Review: When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: March 25th, 2025

Hardcover. 336 pages.

About When the Moon Hits Your Eye (from the publisher):

"The moon has turned into cheese.

Now humanity has to deal with it.

For some it’s an opportunity. For others it’s a moment to question their faith: In God, in science, in everything. Still others try to keep the world running in the face of absurdity and uncertainty. And then there are the billions looking to the sky and wondering how a thing that was always just there is now... something absolutely impossible.

Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and terminal patients at the end of their lives -- over the length of an entire lunar cycle, each get their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to pray, to laugh and to grieve. All in a kaleidoscopic novel that goes all the places you’d expect, and then to so many places you wouldn’t.

It’s a wild moonage daydream. Ride this rocket."

When the Moon Hits Your Eye explores the age-old question we've always wondered and joked about: what if the moon was made of cheese? Okay, maybe you haven't always wondered that, but I'm sure we've all at least heard a joke about that once or twice in our lives, and honestly, I welcomed the opportunity to explore it.

In When the Moon Hits Your Eye, the moon, inexplicably and unpredictably, turns to cheese one day. No one knows why, no one knows how, and no one has any idea what to do about it or what it means for humanity–or even what type of cheese it is. All anybody knows is that it's a big globe of cheese up there and the universe no longer acts in any form of a predictable manner, which throws everything else into question about the universe.

I'm generally not someone who is drawn to books that lean in an overtly more humorous nature (for instance, as much as I want to love Pratchett and do love every quote I hear from his books, I have a hard time actually sitting through and reading them through), but I found the premise for this one so enticing that I just had to see what Scalzi would do with this topic. I found the result to be one that has a fantastic blend of humor, commentary, a bit of drama here and there, and a lot more in between that really focused more on what the world would do if something as ridiculous as the moon turning to cheese actually happened.

This book is basically a slew of connected chapters that each visits a different person. Oftentimes we are already familiar with the subject of a chapter because they've been mentioned in a previous chapter, or they are in some way connected to something that's come before, and altogether it felt very much like a series of vignettes. I think my favorite part was that this book travels across people of all different jobs and locations, from astronauts who can no longer fly to the moon because the moon is, well, cheese, to a retired philosopher professor in the middle of the country to the President's reaction and so much more.

It was genuinely fun and quite fascinating to see all the different types of reactions that. may occur as a result of such an event. Fromageries are suddenly swamped with business as tourists are suddenly all about cheese. Books about the moon make their authors new stars. TV and movie execs are receiving a relentless amount of pitches for shows and movies all about cheese has something to do with cheese (with titles most often in the form of some sort of pun, of course). And then some people don't see how it affects them whatsoever and pretty much carry on with their lives. I was most interested to see how and why people would or would not believe it actually happened, especially given how reactions towards science and evidence has been a bit hit or miss among various populations in recent years, and I appreciated seeing this addressed in the boo.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a bit irreverent in parts, and I appreciated the break from more serious works sometimes. However, as I mentioned, it's also quite timely and really does dive deep into some interesting political and social commentary as a result of people's reactions to moon's new cheesy makeup. Altogether this made for a sincerely compelling read that left me fully entertained. There were a few chapters as we neared the end of the book that started to feel a bit overdone or repetitive, but all in all there's not too much to complain about with this one as long as you go into it with an open mind and can appreciate that the entire thing is just the slightest bit silly. But we as readers are here for the journey and the experience, not so much the scientific accuracy of it. 

*I received a copy of When the Moon Hits Your Eye in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

Publisher: Orbit

Publication Date: March 18th, 2025

Paperback. 336 pages.

About The Third Rule of Time Travel:

"Rule One: Travel can only occur to a point within your lifetime.
Rule Two: You can only travel for ninety seconds.
Rule Three: You can only observe. The rules cannot be broken.

In this riveting science fiction novel from acclaimed author Philip Fracassi, a scientist has unlocked the mysteries of time travel. This is not the story you think you know. And the rules are only the beginning.

Scientist Beth Darlow has discovered the unimaginable. She's built a machine that allows human consciousness to travel through time—to any point in the traveler's lifetime—and relive moments of their life. An impossible breakthrough, but it's not perfect: the traveler has no way to interact with the past. They can only observe.

After Beth's husband, Colson, the co-creator of the machine, dies in a tragic car accident, Beth is left to raise Isabella—their only daughter—and continue the work they started. Mired in grief and threatened by her ruthless CEO, Beth pushes herself to the limit to prove the value of her technology.

Then the impossible happens. Simply viewing personal history should not alter the present, but with each new observation she makes, her own timeline begins to warp.

As her reality constantly shifts, Beth must solve the puzzles of her past, even if it means forsaking her future."

I'm not usually a big time travel person, but I’m happy to report that I had a great time with The Third Rule of Time Travel. It's a thought-provoking read that centers around an interesting concept and will keep readers engaged the entire time.

Beth Darlow and her husband, Colson, have together managed to achieve the seemingly impossible and unachievable: time travel. Their discovery allows travelers to visit the past and observe events, but they cannot interact with them or travel into the future. They also cannot choose which moment in their past they visit—this is seemingly selected at random by the machine—or maybe by their own minds. Since the technology is still in its infancy, they have been trying to understand how and why certain moments are chosen and whether there's a way to do more than just observe. There are three rules involved in their time travel: 1) travelers can only visit their own memories; 2) they may travel for a maximum of 90 seconds; and 3) no interacting with the past.

After Beth’s husband dies in a car crash, she’s left to continue their research alone. As tensions rise at work, she begins pushing herself harder and harder, which results in her taking more and more frequent trips in the time travel machine. As a result, the more Beth travels, the more her own sense of reality seems to be getting twisted, and things quickly spiral into something far more complicated.

This was a quick read for me—not because it’s simple or basic, but because Fracassi writes it in a way that almost feels like a thriller. It kept pulling me into the story with each new development, and I had a somewhat compulsive need to just keep flipping those pages in order to continue on this warped journey with Beth.

I found Beth's drive very realistic to her role and therefore her character was extremely believable. She is a determined scientist and, especially after her husband's death, she's desperate to see their invetion succeed. Because of this, she will stop at seemingly nothing to make that happen, and the way she is portrayed made me fully believe that. As the only living test subject now that her husband cannot also travel, she bears the full brunt of what those trips do to a person, and it starts to take an extreme toll on her both mentally and physically--which only adds to the increased pressures from her boss. What I most enjoyed about Beth's character was that she's not a perfect, polite protagonist, but rather someone who is blunt, bold, flawed, and who isn't willing to take anyone's sh*t--and most importantly, she's a very real, flawed human being, which I really appreciated.

Fracassi does a fantastic job of gradually revealing new layers of learning more about this time machine and leading the reader through all of the twists that will you questioning everything you’d been reading. There are a few moments in particular that made me question my own perceptions and understanding of what was happening and what would come next, and I loved that aspect. I also loved the way this book explored memory, reality, and timelines. There’s a lot of mind-bending moments in this that were so incredibly thought-provoking.

I have said many times over the years that I’m not really a big fan of time travel in general. It’s a difficult concept to get right, and there are often too many loopholes and complications that end up leaving the story feeling fractured and difficult to connect with. Some books take a very fantastical and magic-based approach to it, whereas others take a scientific approach. The Third Rule of Time Travel takes a scientific approach, and I have to say that it tackles it via this route extremely well. The general discussions around time travel—its abilities, limitations, purposes, dangers—felt grounded and realistic, like something you’d actually expect normal people to discuss, which made it feel that much more compelling to me.

Overall, The Third Rule of Time Travel is a strong, compelling new time travel-focused book that I think both time travel and non-time travel fans could appreciate. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, I'd definitely add it to your TBR!

*I received a copy of The Third Rule of Time Travel in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Bramble

Publication Date: February 25th, 2025

Hardcover. 448 pages.

About Swordheart:

"Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of a wealthy uncle. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.

While locked in her bedroom, Halla inspects the ancient sword that's been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. Out of desperation, she unsheathes it―and suddenly a man appears. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.

Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla―a most unusual wielder―he finds himself fending off not grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis grow closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all―the sword itself."

T. Kingfisher has quickly become an auto-buy author for me over the past several years, and I don't think I've read one book from her that I haven't liked. I'm happy to say that Swordheart keeps that streak going!

What I liked: Swordheart is an absolute delight of a fantasy tale and it features all the things Kingfisher does best: charming characters with strong personalities and plenty of eccentricities, fantastic banter and humor, and a world that feels fully alive with oddities and mysteries at every turn. Halla is a remarkable protagonist who I could not get enough of, and Sarkis was equally charming. Their growing relationship was a joy to witness and hit all the right notes. I also love that you can never fully predict what you're going to get in a Kingfisher novel, and that unpredictability is part of what makes her writing so special. The world-building is not the focus of the story, but it's very vibrant in the background, and the entire book is populated with a wide array of characters. I wholeheartedly recommend this for any Kingfisher fans, as well as anyone who wants some fantasy, some romance, and some wonderfully witty and entertaining dialogue and storytelling.

What I didn't like: There were only two minor issues that I had with Swordheart, and the first is that the pacing is slightly inconsistent. This book is very much about the characters more than a heavy focus on plot (in my opinion, at least), and because of this things tended to drag a bit in certain areas. We would spend a lot of time on certain events or scenes due to a heavy focus on the dialogue and banter between characters, which really slowed down the forward progress of the story. If you enjoy the dialogue and such, then this probably won't bother you too much, but it's something to note because I think it's something that could be hit or miss for people. It definitely is the reason it took me longer to get through the book than I expected, but it was still an enjoyable ride the whole time. The only other issue I had was that 'villains' felt extraordinarily classic 'bad guy' style and didn't bring much to the table for me. That being said, they fit the story perfectly so I do believe it's on purpose, it's just not something that I really like in books. 

Overall, if you're looking for a fun fantasy read that will keep you laughing and enjoying some incredible characters, then be sure to check out Swordheart.

*I received a copy of Swordheart in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer

Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer

Arthur A. Levine

Publication Date: June 10th, 2024

Hardcover. 256 pages.

About Where Wolves Don't Die:

"Ezra Cloud hates living in Northeast Minneapolis. His father is a professor of their language, Ojibwe, at a local college, so they have to be there. But Ezra hates the dirty, polluted snow around them. He hates being away from the rez at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. And he hates the local bully in his neighborhood, Matt Schroeder, who terrorizes Ezra and his friend Nora George.

Ezra gets into a terrible fight with Matt at school defending Nora, and that same night, Matt's house burns down. Instantly, Ezra becomes a prime suspect. Knowing he won't get a fair deal, and knowing his innocence, Ezra's family sends him away to run traplines with his grandfather in a remote part of Canada, while the investigation is ongoing. But the Schroeders are looking for him. . .

From acclaimed author Anton Treuer comes a novel that's both taut thriller and a raw, tender coming-of-age story, about one Ojibwe boy learning to love himself through the love of his family around him."

Where Wolves Don't Die follows Ezra Cloud, an Ojibwe teen living in Northeast Minneapolis who hates living in Northeast Minneapolis. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), events at home prompt his father to take him to his grandparents home on the reservation, where he is to spend the rest of the school year laying traplines with his grandfather out on remote First Nations land in Canada.

I actually hadn't realized this was considered YA until I got into the story, and after finishing it, I think it's a great read for both YA and adult readers. The author, Dr. Anton Treuer, is an Ojibwe language professor and was able to bring so much of the Ojibwe cultural traditions into this story, which I think makes for a compelling read for anyone. (Also, just as a side note--if you're like me and wondered if Anton Treuer is related to David Treuer, the answer is that yes, apparently they are brothers! I've read David Treuer's The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, an incredible nonfiction Native American history, and his book Rez Life, a nonfiction book about life on reservations, and I'd highly recommend both to read as well.)

I thought Ezra was depicted incredibly well. He's depicted as exactly what he is: a teenager just trying to make it through this rough age and come to terms with many different struggles and things going on in his life. He struggles wit the the loss of his mother, his relationship with his father, his family history, and of course, a crush on a sweet local girl. I thought Treuer really captured that angsty feeling we all are familiar with from teen years, and I think he also did a good job with capturing Ezra's grief and the many ways it manifests itself in a teen--through anger, sadness, and struggling to communicate how you feel.

I loved the history and cultural aspects of this book where Ezra learns more and more about his family's history and some deeper Native American history that he wasn't aware of. He learns about not only some of the terrible things that have been done to his people, but also how these have directly affected his family and how he can learn and incorporate and grow with that knowledge. I also actually found learning about how the traplines worked really interesting, and I also appreciated the amount of respect they teach with regard to the nature around them and every living thing within it.

This is described as thriller, but I have to say that there wasn't too much about this book that felt like a thriller. There's the general premise for why Ezra is sent to stay with his grandparents on the First Nation reservation involving him being a suspect in the burning of his high school bully's house (the same day he got into a fight with said bully at school), but I didn't think this really took a heavy focus as there was so much else to focus on throughout the story. The pacing is consistent and thoughtful, rather than fast-paced and intense, and I think that pacing worked perfectly for this story. I never found myself losing interest or struggling to get through any parts of it.

Lastly, I want to note that I listened to the audiobook version of Where Wolves Don't Die and liked that it was narrated by the author. He did a great job with the narration, and I also appreciated hearing the story as he meant it to be heard, as well as being able to hear pronunciations for so many of the words that I was unfamiliar with. He has a very calm, easy to understand voice that flowed well with the story.

Where Wolves Don't Die is a story that will keep you reading because of its characters and because of the tradition it shares. There are some great things to learn about the Ojibwe culture and their history and how everything winds together into a story that transcends time periods and age.

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

Minotaur Books

Publication Date: February 25th, 2024

Hardcover. 304 pages.

About Something in the Walls:

"Newly minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. Instead she aimlessly spends her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain and anxiously contemplates her upcoming marriage to careful, precise researcher Oscar. The only reprieve from her small, close world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother’s death from years ago.

Then she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day, and he has a proposition for her: Thirteen-year-old Alice Webber claims a witch is haunting her. Living with her family in the remote village of Banathel, Alice finds her symptoms are getting increasingly disturbing. Taking this job will give Mina some experience and much-needed money; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better—Mina is sure of it.

But instead of improving, Alice’s behavior becomes inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of…dealing with it. And they don’t expect outsiders to understand."

Mina is a brand new child psychologist and is ready to get started in her field. She finally gets a promising lead when journalist Sam Hunter enlists her help with a young girl named Alice Webber who claims she is being haunted by a witch. Mina wants experience in her field and Sam really wants a sensational story, so the two take a trip to Banathel, a town with a dark history relating to witchcraft, where things end up taking much more sinister turns the more they investigate.

The town of Banathel is a bit of a character in its own right. It’s an odd place with an atmosphere of eeriness that matches the townspeople’s history with witchcraft. While Mina is in Banathel, it has a curfew in place due to a heatwave, which I felt really added to the uneasy feelings and almost isolation of a sort. I really appreciated how Pearce incorporated these elements, as I felt they really contributed to setting the tone for all of the supernatural elements that take center stage of the story. There’s a nice sense of dread that pops up at various moments in the story, and I thought all of this together did create a more classic supernatural horror element.

Something in the Walls has a very promising premise and start, and I was pretty hooked from the start. Who doesn’t love a good horror that focuses on a creepy kid who may or may not be possessed? However, as the story progressed, I really felt as thought the pacing struggled to maintain a sense of consistency and I found myself losing interest at various points as the plot dragged on a bit. There were some areas that felt a bit disjointed, as well, and also a bit of repetitiveness with regard to Mina’s experiences there.

While I was initially quite intrigued with Mina’s character, I found myself feeling almost a bit annoyed with her as the story progressed. As a child psychologist, Mina plays a very important role in getting to know and assessing Alice, and I think there were times when she did a really good job with this. However, there were some times when I felt her behavior ended up feeling a bit off and unprofessional--which I do understand could be fitting given some of the things that were happening--and it did end up throwing me off a bit throughout the book.

Despite a promising premise and a well-executed setting, my biggest issue with this book was simply that I’m finding it a bit forgettable, unfortunately. It’s been a couple weeks now since I finished the book and my initial draft of my review, and I’m finding that I’ve already forgotten so many of the details of what happened and that I just don’t have that many strong feelings about it either way. I’m sure many people will be a great fit for this book and really love all of the great aspects of it, but sadly I don’t think it was the book for me. However, if you really enjoy some supernatural horror and think it sounds like an interesting plot, then I’d encourage you to check it out because I do still think it’s a solid book with a lot of promise.

*I received a copy of Something in the Walls in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

Tor Books

Publication Date: February 18th, 2024

Hardcover. 432 pages.

About Upon a Starlit Tide:

"Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758.
For Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo's wealthiest ship-owners, the high walls of the city are more hindrance than haven. While her sisters are interested in securing advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of escaping her elegant but stifling home and joining a ship's crew. Only Samuel—Luce's best friend and an English smuggler—understands her longing for the sea, secretly teaching her to sail whenever she can sneak away. For Luce, the stolen time on the water with Samuel is precious.

One stormy morning, Luce's plans are blown off course when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, the youngest son of the most powerful ship-owner in Saint-Malo, from the sea. Immediately drawn to his charm and sense of adventure, she longs to attend the glittering ball held in honor of his safe return and begins to contemplate a different kind of future for herself.

But it is not only Luce's hopes at stake—the local fae are leaving Brittany and taking their magic with them, while the long-standing war with the English means Saint-Malo is always at risk of attack. As Luce is plunged into a world of magic, brutality, and seduction, secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface. The truth of her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.

Or the scales of a sea-maid's tail."

There are so many retellings out there these days that it’s sometimes hard to know which ones will end up being worthwhile. Fortunately, Kell Woods seems to deliver some consistently solid fairy-tale inspired stories. I read After the Forest, a Hansel and Gretel-inspired retelling that takes places years after the events of the story, and really enjoyed her take on that classic tale, despite having a few issues with Woods' writing.

This time, Upon a Starlit Tide draws from The Little Mermaid and Cinderella (I would assume specifically from the original Hans Christian Andersen versions due to the theming and style), and has created something imaginative, compelling, and spellbinding. What I really appreciate about Woods’s approach is that she doesn’t just follow the original stories, she instead expands on them and weaves familiar elements into something that feels fresh and new. I also appreciated how much this book blends a historical fiction style with fantasy, and I think fans of historical fiction and fantasy (or both) would enjoy it.

Upon a Starlit Tide has a darker atmosphere overall, but it doesn’t cross over that line into being too grim. There’s a serious tone underlying the story, but Woods balances it well with moments of whimsy, wonder, and intrigue. The world feels rich and vivid, and the writing has a beautiful fairy tale quality that enhances the storytelling. Her descriptions were incredibly immersive and vibrant, and I could practically the salty sea breeze myself and fully sense Luce’s grand ambitions of captaining her own ship while she observed other ships and imagined her life at sea. I also really felt like I could see how much Woods has grown as a writer since After the Forest and it makes me excited to see what else she will write. 

I thought Luce’s relationships with her sisters were particularly well done and was a surprise highlight for me in the story, especially considering I struggled with characters feeling more one note in her previous book. They fit into the classic Cinderella “evil stepsister” stereotype generally, but Woods added a lot of depth to their personalities and made them so much more than just “evil stepsisters,” which also added a lot of dimension to their characters. We see them be harsh to Luce at times, but they also have moments of intimacy and camaraderie with Luce and do manage to get along, much like regular sisters, and I appreciated this nuance in their relationship.

There is some romance in this story that plays a fairly large role in the plot, which makes sense given the fairy tale inspirations. There were moments where it felt like it focused more on the romance than I expected, but that’s probably on me for not anticipating that more. There’s also a little bit of a love triangle at play here, but I think it was handled carefully and well enough that it didn’t feel like your typical frustration love triangle. I thought the reasons behind having it and how it played out was well-developed, and it made sense overall within the framework of the fairy tales that inspired the story. While there were a few moments where it felt a bit overdone for my personal preference, I will say that overall I thought it had a good balance in execution and that it did add to the story in positive ways. 



I don’t want to give away any spoilers for this one so there are a few areas that I can’t comment on I’m much detail. However, I do want to mention that Luce has a physical disability that plays a fairly important role in this story, and I thought Woods incorporated it really well and took a lot of care in her portrayal. I loved how it showed that something that may be viewed as a struggle by some can have multiple facets and many different angles to view it, and not all negative ones.

Lastly, I wanted to note that I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrator did a fantastic job capturing Luce’s voice and the emotions that she experiences throughout the story, and it left me feeling very captivated.

Overall, Upon a Starlit Tide is a gorgeous fairy tale-inspired story that is sure to be a hit for those who enjoy such magical tales. I think there’s a little bit of everything for everyone in this one, so be sure to have a look if it sounds like something you might enjoy.

*I received a copy of Upon a Starlit Tide in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde, #3) by Heather Fawcett

 

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde #3) by Heather Fawcett

Del Rey

Publication Date: February 11th, 2024

Hardcover. 368 pages.

About Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales (from the publisher):

"Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm—as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival—now fiancé—the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic—and Emily’s knowledge of stories—to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear."

Spoiler note: Although there will be no spoilers for this book in this review, there may be some inadvertent/minor spoilers for the previous two books in the series, so please be aware of that before reading this review if you've not read the previous two books! You can find my review for the previous book, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (#2), here!

The final book in the Emily Wilde series is finally here! I have really had a wonderful time with this series and I was so excited to dive into this final installment. If you've loved the first two books, you'll also love this one--it's more of the same, in the best way. 

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales picks up almost immediately after the events of the previous book. I actually didn't expect things to pick up immediately and as seamlessly as they did, and I'll admit that it took me a little while to get back into the story and remember everything that happened in the previous book since I read it about a year ago. I certainly could've benefited from a recap, but that's really more of a "me" issue with my memory than anything to do with the book.

Like most fans of this series, I've really loved watching Emily and Wendell's dynamic evolve and their relationship grow over the course of these books. They are fantastic foils to one another, yet they seem to share a core trait that I think makes them perfect for each other, and that is their sort of steadfast determination and ability to see what needs to be done in a situation and to do it. Both display this quality in different ways, which we can see in Wendell's more "lazy" exterior personality, but both do have this and I think it's what really works for them. I have found Wendell's personality, which is rather indulgent and animated, complements Emily's more serious, no-nonsense and non-frilly nature, which makes them a great time. I also loved getting to see Emily immerse herself in the faerie realm and really grapple with her feelings about staying there for a more long-term time. It's a big change for her, and I appreciated how Wendell tried to make it more comfortable for her and how they tried to work things out together. 

Despite how interesting the cast of characters in this book are--and we do get to meet a few new figures that bring a lot of interesting new developments with them--Shadow remains my favorite character of them all. He is simple one of the best book dogs. He plays a significant role in parts of this book, but I do wish he had had a bit more on-page time because I would always love more Shadow. 

One of my favorite aspects of this series, which remains a strong element in this book, is how Fawcett depicts the Fae and the Fae world. Fae are known for being quite cruel, brutal, and enigmatic, and also often treat mortals as little more than playthings, if they notice them at all. Fawcett captures this concept incredibly well, highlighting each of the unique Fae types and their personalities, as well as the myriad of endless dangers that lurk when interacting with them. This is how I like my Fae lore and I'm so pleased that Fawcett has captured it so well and has been so consistent across this series. 

I also always enjoy the scholarly aspect of this series and how Emily approaches with an academic mindset. I felt like I could really relate to her curiosity and how every new experience sparked a question rather than an emotional reaction, much as a true scholar does. She constantly analyzed her experiences and the faerie realm she is surrounded by, always considering the historical or folkloric significance of things. I especially loved how the folktales she studied played such a major role in this book's events, as well. No matter how dire a circumstance may be, Emily always had a researcher's perspective, and I appreciated that about her. In line with this, I also still do enjoy the journal format of this story, as I think it works well for Emily's personality. I'm still a fan of footnotes being included in fiction books, though since I read this as an eARC they are can be a bit tough to read since they tend to show up as endnotes rather than footnotes (and as we all know, footnotes are far superior to endnotes). 

With all those positives being said, there was something about this book that made it harder for me to get through. I worked my way through this book for nearly a month, which is far longer than I expected and longer than it usually would for a book like this that I like and was looking forward to. I don't have that many specific criticisms, which makes it hard for me to pinpoint why it was so hard for me to stay engaged, but my assumption is that it was due to the slower pacing of this book. It really did move rather slowly, especially in the first half to two-thirds of this book, and I also felt like there were a lot of overall repetitive elements and plot beats. It was a lot of something happening, Wendell and Emily having some sort of discussion about it, Emily going off to research, Wendell missing her, and repeat. There were, of course, many other things happening during all of this, but that's just one example of an area that felt a bit repetitive.

The plot itself also felt a bit lacking at times. When interesting things happened, they were really interesting. But when there wasn't something immediately compelling happening, my interest waned. This stood out to me only because I tend to really like books that are "boring" and where "not much happens," so it was a bit of a surprise that I wasn't as hooked as I usually am.  I would also say that anytime an issue of any kind arose, the resolution often felt a bit too... easy? Solutions were a little too convenient, which therefore lowered the stakes and probably then lowers the compulsion to keep reading about find out what would happen. I don't think the stakes are meant to really be that high in this series, so I think that works for it, but I thought it was worth noting. This is one of those books where I actually want things to work out well for everyone, so I'm not mad about things working out overall. 

Overall, I've really enjoyed this series and think it's the perfect "cozy" Fae fantasy story to get lost in during the winter months. There is a perfect balance of warmth and some slightly more serious/darker elements at times given the Fae subject matter, and I think Fawcett excellently captures all of those elements. I know this if the final book in the series, but I do feel like there was a bit of a setup for more books if she wanted to continue, maybe even as a novella or something here or there--I certainly wouldn't say no! If you haven't started this series yet, then you probably shouldn't have read this entire review, but even if you did I'd still recommend checking it out. If you have started this series and have liked what you've read so far, then be sure to pick up this final installment that makes a wonderful conclusion to well-loved series. 

*I received a copy of Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Blog Tour + Review: Symbiote by Michael Nayak

Welcome to my stop on Angry Robot Books' blog tour for Symbiote by Michael Nayak! I'm excited to join my fellow book lovers in sharing some information about Symbiote, as well as my own review for this claustrophobic thriller set at the South Pole. Thank you to Angry Robot Books for inviting me to join this tour and providing me with a review copy of Symbiote. Above you can find the full blog tour schedule and where to find other creators who are participating, and below you'll find some info about the book and author, as well as my review. Happy reading!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: SYMBIOTE
Author:  Michael Nayak
Pub. Date: February 11th, 2025
Publisher: Angry Robot Books
Pages: 400
Find it: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Angry Robot Books | Target | Goodreads

SYNOPSIS:

"'As World War III rages, the scientists in Antarctica are thankful for the isolation – until a group of Chinese scientists arrive at the American research base in search of help. In their truck is a horrifying sight, the first ever murder victim in Antarctica. The potential for a geopolitical firestorm is great, and, with no clear jurisdiction, the Americans don’t know what to do. But they soon realize the Chinese scientists have brought far more with them than the body…

Within seventy-two hours, thirteen more lie dead in the snow, murdered in acts of madness and superhuman strength.

An extremophile parasite from the truck, triggered by severe cold, is spreading by touch. It is learning from them. Evolving. It triggers violent tendencies in the winter crew, and, more insidiously, the beginnings of a strange symbiotic telepathy.

A small group of survivors try to resist the siren call of the growing hive mind and stay alive long enough to solve the mystery of the symbiotic microbe’s origins. But the symbiote is more than a disease – it could be the key to shifting the balance of power in a time of war.

The survivors cannot let anyone infected make it to the summer season, when planes will arrive to take them – and potentially the symbiote – back to civilization."

Review:

I've been fascinated by all things relating to Antarctica and the South Pole for a number of years, so I'm always excited to read a new book centered around that setting, whether it's fiction or nonfiction. Symbiote is a fictional thriller set in Antarctica, and I was most excited about it because the author himself, Michael Nayak, was actually stationed at the Amundsen-Scott Research Station and has therefore been able to draw from him own experiences (well, sans the horrifying contagion aspect, of course!) which adds so much credibility and intrigue to the story for me.

Symbiote has a pretty terrifying premise: World War III is underway and Americans working at an isolated Antarctic station are suddenly under threat of an unknown contagion that has begun sweeping through the station--and there's nowhere to hide.

I love an isolated, locked-room type of story, and Symbiote absolutely delivers on that front. Our story kicks off when a group of Chinese scientists show up unannounced at the American station with a dead body in tow and are unable to adequately explain what has happened. The South Pole's jurisdiction on these matters is unclear during this world war, which leaves everyone in a precarious situation--especially when not even days later more people begin dying at the hands of those who appear to have gone mad with no explanation. Symbiote novel excels in building a sense of isolation and anxiety with its slow, creeping dread that constantly increases the tension. This is a story that I would have expected to be (and maybe preferred) a quieter, slow build sort of story, but it's actually surprisingly action-packed and there are rarely any dull moments. This relentless feeling of action certainly mirrored what I'm sure many of the characters were feeling while these terrifying events were occurring.

Despite the fact that I enjoyed myself for a majority of this novel, it wasn't without a few areas that didn't work for me. Some of my biggest frustrations, however, were with the characters themselves. As the story progressed, some characters made some truly absurd decisions, and while I understand that people panic in emergencies and aren't always able to think clearly, the sheer number of reckless choices felt excessive. There was also a surprisingly large cast of characters that we follow throughout and that made it difficult to become fully invested in anyone's survival, which for me did lessen some of the tension and emotional impact of what each one's fate would be. Some of their reactions to events of this book also felt a bit overdramatized at times, but I'll admit that it's hard to really know how anyone would behave in such an extreme situation, so this was more understandable.

Additionally, the way female characters were handled didn’t really work for me. There was a strong sexual overtone surrounding almost every woman in this book and it ended up feeling a bit overdone and left me a little disappointed. I'm not sure if this was done with the intention of critiquing the way women are often objectified under patriarchal setups and male-dominated areas, but if so I think could have been executed in a much  more effective way that felt a bit less awkward and out of place. It felt like so much of the focus of this book was on the relationships and who was sleeping with whom, and while I can see where relationships play into a tense situation like this, it just focused too much on that and not as much on other relationship dynamics that could have been more interesting.

Overall, this was a fast-paced, action-packed, and terrifying thriller that is sure to get you wondering about what might happen if a contagion such as the one in this book actually occurred in real life. It didn't end being as serious in tone as I'd expected, but I think it worked incredibly well as a page-turning thriller that will surely keep readers engaged .

If you’re looking for a high-energy thriller with a claustrophobic setting and plenty of action, then Symbiote should be next on your TBR!

*I received a copy of Symbiote from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from the publisher):

Mikey was born in Los Angeles and now lives in Washington D.C.; he has worked as a planetary scientist, pilot and skydiving instructor, and most recently as a Program Manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He has logged 1,000+ hours of flight time in 30+ aircraft including the F-16, T-38 and BE-76, is a US Air Force Test Pilot School graduate, and former NASA Space Shuttle engineer. (Author photo from Goodreads)

Find Michael Nayak online: Author Website | X | Goodreads

Mini-Review: The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore

The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore

Flatiron Books

Publication Date: February 11th, 2024

Hardcover. 320 pages.

About The Dollhouse Academy :

"Ivy Gordon is living a borrowed life on borrowed time. For the past eighteen years, she has been the most famous star at the Dollhouse Academy, the ultra-secretive, elite boarding school and talent incubator that every aspiring performer dreams of attending. But now, at age thirty-four, she is tired of pretending everything is fine. In secret diary entries, Ivy begins to reveal the sordid truth of her life at the strange medical exams, mysterious supplements, and something unspeakable that’s left Ivy terrified and feeling like a prisoner. As she forces herself to confront the most painful parts of her past, she begins to realize that something truly sinister might be powering the Dollhouse’s success.

Ramona Halloway and her best friend, Grace Ludlow, grew up idolizing Ivy. Now both twenty-two, neither has made much headway in showbiz, until a lucky break grants them entry to the Dollhouse. They’re enchanted by the picturesque campus and the chance to perform alongside their idols—though nothing prepares them for the fiercely competitive training bootcamp. When Ramona begins to receive anonymous, threatening messages, it’s easy to dismiss them as a prank from a rival. Her bigger concern is Grace’s skyrocketing success, while Ramona falls ever further behind. But the messages grow more unsettling, as does life at the Dollhouse. Can Ramona overcome her jealousy and resentment to figure out what’s really going on? And can Ivy finally find her voice, before another young performer follows her catastrophic path to stardom?

With dark academia twists and enormous heart, The Dollhouse Academy is a novel about the complexities of friendship, our desire to be seen and understood, and the true cost of making our dreams a reality."

The Dollhouse Academy is a twisty, emotional, and at times dark look into a world that focuses heavily on appearance and success--to the detriment of almost everything else. In The Dollhouse Academy, we follow Romance, Grace, and Ivy as each one tells their story and experiences the realities of being invited to and surviving in the Dollhouse Academy.

What I liked:  I really enjoyed getting to know Ramona and Ivy and exploring the glamorous, secretive, and dark world of the Dollhouse Academy alongside them. This was a book that skillfully balanced so many different elements, from Romana's inner struggles with her identity and figuring out who she is to her conflicts with a toxic environment and toxic people, all while slowly unfolding the mystery of what's really happening behind the scenes at the Dollhouse Academy. I thought the author did a really great job telling this twisty story, particular with how it interwove the present day experiences of Romana and Grace with some of Ivy's epistolary-style chapters about her own experiences in the Dollhouse Academy. I'd also like to note that I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrators did an excellent job of capturing the voice and emotions of the characters within. 

What I didn't like: It hard to describe what exactly didn't work for me without giving spoilers, but I'll do my best to describe it. As the story progresses, there are some rather... disturbing ideas that being to come to light, which I thought added a lot of intrigue and certainly grabbed my attention. However, as the story dove deeper into some of these ideas, there was an element of it that didn't feel like it quite made sense and veered ever so slightly into some slightly absurd aspects that took away some of the believability for me. That being said, I think the story still managed to convey some deep meaning in regards to the pressure placed on young stars in the entertainment industry and how much they are forced through in order to always appear perfect and at their best, and the elements I've vaguely referred to do that really well. I think that as much as this book did, it still felt like certain elements were a little lackluster in the end, as well. 

Overall, The Dollhouse Academy is a compelling read and perfect fans of complex relationship dynamics, mysteries or thrillers, or anyone who is interested in the entertainment industry. 

*I received a copy of The Dollhouse Academy in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Grave Empire (The Great Silence, #1) by Richard Swan

Grave Empire (The Great Silence, #1) by Richard Swan

Orbit

Publication Date: February 4th, 2024

Paperback. 529 pages.

About Grave Empire (from the publisher):

"Blood once turned the wheels of empire. Now it is money.

A new age of exploration and innovation has dawned, and the Empire of the Wolf stands to take its place as the foremost power in the known world. Glory and riches await. But dark days are coming. A mysterious plague has broken out in the pagan kingdoms to the north, while in the south, the Empire's proxy war in the lands of the wolfmen is weeks away from total collapse.

Worse still is the message brought to the Empress by two heretic monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirits of the afterlife. The monks believe this is the start of an ancient prophecy heralding the end of days-the Great Silence.

It falls to Renata Rainer, a low-ranking ambassador to an enigmatic and vicious race of mermen, to seek answers from those who still practice the arcane arts. But with the road south beset by war and the Empire on the brink of supernatural catastrophe, soon there may not be a world left to save . . .

Grave Empire is the first novel in an unmissable new epic fantasy series from Sunday Times bestseling author Rich Swan, packed full of action, intrigue and adventure"

Grave Empire is probably one of the fantasy genre's most anticipated winter 2025 releases and I'm here to tell you that it has absolutely lived up to its hype. Grave Empire marks the beginning of a brand new series from Richard Swan that takes place in the same world as his previous trilogy, Empire of the Wolf, but taking place about 200 years after the events of that trilogy–and I'd say things start off quite a bit darker than the previous trilogy! I don't think you need to have read the Empire of the Wolf trilogy to follow Grave Empire, but I think it could definitely be a benefit to have some familiarity with the world and its history and particulars, and of course you'll find little easter eggs here and there. 

In Grave Empire, we follow Renata Rainer, a Sovan ambassador to the Stygion, a race of mermen who are still largely mysterious to those on land and with whom the Sovan have many long-standing tensions and clashes with. After following and loving Helena as the protagonist in the previous trilogy, I was delighted to follow another intelligent, resourceful woman and I quickly found myself captivated by her sharp mind and motivations. Renata is confident in her abilities, but also refreshingly self-aware of her limits and level of experience in various matters, especially with regard to her ambassadorial duties. Renata's story in Grave Empire kicks off when two heretical monks arrive in Sova claiming that they believe the "Great Silence"- an ancient prophecy that marks when contact with the plane of the afterlife is lost, which essentially heralds the end of days--has begun. The mermen may play a vital role in accessing a way to stop this catastrophe, and thus Renata is drawn into this developing crisis.

In addition to Renata, we follow two other POV characters: Peter Kleist, a lieutenant in the Sovan army dispatched to a dangerous, far-off region of the empire; and Count Lamprecht von Oldenburg, a senator who spends much of his time dabbling in arcane magic. The best part of having these additional perspectives is how distinct they are from one another, from their personalities to their experiences in the story.  Peter's chapters were exceptionally nail-biting at times and felt the most classically chilling, with some rather creepy occurrences that made me consistently eager to return to his chapters. His time at Fort Ingomar is filled with eerie, unsettling occurrences—unknown screams piercing the night, gruesome events leaving soldiers on edge—and his struggle to balance his responsibilities as a new leader in this place with his own fears made him a particularly compelling character.

In contrast, von Oldenburg begins as an intriguing figure who I thought might be more of grey counter to our other characters, but he quickly morphed into something much more sinister and became a more reprehensible figure. He struck me as an example of the phrase "they were so preoccupied with whether they could, they never stopped to think if they should." He very much seems to masquerade his desire for power and wealth with a pursuit of scientific inquiry, which made both interesting and deeply unsettling.

In most multi-perspective novels, the characters either already interact or at some point their storylines eventually intersect, and the ways in which Swan lay the groundwork for this eventual happening felt masterful. Our three POV characters start out in such vastly different situations that it really made me wonder how and at what point they would come together, and by the end of the book I was in awe of how seamlessly the pieces of the puzzle were coming together.

If you've read the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, then you'll already be familiar with the intricate world-building of this world, but if you haven't then you're likely to be dazzled by how deftly it has been crafted and how much imagination is a part of it, from the basics of the world to the more mystical aspects of the world. I especially loved exploring new corners of this world, particularly through Renata’s POV, which gives us a glimpse into the mesmerizing underwater world of the Stygion, and I only hope we get to see even more of it in future books. Swan's strength continues to be his ability to not only craft incredible world-building in the regular mortal world, but also in somehow crafting layers upon layers of more world-building with other dimensions as well, such as the afterlife and through dreams. I really can't wait to hopefully learn more about the Stygion in future books.

I've always felt that Swan really manages to straddle that line of fantasy the merges into horror more and more with each book releases, and Grave Empire was really no exception. A lot of what happens in this book is quite dark and easily veers into the horrific, but this still remains wholly fantasy in overall execution. This is one that demands concentration of the reader, but it ultimately pays off as events progress and we begin to learn more and more about current events that are unfolding. 

Overall, I've given Grave Empire five stars! I cannot wait to continue this new series. 

*I received a copy of Grave Empire in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 4th, 2024

Hardcover. 528 pages.

About All Better Now:

"An unprecedented condition is on the rise. It behaves like a virus, with the first symptom being a fever, but those who contract it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen utter contentment. Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone.

Almost everyone revels in this mass unburdening. But people in power—who depend on malcontents tuning into their broadcasts, prey on the insecure to sell their products, and convince people they need more, new, faster, better everything—know this new state of being is bad for business. Soon, campaigns start up convincing people that being happy all the time is dangerous. There’s even a vaccine developed to rid people of their inner peace and get them back to normal because, surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos.

It’s nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their own agendas, and two teens from very different backgrounds who’ve had their lives upended in different ways by the virus find themselves enmeshed in the center of a dangerous power play. Can they reveal the truth?"

I’ve been a fan of Neal Shusterman for years—I read his Unwind series ages ago (I'm feeling a bit old thinking about the fact that the first Unwind book came out in 2007!?) and more recently the Arc of a Scythe series (which was great, though I still haven't read the final books!) and have always enjoyed his work. I always trust Shusterman to explore some fascinating concepts, and All Better Now is no exception. In All Better Now  a new virus is sweeping the post-COVID world. This one starts with a fever and has a higher death rate than COVID, but survivors are left… changed. They become content and optimistic, while stress, negativity, sadness-any negative emotion-seems to just... disappear from their minds. Doesn't sound too terrible, right? Unfortunately, that's not quite the case.

I love the way Shusterman plays with big ideas because whether an idea fully works with me or not, the way he explores them is always fascinating and captivating. You'd think being turned into a more positive person could be a good thing, or at least have some benefits, but through the events of the book you can really start to discover some of its downsides, and I liked the way Shusterman incorporated so many different scenarios that really investigated how this might be in the real world. I also don't tend to read a lot of YA these days, but this is a YA that I think will appeal to many readers and it tackles some really intense themes and high-stakes situations.

I also liked seeing how different groups responded to the virus, from government agencies to corporations to individuals all grappling with what it means for their society. Some groups create campaigns warning of the virus' dangers—how it could destabilize global economics and entire political systems, not to mention the death rate—while groups of “recoverees” believe the virus should spread to make more people as content as they are, believing it'll make the world a better place. It's really just a fascinating premise to explore.

I didn’t find myself particularly enamored by any of the characters, though I found some of their individual situations interesting. If I’d read this years ago, I might’ve appreciated it more than I do today, but as it stands, nothing really grabbed me from an emotional standpoint and I was left feeling like something was missing from this one. That being said, I still appreciate how Shusterman really takes his ideas and plays them out--the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between. He doesn't shy away from tough topics. While I enjoyed the book, I don’t think it’ll become one of my favorite Shusterman works.

Overall, this is a really thought-provoking read that offers so much incredible fodder for discussion and a fascinating look at social dynamics, human nature, and another world plagued by a, well,  new plague. 

*I received a copy of All Better Now in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future by Kerry Brown

Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future by Kerry Brown

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 28th, 2024

Hardcover. 272 pages.

About Why Taiwan Matters:

"Taiwan expert Kerry Brown sums up the history of Taiwan and the danger of a Chinese takeover in this succinct and authoritative book.

When the bloody Chinese Civil War concluded in 1949, two Chinas were born. Mao’s Communists won and took China’s mainland; Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to Taiwan island. Since then, China and Taiwan have drifted into being separate political and cultural entities.

Taiwan is now a flourishing democracy and an economic success just one of its companies produces over 90 per cent of the semiconductors that power the world’s economy. It is a free and vibrant society. For the United States and the West, the island is a bastion of freedom against China’s assertive presence in the region. And yet China, increasingly bellicose under Xi Jinping, insists Taiwan is part of its territory and must be returned to it. Should China blockade the island and mount an invasion, it would set off a chain reaction that would pitch it against the US – escalating a regional war into a global one. Taiwan is thus a geopolitical powder keg. Why Taiwan Matters helps us understand how and why we’ve arrived at this dangerous moment in history. With unparalleled access to Taiwan’s political leaders and a deep understanding of the island’s history and culture, Professor Kerry Brown provides a new reading of Taiwan, its twenty-three million people, and how they navigate being caught in this frightening geopolitical standoff.

Why Taiwan Matters is the essential book for understanding Taiwan’s unique story told in an accessible, expert and urgent way."

Kerry Brown’s Why Taiwan Matters is a fascinating nonfiction exploration of Taiwan’s history and its current role in an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. Going into this book,  I knew a little bit about Taiwan going into this and had a general understanding of its significance, but this book went into so much more detail and left me with a much clearer and deeper understanding of all things relating to Taiwan.

This book begins with Taiwan's origins and moves chronologically through its development, emphasizing how external influences have shaped its development. The primary focus, however, is on Taiwan's tenuous relationship with China, as well as it's relationship with the United States, particularly because of its critical role in semiconductor production–an area in which Taiwan holds global dominance. Additionally, Why Taiwan Matters explore Taiwan's embrace of democratic ideas, which further increases tensions with China, which views Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic of China, while nations like the United States recognize it differently.

As previously mentioned, prior to reading this book I was aware of some of the general issues between China and Taiwan, but Brown's detailed explanation showed why those tensions exist, the historical and present day factors that led to them, and potential consequences for the future. He clearly illustrates how volatile the situation can be and the potential threats that it may pose, as well a variety of perspectives on it. 
 
The book is largely split between a history of Taiwan and Taiwan's current political issues and statuses, which I think worked well for the shorter format. It's a concise and efficient way of understanding Taiwan's history and some key insights without every feeling overwhelming. For readers like myself with a limited knowledge and understanding of Taiwan, this is a great introduction to learning more; however, readers who are already well-versed in Taiwan's history and politics may not find anything new information-wise, though perhaps Brown's own insights could still provide value.

One thing that stood out most to me what Brown's emphasis on Taiwan's unique identity and role on the global stage. Brown highlights Taiwan's resilience and importance as a singular place, distinct from influences from both China and the West, and through this is able to create what I thought was a lot of respect for the people, history, and culture of Taiwan. Brown does an exceptional job explaining complex topics in readily accessible ways throughout the entirety of this book.. He also narrated the audiobook version of this book and does an excellent job with that as well.  

Why Taiwan Matters is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Taiwan's history, it's geopolitical significance, or anyone generally interested in current events.  I really feel like I learned a lot and I would happily read more on these topics from this author! 

*I received a copy of Why Taiwan Matters in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org