Hello there guys!!
Yep, I'm well aware that the blog has been pretty silent for the most part, despite a few blog tours post here and there. Seems like blog tours have been the only way to motivate me to blog as of late...
I'm hoping that a bit more blogging that I have up for this week will continue, even if it might be just three days a week for the most part.
Today I have two mini reviews for Mark These Book(s) Monday and both were highly coveted eARCs that I was approved for via Netgalley and sent a widget by the publisher for NG too. I am beyond happy that they allowed me to read these books in advance!
As Netgalley eARCs I'm also counting these two as part of my NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge!
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an absolutely gorgeous book! The writing, the characters, the little bits of magic here and there, the relationships between characters... it all fills me with a sense of wonder!
I have only read one or two magical realism books before reading WTMWO but I had not liked those previous books much, hadn't got into any of them and the fantasy elements seemed too random in relation with the story somehow, but even with those previous experiences, I went into reading this book with an open mind and I'm so very glad I did!!
The writing, Anna-Marie has a gloriously gorgeous writing style and a way with words that simply ensnared me from the very first page and line! I was not sure where the story was going, but I knew I was going to love my reading journey!
Miel and Sam, Honey and Moon, are both fantastic and complex characters, with a lot of magic in their story in very small and big ways but they felt so right and so part of the story, even if they never felt like we're in a fantasy world, but in a world very much like our own, just with a magic we might not see.
I absolutely loved the journey of growth and self acceptance and discovery that both Miel and Sam have to go through, and it's a beautiful story about Sam finally making his own decision between being Samir or Samira and how he wants to continue his life, and it was quite fantastic to see support for him in his family and Miel. And Miel also had a lot to learn and accept about herself and her past and to find a way to move on and be true to herself.
If you've ever wondered about reading magical realism, and you want to read a wonderfully diverse book, with a trans boy, Latina/o characters and amazing writing, When The Moon Was Ours is your book!
Very much deserved 5 stars!
A Study In Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm not usually a big fan of retellings, but if there is a kind of retelling I seem to adore, it's Sherlock Holmes retellings/reimaginings! The moment I found out about a gender swapped retelling of Sherlock done by Sherry Thomas, I knew I needed it badly, and I was extremely lucky to be allowed to read it early!
Charlotte (I was so tickled about the choice of name for our lady Sherlock!) is an uncommon woman, for her time and society and even for her closest family. We met her after she's made quite what it seems a rather unreasonable choice that will mark her life forever, but soon enough we see she is quite resourceful, despite the low position she has to overcome.
It's a while till we are involved in the main case for the book but I was so captivated by the character interactions and figuring out who would be who in this retelling, I adored how we get our Mrs Hudson and Watson all in one and with a wonderful past to boot! I love how much support & solidarity between can be found in this book, even with how very accurate to the time period everything is kept.
This gender swaped Sherlock Holmes captivated me from the very first page and had me in its thrall until I turned the last page! That characters were amazing, there is quite a shippity ship and the mystery was intriguing enough to have me guessing and still quite surprise me by the end!
I just need many many books to come in this series and I will devour them all as avidly as I've done with this one! Bravo, Sherry Thomas! So very well deserved 5 stars to this one!
View all my reviews
Yep, I'm well aware that the blog has been pretty silent for the most part, despite a few blog tours post here and there. Seems like blog tours have been the only way to motivate me to blog as of late...
I'm hoping that a bit more blogging that I have up for this week will continue, even if it might be just three days a week for the most part.
Today I have two mini reviews for Mark These Book(s) Monday and both were highly coveted eARCs that I was approved for via Netgalley and sent a widget by the publisher for NG too. I am beyond happy that they allowed me to read these books in advance!
As Netgalley eARCs I'm also counting these two as part of my NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge!
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemoreMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an absolutely gorgeous book! The writing, the characters, the little bits of magic here and there, the relationships between characters... it all fills me with a sense of wonder!
I have only read one or two magical realism books before reading WTMWO but I had not liked those previous books much, hadn't got into any of them and the fantasy elements seemed too random in relation with the story somehow, but even with those previous experiences, I went into reading this book with an open mind and I'm so very glad I did!!
The writing, Anna-Marie has a gloriously gorgeous writing style and a way with words that simply ensnared me from the very first page and line! I was not sure where the story was going, but I knew I was going to love my reading journey!
Miel and Sam, Honey and Moon, are both fantastic and complex characters, with a lot of magic in their story in very small and big ways but they felt so right and so part of the story, even if they never felt like we're in a fantasy world, but in a world very much like our own, just with a magic we might not see.
I absolutely loved the journey of growth and self acceptance and discovery that both Miel and Sam have to go through, and it's a beautiful story about Sam finally making his own decision between being Samir or Samira and how he wants to continue his life, and it was quite fantastic to see support for him in his family and Miel. And Miel also had a lot to learn and accept about herself and her past and to find a way to move on and be true to herself.
If you've ever wondered about reading magical realism, and you want to read a wonderfully diverse book, with a trans boy, Latina/o characters and amazing writing, When The Moon Was Ours is your book!
Very much deserved 5 stars!
A Study In Scarlet Women by Sherry ThomasMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm not usually a big fan of retellings, but if there is a kind of retelling I seem to adore, it's Sherlock Holmes retellings/reimaginings! The moment I found out about a gender swapped retelling of Sherlock done by Sherry Thomas, I knew I needed it badly, and I was extremely lucky to be allowed to read it early!
Charlotte (I was so tickled about the choice of name for our lady Sherlock!) is an uncommon woman, for her time and society and even for her closest family. We met her after she's made quite what it seems a rather unreasonable choice that will mark her life forever, but soon enough we see she is quite resourceful, despite the low position she has to overcome.
It's a while till we are involved in the main case for the book but I was so captivated by the character interactions and figuring out who would be who in this retelling, I adored how we get our Mrs Hudson and Watson all in one and with a wonderful past to boot! I love how much support & solidarity between can be found in this book, even with how very accurate to the time period everything is kept.
This gender swaped Sherlock Holmes captivated me from the very first page and had me in its thrall until I turned the last page! That characters were amazing, there is quite a shippity ship and the mystery was intriguing enough to have me guessing and still quite surprise me by the end!
I just need many many books to come in this series and I will devour them all as avidly as I've done with this one! Bravo, Sherry Thomas! So very well deserved 5 stars to this one!
View all my reviews
When the Moon Was Ours is so fantastic, I loved it. I loved the magic and the character development. I agree, it is very much a story about acceptance and self-discovery. Plus the writing is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCassi @ My Thoughts Literally
Agreed 100%, Cassi!!
DeleteI WANT TO READ WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS SO BADLY!!!!!!!!! *weeping*
ReplyDeleteIT'S SO AMAZING LALA!!
DeleteI am so excited that you loved When the Moon Was Ours!! Anna-Marie's words are so lyrical and amazing. And YAY for loving A study in Scarlet Women. I'm really excited to read that one. I love the idea of a lady Sherlock.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!!
YES!! Anna-Marie's writing is brilliant! And I'm sure you'll love A Study in Scarlet Women, Stacee! Let me know what you think when you do!
DeleteThat's it. I'm starting A Study in Scarlet Women tonight, I can't go another day without meeting Charlotte! I've read nothing but outstanding reviews:)
ReplyDeleteWhen the Moon Was Ours sounds amazing as well. Anything that gets a 5 from you goes on my list for sure!
YESSSS!! YOU MUST JENNY! Tweet me your feels when you read it (and hopefully love it!)!!
DeleteAnd WTMWO I think you'd love it too!
Both books sound fantastic, but I'm DYING to read When the Moon was Ours, I love the cover and synopsis and it sounds so very awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you loved them. Grear reviews!
I hope you'll when to read When The Moon Was Ours very soon Lis, it's fantastic!
DeleteI'd love to read A Study in Scarlet Women. Lovely mini reviews, Pili!
ReplyDelete// Paper Boulevard
I hope you'll get to read it soon, Yani, because it is fantastic! Thank you!
DeleteI've heard wonderful things about the diversity in When the moon was ours so I'm looking forward to reading it. The gender swapped Sherlock Holmes sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteAwesome reviews Pili :D Yay for loving both books so much. <3 I'm pretty curious about When The Moon Was Ours. But don't really think I would enjoy it. Aw. But it is so gorgeous. And eee, newest Sherry Thomas. <3 I must read it soon. So excited about it :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts about them both. <3
ReplyDelete