Danaé Morriah

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If only I told her - Laura Nowlin 2.9/5 I loved the book until it switched points of view. Then, Jack's point of view grew on me, and I tolerated it because I related to his pain. But Autumn's point of view, I could've done without. I was hoping Finny could at least get his own story, but it's another thing that is taken over by others. I suppose that could've been the author's point, that even in a book about Finny, it's still all about Autumn and the people he loved. If that was the case, instead of Autumn having the last section it could've been Angelina and her grieving while coming to the realization that a piece of her son will live on. The expectation for this book was better than the book in my opinion. As soon as I finished, if he had been with me, I wanted Finny's side of the story, and we received part of it, but not enough. I would've preferred the change in character point of view or to have had a lovely-bones narration of him checking on the ones that took his death the hardest. He could've been with Sylvie at her house when no one came to check on her, with Autumn at his grave after the funeral, with Jack as he started college, or with his mother as she reminisced about him as a baby. If I could hold on to Finny's story I would've. I liked Jack's narration, but the emotion I would've felt that if it was told from Finny watching over him, I would've lost it. Favorite characters: Finny, Jack, Sylvie, Brett

The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett "She hadn't realized how long it takes to become somebody else, or how lonely it can be living in a world not meant for you." Brit Bennett 4/5 I will start by saying this book is not quite what I expected it to be. It had a slow start for starters and placed you in the middle of a story you knew nothing about, which was intentional, but a prologue would have been beneficial. However, once you get a handle on the wild ride, it's hard to let go. I will say the premise is one that interested me. Going into this novel recommended to me, I wholeheartedly expected it to be a mystery of a sister lost not by her own choice. I thought it would be a tale of one sister searching for the other, presumed taken; it didn't occur to me that Stella would have left on her own until I learned about where they were from. Millard is an interesting place, to say the least. A place where, to the outside world, it is still labeled as colored, but to those that live amongst one another inside of it, they don't consider themselves to be the stereotypical idea of black, and they look down or away from those that aren't light skinned. It's a confusing state to be in, especially for young girls that didn't know any better. When you consider the circumstances of their surroundings and the trauma of watching their father be killed right in front of them just because he was black, I commend them for staying as long as they did. It was clear from the memories shared about their childhood that Desiree wanted to leave the moment she lost her father. She couldn't fathom why they would remain in a home where their father was killed. Whereas Stella was disassociated from the ordeal. She pushed it away from her mind and focused on what was right in front of her and we see her do that throughout the entire story. Personally, I can understand both sides of the coin. Desiree wanted to escape so badly that she couldn't fathom there could be worse things outside of their little town. And when the two people she loved the most hurt her more than her past ever could, she returned home to a place of comfort, to a world she understood. On the other side, Stella didn't know what she wanted, just that her dreams of education were crushed and the things she couldn't tell anyone about were eating her alive. She always chose to disassociate from her past so when the opportunity for a new life that involved pretending like her old life never happened came in the form of a proposal, she jumped in feet first with no instinct to look back. I understand the choice both sisters made. I do wish there was a happier ending, if not for the sisters, then for their daughters. The closing focused on Jude more than Kennedy, and if that was the case, perhaps each chapter could have had their clothing lives wrapped up. It seemed to me the spotlight was placed more on Desiree and Jude as their story went on and when it initially began. It was almost as if Stella and Kennedy's stories were told for the sake of sharing both sides. Favorite characters: Jude, Early, Loretta, Reese

Clap When We Land - Elizabeth Acevedo "A queen offers her hand to be kissed, & can form it into a fist while smiling the whole damn time." 4.6/5 I will start by saying this book is not what I expected it to be but in a good way. There was a bit of a slow start to the story, but it allowed us to fully understand the world of the sisters before they found out about each other and before they met. In this touching story about grief and family, I related to Yaharia, a girl growing up in the city who's holding her father's secret, a secret she suspects only she knows, and her father dies without her knowing the other side of him. She finds out that her father is married in the States to her mother and also in the Dominican Republic, where he goes every summer without explanation. In November 2001, their father's flight crashed on its way to Santo Domingo, killing 265 passengers who were 90% Dominican. The media largely ignored it after reporting the initial crash, but the impact it had on the Dominican community stretched across the seas. Clap When You Land tells the story of two girls and two sisters who share one father but do not know it until he is gone. Camino and Yaharia want a swimmer in the Dominican Republic with aspirations of going to Columbia medical school, and the other a former chess champion from New York. They never knew the other existed, or the reason their father left them for chunks of the year. But when he dies in The Crash, they gravitate toward each other and miss their grief and investigation of who their father was. Both girls have challenges they are trying to overcome following the death of their father. Camino is faced with financial hardship as her father paid the tuition for her school in the Dr, and he paid the local pimp, El Cerro, to leave her alone. However, with her father gone, her hope to escape to the States to study medicine and to have a chance at a better life is threatened along with her safety. Yaharia is faced with emotional hardship as her mother drowns in grief and obligation to her family when they find out about the crash settlement. Youharia is fighting through anger toward her father, sadness for him being gone, and confusion for not truly knowing the man she thought her father was. I think the revolution to the girls about the others' existence was done well. Their discovery of one another helps them feel a hole started way before their father died. Seeing the two lives their father lived and the pieces of himself he had to keep from the other taught them the complexity of their father and the flaws of the man they both loved. Through this book, you see the two sisters mature by the loss and forgiveness they endure. Overall, it's a beautiful story that something can truly spring forth from loss. My only complaint is the story started slow, and then once they met in person, things rushed along. I wanted to see them buy more than the funeral and the beach incident. But this is a small complaint still finish the book rather quickly.

Bridgerton: Romancing Mister Bridgerton - Julia Quinn "I love you with everything I am, everything I've been, and everything I hope to be.” 3.6/5 For once since starting this series, I enjoyed the TV adaptation of the book. It started well with my full attention, but somewhere after Colin found out about Penelope's secret, the storyline began to dwindle. It could be that I knew prior that Penelope was whistled down. I imagine that if I read the books before watching the show, I would have been thoroughly shocked and more entertained. I will say that I did enjoy Collin and Penelope's friends-to-lovers storyline. The scene in the church when he follows her gave me goosebumps. That was one of my favorite parts in this story, that and when Collin stood up to Penelope's mom. (And if I may add, how weird was it that her mother was trying to marry Felicity to Colin? I mean the age Gap must have been grand to the point that everyone except Penelope's mom was disgusted by the idea). Although this was a love story about Penelope and Colin, I couldn't help but be drawn to my favorite characters in the series. Starting, of course, with Lady Danbury,y, her love for Penelope is so heartwarming that I wish they conveyed it more in the show. She was willing to become Penelope's godmother of love, so to speak before Colin came to his senses. In this book, you really can gather the sense that Penelope reminds Lady Danbury of herself. Next, I know that Eloise's story is next, but the mystery surrounding her in this book of who she's writing letters to and why she's locking herself in her room without explanation builds up the next novel too well that I almost picked up immediately, but I am thoroughly excited. Lastly, my all-time favorite Bridgerton groom, Anthony; his loyalty to his brother and family in this book was touching. The way he helped Colin without judgment of Penelope's secret, speaks to the character of the man he is. (Great husband selection Kate.) Overall, while this book was not my favorite in the Bridgeton series, I would place it at number three out of the four novels I have read so far in this series. It wasn't as shockingly devastating as the Duke and I, but it was not as page-turning as an offer with a gentleman was, and it wasn't my favorite, which was the viscount who Loved me.

Slay by Brittney Morris - "All I ever wanted to do was escape into this magical world where for once I don’t have to act a certain way because I’m Black, and where I don’t have to answer certain questions because I’m the Black authority in the room, and where if I do something that’s not stereotypically Black, I’m different." 1.8/5 I will start by saying this is the second Brittney Morris book that I've read, and while I LOVED The Cost of Knowing, I couldn't connect with SLAY. This disconnect shocked me as the pretense does sound interesting and like something I would read, but four chapters in, I couldn't bring myself to continue. As a writer, I don't like not finishing a book and I always strive to see the story from several points of view before I close a book and choose not to return to it. From what I've read from Brittney Morris, I was overly excited to dive into the story. I enjoy the worlds she creates and the stories she tells. However, this story seemed more like a video game backstory or almost like a comic. As someone who isn't as immersed in the video game era, entering this book without any prior knowledge made it a hard sell for me. That's not to say it's a bad read by any means. I would recommend this book to a gamer girl or a Black girl in STEM in a heartbeat. A part of this disconnect, however, was also the reality of the story. The belief that two teens with no money, prior expert experience, or even a mentorship built an entire game and kept the secret to themselves from those closest to them is hard to believe. The long hours spent on world-building and coding, and with the purchases made, were hard to fathom that no one (especially parents) noticed anything. In my experience, growing up in a black household with one parent and as an only child, it was still hard to hide things from my mother for long periods. The Main Character of this novel, with both parents and siblings and an active social and romantic life, being able to lead two lives with no suspicion, is unrelatable and unrealistic at Best, in my opinion. I did enjoy the black girls in the stem narrative, but the disconnection made this a DNF for me. The premise may have been more believable if the characters were in college where one has the freedom to isolate themselves without interruption or suspicion and where a job could be implemented to not only fill in the finance Gap but the opportunity of how she developed her skills. Also, the characters did seem mature enough to be college students, which is likely attributed to the disconnect between the setting and narrative. While the story has the potential to be great, for me, I miss the mark and leave my excitement for future reads by this author, which will involve some research and review analysis.

Finding Me by Viola Davis - "I knew my life would be a fight, and I realized this: I had it in me." 4.8/5 Being placed in the backseat of this emotionally overcoming novel is not for the weak or fate of the heart. Viola Davis gives a direct, straight to the veggies approach, and does not disappoint. From the first one of the book you're hooked, often find yourself saying, "Yeah, that sounds like Mrs. Viola." It's amazing to be able to hear her voice and every word, line, and page. As one of the greatest actresses of our generation, her voice is prominent, we hear it, with eyes closed, backs turned, or mid-conversation, and collectively know that's Viola Davis. The depth of storytelling presence captivates you, and Finding Me is no different. From start to finish, I was engulfed in the Journey of the story, seat belt on for impact. Through interviews and the portrayal of certain characters, she's played over her career, the feeling that her childhood was rough was present but nothing prepares you for the reality of hearing her tell it. I fell apart with her as she relived and retail stories of her childhood, adulthood, the price of being a struggling actress and artist that no one advertises, and the hurtful and at times infuriating truth of overcoming your past to better your present, to extend your future, and to find yourself. I'll admit, I expected no less from Mrs Viola Davis. I think if the book was bad I couldn't comprehend the possibility. Anyway, I'm glad that is far from the case. Not only does this book pull you in, but it holds up a mirror to every black girl who has felt unseen, unworthy, and unfound. It made me reflect on my life and the eight-year-old girl I often see when I think about how far I can go and the things she had to endure to get me here. Finding yourself is a long, hard, and triggering process to say the least and if you haven't thought about that journey, finding me will make you more than consider it. To feel, know, and comprehend Viola's story may take you more than one read, and more than one time of your life. I read this book at 25 and already I know the future me will need to hear those words again. It's hard when you're on the Journey of chasing a dream, of giving your all to a vision of your life, of your joy but your reality doesn't reflect it, and your past makes it seem almost impossible. Finding the strength and motivation to pull yourself out of the floor, beating and bruising for the next round of life is not for the week, and lying on the floor and defeat was not an option for Mrs Viola Davis. Favorite Quotes: • Memories are immortal. They’re deathless and precise. They have the power of giving you joy and perspective in hard times. Or, they can strangle you. Define you in a way that’s based more in other people’s tucked-up perceptions than truth. • May you live long enough to know why you were born. • Taking off the wig in HTGAWM was my duty to honor Black women by not showing an image that is palatable to the oppressor, to people who have tarnished, and punished the image of Black womanhood for so long. It said all of who we are is beautiful. Even our imperfections. • And whereas I can’t live inside yesterday’s pain, I can’t live without it. • Remember the love. . . . Don’t play the pain and betrayal, play the woman fighting hard to restore the love.

Bridgerton: The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn - " A man with charm is an entertaining thing, and a man with looks is, of course, a sight to behold, but a man with honor - ah, he is the one, dear reader, to which young ladies should flock" 5/5 This book was way better than the first, proof that I finished it in 3 days which never happens. I simply couldn't put it down as it elicited an amusement going through and through. I will say there's a hint of bias as the second season of the show is also my favorite, likely because I most with Kate's character. The novel was no different in that respect. I found myself predicting what she was saying and relating it to her decisions and internal monologues. I enjoyed that this book didn't focus too much on Anthony's quest to marry Edwina. I like that the story, for the most part, focused on Kate and Anthony. I felt more chemistry between them than with the Duke and Duchess. It could be my preference of enemies to lover angles when it comes to romance than being "forced to be together because of societal rules." I mean Kate and Anthony were forced to marry after the beef fiasco but we were rooting for them to marry before that happened. The strong connection between Kate and Anthony was also the fuel to the fire. Whether it was the shared trauma the thrill of the chase, or a combination of both, it didn't make sense for them to desire anyone else. A part of me crave that scene of jealousy when Anthony falls into the lake from the show but the story worked well without it. Their singular desire made the carriage crime scene all that more impactful. There was never a temptation or a hope of loving anyone else, it was only them, and the thought of either of them losing the other drove them crazy. I saw a lot of myself and Kate and perhaps that's why this book so far is my favorite. Surprisingly, I like this book better than the season because we got to see Kate and Anthony in love. Yes, they were yearning for each other for the entire season but the end of it felt rushed and we didn't get to see much of their married life like we did with Daphne and Simon. But the book feels that Gap so for that I am grateful. However, I did like Edwina better in the show. In the book, she is presented as more gullible than Kate. It very well could be the actress's betrayal of the character that shines strength into the character on the screen and I have considered her age as the weight on her shoulders. Barry, on the other hand, the show did not do her justice. That scene with her telling Kate about her mother and the three vows she made, was moving. She reminded me of a lot of Violet and I wish we got to see those motherly moments more on the screen. Overall, I'm glad I continued with my Bridgerton Journey to the second book because it did not disappoint. This book portrayed chemistry in a way that still leaves me in awe and gives me hope for the next book. While book one was somewhat disappointing, book two comes back with a swing. It is a book I can see myself rereading in the future and for that, I am excited, because typically I would steer clear of predictable romance. So hopefully book three will uphold that standard. Now on to Benedict.....

Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - " Reformed rakes make the best husbands." 2.9/5 I've set out on the Journey of reading the Bridgeton books. Although late to the party, I hope to bring a fashionably late perspective. The Duke and I were meant to be a refreshing read after the Red Rising series because who doesn't want a little romance after war? Anyhow, this quick read was not what I expected it to be. Guiltily, I have seen the first two seasons of the show which may have clouded my judgment more than I would have liked it to. And when I say more than clouded my judgment, it sent me in with high expectations they came to a halt with the description of Simon. I couldn't stop imagining the Simon I came to Love from the series. However, I still rooted for their romance in the beginning and Daphne was still a character favorite initially. Her character remained unchanged in some ways and she was still the elegant and mysteriously, cool girl that I had come to know while watching the show. For that initial stability, I was grateful. I love the bond between her and her brothers which I also didn't expect much of. Colin in particular was the brother I wish I had and Anthony and his moments of protection aside from the threats and actual follow-throughs of violence were in admirable second on the list of favorite Bridgerton boys. Now after finishing this book, I'm not sure what the excitement was about. The show is better which is rare with adaptions but I suppose that that speaks more to the mind of Shonda Rhimes. While I tend to avoid romance books for their unrealistic nature, out of the options filling the genre I would not have expected this to be a fan favorite. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice read if you want a quick read on vacation or a pallet cleanser after a complex read as was the case for this "gentle reader". This book reminds me of those Hallmark or daytime movies that are put on to pass the time or you want to watch something while you busy yourself with other tasks. It's cute and one dimensional and it leaves you with that "that was swell" feeling. The fake dating trope, well done before, was not played on enough in this book. From the first conversation between Daphne and Simon, we are made to believe that Simon is immediately in love with her. There was no build-up of friendship, just intrigued to lust to madly in love. Now the scene that's debated among many readers. The scene where Daphne forces herself onto Simon to get pregnant was very uncomfortable to read and the book just glosses over it. It even goes as far as to allow Simon to blame himself for not pushing Daphne off of him even though he was intoxicated. And it goes on to defend Daphne, playing off as she didn't know what she was doing because of her lack of teaching on the subject of reproduction but she easily figured out the healthy seed equation pretty quickly. Poor Simon and his process of the events in the chapter to follow. A simple and light edition to the genre of romance, the Duke and I lacked complexity and fully flushed characters and detailed events. I am utterly shocked that this is a novel that everyone was raving about. Well, I intend to read the rest of the series as a blueprint for future seasons I hope the books get better from here and feel my ache between the seasons of the Netflix show. On to Anthony and Kate... Favorite Quotes: • "Men are sheep. Where one goes, the rest will soon follow. -Lady Whistledown • It's the curse of motherhood. You're required to love us even when we vex you. Favorite Characters: Colin, Lady Danbury, Simon, Violet and Anthony.

Dark Age by Pierce Brown - "The key is having a long memory for the sweet, and a short one for the biter." 5/5 All I can say is that I was not ready. I knew a war was coming and there would be bloodshed on both sides but I wasn't ready for the twists and turns of this war. I started off being disappointed in Darrow for not aiding in his son's rescue with Sevro but that was because initially, we didn't know much about Pax. We knew he was intelligent and observant and that he resented his father. However, as we see him train with the obsidians and challenge Ephraim mentally, we get to see a true Darrow and Virginia hybrid. I will say, I enjoyed the mini Darrow and Servo moments between Pax and Electra but I missed the real thing. The small glimpses of Sevro on the quest to save his daughter and godson weren't enough! I missed that disgusting goblin. For me, the surprise deaths and resurrections were the best part. For example, when Sephrina died I was not prepared. I mean I wasn't sad or her biggest fan because she was annoying but her getting sliced in half in the desert was not on my bingo card. However, Alexander's death was UNCALLED FOR. I was momentarily rooting for Lysander with him being Cassius's ward and all, he had some redemption potential but then he had to go and kill Alexander. The crazy thing is, he's doing all of this to repair the damage he thinks Darrow did to society and his family with the rising but instead, he's turning into a twisted version of him. I don't feel the slightest bit bad for him when he finds out his grandmother murdered his parents and then wiped his memory of his mother. That's who he's choosing to fight for. Whose allies he's bedding and crawling back to, whose ideals he wishes to reclaim. He left Cassius to die with no proof of a body to begin his war and maybe that's why I don't like him. Speaking of uncalled-for actions.....why did Ulysses have to die? I was ready to slam the book shut at that point. I know Harmony died and he was avenged but to me, her death wasn't painful enough for killing a newborn. Where's that blood eagle they gave Sefi? I also had mixed feelings about her character, initially, I did like her, but I saw some hope in my moment of grieving Ragnar. I hoped Sefi would be what he couldn't but she was too gullible, too curious of claim and change, and too ...quiet. Now who I can't wait to see more of. Well, Cassius of course. I bloody screamed when he returned. I knew he would (no body, no proof) but I had no idea when. I'm interested in Lyria's story and that thing in her head. Will Volga become what Sefi couldn't? Will Servo and his howlers survive the cloned Jackel? Will Lysander get his revenge or the other side of his face burned off? Will Darrow get back to his family? Only time will tell...or is it called light bringer? Favorite Quotes: • "You asked, what do I fear? I fear a man who believes in good. For he can excuse any evil." • "I'll never get used to seeing the fear Servo wakes in people. Deep down they know Darrow is operating on a framework of logic. No one, not even me, believes that Servo is sane." • "During war, the laws are silent." • "A man is his actions, not his blood." • "Fear those who seek your company for their own vanity. As soon as you eclipse them in the mirror, it won't be the mirror they break " Favorite Characters: Cassius, Darrow, Pax, Ephraim, Victra, Servo, Virginia, Volga, Ozgar