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hermusings's reviews
276 reviews
Born a Girl: It Takes Courage by Alice Dussutour
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
They truly never want to let the girly pops live đ
This should be mandatory reading â informative, concise and real.
Also beautifully illustrated.
This should be mandatory reading â informative, concise and real.
Also beautifully illustrated.
The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song
3.75
Read this during elections week and thatâs honestly my biggest regret. đ
Mulan is one of my favorites so knowing that this was a retelling was all I needed to know to pick up this book. Essentially, I went into it relatively blind.
I loved that it felt more grounded than the Disney version (shocker) â from opium addictions to class and political dynamics.
Along with Songâs incorporation of a magical realm, made this story feel elevated while still being true to what we know. It was immersive in nature and the story telling incorporating the folklore with beautiful proses was wonderful to read.
The ending to this story leaves off on a note that makes you think âsurely this is not the end of Meilinâs storyâ as the series is meant to continue it aims to leaving you wanting to find out more. However, I left feeling the opposite. The characters felt two-dimensional and hard to root for. The main driving force is the intrigue of this forbidden magical realm/creatures and how it unravels in their lives. At the end, so much of the magical aspect had been revealed that the occult lies within the characters that had little pull for me.
I think If you are familiar with Mulanâs story and do not read a lot of fantasy because of the dense world building, this may be a good choice as you already have a leg up on the main plot.
Also, physically, this book is gorgeous. The only physical edition right now (in US) is the first edition hardcover and itâs insane they made it look so good. Even down to the type of paper itâs printed on.
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one pleasantly surprised me. However, it felt like two separate books as the thriller took a significant back seat to their relationship on the second half of the book.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
Strikeout by Millie Perez
2.5
There were things about this story that just werenât for me.
However, I really like the trajectory for where this series seems to be going so Iâll be picking up book 2 once it drops.
However, I really like the trajectory for where this series seems to be going so Iâll be picking up book 2 once it drops.
The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I donât know how to feel.
Maybe this was too short and in turn, fell short of fully saying something of worth.
Maybe this was too short and in turn, fell short of fully saying something of worth.
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This was honestly kinda sad.
SMG is incredible at writing horror and thrilling mystery in comparison, this book falls short. Yet, her usual intriguing and complex story telling is still felt as she explored this genre.
It was interesting to get so many different POVs and to have the myth and plot run parallel course.
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
4.5
I think the press revolving this book and Coates lending his prestigious reputation to write it in the first place, is doing wonders to keeping Palestine in mainstream media in an accurate way. Which is the main reason I picked it up.
This book is like a stream of consciousness of Coates on a few adventures (Senegal, Palestine, etc.) in which he grapples with his involvement in facilitating oppression, how the USâs history is interlinked with oppression across the globe and most importantly, how language/words matters.
However, a year into a genocide this book is not adding any new information nor insight but services as a great reminder of how intricate the web of oppression is weaved.
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Cara Bastone wrote this sweet book about grief and loss that is honest and raw. I think anyone thatâs experienced life-altering loss (specially in their 20s) will resonate with this one.
I enjoyed that the romance takes a backseat and is almost used as a plot device. It allowed for the story to feel genuine and focused on how main character Lenny will handle all-consuming grief.
The proses were lovely and the overall message profound. I wish I could time travel and give myself this book in 2021.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
I would like to preface this by warning other readers that this book is 95% BJLâs memoir/dealings with a cult and 5% one tree hill.
Marketing aside, dinner for vampires, is a book Iâll be thinking about for a long time.
Lenz writes in tremendous detail about her thought process and believes as she navigates her twenties in a small cult. Her writing submerges you, almost like a diary entry being written with the wisdom of hindsight, as her personality shines through the story.
The things that occur to her will infuriate you and make you reflect.
I would defiantly recommend to those who enjoy learning about cults but more to those who have been in any sort of high demand group and may want a cathartic read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Quick fun ride. Felt a bit like two books put together but engaging none the less. Wouldnât call this a mystery as much as a series of events coming together in a slight thriller manner.