bookwyrm.cincodenada.com

Tak! reviewed Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba (Stormbringer Saga, #1)

In this an enthralling Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, a nun concealing a goddess-given gift is unwillingly …

Saints of Storm and Sorrow

4 stars

Content warning spoilers

Despite the overt themes of colonialism and religious imperialism, Saints of Storm and Sorrow feels primarily like a story about toxic relationships - Catalina's abusive partnership with Lunurin, Alon's self-destructive infatuation with Lunurin (and Lunurin's knowing, cynical usage of it), Alon's father's abusive treatment of Alon, even the goddess's relationship with Lunurin.

The hollywood ending feels good, but I have to wonder if any of these characters is undamaged enough to live Happily Ever After.

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba (Stormbringer Saga, #1)

In this an enthralling Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, a nun concealing a goddess-given gift is unwillingly …

The sea breezes keened of death in Lunurin’s ears, a cacophony of voices urging her to act.

— Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba (Stormbringer Saga, #1)

#OpeningSentence #SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Kaliane Bradley: The Ministry of Time (Hardcover, 2024, Simon & Schuster)

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and …

Never tell a workplace or a lover anything that might cause them to terminate your relationship until you’re ready to leave.

— The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and …

Content warning alcohol

She came back with a glass of chilled red wine, which I hadn’t realized was a drink you could get on purpose.

— The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and …

Perhaps he’ll die this time.

— The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

#OpeningSentence #SFFBookClub

Tak! commented on The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and …

The #SFFBookClub selection for May 2025

Tak! commented on Countess by Suzan Palumbo

No rating

A queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial sci-fi novella, inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, in which …

I really dig the premise, but the execution bothered me a lot. Maybe they were just trying to do too much in a novella length, or maybe it's just me, but everything just felt rushed and clumsy. 🤷

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted Countess by Suzan Palumbo

No rating

A queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial sci-fi novella, inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, in which …

It had been a productive day. Too productive.

— Countess by Suzan Palumbo

mood

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted Countess by Suzan Palumbo

No rating

A queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial sci-fi novella, inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, in which …

Space colonization had not been the great equalizer the capitalist billionaires had advertised.

— Countess by Suzan Palumbo

😮 #SFFBookClub

Tak! commented on Countess by Suzan Palumbo

No rating

A queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial sci-fi novella, inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, in which …

The #SFFBookClub pick for April 2025

Tak! reviewed These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein

Izzy Wasserstein: These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart (EBook, 2024, Tachyon Publications)

Security expert Dora left her anarchist commune over safety concerns. But when her ex-girlfriend Kay …

Short and bitter

5 stars

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is a vignette about working through guilt and self-loathing toward self-forgiveness.

There's a lot going on in terms of themes: gender, transhumanism, anarchy and fascism, cloning, all mixed into a more standard crime plot.

Although the main thread is satisfactorily wrapped up, there's definitely room to explore the world further - I want more Dora!

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein

Security expert Dora left her anarchist commune over safety concerns. But when her ex-girlfriend Kay …

I hadn’t seen Juan in years, not since I left the commune.

— These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein

#OpeningSentence #SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds, #2)

No rating

Faced with a coming apocalypse, a woman must reckon with her past to solve a …

Stories should never be believed, but they should always be trusted.

— Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds, #2)

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds, #2)

No rating

Faced with a coming apocalypse, a woman must reckon with her past to solve a …

I like to watch pretty things move. I like to make broken things fixed. I’m simple.

— Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds, #2)

same

#SFFBookClub

Tak! quoted Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds, #2)

No rating

Faced with a coming apocalypse, a woman must reckon with her past to solve a …

They call me Mr. Scales because I’m a snake.

— Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (The Space Between Worlds, #2)

#OpeningSentence #SFFBookClub