What a fantastic follow up to the first book! I loved the first one and was not disappointed by its sequel.

This book picks up where the first one left off and is full of nonstop action and adventure. It is just as faced paced as the previous book.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/01/24/review-the-lady-of-the-mirrored-l...

What a luxurious book! But that is no surprise considering this is a book from the iconic brand, Hermès. I should expect nothing less from the fashion house.

The book is beautifully made. It has a gorgeous linen cover in the brand‘s iconic orange. The pages inside are so thick. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen a book with pages this thick.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2023/01/06/review-heavenly-days/

This book took me by surprise (in a good way)!

I loved how fast paced the book was. There was never a dull moment. Sometimes fantasy books can take a while to get into the story, but this book dove right in. I was flipping through the pages just wanting to know what would happen next.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/12/28/review-the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-...

I was really impressed with this retelling! I know a lot of people take issue with the Twisted Tales Disney series because it follows the movie too closely, so I was worried that this new Disney Prince series would be similar. Fortunately, this book does add a lot more to the movie. Eric gets an entire backstory which gives him much more depth.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/10/07/review-prince-of-song-sea-princes...

I was very excited to read this book because I love the premise. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

My main critique is that the book is too long. The book is roughly 370 pages, but could have been whittled down to around 300. The book is very light on events that drive the plot forward.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/28/review-blame-it-on-the-brontes/

Since this is an anthology, there is something for everyone. There is a lot of diversity from the types of women to their accomplishments. The art styles also vary! I enjoyed seeing all the different types of art. All the contributors are either female or nonbinary which adds to the inspiring narrative of the collection.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/24/review-wonderful-women-of-the-wor...

I loved the premise of the book, but it ultimately fell a little short of my expectations.

My main issue with the book is the pacing. It is very slow. Getting through the first half of the book was a struggle. Once I was about halfway through, the pace (luckily) picked up.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/review-bloomsbury-girls/

This was an informative book centering on three types of witches: the green witch, the kitchen witch, and the hedge witch. It discussed each type of witch and some of their particulars, like what tools they each use. The book also had an abundance of information on general witchcraft. For example, there is a chapter on purifying your home.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/20/review-backyard-witchcraft/

This book was quite the ride!

There was a good balance between the sexy and the more serious. The book delves deep into the main character and her journey of self discovery. It also heavily explores complex family dynamics. The main character‘s family is a piece of work to say the least!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/17/review-diary-of-a-contemporary-wo...

This book gave me goosebumps multiple times while reading it. I knew the Japanese occupation was harsh, but reading about the reality of it was something else. I‘m so glad that the book shed light on life under their occupation and didn‘t hold back on its depictions.

It is evident the author put in a tremendous amount of research in writing this story.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/09/09/review-angels-of-the-pacific/

Poetry is always a tricky genre to review because it is so subjective and can be interpreted in many ways. This was a beautifully written poetry collection, however, I didn‘t “get” it. The poems flowed very well, but I had a hard time grasping the meanings.

Part of the disconnect was due to the fact that I was not familiar with the mythology the poems explored.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/08/15/review-still-the-sky/

First off, I have always loved luxury goods, especially handbags so the premise of this book was right up my alley.

Plot-wise, the twist halfway through was so smart and I did not see it coming. As soon as I got to the twist, I thought to myself, “This book is brilliant.” I won‘t say much about the twist but I will say that it kept the book interesting.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/08/08/review-counterfeit/

If I could use one word to describe this book it would be cozy. It feels like such a comfort read, probably because the book is set during the fall/winter. It has those cozy vibes that makes you want to read this while curled up with a blanket and a hot beverage.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/20/review-fangirl-vol-2-fangirl-the-...

Wow! What a book! This was a dark retelling/reimagining of Peter Pan that managed to creep me out quite a bit. This book won‘t be everyone‘s cup of tea, but for me it worked.

I loved the dark take on Peter Pan. There is something inherently a little sinister about the original story and this book really delved into that.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/12/review-darling-girl/

This was a very absurd graphic novel. It was sort of insane, but that was the point. I found the whole story to be a bit strange and I didn‘t necessarily love it (nor did I completely hate it). It was just okay for me. I probably would have liked it better if I was more familiar with Miss Butterworth.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/06/review-miss-butterworth-and-the-m...

First off, I loved the first book in the series, Tokyo Ever After. It was one of my favorite books of 2021 which made me very excited to read the sequel. I still think that the first book was a tiny bit better, but for the most part I found the sequel to be a worthy successor.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/05/tokyo-dreaming-tokyo-ever-after-2...

What a fun and crazy ride! Action, adventure, delicious food, this manga had it all.

Since this manga is titled Crazy Food Truck, I have to talk about the food. The pictures of the food looked so yummy! It made me so hungry. I also loved the “recipes” included at the end of the book. That was a fun touch.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/06/02/review-crazy-food-truck-vol-1-cra...

I previously read one of the author‘s other books, Eva Evergreen, Semi Magical Witch, and absolutely loved it. I was very excited to read this one since it acts as a prequel to the Eva Evergreen books. Unfortunately, I didn‘t like this book as much as Eva Evergreen.

This is a Cinderella retelling and because of that, the book felt constrained plot wise.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/05/22/review-alliana-girl-of-dragons/

The premise is the classic romance trope, marriage of convenience. However, it takes places when the marriage of convenience is nearing its end, which is a cool twist to the trope. I found that twist very refreshing and it offered a unique perspective to the trope. I enjoyed seeing the main characters discover their true feelings for each other.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/05/15/review-know-you-by-heart-heart-re...

The poem was short yet so impactful. It beautifully highlighted the struggles of natural hair as well as the complexities of being Afro-Latinidad. It‘s personal, real, and authentic, which are all qualities I look for when reading poetry.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/05/08/review-inheritance/

This was such a simple and sweet story!

I loved the premise of the story. I enjoyed learning more about Indian culture, especially their wedding customs. I also liked that the book explored being “white-washed” and how it can make people feel disconnected towards their culture.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/30/review-sari-not-sari/

This book is pure genius!

This book is all 4 Avengers movies written as Shakespearen plays. It includes stage directions, a list of characters, and even full color illustrations (loved seeing the Avengers dressed Shakespearean style). All the iconic lines and scenes are translated perfectly.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/review-william-shakespeares-aveng...

The thing I love most about poetry is how personal it can be. This collection was the epitome of that. I could tell that every poem came from the heart.

I really liked the water theme that was woven throughout the poems. It made the collection very cohesive.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/12/review-far-from-the-shallow/

This was a really cute My Fair Lady retelling! I have seen My Fair Lady, but it was a while ago so I didn‘t pick up on any of the references to it. If you‘re a fan of the movie I‘m sure you would appreciate those references.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/04/04/review-my-fine-fellow/

This book had such a great premise. I love gothic novels, however, the execution could have been better.

The book started off strong. The book held steady until the last 1/3. The story seemed to be losing its momentum by that point. By the end, I felt let down. I was expecting a big reveal or twist but nothing shocked me or made me have an “aha” moment.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/review-tripping-arcadia/

This book explores the history of romantic comedies. Each chapter is dedicated to a different movie, with an essay in between exploring different rom-com actors.

The selection of movies and actors were a good mix. I liked that it discussed non-white rom-coms (Waiting To Exhale) and rom-coms about older women (Something‘s Gotta Give).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/03/13/review-from-hollywood-with-love/

This was such a whimsical and enchanting read! The story was full of magic and wonder. It‘s not a surprise this book won a Newbery Medal. It reminded me of the fantasy books I read as child.

The best part of this book was the writing style. It was so beautifully written. The prose flowed so lyrically.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/02/16/review-the-girl-who-drank-the-moo...

I previously read the author‘s debut book, The Boys‘ Club, and loved it, so I knew I just had to read this one. Once again, I was not disappointed!

Like her previous novel, this one is highly engaging. From the very beginning it takes you on a roller coaster of a ride through the glamorous world of high art.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/02/09/review-fake/

The storyline felt very real. It depicted the racism and injustice black people face every day in a very nuanced way. It did a fantastic job highlighting the internal struggle of deciding whether or not to speak out. Taking a stand, or in this case, kneeling, has both positive and negative consequences, and this book dove right into the complexity of it all.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/02/04/review-kneel/

This was the cutest Christmas story ever! It was an absolute Christmas dream. Everything from the setting to the characters was Christmas perfection.

The fictional country of Tolvania was essentially a Christmas village come to life. It was Christmas central. The country had tree lightings, caroling, and even a Christmas crown!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/27/review-a-royal-christmas-fairy-ta...

This installment had more backstory than the previous volumes which I felt slowed down the pace of the book a little. A good chunk took place in Mao‘s past and we learned more about his early days.

Like the previous volume, this one unveiled even more about the story and the characters, including details on how Mao and Nanoka are connected.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/mao-vol-3-mao-3/

This installment was jam packed with action. So much happened and I enjoyed every page of it. There was a lot of world building that helped move the story along. I liked that more of the story was revealed in this volume. This volume provided some answers and got me hooked. I have to know what happens next.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/11/review-mao-vol-2-mao-2/

The art style is very simple, but classic. There‘s something a little old school and retro about it that I liked.

As for the storyline, I was very intrigued by it. It‘s fast paced and there‘s a lot of mystery and fantasy action and adventure that kept me turning the pages.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2022/01/08/review-mao-vol-1-mao-1/

I was very excited to read this book because 1) the main character has my name and 2) I have ventured also into the crazy world of dating apps. All in all, it was a very fun read.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/12/04/review-a-girl-like-you/

This was such a cute graphic novel!

I‘ve read Mooncakes, which is another graphic novel the author co-wrote, and loved it so I knew I needed to read this one.

Overall, I recommend this book to readers of all ages who love magic, witches, or dragons. This book also makes a great gift because it is a gorgeous hardcover!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/11/17/review-tidesong/

The book started off rocky. It felt a little discombobulated in the beginning because it would jump around from different points in her life. It was hard to follow what was going on.

Overall, this book wasn‘t perfect but I appreciated the author‘s candor and research.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/review-nothing-personal/

First off, I love that this book basically takes you on a tour of London during Christmas. I‘ve never been to London (but have always wanted to) so that aspect was exceptionally fun for me. It felt like I was right there with the characters!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/10/23/review-the-certainty-of-chance/

The storyline is interesting. Many reviewers mention the ending, in which things are not wrapped up completely. Things are left in a morally gray area so it may leave some readers unsatisfied. Personally, I was fine with the ending because it leaves open the possibility of more installments. Also, the morally gray ending was thought-provoking so I appreciated that aspect.
Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/10/01/review-whistle/

The book started off on the slow side and it felt a little superficial. It read like a typical YA novel with high school drama and it dragged in parts because of that. However, once the main conflict happened, the book matured and picked up the pace. The empowering message finally managed to shine through.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/28/review-screen-queens/

This was the cutest book ever! Seriously. It was like a Studio Ghibli movie in book form.

First off, the world building in this book was incredible. I could easily picture the quaint seaside town of Auteri with all its little shops and its Festival of Lights. I wish it was a real place!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/26/review-eva-evergreen-semi-magical...

Overall, this was a highly amusing graphic novel. It‘s aimed at middle grade readers, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you‘re a fan of dragons or Chinese mythology, be sure to check this one out!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/review-city-of-dragons-the-awaken...

This was a short but very insightful read!

Basically, this book uses 6 Austen heroines to display 6 different leadership principles and explains how to incorporate them into your day to day life.

The book had a slightly academic tone and structure since it is published by a university, but it still flowed well.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/20/review-kicking-ass-in-a-corset/

This was such a cute graphic novel!

The story was so heartwarming. I loved how Jacks and Snapdragon‘s backgrounds and pasts were connected. There were some parts where I was wondering on the relevance of some things (like the story of One-Eyed Tom), but it all came together at the end.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/13/review-snapdragon/

My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. The book dragged in parts, mainly in the beginning and middle. There wasn‘t a whole lot happening besides set up for future books in the series (i.e. relationship issues for Brandon‘s other siblings). Towards the end the book finally picked up speed and became more exciting.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/09/11/it-takes-heart-heart-resort-1/

I had previously read the author‘s other book, Loathe at First Sight, and liked but didn‘t love it. I knew I wanted to give her books another shot, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. This book was so much better!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/31/review-so-we-meet-again/

I‘ve always loved learning about history, so naturally I found this book to be fascinating. I loved learning about all the weird, strange, and terrible things that have happened throughout the course of history. Some events were hilarious, others were more tragic, and a few were a little disturbing.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/28/review-more-bad-days-in-history/

Essentially, this is an illustrated cartoon style book of affirmations. It features classic affirmations such as “I attack the day with energy and conviction” alongside tongue-in-cheek pictures. That particular affirmation was paired with the cover photo, showing an unamused, not ready to get out of bed person. This contrast and duality made the book very fun.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/21/review-conquer-the-day/

This is some damn good erotica. There is a lot of sex, but it was done so well. Sometimes erotica can be a little cringey, but this one wasn‘t. Who knew that greek mythology fantasies could be so hot?

I loved that there was also a plot; it wasn‘t just all sex. There was actual substance to it.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/08/02/review-the-rose-the-godwicks-2/

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I am very curious to see how the rest of the series pans out. I recommend this book if you are interested in a more historical fiction take on vampires and also if you want to read a YA vampire series that isn‘t Twilight (no shade against Twilight, I just know it isn‘t everyone‘s cup of tea).

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/the-beautiful-the-beautiful-1/

Overall, this book was relatable with a super cute romance, but it also struck a more serious note and shed a light on the Asian American experience.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/review-from-little-tokyo-with-lov...