It’s the first day of summer, 2020. My cat, Leia, bless her, is napping beside me, that feline smile peacefully gracing her whiskered face. And outside… the world as we know it has been upended by a global pandemic, a civil rights movement/awakening (one that I pray will bring lasting change) and, in addition, many of us have endured losses and stressors in our personal lives unrelated to either of those, myself included.
I hope you’ve all managed to stay safe during these times and are finding ways to practice self-care as we all move forward into this new future.
At first, when I stacked up the books I read these past three months I was shocked at how this pile towers over my winter stack — nearly twice as tall. But then, I realized, it reflects the physical distancing, self-quarantine, and use of reading as a stress-relief in an incredibly stressful time. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s spring 2020 reading wrap up is extra long.
I’ll try to keep these mini-reviews extra “mini.” Also, they’re not shown stacked in the order that I read them, but I’ll list the reviews in the order shown in the photos, from bottom up.
The following mini-reviews are *mostly* spoiler-free. This list does not include books I cast into the DNF (did not finish) pile. If the copy I read was an ARC (advance reader copy) vs. a finished copy, that’ll be stated. *This post contains affiliate links and I will receive a small percentage if you click and purchase. It’s how I keep this blog rolling.
Fiction
Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
*ARC
My rating: 3 stars
My thoughts: I was drawn in by the Lara Croft meets Indiana Jones on a futuristic alien planet premise, and it was fun but not a favorite. I was on the edge of my seat during some parts but then some sections dragged a bit for me. This is one of the few stories in which I think a movie might actually be a better vehicle for it than a book.
Cut Off by Adrianne Finlay
*ARC
My rating: 4 stars
My thoughts: An interesting concept, but without spoiling anything, for me, this may be one of those books in which the mystery was more satisfying than the answers. But I did enjoy the ride and the theme throughout of overcoming fears and working through anxieties.
Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee
*ARC
My rating: 3.5 stars
My thoughts: I loved this one upon first starting it but for me it unraveled a bit, or rather, my experience with it did. I don’t entirely think it’s the books fault in this case. I read this in lots of short spurts (usually during times when I was exhausted from the day and kept losing my spot as I fell asleep). There were certainly sections in which I admired her writing, but overall I had trouble paying attention on this one.
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
*ARC
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: A powerful, fierce, diverse, feminine fantasy with unexpected twists. At it’s heart this book examines patriarchy — how it forms, how it’s supported, how women are effected under it. How can one break free? And at what cost? Certain elements in this book are truly original, and I couldn’t stop reading.
Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross
*ARC
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: One of the best YA fantasy standalones I’ve read in a long time. That’s all I’ll say so I don’t spill any beans.
By the Book by Amanda Sellet
*ARC
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: I don’t read much contemporary but I adore this book (and its cover). It was like Jane Austen (and several other classics) meets Rory Gimore at Chilton… and would make a perfect Netflix movie.
Flames of the Dark Crystal by (Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal #4)
by J.M. Lee, Cory Godbey (Illustrations)
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: I find it hard to express how much I love these books — especially this one. There were some really great lines in it that were especially pertinent to the real-world hard times. This world of Thra, the characters, the courage they all find within themselves and each other, is inspiring, and so magical. One of my favorite fandoms honestly. I love the original movie and the recent Netflix series, but would still love these books even if those didn’t exist.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 stars
My thoughts: This is a villain origin story, so if you’re expecting more Katniss… no. It takes place roughly 60 years prior to where The Hunger Games picks up and follows Coriolanus (aka President Snow) when he’s 17-18 years old and just getting involved in the Hunger Games (the 10th annual, at that point). I was fascinated by this backstory and felt strangely neutral toward him for much of the book, until the last few chapters. This book examines humanity — what brings out the worst and the best in us, what people will do for self preservation, and how they’ll fight for what they believe in.
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: LOVE. As someone who has always been obsessed with scent and good storytelling, dabbles in botanical perfumery, and loves little glass bottles (and sealing wax!), it may not be a surprise that this one has become a favorite. I photographed it with many little glass bottles for my Instagram. The only thing that bothered me slightly was the ending… but then, the author saw my post on Instagram and said that the hardcover readers can find the epilogue on her website! That made my day. I suppose the subsequent paperback version was printed with the epilogue?
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
*2nd read
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: I reread this in preparation for finally reading Muse of Nightmares, and fell in love with it all over again. God I love this book. Still one of my all-time favorites.
Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: First of all, yes, I made a custom cover for this book. Second… oh, that I could write like Laini Taylor. She has a way of writing in 3rd person but it’s so immersive. This sequel really surprised me with where the story went and yet it all fell into place by the end and I was nodding like “of course.” AND YET, she left it saying “The End (or is it?).” Gah!
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 4.5 stars
My thoughts: Such a fun read! I was completely enveloped by it for the 4.5 hours it took me to read it. It reminded me a little bit of Practical Magic and also had some similar vibes to The Witches Kind by Louisa Morgan. I loved how the apple tree is like a character itself and becomes more animated as the story goes on.
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
*ARC
My rating: 4.5 stars
My thoughts: Woo! So much shimmer! So much starlight! So much magic! Loved it. I so enjoyed all of the Hindu mythology, the Vedic astrology, and all the descriptions of night markets, people who are actually stars, and a whole court of stars up in the sky. Though the main character comes from an Indian family, I wasn’t expecting it to be in a modern day America setting. But the contemporary thread worked. Also, gorgeous cover.
All These Monsters by Amy Tintera
*ARC
My rating: 4.5 stars
My thoughts: A fun, action-packed semi-dystopian novel which gave me some Divergent vibes. Yet it was also quite different and the whole underlying theme of domestic violence in contrast to fighting actual monsters was well done in my opinion. I felt like I was watching a movie as I read it.
Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
*ARC
My rating: 4 stars
My thoughts: So rarely do we get a story about a girl who is “trapped in a tower”… who is also actually a “monster.” This was really refreshing! And inspired by legendary Persian mythology as well as classics like Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. Was not disappointed.
Starsight (Skyward #2) by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 stars
My thoughts: Just as awesome as the first one. We get to see a whole new cast of characters (from a vast array of alien races) in this one, which is pretty cool. Spensa goes undercover… always an enjoyable plot mechanism. I don’t want to say too much because, spoilers, but this left off on a major cliffhanger!
Nonfiction
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 4.5 stars
My thoughts: A wonderful collection of essays by the famous/classic sci-fi author (The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, etc.). These essays were written over a long span of time. From the 1950s through to the 80s. Yet even though they were written many years ago, I still found most of them to be universal and timeless when it comes to writing advice.
Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby
My rating: 4 stars
My thoughts: Laugh out loud funny and filled with candor and cynicism. However, even though I love sarcasm and cynicism, this was A LOT and I had to digest it in small bits. Most of her humor comes from making fun of herself, which is both the draw, and also why I can’t read more than an essay at a time. I especially related to her realness about IBS and feeling older-ish. Not enough people talk openly about living with IBS.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
My rating: 4 stars
My thoughts: I found the first part of this book more useful than the second and third, but overall a great resource if you’re looking to avoid burnout and decrease stress… and who isn’t? I appreciated the scientific studies mentioned and the explanations of why we get stuck in the stress cycle and things we can do to actually get out of it (aka completing the stress cycle), though we can’t always avoid the stressors themselves.
What have you been reading lately?