A delightful book read in an afternoon. I met characters I recognized & empathized w/ while, being a CA kid, feeling like I was learning about another culture within my own country. I escaped into this book, though wished for a more satisfying ending-but then, I think that was something of the point

I was really ready to love this book after reading THE PAPER MENAGERIE. But while I appreciated the thought behind the book, & especially the parts drawn from Chinese history & classic culture, ultimately too few agentive female characters in this epic world held me back. I hope the next one evolves

This is a fantastic book running the gamut of fantasy to scifi, speculative fiction to magical realism. It takes you to fantastic worlds w/ truly gorgeous language, but their power is in the unique & real characters, finding themselves in the midst of strange circumstances imaginary & historical.

Only a few chapters in, & really digging so far. I'm a fan of both YA and high fantasy - & anything with some sort of elaborate heist gets my attention immediately. I will say this reads more like adult fantasy than YA, except for the characters all being teens. So a good pick if you're YA-shy.

The saga of a woman known as Essun & the land called the Stillness continues, the plot thickens, & the morality becomes yet more complex. The world of a girl never really allowed to grow up matures & we realize there are no easy answers - even as we keep reading looking for them.

This book is devastating in the best, most needful way. A unique twist on the post-apocalyptic story-for the Stillness is continually apocalyptic, finding a way for humanity to survive. In its best & worst. A story of oppression, love, individuality, survival-what does it mean for the world to end?

I was talking to a friend about another book, one she loved to the point she felt "it was written just for me." I can't say I love this book, b/c it's far deeper, stranger than that. This book was not written for me but written of me, & reading it was rediscovering a piece of my soul.

I greatly enjoyed this latest installment of Maisie Dobbs adventures. Both Maisie & her reader are better past the shocks that occurred last book, & it was very gratifying to see Maisie not just get back to work, but to fully explore rising 3rd Reich Germany through her eyes.

Eros shook my
mind like a mountain wind falling on oak trees

I picked this up years ago while visiting Portland/Powells - being a bookish queer feminist, I knew I should know Sappho more intimately. I'm so glad this is the book I picked. Turns out, most translators take it upon themselves to fill in gaps. Here is 100% Sappho, all beauty & lost brilliance.

This series continually impresses & surprises me with its depth & quality. This volume reminded me of GoT with its level of politics & machinations - but from the perspective of those with a conscience, trying desperately to stay out of it. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Kate Tempest doesn't write to the beat of the heart, but rather to the timing of the tide - the world's most ancient rotation of life blood. Her poetry is ancient and modern, & wholly epic. Bleeding & sexy to just the right degree. Read this book, but look her videos up so you have her voice.

I don't believe in favorites - this is one of my top books which I return to again and again, to feel like myself, to take me to my happy place.

History, time travel, mystery, destiny, great depth, but also ridiculous in the way that true humans are.