btwnprintedpgs's reviews
1269 reviews

The Jinn Daughter is fantasy and mythology, with the age old story of a parent trying their best to hold onto their child in different ways. Nadine is a jinn, but also a mother. I feel this story was as much about magic rooted in Middle-Eastern mythology, as much as it was about what it means to be a parent.

Nadine wants to hold her daughter close and protect her, and there are so many layers to that as the story progresses. We also get to see parenthood from different perspectives - a parent who views their child as something they own, but not something they need to care for; a parent who is far from their child and wishes to see them again; a parent who has and is grieving their child; and a parent who is afraid to let their child be their own person and let go of the idea of their child. The way these perspectives are shared is so unique and interesting and I loved how stories and parenthood were depicted throughout. It was definitely a heavier book as a result of how steeped it was in the concept of parenthood, but I am honestly amazed by how these complex relationships were relayed and depicted.

Beyond that main theme of parenthood, we have the mythological and fantastical side of the story. Nadine tells the story of the dead which helps them to pass through the gates to the afterlife. I found the magic of the underworld fascinating, with the storytelling of the life seed and Nadine's ability to cross to the Waiting Place. Nadine's magic is a larger part of the story at the beginning and at the end, with a lot of focus on world building and mythology. I enjoyed these part immensely and I'm so curious to learn more now. I liked seeing the layers of the underworld and the different beings that are part of it. I'm also so curious about Death and her story. The stories were also a highlight - I will probably reread them in the future to better digest them, as I feel like those had hidden meanings and parallels to them that I missed.

For such a short novel, The Jinn Daughter is intricate, emotional, and full of magic. This really has been the year for debut novels, and I'm exceedingly impressed that this is the first (of hopefully many) by Rania Hanna. It's always interesting to see how different cultures have built mythology around the universal concept of death and beyond. Definitely recommend if you love mythology and the underworld.

TW: racism (against jinns), sexism, death, blood, death of a child, violence, grief; mentions death of a parent, suicide, pregnancy, abortion, murder
 

Never thought I'd read such a sexy musical romance, but here we are.

Xander is a black cat with golden retriever energy, while Gwen is a bit more doe-eyed and naive. I loved their chemistry, and how he was absolutely enamoured by her, and how they both respected each other's boundaries and were in absolute awe over one another's talent. It was a fairly wholesome romance, only strife by the toxic people they accidentally surrounded themselves with (read: naive).

I liked getting behind the scenes of music production and the different paths music can take you. I loved that neither of the MCs were classically trained, yet found ways to do what they love in a way that they love. Gwen's unstable childhood led her to seek out stable work, while Xander's childhood forced him into a box he never wanted to be put in so he seeks out ways to be free of it. Their dynamic works, and I liked how they both challenged and supported each other.

Outside of each other though, they have their own relationships and friendships and I enjoyed getting to see the found families they carved out for themselves. I'm a sucker for supportive friends, and I honestly wish we got a bit more interaction between the MCs and their friends outside of their double dates. I feel like we needed a bit more foundation there, but I did enjoy their camaraderie, especially at the end.

As a whole, I loved the musical aspect because it's a world I know and understand. The writing was addictive and easy, but it felt like the characters' goals were always a bit blurred so it was hard to root for any particular direction or win outside of the romance. That being said, the romance was full of tension and super spicy, so if that's your thing, this is the book for you.

TW: gaslighting, manipulation, sexual content; mentions death of a parent, death of a relative 

 I feel like this book had nothing by way of plot until the end, but I enjoyed the characters well enough. Wish there had been less fetch quest and more lore and backstory. We come into this story with three assumptions - 1. You read the original series; 2. Wendy Darling is someone we already should know and care about (even though we know Winnie and NOT Wendy and they should be their own characters if written well enough); 3. Hook and Roc have some kind of established relationship beyond hate (the enemies to lovers doesn't hit right if you don't tend to the relationship building). It felt like the story didn't build right because of the assumed spin-off magic or something. It was not my favourite, but the cliffhanger was interesting.

TW: violence, imprisonment, murder, injury detail, blood, alcohol, sexual content; mentions child abuse 

Although Malcolm Mercer is at the center of the story, this book is told from two POVs - Kira's and Joanna's. These women talk about their dreams and how those dreams will become a reality with this show and yet in every other thought, there lives Malcolm, controlling everything somehow without truly having a voice in the narrative.

This story was intense and nerve-wracking and unlike any thriller I've read before. Full of feminine rage, these two women feel like they've put in their dues and it's time the world paid up. It was all such a mindf*ck and I'm still thinking about that final scene. What a ride.

TW: violence, injury detail, alcohol consumption, domestic abuse, sexual content, alcohol abuse, blood, murder; mentions infidelity, pregnancy, vomiting, adult/minor relationship, miscarriage, attempted suicide

Sleep Like Death was an easy read. I feel like I flew right through it despite it being 350 pages. It's very much a slow burn of a book, and, though it talks of Eve being the queen's fury, there isn't as much action in it as I thought there would be. That being said, it was the dark and twisted fairytale I had expected, so it was a good time overall.

A huge part of the story was definitely the relationships between a parent and their child. Eve with her mother, Claude and his kids, Nova even. It was largely about what we are willing to do for those we consider kin and the expectations we have for each other as a result. I loved that there were various depictions of parenthood, but I especially loved Claude and his kids.

I found some of the twists surprising and I enjoyed the adventure we go on with Eve as she attempts to vanquish the foreboding Knight. I do wish there had been more action, but I liked how the retelling shakes out and the changes that were made to fit this new story.

As a whole, I enjoyed Sleep Like Death. I found the world building interesting and Kalynn's way of storytelling straightforward and easy to comprehend. I'm now considering going back to the rest of the books to see how they all fit into this larger world, and I look forward to seeing how all of these stories come together in the end!

TW: death of an animal (hunting), blood, violence, torture, injury detail, death, mutilation, death of a parent, death of a child, grief; mentions suicide, pregnancy

ARC gifted by Bloomsbury Books US via bookinfluencers.com in exchange for an honest review.

Five stars. Easy five stars. I feel like Road to Ruin came out of nowhere. I'd heard nothing about this book until this tour and I can't imagine why. A fast-paced, diverse, dystopian fantasy full of magic, monsters, complex relationships, and love, this book is brimming with everything I love about early 2010 dystopian fantasies.

This book was a setup for the bigger series but still had it's own full chaotic plot. We have Jin, the courier, and her sparktalent; Reena, a shieldcaster and a princess trying to escape a sexist and classist city; and Kadrin, the Talentless prince of what was viewed as a refuge for Talentless refugees. I loved all three of them as we get to know them through both the main plot and the letters Reena and Kadrin send each other. Full of action and betrayals, the main plot was a wild ride.

That being said, the setup was no less interesting. I enjoyed hearing about Reena's research into the Talented versus the Talentless, the mana pools, and the overall world building we were given. It all felt so organic and effortless, and there was a wonderful balance between that and the main plot. I loved Screech, too, and how there was a peek into the lore of the world's monsters, which I'm sure we'll explore in the future.

This book also tackles some bigger issues, including race purity, sexism, classism, and environmentalism. Similar to the world building, it's not in your face, but it's also a huge part of what triggers the plot and the exploration of it was really well done.

I will say, if you were a fan of the 2010s dystopian craze, this book will definitely be for you. This gave me that buzzy reader feeling I've been chasing for the last while and I love it! This book isn't even out yet and I'm now anticipating it's sequel!

TW: death, murder, blood, injury detail, blood, violence, alcohol consumption, kidnapping, sexism, classism; mentions death of a parent, incest

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads Rating: 4.72/5

eARC and FC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Saga Press via Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a mixed bag for me. The beginning was a five-star, the middle was a three-star, and the end was a five-star again. So I'm landing on a 3.5 for this book as a whole.

I found Helen so relatable. There was one part in particular that was so familiar. She talks about picking up her feelings and putting them aside for others, which made her more fragile as an adult. That was 100% me in university. It got to the point where I was so damn depressed, emotionally repressed, and unable to process my own feelings that I was crying on a daily basis without a full understanding of my own feelings. Some of the stuff her parents say to her felt like they'd been pulled from my life. That side of things was written to perfection.

What lost me was the romance. She spews venom at him, she gives him a panic attack, then nothing happens, she has a sex dream, and suddenly they're doing it everywhere. It was not the vibe for me and came out of left field. The build up felt like an attempted montage of nothing that should've been comraderie where there was none. They lacked the communication I needed to buy into their relationship and that was a huge disappointment. Even at the end of the day, I didn't fully understand their love for each other and why it should've worked. This felt the same for most of Helen's and Grant's outside relationships. There never felt like there was a foundation of something stronger than convenience or a passing moment at a bar or cafe. I wanted more substance there, and never got it.

I'm keeping this book because I felt seen by it, but I think that my least favourite part of this romance was the romance, so I don't quite know what to do with that. All in all, I see why people love it, but I also see why people didn't.

TW: death of a sibling/child, car accident, panic attack, sexual content, alcohol consumption, grief, drug use, suicide

ARC gifted by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Audio ARC gifted by Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.

This book definitely landed more in contemporary lit fic than it did in romance. While there is a romantic undertone, a lot of this book is our MC Sadie trying to figure out life.

I'm not generally a time travel girly or a holiday season reader, but I did like how this book really drove home the message that sometimes things happen for a reason. As Sadie starts her Second Chance Year, she starts to fold herself up and hide her true feelings in order to stop rocking the boat, because that's what resulted in the Very Bad Year.

I'll be honest, I liked her Second Chance Year. It might not have worked out the way she planned it, but she learned so much more through it and the finale felt all the more satisfying. It felt earned, even though she had to really go through it in order to get there.

The one thing I wish we had more of was Sadie actually talking through her feelings more, whether through her own narrative or a longer conversation with her friends/family. It would have made the bonds stronger and given us a bit more foundation for her relationships.

All in all, a solid read full of found family, chaos, and letting go of expectations.

TW: sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexism, alcohol consumption, racism; mentions death

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.

Repetitive prose, immediate dislike of the MMC. DNF 10% in.

TW: HP reference, sexism

Whew, that was too relatable, oof. RTC

This book was relatable to the point it felt like a personal attack, and I both resent being called out and also applaud Lily Chu for it.

Dee is a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, Teddy is the heir of a huge fashion business, and chaos ensues when Teddy's family business is thrust in the spotlight for terrible D&I practices (in that there wasn't really any D&I). The main plot was hard to get through - the micro-agressions, white privilege, and outright racism - it was a wild storm. However, so many great conversations came out of it and it was a huge undertaking on Chu's part to write about and shine a light on some of these issues.

The personal attack was Dee's family. The way they sweep everything under a facade of toxic positivity and general avoidance. It was a bit too real at times, and I commend Chu for really hitting me where it hurts. So much of my family was reflected in this book and it was an oof. Dee's growth through it was amazing, even though it takes her a while to fully settle into it (relatable, as well).

While I liked Dee, I loved Teddy. He was my favourite part of the story. Lily Chu always makes her men so real and outside of the conventional "manly man" template. Teddy is a fashion designer who loves art and isn't intimidated by a smart woman and he's almost entirely green flags and I love him for it. He and Dee really click and seeing their relationship with each other develop and grow was a lot of fun, despite the growing pains.

The book was a ride and while I definitely didn't like confronting some of my own issues as I read it, a book where you see yourself reflected and your experiences shared is really a testament to Chu's ability to write real and relatable characters. That ending also was so vindicating, my goodness!

Rep: biracial MCs, bisexual secondary character

TW: toxic positivity, biphobia, racism, micro-aggressions, racial slurs, bullying, sexism; mentions fatphobia, cancer, death of a parent

eARC gifted via Colored Pages Book Tours by Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.