Book Review: The Blossoming of the Big Tree by Dilman Dila

 

 I had seen this on Net Galley and kind of shied away from the arachnid on the cover.  I'm not opposed to spiders, but I'm also not that into them. At some point Mr. Dila reached out and asked if I might be interested in this Solar Punk novel, and after looking at the description, YES, I was. I really enjoyed this novel, and I think I will want to read at least one more novella from this author. 

I so see a different background cover offered as well.   Do you have a preference? 

  This is really interesting science fiction/climate fiction with a snappy main female character who is about 70 years old, and a bit set in her ways.  She knows she isn't like everyone else, but she also, at age 70 has learned how to cope and get along in the world, despite her aversion to socialization, and depending on others.  She understands how interconnected the world is, and how people may be depending on her and she may be depending on them.  She doesn't love it, but she knows how her world works. She's elected/voluntold to the chairmanship of National Defense, and as she understands how her world works, she accepts without a fuss.  After all- she is living in a decentralized cooperative society- and she doesn't figure any other nation/area is going to pick a fight. 

Our intrepid main character did not expect a neighboring power to invader her peaceful country. They want their inventive eco-friendly tech and food. She's got to come up with something, and fast. Her decentralized society knows it can't fight back with military power, so they are throwing all hope at the Chairperson of National Defense. What's a girl to do? Adita - who just wanted to stay home- is about to have an adventure.  

Here's how I picture our main character: 

Parks, Gordon, photographer. Daytona Beach, Florida. Woman who says she is 104 years old. Volusia County Daytona Beach Florida United States, 1943. Feb. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017845190/.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this novella.  It has a delightful and satisfying ending, a main character that I wholly enjoyed meeting, and a lot of different points for discussion if read as a group. 

If one is going for the HRCYED (hardest Reading Challenge you'll Ever Do)  this will fall squarely in the Regions challenge, and can cover Regions in Africa. 

I hope more people will discover Dilman, for both Films and Literature! 

First Published :  7/1/2026

Pages: 110

Available as an Audio Book :  Not at this time. 

Trigger Warnings: Ecological disaster, War, Shunning (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review The Plagued Sea By Kim Bo-Young

 Many Many Thanks to Honford Star Ltd for the advanced E-copy of Kim Bo-Young's A Plagued Sea.

Amazingly, After I finished this one, I was offered the Advanced Listener's Copy from MacMillan Audio!  I jumped at the opportunity because with this creepy novel, I wanted to see how the narrator would handle the monsters and general atmospheric vibe! 

I am not sure if there has been a new flood of translated Korean works into the English Market - or if I just somehow became aware of them and started to seek them out but I am definitely here for it either way. 

Let's start with the Cover:

This cover really gives off a bit of creepy vibes just with the muted tones and the sightless fish eyes, It was designed by Jana Heidersdorf who is well know as the creator of covers for Hazelthorn and Don't let the forest in.

    This is a novella and it is a perfect read for those embarking on HRCYED (Hardest Reading Challenge you'll ever do) in July. One of the prompts is Weather Events and another is Regions, and yet another involves the elements, so this compact novella could work for several prompts. 

For readers who aren't into challenges, this also stands out as a book in translation, and a horror novel that pulls in the most delightful Lovecraft elements, while maintaining originality. 

   Without any SPOILERS - (there's enough spoilt fish in this one), readers start in a train station where our main character and her delightful niece are set to take a trip to a seaside escape. As they near boarding, warnings abound noting a strong weather event at their destination. For an unknown reason Mu-young decides to board the train anyway - a decision she may come to regret. Three years later, She finds herself trapped in a village that is quarantined due to East Sea Fever. There's no vaccine or cure, and it seems only this village is affected. My-young fills her time working to maintain quarantine for the infected. It's a thankless job, and she isn't a gentle kind character that makes a reader want to support her. One day she's warned to stay inside, but of course, like all good horror, she does not do what she was told, and all hell, chaos and misery breaks loose in a way that opens her understanding and compassion. This crescendo of a moment really made the entire book for me! 

   Overall this read has top tier suspense that built steadily until an explosive conclusion. I enjoyed the references back to Lovecraft and felt that this novella does deserve to be called "lovecraftian" It was someone Covid-19 coded- and I did feel a bit triggered by many references that brought the Covid back to the forefront of my mind. I imagine in a few more years "the young folk" will find those references fascinating rather than triggering! 

Getting back to the Narrator... Joy Osmanski was the narrator and I appreciated the subtle way she used her voice tones and pauses to create this nightmare sensation of a novel.  It would have been easy to fall into sound effects, but instead I felt as if I was listening to Joy tell us a story naturally using just inflection, timbre and tone- as well as space between the words to set the scene. Amazing. 

I'm so glad I got the opportunity to dip into this one early and review it for all.  It's one to pop on the TBR to savor on a rainy summer afternoon! 

First Published :  8/11/2026

Pages: 156

Available as an Audio Book :  Yes

Trigger Warnings: Death, Ecological disaster, Disfigurement, violence, smoking and mild alcohol use, noxious odor references.  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review- Our Infinite and Inevitable ends by A. D. Sui

  I received an advanced copy of this book from ECW press.  I really like ECW because they are always producing some unusual titles with all sorts of perspectives.  I loved the Iron Garden Sutra from Sui, so I was down to try another one. 

  One thing that A. D Sui is- is original.  Their novels are not the same story with a new twist or different characters.  They are wholly unique and well realized each time and every time you get really superb writing that flows- making it easy to read even when slipping through unfamiliar and somewhat complex concepts and situations. 

We open up on "the Great Garbage Patch"  where Cas is working to try to save the world- literally- using s science to do this.  (This isn't part of Sui's imagination, this garbage patch exists. Click here for more info.)

Cas is exactly where she wants to be, far from her Ex- Yana who is a pharmaceutical researcher. The world is being taken by Storm by a new pharmaceutical, Deleria which allows users glimpses of alternate realities, and a future where some of Earth's problems may be solved. Cas is not immune to this drug and when Yana is killed in a blast and Cas is arrested as a possible domestic terrorist, Cas dives deeper in to Deleria until she's got to make a choice to spiral into a deleria delerium or to live in the now. 

This is a well put together book that reads more like a fast paced Cli-Fi thriller rather than Sci Fi, though there are Sci-Fi elements. It is a great one for book clubs as there is a lot to discuss from each chapter. 

For me this is not going to be my favorite A. D Sui book. Predictable because I am a SPACE SHIP Junkie, and this pretty much takes place on the mundane earth. For others looking for sharp discussion on the state of the Earth and climate, the pharma industry (side notes only) and sapphic relationships- this will likely be one they will want to pick up. 

  I'm unclear if this would qualify as a weird girl book, and I'm leaning towards no.  There are "girls" in the book and they are a bit weird, but it doesn't have that Weird girl vibe. That said, it does have a vibe and the vibe is definitely OK. 

First Published :  10/27/26

Pages: 312

Available as an Audio Book :  Maybe? 

Trigger Warnings: Death, Ecological disaster, law enforcement, drug use/abuse,  (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Burn the Water by Billy Ray

  Billy Ray is maybe best known as the screen writer for The Huger Games films, but he is an author also! 

Burn The Water is his first novel and it's Billed as a YA dystopian romance set in 2425 London. 

With this being my year of reading Water themed books, i saw this on Net Galley and hit the request button so fast. 

Personally, I think this book is perfectly within the realm of an adult/YA novel.  The themes are not "coming of age"  as much as they are "forbidden romance" . One reviewer notes that it felt like a retelling of Romeo and Julie, but I felt like that was really a very surface look at the novel.  The themes are quite different from Romeo and Juliet and though the story is of course similar, it really really...isn't a futuristic Romeo and Juliet. Frankly, I think it's unique and does some great stuff while also hitting some familiar beloved tropes.  

Non-Spoiler "Synopsis" because Spoilers are not the best!  The novel is set in a future London/UK setting where most of the world is underwater. Communications are set back to more ancient times, and most technologic advancements have been lost to the water. Two factions are fighting over the last bit of land available for living. Enter Rafe and Jule- both leaders- but leaders of the different factions. Of course... love is in the air, or in the water as the case may be. These two star crossed lovers are really both desperately tired of this ongoing war and wish for peace, but find it hard to conceptualize how to make that come about. Within this environment, tension is building that threatens to break apart as foreigners appear on their shores.

With Ray's lauded cinematic background, it was not surprise that this novel reads a  bit like a screen play.  For me , this wasn't an issue, and Ray did an excellent job showing and telling at appropriate times.  I felt like this was a bit of cautionary tale for our future, and part plain old against all odds enemies to lovers romance. 

Very much enjoyed this one!  I hope it has great success! 

STATS

First Published : March 2025 

Pages: 304

Available as an Audio Book : not Currently

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, War, Death of child, 

Book Review : SALTCROP by Yume Kitasei 4.25/5 Stars

 

 Saltcrop is going to possibly be my surprise book of 2025. 

I was not a fan of The Stardust Grail . So when I saw an opportunity for the Advanced Audio copy of a new book by Yume Kitasei, I sat on that. After realizing it was centered on sailing and the ocean, I found myself hitting the request button, and was surprised to find the audiobook downloaded soon after. 

(A HUGE THANK YOU TO MACMILLAN AUDIO - they have been very generous this year!) While I do love a physical book trophy, with my recent vision issues, having an audiobook available is a delight. 

    

Of course, the cover is stunning, understated, and just made me want to pick it up. In fact, I like the cover so much, I feared for the story. 

As a Summary: Three sisters grow up in challenging circumstances in a future earth that is more ocean than dirt. Each sister makes her own way, but when one sister goes missing, the other two embark on a quest to find her. In finding her, they reaffirm their bond, and also, it seems, find themselves. 

     Overall, the novel starts off a bit on the slower side. I was not immediately hooked. Eunice Wong is the narrator and her smooth narration really did help me move through the chapters. At a quarter of the way in, I was thinking this was pretty good. I liked the way Kitasei uses minute details to flash out a character. Her style was easy to read/listen to, but I also noted that I wasn't that intrigued. As a person with a sister, some of the relationship points were maybe even a little too on the nose for me. 

then... BAM at the halfway point, I found myself choosing this novel over all the others I have on deck. I had to know what happened next, and then next and then next. I was astounded at my abrupt change from a casual listener to one on the edge of my seat.  I finished this off in record time. 

Do I recommend?  Yes! I really do. With themes of family, climate/environment change, justice and self fulfillment, this is one that could capture a lot of imaginations! 

Publishing in September 2025, this is one for your TBR!

STATS

First Published : 9/30/2025

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: death, drug use (minor), blood, medical situations, violence, murder, climate change, parental death

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Salvagia by Tim Chawaga

  I was very hesitant to pick this up when I saw it on NetGalley.  The cover was so cool and the premise was good, but would my own expectations get in the way? 

I am so glad I finally hit the request button and even more glad that Simon and Schuster sent me the Advanced Listener Copy.  Another Banger for 2025!

  I did a little digging about and it seems that Tim Chawaga is a debut novelist that works in tech, and does not live in Florida. Despite all that, he captured a lot of what is great about Florida and some of the less great as well. I sunk into this novel, and honestly, I slowed the narration down to the very regular 1.0 speed  because I didn't really want it to end. 

So- interlude to talk about the cover.  The design is credited to Jim Tierney. I peeped at his website and saw a ton of books I'd picked up because of the cover. Seriously!  I guess... if you want to sell me a book, get Tierney to make the cover? 

SPOILER FREE SUMMARY  because spoilers are for losers, and I'm a total winner. 

Triss is living in a future Florida that is mostly underwater. Triss is a diver and brings up thing slike air conditioners for money, but... also Salvagia - which is essentially nostalgic salvage. Just like nostalgic items are valued today for the story attached to them, salvagia increases in value similarly. 

We join Triss and the crew as they salvage a specific shoe, but after some issues with the crew, Triss discovers one of the most powerful family heads chained underwater, dead. This is a problem! The after math of this discovery leads our main character on a adventure all over Florida, with risky diving, even riskier space races with "atmo-breakers", interaction with semi-sentient machines, real estate schemes and more. Triss is caught between the Feds, the powerful Florida "families" and her obligations to her friend who's seeking a third way (you'll have to read to find out about the ways). Can Triss and company carve out a different way of living that is sustainable and free?  Well, obviously you'll need to read to find out. I do hope you'll read! 

   Things I loved about this book and want to highlight? 

- Really solid world building that is easily understood.  Chawaga starts with a foundation that many know well- Florida. On top of Florida an entirely different world is created with just enough of the old mixed in with the new that the reader can easily immerse themselves in this new Florida setting which is a comfortable combination of the old and the new.  

-I never could figure out the gender of many of the characters. This simultaneously bothered me and intrigued me.  I really wanted to know, and then I was left sitting in my thoughts about why was it so important that I know.  I liked that this novel wasn't "about gender"  but without being about gender, still gave me a lot to think about regarding gender in society. 

-Realistic while being futuristic.  I read a lot of romance, and I appreciate the genre because it is predictable to a T. (We get a happy ending, the heroine never dies in the villains clutches etc). In Salvagia I had a few moments when I realized that some places/characters were not going to be revived/reintroduced and as disappointing as it was to my heart, I liked it a lot because indeed, the world doesn't save everyone.

-Mechanical alligator.  Need I say more?  I think not. 

As a person who accidently came to live in Florida and love it for many of it's quirks and weirdness (It could be a little less weird these days!)  I really loved the imagined sunken cities, the salvagia and the typical freedom seeking folx depicted.  It seemed to capture the essence of Florida now and into the future. 

Highly recommend! 

STATS

First Published : August 2025

Pages: 272

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Death, climate issues, blood, medical situations, violence.

Not a fully TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: They Bloom At Night By Trang Thanh Tran 5/5 Stars

   This novel was a wild ride!  I enjoyed it thoroughly and I think- although it's labeled as YA, it's one that can be enjoyed by adults as well.  2025 is the year for books about plant aliens and plant invasions, and so after reading Overgrowth, and Eat the Ones you Love, I suppose it's not all that odd to be jumping into this novel which heavily features algae. 

There really is just SO MUCH going on in the novel that it's hard to do a spoiler free synopsis  - but I'm going to give it a try! 

Mercy, Louisiana is a typical small coastal town -- but since a hurricane swept through there's been a red algae bloom. Noon - our protagonist and her mom continue to trawl for shrimp and cling to their former lives (sort of) - they stay on the good side of the creepy harbor master by bringing back oddities that are bycatch in their nets. Noon's interested in leaving but her Mom is attached to the area where her father and son(Noon's brother) perished.  

Noon discovers that there's some sort of "monster" on the loose- dragging folks away - and she's drafted into a search and destroy mission with Covey (the daughter of the corrupt harbormaster). As Noon and Covey work to understand what's happing in this post climate disaster time, they also work to come to terms with their identities, experiences and futures. 

This is truly a creepy southern gothic type of novel, with a lot of relatable moments, mixed in with some chilling horror. Addressing themes of identity, ecology, and coming of age, the prose is easy to read and the plot moves forward with very good pacing to a satisfying, but kind of vague ending, which for once, didn't really bother me.   Usually I like a solid conclusion, but in this case, Noon's conclusion is that she's continuing to grow into something unknown, and that she's going to have family and found family by her side, which is a conclusion which worked for me. 

  

STATS

First Published : March 2025 

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, medical situations, SA, plant concerns  (not a complete list- be responsible!) 

Book Review : The First Thousand Trees by Premee Mohamed 4/5 stars

 I'm starting to be a big fan of Premee Mohamed. It's not often that I feel like there's a book written specifically "for ME"  but this entire trilogy seems like it might be. 

   I expected this novel to follow Reid as she returned to her campus, but instead we follow Henryk on his journey to  his Uncle's more Northern community. 

Short No Spoiler ( I hope!) synopsis:

Feeling bereft after Reid's departure, Henryk sets out on a wild adventure, traveling with a makeshift map to find his Uncle. With more luck than skill, he's able to find the community. Henryk is taken in conditionally and really does give it his all to fit in and be visibly productive in a vastly different community than the one he left. He struggles much in the same way he struggled at home, making some poor decisions, and being, in general, not very welcome. Much like his past, as series of disasters follows him, and while none are notable his "fault" dystopian communities seem to have no time for accidental blunders.  After a particularly spectacular error Henryk somewhat redeems himself and makes a choice to move on. 

For me, I wanted Henryk to desperately have sort of a hero's arc of redemption, but that does not occur, and to be honest, this seems so realistic as so many of us work very hard at being in community with others, and despite our efforts we aren't always successful. 

In the end, the message I took away again was that people often survive better together, and no one really wins unless everyone can share in the winning.  I love this message as it's one I believe in whole heartedly. 

The writing again is precise and story construction is on point. These novellas are great for book club as there's so much to discuss- themes of belonging, community, class systems, the environment, poverty and wealth, community building and more! 

The First Thousand Trees comes out September 30th!  I am grateful to ECW press for the opportunity to read the novella as an Advanced copy! 

STATS

First Published : September 2025

Pages: 136

Available as an Audio Book : not currently, but maybe soon? 

Trigger Warnings: Climate crisis, Death of child, death of parent, blood, medical situation, violence, weaponry,   (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: Aqueous by Jade Shyback 4/5 Stars

 Have I been straying from my water theme?  Kinda Sorta. 

When I saw this on Net Galley, I knew it was one for my Water 2025 extravaganza.  I wasn't sure what to expect from this debut novel, as I've had some hit and miss this year indeed.  To be honest, I kind of went into this thinking it might not be that good. We are at the halfway point in my water year, and indeed...some of it hasn't been great. This however, hit me at just the right time! 

For me, this was a hit!  Firstly let's take a moment to appreciate the cover:  It took me a hot minute to discover the cover artist and designer:  Camryn Jette Anderson (Art) and Ashley Sherrif (Design) 

Small synopsis without spoilers: This is a Young Adult Debut novel.  Readers follow Marisol through the final weeks of her last year in school when she will be assigned to a permanent assignment in her undersea settlement. Marisol's been underwater on the Aqueous campus for 10 years, she's happy and well adjusted, and dreams of becoming an elite diver, a dangerous position. Prior to this she was adopted in the chaos of a dying earth above the ocean. She's always felt her mother gave her up so she would be sure to have a better life. As she adjusts into her new adult role, Marisol learns some information about the above world that changes everything. She's unsure of what's to come, but she won't keep silent. We are left with a big CLIFFHANGER and I'm left wanting book two now.

The biggest strength of the novel is the fantastic, detailed worldbuilding. I was fascinated and really enjoyed all of the descriptions of the sea steading pods created to survive climate disaster.  This is not the first underwater city that I've traversed this year (in reading) , but this is the first one I enjoyed. I could entertain a life under the sea if it's like this one! (OK so please, just let's go now!) 

 If there is a weakness, it's in the dialogue. Overall, it is oddly stiff/formal and made me feel like I wasn't really reading/listening to teens talk among themselves, but I was able to suspend my ideas and I told myself that theses were all kiddos who learned to interact "under the sea" and of course their language might be different. In addition, the author clearly enjoys alliteration, and for some this might be annoying. For me, I decided it was a quirk of Marisol, and thankfully it wasn't always present. 

This is a novel that's a bit unique in the YA genre right now. It is a true story for Young Adults. It isn't an adult story that's dumbed down, it's clear it really was meant for the YA audience specifically. I would have LOVED this at age 12 -14.  Marisol and her cohort go through things that kids her age go through, they deal with parents, relationships, confusing romantic (not sexually intimate) situations, and the angst of disappointment as the reality of the unfairness of life creeps into their under the sea community. I really liked that this wasn't a romance disguised as YA, and that the author didn't depend on supernatural powers for her characters development. Because of this, even though the underwater environment was different, I felt that Marisol and her community were very relatable. 

The audiobook is read by the author herself and does included 2 musical numbers which were pretty enjoyable (I usually skip right over any added lyrics /poetry so if I say I enjoyed it, that's a real endorsement).

  

This might not be appreciated by adults, but I think a certain subset of the population will enjoy it and I think it's definitely a very thoughtful book for the YA audience.  It would be great for a reading group as there are lots of themes to talk about: climate, community, gender norms, coming of age, discovering one's purpose, family, the future. I do want to read book 2, and I think this author/story line will only improve with each new installment. 

STATS

First Published : May 2023 

Pages: 204

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: ocean creatures, adoption/abduction, Climate crisis, Death of child, death of parent, blood, medical situation,  (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: We Speak Through the Mountain by Premee Mohamed 5/5 Stars

 Sometimes the middle book in a trilogy is considered the weak one.  If this is the weak one, I cannot wait to read book three!!!! 

 We Speak Through The Mountain picks up right where The Annual Migration of Clouds leaves off.  I highly recommend just reading the two as one novel, because they are novellas, and book two is where this really gains steam. 

(Take a moment to look at this cover!) 

No Spoilers- because spoilers are just wrong. Readers will continue a journey with our main character Reid as she reaches the fabled Howse University. This climate dystopia continues to help readers imagine life after climate collapse; instead of being on the outside looking in, the reader is now taken into the protected domes which had preserved life to pre-collapse times.  We learn some answers to many of the questions raised in the first book.  Reid settles in to university life, although she's uneasy about many things that others seem to accept without question. She's resolute in pursuing her goal to help those outside the glittering protective dome despite strong disapproval from leaders and her peers. When bad news come from home, Reid embarks on a new journey that promises to be full of risky adventure.  (which I am super excited to follow in the next novella!) 

   At the crux of the novella series is an age old conflict between responsibility to self, family and the community overall. This conflict is set in a futuristic, but realistic world which is well imagined and easily understood.  Mohamed's writing remains clear, compelling and cinematic. As I realized I was at "the end" I felt a bit torn away from the setting that I had become immersed in, and I wondered why this hasn't been optioned for film! 

  I really liked this novella, and I think it would be a fantastic one for young adult students to read and discuss. 

I have book three tee'd up thanks to Net Galley  and ECW Press  and I can't wait to come back and (without spoilers...) tell you how it concludes. 

STATS

First Published : June 2024

Pages: 152

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, medical situations,  (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed

 I'm tempted to review this set of novellas together, but,  I thought why not do them as I go.

  I initially attempted to read this novella several months ago and I set it aside, likely due to ARC reading distractions. I did request the ARC for her latest novel- which turned out to be... the third in this series!  So, back to The Annual Migration of Clouds it was! 

     I liked this novella a lot, and I think once I finish the other two books that go along with it, I may come to love it. My usual complaint is that the novella just kind of stops.  Some things are wrapped up- but overall, as a reader, I want more. 

A  No Spoiler summary - because I really loathe Spoilers! 

Set in the future where we have finally fully destroyed the climate, Reid , a 19 year old girl is our protagonist. She's just received word that she's been accepted to a university that has taken on mythic qualities within her small survival oriented community. She's thrilled and in shock, and she definitely wants to go, but- not everyone in her community thinks it's a good idea.  Reid is infected with a fungal symbiote and this symbiote seems to have a mind of it's own! This push-pull between family/community obligations and a desire to grow and explore beyond the daily routine is something that many readers will instantly find relatable. While it's focused on the first time leaving home, I felt this as a much older adult who still struggles with family and society obligations. The back drop of climate destruction and survival gave the work a serious tone that several coming of age stories miss. The decisions that Reid makes have serious consequences for her and her community.  We end this short novella with a final decision made, and a sort of new order established, but readers are left wondering if this was the right decision!  Luckily, We Speak Through Mountains is readily available! 

     Mohamed has a beautiful writing style. It is precise but also conveys emotion and personality.  Her characters seem fully developed in just a few sentences. I felt immersed in the post-apocalyptic community and invested in the decisions that Reid had to make. Definitely one I'm going to recommend in the future! 

STATS

First Published : September 2021

Pages: 168

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: Death, absent parent, chronic illness, violence, animal death, alcohol, medical content, body horror (not a full list- read responsibly!!!!) 

Book Review Thirsty Ground By Kimber St. Lawrence 4/5 Stars

 Debut Novel Alert!!! 

Thank you to the author and Union Square and Co for the advance reader copy via Net Galley. 

I really have been trying to do only Advance Listener Copies this year because it takes me a touch longer to read a book with my eyes and my reading device has only been working intermittently.  Should I replace it?  Probably, but that is for a different day when I have E-reader money. 

I, have, however, been breaking this rule somewhat more frequently than I expected to and when I saw this on Net Galley, I had to have it.  The cover was just stunning - Shout out to the Balbusso Twins for this lovely cover. 

I mean, come on. The title tells me that water (my 2025 reading theme) is involved, and it's set in space!  This is like kryptonite for me. So... I hit that "request" button and uploaded it into my wonky e-reader. So- Let's get into it! 

Spoiler free synopsis:  (Because spoilers just suck!)

Decades after the Tsimmaon people's original planet became an arid planet, Conway and his friends train to join the elite class of hydro-seekers. He's the best in his class- he thinks, and he's wholly absorbed in the mission. Nothing is going to distract him, not pretty girls, not his friends, and not the hydro-seekers in the classes above him. He wants to be the Hero and he is certain that just one opportunity is all he needs. 

As is... often the case in actual life...things are more muddled.  

After a mission goes awry Conway is injured and left behind. Conway learns to survive in a new environment with new challenges, leading him - and others- to question their core mission and beliefs. 

This is Young Adult Space Opera and I enjoyed it. I had a few moments there at the end where I felt like I might be reading more Marie Lu. (not quite but there were some moments that pulled those same emotions out).   There is treachery, romance, jealousy, betrayal, double crosses, and subterfuge.  St. Lawrence gives the reader epic battles and chases, and a realistic portrayal of disability, while not slipping so far into the YA hero- arc as to become trite. 

There were a few points in the novel that didn't quite hang together as much as I wanted them too and a few chapters of dialogue that could have been more showing than telling, but when I got to the last chapters I was unable to put the book down as I had to know the outcome. And - whooooooo-eeeee

what an outcome. So much revealed in the last few chapters that I did not anticipate or expect. In fact, I was a little breathless with the twists and turns it took!  As a debut novel, it really was very good. 

This would be a fantastic book for YA book clubs (and possibly for certain adult clubs also) 

There's a lot to discuss-

-disability

-relationships

-trust and loyalty

-transformation

-perseverance and hope

-environmental responsibility and choices

and more, but these are the themes that I noted. 

STATS

First Published  May 2025

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : not at this time 

Trigger Warnings:  death, violence, undead creatures, gun violence, spinal injury, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

Book Review- Midnight Water City 3.5/5 stars

 I finished this book quite some time ago- as part of my water themed reads. I was hoping I'd discovered a new series that I'd love.  In the end, while I think it's a book and series for someone, it isn't one for me. That said, it might be for you! 

This is an action packed story set in the future, where cities no longer scrape the sky, but instead are built down into the sea. The reader is treated to a unique mix of Sci-Fi, Noir crime, and horror as they follow a sprightly - but world weary- 80 yr old detective as he seeks to discover the murderer of a woman known as the savior of the world. 

Published in 2021, McKinney - a Hawai'ian author, seems to draw some inspiration from the Covid-19 pandemic in the early days - when people were spilt about the virus- was it a pandemic, was it a media plot to disseminate panic? Was the vaccine real or imagined?  But instead of dragging out an imagined disease (THANK YOU Chris McKinney- we had ALOT of Pandemic fiction) he Shows us a natural disaster - averted by technology that's not well understood- leaving all the same questions. Was the disaster real? Was it made up to terrify folks? Did the technology work or was it just a ploy to control the population?  

Now, I couldn't find anywhere that he said this exactly, so, it's really my own conjecture and reaction to the novel - He did say to  KHPR (Hawai'i Public Radio) in an interview that 

"I think a part of it was sort of the lockdown, and just not wanting to write about the world in its present state, and sort of pressing my imagination to speculate what all of this looks like 100, 150 years in the future" 

 

What I loved about this book?

- Well written. McKinney  does a nice job of showing, rather than telling the world he created that's essentially lived underwater, Set obviously in Hawai'i but not in any specific Island or area. 

-Unique story line - I cannot recall reading anything exactly similar to this. I've read a lot of water books- people that dwell under the sea, mermaids, sirens, you name it.  This was unique, and since it was also well imagined and written it was painless to read. 

- Atypical characters.  There's no clear cut Hero/ine in this novel.  I do read a lot of romance, and some days- I'm mighty tired of the orphan who discovers they have special powers and only they can save the world. And that orphan is excited to "do or die" immediately.  Instead, McKinney's characters are flawed, imperfect and relatable to an extent. In some ways they are so bad, they give the reader a sense of relief, as we know in comparison we're pretty good! 

What I didn't love about the book? 

Well, essentially I won't be continuing because for whatever reason, I really just couldn't connect with any of the characters. In the end, it was an interesting story, but I found I didn't feel the itch to get the next book. All of the characters were fairly unlikeable (to me) and so with an opportunity to read more, I sort of tabled the idea. I mean, I might still go for it.  I think I liked it more than I disliked it overall! 

Who do I think would love this book? 

Readers who enjoy both Noir, and Sci-Fi with a side of body horror. This is most definitely the book for that reader, especially if they don't need the character connection that I apparently want! 

STATS

First Published 2021

Pages: 305

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings:  Medical situations, Murder, natural disaster, child death, death, gun violence, parent death, prison, environmental disaster, terrorism. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: All the Water in the World By Eiren Caffall 4.25/5 stars

 All the Water in the World is a new novel (published January 2025) that I immediately put on hold at the library. It fit so well into my water theme! It fits well in March- women's month- as the author Eiren Caffall is a woman. AND, the main character is also female AND - the narrator for the audiobook is fantastic Eunice Wong! so... how did I feel about this? 

Well, I really liked this book a lot! I would not have picked it up- but for the water theme, and I am glad I did. (the benefit of having a theme right here..) In Short we have:

-Original plot/narrative

-Coming of age

-Climate fiction  "Cli-fi" if you will

-Great narration   

No Spoiler summary: . 

Nonie is a young girl who has lived most of her life on top of the NY museum of natural History because water has flooded most ground making it less livable and not always safe. She's an unusual child, one that readers may or may not recognize themselves in, depending on the reader.  After a particularly bad flooding, Nonie and her family make a journey north to find drier ground. As one might imagine, the journey is adventure and peril in equal measure, and it's also a bit of a coming of age for Nonie as she must face loss, make decisions, and learns that some things that look safe are really just menace in disguise. 

What happens for Nonie and her family? Well, that would be the spoiler part. 

 This book was inspired by museum curators in Iraq and Leningrad during times of war, who worked to preserve history for future generations.  Interestingly, this really isn't the main focus of the book and I appreciated how the author took that inspiration and then moved into a different, but related direction. Curators preserved items of significance in hopes that future generations would be able to enjoy and learn from them and that the items would remains touchpoints for community.  While Nonie isn't dragging the blue whale up the coast, she's learning and deciding about different ways people can act in times of disaster, and which way might create the most success for everyone involved. 

When I started reading, I was intrigued as the entire setting of the book was quirky and odd, but I wasn't truly invested I kept reminding myself I was just reading for the water theme, but then, suddenly, at about 35-40% in to the book, I couldn't put it down! And to be honest, it was moving a bit slow up to that point, so while the build up and end was great in hindsight, in the midpoint, I wasn't so sure.  I was sneaking in bits of the audio at the oddest times, making sure things were going like I wanted them to for Nonie. ( but oh they didn't always go the way I hoped!)  I enjoyed a tour of the New York area of the future and while the author is not NY based, she had a good grasp of the areas, and I love love loved that!  The plotting was really very good, and the build-up  and crescendo was great- especially as this is a debut novel for Caffall. I have to admit there was a moment when I felt certain that things would not end very well, but the author skillfully brings us to a gentle conclusion that's hopeful but realistic - something we need in our current times. 

This is NOT a 'Romantasy'  and thank goodness for that, it was such a relief to read a book that didn't have a recycled plot. So if you enjoy literary fiction, and are looking for a book that's engaging with the issues of the day and interpersonal dynamics, I highly recommend picking this up.  It is dubbed as a thriller, and I didn't really find it to be thriller-y at all, so if you want a thriller, this probably is not the book for you. There is a gentleness in the writing that is maybe at odds with the topic, but at the same time, for me, just sort of fit the narrative especially coming from a child's POV.  I do recommend the audiobook because Eunice Wong is an excellent narrator, she brings the story to life, no matter what the topic. 

This book does have some mixed reviews, and I suspect people were expecting something more "action-packed" for me the perspective of Nonie was fabulous- and really captured my experiences of being that age (though thankfully I was not living on top of a museum canoeing through the Hudson in dirty foul water)  I hope you'll give this book a try, and let me know your thoughts.  This is one I am definitely suggesting for the book club! 

STATS

First Published 2025

Pages: 304

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings:  Medical situations, Storms, child death, death, gun violence, parent death, racism,   

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)