Welcome to another Netgalley review!
All the books in this review were gotten via Netgalley as always. I hope you enjoy it.
Flowers on the Moon by Billy Chapata
Review
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for making this collection available to me.
Chapata does a great job likening flowers regeneration and growth to the undeniable strength of humanity, It in some ways reminds me of a quote I heard a while back ‘ Flowers that buds in the storm are a strong and everlasting flower’. The storm can be likened to the trials and tribulations humanity face. Having the ability to work and live through them, is what makes humanity a rainbow to the grey moon.
I really loved reading this collection, I hope you check it out.
Rating
I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars
The Space Between Us: Poetry and Prose by Courtney Peppernell & Zack Grey
Review
Thanks to Andrew McMeel Publishing for making this book available to me.
I really enjoyed reading this collection. The fact that there was a usual seamless connection between the poems and prose was just fantastic. Courtney was fantastic with writing harsh longing and drawing a mental picture of distance. While some of the poems demonstrate the endurance of physically long-distance relationships, it was more about the growing apart and loss of emotional contact rather than physical contact
Rating
I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars
Guantanamo Voices: True Accounts from the World’s Most Infamous Prison by Sarah Mirk et al. 2020
Review
Thanks to Abrams ComicArts for making this book available to me.
This book made me so angry, not just because of the resounding injustice but finding out and understanding the deep and harsh reality of both the prisoners and the people trying to help them. This book contains interviews from people connected to the prison for former prisoners, lawyers and even several soldiers that served in the prison. The stories these people tell her frightening to the bones, and sad.
I think for me, the illustrations made the reading experience more real and harsh, which is what one really needs when reading about the horrors of the systematic structure. I can’t exactly say I loved this book, both it was very eye-opening and painful to read but very necessary. When we read books like this we begin to question how things are run in the world and that why this book is very important.
I hope you check it out.
Rating
I gave this book 5 stars
A Dance for the Gods by E.O. Odiase, K.N. Pumpuni
Review
Before I go into the review of this book, I have to state that this book is more adult than a young adult with explicit sex scenes and trigger warnings for discussion on sexual assault, death, emotional manipulation and more… Also, the fact that I did not read the first book in the series made for a rather confusing read especially for someone like me who likes to know the backstory for a lot of the characters. Nevertheless, it was still enough for me to pull certain things together as I read on.
The world in this book was one thing that I really loved. The fantasy world was so well structured and it was easy to see the inspiration from African culture and myths. This high political fantasy novel follows the death of King Ewuare and the subsequent enthronement of Kendi. Kendi childish rulership is about to destroy the kingdom. His mother’s lover Kofi would soon become the scapegoat that Meha uses to protect her children. Whilst this is all happening we have people around and outside the kingdom trying to gain power and rulership status. Queens sacrificing anything to get pregnant, warriors killing their brothers and more.
Rating
I gave this book 3.1 out of 5 stars
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Review
Thanks to #Netgalley for providing me with an excerpt of this book before publication.
I have always loved reading Greek mythology (I mean, who doesn’t) but I just couldn’t fall into this one. I decided to wait until I read the whole book once I got my hands on it. When I did, I struggled through most of the book and ended up DNFing it. I love Alexandra Bracken’s writing and that was not different in this book but I really do not know why I couldn’t make my way through this book (personally I think was just my own fault because the story itself is very intriguing).
Briefly, this book is set in New York and the story takes place during the Agon, a time when a number of gods who rebelled against Zeus are forced to walk the earth has us, mere mortals. During this time, they have to try and stay safe because they are being hunted by children or descendant of powerful and old bloodlines who want to kill the gods and take their power for themselves. We follow Lore Perseus who after the death of her family during that last Agon, refused to take part and is in hiding. That is until she meets Athena and once again her childhood friend Castor.
I read one-third of the book and just had to give it a break. I would probably continue reading later when I am in a mythology craze.
Rating
I gave this book 2.3 out of 5 stars which is not a fair rating because I did not finish the book. But if you really love mythology and you want to reunite with the gods of Olympus then this would be it.
Thanks for reading.