Rating: 4 Stars! Genre: LGBTQ+, Contemporary, YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Thank you to Harper360YA for the ARC If you asked seventeen-year-old Cass Williams to describe herself, she’d happily tell you she’s fat, queer, and obsessed with the Tide Wars books. What she won’t tell you—or anyone in her life—is that she’s part of an online Tide Wars roleplay community. Sure, it’s nerdy as hell, but when she’s behind the screen writing scenes as Captain Aresha, she doesn’t have to think about her mother who walked out or how unexpectedly stressful it is dating resident cool girl Taylor Cooper. But secretly retreating to her online life is starting to catch up with Cass. For one, no one in her real life knows her secret roleplay addiction is the reason her grades have taken a big hit. Also? Cass has started catching feelings for Rowan Davies, her internet bestie…and Taylor might be catching on. As Cass’s lies continue to build, so does her anxiety. Roleplaying used to be the one place she could escape to, but this double life and offline-online love triangle have only made things worse. Cass must decide what to do—be honest and risk losing her safe space or keep it a secret and put everything else on the line. If Willowdean Dickson is your ultimate book girlfriend and you wish Leah Burke was your best friend, you'll adore Cassidy Williams.
Cass Williams is a 17-year-old, out and proud queer teen who's more than a little obsessed with her secret online role playing group. When her mom leaves suddenly, Cass is left feeling abandoned by the parent she spent most of her time with, feeling like a third wheel with her best-friend and his girlfriend, and floundering at the prospect of having a cool girlfriend. To cope with reality, she retreats into a world of fantasy and virtual friends, but soon struggles to balance her in-person life with her online one as she navigates first kisses, first parties, and first heartbreak. Out of Character is a really great, body-positive, queer YA with a relatable MC and a lovely found-family element. What I loved about Cass is how much of myself I saw in her, I too had a very addictive Sims spiral in my teens, one that I can safely say has transferred to books. I love how positive and accepting Cass is of her body. It's really great to have a YA heroine who doesn't hate the way she looks and doesn't try to change it. She just accepts it, rocks it, and is surrounded by people who love her exactly the way she is. I too need an Ursula Halloween costume!! I also loved that this book wasn't a coming out story (even though I love those as well). It was really nice to read a contemporary YA where the main character was already out and didn't have to deal with much angst over her sexual identity. The author does a really great job of handling Cass's anxiety and her obsessive tendencies, making Cass a truly relatable narrator, even if she is a little too Minnesota-nice at times. The relationships in Out of Character are another thing I love, nothing feels rushed or unnatural. The relationships feel really organic and work really well, and I love that we have a sweet sapphic love story, with all of the messy, awkward mistakes you'd expect from a teen romance. The pacing of the book was good too, it wasn't particularly fast or slow, but Cass keeps the story flowing well and the added roleplay scenes at the end of each chapter add a really fun, cute element to the overall story. I think that Out of Character would be perfect for fans of Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli, and To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin who're looking for a sweet and fun, body-positive, queer YA.
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Rating: 4 Stars Genre: Paranormal M/M Comedy Romance Series/Standalone: Medium Trouble #1 How I got this book: Bought via Audible Hiro Though I was born with the ability to see the dead, I struggled with it until my brother was killed and his ghost was left behind. Now, I’m determined to figure out who is responsible for his death… the problem is that Detective Maddox Booker, the one working the case, is a grumpy and stubborn man who wants nothing to do with me and definitely doesn’t believe in ghosts. It doesn’t help that I keep finding myself looking ridiculous in front of the detective, thanks to interfering ghosts who enjoy laughing at my expense. Still, the more I’m around Maddox, the more I realize that beneath that surly exterior is a kind and caring man who will do anything to help. Maddox When another man dies, I know we have a serial killer on our hands—the same murderer who has remained elusive for a year and a half. To add to my frustration, I keep running into Hiro at crime scenes only to hear him claim that he can talk to ghosts. The words of the dead could lead us to the serial killer and even tell us who is next, but ghosts? There’s no such thing as ghosts. Hiro is determined and charming, and no matter what I do, I can’t stop letting him get involved. He's definitely snagged my attention, but when he nearly winds up dead, I know he's getting closer to the truth—and if I don’t do something soon, he might be next. TW: Murder, attempted murder
Ever since listening to A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters, narrated by Michael Lesley, I've been meaning to listen to more of this author's books. So, when Audible recommended Ghost of Lies, I was instantly intrigued. I seem to be on a bit of a paranormal kick just lately and a funny rom-com with a ghost-y twist sounded perfect. Ghost of Lies is narrated by Greg Boudreaux, who I don't think I've listened to before, though I can't be sure because he has an extensive catalogue, also narrating under the name Greg Tremblay. It was actually the narration that fully sold me on the book and I loved (almost) every moment of it. This book was so much fun! It starts with a really great scene where we meet both characters. Hiro is in the middle of a dangerous situation, which he seems to have a penchant for, as he tries to help a murder victim find peace. Then, in walks grumpy Maddox to "arrest" Hiro for tampering with yet another crime scene, and the fun ensues. The characters of Hiro and Maddox, and the supporting characters all have very distinct and different voices. I love how the narration really brought them all to life, and I particularly loved the sarcastic banter between all of the characters. The chemistry between the two main characters was sweet and sort of a grump meets cinnamon roll kind of trope. I liked how the relationship built in a bit of a slow burn but found the sex scenes a little more cringy than steamy. Honestly, there's only so many times I can hear the word 'cock' in the space of around 2-3 paragraphs 😅 The pacing was great and kept the story moving forward as I tried to guess who was behind the string of murders, and I enjoyed not being able to figure it out. I love it when a book surprises me...even though, in this case I felt it was a bit of an odd choice. I really enjoyed how the author blended the paranormal with reality, but overall I felt the humour was the strongest part of the story. It's a story that isn't meant to be taken seriously and is instead an over-the-top romp perfect for fans of A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters and The Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune. Rating: 4 Stars! Genre: LGBT+/Contemporary YA/Mystery Thriller Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: eARC via NetGalley from Simon & Schuster Children's UK Gossip Girl but make it royal – a Black LGBTQ+ royal reimagining full of scandalous secrets, rollercoaster romances and one hell of a mystery. James has been a prince all of his life, and since he was born, he's been thrust into the spotlight as the first Black heir to the throne. But when his father unexpectedly dies, James is crowned king at seventeen. Now, the secrets he could keep as a prince with no real responsibility - namely, his sexuality and hidden relationship - are rocked as his life irrevocably changes. When his boyfriend suddenly goes missing, the royal secrets and scandals that only he knows start to leak online. And when it becomes clear that whoever is behind the messages isn't going to stop anytime soon, James begins to question everyone around him. TW: Death of a parent, forced coming out, racism, homophobia, terrorism. I honestly don't know where to even begin with this review. I just have so much I want to say and talk about but at the same time, know that I can't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it. So, I think the first thing I should say is, please go and read this book so that I can talk about it some more!!
The story starts with James, our protagonist. He's the teenage son of the King of England, and we meet him at the moment he finds out his father is dead and as the realisation hits that he is now the King. James is seventeen years old and very much not feeling up to the task of being King, or of facing the grief of losing his dad. His only solace comes from his very secret relationship with his boyfriend, but when he mysteriously disappears, James is left floundering and not knowing who he can put his trust in. James is an interesting character, and Benjamin Dean has done a fantastic job of making him utterly captivating from the very first page. Instantly James is a character I empathise with, who I connect with, and I want to see him succeed. One thing I had no idea of, from the blurb of The King is Dead, was how much of a mystery-thriller it would turn out to be. I was on the edge of my seat, trying my hardest to figure out who the 'big bad' was behind all the drama, but I just did not see those twists coming, and if there's one thing I love more than anything, it's a book that surprises me, and then keeps on doing it, and Benjamin Dean delivered this in spades. As more secrets and scandals come into the light, and as James has little time to deal with his own grief and his sudden plunge into the firing line, the author does a great job of conveying that feeling of barely keeping your head above water and sheer overwhelm, which only serves to make James more compelling. The thing that I was most conflicted about in this book, which ultimately led to my 4-star rating, was the ending...WHICH I CAN'T TALK ABOUT!!! 😬😬😬😬😬 Without giving anything away, it was an ending that shocked me because it was the first moment in the book where I really lost faith in James, our protagonist, and in some of the characters surrounding him. I also didn't particularly like how the romance element played out. BUT saying all of that, I can understand why the author chose that ending, and I did enjoy the fact that this book is a standalone with a clear ending that leaves just enough to your imagination. For me, this book felt like One of Us is Lying meets Red, White & Royal Blue, but British. It has the pacing and mystery of a really gripping thriller, with enough teen shenanigans and royal politics to inject just the right amount of humour and help juxtapose the darker themes of racism and homophobia. The King is Dead by Benjamin Dean comes out in the UK on 7th July 2022. Rating: 4 Stars Genre: LGBT/Dystopian/YA Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought When the Superflu wipes out most of the population, Jamie finds himself completely alone in a cabin in the woods - until an injured stranger crosses his path. Life is dangerous now and, armed with a gun, Jamie goes to pull the trigger. But there's something about Andrew ... something that stops Jamie in his tracks. Jamie takes him in, and as Andrew heals and they eventually step out into the strange new world, their relationship starts to feel like more than just friendship ... But trouble isn't far behind. As the boys make a perilous journey south, they'll come face to face with a world torn apart and society in ruins. And who, or what, will they find waiting for them at the end of it all? TW: Pandemic, illness, murder, gun violence, injury depiction, loss.
Review by Sophie. Ok, so I really didn’t think this book would be my cup of coffee, mainly because of the whole post-apocalyptic "super flu" setting, but I was intrigued as I don’t think I’ve read anything similar, and I’ll be the first to tell myself that I need to try new things… and truth be told, I’m really glad I did. Also, just look at the front cover! Andrew and Jamison have managed to survive the super flu and collide into each other’s lives, and we start our journey with them. Andrew stumbles across the cabin where Jamie resides after being injured in a bear trap. “I’ve been hobbling through the woods for the past day and a half looking for some shelter and a way to clean my wounds. Finding some medical supplies, a pantry full of food and Tom Holland wouldn’t hurt either. Instead, here we are. And not a Tom Holland in sight." They’re both very untrusting and wary of each other at first, but after spending weeks isolated together we start to learn about the struggles that both have endured since the start of the flu, and how it’s practically wiped out the human race. An altercation with a hostile group then forces Andrew and Jamie to leave the cabin. Andrew and Jamie are two very different people. Andrew is openly gay and a full-on sarcastic film fanatic, while Jamie, who's very strong minded and responsible is just figuring out that he’s Bi, and we see him struggle with that too. The world building throughout was good and really helped me to submerge myself in this post-apocalyptic world. I had no trouble at all in getting lost in this book. The pacing was quite fast and with the build up of tension that happens quite quickly, I found myself flying through it. I absolutely love Andrew and Jamie’s journey. Reading about how they grow, overcome their pasts, and how they face difficult situations side by side really pulled on my heart strings. I loved how their relationship developed from untrusting strangers, to friends, to more than friends, and I loved the banter in between. I think that Erik J. Brown does a fantastic job of having you as the reader laughing on one page, to sitting on the edge of your seat with the worst feeling of tension and dread for a character’s wellbeing on the next. It was a bit of a roller-coaster that was very touch and go! I think that anyone that reads All That’s left in the World will ultimately relate it to how extreme COVID could have been, but I know that Erik J Brown didn’t intend for it to be that way; it was originally written in 2015 and he hoped that it would be its own fictional creature, but for me, I think it added to the intensity of the setting, like with Covid and the initial fear of when it was announced, I think a lot of people thought that this could be the beginning of an apocalypse. “But then I look at him; I hear his laugh, I see his smile, and the darkness melts away. Then I do have hope--even just for a little while--because I know that there is something in this world I can fight for. Something I will fight for if I have to.” All in all, I thought this was a great read, I actually read it with in a day or two, and really didn’t want to put it down. It was very easy to read, and is probably one of the cutest, but nail-biting, love stories that I’ve read so far. So, if you currently have All That's Left in the World on your TBR, I'd highly recommend that you give it a go! Rating: 4 Stars Genre: Adult Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought A dark and compelling fantasy about sisterhood, impossible tasks and the price of power, from award-winning author T. Kingfisher After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra―the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter―has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself. Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince―if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning. On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last. TW: Domestic Violence, Cannibalism (mentioned), Infant Death, Murder
This book took a left-turn right from the beginning when it casually threw cannibalism into the mix - I honestly had no idea what to expect as I'd heard nothing about the book or the author other than the blurb above, and honestly, I only picked it up because of the demon-possessed chicken. I admit that at the beginning I was worried I wasn't going to enjoy the book. I'm not sure what it was, I felt a little lost in the plot early on and I didn't feel any connection or great love for Marra, our main character. She seemed a bit dull and uninteresting at first and I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy her story. But then along came Bonedog, and the dust-wife, and Agnes, and Fenris, and the hen, and Finder, and they make for such a brilliantly fun cast of characters that the pace all of a sudden picked up and I couldn't tear myself away. “How did you get a demon in your chicken?' 'The usual way. Couldn't put it in the rooster. That's how you get basilisks.” One of things I really love about this book is that Marra is 30, or in her thirties, which I found really refreshing. I read so many fantasy books where the characters are super young and sexy, and here we have an almost nun who turns to magic and necromancy to help save her family from an evil prince. Her inner monologue adds a modern, fresh take on a medieval-style fantasy, and when paired with the rest of the characters in this book she really comes to life. The dust-wife and Agnes are my two favourite characters, I'm firmly shipping them as a couple, whether it's canon or not, and I love their back and forth which really livens up the plot. The magic in Nettle and Bone is really great, and at times super creepy. The goblin market gave me such Hellboy vibes and it was so vivid, I felt like I was there. The author then throws out left turn after left turn that are both hysterically funny and intensely sinister. “Still, I have to admit I didn’t see the chicken or the puppet coming.” The whole thing is a darkly magic adventure, featuring an unlikely band of characters who only make each other better the more the story progresses. The magic is surprising and the dialogue witty with satirical fairytale undertones that make it a great choice for fans of Gallant and Six of Crows. Rating: 4 Stars Genre: LGBTQ+ Historical Fantasy Romance Series/Standalone: The Last Binding #1 How I got this book: Bought - Illumicrate & I received an eARC copy from the publisher Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what’s been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he’s always known. Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else. Robin’s predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they’ve been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep. TW: Murder, grief, bullying, torture/violence, self-harm, homophobia (minor)
I knew I was going to love this book, but it took me a while to get around to reading it, and I'm really glad I waited until my schedule was less hectic to read A Marvellous Light because it was such a comforting low-angst read that I could just lose myself in for hours. It took me quite a while to read as the pacing was quite relaxed, but there was just enough plot and tension to keep driving the story forward. Edwin and Robin, our two main characters, were definitely my favourite things about the book. While there's an instant attraction between the two, their romance definitely felt like a slow burner, with lots of will they/won't they moments as they got to know each other and their chemistry grew. Robin is a very heart-on-his-sleeve, openly friendly athletic person who's trying to overcome the financial mess left behind by his deceased parents. He's trying to be a good brother to his younger sister when he finds himself thrust into a world of magic he didn't even know existed. Now, cursed and in danger, he's dragged to the house of a magician he just met and into a world of painful curiosities while hoping that together they can remove the curse before it's too late. Edwin has a history of suffering abuse and violence, from his own family to his ex-lover, which has caused him to be cold and shut-off to most of the world. Robin is a surprise that Edwin, with his meticulous order and high walls, didn't expect, and one he struggles to hide from. Trying and failing to keep Robin both at arm's length and out of harm's way, he grapples with his lack of power in the face of saving the man whose smiles are like sunshine. “He was one barely powered magician with nothing but a tendency to let books replace people in his life.” I loved the pairing of these two "opposite" characters and the British, old-fashioned humour, which honestly led to some of the most polite sex scenes I've ever read in a romance novel. Edwin and Robin also develop really well throughout the book, both separately and together, and I loved their interactions. “I can’t believe we were almost killed by a hedge.” One of the biggest problems for me with this book was the side characters, some of whom just didn't seem really relevant and sort of seemed to be thrown into the mix without having any actual effect on the story. However, I did really love Adelaide Morrissey, who's funny, smart and incredibly badass. I really hope to see more from her as the series continues. “Because if even a single woman was involved, they wouldn't have decided that a man who'd been working there one day was a more likely source of information than a woman who'd been there for years.” I also thoroughly enjoyed the magic system that the author has created. Using cradling to create spells seemed like a unique and interesting concept, and I loved the imagery it conjured. That being said, my favourite magical aspect had to be the magical house and the maze, which was just fantastic and very fun. Overall, this was a fun historical m/m romance with just enough magical mystery thrown into the mix to keep the plot exciting and driving forward. It was a little confusing at times because of some of the side characters and aspects of the magical world, but I enjoyed escaping into this magical secret world from the past and getting to know Edwin and Robin as they grew closer together. If you enjoy historical romance and feel like a magical, gay Downton Abbey-era romp would be your perfect cup of tea, you'll love A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske. “And he paused, in the space between inhalation and exhalation, and invited the magic in.” Rating: 4 STARS Genre: YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: The Scholomance #2 How I got this book: ARC gifted by DelRey UK The dark school of magic has always done its best to devour its students, but now that El has reached her final year -- and somehow won herself a handful of allies along the way -- it's suddenly developed a very particular craving . . . For her. As the savagery of the school ramps up, El is determined that she will not give in; not to the mals, not to fate, and especially not to the Scholomance. But as the spectre of graduation looms -- the deadly final ritual that leaves few students alive -- if she and her allies are to make it out, El will need to realise that sometimes winning the game means throwing out all the rules. This was another of my most anticipated books of the year.
I absolutely loved reading A Deadly Education last year and meeting El, Orion, and the gang. I loved the action, the snark and the danger, and following the cliffhanger ending, I was really looking forward to delving back into the story and finding out what other surprises were in store. Similarly to the previous book, The Last Graduate is mostly character, instead of plot, driven. It continues in the same vein, as El and her classmates are busy studying, building alliances and generally trying to survive and work out how to make it through graduation. El is her same fabulous, sarcastic self and her relationships really flourish in this book, both with her friends and with Orion. What I love about this book is how, amidst such a crazy, fantasy, out-to-kill setting, the characters are very real and vivid, and are realistic teens. Novik also gives more diversity through secondary characters in this book, and it's surprisingly sex-positive. I spent the entire book trying to guess where the cliffhanger, and the title of the book, would come into play and was rewarded with ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER that was just pure evil, if a smidge predictable. I am a tad frustrated by the ending, but mostly because I don't want to have to wait another year to find out what happens next!! Overall, this was a solid second book in a trilogy, providing a lot of character and relationship growth, with a cliffhanger that I have everything crossed WILL deliver in book three! Rating: 4 stars! Genre: Historical/Adult Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: ARC from the publisher Welcome to the Winter Garden. Open only at 13 o'clock. You are invited to enter an unusual competition. I am looking for the most magical, spectacular, remarkable pleasure garden this world has to offer. On the night her mother dies, 8-year-old Beatrice receives an invitation to the mysterious Winter Garden. A place of wonder and magic, filled with all manner of strange and spectacular flora and fauna, the garden is her solace every night for seven days. But when the garden disappears, and no one believes her story, Beatrice is left to wonder if it were truly real. Eighteen years later, on the eve of her wedding to a man her late father approved of but she does not love, Beatrice makes the decision to throw off the expectations of Victorian English society and search for the garden. But when both she and her closest friend, Rosa, receive invitations to compete to create spectacular pleasure gardens - with the prize being one wish from the last of the Winter Garden's magic - she realises she may be closer to finding it than she ever imagined. Now all she has to do is win. TW: slavery (mentioned), mental health (depression), rape, infant abuse (violence), infant death, drug addiction
I had no idea what to expect when going into this, aside from the fact that it's published by DelRey, who have quickly become one of my favourite book publishers - their books never disappoint! The blurb gave me Tom's Midnight Garden meets The Night Circus vibes, so I was excited, but it was only when I started reading that I realised how dark and creepy this book is, which was so fantastic! It's a female-led, feminist fantasy centring around two main characters, Beatrice and Rose. Two women, two friends, whose choices lead them down very different paths revolving around the mysterious Winter Garden that came to Beatrice as a child. My favourite part of this book was the magic, which was incredible and beautifully woven into the story, from magical flowers that only open when you're grieving and clockwork creatures with souls; to a tiger made entirely of stars. The lyrical prose is beautiful, and the plot and characters carry the story well. There was never a moment where I felt bored with the story. There was always just enough mystery to keep me interested throughout. As you can see from the trigger warnings, there are some heavy themes that made it a much darker story than I'd expected. However, saying that, it was unexpectedly funny in places; through Beatrice in particular, who has a great wit. The only thing that disappointed me was the lack of diversity, but overall, I couldn't get enough of this dark and mysterious fantasy that's brimming with the most incredible magic. Highly recommended for fans of The Night Circus, Caraval and The Starless Sea. Rating: 4 STARS Genre: LGBT/Contemporary/Romance Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales? When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn't always diplomatic. TW: Addiction/drug abuse (mentioned), terminal illness/cancer (mentioned), homophobia, racism
I just KNEW I was going to love this book! I've been meaning to read it for ages and finally made a start last week. The writing was really easy to get into and I love the characters. I won't lie, I wasn't a huge fan of all the politics (but I knew it was going to be a big part of the book), it's just not my thing, but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story at all as the characters, character development, and the nemesis-to-lovers storyline completely won me over. Alex is an immediately lovable character. He's fun and sweet, with plenty of sass, but he's also loyal to a fault, hardworking and he loves with his entire being, which was both a joy and heartbreaking at times. Henry is fantastic. He's the perfect mixture of haughty royal with the sweetest, loving centre, and he's the perfect match for Alex's personality. Together, they bring heaps of chemistry, heated looks and enough wit to keep me chuckling from start to finish. “Um,” he says. “How do you get a turkey to gobble?” “Try gobbling,” Henry says, “and see if he gobbles back.” Alex blinks. “Are you serious?” OMG! The turkey scene was hilarious. It had me in stitches! I hadn't expected this book to make me emotional. It was funny, and there were plenty of laugh out loud moments, but I honestly never expected it would make me cry, but it did. What happens to Alex and Henry is awful and there's a particular scene with Alex and his family towards the end of the book that just broke my heart. I was sobbing at this point. "A sound escapes his throat uninvited, something that he barely even recognizes, and June has him first, then the rest of them, arms and arms and hands and hands, pulling him close..." Overall, I loved this book. It was a great introduction to Casey McQuiston's writing, which I'm looking forward to reading more of. Red, White & Royal Blue checked all the boxes for me. It kept me gripped from start to finish, gave me lovable, contrasting characters who clash until then mesh and the character development was beautifully done. “History, huh? Bet we could make some.” Rating: 4 STARS Genre: LGBT/YA/Fantasy Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Bought It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . . This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them. Review by Sophie.
TW: Physical (domestic) abuse, homophobia, kidnapping, slavery (selling people), death/murder Rep: F/F romance. Black, lesbian and gay characters I’ve been wanting to read this for a while and was so glad when we chose it for the Turn the Page Book Club this month. This is my first fairy tale retelling and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect! “Do not be silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.” The book has a really strong opening, and the author does a fantastic job of setting up this dark and cruel, almost dystopian, world where women have no rights, no freedoms, and their only purpose is to serve and obey the men of Lille. In Marseilles, if you’re a woman, your fate is sealed at an annual ball where girls are presented in the image of Cinderella to be chosen as a wife. For these girls, there is no one to turn to and no escape. We meet our main character, Sophia, sneaking around, hiding from guards and trying to find the girl that she loves. Queer relationships are forbidden in Lille and the two girls face a prison sentence or death if caught. Straight away we learn that Sophia is loyal, headstrong and not afraid to fight for her rights as she tries to convince Erin to flee before the ball. “I was twelve when I told my parents that I would much rather find a princess than a prince.” Sophia, like all the other girls her age, is expected to attend the annual ball, so that she can be chosen as a wife. Those who aren’t chosen after the third time are considered forfeit and disappear, never to be seen again. The atmosphere in the story really builds as we begin to see the oppression of Lille's women and hints of something more sinister at play. “The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into a dark and dangerous place.” Soon, Sophia is on the run. Aided by her very sweet friend, Luke, she escapes the ball and seeks refuge in Cinderella's tomb. Here' we're introduced to the mysterious and seductive Constance, who I loved, even though I had my suspicions about her character! The two then set off on a journey to uncover the truth about the Cinderella story in an attempt to free the women of Lille. “That you try to flatter me when I have a blade at your neck makes me want to slit your throat and spare the world your ignorance.” Constance is totally badass, and I actually love her! I love how sassy she is, but also how collected she is too. She always seems to have it together. She’s quirky, fun, loyal and caring, and she’s got style. Together, Constance and Sophia make a great team, and author does a great job of building their relationship over the course of a relatively short period of time, in a fairly small novel. When we're introduced to Amina, the sarcasm and constant bickering between her and Constance had me laughing out loud, and I loved it. I really enjoyed how the writer created moments of fun and happiness during dark and difficult times. “The pockets,” she says. She puts her hands in them and gives a little twirl. “I love pockets.” I wish there was more of Constance in this story. Yes, she was one of the main characters, but I still kind of feel like I was missing a huge part of her in the book. I wish there was more about how badass she was, and more of what she was doing with her time before Sophia. The same goes for Amina. I loved her character and her personality, and even though I didn’t agree with all of her actions, I thought her character was brilliant and witty and funny. The ending was a little predictable, but all in all I loved this queer, feminist story. The writing was strong and compelling, and I loved the dark, twisted plot. Cinderella is Dead, was a great read and has set the bar for me regarding fairytale re-tellings. I can’t wait to discover others and can only hope they draw me in and capture me as well as this tale did. |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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