Thoughtful Reviews for Every Book Lover

5 out of 5 stars The Sins of the Father Shall Be Visited Upon The Son Format: Kindle

I Repeat Myself by Natalia Shafa is one of those books that moves quickly and keeps you turning the pages, but it also makes you sit with some very big questions about childhood trauma and how it affects each generation. It made me think a lot about whether trauma is something passed down genetically or whether there is always a choice not to repeat the footsteps of our parents. In that way, it reminded me a little of Margaret Atwood, especially the blend of science fiction with deeper questions about identity, memory, and the weight we carry from the past.

The writing is strong and the pacing is excellent. It is easy to see how this author became a best seller with her earlier work. I really liked how she created four different characters who all originate from the same source but each have their own distinct personality. At times I felt a genuine sense of empathy for all three of the later Ambrose Flints. The story does not shy away from showing how children can both love and hate their parents, even when they understand the damage that has been done and the damage that might continue. Not many writers capture that space in the middle where a parent can be both everything you have and the source of deep pain. The moments of humour in the characters' inner thoughts were a welcome balance to some of the darker parts.

What impressed me most was how carefully the author handled the difficult subject matter. The worldbuilding around fertility issues, VR, and the ethical questions that come with them felt believable and well thought out. By the end of the story, there is a strange kind of hope as the characters try to break the patterns that shaped them. It also leaves you questioning whether trauma that is embedded so deeply across generations can ever truly be erased, but I will leave that for readers to consider.

4 out of 5 stars Spirally Good Format: Kindle

I enjoyed The Spiral Awakens: Spirals of Aztulan by Sara Langhe. It took me a little while to get into it at the beginning, but that might just be the nature of the opening. Six main characters all meeting each other for the first time in the magical world of Aztulan is a lot to hold at once.

What really stood out for me were the ideas and the imagery. Aztulan itself felt almost like a dreamscape with its violet skies, creeping vines, and strange fruit. I enjoyed following the different quests the characters went on, and found myself drawn more to the women, particularly Sasha's strength and Blair's paintings. There is a lot going on beneath the surface too, with themes of memory, grief, regret, and guilt woven through the story. Each quest becomes a way for the characters to work through those things, not alone, but together. In that sense it reminded me a little of The Celestine Prophecy. It is fantasy-sci-fi, but there are strong spiritual threads running through it as well.

I liked the budding romance between Alayna and Denali, and I appreciated that each character had their own distinct personality and something real to bring to the quest. I also liked that they came from all over Earth, which gave the group a genuine diversity that felt meaningful rather than token.

My main issue was probably the pacing. The beginning felt a bit slow, while the ending seemed to move very quickly, with some significant time jumps compressed into only a few pages.

Overall though, I found it an enjoyable read. It is the kind of book to settle into over a few quiet days, especially if you want to blob on the couch and disappear into a strange, vivid world for a while.

5 out of 5 stars This 11 Year Old Author Delights Format: Kindle

A New Pet by Kaylea Mc Brien follows Emma, a young girl longing for a puppy of her own after losing her great-grandmother. Once the puppy arrives, the story moves through a series of gentle, relatable mini-adventures that show the joys, and responsibilities of being a new pet owner. It’s a simple, wholesome tale that young readers will enjoy.

But what truly stood out to me was discovering at the end that this book was written by an 11-year-old author. Knowing that added a whole new layer of appreciation. For someone so young to structure a story, write clear scenes, and capture the warmth of a girl-and-puppy bond is genuinely impressive. This is inspiring and exciting to see a writer developing their voice at such a young age.

A lovely little book and a remarkable achievement for an emerging young author.