Title: The Worst Best Man
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Avon
Source: HBG Canada
Publication Date: February 4th, 2020
Format: ARC
Page Count: 368 (paperback edition)
Plot Summary: A wedding planner left at the altar? Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.
Marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him.
If they can nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own.
Soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again…
The Worst Best Man on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
I received an ARC from HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
This book, folks. This. Book. It was probably my favourite romance that I read during my romance readathon at the beginning of January. If you have a weakness for hate-to-love romances, you need this book in your life.
It’s sweet, it’s sexy, it’s funny. It’s got banter and communication (omg I love it when characters learn to communicate). Lina and her family are diverse characters and we get some lovely insight into their culture. I really enjoyed that, and seeing Max learn more about Lina’s culture too. You can feel how much Sosa is celebrating the culture and family in this book, and that makes for a story that’s full of heart. Lina makes some important points about women of colour in particular being judged for showing any sign of emotion. It was powerful and so, so relevant.
Lina is such a compelling, well-rounded character. She’s a business owner thriving but facing struggle. It’s great to see her surrounded by supportive friends and family. All of them are fun to read about, and the interactions add so much life to the story. She’s got a past emotional trauma, and she’s confronted with that again with the job opportunity and seeing Max again.
Max is sexy, sweet, and dealing with his own personal baggage. He’s a hardworker looking for some recognition at work, and looking to step out of his brother’s shadow. I shipped him and Lina, even as I was frustrated with them. But hooo boy the banter and the steaminess makes up for that.
I’m so, so glad this was one of my first reads of 2020. It was fun, sexy, sweet. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a new romance or want to give a book to a Galentine who shares your love of romcoms.
Title: The Queen of Nothing
Series: The Folk of the Air, #3
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: HBG Canada
Publication Date: November 19th, 2019
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 308
Plot Summary: After being pronounced Queen of Faerie and then abruptly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude finds herself unmoored, the queen of nothing. She spends her time with Vivi and Oak, watches her fair share of reality television, and does the odd job or two, including trying to convince a cannibalistic faerie from hunting her own in the mortal world.
When her twin sister Taryn shows up asking of a favor, Jude jumps at the chance to return to the Faerie world, even if it means facing Cardan, who she loves despite his betrayal.
When a dark curse is unveiled, Jude must become the first mortal Queen of Faerie and uncover how to break the curse, or risk upsetting the balance of the whole Faerie world.
The Queen of Nothing on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
I received a finished copy from Hachette Book Group Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, before I get into the review can I just say THAT COVER IS GLORIOUS. Like, wow I didn't think it was possible for me to love a cover more than I loved the covers of the first two books of the series.
This review is gonna be really hard to write without spoilers, so bear with me while I avoid spoilers like Jude avoids her feelings.
What I think I enjoyed the most about this book is seeing how the characters have changed over the course of the trilogy. Politics and power games are fun until they aren't. It was interesting to see characters realize that power is important but is it worth everything? Is it worth sacrificing your morals? Is it worth sacrificing others? We see Jude grapple with this the most. It felt like an interesting and rewarding issue for her to contemplate, since her goal when we met her was power at all costs. It's cool to see what's changed and what hasn't changed.
Cardan is, of course, a fun character. We get to see a bit of a different side of him in this book, but I felt it was a breath of fresh air. To me, it made him more complex. I know not everyone will agree with me about the character growth, but I didn't mind it in the case of our two mains.
Some other characters, however, felt like they needed more page time to justify their changes. It didn't feel believable for some, and that was a little jarring.
The power games and politics still play a big part in the story, and of course they're just as fun to read about. I did feel that the short page count meant we lost some complexity, though. The plot twist near the end was also very out of place. It kind of threw me for a loop, and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. There are a lot of people saying this book was a let down, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. I didn't love it like I loved The Wicked King (review here), but I did like it.
The Queen of Nothing is the intense finale to the Folk of the Air trilogy. I'm sad to see the series end, but I'll always think fondly of the series. I wasn't blown away by it, but I did enjoy it. The romance, the family, the politics. All are fascinating and compelling. I wish some elements of the story had been handled better or more fleshed out. But I'm glad I read it.
BLOG TOUR | Review: “The Storm Crow” by Kalyn Josephson
Title: The Storm Crow
Author: Kalyn Josephson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Raincoast Books
Publication Date: July 9th, 2019
Format: ARC
Page count: 352 (hardcover edition)
Plot summary: In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life...until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother's death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.
The Storm Crow on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
The Storm Crow is a captivating book about magic, family, and fighting for your people.
I received an ARC from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning: this book contains self-mutilation
If you're looking for a book filled with magic, family, and political intrige, you might want to check this book out! It's a short, quick read that I didn't want to put down. Lately I've been feeling burnt out on YA fantasy, so that's a good sign.
The magic in this book is so awesome! Crows that have different abilities, and certain people who ride them (sometimes into battle). I wish this had been fleshed out a bit more, but nevertheless I enjoyed this aspect quite a lot. The crows themselves have fun personalities, which I love seeing in bookish creatures. The writing style is easy to read, and the descriptions of food made me hungry if I'm honest lol.
I found that sometimes the plot kind of meandered away from the goal of the characters in order to focus on the romances. This means that the progress was a little slower sometimes, and the ending was fast paced to pack a lot into the short length of the book.
The romance isn't a clear cut as you'd expect, but I didn't mind it. I think it's nice that we're a surprised with the way the romance goes, because it definitely plays with and goes against some common cliches. There's also some good lgbtq+ rep, which is nice. None of the main characters seem to be lgbtq+, but it's definitely widely accepted within the kingdoms in The Storm Crow.
The relationship between Anthia and Caliza is lovely to read. They struggle, as is natural when a family experiences loss. I would've liked to see the book mention grief and PTSD specifically, rather than placing it under the blanket term of depression. As someone who has experienced grief multiple times in my life, I'm also wary of how it's portrayed. I'm glad, however, that the book mentions depression anyway because mental health is important and shouldn't be a taboo topic.
The Storm Crow is a good book, and I enjoyed reading it. It has its weaknesses, but mostly I feel excited about where the series could go next.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kalyn Josephson currently works as a Technical Writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. Though she grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, she graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Biology and a degree in English (Creative Writing). Currently, she lives in the Bay Area with four awesome friends (because it’s the Bay Area and she’d like to be able to retire one day) and two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an ever tinier owl). THE STORM CROW is her debut novel.
Title: Kingsbane
Author: Claire Legrand
Series: Empirium #2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Raincoast Books
Publication Date: May 21st, 2019
Format: ARC
Page count: 576 (paperback edition)
Plot summary: Rielle is the anointed Sun Queen, tasked with proving to the people she is unequivocally loyal to the crown. While she tries to maintain a public façade, she also attempts to secretly close the gate to the angels... and avoid the devious angel Corien, who haunts her dreams. But as Rielle's power grows, so does the people's distrust-they call her Kingsbane. Soon, she's have to choose between the people she's beholden to, or the distrustful angel who says he believes in her.
In the future, Eliana has accepted that she is the daughter of Rielle, the Blood Queen. Together with those loyal to her she must figure out how to bring down the empire. But as she continues on her quest, she soon discovers truths about the past and the angels that will lead her down a dark and devastating path... perhaps to the Blood Queen herself.
Kingsbane on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
Kingsbane is the thrilling sequel to Furyborn.
I received an ARC from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.
ICYMI: I really enjoyed Furyborn, the first in the Empirium trilogy. It's full of magic and danger, perfect for fans of Fantasy. I couldn't wait to dive into Kingsbane, and thanks to the team at Raincoast, I got to be a part of the blog tour!
Claire Legrand has this amazing writing style that perfectly suits sweeping fantasy novels. The writing is descriptive, dark, strong, tender. Depending on the scene, she crafts such vivid feeling, characters, and settings that makes it easy to get swept into the story. I enjoy the POVs, and the dual timelines. With each chapter, we can see the clues that connect threads from each timeline. It's fascinating and captivating.
If you enjoy morally grey characters, you should check out this series. The characters are flawed, and struggling to achieve their goal to save the world in various ways.
In this book, we get to see how both Rielle and Eliana are coping with their powers and new titles of Sun Queen. It's interesting to see the ways in which they're similar, and the ways in which they are not. Does the power tempt them? Drain them? Scare them? Thrill them? Is it good or bad? These are the things the characters are figuring out.
There IS a lot of romance in this book, but I love it ngl. It's sexy and sweet. It's also diverse, which is very important. The way the romance and sex scenes are written is amazing, and I'm glad Claire Legrand included them. It was a nice balance to the darker scenes in the book.
Also props to Legrand for writing a feminist book. Characters casually mention menstruation and also question men who seek to control women, to make choices for them. Firstly, we should normalize talking about periods. It's a fact of life, and women shouldn't be made to feel ashamed of it or feel like it's a taboo topic. Secondly, all of the applause for women telling off men who think to control their lives.
Kingsbane is the strong, captivating sequel to Furyborn. It hooks you from page one, and once you start reading you won't want to put it down. If you loved the first book, you need this book asap. If you haven't read the series yet, I recommend that you check it out!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now she is a librarian and New York Times bestselling author living in central New Jersey.
Her first novel is The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2012. She is also the author of The Year of Shadows, a ghost story for middle grade readers; and Winterspell, a young adult re-telling of The Nutcracker. Some Kind of Happiness, her middle grade novel about mental illness, family secrets, and the power of storytelling, is a 2017 Edgar Award Nominee. Claire’s latest middle grade novel, Foxheart, is a classic fantasy-adventure and a 2016 Junior Library Guild selection. She is one of the four authors behind The Cabinet of Curiosities, an anthology of dark middle grade short fiction that was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street Best Book, and among the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2014.
Her fantasy novel Furyborn debuted at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the first book in the Empirium Trilogy, a young adult epic fantasy series. The next book in the series, Kingsbane, releases May 21, 2019.
Her latest book, Sawkill Girls, is a queer young adult horror novel that received five starred reviews. It is also a 2018 Bram Stoker Award finalist and a 2019 Lambda Literary Award finalist.
Title: Hard Sell (21 Wall Street #2)
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Source: Thomas Allen & Son
Publication Date: September 4th, 2018
Format: paperback
Page Count: 243 (paperback edition)
Plot Summary: Twenty-eight and filthy rich, Matt Cannon is the youngest broker on Wall Street. He may be a “boy wonder,” but he’s every inch a man. Ask any woman—any night. But when Matt’s latest fling makes scandalous headlines, his clients get anxious, and his bosses at Wolfe Investments level an ultimatum: keep his assets zipped, get a “real” girlfriend, and clean up his act. Only one woman can help Matt with something this hard.
For PR genius Sabrina Cross, the best fixer in Manhattan, playing Matt’s steady is going to be a challenge, even if it’s just for show. They already have an explosive history, she can’t stand the cocky party boy, and worse—she can’t stop thinking about him. So who’ll dare to break her “no touching” rule first? Because when that happens, Matt and Sabrina’s game of let’s pretend will get so hot it could set both their reputations on fire.
Hard Sell on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
I received a finished copy from Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes, you want to read a decadent, sinful romance. Sometimes you need the glamour and the passion to leap off the page. Hard Sell is that book, and it is fun.
This book is fire, let's be real. Two confident, successful people with a past reunite as enemies and verbally spar? Yes. Please. I need these hate to love romances. Sabrina and Matt a great example of why these dynamics are so fun to read.
I loved Sabrina as a character. She's smart, confident, and and doesn't take shit from people. She's kick-ass, yet we also get to see a vulnerable side of her which balances out her character nicely. Matt is also a great character, though prone to being a douche if I'm honest. Sometimes I wanted to punch him, and if you read this book you'll understand why. He disrespects Sabrina sometimes.
I read this book as a standalone, which is definitely possible. Characters from the previous book do have a fair presence in this book, so if that will bother you, I suggest starting with book one. In any case, I enjoyed reading about the friendships and other couples in the series. It provides a nice balance to the intense romance between Sabrina and Matt.
Hard Sell is a quick, fun, sexy read. Second chance romance - kind of - and hate to love romance wrapped up in one. If this sounds good to you, check out this book.
BLOG TOUR | REVIEW AND Q&A: “Courting Darkness” by Robin LaFevers
Title: Courting Darkness
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: Courting Darkness duology (continuation of His Fair Assassin)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Source: Raincoast Books
Publication Date: February 5th, 2019
Format: ARC
Page count: 512 (hardcover edition)
Plot summary: Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…
Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.
Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.
As Sybella and Gen’s paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife’s edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?
Courting Darkness on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
When I first read the His Fair Assassin trilogy, I was in love. A dark, lush world with real struggles and compelling characters. And romances to die for (oh, the puns). I kept telling friends to read this series about assassin nuns. Fast forward to 2019 and those same friends started reading the original series so who's laughing now, huh? *cackles and smugly sips tea*
If you haven't yet, I highly suggest you read the original series. If you HAVE read it, then you need this new sequel. Tip: you should read the first three books in this world first so you better understand character and plot backstory.
I received an ARC from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely love the history and the belief systems in this world. First of all, historical fiction is my jam. Second of all, having convents or people that are sired by various gods, one of them being Death, is so cool. The belief systems and history are woven together well, and make for an interesting and intricate setting. This book focuses a lot on politics, and how royal marriages are really power games being played by various royals and courtiers. If you enjoy these kinds of stories, you'll love this.
This book, once again, tackles corrupt people with power over others. More often than not, these characters are men. Let's be real: some men use their power over women to control them, dismiss them and silence them, or worse. These books, Courting Darkness included, choose to talk about this and how wrong it is. That's powerful, and really resonates with me. But of course, there are also women who are corrupt, who choose to hurt other women, etc. I like that the book has characters question those in positions of power, and belief systems. It's something very relevant today.
Of course, it's been wonderful seeing some beloved characters from the His Fair Assassin trilogy. Sybella's story in this book is compelling and, quite frankly, riveting. I was rooting for her and hurting for her (and swooning over her scenes with Beast). I was immediately hooked to Genevieve's story. She wants so badly to be free AND to serve the convent after all these years. But she has a lot to learn, but I think that's kinda refreshing.
Courting Darkness is different than the His Fair Assassin books; the character arcs won't end with this first installment. But it was a joy being back in a world I love, and I look forward to seeing where the next book takes us.
When I heard there was an upcoming spin-off duology, my pterodactyl screeches could be heard for miles. I did a happy dance when the folks at Raincoast Books announced they'd be doing a blog tour, and again when I found out I'd get to be a part of it. Long story short: this made me so happy. I struggled to narrow down what I wanted to ask Robin because I love this series so much. But I finally settled on:
What has been your favourite part of writing about this world and these characters again, and what are you most excited for readers to experience? What do you hope readers take away from Courting Darkness? Why do you think it's so important to write about questioning beliefs and people in power, and fighting for what's right?
Oh wow. That’s a BIG question!
As I was recovering from both ergonomic issues and creative exhaustion, Sybella began whispering in my ear. (All my characters whisper in my ear all the d@mn time—it’s very distracting!) She kept badgering me, complaining that her story wasn’t over. While I’d completed the arc of the trilogy, her personal story had ended rather abruptly. And she was right. So one of my absolutely favorite parts was being able to go back in and continue her story. Recovering from trauma doesn’t stop with an epiphany, or even a single transformational moment. When we change, or try to change, something that fundamental inside us, the Universe is quick to shout, Change back! It takes constant awareness and discipline to keep from falling back into the person we used to be, from falling back into the damaging self thoughts and patterns that were part of our interior landscape for so long. I welcomed a chance to continue Sybella’s journey through that portion of her healing process.
And of course, it felt like I had only touched the surface of what the His Fair Assassin World had to offer, so any excuse to dip back in there and do more exploring was a welcome one.
As for what I hope that readers will take away? That’s a harder question to answer because I believe the writer only writes the first half of the book. The second half is written as the reader reads it.
I guess one of the things I wanted to explore was what happens when someone makes all the wrong decisions for all the right reasons. How a character reacts to that tells us much more about her than the mistake she made. And I wanted to show teen girls that mistakes are not only okay, but necessary.
I think today’s world allows teens so little room to experiment or fail, and there are so few opportunities to embrace our own imperfections. How can anyone possibly learn and grow without those experiences? The idea that all our choices and our decisions must be perfect is paralyzing. I wish someone had told me how very much we can learn from our biggest mistakes, and how when we break things they almost always can be put back together. Sometimes, our mistakes even lead directly to our biggest successes.
But at the core of every one of the books I’ve written in this world is the idea that we must all wrestle with our own faith rather than accept what’s handed to us and swallow it whole. Faith is not faith unless we grapple with it and make it our own. Honor is not honor unless it tests us in hard ways. Heroism is not only found on battlefields and council chambers, but in small every day rebellions that allow us to maintain our integrity. Fighting for what’s right isn’t always about the big gesture, but about the small stubborn defiance of living our own truths. But that doesn’t come easily to all of us, and my hope is that my books can act as a roadmap for readers who are struggling with that.
Title: Make Me Bad
Author: R.S. Grey
Publisher: R.S. Greyc
Source: Author
Publication Date: March 7th, 2019
Format: eARC
Plot Summary: I was issued a warning: stay away from Ben Rosenberg.
As Clifton Cove’s resident “king”, he thinks he’s entitled to anyone and anything.
The trouble is, I’ve spent my whole life following the rules and playing it safe. I know what it feels like to be the good girl. I’m the police chief’s daughter and a librarian—for adorable children, no less. My wardrobe consists of colorful sundresses and baggy jeans. I might as well have a Post-it stuck to my forehead that reads: Yup, she’s a virgin.
An all-nighter with a fictional hunk is about as exciting as my life gets, until one day, fate decides to take pity on me and shove me straight into the path of Mr. Off-Limits himself.
Oof.
Just as I suspected, every inch of him promises to be my demise. Up close, he’s tall, menacing, dangerously handsome — the type of man who’s never spent a single moment worrying about the opinions of others. A well-behaved girl would do as she’s told and avoid him at all costs, but I’m overdue for a little rebellion.
No more Friday nights sprawled out on the couch in my comfiest pajamas. No more wishing I had the courage to misbehave.
Everyone thinks Ben is going to ruin me.
They think he’ll chew me up and spit me out.
Well, Ben…go ahead.
Tempt me. Taunt me.
Make me bad.
Make Me Bad on Goodreads | Amazon CA
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
R.S. Grey just knows how to write good romance novels. Like, she takes common tropes and makes them fun and fresh. Oh, and also her books are v sexy *fans self*.
I think a lot of book lovers will get a kick out of quiet bookworm and library employee Madison decides she's tired of her life being the same day in and day out. She wants to break the rules. She wants fun, excitement, and pleasure. She's going to come out of her shell like a confident little butterfly and defy her family. Doesn't that already sound delicious?
The romance? Oh. My. God. Madison and Ben - a confident, smirky man who wants her from the moment they meet - have outstanding chemistry. It practically leaps off the page. They go from aquaintances to friends to friends who are catching them feelings left and right. There's a whole will-they-won't-they dynamic between them and I am here for it.
R.S. Grey likes to conclude her books with a swoon-worthy ending and this time is no different. The ending put a smile on my face.
My only issue is that Madison's dad and brother are so controlling and sexist when it comes to her. They harass men who are interested in her, and treat her like a child when she tries to have fun. But it wasn't resolved well. It was almost forgotten or explained away as acceptable male behaviour (which it very much is not). I also agree with other reviews that say an early conflict in the book is odd.
R.S. Grey has done it again with Make Me Bad. It's a hot, sweet, and angsty romance that contemporary romance lovers will enjoy.
ARC REVIEW: “Girls of Paper and Fire” by Natasha Ngan
Title: Girls of Paper and Fire
Author: Natasha Ngan
Genre: YA Fantasy, LGBTQ+ Romance
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books
Source: Publisher
Publication Date: November 6th, 2018
Format: eARC
Page count: 400
Plot Summary: Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.
But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.
In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
Girls of Paper and Fire on Goodreads | Chapters Indigo | Amazon CA
I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warning for sexual abuse.
Girls of Paper and Fire is an uplifting, lovely book that gives tips on self-care and reminds us to take time for ourselves.
I heard such hype surrounding this book, and after finishing it I just feel baffled. It clearly wants to be an own voices novel calling out rape culture and sharing a heartbreaking story of rape. But unfortunately, it isn't a book I can recommend.
First of all, let's just get this out of the way. There are really graphic rape and attempted rape scenes, and it was upsetting. I felt sick after and needed to go have a chat with my bestie because I was so upset. Do not read this if you don't like graphic violence, or can be triggered by violence and sexual assault scenes in books. I'm sure it was written this way to really show how horrific sexual assault is, but I found it unnecessary and harmful.
What I did like? The writing style which was very descriptive and magical. It made it easy to picture the setting and the characters. I also really enjoyed the f/f romance. Like, I loved that part so deeply. It was passionate, curious, sexy, and sweet. THAT was well-written. I was rooting for them, and I loved seeing them find happiness in each other.
The novel highlights how women have been and continue to be valued only for the pleasure their bodies can give men. It also covers the topic of consent and how that can look different for every woman. But, and here's where the book goes wrong, it seems to say that Lei is better than the other Paper Girls because she physically fights back against the king when he tries to have sex with her. This is wrong on so many levels, one of which being that it contradicts itself and its message. She is not stronger for fighting back. All of the girls were terrified of the king and suffered PTSD. They felt like they were given no voice and no choice, raised as they were to be groomed for the potential "honour" of being the king's concubines. Lei was not raised with the knowledge that she'd potentially be a Paper Girl, so she has a different experience, yes. She was far removed from the court and was not from a noble family. But the other girls in no way want to be concubines.
After everything the girls are put through - and we readers are put through - I had hope the ending would be powerful. But the epilogue undoes that feeling and made me angry. Why did we read this upsetting tale if the powerful ending was going to be ripped away?
