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The Geomagician
Jennifer Mandula
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Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
Heather Fawcett
lilnonislibrary wrote a review...
every chapter ends on a revelation or crazy twist, so it's basically a goosebumps book.
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Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
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Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
lilnonislibrary started reading...

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
Heather Fawcett
lilnonislibrary finished a book

Beth Is Dead
Katie Bernet
lilnonislibrary wrote a review...
The first half of this book is a slow pace that although sets up the world and characters. It does however at times drag as you wait for what does actually become the main plot to start, which doesn't kick in until about the 50% mark.
The strongest aspect of this book for me was the emphasis on the community around the apothecary. How they give people other options that aren't just the traditional medicine that sometimes just suppress symptoms rather than treat them. Things like that helped show why we should care about if the shop closes or not beyond well the characters care so we have to care. What else I thought was well done was showing how in Tressport being from a different background puts people like Josie and Reid at a disadvantage from things like getting employment or applying to university; but then also small ways like Sam trying to make an appointment with a tailor. I know some readers will find this heavy-handed buti ready liked it and found it realistic because in every situation they will still be people of colour in a different social class in a predominantly white city.
What didn't work for me was how it felt like Josie and Reid's relationship was most based on their letters and their real life one didn't have as much development. I would have liked to see them grow together more before either discovered their other identity because once they do it does feel like some of the things they had said to each other (mostly Reid) were swept under the rug despite being, kind of jerks. I did enjoy Josies relationship with her family. I think it did nail that dynamic where she can feel othered in her own family, but they all still love each other and have a close bond.
Letters from the last apothecary is a good debut which a stronger second half I think romance readers who enjoy more low stakes in a cozy fantasy setting would enjoy this and I would recommend it to fans of other books like divine rivals with the letter writing aspect. I will be looking out for what Bita Behzadi writes next and look forward to it.
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Beth Is Dead
Katie Bernet