Wow. Okay. I’ve read a few of Okorafor’s books before, and while I enjoyed them, Death of the Author is in its own category. It’s more complex, more lWow. Okay. I’ve read a few of Okorafor’s books before, and while I enjoyed them, Death of the Author is in its own category. It’s more complex, more layered—both in terms of storytelling and writing.
It took me a little while to settle in. The dialogue in the first couple of chapters felt a bit stilted, but once I got into the rhythm, I was in. Okorafor seamlessly weaves together two narratives, and when they finally clicked into place, I literally gasped.
This book tackles big themes—belonging, autonomy, the tension between personal identity and public perception—while delivering a story that’s thought-provoking and immersive. It has a lot to say about who gets to tell their own story and what happens when that control is taken away.
It’s also a book that can appeal to a wide range of readers. Sci-fi fans will love the book-within-a-book concept, but it’s just as compelling for those newer to the genre.
Death of the Author is sharp, compelling, and totally unlike anything I’ve read before.
I thought this would be fluffy and fun, and I guess it could have been those things, but I found the main characters Ooh, this was not for me. Yikes.
I thought this would be fluffy and fun, and I guess it could have been those things, but I found the main characters both deeply unlikable and problematic.
I am clearly way in the minority on this one....more
Cat’s People is a charming book for cat lovers and fans of slice-of-life stories. It reminded me of She and Her Cat and The Traveling Cat Chronicles. Cat’s People is a charming book for cat lovers and fans of slice-of-life stories. It reminded me of She and Her Cat and The Traveling Cat Chronicles. Despite being written by a Filipino-Spanish author and set in Brooklyn, it has a style that feels distinctly Japanese—gentle, introspective, and full of small, poignant moments.
The story centers on a stray black cat named Cat, who brings together five strangers—each character’s perspective unfolds in alternating chapters, including the occasional chapter from Cat’s point of view.
This is a cozy, feel-good story, perfect as a palate cleanser or when you’re in the mood for something warm and hopeful. If you’re a fan of stories that revolve around quiet relationships, found family, or, of course, cats, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press!...more
This one is heartbreaking and horrifying, and it was so well done. It reminded me of Station Eleven, but it also has shades of Parable of the Sower inThis one is heartbreaking and horrifying, and it was so well done. It reminded me of Station Eleven, but it also has shades of Parable of the Sower in how it tackles survival and resilience.
Nonie is such a sympathetic main character, and her voice really carried the story for me. The flashbacks were seamless and added depth—they never felt like interruptions but instead enriched what was happening in the present.
I also appreciated how the book didn’t sugarcoat anything. The dangers of a flooded world and the breakdown of authority are portrayed in a way that feels terrifyingly plausible. At the same time, the group’s dedication to preserving knowledge and finding a purpose beyond survival kept the story from being too bleak.
This is one of the best cli-fi books I’ve read in a while. It’s not just about the big, apocalyptic changes but also the small, human moments of connection and perseverance. It’s definitely a heavy read, but there’s just enough hope to make it feel worth it. A solid five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press!...more
For lovers of Alix E. Harrow, Seanan McGuire and Simon Jimenez
I love portal fiction, books where our heroes go through a door or a wardrobe or a pond For lovers of Alix E. Harrow, Seanan McGuire and Simon Jimenez
I love portal fiction, books where our heroes go through a door or a wardrobe or a pond and find themselves in another world.
This was fantastic. I picked it up because I’d read and liked The Wishing Game. This one is 10x better: the prose itself is much stronger, and the story just feels like one that Shaffer was dying to tell. It comes together really well, and the characters felt like real people.
Years ago, two boys disappeared in the woods and were found again months later. In present day, one has a preternatural ability to find people who are lost while the other is a reclusive artists who doesn’t know where the inspiration for his art comes from. They haven’t spoke in 15 years.
They are brought back together to help a young woman find her sister, who disappeared into the same woods they had.
The story moves along quickly—I finished this in two settings—and the love and support between the characters was beautiful. I definitely recommend this one for anyone who likes portals, fairy tales, cozy romance stories and the motto “scared is a feeling, not an excuse.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books!...more
Kevin Nguyen’s Mỹ Documents is sharp, unsettling, and undeniably well-written. The premise—a government policy forces Vietnamese Americans into internKevin Nguyen’s Mỹ Documents is sharp, unsettling, and undeniably well-written. The premise—a government policy forces Vietnamese Americans into internment camps—hits close to home for me as someone of Japanese descent and the parallels to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The story captures how fear, misinformation, and government overreach can lead to horrifying consequences. There are also themes of exploitation and appropriation of tragedy and the complications of family ties.
Unfortunately, while I don’t mind unlikable characters, I wish we’d seen more growth from them over the course of the story. Then again, maybe that’s the point: that bad things can happen and we don’t have to learn and grow from them—there does not need to be a silver lining.
I also found it jarring that there are moments where devastating things happen, but instead of sitting in the emotions, the narrative barrels ahead to the next event. It made it hard for me to feel fully connected to the story at times.
Still, the book is worth reading for its thought-provoking premise and its eerie relevance to today’s political climate. It’s one of those novels that’ll stick with you, even if it leaves you feeling more unsettled than satisfied. Solid four stars, and I could see myself pushing this up to five if I find myself thinking about it long after having finished it.
I absolutely loved The Ancients. It’s the story of a world ravaged by climate change, where civilization has been set back thousands of years. The intI absolutely loved The Ancients. It’s the story of a world ravaged by climate change, where civilization has been set back thousands of years. The interwoven stories of survival and hope kept me hooked from start to finish.
None of the characters were purely likable, but they were all compelling in their own ways, forcing me to stay invested in their struggles.
I loved the messages about sustainability and hope in such a bleak future. My only minor gripe was how neatly everything wrapped up in the end, which felt a little too tidy given the harshness of the story. That said, it didn’t take away from how incredible this book was overall—highly recommend!