Rosh ~catching up slowly~’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2022)

Rosh ~catching up slowly~’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

Be Gay, Do Crime: Sixteen Stories of Queer Chaos

This promised to be a fun anthology, but it was more tiresome. Hardly any crime and a lot of R-rated content. Might work for another reader, but not for me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Unnatural Selection by Coco Cooper

A contemporary satire about a dog who acts human. Kinda weird, and fairly entertaining except for the final quarter.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Books 1 & 2 of the Sunken Archive duology by Sylvie Cathrall, and both almost equally disappointing.

1. A Letter to the Luminous Deep


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

AND

2. A Letter from the Lonesome Shore


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

The last book in the Maid trilogy and the biggest disappointment of the series.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer

This is the latest entry in one of my absolute favourite historical fiction series, and the author has continued to maintain her high standard.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Teacher of Auschwitz by Wendy Holden

Sounds like yet another typical WWII fiction with 'Auschwitz' in the title, but this one is surprisingly well handled.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Women by Sommer Schafer

Enjoyed this indie story collection. For those who love thought-provoking and metaphorical character-driven tales.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Famine Orphans by Patricia Falvey

I quite enjoyed this unusual historical fiction novel based on the Earl Grey Scheme.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sculpting Fables by Rachel Huffmire

A standalone novella from the brilliant Mirror Chronicles series. I love this indie series!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Never thought I'd be an outlier for this historical fiction. :(
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories by Nancy Christie

A wonderful story collection about women who don't live as expected.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Some lovely children's reads from NetGalley:
1. Disney Fairies 4 in 1 Vol. 4

I didn't like the first combo volume, but this one was a big hit at home. The graphic novel format works slightly mixed though.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. The Adventures of Penguin and Panda: In the Dark (Vol 4): A Graphic Novel

Not my favourite of the series, but a great graphic novel nonetheless.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3. Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe

An amazing and inspirational picture book about an actual blind astronomer.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Too much ‘cozy’, not enough ‘fantasy’.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights edited by Ashley Hope Pérez

As you might guess from the title and tagline, this is one outstanding collection of essays and other pieces by minority writers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

Supposed to be an adult historical fantasy combining Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. but the writing style was a bit too YA for my liking. If you still want to try this, do NOT opt for the audio.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Home Has No Borders: A Collection of South Asian Stories edited by Sona Charaipotra

Expected something very different from this OwnVoices South-Asian anthology. Not for me, but YA readers might like it better.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Professional Mourner by Neil Randall

I can honestly say that I have never read such a story before. Despite some flaws, a good option for lit fic lovers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Three middle-grade books that work to different levels.

1. Flying in Colors by Padma Prasad Reddeppa

A middle-grade historical fiction set in 1970s India. The setting and era are unusual for this genre, but the writing didn't work for me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2. The Invisibles by Susie Bower

A middle-grade fantasy. Superb concept, decent implementation.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3. The Elixir by Lindsay Galvin

A middle-grade historical fiction with Isaac Newton as a special character. A nice combo of magic and history.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Spinning Briar by Rachel Huffmire

The second book of the Mirror Chronicles series and almost as good. This is an amazing indie YA SciFi-Fantasy series.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E.M. Anderson

A horror-fantasy that would have worked even better for me if it had dialled down the romantic blushes.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...