The Biased Bibliophile

Book Review: Tiger Queen

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan has been on my TBR for a while, so it was perfect that it was one of the books included in a reading challenge I participated in during November. Sometimes, when books have been on my TBR for a while, the novelty fades for me, and I’m not as excited about reading the book, and that was unfortunately true with Tiger Queen. However, as soon as I started the book, I wished I had picked it up sooner!

The story follows Princess Kateri, the only heir to her desert city’s throne. To prove she is worthy, she must defeat potential suitors in battle before she can earn the right to her crown. Kateri is determined to defeat everyone who challenges her in order to keep the promise she made to her mother; that she would lead and care for her people. However, Kateri’s last suitor is not so easily defeated, and she decides to enlist help from a source she never imagined turning to before.

I have to say that at the beginning of the book, I thought the author was going to ship Kateri with someone who was clearly toxic, but she didn’t, and that honestly made the whole book 1000 times better! The only thing better than reading a cute romance is reading a cute romance that has healthy relationships. Not to mention that I adored the simple, yet adorable relationship she forms with another character.

Kateri’s perspective was unique compared to other YA protagonists I’ve read. She is open-minded, and is willing to change her opinion on things when she is presented with evidence that contradicts her previous opinions. This is honestly not seen enough in YA. I feel like many characters think and feel a certain way, and they are dedicated to that stance throughout the entire book. So, Kateri’s openness was certainly refreshing.

Furthermore, the ending felt complete and satisfying. Much of the story had somewhat of a fairytale feeling, but ultimately Kateri was not living in a fairytale, and had to face some hard truths. Even at the end, she is still facing a lot of hardships. I really appreciated this aspect because I think a lot of authors feel like they have to wrap everything up in a pretty bow to please the readers. However, sometimes a realistic ending is more appealing than a pleasant one, and Tiger Queen is the perfect example of this.

Overall, this book is a quick, fun read! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially if you love strong female characters. I definitely will be checking out more books by Annie Sullivan! She surely seems like she could be another instant-buy author for me!

Book Review: Furyborn

Genre: Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I have seen Furyborn by Claire Legrand mentioned by so many readers. I read Sawkill Girls by the same author, and it was also a three star read for me. However, I decided to read Furyborn for a reading BINGO giveaway in October. I have to say, I’m really torn about the book now that I’ve finished it.

Rielle can manipulate all 7 elements, but this power is not necessarily a good thing considering a prophecy that foretold of two queens that would wield this power; one the Sun Queen, the other the Blood Queen. Rielle knows if people discover her abilities she will be questioned and feared, but it is not always easy to hide her powers.

More than a thousand years later, the myth of Rielle, the Blood Queen, is no longer viewed as fact. The world of the Blood Queen is long gone, replaced with a harsh world ruled by the Emperor. Eliana basically works for the Empire to keep her family alive, but women are mysteriously disappearing, and Eliana’s loyalties will be tested. She is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family and survive, but she might be asked to do much more than she expected.

This book sounded really good, but I feel like the execution did not meet my expectations. Perhaps my biggest issue with the book was that the chapters switched POVs between Rielle and Eliana, but for the first 3/4s of the book, the two characters did not really feel distinct. For that reason, the first 75% of the novel felt really slow to me.

I will say that towards the end of the book, Rielle and Eliana became a bit more distinct, and the novel picked up a lot. I personally feel torn about the book because it wasn’t outstanding, and I’m not sure if I want to read then next two in the trilogy. On one hand, I need to know what happens, but on the other hand, I don’t want to spend 75% of book two and three wanting to be finished with it.

Overall, a lot uncertainty about this book. Only time will tell if I ever get to the second and third books. Maybe they will improve my opinion on the series.

Book Review: The City of Brass

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Adult Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently read The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty for a BINGO reading challenge, and WOW! Rarely does a book leave me speechless, but this book was absolutely outstanding! It is by far the best book I’ve read since Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor was released in 2018! Unfortunately, when I read a book that is mind-blowing, I have a difficult time verbalizing its profundity, but I will do my best.

The novel is about Nahri, a girl living in 18th century Cairo. Her world is turned upside-down when she accidentally summons an ancient djinn. The djinn, Dara, immediately realizes that Nahri is not completely human, so they embark on a journey to the djinn city, Daevabad. However, Daevabad is not everything it appears to be, and could prove more dangerous for the two adventurers than they ever imagined.

Ugh, this book is just everything! The plot is flawless, the characters are perfectly imperfect, and the world building is just *chef’s kiss*! I read a blurb on the book that basically says it captivates you within a few pages, and I thought that was an exaggeration, but it certainly isn’t. Literally on page 4 I know this book had my complete attention.

The magic system and world-building are stunning, yet the world somehow still feels realistic. I seriously could not put this book down, and felt like I was holding my breath in anticipation of what would happen next. The ending has a pretty major plot twist that made me gasp out loud.

If you’re looking for a book that fully enwraps you into its world, The City of Brass would be perfect for you. When you finish, I’m sure you’ll be running to the bookstore for the second book!

Book Review: Skin of the Sea

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A West African retelling of The Little Mermaid with Mami Wata as the protagnist? YES PLEASE!

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen is a debut novel that takes place in the 1400s when Africans were being forcibly taken and sold into slavery. This wonderful novel tells the story of Simidele, a girl who was recreated into Mami Wata by the Goddess, Yemoja. When Simi saves a boy from drowning she discovers that she broke an agreement that all Mami Wata must adhere to. Now she must go on an epic adventure to save herself, her fellow Mami Wata, and Yemoja. However, she quickly realizes that there is much more at stake then what she initially thought.

While the beginning of the novel is a little slow, it picks up quickly, and certainly keeps you on your toes. It was one of those novels that I got lost in while reading, and it truly transports you to another world.

I really enjoyed the way that Simi’s memories from her life as a human come back to her throughout the story. She struggles with feeling torn between life as a human and her reality of being Mami Wata. While I’m sure some readers will disagree with me here, I truly loved the ending of the book! This novel is the first in a duology, and I thought the ending was the perfect mixture of closure and leaving the reader hanging.

All of the characters were really likeable, but I particularly loved many of the supporting characters. The way Yemoja was depicted was really interesting because she is clearly a deity, and embodies everything that encompasses, but at the same time, she is really relatable and compassionate. This is definitely different than the way I’ve seen her and other orisas depicted in other books, and I really enjoyed this difference.

Also, Yinka and Issa are absolutely PERFECT! While they aren’t necessarily main characters, they are so well-developed and you can’t help but to adore them. Issa is so innocent and pure, while Yinka initially seems to be the opposite, but these two characters really stuck out to me.

Overall, I am extremely impressed by Natasha Bowen. Skin of the Sea sets the bar really high as far as debut novels go. I hope the second book is just as riveting!

Book Review: Meet Me in St. Louis

Genre: YA Romance, YA Contemporary Rating: ⭐⭐

As Nelly says, “I’m from the Lou and I’m proud,” so I was pumped when I saw a book called Meet Me in St. Louis by Heather Schneider on NetGalley. Unfortunately, I did not like the book as much as I wanted to.

Basically, the book is about Stephanie who wants to go to college in Florida, but can’t afford it. She decides to participate in a city-wide scavenger hunt because the $100,000 grand prize could pay for her tuition. While trying to solve the clues in the scavenger hunt, she runs into Cam, the cute guy from school that she assumed was out of her league. The two of the instantly connect, and Stephanie has to juggle a new relationship while also trying to win the scavenger hunt.

Parts of this book were really cute. The scavenger hunt mostly kept my attention, and the characters were likeable, granted not necessarily unique. I absolutely adored all the aspects of St. Louis that the author included!

Sadly, there were many aspects of the novel that I didn’t enjoy. First off, one of the clues and its solution makes absolutely no sense. I don’t want to spoil the answer, but I will just say, simply because something has an equal width and height, it does not make that object a square in any way, shape, or form. A circle has the same width and height, along with many other shapes.

Additionally, the author made a comment along the lines of saying the arch casts different shaped shadows at different times of the day… All stationary objects do this. I don’t mean to sound rude, and maybe the author didn’t think this sentence all the way through, but it again makes no sense. The arch casting a shadow that moves throughout the day is not a unique feature of the arch.

Furthermore, I was elated when the protagonist mentioned the Disney Pixar movie, Ratatouille, because it is quite possibly my all-time favorite movie. However, the author interchangeably refers to Remy as a rat and a mouse. Remy is a rat. A mouse is an entirely different species.

Similarly, another aspect I didn’t like, which was wholly a matter of opinion, is that the protagonist claims that Finding Nemo (the movie that traumatized me as a child) “rivals” the cinematic genius that is Ratatouille. I know this is an opinion, but I never claimed to be objective. I’m biased… literally I write under the name “The Biased Bibliophile.” Defending Ratatouille is a hill I’m willing to die on.

Finally, I found that parts of the novel dragged on. Especially after the scavenger hunt was over, it felt like the story should have wrapped up quickly. Again, this is just a matter of personal preference, but I would have liked it to feel a bit more fast paced.

Overall, I was pretty disappointed with Meet Me in St. Louis. I was truly looking forward to reading a book set in my hometown, but it simply did not live up to my expectations and had some factual errors that snagged my attention too much. That being said, the overall writing was pretty good, so I would certainly be interested in reading another book by this author.

While I think it is important to be honest in my review, it is always good to keep in mind that debut novels are not always 100% polished, and that’s okay. In the grand scheme of things, this book is a good place to start a writing career, and hopefully the author will only grow from here.

Book Review: Noor

Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch duology, so when I saw Noor on NetGalley, I was delighted. Overall the book was a pretty good read, and it had so many compelling themes and ideas, which make it stand out from other novels.

For a book under 300 pages, Noor has a lot going on. Essentially, it takes place in Africa, many years in the future. The protagonist, AO, was born with birth defects, and over the course of her life, decides to have operations that allow her to use cybernetic legs, an arm, and a device that is connected to her brain. When AO defends herself after being attacked in a market, she is suddenly thrust into the life of an outlaw, and she soon meets DNA, who ends up in a similar situation. Together they must fight, not only against the government and the mega-corporation, Ultimate Corp, but also against harmful stereotypes.

Okorafor has an uncanny talent when it comes to world-building. It can take many authors multiple books to truly develop a world, but Okorafor manages to do it flawlessly in only one short novel. I also appreciate the fact that the author finds inspiration in everyday life for her stories. Honestly, the world in Noor has so much potential, I could see many more books being written within the same world!

Additionally, I didn’t necessarily adore any of the characters, but they were at least likeable. For me, the characters in this novel were not what kept me reading, but I admired their perseverance and determination to change, not only their circumstances, but the world they lived in.

Furthermore, I enjoyed how the themes in the novel have parallels within our world. Okorafor makes statements on the commercialization and exploitation of African countries, the abuse of power by mega-corporations, and the way in which powerful businesses, not only financially damage small businesses, but also force customers to use their business by undercutting prices. Through AO, Okorafor asks us to imagine what choices we truly have when major corporations are sometimes the only available option.

Finally, my favorite aspects of the book related to AO’s self image. She urges us to ignore traditional standards of beauty because they convince us that we aren’t enough. She tells us that we should celebrate our bodies, even when they don’t fall into specific, glorified categories of what is considered “normal” or “pretty.” Ultimately, AO’s courage in the face of adversity sends the message that we can be the heroes of our own stories, no matter what circumstances we may face.

All in all, this book didn’t necessarily blow me away, but it was certainly worth reading. The themes throughout the novel were definitely the most compelling aspects of the book, and the world-building leaves open the possibility for more books set in this world. Noor will be published on November 9th, so don’t forget to preorder a copy today!

Book Review: Serendipity

Genre: YA Romance, Short Stories Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I would read absolutely anything with Marissa Meyer’s name on it, so when I saw that she was editing a collection of short stories, I was stoked! Serendipity is a collection of 10 short stories that each play on a different romance trope. The authors who contributed include Marissa Meyer herself, Julie Murphy, Leah Johnson, Abigail Hing Wen, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Anna-Marie McLemore, and Sandhya Menon. With a line-up like that, I knew I would find at least a few great stories!

It can be difficult to review a collection of short stories because each story can be rated individually, but also collectively. As a whole, I would say the book fell a little short of my expectations. The subtitle of the novel claims that the romantic tropes are transformed, but most of the stories didn’t add anything new or unexpected to these common tropes.

On the other hand, I felt like there was quite a bit of diversity within the stories, which I greatly appreciated! Many of the stories were queer, and I certainly think we need more stories that represent queer people.

My average rating for all the stories was 3 stars, but I had a few 2 star and some 4 star stories also. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like any of the stories were 5 stars because most of them didn’t put a twist on the romantic trope in their story, and some were also forgettable.

I would say my top two short stories in the novel were “Shooting Stars” by Marissa Meyer and “Liberty” by A.M. McLemore. I’m not sure what I can divulge in my review, but Marissa Meyer’s trope is one of my all-time favorites, and it was written in a surprising and fun way. Similarly, A.M. McLemore’s story was so endearing and I like the way they incorporated cheerleading into the story. Both Marissa and Anna-Marie embraced the “twist” on their romance tropes more than any of the other authors in my opinion.

“In the Blink of the Eye” by Elizabeth Eulberg was also great, but I didn’t particularly care for the ending. Essentially, the MC didn’t end up with who I wanted her to end up with, and it was strange that feelings she had felt for years literally switched to the opposite feelings within minutes.

On the flipside, my bottom two stories were “The Idiom Algorithm” by Abigail Hing Wen and “Auld Acquaintances” by Caleb Roherig. I felt like “The Idiom Algorithm” didn’t really make a lot of sense. Maybe with a longer story, the author could have changed that, but it felt rushed and random. I also didn’t really connect with the MCs in “Auld Acquaintances” and didn’t particularly care for the plot. Admittedly, that trope is not one of my favorites.

Overall, most of the stories were pretty good, and I definitely think this novel is worth reading! It was a quick read that literally put a smile on my face. I’m all here for the sappy love stories!

Book Review: These Violent Delights

Genre: Historical Fantasy, YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

After hearing a lot of hype about These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, I finally decided to read it myself. While the book was good, it did not really live up to my expectations.

Essentially the novel is a Romeo and Juliet retelling that takes place in 1926 Shanghai. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are the heirs to rival gangs with a bloody history filled with betrayal, but when a mysterious madness starts spreading throughout the city, they may need to put past events behind them to save their city.

Although I enjoyed the premise of the novel, the majority of the book felt very slow and uneventful. Out of almost 450 pages, I truly enjoyed only the last 150 or so. For the most part I feel as though the main reason why I didn’t find the book entertaining was more because of a personal preference more than anything else.

Despite the fact that the pace of the novel lowered my overall experience of it, I found Juliette’s character extremely likeable. Additionally, the supporting characters in the novel are absolutely endearing. Rosalind, Kathleen, Marshall, and Benedikt are all surprisingly well-developed, and really contribute to the overall plot of the novel.

All in all, I will likely be reading the sequel, as I do feel attached to some of the characters. However, I will not buy Our Violent Ends, unless I fall in love with it after reading a copy from the library. Chloe Gong is clearly a talented author, but her first book simply didn’t fall in line with my personal preferences, and didn’t live up to the hype in my opinion.

Book Review: Firekeeper’s Daughter

Genre: Mystery, Suspense Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clearly, I caved into the hype about Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, and for once I was not disappointed! I’m not going to lie, 90% of the reason I picked up this book was because of the cover and because I wrongfully thought it was a fantasy novel. However, I’m really pleased that I ended up reading it because it certainly lived up to the hype in my opinion.

The novel follows Daunis, a young Native American woman, who is tasked with protecting her community from meth. She sees people who have become victims of addiction and violence, and feels an urgent need to do something. So, when she discovers that her uncle’s death was not what it appeared to be, she works with the FBI to help them discover who is running a meth operation in her community, and in other Native communities near her.

The one aspect of this novel that truly made it stand out is the way in which Boulley incorporated Native American culture into the story. In her author’s note, Boulley says that we need more books by Native Americans, and more books about them, and I couldn’t agree more! This novel was a genuine window into Native American life, and raised issues that many Native American women face.

The mystery in the novel was also very compelling. Especially when the author started revealing parts of the mystery. However, Daunis’s love for her community is what made the book interesting. It is clear from the start of the novel that Daunis cares about people in her community, particularly the women, who are often victimized. Throughout the novel that dedication and compassion only grows stronger, and as a reader, I felt moved by everything Daunis went through, to her actions to make her community safer, to her feelings about her family.

As a reader, I feel as though we come across many books that are written with sincerity, but rarely does that genuineness shine as brightly as it does in Firekeeper’s Daughter!

Book Review: Seven Dirty Secrets

Genre: YA Suspense, YA Mystery Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

I was so excited to see that I was approved to read an ARC of Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards on NetGalley! I have all of Richards’ books, and have thoroughly enjoyed most of them. Thrillers are not really my favorite types of books, but Natalie D. Richards never fails to wrap me up in a story I can’t put down, and Seven Dirty Secrets was no different.

Basically, the book is about Cleo, who starts receiving strange clues in a scavenger hunt on her birthday. She quickly realizes that the scavenger hunt is related to her ex-boyfriend’s drowning, which happened a year prior on a floating trip for Cleo’s birthday. Not only does this scavenger hunt bring up painful memories and uncomfortable tension between Cleo and her friends who were also on the trip, whoever is sending these clues also seems to be putting Cleo’s future at risk, maybe even her life.

Probably my favorite thing about Natalie D. Richards’ books is that they are very quick reads because the suspense won’t allow me to put the book down! While a lot of the “big reveals” were pretty obvious, I still couldn’t help but to keep reading.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed the scavenger hunt aspect of the novel. I haven’t read a thriller like this before, so it was fun to read with the unique plot.

Overall, nothing necessarily stands out about this book, but it is an enjoyable and easy read. If you enjoy thrillers, or if you’ve liked Richards’ previous books, you will certainly like this one too!