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.

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: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim & We Are Not Free by Traci Chee | A Whimsical, Fantasy Mulan Retelling & A Poignant Yet Heartfelt WW2 Novel That Touches On Discrimination and Identity

Hello friends! Today’s post is a double review of two books I’ve enjoyed, Spin the Dawn and We Are Not Free, the first being a whimsical Mulan retelling that was lovely but fell a little flat, and the latter being a poignant yet heartfelt WW2 novel touching on important themes that also caused me to bawl my eyeballs out.

Review: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong | A Brutal, Atmospheric and Kick-ass Romeo and Juliet Retelling set in 1920s Shanghai

A Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, whilst a monster rages across the city with a complex enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers that employs such atmospheric writing? Y’all were right, These Violent Delights is utter brilliance. And help me while I sob and go on a rampage till November when Our Violent Ends comes out.

Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab | A slow yet sonorous and reflective historical fantasy with a unique premise

“And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”

*proceeds to publish a review no one needed because there are a ton of nuanced ones but doesn’t care because she HAS to talk about it*

I think that The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is without a doubt one of the most hyped-up books of this year… if not the most. Everyone has been gushing about it though there is a bit of criticism sprinkled here and there. Of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon and experience Addie’s story for myself.

I’m eternally grateful that I did. And I know proudly join the crowd of Addie lovers.

Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys | A Well Thought-Out War Novel that Failed to Emote

As an avid historical fiction fan, people have always been recommending me Ruta Sepetys books. And now I have finally experienced one.

Honestly, I have no idea how to feel about this one. I went in with high expectations of it being a haunting and emotional book. I came out with a bit of a mash-up. There are many aspects of it I love and many that were lacking in.

It was both haunting and dry. Harrowing and flat.

Review: We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter | A War Novel of Luck and Family based on a real life story

I haven’t cried over a book in such a long time.

But I weeped my way through We Were the Lucky Ones.

We Were the Lucky Ones was inspired by Hunter’s own family story and tells of the Kurc family surviving the war, different family members encountering different horrors and troubles: death camps, hiding as gentiles, exile… At a first glance, admittedly it does sound like your typical WW2 historical fiction novel, but let me assure you it is not.

Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn | An Enthralling War Novel of Female Spies and Revenge

Hello friends! Today I’m bringing a review of The Alice Network, a riveting war novel where there were so many moments where I held my breath, many where I felt like echoing Eve’s and Lilli’s string of colourful French curses… I stayed up late to finish this and it was so worth it.

Review: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr | A Heart-warming yet Heart-wrenching WW2 novel of Hope and Family AKA My Favourite Book of 2019

One word.

Stunning. I was torn apart by this book.

Anthony Doerr outdid all the historical fictions out there. “All The Light We Cannot See” tells a heartwarming and heart-wrenching tale of how love is still evident even in the midst of war, not a novel concept but one beautifully executed. (translation: A NEW FAV BOOK!!)

Review: Lovely War (Julie Berry) | A Soulful, Sweeping and Swoon-worthy War Novel narrated by Greek gods

This one was such a heartbreaker. What drew me to this book was Greek Gods narrating the story during WW1 but when I went in… woahh, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding (just like how our YA characters do this all the time in every single book) Lol. But seriously though Lovely War grabbed my emotions and threw and flung them around like rag dolls. This is a beautiful WW1 book and I can’t wait to share it with you all.