Booked with Boba: mystery/thriller

" IF I AM TO DO SOME GOOD, I MUST MAKE PEACE WITH MY OWN LIMITS. I WOULD LOSE PERSPECTIVE OTHERWISE."

Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion.

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

publication date: September 26th, 2023 | source: owned

page count: 560 pages | genre: fantasy, historical fiction, mystery/thriller

IT’S HERE IT’S HERE OH MY GOD IT’S FINALLY HERE FDKLSJFDKLSFJDKLJFDS!!!! Wow I am so behind on this review; what happened to my vow to release this when the book released—I HAVE BETRAYED YOU ORION AND ROSALIND IM SORRY!!! Ahem. Anyways. Chloe Gong is BACK with with the finale to her Secret Shanghai and I am not okay. This has been one hell of a ride filled with a rollercoaster of emotions and many many tears accompanied by my heavenly screeching throughout so grab some boba and let’s sob together about the beautiful ending of the Secret Shanghai universe <3

The ending of Foul Lady Fortune (SPOILERS PEOPLE GO READ BOOK ONE FIRST PLEASE and my review for it too hehe) left the two lovers separated on opposite ends of the city. Even worse, Rosalind’s identity as Fortune is revealed which forces her to be confined in her apartment due to the swarming reporters lurking outside. It seems like the only obvious choice is to host a national tour in order to leave the city. But when the tour goes wrong, everything Rosalind knew crumbles. Cue the ass kicking and the plot twists upon plot twists with secrets spilling into the air that had me screeching like a pterodactyl!

Where do I even begin with this review good lord. This book was absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2023 and I think if I actually word vomited my thoughts onto this review it would be way too damn long so I will try my best to not word vomit so much. The storyline was literally perfect. Within like 2 pages I was once again teleported back to this magical world and I seriously could not put this book down while I was reading it. Reading from everyone’s POV especially when suspicion was in the air and secrets were peaking out around the corner was literally the most stressful thing ever. I was literally panicking to see whose secrets were going to be revealed first and most importantly, how the others would be taking that information. SPECIFICALLY YOU MISS PHOEBE HONG AND MR SILAS WU. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH ANXIETY THE TWO OF YOU FREAKING CAUSED ME DANCING BACK AND FORTH TOGETHER LIKE A FREAKING CAT AND MOUSE OMFG I WANTED THE TWO OF U TO GET TOGETHER ALL READY SKDLFJDKFJDKSJFSD. So anyways let’s move on!!

Speaking of which, the romance? Omg the romance. I freaking love the romance. Especially since this is the sequel so you know what that means? EVERYONE THAT NEEDS TO GET TOGETHER FINALLY GETS TOGETHER WOOHOOOO!!!!! Man it took goddamn forever considering this book was well over 500 pages but it was so freaking worth it. The tension? The yearning? ABSOLUTE CHEFS KISS. I literally squealed between each interaction and I swear for like a majority of the book it was just me going like “OH MY GOD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD GET TOGETHER ALREADY” for all the wondrous couples that I absolutely adore with all my heart and now I can die happy!!! No seriously though I think Chloe Gong made me believe in love again because I have never shipped anyone so freaking hard in a long time and this book had me literally kicking my feet in the air like a crazy person which I totally am so uh I think that checks out. Still some of the best couples I have read this year without a doubt because they are literally all freaking adorable and I have never felt so single.

Genuinely though, this book will undoubtedly be one of my favorites of the year and probably of all time considering the literal roller coaster of emotions I experienced while reading it. I absolutely loved seeing the struggles of loyalty, tested through the boundaries of family, love, and even their country. Chloe Gong wrote an amazing finish ending to this beautiful world she created and I could not be more proud of how far the characters have come. I am now also severely attached to these characters and am now going to cry because I’m 1000% sure that I’m going to die alone BECAUSE THANKS ORION HONG FOR YEETING MY STANDARDS INTO THE UNKNOWN AND NOW I AM NOT OKAY BECAUSE WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FACK WAS THAT???? If you've read the ending you totally know what I am talking about. When I tell you I screeched at the Epilogue I am not kidding.

Anyways, this book was such a fun read and I’d highly recommend so definitely go read it and come cry about it with me in the comments!!

FINAL RATING:

Who are your favorite book couples of 2023?

"I REALIZE THIS FITS INTO THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS SEEN MYSELF, WHICH IS: ART, ATTEMPTED, THOUGH OFTEN SPOILED BY THE DEMANDS OF ANOTHER'S TASTES"

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.

Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.

What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.

But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.

publication date: August 16th, 2022 | source: kindle

page count: 344 pages | genre: mystery, thriller, horror, contemporary, fantasy, lgbtq

Hi I’m back with another book that scarred the living shit out of me!! Jesus this book, where do I even begin with this review. If anything I should be surprised I even remember what happened considering I read this in freaking January but I do remember being extremely grossed out and hella confused at what I was reading which honestly should not be a surprise anymore at this point because a good book always confuses the living shit out of me! I have acquired my peach slices so I will now shut up and actually start this already also overdue ass review so grab some bubble tea and let’s get started!

After his twin sister Caroline died under horrific circumstances, Mars decides to attend his sister’s prestigious summer academy in her place so that he can attempt learn more about her. What he finds there is a fairytale that’s not meant for him. The charm and festivities hide the old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic conservative environment that forces Mars to feel like he’s constantly in the spotlight. Desperate, he seek out Caroline’s old friend group, dubbed the Honeys for the beehives they maintain in the woods. The Honeys have a secret, and the longer that Mars stays at the academy, the more certain he is that this place and everyone here are involved in her death and the more desperate he becomes at uncovering the truth.

This book fully yeeted my expectations out the window and I’m not sure if I should be impressed or grossed out at this point. The mystery was pretty intriguing and I remember being so invested in trying to figure out what the actual heck was going on that I felt like I missed the most obvious hints towards the big plot twists since when I recommended this book to a couple people, they were able to guess the huge plot twist in like 5 seconds. Nevertheless I was properly horrified with the plot twist and can say that La Sala did an amazing job and building up the plot while still keeping up the air of suspense as the story progressed until the dark truth was revealed.

Speaking of surprises, oh my god the romance? The romance. I mf’ing love the romance. It was a little unexpected (but not really because I swear I have the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to ships in a book) and it was SO CUTE. I literally love them and I want more please. On a more serious note, this book did a fantastic job at weaving in more heavy topics within the story and I loved seeing Mars’ character growth throughout the novel as well, battling his internal struggles as well as the backlash they receive for being genderfluid. The internalized toxic conservatism that was bluntly symbolized in the oh so very prestige summer camp was really interesting to see especially with Mars being the polar opposite of everything they stood for which resulted in a riveting dynamic that I thought was pretty intruiging to see as the story progressed.

This book was one of the creepiest and most confusing books I’ve read this year and I loved it. The atmosphere was instantly set and the eeriness only continued to escalate as the book progressed. There were plot twists upon plot twists which only got better as the book went on and I’m pretty sure I threw my kindle a couple times out of shock. The characters were so well developed, especially Mars, and the setting of the summer academy Aspen completely juxtaposed Mars’ character perfectly and that made it all the more captivating to read. The story itself is incredible and I genuinely could not put this book down. As a side note though, I don’t think I can ever look at honey the same way again.

FINAL RATING:

What's one of the creepiest books you've read?

"OUR ILLUSION WEAVE ROSES AROUND US, AND WHEN WE TRY TO ESCAPE, WE ARE MET WITH THORNS"

A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.

Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.

Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

publication date: Feburary 14th, 2023 | source: kindle

page count: 289 pages | genre: fantasy, gothic, mystery, horror, romance

I honestly have never been more confused in my entire life and that’s saying something. That’s also probably a lie but we’re going to ignore that. This review is so long overdue (quite literally - I read this book in FEBURARY while in Taiwan during break for crying out loud but damn was I on a reading spree back then) but I did promise to eventually write a review and here it is! This book was equal parts beautiful and confusing and I’m going to attempt to make sense of my jumbled thoughts I recall while reading this book so grab some bubble tea and let’s dive right into it.

The story opens up introducing a happy couple. A beautiful marriage between a scholar of myths and a heiress to a fortune with a dark past. Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada is equal parts mystery as she is beautiful and the two lovers, despite their differences, find comfort in one another and exchange a bargain: he can have her heart with the promise of a happily ever after but in exchange for her love, he must never inquire into her past. But when Indigo learns of her estrangled aunt health deteriorating rapidly, the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams. The bridegroom will find himself unable to resists the cries of the crumbling manor that whisper for secrets to be unveiled with the promise of answers. For within the walls, lurks the shadow of another girl who is long gone: Indigo’s childhood best friend Azure. As the manor slowly reveals Indigo’s secrets, the bridegroom becomes forced to choose and search between fantasy and reality even if that could yield in catastrophe.

I don’t even know where to start with this except to say that reading this book was so confusing and magical and I really don’t know what’s real anymore good lord. The magical aspect? Absolutely stunning. I was so emersed in the story and the sprinkles of magic throughout only made it all the more better even if it was an absolute headache to follow. I actually felt like I could just walk outside and enter this world of magic and mystery right this second which is definitely credited to the beautiful writing because what the actual heck Roshani Chokshi. The writing is just straight up mesmerizing and I am way too dumb to follow along but nevertheless it was so pretty and I was so confused but who cares. This book was just equal parts odd as it is pretty and I’m living for it.

The bond between the bridegroom and Indigo is one I was surprised to find that I was rooting for. At first it kind of felt to me that the love between the two was slight obsession which seemed to be fueled by intruige and curiosity. However, it’s hard to miss the mutal trust that emerged between the two and even while the bridegroom was prying in places he wasn’t supposed to, he still felt a sense of loyalty and love for Indigo which totally earned brownie points. Indigo herself is a mystery. To be fair we see more of her through the flashbacks of Azure’s chapters in the book but learning about her past and her character was one of the coolest things, contrasting that to the present and very cryptic Indigo.

I’m not sure how much I can say without giving too much way about the book but I will say that I did throw my kindle across the my cousin’s bed when I finished the book and proceeded to text my sister in a frenzy despite it being like 5 am in America because I wasn’t allowed to screech my feelings out loud. This book was absolutely amazing and literally everything about it was just beautiful. I was way too invested in a book thats not even 300 pages which is also huge props to Roshani Chokshi because she mangaged to absoloutely blow my mind with a book that’s half the size of most YA novels. Anyways that’s a wrap! I’m actually surprised I managed to write this much about a book I read nearly 7 months ago but I present my very late and hopefully comprehendable reveiw about one of the most beautiful books I read in 2023. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way to make my very own key to the Otherworld.

FINAL RATING:

What's the prettiest book you've read so far?

"SHE WANTED TO BE A GIRL WHO WAS DESERVING OF THE WORLD"

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

publication date: September 27th, 2022 | source: owned

page count: 528 pages | genre: fantasy, historical fiction, mystery/thriller

This book has confirmed that I will always read anything Chloe Gong writes because they’re all just too good. I loved the unique retelling of Romeo and Juliet’s story through These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends and I’m pretty sure I screeched like a pterodactyl when I found out that there would be a series expanding this incredible world she built. This book was said to be a retelling of Shakespeare's As You Like It and honestly I had no idea what that is but I still loved this book regardless. Chloe Gong's retellings are literally perfect and that's coming from a bubble tea obsessed potato who loved her Romeo and Juliet retelling despite thinking the play was kinda dumb (I was forced to watch a 40 something minute video in like 7th grade as a substitute for not actually reading the play due to COVID and I low key remember just playing it in the background and then doing something else cause I didn't want to watch it lol). That being said, grab some bubble tea and let’s chat about some undercover butt kicking assassins in the world of 1931, Shanghai, China.

The book opens up a few years after Our Violent Ends leaves off and starring none other than Rosalind Lang, Juliette’s cousin. Four years ago, she was brought back from the brink of death and for some unknown reason, can’t die. Now she’s a kick butt assassin for her country. Her code name? Fortune. (literally gorgeous by the way dksjfdlsfjlkdsjflds) But when a series of murders start to appear with the Japanese under suspicion, Rosalind has a new mission. Pose as the fake wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and identify the culprits behind the terror plot while infiltrating a foreign society. The problem? Both Rosalind and Orion have secrets they don’t want the other to find out and this mission will uncover more horrifying things then they ever could’ve imagined. Cue the double and triple agents and a plot line that’ll blow your mind because Chloe Gong said so.

Even after reading all 500 pages of its spectacular glory, I still don't know who the goddamn antagonist is. Nationalist? Communist? Who the heck is who and does what? I have no clue. This book did a fantastic job exploding my pea sized brain though. I had so much fun reading about Orion and Rosalind’s mission together and following them as they unravel the mystery of the murders in their city—which by the way, was super interesting so kudos to that. Watching two polar opposites being forced to pose in a fake marriage with no strings attached (totally) was absolutely my cup of tea and I really should know better by now when reading romance books and watching romance k-dramas because damn do I feel single.

Speaking of which, the romance here was absolutely mf’ing adorable and I need more like right now. She finds him infuriating and he pushes all her buttons regardless. Literal chefs kiss. I loved Rosalind and Orion’s fake relationship because I am a sucker for those types of things and seriously they fit each other so well. Their feelings only grew the more time they spent with each other and the moment when they started to see the other in a different light had me beaming so hard my face hurt. Y’all keep your eyes peeled because Rosalind and Orion aren’t the to-be couple out there and I can confirm that I am so goddamn invested in every single one of them.

One of the best 500 something pages I’ve ever read people and I do not regret for even a second picking this book up. Chloe Gong gives us a chance to explore and reunite side characters from These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends and I couldn’t have picked a better cast. I loved the reemergence of old characters and the introduction of new characters and watching them all grow and develop throughout the book made me want to ball up and cry. How dare you Miss Chloe. Nonetheless, this book was mf’ing amazing and it was worth reading all 500 something pages so go read it right now and cry about it with me in the comments!

FINAL RATING:

What's your favorite Shakespeare play?

IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THE SCREAMING, SOMEONE IS IS ABOUT TO DIE"

An island oasis turns deadly when a terrifying legend threatens to kill off visitors one by one in this haunting novel from the highly acclaimed author of The Girl from the Well and the Bone Witch trilogy.

Pristine beaches, lush greenery, and perfect weather, the island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination...if not for the curse. The Philippine locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won't be next.

A Hollywood film crew won't be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide.

Within minutes of their arrival, a giant sinkhole appears, revealing a giant balete tree with a mummified corpse entwined in its gnarled branches. And the crew start seeing strange visions. Alon knows they are falling victim to the island's curse. If Alon can't convince them to leave, there is no telling who will survive. Or how much the Dreamer god will destroy...

publication date: September 27th, 2022 | source: kindle

page count: 332 | genre: horror, fantasy, thriller

I'M BACK WITH THIS VERY MUCH OVERDUE REVIEW AS PROMISED BECAUSE IT WAS MIDTERMS WEEK AND CHEMISTRY IS A PAIN IN THE ASS I'M SORRY!! Anyways, hi people, I'm alive yes thanks for asking. Y’all Rin Chupeco is a BEAST because this book was terrifying in all the right way possible. My sister picked this up before I did and like freaked out while reading so I got curious. And when I say freaked out, my sister was asking me to hold her hand and saying “Oh my god oh my god” over and over. Also she refused to go upstairs by herself and was very spooked. Needless to say, I was not that spooked but this book still have me the chills. I will now word vomit my pain and admiration for Rin Chupeco and this roller coaster of a book so grab some bubble tea and let’s chat with ghosts!

The story opens up with a film crew from the US here to film a ghost hunting documentary thingy on a deserted island in the Philippines that’s supposedly haunted with a curse. They meet Alon, a local teen who seems to have a special relationship with the island and warns the crew to stay away if they know what’s good for them. And in a very Hollywood fashion with entitled celebrities and white men, they ignore Alon’s warning. With Alon agreeing to be their tour guide, the crew begin to settle down but the island’s little horrors begin showing themselves one by one. Cue the scary shit.

I do not know what to think anymore man. I was so confused when reading this which obviously means that this book is amazing and you should go read this right now. First things off, the horror. I don’t really read horror books with like ghosts and stuff because then I become paranoid but this book was extremely creepy and I mean that in the best way possible. The crew members have their own ghosts and the island is dead set on exposing the living shit out of them with said ghosts! Specifically the ones who have commited a big no no. If this book taught me anything, it’s that people are greedy as heck and karma is real people. Y’all should’ve gotten off the island when you had to chance but nOo, you just had to stick around because of legends of a Dreamer god who’ll grant unimaginable powers in exchange eight sacrifices. Now doesn’t that sound like a lovely time.

So the horror is amazing and creepy af. What next? I’m glad you asked because the romance is FREAKING ADORABLE. I was literally reading this in my room and squealing the second said characters were introduced to each other. When you read as many romance novels as I have, you can spot a ship from a mile away; it’s an amazing skill to have. Seriously though, they’re adorable and I feel perpetually single. Also I was not satisfied with the amount of cuteness and I want more.

I don’t think words can express how much I adored reading this and this book without a doubt made it onto my all time favorites lists. I loved the world that Rin Chupeco created and I hope to see more of it in the future. This is definitely one of their more underrated books but I would highly recommend more people check it out. Don’t read this book at night if you spook easily though, because I don’t think you’ll be able to sleep. And seriously, I don’t think I can ever look at a tree the same way ever again.

FINAL RATING:

What's your favorite creepy urban legend?

ALSO HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR OF THE RABBIT TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE IT!!!

"THEY SAY LOVE AND HATE ARE THE SAME, JUST AT DIFFERENT ENDS OF THE BLADE"

When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too.

Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures.

As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?

With heart-pounding suspense and relevant social commentary comes a high-octane thriller from debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

publication date: June 1st, 2021 | source: library

page count: 432 | genre: mystery, thriller, contemporary, LQBTQIA+

Whatever I was expecting when I started this book, I take it all back. This was the first book I read in 2022 and it just threw my expectations out the damn window and has now earned my forever respect

I know I read way too many YA Mystery/Thriller novels but I’m not exactly sure why I started reading them. I’ve always found them interesting and I end up trying to predict what’s going to happen or who the antagonist is. Most of them have similar plot lines and usually don’t catch my eye unless something drastic happens or I’m unable to untangle everything. Though with all the mystery books I’ve read, it's become easier and easier to guess the plot and I end up getting bored halfway. Clearly, this wasn’t the case.

The story follows two Black teenagers, Chimaka and Devon, who are enrolled in a very prestigious and very white private school. In their senior year, they suddenly find themselves becoming the targets of an anonymous texter named Aces who are revealing their darkest secrets for the whole school to see. Amidst the cards stacked against them, the two must work together to turn the tide and bring the game over in their favor.

I don’t think there was anything I disliked too much about this book since I gave it a high rating. But there were some things where I wished we saw more of, one being Chimaka’s love life. Okay seriously, I was able to guess Devon’s sexuality within the first chapter with my inner gaydar going I sense a closeted gay here. And hey, my gaydar didn't fail. I remember being so caught up in Devon’s love life, and begging whatever deity up there that he ended up with a certain special someone. Who’s that someone you ask? Well, you’re going to have to read the book to find out cause I ain’t telling. Give me bubble tea and I’ll think about it though (kidding, please go read the book because it’s really good). Chimaka, on the other hand, had a smaller and not so focused on love life as Devon did. Which honestly I didn’t mind, but I would’ve loved to see more of. I unapologetically squealed for all the cute moments and I want a sequel please and thank you.

I loved how this book addressed heavier topics (racism, homophobia, elitism, white supremacy) while still sticking to the dynamic plotline of a thriller. The themes weren’t just lightly spoken about but were enhanced and just made me question society itself. I wasn’t too sold on the mystery at first since I’d seen similar plotlines in some other books I’ve read, but holy guacamole. This book just completely hurled my guess of the antagonist and my anticipations of this being just “another thriller book” off of Mount Olympus. Like Daughter of the Deep, I would unquestionably recommend this book to anyone and everyone regardless of the fact if you enjoy mystery/thriller novels or not. This book teaches a valuable lesson and I hope that reading this will open up your mind a little bit more.

FINAL RATING:

What was the first book you read in 2022?

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