April Reviews

We're in (almost) full springtime mode now; I read some of these books outside. Others I read inside because it was snowing, but, you know. Little victories.

Let's jump right in!

In The Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke

This was kind of a weird book, but I did ultimately have a good time with it.

Clara Eden has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime; a translating gig for a very wealthy woman specializing in an ancient civilization. The manor house if gorgeous and the translating work reveals incredible academic information, even if Clara's not allowed to tell anyone, though she can discuss it with the pretty assistant, Fiadh. But the deeper Clara gets, the more things aren't lining up, revealing deeply hidden and terrifying secrets that could very well be Clara's undoing. 

I'll be totally honest, the supernatural world building in this story was way more interesting than Clara's academic pursuits. And I understand that Clara serves as a human audience stand in being introduced to this horrifying world,  but at times I felt like she was also standing in our way? If that makes sense? I don't know, I wanted to know more about the immortal lesbians and less about Clara's cat. The mushroom guy was also very strange and felt a little out of nowhere but neat enough a concept that I didn't really care.

I liked the epistolary aspect of including Gata and Natek's letters with the main story so that things were revealed slowly as the book went on. The mystery of it all was very intriguing, and I really wish we'd gotten a bit more of that with answers, but we were given enough to be satisfying.

Overall, this was a decent read, but I don’t think I'll read the following book.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

This book was BRUTAL and brilliantly written and horrifying and so, so compelling. I could hardly put it down.

Silas knows he's a boy, even if the rest of the world only sees him as a sick, purple eyed girl, prized for his ability to control the veil between the living and the dead. When Silas is sent to a school for "girls like him" he finds himself thrown into a horrifying conspiracy, witnessing the worst of what men will do to keep or claim power. But with the help of a few people like him, Silas might just make it out alive.

Holy shit. This book doesn't hold any punches and it warns you up front about it, which I really, really appreciated. There's time period sexism and belief in female hysteria, on top of a further power hungry secret society of men wanting to control ghosts. There is also assault of several kinds and a lot of gory details, mostly used in clinical terms because Silas is trying to become a doctor, but I will say I got a little woozy in places. A lot of it was horrific, and I applaud White for how well he handled all of it. I trusted him to carry us through the story, and he did with grace and poeticism.

But this book isn't just about the terrible things people do to one another-- it's also about kinship, of finding people that are mirrors to you, proof that you are not alone, you are not broken like society tries to tell you that you are. Silas is openly autistic, and honestly that was so cool to read. Silas' perspective was very him, interesting and sometimes clinical and lonely but often reaching for a justice that is owed to him and all the girls at the school. And the world building around spirits and ghosts felt new and creepy and wonderfully done.

The characters were all layered and complicated and angry, and I loved the visceral way that anger was levied. Daphne and Silas are so complementary, and all the girls had their own flaws and moments that built up a dangerous web. 

I thought this was a brilliantly written book, and I loved the use of a rabbit in Silas' chest to represent to many things. I know this book isn't for everyone, but if you can handle the blood and viscera and terrible, terrible men, this book is absolutely worth the read.

King of Immortal Tithe by Ben Alderson

Okay, I caved and got the second book in Alderson's series (not pictured, because it was a secret ebook read, but remember when I read Lord of Eternal Night? This is the second book).

Arlo promised his dying parents that he would look after his sister, but when he contracted the same deadly disease that killed them, he had to take drastic measures. Living on borrowed and stolen time, he is more familiar with death than anyone, except elven prince Faenir, who is cursed to kill everyone and everything he touches; except Arlo. When a claiming ceremony goes wrong, Faenir steals Arlo away to his realm, where the two of them face danger from all sides, including the dangerous potential to fall in love.

This was a pretty creative reconfiguring of Hades and Persephone, with a touch more secret keeping, vampires, and gay sex. Arlo is an angry, desperate character trying to control his life, but I feel like the real star of the show is the messed up but so intriguing love interest, Faenir. He's so clearly touch starved and protective that even when he was being a tad possessive I was like...he just wants to be loved, someone love this poor man. 

I do wish we could have gotten more lingering moments in a sort of...Regency touch overwhelming whatever you want to call it, where we get to see more of Faenir's wary and hopeful desire to touch someone without killing them. He clearly is enamored with Arlo and they (spoilers) fall in love and it's very sweet, but I wanted more desperate pining. Don't get me wrong, we did get some and it was nice, along with familial and political drama and big Arlo secret drama. You can always depend on Sanderson for some juicy secret keeping.

He did some neat and new things with the myth of Hades and Persephone-- including some inappropriate pomegranate action ;) --and I liked the new spin on a very old story. I am continuously thrown by Sanderson's endings, which are definitely considered happy endings but never in the way I think they'll go. I will probably cave again and get the third book because I do have a weak spot for werewolves do NOT tell anyone.

Alpha of Mortal Flesh by Ben Alderson

Another secret books because for some reason I only read these books digitally (shh it's so my mom doesn't know I read smut and these titles are slight give aways).

Rhory lives with a monster; his husband, Eamon, hurts and controls him, but at least he offers protection from the people who would steal Rhory for his magic. He fears he's trapped forever, until he finds Calix, who asks for his help taking some of his grandmother's pain away. That single visit entwines Rhory in an unexpected plot, where he's t the heart of it all. But something about Calix seems familiar, and Rhory can't seem to get him out of his head.

So I know I already said I'm  sucker for a werewolf story, but there really is just something about a very strong and powerful person using their strength and love to protect those they care about, who society has maybe deemed as dangerous or a monster but is really just trying to do good. There's probably more poetic and sensible ways to phrase that, but werewolves have always felt like a queer metaphor (internalized hemophilia, society calling you a monster, etc etc) and so it scratches part of my brain that's into that.

This is the third book in the series, and while the main couples are all stand alone, they previous couples make important appearances as the world is built our further. This one probably had the most references to previous books, and that was probably the part I liked least? I usually like cameos and little appearances to check in on characters, but with this I was just like oh noooo don't get involved it's dangerous, like I could protect these new characters from the previous plot bleeding into theirs. It was still entertaining and interesting, but it does just leave more questions unanswered. 

I liked Rhory as a character, I thought his arc was good and his story very interesting-- beyond the domestic abuse there is a lot more going on and it's all very twisty and compelling. I liked Calix as a romantic interest, he might be my favorite of the three so far (and not just because he's a werewolf, he just seems less controlling than the previous two, but like, again this is a supernatural fantasy where people are actively trying to kill them, I understand some possessive protection to an extent). The ending sort of threw me again, but as it actually came to a close I understood why certain decisions were made (even if I didn't agree with them).

Eamon was a great villain. Super unhinged and controlling, evil puppeteer pulling strings and fucking things up for everyone. There were some twists that really had me up too late reading.

I think in my review of the first book I read for this series I said the sex scenes were kind of meh, have they have improved (at least for me) since then, so that's nice!

Overall I've liked this one the most so far. There is one more, so I might as well finish it off!

Stars, Hide Your Fires by Jessica Mary Best

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.

Cass is a con artist, or the closest a person can get on her dust covered outer world. When the chance to attend a fancy ball (and pickpocket the attendees) falls in her lap, all Cass sees is a chance to get her and her dad off that rock. But the party is more than she bargained for, and when someone attempts to frame her for murder, she's forced to team up with the lovely but mysterious Amoris, in the hopes they'll both make it through the party alive.

I think I maybe picked this book up at the wrong time, because Sci fi books are really hit or miss for me, and unfortunately this one, despite having all the line ups of a home run, just didn't do it for me. It was pitched as knives out in space, and while there was definitely the murder mystery of it all, I didn't really fall into it. I think I picked out the threads a little too easily, skimming the pages and still coming up with the truth. Which, like, great set up for a mystery you want to be solvable, but I just wasn't as engaged as I was hoping to be.

The characters were fine; Cass felt a little too bland for me, and some of her mannerisms and dialogue felt out of place in this very high tech futuristic world setting, maybe just trying too hard to be glib. I liked Amoris though, and the setting itself was neat, even if I had trouble really following some of the politics of it all. 

In the end, I wasn't super enamored with this book but it had good bones and a decent story.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

It's been a minute since I've read a Jodi Picoult book, but years ago I read almost all of her works, so it sort of felt like coming back after a long trip. I also really want to find other author Jennifer Finney Boylan's books now too.

Olivia McAfee is used to starting over. She left her abusive marriage twelve years ago, her son Asher in tow, to take over her late father's beekeeping. Asher, now an adult, has fallen in love with a girl, Lily. When Lily turns up dead, Asher becomes suspect number one, and both he and Olivia's lives are thrown upside down. In the midst of their grief and an explosive trial, Olivia must figure out how to escape her past and move forward, facing her own doubts about her son.

I have such respect for the clear research that Picoult does for her books. There's always so much information and it's always super interesting and I learn so much. This time it was both bees and transgender affirmative care, which was a wild combo but very well done. Lily, one of the narrators, is a transgender girl, and her story was as compelling as it was tragic. The fact that the main transgender character in this book is a murder victim is extra tragic, but it's not even revealed that Lily is trans until halfway through the book. At that point we see a lot more of her life both pre and post transition, and the book just kind of explodes (in a good way). Boylan also obviously played a large part in that, and her writing style meshed so well with Picoult's that the book never felt like two authors trying to tell a story, just one clear story line and streamlined writing.

Olivia, as the other narrator in the story, also serves as a learning voice for the audience. She has to unlearn biases and find the parallels in her life to Lily's as she comes to terms with what she believes her son is capable of. 

This was a really emotional book, tracking time to both Lily and Olivia's lives before they ever intersected to months after the murder as the trial stretched on. It's volatile and grief strikes and seeking justice, both for Asher and Lily. I struggled through part of it, knowing that it would get worse before it would get better, while also recognizing that a story like this can only end so happily. 

Overall, this was a very beautifully written book, both informative and emotionally driven.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

First of all, I want it in writing that Emily Henry is a brilliant and funny writer and I have enjoyed everything I've read of hers.

Daphne has her life completed planned out, starting with her wedding to her fiancé, Peter. That is, until Peter dumps her at his bachelor party for his best friend, Petra. In a fit of desperation, Daphne moves in with Petra's ex boyfriend, Miles, to try and plan for how to recover, but one thing leads to another leads to telling Peter and Petra that she and Miles are dating. Keeping up the ruse turns out to be easier than either of them expected, and when the chemistry starts to fly, Daphne has to decide if she's willing to risk being hurt again.

I always laugh out loud when I read and Emily Henry book. Like, yes, she writes compelling characters who deal with grief and heartbreak and the necessary tragic stuff that happens four fifths of the way through a romance novel, BUT she's also witty and writes hilarious dialogue from characters that are real and funny.

Daphne and Miles each have their own baggage to work through, but they're so easy together that their falling in love was a sweet and steady thing to witness. I also LOVE a fake dating situation, and this one was born of such a comedy (tragedy) or errors. Plus they were roommates! But the book never felt trope heavy; it followed the characters beautifully.

Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about this because it was just really lovely, even in the places where it hurt a little bit. Plus, the sexy scenes weren't too much and really did add to the book. If you like romance novels, check out literally anything by Emily Henry.

Prince of Endless Tides by Ben Alderson

One last secret book that I wasn't sure I was going to finish in time for this, but by golly I did it.

Prince Ernest has lived his entire life under his father's thumb, using his magical voice to give him power and wealth. But when his magic is stripped away at the same time as he's infected by a deadly Mer bite, he's discarded by his kingdom and must fight to get his magic back if he has any hopes of surviving. Killian has been fighting and killing Mer for centuries, but when a magical opportunity to end his immortal life appears, he takes a chance at helping Ernest. As they both fight the tides and their pull toward one another, it's only a matter of time before something has to give, and their world will be forever changed.

Alderson has very creative takes on these retellings, and I can say with confidence after reading all four books currently out, that he's not afraid to lean into the violent and strange that already exists and make it even more so. This is a restructuring of The Little Mermaid but with a violent infection driving the sea creatures. Ernest is locked in a pretty terrible situation and is too afraid to do anything to change it, while Killian is stuck in a deal of not quite his own making and all the power he could wish for except the one needed to end it all. They're pulled together several times by fate, colliding with force and passion and fractured by the truths they're not willing to give up, even to one another.

I appreciated how far away from the previous three books this one felt, like it truly could be a standalone, at least until the very end, when some familiar faces showed up. There was a mystery that linked it to the other books, but it was unclear how until the end, and I kind of liked that. We got to have a full story of just Killian and Ernest before the bigger plot stepped in. Though, I did appreciate some explanation at the end to tie it all together nicely. Alderson has a way of crafting a happy ending that definitely feels fragile and not without it's share of dark loss, and this book is no exception.

I liked the new worldbuilding and the characters, and overall I think I liked this one more than the first two, though probably not as much as the third one. Turns out I still like werewolves more than mermaids.

And that's it! Next month is May, which means Star Wars books, so. Godspeed and all that.

Literary recommendation: Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir has been on my mind recently, as I impatiently wait for the next book

Media recommendation: if you can believe it, I very recently watched the 1999 classic Galaxy Quest for the first time and, honestly, it holds up. I had a great time with it