Review: Rebel Fire

Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kurara is a Shikigami and a crafter. Something that has never been seen before or since as far as anyone knows. Now that she knows this fundamental truth about herself, she will stop at nothing until she is able to free all Shikigami from the blood bonds to crafters that keep them captive.

Kurara is a complicated protagonist, who freely admits she has no idea what she is doing and only hopes she is making the right choices along the way. Rather than being a chosen one plotline, Rebel Fire is a tale of trying like hell to follow your own moral compass to do good.

This book was just as brilliant and fast-paced as the first one. I really enjoyed the deepening of the lore around Shikigami, and crafters. The introduction of celestial magic adds a new layer of complexity. The world building is just as rich as in the first book. Ann Sei Lin is a master at weaving complex fantasy worlds with a glimmer of reality to keep it grounded.

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Review: I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times

I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times by Monique Polak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a great starting primer on early waves of feminism. Ideal for youth and adolescents seeking to get started on their knowledge base. There is much more depth to be gleaned from further reading on the subject than can fit in this book.

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Review: Where Kindness Lives: A Women's Fiction Anthology

Where Kindness Lives: A Women's Fiction Anthology by Janet Koops
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This anthology series may be fairly broad in terms of included genres, however the themes are eerily identical in many of the tales.

The standout piece for me is The Irish Library in Kilkenny by Christy Matheson. It follows an often overlooked character of Irish folklore. Fionn mac Cumhaill's (Finn McCool) first Queen Sadhbh (Saba). The rich history behind it gives this particular story a vibrancy, and urgency, that make it seem full of life. I can't wait to explore more of Matheson's fiction.

The subjects covered in this anthology are rather focused; on women's agency in their own lives. This is explored through themes of others' attempts at control and how the characters respond to it. My only gripe is that they didn't include more author's from outside the US.

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Review: There Will Come Soft Rains

There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Definite overtones of the veldt, or the other way round depending on which was published first. Highly disturbing that the house doesn't realize that it is either abandoned or the residents are dead. Further proof we should not outsource our lives to machines and algorithms.

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Review: The Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Tennyson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ehh. This one still doesn't do it for me. I read two versions. the original and the revised edition. I personally preferred the original as it kept the focus on the Lady and how isolating her court position as tapestry weaver is.

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Review: Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired: A Guide to Finding Inspiration and Well-Being in a Wonder-Filled World

Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired: A Guide to Finding Inspiration and Well-Being in a Wonder-Filled World by Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is full of factoids and tidbits on everything from soil to space. a very enjoyable read. The foreword alone is worth it.

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Review: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I first read this one in high school. under extreme duress. AKA as an assignment. having it read to me by the likes of Jeremy Irons made it far more enjoyable. Listening to it in small doses also helped me to pick up on subtleties I missed before. i highly recommend the Rime Big Read.

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Review: The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I only read this to better understand a comment made by us administration regarding choosing wallpaper for some purpose or other. This gets a one star rating from me because I am not into either of horror or stories that just end abruptly. Especially when they are horror. I need resolution.

That being said this is very well written. So well written, if horror is your jam give it a read.

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