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April Reading Update
We're back, baby!
May Reading List:
The Faithless by C.L. Clark
About 1/5 of the way through this one. I've been putting it off because I suspected I was going to have trouble with it, but I have it out from the library, so I'm just going to buckle down and get through it.
The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart
Also a library book. Ideally I will take this home with me while I'm on vacation and get through it then.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
I don't think I actually preordered this, and I'm torn on whether I'll buy a physical copy or read an ebook first...we shall see.
A Collection of Monstrous Stories by Lily Mayne
A no-brainer. I love Lily Mayne's Monstrous series and look forward to devouring this one.
Rereads:
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System Vol. 2 & 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
5/5. What is there to say? I love this book.
New Reads:
Persona 5: Mementos Mission Vol. 2 & 3 by Rokuro Saito
5/5. I enjoyed this three volume series a lot, it was fun to see the group dynamic and to get expanded versions of the Mementos quests from the game. This is the only adaptation I have seen that adds anything substantial if you've already played the game. Also, hot policewoman Joker? They were insane for that and I love it.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
5/5. Extremely weird, extremely enjoyable. I love the parallel stories, and the second person omniscient narrator, and the framing device that turns out to be a pivotal plot point. Jimenez's writing is lush, dense, and yet it carries you along as swiftly as a flowing river.
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
4/5. I knocked off a star because it feels so much like a first book that it feels incomplete. Otherwise it's solid: wide cast of characters, good characterization. I like this take on a prophecy and a Chosen One narrative, where it's not played totally straight but also it's not a complete deconstruction. I don't know very much about wuxia, but I suspect wuxia fans will get even more enjoyment out of this than I did. Looking forward to the second installment.
The Newlyweds: Rearranging Marriage in Modern India by Mansi Choksi
4/5. It's a very interesting read, telling the story of three couples in India with socially contentious marriages, but I did feel that the author never quite comes to the point. Why is this important, what does the author want you to get out of it? I'm not sure. But it's thought-provoking and I think treats the stories with reasonable care. Would have been nice to see a queer couple that got a happier ending.
For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding
4/5. Sapphic romance between a homebody PR worker and an upcoming indie actress. Overall very sweet, some good sex scenes, a third act conflict that I thought made sense. And I liked that these are two adult queer women who have no qualms about their queerness and get the same love story a straight couple would have gotten. Nothing wrong with it, and I would recommend it. Gets 4/5 because I liked it and didn't love it, but that's just personal taste; if you're looking for a sapphic romcom definitely pick this up.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
4/5. It's definitely interesting to read about language and how cults and cult-like organizations use it to build their communities. Overall I felt it was informative, easy to understand, and entertaining.
Something Spectacular By Alexis Hall
5/5. An incredible romance between two nonbinary people set in Regency (regency-ish?) England. Alexis Hall does any amazing job in this series in blending escapism and comedy with actual social commentary. This book is funny and hot and optimistic and overflowing with queer people and queer love, and yet it still carries real emotional weight and forces the character to confront their flaws. And I love that though Peggy and Orfeo are both nonbinary, they're still different in their approaches to gender and neither of them are wrong.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
5/5. A fascinating novella about space exploration, found family, and what the purpose of science really is. Chambers's worldbuilding is as stunning as ever, and her hopeful take on the future is as compelling as ever. If you found Monk & Robot too soft, I'd try this out.
The Company of Fiends by Kathryn Moon
5/5. I was very curious to see what Moon would do in the second book, and I was not disappointed. Overall hits a good balance between porn (which is varied and hot and interesting) and real emotional weight. Hazel has real relationships with each monster, and all of them feel balanced and important in their own right. Can't wait for book 3!
The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn
3/5. They can't all be winners, alas. This was mediocre in execution and contains one of my least favorite tropes: a spoiled princess. The book does not go nearly far enough in redeeming her, and the romance feels pretty underdeveloped, considering it's the plot of the book. Neither character has developed relationships with anyone else, either, which makes the whole thing pretty flavorless. Would not recommend.
May Reading List:
The Faithless by C.L. Clark
About 1/5 of the way through this one. I've been putting it off because I suspected I was going to have trouble with it, but I have it out from the library, so I'm just going to buckle down and get through it.
The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart
Also a library book. Ideally I will take this home with me while I'm on vacation and get through it then.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
I don't think I actually preordered this, and I'm torn on whether I'll buy a physical copy or read an ebook first...we shall see.
A Collection of Monstrous Stories by Lily Mayne
A no-brainer. I love Lily Mayne's Monstrous series and look forward to devouring this one.
Rereads:
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System Vol. 2 & 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
5/5. What is there to say? I love this book.
New Reads:
Persona 5: Mementos Mission Vol. 2 & 3 by Rokuro Saito
5/5. I enjoyed this three volume series a lot, it was fun to see the group dynamic and to get expanded versions of the Mementos quests from the game. This is the only adaptation I have seen that adds anything substantial if you've already played the game. Also, hot policewoman Joker? They were insane for that and I love it.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
5/5. Extremely weird, extremely enjoyable. I love the parallel stories, and the second person omniscient narrator, and the framing device that turns out to be a pivotal plot point. Jimenez's writing is lush, dense, and yet it carries you along as swiftly as a flowing river.
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
4/5. I knocked off a star because it feels so much like a first book that it feels incomplete. Otherwise it's solid: wide cast of characters, good characterization. I like this take on a prophecy and a Chosen One narrative, where it's not played totally straight but also it's not a complete deconstruction. I don't know very much about wuxia, but I suspect wuxia fans will get even more enjoyment out of this than I did. Looking forward to the second installment.
The Newlyweds: Rearranging Marriage in Modern India by Mansi Choksi
4/5. It's a very interesting read, telling the story of three couples in India with socially contentious marriages, but I did feel that the author never quite comes to the point. Why is this important, what does the author want you to get out of it? I'm not sure. But it's thought-provoking and I think treats the stories with reasonable care. Would have been nice to see a queer couple that got a happier ending.
For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding
4/5. Sapphic romance between a homebody PR worker and an upcoming indie actress. Overall very sweet, some good sex scenes, a third act conflict that I thought made sense. And I liked that these are two adult queer women who have no qualms about their queerness and get the same love story a straight couple would have gotten. Nothing wrong with it, and I would recommend it. Gets 4/5 because I liked it and didn't love it, but that's just personal taste; if you're looking for a sapphic romcom definitely pick this up.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
4/5. It's definitely interesting to read about language and how cults and cult-like organizations use it to build their communities. Overall I felt it was informative, easy to understand, and entertaining.
Something Spectacular By Alexis Hall
5/5. An incredible romance between two nonbinary people set in Regency (regency-ish?) England. Alexis Hall does any amazing job in this series in blending escapism and comedy with actual social commentary. This book is funny and hot and optimistic and overflowing with queer people and queer love, and yet it still carries real emotional weight and forces the character to confront their flaws. And I love that though Peggy and Orfeo are both nonbinary, they're still different in their approaches to gender and neither of them are wrong.
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
5/5. A fascinating novella about space exploration, found family, and what the purpose of science really is. Chambers's worldbuilding is as stunning as ever, and her hopeful take on the future is as compelling as ever. If you found Monk & Robot too soft, I'd try this out.
The Company of Fiends by Kathryn Moon
5/5. I was very curious to see what Moon would do in the second book, and I was not disappointed. Overall hits a good balance between porn (which is varied and hot and interesting) and real emotional weight. Hazel has real relationships with each monster, and all of them feel balanced and important in their own right. Can't wait for book 3!
The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn
3/5. They can't all be winners, alas. This was mediocre in execution and contains one of my least favorite tropes: a spoiled princess. The book does not go nearly far enough in redeeming her, and the romance feels pretty underdeveloped, considering it's the plot of the book. Neither character has developed relationships with anyone else, either, which makes the whole thing pretty flavorless. Would not recommend.
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