Tag: Books

Wow. Okay, so I just finished this book yesterday, and I have many thoughts about it. Firstly, I absolutely loved reading it. The angsty, art academia and theatre vibes quickly became a favorite, but I also loved the friend group. Secondly, the Shakespearean references and decoding were such an interesting and captivating draw for me. Shakespeare is definitely a great way to narrate a story, as there are so many different characters and feelings within the plays. And thirdly, the ending had me absolutely convinced that there needs to be a sequel. I have to know what happens! It’s bad enough that the very last two pages are as cryptic as they are; at least give me something else to continue this story.

Now, I can’t give too much away about the ending, but I can say that it is one of my favorite cliffhangers of all time, including in movies, books, and other media. It’s just so darn open-ended. Like, there are a thousand theories that I could come up with about where the ending leads to. But, none are the top ones because they all seem plausible. I’ve never been so delightfully confused!

This book is probably for an older audience, as some language and actions were for older people. Also, it does require at least a basic understanding of Shakespeare, or some knowledge about his famous plays and plotlines. I don’t have a great understanding of him, but I have read A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Rome and Juliet, and Othello. I’m also a little familiar with the general characters and hazy plotlines of Macbeth, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and others. So, unless you know about Shakespeare or have read one or two of his plays, I suggest deepening your understanding or looking up the plays mentioned in If We Were Villains. ‘Cause, there are a lot of them!

But, aside from those small bits—advanced Shakespearean and some adult scenes—I think EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK! Of course, I say that about every book, but with this one, I seriously think that, whatever your favorite genre, you’d definitely love this book!

Genre: literary fiction, murder mystery, romance, dark academia (is this a genre? I hope it is)

Age: 14+

Rating: 8.5/10

{in Irish accent} G’day, mateys! Ugh, I’m so embarrassing. But, to be honest, even though I live on a boat, I have next to nothing in common with the characters and story of Daughter of the Pirate King.

YA! Enemies to lovers! Pirates! Empowering women til the end of time! Ummm, sign me up?!? I absolutely loved how this book satisfied my fantasy/romance craving, and the protagonist is definitely the only character who I would trust my life with. Cross my heart and hope to die, Princess Alossa holds my very being in her hands.

I loved the enemies to lovers, the plot twist, and the awesome love story here. Definitely for a younger audience, because there was no *spice*, but I loved it all the same, and if you’re looking for a wonderful little story to take your heart for a joy ride, I definitely recommend it.

The story follows the fictional islands and water patrolled by the famous Pirate King and his heir and daughter, Princess Alossa. Alossa is a loyal child and has been trained under her vicious and powerful father since she was a baby. She is also under the Pirate King’s command, so when he sends her off on a fake kidnapping and spy mission, she obliges.

The book begins with Alossa’s “capture” by a powerful pirate ship called the Night Farer and its crew. Her mission is to seek out and steal a valuable treasure aboard the ship while keeping up the facade of a sullen and angry prisoner. While aboard the ship, our fierce and brilliant princess become *close* to Riden, the first mate, and brother to the captain, Draxen. Of course, Alossa and Riden’s story wasn’t a spicy and angsty one, but I did find myself pathetically smiling at the book and having to put it down more than once because they were too darn cute! But, the main story follows an independent and capable heroine navigating the troubled seas of her future people.

This book has a sequel, Daughter of the Siren Queen, and I would definitely buy it if I had the chance. But, you know, a book lover’s bank account is never full, and I have an ever-growing TBR list that the sequel has fallen to the bottom of. However, I would absolutely love to read the sequel and Christmas is coming (God bless the grandparents, they need it).

I know this book isn’t my usual taste of favorites, and it’s definitely not a high scorer on my ratings. But, I loved the strong protagonist and the witty and fun story it followed. Definitely for a younger audience, but I’d recommend it to anyone who loves pirates.

Genre: fantasy, Y/A

Age: 10+

Rating: 5/10

Wow = This book! I love Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie—I read her book Purple Hibiscus last year and have been a keen admirer ever since. Half of a Yellow Sun (HOAYS) was a book I got last summer and has been waiting patiently all year long to be read. Finally, about a week ago, I picked it up and began to melt.

Based in Nigeria in c. the late 1960s, HOAYS follows the lives of about five characters throughout the drastic and catastrophic time for the young, valiant country of Biafra during its short existence. Painfully intimate and violent, Adichie has truly outdone herself with HOAYS. Even though I know I say in every book recommendation that the book was a pageturner, with HOAYS, I’m serious. I started it and was instantly riveted. Only my need to pack and prepare for camp pulled me away from finishing the book days ago.

HOAYS follows a range of different characters, all linked in time and relation, however, with many diverse perspectives and opinions. Olanna Ozobia, a character introduced relatively early in the book, is followed throughout her experiences coming from a wealthy Nigerian family but choosing to follow her own path as a lecturer at Nsukka University. Olanna, along with her lover Odenigbo and their houseboy Ugwu, are passionate believers in the need for the Igbo population of Nigeria to separate into a new nation. As tension around this issue boils into a massacre of Igbo people in certain areas of the country, Olanna becomes frighteningly caught in the crossfire. Further, through the book, Olanna, Odenigbo, Ugwu, as well as Olanna’s sister Kainene and her lover Richard, have their lives turned on their heads.

This book was captivating for its incredible writing and enigmatic characters, but most of all, I loved the history involved. I know almost nothing about the history of Nigeria and its ill-willed tribes, whose animosity lead to the creation of Biafra as a separate nation. Learning history has always been interesting for me, but I’ve never associated or incorporated it into fiction and captivating stories. HOAYS transformed that for me and made me realize that storytelling—especially history storytelling—was a tool to enrapture people beyond their usual enthusiasm for a topic.

For age recommendations for reading, I would definitely recommend an older age than usual (about 13 or older). There are many sexual topics discussed in depth, as well as complex political and social dynamics between Nigeria and other countries. Of course, this isn’t a dig at things that might be “too advanced” yadayadayada. I just find it frustrating when I read a book that is interesting but comprises concepts that go over my head. I think it’s definitely more enjoyable to read a book that you can fully understand.

All in all, HOAYS was a captivating and intense read I’d recommend to many, many people if given the chance. So, if you read it and find it as awesome as I do, please pass along the message to all your acquaintances (as well as random strangers on the street): “Half of a Yellow Sun is an 8/10 from Jade!”

Genre: contemporary/historical fiction

Age: 13+

Rating: 8/10

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat is a book that I’ve read recently that was written in a fascinating format. Danticat reserved each chapter of the book to transport the reader to a different location, perspective, and/or time. Although, readers soon figure out that all of the chapters and characters are connected throughout a large and mysterious plotline.

The book centers around the stories of many Haitian immigrants living in the US, as well as including sections of the books taking place on the island itself. The main storyline is that of a murderer, or “dew breaker,” who worked for the Haitian regime during the 1960s. The murderer’s story is told through the eyes of the people around him, including his daughter, wife, and tenants who rent out rooms in his house in New York City.

The Dew Breaker isn’t intriguing and difficult in the sense that its language is advanced. On the contrary, Danticat’s writing isn’t difficult to understand at all. Her plotline and, at times, the goriness of the story make up for the simple language she uses. Similarly, the fact that the book jumps around makes it just as difficult to read as Shakespeare.

I would recommend this book for many age ranges. It’s such an interesting and intriguing story, and the lack of complex language made it perfect for my middle-school level of reading and understanding. But, to be sure, this isn’t a children’s story, so I would specifically not recommend it to anyone under the age of 12 or 13.

The Dew Breaker was fascinating to me because it explored so many different plotlines and characters’ stories, and yet Danticat was still able to maintain a clear narrative. I’ve already said that Danticat’s writing isn’t complex, and she does use simple language and clear methods. But, what was much more complex about the story was Danticat’s method of narrative and storytelling. She used things like constantly switching between first and third-person narration, not to mention completing changing storylines every chapter. Because I’ve been exploring writing styles and methods during these past few months, I’ve become increasingly aware of authors’ methods of storytelling and how important that is.

I enjoyed this book not just because of its interesting theme of Haitian immigrants and trauma, but also because of the beautiful craftsmanship in its writing. Danticat truly created a wonderful book that I will continue to recommend to many people, including you!

Genre: fiction, contemporary/historical fiction, short stories

Age: 12/13+

Rating: 7/10