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laurelthebooks's reviews
656 reviews
The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
"I am not sure you need approval. Least of all mine. It has been about your own."
The Legend of Meneka weaves itself into Hindu mythology and holds on tight. The romance here is a deep push and pull as our main character, Meneka, tries to find herself while also asking questions on what is means to seduce and be seduces and where the line between desire and lust runs together. While billing this as a romantasy book isn't technically correct, it almost feels like a disservice. Yes, there is some spice. Yes, it is a fantasy. Yes, technically this whole legend is entwined with a relationship between a man and a woman. To me, the story feels more like an ask of what devotion can mean so the romantasy label feels a bit ill-fitted.
"Pain is not always a consequence of doing the wrong thing."
World-building and visuals were near lyrical hear, and the glossary will be of use to you if you aren't familiar with Indian clothing of any sort or Hinduism. I highly recommend looking up visuals as it only enhances the reading experience. I think this book will have some readers digging deeper into Hindu mythology (looking forward to it in fact).
A small detail I found lovely, that sometimes doesn't fit but worked so well in this book, was the scents attached to many of the characters! It feels unrealistic sometimes, but here it simply added to both the atmosphere and world-building beautifully.
"We are immortal souls, all of us caught in the conspiracies of life."
A core part of Meneka's thought process for a majority of the book is doubt and confusion. This hesitation and reluctance holds her back so much, and while it might feel repetitive for sections of the book I found it all the more relieving at the end when she finally takes things into her own hands and acts.
The Legend of Meneka weaves itself into Hindu mythology and holds on tight. The romance here is a deep push and pull as our main character, Meneka, tries to find herself while also asking questions on what is means to seduce and be seduces and where the line between desire and lust runs together. While billing this as a romantasy book isn't technically correct, it almost feels like a disservice. Yes, there is some spice. Yes, it is a fantasy. Yes, technically this whole legend is entwined with a relationship between a man and a woman. To me, the story feels more like an ask of what devotion can mean so the romantasy label feels a bit ill-fitted.
"Pain is not always a consequence of doing the wrong thing."
World-building and visuals were near lyrical hear, and the glossary will be of use to you if you aren't familiar with Indian clothing of any sort or Hinduism. I highly recommend looking up visuals as it only enhances the reading experience. I think this book will have some readers digging deeper into Hindu mythology (looking forward to it in fact).
A small detail I found lovely, that sometimes doesn't fit but worked so well in this book, was the scents attached to many of the characters! It feels unrealistic sometimes, but here it simply added to both the atmosphere and world-building beautifully.
"We are immortal souls, all of us caught in the conspiracies of life."
A core part of Meneka's thought process for a majority of the book is doubt and confusion. This hesitation and reluctance holds her back so much, and while it might feel repetitive for sections of the book I found it all the more relieving at the end when she finally takes things into her own hands and acts.
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
VenCo by Cherie Dimaline
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions by Nalo Hopkinson
medium-paced
4.0
Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions has convinced me that every short story collection should have small author notes and context to introduce them to the reader. It makes for a truly wonderful reading experience. The title story ‘Jamaica Ginger’ was also a collaboration with the Nisi Shawl, so you get a sprinkling of another lovely author in this collection too.
We get stories ranging from environmental collapse to aliens and mystical monsters. The bonus of an anthology is that the variety of a stories mean that there is likely at least one in here for almost any reader. Regardless of what happens in each story, Hopkinson’s own offbeat and to the left approach to considering “but what if” shines through in the entire collection. Some stories gave me chills, others left me with in deep contemplation, and the introduction to each was delightful. (I now know some facts about Jamaica Ginger.)
We get stories ranging from environmental collapse to aliens and mystical monsters. The bonus of an anthology is that the variety of a stories mean that there is likely at least one in here for almost any reader. Regardless of what happens in each story, Hopkinson’s own offbeat and to the left approach to considering “but what if” shines through in the entire collection. Some stories gave me chills, others left me with in deep contemplation, and the introduction to each was delightful. (I now know some facts about Jamaica Ginger.)