aksmith92's reviews
138 reviews

The setup: Coco is dying to be one of the chosen ones to conduct magic. Ever since she was given a book of magical spells and a wand when she was younger, she's wanted to be able to be a witch. Soon enough, a witch stumbles upon her town, and one thing leads to the next, where she watches him conduct magic. Her whole view changes! She has to try it out. Once she does, things go awry, and she must set out on a quest to fix her wrongs.

We follow Coco's journey as she begins her apprenticeship with Qifrey, the enigmatic witch she met in her hometown, and forms bonds with other girls on a similar path. Together, they navigate the intricacies of a unique magical system, learn to cast spells, and encounter an old friend a formidable witch who could disrupt their peaceful days. This book is a delightful blend of lighthearted adventure and high-stakes drama, set in a captivating world.

What I liked: What a unique storyline and plot! While we have most certainly read about witches before and possibly even about this type of magic, this was interesting and provided an original take on how people conduct magic through different means than a wand or mind. I immensely enjoyed the premise, and the author did excellent work building this unique system and world. Additionally, this book felt like a cozy fantasy. It was lighthearted and fun. While it may have some more high-stakes ideas, you still somewhat knew that things would work out. Lastly, Coco was a great protagonist. Albeit very young, Coco was driven, focused, and kind-hearted, which made for a lovely character.

What was missing: This was my first manga, so bear with me. However, this read was incredibly middle-grade. While a good and exciting idea for a story, I couldn't quite get over the hurdle of very simple and childish catchphrases ("Oh gosh!") or other very child-like thought processes ("I can do this! Think positive!"). I know some people love that language in middle-grade novels, comics, or manga, but it is not for me. Therefore, it took me out of the story a little bit, and I didn't necessarily love it. The faces the illustrator drew for distress or shouting were also hilariously funny to me, and not necessarily in the best way because it didn't seem real (again, it's manga; I took that with a grain of salt). A very minor qualm that I pushed through because it clearly wasn't going there, but I did find it weird that this older guy Qifrey decided to take in four young girls for an apprenticeship. 

Overall, though, this was a good book done well. Additionally, for the most part, I enjoyed the intricate illustrations and the overall plot. Lastly, it did an excellent job of character building and pushing through adversity in Coco's character when she had to do something she didn't think she could do. That was a great take. Either way, I will continue with the next book to see if it gets more mature!

The setup: 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' is a unique novel, presented as a letter from a son to a mother who likely will never be able to read it due to her inability to read, especially in English. Our narrator, Little Dog, delves into his family's life - even before his birth - in Vietnam, during the infamous war there, and his own life, unearthing some traumas and revelations throughout his teenage years.

Much of the novel is about Little Dog's relationship with his mother, Rose, and her mother, Lan. There is an intricate discussion about their familial affairs and what it took the women to survive for Little Dog to be writing this letter. Then it's also a pseudo-love story about Little Dog and Trevor, a boy he works with on a tobacco farm during the summers. There is a little bit of grief, love, and hardship throughout this novel, and you can feel Ocean Vuong's poetic side coming out as he describes Little Dog's complicated life. Honestly, it's a story about nothing, yet about everything for someone like Little Dog. It intertwines addiction, violence, and a plethora of trauma into a novel that shares the story of a son and his mother.

What I loved: This book was a bit haunting AND lovely - somehow both, sometimes simultaneously (but not always). Vuong was a storyteller here. There were fantastic quotes and metaphors, and Vuong knew how to share philosophical thoughts and ideas. It was a sad story and one that encompasses survival. It takes a talented writer to make this type of art, and Vuong no doubt delivered a tremendous literary and contemporary fiction book. Honestly, at times, this felt SO real, to the point that it reminded me of a memoir (maybe that also had to do with a second person). Either way, you were submerged in On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and felt all the feels.

What could have made it five stars: The common literary fiction conundrum - the intense effort to be overly profound. I felt this only initially, but Vuong seemed to try so hard. On page 4 or around there, one quote said something like, "We held nothing in our hands but our hands." And while I understood that it was likely that they were holding each other's hands, it just made me roll my eyes. 

My only other qualm was the structure. I know what Vuong was doing, and Vuong knew what Vuong was doing, as mentioned in the novel a couple of times in the letter - Little Dog knew his writing was a bit all over the place. However, it took a lot of work to immerse myself in the story because of the back-and-forth timelines, especially between paragraphs with no apparent cadence. Part II had more narrative style than the others; otherwise, linking story pieces took a lot of work. It made it hard to connect with the plot itself. 

Regardless, this book was undeniably moving, genuine, and wholehearted. The impactful pieces of the story, like the aftermath of war, an opioid crisis and addiction, and sexuality, were incredibly well done, and I think this book is an essential read. The structure makes it a bit challenging for a novel, but the storytelling is ultimately worth that brief confusion. 

The setup: Casey Peabody is struggling. It's 1997 - she's in debt from a prestigious school where she intended to play golf on a scholarship, but that fell through. She's now working as a waitress at a fancy restaurant where many Harvard folks go and eat and talk, which usually makes her life a bit challenging. She's also wholly unraveling from her mother's death and a rather love bomb—a fallout from someone whom she developed feelings for quite quickly and thought was reciprocated until it wasn't. On top of that, she's trying to be a writer and seems to be just scraping by.

Casey is battling with the idea that you can be a creative and live happily - she's watched many friends give up their goals and dreams to do something to earn money or continue a status quo. We watch as Casey goes through life navigating the grief of her mother's death, her very complicated relationship with a distant father, working at the restaurant to ensure she pays her bills, trying to write a novel where she seems to get stuck, and navigate dating and falling in love after a rocky relationship. We see Casey trying to get her life together, even as she begins dating two different men and begins to conclude a book. It's about Casey's fictional life; I ate this one up!

What I loved: Lilly King can write a book, that's for sure. I was engrossed in Casey's life, particularly her writing journey and the idea that even back in 1997, living creatively can be painful in America. King could intersect grief, love, family, and mental health very well while still making a realistic story. It was nice to have more of a literary and contemporary fiction novel end on a relatively good note. While this was not a happy story, this book made me feel good, and I appreciated all the nuances King gave Casey and her little bubble of a life.

Lastly, it was satisfying to read a book about a thirty-something who navigated her youth and continued working through some past traumas and journeys as someone more mature. As someone around her age, that felt relatable, and overall, it was done well.

What could've made it five stars: This novel was a trope in itself—a white, sad, broke girl who takes on the city and tries to make it. These types of stories are really hit or miss for me, and while this hit, I still kept thinking about this trope/subgenre. I can't articulate it well, but we've read this story before. However, I will say that just because it has been done before doesn't mean I hated this book by any means.

Additionally, there were times when the writing tried to be a bit too profound, and Casey would go on with metaphors, similes, and analogies. Sometimes it was just a lot. 

Lastly, while there was a focus on Casey's mom and how her death impacted her and continued to impact her, I felt disconnected from that narrative a bit because we didn't get a ton of information about the memories with her mom other than a bit of abandonment. It's a minor qualm because overall, I felt that everything was done well, including Casey's grief, but at times, it felt like King put this subplot in there to make Casey even sadder. While acceptable for a novel like this, its execution didn't always feel right. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to seeing what King puts out in the future!

6/5 stars. This novel is a testament to the author's skill, delivering a devastating and poignant yet beautifully written story that will leave a lasting impact.

The Setup: Mamoru is a Matsuda. Meaning he was born into a line of people resembling gods. Matsudas possess a unique magic form called jijaka, someone able to control water. Well, those in Kaigen can all be jijakalu, but Matsudas have the unique ability to take their control of water even further and take water molecules to make something called a Whispering Blade, a sword of ice that can cut through literally anything. Matsuda boys and men are trained early as warriors, serving the Kaigen empire wholeheartedly and rigidly. They live and train on the Kusanagi Peninsula, known as the Sword of Kaigen, and are the first to defend the Empire's enemies. Mamoru is fourteen, in school, and is one of the best warriors of his age. Thankfully, "warrior" is more of a title than anything; Kaigen and the rest of Danu, the world everyone lives in, have maintained peaceful relations, and there hasn't been a war since the Keleba, the only war that occurred in Danu's history. Mamoru is going to school, hanging out with his friends, trying not to fall asleep in history class, and, of course, training. He is determined to master the Whispering Blade and be the youngest to do so. Therefore, much of his time is spent mastering his jiya and trying to prove to his father that he is focused and talented.

In tandem, Misaki, Mamoru's mother, is battling fifteen years of, for lack of better words, boredom and anger. Misaki was also a warrior, as she spent her teenage years at a school in Carytha, another country in Danu, mastering her jiya and another magic: Blood Needle, the ability to control a small amount of the blood inside their victim's body and freezes it in the shape of a needle. This jijaka technique is specific to the Tsusano family, Misaki's bloodline before she married a Matsuda. She spent time at this school mastering her sword skills and even partnered with a crew of kids her age to fight crime. However, Misaki is from Ishihama, a town in Kaigen, meaning that she knew that her main role in life would be to marry into a powerful bloodline and bear his children, specifically sons. She made the incredibly challenging choice once she was of age to stay back on Kaigen and marry Takeru Matsuda. But life is not easy, and she struggles without a sword on her hip.

The narrative delves into the emotional journeys of both Mamoru and Misaki, revealing Mamoru's battles with new revelations about his assumptions and preconceptions of the Kaigen empire, and Misaki's life as a housewife and a mother, with glimpses of her past at school. The story then weaves in Duna unrest, suggesting that peace may soon become a distant memory.

What made this six stars? I'm having a hard time explaining what made this a phenomenal book. It was NOT a good time, I can tell you that! I cried MULTIPLE times in this book, which generally does not happen to me and hasn't happened since The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah. M.L. Wang is clearly a powerful and amazingly talented writer - her prose isn't fluffy; it's straight to the point and makes you feel like you are living at the Sword of Kaigen with the small community. I would not suggest picking this up if you want atmospheric or whimsical writing. Wang is literal yet still poignant and dives into challenging topics like misogyny, classism, and war. It was beautiful, yet sharp and harsh, and I loved it so much.

So, I generally prioritize character layers and development over everything else. Do not get me wrong, the plot and world-building must be there! However, there is something so beautiful about connecting with characters, regardless of whether they are the protagonists, antagonists, or morally gray folks. This book did that so well. Mamoru and Misaki are beautifully written characters with many layers, conflicts, and flaws. The other characters, specifically Setsuko, Takashi, Hyori, Chul-Hee, and Robin, were also fantastically written. Additionally, I could write multiple paragraphs about Takeru Matsuda - Mamoru's father and Misaki's husband - what a character! Everyone was their own character, and I love nothing more than relating to many characters and seeing them go on their journeys. 

Now, technically, Wang's 100-page (or so) action scene was unbelievable. Actually, unbelievable. I've never read an action scene like this one before. I was immersed, captivated, and absolutely DEVASTATED during it. I honestly couldn't put my book down. This gruesome portrayal of battle was incredibly done, even though it was hard to read.

Lastly, this was such a well-done magic system, world, and plot. It takes a slightly different approach to war, combining some politics, war potential, and the aftermath of battle.

While this book was incredible, please know you will be angry. Kaigen was awfully sexist and misogynistic - it was a patriarchal society where women had to watch what they said to their husbands, let alone fight in battle. It can be challenging to read, but it made you appreciate Misaki and her wonderful friends even more. The balance Misaki portrayed as a mother and a warrior was unique, and her relationship with her husband, Takeru, was incredibly layered. However, unlike other fantasy novels with a main female protagonist, this one doesn't have the nice, neat power ending we're used to, and it may frustrate you. As someone who cares deeply about feminism, this should have angered me, but Wang portrayed all of this in an incredibly realistic way and therefore didn't make the story seem to go into a 180 abruptly. 

I have no criticism. At all. You may and I get that, but I don't. What an incredible ride - Wang will be an auto-buy author for me. I've read Blood Over Bright Haven, which I LOVED, and I can't wait to see what else Wang comes out with. I am so thankful for this novel, yet now it is time for a fluffy and light book where I shed no tears.

Overall, this book stood out for its unique narrative style, weaving battles of grief, illness, transformation, and change into a tapestry of strange yet poignant events.

The Setup: Wren and Lewis have been married for an extremely short period of time when Lewis receives an unexpected diagnosis after experiencing some odd symptoms: Lewis is turning into a great white shark. Animal mutation is simply part of the story here, and mostly everyone knows someone who has transformed into an animal. There are hospitals for specific animal mutations - Lewis to go into Ocean 1 first. The novel is broken up into three parts: (1) The love story between Wren and Lewis and their journey from when Lewis receives his diagnosis to when he has to be released into the ocean, (2) A flashback from Wren's family and life before Lewis, and (3) Back to present day in Wren and Lewis's new lives. Some of the story is told in play form, and other parts are just plain ole' literary fiction.

What I Loved: Truly, this was one of the more unique stories I've read. Emily Habeck's prose was original and lovely. It seemed that she had a love for poetry and theater and wove those into the sentence structure here. I did have some minor qualms with it along the way, but I truly loved her unique voice and the storytelling. This novel was innovative and intriguing and kept me vested. The characters had distinct voices and their own personalities (which I always look for in books), and I felt their emotions and overall development throughout the novel. The idea of animal mutation was something I hadn't read about before; I appreciated the thoughtfulness around this illness and how it could be connected with plenty of our own diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer, etc.) in this world. This story tugged heavily on my heartstrings and made me think a lot about love and change and family and personal growth. I really, really enjoyed this book and believe that it will sit with me for a long time.

What Kept It From 5 Stars? This is likely a me thing, but I sometimes struggle with literary fiction. I find this hard to do, and rarely can an author ultimately achieve it if they are writing literary fiction - sometimes, the sentences and flow feel forced. It's like Emily Habeck was trying deeply to be profound. A dramatic flare popped up every so often where I didn't think it needed to. While I loved the prose, don't get me wrong, once in a while, I wanted to be like, "It's not that deep, Emily Habeck." It was rare enough that it didn't impact the entire reading experience, and once again, overall, I enjoyed this book. However, it was still there, lurking every so often.

I will put a spoiler on this because while I found it predictable, it isn't the most obvious:

The pregnancy at the end of the book was an interesting choice. While I could see why it was important and something our main character, Wren, grappled with even towards the end of Lewis's diagnosis, it felt slightly forced. I generally don't like unexpected pregnancies in novels, and while this one made a bit more sense, I still felt like it was just "eh." Ultimately, it only impacted my rating a little because I enjoyed watching Wren's daughter grow up a bit.

Please know BEFORE reading this story - if you are very much into Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, or the intricacies/details of Magical Realism, and you expect this book to scratch that itch - it WON'T! This is a literary fiction book at its core, and I am finding some reviews of people who didn't enjoy this book that much because they had the wrong expectations of it. I went in knowing it was literary fiction very well; therefore, I think that mindset helped my overall experience with the book. Yes, it had a bit of a magical realism component, but it's not detailed or explained - it's just part of the narrative—food for thought as you decide if you want to read this book. I still recommend you do it because it's excellent!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself shedding some tears, laughing at moments, and intrigued by the storytelling and closure. I found this to be quite well done for a debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what Emily Habeck comes out with next. 

I was very happy to have won a Kindle version of this book off Storygraph a StoryGraph Giveaway a while ago. 

I started this book and got nearly 100 pages in, and I just can't do it. The prose is a bit choppy, with many exclamation marks, and I just couldn't get into the characters. There also was a decent lack of plot development. 

I loved the idea in theory - these are two perspectives told in very different worlds, but I simply wasn't getting hooked. Therefore, I just decided to throw in the towel and move on. I feel bad about it, but I made up my mind in 2024 - more DNF'ing books that aren't doing it for me.

I did love the idea of Murderbot!

The setup: Murderbot (but only to itself - to others, it's known as SecUnit) is a Company-supplied security android made to protect certain people who buy (or rent) it. It's made specifically for security detail but also follows Company rules via the governor module. After a past incident that left Murderbot scornful of humans, it also decides to hack its own governor module to play by its own rules. So now, Murderbot, self-aware and annoyed at the world, wants to be left alone by a team of scientists and only wants to watch (essentially) the soap operas it downloaded.

However, things start to go a bit wrong when conducting surface tests on the planet. The team of scientists notice discrepancies in their data and decides to investigate the issue(s) with the neighboring society. One thing leads to the next, and the team decides to figure out the truth of what's going on.

Even though Murderbot wants to sit down and watch its TV, it also begins to have human emotions with the team that it has been assigned to, especially as they begin to piece together a rather intriguing mystery.

What I liked: This was a quick and easy read while still packing a punch as we got to know Murderbot and its companions. The premise of them working through a space mystery was compelling and exciting and made me keep turning the pages (well, clicking on my Kindle). The novella was told from Murderbot's first-person point of view, and I felt it was great to get to know Murderbot, its past, and its rather complicated "feelings" for the situation and people at hand. I enjoyed Murderbot and the plot and thought it was an interesting take on science fiction. Additionally, many pieces of Murderbot's "person"ality were quite funny. It was complicated for a bot, yet at the same time, pretty emotionally distant.

What could have been better: Honestly, this book was a bit of world-building sliced between the novel's action (because it was so short!). While this needed to be done because of the book's shortness, it led to me needing clarification. This is a personal problem; it might not be your problem! All things considered, Martha Wells did an excellent job combining the two (action and world-building), but I was still slightly puzzled.

Additionally, the ending fell flat. I totally get that the purpose of this novel was told from Murderbot's perspective, so we only knew what Murderbot knew. We heard what Murderbot cared about, and if it didn't care about something, then we didn't get to know about it or hear more about it. With that said, the ending could have been fleshed out, and we only got small pieces about the aftermath of the significant action scene!

Overall, I was confused, leading to a 3.5. I was itching for more from this novel but plan to continue the series!

Yay—my first nonfiction book of the year, and honestly, my first nonfiction book in about two years! This book came highly recommended by my lovely husband, a smaller-scale vegetable farmer. Therefore, I had to give it a try.

The setup: Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and philosopher, had his ideas translated into this little gem of a book, The One Straw Revolution. As a huge proponent of natural farming, or "do-nothing farming," he preached no tilling, herbicides, pesticides, and other industrial methods to agriculture. This book's premise was that where he was in Japan, you could use only straw to help rice grow and prosper instead of flooding it or using other mechanisms introduced primarily after the Industrial Revolution. He showed that farmers could get the same yield in their rice production this way and do a lot less work.

Even though this book, at first, may seem like an 181-page book about rice farming, it was not! Yes, Fukuoka talks about natural practices for rice, rye, barley, citrus, and vegetables, but this was also an account of philosophy and the human condition. Fukuoka took great interest in his (and others') connection to nature and felt we were gradually moving away from being close to nature, which is needed to feed ourselves.

Fukuoka shared insights about his incredible farming techniques while also inputting thoughts on life and what it means to be human.

What I loved: This was incredibly thought-provoking. Philosophy, in any way, is complex to grasp at times, or at the very minimum, there will be pieces of it that you love and others that you hate. But Fukuoka's philosophy on life and farming was simple. There isn't much to it. And he knows that there is likely more to it, but why go through all that thought? He aimed to simplify everything and enjoy himself while on this Earth. The man lived to be 95 years old! I think it should be said that maybe he is right. I can't speak to much else besides the fact that this book brought out all the good vibes - Fukuoka was funny and inspirational. There is something incredibly beautiful about reading about someone who cared so deeply for nature and the ground we live on. The simplicity of it all made my heart happy. It was a beautiful take on life, even when life is forever challenging. Plus, it was very cool to read about someone doing natural farming and being successful at it. It's possible - to have high yields, charge the right price, and be happy and content with your life. While you'll notice that my critique of this book also includes how this was a limiting view of the world and most certainly not the whole picture, it was amazing to read about someone trying to make things easier in any way possible. I firmly believe that we as a society have shied away from spiritualism (note: not religion), and it is one (of many) reasons why maybe we have removed ourselves and our connection from the Earth. I loved how Fukuoka talked about this concept.

What would have made it five stars? The book repeatedly states that many of the farming practices Fukuoka discusses are very applicable to places in Japan but much tougher to implement in North America or elsewhere in the world. This is not a dig at the book—I just want people to know this before reading!

However, what challenged my rating was that Fukuoka seemed to be absolutist. He was adamant that education is unnecessary and science isn't helpful. He didn't believe in "work" or even really death! At one point, even Fukuoka said he understood that sometimes this type of thinking is a bit ironic in other ways. However, I, as an inherently curious person, felt like this view could be limiting at times, and there is beauty in feeling way more connected to nature while still utilizing science in other ways. Regardless, I still take Fukuoka's point and think it's important to understand that "out-technology-ing" nature isn't a thing, and going back to roots is much more vital than another device.

Additionally, it felt like Fukuoka aimed to return to how things were before the Industrial Revolution. Almost like, hey, time to go off grid! While I love it in theory, in practicality, it's a limiting perspective, especially 40+ years after this book was written. Many folks do not have the luxury of just dropping everything to become farmers and live off the land, and this book makes it seem easy when it's a little bit more complicated than that. However, I had to remind myself that this was a perspective, and Fukuoka was intending to be a bit absolutist and understood that maybe this view was limiting. You had to read through the lines to get the meaning. So, I decided that while I want to recognize this as a critique, I still value the message in the details. 

Lastly, it was hard for me to keep up with the small farming section - it was pretty technical regarding how he does rice and citrus farming. Don't get me wrong, this was important!! And, others will be super interested. Unfortunately, I struggled through the rice farming section, even if it wasn't long. 

But, overall, this was a fantastic book, filled to the brim with thought-provoking ideas about how to live in the natural world as natural animals (because, after all, we are animals!). Some of my favorite quotes are below.

 

Thank you, Katherine Arden, for writing a wintery and blustery book so I can sit in my warm house while it's cold and snowy outside and read my little heart out.

The setup: Vasya needs to go into hiding. The Girl in the Tower, the second book in the series, left off with those in Moscow in a rage after a fire nearly destroyed their home, and they believe a witch to be the culprit. Vasya is now left with one goal only: to care for her family. Her brother Sasha, her sister Olga, and Olga's daughter Marya are all in Moscow, piecing together what happened the night before with Vasya, the frost demon, and Kaschei.

However, those in Moscow want someone accountable for their suffering, and Vasya is an easy target. We follow Vasya as she faces many obstacles, including an angry mob, a vengeful demon, and a forgetful ally. She feels the weight of not only Moscow on her shoulders but all of Rus' and her beloved chyerti - the spirits she has called family her whole life. Can she bring together her people of Rus' - those who vehemently believe in the one God, and those of the spirit world, who seem to fade the more people forget about them and move on to another religion? Can she keep her family safe from the Tatars, those trying to take the rule of Rus'? The world seems to weigh heavy on Vasya's shoulders with these questions, and we watch her continuously battle for peace, not only for those in her country but for herself.

What I loved: Katherine Arden is a phenomenal writer to me - her work is unique, poetic, and her version of atmospheric. She takes 14th-century historical Rus' customs and somehow integrates them into her writing, both from a prose perspective and a literal historical take (one battle scene near the end is essentially a retelling of an actual battle in 1380 Rus' - read the author's note at the end, it's pretty lovely!). The intersection between fantasy and historical fiction continues to amaze me, and it is one of the most vital reasons why I can't help but feel this book is so fantastic.

As typical in this series, I loved Vasya and her strength, resilience, and grit. While the poor thing went through it in this book (even more so than the others), she was incredible. She was strong, powerful, and intelligent. Yet, she was imperfect and flawed. She had to continue making incredibly challenging decisions and understood that only some things would always work out. I think that is what I loved most about this book: Vasya learned from those around her, her environment, and herself to make better decisions in the future instead of just ~always knowing~ what to do, like other fantasy books I have read. I loved her character and what she tried to do for both the spirit world and Rus'.

I also thoroughly enjoyed many of the other characters - Sasha, Olga, Morozko (I'm glad we dove a little bit deeper into his character on this one, albeit I was still itching for more!), the Grand Prince Dmitrii, and I just loved Polunochnitsa (Lady Midnight) and the Bear. I had no intention of laughing during this book because it seemed so bleak and dark, but Polunochnitsa and the Bear truly helped provide (very minimal) comedic relief and were much more layered than I had anticipated (especially the Bear). My favorite secondary character was Ded Grib, the chyerti, a lil mushroom. Konstantin continued to be a unique, morally grey character that I also learned to enjoy, even if he was the worst. He was complicated, and you couldn't help but empathize with him.

Somehow, Arden did a brilliant job of making all characters nuanced and beautiful while juggling two plots without losing anything. I was so impressed by how much Arden could put into this under-400-page book because it packed such a punch, but it wasn't overwhelming. I just loved it. And somehow, like the first two, I read this under some snowy skies - something I didn't think would happen in early March, and I read this through Libby.

I'm a sucker for some political intrigue which was why I enjoyed the second book in this trilogy so much, but I liked this one even more because of the magical elements in it - less politics, more chyerti. I was impressed that Arden could do both so well.

Anything that could have made this a 6-star read? While I rated this a five because of Arden's beautiful ability to intertwine so many interesting plots and characters and the overall unique storytelling of Russia's history and Russian fairytales, this was imperfect, and others may have some criticism for it. For one, 90% of this book seemed to have no hope. Anything wrong that could happen seemed to have occurred, even if there were a few quick wins in the plot throughout the process. It was dreary. I swear that Vasya had eight broken ribs throughout this book and plenty of ample scars and concussions. It was hard to read because it just felt so BAD. Because of this constant dread, I felt the book read just a bit choppy, especially in the middle. 

However, I had a blast with this and shed a few tears at the end. While sad, there was finally a dash of goodness and hope, and the ending was quite fitting. I look forward to reading more from Katherine Arden in the future!

I laughed! I cried! I loved it!

The setup: This book follows Maddie Wright, also known as Maame, to her Ghanaian mother. We meet Maddie when she is living with and taking care of her father, who unfortunately was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's. He needs full-time care, and Maddie seems to be the only one stepping up to help. Even though her parents are technically married, Maddie's mother is off in Ghana helping her family's business, and her brother lives a somewhat lavish lifestyle in the music industry. Maddie is working at a local theater that is very uninspiring and is taking care of her dad. Because of this, she realized she had forgotten to grow up. So, when her mother makes her way back to London for her usual visits, Maddie decides that it is time to reinvent herself and become the 25-year-old woman that she actually is. She moves out and tries to make a life for herself.

We witness Maddie navigate a career, friendships, relationships, grief, and mental illness. The story follows her in an almost coming-of-age story, even though she is already "grown up." She spends a lot of time Googling things and trying to be something she is not, which we can all relate to as we grow up. Maame intertwines family ties, dating, and meeting new people, all while threading it to her father's illness and what it means to be maame (woman).

What I loved: Everything! This novel showcased storytelling at its finest. Maddie seems to be a soft, fragile character, but we learn just how resilient she could be. I loved learning about Maddie and then watching her go through the stages of life quite quickly. Maame just hits with fantastic character development. I felt like I was standing by Maddie's side, watching her go through happiness, adventures, and grief. As someone who most certainly didn't come from a Ghanaian family, I also thoroughly enjoyed learning a bit about the culture and understanding some of the nuances of family in Ghana. Her unique situation and complicated relationship with her family members were incredible to read about. I just really loved how we watched Maddie go from sad to happy to depressed to not sure. It was highly relatable yet still nuanced. I also loved her friendships with Nia and Shu and messy conversations with her mother.

Anything not so good? Nothing for me. I loved this for the storytelling, learning about a culture, and someone's unique situation. I would imagine that some folks might think this errs on the side of YA because we are watching a 25-year-old live her life for the first time, but I think that whole "coming of age" thing was done well. I've also seen some folks say that they didn't love all the Google searches in the narrative, but I loved them and found them funny and quirky. I laughed out loud at some of them and then Maddie's response to the responses. However, to each their own. 

Overall, I just had such a good time with this book; it made me feel all the feels. Getting to know Maddie, her friends, and her family along the way was an absolute delight. I'm looking forward to reading more from Jessica George.