Simone and Her Books

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  • Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir // Book Review

    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir // Book Review

    Or How to Make Simone Super Anxious About Space.

    But seriously, this was such an engaging and emotional story for me. It will take you on a wild ride across the stars, meet new friends, and hopefully feel like a hero at the end. However, I can’t not discuss how much anxiety it gave me. What’s my trigger? Conversations about life expectancy, existential thought (what does it all mean? what happens to us after we die?), and just thinking about death in general. I walked away from this book with a healthy dose of anxiety about space. Totally personal, I don’t think anyone else suffers from mild existentialist issues, but if you’re like me, proceed with caution.

    Here’s more about Project Hail Mary

    Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission–and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

    Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

    All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

    His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that’s been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it’s up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

    And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

    Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian–while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

    My Thoughts

    Get ready for space because there’s a lot of it and it’s non-stop. I’m going to try and do this without giving away spoilers, but heed my warning. Much of this book is reveal after reveal especially in the situations where Ryland has no idea how to proceed forward. I’ll try to keep mum about bigger stuff, but I’m going to share smaller details.

    I think the biggest thing people will do with this book is compare it to The Martian. And while both books carry some similar themes, they’re starkly different. First off, Ryland is not stuck on Mars. In fact, he’s not even in our solar system. Second, there’s no one coming to rescue him. So Ryland’s mission is to figure out how to save earth and then never return to the world he belongs to.

    And this is where most of my anxiety came from. Of course I didn’t think about it while he was on his adventures or through the memories he slowly remembers. It was in every single conversation he had with himself about how he won’t survive this. It’s in the way he talks about how alone he is, how he misses his kids (he’s a middle school science teacher), how what he’s looking at isn’t even our sun, and even if he were to return to earth, 26 years would have passed on earth.

    Some of these conversations were so honest and human and they were ones that needed to be had. If Ryland was on this space adventure and didn’t think about the very real reality for him, I don’t think I would have bought the book as much as I did.

    It’s not considered an Andy Weir book without science and math and this book discusses it a lot. Specifically, it dives into relative physics; how energy is mass and the speed of light to the 2nd power. You may know the formula E=MC2. Well, this becomes super relevant in this story and it’s really interesting how it’s deployed. It also discusses our technology and how far we’ve come in comparison to other lifeforms in the universe. I loved this juxtaposition of our technology vs. alien technology. I’ve always thought aliens (if they exist) would be leagues more intelligent than us and have the technology to boot. However, this book tackles those preconceived notions and also shares some interesting theories I never would have guessed.

    I thought it was interesting to see this alternating timeline for Ryland. There’s a little about what’s happening in the present and then a recall to the past with more info he’s remembering. I found myself wanting to know more about the present than revisiting the past, but I also understand how this is Ryland and his memories are slowly coming back to him. I think the perspective is the best especially since Ryland was his own person and despite being a middle school science teacher, he was smart, inquisitive, and instinctual.

    Overall, this was such a great read. I loved traveling through space with Ryland and his friend, seeing what happens to Project Hail Mary and earth, and seeing what happens to Ryland. The ending was a bit bittersweet and a really wild ending, but it’s been such a magical journey so far that you’ll definitely be happy with it.

    Thanks to Del Rey for gifting me a copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • Made in Korea by Sarah Suk // Book Review

    Made in Korea by Sarah Suk // Book Review

    Is there anything more fun than a contemporary YA romance with a bit of identity, forging your own path, and really coming-of-age? Probably! But if you’re looking for something upbeat with a bit of conflict and whole bunch of K-beauty products, then this is the book for you.

    Here’s More about Made in Korea

    There’s nothing Valerie Kwon loves more than making a good sale. Together with her cousin Charlie, they run V&C K-BEAUTY, their school’s most successful student-run enterprise. With each sale, Valerie gets closer to taking her beloved and adventurous halmeoni to her dream city, Paris.

    Enter the new kid in class, Wes Jung, who is determined to pursue music after graduation despite his parents’ major disapproval. When his classmates clamor to buy the K-pop branded beauty products his mom gave him to “make new friends,” he sees an opportunity—one that may be the key to help him pay for the music school tuition he knows his parents won’t cover…

    What he doesn’t realize, though, is that he is now V&C K-BEAUTY’s biggest competitor.

    Stakes are high as Valerie and Wes try to outsell each other, make the most money, and take the throne for the best business in school—all while trying to resist the undeniable spark that’s crackling between them. From hiring spies to all-or-nothing bets, the competition is much more than either of them bargained for.

    But one thing is clear: only one Korean business can come out on top.

    My Thoughts

    I really loved this one. It was a fun little YA contemporary story that is perfect for the summers and most important, summer vacation. It’s got an upbeat feel to it and even the conflicts that these kids came across throughout the story weren’t too overwhelming. It’s light and airy with a bit of conversation about identity, but ultimately a fun treat when you need a break.

    As I mentioned, the conflicts in this novel were real conflicts, but still light and fun. Making a bet to see who’s K-beauty business will win at the end of the year sounds like a fun but serious endeavor and the kinds of havoc it wreaked on both Valerie and Wes weren’t the kinds that would threaten their lives or put them in danger. It was more about trusting each other, having good senses, and avoiding the urge to cheat.

    I loved the characters the most. Valerie is this very determined person who’s had a K-beauty business working out of her school locker for the entirety of their high school career. She’s finally at the home stretch when her rival, Wes Jung, comes into town with some unique products of his own. I was so surprised that these teens had their own business and had the blessing of their school to run them. I didn’t even know programs like that existed and honestly, I wish I had one for myself. Valerie felt like someone I knew at my old job who has the head for business. I love that she knows what she wants and driven to get it. I also loved that despite feeling like an adult, she still made mistakes and there was still a lesson for her to learn.

    I also really enjoyed Wes. I resonated a lot with him especially when I was younger and also a musician and wanted to do something with that world. His hard conversations with his family also reminded me a lot of the ones I had as a kid. It’s tough to tell your immigrant parents that you want to pursue a career that won’t make a lot of money if you’re not successful. I wholeheartedly felt what Wes felt and rooted for him to have that hard conversation with his parents. But I also loved that it wasn’t all hard work for him. He still had his interests, his own friends, and even someone he was into. He felt rounded out and not just the music geek who wanted to overcome his obstacles.

    Overall, this was such a delight and I truly enjoyed every second of it. I can’t wait to see what else Sarah Suk puts out because I think I’ll definitely read more from her.

    Thanks Simon Teen for a gifted copy of this book. My opinion hasn’t been influenced by the author or the publisher.

  • Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean // Book Review

    Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean // Book Review

    Emiko Jean is a new-to-me author, but I think after finishing up Tokyo Ever After, I might follow her and the rest of the work she’ll eventually put out. It was such a breath of fresh air especially after such a heavy read, but it also discusses some important topics. The best part is probably the idea of being royalty.

    Here’s more about Tokyo Ever After

    Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity… and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.

    In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.

    Izzy soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself—back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairytale, happily ever after?

    My Thoughts

    If you want to read The Princess Diaries meets Crazy Rich Asians, then this is the book for you. I’m not usually one to use comparable titles to explain a book, but these two novels explains this one super well.

    Some of the emotions Izumi went through felt exactly like how I would react. I consider myself the secondary character in my life; better suited as the best friend who doesn’t get much action in the plot. So when Izumi described herself the same way and then being thrust into the limelight, it definitely captured the emotions I would be feeling to. I don’t even think “a fish out of water” would cover the level of insecurity and self-consciousness I would have. And yet, Izumi approached this new world she needed to assimilate into with grace. She was poised and while she did make mistakes, they didn’t feel as bad as the onse Mia Thermapolis dealt with.

    In fact, Izumi felt like such a realized person. She had insecurities and doubts about herself. She worried about connecting with her estranged father. She freaked out when she knew she made a mistake. I was anticipating her to be stubborn or hard to read because many YA characters feel difficult to relate with, but I definitely related to her.

    The depictions of Japan and the addition of Japanese culture was such a treat. I know a fair amount about Japan, but the content Emiko Jean brings up was such a closer look. I didn’t realize that Japan was still a constitutional monarchy! I didn’t know some of the phrases that I hear from Japanese folks so often. It was nice to feel a little immersion into the world and I loved how Izumi handled it as well. There was some discussion about identity and I’m not surprised. As a fellow Asian American, I’ve played the identity dance so often that it was the most relatable part of the story for me. Being split between your two ethnicities when the two worlds are completely opposite each other brings up a lot of self-doubt. It makes you want to side with one part of you and abandon the other. It makes you want to choose the one that’s easier for you. But I loved that she embraced both and wanted to be both and it’s exactly the conclusion I came to for myself.

    Of course, the antics in the book felt like you were reading Crazy Rich Asians. While the designer stuff wasn’t as nice as CRA, there was definitely that feeling of being the outsider to a prominent royal family. I imagined this is how Meghan Markle felt when she entered the royal family or even how Rachel from CRA felt when she finally met her fiance’s family. I love that this is another part of the dichotomy of the story; the spotlight and living a normal life. The intrigue was funny, but light. It didn’t really dive deep into this universe but focused more on Izumi’s reactions to it.

    The only thing I wasn’t a fan of (and this is entirely personal) is Izumi and her love interest. Yes, I know this is YA and usually with YA books there’s some form of romance, but it wasn’t such a huge focus and honestly it felt more like friendship to me than romance. Then again, many of the folks I dated when I was a teenager felt more like friendship than romance so perhaps I don’t know enough lol.

    Overall, such a beautiful story with a great character to follow along with. You’ll be rooting for Izumi and her family and hoping that royalty is everything it was cracked up to be.

    Thanks Flatiron Books for the gifted copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • It Had to be You by Georgia Clark // Book Review

    It Had to be You by Georgia Clark // Book Review

    This was such a heartwarming and life affirming novel. Filled with tons of heart, lots of inclusion and representation, and of course, love.

    Here’s more about It Had to be You

    For the past twenty years, Liv and Eliot Goldenhorn have run In Love in New York, Brooklyn’s beloved wedding-planning business. When Eliot dies unexpectedly, he even more unexpectedly leaves half of the business to his younger, blonder girlfriend, Savannah. Liv and Savannah are not a match made in heaven, to say the least. But what starts as a personal and professional nightmare transforms into something even savvy, cynical Liv Goldenhorn couldn’t begin to imagine.

    It Had to Be You cleverly unites Liv, Savannah, and couples as diverse and unique as New York City itself, in a joyous Love-Actually-style braided narrative. The result is a smart, modern love story that truly speaks to our times. Second chances, secret romance, and steamy soul mates are front and center in this sexy, tender, and utterly charming rom-com.

    My Thoughts

    The last book I read from Georgia Clark was The Bucket List. It was this beautiful story about a young woman who’s been diagnosed with the BRCA gene that heightens her chances of developing breast cancer. Before she makes the decision for a life-saving double mastectomy, she creates a bucket list for her breasts. It was such a laugh out loud story with a serious undertone about life, love, and your breasts.

    This time, Georgia Clark’s returned with a new moniker; a rom-com writer. Putting herself in league with the thousands of other romance writers, does Georgia make the snuff? I think she does. The story starts with Liv and Savannah, but then it branches out to the friends and loved ones close to them and their relationships. It then goes even further out to the weddings Liv and Savannah work together and those unique relationships. It really makes you see how we all may be strangers to one another, but we are somehow interconnected. It’s a beautiful thing!

    Because with her humor, her incredible storytelling, and the connections she’s developed with these humans, I think she’s created herself a beautiful romance between five couples in New York City. And New York is its own character in the story as well. I’m originally from New York and the year of pandemic and not seeing my family has me a little downtrodden, but this book made me miss that city life so much. I nearly want to go back just to browse the bookstores and drink the coffee and people watch. And this story is very much people watching to the Nth degree.

    The story interweaves ten lives in five relationships and each relationship is so different from the other. Each of the characters relate back to Liv or Savannah in some way, but they’re all standouts on their own. And all of them have their own personalities. It’s like Georgia Clark jumped into these people’s heads and wrote down what she saw from there. There’s honestly a little bit of something for everyone in here. Not only does she represent the entirety of New York, but she also represents the different kinds of love, the different kinds of relationships, and the different ways we expressed (and don’t express) our emotions. There’s the romance after divorce, the open relationship that wants more, the celebrity romance, the friends-to-lovers, fake dating/relationship. It’s seriously a smorgasbord of rom-com stories that will tantalize you.

    And while there are so many funny scenes, it also has a lot of heart. I loved that not only there were these romantic stories that were happening, but there were friendships being formed, people finding themselves, people coming to realizations they didn’t see before, coming to terms with grief, and so much more.

    Overall, this is such a wonderful story that left me with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face. I’m not one for crying from romance novels, but this got me in the feels a few times. It’s a satisfying story that will leave your weary soul just a bit perkier knowing that there’s a happily ever after for everyone.

    Thanks to Atria Books for the gifted copy of the book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark // Book Review

    A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark // Book Review

    After reading The Haunting of Tram Car 015 last year, I was hooked to the alternate Cairo P Djeli Clark created. And when I heard he was going to be 1) releasing his first full-length novel 2) it was set in his alternate Cairo, I knew I had to read it. And thankfully this book exceeded my expectations.

    This book releases on May 11th, 2021, but I knew I had to read this before pub day.

    Here’s More About A Master of Djinn

    Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

    So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

    Alongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city – or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems….

    My Thoughts

    I think the one thing that I can always trust from a book by P Djeli Clark is super rich descriptions and a level of world-building on the same level as the great fantasy writers. The depth of description even to include the backstory of that building or event or thing that’s being described is exceptional. It’s extremely visual, which makes me want to see this one on the big screen. I think that this would translate so easily with a story that will definitely keep you watching.

    I absolutely loved agent Fatma and agent Hadia. I loved that Fatma is the old pro while Hadia is the new kid on the block. It reminded me of the Haunting of Tram Car 015 and the two agents that are from different worlds working together and doing it well. I was rooting for Hadia and worried for her since she’s so new and green to the Ministry, but my worries were immediately assuaged when she jumped right into the fight without any hesitation. Also, her level of deduction was awesome as well; almost as good as the one Fatma has.

    Which brings us to the mystery component to this fantasy book. While there was definitely a “whodunit” feel to the book, it didn’t feel like a real crime mystery where the clues all led to some nefarious being. In fact, the clues were super easy and I had a feeling about who was the suspect before getting halfway through the book. Was I right? Yep! However, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I didn’t come into the book thinking that it’d be a whodunit, so my expectations on that level were low. But I felt like the story is less about the mystery and more about this fantastical world and the work Fatma does for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. I loved getting to know Fatma throughout the story. The little things like the suits she wears and the people she associates with were interesting and all so realized. It really immersed me in the story and made me invested especially when the djinn and ifrit come along and the story really starts to take hold.

    I think the only issue I had is that it dragged a bit every once in a while. I mean, I’m not surprised that it did given how deeply descriptive Clark gets in some instances. However, there were points where I wanted less description and more action or more details into the case.

    Overall a great story filled with adventure all the way through. The magic was great and I loved how the story moved. Definitely going to be reading more from Clark!

    Thanks Tor dot com for a gifted copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee // Book Review

    Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee // Book Review

    I’m going to start off by saying that I don’t normally read historical fiction. However, when it’s a historical fiction that 1) takes place on the Titanic 2) brings in an under-represented group that wouldn’t normally be on the Titanic, then I need to investigate. And much like Valora Luck, I got lucky with this one.

    Here’s More About Luck of the Titanic

    Southampton, 1912: Seventeen-year-old British-Chinese Valora Luck has quit her job and smuggled herself aboard the Titanic with two goals in mind: to reunite with her twin brother Jamie–her only family now that both their parents are dead–and to convince a part-owner of the Ringling Brothers Circus to take the twins on as acrobats. Quick-thinking Val talks her way into opulent firstclass accommodations and finds Jamie with a group of fellow Chinese laborers in third class. But in the rigidly stratified world of the luxury liner, Val’s ruse can only last so long, and after two long years apart, it’s unclear if Jamie even wants the life Val proposes. Then, one moonless night in the North Atlantic, the unthinkable happens–the supposedly unsinkable ship is dealt a fatal blow–and Val and her companions suddenly find themselves in a race to survive.

    Stacey Lee, master of historical fiction, brings a fresh perspective to an infamous tragedy, loosely inspired by the recently uncovered account of six Titanic survivors of Chinese descent.

    My Thoughts

    This was a slow burning story about young Valora Luck; a Chinese British person who’s trying to get to America and become an acrobat in the Ringling Bros Circus. While it was slow burning, I also remembered this story takes place on the Titanic and perhaps it was more the anticipation of what happens to the ship that made it feel slow. But it was definitely entertaining. Watching Valora pull off being a boy to hang out with her brother and his friends in third class to pretending to be Mrs. Sloane in first class, I loved seeing her dynamically navigate through those different worlds. It was also quite fun especially when she’s fooling the rich folks that she’s also rich and white.

    It was interesting to see the dichotomy between first class and third class. Naturally, we’ve seen these class wars in movies like Titanic, but what Titanic failed to recognize was the level of discrimination people of color from third class were faced. It wasn’t only Valora, Jamie, and the boys who are discriminated against and it made sense with the story. And although they were faced with a lot of discrimination, there were also people on board who looked beyond their ethnicity and befriended them. It made me happy to see a few allies in the mix.

    I also loved that this story was loosely based off the six Titanic survivors who are of Chinese descent. It blew my mind reading the author’s note at the end and seeing the inspiration for the story. Personally, as a Korean American, I never imagined someone who looked like me on board the Titanic. I think the biggest depiction of life then was that big blockbuster movie we all know and love. And in many ways, I was worried with the direction this story went. I was worried she would fall in love with some rich white guy and abandon her plans to be independent, but it didn’t turn out that way! It actually made me so happy that she was so stubborn!

    This book also deals a bit in grief/loss. When Valora boards the ship, there’s a lot of recall to her mother and father who both tragically passed away. It fueled her determination to follow her dream especially since it was her parents that got her and Jamie into acrobatics in the first place.

    The ending was definitely where all the action was. I mean, this is the Titanic and I don’t think it’s a spoiler with what happens to that ship at the end. But it was interesting to see this represented. I appreciate so much what Stacey Lee was able to do with this book. I loved the story and imagining myself in such a historical moment. Although, I am glad I wasn’t on that boat in real life.

    Thanks Penguin Teen for gifting me a copy of this book. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • My 2021 Hugo Awards Challenge

    My 2021 Hugo Awards Challenge

    It’s that time of year again where the flowers start to bloom on the trees and the Hugo Award nominees are announced. Out of all the bookish awards that exist in the world, the Hugo’s are one of my favorites because of the way they celebrate SFF authors and writing throughout the year.

    Last year, I challenged myself to read the books within the novel and novella categories. It was tough especially given the short timeline, but I made it through. It was also a year of bad mental health, so while I did read those books and thoroughly enjoyed every one, I still struggled with reading through the entire list.

    This year, I decided to challenge myself with three specific categories; novels, novellas, and the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book. Because I love both adult and YA SFF, I couldn’t resist the books in all three of these categories. Luckily for me, the awards have been postponed to December due to the pandemic, so there’s plenty of time (like the rest of the year) to read them and pick out my favorites.

    Of course, I’ll be sharing my picks for the awards once I’ve read all the books. Last year, I didn’t do so well with my picks but this year, I have a feeling I get the process better and want to see if I can at least nail one category.

    Here’s the plan: From June 2021 – October 2021, I will be reading all the books I haven’t read yet from each of these categories plus any books I’ll need to read beforehand. Many of the books in this year’s nominees are continuations of series already in progress. As much as I want to be the person who reads a series book out of order, I’m not. I must read all for the context! Thank God for the extended date!

    Here’s the books in the categories I’ll reading (from the Hugo Awards website):

    I’m actually on top of my reading this year and have read three of the six books on this list. Black Sun, The City We Became, Harrow the Ninth. The books I’ll need to read from the Best Novel category will be: Network Effect by Martha Wells, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, and The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal.

    The novella category is my least read category. Out of the books, I’ve only read Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi. I’ll need to read Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire, The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo, Finna by Nino Cipri, Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark, and Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey.

    Similar to the novels category, I’ve read half the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book category. I finished Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and Legendborn by Tracey Deonn. I DNF’d A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, so I won’t be trying to read that one again. I’m just not a fan of her writing! I’ve tried three books of hers and they never work for me.

    That leaves Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko, Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, and A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher

    On top of that, I wanted to catch up on the ongoing series that I want to read ahead of the nominated books. While I know this isn’t necessary and these books could probably be read out of order, I’m the type of person that needs to do things in the order they came. So here’s what I’ll need to read beforehand:

    • Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
    • Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
    • The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
    • The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal
    • Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

    It’s a lot of reading, but again there’s a huge lead time and a summer of reading whatever I want. I’m excited to get into these stories, share my thoughts with you, and host my little award show via text later in the year. Will you be reading the Hugo Awards this year?

  • Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard // Book Review

    Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard // Book Review

    Tomorrow, Realm Breaker will be out in the world for everyone to read! Gah, it’s always so exciting to be writing a review for a book months in advance. I feel like it’s been forever since I read an up-and-coming novel that has a lot of highly-anticipated readers with a huge dedicated following from her previous book series. I think the last was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue last year. I guess this is my yearly “getting-on-the-train-early-and-waiting-for-it-to-take-off” and I’m glad to be on board. While I haven’t read Victoria Aveyard’s first fantasy series, Red Queen, I think this new one from her will be more my style especially as an epic YA fantasy.

    Here’s More About Realm Breaker

    A strange darkness grows in Allward.

    Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.

    She soon discovers the truth: She is the last of an ancient lineage—and the last hope to save the world from destruction. But she won’t be alone. Even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions:

    A squire, forced to choose between home and honor.
    An immortal, avenging a broken promise.
    An assassin, exiled and bloodthirsty.
    An ancient sorceress, whose riddles hide an eerie foresight.
    A forger with a secret past.
    A bounty hunter with a score to settle.

    Together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn all kingdoms to ash, and an army unlike anything the realm has ever witnessed.

    My thoughts

    It’s been a while since a book’s lived rent-free inside my head. I spent my weekend thinking about Andry, Dom, Corayne, and Sorasa and the adventures they get into throughout Realm Breaker. It was a pretty easy read in comparison to some bigger named epic fantasy titles and the multiple POV provides excellent detail on a specific scene from multiple angles. I really loved this world and the strange magic within it.

    I love that this is a group of random strangers all somehow related to the royal world they live in. Their worlds are all different, but they all have skin in the game of taking down the royalty. Corayne is the daughter of an infamous pirate and a very famous mortal who’s blood and sword can open realms called “Spindles.” It felt a little like alternate universes with people from a specific bloodline having the ability to open them. Dom is an immortal who’s worked alongside Corayne’s father. Andry is a squire who watched as Corayne’s father was killed. Sorasa is an assassin, but working closely with Dom and therefore becomes a part of the group.

    This book was action packed! Either they were traveling through some wild parts of the map or they were faced with giant sea creatures, there weren’t many moments where you weren’t entertained. Even the characters themselves turned out to be intriguing and you wanted to know more about them. They were all flawed as well and this is what I really enjoyed about the novel; nothing came easy. Plans got messed up or something big and twisted happens to keep you pushing for the heroes to win. I love a good battle where people think they have everything under control, but everything turns out like trash regardless.

    I’m also a huge fan of “royalty gone wrong” stories where the corruption within the royalty is what sets off this group of randoms to fight against it. And they are sinister. I was surprised because there are sections where the Queen has her own POV, but when the twists started for her side of the story, I was floored by where Victoria Aveyard took it. It made sense with the story, but it surprised me nonetheless.

    The only other thing I wanted more of was the relationships between these characters. At first, I thought Andry, Dom, Corayne, and Sorasa were going to be the main characters in the group. They had a rapport especially with each other and I can see hints of possible romantic connections in future books. I can also see some more natural friendships developing, but overall, I wanted there to be some more moments of downtime where the group can get to know each other rather than moving onto the next task.

    But as the story moved along, more characters were introduced and became very integral for the movement of the plot. I wish they were introduced much earlier (they were introduced pretty much in the middle of the book), so that we can follow along with them. Also, there were characters that had their own POV, but I wasn’t completely sure its relevance to the story. You get hints here and there, but it felt weird to be reading components that didn’t really fit with the rest of the book. I’m assuming they’ll be introduced in subsequent books, but I kept these character POVs in mind in case they came up later in the story. I don’t think they really do.

    Overall, this was a great start to a brand new YA fantasy series. I’ll probably be following along as Victoria Aveyard publishes the rest of the titles for this series and rereading this one again in the future. I look forward to seeing what happens next!

    I received a copy of this book from Epic Reads for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

  • My May 2021 Possibilities

    My May 2021 Possibilities

    Hello and hi and welcome to another month on the glorious Earth! May is going to be a doozy with all the great books being released this year. I think there’s huge titles publishing for almost every genre, so this summer is going to be filled with so many great books to read. I’m salivating with anticipation!

    Aside from the great books that are publishing this month, it’s also Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This May, I’m celebrating Asian and Asian American authors the best way I know how: reading them and showcasing them. I’ll be sharing some great books that I’ve loved, some new-to-me authors you should check out, and the books I’ll be reading. It’ll be a great month of reads and I can’t wait to get started.

    I’ll also be sharing what I’m reading ahead of the Hugo Awards. Yep! I’m doing it again this year. This time, I’m giving myself a bit more leeway since the award ceremony’s been postponed until December. I’ll share more details of that in the future.

    For now, let’s see what I’m getting into this month:

  • My April 2021 Wrap Up

    My April 2021 Wrap Up

    Happy end of another month! I swear, if I wasn’t paying attention the month would end much sooner than it does.

    While nothing much happened this month for me (another month in the pandemic), I did celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband. I think this was the most eventful anniversary since we took some time out in nature, watched movies and tv together, and then headed to the Wedge; a huge surf spot in Southern California where the waves were monstrous! I took a few photos with my phone and so happy to capture Mother Nature doing her thing.

    Photo of the ocean with a giant wave crashing on the beach. There’s white water all around and a bit of the sandy bottom on the left side. The sky is above and it’s super grey giving the photo an ominous feel.

    This month I did a lot of experimenting with my reads. First, I tried to continue my poly reading journey. That didn’t happen since I’m a creature of habit and all I did was go back to one book at a time. Then, I also scheduled out my reads. This was something I was trying to see if I can stay on a schedule. Turns out, that’s not possible either. Finally, I tried listening to books while I was at work. That also didn’t work because it became too distracting to either the story or to the job.

    So with a ton of failed experiments, I actually did a lot better than I thought. I read nine new books and one reread. Most of the books were physical with two audiobooks in the mix. I’m so happy with the books I read. I started off the month with Becky Chambers and then ended the month with P Djeli Clark. Starting and ending your monthly reads with authors you love is probably the best reward for reading books lol.

    I had a good mix this month! I read a few contemporary stories, a few sci-fi, and I’m always reading fantasy nowadays. I’ve discovered new favorites, disappointed in some highly anticipated books, and just generally stayed off my phone and read the books. Let’s talk about them.

    A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark – I really loved this one and finished my month with it. Clark is a fairly new author to me since I’ve only read Haunting of Tram Car 015 last year. But after this book, I’m a fan for life.

    Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee – I didn’t know there were people of Chinese descent aboard the real Titanic! This story is loosely based on those people and while it may not be true, it was such a great story filled with heroism, strength, and tons of support.

    Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders – Ah, a highly anticipated book of the YEAR and I was a little bit disappointed. I was hoping this would solidify my love for Charlie Jane Anders and in some ways it did, but this one didn’t really meet the mark for me.

    Malice by Heather Walter – A Sleeping Beauty retelling that I really loved. Heather Walter really embraced the story and made it her own with a sapphic romance between Princess Aurora and Alyce, a Vila whom everyone believes to be the villain. But there are bigger dangers than Alyce in the world and this story brings up those subjects.

    The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – This was my first time reading this book! Yes, I know I’m very late to the game. But after that BookTok trend about it being so good it’ll bring you to tears. While it was a good book and I definitely loved it, I didn’t cry. But then again, I don’t cry for sad romance stories. My heart is made of stone.

    Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez – I absolutely loved this one! I’m probably blinded by my love for this story that I missed some bigger issues with the book, but it really kept my attention and made me fall in love with the two characters. It also brings up some important themes like taking care of yourself and not putting such harsh restrictions on yourself because of some inevitable fate. Plus, there’s a goofy rescue pup in it that I couldn’t resist.

    The Conductors by Nicole Glover – I really enjoyed this one and if you’re a fan of mysteries that take place in historical settings, then you should check this one out. I loved meeting Hetty and the interesting magic surrounding her. I wished I like the story more, but I have more hopes this is just debut jitters and the next book will be even better.

    I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman – I’m always surprised by Abbi Waxman’s stories and when I heard she wrote a mother/daughter story, I wanted to check it out. It was such an interesting story to see this duo go on their college visits road trip and stumble across some interesting moments. However, the story kind of falls apart with this admissions scandal included in it. I get that it’s supposed to be reminiscent of certain admission scandals that happened a few years back, but it was abrupt and entered the story way late. Other than that, a great mother/daughter story if you’re into them.

    A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers – I will always and forever stan Becky Chambers and this book is one of the reasons why. While the first book in the series, The Long Way Down to a Small, Angry Planet, felt like a fun space adventure with a ragtag crew of aliens and humans, this is an example of her softer side. The story focuses on two narratives and as you read, you get to know these people and who they were and the worlds they had to survive to get to the point they are today. I’m always so impressed by Becky Chambers because of this and I’m so glad I started the month with this one.

    That’s it! How successful was your month? Did you get a lot of reading done?