White Ivy by Susie Yang

White Ivy by Susie Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I went into White Ivy, I was expecting a very dark Talented Mr. Ripley situation. Ivy was born in China and felt like her family was second-class compared to those of her private school classmates. When she reconnects with one of those classmates, she seizes the opportunity to gain access to his world, but eschews her own past and family in the process. While this didn't exactly turn out to be the twisted thriller I thought and was a little uneven at times, I really enjoyed Ivy's story and the exploration of what a marriage and family means, and what is worth sacrificing to get it.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

Which Fall Book Should You Read Quiz

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Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Typically when I read fantasy books, I'll go into them all gung-ho and then end up abandoning them about halfway through because they've turned totally repetitive, simplistic, or the world-building is just not good.
Rebecca Roanhorse has broken that streak for me with Black Sun, the first in a series set in the Meridian, a culture that is built from ancient South American civilization and mythology.

From the very beginning, we are thrust into nonstop action told from multiple points of view that are all engrossing and overlap around preparations for an upcoming eclipse. There is a sun priest who does not have the typical noble background and is thus constantly questioned and threatened but just wants peace, a mysterious man on a long journey who has been subjected to painful training and rituals for some unknown end, and a free-wheeling, magical ship captain who is sprung out of jail by a lord because she may be the only one with the expertise to get his cargo where it needs to be on time.
The ending tied everything together but left me on the edge of my seat for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

My October-November TBR List

Okay. I'm bordering on that frenzied state where I'm so excited that there are so many books I want to read, but also terrified that I will never finish them all before the next batch of amazing books come. So, I'm putting my list out into the world to ease some of my anxiety. Are any of these also on your TBR?

October
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse - Oct. 13, 2020
This comes out today and I'm only about halfway through, but I totally recommend this engrossing fantasy that's the start of a series! I read Marie Lu's Skyhunter right before this, and I loved the characters but felt like the plot was a little simplistic. Black Sun is similar in some ways, with several outcast or lower-rank characters fighting for a place in a society that was not built for them, but is more complex and does a great job building the culture of the Meridian.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg - Oct. 27, 2020
When I picked up The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, I couldn't even believe myself. Dark and moody me reading something so adorable, joyful, and probably corny? I loved it and my smile was glued to my face. Thus, I will be reading this one to lift my spirits from this time we call 2020.


November
White Ivy by Susie Yang - Nov. 3rd, 2020
Some sort of Talented Mr. Ripley situation between a young woman and her college classmate, I've been hearing about this everywhere and can't wait to read it.