Tag Archives: Rebecca Roanhorse

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Trail of Lightning
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Series: The Sixth World #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Mythology, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

I was not expecting just how amazing this story was going to be. I mean, holy moly, was this one of those stories that I just… absolutely adored and opened up a whole new style of writing that I didn’t want to put down. I mean, a dystopian urban fantasy based on Dine mythology. It’s not a cultural and mythological world that I’ve ever had any experience with, and I am absolutely hooked into this idea. Then, there’s the whole dystopian aspect of the storyline, again, dealing with a dystopian world that was wholly unanticipated, and thoroughly enjoyed. I absolutely can’t wait to dive into Storm of Locusts.

Until I had the pleasure of diving into Trail of Lightning, I hadn’t had the pleasure of reading any of Roanhorse’s full-length stories. I’ve only ever enjoyed the short stories, but, they are typically kind of dark and twisty with a surprising ending. Honestly, it meant that I led into this story with a little bit of trepidation, I was constantly expecting Roanhorse to turn around and just absolutely destroy me with her twists and turns. It didn’t quite work at this way, but I was most definitely expecting things to get dark in a hurry.

Roanhorse was able to surprise me in a lot of ways, but I must admit, that I guessed Kai’s power fairly on. Kai’s Clan Power might have been obvious from the breadcrumbs which are expertly woven throughout, and yet, the actual reveal of it was still a moment of shock. Not that his Clan Power was revealed, or even how it manifested, but the different reactions and the path that it led Maggie and the rest of the characters on. Kai’s Clan Power was a very big story point that I feel needs to be unpacked even more in the next book. And I, for one can’t wait.

I’ve read a lot of urban fantasy books with strong female leads who have a harsh self-view and a tragic backstory. But something about Maggie’s self-view and journey was kind of heartbreaking. I mean, I loved it and absolutely adored it. Yet it also hurt my heart. Maggie’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth were phenomenal and I can’t wait to see how she comes out of the other side of this in Storm of Locusts. Now I just have to dive in…

<- More Rebecca RoanhorseStorm of Locusts ->

Image source: Pile by the Bed

A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy by Rebecca Roanhorse

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
In: The Mythic Dream (Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Mythology, Retellings, Space
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I’m beginning to realise that if I pick up a story by Roanhorse, it’s probably going to be dark and twisty stuff. And I’m entirely on board with that. So far, I’ve loved everything that I’ve read by her. And A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy was no different. A retelling of a myth that I’ve never known (but plan to look up), space and well, I guess a sort of zombie that left me feeling quite uncomfortable. What more could you want?

I really want to read the Deer Hunter and the White Corn Maiden now, as it isn’t one that I actually know. Plus, I want to see what dark elements Roanhorse has added, and what are actually a part of the original. I know that the space elements are definitely unique to this version, I want to know what else is…

At the core of this tale is that we need to sometimes just let people go. It’s all about obsessive love and not being able to say goodbye. And sometimes, if we can’t let them go, we damage ourselves and those around us. I definitely felt like cringing and curling up into the foetal position at the end of this tale, that’s for sure.

<- Fisher-BirdBridge of Crows ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Hungry Hearts edited by Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman

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Overview

Title: Hungry Hearts
Author: Caroline Tung Richmond, Elsie Chapman, Sangu Mandanna, Sandhya Menon, Rin Chupeco, Adi Alsaid, Jay Coles, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karuna Riazi, Phoebe North, S.K. Ali, Sara Farizan & Anna-Marie McLemore
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: Contemporary, Food, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I absolutely adored this collection – it was brilliant, light-hearted and fun. Plus, it was filled with many new authors and beautiful stories. A great journey of stories by #OwnVoices authors who gave me a glimpse into a multitude of experiences. Ones that I look forward to repeating again in the future.

As someone who loves her food, I really appreciated that each story in this collection featured food and the many feelings that an accomplish it throughout. Food is a great avenue through which to experience the world, and process feelings. The stories in this collection run the gambit of experiences. And I found it intriguing the different feelings that were expressed throughout.

This is one of those fantastic collections of stories that I will read and reread again and again in the future. I also can’t wait to read more stories by the authors that I’ve added to this collection. There wasn’t one that I don’t look forward to reading again in the future.

<- Panaderia ~ PasteleriaRain ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Missing Ingredient by Rebecca Roanhorse

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Missing Ingredient
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Family, Food, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I knew from fairly on that the missing ingredient in the mother’s food was going to be heart. I mean, good food always comes from the heart. But, what I really, really didn’t expect was how this story was going to end. That was just disturbed and uncomfortable.

This short story was a whole lot darker than any of the stories in the Hungry Hearts collection so far. And it actually broke my heart a little. I mean, there was dealing with death and the loss of a father. But then the mother-daughter relationship was so completely broken too. And by the end, it was even more disturbingly broken.

The Missing Ingredient was such an amazing story – I honestly need a whole lot more Roanhorse in my life. There is something really intense and wonderful about her words, and I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.

<- Gimme Some SugarHearts a la Carte ->

Image source: Goodreads

A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton

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Overview
A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: A Universe of Wishes
Author: Dhonielle Clayton, Tara Sim, Natalie C. Parker, Libba Bray, Anna-Marie McLemore, Kwame Mbalia, V.E. Schwab, Rebecca Roanhorse, Nic Stone, Jenni Balch, Mark Oshiro, Samira Ahmed, Tessa Gratton, Zoraida Cordova & Tochi Onyebuchi
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: LGBTQI, Short story collections, Young adult
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020

Thoughts

A Universe of Wishes is a fantastic and brilliant anthology. One I really, really enjoyed. And one that introduced me to a whole lot more authors that I plan to add to my shelves. It was a fun and unique collection that gave the reader a whole lot of diversity, not only in tales and styles, but also in lead characters.

I loved that this is an #OwnVoices collection, and now I’m going to add more such collections to my shelves. I love having non-white leads in my stories. And this has given me a taste of a whole range of new authors and cultures. Something that I really love when reading – discovering the unknown.

This anthology runs the gambit of genres and styles. The only thing all of the stories have in common is that they are thoroughly enjoyable and I loved them. I look forward to reading this anthology again and again and again in the future.

<- HabibiA Universe of Wishes ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Takeback Tango by Rebecca Roanhorse

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: The Takeback Tango
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Race, Young adult
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020

Thoughts

I seriously love the idea of a pirate taking back what is historically hers. It’s a reminder of the horrors of colonisation and how there is a lot to atone for. The fact that the lead voice in this has lost family not once, but twice to the empire and is constantly fighting to survive… a wonderful, albeit sad, story line.

There is a great meet cute and potential for romance in this story. Although it is subtle and not overt, there is so much potential at the end of this tale. I almost wish that it was a prequel to a greater series. I love the idea of the two characters getting to know one another and also just… stealing back things from the empire.

Two displaced youths fighting to regain their identities and what was taken for them is a good story in and of itself. The humour and banter just adds to the enjoyment of the whole story. As does the open-ended ending – so much potential for the future.

<- A Royal AffairDream and Dare ->

Image source: Goodreads