talesofaddi's reviews
87 reviews

Blood on the Tracks, Vol. 1 by Shuzo Oshimi

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4.0

My enjoyment was a bit dampened due to previously watching a youtube video that spoiled what happens in this volume. Still very good though!
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

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5.0

4.5 stars

I picked this book up on a whim and boy, am I glad that I did. Right now, I'm struggling to put into words how amazing "As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow" is from the plot, characters, writing everything. I don't even think words will do it justice, but I'll certainly try.

"As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow" is set during the Syrian Civil War and follows Salama Kassab who is at a crossroads: Leave war-torn Syria with her sister-in-law Layla before she gives birth, or stay back and fight for her country, by continuing her work in helping the wounded in her local hospital. Salama is a character that I quickly grew to love, and I was rooting for her page after page. She had lost so much in such little time that it nearly makes me weep each time I think about it. The journey she goes through as she grapples with her decision was parts painful and relieving to witness. Especially when it showed how this was affecting her mental health. She does some morally questionable things to ensure the survival of both her and Layla but given the circumstances its downright impossible to judge her. Speaking of Layla, I loved her (the word "love" is gonna come up a lot in this review). She was a light in Salama's otherwise dark world, and the relationship the two shared, as best friends and sisters was beautiful to see.

Kenan. Kenan, kenan, kenan I loved him so much. His love and protectiveness for his younger siblings extends to Syria as a whole and his determination to fight back and spread awareness of what's happening is awe-inspiring. The romance between him and Salama was so cute
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

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4.0

I had such a fun time reading this book!
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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3.0

Idk how I feel about this yet so I'm settling on a 3.5 rating for now. This is subject to change once I've sat on this book for a minute and gathered my thoughts
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

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2.0

2.5 stars

If you were to tell 2022 me, who after reading the amazing synopsis of this book was ready to sell a limb to have a copy in my hands, that this was my rating of it, I wouldn't have believed you.

full review to come maybe? idk, I don't like writing reviews on books that I didn't like/hated (unless it really pissed me off like final gambit did) but I also don't like rating a book this low without giving my reasons. Especially one that was among my most anticipated reads...
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

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5.0

Yeah I need book two in my hands immediately