Hey there guys!
Friday is here! And since I work the weekend is a different kind of Friday for me. Hopefully work won't be too bad during the weekend, at least I have some awesome co-workers during the weekend!
For this week's Friday Reads I have two reviews, one being one of my backlogged ARCs for my Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge. And the other one is another of my buddy reads for the RockMyTBR Challenge, this one with Valerie from He Said Books Or Me.
Menagerie by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One hell of a book for sure, tough one to read and one that needs a few warnings because it really confronts us with some of the ugliest parts of humankind. It might not be a book for everyone, but it's one that we might need to have our eyes open to many cruelties that go on in this day and age.
Reading it made me think of the cruelty towards circus animals and their existence between cages & whips, and also made me think about the modern slavery of the human trafficking, either to be sold for parts (organ trafficking is a powerful big black market) or for prostitution, and how that feels justified for those that take part in any way in it, how we might ignore pain and humiliation and we might not agree with what's going on, but don't know how to stop it or how to help.
Menagerie takes place in a world were mythical beings exist and one changed by an event that happened in 1986. Mermaids, sirens, mynotaurs... they are real and are persecuted and exploited in private collections, hunting grounds or menageries like travelling circuses. All animal or even part human, none of them are left with any dignity and treated worse than animals.
Told on different POVs, most of them third person, although the POV with the most page time and chapters is Delilah Marlow, a girl that discovers she isn't just human while visiting Metzger's Menagerie with her bf and friends. We quickly see how fear pushes us to extremes, and how easy it is to dehumanize others to justify even the most base and unfair treatment of others.
I couldn't help but admire Delilah's strenght and courage to not let go of her sense of self and of what her goal was but at the same time how she was so kind and looked out for others so much! Strenght, courage and compassion are the traits that define her, and she's really a heroine to root for!
For some reason I thought the book was a standalone and I think it works pretty well as one, except that I was ready to take a star off because of the lack of information we really get about the events of the Reaping and what might be known about it, we only get some snippets of media information as events were unfolding at the time. But now that I've learnt that it's a series, this is one fantastic first book, with a great introduction of the main players, a game changer thrown in and enough world building to get your bearings but wanting to know more!
Menagerie is clearly an adult book and even if I'm usually worried about intense books (gross out easily, being a nurse has its perks in life) there were a few moments when I was seriously shocked and going EWWW!! There's blood and gore but it fits the story and the characters and it doesn't feel like it's done just for the shock factor, but... it is a shock! Add that to the abuse and mistreatment going on the cryptids and experienced my Delilah and once again I must warn that this book is not for those faint of heart.
Very well deserved 4.5 stars to this tough but brilliant book, my first Rachel Vincent book, but it surely won't be the last, since I'm now highly anticipating the sequel!
View all my reviews
Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another #RockMyTBR buddy read! This one was quite adorable and cute, even if I was confused at first and not that keen on the book or its world. Since it was a buddy read I decided to push through the "head shaking" moments, even if I wasn't entirely sure if this was a contemporary, paranormal or magical realism... I guess that's part of the charm of it, but it kept bugging me throughout the book.
I didn't instantly like Fallon because for how sensible she seemed, she was completely and overwhelmingly turned upside down by a love fortune, and now matter how accurate they are supposed to be, it just didn't feel as dire to me... but that could be my old age and grunchiness showing.
It was an easy read and once it progressed it got a hold on me and I wanted to know what was being Zita's fortunes and why all the other love charm makers were gone and I was somehow invested in the developing relationship between Fallon and Sebastian, which thank goodness was done through the common ground then friendly then like then love, even if was a bit accelerated at times, but after all Grimbaud is a magical place where love lives.
Some of the secondary characters felt a bit more underdeveloped and carntoon-y so to speak, but I felt that the main ones had quite enough charm and life in them, and I loved that Fallon decided to fight fate and help her friends do the same too. We not only see Fallon's fortune be fought but also her best friends' and I'm glad that there was a gay relationship included and treated no necessarily as a come out story, but just as another relationship threatened by a bad love fortune.
All in all, a very cute read, well deserving of 3 stars because it kept me turning pages to find out what happened next once I got over my innitial confusion.
View all my reviews
Friday is here! And since I work the weekend is a different kind of Friday for me. Hopefully work won't be too bad during the weekend, at least I have some awesome co-workers during the weekend!
For this week's Friday Reads I have two reviews, one being one of my backlogged ARCs for my Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge. And the other one is another of my buddy reads for the RockMyTBR Challenge, this one with Valerie from He Said Books Or Me.
Menagerie by Rachel VincentMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
One hell of a book for sure, tough one to read and one that needs a few warnings because it really confronts us with some of the ugliest parts of humankind. It might not be a book for everyone, but it's one that we might need to have our eyes open to many cruelties that go on in this day and age.
Reading it made me think of the cruelty towards circus animals and their existence between cages & whips, and also made me think about the modern slavery of the human trafficking, either to be sold for parts (organ trafficking is a powerful big black market) or for prostitution, and how that feels justified for those that take part in any way in it, how we might ignore pain and humiliation and we might not agree with what's going on, but don't know how to stop it or how to help.
Menagerie takes place in a world were mythical beings exist and one changed by an event that happened in 1986. Mermaids, sirens, mynotaurs... they are real and are persecuted and exploited in private collections, hunting grounds or menageries like travelling circuses. All animal or even part human, none of them are left with any dignity and treated worse than animals.
Told on different POVs, most of them third person, although the POV with the most page time and chapters is Delilah Marlow, a girl that discovers she isn't just human while visiting Metzger's Menagerie with her bf and friends. We quickly see how fear pushes us to extremes, and how easy it is to dehumanize others to justify even the most base and unfair treatment of others.
I couldn't help but admire Delilah's strenght and courage to not let go of her sense of self and of what her goal was but at the same time how she was so kind and looked out for others so much! Strenght, courage and compassion are the traits that define her, and she's really a heroine to root for!
For some reason I thought the book was a standalone and I think it works pretty well as one, except that I was ready to take a star off because of the lack of information we really get about the events of the Reaping and what might be known about it, we only get some snippets of media information as events were unfolding at the time. But now that I've learnt that it's a series, this is one fantastic first book, with a great introduction of the main players, a game changer thrown in and enough world building to get your bearings but wanting to know more!
Menagerie is clearly an adult book and even if I'm usually worried about intense books (gross out easily, being a nurse has its perks in life) there were a few moments when I was seriously shocked and going EWWW!! There's blood and gore but it fits the story and the characters and it doesn't feel like it's done just for the shock factor, but... it is a shock! Add that to the abuse and mistreatment going on the cryptids and experienced my Delilah and once again I must warn that this book is not for those faint of heart.
Very well deserved 4.5 stars to this tough but brilliant book, my first Rachel Vincent book, but it surely won't be the last, since I'm now highly anticipating the sequel!
View all my reviews
Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly KaraliusMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another #RockMyTBR buddy read! This one was quite adorable and cute, even if I was confused at first and not that keen on the book or its world. Since it was a buddy read I decided to push through the "head shaking" moments, even if I wasn't entirely sure if this was a contemporary, paranormal or magical realism... I guess that's part of the charm of it, but it kept bugging me throughout the book.
I didn't instantly like Fallon because for how sensible she seemed, she was completely and overwhelmingly turned upside down by a love fortune, and now matter how accurate they are supposed to be, it just didn't feel as dire to me... but that could be my old age and grunchiness showing.
It was an easy read and once it progressed it got a hold on me and I wanted to know what was being Zita's fortunes and why all the other love charm makers were gone and I was somehow invested in the developing relationship between Fallon and Sebastian, which thank goodness was done through the common ground then friendly then like then love, even if was a bit accelerated at times, but after all Grimbaud is a magical place where love lives.
Some of the secondary characters felt a bit more underdeveloped and carntoon-y so to speak, but I felt that the main ones had quite enough charm and life in them, and I loved that Fallon decided to fight fate and help her friends do the same too. We not only see Fallon's fortune be fought but also her best friends' and I'm glad that there was a gay relationship included and treated no necessarily as a come out story, but just as another relationship threatened by a bad love fortune.
All in all, a very cute read, well deserving of 3 stars because it kept me turning pages to find out what happened next once I got over my innitial confusion.
View all my reviews
I loved Menagerie! I put it down for a few months but it stuck with me for all that time and when I did finally get around to reading it again I loved it. It was such a fantastic world and I also loved the MC. Glad you loved it too.
ReplyDeleteCassi @ My Thoughts Literally
I didn't even give it a try at first, I saw some so-so reviews, decided to give it some time then forgot about it, release day passed and I'm kicking myself for taking so long to read it! Thank you Cassi!
DeleteYaay :D Gorgeous review Pili. <3 Thank you for sharing about these books :) I also LOVED Menagerie. <3 Thrilled that you liked it so much too :D It was heartbreaking. And stunning. And I loved it so much. I'm also dying for the sequel. <3 It will be the best, I think :) And aw, sorry you didn't love the second book :\ It looks cute, but not for me, hih. But yay for not hating it :) And aw, I hope work will go great this weekend :) Fingers crossed for you. <3
ReplyDeleteYeah, Menagerie was so tough but so brilliant! Cannot wait for the sequel!
DeleteThank you so much dearie! I hope your weekend will be great!
I loved the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, but I still haven't read this one. I've heard everywhere how amazing it is, but I'm a little afraid.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard much about LFaOD, have to check it out!
Just be forewarned that it's a tough book to read, Lis, but it's a brilliant one and very much worth the read!
DeleteMenagerie was such an intense book! I couldn't think of any other way to describe it but INTENSE. I am so glad I read it, despite giving it three stars. I can't wait to read book two. :D It could not come soon enough!
ReplyDeleteLovely reviews, Pili! :)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Yep, intense works very well to define Menagerie!
DeleteI will have to add Menagerie to my library look-fors shelf on GR. I had seen people mentioning it, but I thought it was a book my sister had read about aliens putting humans in a zoo. Maybe that one was called The Menagerie. This one sounds like it is something I would be interested in because I am into animal rights, and of course against human trafficking. Thanks for the detailed review!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, the one about aliens putting humans in a zoo is called The Cage and it's YA, or at least the one I know of... Menagerie is very much NOT YA!
Delete