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lastblossom's reviews
200 reviews
Super Morning Star, Vol. 1 by Kara Aomiya
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
If you like your romance with a side of messy high school feelings, this one's for you.
Thoughts
I love a "secret identity" plot, and I went into this expecting all sorts of slice of life hijinks with a side of romcom goodness. Turns out, it's almost all romance, and very few hijinks. It's also extremely messy with emotions. Honda hasn't yet realized he likes guys, and this manifests itself in some incredibly hurtful ways. Thankfully his friends are actually pretty great, and they call him out on it. But wow! That's not an attractive side of you, man. Kaido on the other hand is very sweet and should be protected at all costs. No complaints here. The art is nice, with delicate lines and some good tones. Honda's friends are little bit indistinct in their designs, but both the leads stand out and are very attractive.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
If you like your romance with a side of messy high school feelings, this one's for you.
Thoughts
I love a "secret identity" plot, and I went into this expecting all sorts of slice of life hijinks with a side of romcom goodness. Turns out, it's almost all romance, and very few hijinks. It's also extremely messy with emotions. Honda hasn't yet realized he likes guys, and this manifests itself in some incredibly hurtful ways. Thankfully his friends are actually pretty great, and they call him out on it. But wow! That's not an attractive side of you, man. Kaido on the other hand is very sweet and should be protected at all costs. No complaints here. The art is nice, with delicate lines and some good tones. Honda's friends are little bit indistinct in their designs, but both the leads stand out and are very attractive.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
Madame Fromage's Adventures in Cheese: How to Explore It, Pair It, and Love It, from the Creamiest Bries to the Funkiest Blues by Tenaya Darlington
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
tl;dr
Fun and informative, this book will also really really spark your appetite.
Thoughts
If I didn't already know the author was a blogger, I'd probably guess, because the cadence of the book hits that perfect sweet spot of enthusiastic people sharing slices of knowledge in inviting vignettes. I already like cheese. But even as a fan of all things cheese, this covered so much more knowledge than I already had. History, science, geography - all the things that make cheese such a varied and exciting food. I was only a few pages in before had to hit pause and check to see if there were any local cheesemakers I could check out. And I think that's the strength of this book. It's informative, sure. But mostly it's inspiring. It makes me want to learn more, try new flavors, and have friends along for the ride. And honestly, that's pretty great.
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Fun and informative, this book will also really really spark your appetite.
Thoughts
If I didn't already know the author was a blogger, I'd probably guess, because the cadence of the book hits that perfect sweet spot of enthusiastic people sharing slices of knowledge in inviting vignettes. I already like cheese. But even as a fan of all things cheese, this covered so much more knowledge than I already had. History, science, geography - all the things that make cheese such a varied and exciting food. I was only a few pages in before had to hit pause and check to see if there were any local cheesemakers I could check out. And I think that's the strength of this book. It's informative, sure. But mostly it's inspiring. It makes me want to learn more, try new flavors, and have friends along for the ride. And honestly, that's pretty great.
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Court drama and romance with a touch of magic in a tasty revenge plot.
Thoughts
I love a good "I was wronged and murdered and have been sent back in time to get my revenge before I'm wronged again" plot. A prevenge plot? Sure! I love a good prevenge plot. And this certainly is a fun one. The story wastes no time dropping us into the plot, and Mingshin wastes no time making different choices. She also stays pretty firmly locked into her goal, even with the distractions of romance and a sudden alteration in the timeline. That's not to say she ignores romance entirely. Jieh is a pretty big part of the storyline, and he checks all the boxes as far as love interests go: hot, strong, totally arrogant, and eventually incredibly soft. I confess, I prefer his sister, though. She's probably my favorite character in the whole thing, and would make a great lead character in her own drama. The political maneuvering is top notch, with the MC and her opponents all cleverly matched against each other. Anyone looking for machinations and plot twists will find lots of tasty moments here. The ending ties up several threads in a satisfying manner, but revenge is a long process, and there are definitely more questions that need answers. I hope we get future installments!
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Court drama and romance with a touch of magic in a tasty revenge plot.
Thoughts
I love a good "I was wronged and murdered and have been sent back in time to get my revenge before I'm wronged again" plot. A prevenge plot? Sure! I love a good prevenge plot. And this certainly is a fun one. The story wastes no time dropping us into the plot, and Mingshin wastes no time making different choices. She also stays pretty firmly locked into her goal, even with the distractions of romance and a sudden alteration in the timeline. That's not to say she ignores romance entirely. Jieh is a pretty big part of the storyline, and he checks all the boxes as far as love interests go: hot, strong, totally arrogant, and eventually incredibly soft. I confess, I prefer his sister, though. She's probably my favorite character in the whole thing, and would make a great lead character in her own drama. The political maneuvering is top notch, with the MC and her opponents all cleverly matched against each other. Anyone looking for machinations and plot twists will find lots of tasty moments here. The ending ties up several threads in a satisfying manner, but revenge is a long process, and there are definitely more questions that need answers. I hope we get future installments!
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
An excellent mix of gothic and dark academia set in a world where the lines of reality are blurry, and the power of writing runs deep.
Thoughts
I was going through a reading dry spell when I grudgingly forced myself to start reading this book. And then I finished the entire thing in a day. The book starts at a slow pace, but it gets its hooks into you early with an uneasy sense of uncertainty with the world. There's magic in the world. Or maybe there isn't. Strange things haunt Effy at night. Or maybe they don't? All we really know is that Effy feels unwelcome, and finds solace only in her worn copy of the novel Angharad. It's no wonder that she leaps at the chance to redesign the author's house, even if the invitation seems utterly suspect. And things get even more suspect when she arrives. The house is a character unto itself, a proper gothic crumbling mansion with locked rooms and nature creeping in and out of cracks in the ceiling. It's here that the story really closes in, as reality begins to blur even more, and the mystery surrounding the house and the novel take center stage. Literature student Preston provides a good partner in both the study and romantic sense, with a softer slow-paced romance that takes a back seat to the rest of the plot. The ending is expected, but satisfying, and I found the discussion on what it means to read or write a book to be incredibly touching.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
An excellent mix of gothic and dark academia set in a world where the lines of reality are blurry, and the power of writing runs deep.
Thoughts
I was going through a reading dry spell when I grudgingly forced myself to start reading this book. And then I finished the entire thing in a day. The book starts at a slow pace, but it gets its hooks into you early with an uneasy sense of uncertainty with the world. There's magic in the world. Or maybe there isn't. Strange things haunt Effy at night. Or maybe they don't? All we really know is that Effy feels unwelcome, and finds solace only in her worn copy of the novel Angharad. It's no wonder that she leaps at the chance to redesign the author's house, even if the invitation seems utterly suspect. And things get even more suspect when she arrives. The house is a character unto itself, a proper gothic crumbling mansion with locked rooms and nature creeping in and out of cracks in the ceiling. It's here that the story really closes in, as reality begins to blur even more, and the mystery surrounding the house and the novel take center stage. Literature student Preston provides a good partner in both the study and romantic sense, with a softer slow-paced romance that takes a back seat to the rest of the plot. The ending is expected, but satisfying, and I found the discussion on what it means to read or write a book to be incredibly touching.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol
Just A Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow
adventurous
inspiring
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 and witchy vibes build the foundation for a middle grade adventure about love and the many forms it can take.
Thoughts
The pastel cover had me thinking this would be a "friendship is magic tale," (and it is!) but I was delighted to find some serious witchy vibes and scares in the back half as well. Honeycrisp Hill is a place overflowing with magic, and although we only get broad strokes on how the system works, it's clear that things can get dangerous quickly.
Wini and Kal make great leads, bonding over both their similarities and their differences. The unsettling pain of being an "outsider" based on things you can't control really resonated with me, and it was great to see them connect. In that space, I was also happy to see that this book takes the time to explore the many kinds of love - that love can be between friends, or family, or also romantically.
I was not at all surprised to find the author was also a pastry chef because the descriptions of baking are spot-on. The recipes included look great, and I love that Wini's personality that shines through in the instructions. I'm definitely going to have to try some of the recipes for myself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Magical baking and witchy vibes build the foundation for a middle grade adventure about love and the many forms it can take.
Thoughts
The pastel cover had me thinking this would be a "friendship is magic tale," (and it is!) but I was delighted to find some serious witchy vibes and scares in the back half as well. Honeycrisp Hill is a place overflowing with magic, and although we only get broad strokes on how the system works, it's clear that things can get dangerous quickly.
Wini and Kal make great leads, bonding over both their similarities and their differences. The unsettling pain of being an "outsider" based on things you can't control really resonated with me, and it was great to see them connect. In that space, I was also happy to see that this book takes the time to explore the many kinds of love - that love can be between friends, or family, or also romantically.
I was not at all surprised to find the author was also a pastry chef because the descriptions of baking are spot-on. The recipes included look great, and I love that Wini's personality that shines through in the instructions. I'm definitely going to have to try some of the recipes for myself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent
Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
An interesting take on Arthurian legend. Too dark for me, sadly.
Thoughts
I keep telling myself to give dark fantasy another chance, and I should stop telling myself that. My feelings on this book are split. On the plus side, some great twists on fae and Arthurian legend. The story had some great reveals, and I liked all the supporting friends. But it turns out I am tired of things being miserable always and at all times. While this doesn't go all the way into "gritty" territory, the storyline is definitely dark enough, with our MC constantly being kicked around from all directions (mostly from her really terrible brother), with barely a sliver of relief. At one point, I started to wonder why she was even still doing the quest, when she'd probably be better off just running away. Or perhaps using the time away to build that secret army her brother thinks she's got going on. But if you want a dark fantasy, this book absolutely fulfills the prompt. There's also a decent amount of spice, and a very slow burn romance (that looks like it won't really see completion until later installments), and I liked the world building.
Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
An interesting take on Arthurian legend. Too dark for me, sadly.
Thoughts
I keep telling myself to give dark fantasy another chance, and I should stop telling myself that. My feelings on this book are split. On the plus side, some great twists on fae and Arthurian legend. The story had some great reveals, and I liked all the supporting friends. But it turns out I am tired of things being miserable always and at all times. While this doesn't go all the way into "gritty" territory, the storyline is definitely dark enough, with our MC constantly being kicked around from all directions (mostly from her really terrible brother), with barely a sliver of relief. At one point, I started to wonder why she was even still doing the quest, when she'd probably be better off just running away. Or perhaps using the time away to build that secret army her brother thinks she's got going on. But if you want a dark fantasy, this book absolutely fulfills the prompt. There's also a decent amount of spice, and a very slow burn romance (that looks like it won't really see completion until later installments), and I liked the world building.
Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Xenophobia
House of Marionne by J. Elle
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Magical boarding school with a dark academia twist. Moves a little unevenly, but shows a lot of promise for future installments.
Thoughts
The cover and description of this book had me going in thinking it was going to be more standard fantasy, so I found myself very confused by the use of cell phones at the start. Turns out it's modern magical boarding school with a dark academia twist, and I should have read the description more thoughtfully (mea culpa). Magical boarding schools don't usually do it for me, but this has all the markers that fans of the genre will love: distinct named Houses, mysterious symbols, classifications of things, school culture, magical tests, and Latin! And of course, a secret plot going on behind the scenes that our scrappy young heroine will have to uncover. The magic system and the school system are both described in depth, with a lot of cool stuff that sparks the imagination. The masks/diadem system in particular is very cool.
The lead couple are a standard enemies to lovers pair, although I found myself much more invested in the lives of several of the supporting cast. This book feels more like a setup for what's the come - now that we've been introduced to the magic, the characters, and the plot, the real fight can begin. It makes the pacing of the first volume a little wobbly, but the ending really comes in swinging with promises of some really twisty exciting stuff in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Magical boarding school with a dark academia twist. Moves a little unevenly, but shows a lot of promise for future installments.
Thoughts
The cover and description of this book had me going in thinking it was going to be more standard fantasy, so I found myself very confused by the use of cell phones at the start. Turns out it's modern magical boarding school with a dark academia twist, and I should have read the description more thoughtfully (mea culpa). Magical boarding schools don't usually do it for me, but this has all the markers that fans of the genre will love: distinct named Houses, mysterious symbols, classifications of things, school culture, magical tests, and Latin! And of course, a secret plot going on behind the scenes that our scrappy young heroine will have to uncover. The magic system and the school system are both described in depth, with a lot of cool stuff that sparks the imagination. The masks/diadem system in particular is very cool.
The lead couple are a standard enemies to lovers pair, although I found myself much more invested in the lives of several of the supporting cast. This book feels more like a setup for what's the come - now that we've been introduced to the magic, the characters, and the plot, the real fight can begin. It makes the pacing of the first volume a little wobbly, but the ending really comes in swinging with promises of some really twisty exciting stuff in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
Sherlock Holmes and the Legend of the Great Auk by Linda Stratmann
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
tl;dr
Another solid entry in the Early Casebook series, with several interconnected mysteries that closely match the feel of the original canon.
Thoughts
There's a lot of Sherlock Holmes extended universe stuff out there, but the Early Casebook series is, for me, the one that best recreates the feel of the original stories: An observer's view of the genius that is Sherlock Holmes as he unravels one bewildering mystery after another. This one is probably the most complex of the Early Casebook stories I've read, with with several interwoven mysteries this time around, including a whole lot of family drama. Any of these cases could have been distilled into a short story of its own, with only a bit of the Greak Auk's mystery connecting them, but there was also a good deal of fun in trying to sort out which clue was relevant to which mystery. As with the other books in the series, historical research is vast, with a heap of author's notes in the back that go into further detail for any curious readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are mine.
Another solid entry in the Early Casebook series, with several interconnected mysteries that closely match the feel of the original canon.
Thoughts
There's a lot of Sherlock Holmes extended universe stuff out there, but the Early Casebook series is, for me, the one that best recreates the feel of the original stories: An observer's view of the genius that is Sherlock Holmes as he unravels one bewildering mystery after another. This one is probably the most complex of the Early Casebook stories I've read, with with several interwoven mysteries this time around, including a whole lot of family drama. Any of these cases could have been distilled into a short story of its own, with only a bit of the Greak Auk's mystery connecting them, but there was also a good deal of fun in trying to sort out which clue was relevant to which mystery. As with the other books in the series, historical research is vast, with a heap of author's notes in the back that go into further detail for any curious readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness and Classism
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
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
Come for the cool worldbuilding, stay for the twisty mystery.
Thoughts
Is this book really 432 pages long? Because I raced through it in a day, and it felt like it moved so quickly! I've always been impressed with RJB's world building, but this one might be my favorite yet. What do we call a world where plants provide light, vines are cultivated to be deadly security systems, the rich can afford large mushrooms that regulate the air temperature, and the murder weapon is a tree? Ugh, I love it. There are also strong notes of the usual "big monsters threaten humanity" suspects - Pacific Rim, Kaiju No. 8, and most evidently Attack on Titan, but this story chooses to move the first responders into the background and spend more time on infrastructure folks and a detective/assistant pair.
And what a stunning pair they are. Fans of the eccentric detective+earnest put-upon assistant, get ready to enjoy yourselves. Ana is a genius in all rights, but never in too much of a magical way that it seems she arrived at her conclusions unfairly. The clues are always available, and I did manage to pick out a couple reveals before they were dropped. As our POV character, Din is easily my favorite - his dedication to justice makes him very easy to cheer for, and I appreciated that he wasn't portrayed as completely brainless.
Despite all the giant monsters attacking in the background, this is a mystery first and foremost, and I appreciate that the narrative commits to this. I suspect that the mystery and the background plot will eventually merge in future books, but for now, I was happy just to read a really solid mystery with some great twists, and a really cool detective.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own
Come for the cool worldbuilding, stay for the twisty mystery.
Thoughts
Is this book really 432 pages long? Because I raced through it in a day, and it felt like it moved so quickly! I've always been impressed with RJB's world building, but this one might be my favorite yet. What do we call a world where plants provide light, vines are cultivated to be deadly security systems, the rich can afford large mushrooms that regulate the air temperature, and the murder weapon is a tree? Ugh, I love it. There are also strong notes of the usual "big monsters threaten humanity" suspects - Pacific Rim, Kaiju No. 8, and most evidently Attack on Titan, but this story chooses to move the first responders into the background and spend more time on infrastructure folks and a detective/assistant pair.
And what a stunning pair they are. Fans of the eccentric detective+earnest put-upon assistant, get ready to enjoy yourselves. Ana is a genius in all rights, but never in too much of a magical way that it seems she arrived at her conclusions unfairly. The clues are always available, and I did manage to pick out a couple reveals before they were dropped. As our POV character, Din is easily my favorite - his dedication to justice makes him very easy to cheer for, and I appreciated that he wasn't portrayed as completely brainless.
Despite all the giant monsters attacking in the background, this is a mystery first and foremost, and I appreciate that the narrative commits to this. I suspect that the mystery and the background plot will eventually merge in future books, but for now, I was happy just to read a really solid mystery with some great twists, and a really cool detective.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Ableism
Protecting Her Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
tl;dr
A mystery with a side of romance, featuring a sweet lead couple and a surprising amount of danger.
Thoughts
Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the series, I have been looking forward to the third book and the third couple, and this book absolutely delivers. Charlotte and John were already likable in the previous installments, and it's great to see them get their moment. This book definitely centers the mystery, and the leads' relationships with their social standings. It's not a bad choice, as Charlotte and John have already developed enough that we the don't need to be convinced they love each other, but we do get a good deal of requisite pining before either of them manages to say it out loud. The stakes have also been raised a good deal! The mystery is incredibly personal, and the danger has ramped up, and I found myself genuinely worried for our heroes in several places. Like the previous books, the mystery is more read-along than solve-along, with a fitting conclusion. There's more thrill and action than one might expect from a book marketed as "Proper Victorian Romance."
The structure of this series is such that the two previous books are not required reading, but if you like this one, you'll probably like those too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
A mystery with a side of romance, featuring a sweet lead couple and a surprising amount of danger.
Thoughts
Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the series, I have been looking forward to the third book and the third couple, and this book absolutely delivers. Charlotte and John were already likable in the previous installments, and it's great to see them get their moment. This book definitely centers the mystery, and the leads' relationships with their social standings. It's not a bad choice, as Charlotte and John have already developed enough that we the don't need to be convinced they love each other, but we do get a good deal of requisite pining before either of them manages to say it out loud. The stakes have also been raised a good deal! The mystery is incredibly personal, and the danger has ramped up, and I found myself genuinely worried for our heroes in several places. Like the previous books, the mystery is more read-along than solve-along, with a fitting conclusion. There's more thrill and action than one might expect from a book marketed as "Proper Victorian Romance."
The structure of this series is such that the two previous books are not required reading, but if you like this one, you'll probably like those too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Bullying