Book Review: Modern Guide to Mudras

Genre: Non-Fiction Rating: ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Modern Guide to Mudras: Create Balance and Blessings in the Palm of Your Hands by Alexandra Chauran! I’ve been wanting to read more nonfiction books lately, and when I saw the title of this book, I thought it would be perfect. I practice Buddhism, so I often use mudras in meditation, and the history behind them is generally fascinating to me. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to the hopes I had for it.

The strongest aspects of the book are the author’s notes about cultural appropriation and her inclusion of all types of people. Writing about mudras can be difficult to navigate considering how sacred they are in many cultures, but Chauran does exceptionally well by emphasizing the importance of respecting cultures and only using these mudras with pure intentions.

Similarly, Chauran has a section where she explains that her book is meant for everyone. She states that, despite certain mudras being considered feminine or masculine, they can be used by people with multifarious gender identities. Likewise, she admits that some of the mudras can be difficult to form, and that if a reader cannot form a mudra due to physical disability, there is no need to stress. She encourages the reader to try their best and have good intentions, and the rest will follow.

Despite these positive aspects, the book was simply not what I thought it would be. I found a lot of it very repetitive. Chauran often reexplains mudras that she explained in the first section of the book, and I think this repetition could have been circumnavigated by having an index with all the mudras, or having the reader refer back to the beginning of the book.

Additionally, the title of the book does not really indicate that Chauran describes magical spells, hexes, etc. and these were unexpected, and not in a good way. Personally, if I wanted to read about magic, hexes, or curses, I would pick up a fantasy book. The title does not mention these aspects at all, so I was expecting more of an objective description of mudras, and maybe how they are frequently used. I was not expecting a how-to book on using mudras in spellcasting.

Overall, this book was simply not what I was looking for. I think there is certainly room for literature about magic and spellcasting, but most readers would prefer to know what they are about to read before diving into those topics. The instructions for the mudras were pretty clear, but I would have preferred a more objective or historical take on the topic.

Cookbook Review: Teatime at Grosvenor Square

Genre: Cookbook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always enjoy reviewing books from many different genres, but this one is new for me! When the publicist of Teatime at Grosvenor Square asked me to review this book, I was extremely excited to add cookbooks to the genres of books I’ve reviewed. I love baking and cooking, but haven’t been able to do much lately, so this was the perfect excuse to try out some new recipes!

While this book is meant for fans of the book and T.V. series, Bridgerton, it is ideal for anyone wanting to try out some new recipes! There are simpler recipes along with some more challenging ones, and this book would be perfect for anyone planning a fancy party.

Of the four recipes I tried, all of them were relatively easy to make! I will say that the book calls for some tools that you may not have on hand, especially if you don’t bake often. However, it is usually easy to improvise in these situations.

Additionally, all the recipes I tried were absolutely delicious! No one in my family particularly cares for cranberry, but we were all pleasantly surprised by the Cranberry Brie Bites. Also, the honey-thyme drizzle for the Buttery Asparagus was phenomenal!

Another aspect of the book that I truly enjoyed was the cute little blurbs above each recipe. They were Bridgerton themed, but I liked them, even though I have not read the books or watched the show. I sincerely wish I would’ve had time to try out some of the desserts, but I am definitely looking forward to trying more (especially that beautiful cake on the cover)!

Book Review: Better Together

Genre: Contemporary, Magical Realism Rating: ⭐⭐

After reading and loving Again, but Better by Christine Riccio I immediately wanted to read another one of her books. So, when I saw Better Together on The StoryGraph, it automatically went on my TBR. This book has been described as The Parent Trap meets Freaky Friday, and while that description is true, the overall story felt very superficial and lacked depth.

Jamie is an LA comedian trying to make it in the standup world. Siri is a professional ballerina living in New Jersey. When both their dreams are in peril, they end up going to a Rediscover Yourself retreat in Colorado. When Jamie shows up at the retreat and sees her sister, she is shocked. When Siri sees her imaginary friend from her childhood, she is terrified, and they both realize that their parents have some explaining to do. The sisters ultimately decide to switch places, but on their flights home they soon realize that they are reflecting the other’s image.

I so badly wanted to fall in love with this book, but it was honestly a chore to get through. First of all, the story drags out much longer than it needs to. It’s over 400 pages long, and that length felt entirely unnecessary. For more than half the book, it really feels like nothing happens.

Additionally, I found neither of the main characters likeable, and Jamie was actually annoyingly irritating. While both characters were going through emotional turmoil, they were so exasperating. It was extremely difficult to finish a book when I didn’t like any of the characters.

The entire book simply felt like the author was trying to mix the storylines of Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap, and although that sounds compelling, it was executed poorly. I was so ready to gush about this book, but overall it was simply disappointing.

Book Review: Now Entering Addamsville

Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Once again The Novel Neighbor comes through with a fantastic recommendation! I’ve been reading a lot of LGBTQIA+ books lately, especially books with ace characters, and this was one of many recommended by my favorite indie bookstore. Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia is a wonderful story that will draw you in, with a spunky and rebellious ace protagonist!

Addamsville is haunted, in fact it is a tourist trap for that very reason, but Zora Novak knows this better than anyone else. Why, you ask? Because she can see the ghosts that haunt her small town. Zora’s mother had the same ability, and not only taught her about the ghosts, but about dangerous creatures she called firestarters, that start fires in order to kill people, so they can feed off their souls. When a new firestarter comes to Addamsville, Zora believes it is up to her to stop it since her mother disappeared years ago. But when Zora is blamed for starting some of the fires, she is not so sure that she can stop this firestarter without becoming an enemy of her beloved town.

This was such a unique and wonderful book! While the protagonist, Zora, is ace, the story does not focus on that, which is nice because I think it’s important to not only have stories centering on asexuality as an identity, but also stories that show asexual people simply living their lives. Additionally, I absolutely loved Zora’s rebelliousness, independence, and overall vibe. She is depicted in a way that comes close to being a cliché, but not in an annoying or overdone way.

Furthermore, I think this book really stands out because it’s not only a ghost story, but a ghost story with a unique spin. Zora and her family’s history with firestarters really added depth to the novel and made it more compelling to read. I enjoyed the fact that Zora’s mother and aunt had their own background with firestarters, and also that Zora herself has some bad blood with the dreaded creatures as well.

On top of that, I think the other characters in the novel add more to the story without taking the focus away from Zora’s experiences. The other characters were well-developed, original, and didn’t overshadow Zora herself.

There was only one issue I really had with the book: IS THERE NOT A SEQUEL?!?!?! The book does leave some open endings, but nothing too major. In my opinion, there are enough loose ends that Zappia could write a sequel, but not too many that it takes away from this book as a standalone. I will warn you that the ending will leave you shocked! I think I probably read that last sentence at least 10 times, flipping back and forth between the ending and the map at the beginning!

Overall, this book is fun, mysterious, and compelling, and I would highly recommend it for any reader, regardless of genre preference. I don’t think you need to like most paranormal books to enjoy this one. It also has interesting and original features, and memorable characters. If you’re looking for a spooky story to pull you in, this is the book for you!

Book Review: Sunkissed

Genre: YA Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sunkissed is yet another example of why Kasie West is one of my “automatic buy” authors! To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by Kasie West that I didn’t enjoy, and I’ve read all of them! Sunkissed is a lighthearted and perfect read for summertime.

Avery’s summer is not going as planned. Her best friend betrayed her, but when Avery is finally (maybe?) ready to talk it through, her parents drag her away to the middle of nowhere for their annual vacation… for three months… with no cell service or internet. Avery decides that she should use this time to rediscover herself and try new things, but she’s not sure where to start. Enter Brooks, the angsty, cute employee with an endearing sob story. Brooks offers to help Avery rediscover herself under one condition: she has to help him win a battle of the bands competition. There’s only one problem: Avery has unbearable stage fright.

First of all, the characters in this book were very likeable in my opinion. Avery and Brooks were both adorable, but many of the supporting characters were likeable as well. Avery’s sister, Lauren, really helped move the story along. Additionally, some of the other teenage employees that Avery befriended at the camp, also added depth to the story.

In addition, the plot of the book wasn’t necessarily fast-paced, but it moved quickly enough to keep me engaged. The scene at the battle of the bands’ tryout added variation to the setting and recaptured my attention further into the novel. Sometimes novels that have mainly one setting can feel a little monotonous or redundant, but that was not the case with this book. I was so absorbed with the interactions between the characters, that it didn’t really matter that most of the book takes place at the camp.

Finally, I’ve found with most Kasie West books that they simply go by so quickly. I read this book in under 24 hours, so it’s perfect if you’re in a reading slump or need a fun, refreshing read. Very few authors have the ability to write in a way where the reader can lose themselves in the book, but Kasie West is one of those talented authors, and Sunkissed is one of those books!

Book Review: Where the Stars Sing

Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+ Rating: ⭐

I’ll start off by saying that I rarely rate books one star, but this book was a doozy. I read an ARC of Where the Stars Sing by Aminah Fox, which is the first book in a series. It’s clear from the author’s note at the end of the novel that Fox put a lot of work into this book, which I certainly appreciate as a reader. Sadly, the book was disappointing for multiple reasons.

The book is narrated by the protagonist, Charles Sykes, as he reflects on events in his life at ages 12, 17, and 27. The two main focuses of the book are Charles’ relationship with the love of his life, Arthur Westmoor, and the adventures Charles goes on when he is mysteriously gifted a book that lists crimes of Wonders, who are supposed to be superheroes.

First off, I want to remind everyone that I read an ARC of this book, not the final copy. However, there were so many mistakes in the ARC, that it was difficult to discern the author’s meaning at certain points throughout the novel. The word “passed” is used instead of “past,” “phased” instead of “passed,” and sometimes even “the” instead of “then.” It was hard to try to figure out what the author meant at certain points.

Similarly, there were many sentences that were incomplete, missing words, or simply didn’t make sense. The author even introduced a character by a certain name and then referred to the same character by a different name later on in the book. I know ARCs are unfinished copies, but I have never read an ARC that is unintelligible before.

Additionally, I am not entirely sure what was going on throughout much of the book, and I honestly don’t think the protagonist did either. The plot jumps all over the place and more than half the events that take place are not really important for the story’s progression.

Furthermore, the world-building in this novel was so under-developed despite having potential. The book takes place in a dystopian society where scientists tried to send a “star” into space, which ultimately failed (granted the details of how that happened are obscure). This catastrophe apparently caused some people to become superhuman and gave others cancer, but again the hows and whys of this are not explained. With more attention to detail and descriptive world-building, this book could have become really unique.

Finally, the protagonist was one-dimensional and boring. Like I said before, he didn’t seem to have any clue as to what was happening half the time. He lacked any real personality traits, and was truly annoying most of the time. Readers want protagonists who draw them in and who are likeable, or whom we love to hate. Unfortunately, Charles Sykes does not fit the bill.

Overall, I think the author had an admirable goal in mind, of trying to send a message about the importance of love, no matter what it may look like. Dishearteningly, I did not feel moved by this book at all, as it was confusing and lacked depth. The good news is that this is Aminah Fox’s first book, so she definitely has room to grow. With many great authors, you can see improvements in their writing as they publish books. I would love to see how Fox’s writing progresses in her next novel!

Book Review: Foxfire in the Snow

Genre: YA Fantasy, LGBTQIA+ Rating: ⭐⭐

I really thought I was going to like this book based on the synopsis. It has a lot of good components, such as a nonbinary protagonist, an adventurous quest, and magic! Unfortunately, while the book had potential, the execution left a lot to be desired.

Sorin is determined to become an alchemist, but when they go into town only to find that all the masters and grandmasters of the skills have mysteriously gone missing, their plans quickly disintegrate. The Royal Daughter, and Sorin’s childhood friend, Magda, enlists Sorin’s help to try to find both their mothers. During their quest Sorin is faced with trying to find an identity in their profession, while also feeling the need to explain their personal gender identity.

Honestly, I feel like there were two really good stories within this book, but when they were combined, it was just too much. Sorin’s relationship to their own gender identity was a huge component in the book, and truly could have been a story on its own. On the other hand, the fantasy and adventure aspects of the novel also make a riveting story. Disappointingly, when these two major concepts were combined, both felt under-developed and they convoluted one another.

Another aspect of the story that I didn’t particularly like was that there is the mysterious question of what is happening to the masters and grandmasters, but literally nothing is revealed until the very end of the novel. I feel as though the author should have revealed small pieces of information throughout the book to keep the reader’s interest.

Additionally, I sincerely did not like the protagonist at all. Although I think it’s extremely important to write LGBTQIA+ characters, I don’t think Sorin’s character was written well. They are often excessively rude to other characters in the novel, and they expect those characters to be fine with being treated poorly.

Similarly, they explain multiple times how they don’t like the way others look at their breasts. They are fine with having breasts, but they essentially don’t like the way other people see them and assume they are a woman. However, Sorin assumes the gender of other characters multiple times throughout the book. If they don’t like it when others do it to them, why is it okay for them to make assumptions about someone else’s gender identity?

Finally, not only does the book feel as though it drags on, it also has a few plot holes that were really bothersome in my opinion. The first one is too much of a spoiler, so I won’t share the details, but essentially it has to do with the cause of the people going missing, and the timing that they went missing. The story suggests that they started going missing before the cause was even a factor.

Likewise, the protagonist is an alchemist and carries around her powders. Towards the end of the novel they say something along the lines of they “never meant for [the powders] to be used as weapons…” after they USED THE POWDERS AS A WEAPON FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE NOVEL!!! This was simply infuriating, and I found a lot of contradictions like this as I was reading.

Overall, if you’re a person that doesn’t necessarily pay attention to details and you don’t mind two under-developed themes, then you may enjoy this book. Otherwise, I would probably recommend searching for another book to fit your epic LGBTQIA+ fantasy needs.

Book Review: Feral Creatures

Genre: Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Can I give it more than 5 stars?)

When you have written the best book in the world, there must be a lot of pressure when writing the sequel. So, I honestly wondered, “Would Feral Creatures live up to the heart-wrenchingly profound Hollow Kingdom? Could Kira Jane Buxton do it again?” The answer is yes… she most definitely did it again!

I don’t know that I could ever love a book as much as Hollow Kingdom. Trust me, your first time meeting Shit Turd is not something you easily forget. However, Feral Creatures is just as wonderful, adventurous, and honestly, indescribably beautiful, as Hollow Kingdom. I truly could not imagine a better follow-up to my all-time favorite book.

This sensational sequel follows our beloved S.T. as he raises and cares for the last MoFo…, I mean human, in the world. As the human species adapts into unrecognizable and vicious monsters in order to survive, S.T. is faced with the Party-Sized-Cheeto-Bag task of sheltering his precious Dee. When Dee doesn’t fit into S.T.’s preconceptions of what a MoFo should be how can he protect her and preserve the legacy of MoFos?

So what can you expect from this phenomenal book? Just about everything! The intricacies of this novel are so detailed that I feel as though I could read it 100 times and still discover a new miraculously genius concept each time. First of all, Kira Jane Buxton has an unparalleled ability to create the most hilariously unique jokes. I don’t think anyone else could come up with her original analogies, metaphors, and descriptions, that literally make you laugh out loud.

The humor that Kira introduced in Hollow Kingdom and developed further in Feral Creatures, is so strangely specific in such a satisfying way. Her talented writing is so distinguished and comical that it is like her own brand of humor. There are certain singers, that when you hear their voice you can immediately identify them: Elvis, Johnny Cash, Billie Eilish. Similarly, if you read part of Hollow Kingdom or Feral Creatures that brand of hilarity is immediately identifiable as Kira Jane Buxton!

Once again, Kira invented a ragtag team of animals that simply tug at your heartstrings. Dennis and S.T. were the best friend duo ever, and S.T. and his murder, the owls, Oomingmak, the tigers, primates, cats, Dee, and so many more are an iconic combination. All the characters are diverse and, while reading, you feel in your heart that they belong together; they are a family.

Also, an extremely important detail in the book is that the animals all stay true to their nature. Frequently in fiction that involves animals, the creatures are so anthropomorphized that it feels insincere and false, but Feral Creatures is the opposite. The animals don’t hug or cry. When they are on a mission they might get held up because it’s in their nature to wander. While some of them have uncanny intelligence, such as dolphins, this intelligence is not over-exaggerated in other species. Although this might be a minor detail it felt vital to the story and its authenticity. Obviously, it was necessary to anthropomorphize the animals to some extent, but Kira Jane Buxton played off of these human traits to emphasize the animals’ as they are in reality.

Finally, Hollow Kingdom and Feral Creatures are two of the only books that toy with my heart like a bird with a french fry, and yet I keep coming back for more. During the emotional turmoil I always ask myself, “Why do I keep doing this to myself?”, then a minute later, “This is the most wonderful story ever written.” I can’t help myself. These two books are so beautifully unbearable, any booklover wouldn’t be able to resist their charm. So, whatever is next on your TBR, do yourself a favor and pick up Hollow Kingdom if you haven’t read it. I can guarantee you will immediately want to read Feral Creatures, and while you’ll probably hate me at first, I’m sure you’ll thank me later!

Book Review: All of Us Villains

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Dystopian Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’ve ever wondered what The Hunger Games would have been like when mixed with the magic from Harry Potter, look no further. These two iconic concepts collide in All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman. This thrilling book, set to release on November 9th, is the first book in a duology you don’t want to miss!

For hundreds of years a curse has tied together the fate of 7 families in the small town of Ilvernath, but after the mysterious publication of a book that reveals the town’s secret curse, this year’s tournament is sure to be a public spectacle. While the world believed high magick was gone, the 7 cursed families in Ilvernath have sent one champion every 20 years to compete to the death for control of it.

Only one champion can survive, but who will it be? Alistair Lowe is determined to become the monster his family raised him to be… until his world falls apart shortly before the tournament. Isobel Macaslan never wanted to be a champion, but she wants to survive, and she doesn’t know how to do that when she will ultimately be faced with killing someone she loves or dying herself. Briony Thorburn has always wanted to be her family’s champion, but she is devastated when her lifelong wish seems as though it won’t work out. Gavin Grieve is tired of his family being the underdog. He is ready to do whatever it takes to win, no matter the cost.

I absolutely adored so many aspects of this book! First of all, it is written by two different authors and from four different perspectives, but the narrative is seamless. The four characters are unique and easily identifiable, but at the same time, I completely forgot that this book was written by two people. In my opinion, it is an amazing feat for two authors to maintain a coherent storyline while also differentiating between multiple characters.

While the first part of the book is a little slow, once the tournament begins, it is nonstop action-packed! I honestly didn’t know who to root for because I liked all of the characters for different reasons. However, I will warn you now, this book is going to leave you hanging! Whatever expectations you have, you might as well kiss them goodbye because Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman do not play by the rules! I seriously don’t know how I am going to find the willpower to wait for the sequel!

Furthermore, the magic system in the novel was surprisingly well-developed! More often than not, I feel as though it takes a couple of books to develop a new magic system, but that was not the case with this book. The authors did well with differentiating between curses and spells, and high magick and common magick. The narrative explained the degrees of difficulty for curses and spells and the difference between crafting and casting spells and curses. I was thoroughly astounded by the authors’ ability to describe the magical system in one book, and I can’t wait to see how they expand upon it in the sequel!

Overall, this is one of those books that you just have to experience for yourself. You will be captivated by the magic and the tension between the characters, and you will likely get lost in the story. So don’t forget to pick up a copy of All of Us Villains on November 9th! You can also pre-order a signed copy here and submit your receipt for a free enamel pin here!

Book Review: Daisy Jones & The Six

Genre: Historical Fiction Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

This book is a fantastic example of one of the many reasons why I don’t typically read a lot of books that are popular in the book community. After hearing a lot of hype about Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I begrudgingly added it to my TBR list. While the book was not especially bad, I personally do not think it lives up to the praise it has received.

I will start off by admitting that Historical Fiction is rarely my genre of choice. However, some of my favorite books happen to be Historical Fiction, so I am pretty open-minded about reading the genre. Who doesn’t adore The Book Thief? And, if you haven’t read The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys, you need to do so immediately! So, when I heard that this novel was Historical Fiction and was receiving rave reviews, I figured I should check it out for myself.

If you don’t already know, the book is a series of interviews about a fictional rock band and a pop singer in the 1970s. The book describes the process of writing songs, going on tours, and of course the drama that ultimately goes along with any band. Honestly, I had to Google whether Daisy Jones & The Six was an actual band because the book is written in a very realistic manner, which is its strongest feature in my opinion.

There is nothing in the book that I didn’t really like, but I am the type of reader that would prefer reading a true story about a band as opposed to a fictional one. For instance, one of my favorite books is Not The Life it Seems: The True Lives of My Chemical Romance by Tom Bryant. Who wouldn’t love reading behind-the-scenes details about their favorite band? But, the fact that Daisy Jones & The Six is fictional, really took away the joy the story would have had if it were nonfiction.

Overall, if you are an Historical Fiction lover, you will most likely enjoy Daisy Jones & The Six! If Historical Fiction is not your genre of choice, or if you’re looking for a truly memorable or unique novel, this probably isn’t the book for you.

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