titalindaslibrary's reviews
559 reviews

What an intense read. This book is full of the violence enacted on women - and what happens when women react with violence in return.  Definitely one of the more gripping nonfiction books I’ve read.

I will say this was a quick read that I finished in one sitting - could not put it down once I picked it up!

And while it initially had such an interesting premise, that abrupt ending and

the dead cats

really skewered my enjoyment with this. I was lowkey hoping this horror tale would examine the way women’s health concerns are almost never taken seriously, and while it did initially, that was quickly left behind for other plot devices. It seems our MC is just entirely disregarded in so many of her relationships, not just in a medical setting! 

I’m not entirely sure how to feel about it, I didn’t dislike this book but I’m not exactly exuberant about the experience either. Regardless, it was a fast, absorbing read! 

I feel quite torn on how to rate this, I experienced a slump while trying to read it and probably should've DNF'ed it. I might revisit it on audio and see if that improves my experience, but here are some rapid fire thoughts:

- I have no idea how this house magic works. The magic and fantasy elements in this are very vague and vibes-based. My brain ended up just having to go "yeah, sure, no questions, we'll just keep reading and hope for the best." 
- Speaking of vibes, DAMN, did this have it! It's incredibly atmospheric and despite the melodramatic purple prose, I found moments of enjoyment with it. I believe Olivie Blake and S.T. Gibson fans will enjoy this!
- I really struggled to feel any sort of meaningful depth or connection with any of these characters. It can't be a good sign if towards the end, when we're experiencing so much climactic energy and main characters are going through horrid situations, I felt absolutely nothing towards them. 
- Okay but the Ethiopian vampire lore and background to this confusing worldbuilding is SO intriguing! We never get to see Black vampires and an entirely Black cast in dark academia books, and it's something I'd love to see more of. I definitely perked up when more details were revealed concerning their origins and myths!
- Kidan is an incredibly frustrating character. She's so impulsive and rushes to conclusions, with every other chapter making me want to reach through the pages and screech "GIRL! Calm down and THINK for a second!". Not only that but the amount of self-hatred she harbors is a LOT. When I found out what she did that makes her view herself as such a monster I lowkey rolled my eyes. With the context for what happened, it's really not that bad (imo, so apparently I'm even more monstrous than she is I guess) and it made the self-hatred internal monologues feel even more melodramatic. 
- I will say Susenyos ends up being quite a good match for her and I'm invested enough in their tantalizingly dark dynamic that I'll be checking out the next book when it releases.
- I really liked the short chapters. Very helpful for when you're racing to the end!

Overall, I think this will be a hit with the readers who love dark academia, purple prose, vampires, dark romance, Twilight-level angst, and murderous characters.

I know this book says “companion to Wicked Fox” but this is for sure a sequel, do not read it unless you’ve read the first book.

Overall I really liked this addition to the Gumiho world and the inclusion of Somin and Junu’s POV! I clocked their interactions immediately in the first book so I’m so happy their love story got told in this one. Sassy sad boys are my fave archtype for love interests hehe

Oh this swept me AWAY! I love when a book consumes me so thoroughly I can’t move from my reading spot for hours! If you’re a k-drama or anime fan you definitely need to add this to your list. I’m immediately diving into book 2 now!

Very cute and full of adventure inspired by Filipino mythology! I'm finding I do enjoy an MG book on audio, my inner child feels like I'm being taken to story time and listening to a magical tale. 

The amount of Filipino mythology, gods and goddesses, and folklore stories combined into this singular book is impressive! Reading this back to back with The Spirit Glass isn't really fair because I definitely prefer the slightly more mature writing of the previous book...but this was a cute, adventurous tale and one I'd highly recommend be included in more children book recommendations.

I fear I will never emotionally recover from this one.

Why yes, I DID cry at the end. Of course. Sometimes you finish a children’s book and just have to hug it to protect the little glow of warmth and love it planted in your chest💖

I absolutely adore this adventurous tale filled with Filipino mythology, a bloodthirsty gecko, babaylans, magic, helpful ghosts and spirits, and a heartfelt lesson about grief and moving forward. 

I’m impressed by how Klein pulled together the themes of doppelgangers and how they plague our world today. I really enjoyed listening to this on audio and following along with my physical copy to annotate along the way. 

While it was a gratifying read, I couldn’t help feeling like what she said wasn’t exactly new, but still admirable work in breaking down topical events like Covid, Israel-Palestine, and conspiracy culture. Definitely a lot to mull over! It’s a book I’d highly recommend to those plagued by online activism and the shallow response of identity politics in the face of rising fascism. And of course, to those of us who have lost loved ones to the Mirror World. 

What a cute MG book! I love how it featured Filipino culture and history throughout while still maintaining such a light and childish feel. 

The sentiment about making your own luck and taking a chance on things was done well and I had a great time with this one. Definitely a book I wish I had as a kid!