Zoe's Reviews

An action-packed sapphic romance full of Irish mythology, Ravensong tells the story of Neve, a senior in high school and one third of the Morrigan—a trio of Irish war gods—reincarnated into modern times. Neve is eager to turn 18, when memories are revealed and she can fight alongside her sisters. However, she's caught off guard after developing feelings for a mortal. Curiously, at the same exact moment, the Hellgate starts acting strange. This novel explores themes of duty, love, and family with epic battles, plot twists, and a delightful cast of characters.

—Zoe

Chakraborty starts her new trilogy out strong with this one. A female pirate captain sailing the Indian ocean in the eleventh century is a fresh place for a new fantasy novel, and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi comes with a delightful cast of characters and monsters. Amina is a delightful protagonist. The most difficult thing about this book will be waiting for the sequel. —Zoe

This new historical romance bridges the distance between the horrors of WWI and the wonders of falling in love. Love is hard for two young boys in 1914, and harder still once the Great War begins. Gaunt and Ellwood are both changed as they navigate trench warfare, but the love between them holds fast. A love letter to both literature and love itself, In Memoriam is a heartrending love story. —Zoe

When Baba Yaga’s great-grandchildren inherit her house—complete with chicken feet—the two estranged siblings are forced to confront the generational traumas that have been haunting their family. With its stunning prose and hilarious dialogue, this novel about memories and magic is one of my favorites of the year.

—ZOE

James J. Butcher’s debut novel is fast-paced and just plain fun. In this urban fantasy, a young man must throw out the rule book to find the killer of his former mentor. An action-packed murder mystery with magic—really, what more could you want?

—ZOE

Set in a medieval Wales dripping with magic and fae, Mer, the last living water diviner, embarks on an impossible heist. Joined by a wide cast of characters, Mer endeavors to bring down a corrupt prince—but nothing is quite as it seems. Nested in a deeply melancholic and beautiful setting, The Drowned Woods is a novel about the choices that are taken from us, as well as those we still have the agency to make.

—Zoe

Finally, a new novel from the author of A Constellation Of Vital Phenomena! Mercury Pictures Presents is an intricately researched look at Mussolini's Italy and the government mandated Hollywood propaganda machine of WWII. Following a wide and alive cast of immigrants trying to reinvent themselves to fit in a sharp and changing world, this novel showcases Marra's profound sense of human nature in its beautiful and hilarious writing. —Zoe

At the outset, 16-year-old Benji escapes the murderous doomsday cult he's been raised in, where his trans identity is not accepted, but not before they inject him with a biological weapon that will soon transform him into a monster. He lands at the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center in a nearby city, where he befriends a group of young queer survivors and together they make a plan to fight back. Not for the faint of heart, this novel is full of intense body horror, violence, and wonderful characters you will come to love.  —Zoe

Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven, delivers another page turner with Sea of Tranquility. After an anomaly in time tears through and connects multiple centuries, the reader is led through the lives of all affected. This novel pursues big questions on the very nature of reality while upholding important small moments that connect people through journeys, disasters, and plagues. It is a delight to follow so many distant pieces coming together throughout this story. —Zoe

This is the book I needed when I was a teenager. Loveless is the first novel to center on the experience of coming to terms with and coming out as asexual, and it hits every beat. Our protagonist starts college seeking romance––only to find that her experiences aren't matching up with stories, movies, and societal expectations she's been raised on. This book is groundbreaking for the asexual community, as well as a profound reflection on the value of non-romantic forms of love.—Zoe