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lastblossom's reviews
200 reviews
Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A couple of fun heists act as the backdrop for a spicy second chance romance.
Thoughts
Make no mistake - this book is about the relationship, and it knows it. Celeste and Magnus are adults. Their last time together ended poorly, but the spark never left. In fact, it probably turned into a flame during the years apart. This thing is packed with sexual tension, steamy glances across the room, and plenty of spice. They steal gems and it's sexy. They roleplay (for the job, of course) and it's sexy. They have sex and that is also sexy. The whole thing is extremely sexy, and if you're looking for a steamy good time, look no further. Supporting cast are all varied and fun. Doris, the deceased mentor is somehow the strongest personality of them all, and her story shines through her letters and diary entries as our MCs navigate their current heists. The plot itself is straightforward and fast-paced; there are a handful of heists, all with minor complications and major payoffs, and all feeding into the relationship between Celeste and Magnus. It's also a standalone - no cliffhangers to worry about - but with just enough space that the other characters might get up to shenanigans at a later date.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A couple of fun heists act as the backdrop for a spicy second chance romance.
Thoughts
Make no mistake - this book is about the relationship, and it knows it. Celeste and Magnus are adults. Their last time together ended poorly, but the spark never left. In fact, it probably turned into a flame during the years apart. This thing is packed with sexual tension, steamy glances across the room, and plenty of spice. They steal gems and it's sexy. They roleplay (for the job, of course) and it's sexy. They have sex and that is also sexy. The whole thing is extremely sexy, and if you're looking for a steamy good time, look no further. Supporting cast are all varied and fun. Doris, the deceased mentor is somehow the strongest personality of them all, and her story shines through her letters and diary entries as our MCs navigate their current heists. The plot itself is straightforward and fast-paced; there are a handful of heists, all with minor complications and major payoffs, and all feeding into the relationship between Celeste and Magnus. It's also a standalone - no cliffhangers to worry about - but with just enough space that the other characters might get up to shenanigans at a later date.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Racism and Sexism
Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer Chow
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Magical baking pairs perfectly with a cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing.
Thought
My relationship with cozy mysteries is extremely neutral, but I decided to grab this one because I will always read a book where baking is magic. And to my delight, the magical baking is a pretty big part of the story, so I have not been led astray by the marketing. It's also a competent cozy mystery with a relatable heroine, a very sweet relationship with her mother, and a cute boy next door who may or may not hold a flame for our heroine (hmmmm). I most enjoyed how much Felicity's magic reflects her own identity as a child of the diaspora. Fortune cookies have a complicated history with Japanese roots, that eventually shift to Chinese American, and that lines up perfectly with Felecity's own struggle to embrace her own history and identity. Add to that a magical rabbit, and a mystery with plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and you have a fun start to a promising series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Magical baking pairs perfectly with a cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing.
Thought
My relationship with cozy mysteries is extremely neutral, but I decided to grab this one because I will always read a book where baking is magic. And to my delight, the magical baking is a pretty big part of the story, so I have not been led astray by the marketing. It's also a competent cozy mystery with a relatable heroine, a very sweet relationship with her mother, and a cute boy next door who may or may not hold a flame for our heroine (hmmmm). I most enjoyed how much Felicity's magic reflects her own identity as a child of the diaspora. Fortune cookies have a complicated history with Japanese roots, that eventually shift to Chinese American, and that lines up perfectly with Felecity's own struggle to embrace her own history and identity. Add to that a magical rabbit, and a mystery with plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and you have a fun start to a promising series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence
Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A thoughtful and well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace spectrum.
Thoughts
Chika feels out place in a way that she can't describe. The version of love that everyone assures her will show up someday seems unattainable - even undesirable. It's a struggle many ace people have been through - how do you define something by its lack? Especially in a world where sexual attraction and romance are considered as universal and as "normal" as breathing. But as Chika discovers, not all love is expressed sexually or romantically. Not everyone is wired to be that way, and that is, in fact, entirely normal. This isn't a story as much as it is a really well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace gradient, with a cast of really fun characters. I appreciate that the story also covers the fact that there's no one way to be asexual, and that terms and words are only useful until they aren't. It's a very sweet coming-of-age one shot, that works as a great introduction to what it means to be ace.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A thoughtful and well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace spectrum.
Thoughts
Chika feels out place in a way that she can't describe. The version of love that everyone assures her will show up someday seems unattainable - even undesirable. It's a struggle many ace people have been through - how do you define something by its lack? Especially in a world where sexual attraction and romance are considered as universal and as "normal" as breathing. But as Chika discovers, not all love is expressed sexually or romantically. Not everyone is wired to be that way, and that is, in fact, entirely normal. This isn't a story as much as it is a really well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace gradient, with a cast of really fun characters. I appreciate that the story also covers the fact that there's no one way to be asexual, and that terms and words are only useful until they aren't. It's a very sweet coming-of-age one shot, that works as a great introduction to what it means to be ace.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Secrets upon secrets power a fast-moving plot and some fanciful world building.
Thoughts
Ooh, this one's twisty. Ying dreams of joining the Engineer's Guild, a goal rather hampered by the fact that it's a boys only situation. When her father is murdered, seemingly in connection with the Guild, she disguises herself as a boy and joins to find his killer. But her deception is far from the only one. We've got political machinations, assassins, secret machines of war, and other hidden identities, all wrapped up in a power grab for the future of the kingdom. The plot moves from one twist to the next at a speedy pace that kept me turning pages, but never felt like it was overdoing it with the drama. Ying is a great lead - determined, capable, but also incredibly conflicted, especially as more secrets come to light and the reality of war unfolds. There's also a romance woven into this for fans who like it with... complications. World building is a bit steampunk and a lot of Chinese lore woven together in an original world that sparks the imagination, and by that I mean there's a mechanical dragon that flies and it's awesome.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Secrets upon secrets power a fast-moving plot and some fanciful world building.
Thoughts
Ooh, this one's twisty. Ying dreams of joining the Engineer's Guild, a goal rather hampered by the fact that it's a boys only situation. When her father is murdered, seemingly in connection with the Guild, she disguises herself as a boy and joins to find his killer. But her deception is far from the only one. We've got political machinations, assassins, secret machines of war, and other hidden identities, all wrapped up in a power grab for the future of the kingdom. The plot moves from one twist to the next at a speedy pace that kept me turning pages, but never felt like it was overdoing it with the drama. Ying is a great lead - determined, capable, but also incredibly conflicted, especially as more secrets come to light and the reality of war unfolds. There's also a romance woven into this for fans who like it with... complications. World building is a bit steampunk and a lot of Chinese lore woven together in an original world that sparks the imagination, and by that I mean there's a mechanical dragon that flies and it's awesome.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexual violence
A Game Most Foul by Alison Gervais
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A relatable lead and an intriguing mystery, with the inclusion of Holmes and Watson somehow being the least interesting thing about this.
Thoughts
This is going to sound weird, but I loved everything about this book except Holmes and Watson. I knooow! But let's start at the beginning. Jules is a great lead - complex, smart, determined, and extremely human. Her struggles with herself, her writing, and her dreams were all very relatable. I also loved having an OwnVoices author talk about learning to live with hearing loss. Her friends are great, with contrasting personalities that both shine. Add to that some light romance, and you've got a very promising recipe. I'd be more than happy to watch the three of them solve mysteries forever. But that's not exactly what we get, because then we get Watson and Holmes, and an old mystery of theirs instead. Now don't get me wrong - I love Holmes and Watson, and I'll read any incarnation I can get my hands on. But I had invested a lot into the three young writers at the start, and I didn't enjoy seeing them take the back seat in a mystery they were already handling with a decent amount of competence. I really don't know how this could've been handled differently, but I do know that I was very eager for the kids to shine, and they didn't get as much screentime as I would have liked for them. I am saying this in the complimentary sense, dear author. I liked your characters, and they didn't need help. The mystery itself is serviceable. I didn't feel let down, but there weren't any huge surprises either. This book is marketed as being for Holmes fans, but it resonated with me much more as coming of age story about young writers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blink for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A relatable lead and an intriguing mystery, with the inclusion of Holmes and Watson somehow being the least interesting thing about this.
Thoughts
This is going to sound weird, but I loved everything about this book except Holmes and Watson. I knooow! But let's start at the beginning. Jules is a great lead - complex, smart, determined, and extremely human. Her struggles with herself, her writing, and her dreams were all very relatable. I also loved having an OwnVoices author talk about learning to live with hearing loss. Her friends are great, with contrasting personalities that both shine. Add to that some light romance, and you've got a very promising recipe. I'd be more than happy to watch the three of them solve mysteries forever. But that's not exactly what we get, because then we get Watson and Holmes, and an old mystery of theirs instead. Now don't get me wrong - I love Holmes and Watson, and I'll read any incarnation I can get my hands on. But I had invested a lot into the three young writers at the start, and I didn't enjoy seeing them take the back seat in a mystery they were already handling with a decent amount of competence. I really don't know how this could've been handled differently, but I do know that I was very eager for the kids to shine, and they didn't get as much screentime as I would have liked for them. I am saying this in the complimentary sense, dear author. I liked your characters, and they didn't need help. The mystery itself is serviceable. I didn't feel let down, but there weren't any huge surprises either. This book is marketed as being for Holmes fans, but it resonated with me much more as coming of age story about young writers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blink for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Ableism
Gazing at the Star Next Door, Volume 1 by Ammitsu
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Competently hits most of the expected beats, with a nice twist about characters who might be growing further apart instead of closer together.
Thoughts
If you're an avid reader of shoujo manga, you know what to expect. Beautiful artwork with soft lines, and a plot packed with longing looks and light flirtation. We've got all the hits: Childhood friendship, the hottest guy in school, and even the ill-advised mixer with college boys. All of it is very competently done, with nothing to complain about, and plenty of very pleasing illustrations and sweet moments. The author's notes talk about the story being one of drifting further away from friends with the passage of time. It's an interesting twist on the usual: Most shoujo romance features our main characters slowly growing closer. In this case, they might actually be growing further instead. There's a bit of a bittersweet tone that comes through because of it, but nothing too sad. In the end, it's still a sweet and light romance with a very pretty boy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Competently hits most of the expected beats, with a nice twist about characters who might be growing further apart instead of closer together.
Thoughts
If you're an avid reader of shoujo manga, you know what to expect. Beautiful artwork with soft lines, and a plot packed with longing looks and light flirtation. We've got all the hits: Childhood friendship, the hottest guy in school, and even the ill-advised mixer with college boys. All of it is very competently done, with nothing to complain about, and plenty of very pleasing illustrations and sweet moments. The author's notes talk about the story being one of drifting further away from friends with the passage of time. It's an interesting twist on the usual: Most shoujo romance features our main characters slowly growing closer. In this case, they might actually be growing further instead. There's a bit of a bittersweet tone that comes through because of it, but nothing too sad. In the end, it's still a sweet and light romance with a very pretty boy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
A cozy mystery with some interesting historical content and a fun twist on the Sherlock Holmes mythos.
Thoughts
The Sherlock-verse is a wide one. Everyone in his life seems to also be a detective: his old friends, the Irregulars, siblings, descendants. And now it turns out his circle even extends into the "real" world where he's fictional. Which honestly? Works really well. The Missing Maid is a reasonably grounded story, with the MC regularly commenting on how Sherlock would have figured this out by now from some miniscule detail, but she's stuck here in the mortal realm navigating dead ends, hurdles, and her own real life. The mystery unfolds at an even pace, with plenty of historical details and events to give it weight. It's also a fairly cozy read, with very few action pieces, and hints of a budding romance that I found rather sweet. Harry is still new to the detective business, but she, and the series, show a lot of promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A cozy mystery with some interesting historical content and a fun twist on the Sherlock Holmes mythos.
Thoughts
The Sherlock-verse is a wide one. Everyone in his life seems to also be a detective: his old friends, the Irregulars, siblings, descendants. And now it turns out his circle even extends into the "real" world where he's fictional. Which honestly? Works really well. The Missing Maid is a reasonably grounded story, with the MC regularly commenting on how Sherlock would have figured this out by now from some miniscule detail, but she's stuck here in the mortal realm navigating dead ends, hurdles, and her own real life. The mystery unfolds at an even pace, with plenty of historical details and events to give it weight. It's also a fairly cozy read, with very few action pieces, and hints of a budding romance that I found rather sweet. Harry is still new to the detective business, but she, and the series, show a lot of promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Confinement
Rooted Kitchen by Ashley Rodriguez
informative
inspiring
tl;dr
A variety of recipes and beautiful photos great for a beginning forager looking for what to do with their harvest.
Thoughts
With more and more people foraging, it's natural to also want to know what to do with the foods one forages. Most foraging guides offer brief suggestions and guidelines, but Rooted Kitchen takes it a step further by providing actual recipes, along with a handful of tips on best harvesting practices. It's also got some genuinely gorgeous photos. The book is divided by season, making it easy to find the ingredient you want to showcase. Recipes range in difficulty, with something in here for every skill level. Most dishes are pescatarian, but include notes on vegetarian and vegan alternatives. If you or a friend has jumped into foraging and want to know what to do with everything you've harvested, this is a great place to start.
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A variety of recipes and beautiful photos great for a beginning forager looking for what to do with their harvest.
Thoughts
With more and more people foraging, it's natural to also want to know what to do with the foods one forages. Most foraging guides offer brief suggestions and guidelines, but Rooted Kitchen takes it a step further by providing actual recipes, along with a handful of tips on best harvesting practices. It's also got some genuinely gorgeous photos. The book is divided by season, making it easy to find the ingredient you want to showcase. Recipes range in difficulty, with something in here for every skill level. Most dishes are pescatarian, but include notes on vegetarian and vegan alternatives. If you or a friend has jumped into foraging and want to know what to do with everything you've harvested, this is a great place to start.
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
An emotional ride featuring a clever protagonist that absolutely sticks the landing.
Thoughts
I finished this book a while ago, but I had to sit with my thoughts for a while because they are many. Like the lead character, this book is beautiful and clever and ambitious and tragic, and I found myself caught up in it the whole way through. Espionage tales are tricky, but this one really fulfills is promise, with a lead character who is absolutely cunning, and I love every move she makes. Pacing can be a bit hard to follow in some places, with large portions of time passing quickly in a way that makes me feel a TV show would convert it into a quick musical montage. The parts where it slows down to really detail the character interactions are by far the best parts, and I was surprised at how delicate and tender some of the emotions are. If the description of the book seems even the least bit interesting to you, give it a read. Strong recommend on this end.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
An emotional ride featuring a clever protagonist that absolutely sticks the landing.
Thoughts
I finished this book a while ago, but I had to sit with my thoughts for a while because they are many. Like the lead character, this book is beautiful and clever and ambitious and tragic, and I found myself caught up in it the whole way through. Espionage tales are tricky, but this one really fulfills is promise, with a lead character who is absolutely cunning, and I love every move she makes. Pacing can be a bit hard to follow in some places, with large portions of time passing quickly in a way that makes me feel a TV show would convert it into a quick musical montage. The parts where it slows down to really detail the character interactions are by far the best parts, and I was surprised at how delicate and tender some of the emotions are. If the description of the book seems even the least bit interesting to you, give it a read. Strong recommend on this end.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Child death, Trafficking, and Alcohol
The Blood Vier by Christy R. Harrill
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
tl;dr
Fast-paced plot with a lot of action pieces, but doesn't give the entire cast enough space to shine.
Thoughts
Dang this one moves FAST. As in, it feels like the plot of the first two books in a trilogy have been smooshed into a single book. Our titular blood vier shows up to vie for a position as her role suggests, leaving me to expect a book's worth of training, tests, sinister plot hooks, and a slowly developing relationship with the other leads. Instead, we race past the actual vying portion and jump straight into what comes after. On the one hand, I appreciate that the author didn't lock all the big action pieces away for the next book. On the other hand, I feel like I didn't get to know the cast nearly well enough before they went on their big adventure, leaving me to play catchup as the plot unfurls. The second POV character gets so much less attention than the first that part of me wondered if it was fully necessary to have him at all when we could use that time for other things. The healer character mentioned in the book description also gets very little air time. She's got a lot of history and a lot of personality, and we get only the barest glimmers of it before breaking off to do other things. And there are plenty of other things to do. Chase down leads, escape from kidnappings, prevent war, break out prisoners, and even fight the elements. Overall, I'd say there's a lot of stuff packed in here with some interesting world-building (especially that cliffhanger stinger!), but I yearn to get to know the supporting cast better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rose Hollow Press for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Fast-paced plot with a lot of action pieces, but doesn't give the entire cast enough space to shine.
Thoughts
Dang this one moves FAST. As in, it feels like the plot of the first two books in a trilogy have been smooshed into a single book. Our titular blood vier shows up to vie for a position as her role suggests, leaving me to expect a book's worth of training, tests, sinister plot hooks, and a slowly developing relationship with the other leads. Instead, we race past the actual vying portion and jump straight into what comes after. On the one hand, I appreciate that the author didn't lock all the big action pieces away for the next book. On the other hand, I feel like I didn't get to know the cast nearly well enough before they went on their big adventure, leaving me to play catchup as the plot unfurls. The second POV character gets so much less attention than the first that part of me wondered if it was fully necessary to have him at all when we could use that time for other things. The healer character mentioned in the book description also gets very little air time. She's got a lot of history and a lot of personality, and we get only the barest glimmers of it before breaking off to do other things. And there are plenty of other things to do. Chase down leads, escape from kidnappings, prevent war, break out prisoners, and even fight the elements. Overall, I'd say there's a lot of stuff packed in here with some interesting world-building (especially that cliffhanger stinger!), but I yearn to get to know the supporting cast better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rose Hollow Press for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and War