dearrivarie

"Words are beyond precious. We think we trade in gold and silver but words are the true currency of our lives. Words are what connect us through time and distance, whether expressing troubles or joy."

A M A Z O N | G O O D R E A D S | B O O K S H O P *
B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y | B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S
links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

family and dreams
Alliana, Girl of Dragons is the sweetest boost of serotonin I didn't expect to read and was the perfect balance of magic, adventure, and family. Alliana is slowly saving up to join the Royal Academy and leave behind her cruel stepmother and her father's inn. But for every bit she saves, another strike goes on her long list of dues. Her only highlights are spending time with Grandmother Mari and her stories which tell of the adventures of Queen Natsumi. However, adventure is just around the corner when Alliana meets Nela and her nightdragon and is enlisted to help them explore the abyss. From its first line, Julia Abe creates a world that's full of stories and it's reminiscent of Studio Ghibli.

My dreams may be great, but my resolve is greater.

This story had absolutely everything I adored in middle grade from its themes to the sense of wonder that comes with self-identity. Alliana's journey is more than just the physical adventure with Nela and the other witches but also follows the exploration of finding herself after spending years of conforming with her stepmother's demands. Her friendship with the witches and their support of her dreams and ambitions allow her to take agency of her own story.

Alliana's adventure is my first foray into Julia Abe's work and it definitely won't be my last. This novel has left me with all the warm feelings of friendship and a sense of hope for the future.

thank you so much to TBR & Beyond Tours, Julia Abe, and Little Brown Books for a chance to participate on the tour! be sure to check out the rest of the amazing stops by clicking the banner above!

images from pexels and unsplash: fields | clouds | tapestry | kimono

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9:00 PM No Comments

"But your heart is full of wind and stories. You are the best pieces of us."

a story of adventure and sacrifice
Wind Daughter is a companion novel to Joanna Ruth Meyer's Echo North which takes place in a fairytale-esque world of Winter Lords and Wolf Queens, where bargains come with unexpected consequences and unreluctant individuals must journey across time to fix an unraveling world. Satu is the daughter of the North Wind and a weaver who would much rather stay on her mountain tending to her bees than interacting with the townspeople below. When her father's wild magic begins to unravel her family and her home, Satu has to embark on a journey to collect the fragmented pieces while haunted by the Winter Lord who wants the magic for himself.

Joanna Ruth Meyer truly decided to create the softest character ever and subject her to all the pain and loss possible. Satu is described as being easily overstimulated by people and sounds and has a heart that feels every bit of wrong in the world. Putting her on this journey pushes her outside her comfort zone but also causes her to be forced to make decisions that hurt her again and again. While her journey was far from easy, Satu is incredibly easy to root for and witnessing her slowly come into herself and fulfilling her potential was both incredibly empowering and satisfying. If anything, Satu exemplifies that even if you don't believe in yourself 100%, sometimes you just need to that little extra boost from the world who believes in your possibilities.

a love that is unlimited by time
While the atmosphere and writing were so incredibly immersive, I do need to dedicate a paragraph to the relationships. I jotted down a note towards the end that if we didn't get a somewhat happy conclusion for Satu I would riot. Satu deserves her family, her friends, and her world after giving up and losing so much along the way. There's no other way to describe the absolute magic that the latter half of the book was and I found myself going back to rereading moments. It has made me realize that I do have a soft spot for a love that is written into the threads of time and I mean that in all the relational aspects.

This would be a perfect story to revisit when the nights start to become longer or when you just want a little bit of magic and adventure and definitely leaves me wanting more from this author in the future!

thank you so much to TBR & Beyond Tours, Joanna Ruth Meyer, and Page Street Publishing for a change to participate on the tour! be sure to check out the rest of the amazing stops by clicking the banner above!

images from unsplash/pexels: mountain / loom / piece of glass / bee

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8:00 AM No Comments

"Difference, children, is not monstrous. It is nature at work."

isbn: 978-1250833662 | pages: 672
publication date: June 07, 2022 | source: e-book, publisher
genre: adult, historical fiction, urban fantasy

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are 100% my own.

1. familiar but new
For a whopping 600+ pages, Ordinary Monsters manages to create a storyline that feels strangely familiar with a cast of characters that is brand new to the reader. The premise of a school for magical youth is one that's been done multiple times but the author takes the world-building to another scope that feels grand and leaves a lasting impression.

2. a race against time
The length of this book made it incredibly daunting at first and it was truly the pacing that pulled through and I just couldn't stop turning (clicking) the pages. The sense of urgency and gradual climax of tension within the characters' journeys. For the first book in a trilogy, the author did a fantastic job setting up the premise that will launch us into the rest of the series.

3. an unexpected family
You can't go into this novel and not feel enveloped by the found family within the pages. The characters learn to trust each other through their newly shared experience at Cairndale Institute. There's a focus on finding one's purpose and a place to belong but it isn't presented as all sunshine and rainbows but on a grayscale spectrum that reflects the personal experiences of each of the characters.

4. an exploration of heartache and trauma
As all the gifted children come to the sprawling mansion without a family, there's a lot to uncover regarding their past experiences which have shaped them before their arrival. While the story takes us all across the world from Edinburgh, the US, Tokyo, and more - the characters are able to reflect on their past and grow into their full potential.

5. a story to immerse yourself
The mysterious school trope is probably one of my favorites and it's so well done in this novel. The Institute is this place where the world of the living and dead come dangerously close to colliding and the consequences are ones that the characters must fight against. There is a lot going on in a book this size and at times it felt like there was just so much happening it was hard to wrap my mind around it all. But at the end, it's a book that I cannot stop thinking about because of all its intricacies and makes me all the more excited for its sequel.

8:00 AM 3 Comments

"When I think of prom, I picture aching feet, overpriced decorations, and unrealistic expectations. Obviously, I was in the minority though."

a promise to be kept
Once Upon a Kprom is the ray of sunshine that this month needed to remind the East Coast that spring is very much happening. This book is full of butterflies and giant smiles because the characters are just so darn cute. Elena Soo is trying to convince her classmates to donate their prom budgets to saving the community center which leaves her ostracized by her classmates. While she isn't anti-prom exactly, she has no interest in attending - until her childhood best friend turned K-pop superstar shows up to ask her to prom.

I've been on an absolute roll with reading K-pop related stories and this one is another that just indulges its readers in the forbidden romance between a K-pop idol and a non-celebrity individual. Elena and Robbie have a lot of memories together as children and with his sudden shot to stardom, their friendship has slowly withered away. His return into Elena's life prompts her to realize her own inhibitions towards her relationships with those around her as she has to figure out what her feelings for Robbie entail.

Their reuniting also gives Elena insight into the world of the Korean entertainment industry which admittedly was portrayed in a very stereotypical manner that has become popular over the years. While I do wish we could have delved more into the injustices of idol life, Kat Cho managed to maintain a perfect balance of glamour with reality without jeopardizing the main rom-com plot through Robbie's POVs and it allowed readers to understand both characters' motivations without being too over the top.

childhood loves
This book also made me realize how fun it can be to read a diaspora Asian story where the main character is sure of her identity. Many times, diaspora stories are made to feel like they need to focus on self-discovery and cultural balance which are themes that I adore, but it's also comforting to see Elena navigate her world as Korean American being comfortable with who she is beyond her ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This allows for the novel to be that lighthearted rom-com that we all fantasize about, but this time with Asian American leads.

By taking this route, Kat Cho was able to explore more about the relationships between each of the characters from Robbie and Elena's budding romance to Elena's friendship with Josie to her strained relationship with her twin brother. It gave the characters space to grow amidst the bigger plot point of childhood friends to lovers, allowing the story to be easily relatable while playing into every fangirl's dreams.

thank you to Rock Star Book Tours, Disney Hyperion, and Kat Cho for the opportunity to participate on this tour! be sure to click the banner above for the full tour schedule and click here for more information on Rock Star Book Tours!

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8:00 AM No Comments

Hello there! I've been in a bit of a reading rut that seems to be purely fueled by exhaustion - can we say that I'm just a little burnt out by responsibilities? I also have a growing pile of books that need to be reviewed so rather than facing my daunting task list (or actually picking up a book to read), I was browsing through my blog archives.

I stumbled across a Top Ten Tuesday post where the theme for the week focused on following book characters on social media and I remembered how much fun it was to make that so here we are with a second rendition featuring some of my new favorite characters.

check out part one here!

ning - @teanmemories

a magic steeped in poison by judy i. lin*

Coming from a small village, the court atmosphere would be vividly shown through Ning's feed. I could imagine her pictures ranging from gorgeous palace shots to mouth-watering snaps of all the delicious meals. She would want to present her best side through her snapshots to make sure her family would know that everything is okay.

piranesi - @tidesandthoughts

piranesi by susanna clarke*

Piranesi is a master chronicler and keeps an extremely detailed list of his everyday experiences. His Instagram feed would be as enchanting as his journal entries and highlight the small nuances of his life with an effortless grace that makes each snap magical.

cody - @heartofjade

an arrow to the moon by emily x.r. pan*

I'm still not 100% over Cody and he might very well win the best fictional sibling award for the year. He is reflective and I can see his feed being filled with beautiful scenic shots of the sky (focusing on the moon of course) and captioned with his late night thoughts that will tug at the heartstrings of everyone.

xingyin - @forevermoon

daughter of the moon goddess by sue lynn tan*

I couldn't not feature one of my favorite characters of 2022 in this list and have a feeling that Xingyin's feed would be full of scenic shots from her adventures as a skilled archer (I'm getting sunset vibes for some reason), court architecture, and of course pictures of the moon to always remember her promise to her mother.

lan - @spacedonuts

a light from uncommon stars by ryka aoki*

While the rest of the characters of this list would have very aesthetic photos, I think Lan would have the perfect feed for capturing day to day memories. Her photos would be goofy candids of her children, cute couple photos with Shizuku, and lots of donuts.

links with an (*) are affiliate where, when used to purchase gives me a small commission to support my blog at no extra cost to you!

Instagram would have be the social media app I spend the most time on and I've always had a love/hate relationship with posting there, but I've recently been inching my way back onto the platform and that definitely inspired a lot of this post. I would love to know which characters you'd follow if they had social media and who do you think would have the perfect feed?

9:50 AM 5 Comments

Hello there! We've officially entered spring season and I need the weather here to get the memo because I'm over wearing puffy jackets. May is always a stressful month as it is concert season for schools and I'm hoping to not get overwhelmed as we begin to wrap up the school year. On the bright side, my paperwork is submitted, my applications are finished, and my concert prep...is coming along, so we can only go up from here!

covers are linked to an affiliated bookshop link where, if purchased, helps to support my blog at no additional cost to you!

portrait of a thief by grace d. li
★★★★- ebook/arc
read my review here
Portrait of a Thief was all over my Twitter feed when it became available on NetGalley and I requested it on a whim. Never did I think a heist story would completely grab my attention with a crew of Chinese Americans whose experience just hit a soft spot that had me loving them from the start.

the wolf den by elodie harper
unrated - physical
read my review here
I first heard of The Wolf Den after being offered a copy in exchange for a review by the publisher and it's the perfect read if you're looking for an honest and raw portrayal of ancient Rome with wonderful female friendships and empowerment. It wasn't my cup of tea at the moment which made the reading process a bit difficult, but it's definitely a story to revisit because there's so much social commentary to unpack.

an arrow to the moon by emily x.r. pan
★★★★☆- physical
read my review here
Emily X.R. Pan did it again with her sophomore novel because An Arrow to the Moon was softly powerful and has not left my mind since I finished reading. The story takes the classic star-crossed lovers and combines it with a hauntingly gorgeous atmosphere and magic that left me breathless.

one last stop by casey mcquiston
★★★☆- audio
I knew after finishing RWARB that I had to pick up another Casey Mcquiston book and One Last Stop was just as wonderful. This story tackles themes of self-identity, love and relationships, and found family in a way that is so precious and truly feels like a love letter to the small communities of NYC.

I've been on a bit of a struggle with kpop lately - I'll go from being super excited about comebacks to only really adding a couple songs to my playlist instead of full albums. However, that doesn't mean the songs I've added aren't complete masterpieces, it's just left me feel a bit apprehensive about future comebacks so if you have any suggestions please share your favorite songs from the month!

My sister and I rewatched Frozen 2 over spring break and now I am 95% convinced that I want my choir to sing Some Things Never Change for next year's winter concert. Something about that song, which never caught my attention before, has literally been giving me serotonin boosts whenever it comes through on shuffle.

ITZY's Japanese comeback is simply amazing and it's left me wanting a Korean comeback ASAP. Both Voltage and Spice are addicting and the title track just has that iconic ITZY sound that gets itself stuck in my head.

I've already mentioned my love for Dreamcatcher and they received their first win with their most recent comeback (check out my book recommendations post here!) I loved that this album allowed each of the members to showcase their individual sound through solos and while I loved all of them, Siyeon's is absolutely magical. The traditional Korean influences paired with her smooth vocals give me goosebumps every single time.

The last two songs are newer additions to my playlist but favorites nonetheless. Darl+ing took me a couple of listens to get over some of the lyrics but the catchy beat of the chorus has become another serotonin boost for me. The line "I want to know our problem, blood type or DNA" is also just strangely addicting?

Miyeon's solo proves G-idle's talent and we just need CUBE to not screw them over. Drive reminds me clear blue skies and a sense of peace and hope that feels oddly nostalgic. I've probably listened to this at least 5x a day since its release so I had to add it on even if it's a newer song.

April was the long awaited month of Spring Break and while I set off with a gigantic list of hobbies and to-do's, I ended up just recharging. Like I mentioned before, who knew that rest and taking time away from worrying about three jobs would be beneficial for one's mental health? While the transition back to work was a struggle as usual, I didn't feel the usual exhaustion and lack of motivation to finish out the school year. It's a win all around.

link will be updated soon!

I hope your April was restful or at least filled with highlights that made you smile. Fingers crossed we're heading into brighter and warmer days in May!

What's something that brought you joy in April?

10:30 AM 4 Comments

"I don't need to change the world. I just - I want to live, and know that it's enough."

art thieves with midterms
The Portrait of a Thief was everywhere on my Twitter feed when it first dropped on Netgalley and the mysterious cover alongside its fascinating premise bumped this onto my anticipated releases for the year. This is a story told through the eyes of children of immigrants and their quest to reclaim their identity through a series of art heists. As someone who grew up watching all the heist and spy movies with her parents, I went into this with a lot excitement and questions.

"I want you to take back what the West stole."

"Who could determine what counted as theft when museums and countries and civilizations saw the spoils of conquest as rightfully earned?"

While the synopsis places a lot of weight on the thrill of the art heists, the story shone through its introspective commentary on what it means to be Asian American. As the reader, you might have to suspend your disbelief when reading about the group's approach towards their heists - if thieves could learn everything from spy movies and Fast & Furious, the world would possibly descend into chaos already. Where the first heist was thrilling to read, the consecutives ones felt more like luck than skill.

connecting the past to the future
With that said, I went into this debut curious but not entirely sold on the heist plotline and that mindset allowed the story to still be enjoyable despite the main plot point being somewhat underdeveloped. While the characters are quite standard perfect-on-paper Asian Americans, their stories still echoed the same pressures and insecurities that I was surrounded with despite our paths being radically different.

"After all these years, his parents still called it going back, as if anywhere else could not be home."

There's an understanding that feels so comforting about the struggle to identify with one's ethnicity and the feeling of not quite belonging to either place. Each character's exploration of their identity and acceptance of their futures felt like powerful declarations against Western colonization and conquest. They breathed their own identities into the histories of the countries they call home. The crew is one that gradually grew on me as their story progressed - it wasn't the excitement of their task or the sense of pride in their calling that pulled me in, but their individual journeys with their identity and their conversations that followed.

"Her future - it was worth more than the past."

For a debut, Grace D. Li tackles the Asian American experience in a way that feels personal but universal at the same time. It manages to address a topic with a lot of gravity while injecting a fun heist plot into the mix.