themoonlightarchive's reviews
493 reviews

          In Uprooted by Naomi Novik, a dark fairy tale with Polish roots, the most powerful wizard in the nation chooses one girl to serve him every ten years. In return, the Dragon protects the villages from the rotting corruption of the Wood that spreads its roots further and further every year. Agnieszka has always known that her best friend, Kasia, would be chosen, just as everyone else in their village has always known it. But when the Dragon comes, it isn’t Kasia that he takes away to his tower.

• The magic system in this book has to be one of my favourites that I’ve read.

• The main character, Agnieszka, was full of determination, never hesitated to help those in need, and held an emotional connection to her magic that I truly loved. She was stubborn as hell and I adored that about her. Every scene where she used magic held me captivated in a way I haven’t experienced in quite a while.

• The side characters were well-rounded and fleshed out. The love interest was mysterious, brooding, sulky and powerful. Exactly what I’m most weak for. I also adored Kasia, the main character’s best friend. She was just as determined as Agnieszka, as well as strong and caring and funny and beautiful.

• The writing, while a bit wordy at times, was full of beautiful imagery that drew you into the world the author created and put down roots. The vibe of the entire novel was immaculate, to be honest. It was dark and tense and perfect.

• I wish the book had been a bit longer because the pacing of the third act of the book felt rushed. There was definitely a lot of information crammed in there towards the end and it made it a little difficult to keep up at times.

• There were many characters that I wanted more closure with, including Agnieszka, Kasia and the Dragon. I don’t normally enjoy side stories but for this book, I would have gobbled those stories right up if they existed. I want to know how the prince turns out with Kasia’s influence. I want to know how Kasia’s life turns out. I want to see Agnieszka and the Dragon a few years down the road.

• My biggest complaint was the lack of maps. I didn’t understand the location of most places and didn’t understand the layout of the Tower. It would have helped with visualizing quite a bit.

          Despite my complaints about this book, I truly adored and thoroughly enjoyed it. With a lush magic system, well-written characters and breathtaking imagery, Uprooted is most definitely getting added to my favourites list.

 

          Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho is a cutesy YA novel following Elena Soo, an anxious teenager who feels like she’ll never be out of her sibling’s shadows and her childhood best friend who is a K-Pop idol now. With overzealous fans, band mates with secrets, and stylish pink hair, Robbie Choi definitely isn’t the kid that Elena remembers. What will happen when Robbie shows up at her door to keep a promise he made to Elena years ago?

• Elena was incredibly relatable. I grew up with a mother who favored my younger brother (most of the time if not all) so I understand the struggle she has with feeling like she’s stuck in the shadow of her sisters and her twin brother. 

• I loved Robbie and Elena’s friendship! I loved that they picked up where they left off but also still had to learn one another and how they would fit into each other’s lives. I loved their chemistry and their inside jokes.

• This was a quick and easy read that made my heart feel all soft.

• All of the references to Korean culture and language, especially as a K-Pop fan!

• There were a few storylines that didn’t feel like they had been finished or wrapped up enough, like everything with Elena’s mom still felt like a frayed edge. Their relationship definitely needed more work.

• I wish there hadn’t been any miscommunication between the two main characters but they’re teenagers so maybe I’m not entirely mad about it.

          Overall, Once Upon a K-Prom was a cute story with cute characters! I definitely would recommend it to anyone who enjoys K-Pop or K-Dramas, friends-to-lovers or overly sweet, cheesy romance novels! 

 I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

 With words that flow like waves on a shore, More Salt Than Diamond by Aline Mello is an intimate look into the life of an undocumented Brazilian immigrant. With themes of heartbreak, yearning, loss, personal discovery and love, this collection illuminates the author’s experience in an anti-immigrant political climate.

Mello doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that the “American Dream” is a lie. In fact, she uses her powerful writing to shed light on just how much immigrants give up for safety - language, culture, family, a sense of belonging. With a poem about the ideology of the “grateful immigrant”, Mello makes it known how much Americans expect immigrants to give up in return for safe harbor.

Mello reaches into her roots, laying them bare for the readers with each poem. She pulls you into not only her story but that of her parents and their parents and their parents, on and on. The vulnerability she shows with each word and line and verse captures emotions that readers have never been able to capture themselves.

Overall, More Salt Than Diamond is a beautiful, heartbreaking debut collection that I believe is a must-read.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

 Although this is not Chloe N. Clark’s first poetry collection, Escaping the Body is the first of her work that I have consumed. With diverse themes such as trauma, loss and the body, this collection left me with a nostalgic feeling, verging on melancholy.

The imagery was vivid and vulnerable, each poem beautifully written and relatable. There were some parts that felt repetitive, especially toward the middle, but with a style more narrative than descriptive, this collection was able to hold my attention to the very last word. The references to science fiction and horror as well as the homages to Houdini helped with that.
 

Overall, I truly enjoyed this poetry collection and can’t wait to pick up more of Chloe N. Clark’s work.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

 A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft follows Margaret Welty who has been living in the rotting, isolated home of her family on the outskirts of town, longing for her mother to return. One evening, she spots the legendary Hala, the last living mythical creature, regarding her from the woods with it’s eerie eyes and white fur. The Halfmoon Hunt is sure to follow and whoever wins by killing the Hala will receive it’s power, the knowledge that comes from it and riches beyond belief. Margaret thinks winning the hunt is exactly what she needs to bring her mother home for good. The problem is that only teams of two can enter - one hunter and one alchemist.

 When Weston Winters appears on her doorstep, desperate for an apprenticeship from her mother, Margaret soon realizes that Wes is exactly what she needs. They are an unlikely duo. Margaret is a lonely outcast and excellent sharpshooter, enduring all that life has dealt her until it hardens her through and through. Wes, while the biggest flirt Margaret has ever encountered, is uneducated and has his mother and sister’s to take care of. What will happen when these two pair up to take on a centuries old fox?

• The magic system was truly intriguing. I loved the all around vibes of it. I loved the incorporation of alchemy and science, the existence of mythical creatures, the use of religion paired with some of the different aspects of magic. It was brilliant!

• The dual POVs with distinctive voices for each main character. This is something that I really struggle with as a writer and seeing it play out so well is inspiring.

• I’m a sucker for well done world building, especially when it isn’t a massive info dump all at once. Saft did an excellent job of peppering information throughout the story in a way that wasn’t overwhelming. I truly adored the historical aspects of everything even though that isn’t something I typically enjoy.

• The characters were well-rounded and written beautifully. Even the side characters were intriguing and played their roles. Of course, my favourite characters were Margaret and Wes. Their depths, their growth, their journey together - all of it was wonderful!

• The themes of religious persecution and reverence, loneliness, finding a sense of belonging, found family, and the many facets of love.

• The hunt was clearly something that played a big part in society, in each culture and in the story in general. The hala too as both are directly connected. It seemed like these parts were glossed over or rushed. The hunt was crammed into the last part of the book with preparation for it taking up more time. I believe Saft could have done a better job with it.

• I loved the relationship between Margaret and Wes and truly enjoyed witnessing it unfold (hello, slow burn!). However, I wish there had been more scenes with them getting to know one another and spending time together. It would have made everything all the more believable.

 Overall, A Far Wilder Magic is a must read! It was beautifully written, captivating and heart-pounding. If you enjoy slow burn relationships, found family, magical fox hunts and alchemy, this book is definitely for you.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.