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Content Warning: murder, violence, death (including that of a child), misogyny, dated racist terms, gore, animal abuse/death, anti-Semitism.

Before London, before poverty, Hester White remembers a happy life in Lincolnshire. Now, Hester is determined to find her way out of London and its underbelly, and hopefully end up a position in the countryside -- far away from her alcoholic "Uncle" Jacob and the evil that lurks in the alleyways she's lived in for many years now. When Hester gets a chance to escape her life, educated under the brilliant Rebekah Brock and living with the rest of the aristocratic family, she leaps at the opportunity. Things are not how they seem, however, and with disappearances and murders plaguing London at a frightening rate, it will be up to Rebekah and Hester to uncover the sinister plot that is unfolding beneath their very noses. 

As someone who loves a Gothic story (and is a huge Sarah Waters fan), I figured that The Wicked Cometh would be just my cup of tea. Reading through the first chapter, Carlin's vivid descriptions of London's dark history impressed and intrigued me. She has a wonderful eye for detail, and there were moments when I felt as if I were standing right beside Hester as she told us what a day in her poverty-stricken London was like. I'm disappointed to say, though, that that feeling didn't last. 

It's hard to get invested in a story that is 90% telling and only 10% showing. I found myself frustrated by the way that we would skim over scenes (and entire weeks and months) without us ever actually getting to experience what Hester is experiencing. The first 35% of the book felt almost pointless, like fodder merely meant to fill up an otherwise rather empty story. It could've been wonderfully interesting to see all the events through Hester's eyes, but they are never fleshed out and, therefore, insignificant. 

As for Hester's relationship with Rebekah, it's the same problem: why weren't the scenes where they get to know one another actually on-page? Because of this issue, it was nearly impossible for me to understand why exactly Hester finds herself falling for Rebekah, and frankly, in spite of the fact that the story is told through Hester's POV, it was even hard to understand why Rebekah liked Hester so much. They feel relatively one-dimensional; aside from a few defining traits, I couldn't really tell you much about their personalities or their dynamic. 

That being said, I did enjoy Rebekah and Hester's rather sweet relationship, but because of the lack of development (both in character and in the story itself) it fell rather flat. I hate to say this, because as a whole, this book could've been fantastic -- the bare bones are there, it's just the flesh that is missing. And once again I must reiterate that Carlin is by no means an incapable writer; that's what makes it so disappointing. There was so much potential, but unfortunately, it seemed to me that it was never utilized fully. 

In my opinion, though, The Wicked Cometh is no lower than an average three-star. There are some parts that are fantastic, making the poorer parts stand out even more starkly. The first half of this story, in spite of the telling I mentioned above, captivated my interest, but as the convoluted and contrived second half finally came to its climax, I couldn't help but wonder what on earth had gone wrong. The mystery, similarly, is more foundation than anything else. 

With all of that being said, I would read another book by Carlin. As with everything, writing is a skill that must be practiced, and I have a feeling that her future books will be much better with time and patience. 

Book Review: Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

 

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Content Warning: bullying, emotional abuse, parental abandonment, cancer, cheating. There is also in-depth discussion of loneliness, emotional abandonment and the feelings of being different/an outcast. Some of these topics may trigger some readers.

Delilah Green hasn't been back to her hometown, Bright Falls, in a long, long time. There's a reason for that: she's left behind her emotionally distant stepmother and her stepsister, Astrid, who seems as if she doesn't care either way if Delilah is in her life. Making a new life for herself as a photographer in New York, Delilah is determined to leave behind the ghosts of her lonely past and troubled childhood, but when Astrid informs Delilah that she's getting married (and will pay Delilah a huge sum for being her wedding photographer), she realizes she can't worm her way out of this one. But there is one thing in Bright Falls that interests Delilah -- the beautiful, warm single mother, Claire, who has been one of Astrid's best friends since childhood. As they bond over wedding plan disasters and trying to make Astrid see that her fiancé is not the kind of man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, Claire and Delilah slowly begin to realize that perhaps the casual sexual relationship they've developed might hold some very real feelings... and maybe even love.

This book is so incredibly popular, and while most of the time I don't get the hype of romcoms and contemporary romance (just not my usual cup of tea), I think Delilah Green Doesn't Care might've managed to make me a full-blown romcom fan. Yes, everyone: it really is as good as everyone says. The hype here is well-deserved, and everything about this book will make you feel good and perhaps, like it did for me, open your mind to a genre you might not normally pick up!

First and foremost, it is the two leads, Claire and Delilah, who make this story so worth the read. They are opposites (a bit of a grumpy x sunshine going on here), but they also have many things in common, and I loved seeing them gradually bond and support one another through the conflicts and issues that arise in their lives. For example, Claire has to deal with the father of her daughter, and Delilah is dealing with a lot of trauma and baggage from her lonely, unloved childhood. I related a lot to the problems that Claire and Delilah have, particularly Claire's fear of abandonment and trust issues, and Delilah's fear that she is simply unlovable. So many readers will see themselves in both of these wonderful characters, who are emotional, strong, brave, and sometimes cowardly, just like real, breathing people.

Usually, there's an issue with side characters being as well-developed as the leads, but that's not a problem that plagues this book. Iris, Astrid and Claire's other best friend, didn't initially appeal to me, but as I continued to read, I realized that she was a three-dimensional character who cares a lot about those in her life (and sometimes gets a bit aggressive because of it). Astrid herself is beautifully complex, rising above the "evil stepsister" stereotype and becoming something altogether different. In a lot of romcoms, I think characters like Astrid are depicted as being fundamentally flawed and villainous, primarily because they are repressed, straitlaced, and sometimes difficult to talk to (and find it hard to open up). Instead of relying on those boring clichés, all of Herring Blake's characters become their own people, and lovable because of it. 

Another fantastic thing about this book is that because of the depth of the characters and emotional relationships, nothing is ever boring. Even when they're just going camping or hanging out at Claire's bookstore, you want to keep reading, to see what will develop between all of them next. The focus on Delilah's growing relationship with Astrid was beautiful as well, and I loved that there is a bit of a love story between sisters here, too. The message here is that it's never too late to form a meaningful relationship with those in your life, or to heal from wounds you thought would be a part of you forever.

The plot is relatively simple, but in my opinion, that's a good thing. It allows you to sit with Delilah and Claire (and the rest of the group) and it keeps the romance from taking a backseat while also managing to keep you interested in what will happen next with the storyline. Speaking honestly, I can't think of a single flaw that bothered me while reading Delilah Green Doesn't Care. This book is, for me, simply perfect!

Highly recommended, even if you aren't usually a romcom/romance reader! 

Book Review: The Body Reader by Anne Frasier

 

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Content Warning: death, violence, murder, kidnapping, grooming, minor/adult relationship, rape, sexual assault, misogyny.

It's been three years since Detective Jude Fontaine was kidnapped. And for the entirety of those three years, she's been kept in a tiny cell, in the darkness, her only contact with humanity her captor. Now that she's finally free, Jude finds herself able to read people's expressions and emotions with ease, in spite of her disconnect with her own feelings. Hoping to turn this darkness into something that can help others, Jude fights to get back onto the Homicide team, and along with her new partner, Uriah Ashby, seeks to uncover a murderer and kidnapper of teenage girls. But what if this murderer is closer to home than any of them could possibly imagine?

I don't read thrillers as much as I used to these days, and to be perfectly honest, I've been missing that particular feeling you get when you pick up a good mystery. Since The Body Reader has been on my list for quite a while, I figured it was about time for me to pick it up and give it a chance! My initial interest in this series (yes, there are two other books so far) had to do with its intriguing premise and the fact that it seemed as if Detective Fontaine might be a riff on the ever-popular, inimitable Lisbeth Salander.

The idea of our heroine having been kidnapped herself is a fascinating concept that Frasier delivers on. While Jude is mostly concerned with trying to capture a possible serial killer, she's also dealing with her own problems and the way her experience has changed her. Instead of trying to go back to being the "old Jude," she makes an attempt at embracing this new version of herself, however difficult it is for her to let go of the past. But the past is determined to insert itself into her life, no matter how much she wishes to move on.

There are some similarities between Lisbeth and Jude (a checkered past, alleged instability, trauma that both strengthens her but makes it harder for her to reach out to others), but, thankfully, she is not a carbon copy like some other characters. Her perspective is unique now because she has been a victim, and because she can read others as easily as reading a page; she struggles to connect or understand her own emotions, but she's motivated primarily by kindness, by the desire to both put away evil and to do some good in this often too-cruel world. I liked her partner well enough, and he has his own conflicts he's struggling with, but he was never as compelling as Jude.

My only real complaints with this novel mostly concern the ending. This book is full of high-risk and lots of building tension, but in a strange way, the climax was a little disappointing. It was too quick, especially considering how much attention and detail were put into every other aspect of this book. It felt too easy, particularly since the stakes are just so damn high with what Jude and Uriah end up dealing with. My other problem is one that I can't fully discuss in a review like this, at least not in a way that does it justice, but I was bothered by Uriah's comments about people hating the police. Does he not, perhaps, think that there might be a reason why 80% (I believe that's the percentage he states) of the public have a negative view and experience with police officers? 

All in all, though, I think this was a fun experience and I would recommend it to others. I enjoyed the plot and pacing, but it's Jude that makes this worth reading, and it's her that makes me want to continue on with this series. Definitely look into this if you're interested in mysteries, and especially if you are a Lisbeth Salander lover like myself! 

Book Review: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

 

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Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: violence, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, anti-Semitism. 

Luli Wei is determined to make a name for herself. In her world, monsters are real, and there's nowhere they're more popular than Hollywood. Growing up in Hungarian Hill, working in her family's laundry, Luli is enchanted as a child by cinema, with its starlets and the fame that follows them. When she's given the opportunity to work on sets, she takes it, but her ambition doesn't stop there. Luli refuses to take the demeaning roles of maids and "fainting flowers," but as for playing the monster, she realizes that perhaps it isn't so bad -- and it might suit her just fine. 

There's no one that can write quite like Nghi Vo. Every time I read one of her stories, I'm blown away by her attention to detail, her ability to make characters leap from the page, and the sheer beauty of her prose. When I picked up Siren Queen, I was certain that I'd love it, and I'm happy to say that as it turns out, I was right!

Once again, Vo is creating magic. From the first page, I was captivated by her gorgeous descriptions, and for me, it was instant love with Luli. She's allowed her monstrousness, an exploration of the racism that creates the infamous "Dragon Lady" stereotype, and here, Vo takes it back for Asian women with a beautiful vengeance. In spite of the boxes that they try to corner Luli into, she defies them all, rising up to become something far beyond the petty imaginations of her white costars, directors, and screenwriters. She faces obstacles that her white costars never have to face to begin with, and I think that her story of triumph, despite the odds, despite those who try their hardest to bring her down, will resonate beautifully with those still fighting these very same problems today.

Reading this book transports you into another world. I was so pleased to see that there are some remnants of the magic seen in The Chosen and the Beautiful here, and it always excites me to realize that in Vo's next book, we might see a little more of what lurks beneath the surface. While some people might find it a little frustrating, I personally love that Vo leaves some things unexplained, adding to the sensation both of a whole world just beyond our view, and the mystery that makes her stories so compelling in the first place.

At the heart of this story is Luli's relationship with her identity as a Chinese woman, a lesbian, and how those things change how she views the world and how the world views her. Her dynamics with the women she falls in love with were all equally interesting, and I particularly appreciated that there's something beautiful and otherworldly in her love for all of them. I would've loved to see a bit more of Luli's relationship with her sister, as well as Jane, and I'd be only too happy to read their stories should Vo decide to elaborate on their lives. 

The ending took my breath away. There's no other way to put it. For a moment, it was as if everything stopped. Luli's legacy and impact, in the flesh, and in these difficult times, when we are discussing whether or not the overturning of Roe v. Wade may lead to the destruction of LGBT rights as well, it was something so moving that it nearly brought me to tears. Once again, Vo has done it: created something that lives beyond the page, something that will leave its readers full of emotion and remembering this book for a long, long time.

Highly, highly recommended. Stunning and compelling, timely, and a fantastic glimpse into the world of Pre-Code Hollywood. 

Book Review: Forbidden City by Vanessa Hua

 

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Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death (including that of children), murder, violence, misogyny, rape, sexual assault, grooming, minor/adult relationship, torture, parental abuse.

It's 1965. China is on the edge of its Cultural Revolution, a plunge off a precipice that will lead to even darker depths than anyone can imagine. Mei Xiang is on the edge of revolution, too. She makes a decision that will not only lead her into Chairman Mao's inner circle, but will have repercussions that she could never even begin to imagine. Not quite sixteen, she is chosen as one of the many young girls to be in the "cultural troupe" that will dance not only with the most elite members of China's Red Party, but Mao himself. What Mei doesn't realize is that Mao is as quick to choose a girl as he is to discard her, and the competition is shockingly cruel. By chance, she becomes the girl that Mao takes on as his mistress and his protégée, but there's a steep learning curve as Mei goes from wanting to be a revolutionary hero to realizing just how deeply the darkness in Mao's party goes... 

Prior to picking up this book, I had basic knowledge of Chairman Mao, the Cultural Revolution, and China's Communist party, but my knowledge of his personal life was definitely lacking. Through the eyes of the brave, independent Mei, we become privy to the workings of Mao's relationships and life, but I think what sets this book apart from others that deal with relationships between a famous (or infamous) man and a woman (or, as in this case, a girl) is that this is squarely Mei's story. While it does offer us incisive commentary on the man Mao is and the man he believes he is, our heroine drives the narrative and also fearlessly fights against the ever-constricting rules imposed upon her.

Although the relationship between Mao and Mei is portrayed as what it is -- a much, much older man, preying on a little girl -- it also does a fantastic job of conveying Mei's feelings to you without romanticizing the twisted "love" that Mao supposedly feels for her. It also impressed me that you see Mei as she grows into that awkward stage of somehow being both woman and child, growing up but still being young and vulnerable to the manipulation of adults. I loved that Hua expertly weaved in the repulsiveness of Mao and his predatory behavior to this girl, all while making it clear to us how she falls under his sinister spell. 

I must also praise the side characters, because while they remain on the outer edges, they nonetheless impact Mei and the narrative. Secretary Sun has to be the first mentioned: in spite of the fact that this novel is told solely through first-person, he is complex, deep, and his emotions -- his darkness and his light -- are plain to see due to Hua's wonderful character crafting. The gradual build of his relationship with Mei felt authentic, and it was obvious to see why he was the one she sought out time and time again. While both Mei and Sun act as foils to Mao, I think it's also worth remembering the role he plays in Mei's story, and how the adults in her life continue to fail her, no matter how much they claim to like her or understand her. 

Mei's main rival, Midnight Chang, didn't quite get a chance for the same depth (mostly since she spends the majority of the novel off-page), but it was so fascinating to see her play this character of the revolutionary heroine that Mei longs to be. I loved that there were moments where it was obvious that in another place, in another time, perhaps she and Mei would've become not enemies, but friends and allies. Mei's teacher, Mao's clever, imperious wife, and some of the other characters Mei encounters (however briefly) also leave lasting impressions. 

I think that some people will find this story a little slow, perhaps even meandering, but for me, there's a strength in the way that Hua lingers over the smaller details of Mei's life with Mao, hidden away in the Lake Palaces or traveling with him to see where he was born. The portrait Hua paints of Mao's inner vulnerabilities and insecurities, Mei's political training, and the suffocating sensation of being trapped constantly with Mao in his paranoia is powerful, oftentimes uncomfortable. There were some moments where I thought things could've been trimmed or moved a bit more quickly, but overall, I think the impact of forcing us to sit with Mei as she goes through her mixed, conflicted feelings is painfully effective. 

The pacing is not perfect, but I can't stress enough how fantastic this story is in its characters, plotlines, and the way it brings history to life. 

Highly, highly recommended! 

Book Review: Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

 

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Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: homophobia, misogyny, forced outing.

The only thing Amy Fariner loves more than baking is weddings. Working at a Christian bakery has forced Amy to become straight-passing "Amelia," and while she secretly dreams of being able to be her genuine self at work, she is afraid of what might happen should her coworkers or ultrareligious boss discover she's a lesbian. It's also 2013, and Amy is caught up in the conflict of loving weddings while being unable to marry once she finds the woman of her dreams. And it looks like she might've met that woman: Charley, an engineer who works in oil and gas, shows up at the bakery, and Amy is instantly smitten. When things do end up going wrong at Amy's baking job, she turns to the world of professional bridesmaids. But in order to make a life for herself -- one that she truly, really wants -- Amy has to decide: is it worth hiding herself in order to make others happy?

Going into this, I expected it to be more on the romcom side of things, but what I ended up finding here was something quite different. Instead, this is more focused on Amy's life, her ups and downs, and in particular, her struggle in trying to both find out her authentic self and who exactly she wants to be in this world. There is a romance, with Charley, who meets Amy by chance at the bakery she ends up being fired from (no spoilers here: it's in the summary). Sadly, the romance isn't quite as dreamy or steamy as I'd hoped for; Charley lacks much character outside of being a whip-smart, butch engineer, and I think that she could've benefited from deeper development of her personality and, perhaps, some flaws to make her more interesting. 

The rest of the cast comes off as strangely stereotypical, especially Amy's two best friends, Damien and Joel. They're a couple, and in fact, it's hard to really tell them apart -- and they serve the role of "gay best friend" with a lack of heart that left me feeling a bit confused. It's always odd to find stereotypes like these in books about gay people written by gay people, but regardless, I wished that the two of them could have grown beyond their ill-fitting roles. I liked that Joel ends up challenging Amy and speaking up for himself, and I very much enjoyed the way that things turned out between the three of them and how their dynamics ended up developing, but I still felt as if there could've been so much more to them beyond going to pride with pink, sparkly capes, watching HGTV, and providing "sassy" remarks.

Speaking honestly, though, I actually ended up not minding that the centering of the story was more on Amy and her self-discovery, rather than the romantic aspects of her (slightly tumultuous) relationship with Charley. It was slightly refreshing to see how Amy needed time to work on herself and come to terms with some of the issues in her life before fully diving into the romantic dream of happily-ever-after with Charley. I also liked that Amy was, at first, reluctant to address her problems, something that strikes me as being authentic and also relatable. Then, when she finally did have the "aha!" moment of realizing where she'd gone wrong, and the things that perhaps she needed to work on fixing for herself and for those in her life, it was satisfying to go through the journey with her.

I do have a couple more nitpicks here, so I'll just go ahead and get them out of the way. These things mostly have to do with preference; I have no doubt that some of the issues that stopped me from fully loving this novel will pose no problem for other readers. Firstly, I think that this book takes on a little too much, and even with its 400 pages (which even seemed too long), it isn't able to fully or completely tackle all of the issues it wants to discuss. For example, there's a few meaningful conversations about what gay marriage equality means for the LGBT+ community, and how everyone in the community has different feelings towards it (whether or not it's another heteronormative trap, what it means for the future of equality rights, how it impacts things that straight people take for granted, like visitation rights at the hospital), but I'm not sure Dumond ever reaches any conclusions about it or gives these discussions the spotlight they really need. I think it's wonderful that she wanted to bring up all these topics, but I think it would've helped the book's pacing and tone if she'd cut some of it down.

Another problem I had was the (in my opinion) overusage of the term "queer." Sometimes the word was used when it would've been easier, and more poignant, to be specific: lesbian, gay, transgender, nonbinary, whatever it might've been. Although it's now a commonly used term and, for many, in no way offensive, it's a word that I think we should be use sparingly and with remembering how not so long ago, it was a slur, used to make LGBT+ people feel like outsiders, feel hated, afraid. Not everyone is comfortable with that term, and we'd do one another a favor if we thought of that before using it. It particularly made me cringe when characters used it in reference to older members of the LGBT+ community. I also thought it seemed a little strange and out-of-place when characters introduced themselves with their pronouns. I don't remember this being common in 2013; even now, people don't do it much in public spaces (LGBT or otherwise). We certainly should, and we should do our best to make others comfortable and use their pronouns of choice, but things like that made this book feel distinctly as if it were happening in 2022. 

All in all, I think that, for me, this book was firmly average. Lots of people will probably enjoy it, and I think it's fantastic to see a self-discovery journey that doesn't focus entirely on romance, but some of the issues were too pressing for me to become totally immersed. Dumond's writing is simplistic, pleasant to read, but often told us what was happening instead of actually allowing us to experience it.

Recommended if you love weddings, discussions of religious homophobia and the ways we can use religion positively, and happy endings! 

Book Review: Shiver: Selected Stories by Junji Ito

 

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Content Warning: death, violence, gore, body horror, trypophobia, misogyny (violent), entomophobia, suicide.

In this collection of some of Junji Ito's best works, we encounter stories of possession, sickness, jealousy, and the mundane becoming terrifying. An ancient jade carving opens up holes on its owner's body; a legendary record plays an unspeakable song; an unusual fashion model is hired by a film crew who ends up biting off more than they can chew; a doctor's patient has dreams that are becoming longer and longer as time goes on; and many more tales within will leave you shivering and wondering what the next page will hold... 

I reviewed Ito's massive collection of Tomie stories on this blog a while back, and ever since then, I've become quite a big fan of his wonderfully twisted art. This decently-sized book will keep you entertained with each of its stories, and while some are more successful than others, I was once again impressed by how Ito manages to combine the horrible with the beautiful, the everyday with the unbelievably strange.

It's difficult to pick out a single favorite amongst the nine stories told in this collection, but I think if I were forced to choose, Honored Ancestors and The Long Dream were the two that fully captured my attention, leaving me pondering some rather philosophical questions. Both of these stories play with existential horror, with legacy and death, with being left behind. I also must mention how Ito incisively comments on beauty standards; all of his Tomie stories and the ones that feature Fuchi take us to opposite ends of the beauty spectrum, and again, with Tomie's character, we see once more that question of legacy and immortality.

Also, perhaps even more importantly, these stories still somehow manage to be fun, regardless of the dark, grim subject matters Ito usually handles. Although there are extremely heavy topics discussed -- suicide, bullying, loneliness, abuse, control and power, misogyny -- it never felt as if I were being beat over the head with a morbid take on the world. Today, we see a lot of media like this: relentlessly dark, the sort of perspective that implies evil is unbeatable, inevitable, and every person in the world is selfish and cruel. Not so in Ito's world: its strangeness and evil has a life of its own, and you get the feeling that Ito himself is having fun playing with horror, grotesquery, and outsiders becoming heroes. 

His accomplishment of melding visual art with literary storytelling is no small feat, and again, I must recommend that you give this fantastic collection a shot. 

For those of us who are already established Ito fans, there's also the bonus of author commentary on how he came up with his ideas and concepts for these crazy stories, and also some of his rough sketches before the images became definite! Highly recommended.