My TOP 10 books of 2023! – those that genuinely altered my brain chemistry

Hello friends!! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas holiday, and if not a restful end of the year so far?

It’s become a continual joke with myself that I start every post with “I’m back from hibernation”, go catch up on what everyone’s been reading, pop in to say hi to everyone I’ve been missing, and promptly disappear off the face of the blogosphere a few weeks later… So hopefully, this time history will not repeat the vicious cycle I’m trapped in.

Either way, I’m back to peruse everyone’s year end wrap up posts which are always such a joy to read, and also share some of the most life-changing and soul-sucking books that I’ve had the honour of experiencing this year! (as well as torture myself in having to rank them…)

2023 Life Update + What I’ve been up to and reading! (Babel review, FINALLY)

Hello friends! How have you all been? A year has passed so quickly, and I’m dropping back in amidst my ridiculously long hiatuses so thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading this. So much has happened since last June, the school life and the grind has been as hectic as ever (ie. the main reason for ghosting the Internet), we’re currently in the phase of shifting houses again, got a part time job earlier this year at a local bookstore… so much has happened and time is slipping through my fingers!

Hence, bring on the general life updates (spoiler alert: it’s mostly books)!

A Discussion of Shades: Heroism, Villainy, and the In-Between ft. Novels & Marvel Films // I’m Back?!

Hello friends! It’s been a while hasn’t it? How have all of you been? I’m back after my biggest gap in posting (6 months), and was going to blame it on school, but really I was feeling uninspired and stuck in a reading slump, and looking at everything I was behind on, it became a vicious cycle.

But because I love my baby blog and you all, and admittedly finding fresh motivation from stumbling into the whirlwind that is book twitter (come find me!!), I couldn’t resist popping back in to publish this post which has been sitting in my drafts for a few months, and one that’s getting me excited about storytelling again.

So I made a promise to myself and posted a poll a long time back, about expanding the kind of content I write about. It’s been staunchly book reviews and wrap ups for a while, and I’m hoping to shake up the monotony with more discussion based and recommendations post!

To start it off, I’m here with a little discussion post (more so, thought dump) about one of my favourite devices in storytelling: heroes and villains and anti-heroes. (see: my constant recommendation of the genius that is The Poppy War, and also the latest Dr Strange movie !!)

Without further ado, let’s talk heroes and villains!

2021 WRAP UP | Reflections and Stats!! ft. Rating books based on Disney References

Hello friends!!

ONE DAY MORE. ONE MORE DAY TO REVOLUTION 2022.

I’m echoing everyone’s sentiments: How is it already the 31st of December, with 2022 being… tomorrow? Well regardless, there’s one last day of closure for 2021, and I’ve a record for being notoriously late to blog milestones and all, so for once here’s a wrap up that’s just in time. I’m excited to review 2021 in all its bookish, Poppy-War-ish glory!

My Top 10 Books of 2021 | Raw, Radiant and Resonant Reads that shaped my year!

Hello friends!! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas yesterday if you celebrated, if not a restful weekend as we hurtle towards the end of the year?

Despite being in denial about 2021 being over, I’ve come out of my hibernation with my favourite post yearly, on the best books of the year. I’m not hyperbolic at all in claiming that books have been my sanity-anchors throughout this hectic year, but more on that kind of reflections during my yearly wrap up! For now, it’s time to scream about these books for the umpteenth time with as much vigour as the first!!

ARC Review: Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong | A Searing Finale to the Iconic Duology that Illuminated the timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet

Hi friends!

Yes, the day has come. These Violent Delights which I read earlier in January, emerged one of my favourite books for this year so far, and given the hype, Our Violent Ends is one of mine, and literally everyone’s most anticipated sequel of 2021.

So, let’s talk Our Violent Ends.

My 1st Blogiversary! | Reflections and Gratitude

So this is pretty surreal.

Hello friends! I honestly cannot believe that I have been book blogging for a whole year already, or rather a year and a month, I confess I’m a month late writing this post, but better late than never right?

Blog Tour: Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan | A Dramatic 武侠 (wuxia)/仙侠 (xianxia) inspired YA fantasy filled with Chinese culture [Review]

Hello friends! First and foremost, guess who finished their exams? Ah after more than 2 months of disappearance preparing for them, I’m back, and I’m thrilled to bring to you my blog tour stop of Jade Fire Gold, one of my most anticipated releases that I’m an #OwnVoices reviewer for as a Singaporean-Chinese. Thank you to Caffeine Book Tours for organising this. ❤

ARC Review: The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker | Folklore, Death and Identity in a Brilliant #Ownvoices Biracial Historical Fantasy set in 1890s Japan

Hello friends!! How has everything been going?

I’ve been busy the past 2-3 months with school, and finally my end-of-year exams start next week with a duration of a week and a half, which explains my inactivity. To everyone else taking their finals, all the best too!!

Anyway, it’s been 3 months since a book wrecked me so much to the edge of insanity (thanks The Burning God and oh by the way, my therapy bills are 3 months and still running just to let you know) and now my pain has been exacerbated with The Keeper of Night coming to claim my soul, truly leaving a hollow, empty shell, devoid of any essence apart from a downward spiral into nothingness.

Double Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh & The Boy With Fire by Aparna Verma | An Alluring, Immersive YA Retelling and An Ambitious But Lackluster Fantasy Debut

Hello friends! Contrary to popular belief, I have not disappeared off the face of the earth, but I admit to disappearing of the face of the blogosphere because: school. My finals are coming up in a month’s time and to say that I’m nervous would be an understatement, so pardon my sporadic appearance, save for a few reviews I’m excited to share about!

Today, I’m finally writing my review of The Wrath and the Dawn, a YA fantasy that is well-loved, as well as The Boy With Fire, a new release that will bring out your inner arsonist. One completely captured my heart while the other broke it, especially with the comparison to The Poppy War.