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lisacanteven's reviews
527 reviews
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another perfectly written atmospheric read by Alexis Henderson. Her first book, The Year of the Witching, is still my favorite of her books. I'm so bummed because there has always been a planned sequel for that book, but Alexis has talked multiple times about how she is not in a good enough space to write the sequel that book deserves. I think it blocked her for a long time and kept her from writing different stories, so I am very grateful that she is publishing again even if they aren't the sequel I so desperately want. I am still loving all her standalone stories.
Now for this book. This is Alexis' shortest book, and I felt it. Marion lives in the slums of what equates to the south during the Civil War. She is a housemaid for a bitchy old widow, but she depends on that wage to care for her sick brother. Things between her brother and her get pretty dramatic, and through some other strange events she ends up on a train to the north. There she ends up as a blood maiden for Countess Lisavet of House of Hunger. This world has its own nobility system that the book briefly touches. The story could have really benefited for just a little more development in a few areas, on being the nobility system.
In this world, true nobles were pretty much vampires and drank human blood for youthfulness and health, like in Countess Lisavet's case. But like I said, the word "vampire" is never printed in the book although they share a lot of characteristics. I wanted to know so much more about their world.
This book definitely has a slow buildup, but when it gets going the climax is worth the work. Very exciting very fast. I read almost the whole last half of it in one day.
Now for this book. This is Alexis' shortest book, and I felt it. Marion lives in the slums of what equates to the south during the Civil War. She is a housemaid for a bitchy old widow, but she depends on that wage to care for her sick brother. Things between her brother and her get pretty dramatic, and through some other strange events she ends up on a train to the north. There she ends up as a blood maiden for Countess Lisavet of House of Hunger. This world has its own nobility system that the book briefly touches. The story could have really benefited for just a little more development in a few areas, on being the nobility system.
In this world, true nobles were pretty much vampires and drank human blood for youthfulness and health, like in Countess Lisavet's case. But like I said, the word "vampire" is never printed in the book although they share a lot of characteristics. I wanted to know so much more about their world.
This book definitely has a slow buildup, but when it gets going the climax is worth the work. Very exciting very fast. I read almost the whole last half of it in one day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture
An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book delivered on what it was supposed to deliver on: it is the perfect standalone dark academia book. It gives the reader a fun, fast-paced, intriguing mystery. If you just settle in for the ride, you will enjoy it.
I struggled to settle in enough for 5 stars. I felt like the writing was lacking a little bit. Some phrases were recycled and reused throughout the book, but nothing terrible. The biggest hangup for me was how juvenile the adult characters at the school felt. Many times I had to remind myself that these characters were well into their 20's and not preteen and teen wizards and witches.
However I still think it is worth a read because our options of good and dark magic schools have not been measuring up to our expectations. And even with its flaws, I think this book does give what it needed to give.
Another review written a few weeks after reading:
Alexis always delivers on setting the perfect atmosphere for her settings. She created a fantastic dark academia setting and story, so if that is what you are looking for this will satisfy that craving.
The book starts out with Lennon running out of her life basically. She receives a call in a very interesting way about her acceptance into this mysterious university, and she realizes this is the escape from her life that she needs.
The rest of the story follows Lennon through her time at Drayton College where they study telepathic powers called Persuasion. This magic system is pretty basic, so there is not a lot of explanation. Alexis does a great job of getting into the ethics of having powers than the mechanics. I even saw in an interview that Alexis describes her process of questioning magic systems for their ethical implications. I think she did a great job exploring this topic in this book.
I struggled to settle in enough for 5 stars. I felt like the writing was lacking a little bit. Some phrases were recycled and reused throughout the book, but nothing terrible. The biggest hangup for me was how juvenile the adult characters at the school felt. Many times I had to remind myself that these characters were well into their 20's and not preteen and teen wizards and witches.
However I still think it is worth a read because our options of good and dark magic schools have not been measuring up to our expectations. And even with its flaws, I think this book does give what it needed to give.
Another review written a few weeks after reading:
Alexis always delivers on setting the perfect atmosphere for her settings. She created a fantastic dark academia setting and story, so if that is what you are looking for this will satisfy that craving.
The book starts out with Lennon running out of her life basically. She receives a call in a very interesting way about her acceptance into this mysterious university, and she realizes this is the escape from her life that she needs.
The rest of the story follows Lennon through her time at Drayton College where they study telepathic powers called Persuasion. This magic system is pretty basic, so there is not a lot of explanation. Alexis does a great job of getting into the ethics of having powers than the mechanics. I even saw in an interview that Alexis describes her process of questioning magic systems for their ethical implications. I think she did a great job exploring this topic in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The world was so cool. I wanted more world building, more information, because it felt very original and interesting. Instead we got immature romances and somewhat annoying characters.
I am so saddened by my own feelings about this book. I was bored out of my mind. Every reveal felt so anticlimactic and left me caring even less. By the end I was out of steam and felt deflated by the ending.
I am so saddened by my own feelings about this book. I was bored out of my mind. Every reveal felt so anticlimactic and left me caring even less. By the end I was out of steam and felt deflated by the ending.
Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the therapy representation in this book. We need more positive portrayal of therapy and men going to therapy especially. Also we love a man with a cat.
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don’t have a lot of experience with sci-fi, but I definitely enjoyed this one. It was twisty and surprising at every turn. Sometimes I felt lost, but most of the time I felt like the timing of information was perfect. I could have used an info dump at the beginning, however by the end I had caught on. I’m not used to reading books written like this, but for the most part I enjoyed it.
Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care by Kelly Hayes, Mariame Kaba
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.5
I am currently going through a hard time in community as part of a collective, so this reading was aptly timed. I learned so much and was both validated and called in to see the part I played. I think it was the perfect primer for beginning organizers.
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Following a trans teen through his escape from a fundamental Christian cult that as developed after a catastrophic event where most of the world's population was killed, we meet a group of queer teens who have managed to survive in the local LGBTQIA+ teen center. Despite the MC, Benji's, awkwardness they accept him and unknowingly give a safe place for the monster he is becoming. Maybe this monster can help them in their fight against the Angels, the cult members Benji just escaped from.
Benji is a great character. He has always known he is a boy, but his transness is still new to him. Without his new found family, he might not have ever been able to live truly as Benji. The writing of Benji and his internal thoughts was so good. He is flawed, but he is real. None of his thoughts ever felt manufactured. Sometimes I just wanted to scream at him, but others I just wanted to hold him.
Dystopian settings are my favorite, and this one was one of the best. I wish we could get a prequel. I would be invested in seeing how Judgement Day came about because we got little glimpses into the history, but I would be interested in more. It also felt so real, like of of this is just foreshadowing for our own futures.
Benji is a great character. He has always known he is a boy, but his transness is still new to him. Without his new found family, he might not have ever been able to live truly as Benji. The writing of Benji and his internal thoughts was so good. He is flawed, but he is real. None of his thoughts ever felt manufactured. Sometimes I just wanted to scream at him, but others I just wanted to hold him.
Dystopian settings are my favorite, and this one was one of the best. I wish we could get a prequel. I would be invested in seeing how Judgement Day came about because we got little glimpses into the history, but I would be interested in more. It also felt so real, like of of this is just foreshadowing for our own futures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
If you liked Pet by Alwaeke Emezi, this felt like a lighter, less developed version. If you go in knowing that this has less development and is just a quick read you’ll like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia