The Darkest Part of the Forest

I have had “read something by Holly Black” on my TBR for years. I have a huge soft spot for fairies in fantasy and that seems to be her sweet spot. I actually have had The Cruel Prince on my shelf since it was published, but I get weird about trilogies and have kinda been…

The Confessions of Frannie Langton

As I was looking for a book that would fit The Reading Women Challenge 2020 prompt #1, an author from Caribbean or India, I remembered this novel that a few of the Caribbean-based bookstagrammers I follow (particularly Cindy at @bookofcinz) had talked about last year when it came out. It sounded pretty interesting and really…

The Deep

Just about two years ago I read Solomon’s debut novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts, and was so impressed with the world-building, the diversity of the characters, the writing…it was a fantastic debut. And it was before I really had any idea about Afrofuturism as a genre, so it felt truly groundbreaking to me. I am…

Cantoras

Oh. My. Goodness. I started reading this book as a library book, got about 50 pages in, realized it was gorgeous and perfect and was going to be a favorite that I want on my shelves, and promptly bought it. I finished reading my very own copy. It ended just as wonderfully as it started.…

Heart of Iron & Soul of Stars

This has been on my TBR since it came out last year, because I LOVE the story of Anastasia. My favorite movie growing up was the animated Anastasia (who can resist that little bat sidekick, Bartok?!). But seriously, the story has always fascinated me and even though it’s long been proven that Anastasia died at…

Juliet Takes a Breath

This has been on my TBR for a few years now, but no libraries near me have had it. And this past year has been a strict one, financially, so buying it wasn’t necessarily an option for me. Anyways, in an exciting turn, it was chosen for re-publication this year! Which meant a few things.…

Patsy

I read Dennis-Benn’s first novel, Here Comes the Sun, just over two years ago now. And while I’m terrible at remembering details from all the books I’ve read (which is actually part of why I started writing reviews in the first place), I do usually manage to hang onto feelings. And I know after I…

Anger Is a Gift

I don’t have a big or exciting intro about this one – it’s been on my TBR since I first read about its publication last year. The combination of it being available at the library as an audiobook just when I was looking for my next listen meant the time was right. Also, this ended…

Pet

I read Emezi’s debut novel, Freshwater, last year and was completely enthralled. It was unique and fascinating and like nothing I had ever read before. So I was pretty sure this was a novel I was going to read eventually no matter what the circumstances, but it moved up my TBR pretty quickly after it…

The Paying Guests

I’m not sure where I got this book actually, but I do know that it has been on my shelf for years. And over that time, I have seen reviews for multiple of Waters’ books and it’s generally seemed that people enjoy her writing. But I don’t know, I was just never in the mood…