Review: A Deadly Education (The Scholomance #1)

2 stars. Hahahahaha. Okay. An education INDEED. I am honestly so sorry - I tried to like this. I really did. I had heard that it's supposed to be like a sort of warped HP from Hermione's perspective with a lot more violence and death. And it was, I guess. But this damn book seemed designed for me to hate - full of a bunch of personal pet peeves that I just couldn’t get over.

But first: The Controversy. I did some research before starting to read, trying to get some clarity on the accusations and the reasons why it's being called racist. And I think I understand. Some of the language choices in this book come across as clinical and forced and ignorant. I'll be the first to cry "depiction is not endorsement," (or in other words - the character thinks this, but does the author?) but to be honest I don't even feel like I should weigh in. Please know that I tried to read this with a critical eye and an open mind and a determination to use it as an opportunity to learn - if not on what to do, at the very least on what not to do. I see why readers were offended. I also see why the author made the choices she did.

Okay. A Deadly Education is about a teenage girl named Galadriel, a student at a violent and terrifying magical school called the Scholomance. The Scholomance houses and teaches magic-wiedling young people how to hone their craft while being threatened - constantly and to the death - by evil monsters lurking in the walls and the dark corners of their home. El gets a bit tangled up socially with the school hero, Orion Lake, and has to navigate the typical minefields of being an adolescent (puberty, cafeteria politics, academic competition) while, well, trying to stay alive in an environment that's trying to kill her before graduation.

Oh, man. Okay. Again, I apologize. I really did try. But when I hit 86% and I found myself skimming?! Forget about it. I can tell Naomi Novik really, really loved her own idea and dug deep. I get it. But I feel like I have to catalogue why this didn't work for me, even though it feels kind of gross to do so, because I just know there are readers out there who have the same cringe triggers as me (if they aren't put off by all the well-deserved dramatic conversation surrounding this book in the first place):

First - the British slang and mannerisms. It's a bit difficult to explain, but they didn't fit right here. Every time I came across one ("git" "scanner" etc.) they seemed cute-in-a-bad-way, out-of-place, and forced.

Second - Orion. I am on a lifelong quest to find a well-written teenage boy - or at the very least, a teenage boy character that resembles even just one of the teenage boys I have actually known in real life. My quest continues.

Third - the use of the name Galadriel and the LOTR references. This is a personal thing for me (I told you these were pet peeves!). LOTR is so sacred to me it honestly felt ... weird. When El started randomly referencing her name and the movies and ... something about this just seemed really off. Like a wink or a nod that was TOTALLY unnecessary.

Fourth - the exposition! The info dumping! ARGHHHH! I initially thought the first chapter would be the heaviest - full of explanations and terminology and rule-dropping - but NO! This type of writing - "educating the reader as we go along with the story" - continues for the rest of the damn. book. I'm talking about a new character/concept (the valedictorian thing) in the FINAL PAGES OF THE BOOK. The action itself, if we removed all the lecturing, would probably be about five pages long. I'M SERIOUS. If you are in the mood to be TAUGHT a CONCEPT, rather than READ a STORY, this book might be for you.

Fifth - wayyyy too much emphasis on cafeteria tables. I went through that in middle school and I have no desire to enter into any intense consideration of that sort of thing ever, ever, ever again in my life.

I will say: it's a fascinating, complex concept. And Naomi Novik does a great job of subverting tropes and creating delightfully stubborn, fierce, powerful female protagonist. El's overall feistiness was truly appreciated. I'll give her that. I also think more books - especially YA books - should so blatantly explore and address issues like inequality and economic status quo. I know it's a hot topic word, but there is a lot about privilege and its advantages.

I'm bummed though, dude. I really am. It was just a 2-star read for me.

A Deadly Education on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Piranesi

5 stars. All the stars. Favorite read of 2020. Piranesi will be etched in my mind forever as a book that feels written For Me. Beautiful, strange, special. Those are the words that come to mind but there's so much to think about and so much to unpack - how on earth can I process it all?! I checked it out from the library but will be buying it immediately so I can return to the Halls as often as possible. Daily, maybe. For comfort.

Piranesi is a collection of journal entries written by an unknown and unnamed narrator who inhabits a labyrinthian world of connected classical buildings full of statues. He shares this world with no other people - just the ocean, amiable flocks of birds, and the remains of those who traveled there before him. He seeks to catalogue the world, tracking the tides of the ocean and mapping the halls and their statues. He receives regular visits from another man he calls the Other - a man who seeks a Great Knowledge within the world. And he begins to realize, slowly, that there is more beyond his world. More than he ever could have possibly imagined.

I keep considering Annihilation as a suitable comparison - both feature deeply academic minds (systematic thinkers) as protagonists, both feature mindbending, metaphysical mysteries, both have become infinitely special to me. I appreciate books about people who must work hard to fit; people who try and try to fit and don't and eventually discover that the fact that they don’t allows them to navigate impossible - and I mean impossible - situations. I love these characters. They are my tribe.

Clarke's aesthetics, her visuals and imagery and descriptions of the statues, were shots straight to my art-starved heart. I certainly didn't expect to miss museums so much during the Terrors of 2020 - not just the museums themselves, but the specific experiences and memories of visiting them, walking around, feeling weightless and soothed by the art around me (ex-art history student, lol). I realize Piranesi's world is NOT a museum, exactly, but the sisterly concept made my soul ache all the same. Some of the passages about how the narrator turns to the statues for comfort, knowledge, protection, with so much reverence and respect ... are absolutely lovely.

Are there lessons here? Probably - definitely. For such a little book, Piranesi explores big stuff like identity, academic pursuit, ego, humanity, survival, resilience, fear, deception, friendship, memory and kindness. Moments, such as when Piranesi sacrifices three days of fuel to help an albatross build a nest, will stick with me forever. The contrast between the interactions Piranesi has with the Other and then with 16 (trying to avoid spoilers) says so much about intention and empathy. It hurts but it feels good.

So much about me!! Ugh. This is turning into a response/reaction, not a review. Plot-wise, story-wise though, Piranesi is a work of genius. We as readers are dropped into something so strange it should be too much - but it isn't. Clarke never, ever asks too much of the reader, and the way she drops little hints and clues and glimpses of the bigger picture is brilliant. The pacing is perfect. The unspooling of this thread is incredible. This should be studied. Which it will, by me. A lot.

Piranesi on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3)

3 stars. I KNOW! KILL ME! But before I go further I feel like I should expand on a couple of things: first, I don't like endings. I naturally dislike them. I don't know why! I just prefer beginnings. Second, I don't like it when sexual tension is ... well ... resolved. There's a reason I started hating The Office when Pam and Jim got together. I like banter! I like angst! I'll take a cruel bully over a lovesick puppy! (What is wrong with me?) So I'm giving this a lower rating because honestly - it would have never been my favorite to begin with. It's a me thing, not an author thing, not a story thing, not a writing thing.

That being said, more objectively, this may have been a little weaker by way of plot. I missed the fierce excitement of the first two, and I missed the nastiness. There wasn't enough bite. I loved the icky cliffhanger of the second book - actually, I'm not going to summarize because I want to avoid spoilers - but I was hoping that it would take a bit more rock'n'roll for Jude to get herself out of that one. Cardan's transformation over these three books seemed a little too smooth for my taste. And the ending?! Would you like some crackers with that cheese?!

Otherwise, WOW. What an accomplishment! This series is awesome, compelling, addictive, well-written, and FUN. Holly Black wrapped things up super suitably, throwing out credible and interesting character developments like confetti. I really, really loved the way Jude learned her lessons without sacrificing the core of her identity. I can see why so many readers connected with her and stand behind her - in fact, I can see why this series inspired such a passionate fanbase (which says a lot, coming from someone who is mostly disgruntled about fanbases).

Worth the time and the effort and then some. And I managed to finish another series just before the end of the year, per my mostly-failed reading challenge. Go me.

The Queen of Nothing on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2)

4 stars. Delighted to find that Holly Black really settled into the storytelling in this book. It's more sophisticated than the first and brilliant as a trilogy bridge. There's more self-awareness from the writing and from the characters themselves. Happy to say I really enjoyed my return visit to Trope City. There's more faerie politics! More intrigue! More romance! More murder! So fun.

The Wicked King picks up where The Cruel Prince left off, with Cardan on the throne and Jude by his side as his "counselor," aka, ruler of the kingdom (not a spoiler). But, like, there's so much trouble afoot - family drama, and upcoming wedding, threats from old villains seeking revenge, and dangerous alliances that could lead to outright war.

One of my favorite aspects of Jude's character and her journey is her struggle with herself - her regret, her guilt, her awareness of her own poor decision-making - the arrogant and power-hungry aspects of her identity. In fact, I loved the level of self-loathing among a few of the characters. I also really appreciate her relationship with her guardian/second father, which is complicated and messy and blurs the line between love and hate (it's a thing, okay?! And no, I don't mean "hate-to-love," lol).

Also worth noting: Jude's appearance is barely described. It's not how she measures her self-worth, nor how she is judged. These books are unapologetic about things like sex and nudity - focusing less on moral judgments and more on advancement of character. It's a fascinating way to write YA and is clearly done well here, so I hope there's more books like this to come!

Immersive and captivating don't even begin to cover it. More sophisticated than the first and just as entertaining.

The Wicked King on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1)

4 stars. Okay, I can see why readers love this series. I haven't picked up a YA fantasy in ages and I have to say, the dress (described in exquisite detail, of course, typically pastel or ombre with delicate embellishments that compliment my eyes), still fits. I really enjoyed it. Perfect? Far from it. But it read nicely and was utterly compelling from a sugary, just-one-more-bite kind of way.

For those of you on Goodreads who have miraculously missed the prevalence of this book, The Cruel Prince is about a mortal girl named Jude, who, after the brutal murder of her parents (not a spoiler), is raised in the land of faeries. Her guardian is a war general for the king, who plans to abdicate and crown one of his sons. As the coronation approaches, Jude gets super tangled in faerie court politics in the messy way only feisty YA protagonists can, which is to say, pick up your sword and outsmart them all, girl. Spill some blood in between the hot kissing.

I really enjoyed the fact that Holly Black makes this a modern story while sticking - for the most part - to the original faerie canon. There's so much lore to revel in, like bargains and truth-telling and magic and changelings and revelry and enchantment and twinkly lights and sweet wine and dangerous fruit. I loved that aspect and hope she leans into it in future books.

Otherwise, well, listen. It's a trope city up in here. But I still loved it. This book reminded me of a sensation I used to feel while reading - something that's largely lost as an adult, or maybe because of the books I read these days. And that sensation is possibility. These are the types of books that are arguably ridiculous, obvious fantasy. But you can't help but feel a little inkling of hope that maybe somewhere, for someone, it's real.

I'll take one Cardan to go, please.

The Cruel Prince on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: In An Absent Dream (Wayward Children #4)

4 stars. What an incredible fairy tale. I love the way Seanan McGuire makes room for the in-between individuals: those of us who are average, plain, decidedly not superstars but who deserve star treatment anyway. This one felt just as preachy as the others, but I appreciated the message more - even as it was being screamed in my ear.

In An Absent Dream focuses on Katherine Lundy, who escapes to the Goblin Market where there is no asking - there is only exchange for fair value. Though she loves and embraces her new home, she feels pulled towards her old one, caught between two worlds, two ways of life, two families. Desperate to cheat the system and have both, she makes a choice and is punished accordingly, which is how she winds up at Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children. 

It contains all things I’ve grown to expect from Seanan McGuire: a deft exploration of gender, society, and other themes (in this case, fairness), emphasis on the space in-between the adventures rather than the adventures themselves, a flavor of caution that tastes so like a fairy tale, witty writing, delicious world-building. I’ve mentioned before that these books always inspire me and make me consider where my own door would go … knowing there will be a price, of course. 

Whimsical, clever and brutal. 

In An Absent Dream on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Howl's Moving Castle

5 stars. I am completely unclear as to how this managed to escape my attention earlier in life - but I’m actually quite glad I waited till adulthood to read it. It’s obviously an instant fairy tale classic, full of unconventional adventures, silly characters, fantastic settings, flawed magic, and deep wit, and I’ve fallen in love with the completely unique nature of the story. Especially thanks to recent events, J.K. Rowling can walk off a cliff as far as I’m concerned. This is the real deal. This is wonderfully whimsical and fun.

Howl’s Moving Castle is about a young, demure girl named Sophie who, through a series of unfortunate misunderstandings, is cursed by the Witch of the Waste to become an old woman. Embracing her new identity and leaving her old life behind, Sophie finds shelter in a moving castle inhabited by the wizard Howl, his apprentice Michael, and a feisty fire demon named Calcifer. Together this team of misfits fight battles small (the dust and spiders MUST go!) and large (the Witch of the Waste’s curse looms over them all) to reach a happy ending full of surprises. 

Things I loved: Calcifer - hands down, favorite character. I also loved the way things just happen, without rhyme or reason or explanation. There’s a sort of “just go with it” vibe that I found very refreshing. Also: the unexpected twists and turns that had even me guessing. The fact that the heroes and heroines of this story are flawed and imperfect and guaranteed to make many mistakes along the way. The way our ragtag group of friends bicker and banter as a way to show each other love and support. The sheer creativity of it all. Wales Rugby! Flowers! Hats! Drying Power!

Normally this is where I’d list the things I didn’t love, but for once, I have no complaints. Interestingly, the writing style takes some getting used to - it’s a bit … well, genius/unique? That’s the best I can come up with. I can’t wait to read it again, though, because I want to dig for hidden details and clues. I want to carve away the layers and get beyond the first blushes of love and dive deep into what makes this story tick. I know there’s buried treasure within these words. 

This is the type of book best enjoyed with a swish, savor, and swallow. I’d consider it foundational fantasy and a must-read for kids and adults alike. I want to jump into this world and never come back. I’m currently in a cabin with no Wi-Fi, or I’d be doing research on what is sure to be a very passionate fandom right now. I believe I saw the adaptation once many, many years ago and look forward to watching it again, even if it washes away my own interpretations. The soul of this story is what’s important.

Quick note: the edition I read included an interview with the author in the back, and she said that many, many, many young female readers have declared a desire to marry Howl. Um, what. No. Howl is a nightmare. Howl is my WORST nightmare. Howl has a heart of gold but he’s a DIVA KING! Just, no. He’s so extra. (Still, I’m pretty sure he and Sophie would have super hot make-up sex.)

Howl’s Moving Castle on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Time to Smell the Roses (The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures #4)

5 stars. *sniffle* Man, I'm really going to miss these characters. Hermux, thanks for the adventures, the laughs, the memories and the snacks. (These books ALWAYS make me hungry - the food is cheesy and quaint and so delicious-sounding!) This one wraps up nicely, just like the first three, with a satisfying crack that reminds me of reading Nancy Drew and Sammy Keyes as a kid. 

Hermux, Terfle and Linka are at last ready to start their new lives together when a Mystery Appears! This one involves a murder, perfume, competitive business rivals, and a few deep family secrets. It's scandalous, twisted, tangled, and of course Tucka's right in the middle of it all. Expect a lot of clever rose puns, bee stings and new friends :)

I do enjoy that each of these books features a "theme" - art, history, the theater - although this was probably my least favorite. But I loved the story. There are breathtaking action sequences along with some really heartwarming moments. I'm so bummed the books haven't continued - I would've loved to hear what sort of doughnuts were served at the Tantamoq/Perflinger wedding. 

This is a random detail, but I really enjoy - beyond just her nature and narrative presence - how everyone else treats Hermux's pet. It's a sign that a character is "good" when he or she treats Terfle with respect, and a sign that a character is "bad," or villainous, when Terfle is ignored. There are many lessons embedded in these pages, and this to me is one of the most charming and important.

Sigh. I just love these cozy, nostalgic, amusing mysteries. 

Time to Smell the Roses on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: No Time Like Show Time (The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures #3)

5 stars. Precious in the best way. I know that the Hermux Tantamoq Adventures were popular upon publication, I have no idea why they didn't stay popular beyond that. To me they are up there with Roald Dahl, Eva Ibbotson, the Redwall books... they're wonderfully clever and entertaining.

This, the third book in the series, takes Hermux and his charming pet Terfle to the theater. We meet old favorites, like Linka, new heroes, like Hermux's hilarious best friend Nip, and vicious villains with multiple identities and evil plans! It's all very charming - a solid mystery, characters you can root for, and even a little bit of romance...

I've been reading a lot lately about mythic folklore and children's literature, and talking animals, shockingly, comes up quite a lot. Beyond the analytical and psychological reasons, for me personally it's just very comforting to take a break from humans. The lessons in these books are just as clear without us. 

And lessons there are many - good ones, too! Michael Hoeye always injects classic good vs evil themes and his hero shows true bravery, honor, loyalty and courage. Hermux always does the right thing, and he is rewarded for it. And of course there's Tucka, who is literally the most Extra before Extra was a thing. Love her. 

I had the fourth book marked as read, but I don't actually think that's true - I have no memory of reading it and had to buy it used recently. I look forward to finishing (mourning) the series and - recognizing it's one of the least-known in children's literature right now? - my reviews will go totally unnoticed. But that's okay. That's not the point.

Team Pinchester for life. 

No Time Like Show Time on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Abarat: Absolute Midnight (Abarat #3)

(No Rating.) Okay. I went in prepared. I did my research, I looked at reviews, I knew what to expect. But can we put all that aside for one tiny second and celebrate because I DID IT! I read it, I finished what's available, I completed what I started. Phew, I'm good for something after all (I joke. I'm good for nothing. I'm utterly useless during these weird times and also during normal times.). But I can finally cross a series (incomplete though it is) off my list and say that I'm banging along my 2020 reading challenge. Yay.

For reference - my review of Abarat and of Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War. For those too lazy to click - they are glowing, rave reviews of what I considered to be one of the most creative, imaginative, vivid, mindblowing fantasy series of all time. So there's some context for you: these books are super important to me and and actually quite beloved in terms of reading memories from my younger days.

On to the book. I don’t think I can summarize without spoilers bleeding through, but let’s just say: Mater Motley’s evil plan is revealed and executed to devastating results. Candy and her friends attempt to navigate the catastrophe while she sorts through the mess that is her very identity/sense of self. Abarat is, well, changed forever. It's not like he didn't warn us. The first two books are full of warnings and foreshadowing about nightmares to come. 

"There was worse to come, much worse. Whatever the fear-flooded mind might have imagined when it thought of Midnight - the unholy rituals performed there in the name of Chaos and Cruelty, the blank-eyed brutalities that took the sanity or the lives of any innocent who ventured there; the stink out of its gaping graves, and the dead who had climbed from them, raised for mischief's sake, and left to wander where they would - all this was just the first line in a great book of terror that the two powers who had once ruled Gorgossium, Christopher Carrion and his grandmother, Mater Motley, had begun to write."

About a hundred pages in, in the middle of a certain fight/chase scene, I sat back, closed the book and sort of went phew, how did we end up here?! Yup, the gloves came off, the claws came out and Clive Barker really let things run wild. And you know what? I kind of enjoyed it.

Okay, so this book starts with one of the weirdest rug pulls I've ever experienced. I kind of LIKED THAT! 

Okay, so the plot train went careening off the rails and into the Lovecraftian abyss. Almost literally. BRING IT ON! 

Okay, so the feel-good fairy tale turned out to be a lot darker, and weirder. SO WHAT? MOST OF THEM ARE!

Okay, so from a technical perspective the tone was REALLY different and the writing felt like a bad Jackson Pollack painting - borderline nonsensical at times - and the characters were not themselves and there were a lot of wait what moments that felt sloppy and forced (like a certain love story). I still couldn't put it down!

I've decided not to give this book a star rating because I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist in a universe where that would even be relevant. Read this fever dream if you dare. 

Abarat: Absolute Midnight on: Amazon | Goodreads