Hello there! This post has been sitting my drafts for over a month at this point and I finally got around to formatting everything - I did have some lofty plans for my original Fall TBR but the case of indecisive mood reading has struck once again and here are the only survivors. With only a month left of 2024, I'm not sure what I'll get to reading before the end of the year but fingers crossed it'll be something good.

 pages:  352 | source: own, physical
publication date: February 29th, 2023
tags: young adult, horror, asian rep
rating: 5.1/10

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She Is a Haunting has been on my tbr for a few years and contains one of my favorite story elements - a creepy sentient house. There's nothing more unnerving and intriguing than a house with secrets and possibly a vengeful ghost. When Jade Nyugen arrives in Vietnam to spend five weeks with her estranged father, she starts to be convinced that something or someone is trying to warn her. When she begins to wake up paralyzed and sees a beautiful ghost bride who tells her to not eat anything, Jade decides to dive into the history of her father's latest house renovation project.

Concept-wise, She is a Haunting reminds me a lot of my favorite Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel Mexican Gothic. Shrouded in layers of colonialist history, Jade begins to discover the ties that her ancestors had with the house alongside the original white owners. In a desperate attempt to save her sister and escape, she teams up with Florence to prove the house's malicious plans for her family. Through Jade, we get to explore the effects of colonialism on Vietnam, from the mockery of traditional culture to the imposition of Western ideals. 

Jade herself undergoes a lot of self-discovery as she grapples with her relationships especially with her father. There's the underlying question of what solidifies an individual's claim to land and the journey it takes to reclaim what was stolen. With such an amazing foundation, the pacing felt too rushed to full experience the weight of what the author was trying to convey. Towards the ending, the scenes began to blur together in a way that felt like an onslaught of revelations and secrets that felt more overwhelming than haunting which detracted from the overall impact.

Regardless, She is a Haunting poses important questions about the lasting impact of white colonialism and the lengths one will go to reclaim what has been stolen. It dives into estranged family ties and self-discovery and acceptance through Jade's experience in her family's homeland which reflects many Asian Americans' experiences 

 pages:  432 | source: own, physical
publication date: August 13th, 2024
tags: adult, fantasy, vampires, lgbtqia+ rep
rating: 7.5/10

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K. M. Enright introduces readers to a complex political world that on the surface seems like a haven for those who are oppressed. However, as the characters begin their journey, more injustices are revealed towards not only the Unblooded citizens who toil away in factories but also the Blooded who don’t come from the original lineages. The appearance of Samuel, the last living member of the Eternal King’s family, opens an opportunity for Shan to begin her long awaited plans to overthrow the corrupted political system.

From the beginning, Mistress of Lies was fast-paced and intriguing. As different alliances are formed and broken, Shan helps Samuel navigate the different schemes and expectations placed upon his newfound lineage while simultaneously trying to put an end to the horrific M that continue happening around the city. Teaming up the Royal B, Isaac, who also happens to be Shan’s former L, adds another level of tension that tangles the characters together.

Set in a politically complex world while exploring themes of gender identity and social equality, Mistress of Lies sets the stage for an explosive high stakes world that'll keep readers anticipating the characters next move.