Hi everyone! Today I have another post to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month and it’s a very exciting post because fantasy is one of my favorite genres and I have some recommendations if you want to read fantasy books by Latinx authors.
If you are wondering why this post includes “It’s not Magical Realism” in the title, it’s because oftentimes fantasy books by Latinx authors are label as magical realism, especially if they are paranormal or urban fantasy and it’s a big source of annoyance for Latinx authors and readers. Not everything that Latinx authors write and that includes magical elements in it should be pigeonholed as magical realism. Latinx and magical realism are not synonyms. This post is not about this discussion tho, so if you want to learn more a quick google search will help you out with that!
This book follows a young woman and the Mayan god of death as they embarque on a quest, where they face all kinds of mythological creatures ande deities, in order to save their lives.
The writing makes it feel like reading a myth or fairytale, it was so engaging.
The Mayan mythology was captivating and lush, and since it’s a mythology that it’s not often used in fantasy books, this book was full of gods and mythical creatures that felt very new and unique.
It’s set in 1920’s Mexico and the mix of the mythological elements and the ‘modernity’ of the Jazz Age worked well and gave this story an even more unique touch.
This book follows a thief with powerful magical abilities and a prince running from his past, who inadvertently free an evil force and then have to try to capture it again before it destroys everything.
The most magical thing about this book is the way it embraces Latinx culture and the way it uses Spanish as the language of magic in this world.
It addresses colonialism and slavery through the history of this fantasy world in a very organically and subtle way.
This story follows a young women, who has trained all her life to be a primera, a wife who runs her husband’s household. But when a rebel group treatens to expose her biggest secret, she is forced to start working for them. All this while having to live with the enemy, her husband’s other wife, the Segunda, in charge of giving him children.
This books has two beautifully complex main characters, a forbidden sapphic love story, fascinating mythology, an infuriating world and a flawed and complicated rebelious group.
The strengh of this book lays in the way it addresses immigration, privilege, poverty and opression, because it manages to evoke so many emotions and be incredibly thought-provoking, it’s brilliantly done.
This book follows Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, who is determined to fight back against the high council to do it she must go on a heist and her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt.
This book has five main characters, who are queer, poc or struggling with mental illness and trauma. They all have distintive voices and personalies and the author seamlessly integrates the different aspects of the characters identities to the story.
This book is full of twists and turns and a fast pace that keeps the book entertaining and engaging.
Each book in this series follows one of the Mortiz sisters, who are brujas and who always end up getting into trouble when their spells backfire.
This series includes a variaty of magical beings like brujas, werewolves, vampires, fairies, zombies and so much more. All of them as well as a lot of the mythology in this book are steeped in Latin American culture and mythology. And that’s one of the main things that’s wonderful about this book: how unapologetically Latinx it is.
Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
This book tells the story of Xochital, a girl who has been the Cuentista of her community, she takes the stories involving secrets, lies and deceit that produce feelings like guilt and she gives them back to the land so people can be forgiven by their god. If this process doesn’t take place, the stories manifest themselves as Pesadillas – monsters out of nightmares.
Each of Us a Desert is a quiet fantasy book about the role of stories in our lives and in our communities and the link between the stories we are told and the things we believe in and have faith in. This is a character-driven book with a loose plot but with strong thematic elements.
Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova
This book follows Renata, who thanks to her unique magical power was kidnapped and forced to work for the King only to escape and join the rebels. But when the commander of her unit is taken captive, Renata has to return to the palace under cover and complete his top secret mission.
One of the stronger aspects of this story is that it feels like like something bad is about to happen at any moment because Renata is living in the midst of enemies and there are so many secrets and interests at play.
Incendiary has an intricate magic system, vivid characters, twist and turns that will keep you at the edge of your sit and an ending that will leave you wanting more
Have you read any of these books? Are any of them on your tbr? What Fantasy book by Latinx authors have you enjoyed?
Hi everyone! Today is a very exciting day because it marks the start of Latinx Heritage Month, which goes from September 15th to October 15th, and the start of the two readathons that take place during this time, Latinx Book Bingo and Latinxathon.
It also means that for the next few weeks, all my posts will be in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month. I will post book recommendations, book reviews, updates of my reading and other fun posts all revolving around books by Latinx authors.
For the first post I decided to make a list with some amazing books by Latinx authors that are coming out in the remainder of 2020 and that I can’t wait to read. I may have cheated a little bit an included a couple that I already read, but I wanted to talk about them! Also, shout out to Joey, who help me come up with the title of this post.
Xochital is destined to wander the desert alone, speaking her troubled village’s stories into its arid winds. Her only companions are the blessed stars above and enimagic lines of poetry magically strewn across dusty dunes.
Her one desire: to share her heart with a kindred spirit.
One night, Xo’s wish is granted—in the form of Emilia, the cold and beautiful daughter of the town’s murderous mayor. But when the two set out on a magical journey across the desert, they find their hearts could be a match… if only they can survive the nightmare-like terrors that arise when the sun goes down.
I was lucky enough to get the chance to reviewan arc of this book andinterviewthe author. If you like character-driven fantasy books with strong thematic elements, this one is for you!It comes out the day I’m posting this, September 15th. (Amazon)
Nine-year-old Betita knows she is a crane. Papi has told her the story, even before her family fled to Los Angeles to seek refuge from cartel wars in Mexico. The Aztecs came from a place called Aztlan, what is now the Southwest US, called the land of the cranes. They left Aztlan to establish their great city in the center of the universe-Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City. It was prophesized that their people would one day return to live among the cranes in their promised land. Papi tells Betita that they are cranes that have come home.
Then one day, Betita’s beloved father is arrested by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported to Mexico. Betita and her pregnant mother are left behind on their own, but soon they too are detained and must learn to survive in a family detention camp outside of Los Angeles. Even in cruel and inhumane conditions, Betita finds heart in her own poetry and in the community she and her mother find in the camp. The voices of her fellow asylum seekers fly above the hatred keeping them caged, but each day threatens to tear them down lower than they ever thought they could be. Will Betita and her family ever be whole again?
I also got an arc of this book and you can read my review, where I gush about how amazing this middle grade book is. Everyone should read this powerful book, which unfortunately is incredibly relevant right now. It’s heartbreaking in a way that only fantastic books can be. This book comes out today, September 15th. (Amazon)
In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.
At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.
On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.
But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.
I keep hearing great things about this book and I’m sad that I didn’t manage to read the e-arc I had before the book was release. Nonetheless, this is going to be the first book I read for the Latinx Book Bingoand I hope to have my review up really soon! This book also comes out today, September 15th. (Amazon)
Eury comes to the Bronx as a girl haunted. Haunted by losing everything in Hurricane Maria–and by an evil spirit, Ato. She fully expects the tragedy that befell her and her family in Puerto Rico to catch up with her in New York. Yet, for a time, she can almost set this fear aside, because there’s this boy . . .
Pheus is a golden-voiced, bachata-singing charmer, ready to spend the summer on the beach with his friends, serenading his on-again, off-again flame. That changes when he meets Eury. All he wants is to put a smile on her face and fight off her demons. But some dangers are too powerful for even the strongest love, and as the world threatens to tear them apart, Eury and Pheus must fight for each other and their lives.
I love the fact that we are getting a retelling of a Greek myth with Latinx characters!! The fact that this one also includes Taíno mythology in it makes it sound even more incredible. I ahve heard great thing about this book so I’m sure it won’t disappoint. This book also comes out today, September 15th. (Amazon)
There hasn’t been a winner of the Miss Meteor beauty pageant who looks like Lita Perez or Chicky Quintanilla in all its history. But that’s not the only reason Lita wants to enter the contest, or why her ex-best friend Chicky wants to help her. The road to becoming Miss Meteor isn’t about being perfect; it’s about sharing who you are with the world—and loving the parts of yourself no one else understands. So to pull off the unlikeliest underdog story in pageant history, Lita and Chicky are going to have to forget the past and imagine a future where girls like them are more than enough—they are everything.
I’m part of the book tour for this book, so I’ll be posting my review in the last week of September. Here are some reasons I’m really excited for it: pansexual rep, trans rep, friends-to-lovers times two and complicated siblings relationships. This book comes out on September 22nd. (Amazon)
Lana Torres has always preferred dragons to people. In a few weeks, sixteen countries will compete in the Blazewrath World Cup, a tournament where dragons and their riders fight for glory in a dangerous relay. Lana longs to represent her native Puerto Rico in their first ever World Cup appearance, and when Puerto Rico’s Runner—the only player without a dragon steed—is kicked off the team, she’s given the chance.
But when she discovers that a former Blazewrath superstar has teamed up with the Sire—a legendary dragon who’s cursed into human form—the safety of the Cup is jeopardized. The pair are burning down dragon sanctuaries around the world and refuse to stop unless the Cup gets cancelled. All Lana wanted was to represent her country. Now, to do that, she’ll have to navigate an international conspiracy that’s deadlier than her beloved sport.
I don’t think there’s a book that sounds cooler than this. I mean, an international sporting competion with dragons!!! I’m so excited! I have an e-arc of this one and I’ll be reading it at the beginning of Latinx Book Bingo and I hope to have my review up before it’s released. This book comes out on October 6th (Amazon)
Teenage master of Cuban cuisine, Lila Reyes, is eager to inherit her family’s Miami bakery along with her sister, Pilar. But between spring and graduation, Lila’s abuela dies, her best friend abandons her, and her long-time boyfriend dumps her. Fearing Lila’s emotional health, her parents defy her wishes and entrust her summer to family and their Winchester, England inn. Even though she’s given a space to cook at the inn, she longs for Miami, the seat of her Cuban roots. Being a Miami Cuban baker is her glorified past and destined future, forged by years of training by her loving abuela.
Days into her stay, Orion Maxwell barges into Lila’s inn kitchen with a delivery from his family’s tea shop. A nuisance at first, opposite ingredients soon learn to blend. Orion befriends Lila, introducing her to his mates and devouring her food––comida Cubana.
Orion entertains her with his mental collection of superstitions and sweeps her onto his vintage motorbike. He wraps cold, underdressed Lila in his wool cardigan and becomes her personal tour guide. His mum’s early-onset (FTD) Dementia gives Orion a unique outlook––he never asks too much of the world, accepting what he can’t control. Lila soon discovers this British boy brings empathy to her loss because he’s living his own.
Before long, Lila can’t control the route of her own heart as she begins to fall for more than a new love. England has charmed her. And a special opportunity in London tempts her. As her return ticket looms, Lila feels impossibly caught between two flags. Hearts aren’t supposed to split like this––between a beautiful boy and a beautiful family. Between exploring an uncharted future in a rich new place, and honoring Abuela’s treasured legacy.
This sounds really cute! I always love books that revolve around food and the fact that this book has to do with Cuban food is even more exciting, and as someone that have always wanted to go to England, the setting of this book is another plus for me. This book comes out on November 10th (Amazon)
17-year-old vegan feminist Ellen Lopez-Rourke has one muggy Houston summer left before college. She plans to spend every last moment with her two best friends before they go off to the opposite ends of Texas for school. But when Ellen is grounded for the entire summer by her (sometimes) evil stepmother, all her plans are thrown out the window.
Determined to do something with her time, Ellen (with the help of BFF Melissa) convinces her parents to let her join the local muggle Quidditch team. An all-gender, full-contact game, Quidditch isn’t quite what Ellen expects. There’s no flying, no magic, just a bunch of scrappy players holding PVC pipe between their legs and throwing dodgeballs. Suddenly Ellen is thrown into the very different world of sports: her life is all practices, training, and running with a group of Harry Potter fans.
Even as Melissa pulls away to pursue new relationships and their other BFF Xiumiao seems more interested in moving on from high school (and from Ellen), Ellen is steadily finding a place among her teammates. Maybe Quidditch is where she belongs.
But with her home life and friend troubles quickly spinning out of control–Ellen must fight for the future that she wants, now she’s playing for keeps.
This is a coming of age story with a main character who questions her gender and struggles with her cultural identity, which makes this such a needed and important book. There’s also a character who uses Xe/Xyr pronouns and that’s so exciting for me. I know this is HP related and that’s not the best thing, but just from the little details, it seems like a book that opposes everything JKR stands for. (Amazon)
Are any of these books on your tbr? What books by Latinx authors are you looking forward to read it?
Hi everyone!Recently, Adriana and Linda were talking about the movie “Death Comes to Pemberley” on Twitter and I had never heard about that series before, I watched the trailer and it looked amazing, so obviously I had to watch it. After that, I just fell into a rabbit hole of Jane Austen adaptations and now here we are.
In this post, I’m going to rank every single adaptation, retelling, or reimagining of a Jane Austen book that I have ever watched.This includes movies, tv shows, and web series. I’ll comment on what I liked or didn’t like about them as adaptations of the original text.
I have read four Jane Austen books: Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion. But I have never watched the adaptation of Persuasion, so this post will only include adaptations for the other three books.
Without further ado, here is my ranking of Jane Austen adaptations from least favorite to favorite:
13. Clueless
I watched this for the first time in March 2020 and after hearing so much about it, I was disappointed.
I hated that Cher and Josh were step-siblings. I truly don’t understand why that was necessary. Also, they didn’t have any chemistry, which means they failed as a reimagining of Emma and Mr. Knightly
I liked that they included more diversity
I didn’t mind that the satirical elements were less subtle than they were in Emma, it worked in this case because they took it to the point where it was almost flamboyant.
12. Austenland
This isn’t an adaptation but it’s Jane Austen related, so I decided to include it
This was fun and absurd and perfect for fans of Jane Austen
Kerri Russell did a very good job as an Austen mega-fan
The fake Mr. Darcy was a really good Mr. Darcy, his attitude and facial expressions were perfect
My problem with this is that the romance was going well, but the ending of that element of the story felt really rushed.
11. Bride and Prejudice
A Bollywood Pride and Prejudice retelling set in modern times
This was fun and absolutely unrealistic, in particular towards the end.
Martin Henderson is my least favorite Mr. Darcy ever. I didn’t like him in the role, he was too charming and he made Mr. Darcy seem like a playboy.
The reunion at the end – which was basically the second proposal – was lackluster, I wish we had gotten a good declaration instead.
I appreciated the changes to the Lydia/Wickham storyline.
10. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I liked this movie
The concept was really cool, I mean P&P with zombies!!
I don’t think the Darcy in this one is very good, the choice of the actor didn’t work in my opinion
Elizabeth and her sisters are so badass and the casting for Lizzie was PERFECT
They were pretty faithful to the dialogue from the original P&P, which worked so well
9. Emma Approved
This was such a clever modern-day reimagining of Emma. Making her a lifestyle coach was a brilliant idea.
The characterization of Emma was great, they took a more subtle approach to her character which I liked because she didn’t feel like a caricature
The tension and chemistry between Emma and Mr. Knightly was ok, but it could have been better
Still, I LOVED the declaration at the end of this series.
The Harriet in this adaptation was very likable, which I appreciated
8. Emma (1996)
The characterization of Emma in this one was great, I think it was very faithful to Emma in the book. She was vain, conceited, a bit mischievous, but well-meaning in her meddling and deep down a good person.
I really liked Harriet in this one, she wasn’t portraited as silly
Emma and Mr. Knightly were lacking a bit of chemistry, there needed to be more banter between them
The Jane Fairfax in this adaptation wasn’t good, the actress seemed like a robot the entire time, Frank was kind of a clown and didn’t work either and I feel like the Jane/ Frank storyline wasn’t very well adapted.
7. Sense and Sensibility
I’ll confess that this adaptation isn’t higher on the list because I’m not as attached to this story as I am to P&P and Emma and also because I don’t remember the book as clearly as I do the other two.
The characterization and the acting in this are perfect, especially for the main characters of Elinor and Marianne.
The romance stories in this movie are great, especially the story between Elinor and Edward.
the “my heart is and always will be yours” scene is so angsty and amazing.
6. Emma (2009)
The characterization of Emma in this is not great, all the subtly in her character is gone to the point where her personality feels very exaggerated.
The chemistry between Emma and Mr. Knightly in this movie is GOLD. The banter is on point and the characterization of Mr. Knightly is everything I have ever wanted. The yearning of Mr. Knightly for Emma is a thing of beauty.
Harriet in this adaptation is terrible, she is a caricature
The adaptation of the Jane/Henry storyline in this movie is everything, it captures their relationship and story from the book perfectly.
5. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
Lizzie in this web series is exactly as I imagine a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet would be. The way the capture the scene of Elizabeth is outstanding.
The Mr. Darcy wasn’t the best, he look way too cute and sweet to play a convincing Mr. Darcy and his acting wasn’t the best either.
I love how they added diversity to the story.
I never thought I could like Lydia until this reimagining, I love the changes to her character and to her relationship with Wickham. She is very human, vulnerable and kind of relatable.
4. Death Comes to Pemberley
This mystery continuation of the Pride and Prejudice story, which I think it’s a great concept.
I still disliked Lydia and Wickham in this, but I saw them as much more complex characters than I thought before
The storyline between Georgiana and Henry was so sweet and a great addition to the story
Didn’t like where the Lizzie and Mr. Darcy storyline went for big part of this, but I liked the acting and characterization of both characters.
3. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
The only criticisms of this mini series is that it should have been shorter, the first two episode dragged. But the last four are fantastic and make up for it
Since they had more time because of the format, I really liked that they had more time to establish Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship both before the first proposal and after
Great Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. They worked perfectly together
Lydia in this adaptation is the most insufferable character ever
I wish the second proposal would have been better
2. Emma. (2020)
I think this is a really good adaptation and a FANTASTIC film, the set design, the costume design, the sound and way it was shot are incredible.
This movie includes one of the most unique and interesting characterizations of Emma out there. Anna Taylor- Joy did a fantastic job.
The actor who played Mr. Knightly was ok even if he is definitely not my favorite M. Kinghtly and the chemistry between the two main characters was good, I only wish there was a bit more bantering.
This translated the humour and satirical elements of the book to the screen really well.
Mr. Woodhouse in this movie is hilarious. Bill Nighy is great in the role.
1. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Nostalgia may play a role in this choice, but I still think that this is the best adaptation of a Jane Austen novel.
Keira Knightley is my favorite Elizabeth, she is so perfect for the role. This version of Elizabeth is so ruthless with her comments and I love it.
The tension between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is captivating and their banter is funny and the many, many awkward moments between them are funny too.
The proposal/confrontation under the rain is iconic
The final declaration is the best one of any of the movies. I don’t care if it’s not actually in the book. I think it captures the spirit of the book very well.
Which Jane Austen adaptations are your favorites? what do you think of my ranking? Which adaptation should I watch that isn’t on this list?
Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about the best romance books that I have read in 2020 so far. This list was so hard to make because I have read 40+ romance books this year and I have loved so many of them that choosing my favorites felt impossible. So much so that even when I was finishing this post, I made a last minute change! But after thinking about it a lot, here are my picks in no particular order:
–The main characters in this book have a frenemies to lovers, slow burn, angsty and emotional romance. The pranks, the bickering, the fighting, the trust, how caring they were, made their relationship fascinating.
–The heroine is a soccer player and it was cool seeing the woman being a talented and dedicated athlete
–This book is so emotional since both of the main characters are dealing with difficult situations. The heroine’s mom is gravely ill and the hero is dealing with the lasting consequences of an illness that left him with a disability and that changed his life completely. For me, both of those storylines were handled very well and gave so much depth to the story.
–This book has amazing secondary characters and I can’t wait to read book 2, which comes out next month (August 4th, 2020)!
–This is a hate to love, slow-burn romance with so much banter. The main character Liya doesn’t make the best first impression not to the love interest Jay and not to the reader, but after a while, it’s easy to see beyond that first impression to how amazing she is.
–Jay is so patient and kind and Liya is so strong, smart, and independent. They are both Indo-American.
–The female friendship in this book is incredible and Jay’s family is kind, understanding and non-judgemental.
–This book elicits all kinds of emotions, some characters are easy to hate, there are gossiping, cruel people that are so frustrating, Jay is swoon-worthy and Liya’s past awakens so much sympathy. This book gives all the feels.
–This book deals with darker topics like sexual assault, domestic violence and death of a loved one. I think it handles them really well, but it was very hard to read at some points.
–This is a marriage of convenience story, the main characters who don’t know each other have to get married to get the inheritance of an old lady playing matchmaker.
–The hero is a bisexual fat Scotsman and the heroine is a bisexual Black woman. They are both adorable. Xeni has a tendency of blurting out everything she likes about Mason when he’s around her and Mason does magic, cooks, plays the bagpipes and a 100 other instruments, and it’s so understanding and caring with Xeni.
–The main characters are instantly attracted to each other, they have so much chemistry and they are open with each other about what they like sex-wise. There were some very steamy scenes!
–The best part about this book is how the main characters opened up to each other and they were vulnerable with each other in a way that was very sweet to read about.
–This book has a black, autistic main character and the representation is #ownvoices for both of those things. Ruth is an amazing protagonist, she is geeky, loving, funny and anxious.
–The best part of this book is getting to see Ruth go through a lot of character development to learn how to confront her fears and stand up for herself.
–The hero is sweet, kind and very swoony. He cooks for the heroine all the time and takes a sincere interest in the things she cares about.
–The chemistry between the main characters is off the charts and the sex scenes in this book are so steamy. This book is very sex positive and there are discussions about consent.
-This book deals with an abusive relationship in Ruth’s past and it addresses the guilt that a lot of abuse victims feel.
–This is a friends to lovers story that is very emotional and angsty. There’s forced proximity since Jasmine has to move in with Rahul for a while and that changes their relationship.
–Jasmine is a plus-sized, queer, Black woman, and Rahul is a brown man who has a Muslim father and a Hindu mother.
–Jasmine is dealing with trauma that has made her try to block off her feelings and not get attached to anyone.
–Rahul has been pinning for the heroine for years and there’s so much yearning and angst because of it. He cares deeply for her and once things start to change between them, he decides to show her that they can be good together.
–This book deals with topics that may be triggering like alcohol dependency, parental neglect, death of a parent, and severe anxiety.
What are the best romance books that you have read in 2020 so far? Have you read any of my favorites?
Hi everyone! Today I’m going to talk about the books I have loved the most in 2020 so far. I didn’t include romance because I’m doing a separate post for my favorite romance books of the year since I read so many and since my way of rating and viewing romance vs other genres is so different.
Without fruther ado, here are my top 5 books of 2020 so far + some honorable mentions:
*Click the book titles to go to the Goodreads page*
This book is like the Godfather with martial arts and magic
An incredibly cool and unique book. It’s set in a city, where there are technology and magic and there are two powerful clans who are fighting for dominance, there’s also so much political intrigue and the clans are so powerful that the government has to consider them and negotiate with them.
The main characters are siblings that are loyal to each other, I loved them so much and they have my loyalty too.
A very intense book and I was completely invested in everything that was happening. This broke my heart at one point, I was devastated but it was SO GOOD.
Interesting commentary on profit vs cultural significance
The writing is beautiful and captivating while being simple and unpretentious.
The haunted house in this story is a secluded, declining, rotting house with no working electricity and strange echos, it’s located in a small abandoned mining town in the middle of nowhere and it has a cementery in the backyard.
This book is set in 1950 Mexico and that brings very unique elements to the story.
the villains are so effective because even in this setting where it’s not clear if there are ghosts, magic, or other supernatural things going on, the villains are manipulative, abusive, disgusting men that you could find anywhere in the world and anytime in history.
Important commentary on sexism, colonialism, and eugenics.
It explores the idea that prejudice keeps growing and wins when people, who have the privilege of not being affected by prejudice, stay silent and live comfortably in their bubbles
The main character is so endearing
A fascinating and well-executed concept. In this world, magical children are sent to orphanages or special schools and the main character’s job is to make sure the children are in safe environments while staying objective and detached. The problem is that the kids are “safe” doesn’t mean that their situation is fair or right.
the children are the absolute stars of this book. They are cute, funny, lovable and so compelling.
This book was really dark and unexpectedly fast-paced
Inspired by the Second Sino-Japanese War, it portraits the horrors of war in a very realistic and grim way. This is a grimdark/military fantasy.
This is action-packed and there are a lot of brutal, violent scenes
it has a power-hungry main character. She starts as ambitious and driven but as she faces discrimination and unfairness and sees the terrible things that are happening, she goes through a huge transformation and becomes very ruthless
Once I finished this book I was shocked and I truly didn’t know how to feel.
I have a thing for Moreno-Garcia’s writing, if it’s not obvi
I have a thing for Moreno-Garcia’s writing if it’s not obvious by the fact that two of her books made it to the list. The writing in this book made it feel like reading a myth or fairytale, it was so engaging.
The Mayan mythology was captivating and lush, and since it’s a mythology that it’s not often used in fantasy books, this book was full of gods and mythical creatures that felt very new and unique.
This book is set in 1920’s Mexico and the mix of the mythological elements and the ‘modernity’ of the Jazz Age worked well and gave this story an even more unique touch.
The main characters, Casiopea and Hun-Kamé, who is the Mayan god of death, are both very engaging characters and their journeys and character development were fascinating.
Honorary Mentions
My favorite YA book
Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova: this book has an intricate magic system, vivid characters, twist and turns that will keep you at the edge of your seat and an ending that will leave you wanting more.
My favorite novellas
To be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers: This was such a quick, fascinating, and thought-provoking read. It focuses a lot on the scientific and technical side of space travel but the truly interesting thing is that Becky Chambers doesn’t forget about the impact that the discoveries, the advancements, and the search for those things have on people and environments. Also, there’s a lot of queer characters in this book, which I loved.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells: a quick and entertaining story. Murderbot, the security bot that is the main character, is likable and engaging and their voice captivated me from the very beginning. This book has great humor and an interesting plot.
What are the best books that you have read in 2020 so far? Have you read any of my favorites?
Hi everyone! Today, I’m going to talk about my most anticipated releases of the summer. I’m kind of in a reading slump right now, so I thought that talking about books that I really want to read and that I’m highly anticipating would help me with that and, at the same time, I could help you find some new books for your tbrs.
Without further ado, here are my most anticipated releases of the summer:
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her, Noemí heads to rescue her from a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find. This story is about an isolated mansion, a chillingly charismatic artistocrat and a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets.
Why am I anticipating it? I loved Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow, I’m trying to get more into horror and I have heard great things about this one, so I’m excited to give it a chance.
Luc and Oliver have 3 things in common: being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends and go then go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating.
Why am I anticipating it? a queer romance book that includes the fake dating trope and it’s set in London… it sounds like a perfect book to me. Also, I jsut got an ARC of it!!!
Desperate to find a spare moment together, Jenn and Cletus’s attempts to reconnect are thwarted by one seemingly coincidental disaster after another. It’s not long before Cletus and Jenn see a pattern emerge and the truth becomes clear. Sabotage! Will an undercover mission unmask the culprit?
Why am I anticipating it? This is the first book in a spin-off of Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series and it sounds really bizarre, but I love Jenn and Cletus story in Beard Science and I want to read more about them. Also, I’m a fan of cozy mysteries and I want to see Penny Reid’s take on one.
As an undocumented immigrant who’s on the run from her father’s Argentine crime-family, Manuela is confined to a small apartment. Until lifelong lies are exposed, her mother is arrested by ICE and Manu starts to discover the truth about her past, which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world straight out of Argentine folklore.
Why am I anticipating it? everyone who know me, knows that if there’s a fantasy book with Latinx characters by a Latinx author, I’m gonna read it. I have an ARC of this book and I’ll be reading it in July.
Two soap opera actors get cast together in a bilingual rom-com for the number one streaming service in the country. With their careers on the line, they’ll need to generate smoking-hot on-screen chemistry, so they agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera.
Why am I anticipating it? A romance with latinx main characters, who are sopa opera stars…what else do I need? I have read two books by Alexis Daria and really enjoyed both of them, which makes me even more excited for this. Also, look at that cover!
This series is aboutAmani, who is taken to the royal palace to be the body double of the hated Princess Maram in her public appearances and has to be ready to die in her place. While living in the palace, she becomes entangled with a rebellious group.
Why am I anticipating it? I read and loved an ARC of Mirage, the first book in this series, before the officially release date, so it feels like I have been waiting for this sequel forever. I’m so excited to see where the story goes and what happens to the characters.
Each book in the series follows one of the Mortiz sisters, who are Latinx brujas. In this book, Rose gets pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. While she tries to save Adas, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters.
Why am I anticipating it? I love the first two books in this series, as well as Zoraida’s latest release Incendiary, so I know I’m gonna love this and I can’t wait to finally find out the truth about the father of the Mortiz sisters.
Kane and Mollie have been best friends for a while and after a scary incident, they realize they want to be more than friends. So they start dating and they couldn’t be happier. But then the realities of having careers which keep them on the road put their blossoming relationship on ice.
Why am I anticipating it? I haven’t love the last couple books in this series, but friends to lovers is my favorite trope so I’m definitely reading this. Also, from the little introduction of the two main characters in the previous book, I feel like I’m going to like them.
Xochital is destined to wander the desert alone, speaking her troubled village’s stories into its arid winds. Until she meets Emilia and the two set out on a magical journey across the desert, where they find their hearts could be a match… if only they can survive the nightmare-like terrors that arise when the sun goes down.
Why am I anticipating it? A fantasy book with an f/f relationship and Latinx characters written by a Latinx authors is basically everything I have ever wanted. I have an ARC of this book and I’m hoping to read it soon.
Bethany wants to flip houses as part of her family’s company, but her older brother refuses to take her seriously. When they’re invited on Flip Off, a reality competition, Bethany needs a crew and the only person willing to join her is the new guy in town. Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters as they remodel the ugliest house on the block.
Why am I anticipating it? I have really liked the first two books in the series and I’m really intrigued by the glimpses of Bethany and Wes in the last book, I feel like they are gonna be one of those couples with great banter and bickering and I’m excited about it!
What book releases from the summer are you anticipating? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned?
Hi everyone! A while back, I went through my Goodreads shelves and I made a list of all the series I haven’t finished and I separated them in 3 categories: the series I want to finish, the ones I may finish and the ones I have no intention of ever finishing. Today, I want to talk to you about some of the series I know I want to finish and that also fulfill another requisite and it’s the fact that all the books in the series are already out.
Without further ado, here are some finished book series that I have not finished yet but that I’m planning to:
*Click the series titles to go to the Goodreads page*
I loved the first two books in this series and I was highly anticipating books three, but I heard so many mixed things about it that I never picked it up. Nonetheless, I love Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell, the characters are definitely the strong suit of these books, and I want to know what happens to them and their relationship, so I’m hoping to finish this series.
I read the first book in this series last month, May 2020, and I loved it and I was suppposed to read book two as part of a buddy read this month but I was simply not in the mood for it. I’m hoping to continue with this series soon because I don’t want it to become one of those series that takes me years to read. Also, because since there are two timelines I’m very intrigued and can’t wait to figure out how things changed so drastically from one timeline to the other.
I read Lady Midnight when it first came out and I read Lord of Shadows last year, and I really enjoyed both of them, but I’m not particulary excited to read book three, I’m just not invested in the characters or the story. I will read Queen of Air and Darkness because I don’t like to leave series unfinished especially when I only have one book left to read, but this will be my goodbye to the Shadowhunters world.
I read the first book in this series almost two years ago and it was so much fun, it was one of those feel good, fast paced, entertaining YA fantasy books and I definitely want to read the conclusion to the story. Also, I want to read more books with sirens/mermaids on them, so I can’t wait to see how they are incorporated in the second book of this series.
I read and LOVED Strange the Dreamer last year, but after that ending I have been hesitant to reading book two because I’m scared it’s gonna break my heart. Still, I want to know where the story goes and what happens to the characters. This is such a mysterious and well written series that I’m looking forward to seeing how it ends.
I read Crazy Rich Asians years ago and I read China Rich Girlfriend last month and enjoyed both of them so much. These series is lighthearted, ridiculously entertaining and so much fun! I’m hoping to read the last book within the next couple of months, so I won’t fall in the same trap of waiting years to pick it up.
I read The Fifth Season a few months ago and I wasn’t sure if I was gonna continue with the series or not since the first book is a very heavy book and I ended up feeling devastated and a bit hopeless after reading it. Nonetheless, it’s being a while since that and I’m feeling very intrigued about where the story is going next, so I’ll definitely continue with the series.
I read both The Last Wish and Blood of Elves this year after watching the Netflix show and I flew through those books, they are very fast paced and the world they take place in is fascinating. I’ll definitely try to have read at least the first 4 books in the series by the end of the year.
Reading this series is a project I started in January 2020 and I’m failing miserably at it. I haveo nly read the first book, The Eye of the World, and I LOVED it, I defintely want to continue with the series and I don’t want to let any more time go by without reading the next book because that makes it more likely that I won’t keep reading. I’m hoping to read at least book 2 and 3 before the end of the year.
I read Sleeping Giants in 2019 and it was such an interesting and thought-provoking book that I inmmediately made my best friend read it and she really liked it too. Nonetheless, I have heard very mixed things about books 2 and 3, so I’m scared to read them. But then ending of book 1 left me intrigued enough that even if I’m a bit nervious, I’ll continue on with the series.
What finished series you haven’t finished yet? Which of the series mentioned should I prioritize?
Hi everyone! I think it’s not a secret for anyone that follows this blog that I read A LOT of romance and recently I was curious about whether I was reading more traditional published, indie published or self-published romance books. I don’t actually pay attention to that when I pick books (at least when it comes to romance), to me it’s all the same and it turns out I read basically the same amount of traditional and indie published books, andeven when I read a little less self-published books, the difference is not very significant.
Since I don’t usually pay attention to which books are self published, I don’t know if I tent to enjoy them less, more or the same amount as trad or indie books. And since I know self-published books often get a bad rep or are thought as “less good than” traditionally published books, I thought I would read 5 self-published books that were on my tbr and I would let you know how I felt about them. Spoiler alert: I really liked all of them and I even have a new favorite romance!!
Without further ado, here are the books in the order I read them:
The main characters in this book were step siblings for a year when they were already grown ups who didn’t live with their parents and, since the beginning and still years later, their relationship has been filled with sexual tension, which has made them both pretend to not like each other to avoid revealing how they much want each other.
This book is SO STEAMY!! One of the steamiest romance novels I have read. The main characters have so much chemestry and such a captivating dynamic of bickering and fighting and pretending they don’t like each other. The hero’s family plays a big role in this book, since he finished raising his siblings, and the exploration of his relationship with them is well done and it adds a great element to the book.
One of the best part of this story is how incredibly sex positive it is. The heroine, who is japanese and bisexual, hosts sex parties and things get wild and she has found a community of people who enjoy the same things as her and don’t judge each other. Also, the hero who has always tried to repress the things he wants sexually, comes to terms with them and stops feeling ashamed, which I think sends a very powerful message.
This book is definitely my least favorite out of all of them, but it was still good. The premise of this book is really interesting, the heroine works for a magazine and to save it from having to go digital, she agrees to go on blind dates with guys that the readers vote for and write about it, but for the first date her boss has to chose the guy and she chooses her son, who the heroine hates.
At the beginning, I didn’t like the main characters and I didn’t understand why they were so antagonistic and defensive towards each other. But the dynamic between them changed as they got to know each other and I ended up actually enjoying their relationship. They were sweet together and they had chemistry. Also, there’s a grand gesture in this book that was very sweet and it worked perfectly with the premise of the story.
My main complain with this is that they only hanged out like 3 times and even when the hero liked the heroine since before, I still think it’s way too fast to say that they fell in love by the end of the book.
This is my favorite out of all of this books and it’s a new favorite romance for me. This book revolves around a female soccer star and her lumberjack college classmate, who after a bad first impression have to work together on a project and quickly realize that they don’t actually hate each other, they are just destined to be frenemies.
This book was fantastic. It took me a couple chapters before I started to like Willa, but I ended up really admiring her strenght, dedication, loyalty and her vulnerability. It was cool to see a female character being the one playing a sport and being great at it, and while the storyline with her mom was devastating, it added so much to the story. On the other hand, I liked Ryder from the very first time he appeared on the page and I loved his storyline so much, his life changed drastically a couple years before the book starts after an illness and I wasn’t expecting his emotional and powerful journey. It gave this book depth and a unique element.
Willa and Ryder have a frenemies to lovers, slow burn, angsty and emotional romance that I absolutely loved. The pranks, the bickering, the fighting, the trust, how caring they were, made their realtionship fascinating. There’s a bit of lack of communication but I could defenitely understand why both characters were being reserved since they have very big, difficult things happening in their lives. Honestly, there are so many elements that made this a highly emotional book and it ended up making me cry, which very rarely happens.
I really liked all the secondary characters, specially Ryder’s family, and I can’t wait it read the next book in the series, which will be about one Ryder’s brothers.
This book is about a Billionaire who needs to have a more family friendly image for a client, to do it he needs a fake fiancée and he wants someone too annoying to tempt him, so his team ends up hiring his hairdresser to pretend to be his fianceé because she is everything he thinks he doesn’t want.
I had a hard time with the beginning of this book because I didn’t like the heroine, but as the book went on I discovered that there was so much more to Tabitha beyond the first impression and I ended up really liking her as a character. There was so much depth to her, she was understading, compationate, smart, observant and kind. Her obssesion with soap operas was pretty funny and the role it plays in this book was very cleverly done. I wasn’t expecting to have a soap opera worthy plot, but it was really fun.
This book has a grumpy/sunshine romance, it includes fake dating and forced proximity, which are all things that I love. The characters had so much chemestry, I slowly fell in love with their dynamic and I ended up really enjoying their relationship. Tabitha brought out a less serious, less asshole-y version of Rex and he saw beyond her happy, positive facade.
This is book tells the story of Xeni and Mason, who are left money in the will of Xeni’s aunt but to claim it they have to get married to each other and since both of them need the money they decide to do it. They had no plans to actually fall in love, but things don’t go as they expected.
The main characters in this book are both adorable, Xeni has a tendency of blurting out everything she likes about Mason when he’s around her and Mason does magic, cooks, plays the bagpipes and like a 100 other instruments, and it’s so understanding and caring with Xeni. Also, Mason is a bisexual fat Scotsman and Xeni is a bisexual Black woman.
This book handled instant attraction very well and it didn’t become insta-love. Xeni and Mason had so much chemestry and they opened up to each other and were vulnerable with each other in a way that was very sweet to read about. Honestly, they were so cute together. And there were some very steamy scenes!
Do you read self- published books? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Are you planning on reading them?
Hi everyone! Before starting this post, I want to encourage you to support the protests going on right now against the murder of Black people by the police, which were sparked by the murder of George Floyd. If you want to know how to help, click this linkwhere you can find where to donate, petitions to sign, where to text or call to demand justice, and other useful information.
Now onto the post! Summer is almost here and I wanted to put together a list of books that I think are great summer reads. When thinking about perfect books to read in the summer, 3 things come to mind for me:
Light and fun romantic comedies
Highly entertaining fantasy books
Smart mysteries
So today, I have 3 recommendations for each of those categories:
If there is a book more perfect for the summer than this one, I haven’t read it! This is a fun romance novel where the two main characters are fake dating because the heroine needs to look good in front of her family during a vacation to Key West, and before long, things turn all to real between the main characters. If you enjoy romance books that include complicated family dynamics, this one is for you! (Full review)
A hilarious second chance romance between two main characters who are engaged and want to call off the wedding but whoever does it has to pay for it, so the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks and sabotage to get the other one to it call off. If you like funny, slow-burn, hate to love romances, this one is a great choice for the summer!
A highly entertaning romance book about a wedding planner who gets left at the altar because the best man convinced the groom not to get married. Worst of all, she ends up having to work with the best man to get her dream job. This book includes Brazilian culture in a great and seamless way and a fantastic hate to love romance. If that sounds interesting to you, give this book a chance!
Incendiary is a YA fantasy book inspired by the Spanish Inquisition about a young woman that was kidnapped and used for her magical powers, before being rescued by a rebel group, and who has to go back to her captors in order to defeat them. This book has an intricate magic system, vivid characters, twist and turns that will keep you at the edge of your sit and an ending that will leave you wanting more. (Full review)
A young woman accidentaly rescues the Mayan god of death from imprissionment and ends up having to go in a life changing journey with him to save both of their lives. The Mayan mythology in this book is captivating and lush and the mix of the mythological elements and the ‘modernity’ of the Jazz Age gave this story a unique touch. If you are looking for a fantasy story that’s different to anything you have read before, check out this one!
A wizard detective has to work with the Chicago police to fight evil that most people don’t even believe exist. This book has an interesting magic system and magical creatures (vampire, demons and evil wizards make an apperance), and a compelling mystery element. This book is so entertaining and fast paced that it’s perfect for the summer. If you like both fantasy and crime novels, I think you’ll enjoy this one!
A woman sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper and she is determined to find out why it’s there. Then the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that. Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make. If you enjoy twisty and gripping mysteries, this book is for you!
The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that someone has been murdered and nothing is what it seems, so Detective Poirot who was aboard the ships has to find out who is the murderer. Soon to be a movie, this Agatha Christie book is perfect for fans of mysteries revolving around love, jelousy and betrayal.
A child goes missing and turns up death, this is the story of how her parents and siblings deal with the grief and loss and how all the things that they don’t tell each other start to come up. This book explores very important and heavy subjects in a subtle and brilliant way. Some of the topics it explores are parent/children relationships and the weight of expectations as well as the different ways in which women and people of color experience otherness. If you are looking for a mystery that will make you think, this one is perfect for you!
What books do you think are perfect for the summer? What genres do you like to read during the summer?
Hi everyone! Today I’m going to talk about some hyped 2020 releases that either came out recently or are coming out in the next couple of months. Also, I focused on genres that I read so fantasy and romance, and some horror and mystery. The idea is that I’ll tell you wheter I’m planning to read the books or not andI’m hoping you’ll tell me if maybe there’s a book that I’m not planning to read but that you think I should. Also, I would love to know if you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy one of the book I’m planning to read.
Before starting, I wanted to mention that these are books that I have seen people talk about a lot in the bookish community (blogs, twitter, booktube), which I know doesn’t always reflect the books that are hyped for the general public that isn’t involved in the community.
I don’t think I’m gonna read this. Honestly, I keep adding the new Christina Lauren books to my tbr when they are annaounced but I haven’t read any of them since The Unhoneymooners because the reviews for their newer books have consistenly being bad and everyone seems to agree that their books are not as good as before.
I will be reading this, hopefully soon! I don’t read much horror, but the few books I have read from that genre I have really enjoyed, so I want to read more and I have been seeing this book everywhere and everyone seems to have great things to say about it, so I think it’s a good place to start.
I don’t think I’ll read this one. I started to read historical romance recently and this book is one that I have seen mentioned often and it sounds really good. Unfortunetely, everyone mentions in the review that the conflicts in this book are all because of miscomunications and that’s a trope that I hate, so that’s why I have stayed away from this one.
I don’t think I’ll read this. This was on my May tbr, I was so excited for it but this has gotten a lot of bad reviews and rating, and because of that, I stopped feeling wanting to read it. I’m open to maybe reading this, so if you think I should read it, let me know!
Nope, I won’t be reading this and I don’t think there’s anything anyone can say to make me change my mind. I wasn’t interesting when they announced this, I was less interested when they said it was a Snow book and after reading reviews I’m even interested.
I’m not reading this one. This book used to be on my tbr because I thought it was a romance, but after people started to post their reviews, I realized that this is chick lit that includes a romance but the romance is not a big part of the story and I’m not really interested in reading that.
I’m reading this! This sounds like an Agatha Christie novel and I’m a massive Agatha Christie fan and I love to read novels that remind me of her books, because I feel there’s a big chance I’ll love them. Also, my friends who have read this have giving it really high rating, so I’m excited!
Yes, I’ll read it! After loving Gods of Jade and Shadow, I can’t wait to read another of her books. This is a horror/ historical ficiton book, which is not what I usually read at all, but I’m curious and some of my friends have loved this one, so I’m going into it cautiously optimistic.
I will definitely read this one! I have been seeing this book around a lot and I hadn’t pay any attention to it because I thought it was YA, but actually is adult romance. This is an m/m romance written by a man, which I have had trouble finding in the past, so I’m excted to give this one a chance.
From the books I’m not planning to read, is there any that I definitely should read? From the books I’m planning on reading, is there any that I should prioritize or maybe one you wouldn’t recommend?
