thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC.

first of all, i have to say the concept of this is very interesting and intriguing. of course, we're living in the time when AI has become quite prevalent. for a collection of short stories to be narrative from AI's point of view... well, can't say I've read something like this. sure, there have been a few fiction with robot characters, but this is quite different.

that being said, i do have mixed feelings about it. mainly because every AI character just... sounds the same to me. and maybe that is the intention because, hey, they're all AI, maybe they should sound exactly alike...? but it reads a bit strange to me. unless the AI in these stories are actually just one (1) single AI, and i doubt that.

some stories seem a bit out of place; "Sinaloa Santa Muerte Mictecacihuatl" / "Coins" / "Adversary" — I'm really not sure what to make out of these.

some stories, i do quite enjoy; "Ouroboros" / "Shadow" / "Lamina" — i think these are wonderful to read. very thought provoking too. "Ouroboros" is quite haunting and i think i enjoy that deep dive into AI.

I'd say this was a fun ride so far. maybe someone who's more into the depth of AI as a being will find something deeper in this than myself.

⭐ 4.75/5

this is a hit or miss. you're either loving it for what it is and does or hating it for that same reason.

Nova Scotia House truly highlights the joy and sorrow of queer lives. not gay or homosexual, but queer. it is rebellious. it is liberating. yet it is bound by loss and haunted by ghosts of loved ones.

i like how this novel presents all that through an unfiltered lens. it doesn't try to be clean and/or good. because lives are more complicated than that. it's chaotic and frustrating. it often doesn't make any sense. it's often pissed off and pissing someone off. maybe that's the beauty of it.

queer loves often come at a cost.

4.75/5

oh this one is tragic.

i struggled with reading from Marion's perspective a little but then again, maybe that's how it's supposed to be. Marion is unlikeable from the start imo. quite a selfish character although her behavior is understandable. not justifiable by any means.

i could say we can blame the men but that would be unfair to Patrick. poor thing just wants to love and be loved. he knows what he's doing and where he's standing. he endures as much as he possibly can for a chance of love. i wish there was more of Patrick's entries in this. it was lovely to read from him.

i guess we then have Tom to blame.

i also have no idea why they cast harry styles in the adpatation.

3.75/5

this one leaves me with mixed feelings. on one hand, i did enjoy this a lot. it was fun and easy to vibe along. decent writing. fun characters. interesting concepts, "magic" system and world building in general.

on the other hand... it also feels like something is lacking. it feels somewhat underwhelming, if anything. i find the "magic" system and this world very interesting, but i don't think the author has given us enough clues and contexts. these concepts have potential to be something greater. with the right amount of contexts and clues, i think this would've been wonderful.

i really do like the interactions between these characters though, especially the trio Josephine, Ezra and Julian. i find their little circle of relationship fascinating. it's friendship, but also more. it's platonic, but maybe not quite. i enjoy the vagueness of it and i think this is how it's supposed to be.

thanks to NetGalley and Shiraki Press for this ARC.

without having read the blurb, one would think this was going to be another witchy cozy read, and, in a way, it is still indeed quite cozy.

I've grown to become quite fascinated by the charm of witch stories since I don't really read many of them. (I do need to read more witchy stuff. I think it's super fun.)

Tilly is such an adorable and witty character. she feels like a very old grandma next door that will sometimes say vague, strange things but is a total sweetheart. I truly enjoy reading about her and her wife Ralda. the relationship and love between Tilly and Ralda is honestly the biggest reason why I wish this was a full length novel with a full backstory of these two.

as much as I enjoy this little novella, I think the main conflict in the story is still somewhat lacking. I wish there was more to why the new couple just wouldn't listen to what Tilly was saying and warning. the reason being "we don't believe in this and we don't want to listen to the old ways!!!" doesn't seem enough for me. I also wish the other characters were utilized more.

that being said, I still really did enjoy this. wonderful writing. just the right amount of whimsical.