the-library-and-the-teashop

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

I just finished Junker Seven by @olivejkelley and I'll make a real post later but God I needed to share my excitement right away.

I struggle to express what an impact that kind of book had on me. I feel seen, I guess. I feel so much kinship with Castor, it's incredible so read about an autistic disabled queer enby.

This is really the kind of story we need. I look forward to read the sequels. I already got D3f3ct, got it yesterday in the mail.

Sorry about this disjointed rambling post. I just have the feels.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

so....do i make a post about other (re: better) magic school/wizard books or what?

because i have strong opinions!

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

part 3 of the 2023 version of this post: adult books!

part 1: middle grade books | part 2: young adult books

this is a very incomplete list, as these are only books I've read and enjoyed. not all books are going to be for all readers, so I'd recommend looking up synopses and content warnings. feel free to message me with any questions about specific representation!

list of books under the cut ⬇️

yerba buena by nina lacour

if we were villains by m.l. rio

everyone in this room will someday be dead by emily r. austin

i want to be a wall by honami shirono

portrait of a thief by grace d. li

the thirty names of night by zeyn joukhadar

on earth we're briefly gorgeous by ocean vuong

love & other disasters by anita kelly

take a hint, dani brown by talia hibbert

boyfriend material by alexis hall

almost like being in love by steve kluger

the charm offensive by alison cochrun

something wild & wonderful by anita kelly

red, white & royal blue by casey mcquiston

something to talk about by meryl wilsner

honey girl by morgan rogers

one last stop by casey mcquiston

once ghosted, twice shy by alyssa cole

kiss her once for me by alison cochrun

a spindle splintered by alix e. harrow

finna by nino cipri

every heart a dooryway by seanan mcguire

the starless sea by erin morgenstern

under the whispering door by tj klune

space opera by catherynne m. valente

light from uncommon stars by ryka aoki

dead collections by isaac fellman

the city we became by n.k. jemisin

light carries on by ray nadine

an absolutely remarkable thing by hank green

feed them silence by lee mandelo

summer sons by lee mandelo

upright women wanted by sarah gailey

lavender house by lev a.c. rosen

fried green tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe by fannie flagg

the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid

a master of djinn by p. djeli clark

witchmark by c.l. polk

a marvellous light by freya marske

a restless truth by freya marske

when women were dragons by kelly barnhill

plain bad heroines by emily m. danforth

a lady for a duke by alexis hall

infamous by lex croucher

passing strange by ellen klages

even though i knew the end by c.l. polk

the chosen and the beautiful by nghi vo

whiskey when we're dry by john larison

wake of vultures by lila bowen

silver in the wood by emily tesh

the once and future witches by alix e. harrow

the kingdoms by natasha pulley

a tip for the hangman by allison epstein

she who became the sun by shelley parker-chan

the song of achilles by madeline miller

spear by nicola griffith

this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar and max gladstone

gideon the ninth by tamsyn muir

some desperate glory by emily tesh

all systems red by martha wells

a psalm for the wild built by becky chambers

the mimicking of known successes by malka older

winter's orbit by everina maxwell

fireheart tiger by aliette de bodard

empress of salt and fortune by nghi vo

legends and lattes by travis baldree

the house in the cerulean sea by tj klune

other ever afters by melanie gillman

the priory of the orange tree by samantha shannon

a day of fallen night by samantha shannon

a strange and stubborn endurance by foz meadows

the unbroken by c.l. clark

real queer america by samantha allen

fun home by alison bechdel

in the dream house by carmen maria machado

better living through birding by christian cooper

why fish don't exist by lulu miller

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

Masterpost.

.

You can also find me here (linktr.ee)

Buy me a coffee (or a tea)

.

The Cat crossed the road: about me.

.

Book reviews:

♿ The Forest Grimm (by Kathryn Purdie)

🏳️‍🌈✊🏾 The Burning Kingdoms trilogy by Tasha Suri

The Jasmine Throne

The Oleander Sword

The Lotus Empire (out in November)

.

📖 Book-Tea 🍵 Associations:

Iron Widow (by Xiran Jay Zhao)

The Forest Grimm (by Kathryn Purdie)

The Book Eaters (by Sunyi Dean)

They both die at the end (by Adam Silvera)

Girl, Serpent, Thorn (by Melissa Bashardoust)

.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

The Jasmine Throne

&

The Oleander Sword

Author: Tasha Suri

Genre: fantasy

Format: novel

Serie: yes, named The Burning Kingdoms. Third and last book (The Lotus Empire) out in November.

Editions: Orbit

Romance: wlw, slow burn, no love triangle.

Other representation(s): brown-skinned characters (full cast) as the story takes place in a country inspired by India.

TW: forced captivity, non consensual drug use, feminicides, death by fire, death by various means, grief, hallucinations, fratricide, verbal et physical abuse on a child by her brother, religious fanatism, sexism, systemic homophobia, body horror, war.

Rating: 8/10

Tea association: a chai in the pure Indian tradition, the heat of the spices and the strength of the black tea, softened by the milk. Or a jasmine tea for the empress and for the the plants Priya grows.

.

Synopsis of The Jasmine Throne:

Author of Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess's traitor brother.

Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.

But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.

.

My thoughts:

Malini and Priya aren't the only characters we'll be following in this epic tapestry of a story. Bhumika, the last temple sister of Priya still alive is an important part of the story, as is Ashok, the third and last temple child alive with the other two girls. Rao often gives a different perspective and is an important support character. A handful of other characters give their point of view through out the two books. All of them combined tell us this story of war.

Because war, along with religion, is the central theme of those books. Some of the characters fight for power, other for survival. Some fight for their loved ones, other for freedom and their way of life.

The first book is about survival and escape. Getting to safety. Cutting a deal. Many deals actually. The characters want freedom and peace, but are not against fighting for it.

The second book is all about war. About the rise of an empress and the fall of an emperor, mirroring what happens in Ahiranya.

The third book will probably be about war too, but against a far greater enemy.

With all those struggles going on, there's not that much room for anything else, but it's there. Emotions. Love. Two women falling for each other in the midst of chaos. A mother cherishing her infant daughter. Friendship and brotherhood. But there's also grief, longing, hate, terror.

Faith and magic are also central themes in the books. Both always means sacrifice, but that sacrifice has to be done by a willing person. Magic comes from that willing sacrifice. However, sometimes the person seeking power doesn't know what it would cost them. Sometimes it's their life, sometimes their soul, or even their body. But it's never without a price.

As the plot unfold in front of you, you realise that not everything is morally clear cut. You realise that what you thought you knew about this or that was wrong, or wasn't as simple as you previously thought. The plot is beautifully woven, and I can't wait to finally read the last book. I feel like it's gonna be a killer!

.

A word about the cover art:

I'm not the biggest fan of the first book cover, which if I'm not mistaken, depicts Priya.

The second book cover is better, showing Malini with a murderous look her saber in her hand, though it's a little too green to my taste.

The last book cover though... It's stupendous! The colors, the details, the movements, the poses, everything is eye-catching. Priya in her green sari has lotus flowers growing in her hands and is surrounded by her greens. Malini in the back in her white and gold sari, the colors or Paridjat, is surrounded by fire, wielding fire. From what the ending of the Oleander Sword is hinting, that cover art seems really fitting for what's ahead!

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

📖 Book-Tea 🍵 Association

Girl, Serpent, Thorn (by Melissa Bashardoust)

Will be magnificently paired with

Iranian-style Darjeeling black tea infused with rose petals and cinnamon.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

📖 Book-Tea 🍵 Association:

They both die at the end (by Adam Silvera)

Will pair magnificently with

Moroccan mint tea.

There's a maghrebi proverb about mint tea that says:

"The first glass is as gentle as life, the second is as strong as love, the third is as bitter as death."

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

Asexual Books

Loveless by Alice Oseman

Sounds Fake But Okay by Sarah Costello and Kayla Kaszyca

Is Love The Answer? by Uta Isaki

City Of Strife by Claudie Arseneault

This Doesn't Mean Anything by Sarah Whaler

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning Of Sex by Angela Chen

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Vanilla by Billy Merrell

Paper Planes by Jennie Wood

Being Ace: An Anthology Of Queer, Trans, Femme, and Disabled Stories of Asexual Love and Connection by Various Authors

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Rick by Alex Gino

When Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt

Love, Ace & Monsters: An Ace Anthology by Various Authors

Summer Of Salt by Katrina Leno

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

📖 Book-Tea 🍵 Association

Iron Widow (by Xiran Jay Zhao)

Is magnificently paired with

Yellow tea

The tea of emperors, though unlike Zetian, it is delicate and subtle.

So maybe with

À black tea prepared the Russian way with a samovar.

A strong bitter concentrate toped with hot water, acidic citrus fruits and softened with sugar or jam. Sounds more like Zetian and her harem.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

📖 Book-Tea 🍵 Association

The Forest Grimm (by Kathryn Purdie)

Will pair magnificently with

À berry-flavoured black tea

For it's strength softened by the red fruit flavour and color. A dark adventure soften by love.

Or a pu'er

For it's smell of humus, a remainder of a walk through the wet woodland.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

📖 Book-Tea 🍵 Association

The Book Eaters (by Sunyi Dean)

Will pair magnificently with

Cold yerba mate infusion.

Cold mate is dark like ink. That's how I picture ink tea in this book.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

The Forest Grimm

Author: Kathryn Purdie

Genre: fantasy, fairytale reimagined.

Format: novel.

Serie: yes, tome 1 of 2. (Tome 2 out in October)

Editions: Micheal Joseph/Illumicrate

Romance: allodyacishet romance with a love triangle. Kissing. No sex.

Other representation(s): disabled main character (scoliosis, chronic pain, MC wears a shoe lift)

Tw: blood, attempted murders, poisoning, scary woods, non consensual drug use, matricide, infanticide, cannibalism, starvation, ghosts, suicidal ideations (kind of).

Rating: 6.5/10

Tea association: a berry-flavoured black tea or a Pu'er.

.

I the small village of Grimm's Hollow, villagers used to live prosperous lives. Until their most precious possession, given by the mysterious Forest Grimm, the Book of Fortune, a strange oracle with the power to grant one wish to every villager after they turned 16, was taken back by that same forest after one villager used the book for a nefarious wish.

Soon after, villagers start disappearing in the Forest Grimm never to be seen again; they are called the Lost. And no one can go and look for them to bring them back because the trees of the forest themselves will stop any attempt at passing the treeline.

Three years later, Clara, the daughter of the first Lost, is still determined to find a way into the forest and reclaim her mother.

.

Honestly I had a hard time getting in the book at first, despite being intrigued. The second half was way better. In the end I wanted more, that is, the second book, which is not out yet unfortunately. Though the author actually give us a good enough final to not feel dissatisfied and the end of this first tome. But the epilogue is intriguing and set the foundation for the plot of the next book.

It's an overall good read. I genuinely enjoy this story, despite my aversion to love triangle, though I have to admit that as far love triangles go, this one wasn't completely unpleasant and actually made sense.

The plot itself had a few twists I should have seen coming in insight, some that I've partially seen coming, and some that just plain caught me totally by surprise.

The world building is set mostly on the Grimm fairytales, but twisted, cutted in pieces and used as the author please. The result is quite fascinating, It is actually fun to look for the clues of which characters is from which tale. Sometimes it's not what you'd expect. Sometimes the original fairytale is twisted beyond recognition.

This was a good debut! Worth your time.

.

Note about the fairyloot edition: it's really gorgeous.

The dust jacket design is fairly close of the original except for the background that went from white to a beautiful green. The dust jacket is reversible and the other side is absolutely gorgeous with the main characters all depicted on it.

The naked book it also sublime and is a rendition of the book from the story, "Sortes Fortunae" (the book of Fortune), with foil on the hardcover.

The end pages show Clara and Axel.

And the sprayed edge is beautiful, with it's depiction of Clara in her red cape near the black wolf with the forest in the background.

This is an overall gorgeous edition. I just would have like a real binding, and not the sheets just glued together. It makes the book really fragile. I was scared several times to damage the book while reading. Not the best experience.

Though I'm really hoping that fairyloot will publish the second tome too. I definitely want the whole set.

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

Just finished The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie. I'll write a post about it later!

Currently reading: I just started Voyage of the Damned by Frances White (the Illumicrate edition)

[the-library-and-the-teashop]

The Cat crossed the road between the Library and the Teashop.

There's always a Beginning to all things that are, either they be great or or they be insignificant.

Which one will this humble blog about books, with the occasional digressions about teas and cats?

*

About the author: nonbinary alien cat obsessed with letters and words, and by extension, books. French person that doesn't find their accent sexy, but that might because they are from a small rural town, and not from Paris.

Perfect day: a good book, with a good cup of tea and the company of Sony the cat. (It will all be featured on this blog.)

Sony the cat: doesn't read but is good company on rainy days while all I want is rest in bed with a book or the TV. Big soft baby that love treats and being cuddled.

Favorite genre(s): mostly fantasy and SF. The occasional book about tea, cookbook, or science book. There's also the dictionaries but I probably won't mention them here. Oh and there's fanfictions. But that's something to be discussed on my main blog about TV shows.

Favorite tea: it's hard to tell because I drink different teas during the day and each one is special because each moment is special. Also I love new experiences.

Favorite book: that one is easy. The His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. These books have been special to me since I was ten.

Favorite cat: Sony of course, she's my baby. But any cat is a good cat.