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[a-better-beginning]

Bookshops & Bonedust

Travis Baldree

Finished October 7, 2023

4.25/5

Bookshops & Bonedust brings us Viv, who has been hurt on a job with her group of travelling mercenaries, and left to heal in the town of Murk. While recovering she helps a local bookshop get back on its feet, and makes connections with the local town-folk, learning about them, where they come from, and why they are where they are, and discovering more about herself, and her future, in the process. 

As someone who has yet to be able to make it through Legends & Lattes (not because I dislike it, just because of scheduling issues) this book made me so incredibly excited to eventually be able to pick it back up, but I also didn’t feel as though I was missing anything from not having read the book, it stood on its own incredibly well. 

Viv was such a fun protagonist. It was refreshing to have a main character who knows exactly what she wants in the moment, but also be so open to experiencing something new. While this was a book about self discovery, Viv still knew who she was at her core, and didn’t let anyone take that away from her. The supporting cast was some of my all time favorites, and I hope the author once again revisits them in the future, perhaps jumping off the epilogue.

The message of this book comes through beautifully. It’s a book about beginnings and endings and how sometimes the right people come around at the wrong time and that’s okay. “Sometimes, it'll never be the right time. And sometimes, we aren't the right people yet.” I think sums it up perfectly, giving us a  bittersweet ending, that is not shied away from, from the very beginning. Overall an incredible novel, and I cannot wait to read the rest that  Travis Baldree has to offer.

[a-better-beginning]

Canto Contigo

Jonny Garza Villa

Finished: September 30, 2023

When a Mariachi star transfers schools, he expects to be handed his new group's lead vocalist spot—what he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar, very kissable face.

Canto Contigo was a heartfelt, humor-filled delight to read. It has been a while since I have read a book that has me cheering when the couple finally gets over themselves and ends up together, but Canto Contigo handled its rivals to lovers storyline with incredible ease. Keeping their banter and “dislike” for each other at a level that doesn't make their eventual togetherness feel undeserved. Rafie’s personality is balanced perfectly, an asshole with an ego who you can’t help but love because of his heart. He and Rey have incredible chemistry from the time they interact for the first time to the end of the novel. Moments that would typically have me cringing and noting as cheesy I found endearing and I was cheering on for more. While the romance shines in this book, its exploration of grief hit incredibly home to home. It was messy and realistic, and felt incredibly real, and as a warning to the inevitable future readers, will have you sobbing. 

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy as soon as I can!

[a-better-beginning]

The Moon on a Rainy Night

Kazushiro

Finished: September 10, 2023

4/5

High Schooler Saki meets new student Kanon. After Kanon is introduced to the class and it is revealed she is hard of hearing, she walls herself off from the other students. Saki takes it upon herself to become her friend and after Saki ends up at Kanon’s house for piano lessons, the two quickly connect and open up to each other. 

This Manga is perfect for those who are fans of I hear the Sunspot. It is a cheery romance with a ton of heart. The characters are incredibly lovable and unique, with great chemistry. It was a joy to get to watch them grow as people and get closer to each other in the process. The author clearly did their research and poured so much love and effort into making these characters as real as possible. Teaching the audience as the characters learn themselves. 

I am incredibly excited to continue reading and see where these characters go in the future.

[a-better-beginning]

Sheets

Brenna Thummler

Date Finished: September 9, 2023

4/5

Sheets follows two characters, Marjorie, a young girl taking care of her family’s laundry mat after her parents death, and the ghost of a young boy, Wendell, who doesn’t feel like he quite fits in in the afterlife. After entering the land of the living once more Wendell accidentally causes problems for Marjorie who is trying to keep the business afloat, while a local business man attempts to replace the business with a spa. 

The thing that drew me to this graphic novel was the art. Sheets’ art shows a gorgeous colorful and soft world which really encapsulates the feel of the story. The art of the novel is not where it’s beauty stops, story itself is full of heart. It is paced beautiful, excluding the ending which felt slightly rushed, the characters felt very real and I enjoyed getting to watch Marjorie’s growth throughout the story.

I think this graphic novel is a great choice for young, emerging readers who are looking for something a little bit more challenging and thought provoking.

[a-better-beginning]

Spell Bound

F.T. Lukens

Date Finished: Febuary 28, 2023

4/5

Spell Bound follows Rook, a young, non magical person who grew up with his magical grandmother. After her death he was taken away from the magical community he knew, and after a year away, he began to search for his way back in, eventually finding an office job under Antonia, a powerful sorcerer with a disregard for rules, which has landed her with stipulations on her freedom. The two quickly run into Fable, Antonia’s rival, and their apprentice Sun and Antonia illegally names Rook her apprentice. While working together, Sun and Rook slowly form a friendship, learn each other's secrets, and become a team. Until the Consortium catches wind of what is going on, Sun and Rook have to work together to save their respective teachers. 

Spell Bound is an incredibly fun read with a ton of heart along with it. Rook and Sun are both incredibly interesting, with unique perspectives, and a joy to follow throughout the story. Antonia and Fable’s rivalry/friendship relationship is entertaining and complex that made both of their characters feel so real and relatable. The backstories of the characters are so full of heart, and do a wonderful job of showing the reader how they came to be the person they are. While the concepts and amounts we are given of the characters’ backstories are wonderful, I do wish a bit more time was spent, specifically on Antonia and her previous apprentice as I was left at the end of the story wishing I knew more. 

The one other notable problem I found with this novel is the pacing, while I enjoyed the slow paced start to the novel, at times I was left wondering when the main conflict would come, if at all. I also wish Mavis, a character we meet toward the end of the novel, after the main conflict had begun, ⅔ of my way through the novel, had been introduced, or at least mentioned earlier on so she felt more like a character and less like a plot device. 

That being said, I did enjoy the slow pacing at the beginning of the novel, and the central conflict was engaging and enjoyable. I had a great time reading Spell Bound, the characters and found family elements of the novel were a standout, and the closing monologue was one that made it into my personal favorites. Lukens is an author I have enjoyed for years and I cannot wait to see what the bring to the table next.

[a-better-beginning]

The Adventure Zone: Eleventh Hour

The Mcelroy Family

Date Finished: February 15, 2023

4.5/5

The Adventure Zone: Eleventh Hour is an incredible addition to the TAZ: Balance Graphic Novel series. Our resident Tres Horny Boys are after yet another relic, this time in a town called Refuge. The town is cut off from the rest of the world, and trapped under a bubble. The boys quickly find out that not only is the town separated from the outside world, it has been reliving the same, eleventh hour, over and over again. They are met with challenges, both physical and mental, as well as having to face their biggest, and hardest, decision yet. Would you go back and rewrite  your worst day?

As an avid listener, and longtime fan of the podcast, I have been looking forward to this novel for quite some time. It is so exciting to get to relive my favorite scenes again, as if for the first time, as well as having the knowledge that for some people, this is their first time. The balance between the foreshadowing and hints for what is to come alongside the revelations of the characters pasts and how they deal with the consequences of their actions already taken are breathtaking. I am already on my toes waiting for the 6th novel, and until then will fill my time relistening to the original campaign.

[a-better-beginning]

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love

Lex Croucher

Date Finished: January 17, 2023

4.75/5

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a hilarious historical romance about a noble betrothed couple, who have hated each other since they were young. Art, is sent by his father to live in Camelot for the summer, and as such is forced to live with Gwen, a situation neither is fond of. It is quickly revealed that the two are incompatible in more ways than just their shared dislike of the other. After Gwen catches Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur finds Gwen’s diary, which speaks of her crush on a female knight, and so the two decide to call a truce and to cover for each other. 

Every character in this story is incredibly lovable, flawed, but still trying their hardest to be the best person they can be. The others around them only serve to better them as people, and improve the way they see and experience the world. Every one of them at one point or another makes a mistake that had a lasting impact on their relationships with each other, and each mistake is dealt with in a way that doesn’t feel too harsh or like they character just had to apologise and it is forgotten about. The characters communicated, learned, and grew from their actions, and the actions of those around them. I was also pleasantly surprised about how the side characters and love interests were handled. Giving the love interests specific wants and goals that are actually addressed and not just thrown to the side, or altered, just so there can be a “perfect” happy ending was incredibly refreshing and something I hope to see more often from authors in the future.

The more serious, overarching plot was well planned and thought out. It played out and was mentioned throughout the entire book, always there, but never really distracting from the fact that this is still a romance. While I enjoyed the more serious aspects, the humor of this novel is what really sells it to me. There were many times I had to pause just so I could tell a friend about a scene, moment, or line that had me laughing the entire time. Art and Sidney’s dynamic specifically was a joy, and the humor that came from the two of them playing off each other was something I looked forward to in almost every scene the two had together.

The novel as a whole was an absolute delight to read, it was so much fun and there is so much I loved about it that I could not fit into this review without it being three times as long as it already is. I cannot wait to get a physical copy in my hands to add to my bookshelf. 

[a-better-beginning]

Bloom

Kevin Panetta

Date Finished: January 1, 2023

3.75/5

Bloom is a lighthearted, slice of life, romance taking place in a beach town where Ari is looking to move on from his family bakery. In an attempt to convince his dad to let him leave, he hires a young baker on a break from school. The two work together, slowly reigniting Ari’s love and appreciation of bakery, and growing closer to each other. This was a quick and easy read I finished in a single sitting, just over an hour and a half, and was a perfect to be able to turn off my brain for a bit of time and just relax. That being said, I had a hard time connecting to Ari, I do believe characters do not have to be, and should not be, perfect, but many of Ari’s actions throughout the novel seemed to exceed how people reacted to them. A notable example being the climax and resulting scenes. Ari’s had a tendency to take things too far and oftentimes these actions were resolved with little more than an “I’m sorry.” While I was not a fan of Ari, Hector was a delight. His character felt very genuine and I enjoyed getting to learn more about him alongside Ari. I feel as though both of their individual storylines came to a conclusion that made sense for them and also showed their growth from the beginning. The setting of the story was breathtaking, and there are pages from the novel that I would be interested in having as prints. The art style brings so much to the story and was genuinely beautiful. While Bloom may not have been for me, I did still enjoy my time reading it, and will be keeping my eye out for other novels Panetta puts out.

[a-better-beginning]

The Two Lions

Nagisa Furuya

Date Finished: December 29, 2022

3.5/5

The Two Lions is a light, slice of life, romance for anyone looking for a book to turn off their brain for a couple hours and just enjoy a lighthearted story. The characters were likable, had a fun dynamic, and genuinely seemed to like each other, something many stories seem to miss the mark on. While it was a fun and easy read, I felt as though there was the lack of a “spark” in the story. It didn’t leave me regretting my read, but it also didn’t leave me wanting more, or with much to say about it as a whole. It was a very middle of the road read that, may not become a go to recommendation, but I also would not discourage anyone from reading it.

[a-better-beginning]

The Sunbearer Trials

Aiden Thomas

Date Finished: October 4, 2022

4.5/5

There is a reason I keep coming back to Aiden Thomas, I have yet to be disappointed by one of his releases and this book is no different. The Sunbearer Trials follows Teo, as he and his fellow Semidioses compete for the title of the Sunbearer. The role given to the winner, who sacrifices the loser of the trials in order to keep their home safe for the next decade. The Sunbearer Trials is home to incredible world building. The book starts with prologue of sorts which is used to set the scene for everything that comes after, explaining the world, how the trials came to be, and why. Throughout my reading I found myself regularly flipping back to both it and the map on the inside cover, and using them in a similar way that I would a glossary in a high fantasy novel. Throughout my reading it was easy to tell just how well thought out the world was, and I loved getting to experience it through the eyes of the characters who experience it first hand. Teo is such a fun protagonist. There is a quote close to the end of the book where he is told “troublemakers make change” and I don’t think there is a better way to show exactly who he is as a person. And pairing him with a character like Niya who thinks with her muscles, but has a heart of gold just amplified his best traits. It’s incredibly clear that Thomas thought out every single character to their fullest, and one of my biggest wishes in the next book is that we get to spend more time with the supporting cast and we get to see the complex and interesting characterizations and relationships that get a bit shoved to the side in this novel seemingly because of the importance of the plot. While the world building is very impressive, and the characters are fun and enjoyable, the plot was what really carried the story for me. Thomas does an incredible job of sprinkling hints for whatever twist he throws at the end of the book, they are typically easy to catch onto but vague enough that it leaves you with theories instead of a solid answer as to what will play out. He has a particular balance of showing you enough about a character to make you question, but never to spell it out, which is what makes his novels so much fun to read. The twist never comes out of nowhere, but I find myself patting myself on the back when one of my theories ends up correct (or almost correct in this case). I cannot wait to be able to finish this duology. It only took his first two books for Aiden Thomas to claim his spot as favorite writer, and this does not seem to be a fact that will change anytime soon. Right now I’m just wondering who I will have to bribe to get an ARC of the second book in the duology.

Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

[a-better-beginning]

The Feeling of Falling in Love

Mason Deaver

Date Finished: August 5, 2022

4.25/5

Mason Deaver, once again, serves a brilliantly written novel with characters I cannot get enough of. The Feeling Of Falling in Love follows Neil, a trans, gay teen bringing his roommate across the country to his brother’s wedding to be his fake-partner for a week. It is a cute and lighthearted romance, filled with cheesy tropes and fun. It is playful and fluffy while still tackling character growth and serious moments between characters, discussing things like identity and family. I struggle to find words to explain exactly how I felt while reading this, but it has been a long time since I was this invested in a romance and I cannot wait to read whatever Mason Deaver publishes next.

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia

[a-better-beginning]

House of Slaughter, Vol. 1: The Butcher’s Mark

Tate Brombal

Date Finished: August 1, 2022

4.5/5

[a-better-beginning]

Hell Followed With Us

Andrew Joseph White

Date Finished: June 26, 2022

4.5/5

Hell Followed With Us is an incredible read that explores religious trauma from a unique and interesting setting and perspective. The messiness of Benji’s thoughts on his upbringing and relationship with New Nazareth and the Angels is so personal, but also something so relatable to someone who has left a toxic religious environment. The characters are incredibly diverse, with their own thoughts, feelings, and prejudice, even within similar groups. I adore the choice to include these prejudices within the Watch as it is something I know exists and have experienced myself within queer communities. Nick’s autism was a fact I was cautious about when first picking up the book. As an autistic person myself I often find that a character's autism is often kept completely separate from their other characteristics, however, Nick’s autism is a part of every aspect of his character. He keeps stim toys with him, goes nonverbal, and even experiences shutdown which is a symptom that is often overlooked in autistic characters in favor of more dramatic and well-known meltdowns. He is flawed, messy,  and human, and is exactly the kind of representation I wish I would have had as a teenager. I could go on and on about how well Nick was written, and this attention to detail shows through in every single character. I have tried to write this review 5 times now and I can’t seem to fit in exactly what I am trying to get across. I loved this book, everyone should read it.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Body horror, Deadnaming, Gore, and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

[a-better-beginning]

The Witch King

H. E. Edgmon

Date Finished: June 16, 2022

3.75/5

The Witch King is a hilarious, powerful, and enjoyable read. There was incredible world-building, astounding humor, and the cast of characters all had unique, loveable, and flawed personalities which left them feeling very real. Wyatt’s anger was such a refreshing character trait, which I don't often see so blatantly in main characters, and while he spoke his mind and took no bs, it rarely, if ever, made me dislike him or disagree with his anger, and the side and minor characters were all well fleshed out, given lives, wants, and needs, outside of their scenes, not to mention the representation throughout the book left almost no stones unturned. While the writing shines in some places, in others it doesn’t land quite as well. The amount of time spent on character description often took me from my immersion, and the dialogue towards the beginning, at times seemed a bit awkward. I feel a couple of the twists near the end had not being given quite enough foreshadowing which led the reveals to feel out of place or out of character. The messages and points the book covered, at times, also felt a bit too blatant, being almost spelled out for the reader, rather than letting us come to the conclusion ourselves. While there are moments in the writing that took me from my immersion, Edgmon’s talent shines during the more lighthearted scenes, as well as the twists that were properly foreshadowed. I loved that when plots came together I was able to pat myself on the back for noticing a detail earlier leading me to a conclusion, or a larger mystery that I had theories about and anticipation of discovering which one is correct. While I had a few mainly minor and personal critiques of the book, The Witch King was an absolute delight to read and I cannot wait to pick up The Fae Keeper to see what happens next.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment and Racism

Moderate: Transphobia

[a-better-beginning]

The Ghosts We Keep

Mason Deaver

Date Finished: May 26, 2022

4.5/5

The Ghosts We Keep is a gut-wrenching, beautifully written, story about dealing with grief, the loss of a loved one, and the things we learn through it. The characters aren't perfect, and sometimes are hard to like, but I think that adds to how real the story feels, and in a way made me love them even more. The side characters are all so well fleshed out and have their own personalities and flaws wonderfully balanced, their perspectives and lives have meaning, even though the story isn’t from their perspective or about them

Minor Spoilers

I loved that the story didn’t have a cut and dry, “happy” ending, instead, it left me feeling like this was a chapter in a larger story, which I think speaks to Deaver’s writing and connections to the themes.

End Spoilers The scenes regarding Self-harm and suicidal ideation, are incredibly realistically written, and due to this fact there were a few moments in chapters that I had to skim/skip over, but they also did not feel like the book was becoming about, or glorifying them as so many other stories tend to do. This book was incredible, and if it was more to my personal tastes, would likely have ended up with a 5/5. I once again cannot wait to see what Mason Deaver has in store for his next book.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

[a-better-beginning]

All Our Hidden Gifts

Caroline O’Donoghue

Date Finished: May 17, 2022

4/5

[a-better-beginning]

So This Is Ever After

F. T. Lukens

Date Finish: May 16, 2022

4.5/5