Ain't Love Grand?!

Release Date: April 13, 2021

Hi, my name is Kim and I am a hopeful romantic.  Even at the age of 44, single, and being told by all the data in the world that my chances of finding love are slimmer and slimmer, I still 100% believe in love.
I love rom-com movies and romance books.  The stories in Love in Color are rich, poignant, and downright beautiful.  

In her debut collection, internationally acclaimed writer Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.

Each story is the essence of a re-telling from various cultures around the world, with love being the central theme. Bolu does an amazing job with expressing what love is...she paints pictures with it, you hear songs with it, you want to wrap up in it. It is simply beautiful.

Rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

Author Bolu Babalola

The Golden Child

Lately, I have not read much for pleasure because I am on the judging panel for 2 different book panels.  However, I recently finished The Gilded Ones and it was FANTASTIC! (Thank you Hear Our Voices Blog Tour and Delacorte Press for gifting me a copy of the book.

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Author Namina Forna

The Gilded Ones is West African-inspired, feminist YA fantasy.  The author, Namina Forna, was inspired by the deeply patriarchal societies in her native country of Sierra Leone and here in the US, where she attended college.  Basically the same pig, just a different dress (my words, not the author).  The book looks at the patriarchy and it is used to determine the narrative for women including our place and our worth.  It also examines how it thrives and survives, including how women and non-binary people survive under the patriarchy. 

I loved all the powerful, uplifting, supportive women in this book.  The young women in this book are in a precarious situation, yet they support each other to the end.  Each character is powerful in their own way.  In a world where the men basically determine your worth, these young women uplift each other and find a way to determine their own worth.
The action was fast-paced, the characters were well developed and I like how Ms. Forna did not play to traditional gender roles.  The diversity in the book was well represented.  

Rating: 💖💖💖💖.5/5

Today is my Tour Stop for Hear Our Voices Blog Tours.  I was tasked with Dream Cast and a Playlist.

For the Dream Cast, I chose Ajiona Alexus because she looks like my image of Deka and I believe she could pull off the spirit of Deka.  I was torn between Ashton Sanders and John Boyega for Keita.  Both could pull off that nobleman next door attitude.  White Hands is Regina King all day, especially after seeing her as Sister Night.  Britta was the hardest to cast but after seeing Derry Girls and Bridgerton, I settled on Nicola Coughlan.  She plays Penelope on the Bridgertons.

For the Playlist, usually, I approach like I'm setting a musical score for the book but for this playlist I wanted to create a mood.  So much of this story is about the non-male characters finding their voices and determining their worth.  So I went with empowering songs that uplift and put you in a kick-ass type of mood.  You can listen to this when you've had a crappy day, when you're getting ready to hang out with your girls (as soon as it's safe again), or when you and your crew have to topple the patriarchy before drinks.

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great-walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one is quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself

Daughters of Jubilation

Daughters of Jubilation is a magical story. It is a story of first love, letting go, and taking back what belongs to you. Set in the Jim Crow South, white supremacy reigns, and tensions are high. But Evalene Deschamps (Evvie) has other things to worry about. She has two little sisters to look after, an overworked single mother, and a longtime crush who is finally making a move.

On top of all that, Evvie’s magic abilities are growing stronger by the day. Her family calls it Jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery. And as Evvie’s talents waken, something dark comes loose and threatens to resurface.  And when the demons of Evvie’s past finally shake free, she must embrace her mighty lineage, and summon the power that lies within her.

What a powerful and dynamic book!!  Ms. Corthron addresses very complex issues with a skilled hand. The main character Evalene wrestles with the expectations of her mother and her own wants and desires.  

Ms. Corthron does not shy away from the big topics. Throughout this story, she discusses sexual abuse,  teen sex, racism,  homophobia, and strained family relationships.  

DoJ was poignant and deep.  I wish there was more background on Evalene 's family but it was a very good story showing how a person must reconcile their past to embrace the future. 

Rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

Release date: October 13, 2020

Author Kara Lee Corthron

Legendborn: Southern, Arthurian Legend, Goodness!

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!
Do you hear me?!?!?!

In this book, we meet Bree Matthews as she is dealing with the death of her mother.  To escape her grief, Bree enrolls in an early admission program, Early College, for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill.  Her first night on campus, Bree witnesses a magical attack...a demon feeding on human energies.

Soon she discovers a secret society called “Legendborns” students that hunt the demons and a mysterious young man who calls himself a “Merlin” and who tries to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw...but he fails.  The Merlin’s failed attempt unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory connected to the night her mother dies. Now Bree wants to know the truth about her mother's accident and she will do whatever it takes to find out the truth, including infiltrating the Legendborns as one of their initiates.

Bree enlists the help of Nick Davis, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their shaky partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets...and closer to each other. Soon Bree learns the true nature of the Legendborns and now she has to decide how far she will go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down or join the fight.

This book showed up at the perfect time. It addressed many things that we as Americans have not discussed.  Weaving the Arthurian legend with Black Southern folklore made this a magical and unique book on so many levels.  All the emotions and experiences that Bree goes through is so relevant and timely.  The themes of legacy, roots, heritage, and ancestors permeated this entire story and made for rich and gripping themes. I was totally transported and enthralled with this book.  When I finished I was wanted more of the story.  I'm praying that Ms. Deonn gives us another book.  This book is going to make waves in the fantasy community.  Much needed waves.  Kudos to Ms. Deonn for writing such a fantastic piece of fiction.

Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖/5

As part of the Legendborn Book Tour hosted by Hear Our Voices Book Tours, I was asked to create a Book Aesthetic and a Playlist.  A little explanation about both:

For the Book Aesthetic, I wanted the look and feel of the Aether which is so important in this story, as well as the earth and our ancestors.  To see my book aesthetic, head over to my Instagram page www.instagram.com/novelsistah

For the Playlist, I treated it like a movie score.  The songs follow the scenes in the book.  I primarily chose Black women and songs with a southern feel.  The whole list is a vibe and a mood for me.  I hope people feel it too.  Here's the link to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5g0srIuuZocUhi60wbeYdC?si=uND8DP94QYa9lN7eI0sSgw