They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from HarperCollins via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: They Both Die at the End
Author: Adam Silvera

Release Date: September 15, 2017


Synopsis: On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.

Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

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Review: I've been trying to catch up on some older queer books this year for Pride. I read this a few months ago and find myself struggling with specifics (because 2020 and time has been very unusual), but I enjoyed this book sooooo much! I read it during a gay cruise and over the course of just a few days. 

This is such a great story. The concept is straight out of a Black Mirror episode, but the characters and story are wholly YA and queer. I love the moral and ethical quandaries brought up. What does it mean to live? What does it mean to die? What really matters in life?

I give this book a 5/5. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. Adam Silvera always delivers on unique concepts with so much heart.

--PAUL

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from HarperCollins via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Infinity Son (Infinity Cycle #1)
Author: Adam Silvera

Release Date: January 14, 2020


Synopsis: Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.

Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.

Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be.

Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.

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Review: I read this book a few months ago and unfortunately procrastinated writing the review until now (June 2020 in a current world where time moves in mysterious ways) and I'm struggling to think of specific things. BUT, I absolutely loved this book. I think one of the reasons I didn't take notes while I read for this book was I was so entrenched within the pages. It was fun to read. I am all here for any YA Fantasy with queer lead characters! 

The worldbuilding is well thought through. It's a modern world, but a world in which magic is a thing. There are magical creatures. The phoenixes are so cool!

Honestly, you should just go pick up this book. If you're a fan of Adam Silvera's other books, modern fantasy, queer YA, or any combination of those this is a must read. I'm very excited for the sequel! I give this book a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Reverie by Ryan La Sala - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Reverie
Author: Ryan La Sala
Release Date: December 3, 2019


Synopsis: All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different.

As Kane pieces together clues, three almost-strangers claim to be his friends and the only people who can truly tell him what’s going on. But as he and the others are dragged into unimaginable worlds that materialize out of nowhere—the gym warps into a subterranean temple, a historical home nearby blooms into a Victorian romance rife with scandal and sorcery—Kane realizes that nothing in his life is an accident. And when a sinister force threatens to alter reality for good, they will have to do everything they can to stop it before it unravels everything they know.

This wildly imaginative debut explores what happens when the secret worlds that people hide within themselves come to light.

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Review: This book is so queer and I love it! Not only is the protagonist a gay teen, but the antagonist is a drag queen sorceress! Reverie is full of imaginative mini-worlds that are beautifully fantastical. They span genres and play with tropes in a fun way. Each time one of these reveries began, I got so excited to read about the details of this one and how they related to the person the reverie was spewing from.

This book isn't just a fun "magic girl" team fantasy. There's also some very universal queer themes. Kane has his past taken from him and has to quite literally find himself again. The theme of finding yourself and finding/making your own space is central to this story.

I really liked the team component of this book. It definitely has a Sailor Moon, Power Rangers, or Animorphs vibes in that each person of the time has their own powers they bring to the table as well as their own faults.

La Sala does an excellent job of revealing things slowly over time. When they're relevant. And when it really moves the story forward. This was not a slow read for me.

I obviously am giving this book a 5/5. This is such a beautiful book. I wish I had this book as a teen.


--PAUL