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| 0316486639
| 9780316486637
| 0316486639
| 4.40
| 98,712
| Oct 15, 2019
| Oct 15, 2019
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it was amazing
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I’ve known the name of Ronan Farrow but not much about his credentials except the Pulitzer Prize he won for the Weinstein story. I got to know a bit m
I’ve known the name of Ronan Farrow but not much about his credentials except the Pulitzer Prize he won for the Weinstein story. I got to know a bit more about him when I read the recent book She Said by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kanter, who were his fellow recipients of the prize for their part in the exposé of the sexual harassment allegations. So, when I got to know about this book and some related controversy surrounding it, and also watched Chris Hayes’s remarks at the time of the release, I knew I had to pick it up. And wow have I been blown away. “Enjoy” is such an unsuitable word to associate with this book because it talks about some very deeply disturbing topics, but the way Farrow writes it makes it feel like a thriller novel with multiple POVs, with some dry and sarcastic humor thrown in, which makes it a riveting experience - I was so drawn by the story in these pages that I stayed up very late in the night to finish it; I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to sleep without knowing how it ended. I assumed initially that this book might feel repetitive because the contents of She Said are still very much ingrained in my mind, and while some women who came forward with their stories were the same in both the books, Farrow managed to talk to so many other women and discover a pattern of abuse, intimidation and coverup that was revolting. Every experience that these women share and how it has adversely affected their life over the years is very very difficult to read, and Farrow’s anguish at being the one who was listening to them first hand and having the responsibility of bringing their abusers to light, is very palpable in his writing. But what makes this book even more interesting but also scary to read is the kind of pushback he got in his efforts to bring his reporting to light. This is a journalist who believes in the values of the news organization he works for, loves his job, and just wants to do extensive reporting and be able to provide a voice to the number of women who had been so brutally silenced. But the way he is directly and indirectly blocked by his own bosses at NBC from proceeding disturbs him deeply and it shows in his many conversations with them, trying to justify how important his reporting was but being told it wasn’t enough - not that it’s surprising because women’s voices are never believable enough. And if silencing by his bosses is just one part of the story, the underhanded illegal surveillance tactics used by Weinstein to scare him into not pursuing his story reads like a spy thriller, and if I didn’t know that he is currently alive and well, I would have been much more scared for Farrow’s life while reading the book. As he becomes increasingly consumed by his investigation while also being paranoid about being surveilled, it affects his own long distance relationship with his partner. Their arguments but also Jonathan’s quiet support bring a little humor and personal touch to this book and I really appreciated that. And it was actually very sweet and incredibly nerdy the way Farrow proposed to Jon (I really don’t wanna spoil it) and it was nice to see that they survived the intensity of those years. The threads of cover up go from news organizations to DA’s offices to state and national politicians to a veritable who’s who of lawyers to international private intelligence companies - and while this may have been surprising to me a few years ago, it just seems par for the course of powerful people protecting more powerful people. While many of us have been disillusioned by the powerful among the politicians or Hollywood getting away with their harassment using their hordes of lawyers, it’s definitely more shocking to read about legitimate famous news organizations like NBC which pride themselves on being the voice of truth for the people, doing the same when it comes to protecting the higher ups in their executive, creating a hostile atmosphere for the women who work there and ultimately silencing them with money and NDAs. While there are many journalists with integrity working at these places like Farrow and McHugh etc, news reporting is also ultimately a business and the higher ups seem to be more concerned about their bottom line and protecting their powerful friends rather than worrying about journalistic ethics. Especially the reporting about the rape and sexual harassment allegations against Matt Lauer are very hard to read, and I can’t even fathom what these women go through just to be able to work at a place they admire. Thank god for the people at The New Yorker who had enough principles to let Farrow complete his investigation and report it thoroughly. In conclusion, I just want to say that you should read this book. If you are someone who is disappointed everyday by unreliable news reporting and the spin machine employed by powerful individuals, this book will feel like a ray of light and give you some sense of hope that there are many journalists of integrity who are trying very hard to bring the truth out into the open while fighting many battles in the background to make it happen, and Farrow rightly calls this a love letter to journalists. This can also feel hopeless and scary at times because of the massive cover up machine across numerous organizations that make sure powerful men are never held accountable, but it’s still an important book. And ultimately, it’s a testament to the strength of many many women who decide to come forward with their stories, reliving their trauma in the process and hounded by their abuser’s PR machine and letting their lives be upended again, but finally coming to the conclusion that enough is enough and raise their voice so that future generations of women might have it a little easier. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 21, 2019
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Oct 22, 2019
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Oct 15, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 154200506X
| 9781542005067
| B07N2NXKCD
| 4.24
| 3,025
| Mar 17, 2020
| Mar 17, 2020
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it was amazing
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CW: depictions of sexual assault and child abuse, domestic violence, references to suicide, and depictions of eating disorders and substance abuse. Fo
CW: depictions of sexual assault and child abuse, domestic violence, references to suicide, and depictions of eating disorders and substance abuse. For more detailed information, please see the author’s website: http://victorialeewrites.com. As soon as I finished The Fever King, I knew I had to read this sequel because that was a great ending. Even though I’ve gotten used to waiting an year for every sequel, I won’t deny that binging a series is always more fun. And this one was both fun and intense af, and I really wasn’t expecting it. I thought I knew where the author was going to take this story but wow was I wrong. They managed to surprise me at every turn, both with an interesting plot that kept me engaged and with the sheer brutality of everything. The world is expanded upon a little, and we get to know more about life outside Carolinia, but I kept wanting more - not that it in anyway lessened my enjoyment of the story itself. We also get two POVs this time, so it was finally good to be in Dara’s head. There are also many instances in the story where the author makes us question if there are any good sides in this conflict, forcing us to realize that war and conflict is usually much more messy and even people with good intentions end up having to do destructive things. However, it was their decision to end the story in the way they did that really surprised me but upon reflection, I think it was just the right choice. But it was the depiction of abuse and domestic violence, the perpetrators and the survivors that was most impactful about this book. I don’t think I can talk more about it and do justice, but the author’s note about how this book is for survivors who have been gaslighted incessantly into believing that somehow it’s their fault, and that there’s a right and wrong way for “victims” to act, really felt right. We get to read about different kinds of survivors, how they cope and behave and just try to get through one day after another - and it’s a lesson to us all to not judge anyone in real life for doing the best they can. Noam... I really don’t know what to say about him. He is still brave and strong but he is also stubborn in a way that prevents him from realizing how much of a deep shit he is in. But being in an abusive environment, trying to play both sides, figuring out constantly what is true and what is manipulated takes a lot of toll on him and I frankly kept waiting for the book to be over so that he could get some reprieve. He suffers a lot throughout the book and it just pained me that he was going on a path that he might come back from. Dara on the other hand is the clear headed one this time around, constrained by other factors but more or less in control of his thoughts and actions. Distance has given him a new perspective on the kind of abuse he has suffered and how he was a destructive path using his addiction and eating disorder as coping mechanism, but he is trying to be better now and I admired him. Noam and Dara’s relationship is very fraught in this book - Dara pleading Noam to open his eyes and see the truth about his abusive situation, while Noam insisting that he had everything under control. Even when they couldn’t see eye to eye, it was obvious that they were agonizing over each other’s safety, and it really pained me to see them be so painfully in love but unable to truly articulate their feelings. This is a couple who’ve been through immense suffering and all I wanted was for them to finally be able to escape it all. We also get to meet some new and old characters and I enjoyed all of them, though my slight complaint from book one remains that we don’t get to know most of them that well. It’s Lehrer instead who gets more time, both on the page as well as in the characters’ heads and I think the author’s depiction of this highly intelligent, charismatic, powerful and manipulative abuser was just perfect and maybe a cautionary tale to all of us that unfortunately many such people exist in real life. In the end, all I have to say is that I’m very impressed sans affected by this story. It’s a dark and brutal but ultimately hopeful story of survival, fighting back and reclaiming your life. If you enjoyed The Fever King, I promise this will impress you even more. And if you haven’t read this series but enjoy YA sci-fi stories about young people fighting back against systems of oppression, charismatic villains as well as the demons in their heads, this is the perfect choice for you. This book really is for survivors and I hope, just like the author, that someone out there feels seen and understood within these pages. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 04, 2020
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Feb 05, 2020
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Oct 08, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| B07Q18953R
| 4.35
| 15,178
| Oct 01, 2019
| Oct 01, 2019
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it was amazing
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Update 3/15/21 - Yay Rachel won the Grammy for this audiobook!!! No surprise there coz this audio and her narration is just spectacular
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Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 02, 2019
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Oct 03, 2019
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Sep 30, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| B07NVQRZYM
| 4.38
| 626
| Jan 07, 2020
| Jan 07, 2020
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it was amazing
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Trigger Warnings:
As a book about the #meToo movement, this deals with themes from catcalling or verbal abuse to rape and incest and everything i
Trigger Warnings:
As a book about the #meToo movement, this deals with themes from catcalling or verbal abuse to rape and incest and everything in between. So, please take care and decide if you are in the right headspace to handle this book. I’ve read quite a few books in past couple months that dealt with sexual harassment in the workplace and the rise of the #meToo movement. So, when I saw the announcement of this book in which many YA authors are sharing their own stories and letting young women know that they aren’t alone, I was very excited to read this book. And I really am honored to be a part of this blog tour. This is a painful and difficult read, partly because of the experiences of the authors and how they are still common after all these years, partly also because they brought up many of my own memories which I may have tried to forget. It’s also a very diverse collection of experiences and each author talks about their own way of dealing with their trauma, and that’s definitely an important message for young women that there is no single right way to react or respond. It took me a while to read it completely because I could only handle it in small doses, but nevertheless, it’s a very important book and I would love to give this to any young woman I know. But I also think it’s important for adult readers like me to read because we all have had these experiences and it’s good to know we are not alone. I’m not going to rate any of the individual stories, just share my thoughts on each of them below: It’s our Secret by Patty Blount As a survivor of child molestation, the author asks a very timely question - when her parents asked her to keep it a secret about what happened to her, were they sparing her the ordeal of being dismissed, or were they just sparing themselves? Wishing on Silver Dollars by Jennifer Brown This was painful to read because it’s so relatable and common. The author delves into all the ways girls are sexualized since puberty (which is worse for the curvy girls) and how we are so used to verbal comments and leering and groping that by the time we are ready to start our careers, we just consider this harassment part of our lives. But what hit me most was the author talking about how we feel shame for being harassed when it’s the other person’s fault. This is definitely a lesson that every young woman needs to be told - it’s not your fault. This is How it Ends by Tiffany Brownlee As a young black girl with a sheltered upbringing, the author experienced both racial and sexual harassment and I really felt for her because she too concluded at that young age that it must be her fault. But as an educator currently, she emphasizes that such harassing conduct arises from ignorance or lack of empathy, and it’s necessary to teach kids to respect themselves and others, and exercise self-control. Sugar, Spice and Not so Nice by Jess Capelle The author’s harassment experiences and the way they are dismissed by the adults through the years are all too familiar, and she stresses that despite being taught from childhood that we girls should keep quiet and not make waves and just be nice, we really shouldn’t do that. We have a voice and we should use it to stand up for ourselves and not let anyone get away with harassing us. Bus Stop Witchcraft by Kenna Clifford As a young bisexual woman, the author talks about being a bit luckier to be able to grow up in the generation where #meToo movement is prominent and atleast some women are able to speak about their experiences. And she also talks about the need to speak our stories and make our voices heard. Young but Not Powerless by Eva Darrows The author talks about her experiences with harassment in school from teachers and how much worse it is than if the perpetrators were boys her own age, because these teachers had power over the students. And her mentioning that many girls knew about it and just warned younger girls to be safe, rather than reporting the issues just underlines the harsh reality that sometimes it’s easier to keep ourselves safe than try to get a harasser punished. It Was Me Too by Dana L. Davis As a survivor of childhood sexual assault, the author talks about how she internalized the shame that it was all her fault, and how it completely changed her as a person well into adulthood, how she learnt to just be aloof and hide and never put herself in a vulnerable position. This is another reality for so many women and it was heartbreaking to read about. Anything but Ordinary by Ronni Davis The author talks about the shame in wondering what she might have done and how her not acting her “color” had contributed to her being assaulted, and later on feeling anger and shame for all the instances when she didn’t speak up. There is also the feeling that she can’t use #meToo because what happened to her wasn’t too bad. But ultimately it’s about the fact that every single instance matters and we are not alone. Not that Kind of Girl by Natasha Deen The author talks about boundaries and emotional violence in her teenage years, and how traumatic it can feel when the whole school judges you for something you haven’t done. But she is also very graceful in her message that sometimes restraint is important, we should speak up for ourselves but never say anything in anger that we wouldn’t say in normal situations. How do I look ? By Nicolas DiDomizio As a young gay man in the closet, the author talks about how his shame about his body and weight made him accept the things that were done to him even when he knew they were wrong. And he makes a great point that self worth doesn’t and shouldn’t depend on how you look and I think it’s something we can all keep in mind. Gray Lines by Namina Forna As an African immigrant and also a child survivor of war, the author talks about not understanding the concept of personal space and just not making a fuss when a teacher violated it because she didn’t want to be a problem. But I’m glad that she was quick to recognize grooming and make herself safe after that, so I completely agree with her message that make a fuss and say no whenever anyone disrespects your personal boundaries, and do whatever you need to keep yourself safe. No, Not Me! By Jenna Glass This was definitely an eye opening read because the author talks about how we normalize so many harassing behaviors like flashing or groping or unwanted touching, never realizing that these are also forms of sexual assault. She talks about the importance of talking about these issues and not letting anyone get away with these kinds of actions without consequences. Before Starbucks or Cell Phones by Janet Gurtler The author’s experience was tough to read about, but I was also glad that she had atleast one teacher who listened. But the common theme of shame still comes through, with young girls always wondering if they did something that made the boys or men behave so badly. And I think that’s why the author’s message is important that we shouldn’t keep these things to ourselves, we should talk to and support each other, so that we may one day get to a world where a girl can say it has never happened to me. The One we don’t Talk about by Teri Hall This was absolutely horrific to read about and I don’t have words to describe the strength it must have taken for the author as a young girl to finally tell someone about all the abuse that was happening in her house. As the author says, believe in yourself and never let your abuser convince you that you don’t matter because you do. A Long Overdue Confession by Ellen Hopkins This is mostly the author introspecting her decisions when she was eighteen to have an affair with a married man and how she was taken advantage of due to her naïveté. She also wants to share the story to prevent if possible other younger girls from succumbing to older men’s attention and flattery, particularly those girls who already have body image issues. Bathsheba by Mackenzi Lee Through the Bible story of David and Bathsheba, the author tries to make the point that despite what we’ve been told since childhood, we are not responsible for making men comfortable or for their violent actions; none of our dressing or talking or anything is a reason for men to violate us and we should always remember that. Burn by Saundra Mitchell The author lists instances after instances where she was violated but couldn’t do anything because she felt trapped but her realization after she turned seventeen is something we can all hope for - to start believing in ourselves and finding our voice and never stopping ourselves from expressing our anger. Just Smile by Ali Novak The author’s story highlights the fact that even if we haven’t been physically assaulted, words flung against us can cause equal emotional trauma, and that’s why we should use our own words to tell our stories and never minimize what we’ve been through. Boys Will be Boys By Eve Porinchak Another experience where the boys’ actions are blamed on the girl’s clothes, but I was very glad to know the author had a supportive family and learnt to stand up for herself at a very young age. We all definitely need that conviction. There is Strength in our Voices by Cheryl Rainfield I can’t even begin to understand the strength it must have taken for the author to run away and survive her whole childhood where she was part of a cult and her own family raped and tortured her, but I tip my hat off to her for finding the resilience and the queer community that helped her. And that’s why she insists that it’s important to listen and talk to other survivors, so that we may help others while also helping ourselves and not feeling we’re alone in our ordeal. Pretty Enough by Beth Revis This is a story of the author’s realization that how wrong it was of her to internalize the feelings that only beautiful girls got harassed and because she wasn’t, it meant she wasn’t worth it. She talks about how harmful this divide is and basing self worth on looks is, and asks us all to understand that there is only one side - all of us women who have to stick up for each other and not let anyone else make us feel powerless with their words or actions. My Oklahoma History by Andrea L. Rogers As a Cherokee citizen from Oklahoma, the author uses her tribe’s history as a parallel to how indigenous women are treated - both have a right to their sovereignty but it’s always threatened. And she makes a wonderful point that women don’t need to forgive anyone for the purpose of moving on - forgiveness can be a consideration if someone is making amends but it means nothing if the violator has no regrets. Class Valedictorian by Lulabel Seitz As a young Asian woman who was assaulted by a rich white classmate in high school, the author talks about the ways in which she was silenced and disbelieved by those in power because they didn’t want to discomfort the perpetrator. When she says that money and holding onto old white power structures matter more, I don’t see anything wrong about it because that’s still the world we live in. But I admire her for speaking up even when she was forced not to, and trying to keep doing it for other people even at such a young age. No Right Way to be Wronged by Mischa Thrace This is a different take on all the above experiences but it’s not wrong in anyway. The author talks about how no one is owed our secrets or the details of what happened to us, and it’s totally our choice. It’s ok to not want to be a spokesperson for the cause or tweet about our issues. After her own assault, the author found it easier to deal with it by expressing her anger through learning Muay Thai and just like her, everyone has the right to find their own way of dealing with the trauma, even if it is silence. Notes on Girlhood by Amy Zhang The author talks about all the overwhelming feelings that one is bombarded with after a sexual assault happens, because we aren’t sure how to process the trauma; and navigating it becomes a big part of our life. She talks about being fortunate enough to have a friend group as well as a therapist who helped her untangle all her feelings and feel like herself again a little bit, and that it’s enough for now. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 09, 2019
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Dec 26, 2019
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Sep 16, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 4.35
| 41,152
| Sep 10, 2019
| Sep 10, 2019
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it was amazing
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I will not presume to be in any way capable of reviewing this brilliant book because it’s an extremely well written true account of the investigation
I will not presume to be in any way capable of reviewing this brilliant book because it’s an extremely well written true account of the investigation and brings to light some systemic truths that we probably are well aware of, but haven’t seen discussed openly a lot. Instead, I think I’ll just share how I felt while reading it. I’ve only lived in the US for less than a decade now and while I have a seen a Hollywood movie or two since childhood, I’ve never been much knowledgeable about the industry or its major players. So, when the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke out, all the names associated with it didn’t mean anything to me. The significance for me was mostly about the movement it created and the outpouring of stories we got to hear after that. It reinforced the fact that sexual harassment is rampant in the world, regardless of the industry or field you are in and what age you are. It’s all about power, and those who have it will exercise it in whatever way they can without fear of consequences because they know that the whole system is behind them. And while this book goes into a lot of detail about the investigation and the many women Kantor and Twohey spoke to, it also shows us the blatant disregard shown by so many other people towards these women and how all the sexual predation was just treated as matter of fact. My singular emotion while reading this book was anger. And helplessness. Maybe some hope too, but I won’t say it was a lot. The way that Weinstein used his power, bullying tactics and promises of helping their career to harass and assault and overpower so many young women is appalling to read about. I would never judge the women for not coming out and sharing their stories because it’s always them who had a lot to lose and they have their right to self-preservation. It’s the other people I find fault with - those around Weinstein who helped him cover up all the incidents by forcing the women with watertight settlements and NDAs, who thought his behavior was okay as long as it wasn’t a liability to the company, who decided that it must be the women coming onto him for a chance to go ahead in their careers, the high profile lawyers like David Boies, Gloria Allred and Lisa Bloom who feel completely justified in the way they defended Weinstein and shamed and blamed the women and the journalists covering the story. These are people even I have admired, watched documentaries about their work on marriage equality and women’s rights, and now to realize that powerful people always seem to support those in power - I just can’t describe the horror I’m feeling. If you’ve followed any of the twitter trends on the day of this book’s release, you must have seen the very enlightening (and loathsome) memo that Lisa Bloom wrote to Weinstein about how they can frame a narrative to victim blame and showcase him as an old man trying to understand the ever changing social mores. It really was an eye opener and I don’t think I will ever implicitly trust any “popular” activist again, especially lawyers. The last section of the book also goes into some detail about the Kavanaugh hearings and Dr. Ford’s testimony, particularly how she felt in the weeks leading up to the day and how her life has irrevocably changed since then. It just makes me furious that nothing fundamental has really has changed since the years after Anita Hill and women have to still weigh their safety and career prospects vs the possibility of telling their story and maybe getting some vindication and justice. And I’m currently feeling even more hopeless because between the few hours when I finished this book and I’m writing this review, the New York Times published excerpts from another book with corroborating evidence for other allegations against Kavanaugh. And it’s really exhausting to see that while Dr. Ford has to deal with death threats, this man will be on the Supreme Court for most of our lifetime. To conclude, I just wanna say thank you to all the women who came forward to tell their story, putting their livelihoods and privacy on the line, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for their incessant desire to bring this story to light in its entirety while facing off the whole bully machine of Weinstein, and everyone else at NYT who made this possible. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to know more about this brilliant piece of investigative journalism and support women in their fight for equality and right to work without being harassed. ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Mar 08, 2023
Sep 13, 2019
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Mar 09, 2023
Sep 14, 2019
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Sep 13, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 198480569X
| B07MCRLR6V
| 3.94
| 85,496
| Sep 03, 2019
| Sep 03, 2019
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it was amazing
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Definitely a solid 4.5. I read very few historical romances in general but this debut might just be one of my top favorites in the genre, and I’m so gl Definitely a solid 4.5. I read very few historical romances in general but this debut might just be one of my top favorites in the genre, and I’m so glad and delighted that I didn’t ignore it when it came onto my radar. This book takes place in late 19th century Britain set against the backdrop of the suffragists movement and I absolutely loved it. The way the author was able to show us the struggles of all the women who wanted to fight for freedom of women (particularly the amendment of the Married Women’s Act) is just brilliant and I can’t believe this is a debut. The politics of the Tory Party and the Queen herself, how powerful people want to quash the movement and how those in the aristocracy view the common folk is shown with amazing clarity and I loved that the author never pulled her punches. The beautiful locations of Oxford are also described very well but also contrasted with how the facilities for female students were completely different/ very discriminatory when compared with those of their male counterparts. The plot was also a lot of fun and entertaining to read and I just didn’t wanna put it down at all, not even to sleep. The slow burn romance is extremely passionate and the attraction between the two main characters just sizzled right from their first meeting. And what an explosive (not) meet-cute that was... just the idea is so ingenious. There is a strong push and pull between the MCs, a possibility of a scandalous romance and reputations at stake - the author manages to capture all these emotions extremely well and I could feel every moment of it. And while I was pretty worried how these two stubborn people from very different stations in life would ever agree to be together, the author brought about quite a flashy ending. While it didn’t feel entirely realistic, I thoroughly enjoyed it and wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything else. Annabelle is a commoner with very low prospects but high intellect, not the most admirable quality needed for a woman during those times. Her yearning to be educated at Oxford, and belief about the need for the woman’s right to vote is presented wonderfully. She could be a bit impulsive but I guess her actions weren’t always unwarranted. Sebastian on the other hand is the Duke of one of the largest holdings in the country, a shrewd political advisor and someone who never does anything that could be construed as inappropriate for his station. He comes across as arrogant and cold in the beginning, but behind the perfect facade is a great and passionate mind in need of a challenge. Sparks fly between them since the very beginning and it was highly entertaining to watch their interactions play out. Even when they are arguing or flirting, the conversations range from politics and philosophy to reasoning and logic, and I particularly loved this way of developing a relationship. They also exchange witty exchanges through notes and books and I found it personally very swoony. And despite all this fun I had wondering how and when they would get together, it also made me cry when they tried to hold off on their feelings because of the forbidden nature of their relationship. The author managed to twist my heart so many times, making me all kinds of emotional and I obviously loved feeling that way. Though this is a romance novel, the author also takes time to develop the other important side characters, and I thought it was done perfectly. Hattie, Lucie and Catriona, all women whom Annabelle meets at Oxford and who are fighting for the same cause, quickly become friends and confidants despite being from varied backgrounds and it was very endearing to read about this group. And it was actually fantastic that the author managed to give each of these ladies their own purpose and motivation in life, while also striving for a common goal. The other important character was Sebastian’s brother Peregrin who is present for a very short time, but in quite a significant role. Their sibling relationship was pretty fraught but I liked that we get some sort of resolution to their issues. I’m in love with everyone here and I can’t wait to see them all again. To conclude, I just wanna say that this book was fun, sexy, witty and intelligent and I had a gala time reading it. If you love historical romances with a dash of feminism, then I promise you can’t go wrong with this debut. It has equal parts passionate romance and political commentary about the plight of women, and the author strikes a perfect balance between the two. I’m very very happy that this is going to be a series and after that little snippet towards the end, I’m doubly excited to read Lady Lucie’s story next. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 11, 2019
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Sep 11, 2019
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Sep 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| B07CRKXQ1Y
| 4.37
| 136,127
| Aug 06, 2019
| Aug 06, 2019
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it was amazing
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I read The Poppy War a few months ago and was so impressed by it that I knew I had to read the sequel. But I kept putting it off because I just wasn’t
I read The Poppy War a few months ago and was so impressed by it that I knew I had to read the sequel. But I kept putting it off because I just wasn’t sure I could handle the darkness of it all so soon after the events of the first book. And I was completely right. This book is more intense, more grim and raises the stakes to even more heights and I enjoyed every second of it. I really thought we had seen a lot of the world in the first book but the author managed to expand it even more and i was very impressed. We are introduced to the various warlords of the Nikara empire and their often antagonistic positions towards each other, how they are unwilling to compromise for the sake of the common people. There is a lot of talk about democracy and letting people vote, while also opposing opinions that uneducated/uncivilized people who have always been fighting can’t possibly vote and decide what kind of a ruler they want. While we live in a world where democracy is considered the best form of governance, it was fascinating to read how it must have been during the olden days when it was still an idea and many didn’t understand or didn’t want the choice of voting. I’m not great at geography nor do I know much about Chinese history, so I can’t be sure what it’s based on but the way the Dragon province, it’s various interconnected river systems and it’s naval capabilities are described is absolutely stunning and I loved this new setting. We also finally get to know about the Hesperians in detail and they are obviously based on a western culture but I couldn’t exactly pinpoint which one. Their profound arrogance and sense of superiority over the native population of Nikara is very much the language of the colonizers we’ve heard in the past and it really infuriated me. They are also a monotheistic people and their mission to rid the continent of its belief in the pantheon is very much reminiscent of the spread of Christianity through crusades and inquisitions across the world. Having recently read a history book about US using its immense power and leverage to colonize and overpower and make other countries accept its terms and standards, I couldn’t help but see the same parallels in how the Hesperians dangle the promise of aid in front of the Republic to get the trade tariffs they want along with complete permission to proselytize. I suppose it was the author’s intent, because I felt absolute disdain and loathing for the Hesperians and keep hoping that they’ll be soundly defeated. Even though the book is still divided into parts, I thought the plot and pacing was much more consistent this time because it’s just preparation and war right from the get go, and it never lets up. The author is extremely talented at writing about military strategies, political intrigue, shifting loyalties and brilliantly executed naval battles. She is also unfazed in showing us the brutal realities of war and after having read some of it in The Poppy War, I wasn’t surprised that she took it up a notch. How war changes everyone, how even fighting for a just cause doesn’t stop its soldiers from being unjust, the corruption of power and how brutally the common populace suffers - it’s all captured very realistically and it was sometimes even uncomfortable to read. I was on the edge of my seat while reading because I couldn’t guess who was gonna betray whom, and what twists and turns would come next and it’s amazing that the while I was happy when something I predicted occurred, I was even more delighted when the author took the story in much more unexpected directions. The last 10-15% of the book which has a magnificent battle sequence was extremely tense and some of the scenes really gave me goosebumps. Rin is such a compelling character to follow. She is angry at all the power she has and what it compels her to do, she is angry at being used as a weapon and pawn and she is furious about what happened at the end of the Poppy War - but it is all a mask so that she doesn’t feel the crushing guilt of it all. She becomes more and more impulsive and makes rash decisions and lets her anger get better of her ; and there were many moments where I just wanted to shake her and make her see reason. But there was never a single moment where I stopped rooting for her and I think that’s the mark of a remarkable author. And the way her character arc is written - from hitting rock bottom to gaining control to understanding what she wants to do next - it’s brilliant and I can’t ask for a more interesting and well written main character. While the rest of the Cike is also present alongwith Rin, the two other characters we get to know a bit better are Kitay and Nezha. Kitay really is the master strategist and the way his mind works is a wonder to read about. I thought his frustration at being the best in the room but still being dismissed because the older generals couldn’t accept his reasoning is captured very well. He is also such a good friend to Rin and I loved the development of their relationship, from somewhat antagonistic to an immense love based on respect and trust. I really liked Nezha too for the most part but he is also an idealist who is privileged to hold the positions he does, and he never really understands that. But seeing Rin be a little tender and vulnerable with him and how he tried to protect whenever he could was very lovely to read. The Cike are the reason there is atleast some banter and levity in the book and it was interesting to see Rin go from not wanting to be their commander to genuinely bonding with them. Venka is another strong character who doesn’t let adversity define her and while we got to see her only a little, I have a feeling she’ll be more prominent in the next book. To conclude, I don’t think I really have much to say which hasn’t already been said. This is a brilliantly written grimdark military fantasy, with compelling characters and some amazing battle sequences. If you have already loved the Poppy War, I know you’re gonna love this too. But if you like this genre and haven’t tried this series yet, don’t wait more. Just pick it up and be ready for your mind to be blown. Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year and deserves all the accolades it’s been getting. ...more |
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Nov 15, 2019
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Nov 15, 2019
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Sep 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 0648446050
| 9780648446057
| B07WRQGVDH
| 4.28
| 889
| Aug 30, 2019
| Aug 30, 2019
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it was amazing
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I have been looking for the next book in this series intermittently, but maybe it’s been a while and I completely missed that this novella was releasi
I have been looking for the next book in this series intermittently, but maybe it’s been a while and I completely missed that this novella was releasing at the end of August. Thanks to some of the author Facebook groups I follow for reminding me of it and I knew I had to read it immediately. I was actually surprised to know that this novella is the story before and during the events of Why the Devil stalks Death from the POV of Ethan. I was a bit worried that it might get repetitive because I already know what happened, but I was also excited because I was going to get to be inside Ethan’s head the whole time. But the author really managed to surprise me. There are a lot of things that happened in Ethan’s life during the same time as the investigation in Book 2, and it was fascinating to read about it all. The pacing was very quick and it felt like I was piecing together a puzzle, trying to find answers to some of the lingering questions from the previous book. I also think it was nice to finally read a book in a single timeline, though I suspect we won’t be that lucky in the next installment. And of course it was wrong of me to expect a relatively peaceful ending, because a couple of things that happened here seem like an indicator of much more personal dangers coming the way of our protagonists in the future - and I can’t wait to read them about them all. We never really get to know Ethan a lot, so it was a joy to read this book. His POV lays bare all his insecurities, his craving for affection, his unusual relationship with all his siblings, his desperation to want to be with Jack but also worrying if he is keeping the other man from true safety and happiness. The love that he feels for Jack is reflected in his every thought and action, and it made me very emotional to read his thoughts. Every time he felt that Jack might want to be with someone else, or he was endangering Jack’s life, I teared up and just wanted to give Ethan a hug. How far have I come from being scared of this ruthless assassin to being utterly and helpless in love with him. Their relationship is just perfect and the way the author described all the myriad feelings that Ethan felt during the “kiss” was wow!!!! What an amazing moment that was... Finally, this was a novella I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without. Getting to know Ethan better is wonderful and I adore the author for making us care about this couple even more. I really hope the next book comes out soon, and maybe the author will take pity on us readers and give us a dual POV this time. And for anyone out there wondering if you should read this series - If you love reading about emotionally closed off lethal killers finding love, chapters full of cliffhangers that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat, and the refreshing setting of Australia, this series is perfect for you and I think you should start reading immediately. ...more |
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Sep 2019
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Sep 02, 2019
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Aug 24, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 133834370X
| 9781338343700
| 133834370X
| 4.23
| 773
| Oct 01, 2019
| Oct 01, 2019
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it was amazing
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Average Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.6 This anthology has been on my highly anticipated releases list since the exact day it was announced. And I’m so so glad t Average Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.6 This anthology has been on my highly anticipated releases list since the exact day it was announced. And I’m so so glad that I finally got the opportunity to read it. This was powerful, nuanced, thought provoking, made me very emotional or enraged at times, but also gave me hope. We all need some hope in our lives. As the world around us gets increasingly divided and marginalized people have to fight for their rights even harder every day, this is a very powerful collection of poems and stories about young people who are also fighting to get their voices heard. There are a lot of important themes and messages discussed in this book but the one thing I found very relevant and impactful was that protesting physically at a march or a rally isn’t the only form of resistance, and everyone should try to do whatever they can in their sphere of influence; but sometimes, it’s okay to take a break when you are exhausted and spend some time on self care without feeling guilty that you aren’t doing enough. Every form of resistance counts. Below are my individual reviews, wherever I was able to write one. GRACE: A SHORT STORY BY DARCIE LITTLE BADGER The story of a young indigenous girl, this is about her standing up for herself and not allowing anyone to disrespect her. It may feel like a very small thing but I thought what Grace does is very powerful and I loved it. There is also the underlying theme of wanting to find the one place you can call home and what it would actually feel like to have one. Very very moving. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ SHIFT: A POEM BY JASON REYNOLDS I’m not very good at understanding poems and that was the case here. It was very short and I didn’t know what the author was trying to say. But I will leave it unrated because it’s just not my thing and not a fault of the poem itself. Rating: Unrated THE HELPERS: A SHORT STORY BY L. D. LEWIS I think this story really captured the guilt that some people might feel who want to fight the injustices they see everyday but are unable to participate in protests for whatever reason; it wonderfully depicts that anything you can do during adversity counts as resistance and you don’t always have to put yourself in physical danger to show your solidarity and standup for your beliefs. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ FIGHTING THE BLUES: A COMIC BY CONNIE SUN This might just be a small comic strip but it’s message is very universal - a lot of things that happen around you can bring you down but it’s important to remember that you are not alone and you shouldn’t give up. And the art really captured that essence of despair. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARE YOU THE GOOD KIND OF MUSLIM?: A POEM BY SAMIRA AHMED As you can guess from the title of this poem, it was heartbreaking to read - how very young, brown, Muslim children are asked pointed questions about their faith which seem innocuous on the surface but are seeped full of racism and Islamophobia. And however old these young kids grow up to be and feel they are ready to handle these bad faith questions, it’s never easy. This particular line from the poem just destroyed me ...more |
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Oct 28, 2019
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Oct 28, 2019
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Aug 06, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 1580058930
| 9781580058933
| 1580058930
| 4.30
| 1,306
| Oct 08, 2019
| Oct 08, 2019
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it was amazing
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When I first found out about this book, it was almost a visceral reaction that I HAD to read it. And I was very happy when I got the ARC. Anger is som When I first found out about this book, it was almost a visceral reaction that I HAD to read it. And I was very happy when I got the ARC. Anger is something that I was proud of not feeling in my younger days, even more so because I was appreciated for being a well behaved girl. But later on in my life, when I started to show my anger in explosive ways especially during some particular depressive episodes, it was always accompanied by a feeling of shame that I had allowed myself to feel that anger. Even now, it’s not an easy emotion for me to reconcile with but I also don’t know what to do with all the rage I sometimes feel. Hence, this book is something that I really needed to read. These 22 women share their devastating and profound and diverse and real stories of feeling angry, suppressing it, suffering because of it and finally reclaiming it so that they could decide how they wanted to express their rage. It’s an extremely powerful collection of essays and I was amazed by how much of myself I saw in these very personal stories - it helped me feel a little less alone and maybe the next time I feel angry, I might decide to react differently. I usually write reviews and rate each story in an anthology but that would be very unfair here, so below you can find what I understood and felt while reading the stories of these amazing and strong women. If you find that it’s all very long to read, just know that I believe every woman should read this book because I promise you, this is important and you will find some part of yourself in these pages. Highly recommend!!! CW: Sexual assault, drug abuse, self harm, gaslighting, deadnaming and misgendering of trans women, physical and emotional abuse Lungs Full of Burning by Leslie Jamison This essay about the author’s personal experience with anger, always insisting that she felt sadness rather than anger felt very relatable to me because I think I’ve done the same myself. And her insistence that both these emotions aren’t mutually exclusive, that we should be able to express and hone our anger and let it help us fuel our fight for our rights is really invigorating and motivational. She also points out rightly that for some women, it’s a privilege to be able to be restrained in their anger and be lauded for it, while Black Women are unfairly deemed angry and hysterical just for being themselves. The One Emotion Black Women are Free to Explore by Monet Patrice Thomas This was such a powerful but painful read, about how the author always had to put fear above her anger because expressing her true emotions as a Black woman would always end up in her losing something or becoming unsafe. These anecdotes of her life show how her being angry while being Black would always be considered more violent and full of attitude rather than a righteous expression of her feelings, and sometimes stopping herself from expressing it is her only choice. My Body is a Sickness called Anger by Lisa Marie Basile We often read about how women in pain are considered as liars or being hysterical, instead of diagnosing what’s causing the pain. This is the author’s own story of struggling to make sure her voice is heard and demand a diagnosis while living with debilitating chronic pain of almost her whole body and finally waiting years to get her condition diagnosed. And the author rightly points out that every time we aren’t heard and dismissed, it only fuels our anger which leads to stress ultimately leading to more sickness and this is a cycle that keeps going on. It’s a very harrowing but eye opening read about the need to advocate for ourselves even when the whole world refuses to believe us. Guilty by Erin Khar This is the author’s story of how being sexually assaulted in her childhood and never having a way to channel her rage translated into years of feeling guilty and extreme anxiety (for being angry) and suppressing it all under the haze of drugs. And it’s also about her fight to get back up and find better ways to understand her anger and cope with it. Why We Cry When We Are Angry by Marissa Korbel I related to this essay so hard because I have encountered the same thing too many times - when I’m angry, it manifests as tears. While we particularly try to suppress them in professional settings because we are automatically assumed to be weak if we let the tears flow, the authors calls for us to stop pushing them down and letting our rage show, either through writing (like her) or even through the tears themselves. On Transfeminine Anger by Samantha Reidel This was such an insightful and profoundly personal piece by the author, telling us how she used anger and aggression as a defense mechanism because she didn’t feel comfortable in her own body and just wanted to not feel hurt. But post transition life and being able to live it authentically has definitely helped her, but she also explores how her lessons about anger from pre-transition living as a boy might inform her attitudes towards it in the present. She also calls for solidarity between cis and trans women, rightly pointing out that we can all help each other by understanding different perspectives. Unbought and Unbossed by Evette Dionne The author brings great insights into how much intersectionality affects how she has always been perceived by others - being a fat Black woman means that she’ll always be considered the aggressor despite no fault of her own. I totally felt her words when she mentions trying to make herself small and not taking up space so that she isn’t misjudged - it hit me hard because I won’t deny that I have done the same a lot of times. I laud the author’s call to reclaim our anger and use it to fuel our fight against systemic injustices and transgressions, and not feel guilty about taking up space that we deserve. Rebel Girl by Melissa Febos As a young politically aware lesbian feminist, the author finds that she is unable to express herself openly and being the victim of bullying and slut shaming further forces her to turn her anger inward. But her story of finding solidarity and meeting like minded teenagers at camp is really amazing and I liked getting to know how it helped her channel her anger into her writing, and not feel hesitant about feeling it. Hangry Women by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan I’m amazed by how every essay is hitting some part of me hard, and this one is no different. This is about the author’s struggle with feeling hungry but starving herself because thin bodies are propagated to have more value in our media. And how we are sometimes made to feel ashamed just for wanting to eat more or more frequently. As someone who has starved myself many a times in my life for achieving that thin body, but also feeling ashamed whenever I couldn’t control myself, I totally understand the author’s rage at the horrifying statistics of women dying everyday due to some form of eating disorder. Enojada by Rios de la Luz The author tells her story of childhood abuse and how the rage of not being believed by her own mother translated to her anxiety and panic attacks and eroding her trust. And finally she tells the importance of reclaiming her anger and using it to write her own story because it is her right, whether anyone believes her or not. A Girl, Dancing by Nina St. Pierre This was another painful but relatable story about how young girls are always expected to take up much more and be mature and understand a lot more than they actually should or are capable, putting an undue burden on them. And when they are unable to live up to these unfair expectations and act out, it’s considered a moral failing and they are punished, rather than trying to understand what’s behind their anger. I totally second the author’s point that young women should be allowed to be themselves rather than try to box them into roles they can’t play. My Name and My Voice by Reema Zaman The story of a Bangladeshi immigrant, I connected a lot to this. The author’s explanation of how women’s anger usually borne out of injustice is more noble than a man’s anger born usually out of personal insult and ego hurt really resonated with me. And every instance of when she is asked to be quiet about abuse, when she is told that boys will be boys, and when she makes herself small because we are taught that love is compromise and she has to make everything better for her husband - it all felt too realistic for me to handle and I really wanted to know how she came out of it all. Inherited Anger by Marisa Siegel As someone who suffered a lot of emotional abuse at the hands of her drug addict father, the author explains how her anger helped her cut herself off from him and channel it into her writing. But she also explores the idea of how much influence her own anger has on the way she is bringing up her son, wanting him to be secure and never have to suffer like her, but also be able to express freely whatever emotion he feels. This is the first story till now that deals with how the anger might affect across generations and I found her perspective very illuminating. On the Back Burner by Dani Boss Wow, every single author’s personal story seems directly like a page from my own life and I truly don’t understand how to process it all. In this the author talks about how we women are more prone to be silent when something wrong has been done to us, but only rage about it later in our head (or in private) or to our trusted female friends. And this is so me because I always vent my anger in a group chat which has all my close girl friends, but never at the actual subject of my anger. And the author’s issues are compounded because of being in peri menopause and she is unsure how to express all her frustrations without badly affecting her children. Definitely a lot to think about. Basic Math by Meredith Talusan It is actually surprising how a trans woman who grew up as a boy also internalizes the same sexist norms that all of us girls are conditioned with since childhood. The idea of how we women are asked to minimize our intellect to keep the peace, always try to pose any of our criticisms to a man as a question rather than an assertion even if we know we are right, and how we are considered disruptive if we refuse to accept the sexist status quo - it felt very personal to me because it’s another thing which I have learned over the years (to silence myself, not the other way around) so that I can have some peace of mind in my life. And reading the author’s powerful words makes me question if the peace of my mind is worth all the ways I make myself small. The Color of Being Muslim by Shaheen Pasha When the author tells how as a Pakistani-American Muslim woman if she expresses her anger fervently, she would be considered a terrorist in waiting but if she remained passive, she would be considered as an oppressed Muslim, I realized how much tougher it is for her to find an outlet for all her rage, which is compounded by the Islamophobes on one hand, and her own community members on the other hand who shame her for not conforming to their restricted beliefs. I’m glad she found her own path where she could practice her faith while also being an very vocal opponent of everyone who tries to silence her. And it was heartening to see that her daughter is able to live a life with a little less anger despite the kind of world she is living in. Homegrown Anger by Lisa Factora-Borchers As a Filipino-American living in small town Ohio, the author’s anger manifests in her writing because it’s not always easy to confront the bullies, misogynists, nationalists. And when she escapes the town which she thought was the reason for all her problems, she realizes that all the racism and white supremacy is prevalent even in bigger cities, it just has different forms. I liked the author’s advise to hone our anger because only anger which is sustained for long periods of time can lead to resistance and growth, and how we can teach the same to our next generations. Crimes Against the Soul by Sheryl Ring This was a devastating read. The author might be a practicing lawyer but being trans and lesbian means that everyone else assumes they have the right to misgender her and refuse to even work together in certain instances. Her anger is definitely righteous indignation because when lawyers and judges who are supposed to uphold the constitution and do good for people behave this violently towards their colleague, it’s so hard for her to ever find the proper outlet for it. The term she uses is crushing her soul because they all really are doing that by trying to prove that they get to decide her identity and sexuality, not her. For Women Who Grew Up on Eggshells by Minda Honey The author’s story of having to live quietly around a father who was prone to tempers and rages and gaslighting, and years later trying to figure out how to express her anger without hurting him the way he hurt her is very profound and left me with a lot to think about. No Room for Fear by Megan Stielstra The author’s story is the nightmare scenario many parents are kids are living in these days - afraid of the next school shooting. The author’s personal experiences with it are harrowing to read about and I was really tensed until she got to the end. And one thing I’m sure, she has every right to be furious about the situation - in fact, we should all be. Going to War with Myself by Keah Brown As a disabled Black woman, the author faces a lot of discrimination and mocking throughout her life but channels the anger that she feels towards herself, as if her disability is her fault and it was so full of pain. Her journey to realize that she is a beautiful Black woman like any other and it’s the others who should be ashamed because of their prejudices felt so important to read about, and her assertion that marginalized people should use their anger to change the world for the better instead of waiting for others is excellently put. So Now What? By Anna Fitzpatrick There is so much to unpack here - from the author’s rape by someone she trusted to her feeling responsible for defending him because he was usually a nice guy to feeling angry about being unable to find the right vocabulary to describe all her conflicting emotions - it’s a lot to take in. I think she raises the right point when she says that we should concentrate less on trying to rehabilitate the careers and lives of sexual abusers and channel our anger to figure out what the victims and survivors need to move on. ...more |
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1
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Sep 30, 2019
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Oct 2019
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Jul 29, 2019
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Hardcover
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| B07QD69RJ8
| 4.31
| 8,362
| Mar 31, 2020
| Mar 31, 2020
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it was amazing
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My most highly anticipated YA fantasy finale of the year is here and there was never any doubt that I would read it on the release day itself. And now
My most highly anticipated YA fantasy finale of the year is here and there was never any doubt that I would read it on the release day itself. And now I’m a sobbing mess and I don’t know what to do. Why did you do this to me Julie
...more
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Notes are private!
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Mar 31, 2020
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Apr 2020
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Jul 12, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 9350094460
| 9789350094464
| 9350094460
| 3.87
| 1,522
| Jan 01, 2012
| Jul 2012
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it was amazing
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While I was wowed by the author Krishna’s short story in Magical Women and have been waiting to read her latest Beast (which my trusted friends really
While I was wowed by the author Krishna’s short story in Magical Women and have been waiting to read her latest Beast (which my trusted friends really swear by), it didn’t occur to me that I already owned her debut trilogy and never actually read it. Thankfully I realized my folly and picked up this first book for the IndianLitReadathon and it was definitely an awesome decision *pats my back*... Mahabharata is my favorite book in the world and nothing will ever change that. It’s had the most influence on my life, so it’s not surprising that I tend to turn unwittingly to reading the epic when I’m in need of comfort. In the recent years, I have also been able to read a few reimaginations and reinterpretations of this story by modern authors, and I’m always mesmerized by how many different ways this story could be told. In this same vein comes the author Krishna, and I’m wowed by her courage to have taken up this task right in her debut novel. The author has decided to strip the divinity from the epic and retell it as a socio-political saga of the kingdoms of Aryavarta, and I think she succeeds at it very well. The central conflict around which the story revolves here is something new, and that definitely makes it feel like a refreshing tale. The world building is done excellently, slowly revealing bits and pieces, so that it never feels info dumpy. I loved the descriptions of the kingdoms and the palaces and the terrain in general, my particular favorite being the absolutely stunning depiction of Dwaraka - I could actually feel the sun and the waves and the total awe that Partha feels when he arrives at its gates. The author also makes the characters here utterly human, with all their complicated motivations and moral dilemmas and I loved seeing them in a new light. There are lots of mysteries that are unraveled as the story progresses, but the particular reveals at the end surprised me and I’m just so excited to dive into the sequel immediately. The story is also just close enough to the canon that you might guess what could happen next, but different enough that you’ll be surprised by how the events unfold. The author manages to accentuate this feeling by giving some of the characters their not so popular names, so it never feels like you are just reading the Mahabharata. The story follows multiple POV characters, so we get to know what everyone is thinking and the political plans they are weaving. The major perspectives we get are Govinda and Panchali, and I was just utterly fascinated by their relationship. Govinda loves his people and dedicates his whole life to be able to create a lasting empire, but he is also very dispassionate and almost emotionless in the way he manipulates everyone, which makes him pretty unlikable to everyone and also very difficult to get to know him closely. Panchali on the other hand is fiery, very intelligent and capable and is appalled at the way women are discriminated against and prevented from being in ruling positions. However, she is also pragmatic and uses her smarts to run her kingdom as well as understand the long term implications of everything happening around across the empire. Vyasa, Sanjaya, Asvathama and Shikhandin also play very important roles and it was fascinating to see them as much more developed characters. Dharma is probably the one Pandava whose depiction really surprised me, and I never knew it was possible to show him in such a morally grey light. He is such a follower and almost too much of a believer of destiny and righteousness, without actually doing any work for creating an empire - I can almost see how this will lead to his downfall and can’t wait to explore it all in the next book. If you love Mahabharata reinterpretations, I would definitely recommend this book to you. If you are okay with stories that don’t necessarily stick to the canon and remove the mysticism of the epic in favor a socio-political fantasy saga, then you’ll enjoy this a lot. The world building is impressive, the characters very very refreshing and fascinating and the reveals totally captivating, that’ll keep you guessing as to what might happen next. Kaurava.... here I come !!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jul 06, 2019
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Jul 07, 2019
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Jul 06, 2019
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Paperback
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| B06XRCBRX8
| 4.09
| 75,751
| Nov 07, 2017
| Nov 07, 2017
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it was amazing
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It’s probably a 4.5 but I’m definitely rounding up. I have known about this book for a while now but I never really thought of reading it; it didn’t f It’s probably a 4.5 but I’m definitely rounding up. I have known about this book for a while now but I never really thought of reading it; it didn’t feel like my kind of story and it also happens to be adult fantasy, which is not my usual genre. But 2019 has been an year of me trying to read a bit differently, especially picking up and promoting more books by Asian authors. So, it was inevitable that this book would be on my radar again. What I didn’t expect was the insane amount of buzz around it this summer due to release of it’s sequel, when my Stars and Sorcery Book Club chose it as our BOTM for July, I decided to finally read it. And what an experience this has been. The author does a phenomenal job of creating this world. I have obviously never been to Hong Kong or Japan, only know a bit about them from the movies or shows I watch, but I could still feel that the author took a bit of inspiration from these countries to create the island nation of Kekon where this story takes place. Except a little initially, there is not a lot of info dumping, but we get to know a lot about the history of the occupation of Kekon, how the Jade warriors and ordinary people rose up in revolution to take back their country and how the country has prospered in the decades after that. I thought the whole concept of Jade being a bioenergetic natural product, which gives its wearer supernatural abilities was fascinating, but also liked that the author included to mention how not everyone could wear it and the consequences of wrongful usage. We also get a very intimate look into the two clans who rule the city of Janloon through fear, loyalty, intimidation and ultimately the power of Jade - both as a tool for trade and a weapon of war. As with any gangster saga, we get to know the hierarchy in the clans, and while it took me sometime to understand it all, it was pretty easy to follow later on in the book. Though the story is limited to the island of Kekon, we do get information about other countries, especially the enemies and trading partners and it looks like the sequel will give us a much more detailed look into the inner workings of these new places as well. I will not call this a slow paced book per se, because something is always happening, the build up of brewing tensions is steady and when it all comes to a peak, it’s bloody and explosive and mind blowing. I thought the author captured the inner workings of a clan perfectly, with the sometimes difficult but necessary decisions that have to be made, the treachery and betrayals that dog at every corner, and never knowing what might happen in the next moment. It was this tension filled atmosphere of the book that made me quite anxious and unable to binge read it in a single sitting. There are also some amazing action sequences, which are described with such precision that I could totally picture them and they reminded me so much of my favorite Kung Fu movies of my childhood. Despite all this, the story is not always grimdark. The author also manages to give us little moments of love and hope and humor, bringing some much needed light to otherwise dark times. The author never shies away from taking the story into unexpected directions which completely shocked me, and I really had to take breaks in between reading to comprehend it all. This is masterful storytelling at its best and I can’t believe it’s the author’s adult fantasy debut. It definitely feels like the work of a veteran who is an expert at intricate world building and empathetic characterizations. Despite all the gushing I have done about the world and the writing, the strength of this book are it’s awesome characters. We get a very personal look into the No Peak Clan through the eyes of different members of the Kaul family and I’m in love with every single of them. Lan is the Pillar of the clan, the one everyone looks up to and who needs to show that he is capable of both keeping the peace and waging when required. But he is a man with flaws, kind and compassionate and pragmatic who wants peace, and doesn’t really have the wherewithal for a prolonged clan war. Being the Pillar is a burden for which he has been prepared all his life, but it still weighs on him, making him take decisions that have unintended consequences. He really is a study in contrasts and I couldn’t help but sympathize with his situation. His brother Hilo on the other hand is hot tempered, aggressive and as the Horn of the clan, would really love to solve all issues with blood and violence. However, behind all this bluster is a man who loves his family and clan with all his heart and would do absolutely anything to protect them all. His words might seem venomous but they only hide a deep hurt and he doesn’t know any other way to express them all. But his explosive nature definitely made me worry for him at every moment and I’m still scared what will happen in the next book. Shae is the youngest Kaul who walked away from the family because she wanted a life that wasn’t defined by her family’s legacy and expectations, but she is ensnared into the clan business eventually when terrible events make it absolutely necessary. She may belong to the Kaul family and be an accomplished Jade warrior, but as a woman she has to constantly prove her worth and I thought the way she goes about achieving this is depicted very well. There are many other interesting characters whom I could go on talking about because everyone of them is significant to the plot and is written with extreme care. I particularly liked Anden, who is like an adopted brother to the Kauls. His struggle with trying to reconcile his birth family’s painful past with what he wants to do in the future is written very well - I could completely empathize with his pain and dilemma and just wanted to protect him from everything in the world. Wen is another very fascinating woman, who is so much more than just Hilo’s love interest even though she doesn’t show her strengths. She is a stone-eye which makes people consider her bad luck and she is pretty much invisible wherever she goes, which puts her in a unique position to work for the clan in ways others can’t. Hilo may want to protect her from from the world, but she doesn’t shy away from putting her talent and strategic mind to best use. I probably have a lot more to say but I can’t find proper words to gush about this masterpiece fantasy novel. So all I want to say is, if you have ever loved gangster movies or Kung Fu action entertainers and would love to read a fantasy book with similar themes, then don’t look any further. Jade City is full of crisp action sequences, excellent world building and characters who maybe morally gray but you can’t help but root for them. Finally, I have already pledged my loyalty to the Kauls and the No Peak clan and can’t wait for the release of Jade War.... What are you waiting for ??? ...more |
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1
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Jul 10, 2019
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Jul 17, 2019
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Jun 19, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 3.77
| 10,958
| Sep 03, 2019
| Sep 03, 2019
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it was amazing
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Since the first time I saw the gorgeous cover of this book and read the blurb, I knew I had to read it and I also had this deep conviction that I woul
Since the first time I saw the gorgeous cover of this book and read the blurb, I knew I had to read it and I also had this deep conviction that I would really enjoy it a lot. And I’m feeling pretty gratified right now that my assessment was spot on and this ended up being a wonderful read. I found the world building in this book to be very well written, giving us enough information at the right times so we know what’s happening, but also maintaining an air of mystery throughout which is definitely what’s gonna make me read the next one. I loved the idea of some part of the population being Graced (have magical abilities) while the remaining being graceless, because this renders into a very natural and believable conflict. Add to this the idea of a prophecy and a final prophet (mind you, it’s been a long long while since I’ve read a fantasy with prophecies in it), a secret Order destined to protect them and an upcoming doomsday scenario, this became a very compelling read. We only get to know a bit of the history of the bygone Prophets, but I have a feeling we will get to know much more in the later books. This book is also very diverse and I was very happy to see that there didn’t seem to be any sexism or homophobia. I was actually surprised to see that we get five POVs here, which is not an easy thing to do but the author does a brilliant job of giving each of them distinct voices and purposes. Usually there’s always the one we don’t like when there are so many characters to follow, but there is absolutely no miss here - I loved following every single one of them and badly wanted to know what was happening to each of them when we were in another person’s head. The writing is also very fast paced, there is not a single dull moment and there’s always something happening that kept me at the edge of my seat. Even when I went out to a bookstore over the weekend (while I was still just 20% into the book), I ended up finding a nice reading nook and continuing with it instead of browsing for more books; it was that irresistible to me. I also loved how many twists and turns there were; and while I was thinking too high of myself for guessing one important twist, there were so many other shocking reveals and betrayals that I couldn’t see coming and was completely blown away. I really want to commend the author for writing such a tight plot despite having multiple threads, and the way each of them intermingled with the others was just wow. As you all know that I’m a sucker for well written characters, this book was a joy to read for me. Each of the characters is well rounded, we get to know where they are coming from, where they might be heading towards and what’s the justification behind their actions. We really get to know all of them very intimately and I loved that. And it was the way every one of them was different that I found compelling - some are driven for the sake of family, some just want to survive and others are bound by duty - but they all converge in unexpected ways and I thoroughly enjoyed the various dynamics that formed in the process. Even the side characters are given prominent arcs which I found surprising but kudos to the author for managing to make me care about so many of them. And the villain characters are also not cliche - they have their own motivations and it was actually interesting to get to know them because for a moment, I found their arguments right too. And any author who can make me agree with both the protagonists and the villains is a force to reckon with and I can’t wait to see where these characters’ journeys take them next. One of the themes that I seem to find very interesting these days in many fantasy novels is the idea of questioning history - how much of what we have been taught and what we have believed is the actual truth, and what part of it is just glorified propaganda by the victors. I resonate with this a lot because I think this is a compelling argument in the real world too and everyday, we realize that the adage “History is written by the victors” is very much true and it is our duty to find the actual truth. The other most important theme in this book is the tug of war between destiny and free will. It’s impossible not to explore the concept of destiny in a story based on prophecies and I think the author did a great job showing us that sometimes, it’s more important to do the right thing, whether it is destined or not. And the choices we make define the person we become, and however noble our intentions at the beginning of our journey, it’s the ultimate path we choose that makes us who we are going to be and how we will be remembered. There is also a bit of light thrown on the plight of refugees who have been forced to leave their home - their worry about the ones left behind, the distressing and inhumane conditions in which they are forced to live in a strange land, the violent prejudice shown by some people in the new place where they are seeking refuge and the downright apathy of the authorities - its all depicted in a very raw and realistic manner and really has stark parallels to the real world. In the end, I want to conclude by saying that if you are a YA fantasy fan and love ensemble casts, you must read this book. It is action packed, full of twists and turns and brilliantly written characters whom you can’t help but fall in love with. Forbes called this book and The Merciful Crow some of the best YA fantasies of 2019 and I promise you, that’s absolutely true. I enjoyed the hell out of this one and I already wanna know what the author is going to come up with next - and one thing I can be sure of is that I will be rereading this before the sequel releases. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 26, 2019
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Sep 28, 2019
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Jun 13, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 1492660612
| B07JX9V5WT
| 4.28
| 16,062
| Mar 05, 2019
| Mar 05, 2019
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it was amazing
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I am struggling to write this review with tears in my eyes because I can’t believe this amazing trilogy is already over and I can’t experience it for
I am struggling to write this review with tears in my eyes because I can’t believe this amazing trilogy is already over and I can’t experience it for the first time ever again. I’m so happy and sad to have been a part of this reading journey and I have not felt this emotional and satisfied with a series conclusion in a long while. I have a lot to say, so there will probably be a lot of spoilers for the previous two books but I will try to be as vague as possible for this one, so proceed with caution. I already knew Rin’s writing was spectacular but this book took it to a whole new level. While all of the kingdoms are mentioned throughout the books, I never expected to get the opportunity to travel to all of them but the author ensures we do and this makes for a great journey and an awesome job at more expansive world building - each kingdom unique in its own way. The writing in this book is so layered, each chapter uncovering some manipulation or treachery, the anticipation only building up more because of the way the two timelines are alternately written and surprising us every step of the way. There are liars and traitors in the guise of elders and friends and while I had some doubts, I never could guess their identities confidently. That’s why the reveals had a very high impact. The plot also moves much faster in this book because there is a lot riding on Tea’s shoulders, and there are even more amazing action sequences than the previous books. I continued to be impressed but the last few chapters really gutted me but it was also so perfectly tied up. There were also enough hints throughout the books which pointed towards the ancient legends of these kingdoms as the knowledge that Tea is seeking and her quest leaves us with many questions to ponder - How far will people go to alter historical accounts to suit their greed? Do we ever really know the truth about our heroes and legends or is everything just embellishment and manipulation to ensure those in power are always able to control the populace? Are we always sure of the intentions of those we seek to follow and believe in? We get many answers but some of them are best left unanswered so that they make us think. There is also a lot of destruction that happens in this book but again we are left to think about what’s the line between good and evil, how much of the havoc that Tea wreaks upon the kingdoms justified because she was compelled to do so - both to protect the truly innocent and also because she doesn’t want her dearest ones to die. Whatever happens in this story, it all comes back to love - sibling, romantic, familial, platonic and everything in between - love compels every action, sometimes true and sometimes misguided but ultimately it’s love that triumphs and I couldn’t be more happier with the way everything wrapped up. Call her a hero or antihero, Tea is one of the most compelling and complicated main characters I have read in quite a long time and I’m deeply in love with her. She is consumed by guilt and trauma, is lied to and betrayed and blamed by her closest ones but she still remains steadfast in her goals and I really admired her for it. And whatever she does, she really is full of love, ready to sacrifice all of herself for the sake of her dear ones. And seeing her with Kalen was a blessing to read. He is the epitome of loyalty and courage, always standing with her and protecting her and their love for each other made my heart weep with joy. It’s definitely a romance for the ages and I just wanted more and more scenes with them together. We see all the other characters together in this book and that was amazing to read. The relationships that Tea has with each of them precious in its own right and it was very interesting to see how Mykkie, Zoya, Khalad, Kance, Likh and everyone else handled her actions and justifications throughout the story. The Bard is another fascinating character who is unsure about what to make of Tea but is loyal to his task of being a storyteller and brave enough to follow her on her perilous journeys. His actual truth was probably the only one I guess while everything else was quite suspenseful and I had to wait to uncover it all. I also especially like Tea’s friendship with Khalad and Likh, because they are always supportive of her even when she is wrongfully accused. Likh has been one of my favorite side characters since the beginning, her innate strength in pursuing what she truly wants in life despite lots of opposition being very commendable. She has always fought for her right to be true to herself, and we see her exploring more of her identity in this book and finally deciding on what pronouns she wants to use. I thought the author did a marvelous job of writing about Likh’s transition through the trilogy and the tremendous amount of unconditional support that she gets from all her friends is really very heartwarming. The development of her romance with Khalad was also a joy to read and they had some very cute and hilarious scenes together. We don’t get to see more of Zoya and Shadi’s romance here but they still are going strong and it’s always nice to see two happy young women in love. The other couple that rivals Tea and Kalen in their devotion to each other are Fox and Inessa, stubborn and hotheaded but deeply in love who fight for their right to be together despite all odds. The author really did a tremendous job making us care for every single character and their romances, giving each of them a meaningful arc and I tip my hat off to her. What can I say that I haven’t already said in my reviews of the previous books of this amazing trilogy. This is the kind of fantasy I love - characters I fall deeply in love with, expansive world building with its very own mythology that I can picture in my head, dark and deadly magic system and elaborate action sequences that left me gasping, beautifully written swoon worthy romances and ultimately, an ending that made me weep but also left me tremendously satisfied and glad to have read an amazing series. What more could I have asked for. If you are a lover of YA fantasy and haven’t read this trilogy yet, what are you waiting for? ...more |
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2
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Nov 18, 2020
Jun 09, 2019
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Nov 20, 2020
Jun 09, 2019
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Jun 09, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| B076BWSKNX
| 4.21
| 20,613
| Mar 20, 2018
| Mar 20, 2018
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it was amazing
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Ughhhh... I’m just so upset that I took so long to pick up this trilogy. I can’t thank the hosts of YARC enough for encouraging me to pick up more Asi
Ughhhh... I’m just so upset that I took so long to pick up this trilogy. I can’t thank the hosts of YARC enough for encouraging me to pick up more Asian authored books and I can confidently say that I’ll be continuing to read them long after this challenge is over. And I also have to thank my dear friend Krisha @ Bookathon for gushing a lot about this trilogy and finally making me read it. I’m so glad to finally have joined this bandwagon because The Heart Forger is truly brilliant. The plot is so much more interesting in this book than it’s predecessor. We get to know more about the Faceless, their kind of dark magic and lots more about their quest for immortality. The world is also expanded more because the characters travel to a new kingdom and we get to know about the rulers and customs of the place. There is also a lot more action in this one, and I was very impressed by these sequences - I totally wanted to see them on screen. The author also continues telling the story in two timelines, with the major part closing towards the events happening in the Bard’s present timeline and it creates a lot of suspense and anticipation, making me not want to put down the book at all. However, the best part I think about this book was how it challenged gender roles and heteronormativity. Both Likh and Khalad’s journey of trying to live their truth was very powerful and I think the author did a great job showing us their inherent strength, while also providing them a lot of support from their friends. The characters are definitely the true heart of this book. Tea is such a delight to read about. She has grown so much, learning more about her abilities and responsibilities and helping people when needed. She is stubborn and impulsive and doesn’t always think through her actions, but she is very selfless and loyal and just wants to protect her friends at any cost to herself. That makes her transition into almost an antihero in the Bard’s timeline very fascinating, leaving us with many questions. Despite her possible descent into the dark side, we can never stop loving her or rooting for her to succeed because her heart is always in the right place, and she just wants to prove that she is not as evil as everyone thinks she’ll become, while also protecting everyone around her. The relationships in this series are so beautiful and each of them is special in its own way. Tea and Fox’s sibling relationship is probably one of my favorites ever and they argue and bicker, but always have each other’s back. The lengths to which Tea is ready to go to ensure Fox survives made me wanna cry. Her friendships with Mykaela, Althy, Polaire, Zoya were all amazing in their own ways and the scenes where they all fought together were awesome. I also particularly enjoyed her dynamic with Khalad because their destinies are so interconnected, making them indispensable to each other, but they actually end up becoming friends who care for and respect the other a lot. Likh is probably the sweetest cinnamon roll of the group, so adorable and kind but also smart and brave and all the scenes where the gang stood by his side and encouraged him were so heartwarming. I knew this book was going to have more of the romance of the main leads but the development of it was so much better than I expected. It was so emotional and angsty and beautifully written, and I completely fell for them and they’ll probably end up being one of my favorite couples of this year. We also have a lovely sapphic relationship, and the banter between the two girls is super entertaining and oh so precious. There is also one character who has a crush on another, and it’s so so sweet and adorable, but I don’t know if it’ll actually develop into more. Finally, I don’t even know what I can say about this book other than just pick it up. As much as I enjoyed The Bone Witch, this is a step up - with expansive world building, lots more action and dark magic and phenomenal characters that you will root for every step of the way. If you haven’t read this trilogy yet, I promise you are missing out. This sequel answered many questions but left me with many more, and now all I want to do is jump right into the finale. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 07, 2019
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Jun 08, 2019
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Jun 07, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 1481497618
| 9781481497619
| 1481497618
| 4.05
| 144,814
| Jun 04, 2019
| Jun 04, 2019
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it was amazing
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As I got quite bored while reading An Enchantment of Ravens last year, I had no intentions of reading this book. But then my favorite reviewers starte
As I got quite bored while reading An Enchantment of Ravens last year, I had no intentions of reading this book. But then my favorite reviewers started gushing about it and I started thinking too. The premise of Great Libraries and monstrous books was a lure I couldn’t resist and I’m sooooo glad I didn’t try to. This is one book I can very confidently say that I would’ve regretted not reading. I’m just so glad that the author wrote this book. The world of Austermeer has sorcerers who can access magic by binding themselves to demons, and can create grimoires using all kinds of grotesque human remains. The Wardens on the other hand have the duty to protect all these magical grimoires from the world outside and vice versa. The writing and world building is beautiful and vividly descriptive, while also being very easy to read. The author also manages to give us a sense of the world and it’s magic system and makes it believable to us in just this one standalone book, and I really appreciate that. Reading this amazing book in the midst of all fantasy series is truly like a breath of fresh air. The story is full of wonder and adventure interspersed with delightful humor and it makes for a wonderful reading experience. But the best part of this book was just the sheer love of books and knowledge that reflected off of the pages. The way the grimoires are depicted as beings capable of feelings, their interactions with the main character and even the actions that they are capable of, are a joy to read about and I was just in awe of the way it’s all written. I cried over these beautiful monstrous magical books, so you can probably tell how much I loved it all. Elisabeth is just amazing and I’m in love. She is very intelligent but also a bit innocent initially because she has a very black and white view of her world, having grown up all her life in the Great Library among the tomes. But her love of these books and the way she understands them and interacts with them is so palpable that I could feel it in my bones. She also has a very innate sense of duty and will do anything to protect the world and her bookish companions, even unlearning all that she has been taught and realizing some new truths on her own. She is also a fighter and never backs down from what she believes is the right thing to do and I totally admired her for it all. Nathaniel on the other hand is a sorcerer, whom she doesn’t trust in the beginning because of his magical abilities and his demonic servant Silas. He is broody and grumpy, but we quickly realize that he is dealing with a lot of things from his past and just trying to keep everyone away from him as a defense mechanism. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed so much. They start out as almost enemies, though that’s mostly on her side and then become unlikely allies, slowly transforming into friends and more. It’s a very beautifully written slow burn romance and it made me feel all kind of feelings ❤️❤️❤️. Alongside this developing dynamic, we also see both of them dealing with their individual traumas and i thought that was handled so sensitively. Elisabeth has nightmares from when she was mentally violated, while Nathaniel is deeply affected by his family’s death and legacy of being necromancers. Their traumas manifest in different ways and they have different ways of handling them, but it gives them a unique understanding into each other and I think it was another reason why they could connect with each other so well. He also mentions in a throwaway line that he likes both boys and girls, and while I actually loved that myself, I’m not sure how the readers who identify as bi/pan would feel about it because the representation is never expanded upon. While I loved both the main characters a lot, the demonic servant Silas was just special. He is a highborn demon who makes sure to keep informing Elisabeth that he is dangerous and doesn’t know kindness or compassion, but he is such an antithesis to all he is supposed to be. He really cares for the both of them and the way he goes about showing it all is truly beautiful and I was so emotional about many things that happened. I can promise you that if you read the book, he will leave you in tears. Elisabeth’s best friend Katrien doesn’t get a lot of page time but I thought she was a very naughty character, with an inherent propensity to get into all kinds of trouble. She also encourages Elisabeth to get into some troubles of her own and it was lovely to see such a nice friendship. She is also hinted at probably being aromantic but it’s never expanded upon. The villain of the story is also a very multidimensional, with his own motivations for his actions and struggling with his family legacy. So while we mostly hate him, we also understand him in a way and I thought the author did a wonderful job there. To conclude, I am only gonna say that if you love and live books, then this standalone fantasy is tailor made for you. This is full of adventures, action, banter, magical books with feelings and compassionate demons, and it will delight you every step of the way. It made me very happy and emotional, I even cried at parts I never thought I would and I highly highly recommend it. And I totally wouldn’t mind if the author wants to turn this into a series, because I don’t wanna leave this world at all. If you aren’t picking this up immediately, you really are missing out. ...more |
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1
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Jun 20, 2019
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Jun 21, 2019
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May 24, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 1335184996
| 9781335184993
| 1335184996
| 4.05
| 11,429
| Jun 18, 2019
| Jun 18, 2019
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it was amazing
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When I read Shadow of the Fox a few weeks ago, I was just going by my dear friend’s recommendation and wasn’t sure what to expect. But to my pleasant
When I read Shadow of the Fox a few weeks ago, I was just going by my dear friend’s recommendation and wasn’t sure what to expect. But to my pleasant surprise, I completely fell in love with it and my excitement doubled when I got approved for the ARC of this sequel. Second books of beloved series can always be tricky but I’m so delighted that this book exceeded all my expectations. Just like in the first book, the world building in this one too is phenomenal. We get introduced to more creatures and monsters from the Japanese mythology, one more scarier than the other and it was such a joy to read. Some of them are so vividly described that imagining them really scared me and I think that’s a great testament for an author. As the group is on another journey through the story, we get introduced to more new settings and I loved how masterfully the author brought them to life - whether it be the eerie palace of the Shadow clan or the guardians of the Steel Temple. I can only say that the way the world was expanded and given more detail in this book was very interesting and we also get enough clues to realize that we are going to encounter more terrifying things in the next book, and I can’t wait for it all. I didn’t expect to fall more in love with the characters but I did. Yumeko is not the same naive little girl from the first book - the fight at the end and the loss of Tatsumi have made her more determined. She is still trusting and doesn’t understand sarcasm yet (makes for a lot of hilarious conversations), but she also learns to accept her kitsune nature and develops her skills to have a fighting chance. She may not understand her feelings towards Tatsumi, but she still never wavers from her decisions and does whatever she can to protect her friends. I wasn’t expecting to get a POV of Hakaimono but it is definitely fascinating being in his head. We know he is one of the greatest and most powerful demons and he is very confident about his abilities, but he has also been a captive in a sword for centuries in the company of humans. This definitely seems to have had some affect on his personality, which makes for some very sarcastic comments from him that had me chuckling. However, it is also painful to read because he keeps taunting Tatsumi, who is struggling with whatever will he has left to hold on to his soul. Daisuke and Okame are a pair of contrasting characters but I just loved their interactions. One who totally believes in the samurai code and wants to live and die by honor, the other who revels in being dishonorable - the two of them are just such unlikely companions but the development of their friendship is wonderful to read. I just wish we had gotten atleast one of their POVs so that I could know more about what they are thinking in their hearts. Reika may look like she just wants to fulfill her duty but she does like Yumeko and will do anything to protect her. The whole group just bickers throughout the book but I could only smile at their interactions because they genuinely care about each other. I was also surprised to see Suki’s POV continue but she has some very crucial moments and I loved it. Seigetsu is still a mystery but I have a feeling he is gonna bring lots of troubles into the life of my favorite characters. While I loved the first book, it was mostly a slow paced journey with a bit of action in between and towards the end. In this book however, the author upped her game. We still have a journey but there are more dangers, the characters are more skilled and the monsters are more scary. There is a lot more action and some of those sequences are absolutely terrifying and exhilarating. The book also felt much more fast paced, probably because there was a lot more happening and the stakes also felt much higher this time. While most of the characters think Yumeko and Tatsumi love each other and we can guess that it’s where the story is going, I’m glad that the author still left it at a point where they are unsure of their own feelings and figuring everything out. The development of another romance came as a bit of a surprise but I am totally there for it, and I’m actually much more excited to see what lies in store for them in the future. The whole illusion part of Yumeko’s magic got a lot of page time in this book and the author showed a lot of imagination in these scenes, the one towards the end being absolutely mind blowing. I was also expecting the Tatsumi/ Hakaimono storyline to go in a predictable direction, but the twist the author gave towards the end was so surprising, I’m still recovering from it. The buildup towards the end was done amazingly well and I think the payoff was worth the wait. All I want to say is that if you loved the first book, you are gonna be very very happy with this one too. This sequel is darker and scarier, much more action packed and our characters have grown so much that we can’t help but root for them. This is the perfect second book where the stakes kept getting higher and higher - which ultimately gave us a thrilling and unpredictable but very satisfying ending, while also leaving us many exciting clues for the much anticipated third book. That wait is gonna be long and excruciating. ...more |
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1
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Jun 05, 2019
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Jun 06, 2019
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May 17, 2019
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Hardcover
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| B07843G18J
| 4.01
| 22,767
| Oct 02, 2018
| Oct 02, 2018
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it was amazing
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Probably more of a 4.5 but I’m rounding it up. I read the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa ages ago and really loved it a lot. It was probably one of my Probably more of a 4.5 but I’m rounding it up. I read the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa ages ago and really loved it a lot. It was probably one of my first introductions to the Fae world and it was fantastic. But I never read anything else by the author, for whatever reasons. Even this book wasn’t really on my radar, and I probably wouldn’t have thought about it except for my decision to read more Asian author’s works this year, and like always the brilliant recommendation from my dearest friend Nandini. I have now come to a decision that I will blindly pick up any book she loves because she is always right. And this book was no different. As it’s been a while, I don’t really remember much about the author’s writing style. So, reading this book felt like discovering a new author. Right from the first page, we are introduced to a new world - one with its own myths and legends and stories, an interesting political system, the legendary samurai warriors, the ascetic monks who are much more than just spiritual guides, magic users and blood mages, and a very fascinating variety of supernatural creatures. I loved being in this world and getting to know more about it. I’m not an anime or manga fan, so I don’t know any Japanese terms which made it difficult to keep track of all the words that the author was using initially, but I got used to them quickly after a little note taking and then it was a joy to read. I love when author’s toe the line between using many native words and explaining them to unfamiliar readers. Kagawa explains in some cases, leaving us to understand some ourselves by gathering the context and I really enjoyed that process - I don’t mind putting in that effort to understand a new mythology and culture which I know nothing about. This book is also mostly a journey, with the characters on a quest and these are my favorite kinds of books. The author manages to introduce us to interesting legends and other side characters during the MCs journey and it made the story all the more fun. The pacing is pretty slow but even throughout until it ended with a bang and I kind of liked it that way. The action sequences are very well written and I was thrilled every second of reading them, wondering how the fight would unfold. Yumeko is a kitsune who has lived her whole life among the monks at the Silent Winds temple and it makes her slightly naive, innocent and just enjoying playing pranks on others. However, having to suddenly lose her home and the only people she has even known, and then travel to an unknown place on a high stakes quest is a huge challenge for her - but she never balks from this duty. She is young and doesn’t know the way of the world but is cunning because of her half Fox nature, has no clue what to do in social situations, her total ignorance of sarcasm is hilarious and she is just so trusting - everything about her endeared her to me so much. I just wanted her to be ok and protect her. But it’s in this innocence lies her strength, her resolve to do the right thing. Tatsumi on the other hand started off as a cold blooded demonslayer, who has to always control his emotions so as to not be possessed by the monster in his sword. But getting to know his terrible backstory was horrifying - how he has been raised and trained to be an emotionless killer, a weapon to be yielded with no thoughts of his own, loyal only to his clan. But the journey he undertakes with Yumeko, albeit disgruntingly completely turns his life upside down. She gets him to let down his guard, possibly trust someone other than his clan, even start having thoughts and emotions unrelated to his mission. It’s a revelation to himself, and watching him fight it was both delightful and painful. But the tentative friendship that develops between them is beautiful and while there is a possibility of romance, it’s too slow burn to even contemplate yet - but they do start caring for each other and it’ll be interesting to see what happens next after that cliffhanger ending. The side characters who they meet during their journey together make up this quirky group whom I have come to love and can’t imagine anything bad happening to them at all. There are so many underlying themes in the book that make up the core and heart of this story, loyalty being one of the most important. Yumeko is loyal to her monks but it’s love that guides her, Tatsumi to his clan but it’s more due to being trained whereas Okame seems to have been betrayed by those he was loyal to and now questions the point of it. But it’s the loyalty they unwittingly develop for each other that guides them on their journey ultimately, even if they try to deny it all the time. Yumeko might be very naive and innocent, but it’s her inherent trusting nature that forms another major crux of the story - her belief that everyone should be given a chance despite their past actions, that there is always a hope for redemption if given the option, that there is always something more to the story behind someone’s actions. I loved this faith she had in second chances and how it informs every decision she makes, even in dreadful circumstances. It might not always help her in the short term, but I think her belief that every kindness will have unknown consequences might just have a huge impact in the later books and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Finally, I just want to say that this Japanese mythology inspired fantasy was a delight to read and I would highly recommend it. If you are a fan of reading about a group of unlikely heroes undertaking a quest, then this book is perfect for you. This one has everything you can ask for in a fantasy - great worldbuilding, wonderful friendships, magic and monsters and prophecies. I absolutely loved this one and I’m actually glad being late to the party, because I only have to wait less than two months for the sequel and to know what the next journey for these heroes is going to be like. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 02, 2019
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May 03, 2019
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May 02, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 1579126278
| 9781579126278
| 1579126278
| 4.27
| 289,998
| Jun 07, 1926
| Sep 01, 2006
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it was amazing
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After loving my first Christie novel And Then There Were None, there was no doubt that I would be reading more of her works - I especially wanted to g
After loving my first Christie novel And Then There Were None, there was no doubt that I would be reading more of her works - I especially wanted to get acquainted with her Poirot books. However, I just couldn’t make myself give a break between the reads and immediately decided to pick this up because it came with some amazing recommendations from my dear friends. And wow were they not wrong. The author’s writing skills are even more at display here. The beginning gives us such small town gossipy feels that we get into a false sense of security... and once the murder occurs, we are thrust into the lives of all those who are associated with Roger Ackroyd and might gain something by his death. Told through the perspective of the town’s doctor, the story makes us piece together the timeline, and then makes us question the sequence of events all over again. Poirot is a fascinating personality and his nature of keeping the cards close to his chest, only revealing them little by little at opportune times was lots of fun to read. He is also not exactly condescending, but is definitely not above some humble bragging about his superior investigative process. I have come to realize that the author loves her big reveals and that’s exactly what we get here too. I was never going to guess the murderer anyway, and the highly dramatic way Poirot reveals the truth both shocked and completely delighted me. Once the murderer is revealed, it all seems obvious but the author never gives us easy clues throughout the story, and that’s what I guess makes her such a popular author. Another book that I can’t sing enough praises about, this is a very interesting story that gets its hooks into you pretty quickly and you just can’t put down until you know the truth. Definitely a must read and I highly recommend to all mystery lovers (like me who are new to discovering the joy of Agatha Christie). I also know that I’m going to read many more books in this series this year, because there’s no way I can resist. And catch up on the TV show right alongside them. ...more |
Notes are private!
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May 2019
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May 02, 2019
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Apr 30, 2019
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Hardcover
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my rating |
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| 4.40
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it was amazing
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Oct 22, 2019
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Oct 15, 2019
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| 4.24
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it was amazing
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Feb 05, 2020
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Oct 08, 2019
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| 4.35
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it was amazing
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Oct 03, 2019
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Sep 30, 2019
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| 4.38
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it was amazing
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Dec 26, 2019
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Sep 16, 2019
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| 4.35
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it was amazing
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Mar 09, 2023
Sep 14, 2019
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Sep 13, 2019
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| 3.94
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it was amazing
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Sep 11, 2019
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Sep 05, 2019
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| 4.37
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it was amazing
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Nov 15, 2019
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Sep 05, 2019
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| 4.28
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it was amazing
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Sep 02, 2019
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Aug 24, 2019
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| 4.23
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it was amazing
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Oct 28, 2019
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Aug 06, 2019
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| 4.30
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it was amazing
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Oct 2019
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Jul 29, 2019
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| 4.31
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it was amazing
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Apr 2020
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Jul 12, 2019
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| 3.87
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it was amazing
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Jul 07, 2019
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Jul 06, 2019
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| 4.09
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it was amazing
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Jul 17, 2019
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Jun 19, 2019
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| 3.77
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it was amazing
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Sep 28, 2019
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Jun 13, 2019
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| 4.28
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it was amazing
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Nov 20, 2020
Jun 09, 2019
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Jun 09, 2019
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| 4.21
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it was amazing
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Jun 08, 2019
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Jun 07, 2019
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| 4.05
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it was amazing
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Jun 21, 2019
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May 24, 2019
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| 4.05
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it was amazing
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Jun 06, 2019
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May 17, 2019
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| 4.01
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it was amazing
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May 03, 2019
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May 02, 2019
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| 4.27
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it was amazing
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May 02, 2019
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Apr 30, 2019
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