Smashed it this year. That puts me in the top 15% of readers...
Time to better it next year.
#YearInBooks #FediBookClub #Reading #Books #Literature #GoodReads
The Lady of the Lake by Jean Menzies - 7/10
This book took me a little be surprise. With its YA feel, I didn't expect the writing to be so mature or the plot deal with some heavy topics such as SA.
But, it was a good surprise. I enjoyed this read and felt my skin crawling, as intended, with the mythologically correct Merlin character.
The pacing was a little off but it was a fun read and I'd recommend it to anyone into fantasy.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab - 5/10
All summer I had been waiting to read this but held off to save it for my holiday. Well, I finally had that holiday and, unfortunately, ended up really disappointed.
Maybe my expectations for this were too high and I'm being unfair, but this just didn't do anything for me.
The structure was complicated and detracted from the story and the ending felt incredibly rushed and pointless. In the rush, the character who we come to know and follow through most of the story is suddenly cast aside as soon as moral conflict arises.
A shame.
Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland - 7/10
Honestly, I hadn't heard anything about this book. I just saw it was an Ancient British fantasy and jumped right in.
An unexpected bonus was my uncanny ability to find sapphic books without realising 👀
I would definitely recommend this to anyone loosely interested in Celtic history or religion. If you're not, it's just a damn good stand alone fantasy (but you might struggle with some of the character names).
After struggling through Babel, I needed a fun read and, you know what, I am not ashamed to say I enjoyed this.
Lady's Knight - 6/10
Silly and cliche, but it really leant into that.
I don't know who I would recommend it to. But, if you're looking for an easy read that's got a WLW medieval setting, check it out.
I finally finished Babel by R.F. Kuang - 4/10
Honestly, I was really disappointed in this one after absolutely loving the Poppy War series.
This book cleverly highlighted the pain of oppression through language and a magic system which powers the British Empire.
But, for me, it took too long to get going. I was never committed to the relationships within the friend group because the characters all felt pretty thin (perhaps until the last couple of chapters).
I'm still really struggling to finish Babel by R. F. Kuang...
I loved The Poppy War series so I'm hoping this will get better.
I may also be pining too hard for an Atmosphere re-read 🤔
I'm currently reading Babel and I know people love it but I'm really struggling to get into it... I really like the premise but something isn't clicking for me.
Does it get better?
Okay Fediverse, what are you reading today? 📚
#FediBookClub#Reading#Books#Literature#Recommendation#Book#Novel#TBR
I finished Atmosphere on Saturday and, after sitting with it for a few days, I think it might be one of my favourite books ever.
I thought Taylor Jenkins Reid would struggle to surpass Seven Husbands but man, this does.
I really really hope this gets adapted (properly) for the big screen because the narrative deserves it.
Read it!
9/10*
*Marks removed for emotional devastation
I have just finished Atmosphere. I am emotionally devastated. More to come.
#bookstodon #literature #tootfic #amreading #books #bookreview
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden - 7/10
I finished this gem yesterday and honestly, I was blown away.
I didn't expect to be so pulled into another post-war story but here I am! Thankfully, this one was queer with an interesting plot following the treatment of Jewish people in post-war Netherlands.
I learnt stuff, I enjoyed the pacing and act structure, and I would recommend!
I finished Some Desperate Glory over the weekend.
I think it's worth considering this novel as a dystopia.
What happens in a sci-fi future when the alt-right separate from the rest of humanity?
7.5/10
I've been reading Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh recently.
At first, I wasn't really sure about it. But I kept going and I am so glad.
Characters which seem bland at first go through an emotional washing machine. Everything changes.
A single line I came across yesterday really stood out considering current political climates.
"A peace brought about with the threat of violence is only a war in waiting."
