What? Is my hair out?
Heading into the home stretch for this year's reading challenges and I'm set up to finish two of the three. I've decided that I will be adding spoilers to my book descriptions to help me remember them. I need the refresher for my poor brain especially for books in a series that I go several months between reading volumes. Soooooo... there may be spoilers ahead. Here's some of what I've read in the last couple months.
Added:
Southern Horrors by Ida B. Wells-Barnett
(ATY: A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir)
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
(ATY: A book that you consider comfort reading, PopSugar: The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover)
I want to read this because the movie looked pretty funny and I wanted to read it before watching it.
This was pretty enjoyable. Bridget Jones has some New Year’s resolutions and for a 30 something in the mid 90s they aren’t all that surprising. Lose some weight, get a better job, snag an awesome boyfriend? Normally I really don’t appreciate characters who can’t get their shit together, but for some reason I found Bridget Jones absolutely charming. I think maybe it had to do with how closely her thought processes mirrored my own! How many times have I panicked about something, then slipped into a euphoric fantasy about how it could actually be pretty awesome, only to find the reality is just as terrible as I thought it would be in the first place! Granted I don’t drink as much as Bridget and I really did manage to give up smoking (though all her reasoning before attempting to quit we’re near exact quotes from my brain). Don’t even get me started about “developing inner poise!” I laughed out loud several times and totally appreciated poor Bridget’s myriad of disasters.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
(ATY: A book with an ensemble cast, PopSugar: A book everyone seems to have read but you)
I want to read this because everyone I’ve talked to says it’s really good.
This was really good. August was born with some syndromes that came together to give him a face that is very different from his peers. And now, he’s going to start going to school for the first time ever. In fifth grade. Everyone can understand his hesitation, middle school is stressful enough for people who don’t wear one of their challenges on their bodies, but can Auggie survive fifth grade? Can he thrive? I really liked this book. It switched points of view on me which I wasn’t expecting. It gave readers more than a glimpse into Auggie’s world, but into the people around him. At one point Auggie’s sister says that her family are planets that orbit Auggie, and really that’s applicable to the whole cast. Each person is changed by Auggie’s presence in their lives. I teared up a lot while reading this book, but not as much as I thought I would. It wasn’t a slog to get through and it wasn’t as emotional as I thought. For the most part it was just another story about this really amazing group of kids, and while each of them was touched with flaws, they were all richly portrayed and obviously deeply caring individuals. It made the whole experience personal and emotional beyond words. Excellent!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
(ATY: A book related to “In the Beginning...”, PopSugar: A locked-room mystery)
I want to read this because it is the first Hercule Poiroit book and I rather liked the first Ms. Marple.
This was pretty fun! Poirot is a brilliant Belgian detective who has relocated to England because of the war. It’s actually rather lucky because as it happens the narrator, who has worked with him before and is aware of his special talents, is staying at a friend’s residence close by when a tragedy occurs! The lady of the house is poisoned! It’s up to Poirot to find the culprit and see justice delivered. I have to admit, I didn’t see the ending coming. I felt quite dense because all the clues were given pretty early on. The author bats the reader around with false trails, and just like the narrator, the reader can’t help but draw the wrong conclusions. OVER AND OVER! It was frustrating in the most delightful way. The big reveal at the end was absolutely satisfying.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
(ATY: A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”, ReadHarder: Read an own voices book about disability)
I want to read this because it’s a graphic novel, junior fiction, and has great reviews.
A delightful read! The main character is really charming. Cece loses a great deal of her hearing when she becomes ill at age 4 and, after Kindergarten in a special school with other children who have hearing challenges, her family moves to a small town where she goes to school with all the children in her neighborhood. She must navigate making friends and being different all at the same time. This was a cute read, but clearly aimed at a bit younger crowd. It was not nearly as emotional as Wonder, but it was cute all the same. I think everyone can relate to the difficulties making friends, and keeping them as everyone grows up. Mostly though I felt for Cece when she couldn’t quite express her feelings to her friends because of the fear of rejection. Her imagining herself as a superhero was very reminiscent of when Doug became Quailman in the cartoon series on Nickelodeon. It’s a really amazing coping mechanism and the illustrations were pretty cute. I appreciated the notes at the end by the author who clarified some things about her experience as a deaf individual. A very good read.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
(ATY: A book set on an island, PopSugar: The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover)
I want to read this because the plot sounds fascinating.
The plot was indeed interesting, but for me, it was dragged down with an annoying main character and various irritating writing traits. Scarlett and her sister live in some alternate world we as the reader are given very little information about. Their father is abusive so, of course, Scarlett dreams of escaping to Caraval: the magical travelling show that her grandmother told her bedtime stories about. However, she gets there (against her will after all) and terrible things happen. Leaving us and Scarlett questioning whether it is really all a game. Scarlett thinks she’s the protective big sister, buuuuuuut she’s really not, at least, we’re not given any real glimpses into that. Her relationship with her sister is so flat and Scarlett makes these big pronouncements, feels these strong feelings, but there’s rarely any evidence of them in her actions. As readers we’re stuck in the head of a ninny! I don’t know if the author wrote Scarlet this way on purpose as a particular characterization on purpose. (Listening to the interview with the author at the end I suspect it was not on purpose.) If Scarlett had been a strong character this could have been a fantastic thrill ride of a book. I mean the unease that comes with not knowing the difference between reality and fantasy CAN be fun. Instead Scarlett is constantly plagued with wishy washy feelings and none of the big reveals make any sense whatsoever. Worst of all are the retcons. At one point Scarlett says something to the effect of, “since the beginning of the game I felt…” and I was outraged because no she hadn’t felt that way. We were there at the beginning when she arrived, she definitely didn’t feel that way. UGH! I won’t be continuing the series.
Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity by Kami Garcia
(ATY: A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards)
I want to read this because the remixes of Harley Quinn and the premise of Black Line comics from DC both sound right up my alley.
I really like that DC is delving deep into the possibilities of the character of Harley Quinn. In this version she’s a criminal psychologist who consults with Jim Gordon and the GCPD on certain cases involving possible serial killers. While I really enjoyed this read, I couldn't help but think back to the other recent remix Harleen which I felt had a much stronger atmosphere. {It was also a much more thorough and plausible exploration of the backstory Harley was given in “Batman: the Animated Series”) Still this was excellent and the often used black and white color scheme gave the story a noir feeling. I really wish there had been more interaction between Harley and Joker directly. We’re really only given two scenes between the two of them and they were so brief. I also really liked that Joker was drawn so differently. Like Harleen he was drawn much more attractive, but also much more muscular, like he could go toe to toe with Batman in a direct fight which I never really thought the Joker capable of. I’m not sure if they are going to continue this line, but I hope so. I’d like to read more.
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
(PopSugar: A book with an oxymoron in the title, ReadHarder: Read a book that demystifies a common mental illness)
I want to read this because her first book was amazing.
This was quite different from the first book. At first it feels the same, the stories are funny enough to make your stomach hurt with laughter, but then it changes. Whereas in the first book it becomes quite heavy about half way through and discusses the author’s battle with depression and social anxiety and then goes back to being funny, this sequel gets dark and then darker and then darker. It truly had me worrying about the author’s safety because the things that have happened that caused so much sadness and grief would be a lot for any person to handle. A person who already battles depression and is doing it alone would be in real danger. I wanted to give the author a hug, but that would just stress her out because I’m a complete stranger and she’s also dealing with social anxiety. Still this was an important book about experiences and worldviews that are dark and quite sad. It stirs up empathy and that human desire to relieve suffering… I just searched online to make sure the author is okay. (Okay is not a real term here, it’s relative and I’m going with it.) I feel much relieved that she has remarried, returned to her blog, and is still working on being okay. I’m glad and much relieved that the stranger, who seemed to be able to turn tragedy into comedy which made it so easy to connect to and find solace in, is okay.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
(ATY: A book related to a word given by a random word generator (dive), A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021 (the ocean))
I want to read this because Ivy read it and said it was really, really good.
This was really good. It tells the story of creatures adapted from pregnant slave women thrown overboard from slave ships. One in particular is the historian who carries the memory of the entire species so that the society as a whole can live carefree from the pain and suffering of the past. Once a year, the historian shares the memories with all the other members of the society so they can know where they came from and who their ancestors were. At first I kept looking for the buried message, but once I let go of that and just listened to the story, my enjoyment increased immensely. The language was so beautiful and for being so short it encompassed so much! The themes of self versus society and painful knowledge versus empty ignorance are thoughtfully explored. It was excellent!
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
(PopSugar: A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality)
I want to read this because the first one was so funny!
This was indeed a pretty funny book. A great mood lifter. I appreciate the concept of #FuriouslyHappy and I relate to the idea of getting on with it despite the universe (and our own brain chemistry) throwing up roadblock after roadblock. I feel like I’ve been to that place where I’ve used spite to propel myself forward or maybe it wasn’t spite but like…. denial. A very very firm denial of circumstance. But Jenny isn’t denying her challenges with mental illness, she’s transforming them. Foul mouthed, random, awkward transformations though they may be, but I find them 10,000x more inspirational, relatable, and a helluva lot more entertaining. I will definitely be picking up the next one.
The Western Star by Craig Johnson
(PopSugar: A genre hybrid, ATY: A cross genre novel)
I want to read this because it is the next in the series.
This one had a really interesting set up that kept me guessing to the end. And that TWIST!!!! So sad, but so gut wrenching at the same time. I really enjoyed this one too. Henry, Lucian, and Walt are all together so there was plenty of EXCELLENT banter. I do not anticipate liking the next one though because it seems to indicate that Walt is heading out to find his daughter on his own while everyone else is stuck at home guarding Lola. Without Henry or Vic I’m not sure it will be as fun and that’s why I like the Longmire series so much is because there is levity mixed with the dark mystery parts. I will definitely pick it up though because I want to keep going with the series as a whole.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
(ATY: A book whose title contains a negative, PopSugar: A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z")
I want t o read this because I’ve heard how revolutionary it is.
This felt less like the empowerment of introverts and more like an indictment of extroverts. Although I did learn about omniverts which I didn’t know was a thing before so that was helpful. It might be because I am so late to reading this, but it didn’t feel quite like the revealing tome it has been made out to be. Afterall, there are a lot of internet articles that cover the same appreciation for the strengths of introverts. I wasn’t always on board with her definition of introvert and extrovert, but I appreciated the mention of introverts that are able to camouflage themselves as extroverts as a matter of survival in their professional or personal lives. So, this book wasn’t life changing for me, but it wasn’t terrible.
Holes by Louis Sachar
I want to read this because it’s an award winner and because I liked the movie.
(ATY: A book you associate with a specific season or time of year, PopSugar: A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign)
This was so fun and everything I remember from the movie. I didn’t remember the movie very precisely so it still felt fresh when I read it. I really liked that the book explored incidents in the past which I can’t remember if the movie did as well. It added some fun depth and history to the story. Of course, the best part of this book is how it wraps all the threads up together at the end. With Stanley carrying Zero up the mountain to finally break the curse caused by his great, great……… grandfather. I pictured Sigorney Weaver as the warden the whole time even though I don’t think she precisely fit the warden’s description. All in all a delightful experience.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I want to read this because I wanted to see what her adult writing was like.
(ATY: A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads, PopSugar: A dark academia book)
This was a slow starter for me, but it did get there and I really enjoyed it by the end. I kept calling a twist that ended up being a COMPLETELY different twist. Galaxy Stern (Alex) ends up recruited by a secret society at Yale even though she didn’t earn a high school diploma and was living with a group of drug dealers (all of whom she happened to murder). The reason she’s recruited is because she can see ghosts. It happens to be a very valuable skill to have when you’re supposed to make sure ghosts don’t disrupt the spells of the other eight secret societies. The society she is recruited into is called Lethe House and its sole purpose is the monitor the magic goings-on in the other 8 secret societies on campus. Basically to make sure they don’t kill random people with their magical spells. When a girl dies and her body is left exposed in public Alex suspects there’s a connection to one of the houses. It turns out several of the houses, but with superiors adamant to look the other way and her mentor missing (devoured by a demon it just so happens) Alex is on her own. I kept thinking Tara wasn’t really dead, but had figured out a way to use magic to fake her own death and escape her life which,like Alex, was controlled by drug dealers and powerful men.The writing was definitely superior to her young adult series, but at times it felt like some of the dark and adult content was there just because it could be in a book for grown ups. I didn’t like Alex as a character and it was the mystery of it all that kept me reading. By the end I was enjoying it quite a bit more, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll pursue the next one or not.
Added:
Southern Horrors by Ida B. Wells-Barnett
(ATY: A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir)
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
(ATY: A book that you consider comfort reading, PopSugar: The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover)
I want to read this because the movie looked pretty funny and I wanted to read it before watching it.
This was pretty enjoyable. Bridget Jones has some New Year’s resolutions and for a 30 something in the mid 90s they aren’t all that surprising. Lose some weight, get a better job, snag an awesome boyfriend? Normally I really don’t appreciate characters who can’t get their shit together, but for some reason I found Bridget Jones absolutely charming. I think maybe it had to do with how closely her thought processes mirrored my own! How many times have I panicked about something, then slipped into a euphoric fantasy about how it could actually be pretty awesome, only to find the reality is just as terrible as I thought it would be in the first place! Granted I don’t drink as much as Bridget and I really did manage to give up smoking (though all her reasoning before attempting to quit we’re near exact quotes from my brain). Don’t even get me started about “developing inner poise!” I laughed out loud several times and totally appreciated poor Bridget’s myriad of disasters.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
(ATY: A book with an ensemble cast, PopSugar: A book everyone seems to have read but you)
I want to read this because everyone I’ve talked to says it’s really good.
This was really good. August was born with some syndromes that came together to give him a face that is very different from his peers. And now, he’s going to start going to school for the first time ever. In fifth grade. Everyone can understand his hesitation, middle school is stressful enough for people who don’t wear one of their challenges on their bodies, but can Auggie survive fifth grade? Can he thrive? I really liked this book. It switched points of view on me which I wasn’t expecting. It gave readers more than a glimpse into Auggie’s world, but into the people around him. At one point Auggie’s sister says that her family are planets that orbit Auggie, and really that’s applicable to the whole cast. Each person is changed by Auggie’s presence in their lives. I teared up a lot while reading this book, but not as much as I thought I would. It wasn’t a slog to get through and it wasn’t as emotional as I thought. For the most part it was just another story about this really amazing group of kids, and while each of them was touched with flaws, they were all richly portrayed and obviously deeply caring individuals. It made the whole experience personal and emotional beyond words. Excellent!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
(ATY: A book related to “In the Beginning...”, PopSugar: A locked-room mystery)
I want to read this because it is the first Hercule Poiroit book and I rather liked the first Ms. Marple.
This was pretty fun! Poirot is a brilliant Belgian detective who has relocated to England because of the war. It’s actually rather lucky because as it happens the narrator, who has worked with him before and is aware of his special talents, is staying at a friend’s residence close by when a tragedy occurs! The lady of the house is poisoned! It’s up to Poirot to find the culprit and see justice delivered. I have to admit, I didn’t see the ending coming. I felt quite dense because all the clues were given pretty early on. The author bats the reader around with false trails, and just like the narrator, the reader can’t help but draw the wrong conclusions. OVER AND OVER! It was frustrating in the most delightful way. The big reveal at the end was absolutely satisfying.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
(ATY: A book that might cause someone to react “You read what?!?”, ReadHarder: Read an own voices book about disability)
I want to read this because it’s a graphic novel, junior fiction, and has great reviews.
A delightful read! The main character is really charming. Cece loses a great deal of her hearing when she becomes ill at age 4 and, after Kindergarten in a special school with other children who have hearing challenges, her family moves to a small town where she goes to school with all the children in her neighborhood. She must navigate making friends and being different all at the same time. This was a cute read, but clearly aimed at a bit younger crowd. It was not nearly as emotional as Wonder, but it was cute all the same. I think everyone can relate to the difficulties making friends, and keeping them as everyone grows up. Mostly though I felt for Cece when she couldn’t quite express her feelings to her friends because of the fear of rejection. Her imagining herself as a superhero was very reminiscent of when Doug became Quailman in the cartoon series on Nickelodeon. It’s a really amazing coping mechanism and the illustrations were pretty cute. I appreciated the notes at the end by the author who clarified some things about her experience as a deaf individual. A very good read.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
(ATY: A book set on an island, PopSugar: The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover)
I want to read this because the plot sounds fascinating.
The plot was indeed interesting, but for me, it was dragged down with an annoying main character and various irritating writing traits. Scarlett and her sister live in some alternate world we as the reader are given very little information about. Their father is abusive so, of course, Scarlett dreams of escaping to Caraval: the magical travelling show that her grandmother told her bedtime stories about. However, she gets there (against her will after all) and terrible things happen. Leaving us and Scarlett questioning whether it is really all a game. Scarlett thinks she’s the protective big sister, buuuuuuut she’s really not, at least, we’re not given any real glimpses into that. Her relationship with her sister is so flat and Scarlett makes these big pronouncements, feels these strong feelings, but there’s rarely any evidence of them in her actions. As readers we’re stuck in the head of a ninny! I don’t know if the author wrote Scarlet this way on purpose as a particular characterization on purpose. (Listening to the interview with the author at the end I suspect it was not on purpose.) If Scarlett had been a strong character this could have been a fantastic thrill ride of a book. I mean the unease that comes with not knowing the difference between reality and fantasy CAN be fun. Instead Scarlett is constantly plagued with wishy washy feelings and none of the big reveals make any sense whatsoever. Worst of all are the retcons. At one point Scarlett says something to the effect of, “since the beginning of the game I felt…” and I was outraged because no she hadn’t felt that way. We were there at the beginning when she arrived, she definitely didn’t feel that way. UGH! I won’t be continuing the series.
Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity by Kami Garcia
(ATY: A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards)
I want to read this because the remixes of Harley Quinn and the premise of Black Line comics from DC both sound right up my alley.
I really like that DC is delving deep into the possibilities of the character of Harley Quinn. In this version she’s a criminal psychologist who consults with Jim Gordon and the GCPD on certain cases involving possible serial killers. While I really enjoyed this read, I couldn't help but think back to the other recent remix Harleen which I felt had a much stronger atmosphere. {It was also a much more thorough and plausible exploration of the backstory Harley was given in “Batman: the Animated Series”) Still this was excellent and the often used black and white color scheme gave the story a noir feeling. I really wish there had been more interaction between Harley and Joker directly. We’re really only given two scenes between the two of them and they were so brief. I also really liked that Joker was drawn so differently. Like Harleen he was drawn much more attractive, but also much more muscular, like he could go toe to toe with Batman in a direct fight which I never really thought the Joker capable of. I’m not sure if they are going to continue this line, but I hope so. I’d like to read more.
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
(PopSugar: A book with an oxymoron in the title, ReadHarder: Read a book that demystifies a common mental illness)
I want to read this because her first book was amazing.
This was quite different from the first book. At first it feels the same, the stories are funny enough to make your stomach hurt with laughter, but then it changes. Whereas in the first book it becomes quite heavy about half way through and discusses the author’s battle with depression and social anxiety and then goes back to being funny, this sequel gets dark and then darker and then darker. It truly had me worrying about the author’s safety because the things that have happened that caused so much sadness and grief would be a lot for any person to handle. A person who already battles depression and is doing it alone would be in real danger. I wanted to give the author a hug, but that would just stress her out because I’m a complete stranger and she’s also dealing with social anxiety. Still this was an important book about experiences and worldviews that are dark and quite sad. It stirs up empathy and that human desire to relieve suffering… I just searched online to make sure the author is okay. (Okay is not a real term here, it’s relative and I’m going with it.) I feel much relieved that she has remarried, returned to her blog, and is still working on being okay. I’m glad and much relieved that the stranger, who seemed to be able to turn tragedy into comedy which made it so easy to connect to and find solace in, is okay.
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
(ATY: A book related to a word given by a random word generator (dive), A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021 (the ocean))
I want to read this because Ivy read it and said it was really, really good.
This was really good. It tells the story of creatures adapted from pregnant slave women thrown overboard from slave ships. One in particular is the historian who carries the memory of the entire species so that the society as a whole can live carefree from the pain and suffering of the past. Once a year, the historian shares the memories with all the other members of the society so they can know where they came from and who their ancestors were. At first I kept looking for the buried message, but once I let go of that and just listened to the story, my enjoyment increased immensely. The language was so beautiful and for being so short it encompassed so much! The themes of self versus society and painful knowledge versus empty ignorance are thoughtfully explored. It was excellent!
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
(PopSugar: A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality)
I want to read this because the first one was so funny!
This was indeed a pretty funny book. A great mood lifter. I appreciate the concept of #FuriouslyHappy and I relate to the idea of getting on with it despite the universe (and our own brain chemistry) throwing up roadblock after roadblock. I feel like I’ve been to that place where I’ve used spite to propel myself forward or maybe it wasn’t spite but like…. denial. A very very firm denial of circumstance. But Jenny isn’t denying her challenges with mental illness, she’s transforming them. Foul mouthed, random, awkward transformations though they may be, but I find them 10,000x more inspirational, relatable, and a helluva lot more entertaining. I will definitely be picking up the next one.
The Western Star by Craig Johnson
(PopSugar: A genre hybrid, ATY: A cross genre novel)
I want to read this because it is the next in the series.
This one had a really interesting set up that kept me guessing to the end. And that TWIST!!!! So sad, but so gut wrenching at the same time. I really enjoyed this one too. Henry, Lucian, and Walt are all together so there was plenty of EXCELLENT banter. I do not anticipate liking the next one though because it seems to indicate that Walt is heading out to find his daughter on his own while everyone else is stuck at home guarding Lola. Without Henry or Vic I’m not sure it will be as fun and that’s why I like the Longmire series so much is because there is levity mixed with the dark mystery parts. I will definitely pick it up though because I want to keep going with the series as a whole.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
(ATY: A book whose title contains a negative, PopSugar: A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z")
I want t o read this because I’ve heard how revolutionary it is.
This felt less like the empowerment of introverts and more like an indictment of extroverts. Although I did learn about omniverts which I didn’t know was a thing before so that was helpful. It might be because I am so late to reading this, but it didn’t feel quite like the revealing tome it has been made out to be. Afterall, there are a lot of internet articles that cover the same appreciation for the strengths of introverts. I wasn’t always on board with her definition of introvert and extrovert, but I appreciated the mention of introverts that are able to camouflage themselves as extroverts as a matter of survival in their professional or personal lives. So, this book wasn’t life changing for me, but it wasn’t terrible.
Holes by Louis Sachar
I want to read this because it’s an award winner and because I liked the movie.
(ATY: A book you associate with a specific season or time of year, PopSugar: A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign)
This was so fun and everything I remember from the movie. I didn’t remember the movie very precisely so it still felt fresh when I read it. I really liked that the book explored incidents in the past which I can’t remember if the movie did as well. It added some fun depth and history to the story. Of course, the best part of this book is how it wraps all the threads up together at the end. With Stanley carrying Zero up the mountain to finally break the curse caused by his great, great……… grandfather. I pictured Sigorney Weaver as the warden the whole time even though I don’t think she precisely fit the warden’s description. All in all a delightful experience.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I want to read this because I wanted to see what her adult writing was like.
(ATY: A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads, PopSugar: A dark academia book)
This was a slow starter for me, but it did get there and I really enjoyed it by the end. I kept calling a twist that ended up being a COMPLETELY different twist. Galaxy Stern (Alex) ends up recruited by a secret society at Yale even though she didn’t earn a high school diploma and was living with a group of drug dealers (all of whom she happened to murder). The reason she’s recruited is because she can see ghosts. It happens to be a very valuable skill to have when you’re supposed to make sure ghosts don’t disrupt the spells of the other eight secret societies. The society she is recruited into is called Lethe House and its sole purpose is the monitor the magic goings-on in the other 8 secret societies on campus. Basically to make sure they don’t kill random people with their magical spells. When a girl dies and her body is left exposed in public Alex suspects there’s a connection to one of the houses. It turns out several of the houses, but with superiors adamant to look the other way and her mentor missing (devoured by a demon it just so happens) Alex is on her own. I kept thinking Tara wasn’t really dead, but had figured out a way to use magic to fake her own death and escape her life which,like Alex, was controlled by drug dealers and powerful men.The writing was definitely superior to her young adult series, but at times it felt like some of the dark and adult content was there just because it could be in a book for grown ups. I didn’t like Alex as a character and it was the mystery of it all that kept me reading. By the end I was enjoying it quite a bit more, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll pursue the next one or not.