Simone and Her Books

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  • August 2020 Wrap Up

    August 2020 Wrap Up

    I can’t believe August is already over. It’s kind of interesting that time moves so quickly when you’re stuck at home. I really do miss going out to cafes or the library and sitting for hours while reading a book and enjoying the people watching. I think I miss people watching the most.

    While I did read a lot, I think my mental health is starting to take its toll. I read some great books, but my reading life felt mechanical. Almost as if I’m just doing it because I have to rather than having a love for books, if that makes sense. Obligation really turns any hobby into a chore, but I’m hoping September will be kinder to me especially with the dozen amazing fantasy novels I’ll be reading. But it’s been a productive month with 11 books read: nine books and two graphic novels. Here’s the breakdown:

    Books I Recommend

    The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

    This was my second book by TJ Klune and I think it really cemented my love for him and his work. He has this way of bringing you into this story, making his characters feel real to life (despite their magical aesthetics), and the little romance within the book is utterly charming and sweet. I highly recommend if you’ve ever been called a “weirdo” or a “freak” because of who you are. Because this book will teach you to love yourself and accept others as they are.

    Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

    If you’ve read Gideon the Ninth, then I highly recommend its sequel. It was a zany novel that really confused the heck out of me, but I feel my greatest takeaway was to really trust your author. It was a super wild ride and quite entertaining while you take it, but I will warn you now that you’ll be so confused it’ll make your head spin. It’s possibly the only novel that really made me nervous all the way until the end. I’m glad I read it and I can’t wait for the last one. Hopefully this last book will be a little kinder to its readers.

    A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

    This is the book in the series that will destroy you. OMG, I didn’t have a clear understanding of Sabaa’s writing style until I read this one. Ooph, this is now one of my favorite series and I have two more books to go! This one definitely cemented the lives of the characters in her An Ember in the Ashes series, but it will break your heart over and over again. Sheesh, people weren’t wrong when they said Sabaa was brutal.

    Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

    Somehow, I snuck this final book into August and I absolutely loved it. It was also the second novel I read this month featuring British characters and a fake relationship. Perhaps I’m really into the fake relationship trope? I haven’t had a chance to write this review yet, but I will in the next couple of days. But truly, this book put a giant smile on my face, made me blush super hard, and the tenderness of Zaf and Dani is most definitely goals.

    Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

    If you need a little break from reading heavy tomes or if you’re in the middle of a massive slump, this is the book to get you out of that mindset. It’s witty and super laughable (I laughed out loud a lot and there’s some great one liners). It’s also super tender and sweet as a fake relationship turns into real love.

    Honorable Mentions

    My honorable mentions this month are also just as great as the books I read above. I want to mention this because I don’t want folks to think because they’re in this category that they were bad. Trust me, if a book was bad or I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t be adding it to this list. These were all great, but had something or another within it that made me pause from wholeheartedly loving them.

    That’s my opinion, though. If any of these books are on your TBR or up your alley, you should most definitely read them. I share my full thoughts on these books throughout the month on my blog.

    What did you read this month?

  • The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson // Book Review

    Honestly, from the first couple of pages, I was hooked on The Year of the Witching. It’s not your average book about witches with more of a Salem witches vibe than a modern witches vibe. However, don’t think that the puritanical church is the same as the one in real life. There are some similarities, but what Alexis Henderson shares with us here is a completely different world with a completely different set of rules. Most definitely the kind of book you want to pick up for Halloween, but you’ll walk away from it with some bigger themes and story.

    Here’s more about the book

    In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

    But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

    Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her.

    My thoughts

    Well, I already mentioned that I really liked this book. It definitely has a horror vibe to it, but nothing is too gorey or overkill to make you want to put the book down. Aside from the way Immanuelle bursts onto the scene in the prologue, I will say this story is more subtle than I imagined. I was expecting the horror components to be very in your face, but they were actually not so bad. However, you still have to be careful for a lot of bloody scenes, sacrifice, blood magic, myths coming to life, and other parts that make this more a dark fantasy than a horror story.

    Immanuelle was probably my favorite character. Of course, she’s the main character but that’s not why I found her so intriguing. What was great about her is her mental and emotional states throughout the novel. She wasn’t running into the fire to save everyone right away. She was a little shy and a little guarded right in the beginning. You can almost say she hid herself away because of her upbringing and her family. As the story progressed, you see her go from this timid girl who does her best to abide by the rules of the Prophet to a bad ass woman who makes a very difficult decision at the end of the novel. It was truly awesome to watch her growth, see her struggle, and gain that power she has at the end. This was most definitely the heroine’s journey story.

    One of the major components of this novel is this puritanical village run by a man known as The Prophet. It was interesting to see his abuse of power and how he used that to his advantage. I think what intrigued me about The Prophet was how easy it was for him to assume the position of power, use it very much to his advantage, and still have people following him. The puritanical village and church were definitely parts that felt very true to reality. While this isn’t based on any religion that exists in real life, it felt like it did. It felt like this could have been some small town in the middle of the United States. I think that’s what the most frightening part of this novel was.

    It was also really interesting to see how Alexis Henderson use different races in her book. The puritanical village is mostly white while folks on the Outskirts of the village are darker skinned. Immanuelle is bi-racial and you can tell from the little things she experiences it’s an existence she wished she didn’t have. From wanting hair like her best friend, Leah, to feeling less like a burden to her grandmother and grandfather, Immaneulle’s race and sex definitely play huge roles in the novel. I was pleasantly surprised and so happy when she finally took claim to herself, found her father’s side of the family, and felt welcomed in a way she never felt in the church. I thought it brought an interesting dynamic to Immaneulle and her family especially at a crucial point towards the end.

    However, I wanted there to be more Ezra. I wanted more Vera. I wanted to know more about the folks living on the Outskirts. I wanted to see more of the world outside of Bethel. I also felt like the story moved way too quickly. I don’t know if that’s a bias because I’ve been reading so many slow burns this month, but I wanted there to be more time spent with Vera. I wanted to understand Ezra a little bit better. It moved quite quickly and as much as I loved a fast paced novel like this one, I wanted it to slow down just to make the great parts of this novel shine a bit more and give Immanuelle that realistic heroine’s journey. I think she’s definitely gone through some real trials throughout the novel, but there were a few moments that felt too easy and quickly moved on to the next thing.

    Overall, this was a quick and spooky read good for anyone who loves the pace of a YA fantasy novel and a good amount of gore. While I wish it slowed down a bit and let the other characters in the book develop including Immanuelle’s family, it was definitely the kind of read I love. It was fast paced. It had a really lovable main character and it had an interesting world that felt super close to the real one.

    Thanks to Berkley for gifting me a copy of this book.

  • I Like Big Books (And I’ll Tell You Why)

    I Like Big Books (And I’ll Tell You Why)

    Big books. Chonkers. Doorstoppers. They come in various names, but the one thing we all love about them is that there’s a lot of story.

    And somehow, I do. I’ve read many big books and don’t really shy away from them. From character-driven literary fiction novels to epic fantasies filled with tons of world building and character development, each big book holds it’s own weight when it comes to story.

    But for some reason, many of us are wary of them. We don’t stay away from them, but there’s most definitely a hesitancy to start them. I know exactly how that feels because I’ve felt it before. Even now when I start a new big book, I need a big cup of tea and a deep breath to get myself ready. What are your methods of coping with big books?

    I think when I was younger, I worried that big books meant a lot of big ideas. There were going to be concepts covered that I won’t be smart enough to understand. I worried constantly that the language and writing style would be too much for me. There’s also that massive worry that a big book will take me forever to read.

    Then I realized that I was picking books from the wrong genre. I think finding a genre that suits your taste will make reading a big book less daunting. I probably won’t read another big Donna Tartt story, but I’ll happily read 1000+ pages of Brandon Sanderson. If it’s a big fantasy book, then I know what to expect because I’ve read enough fantasy to know what most authors write about. Knowing your genre and choosing a book that matches your taste will most definitely put you in the mood to read it more than reading something outside your taste.

    Also, knowing your authors. If there’s an author that you’ve read before and you love their work, then perhaps picking up their bigger novel won’t be too worrisome. You’ll already know the writing style and language. You’ll already know that the author’s great at what they do and you’ll expect that in a big book too.

    I don’t think there’s any advice I can give on how to get into a big book. You just need to dive into it. You need to tell yourself “I’m reading this big book and I’m starting now.” I know it’s easy to say, but when you don’t worry about how many books you read a month or if you’re keeping up with whatever book trend is out there, picking up a big book becomes a less daunting task. I’m still trying to give myself grace and forgiveness when I don’t read enough, so this is something I continue to practice on my own.

    I took a poll on my Bookstagram account to see what were the biggest hurdles for people who don’t read big books or for people who love big books, but find themselves putting it off. I got a lot of responses, but many of them cover the same issues. I’ve broken them down into three big main issues. I hope you enjoy it!

    The biggest concern was time

    Ah, that elusive clock that we all set our lives on. As a slow reader, I am always gauging how much time I’m spending with a book. Because I read so much and have a dedicated daily schedule for reading, I tend to feel more pressure to finish a book so I can start the next one. It’s actually a big issue for me and I’m not kind enough to myself for not reading others.

    But I think that the biggest thing I learned about reading a big book is just savoring it. It’s about the journey, not the destination. Yeah, I can be putting off the other books I need to read or I feel that weird ache of knowing I’ve been spending too much time reading a book. But more times than not, I devour the big tomes. I absolutely stuff myself with story and I fall so deeply in love with them. Giving big books a chance allows you to deeply explore a world you didn’t anticipate before and I absolutely love when a book can pull me out of reality especially when reality is not looking so good.

    For the most part, many readers are concerned that reading a big book will take away from the time spent on other books. Big books take dedication and hours to read and when you’re the type of reader who’s reads in the car waiting for the kids or on the commute to work, then it might not be advantageous to read a big book. Most readers would rather read smaller books (around 300 pages) and get them read quickly. I can totally understand that. There’s a certain psychology around accomplishing a task like reading a book and if the book is short, then it’s more manageable.

    What also helps is audiobooks. With audiobooks, you don’t have to set dedicated time to reading the book. You can be reading them in the car. You can read them during your lunch breaks. All you need is your listening device and a pair of headphones. I even thought reading complicated fantasy or science fiction would be tough via audiobook, but you kind of get used to it. And if you’re like me who listens to books at 2x speed, then you’re actually finishing the book in half the time. This is a big hand especially when you’re on a reading schedule.

    But I think the most important thing about reading a big book is making the time. It won’t be an easy task, but if you dedicate at least one book a month to a bigger read and schedule out the rest of your other reads, then you’ll see how you can make time for both the big books and the little books. I think the biggest advice I can also give you is not to feel intimidated by how many books you’re reading. It’s always about the quality not quantity. It’s about the journey, not the destination. Reading 10 books a month may be a great feeling, but reading 3 big books in one month might introduce you to an epic world you didn’t know before. You can also always make up for lost time the month after.

    There’s also the intimidation factor

    Many bookstagrammers wrote that they don’t like reading big books because they are…big. I completely get that. How am I going to read this big tome when I’ve got a week to read it? I mark out the pages. For example, if I’m reading a big 500-page book and I want to dedicate 5 days to reading it, then I can mark out 100 pages a day to read. Of course, those are big numbers, but do whatever works for you. Read 50 pages a day for a couple of weeks. Read 10 pages a week for two months. Breaking out the book into more manageable chunks will not only resolve your time spent on a book, but also make the book a little bit less intimidating. Do whatever works for your reading life. Make sure you’re enjoying it. Because there’s nothing worse than reading a big book that you’re not into.

    My other trick is to get bigger books on my e-reader. With readers like Kindle, I don’t see a giant book. I see a tiny reading device. I can easily remove the percentage and page numbers so my focus is more on the story than on the book. I always surprise myself when I read this way because I find that without the distracting page number or percentage, I immerse myself in the story and get deeper into the book. It’s also a blessing to your fingers who don’t have to hold a giant book while you read it.

    The last thing people mentioned is whether the book has substance

    Books with a ton of filler and very little substance are difficult to gauge from the synopsis. This is very difficult to discern from just the outer package. You have to actually read the stories to ensure it’s not full of fluff. All you see is the giant book and your patience wearing thin. And there have been some big books that bored me to tears. I remember reading Anna Karenina and skimming a lot of those harvesting scenes because listening to Tolstoy describe how grass grows is as painful as watching grass grow.

    Adopt really good DNF rules. DNF (did not finish) is not a bad thing. In fact, I highly recommend folks to have rules around when they will DNF a book. For example, I always give a book 100 pages to impress me. If there’s something within those 100 pages to keep me reading, peak my interest, or intrigue me, then I’ll keep reading. There’s really no point in reading a big book if you’re not captured by the first 100 pages. That time can be better used reading something else.

    However, I think the main thing you’ll also need to do is get comfortable with lulls in a story. While I haven’t come across an entire book that’s super slow, there’s definitely going to be fluff or filler in your story. Many contemporary authors understand that readers don’t want to know how grass grows. They’re more concise delivering a story that may have its lulls, but ultimately keep you reading. Don’t be worried about filler pages because sometimes they’re not necessarily filler. It could be a bit more character development or world building the author is adding. Hopefully the author has a good editor that helps to keep things tightly written than loosely slow and repetitive.

    All of this to say, read the big books. There’s no magic about how to read them. You just need to motivate yourself to do it. I like to motivate myself by adding the big tome to my TBR and making sure it gets read before the end of the month. I try my hardest not to put them off because of its size or its substance because if I did, I probably wouldn’t read any big books.

    The biggest component of the big book is that you’re getting more story. If you’re the type of person who loves getting lost in a book, escaping reality, or learning about something new, then big books are exactly for you. Just because a novel is twice the size of the average doesn’t mean that there’s some magical thing happening that other books don’t have. It’s just more story. Take your time. Drink your big glass of tea. Enjoy that big breath of air when you first begin. Because as much as I love an average size novel, there’s something way more romantic about being lost inside a big old book. Also, it does help that I get some arm exercises in (lol).

  • Pub Day Picks // August 25, 2020

    I’m excited because today a book that I pre-ordered is out into the world. This is a fantasy book with tons of Caraval and illusionist magic vibes to it. When I heard about this one, I needed to have it and now it’s here! Happy Pub Day to my final pick of August 2020.

    Where Dreams Descend by Janelle Angeles

    In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

    As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

    The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

    The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

    The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

    Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

  • Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang // Book Review

    Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang // Book Review

    Here goes another book review for a book I don’t think I’ll do justice. If you’re interested in politics especially those around socialism and capitalism, then you’re going to really like this book. While set on Mars in a futuristic version of reality, the story is much more literary diving into more realistic themes instead of exploring the world beyond. For these reasons, I think this heavy science fiction tome is perfect for any fans of literary fiction and character-driven novels.

    Here’s more about the book

    A century after the Martian war of independence, a group of kids are sent to Earth as delegates from Mars, but when they return home, they are caught between the two worlds, unable to reconcile the beauty and culture of Mars with their experiences on Earth in this spellbinding novel from Hugo Award–winning author Hao Jingfang.

    In 2096, the war of independence erupts when a colony of people living on Mars rebel against Earth’s rule. The war results in two different and mutually incompatible worlds. In 2196, one hundred years later, Earth and Mars attempt to initiate a dialogue, hoping a reconciliation is on the horizon. Representing Mars, a group of young delegates are sent to Earth to study the history and culture of the rival planet, all while teaching others about life on Mars.

    My thoughts

    Before I get into my thoughts, I want to make clear that Vagabonds isn’t about space travel between Earth and Mars. There’s the one trip from Earth to Mars as the group of students return to Mars, but that’s about as much space exploration in this story. I was anticipating there to be more space travel, but the terra-formed Mars is enough to satisfy my love for science fiction. The focus of this book is on Luoying. She’s a young dancer who just spent five years on Earth to study dancing and get a feel of what life is like for the other side. While the back of the book notes another perspective (and there are multiple perspectives in this book), I feel like the only one I truly cared about was Luoying. She’s the only consistent character throughout the novel as people are introduced and then leave while you’re reading.

    The world that they live in is quite different than the world Earth has become. On Earth, the main focus seems to be capitalism. Every country’s adopted capitalism bringing them the freedom to do whatever you want, but at a price. The steep price is selling and buying and continuing the momentum of making money. It doesn’t sound like the Earth I want to be a part of, but it’s actually the United States that I am a part of.

    Then, you have Mars. Mars focuses their time on technology and the arts. Because there’s no real jobs or money out on Mars, everyone lives by the good graces of the Martian government. They get stipends and have to really take care of themselves. While there’s the freedom to pursue art in any form (dancing, music, photography, painting, etc), you also live in a strict society where you have to declare your career and you’re pretty much stuck with it for the rest of your life.

    Luoying’s had a taste for both and early on in the book, she struggles with figuring out what’s the best planet to live on. Mars, where she can be a dancer and dance all the time, but never be able to pursue, dream, or even party with her friends. Or Earth, where she can do anything and everything she wants including dance, but also have her dreams be dashed by the all consuming dollar. Her time on Earth changed her because of the lifestyle and the politics. The politics she grew up with seemed more realistic than the politics on Earth. I think she really loved Earth and her experience there and can’t consider going back to the world she came from. It’s highly understandable especially as a young person.

    When you think of the story in this sense, then I feel like you have an interesting coming-of-age story where Luoying takes you to understand her past, her parents, and herself. But this story is also about revolution; about how you can change your perspective or see how “the other side lives” and realize that what you might have considered utopia isn’t completely the case. Finally, there’s Mars’ government trying to make a name for themselves, separating themselves from Earth who so desperately wants to keep its claws in Mars. In those instances, I truly loved this story and the powerful message it brings to young people everywhere.

    However, this book was pretty long and while it all moved pretty well along (with enough momentum to keep you intrigued), not much happens in the story. In many cases, it felt more like the real life journey of a young person. It was thoroughly character-driven meaning that there weren’t any other outside factors. The world was very much self-contained and the story only moved forward as you watch Luoying and her friends. In this regard, then they did an excellent job. But as a 600-page novel, it moved at a pretty slow burn. I will note that I read this on audio, so it was easier to digest.

    What really blew me away was how well each character was written. You knew right off the bat what kind of person Luoying was. There are certain things the author keeps close to the chest for the sake of the story, but you can live and breathe these characters. These characters were so real and even towards the end, there’s a chapter dedicated to each of the supporting characters. It’s a chapter to consider their opinions and what they believe regarding the new Martian politics and the dichotomy between Earth and Mars.

    While I wasn’t a fan of having individual chapters for their individual thoughts especially when some of these characters didn’t have that much page time, I thought it was interesting that Hao Jingfang didn’t forget to include these. It’s almost as if she’s reinforcing the idea that people don’t think like each other. The importance of individualism in this book is so prevalent when you consider all the supporting characters alongside Luoying. And there are a lot of characters.

    I also felt like the story really held on to its accuracy. The logistics were also really well done. When Luoying dances, she takes into consideration the gravity of both Mars and Earth. On Earth, she has more gravity which requires her to work harder to get the leaps and jumps that she would have normally gotten when she was on Mars. She was even born with a lower bone density to accommodate for the gravity on Mars.

    Overall, I really enjoyed the conversations about freedom and the worlds in which Luoying came from. While I really wish there was more cohesion to the story, folks who love stories of political intrigue and that slow burn will truly appreciate it. Those who also think about the delicate balance between freedom and capitalism will definitely like it too.

    Thanks to Saga Press for the gifted copy of this book.

  • Four Years of Writing About Books // A Reflection

    Four Years of Writing About Books // A Reflection

    This August marks the fourth year I’ve been on bookstagram and blogging about books. It’s been such an incredible ride thus far and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this experience.

    When I first started making bookish content for the Internet, I was in a way different space than I am today. I was working way too much traveling for my job and spending a lot of time by myself. I lived in hotel rooms. I ate a lot of meals alone. I wanted to make some friends, but having trouble doing so because I couldn’t always go out for dinner or coffee with them. So after perusing bookstagram as a casual viewer, I decided to start my own account including this blog. For the blog, I knew that I would always spend time writing about things. I didn’t think anything would come from it, but I did it anyway to at least have the credentials to request books from Netgalley.

    Now, I write and read and share full time. I love coming here everyday than going to the office. I love chatting with the lovely folks I’ve met through this community and engaging with people who understand me. It’s truly a blessing for me to be here and do this with you all. This hasn’t been an easy four years. I’ve been met with a lot of my own personal roadblocks. First off, I’ve never considered writing full time. It was something I imagined I would do for a publishing house or a company, but I never thought I would be writing for myself full time.

    Secondly, getting myself off the ground was very difficult. It took a lot of energy to be engaging, writing content, and reading the books. I felt like my personality and my writing style were also roadblocks. I’m always worried I come off too weird or not personable. Race played a small role in it too with that nagging thought that maybe people don’t like me because I’m Asian.

    But once I got the momentum, figured out how I want to present my work and thoughts, and basically created a system of making content and reading books that it started to get a little bit easier. I say a little bit with such a grain of salt because I still combat with my insecurities everyday. I still combat the feeling that people don’t understand me or I’m too weird. I find myself still backing out of blog posts or deleting stories because I don’t think it’s good enough. I still hate my photography. These are feelings I try and overcome on a daily basis and because of my overthinking brain, I think about this a lot. I think about this before bed. I think about this the moment I wake up. I think I might even dream about this.

    But what I’ve learned in the time I’ve been here is that you can’t please everyone. Some folks will think you’re weird and think that the topics you bring up are a little out of their wheelhouse. Some folks won’t like your content because you post the same kind of things. Some folks won’t like your aesthetic or your opinions or you. The biggest learn I’ve learned in my four years is that I should be writing and working for myself. I make content that I would appreciate and I would love. What I’ve realized from being myself and working for myself is that there are more people who are similar to you than people who don’t like you. The people who don’t like you or are just plain trolls are loud, but they are minimal. You’ll find that there are more people who enjoy you for you. It’s still something I’m getting used to.

    A lot has changed since I came on here with the intention of writing book reviews and bookish content. I feel my blog is an extension of what goes on in my head packaged to make sense, of course. LOL. I’ve used blogs since I was 14 years old writing about my daily life and terrible poetry on sites like Livejournal. Remember those days? Back in those days, I was writing for the 10 IRL friends that I had trying to figure out if my friends have had relations with certain crushes and the like through their words. I even found out I had a secret admirer through a blog post they wrote and I read. It’s kind of surprising when someone names you as their crush and would gladly move to America (they lived in Australia at the time) for me. Ahhh, the good old days.

    Of course, things have changed and blogging here is much different than when I was 14. Now I write for a much bigger audience who values my input and has interesting conversations with me about books and reading. It’s still a place to find book reviews, but sharing what’s happening in my life and what’s going on is a different little tidbit I never considered for myself. And that part is something that I want to extend further in the future. I’m always thinking up of ideas for posts here and while I’ve been a little shy to share them immediately, I do plan on fully investing in that part soon.

    And the wild part is that I’ve read more in these past four years than I think I’ve ever done in my life. I wasn’t a big reader when I was a kid. I only got into it when I became an adult and only after a year or so post-grad. My boss at the time was the lifesaver who shared with me some great books that she thought I would love. I’m thankful for her suggestions everyday because from the spark she set in my heart, I’ve molded and made my own. In a year, I would have read 2-3 books when I was a kid. Now I read over 100 books a year, which tiny Simone would have been so surprised by that little data point.

    Books have brought me comfort that music did as a kid. When I was younger, music was everything to me. I even have the tattoos and degrees to prove it. But as time moved on, books somehow took the place of music and what drives me are excellent stories written with a ton of heart. I love a good story that transports you to another world, makes you consider different perspectives and lives, and makes us all dreamers. Finding the genre that works for me was also super exciting because I finally have a place where I can adore almost every book I read. When you know what genre you like, it’s very difficult to find a book you don’t.

    What’s been the most surprising part about this entire endeavor is that I’m still learning. I’m testing myself and experimenting with my own reading to see what works and what doesn’t work for me. I’ve also been changing the way I write my reviews and focusing on creating content that will not only entertain, but relatable. I’m always trying to make TBRs a thing for me and I’m always considering ideas for bookstagram and beyond.

    The final thing I want to reflect on here is the community. While we have our disagreements on stories and opinions, they’ve never been met with vitriol or passive aggressive nonsense that I see all the time in other communities. Perhaps it’s because the book community knows that books can be interpreted differently and what someone gets out of a book might be different depending on the person. But the discourse is always exciting and I love hearing other people’s opinions and what they picked up from a book even if I didn’t like it or don’t fully agree. The community is one of the main reasons why I do what I do because engaging with you all and hearing your thoughts and creating content that you can relate to is important to me and I don’t plan on stopping that any time soon.

    So, thank you for being with me for four years. Thank you for engaging with me and being open. I can’t wait to see what the next four years have to offer. Cheers!

  • Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu // Mini Review

    If you love Hayao Miyazaki’s style, but with more magic, more autumn vibes, and a little sweet romance, then this is the graphic novel for you. I’m excited to share with you Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu.

    For the most part, this was a sweet and very low stakes graphic novel. There’s some witchy things taking place, but also a lovely story about two young people who knew each other when they were kids and find themselves not only re-strengthing their friendship, but finding that they love each other too. SQUEE!!

    The artistry in the graphic novel made me so happy. I loved seeing all the little forest creatures, the yummy mooncakes, and even Nova’s outfits! I loved that both Nova and Tam were their own people with Tam having a non-binary pronoun (with a little example of how to react when someone corrects their pronouns with you) and Nova is hearing impaired and does some cool things with her hearing aids. Their relationship seemed so comfortable, mutual in their attraction, and so sweet. You’ll definitely be smiling for the two of them.

    The illustrations really caught my eye especially since the entire book has an Autumnal vibe to it. I mean, there’s even a mid-Autumn festival that Nova’s family has including mooncakes! It just made me want to wear my heavy sweaters, drink some hot tea or apple cider, and watch the leaves fall off the trees. It’s definitely the most cozy feeling I’ve ever had!

    I really loved the magical elements in this book as well. It combined many of the different witch elements out there including flying broomsticks, magic wands, potions, sealing magic, and even a moment where they use a tracking spell! It felt very well-rounded when it came to magical usage even with the dark side of the magic.

    The only thing I had an issue with is the plot. The beginning was a little bit clunky without any explanation on Tam’s return, their relationship with Nova, and then the reasons behind the bigger conflicts they face at the end of the book. I think that if there was more time spent trying to flesh out the plot building and conflict, then this would be a total winner.

  • Pub Day Picks // August 18, 2020

    Hi hello! We’re in the middle of a heat wave, which is not good for us delicate readers who so easily fall asleep in the heat with the book on our chest and our glasses falling off our faces.

    But it’s Publishing Day! And there’s some great books publishing today. Today, there’s only two books that caught my eye that I can’t wait to read. I’ve already received a finished copy of one and I also picked up the audiobook of the other. I’m most definitely adding both of these to my TBR for next month, so I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you.

    Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho

    This month, I plan on finally reading Wicked Fox by Kat Cho. I don’t know why I sat on this book for so long, but reading that it has that Kdrama vibe plus Korean folklore and takes place at a South Korean high school has definitely caught my attention. I’m almost mad at myself that I didn’t think to read this sooner. Also, there’s a nine-tailed fox and since I just finished watching so much Naruto I need to get some nine-tailed fox stories in as well.

    However, Vicious Spirits is a companion novel to Wicked Fox. If you’ve already read Wicked Fox and need a little more of that universe, then this is the book for you. While it doesn’t follow the two main characters from Wicked Fox, you’ll find some fun with these two. Here’s more about the book:

    As Vicious Spirits begins, Miyoung and Jihoon are picking up the pieces of their broken lives following the deaths of Miyoung’s mother, Yena, and Jihoon’s grandmother. With the support of their friend Somin, and their frenemy, Junu, they might just have a shot at normalcy. But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don’t know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let’s be honest, Junu isn’t known for his “generosity.” Meanwhile, the events at the end of Wicked Fox have upended the forces that govern life and death and there are supernatural entities lurking in the background that will stop at nothing to right their world.

    Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

    This book was on my radar after Libro.fm offered it as a gifted audiobook to its influencers. From the moment I saw the beautiful rays of light, I knew this is something that I needed to look up and get excited about. And now that I have the audiobook on hand, I’ll definitely be adding this to my TBR for next month as well. Here’s more about the book:

    Nothing is more important than loyalty.
    But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

    Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.

    What are you excited about being published today?

  • Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir // Book Review

    Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir // Book Review

    If you’ve read Gideon the Ninth and absolutely loved being confused for most of it just to have everything explained and then have Tamsyn Muir tell you that you’re basically a pleb, then this is the book for you. If you’re into nonlinear timelines, second POV, dry wit and tons of banter, then this is for you. Because Harrow the Ninth will leave you rough, ready, and ruined. I’m going to do my best to review this book without many spoilers, which basically means I’m going to explain nothing and just my reactions. Hope you enjoy!

    Here’s more about Harrow the Ninth

    Harrow the Ninth, the sequel to the sensational, USA today best-selling novel Gideon the Ninth, turns a galaxy inside out as one necromancer struggles to survive the wreckage of herself aboard the Emperor’s haunted space station.

    She answered the Emperor’s call.

    She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend.

    In victory, her world has turned to ash.

    After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman’s shoulders.

    Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath — but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.

    Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor’s Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?

    My thoughts

    Before I get into any of my feelings about this book, I need to be transparent.

    Tamsyn Muir, you bitch.

    I’m so mad that this book is so confusing and also mad that this book is so damn good. Never have I ever openly welcomed confusion without having to google something and learn more about it. The book requires a TON of trust from the author to explain everything in the end.

    If you decide to read this book after finishing Gideon, just be fully aware that this book does start off where Gideon ends, but you won’t see Gideon. In fact, the story reads like Gideon the Ninth didn’t even happen. And for most of the book, you’ll think that you’ve been gipped the continuation of this story.

    That is, until Tamsyn Muir reveals everything. Seriously, that bitch.

    For more than half the book, I was just straight confused. There’s definitely a story happening, but the mixture of language and figuring out what happened with the first book it’s a little difficult to get into to. Let’s just pretend the first book doesn’t exist. Let’s just say that there’s a lot happening in Harrow’s head and you’re pretty much along for the ride. And then let’s add some more complicated plot devices here and there that leave you even more confused.

    And yet, I loved it. I have to admit that the book was intriguing and I kept reading because I was entertained and I’m annoying where I need answers and I expect the book to give them to me.

    While Gideon took place at Canaan House, Harrow takes place in space giving the book a real sci-fi theme to it. The plot is really interesting as Harrow and the others fight alongside God against these beasts set to use the thanergy in the universe and destroy everything. Despite the confusion, this part was quite clear and you’re off fighting massive heralds with their resurrection beasts in an attempt to destroy what God accidentally created. And while you’re on board this ship, you’re getting to know the other characters, the other Lyctors who went through the same process Harrow and the others went through in the first book. Again, each character has their own sense of humor, their own personality. You’ll even be laughing along with God as he watches his cohorts work and react to one another. It’s hilarious.

    Of course, everything you loved about Gideon is also here. You’ve got the language that’s so eloquent and intelligent that you’ll second guess whether or not you’re smart enough for this book (trust me, you are). You also get an encyclopedic knowledge of every bone in your body. I think I know more bone names than I did before!

    And there is some explanation. For one shining tiny little moment there’s explanation before being plunged back into darkness. It’s so cleverly done to make you want to reread this book and then impatiently wait for the last book and find out the real ending.

    Overall, this was one wild ride and it isn’t for the weak-hearted. You’ll have your ups and your downs. You’ll attempt to DNF at every single corner, but you’ll keep going. Oh yes, you won’t be able to resist Harrow the Ninth.

  • Pub Day Picks // August 11, 2020

    I’m so excited about this pub day. While I only have one book to highlight, I’m very excited about it. So excited that I’ll even be doing a spotlight on it this weekend on Instagram. I love that there are more South Asian authors coming out and this one isn’t one you should sleep on.

    Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

    You had me at Neil Gaiman meets Hindu mythology. And if you guessed this was the book I was extremely excited about, you are most definitely right. This book sounds so good and I’m so excited because I received it from Epic Reads over the weekend and I’m so ready to read it. Sadly, it won’t be until next month, but I’ll just stare lovingly at the gorgeous cover until then.

    This gorgeously imagined YA debut blends shades of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and a breathtaking landscape of Hindu mythology into a radiant contemporary fantasy.

    The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him. A star like her mother, who returned to the sky long ago.

    Sheetal’s quest to save her father will take her to a celestial court of shining wonders and dark shadows, where she must take the stage as her family’s champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens–and win, or risk never returning to Earth at all.

    Brimming with celestial intrigue, this sparkling YA debut is perfect for fans of Roshani Chokshi and Laini Taylor.