I thought this was such a cute YA read! And as a scholar and linguist myself, I was fascinated by the dilemma our group of young students faced in Language X. But the stars of the show were definitely Naomi and Daziel.
There’s just something about a high-stakes, conspiracy-packed mystery that I find easy to fall into. I know, I know—they all follow a certain rhythm; you can feel the twists coming, you know there’s going to be corruption and secrets stacked on secrets…
When I first started reading this book, it felt like it was going to be this super cool mash-up of like, Halloweentown and The Originals (or something similar). I especially loved the concept of a paranormal Underground centered around an HBCU and Black history and culture.
Let me tell you— I was INVESTED in this story. Like, I’m talking, I started it last night and finished it this morning at 2:30 this morning. I flew through it. I don’t want to spoil anything or influence anyone’s opinions or thoughts too much as they read, so I’ll just say this: Coralys sucks, Oke is life!
I have been a longtime listener of Ann’s podcast, Vulgar History, and, as a historian myself, could not have been more excited to read this book. As such, my expectations were high… and she absolutely delivered. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun reading a biography.
I really appreciated how real this story felt. Not just because it is based on a true story, but because it feels as though it captures life as it actually could have been—during the war and particularly in its aftermath, in both Europe and the United States—without necessarily being overly detailed…
The long and short of it? Oathbreakers: The War of Brothers That Shattered an Empire and Made Medieval Europe starts off rough (SO much information—names, details, locations, etc.—thrown at you), but if you stick with it, it’s super, super interesting; definitely a real-life Game of Thrones!
As a family historian, I was immediately drawn to Anneke Jans in the New World and its effort to bring real ancestors to life on the page. But I’ll be honest: I struggled at times with the large cast (and very similar names), the number of deaths, and some historical references that could’ve used more explanation.
This was such a devastating, horrible, beautiful ode to asexuality, all-consuming love, and the kind of grief that doesn’t leave you. Relayed in stunning, poetic prose, Don’t Let the Forest In is an absolute delight of a horror that will wreck you, heal you, and still leave you with questions long after you’ve finished it.
It’s been a long time since an epic high fantasy sank its claws into me like this, and I’m already itching for the next installment. If you loved The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen or crave the high-stakes vibes of Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm, Smoke and Scare might just be your next obsession.
What a story. I originally picked this book up because the cover, title, and synopsis intrigued me. It wasn’t until I was already a good ~20% in that I realized it was actually book two of a trilogy. So, naturally, I paused, went back, and read book one first…
This was my 161st read of the year… and I think it just became my favorite. It’s not a “fun” read—in fact, much of it reminds me of the current state of the world, the dangerous direction we’re heading in, and the devastatingly sad effects of hate, but the concept of songlight, humanity’s resilience, and the potential for peace is so beautiful.
