PACING IS ABOUT LOAD BEARING WALLS.

Rating the Books I Read in January

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - 3/5 stars

Technically I started this one in December, but I finished it in January, so I’m going to count it as a January read. I was a bit conflicted on how to feel about this book. On one hand, I love the prose, the twists, the exploration of morality, and the influence of literary classics.This book is a near-perfect blend of literary classic and thriller, and the best one that I've come across so far. However, I disliked the frequent, careless slurs, microaggressions, and stereotypes that were thrown around so casually in this book. On a related note, I would advise looking up trigger warnings before reading this book, for more reasons than just the ones mentioned. Finally, the ending seemed rushed and I wish I had been given more time to process the last chapter of the book before the epilogue.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson - 3/5 stars

I had really high expectations for this book because I’d heard so much about it on social media, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. It wasn't terrible, but it was definitely not great. I related to Pip in some ways, most of them academic. However, I never saw Pip's non-academic personality, and she didn't feel real enough to me. I liked Ravi but I couldn't really connect to him or any of the other characters for that matter. Also I know this book is just fiction, but some of the events just bothered me and/or were highly unrealistic. I ended up rounding the original review of two stars up to three stars because I truly liked the friend and family dynamics and banter throughout this book. I'm disappointed that it didn't live up to my high expectations, but I suppose it’s my fault for reading books solely for the hype.

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens - 3/5 stars

If you like queer, romance-centric fantasy books, this is the book for you. I, however, being a high fantasy snob, found it slightly too shallow (sorry for the pun) for my taste: the politics, government, and magic system felt extremely underdeveloped. And yes, I understand that the romance is the main part of this book and it’s not fair to rate it like a high fantasy book. However, even if I’m just rating it according to my entertainment level, I don’t feel particularly strongly about it one way or the other. The romance was easily the best part of the book; it was both sweet and shippable. I really liked the main character, Tal, and his character arc. Other than that, I don’t have too much else to say except that it was a decent read.

Fable by Adrienne Young - 4/5 stars

The second pirate-y book I read this month! If there’s one word I would use to describe this book, it would be “atmospheric.” Adrienne Young excels at bringing settings to life, as I learned in Fable. The descriptions were absolutely amazing and the worldbuilding had genuine depth (get it? okay I’ll see myself out now-). I liked how Fable was tough and resourceful, but she also had a softer personality and wasn’t afraid to show her vulnerable side sometimes. I also feel as though the crew of the Marigold was genuinely a found family instead of a bunch of friends, unlike so many other YA novels. The romance was sweet, although I wish Young had delved into West’s character more. I was a little disappointed at the ending, which I think could’ve been foreshadowed better. However, I'm excited to read the sequel soon. Thanks to @queenie.the.writer and @twoscomplemented_ for bringing this book to my attention!

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao - 4.5/5 stars

I actually knew about the author before I knew about the book! I followed their YouTube channel and TikTok page (they’re hilarious and well-informed, so I highly recommend checking them out!). The book itself did not disappoint. Zetian’s internal monologue had me laughing out loud and I loved her depth as a character. Don’t even get me started on her arc, because I could go on about it all day! In contrast, however Shimin and Yizhi seemed slightly shallower and could have been fleshed out more. I really liked their collective relationship and dynamic, but I wish it had been given more time to develop. The uniqueness of the mecha/Chinese dynasty-inspired setting and worldbuilding really appealed to me as well--I only wish that I had learned more about the history of the world itself. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys female corruption arcs, feminism, and fast-paced action!

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan - 5/5 stars

I was deliberating between 4.5 or 5 stars on this one, but I decided to just round up and rate it by how much I enjoyed it--which was a lot! It’s quite interesting seeing how Riordan’s writing matured from Percy Jackson. I also thought the entire main cast was fleshed out really well, which is a compliment coming from me--if you haven’t noticed from the previous reviews, I always pay close attention to the personalities of the characters I read. In this case, I found myself appreciating and relating to all of them in some way! The only fault I found with this book was the unrealistic ages of the characters. If they had been aged up a year or two, I think it would've been more realistic. Some of the worldbuilding also seemed like a large stretch. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. Reading this book reminded me of why I list Riordan as one of my inspirations. Humor, pacing, action scenes, worldbuilding--reading his books is like watching a master at work! I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a fun but high-stakes middle-grade sci-fi!

Scythe by Neal Shusterman - 5/5 stars

I was initially reluctant to read this book because I thought the premise was outlandish, but I decided to suspend my expectations, and I’m so glad I did! This book explores the best--and worst--of human nature. The worldbuilding is intricate, imaginative, and best of all, interesting! Usually in books I see worldbuilding as a good backdrop. Scythe, however, puts its worldbuilding at the forefront of the book, and that makes it so much stronger! The format of this book is engaging, with both journal entries and present-tense narratives, and the pacing flows quite well. Rowan and Citra were so intriguing and I thoroughly enjoyed following their journeys throughout the book. Thanks to @the-demi-jedi for recommending this book to me!

"Oh. Oh," moments can be great.

"Oh shit," moments are even better.

But the long-suffering sigh of acceptance that comes with, "Oh. Right. Yeah. Of course." Like, come on, what could I have been thinking? There's no other way this could have gone.

an incomplete collection of tweets i consider to be short poems

Introducing The OCs of Pawn

Intro

I love how it took me a full theme and a half to actually make a post about my OCs. I would say something in my own defense, but I don’t have one. Looks like I actually have to face the consequences of my procrastination this time. Wait, I’m still procrastinating by writing this intro...but okay, let’s actually get into it now!

Name: Alice Lee

Age: 15

Pronouns: She/her

Ethnicity: Chinese-American

Sexuality: Demisexual

5 words to describe her: Reserved, curious, non-confrontational, logical, observant

Likes: Physics, algebra, math/logic puzzles, chess, listening to true crime podcasts, boba tea

Dislikes: Being wrong, having no control over her life, things not making sense

Fun Facts: She wants to be a quantum physicist when she grows up! Also, she has a deep capacity for empathy and understanding that most people never see or notice. Unfortunately, all too many people are willing to dismiss her as unfeeling and cold, when in reality she’s just uncertain.

Name: Evie Lee

Age: 16

Pronouns: She/her

Ethnicity: Chinese-American

Sexuality: Aromantic

5 words to describe her: Outgoing, vibrant, upbeat, sensitive, optimistic

Likes: Daydreaming, watercolors/art, lacrosse, hanging out with friends, photography

Dislikes: Cold/wet weather, standardized tests, being interrupted, being spoken over

Fun Facts: From the beginning, I knew that I wanted Evie’s faceclaim to be Jessie Mei Li because personality-wise they are so similar! Also, Evie is a maladaptive daydreamer, which plays a large role in the story!

Name: Khalil Qurashi

Age: 16

Pronouns: He/him

Ethnicity: Pakistani-American

Sexuality: Bisexual

5 words to describe him: Funny, easygoing, enthusiastic, loyal, perceptive

Likes: Forensics speaking, traveling, meeting new people, challenges, soccer

Dislikes: The school subject of history, being ignored or patronized, not being taken seriously

Fun Facts: Although Khalil himself doesn’t swear, he carries around a “swear jar” for his friends. Every time they say a swear word, they have to contribute a certain amount of money, depending on 1.) what the word was and 2.) what context they said it in. He’s made about $20 off it so far. (No, I don’t know how I came up with this either, but it just seemed right-)

Name: Mikayla Grace Wong

Age 16

Pronouns: She/her

Ethnicity: Chinese-American

Sexuality: Undecided as of right now

5 words to describe her: Determined, decisive, creative, independent, impulsive

Likes: Pottery, sculpture, loud music, her comfort pair of headphones, overcast days, skateboarding

Dislikes: The American education system, people making decisions for her

Fun Facts: Mikayla’s character design is my favorite out of all of my OCs! She has a really unique style. It also helps that it’s really easy to find pictures that look like her on Pinterest! Her Pinterest board is definitely the prettiest in terms of clothing style.

The moment a character realises they've been betrayed vs the moment a character realises they're going to betray someone, fight!

plot feeling a little empty in the middle? here’s some food for thought.

actions have consequences. things that your characters do inevitably can affect other people around them. what might they have done in the past that could come back and serve as an obstacle? or, maybe, what could they do now that could possibly raise the stakes just a little bit more?

subplots! be mindful of the subplots you’re adding - but sometimes it might be a good idea to include one if your plot is feeling a little bit empty. not only can it tie back into the overarching struggle, but it could also serve as a way to explore one of your characters or points further.

character exploration. get to know your characters a little bit better! let your readers find out something new. connecting and understanding the people within your story is important if you want your readers to grow attached to them.

world exploration. similar to the previous point, with the addition of creating a greater sense of familiarity of the circumstances that your story is taking place in. remember that nobody else knows the world of your wip as well as you do - illustrate it even further so everyone else can grasp it even better.

let your characters bond! maybe there’s a lull in the plot. if your characters have the chance to take a breather and get to know the people around them, let them! it might help flesh out or even realistically advance their relationships with each other.

The “I’d rather have you hate me than lose you forever” trope will always hit hard

Death of the author: Treating the author’s stated interpretation of their own work as merely one opinion among many, rather than the authoritative Word of God.

Disappearance of the author: Treating the context and circumstances of the work’s authorship as entirely irrelevant with respect to its interpretation, as though the work had popped into existence fully formed just moments ago.

Taxidermy of the author: Working backwards from a particular interpretation of the work to draw conclusions about what the context and circumstances of its authorship must have been.

Undeath of the author: Holding the author personally responsible for every possible reading of their work, even ones they could not reasonably have anticipated at the time of its authorship.

Frankenstein’s Monster of the author: Drawing conclusions about authorial intent based on elements that are present only in subsequent adaptations by other authors.

Weekend at Bernie’s of the author: Insisting that the author would personally endorse your interpretation of the work if they happened to be present.

A Name Dump Based on Vibes

Cottagecore Names

Aspen

August

Betty

Dorothea

Ivy

Jolene

Juniper

Willow

Adventurous Names

Everett

Hunter

Jessie/Jesse

Olivia

Peter

Sadie

Sawyer

Zoe

Artsy Names

Amy

Delilah

Dylan

Iris

Michelle

Noah

Sierra

Simon

Vintage Names

Adelaide

Caroline

Eleanor

Jude

Lana

Oliver

Stacy

Vivian

Dark Academia Names

Dorian

Ezra

Henry

Juliet

Lydia

Ophelia

Penelope

Sophia

Poetic Names

Blake

Calliope

Elliott

Fiona

Grace

Laila

Maya

Sylvia

Musical Names

Aria

Cadence

Harmony

Harper

Lyric

Melody

Piper

Reed