Wrap-Up: October

Novels: 6

Novellas: 1

Graphic novels: 0

Non-fiction: 1

Total: 8

Page count: 2 717

3 Favourite Covers:

• Strange the Dreamer
• What If It’s Us
• The Weight of Feathers

3 Favourite Books:

• Strange the Dreamer
• The Weight of Feathers
• What If It’s Us

3 Favourite Characters :

• Lazlo Strange (Strange the Dreamer)
• Lace Paloma (The Weight of Feathers)
• Page (Blanca & Roja)

3 Favourite Relationships (Romantic):

• Lazlo Strange & Sarai (Strange the Dreamer)
• Ben & Arthur (What If It’s Us)
• Lace Paloma & Cluck Corbeau (The Weight of Feathers)

3 Favourite Relationships (Platonic):

• Yearling & Page (Blanca & Roja)
• Blanca & Roja (Blanca & Roja)
• The Godspawn (Strange the Dreamer)

To Be Brief…

The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5): Okay, so this novella might not have been strictly necessary, but I had a good time reading it. It has also made the wait for The Wicked King both easier and a lot more difficult. Please give it to me now. 3.75/5 stars

“Let’s start with a love story. Or maybe it’s another horror story. It seems like the difference is mostly in where the ending comes.”

Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1): Once in a while, I hear about a really popular book, and (for whatever reason) decide never to read it. When I eventually and inevitably do pick it up anyway, I berate myself for not doing it earlier because —surprise! — it was actually really good. It happened with Six of Crows, it happened with Illuminae, and now it has happened with Strange the Dreamer.

So, in case you’re like past Beatrice and need some more convincing, here are five reasons why picking up Strange the Dreamer is a good idea:

1. Lazlo Strange is a fantastic name for a main character
2. Laini Taylor’s writing is to die for
3. It takes place in a rich and well-developed fantasy world
4. It has hints of magical realism
5. It is full of fabulous characters

(Obviously number 1 is the most important)

At this point it should come as no surprise that I fell a little bit in love with this book. However, I must admit that there were a few things about the ending that I wasn’t a huge fan of, which is why I didn’t give it a full 5 stars. I’m still excited to find out how Taylor will continue on with the story, though, and I’ll be picking up Muse of Nightmares very soon. 4.5/5 stars

“It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming?”

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Montague Siblings #2): In this spin-off/sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, we get to revisit the lives of Felicity, Percy, and Monty as Felicity pursues her lifelong dream of studying medicine. Along the way, we get introduced to some really interesting new characters, like Felicity’s childhood friend, Johanna, and Sim, a mysterious muslim pirate girl. Naturally, shenanigans ensue.

This book, much like The Gentleman’s Guide, lacked a certain something to make me fully love it, but it was still a very enjoyable and fun story. Felicity is definitely a flawed individual (like we all are), and I liked learning more about her and watching her grow as a character. The book also touches a bit on her asexuality, which I thought was really cool. If Mackenzi Lee decides to write another book about the Montagues, I’ll be sure to pick it up. 4/5 stars

“You’re so determined to become a lady doctor then,” he says. “No, sir,” I reply. “I’m determined to become a doctor.”

What If It’s Us: This was a highly anticipated read for me, and I can’t say I’m disappointed. Becky and Adam are both really good authors, and their styles of writing mixed pretty nicely in this adorable yet realistic contemporary about two boys trying to start a new relationship in the midst of misunderstandings and difficult exes. I had a lot of fun reading this book and absolutely flew through it, and while it’s not really a new all-time favourite of mine (mainly because I feel like some things were blown out of proportion while others weren’t properly dealt with), I still recommend it to all you romcom hungry people out there. 4/5 stars

“Excuse me, we are not platonic bros, Ben Alejo.”

9 From the Nine Worlds (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard): I really miss these characters, so it was nice getting small snippets of their lives. Please give us more books, Riordan. 4/5 stars

“Peace, butterflies, chai: this world was awful.”

The Weight of Feathers: Two rivalling families of traveling performers, forbidden love, and magical realism? Yes, please! This book has such a lovely atmosphere and gorgeous writing style, but that’s just what I’ve come to expect from Mclemore. All her novels have a certain sense of timelessness to them, as well as some really nice representation, and I’m here for it. Wild Beauty is still my favourite of hers, though. 4/5 stars

“We are not small enough that you can pull us where you want us to go.”

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened: This was quite an impulse read, but I enjoyed it a lot. I love Allie Brosh’s illustrations and they take her stories to new levels. She really has a talent for balancing serious topics with humour, and the anecdotes felt weirdly relatable in a way I can’t quite explain since my experiences with life so far has been very different from hers, so well done. 4/5 stars

“No one could tell me not to eat an entire cake—not my mom, not Santa, not God—no one. It was my cake and everyone else could go fuck themselves.”

Blanca & Roja: Last, but not least, I had to get to Mclemore’s newest novel about two sisters fearing the day one of them will get turned into a swan. Lovely and heavy, as expected, though it felt a little bit repetitive. Mclemore sure knows how to craft connections between people (not just romantic ones), though, and I’m looking forward to reading whatever she writes next. 4/5 stars

“There will always be two daughters. But we will always take one back.”

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