Hello there! It has been more than a year since I've written a wrap-up post of some sorts and recently, I've been inspired to hop back onto the grind and summarize all the happenings of each month. It feels like January flew by in an instant but also like the days dragged on forever. I'm still unsure how I've made it this far, but I guess there's something good in having a strict day-to-day routine that keeps you going. 🙃 

I read a total of seven books this month which is double my original goal of approximately one book a week and I have Hoopla to thank for that. I've been on such a contemporary kick that I'll aimlessly scroll through the listings and pick up random titles that sound somewhat entertaining and end up reading them during my lunch breaks. After a couple mediocre reads, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed so I'm definitely dialing it back in February to try and focus on reads that I'm genuinely 100% interested in.

            

daughter of the moon goddess by sue lynn tan
physical - ★★★★☆
read my review here
If you've read my review, you know how much I love this book. It's got the classic journey storyline that spans several years and a rich cast of characters that I adore. If you're in the mood for a Chang'e inspired retelling with lots of gorgeous wuxia imagery and court politics, please pick this one up!

we can't keep meeting like this by rachel lynn solomon
audio - ★★★★
read my review here
This book was the most pleasant surprise with its deep dive into mental health, parental expectations, and harps! Rachel Lynn Solomon really brought the characters to life and I found myself empathizing with their struggles as if they were my own. The relationships in this was also so adorable and I can definitely confirm that one of my love languages is food.

the quantum weirdness of an almost kiss by amy noelle parks
ebook - ★★★
Hoopla influence of the month #1 - I had never heard of this but was intrigued by the friends-to-lovers aspect. While I did like the friends aspect and really enjoyed the friend group that we got to meet, the romance was not the most compelling. That, coupled with the dual POVs dragged out the mutual pining and confusion which, on top of all the math and science themes, was both over and underwhelming.

once more upon a time by roshani chokshi 
ebook - ★★★
Hoopla #2 - Am I avoiding The Gilded Wolves a bit and trying to avoid the pain, 100% yes. I thought I could get reacquainted with Roshani Chokshi's writing before fully diving into the trilogy and while this wasn't bad, it just didn't interest me. I did like the novella-length and the fairytale setting but I ultimately wasn't connected with the characters or their quest so that was a bit of a let down.

            

four days of you and me by miranda kennealley
ebook - ★★
The one that broke Hoopla's hold over me because this book truly irritated me. I didn't actually notice how much I disliked the characters and plot until after I finished and sat down to write my thoughts. This is a perfect of example where the premise is incredibly interesting but the execution just fell super flat. The story is told in both present day and past flash backs along with the linear timeline of freshman-senior year field trips and it was just discombobulated. Not the mention the characters' relationships with each other were very "on the nose" storytelling and it came off as messy.

you've reached sam by dustin thao
physical - ★★★★
read my review here
I've avoided this book for months because of both the polarizing reviews and the promise of pain and tears. I finished this during my break and by some miracle was able to pull myself together enough to jump into a 3rd grade recorder lesson. Dustin Thao knew just how to pull on my heart strings and make me all emotional and for such a short book, the characters' relationships will stay in my mind forever.

the upside of falling by alex light
audio - ★★★
This book brought back all the Wattpad memories which makes sense because this is from a Wattpad author. While I did enjoy the story and the characters even with all the predictable tropes and cheesy lines, it didn't quite make as big of an impact as I think the plot wanted especially when dealing with a central theme of divorce. I did also find the storytelling to be a bit over the top - it was truly peak "football jock falls in love with bookworm" vibes. This also reminded me of Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey  which also has a reader main character and deals with heavier topics amongst high school drama but just less impactful.

On the topics of books, I didn't quite know where to stick this but I'm joining Pondathon II hosted by the wonderful CW at The Quiet Pond. I missed the first Pondathon and was so excited when CW announced a second event that would last the entirety of 2022. The concept art is adorable and I love that we get to create our own characters, so please meet Ivorie! She is a happy-go-lucky lizard that just loves flowers and her glasses are constantly smudged with dirt. Round 1 has just wrapped up and I'm so excited to add all the prizes to Ivorie's garden. If you would like more information on the readathon, check out the Pondathon Portal!

January is always a pretty mellow month in terms of music since I primarily listen to K-pop so I've been delving back into some of my high school favorites and actually listening to music in English for the first time in forever. Cassadee Pope's new album Thrive has been on repeat ever since I found it on Spotify and my favorites have to be: See What the Stars See, Say It First, Mind Your Own, and Some People. It's also made me super nostalgic for all the country-pop I used to listen to so I've been re-listening to my high school playlist. (Low-key feel like I'm exposing myself with this playlist, don't come for me country-music haters 🙃)

Since January is also concert planning season, I thought I'd throw in one of the songs I'm planning for my choir that has been in my head non-stop. Sisi Ni Moja is a Swahili inspired song with lyrics the center around a message of unity and hope with the title translating as "we are one". The cool harmonies and 2-parts break down give me chills every time and my students have been loving it!

Can I make this post without mentioning the sensation that is Encanto? I've been hooked, like everyone else, on this soundtrack and have already watched the movie several times. Ironically enough, I wasn't the biggest fan on the first watch, but the music just got stuck in my head and I had to give the film a second go. The rest is history because my entire YouTube and Instagram feed is now flooded with Encanto related content and I'm absolutely thriving. My sister and I have been communicating solely through "We Don't Talk About Bruno"  lyrics for the past month.

Another content component I'm trying this year is a little series I'm titling "record_024" where I'm attempting to document various moments of each month that have made me happy -  even if it's super trivial and insignificant to others. This side project is largely inspired by Joan Kim's Joanday365 series that's been living in my mind for the past couple of months. I've been stuck feeling like my 20s are passing by without any significance and maybe it's my mid-life crisis hitting early but I wanted to make sure that I don't let this year slip away like I did with 2020 and 2021. 

check out my monthly highlights here!

Thanks for sticking around through this monster of a post! I would love to know how your January went - what books, music, or other media consumed your thoughts this month?

For your music, the music you would die for—even give your soul for—is a music that not even Hell can hear.

     isbn: 9781250789068 | pages: 372
     publication date: September 27, 2021 | source: library
     genre: adult, science fiction, fantasy, lgbtqia+, fiction
     rating: 9/10

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
    B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

the beauty of discovery
Light from Uncommon Stars was one of the last books I read in 2021 and quickly surprised me by becoming one of my favorite reads of all time. While I was initially wary going into this, the themes of self-discovery, love, family, and music completely captivated me from start to finish. We follow several characters on their own journeys of defining their worth and the purpose of their life in the grand scheme of social acceptance. 

Think of a piece of music. Is it not a miracle that each time the notes are played, the music is reborn?

Katrina Nguyen runs away from home at the start of the novel taking only her essentials and her violin. After years of abuse at home from her parents after coming out as transgender, she's decided to reconnect with someone she met at a LGBTQIA+ event in hopes of paving her own future. She doesn't expect to run into Shizuku Satomi, a renowned violin teacher nicknamed the Queen of Hell, at a park and becoming her final student. The relationship that grows between Shizuku and Katrina warmed my heart in so many ways - Shizuku has this reputation of being an untouchable genius and Katrina manages to break down that façade to expose both of their vulnerabilities. Their exploration of music honestly took my breath away and made me want to go to concert to just experience music and that is saying a lot coming from a slightly jaded music major who low-key fell asleep at all her required concerts during college. 😅

building your own family
This novel is also unapologetic in its descriptions of love amongst the characters and I adored that. As Katrina navigates her identity and learns her worth amidst the hatred and cruelty of the world, she finds a family that loves her and accepts her wholly. Shizuku's relationship with Lan also filled my heart with all the butterflies because for the first time, the Queen of Hell has a reason beyond her music to exist. I loved the exploration and juxtaposition of Katrina and Shizuku's journeys as our two main characters and seeing how they were able to take the shared love for music and define it in a way that fit their personality and character development. Katrina manages to redefine Shizuku's strict boundaries of what music can be while Shizuku is able to help Katrina unleash her potential to bring her music to life.

One does not play memories of music; one plays music itself. And lifetimes, from beginning to end, are as sheets of music, ready to be played.

I cannot write out my thoughts without also addressing the biggest component that compelled me to pick this up in the first place: Shizuku's bargain with Tremont. This was everything I wanted a Faustian bargain to be, the concept of giving Hell the souls of six insanely gifted musicians for the chance to be perform again and be remembered for one's music - literal chefs kiss. It tackles the idea behind the impact of music on the performer and the audience as well as the bridge that ties them together. This takes music and just gives it wings, as cliched as it sounds. Music is able to become this form of communication that allows those on the outside to see a part of Shizuku and Katrina's soul how their passion allows the music to take a piece of their heart and make it immortal in the ears of the audience.

What would happen if someone played their existence not only to its inevitable end, but also to its inevitable beginning? What if someone played their music to its inevitable everything?

Light from Uncommon Stars is a book that I want to read over and over again because it's simply beautiful. I adore the characters, the themes, and quite simply, how this made me feel alive. It has also given me an insane craving for a good donut and that's how you know a story is going be a timeless classic.

"Even when the stories told were true, they never talked about what happened after the quest. About all the wounds - visible and otherwise - that lingered long after the neat close of the tale. They had rescued the damsel. The end. But there was still so much pain there, and perhaps there always would be."

Hello there! It has been a minute since I've been able to cross a completed series off my list so I figured I'd do a full review in honor of this momentous occasion. The Camelot Rising trilogy by Kiersten White is a retelling of the classic story of King's Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table only through the eyes of Guinevere who happens to be a changeling trained by Merlin to protect Arthur from the Dark Queen. With magic outlawed in Camelot and the Dark Queen slowly regaining her strength, Guinevere must navigate the dangerous political world of Arthur's court while working behind the scenes to prevent Camelot from falling apart.

B O O K S H O P *      |     G O O D R E A D S
formats read: physical (book 1), e-book/netgalley (book 2 & 3)

questionable characters
It was the premise that initially drew me in because I've been the biggest Arthurian legend fan since middle school and I also love anything that has to do with a bit of fairy lore. The Camelot Rising trilogy ultimately fell flat for me as a whole and I'll admit I finished all three books almost out of spite and the mentality that I've already "gotten this far" that I might as well see how things played out. As displayed from my ratings above, it was quite a rough reading adventure and that all comes down to the portrayal and arcs of the characters.

I really did not like Guinevere as the main character which was so disappointing because she was the reason I picked up the first book. With the premise placing her as the lead and someone who practiced magic illegally, there was so much potential for her character to explore and break the confines of "Guinevere" that most Arthurian retellings use. If I had to categorize her character arc through the three books in the simplest terms it would be: lost --> petty --> indecisive. It became almost frustrating to read from her perspective because I couldn't understand her decisions and was also confused why her priorities were always slightly askew in comparison to the greater plot.

highlights and inconsistencies
Being a retelling, there were some highlights that paid homage to the original text and that became some of my favorite Easter eggs to spot throughout the trilogy. I also appreciated how Kiersten White managed to diversify the relationships beyond the traditional pairings and how it was also simply normalized through Guinevere's eyes. There are moments where you can clearly see how the author was breaking the stiff boundaries of the original legend with women-empowered characters like gender-bending Lancelot to be a female knight and the Northern tribes treating their women like equals in battle and leadership - moments that became some of the highlights amidst Guinevere's self-deprecating monologue.

While I did appreciate the attention to detail in the regard, there were other moments where characters would seemingly do a complete 180 in their development just to further the plot. Characters who were central to the plot showed up at convenient moments to cause tension that felt unnecessary or became completely different in personality and goals just to prove a point. It all led down to this idea that Camelot was the shining beacon of the future, destined to lead the world to greatness and everyone else was somehow lesser. This idea is definitely a central theme in the legend but part of me wishes that with all the advancements made in other aspects of the story that there could have been more expansion to the finale.

Ultimately, I wished I loved this trilogy because there has yet to be an Arthurian retelling with a premise that interested me and proved to actually meet my expectations. Finishing these books also made me reevaluate my opinions towards YA fantasy because maybe I'm simply outgrowing some of these stereotypes and dramas that make the genre exciting for a younger audience. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference, but damn I really could not stand Guinevere. 

We might be legends to the mortals, but the dragons are legends to us all.

 isbn: 978006303130 | pages: 512
     publication date: January 11, 2021 | source: tour
     genre: fantasy, adult, asian mythology, retelling
     rating: 8/10 

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
    B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

the sacrifice for family
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a stunning debut novel that explores the boundaries of duty for family, love, and kingdom amidst the gorgeous prose and wuxia imagery. Xingyin is the daughter of Chang'e and the hero Houyi and has lived her entire life on the moon. Unbeknownst to her, Chang'e has hidden her existence from the rest of the Celestial Kingdom, and her life begins to unravel when the Empress arrives. Xingyin finds herself on a journey that pushes her limits as she trains alongside the emperor's son, masters archery and magic, and embarks on quests to break her mother's enchantment.

Those in love often make promises they can't keep.

This story is immersive and magical with characters that grow on you as their journey unfolds. It took me a minute to place why this read differently before I belatedly realized that we are reading from Xingyin's perspective in first person. After that, it became almost second nature to slip into her point of view and experience all that she's goes through on her journey to reunite with her mother. The novel itself is broken into three parts and while the pacing sometimes felt inconsistent when furthering the plot, it personally didn't bother me because I was so enamored with the world. I loved how Xingyin was determined in her actions and despite all the curveballs that the Celestial Kingdom might throw at her, she doesn't lose sight of her family and her goals.

We will do things for our family - our loved ones - that we would not do for ourselves. Some might call us fools, Those who don't understand, never will.

the sacrifice for love
While I've only watched a handful of Chinese historical dramas, Daughter of the Moon Goddess made me feel like I was watching those beautifully choreographed scenes come to life in the pages. The little nods to the cinematography and stunning fights made my heart so happy to see them unfold in a fantasy novel. Like the wuxia dramas that I watched with my mom, there's treachery and betrayals, political manipulation and dangerous bargains, all of which made me gasp every time. At the end of the novel, I can truly say that I was 110% invested in Xingyin's story and watching her relationships develop and how she learns to harness her powers and her love for her family and friends (and a certain prince?) made her a relatable character that blossomed under all the hardships she experiences.

We should appreciate the flower, regardless of its roots.

It almost pains me to be finished with this story because it was truly a magical experience. I can only wait anxiously for the sequel as I cannot wait to be reunited with Xingyin and go on more magical journeys with her.

Don't blame the instrument, but the one who directs the tune.

thank you so much to Turn the Pages Tours for allowing me to participate on this fantastic tour! be sure to click on the banner image or here to check out the other amazing stops!

-  M  O  O  D  B  O  A  R  D  -

images from: unsplash & google image: moon | girl with flute | girl with bow | imperial palace

-  A  U  T  H  O  R     B  I  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y  -

Sue Lynn can be reached on Instagram @SuelynnTann, or on her website: www.suelynntan.com

Hello there! It's time to welcome in 2022 and reflect on all the reading that happened in 2021! In terms of numbers, this was definitely a slow year and I ended up reading a total of 45 books which is lower than my original Goodreads goal. Despite that, I think this is my highest year in terms of rating since I'm ending with an average of 3.5 which feels low compared to how many books I gave 4 stars and above. 

If you haven't checked out my favorites from the first half of the year, be sure to click here to see which five books blew me away from January - June, but without any delay here are some of my favorite books from the second half of 2021.

light from uncommon stars by ryka aoki
review to come    |    B O O K S H O P *
Dare I say that this was my favorite book of the year? And to think that I read it towards the latter half of December kind of blows my mind. Light From Uncommon Stars had two factors that I was super on the fence about: music and space. For some reason, I always feel wary picking up books about music because it's something that I've studied so much to the point where I have a love/hate relationship with it. But honestly, this book makes music so beautiful. It left me feeling haunted and filled with this longing to just play music again and I already want to go back and reread the story.

the wolf and the woodsman by ava reid
read my review here    |    B O O K S H O P *
The Wolf and the Woodsman is one of those stories that I knew I was going to enjoy but didn't anticipate how much it would stay with me. At the time, I gave it a 4/5 stars but it didn't stand out in the particular. Fast forward to the end of the year and I'm still thinking about the characters, the themes, and the gorgeous atmosphere which solidified it's place as one of my favorites for 2021. Ava Reid has another novel coming out this year called Juniper and Thorn (*) so if you love gothic/horror retellings then definitely check it out!

picture us in the light by kelly loy gilbert
review to come (?)    |    B O O K S H O P *
I should have written a review for this months ago but simply couldn't put my emotions into tangible words so here we are. Picture Us in the Light solidified Kelly Loy Gilbert as a favorite author because she once again managed to use her characters and storytelling in a way that seemed to peel back and reveal so much about myself that I wasn't expecting to read. Danny's experiences with his friends and more specifically, his family, felt so personal and the writing style made it feel like you were experiencing everything right there with him. I honestly cannot stop thinking about this book and how it just made me feel.

       

under the whispering door by tj klune
B O O K S H O P *
I guess we're starting a tradition because this is the second year where I've concluded my reading with a T.J. Klune novel and tears of some sort. Under the Whispering Door deals with the death and redemption of Wallace Price when he finds himself at Charon's Crossing Tea Shop. The novel tackles the difficult conversation of death and the impact it leaves on the departed as well as the idea of fairness when it comes to losing one's life. TJ Klue's writing style as a way that just envelopes you in a blanket and makes you feel so appreciative of all the little details of life. For a story about death, this story makes you fall more in love with life.

Edit: As much as I enjoy TJ Klune's writing, I do want to note the information that his previous work The House in the Cerulean Sea was inspired by the trauma of the Indigenous people of Canada's experience in residential schools. If you'd like to learn more or donate, I encourage you to match my donation of $30 (price of book) to IRSSS (Indian Residential School Survivors Society).
If you'd like to find other places to donate, check out this list here.

a cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow by laura taylor namey
read my review here    |    B O O K S H O P *
This honestly made the list because it put me on the biggest contemporary kick ever and it deserves the spotlight for being such a trendsetter. While I do read a considerable amount of contemporaries each year, I wouldn't call it one of my favorite genres and never quite felt the urge to pick them consecutively. A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow changed that because after finishing this book, I picked five other ones right after. This story just felt so warm and comforting from the delicious descriptions of Cuban cuisine to the relationships that just fills you up with happiness. I think I usually pick up contemporaries that are a bit more hard hitting so the fact that this one feels like sunshine in a book made it stand out all the more.

- H O N O R A B L E    M E N T I O N -

piranesi by susanna clarke
read my review here    |    B O O K S H O P *
I debated including this because it's probably one of the strangest books I've read in a while but it also left me feeling full of wonder. Piranesi isn't a story where it grips the reader based on specific characters or an engaging plot but uses it's unique premise and writing style to completely envelop you into the world. It makes you feel like you're surrounded by magic even if the actual text is talking about fishing and birds. It somehow manages to make the mundane fascinating and despite only being published less than two years ago, already feels like a classic.

        

My biggest goal moving into the new year is to continue expanding the voices that I pick up. I've spent the majority of the year reading books by Asian authors (particularly East Asian) which have given me a sense of happiness that I couldn't find in books before and really reinforced the power of representation in literature. I'm hoping to step outside that comfort zone and read other BIPOC authors to continue learning more about other cultures and the powerful stories they have to tell.

On a different note, my sister recently started her own book blog - Booked with Boba so if you love dark academia, mystery/thrillers, lots of Greek mythology, and a dash of K-drama & K-pop, definitely check it out!

What are some of your reading highlights from 2021?