Book Review: And They Lived... by Steven Salvatore

And They Lived...

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And They Lived... 〰️

I cannot praise this book enough. This story was exactly the type of story I love to write. I see a lot of my novel, SOUTH, in this story, from the animation to self-discovery journeys, super cute moments, the real hardships of life and mental health, and excellent characters. This story has it all; it was an honour to read.

I love how healthy all the relationships are in this novel. It's nice to read. And not only are the main characters dynamic and exciting to read, but the side characters are just as flesh-out and entertaining. (And OMG, I love Benny and Rae so much. Can we get a book on them just being the best of friends?)

And who doesn't love a good self-discovery story? I know I do. I've written one! We've got self-discovery with love, a journey of trying to love your body, and a journey of self-discovery regarding gender. And it's all handled very well. (And I'm happy the author included resources for those needing help in the book. There is no shame in seeking help when you need it).

The plot was solid, the cast was perfect, and the ending was *chef's kiss*. I can't recommend this book enough.

The only thing I have negative to say (and this is based on my own experience and is highly nitpicky) is that the animation program Chase attends seems awfully advanced for a first year. I actually went to an art school, studied animation and worked as an animator for years before changing careers. I say this to say that your first year, especially your first month of an animation program, is usually learning about the basics of animation. The program Chase is in and the work he's making sounds more like second-year work rather than first years, let alone the first semester. But maybe animation programs are just different in the US as opposed to Canada, where I went to art school.

That all being said, if you're looking for an excellent queer read, this book is 100% for you.

Book Review: The Legacy of Yangchen by F.C. Yee

The Legacy of Yangchen

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The Legacy of Yangchen 〰️

I will admit the Kyoshi books were better than Yangchen's. While I enjoyed them, Kyoshi's story was far more compelling and felt more in the Avatar world than Yangchen's did. But again, I still enjoyed the read. I would also like to say I enjoyed book two of Yangchen's story more than the first. Although, if I'm being honest, it only hooked me and got interesting a bit after the 50% mark. Before that, I wasn't sold and would have probably rated the book a 3-star or something.

This book had too much politics for my liking. While I don't mind a little politics, I feel like, for an Avatar story; this was a bit excessive. I can't recall if the first book had as much, but I believe it had its fair share as well. It took away from my enjoyment of the story.

Also, as mentioned in my review of The Dawn of Yangchen, Kavik seemed to be more of a main character than Yangchen was. Although, admittedly, she did have more screen time than book one. But for a story that is supposed to be all about Yangchen, she didn't feel as present as she should have.

I also wish that we saw more of her past lives leaking through. We know from book one that she remembers most of them more than other Avatars we know. And we do get one scene where Yangchen is with Kavik and she slips into the mind of a previous Avatar. Kavik decided to keep the information she said a secret, even to her, and I expected it to come into play later in the story, but as far as I recall, it didn't.

I do hope to see more books by Yee in the Avatar world, however. Even if Yangchen's story wasn't as compelling as Kyoshi's, Yee is still an excellent storyteller. I always applaud someone who can describe fighting scenes in a book so well that I can picture them happening in my mind. And with a story in the Avatarverse, you need lots of fight scenes, or at the very least, bending scenes. And to be able to show and not tell these complicated actions takes great skill. I'd imagine even someone not familiar with any martial arts or someone who hasn't seen the show can imagine the bending scenes with great ease in their heads.

Not my favourite installment in the Avatarverse, but I'm not mad at it. Still had a good time reading it and getting to know another Avatar in another time period. Hope to see more someday, especially by Yee.

Book Review: The Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee

The Dawn of Yangchen

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The Dawn of Yangchen 〰️

I have mixed feelings about this book. I'm super excited to read another Avatar's history and see a badass female protagonist. But at the same time, I felt like we spent more time with Kavik and his whole backstory than with Yangchen. Don't get me wrong, Kavik is a great character, but seeing as this book is called the Dawn of Yangchen, not Kavik, I just expected to see more of her. Hopefully, we will see more of her in book 2.

Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely. But was it a top read like Kyoshi's stories were? Sadly, not even close. I do appreciate more worldbuilding on a world we already know a lot about. (If you've seen the shows and read the comics and such, that is).

The plot was alright, but it felt lacking ins something that I can't quite put my finger on. The characters were well developed, even Yangchen, which we don't see much as Kavik. I do wish that Kcompanionship than together, in my opinion. Maybe things will change. We'll have to wait for the next book to come out.

Is this still a worthy addition to the Avatar universe? Absolutely. It wasn't the best Avatar book I've read, but it was still worth reading. If you are a fan of the Avatar world, you should still enjoy this book and early await for the second to come out, just like me.

Book Review: Living Dead Girl by Rachel Vincent

Living Dead Girl

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Living Dead Girl 〰️

Holy hell, what a ride! Seeing as this was one of her earlier works put on the back burner for a hot min, it's safe to say Vincent always knew how to tell a good story.

My only concern is since this was written many years ago, I wonder if she also wrote a sequel. The ending was great, but if this was a standalone book, it was also not satisfying at all. In fact, it's the type of ending that demands a sequel, and I worry we will never get one. I sure hope we do. There were so many unanswered questions.

That being said, I'm glad to see another adult book back in her urban fantasy roots. Don't get me wrong; she writes the best YA. (though I may be biased since literally anything of any genre Vincent writes is literary gold for me). But she also writes amazing adult, and I feel like we haven't seen that in a while. And technically still haven't since this was originally written years ago, only now to resurface and polish up for modern times.

This story had me right from the start. Vincent knows how to give a good chapter cliffhanger that keeps you reading straight until the very end. If you are a fan of Vincent's earlier works, like the Shifters series (a great series, by the way), you'll also love this book. I will never stop recommending Vincent's books to anyone who will listen to me.

Book Review: Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer

Life and Death

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Life and Death 〰️

So I did read the original Twilight series back in the day. I got the four-book box set as part of a Christmas gift. I enjoyed them, though I wasn't as hyped about them as the world was. I enjoyed the movies as well. They weren't my favourite books of all time, but I still had a fun read with them. I never got why they got so much hate. For a YA love story, it wasn't all that bad. I also thought the whole sparkle thing wasn't stupid. (Well, not super stupid). I thought it was a unique take on why vampires didn't go out into the sun.

That all being said, I've only read the books once, back when they weren't even movies. (Well, the first movie was out, but semantics). I've only seen the movies back when they came out, as well. I mention this to say that it's been a hot min since I've had anything to do with Twilight, and so reading this reimagined version was almost like reading the whole series (or at least the first book) for the first time.

I remember many key scenes from the first book, mostly because of the movie. Well, Cinemasin's video on the first movie, anyway. I love that YouTube channel. Anyway, it was fun to see what I recalled play out in Beau's POV. Though he's supposed to be the male version of Bella (and Edythe a female Edward), I feel like they differ enough from their OG book selves to be their own characters. Yes, they share many similarities, but I think they also have some unique personality traits. But then again, as mentioned, it's been a long time since I read the first book, and maybe I'm just remembering them wrong. But I did enjoy reading Beau and Edythe more than Edward and Bella. I don't know why; I just did.

I do remember, however, that the book didn't end the way this one did, with the MC turning into a vampire. And you know what? I'm here for it. I loved this new ending. A bit bittersweet, but still. I loved this ending much better than the OG Twilight ending. I wish we would have at least one more book, a novella even, showing Beau and Edythe's life together as vampires.

I'm glad Meyer didn't just rehash the story of OG Twilight and had a different ending. (Perhaps there were a few more different scenes, but again, can't recall the first book too much). I was worried she would just gender-bend everyone and leave it at that. But in a way, this felt fresh and new, despite co-tailing off a popular ten-year-old book.

If you are a fan of Twilight or even a first-time reader of the series, I think you'll enjoy this book. It's not the greatest love story in the world, but it made me smile, so it must have done something right.

Book Review: Fury by Rachel Vincent

Fury

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Fury 〰️

To say this book ended on a bittersweet tone on multiple levels is an understatement. How Vincent managed to tell two separate yet intertwining stories was perfection. And the ending. Just wow.

This is my second all-time favourite series from Vincent, the first being her Soul Screamers series. And in both, the main character dies. Not many authors kill off prominent characters (at least not in the books I've read). But when they do, it's usually not the main character we've been following for an entire series. Yet Vincent braves to write about it and make it a necessary part of the story.

I love how we learn more about the world we are in each part of this trilogy at the right time. I love Delilah's found family bond with her fellow escapees/former captives. Each character is so unique and well-written. I felt so upset when Eryx died and even more when it was Delilah's turn.

My only problem was that this book ended. (That and maybe we don't really know how Deliah's found family ended up five years after her death, though it seems that things are looking better for Cryptids. One can hope, anyway). Aside from that minor nitpick, this book and the series as a whole were absolutely amazing. Each new book had added new slew of problems to overcome, and none of them easy. I was as captivated by this book as I was by the first and second. This is defiantly a series worth re-reading.

If you are a fan of any of Vincent's books, you'll also enjoy this series. Granted, the end is bittersweet, but it's still the perfect ending to a perfect series.

Book review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

Spectacle

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Spectacle 〰️

Rachel Vincent has done it again. She managed to somehow up the high stakes of the first book and turn the dial past its maximum point. If you thought life at the menagerie was horrible, life at Savage Spectacle makes Metzger's place sound like a pretty sweet deal.

In Spectacle, the horror of captivity has been amplified. Sure, it may seem like a step up from the carnival at first, but with the introduction of the collars, it's a new nightmare. And once again, Vincent's writing is so superb I felt just as trapped and helpless as Delilah and her fellow captives. Granted, it's not a nice feeling, but I enjoy immersing myself in the world I'm currently reading, and Vincent's master storytelling does just that.

Reading this book makes me feel so many emotions about situations I've never been in and hopefully never will be. But that's what I love about Vincent and her works, how she can transport you to her world from the safety of your own home.

If you enjoyed the first book, Menagerie, you'll surely enjoy this one just as much. The world-building is expanded, and fresh plot twists. The writing is engaging, and you'll never want to put the book down. Actually, if you're a fan of Vincent in general, this book is for you. Just make sure to have the third (and final) book ready for when you finish because you are going to want to immediately fice back into this story the moment you finish the second book.

Book Review: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

Menagerie

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Menagerie 〰️

This is my second reading of this book, and once again, I was not disappointed.

Rachel Vincent's Menagerie series is a super close second to my all-time favourite series of hers, the Soul Screamers series. (Though if you have read any of my previous Vincent book reviews, you'll know that anything she writes is literary gold, in my opinion, and there's a reason she is an insta-buy for any new book she writes).

I can't begin to describe how excellent this book is. I've never been stripped of all my rights and treated worse than a death row inmate, but Vincent's writing made me feel as though I have. I could feel Delilah's despair as her humanity was stripped away. I felt the sadness of her fellow captives. I wasn't just reading this story; I was experiencing it. And that is why Vincent is a master storyteller.

From the very first page, Vincent pulls you into a world where not only do animals and humans exists, but cryptids such as mermaids and shifters are real. Sadly, something known as the reaping happened in the 80s and cryptids is no longer allowed to co-exist with humans. (I read the whole series when it first came out; I just never did a review. So I can say that as the books go on, we learn more about the event known as the reaping). It's unfortunate to see cryptids being treated so poorly, but knowing humanity, I can buy this happening in our world.

If you are a fan of any of Vincent's works, especially her Shifters series or mythical creatures in general, this is the story for you. The twists and excellent writing keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, wondering how Delilah can escape her fate of captivity. A true masterpiece of a story. 10/10 I highly recommend it.