocalypse or another wreaked havoc on the world. And it seems to be clinging onto Manhattan specifically, in the form of some kind of fog they call "the funk". Now, most of the characters use slang that has evolved over the years, a lot of which I had trouble understanding. So while I think I understand stuff, who knows if I actually do. Anyway, the city is divided into several factions, and they seem totally down with killing each other if it is so needed. Also, they eat dogs, so maybe a TW for that? But yeah, most of the plot involves the factions trying to overthrow each other and also some attempts to destroy the island.
There is a lot of personality in this book, that is for sure. The footnotes in particular I enjoyed, and there were definitely a lot of (dark) humorous moments, which I appreciated. Also, it seems that the world in general may not be quite as messy as Manhattan, which I kind of wish had been discussed a bit more because I was very intrigued. I also found the vast differences between the factions interesting, and like I said, many of the characters grew on me, even if it was kind of against my will. And be aware, there are a lot of characters (thanks again to the footnotes, they do help!)
Bottom Line:
This was a strange book, yet one that ended up sucking me in even if I was overwhelmed for a bit.
So disclaimer: this book took me a minute to get into. Okay maybe even more than that. That said, once it got going, I found myself very invested in tSo disclaimer: this book took me a minute to get into. Okay maybe even more than that. That said, once it got going, I found myself very invested in the story. So if you're cool with waiting for the payoff, I definitely think this one is worth it. The beginning was... confusing, and a little bland, and definitely verbose. And I was not sure I wanted to keep going. But at some point, probably around the 30% mark, I found myself reading and not even checking to see if I made progress, so that was a great sign!
And in fact, I had become very invested in this story, and especially in Catherine. It seemed all too real that Gus would murder Catherine, and still blame her for "making him" do it. Like is that not the grossest white guy crap you've ever heard? And you know it happens. All. The. Time. Not necessarily to the extent of murder (though it does happen, make no mistake) but with abuse in general. Anyway, somewhere along the way, I became as invested in Gus getting his comeuppance as Catherine was.
There ended up being a lot of very cool twists and turns, and things connected to one another that I hadn't even thought about, which made the book become very readable. And I found myself quite curious about how Catherine was still hanging around, how the world worked, and what had truly happened in the past, all of which unfurls throughout the story. I am so glad I stuck with this one!
Bottom Line:
The start was a little rocky, and it could have been shorter, but man did I get hooked by the story and its characters as it went on!
CW via author's note: "Content warnings: death of a parent/ grief, animal death (on page—cow and lizard; off page, referenced but not described—ca
4.5*
CW via author's note: "Content warnings: death of a parent/ grief, animal death (on page—cow and lizard; off page, referenced but not described—cat; off page, referenced and somewhat described—unspecified animals), mentions of self-harm/ suicide, drinking and drug use, infidelity, discussions of toxic intimate relationships, detailed body horror/ gore, violence, death (includes child death)"
Gosh, I have yet to meet a Liselle Sambury book I didn't devour. This one was no exception! In Tender Beasts, we meet Sunny, who has recently lost her mom and finds herself trying to navigate family dynamics in a family that... well look, it doesn't quite operate like most of ours, I suspect. The Behre's are quite wealthy, the owners of a private school for students who need the opportunity of a better education. Sounds really noble, right? And it is... until a student is murdered.
Sunny, who is extremely pragmatic when we meet her, almost to the point of coldness, is determined to find out what happened. She is insistent that her mother wanted her and her alone to take over the role of matriarch, but her oldest sister and father are hearing none of it. Add to it, her younger brother, Dom, has been a family outcast since they were children, for reasons Sunny can't discern. And the more time she spends with Dom trying to figure out what is happening, the more she realizes that her family was pretty messed up to cast out a child to begin with.
This is when the secrets start unfurling left, right, and center, and Sunny finds herself in the midst of all kinds of messed up stuff. Hidden family secrets from long ago and recently threaten to hurl the family into chaos, and the siblings don't know who among themselves they can even trust. There is so much to unpack, so many relationships to navigate, and it really was quite the ride!
Bottom Line:
Delightfully messed up and full of family drama, this is another win from Liselle Sambury!
After loving the author's debut, I was so excited to see what she had in store for us next. Good news, this sophomore offering certainly did not 4.5*
After loving the author's debut, I was so excited to see what she had in store for us next. Good news, this sophomore offering certainly did not disappoint! The Someday Daughter didn't quite hook me from the start the same way Ro did, but it definitely delivered on the complex relationships and characters, as well as an overall feel-good story that I was very satisfied with by the time I was done.
"I went searching for my mother in the one place I can always find her: the airport bookstore."
I loved that quote because it totally summed up Audrey's feelings about her mom when we meet her. Audrey's mother has been pretty much a non-presence in her life, dropping her at boarding school to tour the world as a famous author and self-help guru. Problem is, she now wants Audrey to spend the summer with her, as a spokesperson of sorts for her book, the titular Someday Daughter. But as you can imagine, Audrey feels kind of cheated- her mom is profiting from the concept of Audrey, without actually putting in the work to be a mother.
Audrey, when we meet her, is quite cold, and not all that likable. She has kind of become a perfectionist, and has this idea of what her life has to be. No wiggle room, no room for change. But as the summer forces some changes upon her, Audrey starts to see that maybe she doesn't have to have her life completely mapped out in order to be happy. I love the character growth during this book, and the focus on all kinds of relationships- obviously the parental relationships, but also friendships and romance, even some mentor stuff too. There is also some great commentary on mental health, too.
Bottom Line:
Another hit from Ellen O'Clover, cannot wait for whatever's next!
Conditions of a Heart is such a lovely book with a lot of great disability representation, and how hard it can be to navigate all that comes with beinConditions of a Heart is such a lovely book with a lot of great disability representation, and how hard it can be to navigate all that comes with being a young person while also having a disability. Brynn is trying to pretend her condition doesn't exist when we first meet her. She is trying to put forth the perfect persona, and wants no one to know that she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or how significant a part of her life it is. It makes sense, too, because we find out very early in the book that the last person that Brynn opened up to treated her horribly, and as such, she doesn't want to open herself up to that kind of hurt again.
Obviously, there is a lot at play in this story. Not only is Brynn's health a major focus, but there is quite a bit of injustice at her school that she has to deal with. She is also trying to navigate friendships, and future plans, and all the normal junk that comes with growing up. She ended things with her boyfriend rather than explain to him why she needed surgery, and when she ends up suspended from school and having difficulties with her illness, she decides to just bail on school altogether.
Her dad, who also has EDS, has such a strong bond with Brynn, and even though it is clear that her mom and sister love her, they simply can't relate. Brynn has also kept all her friends at arm's length, so it is great to see how those relationships all transform and evolve over the course of the story, just like Brynn does. Also, a lot of fabulous commentary on how messed up the health"care" system is, and the kind of treatment that folks with chronic illness have to face- even from the doctors who are supposed to care for them, and extra especially for female patients.
Bottom Line:
A lovely and heartfelt book with great rep for chronic illness, as well as wonderfully developed characters, messages, and relationships.
My one problem with For the Stolen Fates was that I did not really remember a ton about its predecessor. And since we kind of jumped right into t3.5*
My one problem with For the Stolen Fates was that I did not really remember a ton about its predecessor. And since we kind of jumped right into the action, I did feel a wee bit lost. For a good portion of the story, actually. But that is on me, isn't it? Though like I said in that review, I still don't fully get the world, because this is a companion to another series. And while you don't have to read that one to enjoy this one (I didn't read it!), I have a feeling it would all make more sense if I had. I digress, as I didn't know it was a companion series at the time.
Anyway, we're thrown right back into the action, with a bunch of characters, and again, I did not remember too many of them aside from Willa and Saudade. I did enjoy that we were back in the past, can you imagine how trippy that must be!? Honestly this book just made me want to jump around in time, I'll certainly give it that! I also liked that the characters had to like, use the time travel as a strategic device, makes it fun. We're not spending time with the characters that Willa grew close to in the first book, which is a bit sad because she had this found family situation, but she finds a whole new crew of characters to hang out with so there's that! And they are trying to save all of humanity and earth, so obviously the stakes are high and there is quite a bit of action and excitement.
Bottom Line:
Different time and some different characters, but still a very adventurous take on time travel!
Well, this is how you do a sequel! I enjoyed the first book, and was pleased to see a sequel in the works, but this one exceeded my expectations. In tWell, this is how you do a sequel! I enjoyed the first book, and was pleased to see a sequel in the works, but this one exceeded my expectations. In this installment, instead of following Evan, we follow his now-teen daughter Nangohns. I must say that I enjoyed Nangohns's character quite a bit more. She barely has any memory of the "before", which is, our current society which collapsed when she was a child. As such, she sees the world so differently, and it was such an interesting contrast, especially to her parents' perspective, as so much had changed for them.
The beginning of the book is slow and quiet, much like its predecessor, but once there is movement, it becomes quite exciting. It is still a quieter book, don't misunderstand, but the addition of this bigger quest makes it far more entertaining. There is a lot of lovely character and relationship development as well, which makes for a very satisfying story. There is a lot of great cultural content about the Anishinaabe people, as we learn so much more of their customs and lifestyle. There is also quite a bit of commentary on humanity in general, and the sorts of people who would survive a catastrophic event.
Bottom Line:
A fabulous sequel that was definitely worth the journey!
Gosh, where do I even begin? I loved this book, and was hooked from the start. It was incredibly emotional, and I found the concept so intriguing4.5*
Gosh, where do I even begin? I loved this book, and was hooked from the start. It was incredibly emotional, and I found the concept so intriguing, and the execution equally fabulous. In Twice Lived, some babies are born with the ability to "shift" between parallel worlds. There's seemingly no rhyme or reason to who becomes a shifter, or the whys and hows, just... that it happens. And parents have to live with it. As for the shifters themselves, most settle in one world in early-to-middle childhood, and that's that. Obviously, it leaves a huge hole in the parents' lives, but there is simply nothing to be done.
Canna and Lily share the same body, but they absolutely do not think of themselves as the same person. Canna lives in her world, with her mother Georgia, and Lily lives with her parents and sister in hers. Canna has some great friends while Lily is more of a homebody, and they are simply just two very different people. Problem is, the oldest known shifter was 19 when they settled, and Canna and Lily are getting perilously close, devastating both of their families as well as each girl.
We take the journey with both Canna and Lily as well as their respective mothers as they navigate this trying ordeal. Not only that, but the reader is also following them on a journey to better understand shifting in general, which is tremendously fascinating. The whole book is incredibly thought-provoking, and so very thoughtful in terms of the relationships both girls are desperate to keep, goals they want to achieve, and simply their desire to hang onto their very selves. My only minor gripe is that I would have liked the ending to be a bit more fleshed out- it was kind of quick and I was hoping for a bit more, but overall, this was wonderful.
Bottom Line:
So emotionally fulfilling, with an amazing and unique premise that sucked me in from the start and never let go.
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