Sometimes a book really does live up to its hype.

I wish I'd been aware of the glossary in the back as I often struggled a little with keeping up with characters throughout the first third of the book.

The world-building is fascinating, but perhaps more importantly, the character writing is excellent, and makes you further invested in this strange, inexplicable world.

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a book-length essay conveying the value of gift economies and how they are currently implemented, positing them as a way forward against our hyper-capitalist system. Kimmerer describes the natural world in similar language and conveys how we might look to the abundance of nature in order to be even more generous toward each other. In general, some readers may feel frustrated by a lack of actionable ideas here, but I think Kimmerer’s words function more as a balm against the cynicism and so-called doomerism that frequently comes up when discussing climate crisis and late stage capitalism. We are already capable of supporting each other, so it stands to reason that when we must, we will, as nature does. It’s a breezy read with lovely illustrations by John Burgoyne.

Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi reads like a dream that you don’t quite realize is a nightmare until you wake up with heart-pounding anxiety -- the one where you wander around in empty corridors certain that you are looking for something, but uncertain of why you are there or what you are trying to find. What would it mean if you were trapped in such a place?

The strange and almost too-weighted way that Clarke navigates prose guides the reader through an unexpected mystery guided by a fascinating narrator the reader cannot help but become attached to. Rarely have I read a book that so effectively utilized the reader’s outside knowledge. It works in favor to build tension, like frightening music or a shadow behind a figure on screen. There are no jump scares, mind you, but each bit of information uncovered by the reader ahead of the main character is a satisfying surprise. The mystery as it unfolds is a fascinating puzzle box, not to lean on the cliché but the journey truly is the destination here.

Normally this is the part of the review where I would talk at length about the subjects I felt that Clarke was engaging with in this book, however, in this particular one, even that will be a spoiler. I will say that I felt remarkably seen by parts of this book in my personal career and experience, both in a very good way and in ways that made me shake my head and cringe a little.

This book will not be for everyone: I can easily see the criticism that it holds high pretensions, and while it touches on some important social subjects it offers no open critique or further examination – it feels more like mere observation. There were times I wished I knew more than the narrative presented, but Piranesi presents itself in an intentionally singular manner. In general, I’m fine with unanswered questions, and that does seem to be part of the point with Piranesi.

A devastating and moving novel that left me crying loudly in my living room.

The Lilac People provides incredible insight on the history of the trans community in Berlin, prior to and during Hitler's rise to power, and their continued oppression and abhorrent treatment under the Allies following liberation.

It is tense and frightening, but interspersed are pockets of happiness that keeps the reader engaged and hopeful. Absolutely recommend.

I'm not usually one for superhero media in any format, but I absolutely loved DeConnick's Bitch Planet comics and my husband strongly recommended this to me. And he was right! This is exactly my jam.

This is an origin story for the Amazons of DC comics set in ancient Greece, released in honor of Wonder Woman's 80th anniversary. Lushly written, with satisfying worldbuilding, feminist themes, and a whole lot of feminine rage. I appreciated the Amazons' diversity in terms of skin color and body type. The pitch documents, writer/artist correspondence, and other supplementary materials were incredibly interesting and made me appreciate the collaborative creative process much more.

I did deduct .5 stars because although the art is stunning, there were a few panels that were just too visually busy for my taste.