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[neowitcher]

SMALL WORLDS | ARC REVIEW

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson ★★★★★

Expected release date: 11 May 2023 (UK) 18 July 2023 (US)

Genre: Contemporary, Literary

Summary:

Set over the course of three summers, Small Worlds follows Stephen, a first-generation Londoner born to Ghanaian immigrant parents, brother to Ray, and best friend to Adeline. On the cusp of big life changes, Stephen feels pressured to follow a certain path—a university degree, a move out of home—but when he decides instead to follow his first love, music, his world and family fractures in ways he didn’t foresee. Now Stephen must find a path and peace for himself: a space he can feel beautiful, a space he can feel free. (Netgalley)

[Storygraph] [Goodreads] [Amazon US] [Amazon UK]

My review (spoiler-free):

Open Water is one of my favourite novels so getting to review Caleb Azumah Nelson’s second book Small Worlds had me both excited and nervous. For any fans of his previous work, you are bound to like this because it brings back the incredibly lyrical storytelling and another story that will both soften and harden your heart.

There’s some magic to anything Nelson writes down. As with his previous book, there’s a lot of repetition throughout the book, some themes even repeating from Open Water. Rather than being a bore, it helps drive home certain sentences and their attached messages. There’s also a wide use of different motives and themes that keep returning such as music and dance, and the changing of seasons. Everything feels connected and it reads just as beautifully as one could hope for.

I especially appreciated the way the parallels are drawn between father and son. It builds up more and more to that central theme as you keep on reading and once there’s a switch of perspective, the book becomes all the more meaningful. Some scenes are heartbreaking, others are heart-warming, and it is a perfectly complex story about familial relationships. You’re bound to let out some tears or have goosebumps reading certain scenes. Pure magic.

Whereas Open Water was a love at first page book for me, Small Worlds is one that slowly but surely grows on you. I didn’t think I would relate as much to this but once again, I was pleasantly and painfully surprised when I kept coming back to certain paragraphs, really seeing myself in them. The university chapters especially meant a lot to me and made this book easier to connect to on a personal level. The charm of this book is that I believe anyone can connect to something, even if it’s the smallest detail, making it a must-read for everyone. I am wholly in love with the way Caleb Azumah Nelson writes and I highly recommend picking up Small Worlds if you want to feel something meaningful.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.*

content warnings (spoilers): grief, death of a parent, racism, police brutality

[neowitcher]

3 Favourite Books and Films | Winter 2023 Releases

Some seasons, there’s just not enough media intriguing me, so here are three instead of the usual five favourites that released sometime this past winter.

1. For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Since a crushing breakup three years ago, Nina Rice has written romance, friends, her dreams of scriptwriting for TV, and even L.A. proper out of her life. Instead, she’s safely out in the suburbs in her aunt’s condo working her talent agency job from home, managing celebrity email accounts, and certain that’s plenty of writing—and plot—for her life. But a surprise meeting called by Ari Fox, a young actress on everyone’s radar, stirs up all kinds of feelings Nina thought she’d deleted for good… (Storygraph)

Never hurts to start the year off right with a full package enjoyable sapphic romance. Drenched in queer culture, film business and plus-sized representation, Amy Spalding brings a sweet story with interesting, fun, and very relatable, leads and side characters. Never stressing you out with over-the-top drama, it is the perfect romance to binge if you’d like to feel something, with just the slightest bit of spice to add to that. Full review can be found here.

2. Babylon (2022) dir. Damien Chazelle ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, tracing the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood. (Letterboxd)

With the mixed reviews this had been getting, I had almost decided not to watch it, what with it being three hours long and all. Maybe if I’d remembered this is by the director of Whiplash (2016), I would have known not to be concerned. Despite the story being a bit all over, I was intrigued and the soundtrack had me more excited than I’d been in a while. It left me absolutely speechless by the end and the long watch was absolutely worth it! Incredible acting performances, especially by Diego Calva. Just wow, what a ride!

3. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022) dir. Joel Crawford ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: He has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one life left. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives. (Letterboxd)

Finally, moving away from Hollywood territory, there’s the childhood nostalgia mixed with incredible animation. Puss in Boots used to be one of my favourite characters and seeing him back on screen after all these years made me really happy. The story flew by and I was really captivated by the action sequences and the creative animation styles. Some shots actually managed to haunt me a little, which was a pleasant surprise. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon family watch!

[neowitcher]

SIZZLE REEL | ARC REVIEW

Sizzle Reel by Carlyn Greenwald ★★ 

Expected release date: 18 April 2023

Genre: LGBTQ+, Contemporary, Romance

Summary:

When aspiring cinematographer Luna Roth comes out as bisexual, things are more difficult than she’d anticipated. Her best friend Romy is thrilled for her, but Luna doesn’t even know how to flirt with a girl, doesn’t want to come out to her family, and is trying to escape her low-key abusive talent manager.

Then she meets A-list actress and debuting director Valeria Sullivan, who seems her solution to a PA job and if she is as gay as Luna assumes, her ticket to losing her bisexual virginity. But when her romantic interest begins to be reciprocated, her job prospects and relationship with Romy starts to strain. Now Luna has to figure out if she can she fulfil her dreams as a film-maker, keep her best friend, and get the girl. . . or if she’s destined to end up on the cutting room floor.

[Storygraph] [Goodreads] [Amazon]

My review (spoilers - indicated):

A sapphic bisexual romance in a film industry setting is all my heart desires but sadly, Sizzle Reel fell a bit flat. The very detailed plot description (that I seriously had to cut for this review) should have been an indication of it being messy as it tries to bring everything it can but ends up delivering very little. But not all is bad. Here is my review.

Character-wise, Luna isn’t the most appealing main character, however, I won’t hold that against her because that’s how I feel with plenty of romance leads. Her coming out as bisexual is a big part of her personality throughout the story, I get it. At times it is funny, as if she has opened the doors to bisexual superpowers or something. Other times, it just felt annoying and as if she was a totally new person who doesn’t even want to be bisexual.

[SPOILERS] Then there’s the matter of the love triangle. On the one hand, there’s Luna’s celebrity crush with whom she shares very little chemistry. Their interactions are fun, and I enjoy them together, but the romantic part feels forced, which is a shame seeing as it takes up most of the story. It does that, to then amount to nothing. The second love interest is a friends-to-lovers moment which I am a total sucker for but never really pays off. I love Romy’s presence throughout the novel and oftentimes really identify with her, but to make her a love interest, it really needed more than a sudden realisation as it had very little room for them to explore that further. Especially, after focusing most of the book on someone else. The love triangle itself wasn’t a big surprise but Luna’s eventual feelings were a bit anticlimactic. [!!!]

Maybe I should have read the synopsis better because the frustrating focus on sex and virginity is already clear there—my bad. The most important thing in the world for Luna as a baby bisexual isn’t really to feel truly accepted and take her time to figure things out, it’s to get laid. And the steamy scenes that were there were very uncomfortable. They get intimate in an Uber, out of all places, and Luna spends the entire book wanting to have “gay sex” in a heteronormative way, despite everyone telling her that “sex” isn’t a straightforward concept. Luna is a flawed character, and that’s fine, but she was far too annoying in moments like these.

When it comes to the overall story, I appreciate the film industry setting and getting to learn more about Luna working her way towards becoming a cinematographer. I honestly wish there had been more focus on that. There’s diversity aplenty, with a Jewish bisexual lead as well as cis and non-binary lesbian love interests and a whole bunch of hilarious queer humour and references. It feels over the top sometimes but to me, that might have been the slightly better part of the book.

Either the story should have been aimed at a younger audience or it should have been paced a lot better. I wouldn’t say no to another book by this author as there were a lot of relatable moments and queer media in general is always welcome. But this particular story was a miss for me and probably better suited for someone who doesn’t mind the quirks mentioned above.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for a chance to read an ARC of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.

content warnings (slight spoilers): biphobia, outing, slight acephobia

[neowitcher]

MY OSCARS PREDICTIONS 2023 | PART 2

Here are my final predictions for tonight’s Oscars. Not too many extra reasons and opinions this time because I am way too sick for that. Anyway, enjoy! I’ll mostly be rooting for Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Best Picture

Should win: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Should have been nominated: Nope, Babylon, Decision to Leave, Aftersun

Best Director

Should win: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Should have been nominated: Jordan Peele, Nope, Charlotte Wells, Aftersun

Best Lead Actress

Should win: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Cate Blanchett, TÁR

Best Lead Actor

Should win: Brendan Fraser, The Whale or Austin Butler, Elvis

Will win: Austin Butler, Elvis

Best Supporting Actress

Should win: Hong Chau, The Whale or Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin

Should have been nominated: Danai Gurira, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Best Supporting Actor

Should win: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All At Once

The acting categories this year are tough because there are too many incredible nominations. The Michelle Yeoh vs. Cate Blanchett race is so difficult as they both really stood out this year and are pretty much equals talent-wise. Personally, I’ll mostly root for Michelle Yeoh because she made the film hers and really managed to move me the most. Likewise with Best Lead Actor, there’s too much talent. Colin Farrell is an incredible actor who perfectly portrayed his character, but Austin Butler was Elvis and my ultimate favourite Brendan Fraser made me cry while watching The Whale. There’s also Paul Mescal who wholeheartedly deserves that nomination and if he went home with the award, I wouldn’t be upset at all.

Best Supporting Actor seems obvious to me but again, Best Supporting Actress I can’t predict well at all. Judging from previous awards shows and who I guess will win overall, I think Kerry Condon has the highest chance. But really, anyone in the category could win. Hong Chau was my favourite, as The Whale isn’t worth much without its incredible acting and she really blew me away. Stephanie Hsu is my second favourite because she was able to bring such a relatable performance but that doesn’t mean I won’t scream with happiness if Angela Bassett wins because again, all such phenomenal talent. Genuinely curious as to who will win, because these are very close calls.

Best International Feature Film

Should win: Close

Will win: All Quiet On The Western Front

Should have been nominated: Decision To Leave

Heartbroken Close doesn’t stand a chance against the clear favourite as it was the type of film that made me proud to be Belgian. Still my favourite, although I get why it doesn’t get as much international hype as some of the other films. Not nominating Decision to Leave feels like a massive mistake, though.

Best Animated Feature Film

Should win: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Will win: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Should have been nominated: Wendell & Wild

Best Documentary Feature

Should win: ??? (Didn’t get around to watching most of them, sadly)

Will win: Navalny

Should have been nominated: Moonage Daydream

[neowitcher]

MY OSCARS PREDICTIONS 2023 | PART 1

With the Oscars almost there (finally!), I've once again put together my personal predictions and picks. Here's to another incredible film year gone past, enjoy my predictions!

Big snubs for the more technical categories are definitely Nope, The Batman, and The Northman. Especially the first really upset me as it was easily one of the greatest films I've seen all year and didn't get the love and attention it deserved at all.

Best Cinematography

Should win: TÁR

Will win: All Quiet on the Western Front

Should have been nominated: Nope, The Batman

Somehow, I find the cinematography category a bit weak this year. Although All Quiet on the Western Front seems like an obvious winner to me, TÁR is the one that cinematographically really spoke to me.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Should win: Sarah Polley, Women Talking

Will win: Sarah Polley, Women Talking

Best Original Screenplay

Should win: Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin or Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Best Film Editing

Should win: Everything Everywhere All At Once or Elvis

Will win: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Should have been nominated: Decision to Leave, The Batman

Best Visual Effects

Should win: Avatar: The Way of Water

Will win: Avatar: The Way of Water

Should have been nominated: Nope, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Best Production Design

Should win: Babylon

Will win: Babylon

Best Sound

Should win: All Quiet on the Western Front or The Batman

Will win: Top Gun: Maverick

Should have been nominated: Nope, The Northman

Best Original Score

Should win: Babylon

Will win: Babylon

Should have been nominated: Nope, The Batman, The Northman

Babylon's production design and score really worked well together and made the entire long watch very engaging. Although The Batman's soundtrack has been my favourite all year, perfectly capturing the gloomy atmosphere, Babylon has taken over that number one spot. Incredible score, I cannot stop listening!

Best Original Song

Should win: Lift Me Up by Rihanna, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Naatu Naatu by Rahul Sipligunj, Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, RRR, This Is A Life by Son Lux, Mitski, David Byrne, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Lift Me Up by Rihanna, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Should have been nominated: Carolina by Taylor Swift, Where The Crawdads Sing, Nobody Like U by Josh Levi, FINNEAS, Jordan Fisher, Grayson Villanueva, Topher Ngo, Turning Red

As is clear, I cannot pick a favourite song this year. Lift Me Up gave me the most feelings when watching the film, which definitely makes me find it a lot more important than the other songs. On the other hand, This Is A Life has been a favourite outside of the film as well and Naatu Naatu is so good, the song alone made me want to watch the film (although I ended up preferring the song outside of the film). I do sincerely believe Carolina and Nobody Like U were snubbed, the latter probably because it released early in the year and never really got the same long-lasting hype as Encanto did last year.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Should win: Elvis

Will win: The Whale

Should have been nominated: Everything Everywhere All At Once, X, The Northman

Best Costume Design

Should win: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever or Everything Everywhere All At Once

Will win: Elvis

Should have been nominated: The Northman

I find the final two categories a bit difficult. For Makeup and Hairstyling, there's not one but two fat suits used. For The Whale, I am okay with this and would understand the win, although my favourite lies elsewhere. But The Batman's fatsuit felt very unneeded and I wish other films would have been recognised instead. For Best Costume Design, I adored Everything Everywhere All At Once but I do think Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the most deserving one, especially with all the different kinds of costumes used. It looked stunning and the costumes really visually made the film.

[neowitcher]

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA | FILM REVIEW

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) ★★★

Adventure/Sci-fi, 2h 4m

Dir. Peyton Reed

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Bill Murray, William Jackson Harper, David Dastmalchian, Jamie Andrew Cutler, Katy O’Brian & others

Summary:

Superhero duo Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, together with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures, and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. (Letterboxd)

My review:

After ending phase four with the greatness of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, you would think Marvel knows how to start phase five with a BANG. Wrong. The third instalment of the Ant-Man films is a decent superhero film but that’s about it.

Whereas the multiverse should have been an incredible asset for the MCU, so far it has mostly felt like the same things over and over again. The stakes are always too high for the Avengers in question but somehow they always overcome the villain, even when it just doesn’t make sense. The films have also been taking place in space (or quantum realm, which genuinely feels the same), way too often and not usually in Marvel’s favour, especially when nothing seems to touch the same level of the two Guardians of the Galaxy instalments.

Luckily, the newest additions to the cast were a delight. I’ve never been incredibly attached to the Ant-Man actors but they always made it work enough for me to really enjoy the films. Kathryn Newton as Cassie, however, was a pleasant surprise from the start and both how her character is written and acted out is very fun. More importantly, Jonathan Majors is the best possible casting option for Kang, and I really enjoyed seeing him on the big screen. I liked how different this Kang felt from Loki’s He Who Remains and definitely shows the actor’s range. That being said, Kang the Conqueror as the main villain in an Ant-Man film didn’t make sense at all and it really wasn’t the right introduction to him in the films.

The main appeal to the Ant-Man instalments is and has always been the humour, which Paul Rudd always excels in delivering. Quantumania, however, felt way more dramatic with the stakes being raised and although I still got some laughs out of it, it wasn’t the same. The opening and ending felt more true to the character than the majority of the actual story and so it was a lot less enjoyable. The ending in itself also felt very weak and made the high stakes feel useless. I believe that if the MCU appealed slightly more to their older audience in their writing without making it wholly inappropriate for the younger ones, these films could be so much better.

Overall, a cool superhero film that is quite weird at times but never reaches its full potential. It’s a waste of the cast but not a total waste of your time if you decide to go see it. Plenty of slight humour and touching family moments to keep you going and of course, the post credit scenes to get you excited for the continuation of the universe with hopefully better films and series.

[neowitcher]

THE WHALE | FILM REVIEW

The Whale (2022) ★★★★

Drama, 1h 57m

Dir. Darren Aronofsky

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, Samantha Morton, Sathya Sridharan, Jacey Sink

Summary:

A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. (Letterboxd)

My review (slight spoilers):

Before watching The Whale, I had set some expectations that were only half met. My expectation for amazing acting fully came through, with an incredible comeback by Brendan Fraser that is absolutely worth the hype. But rather than my expected heart-warming goodbye story, it was very dark and cold most of the time. It was a great one-location film that wasn’t easy to watch but I still highly recommend it.

The story portrays the evils of depression and the addiction it leads up to and it is heartbreaking beginning to end. Even more so are the moments between Charlie (Brendan Fraser) and Ellie (Sadie Sink). Since I expected something more heart-warming, their toxic dynamic came as a great shock, especially as it just kept going. Whenever Ellie would reject Charlie’s advances to get to know her, something in Brendan Fraser’s facial expression would be so touchingly painful, I couldn’t help but feel so much for his character. He could act with his eyes alone which makes his performance worthy of that Oscar nomination. Ellie’s character isn’t easy to act out either as she is very conflicted, and it really showed Sadie Sink is a young actor to watch. The final scene became that much more heartbreaking after everything that was said and done between them both, I’m glad I wore waterproof makeup to the theatre.

Great acting isn’t just found between those two but with the whole cast, which consists of a pretty small number. The most outstanding performance to me was that of Liz (Hong Chau). I daresay she might have been my favourite supporting actress of the entirety of that year. Whenever she was on screen, my eyes were on her and the perfect way she delivered each and every line. The chemistry between her and Fraser on-screen was beautiful and if the film had been just about the two of them, it would already have been amazing.

I’m glad Charlie’s homosexuality was established early on because it made the references to queer literature (Moby-Dick, Song of Myself) a lot more valuable. As a literature student, it added more layers and points of interest to the story and makes me appreciate the writing more, even though it isn’t incredibly subtle.

The Whale is heartbreaking but with Charlie’s naturally positive personality, it still held on to some heart-warming moments and was surprisingly uplifting and empowering at times. Needless to say, its topics of death, depression and eating disorders are all quite triggering so it feels vital to be in the right headspace to watch. An incredible comeback that makes me excited for anything with Brendan Fraser and the rest of the cast in the future!

[neowitcher]

QUEER ROMANCE TO SPICE UP YOUR VALENTINE’S | RECOMMENDATIONS

In the mood to spend your Valentine’s curled up with a good romance book? Here are some recommendations with non-binary, asexual and sapphic leads.

1. Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly | 2022 | 368 p. | f/nb | 🌶️🌶️

The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut “that is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable. (Rosie Danan, Storygraph)

Starting off with one of my favourite romance reads of last year, Love & Other Disasters is a delicious romance in multiple ways. It focuses on the main characters’ struggles and dreams, and you’re bound to be rooting for them the entire way. The f/nb romance is both heartwarming and sexy, and with its competitive setting, it surely is impossible to put down!

2. The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann | 2022 | 336 p. | ace f/m | 🌶️

Thirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox. (Storygraph)

My second favourite romance of last year won’t reel you in with spicy scenes, but does a rather incredible job portraying intimacy between two gorgeous love interests. Asexual representation is still lacking in romance novels but Claire Kann proves that there absolutely should be more of. The fake dating trope used is the cherry on top for this wonderful romance that I won’t stop recommending. Perfect summery read to start counting down to warmer days. (Full review can be found here.)

3. Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner | 2022 | 404 p. | f/f | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A sharp and sexy rom-com about a college senior who accidentally hooks up with her best friend’s mom. What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost? (Storygraph)

Mistakes Were Made is the total package if you want it all this Valentine’s: amazing humor, exciting romance, and an abundance of steamy scenes. Probably the most binge-worthy book on this list, I highly doubt you would need anything more to fall in love. Despite the slightly scandalous romance, the conflict never takes away from the enjoyment. For any MILF lover: this book is made for you!

4. For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding | 2023 | 320 p. | f/f | 🌶️

When an aspiring L.A. scriptwriter falls head-over-heels for a bossy and beautiful movie star after a devastating break-up, the two take a risk on love and cast themselves as the leading ladies of their own star-struck romance in this sweet and spirited love story from critically-acclaimed writer Amy Spalding in her adult debut. (Netgalley, Storygraph)

If you’d prefer to buy yourself a new book instead of reading something, then this is for you! Releasing 21 February, For Her Consideration is a relatable and swoonworthy sapphic romance fully coated in Hollywood dreams and sapphic film culture. It has great plus-size representation and fun side characters, making the book really awesome, both with and without the romance. (Full review can be found here.)

5. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree | 2022 | 318 p. | f/f

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth. (Storygraph)

Last but not least, the perfect cosy recommendation for anyone who loves a cute romance without it being the entire genre. The sapphic romance in this is very slow burn and while they’re slowly falling in love, you’re bound to fall head over heels with the book in its entirety. Nothing better than a book that feels like a hot cup of coffee to cuddle up in bed with.

[neowitcher]

SCORCHED GRACE | ARC REVIEW

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy ★★★

Expected release date: 21 February 2023

Genre: LGBTQ+ Mystery, Crime

Summary:

When Saint Sebastian's School becomes the target of a shocking arson spree, the Sisters of the Sublime Blood and their surrounding community are thrust into chaos. Unsatisfied with the officials' response, sardonic and headstrong Sister Holiday becomes determined to unveil the mysterious attacker herself and return her home and sanctuary to its former peace. Her investigation leads down a twisty path of suspicion and secrets in the sticky, oppressive New Orleans heat, turning her against colleagues, students, and even fellow Sisters along the way.

Sister Holiday is more faithful than most, but she's no saint. To piece together the clues of this high-stakes mystery, she must first reckon with the sins of her checkered past-and neither task will be easy. (Netgalley)

[Storygraph] [Goodreads] [Amazon]

My review:

If anything is going to draw me to a book, it has to be a smoking, queer nun on a stained-glass-style cover. Douaihy brings a character to life who has to solve a crime a little too close to home and it is intriguing and beautifully written however, sometimes not enough to the point to really keep me engaged.

The gorgeous writing style is already apparent in the opening lines and continues throughout the rest of the book. At times, nearly every paragraph ends with some type of wisdom or at least quote-worthy text and there are detailed descriptions. This is great for anyone who enjoys very wordy books however, it does take away from the action a bit.

The action happens a little too late as well, making me wonder halfway through when it will get exciting. Luckily, the eventual climax did end up being pretty good. Again, very well written and it shows a lot of cinematic potential. The thing that really intrigued me, however, is Sister Holiday's past that slowly but surely gets revealed as the story progresses. It ties in well with the present conflict and the parallels add a lot to the story’s quality. I think if the overall mystery had been as intriguing as the backstory, I would have loved it a lot more.

Through the backstory, Sister Holiday's motivations and character become a lot more clear. Her ideas of God and religion as a whole make her both complex and relatable, which her queerness definitely adds to. Having "a chain-smoking, heavily tattooed, queer nun" as the main character is an automatic win but with her cleverness and again, her backstory, she ends up being an incredibly interesting and refreshing mystery lead. I would read more novels with her, or even a prequel about pre-nun Holiday. With the other characters, I feel like some were almost equally interesting while others faded into the background a bit too much, but overall, I liked a lot of them as well.

Note that Scorched Grace may have a queer character to root for, but not quite a queer relationship, as it isn’t giving space for a present romance, which definitely favours the tone of the book. There are a lot of homophobic scenes and flashbacks (see down below for more content warnings) but the queerness is overall very relatable which I appreciate. Aside from that, many dark themes are being explored, which definitely makes this an adult book. Think a dark, queer, religious crime novel is right up your alley? Absolutely check out this Sister Holiday book and get ready to be drawn in by its linguistic beauty and thematic gruesomeness.

 Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for a chance to read an ARC of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.

 content warnings (slight spoilers): homophobia, sexual assault, animal death, incest, fire

[neowitcher]

FOR HER CONSIDERATION | ARC REVIEW

For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding ★★★★★

Expected release date: 21 February 2023

Genre: LGBTQ+ romance

Summary: When an aspiring L.A. scriptwriter falls head-over-heels for a bossy and beautiful movie star after a devastating break-up, the two take a risk on love and cast themselves as the leading ladies of their own star-struck romance in this sweet and spirited love story from critically-acclaimed writer Amy Spalding in her adult debut. (Netgalley)

[Storygraph] [Goodreads] [Amazon]

My review (mostly spoiler-free):

I’m picky with romance as usually, the slow-burning first half gets me all excited only for the second half to be a complete let-down, especially when introducing the main conflict. For Her Consideration, however, had me hooked from beginning to end, conflict and all.

Main character Nina Rice and love interest Ari Fox aren’t just incredibly enjoyable characters, they’re also very relatable. Perhaps even the most relatable sapphic characters I’ve read up to date. Their humour and the way they interact not only with each other but also with the rest of their community was near and dear to my heart. Not a moment was dull with them on the page and every interaction was so well written that I could see everything unfold in front of me. It also perfectly portrayed the typical queer woman’s dating style: the longer the first date, the better. There’s definitely some spice involved but overall, the sweetness of it all is what stuck with me the most.

So when these two perfect protagonists stole my heart only a couple of chapters in, I feared that the conflict would ruin everything. It didn’t! Unlike some other romances, there’s no grand drama that makes the relationship impossible to root for still. Instead, the conflict is very character-based and was especially relatable to me. Definitely a big plus for anyone who enjoys romance but hates too much drama. One thing I did find is that Ari’s reputation was definitely over-exaggerated and her “difficult character” wasn’t conveyed very well outside of the root of the conflict.

Aside from the romance, which is aplenty and certainly never disappointing, the book is filled with other likeable characters that really steer Nina into being her best self. There are brunch friends and a really cool aunt who all steal the show, as does the cat called Steve, for the little screentime he gets. It’s truly a heartwarming story about love in different forms and a must-read for queer women who would eat up any sapphic film Kristen Stewart is in. As for any fellow plus-sized person: I felt very loved reading this book and the plus-sized representation in Nina is great! With a plot drenched in film culture and lesbian lore, what’s not to like? It definitely stole my heart (and my voice, I screamed a couple times) and now it’s time to apply all that Nina has learned from her dearest friends and aunt to my own life.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read an ARC of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.*

[neowitcher]

5 Favourite Films | Fall 2022 Releases

We’re already way into winter but better late than never. Due to my lack of reading last season, I’ve kept it to films only this time so here are my top five films that releases last fall.

1. The Menu (2022), dir. Mark Mylod ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

A couple travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. (Letterboxd)

Generally, thrillers and films that are anxiety-inducing aren’t usually my cup of tea - I’m trying to escape the stress, not add to it. The Menu is one of those great exceptions where being sat at the edge of your seat isn’t all that bad because it is just that good. With incredible performances and a very interesting premise, The Menu had me laughing and gasping the way I could only have hoped it would.

2. Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), dir. Anne Fletcher ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

29 years since the Black Flame Candle was last lit, the 17th-century Sanderson sisters are resurrected, and they are looking for revenge. Now it’s up to three high school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve. (Letterboxd)

This is a great example of why I use favourite instead of best films in the title. The sequel to Hocus Pocus definitely isn’t better than anything else on this list but it sure was a good time and exactly what I was hoping for when it was announced. An incredible comeback with a solid ending and great new witches, it easily made the fall season a lot spookier.

3. Wendell & Wild (2022), dir. Henry Selick ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Two demon brothers enlist the aid of Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other. (Letterboxd)

Talking about spooky, Wendell & Wild is the animation film I didn’t expect to get but once I had watched it, I absolutely loved it! It’s undeniable that Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is great and deserves all the awards and nominations it is getting, I just wish this one also got some more recognition. It brings back so much animation nostalgia but in a much more modern jacket. Incredible collaboration between Selick and Peele, that’s for sure. Full review can be found here.

4. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), dir. Ryan Coogler ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. (Letterboxd)

Closing another chapter within the MCU with a stunning film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is definitely one of the better recent additions to that universe. Despite the great amiss, the film is written well and the acting is incredibly well done (especially Danai Gurira). Phase four had a bit of everything and there wasn’t a whole ton of cohesion, but this sequel shows the potential of everything to come (and shows that Ryan Coogler is one of the best MCU directors up to date). Full review can be found here.

5. The Wonder (2022), dir. Sebastián Lelio ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Set in the Irish Midlands in 1859 as an English nurse, Lib Wright, goes to a tiny village to observe what some see as a medical anomaly and others a miracle, that a girl has survived without food for months. Tourists flock to see 11-year-old Anna O’Donnell, and a journalist has come to cover the sensation as two strangers transform each other’s lives in a story of love pitted against evil. (Letterboxd)

Finally, the film that shows that Florence Pugh is even better when cast in an actually well written film (sorry, Don’t Worry Darling). Although the fourth wall breaks confused me in the beginning, The Wonder proved to be a gorgeous and heart-wrenching historical drama with incredible costumes and even better acting. Definitely a great story that makes you want to pick up some history books to discover more, just how I like it.

Honourable mentions: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Enola Holmes 2

[neowitcher]

THE WITCHERY | BOOK REVIEW

The Witchery by S. Isabelle ★★★★

Release date: 26 July 2022

Genre: YA, Fantasy, LGBTQ+

Summary:

The Haunting Season is here and the wolves are awake… Haelsford, Florida is a Hellmouth. Or at least, that’s what Logan, a young witch struggling to control her powers, thinks as she arrives to begin the new school year at Mesmortes Coven Academy. She is immediately taken under the wing of the infamous Red Three: Iris, Jailah, and Thalia. Fear and prejudice still fuel the uneasy truce between humans and witches who are forced to work together when the Haunting Season begins and Wolves rise from the swamp to feed. With this approaching, two local boys become involved with the witches’ plan to end the Wolves’ reign of terror once and for all, old dangers lie in wait. The cost to break the curse may be greater than any witch or human could ever know… (StoryGraph)

My review:

Halloween may have long passed but witchy books are an all-year round thing to enjoy. The Witchery introduces us to four incredible witches that are bound to make the reader want to ready their potions and join their world because it is truly that magical.

Magical and dark, focusing on an old curse that doesn’t shy away from taking lives. The stakes are high and the backstory deep, channelling true witch history in its overall story. Aside from the interesting plot, the characters all have equally interesting backstories and learning more about each of them throughout the book is a great delight. There’s some real surprises that keep the readers, as well as the other characters, on their toes. Sadly, though every character has an interesting personality and backstory, it could have been explored a lot better. Luckily, a sequel has been announced and I have every bit of faith that we will get to learn a lot more about everyone.

There’s characters aplenty, as are the POVs. The reader gets perspectives from all four of the witches as well as the boys who are intertwined in their story and although this gives a nice view in everyone’s mind, it was not fun to follow. Ideally, it would only on the four girls because that’s enough POVs to take in and technically, the story was more about them than anyone else. Still, for anyone who enjoys multiple POVs, this might be a plus!

As mentioned above, the old curse takes lives and the overall story is definitely a dark one. There’s death and betrayal and not for the faintest of heart amongst our younger readers (the book opens with content warnings for self-harm) but anyone with a heart for witchcraft and magical schools will be sure to fall in love. The book really takes you in with its friendships and though it took me a while to really feel like Logan was part of the group, in the end I really appreciated the witches for their own bright personalities as well as their love for one another.

[neowitcher]

PIGGY | FILM REVIEW

Piggy (2022) ★★★★

Horror/Thriller, 1h 30m

Dir. Carlota Pereda

Cast: Laura Galán, Adrian Grösser, Carmen Machi, Julián Valcárcel, José Pastor, Irene Ferreiro, Camille Aguilar, Claudia Salas & others

Summary:

A bullied overweight teenager sees a glimpse of hope when her tormentors are brutally abducted by a mesmerizing stranger. (Letterboxd)

My review:

Horror and I still aren’t always the best of friends but when this finally got on my radar, I knew I had to check it out. I was ready to see an overweight person be the main character and not some awkward joke, and I was not disappointed.

I liked how the film dealt with Sara (Galán) being fat. As mentioned above, she wasn’t overweight to be some kind of joke for the audience to laugh at. There’s a whole lot of fatphobia present but it’s always the other characters laughing at Sara and never an invite for the audience to laugh along (and if they do, it feels incredibly misplaced). Instead, the audience can feel for Sara and get behind the pent-up anger in her. Despite the bullying, we get to see her be a person who is just going through her every day life, hips swinging to music and going for a swim on a hot day, and as a plus-sized person myself, it felt refreshing to see this kind of representation, and it’s crazy how rare it is for a bigger character to be displayed as merely human.

Naturally, that’s not all the films deals with, though it is a central topic. Piggy doesn’t shy away from being quick with murder and plenty with blood and gore. It’s never over-the-top (though content warning for vegetarians: a lot of it takes place in a butchery) but just uses enough to keep the audience on its toes. What I especially liked was how a lot of the time, the audience is left clueless as what is about to happen or has happened. We’re often being mislead and the story takes sudden turns you don’t fully expect. It tends to give the audience an idea of what might be going on through Sara’s mind only to then completely turn it around.

That can, however, also be its weakness, depending on what you want the ending to be. Every viewer can have a different feeling with who should die and what should happen but personally, I think the ending was just right. I definitely believes the majority of the characters were horrible but asking the constant “but did I want them to die?” question actually gets exhausting by the end. On top of that is the main villain not very easy to figure out, leaving quite a bit to the audience’s interpretation. Nevertheless, a great horror movie that takes the “pig” insult to a whole other level.

[neowitcher]

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER | FILM REVIEW

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) ★★★★

Action/Sci-fi, 2h 41m

Dir. Ryan Coogler

Cast: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Dominique Thorne, Florence Kasumba, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett & others

Summary:

Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. (Letterboxd)

My review (slight spoilers):

Since Black Panther is so well-received and is always a fun film to rewatch (one of my personal favourites within the MCU), the challenge to equal or even top that quality is real. Getting Coogler back as the director was a wise choice because despite the clear absence, the film feels like a well-needed hug. What’s not to like about that?

A big factor that makes Black Panther: Wakanda Forever especially easy to love, is its emotionality. Opening the film with King T’Challa’s passing and funeral felt like an arrow straight through the heart but one that was absolutely necessary. The parallel to real life was very visible, not only through the funeral but also many nods to Chadwick Boseman throughout the movie. It was a beautiful tribute, and a powerful ending to the MCU’s fourth phase.

More importantly, it introduced our new Black Panther, though definitely after a long process because being a grieving superhero isn’t all that easy. Shuri (Wright) has always been a very lovely character within the universe but this film really stepped up and gave her just the right amount of depth. You can’t help but feel along with her and although her character isn’t as cheerful as she has been, she still has her bright personality underneath all that grief, showing every now and then. The rest of the cast also once again give it their all, with Gurira, who plays Okoye, really taking the crown for me. The acting she did in certain scenes made the panic and pain visible through the screen and with it being such an emotional film, it hit even more.

Plot-wise, the new addition to the universe, with Namor (Huerta) and the entirety of Talokan, really shows how much there’s still in store. The villain was a very typical Marvel one, especially judging from the latest movies. You root for the main characters but somehow, it’s hard to really hate the antagonist. Aside from all the praise, the story’s writing may have been good enough, it still felt like a lot was going on but nothing was really happening at the same time. The film is pretty long and I enjoyed that, but sometimes a little more exploration of new characters and places could have been used.

Though the first movie is still more dear to me, I cannot wait for the sequel to grow on me as well. It’s definitely one of the better ones this fourth phase, and I’m nothing if not excited to see where the Black Panther is headed next.

[neowitcher]

WENDELL & WILD | FILM REVIEW

Wendell & Wild (2022) ★★★★

Animation/Horror/Comedy, 1h 45m

Dir. Henry Selick

Cast: Lyric Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Angela Bassett, James Hong, Sam Zelaya, Seema Virdi, Tamara Smart, Ramona Young, Ving Rhames & others

Summary:

Two demon brothers enlist the aid of Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other. (Letterboxd)

My review (minor spoilers):

An incredible stop-motion collaboration between Henry Selick and Jordan Peele, Wendell & Wild arrives just in time to spice up our cold days. As soon as I picked up those two names, I knew I was in for a good film and it’s always nice to be right about that.

Kat Elliot (Ross) is a dream of a protagonist, having personality and style as well as a whole lot of layers. She’s struggling with the loss of her parents, something she blames herself for, and that grief is a big theme in the film. When she meets demons Wendell (Key) and Wild (Peele), she naturally doesn’t miss out on the opportunity to bring her parents back. Unlike a lot of protagonists in creepy settings, Kat’s actions and motivations actually make sense, despite some of the outcomes of her decisions being a bit predictable sometimes.

The rest of the characters are also great and most don’t feel one-dimensional to me. It’s a “there’s villains and there’s the real villains” situation which I quite enjoyed and made the film even more likeable, especially its ending. One thing that did feel lacking by the end were the interactions between some of the characters. Kat dealing with trauma means she doesn’t easily let other people in, afraid something bad will happen to them because of her. This characteristic of hers makes a lot of sense but I wish that her friendship with Raúl (Zelaya) had some more depth, especially towards the end. I feel like the film might be slightly more family-focused instead, because the few interactions we see between her and her parents are beautiful.

The film has stunning animation and character design, as well as a fitting soundtrack that made everything tie together. Despite there being a lot going on, I felt like most of the story made sense and was easier to follow than I’d imagined. The transitions between scenes, however, didn’t always flow, simply fading to black when the previous scene needed just a couple more seconds to process. This is only a minor critique because otherwise, it was an incredible animation film that deserves a lot of love.

Even if animation isn’t your cup of tea, Wendell & Wild is worth checking out based on its diversity alone, something that is still seriously lacking in a large part of cinema today. Most of the characters and their cast are Black, Latinx and Asian, and Raúl is a trans character, and it’s nice to see a movie, especially one made by Selick who has directed some serious animation classics, actually portray a larger portion of society. Overall, it’s sure to not leave you disappointed, especially if you’re looking to prolong the spooky feeling of Halloween.

[neowitcher]

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL | FILM REVIEW

The School for Good and Evil (2022) ★★★ 

Fantasy/Action, 2h 27m

Dir. Paul Feig

Cast: Sofia Wylie, Sophia Anne Caruso, Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Flatters, Kit Young & others

Summary:

Best friends Sophie and Agatha navigate an enchanted school for young heroes and villains — and find themselves on opposing sides of the battle between good and evil. (Letterboxd)

My review: (spoiler-free)

I’ve read the first book in The School For Good And Evil series and left it at that after realising I was no longer the target audience for it. Its ideas and characters fell flat for me (aside from Agatha who made me want to continue the book) and its lack of diversity was a real problem. Despite these thoughts, the film piqued my interest because it is a story I was familiar with and it has a stunning cast. I ended up liking the adaptation more, though not by much, and I think it has potential to adapt the rest of the books and still have me interested.

You can really tell the priorities that went into making this film. There’s gorgeous costumes and locations but other technical elements such as film editing didn’t feel as skilful, which is something I usually don’t notice all too much. A lot of the cuts were awkward and it made the immersion experience less successful which should never happen with a fantasy film.

Nevertheless, the overall experience is made more enjoyable by the cast. Sofia Wylie (Agatha) and Sophia Anne Caruso (Sophie) give incredibly fitting performances for their characters. The writing, especially the changes from the original source material, aren’t always in favour of their characters’ depth but they still make it believable and I adored seeing them on screen together. I also enjoyed seeing incredibly well known actors alongside names I hadn’t heard of before and most give me a performance that make me want to check out their other work as well.

Adaptation-wise, it wasn’t very faithful. Some scenes felt picked straight from the book while most made me wonder where the hell it came from. As I’m not a fan of the book, I didn’t mind personally but devoted fans might have a bone to pick quite a few times. Still, I think it is a great film for younger audiences and their families to watch. I’ve seen people complain about the lack of depth in this film and although I agree with it, I don’t personally mind. I didn’t like the way the original book played with stereotypes because the eventual message fell through for me (again, I’ve only read the first book) and in that case, a shorter version suits my tastes better. Some stereotypes should have still been left out in the adaptation (especially the witch archetype) but overall, it felt like a massive improvement from the book. Once again in part because of its racial diversity. Now I’m hoping future adaptations are able to extend that diversity to more LGBTQ representation as well. Fingers crossed.

Looking for a new magical world to dive into full of good, evil, and most importantly, friendship? Or do you just want a slightly longer film to pass the time? The School for Good and Evil is a good fit for anyone looking to bring a little bit of magic in their life.