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[kitschykitchen]

🍽️Hot and Fresh Review🍽️

Ideal Snacks for While You’re Watching: An ice pack for the headache you get while reading.

Main Ingredients:

A set of twins: the rambunctious and rebellious boy twin, and the motherly yet grief-stricken girl twin

A cast of characters that diminishes as the plots progress

A storyline that acts like a roller coaster, taking you to the top before dipping horridly down

I first encountered The Tensorate Series by Neon Yang when I read the first standalone novella, The Black Tides of Heaven, in mid-2020. I was using Kindle on my phone during a power outage and found great joy in immersing myself. The setting was intriguing--a fantasy realm based on the Asian continent with a gender-choosing system where people at a certain age can start hormone therapy when deciding on what they want to be. The plot itself was also a familiar comfort. We have a tyrannical mother who leads her empire with an iron fist, with only the rich having access to the magical powers known as "tensing." Her twins end up going down separate paths when the girl twin, Mokoya, joins the family as a prophet who can predict enemy attacks. In contrast, the boy twin, Akeha, joins the revolutionaries who use machinery to battle against the tensors. On my first read, I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but overall, I found the book enjoyable and knew I had to read the rest of them.

Fast forward to this year, when I decided to buy the complete edition and finish the series. I was surprised to find that every book after the first one took an axe to whatever praises I originally had.

It is not an exaggeration that reading the rest of this book series is like watching a trainwreck--slow but disastrous. The second book, The Red Threads of Fortune is from Mokoya's perspective, an expected change considering the first book was in Akeha's perspective. However, the narrative is jarringly different. We've abandoned the plot of the twins leading different lives to now find Mokoya with the machinists and apparently searching for naga in the desert on a mission. From there, the story unravels to reveal a subplot of how the tensors, the rich and powerful who use tensing, have been experimenting on monsters like naga and raptors by embedding them with human souls. The book does take time to give us a glimpse into Mokoya's psyche. In Black Tides of Heaven, we learn of the tragic passing of Mokoya's young daughter in an accident that also caused Mokoya to have a new arm grafted. In Red Threads of Fortune that, it's revealed that Mokoya's raptor she's riding was embedded with her daughter's soul on Mokoya's orders. The antagonist of this novella is a young girl attacking the city with a naga who has the embedded soul of her late mother. Mokoya is forced to confront her trauma by stopping this girl from going on her rampage due to her grief. While Yang does well to create the link between both characters, we are left with a lot of unanswered questions as a caveat. Like, how many times have they done this experiment? Are there more naga/raptors out there with human souls? Why are the machinists getting involved?

If you thought book three would answer these questions, you'd be wrong. Instead, The Descent of Monsters follows a different character outside of our recurring cast. We follow a detective who is investigating a tragedy at a laboratory where they find that a naga-raptor crossbred monster has wiped out all the scientists. Our main cast gets involved as there are also children being experimented on beneath the lab, one of which is Rider's long-lost twin (Rider being a character introduced in Red Threads of Fortune). The detective struggles to get taken seriously by her upper management and ends up working with the machinists to get to the bottom of it. In the end, she finds that the children are training to be prophets who can predict the future and change the outcome. Sounds cool, right? The detective finds Rider's twin, but she can't save the twin as the detective is attacked by the naga-raptor crossbreed and dies at the novel's end. What a cliffhanger! And even more questions! What are the children going to do? Apparently, they escaped the monster, so where are they being held now? Will the public learn of this soon? How will Rider take the news that their twin is alive?

You thought we were going to get answers to any of that? Fat chance. Last book of the series and--hoo boy! The Ascent to Godhood takes a total nosedive as far as contingency goes. We're away from all of the previous plot threads--no more monsters, no more secret child experimentation, no more machinist revolutions. Instead, we're at the end of the revolution! The machinists have successfully assassinated the current empress, Akeha and Mokoya's mom, though they do this off-screen. Our story now follows a first-person point-of-view conversation with Lady Han, one of the members of the machinists, and a brief character we met in the first book. Lady Han tells us all about how she fell in love with the twin's mom, having been her handmaid and spy. Things became worse in their relationship as the empress hungered for more power. She discarded Lady Han and the two effectively parted ways on tense terms. Our last few moments in this story are spent with Lady Han discussing her appreciation for her time spent there, her love for the empress, and the sadness she feels at her passing, before turning over to us--the grieving lover of the detective from the last book. We don't say a word to her and then the credits roll.

When I tell you I wish I could get the time back that I spent on this book...

It goes without saying that this was a travesty when it comes to craft or context. The longer the stories went on, the more convoluted things became. Neon Yang has acknowledged that the novellas were separate stories that they wrote about the same fantasy world, but if you intend to sell this as a complete series, you should be prepared to edit for continuity. Perhaps it would be better to market this as an anthology, though I still think editing should have been done to make the stories have conclusive ends and beginnings.

Overall, The Tensorate Series is a meal that I would never order again, nor would I recommend it to a friend.

Michelin Stars: 2.75/5 (⭐⭐)

[kitschykitchen]

👩🏾‍🍳Chef's Recommendation: If You Liked Baby Reindeer

I recently finished watching Baby Reindeer on Netflix and I am absolutely in love with the story. Without giving too much detail, because I encourage those who can watch it for themselves to do so (trigger warnings for depictions of sexual assault, sexual violence, homophobia, and transphobia), the story is a riveting dark comedy that explores the topics above with depth and empathy that can only be done by someone close to the matter. The story is autobiographical, based on the real events of Richard Gadd's experience of being stalked. For those who don't want to watch the show but are curious, read this article for a more distanced examination.

For those who have watched Baby Reindeer and enjoyed the story, here are a few other media recommendations with similar vibes!

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi: It's no secret that I loved this book, plus the subject matters overlapped a lot. Donny reminded me a bit of Jayne in some ways as both protagonists struggle with self-hatred and indulge in self-destructive behaviors because of their troubled pasts. It's a great examination of character work and reminds you how a protagonist does not always mean a morally good person. If you'd like a more in-depth overview of Yolk, you can check out my review on my blog.

Russian Doll dir. Leslye Headland: Both Baby Reindeer and Russian Doll lean into the dark comedy genre while simultaneously gut-punching you with their intense examinations of flawed characters. Natasha Lyonne is such a stunning actress and carries the story. The cinematography is also gorgeous and works to add to the kitschy and off-kilter vibe. Season 2 left more to be desired so I recommend Season 1 for those who want to watch. You can stream it on Netflix but I recommend checking trigger warnings for this too.

Underneath by Lily Hoang: This is a novel that I don't plan on reviewing here but I read it two years ago. I stumbled upon it at a writing conference and was intrigued by the back blurb--an overweight woman, overwhelmed by her husband's lack of love and her abusive childhood, decides to kill her children by smothering them under her body. While the book was a bit too overwhelming for my taste, I still think it has merit as a strong look at morally grey characters and examining generational trauma. It dips into the psychological: blending poetry and prose, switching points of view, and jumping through time. I recommend Underneath to anyone who enjoys darker stories and can stomach the grotesque.

The Tatami Galaxy dir. Masaaki Yuasa: I'm sure no one expected to see an anime on this list but this is one that more people need to watch. I was first entranced by The Tatami Galaxy after seeing gifsets of it on Tumblr. The art style is gorgeous and the animation matches the style. It's another psychological show focused on following a nameless protagonist who goes through the world with rose-tinted glasses but gets surprised when things do not go the way he expected. The writers examine his interiority, forcing the protagonist to question why he denies himself happiness and keeps running away from what he wants. I highly recommend it to anyone who can sit through animations! You can stream it on Crunchyroll if you have an account.

[kitschykitchen]

🍽️Hot and Fresh Review🍽️

Ideal Snacks for While You’re Watching: A bottle of red wine, beef bulgogi with rice, kimchi, and mandu.

Main Ingredients:

A down-on-her-luck Korean-American trying to make it in New York's Wall Street.

Her meek and timid rich bestie who's married to a grade-A asshole.

A slew of love interests and paramours that range from a match made in heaven to Satan incarnate

This is not an easy novel to categorize by genre. In some ways, it mirrors a romance novel. In most ways, it's literary fiction. And at times it comes off as a TV drama with its meet-cutes and frequent dire situations. Min Jin Lee manages to dip her toes into so many different spaces and weave a complex narrative. Free Food for Millionaires follows the story of a Korean-American immigrant family. We have the rebellious and prideful older daughter, Casey Han, her dutiful and obedient younger sister, Tina, her submissive and evangelical mother, Leah, and her stoic and reserved father, Joseph. After Casey is kicked out by her father during an argument, our story progresses with her struggling to survive in the late 90s and trying to avoid the handouts constantly at her disposal.

We mostly follow Casey's perspective but the novel occasionally switches to the perspectives of the ensemble cast. One thing I appreciate about Lee's writing style is her ability to enter each character's mind no matter how brief. Despite our tendency to assume that we as individuals are the "main characters" and everyone else around us are just "NPCs," Lee negates this by giving us glimpses into the lives of the random people with whom the protagonists interact. Suddenly, we're not just privy to the thoughts of the Han clan and their friends, but even the doorman at someone's apartment or the saleswoman selling someone her wedding dress.

While reading Free Food for Millionaires, committing to reading every day was hard. This was one of the longest books I read with a whopping 600+ pages. I'm sure to any seasoned reading vet, that sounds like child's play, but considering I was juggling a new job at the time, 600+ pages felt like eons of reading. Needless to say, I've finished it now and my thoughts have changed slightly.

A lot of my animosity came from the book's length, making certain sections feel drawn out. I was reading it sporadically, which meant opening the book after days of distance only to find myself in the same situation. Casey struggles to make ends meet and has to rely on the kindness of others despite her intense pride. However, that pride forbids her from taking help immediately, so we're left with pages of her denying help despite her increasing need for it. Constantly being introduced to this problem felt tedious to me. How long was Casey going to suffer? When would I be able to read about the highs of her life?

After a while, I had to ask myself why I was so hostile towards this book. That's when I realized the entire premise felt too familiar to my current life. I'm a recent graduate living in my childhood bedroom. My family constantly complains about money--from the price of groceries to the inability to move any time soon despite the depleting neighborhood. I couldn't find a job for months and when I finally did, I got paid low wages that couldn't be used because I had so many bills to catch up on. Reading this book wasn't allowing the escapism that most anticipate from reading. Instead, I was constantly reminded of stark reality. I was angered by Casey's pride, yet possessed the same stubbornness. Despite my situation, my family constantly offers to pay for me and buy me niceties. And I'll cry, scream, and protest until my throat goes hoarse if it means protecting that sense of self-preservation.

Free Food for Millionaires teaches us that pride does not protect you from the slings and arrows of life. Community is the only way that we can defend against daily woes. Lee exemplifies this realization in the latter half of the book after Leah suffers a miscarriage caused by a sexual assault. While in the hospital recovering, the women of Leah's church choir come together to sing for her. This scene nearly made me tear up, reminding me of the importance of ties to others. Currently, politically and economically, we can start to shut down and become more selfish as a form of protection. We feel we lack autonomy and thus turn inward to focus solely on the self. But Min Jin Lee says selfishness and pride won't save you. When you see Casey denying help from her rich and wealthy friends, you feel frustrated because she keeps herself in poverty. Then, you must ask yourself why you do the same thing? Why do you deny the help offered to you? Why do you keep yourself trapped in your misery when solutions are being offered?

Ultimately, Free Food for Millionaires gives me many complex feelings. While it might not be the perfect book for me, I implore people to read it regardless. Use the novel as a starting point on your journey to being more kind to yourself.

Michelin Stars: 3.75/5 (⭐⭐⭐)

[kitschykitchen]

🍽️Hot and Fresh Review🍽️

Ideal Snacks for While You Read: A NY Style Pizza slice, persimmons, and a cheap bottle of wine.

Main Ingredients:

A pair of childhood best friends with so much unsaid between each other

The perfect supportive college roommate willing to travel halfway across the country for his friends.

A series of games that reveals our truest selves

I first saw Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow while watching a vlog where someone mentioned the gorgeous cover art. I remember thinking how it did look nice, and then going about the rest of my day. The only problem was that the book would haunt me every day after. I saw it in other videos, in social media posts, and of course on Goodreads. So, after getting so many cosmic signs from the universe, what did I do? I bought it and I read it.

The book follows the story of Sam Masur, a young Harvard student who runs into his childhood friend, Sadie Green, one fateful day at the train station. Upon running into each other after years of separation, the two are tethered once more but with a catch. Past traumas keep Sam and Sadie from being honest with each other, but they attempt to move past this by redefining the goalpost of their relationship--from fellow gamers to game creators. From there, the story unfolds as a beautiful examination of the follies and inconsistencies that make life so memorable.

When I was reading this book, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. I felt nostalgia for my simple days of playing video games on the floor of my old house with my two older sisters watching. I felt inspired by the ingenuity and intensity of trying to create when your failures seem to keep following you. And of course, I felt grief and longing for the loss these characters felt. There is a gorgeous scene towards the latter half of the book writing from the perspective of Sam's friend Marx. Those who've read the book know exactly what I'm alluding to, but for those uninitiated, you should know that through my tears and choked sobs, I still turned through every page to read the chapter in its entirety.

Zevin’s writing style is powerful and her plays with temporality are stunning. She jumps through time to disorient readers but with a purpose. They show us a pattern of behavior that does not imply a lack of growth in our characters but rather a showcase of their intricacies. Zevin’s characters are not defined by one-dimensional gimmicks or characteristics. Every character has a chance to be agreeable, to be fallible, to make us angry, and to make us happy. At times, the dialogue can feel a bit stilted but that does not distract from the individuality flowing from these characters. Sam's struggles with identity versus Sadie's struggles with identity versus Marx's struggles with identity are all unique and pinpoint the variety of people you can meet if you give yourself the chance to. All in all, Tomorrow is a wonderful book for readers who want a reason to remember what makes life worth living--for the love of art, for the love of family, and for the love of growth.

Michelin Stars: 5/5 (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

[kitschykitchen]

🍽️Hot and Fresh Review🍽️

Ideal Snacks While Reading:

Fried eggs over white rice, a bottle of soju, and chocolate-covered bananas.

Main Ingredients:

A reckless, free-spirited younger sister with deep insecurities

A narcissistic know-it-all older sister who always seems perfect

A sudden cancer diagnosis that forces them together

Jayne Ji-young Baek is a college student living in New York and trying to figure out life. She’s got the full entourage of New York insanity--including but not limited to a terrible, clownish not-boyfriend-boyfriend, a repulsive apartment that she pays way too much money for, and a blinding desire to be noticed in a city where everyone has the same ambition. Things get even more complicated for Jayne when her older sister, June, enters the picture. June is eldest daughter syndrome personified--a parentified, overachiever who can barely take care of herself and sucks even worse at taking care of others. The two immediately bump heads but things spiral even further when June explains that she’s been diagnosed with cancer. Naturally, this comes as a slap to the face for Jayne, as she’s now forced to juggle all of the other nonsense in her life while also forcibly recognizing her sister as undeniably human.

Now, I’m sure we’ve all gotten used to the wealth of movies in this vein. You’re probably anticipating that June will learn how to let loose and stop being so hard on Jayne and Jayne will become more responsible after realizing that June’s rigid personality isn’t such a bad thing. The two will completely overlook their parental trauma and end with a message on family, love, and happy-happy joy-joy. Allow me to be the first to tell you to manage your expectations.

Yolk may have a familiar purpose, but its handling of the subject matter is so realistic and raw that it leads to discomfort. Jayne is not just a party girl who has poor taste in men. She’s the youngest child whose mother constantly picks at her insecurities and leaves her with a very intense eating disorder. She’s actively in therapy but struggles to utilize it well because she doesn’t want to admit her own weaknesses. Similarly, June doesn’t have it all together. She’s constantly picking on Jayne but finds it difficult to watch her sister crash and burn. She’s apathetic to her cancer diagnosis and struggles to remain herself after the loss of her job. Mary H.K. Choi juggles so many different topics all at once--from unspoken familial trauma to sexual assault and of course, the immigrant child experience--while still making sure the depiction is respectful while simultaneously realistic.

When hearing the intense subject matter, some might question why Yolk is considered a YA Novel (I know I was confused when I first read it). In today’s society, it’s not a secret that we are hyper-conscious of the kinds of media younger audiences are consuming. This is especially true of YA, where we see repeated accounts of toxic romances and poor boundary management among characters. The difference between Yolk and most other YA novels is that Choi isn’t just showcasing heavy subjects for the sake of throwing them in the audience’s face. Her depictions of struggling with mental illness and relationship problems are grounded in realism first and foremost. Intense topics still have a place in YA, so long as they’re handled with care and respect.

If you want a book that will rip you to shreds, call you out on a lot of your paranoid thinking, and hit way too close to home--Yolk is the perfect book for you.

Michelin Stars: 5/5 (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

[kitschykitchen]

My name’s Anisa or Ani (she/they) and I’m the head chef in this kitchen! I’m a recently graduated senior with a major in Creative Writing and a passion for reading, writing, and cooking. The reason I started this blog was to combine all of my hobbies into one while also offering book recommendations for people like me.

In here, I’ll be cooking up book reviews on any and all books that are clogging up my shelf. I’m open to all genres but I’m also a huge picky reader myself. I like what I like and don’t like what I don’t like, but I want this blog to be a space where I’m absolutely forced to put my preferences aside. I’ll let you know if what I’m reading is a tasty morsel or a godless abomination--but with less unnecessary word padding.

Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on any books I cover or suggest some that you would want to hear about from me. My ask box is always open!

Come along and join me in my literature exposure therapy as I attempt to heal my inner bookish child!