Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

A single interesting character and a predictable plot made this a dull read.

The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

October 8, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

CBR18 Bingo: Justice – Arin and his co-conspirators rise up against the occupying forces and enact justice upon them. She remembered how her heart, so tight, like a scroll, had opened when Arin kissed her. It had unfurled. If her heart were truly a scroll, she could burn it. It would become a tunnel of flame, a handful of ash. The secrets she had written inside herself would be gone. No one would know. ― Marie Rutkoski, The Winner’s Curse Music made her feel as […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Tagged With: cbr18bingo, enemies to lovers, enslavement, marie rutkoski, Prisoners, Stockholm Syndrome

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:46 · Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult · Tags: cbr18bingo, enemies to lovers, enslavement, marie rutkoski, Prisoners, Stockholm Syndrome ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
Cover of Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo

Surviving is an act of resistance!

Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo

July 31, 2025 by LB Leave a Comment

This book fulfills the “border” square on CBR17 bingo; Sofia exists on the border of conquered and conqueror, and explores the complexities of her mixed heritage. As soon as I saw the cover for Beasts of Carnaval, I knew I wanted to read it, and the synopsis just cemented it for me. I love stories that are about resistance and revolution and proving that the colonizers and oppressors won’t be the last ones standing. And this delivers so beautifully! Sofia’s twin brother, Sol, vanished to […]

Filed Under: Audiobooks, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: beasts of Carnaval, cbr17bingo, colonization, enslavement, historical fantasy, no romance, puerto rico, queer lit, queer secondary characters, revolution, Rosalia rodrigo

LB's CBR17 Review No:18 · Genres: Audiobooks, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: beasts of Carnaval, cbr17bingo, colonization, enslavement, historical fantasy, no romance, puerto rico, queer lit, queer secondary characters, revolution, Rosalia rodrigo ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Family History and Mysteries

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

October 15, 2024 by LB Leave a Comment

Gosh, where to start with this book. Tangleroot opens with Noni being forced to give an opening speech to introduce her mother, Radiance, as the new president of Stonepost college, but the speech has been edited because Radiance is pushing to have the college renamed after their ancestor, Cuffee Fortune, who built and opened the college. Noni isn’t able to finish the speech and accidentally hot mics her mom when she reiterates that she didn’t want to the speech. Radiance is a force, and she’s […]

Filed Under: Fiction, History, Young Adult Tagged With: college, contemporary, enslavement, family, family history, family secrets, historical fiction, Kalela Williams, New Adult, Racism, Virginia

LB's CBR16 Review No:14 · Genres: Fiction, History, Young Adult · Tags: college, contemporary, enslavement, family, family history, family secrets, historical fiction, Kalela Williams, New Adult, Racism, Virginia ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

You didn’t bring bullets to a magic fight. It bruised our sense of spectacle.

The Last Sun: The Tarot Sequence Book One by K.D. Edwards

October 31, 2023 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

“Do we need to talk about last night?” he asked. “Absolutely. That’s how I always get ready for battle, talking about my feelings” ― K.D. Edwards, The Last Sun “Oh, I get it. You think this is one of them big, fancy rescues. Boy are you about to be embarrassed.” ― K.D. Edwards, The Last Sun “You saved me,” Matthias said to me from behind Brand. I couldn’t quite identify the expression that lit up his face, but it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as plain […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction Tagged With: Atlantis, Classism, eating disorder, enslavement, gay romance, K.D. Edwards, mercenaries, Modern Fantasy, queer romance, Sexual Assault, Tarot

carmelpie's CBR15 Review No:61 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction · Tags: Atlantis, Classism, eating disorder, enslavement, gay romance, K.D. Edwards, mercenaries, Modern Fantasy, queer romance, Sexual Assault, Tarot ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments


Recent Comments

  • Tracy
    on A Solid Sequel
    I was also disappointed by the Sunbearer sequel. This was a better sequel.
  • vega-table
    on William Shakespeare lives up to own reputation
    This was a nice thing to see at the beginning of the work day. I would have loved to read...
  • Jen K
    on A Solid Sequel
    This is encouraging- Aiden Thomas is an incredibly hit or miss author for me so was waiting for some reviews...
  • Jen K
    on “We won’t let that happen. You’ll be off doing evil s*it wherever evil s*it gets done.”
    Threshing Day was so refreshing because it was just everyone else and their dragons. Even Xaden was good because we...
  • Emmalita
    on William Shakespeare lives up to own reputation
    I wish my college Shakespeare professor, Dr. Reta Madsen, was still alive so that I could send her this review....
See More Recent Comments »

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