dearrivarie: 2023

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is Roshani Chokshi's adult debut and a stunning fairytale-esque story about history and its secrets. Told between alternate POVs of the bridegroom who is uncovering his wife's secrets with each day they spend together in her childhood home and the mysterious best friend who disappeared after graduation, each chapter brings you closer to the truth while challenging the ideals of friendship, love, and magic.

isbn: | pages: 304
publication date: February 14, 2023 | source: physical
genre: adult fantasy, fairytale, literary fiction
rating: 9/10

A M A Z O N | G O O D R E A D S
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It's been a few months since I've finished Flower Bride but I genuinely still get chills just thinking about it. This is a story that's mesmerizing in the best way and perfect if you're a fan of gorgeous prose that weaves the natural world with the supernatural. Indigo is otherworldly, for lack of a better term, and we explore her life through the lens of those whom she loved most.

"some individuals are like portals, the knowing of them makes the world a far vaster place"

The story is told in alternating timelines between Indigo's unnamed bridegroom and her childhood best friend Azure. Through their perspectives, a little bit more of Indigo is revealed from her motivations to her intrigues. The quote above really captures the entire reading experience as the narrators reveal just enough to add more pieces to the puzzle, but never enough to give you the full picture. We are taken through Indigo's return to her childhood home and the last moments with her estranged aunt while trying to figure out what truly happened with the disappearance of her best friend.

"sometimes, fairy tales are little more than a litany detailing acts of devotion"

Once you begin Indigo's story, it's almost impossible to stop. The bridegroom's curiosity matches that of the reader's as we try to unravel the mystery of Indigo's past. It's the classic tale of an unsuspecting man marrying someone just a little magical and being tempted by the allusive past. On the other hand, Azure represents an Indigo that is untainted by the responsibilities to adulthood. A time where she is free to offer milk to the fae and don expensive pearls to mimic the otherworld's lavishness. The magic of their youth portrayed through the slightly tinted lens cruelty and a desire for the unknown.

As the two timelines come closer to merging into a single truth, we see the harsh realities of growing up replace the innocence of childhood wonder and imagination. The fractures that appear take us full circle to the present. This story was truly a masterful exploration of choices, love, and accepting the little bits of magic we have in this world.

"only a shattered promise yields a rich, glittering yolk of a story"

9:30 AM No Comments

Hello there! I have been nothing but scarce this year and while part of it comes from a busy schedule, there's also a newfound wariness that comes from the feeling that I have to be careful of what I put out to the world. When we all end up having a corner of the internet to ourselves through social media, it becomes easy for anyone to step in and engage with our thoughts. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, I do have a tendency to overthink, but I'm definitely feeling conflicted on wanting to promote my space and increase social engagement but also wanting to keep my thoughts away from public eye.

Anywho, can you tell my blogging skills are a bit rusty from disuse? Despite my lack of activity here, I have been doing pretty well in the realm of reading. I've managed to finish a total of seven books so far through multiple formats and thought I'd try doing a quarterly wrap-up since I don't read enough for monthly ones anymore.

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the picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde
★★★★ - physical
I was so incredibly proud of myself when I finished this because I've had a copy on my shelves for over five years. While I do have a soft spot for classics, I still struggled a lot to sit myself down and read one through without a class syllabus keeping me on task. For all that I was expecting from this book, I was really surprised by how much fun I had. The conversations between characters, through some lengthy monologues from Sir Henry, included so much commentary on British society, youth, and love. In some cases, I wish I was reading this for a class because I would have loved for an opportunity to really analyze the text.

the kiss quotient by helen hoang
★★★☆ - audio/ebook
I went through a bit of a phase where I just wanted something cute and fluffy and have seen The Kiss Quotient around but reviews were always been iffy. Picking this up on audio was quite a surprise because I found myself really rooting for the characters. The insta-attraction was believable and while Stella and Michael have their fair share of miscommunication, I was still easily won over by their chemistry and relationship development.

the honeys by ryan la sala
★★★★ - audio
Technically, I started this in December but with all the end of year madness I never ended up finishing the audiobook until February. The Honeys is an example of me dipping into YA horror and I can't tell if I'm intrigued or scared. One thing's for sure, the audiobook production is hands down one of the best I've ever listened to. I legit got chills multiple times and Ryan La Sala's exploration of grief, gender fluidity, and societal wealth was absolutely stunning.

this time it's real by ann liang
★★★☆ - physical
Ann Liang's sophomore novel brought out all the adorable chemistry that I loved from her debut and this could very well be one of my new comfort reads for a dose of serotonin. In a class fake-dating trope, Eliza and Caz team up to conquer the newfound popularity Eliza is receiving after her essay goes viral. The banter and gentle buildup of their relationship, along with the mouthwatering food adventures they go on together, create the softest couples ever in YA that need to be protected at all costs.
review

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the last tale of the flower bride by roshani chokshi
★★★★☆ - physical
My first favorite of the year and one that officially solidified Roshani Chokshi as one of my favorite authors, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is haunting and gorgeously written. It feels like you are kept on the edge of something magical and nobody is to be trusted. The blending of the otherworld and our reality with the faintest touch of magic accompanied by a plot line that unfolds like the best secret gives me the absolute chills just thinking about it.
review

twisted love by ana huang
★★★ - ebook
Are billionaire romances realistic? No. But they do have their magnetic charm and can be quite entertaining to read. I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of Alex and Ava as a couple and individuals as they fall very neatly into the classic tropes and character arcs. However, is this book addicting to read? Yes, I think I read all 400-something pages in a day and while this couple is not my favorite, I am finding myself quite intrigued by the rest of the friend group so I'll probably end up picking up some other Ana Huang books in the future.

the stolen heir by holly black
★★★☆ - audio
I honestly didn't think I was going to continue with the Elfhame world when The Stolen Heir was announced by I've surprisingly heard very little since its release and my curiosity was piqued. The audiobook was decent overall but the plot didn't quite captivate me as much as the original trilogy. Regardless, it's so much easier to like Oak and Suren as characters and despite their twisted fae nature, there's something gentler about them that I love. With that said, I do think I'll continue with the sequel just to see how everything plays out and because I want answers - especially after that ending.

We're going to quietly ignore the fact that I've had this in the drafts for over two weeks but it's finished and that's what matters. I'm making a promise to myself to incorporate blogging back into my life because I do genuinely love what I've created over the years. While I have developed a newfound wariness of social media, I have also missed the interactions and connections I've made. I guess it all comes down to curating a safe space for yourself and hopefully the right people will be there.

What have you been reading recently?

2:59 PM 6 Comments

This Time It's Real opens with a dedication to all the cynics who still secretly believe in love - and as a self-proclaimed cynic...darn it this book was just simply adorable. Eliza Lin is incredibly relatable and this has to be one of the first "dating a celebrity" (y/n) type of story where I found myself actively invested in the relationship.

isbn: 978-1338827118 pages: 352
publication date: February 07, 2023 | source: physical / tour
genre: young adult, contemporary, romance
rating: 6.6/10

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
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After reading Ann Liang's debut If You Could See the Sun, I knew that I had to read more of her works because the way relationships and characters are developed had my heart absolutely fluttering. This Time It’s Real follows Eliza Lin who writes a seemingly harmless essay about a not-so-real relationship only to find herself catapulted into internet stardom when it goes viral. Her newfound popularity lands her an internship at one of the most prestigious publications where one recommendation letter could boost her budding writing career. The only catch - they want more articles about her “boyfriend” and she does let actually have one. When Eliza overhears rising actor Caz Song on the phone with his mother about his lack of college essays, she proposes a bargain that might help both of them.

Have I mentioned the sheer serotonin that this book gave me? With her sophomore novel, Liang was able to focus on building the relationships between her characters providing readers with top-tier adorable moments. After spending most of her life moving cities because of her mom's job, Eliza has built up a lot of reservations towards people and her budding romance with Caz sets off all the alarm. Underneath his actor-charm is a boy worried about chasing his dreams and disappointing his parents and with each date they spend together, the feelings only grow. With the exploration of first love and defining what it means to call a place home, Eliza slowly begins to rebuild her trust towards others and herself - giving herself the opportunity to find her place in the world.

thank you so much to Ann Liang, Colored Pages Tours, and Scholastic Press for a chance to be part of this tour! be sure to check out all the other amazing stops by clicking the banner!

images sourced from google images / pexels / and unsplash

9:00 AM 2 Comments

A powerful and heartwarming story, This Is Not My Home is a beautifully illustrated story that depicts the struggles of moving to a foreign country and redefining the meaning of home as more than just a physical space.

isbn: 978-0316377102| pages: 48
publication date: January 24, 2023 | source: physical / tour
genre: children's, picture book
rating: 9/10

I think this is my first time reviewing a picture book and I never would have thought that I would be so emotional over it. This is Not My Home captured my attention first with its adorable illustrations and then with the heartwarming story. Lily finds out one morning that they have to move back to Taiwan to take care of her grandma. The following pages display the contrast of their California home and community with the different environment of a new country through Lily’s eyes.

As a Taiwanese American who used to spend every summer back in Taiwan, this story felt so comforting and nostalgic, but I still appreciated how easy it was empathize with Lily and how foreign everything felt. I found myself reassuring her in my mind as she found herself missing the familiar comfort of her friends and home and just holding my breath for the moment that Taiwan could finally break through and become home for her.

This story explores the scariness behind moving to a new country in a way that feels so pure and innocent. To Lily, Taiwan just simply can’t be her home because it’s not California. But a turning point in the story allows Lily to start realizing that home is made of more than the physical location but rather the people and experiences you make.

Joint Website

Vivienne Chang: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Eugenia Yoh: Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Etsy | LinkedIn

Thank you to TBR & Beyond, Vivienne Chang and Eugenia Yoh, and Little Brown Publishing for the opportunity to participate in this tour. Please check out all the other stops by clicking on the banner!

I've been trying my hand at digital journaling and it was so fun compiling some images from my Taiwan trip this past summer and some Google images of iconic Taiwan highlights (aka the Taiwan bear and all the mopeds!)

8:00 AM 2 Comments

Hello there! We are officially two weeks into the new year and I’ve finally pulled it all together to share my favorite reads of 2022. I fell into a massive reading slump last year and am still in the process of recovering so my overall enjoyment and motivation took a big hit. However, I did manage to read some absolute gems that have made it onto my favorites shelf.

I do also want to note that a handful of titles on the list are published under HarperCollins (noted with an asterisk) and to acknowledge the current strike that has been ongoing for 40+ days. If any of these titles interest you, all covers are linked to the HarperCollins Union BookShop page where a portion of your purchase will go towards supporting the union members.

If you would like more information or to donate to their support fund - please check out their social media and following links:
instagram | twitter | strike fund | bookshop

babel by r.f. kuang **
I went into Babel with a lot of anticipation and R.F. Kuang absolutely did not disappoint. The commentary on academia, societal prejudices, and the effects of imperialism were so immaculately woven into the story and I am left still reeling with so many thoughts.

My full review is currently sitting in my drafts because this is a HarperCollins novel so I won’t be sharing my review until a fairer contract is signed.

daughter of the moon goddess by sue lynn tan **
My first read of 2022 and undoubtedly one of the most magical stories I read last year, this book was equal parts an exciting new fantasy adventure and the comforting familiarity of wuxia elements from my childhood C-dramas. I’m currently about a third into the sequel but have been putting it off because I’m so anxious about the outcome and for everything the characters have to go through…i.e. I’m just being a scaredy cat.
my review

year of the reaper by makiia lucier
Hands down the most unexpected favorite goes to Year of the Reaper because I picked this up from my library on a whim and ended up swept into a fantastical adventure that reminded me why I loved YA fantasy so much. Makiia Lucier takes familiar elements of the genre and creates the best cast of characters that are so dimensional and the relationships both romantic and platonic absolutely warmed my heart.

the red palace by june hur
The only audiobook to make it to my top five, I was apprehensive about picking this up because historical mysteries are not typically my thing. But I was so curious about the premise and I’m so glad that my curiosity won. The atmosphere is so beautifully written and Michelle E. Lee’s narration brought all the complexities to life. This book gives all the major K-drama vibes and I desperately need this to be turned into one immediately.

when we were them by laura taylor namey
This book solidified Laura Taylor Namey as a favorite YA contemporary author because this hit me so hard in the feels and something that I wished I could’ve read when transitioning from high school to college. This somehow perfectly captures the anxious feeling that comes when moving from one chapter of your life into the next and how relationships change and grow in that process.
my review

violet made of thorns by gina chen
If you love unapologetically devious main characters who know they aren’t innocent but will do what must be done for their personal gain then you will love Violet. Classic fairytale retellings have been a hit or miss for me lately but Gina Chen has created the most compelling one I’ve read recently. This was so fun to read and the ending had me absolutely desperate for the sequel.

portrait of a thief by grade d. lin
Portrait of a Thief is perfect for anyone who has a soft spot for action/heist movies. Is it the most realistic in execution? Definitely not, convenience shows up regularly to move the plot along, but as someone who grew up watching heist movies with her parents, this was comforting to read. Pair that with the beautiful prose that explores the Asian American identity through its cast made this one of my new favorite comfort reads.
my review

an arrow to the moon by emily x.r. pan
Emily X.R. Pan is hands down one of my favorite authors when it comes to prose and her writing absolutely shone with this retelling of Chang’e and Houyi. The story explores themes of family, love, and responsibilities and my heart still hurts every time I think about this book.
my review

little thieves by margaret owens
Another novel with a slightly selfish and despicable heroine, Little Thieves is a retelling of the Goose Girl and follows the adopted daughter of Death and Fortune when she angers a local deity and is cursed to turn into gems. This has the perfect balance of witty banter between characters and a well developed plot that I absolutely flew through.

That’s my list! I wanted desperately to reach ten but in the end, there are the nine that stood out to me amongst all the titles I’ve read. Please let me know if you’ve read any of these and your thoughts as well as some of your favorites from last year!

Here’s to a brighter reading year in 2023!