ARC Book Review: Theodora's Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones
Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! I'm going to be honest here. I've been a longtime fan of Christy Anne Jones, having followed her writing journey on Youtube for quite a time. She's been a huge inspiration, and her cosy videos have always motivated me to keep writing my dark fantasy novel. It goes without saying that I was beyond stoked when Headline accepted my ARC request. In Theodora's Tea Shop, a timid, chronically ill woman called Dot sets
C Y Wang
Jul 292 min read
Book Club June Review: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
I'll be honest here. The main reason I chose this book was because of Tasia's artwork on the paperback cover (see above). She drew the characters so beautifully that it was impossible not to desire a copy of it. And then I heard Rose in Chains by Julie Soto is actually based on a Dramione fan fiction. If you've been here since the Alchemised days, you would know that I am obsessed with that pairing. So how could I not choose this as June's book club pick? Rose in Chains follo
C Y Wang
Jun 303 min read
ARC Book Review: The Whitechapel Full Moon Society by Elizabeth DeLozier
Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! A Dutton Books representative reached out to me a month ago, and offered an early copy of Elizabeth DeLozier's sophomore novel, The Whitechapel Full Moon Society. Of course, I was thrilled. I have been enjoying historical fiction recently (as well as historical dramas... Pursuit of Jade, I'm looking at you), and this one promised a supernatural twist. How could I not dive right in? Set in Victorian London, the no
C Y Wang
May 143 min read
ARC Book Review: Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! Who would have thought that my review of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia could offer so many opportunities in the ARC world? Maybe this proves Moreno-Garcia's positive influence on the success of rising Latina authors and their Gothic horrors. Either way, I was very happy to see an email in my inbox that offered an early insight into Gómez's latest novel. Muñeca is a Gothic fantasy that follows
C Y Wang
May 52 min read
Book Club April Review: The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
Since April is my birth month, I was excited to find a book that would alter my brain chemistry in the same way that Sword of Kaigen did. Or Mistborn, for that matter. I am tired of predictable romantasies, cliché characters and convenient plot beats. I wanted something that would move me, tug at my heartstrings. I don't exactly remember how I stumbled upon Shen Tao's The Poet Empress, but as soon as I read its blurb, I had a gut feeling that it would be the right choice for
C Y Wang
May 44 min read
ARC Book Review: The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! When I saw an email from Del Rey through Netgalley, offering an ARC of their upcoming gothic fantasy novel because they saw my review of The Bewitching , I thought I was imagining things. What an honour to have received this offer! Obviously, I had to do the book justice by taking my time to engage with the text and gather my thoughts before I jump into my review. At the time of writing this post, I was back hom
C Y Wang
Mar 102 min read
Book Club February Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
For February's book club book, I endeavoured to choose a more romance-centred fantasy that would hopefully make me swoon without tearing apart my heart. If you've been following our blog for a while, you would know that I love angsty books that make me sob like a child, but sometimes a wholesome story is what I need. For that reason, I chose Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross for the most romantic month of the year. In short, Divine Rivals is about Iris as she navigates her mother
C Y Wang
Mar 103 min read
Book Club December Review: Coldwire by Chloe Gong
Did I choose this book because it was December and we're getting to the colder months? Or was it because I saw an event on the Waterstones website with Chloe Gong which compelled me to buy tickets because who wouldn't want to meet a successful young female author? Either way, Coldwire might seem like a rogue choice since we usually choose fantasy or contemporary thrillers, but we couldn't miss this cyberpunk novel in our current climate of AI taking over the world. Coldwire i
C Y Wang
Jan 63 min read
Book Club November Review: Six Wilds Crowns by Holly Race
I came across this book whilst at an event for A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride, where Holly Race was the interviewer. I was drawn in by the pretty sprayed edges and the author's discussion of the book which had me expecting strong female characters, court politics and a fresh take on the story of Henry VIII. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory is one of my favourite reads, inspiring a fascination of the Tudor court and Henry VIII in me so I was very excited to ch
Kayleigh A
Dec 15, 20255 min read