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dearrivarie

Hi friends! It is the time of year where everyone on the bookish community shares the highlights (and some lowlights) for their reading year so far. It was actually super hard to come with answers for this because I feel like, despite reading a lot more books than I usually due (thank you quarantine?), I haven't read that many books that have stood out to me. However, after much deliberation, I have my list of answers - hooray! 
best book you read this year? 
THE KILLING MOON - N. K. Jemisin: N. K. Jemisin: 9780316202787 ...
I just finished this book and it completely blew me away with its complexity and beautiful prose. All the characters are so three-dimensional and interesting to read about - literally go pick this up because so many themes that are addressed in The Killing Moon are so so relevant to our society today (review).

 best sequel you read this year?
Amazon.com: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air Book 2) eBook ...   Amazon.com: Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars Book 2) eBook ...
I've shared my thoughts on the Folk of the Air trilogy and how The Wicked King completely changed my opinion so I think it's a given. I'm also currently reading Unravel the Dusk for a blog tour and even though I haven't finished it yet, I'm already emotional.

new release you haven't read by want to?
Amazon.com: The Silence of Bones (9781250229557): June Hur: Books
I'm a bit ashamed that I haven't picked this up because it has received nothing but high praise on Twitter since its release. I also haven't read a ton of Asian historical fiction and the ones I have read have always ended up impacting me so much so WHY am I taking forever to pick this up. ðŸ˜­ðŸ˜­

most anticipated release for the second half of 2020?
Amazon.com: These Violent Delights eBook: Gong, Chloe: Kindle Store   The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - Kindle edition by Schwab ...   Amazon.com: A Deadly Education: A Novel (The Scholomance Book 1 ...   The Burning God (The Poppy War, Book 3): Amazon.co.uk: Kuang, R.F. ...
I COULD NOT PICK JUST ONE. 

biggest disappointment?
My Summer of Love and Misfortune by Lindsay Wong
This book pains me just a little to look at - I was so excited for a fun summer read about self-discovery, cultural identity, family reconciliation, all the good things. Instead, I got incredibly frustrated by the character's vapidness and my eyes became the only fit part of my body because I rolled them so much when reading (review).

newest favorite author?
Amazon.com: Loveboat, Taipei eBook: Wen, Abigail Hing: Kindle Store
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed Loveboat, Taipei (review) and definitely have to chalk it up to how Abigail Hing Wen managed to capture an Asian American experience that I related to. I haven't read a ton of books with Taiwanese-American MCs so this one definitely has a special place in my heart.

newest fictional crush?
Amazon.com: Night of Cake & Puppets (Kindle Single) (Daughter of ...
This question was so hard and technically Mik isn't a new-to-me character, but I definitely fell in love with his character after getting to hear more from his perspective. Honestly, I would die for Mik and Zuzanna they are literally perfect.

newest favorite character?
38326343. sy475
I haven't talked about this gem a ton on the blog so I figured I'd give Harley a quick shout-out. This is beautiful coming-of-age novel with a wonderful friendship and family dynamic/reconciliation, the power of taking ownership for your actions, and just following your passions.

book that made you cry?
All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel - Kindle edition by Doerr ...
While I didn't necessarily cry, this book definitely made me feel all the emotions. I fell in love with these characters and just wanted to protect them all (review).

book that made you happy?
Amazon.com: Night of Cake & Puppets (Kindle Single) (Daughter of ...
I listened to this on audio and could not stop smiling the entire time. I already adore Zuzanna so much from the original trilogy but getting to hear a story from her voice was just ðŸ‘ŒðŸ‘Œ

most beautiful book that you bought?
Vicious by V. E. Schwab, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Quarantine has really done some damage on my already tiny college-wallet, but staring at the books I have recently acquired, I'm not too mad? I absolutely love this edition of Vicious and had to go with it for this question.

must read by the end of 2020?
Amazon.com: A Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel (Shades of Magic Book ...   Amazon.com: The City of Brass: A Novel (The Daevabad Trilogy ...   Amazon.com: The Starless Sea: A Novel eBook: Morgenstern, Erin ...
I picked up the entire Shades of Magic trilogy and they're just sitting on my shelves now looking super gorgeous so ideally picking them up would be the next step.
The Daevabad Trilogy is finally complete and the book community has been raving about it for years. I know that I'm going to be absolutely wrecked after seeing all the praise but I'm so excited to pick up the first book.
I adore Erin Morgenstern and for some reason have been putting off reading The Starless Sea - it sounds so wonderful and magical and I just need to read this ASAP.
Despite this tag being difficult to complete, I still had a lot of fun answering all these questions. For one thing, it's definitely made me more conscious when choosing what books to actually pick up and read.

If you've done this tag, please link it down below so I can check it out! A quick question starter - what was your favorite book you read in 2020?



10:23 AM 4 Comments
"Words aren't meant to be stiff, unchanging things. Many, many generations ago, before pictorals and numeratics and hieratics, words were kept where they belong, in mouths. Written words did not kill my lineage's purpose, though gone are the crowds - and the riches - we once commanded. We retell the stories regardless, because we know: stone is not eternal. Words can be."
isbn: 978-0356500768 | pages: 418
publication date: May 1, 2012 | source: own/paperback
genre: adult, fantasy, 

A M A Z O N    |    B O O K S H O P    |    G O O D R E A D S

Egyptian medicine and Freudian dream theory
N.K. Jemisin takes two completely different topics and somehow weaves them together to create a magical and unique world. Gujaareh itself is a melting pot in its truest definition, a metropolis centered around trade where peace is held as the utmost law. The set-up can read a bit slow at first since you're getting adjusted to a brand new world, but it's so refreshing for a high fantasy story to not take place in a recycled Medieval England. 

In the extras, N.K. Jemisin goes in and explains how she modeled the world off of Ancient Egyptian society and that definitely shines through with a diverse cast of characters. Each individual not only comes from a different culture, but they also hold varying degrees of morality which in turn gives the reader a wide sense of perspective and the chance to determine where the characters stand on a moral spectrum. 

the construction of peace
In a world where peace is upheld as the highest of laws, there's an interesting discussion on how peace is to be maintained. I feel like I could go in and write an entire literary analysis discussing the parallels between the peace of Gujaareh and how peace is perceived in our society today. Even amongst the characters, there are different definitions of peace - Ehiru, a Gatherer and servant of Hanaja, has a very black and white view whereas Sunandi, the Kisua ambassador sees everything more in greyscale. 

The way that peace is constructed adds another compelling element to the overall plot. Each character is doing something that champions their own perception of peace which in turn translates to how justice should be carried out. It's super interesting to see how peace is also intertwined with the other themes that are present: corruption, power, even love - they all contribute to the bigger story. As the Gatherers are the keepers of peace, there's also a discussion on how peace should be enforced if that particular version involves turning a blind eye to apparent political corruption.

One of my favorite quotes from the story definitely echoes this:
"I'll serve in my heart if serving in public means swallowing injustice." - Nijiri

trust all and trust none, but also ninja priests
One of the strongest elements of this story is its sense of perspective. N.K. Jemisin creates characters that are so well crafted and three-dimensional that no matter what their intentions are, they're believable, and under different circumstances, you could even root for them. This also attributed to how much I enjoyed the story because I could not decide who to trust. There are so many unexpected reveals and clever plot manipulations that are set in place to keep the reader constantly engaged and wondering at possible outcomes.

In the end, all of these elements combined with the author's beautiful prose portrays a very haunting and ultimately sad portrayal of humanity. The religious and political struggles along with the morally complex characters all serve to touch on topics that we're widely familiar with in reflection to our modern-day society which makes this story completely timeless.

for your information -  Black Lives STILL matter! If you haven't taken the time to sign petitions, donate, and educate yourself, here's a wonderful document of resources for you. As of this moment as I'm writing this post, the cops who murdered Breanna Taylor have not been arrested, there have been "suicides" of Black men that suspiciously look like lynchings which have been downplayed by the media, and countless NEW stories of continuous crimes against the Black community - this isn't over yet so don't stop using your voice to uplift the Black community!
4:35 PM 2 Comments

Hi friends! I took a small one-week break from blogging to take some time to listen to the voices of the Black community and to educate myself following the horrible murders of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. The first half of this month has truly shone a light on how blind and desensitized to the basic components of humanity in favor of privilege and power based on the color of our skin. I've processed and seen how internalized racism has ingrained itself into my community and life and it's time to address these issues and rebuild a broken system.

There is an amazing compilation of important links of petitions, donations, and other resources that have been really helpful so if you haven't taken the time to read and educate yourself, I definitely recommend you do so. One thing we can learn in this time is that staying silent and neutral is not an option. 

This feels like a strange transition, but in light of the spirit of community which has been incredibly important during this time, I thought I'd share some of my favorite bookish friendships in honor of a surprise promotional tour for Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee which comes out this upcoming Monday (06/23).
A M A Z O N    |    B O O K S H O P    |    B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y
The Forest of Souls
While I wasn't able to read an ARC of this, the synopsis alone describes a friendship that descends even death. I'm super curious to find out how Sirscha will navigate the domain of the Spider King and the ancient forests definitely gives me major Uprooted vibes. 

The Raven Boys
One of the most iconic friend groups in YA is definitely the beloved Raven Boys. This series has honestly been on my mind recently and I think it's calling for a reread because I miss the camaraderie between all the characters. 

The Bone Witch
I could not have a post about the best bookish friendships and not include one of my favorites. First of all, Tea also unknowingly raises her brother from the dead which sets her on the journey to being one of the few bone witches in the kingdom, but also this trilogy has one of the best friend groups ever. Especially in the sequel, I adored seeing this group grow closer as more trials and tribulations come their way.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Another one of my favorites - Zuzanna honestly wins as one of the best bookish friends in YA. She stayed by Karou's side throughout the entire trilogy even when faced with a world that was full of monsters and fiery angels. Their banter is also some of my favorite dialogues as well.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Can we get any more iconic than this crew? I had to include Percy, Annabeth, and Grover (to name the original trio at least) especially since I'm still on a PJO high with the adaptation news. They are one of the original found families and I'm so excited to see their interactions on the screen soon.

Making Faces 
Finishing off with the most wholesome of friendships, Fern and Bailey are the epitomai of supportive and loyal. This story never fails to hit me with all the emotions every time I think about their relationship. Bailey in particular just has so much wisdom and continues to challenge Fern to seek happiness because life can't be lived with any regrets.

That's my brief list of some of my favorite bookish friends! Going through my Goodreads was honestly so nostalgic and I definitely miss reading about these great characters. I'm really excited to pick up Forest of Souls when it comes out on June 23rd and jump into what I hope is a new bookish friendship to love!


3:42 PM 10 Comments

"It's why we all must learn to step outside ourselves and truly see life from another's point of view. Give people a chance to prove themselves before making a judgment."

Fans of The Phantom of the Opera and Black Swan will enjoy this thrilling debut.

When Megan Van Helsburg gets kicked off the USA Climbing Team, she has no choice but to return home and leave her climbing career behind. With no coach, no money, and no prospects, she joins the corps de ballet determined to improve her strength and agility. But the ballet theater is in dire straits. Not only do a series of murders break loose, but the ballerinas are becoming deathly thin and brain-dead. As Megan investigates, she meets Bellamy, a tortured young man who lives beneath the depths of the theater. Megan falls hard and fast for Bellamy, who becomes her mentor, but something is off about him.

It isn't until the company announces they're doing Giselle for the fall performance that Megan realizes the parallels between the ghost story and the lives around her. Megan must find a way to not only save her climbing career, but balance her feelings for Bellamy, and stop the murders and dying girls before she, too, is numbered among the dead.

A M A Z O N   |   B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S 
This post was originally part of a FFBC tour - following the news that the company has harassed and released personal information of a blogger, I'm removing my affiliation with them. This post remains up because I truly enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time putting everything together. A summary of what they have done:

Please do continue to show support for Morgan Shamy's debut - it's a perfect fall read if you love Phantom of the Opera vibes and a thrilling mystery!
lyrics to highlight:

This past addiction, this love is like crack, the color of my heart is black - playing with fire
I'm in a maze, never let me wonder about days outside, I'm trapped in the maze filled with darkness - maze
The world is filled with question marks, there's still so much I don't know, thoughts and thoughts wash over me - spotlight
Are you fired up, no one can stop us when we burn up - turnt and burnt

I had so much fun making a quote graphic for A Song of Wraiths and Ruin so I thought I'd make one for a quote that really resonated with me. The original image is from Unsplash so all credits go to the original photographer (ballet shoes).
Quote from The Redpoint Crux by Morgan Shamy
Definitely pick this up if it sounds like something you'd enjoy! If you've read The Redpoint Crux, what are some of your thoughts?

8:00 AM No Comments
"I look forward to the day you decide you're ready to fight for something instead of against everyone." 
The first in a fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing affection.
For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik's younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal - kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia's freedom.
But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic...requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.
When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

A M A Z O N   |   B O O K   D E P O S I T O R Y  
Slaves deserve to be remembered just as much as queens.
Everything from the synopsis to that gorgeous cover promises a high-stakes adventure set in a hot and merciless desert. For a debut novel, Roseanne A. Brown weaves together a complex story that has all the elements of a classic young adult fantasy - there's deception and court politics, a tiny bit of forbidden romance, countless secrets, and a rich magic system. 

The only constructive criticism I have to make would be in regards to the pacing. The first 50% of the story took me quite a while to get through because there's so much introduction. The exposition comes off almost as info-dumping and while the purpose is to inform about the workings of the world, it lacks in building a personal connection to the reader. However, the latter 50% does a complete 180. The plot itself begins to pick up, the characters become more developed outside of their character arcs, and I began to care. 

If I asked you to catch me the moon with your bare hands how would you do it? 
When the moon began to set, I'd wait with my hands beneath it until it sank right into them. And then I'd turn around and give it to you.
This ultimately saved the story for me - I was able to feel connected with what was happening and everything overall began to feel more grounded and concrete. With Karina and Malik in particular, I do wish we could have gotten more development, but with the ending and the sequel, there's a lot that can be explored with their characterization. In the end, they remain true to who they are: Karina with her passion for her people and desire to be a good ruler, and Malik with his love for his family. 

Under the guise of a semi-centennial festival, the author also introduces some important themes of social justice that ring close to home in our current socio-political world. There's the portrayal of abused political power as well as unsolicited raids and violence against the innocent, created images that are both powerful and incredibly real. I appreciated the call, both to the characters in the novel and the reader, to assess the damage of human ignorance and racism and can't wait to see how the different people groups of this world come together to address these issues - perhaps we can finally learn something from fictional worlds and apply them to reality.

This post was originally part of a FFBC tour - following the news that the company has harassed and released personal information of a blogger, I'm removing my affiliation with them. This post remains up because I truly enjoyed the book and spent a lot of time putting everything together. A summary of what they have done:

Please continue showing lots of love and support for Roseanne A. Brown's amazing debut!! 

I had a lot of fun choosing some songs that would go well with the novel - it was really interesting to look up the English lyrics for these songs and see some similar themes that are interwoven in the story. Some specific lyrics that stood out to me:

I want you to be ruined, I won't hold you, You were my yesterday - hann
This is an endless tunnel, In darkness with no light, Wake me up, I need to find myself - wake me up
Dancing alone with the shadows, Let me be free please, The moonlight with eyes that shine on me, Dreamlike shadows that permeate me - Shadow
We all pretend to be the heroes on the good side, but what if we're the villains on the other - Villain

I also have the chance to share some of my favorite quotes with you all - I've incorporated a couple into my review but I decided to attempt to make some graphics. The images are from Pexels so all rights go to the original photographers 
(torch / mountain).
Messenger         

I highly recommend you check this debut novel out and to go show the author some love and support. 
If you've picked this up - who's your favorite character? 
8:00 AM 2 Comments
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DearRivarie

DearRivarie
Hi there! My name is Rivalie (Riv for short). Welcome to my blog where I share book reviews, discussions, and more fun things! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fantastic day! 🌸

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