• Book Reviews,  Fiction

    The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

    15th September 2020
    Cover of The Gilded Wolves (Roshani Chokshi)

    The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1) by Roshani Chokshi

    The overall atmosphere Chokshi had created was gloomy, haunting, and breathtaking. She stated that the idea for this trilogy stemmed from hearing about the “human zoo” displaying Filipinos in 1904 World’s Fair. Then she came across another “human zoo” featuring “Negro Village” in 1889 Exposition Universelle. The Gilded Wolves series was never meant to be a cheery story. Set in the 19th century, Chokshi wanted to show the “beauty and horror” of La Belle Époque, The Beautiful Era. In her words, “When we revise the horror and sanitize the grotesque, we risk erasing the paths that led us here.” And I love how she managed to achieve telling an honest story with a magical twist in this first installment.

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  • #5OnMyTBR

    #5OnMyTBR — Red Cover

    14th September 2020

    Hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook, #5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme where we talk about 5 books on our TBR on Mondays. You can learn more about it in E.’s original announcement or #5OnMyTBR page.

    This week’s prompt: Red Cover.

    I have been traveling the past weekend so I am running behind on replying to all the lovely people who dropped by my blog as well as blog hopping. I promise I will get back to each message very soon and check out all your amazing new posts. Though my schedule is a mess after neglecting my duties for a couple days due to packing and flying, nothing will keep me from participating in #5OnMyTBR!

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  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Presidential by Lola Keeley | ARC Review

    13th September 2020
    Cover of Presidential (Lola Keeley)

    Presidential by Lola Keeley

    Content warnings: shooting, off-page deaths, parental loss, spousal loss, biphobia from antagonists, uses of ableist language

    There have been a lot of discussions on how this book closely resembles Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay The American President. Since I have never seen the film, I decided to read Presidential first, rate it, then skim through the script. Therefore, the similarities between the two works do not affect my rating. I consider Presidential as Keeley reimagining a queer, female The American President.

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  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Destiny’s Choice by Karen Frost | ARC Review

    12th September 2020
    Cover of Destiny’s Choice (Karen Frost)

    Destiny’s Choice (Destiny and Darkness #3) by Karen Frost

    Content warnings: ableism, deaths of secondary characters, kidnapping

    If Daughter of Fire shares the theme with the MG/YA fantasy series by a certain transphobic author, Destiny’s Choice feels like an ode to The Lord of the Rings (which I have only watched onscreen).

    Knights Asher, Taz, Henrek, Jazmen, and shapeshifter Great Mage Marandir accompany Knight Commander Bronwen (paraplegia) to negotiate for peace with the Souththerners. But no Iliryan has ever came back from the Southlands alive.

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  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising by Karen Frost | ARC Review

    11th September 2020
    Cover of Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising (Karen Frost)

    Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising (Destiny and Darkness #2) by Karen Frost

    Content warnings: death, blood, cult, kidnapping, mind control

    This story has certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. Frost made great decisions on where a chapter should break, and I find myself unable to even pause reading.

    In part two of Daughter of Fire, Aeryn (16) finally learns that her family is likely alive. And some people around her are definitely up to no good. When things break into chaos, can Aeryn and her fellow students save the kingdom they don’t really care for?

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