Karena's Reviews

After reading Circe by Madeline Miller, I was so ready for more Greek mythology from a woman’s perspective, and Pat Barker delivered. I appreciated the fact that Briseis is allowed to be angry. She’s allowed to feel rage and other very complicated feelings at being the concubine of Achilles. She is front and center in the war of Troy, a pawn between very “great” men, who gives a voice to the thousands of women who were in the Greek camps in all manner of occupations, from slave to nurse. - Karena

I think I’ve yet to dislike a book by Tessa Dare. She knows how to give us the romance we want and deserve. She gives us a bookstore meet cute, a heroine who is unafraid to take risks even though she’s a timekeeper not a governess (thank you very much), and a hero who is the kind of guy you can take home to mama, but also will kiss you blind as soon as she leaves the room. The very best part? His wards are two little girls whose hobbies include daily funerals for a doll named Daisy. - Karena

This isn't an easy or quick read. It takes stiffening your spine and grinding your teeth. Not because the writing is bad, quite the opposite; Dalcher is a fantastic writer. The premise of the story centers on limiting the speech of women in a very real way by electrocuting them through a bracelet every time they go over their 100-word daily quota. Given today’s political climate, it was a scary and very unsettling read. I highly recommend it (with a very stiff drink). - Karena

Šejić is one of my favorite comic book author/artists. I'm so very fond of this sex positive, LGBTQ friendly comic with its brilliant art and hilarious dialogue. Watching Allie and Lisa figure out their BDSM relationship and their relationship outside those boundaries is both sweet and heartrendingly realistic. - Karena

I kind of have an obsession with books where a woman is raised in extreme religious families. This fictional tale of a girl raised on TV with her preacher father, machinating mother, and five siblings fit the bill perfectly. I love the way Essie figures out how to escape by  using the rules and restrictions her parents set up against her. It is fantastically written. - Karena

Looking for a new fantasy series? Hawke's is a breath of fresh air. Told from the POV of a brother and sister, respectively, who are in the business of poison, I could hardly keep up with the many twists and turns of suspense and action. The character growth was well thought out and the world-building is complex, yet not overwhelming. - Karena

Female friendships are beautiful, wonderful things and yet through media we've been told they aren't important, that women are shallow, and we'll outgrow them when/if we get married. I love that Schaefer reminds us to surround ourselves with women better than ourselves. As she says in the intro, "text me when you get home, let's continue the conversation." - Karena

This intersectional book about period-having people needs to be read by everyone. It removes the stigma of menstruation which has plagued us all, whether you have a period or not. There are essays from a transgender man, a homeless person, a disabled person as well as 9 other voices. It changed my life. No longer will I hide my tampons! Let's have conversations. Let's make it normal. - Karena

If you're like me, Robin Williams was part of your life at some point. I, unlike a lot of kids my age, was introduced to his standup first rather than his work in Disney. It broke my heart when I heard he passed. This biography is fantastic. It tells the story of Robin the man, not just Robin the performer. Be warned, it's a five alarm snot bomb so bring your tissues. - Karena

This is Sarah MacLean at her very best. She has a talent for showing you the side of Regency England that others decide to skip. She illustrates the difference in worlds between the nobility and the seedier side of London with an eye for detail and an understanding for what readers want. Felicity and Devil have an amazing dynamic and whip-smart dialogue. I am absolutely in love with her side characters and can’t wait for their stories. - Karena