Like in her previous novels, Helen Oyeyemi takes a traditional fairytale and spins it on it's head. Gingerbread is a brilliant take on "Hansel and Gretel" and other famed tales, cleverly blending race, working class rights, and feminism with magical realism.
Heather
The value of this book – barely a year old – is already so well established that one feels almost superfluous recommending it. And yet in addition to the cinematic storytelling, the breathtaking power of her writing, the incredible solidity of her mythic figures, and the author’s formidable voice, one drifts through this book with the sense of being privy to a serene wisdom, its effects too enduring not to seek to share. Amidst eternity, quiet as the dawning sun, rising with steady and peaceful assurance, the book’s central question rings out: for what will we risk our hearts?
James
Kalanthe and Olsa were on an epic adventure a year ago. They fell in love and came back heroes. But now, Kalanthe, an apprentice knight, needs to marry to pay off her debts, and Olsa isn't rich enough to qualify. Olsa is one of the most recognized people in the kingdoms, which makes her work as a thief frustratingly difficult. Told half in flashbacks and half in the more complicated post-adventure present, this story is a fascinating exploration of the question so many high fantasy novels ignore: what comes next?
Shana
A rambunctious reimagining of the legend of King Arthur with the anachronism of A Knight's Tale and the space fabric of Firefly, plus it's all extremely queer. This book is super weird and I super enjoyed it!
Rebecca
Kira puts her K9 rescue skills to the test when a child goes missing in a national park, but she uncovers more than she expected about local criminals and her own past.
Sarah
This collection of fairytales includes both clever retellings and entirely new stories that still feel wonderfully familiar. The accompanying illustrations are beautiful, and feel as much a part of the stories as the words do. I wanted to read this over and over.
Ari
A delightful, literary buffet of zombies, werewolves, and other magical beasties. Most - if not all - of the consequential characters identify as at least one of the following (and potentially more): queer, trans, nonbinary. And to top it off, the ending is lovely. Though the conclusion is left open-ended enough to continue the story, it is warmly satisfying on its own and doesn't beg for a sequel.
Stacey
Wow, what a book. This book was a blockbuster success in Australia and it deserves every bit of hype. The momentum of the writing is irresistible, the humor is both dark and laugh-out-loud, and the characters are deliciously compelling. You won't need a bookmark because you won't put it down.
David
This book will fill the gaping hole in your chest left by Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch series. One of the best science fiction debuts of 2019. Fantastic!
Rebecca
Roger lives for words. His sister Dodger lives for numbers. They were created to take control of the world, but first they have to figure out how to do it without losing themselves in the process. Good thing they can rewind and try again however many times they want. I read this book twice since it was published and I know I'll read it again soon. It's like Undertale crossed with Escape from Witch Mountain. It's not like anything else you've ever read.
Shana
