"Children are not born with the fear of falling. It is life that conditions them to be afraid."

 isbn: 9780063056367 | pages: 464
     publication date: October 12, 2021 | source: ebook/net-galley
     genre: young adult, fantasy 
     rating: 6.8/10 

    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

immediate interest
Jade Fire Gold is easily one of my most anticipated releases of the year and after months of expressing my excitement for this novel, it's finally released into the world. June C.L. Tan's debut is pitched as a "what if the Katara from ATLA was the dark avatar and Zuko was tasked to hunt her down" and that immediately caught my attention. The premise interwoven with the wuxia inspired fantasy world make this a story that I wished my high-school self could have read. 

Ahn is the definition of a reluctant chosen one whose fate was essentially predetermined because of the powers she's born with. Growing up in an impoverished town, she longs to escape and explore the world though her journey ends up being one she doesn't expect. Her unlikely alliance with Altan, the exiled prince, brings together tropes that are typically found in YA fantasy novels which make the characters familiar and their stories engaging. 

As a debut novel, I knew not to get my hopes super high especially after reading some reviews online. If I were to review this from a very critical perspective, I would have to point the biggest flaw of the story being its pacing. Despite the world being interesting at first, the actual storytelling doesn't go as smoothly and had a lot lulling moments that would be intercepted by action before falling back. It actually shocked me to find that this novel is over 450 pages because it almost feels like very little happens in the actual plot.

a beginning that opens to more
However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for this story that blurred that "critical" reading lens. I know without a doubt that if I had read this as a high schooler when I consumed so many fantasies with a Caucasian cast of characters set in a Euro-centric inspired world, I would have fallen in love with the story. It makes me all the more grateful that stories like this, with this representation, is starting to be more visibly accessible in media because 15-yr-old me could not imagine reading stories in a fantasy world inspired by the wuxia dramas my parents watch.

The cast of characters in Jade Fire Gold, especially the side cast, have grown on me with their camaraderie and banter. While Ahn and Altan could have definitely used some development in their own character arcs, I still enjoyed following their story. For a debut, Jade Fire Gold sets up a decent opening to a new fantasy world and the possibility for the author to continue growing and honing her craft. And while it might not have exceeded my expectations, it didn't leave me feel disappointed but intrigued to see what will happen next.

Hello friends! I definitely fell off blogging in August and now September is almost over as well. While reading took the back seat for the last two months, my attention has shifted to "binge-watching" k-dramas - at least my very mild definition of binging. With that said, the post I wrote for MY ROOMMATE IS A GUMIHO is probably one of my favorites this year so I knew I had to make some more for the other dramas I have finished.

HER PRIVATE LIFE came out a couple years ago but I always struggled watching rom-coms alone so I never got past the 3rd episode. This time around, I watched it with my sister and she made sit through all the cringe-y and adorable moments with her and we made it to the end. The premise follows Deok Mi who's a head curator at a museum in Seoul. When the director's husband becomes involved in a scandal, she steps down and is replaced by Ryan Gold, a Korean-American adoptee who's renowned for his talent to judge a piece of art. The two get off on a rocky start but eventually warm up to each other as secrets from their past reveal themselves. Through it all, Deok Mi has to hide her other passion in life - being a fansite manager for K-pop sensation White Ocean's Cha Shi An.

Rather than making another book recommendation list based on the characters, I thought I'd try to recommend some of the books that are currently on my TBR for the rest of the year instead. I've been slacking on my reading as well and have so many "currently reading" stories that I'm in the middle of or wanting to start so here are just a few:

Sung Deok Mi - Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Deok Mi is what I'd define as a ultimate working woman - she's dedicated to her job, extremely professional and loved by her colleagues, and also has a healthy work-life balance. She's basically the role model I aspire to achieve because I currently have no work-life balance. While I haven't read Iron Widow yet, the story pays homage to China's only female emperor which is pretty admirable. Plus, Xiran Jay Zhao is one of authors whose boldness makes them stand out and you can't help but be in awe. I can see Deok Mi becoming a huge fan of the author and then falling in love with the story as well. As her character breaks barriers on the definition of being a working adult in her 30s and a professional fangirl, Iron Widow is breaking so many barriers in the YA genre.

Ryan Gold - Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Charismatic to the T and possibly one of my favorite male characters in a K-Drama, Ryan is truly top tier. Like many male leads, he's accustomed to the finer things in life and as an art critic, he definitely would have an appreciation for a story that combines elements of classical literature with modernity. Cloud Cuckoo Land has a little bit of interstellar travel mixed in with influences of Greek literature. The multiple POVs would keep him hooked throughout and even though this is a massive story I can see him finishing it one night if he puts his mind to it, just like his determination to answer the questions and join Deok Mi's fansite.

Nam Eun Gi - Jade City by Fonda Lee

Admittedly, Eun Gi annoyed me a lot at first with his character but we support the amount of GROWTH and maturing he did throughout the drama. One of his best traits was his display of constant support and love for this family and friends which can be defined as loyalty, also one of the key themes of Jade City. I've been putting off this book for an entire year now and with the finale releasing in November, it's finally time to declare fealty to the Kauls. Also as an Olympic judo champion, he also has the strength and dedication that makes him worthy of wearing jade.

Lee Seon Joo - Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

A K-drama is incomplete with a best friend and Seon Joo brings that role to life. She's supportive, funny, and has her own dash of dramatics that adds a bit of something extra to the story. I can't think of anything more dramatic than a Shakespeare play and I can already see her freaking out over Roma and Juliette from These Violent Delights. Lucky for her, the sequel is releasing soon as well so she can binge the entire duology and be utterly swept away in Chloe Gong's high stakes retelling of Romeo and Juliette. (Also the thought of her gushing about this to Deok Mi, I can picture it so clearly in my mind.)

Cha Shi An - A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee

I couldn't not talk about the idol of the show. Shi An's character offered insight into life as a popular k-pop star from the exhausting schedule to obsessive fans, it can be overwhelming at times. His interest in art combined with his sunny disposition and love for this friends and family makes him even more lovable. Going off of covers here, I think he would be drawn to the stunning cover of A Clash of Steel and when finding out that it's a Treasure Island retelling, would be even more compelled to pick the book up. With his busy lifestyle, sometimes escaping on a pirate adventure is just what he needs.

Sindy - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Another character whose growth is really surprised me, Sindy starts off as this stalker-y and almost petulant child. However, when she is able to channel her passions into something creative and fulfilling, she begins to mature and take responsibility for herself. Sindy's also got an eye of aesthetics of course, being another Cha Shi An fansite manager so I think she'd appreciate how gorgeously vivid the prose is for The Night Circus. I could imagine her convincing the rest of the team to create an exhibit based off the story and the visuals for that collection would be absolutely stunning.

Eom So Hye - You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

Quite possibly the most annoying character but also the comic relief of the show, Director Eom is what comes to mind when you think of an airhead. However, you slowly grow to sympathize with her and she does eventually try to be a better person. A book that I think would absolutely touch her heart and get her tears flowing would be You've Reached Sam. I've heard so many great things about Dustin Thao's debut and about the premise of a girl calling her deceased boyfriend would be sure to remind Director Eom to cherish her loved ones.

That concludes my list! This is probably the first book list in a while where The Bone Witch hasn't appeared as a recommendation though I do want to reread it this year (mentioning it at the end of the list doesn't count). I'm incredibly stoked to pick up all of these stories and now that I'm slowly creeping out of my 3-4 month reading slump I can't wait to jump back into the habit of reading.

If you've watched HER PRIVATE LIFE, what are some books you'd recommend to the characters? What are some books on your TBR for the rest of the year?

"Sometimes, if you want to save other people, you need to remember to save yourself first."

isbn: 9781534477117 | pages: 387
     publication date: October 5, 2021 | source: physical copy from publisher for tour
     genre: young adult, fantasy | trigger warnings: blood, war, self-harm (magic) 
rating: 6.8/10

    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

the lengths of duty
Vespertine tells the story of a world where the dead turn into spirits whose bodies need to cleansed for the afterlife or they'll develop a ravenous appetite for human possession. Artemisia is portrayed as a Joan of Arc character whose selflessness and sense of duty drive her actions and that is juxtaposed with the revenant she unleashes who views the world through a seemingly selfish perspective. The two, alongside a cast of complex characters really challenge the importance of stereotyping someone based on one aspect of their personality.

"If there's one thing I can always rely upon, it's the reassuring dependability of human idiocy."

The world of Vespertine takes the conversation of religious devotion and turns that into a central focus of the story and intertwines the various levels of devotion into the arcs of the main characters. In a fantasy world where theocracy exists as the main governmental structure, it's always interesting to see how authors balance religion and power and this is one story where the history of the world is so fascinating and immersive. 

"Do you know, it took me nearly a hundred years to figure out that monks existed? All that time, I just assumed they were unusually hairy nuns."

unlikely friendships are the best
Throughout Vespertine, Artemisia slowly comes to terms that despite being outcasted her entire life and treated as other, it doesn't mean that she's alone. From her banter with the revenant to the friends (new and old) she makes along the way, the character relationships were one of the key factors for how much I enjoyed this story. This is probably the first Margaret Rogerson novel where I was less focused on her prose or world-building and found myself more attached to her characters. While there is one portion in the middle of the story where, to be honest, the plot does not progress very much, it doesn't feel dragged because you're learning about the characters and their world.

Amidst all the hard questions and bleak depictions of war and death, this book had me smiling and just having so much fun.

"I supposed that for most people, mocking their fear made it seem weaker. The more they laughed at it, the less power it held over them."

Thank you so much to Turn the Pages Tours for having me! Don't forget to check out the other stops by clicking the banner below:

Hello there! I currently have two reviews just sitting in my drafts waiting to be edited but I am wallowing in my post kdrama feels so here's an impromptu book recommendation list. I'm usually the worst when it comes to finishing any form of series (i.e. dramas, tv shows, books, etc.) so this is my first drama of 2021 and the slump is real. 

MY ROOMMATE IS A GUMIHO is a fantasy rom-com starring Lee Hyeri as a history college student (Lee Dam) who finds herself entangled with a 999 year old fox played by Jang Ki-yong (Shin Woo Yeo) when she accidentally becomes in possession of his marble. The storyline is playful and full of absolutely adorable moments as well as ones that classically pull at your heartstrings.

lee dam - spin the dawn by elizabeth lim

Dam is fiercely protective, strong-willed, honest, and has a heart of gold that makes her your perfect kdrama protagonist. She's incredibly expressive, loves food, and fully embraces what she's passionate about which makes her character relatable and easy to love. Like Dam, Maya from Spin the Dawn is willing to do anything for her family and also has a passion that's often looked down by others. The two stories also have that element of forbidden romance and all the cute moments that make you smile like an idiot. 

gye seon woo - down comes the night by allison saft
I went through so many moments of loving/hating Seon-woo's character. He embodies your typical rich boy in a kdrama who has everyone swooning over him. Of course, he ends up falling in love with someone who could care less about him and thus we get our second lead. While Seon-woo is arrogant and incredibly stubborn, he also undergoes so much character development that makes you wish for a happy ending (with someone else of course). Both characters from Down Comes the Night go through their share of development as the story progresses but Hal Cavendish in particular seems like someone Seon Woo could relate to: rich, beloved, influential, but ultimately misunderstood. Maybe reading about Hal's happy ending could give Seon Woo some hope in finding his in the future.

yang hye sun - gods of jade and shadow by silvia moreno-garcia
Hye Sun quickly became one of my favorite characters for her quirky personality and banter with Woo Yeo. She's such a great side character and friend for Woo Yeo and I loved how they were always supportive of each other even if they bickered a lot. One of her quirks was having trouble understanding idioms and the "modern" lifestyle after being a gumiho for so long. Gods of Jade and Shadow is a beautiful and lush story with a forbidden love story element that I think would give Hye Sun all the emotions. Especially since she's had her fair share of heartbreaks, it could be something that resonates with her. 

do jae jin - the bone witch trilogy by rin chupeco
Jae Jin is seriously a gem and it was his friendship with Lee Dam that made me fall in love with the character dynamics. He is the perfect "puppy" character who embraces his "nice guy" personality and makes the most out of it. He's also a bit of a romantic and his romance with Hye Sun was absolutely one of the cutest aspects of the entire drama. At this point, I'm not even sorry for having The Bone Witch show up in almost every recommendation list, but hear me out - Jae Jin would have an absolute blast with Tea's story, meeting the wonderful characters, and all the lovely relationships would make him smile. I can totally see him finishing the books and immediately running over to give Hye Sun a huge hug to tell her how much he loves her.

choi soo kyung - how we fall apart by katie zhao
I couldn't not include the other part of Lee Dam's friendship trio in this post. Soo Kyung is incredibly smart and has the same fiery and, dare I say, shameless personality that Lee Dam has. She's an incredible support system and is willing to defend her friends and her grades with everything she's got which makes her perfect for How We Fall Apart. I would actually be super curious to see how Soo Kyung would navigate Sinclair Prep's ruthless student body and if her smarts can win her the top student spot, toppling both Jamie and Nancy. 

In hindsight, I really tried to recommend books I haven't talked about a lot but it seems I've failed...but just looking at this list makes me wish I could actually share these stories with the characters because I would love to hear their thoughts. 

Please let me know some of your favorite k-dramas and if you've watched MY ROOMMATE IS A GUMIHO let me know your thoughts. In my post-drama mourning, I also have a journal with me if you'd like to watch me wallow in my emotions.

Hello there! We're about half-way through July and I've consumed enough Mid-Year Book Freak Out tags to feel compelled to create my own rendition. However, I always struggle with at least half of the questions so to make things a bit easier, I thought I'd just share five of my favorite reads from the first half of 2021.

This year, while being exhausting and emotionally draining, has surprisingly been a pretty decent reading year for me. Out of the 23 books I've read, more than half have been over 4 stars which has never happened before - the only downside, it's made this list a bit hard to narrow down. 

when we were infinite by kelly loy gilbert
review
The first book that comes to mind for the most life-changing read of 2021 has to be When We Were Infinite. It's one of those stories that captured so many aspects of my own experiences and placed them into the lives of fictional characters. While Beth was one of the most frustrating characters to read, it was the first time I was in the head of someone whose thought processes mirrored so closely to my own and that made the novel all the more impactful.

soulswift by megan bannen 
review
Ever since I heard of Soulswift, I knew it was going to blow me away - yet I still underestimated just how much I would love this story. I read the entire 400+ page book in one morning because of how addicting the story, characters, and overall world was. It truly had the perfect blend of YA fantasy banter that warms your heart alongside a discussion of serious topics that make the reader pause and think. With this novel, Megan Bannen has solidified her place as one of my favorite YA authors.

the ones we're meant to find by joan he
review
You might have seen this statement from anyone who's read The Ones We're Meant to Find but it is truly one of those stories that absolutely blows your mind away. I read this right before its release and months later truly cannot wrap my head around how masterful the writing and storyline is. Joan He introduces a futuristic world that doesn't seem far from our own and challenges each individual to try and comprehend the weight of our decisions through honestly life-changing characters - this is one of those stories that you can reread hundreds of times and still gain something new.

      

the bone maker by sarah beth durst
review
The Bone Maker made the list because it was honestly just a great time. I used to be the biggest adult fantasy fan in high school/early college but somewhere along the lines got really intimidated by all the OG "best" fantasy series out there that I "had to read" in order to be a real fan. Maybe I got into my head, but Sarah Beth Durst really made adult fantasy accessible with this novel and I just fell in love with the rusty crew of characters who just wanted to finish the job and retire. It felt really refreshing to journey alongside these characters as they combatted their own morals versus the greater public. 

the song of achilles of madeline miller
review
If you've read this book, it doesn't need any explanation for why I've included it on this list. The Song of Achilles is beautifully written and absolutely broke my heart. Madeline Miller has this way of reconstructing familiar stories and making you sympathize on a whole new level and now I can never view Achilles the same. The story captures the innocence of youth that's ultimately tainted by the greed of war and how individuals are forced to play roles for the sake of other's lust for power. 

   

While I'm still in the midst of a reading slump and feel incredibly unmotivated when it comes to books, recapping on these favorites has made me grateful for the wonderful stories that I have consumed over the past six months. Hopefully I kick this reading slump out of the way and can jump into new and exciting adventures for the rest of 2021!

What are your favorite reads of 2021? Did you attempt the Mid-Year Book Freak Out tag? 

"It's not about cruelty. It's about power. Without power, all you have is anger and spite. Cruelty comes when you have the strength to turn your anger on someone else."

isbn: 9781529100730 | pages: 461
     publication date: June 06, 2021 | source: net-galley/physical copy from publisher
     genre: adult, fantasy | trigger warnings: author's note
rating: 6.8/10

    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

a story of faith and cultures
The Wolf and the Woodsman is a book that pushes both its characters and readers on how far they're willing to go and how much they're willing to sacrifice for their faith. Set amidst Hungarian history and Jewish folklore, this story is absolutely captivating with an atmosphere and cast that slowly grabs its reader and pulls them into a cold and cruel world. Évike is a wolf-girl who has been shunned her entire life for her mixed blood and lack of gifts. When the king's Woodsmen come to claim a seer, Évike is disguised and sent into the forest as tribute, betrayed by her people, and forced to the same fate as her mother. 

Right from the get-go, this story was immersive with so much atmospheric tension both from the danger of the woods and from the unknown that comes with being taken by the Woodsmen. Évike is one of those characters who embraces her status as the outcast and literally survives this book through sheer determination and will. Her strength is astounding and that's what makes her so admirable and impactful as the main character. 

the power of fear and heritages
Both Évike and Gáspár are tested beyond their capabilities throughout this book on different fronts and it was both fascinating and rewarding to see them work through their differences. I loved how (for the first time in what feels like forever) we have two characters who don't seek to change their beliefs and personalities to fit someone else but continously challenge each other to become better human beings. The discussion of religion and of ethnic and cultural cleansing also delved deeper into the horrible acts committed throughout history and opens up this space for conversation for both the characters and the readers to examine personal biases and why the fear of someone else plays such a huge role in hatred.

There are honestly so many thoughts I have for this book and all I want to do is dive back in because I know there's so much I can still learn from Évike's story. For a debut, Ava Reid absolutely blew me away and I'm waiting eagerly for her future works.

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

Hello friends! It's been a hot second since I've attempted to write a blog post. With the end of the school year, it seems I've fallen into a slump when it comes to motivation and I definitely want to change that mindset before summer fully kicks into gear. 

Last year I participated in MythTake's Make Your Mythtaker readathon and while the concept was super interesting, I didn't actually read many of the books on my tbr. This year, the readathon is happening in July and I'm hoping it'll be what I need to pull me out of this slump. Most of the books on this list have been on my tentative tbr in previous months so I hope it'll be a good jump start into finally tackling that massive pile. 

The concept this year is to choose a PATH or PANTHEON and if you're interested in the other prompts, you can check out the twitter thread. I decided to embark on the path of beauty because the prompts seemed the easiest to cater to my shelves 😅 but I'll definitely be saving the other prompts to challenge myself in the future for fun.

freyja - a book w/ an animal on the cover
the tangleroot palace by majorie liu
Originally, I had two books picked out for this prompt but I figured putting a collection of short stories was a little less daunting than a 400+ page adult fantasy novel. I've read the first three volumes of Majorie Liu's Monstress graphic novels which are simply beautifully gruesome stories so I'm very excited to see what this collection holds.

hathor - a book ft. art
picture us in the light by kelly loy gilbert
I've included two audio books in an attempt to see if stepping outside my reading comfort zone will help me get back into reading. I adored Kelly Loy Gilbert's When We Were Infinite which I read earlier this year and have heard amazing things about Picture Us in the Light from a friend. 

      

kichijōten - a book ft. music
kpop confidential by stephen lee
Audiobook #2 and the one that I'm most on the fence about. Despite being a kpop fan, I've kind of avoided books that were mainly focused around the music genre so naturally this wasn't a book I was drawn to when it first came out. However, I was able to find the audiobook of this on hoopla so I figured I'll give this a try and see how it goes.

osun -  a book w/ feminist themes
she who became the sun by shelley parker chan
This book is part of the holy sapphic trinity of 2021 (image) and has been on my radar ever since I first heard about its premise last summer. I was lucky enough to get approved of an arc, but like most of my e-arcs they get lost until right before release date...

*power - swap a prompt for a beautiful cover
the dragon of jin-sayeng by k.s. villoso
This is one of the most stunning covers ever and another book that I'm ashamed I haven't read yet. I adore this trilogy and honestly the only reason I have been avoiding this finale is because I'm scared of what will happen...

      

The bottom line of this tbr is mostly that I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to reading books I know I'll love so here's to hoping this readathon will come in and change my mindset. If you're participating in #pathorpantheon or any other readathons this month please let me know what you plan on picking up!