Review

Review | Together We Rot

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*Fantasy/Horror

Title: Together We Rot
Genre: YA Horror, Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Format: E-Book
Pages: 272 pages
Source: NetGalley and Penguin Random House

Description

A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

Wil Greene’s mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed–they claim she skipped town and you can’t find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn’t just leave…and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.

Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday–in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.

Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.

And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.

(Goodreads)

Together We Rot was a fairly compelling read. The book is true to the synopsis and does a great job of creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed how the author incorporated nature visuals in this one! However, where the book lost me at times was with the characters. I didn’t find them particularly memorable or fleshed out. Despite this, I did appreciate how the novel came together and wrapped up. The ending was satisfying!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Mysterious, Dark, Creepy

Values/Themes

  • Family
  • Trust
  • Nature

Favourite Part

The last third of the book.

Feelings

  • Eerie
  • Unsettling

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.25 Stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group/Viking Books for Young Readers for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Do you enjoy thrillers? Let us know!

Review | None of This is True

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Title: None of This is True
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Atria books
Format: E-Book
Pages: 384 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

Lisa Jewell has written an intriguing new psychological thriller featuring a woman who becomes the focus of her own popular true-crime podcast.

Alix Summers, a well-known podcaster, meets a seemingly unremarkable woman named Josie Fair at a pub while celebrating her 45th birthday. As it turns out, Josie shares the same birthday, making them “birthday twins.” A few days later, they run into each other again outside Alix’s children’s school, and Josie expresses interest in being the subject of Alix’s podcast series.

Despite her reservations about Josie, Alix can’t resist the opportunity to make a compelling podcast. However, as she delves deeper into Josie’s life, Alix discovers that Josie has been hiding some dark secrets. To her horror, Josie manages to infiltrate Alix’s life and home before abruptly disappearing. Alix soon realizes that Josie has left a frightening legacy behind, and her own life is now in danger.

The mystery of Josie Fair and her actions is at the heart of this gripping thriller.

Review

I’ll keep this review brief…

Lisa Jewell’s latest book had me completely engrossed from start to finish! I stayed up late into the night just to see what would happen next. Jewell skillfully sets the scene and introduces the main plot early on, with each chapter revealing new information that kept me eagerly turning the pages. While reading, I couldn’t help but shake my head at some of Alix’s decisions as she becomes more entangled in Josie’s world.

Even though I’ve completed the book, it still lingers in my thoughts. Especially that ending! Lisa Jewell possesses a talent for crafting truly unforgettable stories.

This is a thrilling read, although it may be unsettling and disturbing (refer to content warnings). If you enjoy reading Lisa Jewell’s books, this one is worth adding to your TBR list.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Disturbing, Medium/Fast-paced, Rollercoaster

Values/Themes

  • Trust
  • Lies
  • Deceit

Favourite Part

The suspenseful nature of the read.

Feelings

  • Dark
  • Mysterious
  • Unsettling
  • Twisted

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5 Stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Do you enjoy thrillers? Let us know!

REVIEWS | A Cat Family Christmas & Daisy Woodworm Changes the World

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Title: Cat Family Christmas: An Advent Lift-the-Flap Book (with Over 140 Flaps)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Books, Holiday
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Format: E-Book
Pages: 24 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

Count down the twelve days til Christmas in this delightful advent book. With a nod to nostalgic Victorian advent calendars, open up tiny but sturdy flap ‘doors’ on each one of the 24 pages to reveal little details and surprises.

Peer inside the cupboard doors and different-sized tins in the busy Cat Family kitchen to find the missing ingredients for the cake. Open all the front doors on the street when the Cat Family go carol singing.

This is a whimsical Christmas book that gives the Victorian advent calendar tradition a contemporary twist for advent calendar door–hungry hands. Every page is rich with Liberty print–style patterns and William Morris–inspired friezes.

The Cat Family is full of character and personality, and the picture painted of the holiday season in this charming picture book will fill you and your family with Christmas cheer!

(Goodreads)

Review

Get this one before the 12 days of Christmas start!

This lift-the-flap advent book features beautifully illustrated pages of a cat family during Christmas as they prepare and celebrate the holiday season. The placement of the various flaps was done cleverly and will be so much fun for readers to explore as they progress through the story.

Not only are the activities engaging, but the story itself is as well, as it counts down the 12 days of Christmas. As you flip through the book, note the different animal families, which include rabbits, badgers, and foxes (among others!). It is lovely to see the various families as they board the sleeper train! Even the houses display snowmen outside (e.g., snow-cats and snow-ducks!)

This book is so much fun to read with your little ones as you approach Christmas day. The last page ends on Christmas Eve.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This Book in Three Words

Cozy, Festive, Cats!

Values/Themes

  • Family
  • Holiday Traditions
  • Togetherness

Favourite Part

I loved to see all of the animal families boarding the train!

Feelings

  • Lighthearted
  • Relaxing
  • Fun

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Daisy Woodworm Changes the World
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Format: E-Book
Pages: 288 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

Thirteen-year-old Daisy Woodward loves insects, running track, and hanging out with her older brother, Sorrel, who has Down syndrome and adores men’s fashion. When her social studies teacher assigns each student an oral report and project to change the world for the better, Daisy fears the class bully–who calls her Woodworm–will make fun of her lisp. Still, she decides to help Sorrel fulfill his dream of becoming a YouTube fashion celebrity despite their parents’ refusal to allow him on social media.

With the help of her best friend, Poppy, and Miguel–the most popular boy in school and her former enemy–Daisy launches Sorrel’s publicity campaign. But catastrophe strikes when her parents discover him online along with hateful comments from a cyberbully. If Daisy has any hope of changing the world, she’ll have to regain her family’s trust and face her fears of public speaking to find her own unique and powerful voice.

Daisy Woodworm Changes the World includes an author’s note and additional resources.

(Goodreads)

Review

When prompted with the question, “How can one save the world?” Daisy immediately thinks of Sorrel, her brother who has Down Syndrome, and how she could best support his ambition to become a fashion icon and youtube star.

Daisy and Sorrel are faced with many obstacles, and with the representation of Down Syndrome, another strength of this book is how Daisy, with the help of her friends, family, and teacher, can make the world a better place. I liked that this story showed how important it is to reframe goals and ask for aid when needed. I loved Sorrel and the strong bond between the two siblings. Regarding the pacing, the last half of the book flowed very nicely. I also wanted to know more about Daisy, but this may be something to look forward to in the future. This book is well-suited for a middle-grade audience/classroom. Daisy wants to study insects so cool facts about insects are provided.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This Book in Three Words

Uplifting, Inspiring, Realistic

Values/Themes

  • Goal setting
  • Self-Esteem
  • Friendship
  • Family
  • Economic disparities

Favourite Part

Several friendships blossom throughout the book.

Feelings

  • Emotional
  • Hopeful
  • Uplifting

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.75 Stars

QOTD: What is the last book you’ve read? Let us know!

REVIEW | Cat’s Don’t Like Christmas! by Andy Wortlock and Nahum Ziersch (Illustrator)

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The Storygraph | Goodreads
Title: Cat’s Don’t Like Christmas!
Genre: Children’s, Picture Books
Publisher: Splash Books
Format: E-Book
Pages: 35 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

It’s Christmas time! It’s here again!

But first I need to say…

I think you’re making too much fuss

about this holiday!

Our adorable little cat is back this Christmas and he thinks there might be a little too much fuss this holiday season. Cats aren’t great with change and there’s plenty this time of year, in such a short period of time! For little and big readers, this is the funny, festive, companion to the award winning, Cats Don’t Like That! by Andy Wortlock and Nahum Ziersch.

Enjoy this special holiday treat and get your festive paws on a copy today!

(Goodreads)

Review

This feline-tastic book is an adorable and hilarious picture book detailing all of the annoyances cats face during a busy family Christmas. Each page features a clever rhyme and is beautifully illustrative of the narration, full of wit and charm!

As a mega cat lover, I feel like there is also an important tale to tell here: with compassion and empathy, we can enjoy Christmas while not pestering our pets too much, if only our family and guests let them have adequate quiet time in addition to love, and affection.

Make sure to read until the end because every page features a hidden mouse! Enjoy finding these together with your little ones (or, in my case, my cat Olivia who was eager to spot them!).

Highly recommended! Purrfect for kids and adults, too!

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy. All opinions are my own.

This Book in Three Words

Witty, Charming, Cute

Values/Themes

  • Cats during Christmas time
  • Awareness of feline friends during the holidays
  • Scavenger Hunt

Favourite Part

Clearly, our favourite part was the mouse scavenger hunt!

Feelings

  • Funny
  • Lighthearted
  • Adorable

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5 Stars

QOTD: What is your favourite Christmas-time picture book? This is a new favourite for us!

Review | Jackal by Erin E. Adams

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The Storygraph | Goodreads
Title: Jackal
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Bantam
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 336 pages
Source: Audible
Date Started: October 7th, 2022
Date Finished: October 11th, 2022

Description

It’s watching.
Liz Rocher is coming home . . . reluctantly. As a Black woman, Liz doesn’t exactly have fond memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white town. But her best friend is getting married, so she braces herself for a weekend of awkward and passive-aggressive reunions. Liz has grown, though; she can handle whatever awaits her. But on the day of the wedding, somewhere between dancing and dessert, the bride’s daughter, Caroline, goes missing—and the only thing left behind is a piece of white fabric covered in blood.

It’s taking.
As a frantic search begins, with the police combing the trees for Caroline, Liz is the only one who notices a pattern: a summer night. A missing girl. A party in the woods. She’s seen this before. Keisha Woodson, the only other Black girl in school, walked into the woods with a mysterious man and was later found with her chest cavity ripped open and her heart missing. Liz shudders at the thought that it could have been her, and now, with Caroline missing, it can’t be a coincidence. As Liz starts to dig through the town’s history, she uncovers a horrifying secret about the place she once called home. Children have been going missing in these woods for years. All of them Black. All of them girls.

It’s your turn.
With the evil in the forest creeping closer, Liz knows what she must do: find Caroline, or be entirely consumed by the darkness.

(Goodreads)

Review

This book was one of my most anticipated books of the year. When October came around, I knew I had to use my audible credit to purchase it because I couldn’t wait for a hold from the library, and I definitely couldn’t wait for the next day to grab the physical copy. It was a cold, chilling evening, and I had to start this book that very night. And I’m so glad that I did.

Immediately, I was drawn into Adams’ world, intrigued to understand the mystery behind the missing girls and how our main character would unravel the mystery within. Given the engaging synopsis, how could I not? There was a slow build as the story progressed, which I enjoyed. There were themes such as social horror, racism, and classism that were horrifying but important to read.

As you progress, the story only gets better and better. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I was satisfied with the ending. I recommend reading the physical book as the middle of the book was a bit slow, and I think I may have enjoyed reading the hardcover copy even more. And I think this would have been a good one to tab, highlight, and write notes.

I highly recommend you pick this one up before October 31st, but of course, check out the content warnings and the themes. Horror readers: add this to your TBR.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Impactful, Atmospheric, Haunting

Values/Themes

  • Social horror
  • Missing girls
  • Racism
  • Classism

Favourite Part

The entire ending – you’ll want to hold until because that last quarter of the book was so chilling!

Feelings

  • Dark
  • Mysterious
  • Tense

My Ratings:

Writing Style: 3.5
Characters: 3.75
Plot Development: 4
Originality: 4.5
Engagingness: 3.75
Insightfulness: 4.5
Comprehensiveness: 3.5
Impactfulness: 3.5
Narration: 3.75

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 4 stars

QOTD: Do you enjoy reading
horror? Let us know!

Review | seven years: poems on heartbreak and healing

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The Storygraph | Goodreads
Title: seven years: poems on heartbreak and healing
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Alyssa Harmon Publishing
Format: E-Book
Pages: 121 pages
Source: BookSirens
Date Started: September 23rd, 2022
Date Finished: September 23rd, 2022


Happy Publication Day!

Description

Some people say that each cell in your body replaces itself after seven years. At the end of the seven years, you are a physically and mentally new person. “seven years” is Alyssa Harmon’s debut collection of poems on heartbreak and healing. Each chapter represents a new stage in the relationship and healing process, and these poems tell the story of a failed relationship and the healing journey that resulted because of that. If your heart was broken in a way that you’re not sure can be healed, this book is for you.

(The Storygraph)

Review

This poetry book is an excellent collection. It spans over seven years in the healing process after heartbreak. While the themes deal with a failed relationship, I also feel that the poems can apply to loss or the hurdles one faces, though this may not be the intended motivation behind these works. Poetry is so personal and may be interpreted in different ways.

Many poems have intriguing titles inviting you to read them (e.g., kalopsia, calidris, and lacheism.) Others have more straight-forward titles, such as “a halloween nightmare,” and provide interesting stories, some of which I connected with quite a bit.

I recommend looking into the poetry collection, especially if the synopsis calls out to you. You may find it best to read this with a cup of tea and tissues by your side. I also recommend tabbing your kindle e-book or physical copy as you go along for future reference.

Thank you to BookSirens and Alyssa Harmon for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings

Values/Themes

  • Heartbreak
  • Self Empowerment
  • Relationships

Favourite Part

My favourite poems were:

  • fortune teller
  • monophobia
  • mirrors
  • lacheism
  • the doctor’s office
  • you can’t relight a used match.

Feelings

  • Emotional
  • Hopeful
  • Reflective

My Ratings:

Writing Style: 3.75
Originality: 3.5
Engagingness: 4
Insightfulness: 4
Comprehensiveness: 4
Impactfulness: 3.75

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 4 stars

QOTD: Do you enjoy
poetry books? Let us know!

Review | Dark Room Etiquette

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The Storygraph | Goodreads
Title: Dark Room Etiquette
Genre: YA, Thriller, Horror, Contemporary
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: E-Book
Pages: 512 pages
Source: NetGalley
Date Started: September 5th, 2022
Date Finished: September 8th, 2022


Dark Room Etiquette comes out tomorrow!

Description

Sixteen-year-old Sayers Wayte has everything—until he’s kidnapped by a man who tells him the privileged life he’s been living is based on a lie.

Trapped in a windowless room, without knowing why he’s been taken or how long the man plans to keep him shut away, Sayers faces a terrifying new reality. To survive, he must forget the world he once knew, and play the part his abductor has created for him.

But as time passes, the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, and Sayers begins to wonder if he can escape . . . before he loses himself. 
(Goodreads)

Review

When I sat down to start this book, I knew a couple of things: this is about a sixteen-year-old kidnapped boy told that his former life was all a lie and that he needed to adapt to his new environment to survive. I thought I came prepared for the emotions I would feel along this journey – I was not.

First, the book is unsettling. Even before the kidnapping, I felt uneasy due to conflicting emotions. Sayers is a highly complex character; you see his weakness, strengths, and humanity. Presented as a teenager from an incredibly wealthy background, I appreciated how his privilege impacts his behaviour at school and with his family and friends.

Secondly, Sayers has to adapt to survive, and how he does so impacted me immensely. As the plot progressed, I could appreciate how a knowledge base and background research would be essential to write this story. The book presented some theories in psychology that impacted Sayers in the story, some he recalls later on.

Third, many characters were multi-dimensional – you could see a clear contrast between their personalities at the beginning and end of the book. In fact, some characters were almost unrecognizable by the end and others, such as Garrett, were static. Sayers’ personality experienced many changes; some of the directions his mind went brought me to tears.

Finally, I like that this was a story not just of the event – the kidnapping, but responses to trauma and the aftermath. Learning to cope in an abusive environment was Sayers’ key to survival. Sadly, the intense trauma he faced hindered him in some very unexpected and heartbreaking ways. At several points, I desperately wanted to plead with Sayers on what he should do – I can imagine other readers having the same response.

Please review the content warnings before reading this book. This book is such a memorable, emotional, and intense read. It is my first time reading the author’s works and I look forward to reading many more!

Thank you to NetGalley, Robin Roe, and HarperTeen for providing this review copy. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Tense, Survival, Adaptation

Values/Themes

  • Kidnapping
  • Survival
  • Trauma
  • Coping Mechanisms

Favourite Part

There are two friendships that forms later on in the book that I really loved to see.

Feelings

  • Dark
  • Emotional
  • Tense

My Ratings:

Writing Style: 4.5
Characters: 4.5
Plot Development: 4.5
Originality: 4.5
Engagingness: 5
Insightfulness: 5
Comprehensiveness: 4.5
Impactfulness: 4.5

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 4.5 stars

QOTD: Have you read any of
Robin Roe’s books? Let us know!

September Reading Wrap up!

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Hi everyone! Here is our September Reading Wrap-Up!
September was a good reading month with lots of 4 star reviews, and some 5 stars as well. As many of you know, I had a back injury in September, so reading some good books was a must for me this past month!

Reading Statistics

Olivia and I decided to read lots of fast/medium-paced books with emotion, adventure, and mystery! Generally speaking, that is our vibe during the fall months, so not too surprised! Some books were dark and tense, again, what I would expect to see during Autumn since I love thrillers. We also had some cozy reads, too (not shown on graph, but you’ll definitely find some in our ratings slides).

During Autumn, we love to read fiction – I think it’s the upcoming whimsical vibes in the air that does it for us! And most books were above 300 pages. I’m very happy about that.

This month, we hosted the Hello Autumn/Hello Spring Readathon which was a blast! And we managed to read 5 arcs. Unfortunately, we were not able to do our TBR game (filming was just not in the cards for me this month due to the injury). But we managed to get some 5 star reads this month!

Below, you’ll find our reading wrap-up and mini reviews. Ratings are rounded either up or down (E.g., a 4.5 star rating = 5 stars on sites that use whole numbers or for infographics.) There are still a few upcoming full reviews to come, so look out for those!

Reading Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

Books 1-6.

Book Cover images link to Goodreads. Highlighted Book Titles link to book reviews. Content Warnings link to The Storygraph, if available. Books with an “NG” were from NetGalley & “B” were from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, Mattias Ripa (Translator)
Published: June 1st, 2004
(5 stars) I’m so thankful this book exists. I learned so much about the Iranian revolution and the social impacts it had on daily life and as a whole. It has humour, joy, love, and heartbreak. Definitely recommend this one, I really loved learning about Marjane and her family as well and enjoyed the illustrations so much.  Graphic Novel, Nonfiction.
Content Warnings.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson.
Published: September 6th, 2022.
(4.5 stars) I don’t think there’s a book by Tiffany D. Jackson I haven’t enjoyed. This one is no exception – The Weight of Blood is such an amazing Carrie retelling, one I enjoy even more than the original story. It highlights important social issues and racism while giving us a fantastic, layered story. There are numerous perspectives and timelines. Definitely check out the content warnings, but I highly recommend this book. YA, Horror, Thriller, Retelling.
Content Warnings.

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe.
Release Date: October 11th, 2022.
(4.5 stars) This book is highly unsettling as it shows teenager named Sayers and his struggle to stay alive after being kidnapped as well as the trauma that takes hold on his life. It’s such an emotional, memorable, and intense read that I highly recommend it; please take note of the content warnings due to the subject matter. YA, Thriller, Horror. (NG)
Content Warnings.
Full review to come.

Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee.
Published: September 15th, 2020.
(4.25 stars). Oh, was this ever cute! I honestly loved the illustrations in this book so much. They were warm, cozy, and had all the Autumn vibes you could ever hope for. The story was very cute, and I definitely recommend it. Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Fantasy.
Content Warnings.

Seven Years: Poems on Heartbreak and Healing by Alyssa Harmon
Release Date: October 11th, 2022.
(4 stars). This was a lovely collection of poems by Alyssa Harmon that span over 7 years, during which the synopsis notes that the body regenerates. I feel that this collection will definitely resonate with many readers and recommend it. Poetry. (B)

Bait and Witch (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries #1) by Angela M. Sanders
Published: September 15th, 2020.
(4 stars). I love a cozy mystery – and this one has cats and witchcraft – purrfect combination! I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy, both of which are great. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series. Cozy Mystery.
Content Warnings.

Book 7-12

Witches of Brooklyn (Witches of Brooklyn #1) by Sophie Escabasse.
Release Date: September 1st, 2020.
(4 stars). I thought this was a fun graphic novel about our main character, Effie, who must live with her aunts and discovers she’s a witch! The book gave me Sabrina The Teenage Witch vibes, especially the episode where Sabrina meets Britney Spears! But it’s completely distinct and has its own cute story. Enjoyed it! Middle Grade, Fantasy.
Content Warnings.

Ghostcloud by Michael Mann.
Release Date: September 6th, 2020.
(3.75 stars) Full Review. Middle Grade, Fantasy, Ghosts. (NG)
Content Warnings.

The Family Remains (The Family Upstairs #2) by Lisa Jewell.
Release Date: August 9th, 2022.
(3 stars). This was a bit of a disappointment for me! I was hoping to absolutely be thrilled by this book, however the story really didn’t do it for me. I think that the crafting of the book was excellent, though. Classic Lisa Jewell. Mystery, Thriller.
Content Warnings.

A Cat Cafe Christmas by Codi Gary.
Release Date: October 4th, 2022.
(3 stars). Full Review. Romance, Holiday. (NG)
Content Warnings.

The Lost Witch by H.L. MacFarlane.
Release Date: December 27th, 2022.
(3 stars). Overall, I think this is a good story. The prologue and earlier chapters hooked me. I was fascinated to learn more about Brigid, Knightly, Dove, and others. As the book progressed, especially in the middle third, it became challenging to understand what was happening. Fortunately, in later chapters, the narration improved for me. I would recommend this to readers interested in a mixture between fantasy and romance; however, be wary if any of the points mentioned are an issue. Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal. (NG)
Content Warnings.
Full review to come.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken.
Published: January 5th, 2021.
(3 stars). Full Review. Fantasy, Mythology, YA.
Content Warnings.

QOTD: What was your favourite read this September?
Let us know!

Review | Five Little Indians

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The Storygraph | Goodreads
Title: Five Little Indians
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304 pages
Source: Chapters Indigo
Date Started: October 3rd, 2022
Date Finished: October 4th, 2022

Description

Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention.

Alone and without any skills, support or families, the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, where they cling together, striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn’t want them. The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome, or at least forget, the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission.
(Goodreads)

Review

This book is a highly impactful and emotional story of five residential school survivors. It has won numerous awards, including Canada Reads (2022), Governor General’s Literary Award (2020), and the First Novel Award (2021).

Through the years, we follow the impact of trauma on each of the children and the difficulty they face overcoming the burdens inflicted on them while at the residential school.

Multiple timelines and perspectives are present, providing an overall sense of the depth and course of intergenerational trauma.

Moments of joy and humour are also present throughout, as are deep friendships and relationships. I especially loved the bond formed between Clara, Mariah and her dear pup, John Lennon.

I highly recommend this book; however, please read the content warnings linked below beforehand. I also suggest reading this book with a notepad at your side to jot down reflections along the way.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Impactful

Raw

Survival

Values/Themes

  • Strength
  • Loss
  • Residential Schools
  • Trauma
  • Resilience

Favourite Part

The time between Clara and Mariah in the woods; the relationship that forms between them and the strength and guidance of the ancestors in Clara’s journey.

Feelings

  • Reflective
  • Challenging
  • Hopeful

My Ratings:

Writing Style: 4.5
Characters: 5
Plot Development: 4.5
Originality: 5
Engagingness: 5
Inisightfulness: 5
Comprehensiveness: 4.5
Impactfulness: 5

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5 stars