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ysabetwordsmith
wearing_tearingAward-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding in the limelight and the power of a young woman’s voice.Content warning: this story was heavily inspired by the R. Kelly case. All warnings pertaining to that apply.
wearing_tearingA blazing talent debuts with the tale of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her social ambitions, absent mother, and Puerto Rican roots, all in the wake of Hurricane Maria.Well! The writing here was fantastic despite all the long paragraphs that sometimes led to nothing. The fast pace and distinct perspectives for Olga and Prieto made this such a quick and engaging read that I managed to finish this in one sitting.
wearing_tearingFrom the acclaimed author of All Her Little Secrets comes yet another gripping, suspenseful novel where, after the murder of a white man in Jim Crow Mississippi, two Black sisters run away to different parts of the country. . . but can they escape the secrets they left behind?I think I had a case of mismatched expectations with this one. I thought it'd be more of a mystery plot instead of a historical one, but I still very much enjoyed the writing style--it was very accessible and the fast pace kept me engaged the entire time.
wearing_tearingA "beautifully rendered" novel about war, migration, and the power of telling our stories, Peach Blossom Spring follows three generations of a Chinese family on their search for a place to call home.A beautiful and heartbreaking read. The book followed 3 generations of a Chinese family as they searched for home. The story started in 1938 and went into current days and was told in multiple perspectives. There was a lot of hardship and heartbreak throughout, but it was the ending that got me right in the chest. I cried so hard during the final chapters and the way the book dealt with family history and all the things we end up leaving unsaid and get lost to time.
wearing_tearingA Black sheriff. A serial killer.I had a little trouble with the writing at first, but quickly got sucked into Titus' perspective and the town of Charon. He was such an interesting and complex character and it was an unique experience to read this story through his eyes considering the themes it addressed.
A small town ready to combust.
wearing_tearingThe Meridian: a land where magic has been codified and the worship of gods suppressed. How do you live when legends come to life, and the faith you had is rewarded?This is the second book in the Between Earth and Sky series! And I’m very sad to say it was not for me. I wanted to love it from the beginning, but I didn’t find most of the character perspectives that engaging. There was very little plot development here as well, which didn't help my enjoyment when reading. :/
wearing_tearingReady Player One meets The Hate U Give in this dynamite debut novel that follows a fierce teen game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther-inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for Black gamers.Slay read a bit too young for me, but it was lovely from beginning to end. The writing was engaging and the fast pace made this an engrossing read. It did tackle some very important questions and issues throughout about Blackness and racism and I think it would be a wonderful addition to any classroom/school library.
wearing_tearingThe Mimicking of Known Successes presents a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter, by Malka Older, author of the critically-acclaimed Centenal Cycle.The premise here sounded right up my alley, but the writing style really wasn’t for me and I had a lot of difficulty following along with the investigation plot. I do believe people who enjoy Sci-Fi Mystery with a healthy dash of sapphic romance (exes who have to work together!) will have better luck than me with this novella.
wearing_tearingA timely story of two teenagers who discover the power of friendship, feminism, and standing up for what you believe in, no matter where you come from. A collaboration between two gifted authors writing from alternating perspectives, this compelling novel shines with authenticity, courage, and humor.I’m not able to say much about this one due to some bits of it hitting too close to home to be entirely comfortable, but the writing here was so accessible and the distinctive perspectives did a fantastic job at establishing the two main characters. The plot also showed a lot of growth and tackled complex subjects with sensitivity.
wearing_tearingA vivid and frank account of the crack cocaine era and a community’s ultimate resilience, told through a cast of characters whose lives illuminate the dramatic rise and fall of the epidemic.No mini review for this one. I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. This was a very well researched and humanized take on the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs in the USA and how that disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities. Ramsey's writing was very accessible and the work outlined and contrasted different realities and perspectives extremely well.
wearing_tearingTender, playful, gripping, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a mesmerizing tale about the importance of reaching out, confronting anxiety and embracing human connection.Such an odd little book, at first. I had some trouble with the first half as it was a bit too slow-paced and the writing took some getting used to. It ended up being a lovely read, though!
wearing_tearingA Black teen desperate to regain her Ivy League acceptance enters an elite competition only to discover the stakes aren’t just high, they’re deadly, in this searing thriller that’s Ace of Spades meets Squid Game with a sprinkling of The Bachelor.I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one since competition plots usually aren’t for me, but I loved how Joelle Wellington developed that element here! There was a twist right at the beginning that captured my attention and the writing kept me engaged the entire time.
wearing_tearingIn a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation's past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.
"Perfect for fans of The Untamed. I loved it!” —Shelley Parker-Chan, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun.
wearing_tearingDuring a brutal winter, a young woman longing for love finds more than she expected in the woods, in this wickedly sensuous short story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.
wearing_tearingFrom the award-winning author of Yellow Wife, a daring, beautiful, and redemptive novel that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.This was my first read by Johnson and I really enjoyed her writing! The story is set in 1950s and follows two characters, Ruby and Eleanor, as they each try to navigate their lives and school. Eventually, their stories connect in an unexpected way.
brainwane
brainwanebibliofileI wrote this book, and it's out today. I like it a lot. It's about Red Riding Hood. If she turned into an assassin.(I am still crap at posting reviews, but I thought that this announcement was too good not to share.)
And then fell in love with Beauty from Beauty and the Beast.
But then she had to flee her crimes halfway around the world.... where she teams up with Hou Yi the Archer from Chinese mythology, famed for bow and arrow skills magnificent enough to shoot suns out of the sky. The partnership works quite well, because Red Riding Hood is a crack shot with a rifle.... dun dun DUNNNNN.
Anyway, if you want to read about two queer, middle-aged markswomen who are having adventures in fantasy!China while angsting about their families and their pasts, you might like this book. Also starring: Goldilocks as an abusive con artist and the Jade Rabbit as an obnoxious dream guide.
ysabetwordsmith - Happy Juneteenth!wearing_tearing - Grown by Tiffany D. Jacksonwearing_tearing - Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalezwearing_tearing - Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morriswearing_tearing - Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fuwearing_tearing - All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosbywearing_tearing - Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorsewearing_tearing - Slay by Brittany Morriswearing_tearing - The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Olderwearing_tearing - Does My Body Offend You? by Marie Marquardt, Mayra Cuevaswearing_tearing - When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramseywearing_tearing - Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimurawearing_tearing - Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellingtonwearing_tearing - Song of the Last Kingdom Duology by Amélie Wen Zhaowearing_tearing - The Lovers by Silvia Moreno-Garciawearing_tearing - The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnsonbrainwane - "Notes From A Young Black Chef" by Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Steinbrainwane - Black Water Sisterbrainwane - R.K. Narayan's "My Dateless Diary"bibliofile - BILFTR*: Burning Roses, by SL Huangtimeasmymeasure![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}