Hi everyone! So, I was fortunate enough to get the chance to read the Advanced Reader Copy of Radio Apocalypse by Kayleigh Gallagher, also known as @so_many_ocs on Instagram. This book was a super interesting and well-written read and I’m so excited to share my thoughts on it. But first I’ll give you a brief, spoiler-free synopsis and then my spoiler-free review.
Radio Apocalypse is a novel about two girls living across the world from one another in the aftermath of an apocalypse. Lota hosts a radio show where she speaks her minds to anyone who’s still alive (which, to her knowledge, is nobody else). But Rachel hears Lota’s broadcast across the ocean, and realizes she isn’t alone either. The two girls forge a strong relationship while braving a terrifying post-apocalyptic world.
There are some really interesting components of Radio Apocalypse that make it a unique read. The take on the apocalypse, which has its origins left relatively vague, leads to a bunch of cool and fearsome creatures and environments that really enhance the worldbuilding and setting. The use of perspective is also something that stands out: Rachel mostly communicates her perspective through the typical 1st-person prose, but the reader can only hear Lota’s point-of-view through her radio broadcast, which still manages to get a lot out of her personality in terms of what she says (and what she doesn’t say). This book also has good diversity (about as much as you can have when there’s not a lot of human characters left) and a WLW relationship.
So, now that the general idea of the story is covered, here are my thoughts on it:
Firstly, I want to commend Gallagher on her use of these two different perspectives. I never found myself mixing up the characters, and they had distinct voices and personalities that complemented each other. However, I think the relationship featured in the novel, while having good chemistry, went a little too fast for my liking. This might just be a personal thing, but I wished the relationship was a slower burn and included more personal setbacks or complications that blocked the characters from just instantly falling in love.
I found the setting to be really well written and the descriptions were short but moving. The entire story, actually, is very well-written and impressive. If there was one thing I’d alter, though, it would be to better clarify some of the mystical beings and their purpose/role. It’s kind of implied that some of them are angels or demons or something else divine, but they don’t really have any logic or consistency in a lot of the story. I think their concept is very strong but a little bit more fleshing out would go a long way.
This story is certainly a character-based story, not a plot-based story. This is mostly a good thing, as it strengthens the characters and makes them more well-rounded and interesting. However, it sometimes leads to troubles with pacing, especially around the middle. At the end, however, the plot rocketed ahead and it was thrilling up until the end, which—I won’t spoil—but it left me with more questions than answers. I think there could definitely be a sequel to this story, but at the same time, if it was left as a standalone, that would definitely work too.
Some other thoughts that are more personal and not really a judgment of the story or the writing:
I liked Rachel more than Lota. Sometimes Lota was really funny, but otherwise, she was a bit blander than Rachel. Both characters were still great though.
The saddest part of the story is a spoiler, but all I’ll say is that page 357 broke my heart.
I thought it would end up in a “two characters, one bed” type story—in some ways, I’m glad it didn’t, but on the other hand, I wouldn’t have been mad if it did.
Don’t let the length fool you. 500-something pages seems like a lot, but it goes by fast and also the font is larger for the radio broadcasts.
The cover, title, and design are all excellent
I’d definitely recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of fantastical sci-fi, apocalyptic fiction, or WLW relationships. If you are a fan of slow-burn romance, sci-fi where all the science is explained/detailed, or stories with a large cast, this might not be perfect for you (though I still recommend you give it a shot).
Overall, I rate it a strong 8 to light nine/10. You should check it out on @so_many_ocs’s page or @radio.apocalypse.novel on Instagram. Thanks again for letting me be an ARC reader, I really appreciated being able to enjoy this story. It’s out March 5, 2022 and I think pre-orders are open now!
“I want to meet you in every place I ever loved. Listen to me. I am your echo. I would rather break the world than lose you”
Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, becomes something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.
Except the discovery of their bond would mean the death of each of them. There’s still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win. That’s how war works, right?
Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, This Is How You Lose the Time War is an epic love story spanning time and space.
This book has found it’s place in my top ten books of 2021. What can I say about this book, which makes for a good review, rather than just a long gush fest? Let’s try, shall we?
Well first of all, it’s sci-fi, but that’s not what the book is really about. It’s a love story, but also more than that. Not your typical enemies to lovers story, it’s a tale of how two agents have formed a bond with each other, which spans across time and space. It is a relatively short book, only 198 pages long, but it definitely manages to do the story justice. I found it to be fulfilling, and enjoyable. The writing was poetic, without being pretentious.
While I enjoyed the sci-fi element of the story, I did struggle a bit to fully get my head around the world building. But Blue and Red’s love story was such a strong anchor, that I would still give this book 5 stars ⭐️
Six people. One impossible task. An army to fight. That’s the premise of Six of Crows, the first part of the duology from Linda Bardugo. This part fantasy, part heist novel stars a team that need to work through their differences to achieve their inconceivable goal. This book was a gift from my sister, and has been on my TBR list for a little while now. I liked the heist premise, that’s what drew…
I grabbed Nest not at a store or on Amazon, but through a Goodreads Giveaway. For those who don’t know, a Goodreads Giveaway is a random draw you enter on their site. To date, I’ve won five, and have had three of those delivered. Not great odds when the publisher is obligated to get you the book, but hey, they’re free so I can’t complain. One book I received quite quickly was Nest by Terry…
I grew up on Boy Meets World. I’ve got the entire series on DVD and I’ve watched most of its followup, Girl Meets World. When I saw that the man who I’d always known as Mr. Feeny had penned his autobiography, I knew I was going to have to read it. William Daniels, the man most people under thirty-five know as Mr. Feeny, and many others know as KITT, John Adams, Dr. Craig, and so many others, has…
House of Silence is a novel that isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. Most of all, it’s historical fiction, but beyond that, it’s all at once a mystery, a romance, a coming-of-age, a story of women’s friendship, and more. You know how the old saying goes – Jack of all trades, master of none. That’s how I’d sum up House of Silence. In House of Silence, we find Isabelle, a young debutante who is…
I never considered myself a fan of Catwoman. I love cats and I love complicated female characters but Selina Kyle never spoke to me. That is, until I read Lauren Myracle and Isaac Goodhart’s Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale.
Life Of Pi has been adapted into a successful film and is in contention for success at next month’s Oscars. For that reason, I decided to have a read at the book before seeing the movie.
It was originally published in 2001 and follows the story of a 16-year-old Indian boy who survives over seven months after a shipwreck. Written by French-Canadian author Yann Martel, much of the book concerns spirituality and religion.
Spending 227 days on a boat with a Bengal tiger may seem ludicrous but the book is symbolic of hope and belief. The main character Piscine Molitor Patel, known as Pi, is an interesting person whose desires are aroused by the animals in his father’s zoo and his love of acquiring religions. He is mature enough to see the benefits in various faiths including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.
This book has been highly acclaimed but it lacks in suspense. It is an easy and enjoyable read but it fails to truly stir the senses. Now for the film.
Skagboys is the prequel to Irvine Welsh’s phenomenal 1993 novel Trainspotting which was later immortalised by Danny Boyle’s feature film in 1996. Welsh later followed the success of Trainspotting with other novels and short stories, most of which are based in the familiar setting of Edinburgh and Leith.
There is much to enjoy about Skagboys. It is always nice to revisit memorable characters but the general subject matter is not largely different from Trainspotting itself. Skagboys details the lives of Renton, Sick Boy and Spud amongst others as they embark on heroin addiction. It hints at the choices people make which change their lives and the political and social circumstances which led to drug abuse being so prevalent in 1980s Scotland.
Typically Thatcherite policy bears the brunt of the blame. A growing underclass with no possibilities or hope of progression are easy fodder for the escape which heroin promises but ultimately fails to deliver. The death of working class values leads the majority of the book’s characters down a road to oblivion, be it drugs or in the case of Begbie, extreme and at times indiscriminate violence.
Renton’s character is perhaps the most interesting in this book. He throws away a promising university career and beautiful girlfriend for the aimlessness and depression which drug addiction is certain to bring. Whether or not it is because of his childhood or disabled brother’s persistent struggle against illness is ambiguous. It seems that Welsh leaves readers open to wonder if many users begin drug habits just for the sheer fun or curiosity of it.
Skagboys is a lot less enjoyable than Porno, the 2002 sequel to Trainspotting which brought out the more humorous and debaucherous side of Welsh’s writing. It may be a worthwhile read for fans of his work but there is little in it to merit publication as it is all familiar and well tread territory. Having said that, Welsh remains one of modern fiction’s most ambitious writers and anything he has published deserves the benefit of the doubt.
have any of you read this book about extreme metal? i picked it up at a used book store a few months ago and i absolutely love it i highly recommend this book!!
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” ⚓️ Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
QOTD: Do you have any favourite Romantic poets?
A few photos from 2020 and last year reminded me of Little Women’s themes. Sometimes I dislike reading 19th-century novels because they remind me of modern times so much but that’s also not really true. There’s so much more to 19th-century literature and society than just the vanity fair. I’ve been always drawn to how Romantic poets represented the sublime, especially the difference between science and human nature.
Have a peaceful Monday PS: Did we just hit 600 here? Waow, i’m getting shocked every week by how many people have joined me here. I’m really getting excited to share a few more study setups and my academia looks.
Nicholas Cox is a sixteen-year-old and an outsider in the fencing world but miraculously he ends up at Kings Row after losing a match to the prodigy fencer Seiji Katayama. What lies ahead of him is a challenging quest to fix his bad technique while learning to be friends with other fencers.
I really loved the drawing style of Johanna the Mad and the straightforward writing style of Pacat let the story flow. I didn’t even realize I was at the end because I kept losing myself in the story. Seiji’s horrible friendship skills and Nicholas’s obsession with trying to beat the best player in the fencing world created a sort of hilarious moments as well as irritating arguments. But that all made the story even better. The other characters in the school were too colourful and from different backgrounds, so there was a sense of mesmerising diversity.
If you’re feeling like reading an lgbtq+ graphic novel after Heartstopper, this one’s worth checking out. I’m madly waiting for the next volume.
Taking a mini break from my thesis to review a few books but this one’s first. After rereading and rewatching Heartstopper, I felt like I was in need of a new graphic novels and this was the perfect choice. Looking forward to reading a few more lgbtq+ books this spring!
Perfect Days made me uncomfortable in the best and worst ways, right down to its brilliant cover design. It reminded me of Roberto Bolano’s darker works, nearly all of Patricia Highsmith’s short stories and novels, Hannibal Lecter, and every oddball I’ve ever had a class with.
When the book starts, medical student Teo Avelar is lovingly interacting with a cadaver. She’s his best friend. At this point, you are already intrigued or you know all you need to. I suggest you keep reading. There have been a glut of get-in-the-head-of-a-sociopath books recently and I find nearly all of them tedious. Not so with Perfect Days.
To put it charitably, Teo has issues. He lives with his mom. He’s a medical student for all the wrong reasons. He sees himself as a romantic but is most definitely not. For most of the time on these pages, the issues are directed at Clarice–and maybe that’s why I couldn’t get Hannibal Lecter out of my head–an aspiring screenwriter and party girl. Teo begins fixating on her immediately. When she doesn’t reciprocate, and to be fair, she gives him every chance, he kidnaps her and begins the long process of winning her over. Easier said than done when you stash someone in a suitcase, or under your bed, during the day while you go out.
Clarice comes with all sorts of baggage, like a boyfriend of her own, a mother, a life that does not include being kidnapped, et cetera. But these are all mere inconveniences to Teo, who whisks her away to a remote cabin where she can work on her screenplay and where he can slowly bend her to his will. When they’re driven onto the road by events that I won’t spoil for you, so begins a bizarre trip.
It’s ostensibly undertaken for the research and completely of Clarice’s screenplay, titled Perfect Days, which also concerns a road trip. The journey is a struggle of wills, a genuine creative endeavor, an obscene tableau of a developing codependency, something of a romance at times, and a nail-biter of a book. Teo and Clarice’s interactions always left me a little queasy, partly because her fears align so closely with some of my own.
Talk to enough people about their fears and you’ll hear “I can’t imagine just being stolen and locked up.” Most people fear what they consider randomized violence. The truly chilling reality is that, with Teo as an example, these sorts of cases are anythingbut random.
Perfect Days is a good reminder that there are people who look like everyone else, who are very much not. It is naive to think that you can predict the behavior of someone who plays with a different rulebook.
Perfect Days is a brilliant examination of the victim selection process. I can’t quite “recommend” a handful of books that would make your reading of it even more unnerving, but if I had to I’d choose Robert Hare’s Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us, Gavin De Becker’s The Gift of Fear, and Jon Ronson’s more lighthearted but equally serious The Psychopath Test.
Highly recommended for fans of Chuck Palahniuk, Patricia Highsmith, Thomas Harris, Katherine Dunn, and people who can’t get enough of reading about writing. Or reading about perfectly rendered psychopaths.
And that cover. I had to close the book five times just to look at it and shiver.
This book could have been a favourite if it wasn’t for the ending chapters. I was ready to look past all of the other flaws up until that point, but there were so many dumb and mean moments at the end that I couldn’t ignore those.
In many aspects this book felt like a YA fantasy story and it had many elements I have seen before. This follows the story of Fainne, who is the daughter of Niamh and granddaughter of Lady Oonagh. The plot revolves around Fainne, under the influence and abuse of her grandmother, going to Sevenwaters to try to make her family lose the isles, that would mean the end of the magical beings of the forest and the ruin of the family. So, Fainne has a sort of coming of age plot as she learns more about her magical powers and about herself and what path she should take given that she started to care about the people she was meant to destroy.
I liked to see different settings in this book. Fainne moves to different locations given her mission and I liked the different atmosphere of all of those. The plot in itself is not new and it’s predictable and at times repetitive. However, if you know me, you know I don’t care as much about the plot as I care about the characters and I did love two characters in this book. One of the characters I loved was Fainne herself. She was confused, insecure and morally gray. She is probably the most complex character in the series so far. She had a lot of room for growth and I love that in a character. She was controlled by her emotions even though she liked to pretend she was not and a conflicted character makes for an interesting one to me. The other character I loved was the love interest, Darragh. Also, I am really glad that for once Marillier gave me a couple with only one or two years apart. This is definitely my favourite couple in the series so far. Darragh and Fainne were childhood friends so I found the way they cared so much about each other believable. Darragh can tell how she is really feeling like any people that spend a lot of time together and deeply know each other do and Fainne kept telling stories about Darragh even when they were not together because he brought her calm and joy in her moments of need. Darragh is very loyal and determined and I always loved stories about travellers in a fantasy world so I was meant to like him.
Besides those two, I really liked the children in this book and the friendship they had with their cousin, Fainne. It was really sweet. I also liked to know more about the ancient beings in the forest and I loved the imagery of a mix of human and owl being that wears little red boots. I really liked the interactions between that being and Fainne too.
Even the characters that annoyed me so much in the former book, Son of the Shadows, were being more likeable in this one. That is, until the ending happened. Now, I am going to mention spoilers.
As I already wrote, what I mainly didn’t like about the book was the ending chapters. I was even interested in the small war part of the book. But then, Lady Oonagh decides to reveal herself before the victory and starts monologuing about all of her evil doings and Fainne’s too. I hated that. She not only felt dumb, but she felt like a cartoon character. But the cherry on top was the fact that Fainne’s family that this entire book has been trying to tell her that she is one of them don’t even bat an eye knowing that she will live isolated in order to save their precious isles and fulfil the prophecy. They seemed very concerned when it was all about Johnny, but Fainne? Who cares about Fainne? This to me shows that they cared for her as much as they cared about Niamh (which is nothing at all). The entire book they were pretending that they had loved Niamh and that she had many qualities and I was willing to forget book 2 and the character inconsistency, but then that happened. The good news is the characters are still consistently awful people. Then, there’s Ciaran who all this time has been training his daughter for this awful faith while he rejoins his awful family and they live happily ever after.
I am sure Marillier did not intend for me to hate the Sevenwaters family, but I really do. To them power and prophecy is above all so it makes sense they love Liadan, that has the most powers, and mistreated Niamh since she had none. However, the next books are about Aisling’s children and I like them so I will read them. They were intriguing and innocents in this mess.
I liked that Finbar died and it made sense. He hadn’t been actually living for many years now. He himself said he was only alive to see the prophecy fullfilled with Johnny so that ending was inevitable.
I am not really sure why Eammon protected Fainne, but I guess he realized that without her his obsessed revenge plans would never be fulfilled. That is part of another thing I liked. Eammon didn’t really love Fainne. There was only one love interest in this story. I am not a fan of the every man is in love with this one woman like it happened with Liadan so I am thankful for it being different in this book.
When it comes to Darragh being involved in the war, I don’t find it believable that he fought without training and survived. However, I am willing to let it pass since I was relieved and glad to see him alive at the end of the book. I was going to be so mad if he had died and the only romance I cared for didn’t have a happy ending while the others did.
The title in Portuguese is “Daughter of the Prophecy” instead of “CHILD of the Prophecy” so the twist never even got the chance to pretend to be a twist for Portuguese people. The reveals weren’t reveals given that I saw all of it coming even if not exactly how it would happen.
Overall, I really loved some parts of this book, but I was a little disappointed by the ending. Still, my love for Fainne and Darragh is stronger than the bad aspects of this book.
Yo waddup, my peasants? It’s ur gurl FINALLY MARRIED!!!!!
My peasants, I’m so sorry I haven’t written anything in fivever, but something big got in the way of my writing and that big thing is getting married. After five years of dating my soulmate, I finally get to call myself his wife– which is probably the best thing in the world, better than anything I can imagine. We moved to a beautiful…
Book Review: The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner
Book Review: The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner
The Way of the Shaman is the culmination of several years of an anthropologist’s work studying shamans in various cultures.
It gives a basic overview of common aspects of shamanism found worldwide, with a wealth of examples from various cultures. This wealth of examples is extremely helpful in showcasing how much shamanism can differ from culture to culture. For example, one confusion many…
