Such a beautiful cover! Can‘t wait to read this one! 😍

Where to start with how much I loved this one ...

The worldbuilding is done beautifully and every detail really brings the Meridian to life. I also appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation and how the different identities were casually interwoven without being the sole aspect of who a character was.

It‘s such a great story about gods, monsters and status and I can‘t wait to see where it goes next!

When you make a purchase through your fingers but then it shows up in the mail and it was all worth it 😍😍😍

Book mail is the best kind of mail!😍

The thing I loved most about this was the concept of jubilation as a superpower. The fact that it was used as a means of survival reminded me of how many times joy is used as a coping mechanism for trauma, especially within the Black community. It was great to watch Evvie get a handle on her power and come into her own as a young woman and how that carried over to her various relationships.

As if I didn‘t love the story enough, the illustrations in the graphic novel only enhanced it. Everything that happens in the present tense is done in such vivid color, with the flashbacks in a blue wash which definitely gives off the somber mood. I always see images in my head when I read, but the pain (and even joy in some places) on display here was is so beautifully haunting and compliments the original work very well.

“The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years - if it ever did end - began, so far as I know or can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain.” 🤡🎈

“In one way or another, we were afraid. We were afraid of books, but more than that. We were afraid of ideas, discussions, changes, because we were afraid of what those things could take from us.”

#bannedbooksweek

“Legends are dangerous, Bree. Don‘t underestimate them.”

What a beautiful blend of Arthurian legend and Black girl magic this was! I went into this just on the basis of a King Arthur retelling, but got so much more in terms of ancestry and reclaiming places and power.

If this is any indication of what‘s to come in the series, I can‘t wait for more adventures! ❤️⚔️💙

I don‘t think there‘s enough words to express how much I enjoyed my time in the kingdom of Aritsar. Along with an adventure that doesn‘t let up and themes of loyalty, familial bonds and purpose, the story also blends important topics like colonization and patriarchy into a beautifully written epic that I was sad to see end. I already miss this world and can‘t wait to return back to follow Tarisai and her council siblings for even more adventures.

This was such an important and beautifully written read. Though it ended on a hopeful note, the feeling was bittersweet as I look at the lines I was able to connect while reading and realize that there‘s still so much work to be done. As painful as this was at times, it‘s definitely a conversation that needs to be had – not just for others like Ashley exploring their blackness, but those privileged to walk through the world differently.

Although it took a few passes to understand what was being communicated when a letter disappeared from the story, I thought it was a really creative way to demonstrate that a letter was no longer allowed in the town, which also trickled down to the pages of the book. It also did a great job touching on the topic of censorship.

Overall this was a fun read and I‘d definitely visit it again in the future.

Finishing this one up today

Scary and sad how relevant this is while taking place in 1992 ...

Something told me to pick this one off the shelf yesterday and I‘m so glad it did. I don‘t think I‘ve ever read anything like it and as triggering as this was for me in many areas, I couldn‘t put it down. I don‘t know if I have all the words in me to say how I appreciative I am to have read this and how seen I felt, but this is now my favorite read of the year so far. 😌

And the wizarding lessons sprinkled throughout? I REALLY needed those!!

Beautiful book mail!!

Can‘t wait to get into this one!! 😍

Book mail ... finally! 😍

A little late night reading 🌙🏳️‍🌈

Elizabeth Acevedo has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors - couldn‘t wait to pick this one up along with finally adding The Poet X to my collection 😍🤗

After these last few reads left me in my thoughts on different levels, I decided to go a tad lighter for my next pick.

I‘d been rewatching Birds of Prey in between reads to clear my head so this seemed like the obvious choice 😊 ❤️🖤

Given how much stress and anxiety I‘ve been under with this whole COVID-19 situation, I feel good about how much reading I got done this month. I had to make myself take a couple of mental health days just to breathe, but I‘ve never been happier to have books as an escape mechanism.

Hopefully things will get back to normal sooner than later ... but until then, at least I know I‘ll have all the time in the world to tackle my always growing TBR.

Angie Thomas‘s next novel is 17 years before Starr Carter and The Hate U Give focused on her father Maverick

I‘m so excited for this!! 😍

What‘s left of my quarantine library haul for #stacksaturday

I thought this might be enough to get me through until this is all over, but at the rate I‘m going through them I might be in trouble 🙈

Maybe I‘ll just reread some off my shelf on the chance I run out 🤷🏾‍♀️

When it feels like you‘ve been waiting forever for something and it‘s finally in your hands 😍

I can‘t wait to absorb these stories!!

Yesterday: I gotta get through these library books before they have to go back ...

This morning: “Your 2 holds are available for pickup”

Please send help! 🙈

Tessering with Meg Murry, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which & Mrs. Whatsit was my first taste of science fiction. And while Meg didn‘t necessarily look like me, I found a lot of similarities - the love of math and science and definitely the self-consciousness. I gave this a reread about a year or so ago, but I‘ve never actually read the others in the series so I‘ll have to get on that soon.

#throwbookthursday

One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite stories in the collection

#bookquotewednesday

This one caught my eye from both the title and the beautiful cover art. I also really love anything related to music so a book detailing the history of women in hip-hop is right up my alley.

Can‘t wait to get my hands on this one!

#tbrtuesday

Ify! 😍😍

This was a beautiful and intense mixture of Ready Player One in Wakanda with a touch of The Hate U Give and I loved every page! Relatable characters, great world-building, and a well appreciated discussion of safe spaces.

Full review: https://litventuresofaravenpuff.wordpress.com/2020/03/09/book-review-slay/

Following Natasha & Daniel around New York City for #mapmonday🗽

“Every word a woman writes changes the story of the world, revises the official version.”

Happy International Women‘s Day!! 👑

When 2 books becomes 6 ... 🙈

#stacksaturday #libraryhaul

The combination of this opening line and the overall premise of the story was more than enough to get me intrigued and it was everything I imagined it would be. Aside from the dark atmosphere, I really loved the focus on familial relationships - not only between Ayoola and Korede, but their parents as well.

Hoping I can add this one to my collection soon🤞🏾

#firstlinefridays

This was probably the first series of books outside of maybe Goosebumps or Babysitters Club that I repeatedly checked out from the library and reread multiple times when I was younger. Much like Cassie Logan from the Logan series (that I have to find and finish reading immediately!), Addy Walker was one of the few characters I saw myself in on library shelves and I loved spending time with her and her family.

#throwbookthursday

This was pitched to me as a mixture of Marie Antoinette and magic and I could not have been more in love. It was a great take on how obsessed we are as a society with beauty and just how far people are willing to go to gain their definition of perfection.

#bookquotewednesday

I spotted this one on bookstore run last week and immediately added it to my list on Goodreads. I‘ve always felt like there was more missing from Black History discussions in school, and now that more of these stories are starting to surface in different forms, I finally get the chance to fill in those spots.

#tbrtuesday

Gathering my stack of potentials for March

Some of these are carry overs from last month because I had to take the time to fully absorb those reads, so here‘s to hoping I‘ll actually make it through them this time🤞🏾

A little Black Girl Magic pixie dust to close out Black History Month 👑✊🏾

February Wrap-up 📚

I had a few more books that I wanted to get to this month, but I never expected for these to hit me the way they did. I had to take some time to sit with my feelings after I finished each one, but I‘m still grateful for the experiences I had through each story.

These (with the exception of Pet since I already own it) will definitely be added to my shelf.

I love the way this was told in both the flipping back and forth through time and giving Jerome a tour guide and support system in the presence of Emmett Till. It gave this a slight fantasy feel while still grounded in reality.

As heartbreaking as it was to read this at times (as with many stories like this), it was such an important read and I‘m glad it crossed my path.

#firstlinefridays

Today‘s #throwbookthursday goes to Born a Crime

I don‘t remember exactly when or how I stumbled upon Trevor Noah, but I loved how he told stories. This gave me such insight into his life and I could hear his voice in every page I read.

Great world-building and representation across the board - so much care went into Jam‘s character and giving her a great support system as a transgender child.

This was such a great read with an equally important message and I hope it finds its way into everyone‘s hands.

Full review: https://litventuresofaravenpuff.wordpress.com/2020/02/26/book-review-pet/

#bookquotewednesday

Today‘s destination for #mapmondays is Orïsha

This was one of the first books I picked up when I started reading again and one of the things I loved most was the wordbuilding display of maji powers.

I haven‘t had a chance to start Virtue and Vengeance yet but I‘m definitely ready for more adventures in this world!

Rest in Heaven Katherine Johnson 😇

This was the second story collection I read last year, but one of the first I‘ve ever truly connected with in both topics and genre.

I‘d love to see some of these turn into either full novels or adaptations - there was so many instances of beautifully creepy imagery that it‘d be great to see how someone interpreted it for the screen.

#firstlinefridays

Celie‘s story has stuck with me far beyond my first read and many viewings of the movie. I loved following a character find pieces of herself throughout life and grow stronger as an individual.

I can‘t believe it‘s taken me so long to add it to my personal library. But with such a beautiful cover, I couldn‘t pass up the opportunity for a spur of the moment buy ... even if I‘m trying to cut down 🙈

#throwbookthursday #bookmail

This book was on my TBR for a little while and I expected to enjoy it when I finally read it, but I didn‘t expect how much it would wreck me in terms of connecting to a character trying to figure out their life and identity - in this case a queer identity.

Much like Riot Baby, I‘m still processing my feelings before I let words hit the page, but this is definitely the most connected I‘ve felt to a story so far this year.

Happy birthday to two incredible authors who had beautiful ways with words

Thanks for your presence❤️

I‘m trying to expand my reading outside of solely fiction, and this one caught my eye not just from the beautiful cover, but the combination of autobiography and magical realism.

In all of the rereads I‘ve done of the Harry Potter series, I‘ve always wondered what it‘d be like to have a story focused on a black wizard - now it looks like I might finally get that answer!

#tbrtuesday