The Fox Maidens (2024) | Robin Ha |

I picked up this book scond hand on a whim, and I higly enjoyed it the whole way through!! The Fox Maidens is a retelling of an old fairytale set in 16th century Korea, focusing on the story of the commander of the Royal Legion's daughter, who he trains to be a warrior. Wonderfully illustrated and paced, deliciously long for a graphic novel. Also explores some queer themes, which was a pleasent surprise.

Yde et Olive (~13th century) | Unknown |

Girllllll. I fucking love this chanson. It fucks severely. Shoutout the one english translation I found. The story is about Yde, a princess who flees her home after her father decides he wants to mary her (gross). She disguises herself as a boy, and finds out she's really fucking good in battle. The king of Rome's daughter Olive? Swooning over her, as she should be. Oh yeah, and there's an angel going around hitting people with the transgenderfication beam. There's a baby named croissant. It's that good.

A Closed and Common Orbit (2016) | Becky Chambers |

I can't believe it took me so long to read this book. This is the second book in the Wayfarer series, but it's not really a direct sequel. This book is about an AI learning how to be a person and it made me cry. <3333333 real AI sucks but Sidra is my baby.

The Turn of the Screw (1898) | Henry James |

Listen... I really, really hate when I don't love a classic. I was really excited to read this one–a victorian gothic ghost story is right up my fucking alley!! But I just couldn't connect with it at all. The prose was tiring and the plot was just not engaging to me. I'm honestly really bummed about this one.

Wrong Norma (2024) | Anne Carson |

GAHHHHH SUCH A BOOK!!!!! Came across it in an indie bookstore and had to snatch at once. I fucking love Anne Carson. Very hard to describe, like a lot of her work it's a mix between prose & poetry & something else. Just so enjoyable.

The Chromatic Fantasy (2023) | H. A. |

I've been eyeing this one up online for awhile now, and I came across it in person at a little indie bookstoreon my birthday, so I had to get it! Really, really love the art & colors. The story is very clearly a work of catharsis for the author, which isn't a bad thing, but left the story a little scattered at times.

Le Roman de Silence (~13th century) | Heldris/Unknown |

SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOPS ABOUT THIS ONE FOREVER AND EVER. Gender story of all time. What if you were a girl raised as a boy so you could inherit your father's estate and you were actually Really Fucking Good At It. I got a physical copy of the translation by Sarah Roche-Mahdi and it was spectacular.

What Moves the Dead (2022) | T. Kingfisher |

Mmhmm. I've got feelings about this one. It's a retelling of the Fall of the House of Usher, which interested me, but honestly I don't think I really enjoy retellings these days. Enjoyable prose but everything felt very... obvious? IDK maybe it was supposed to feel that way. The narrative was definitely engaging, but by answering so many questions I feel like it removes an element of gothic mystery from the original.

The Sundial (1958) | Shirley Jackson |

An elite group of people in a fancy old manor become convinced that the world is going to end and that they will be the only survivors. Jackson never disapoints, I throughoughly enjoyed this book. There's an element of comedy here that's a bit of a change up for her tonally, and it works wonderfully. Incredible prose & delicious dialouge.