Notorious Sorcerer

This book had a lot of potential and is a solid 3.5 for me. I have a feeling the sequels will improve would her higher rankings from me. The worldbuilding was fun and a I liked the way social strata was handled. The bravi were one of my favorite parts. I also appreciated the way women were treated for the most part. Clothing etc. was described but it never felt gross.
Things done well:
-worldbuilding
-relationships, though sometimes it felt like too much tell and not enough show
-The magic system has potential and feels more unique than some I've seen recently.
- The MC struggles and the first thing he tries doesn't always work. Yay troubleshooting!
Things that got a meh:
-The cast size combined with some people having multiple names was hard for me because I am bad with names.
-Certain world building things got repeated too much. I know, the characters know. Please chill
-The MC got mighty close to chosen one territory, which I do not enjoy
Overall: a decent book that doesn't feel like a retread. There are far worse things my father could have checked out from the library.

Full disclosure: I've known the author for a bajillion internet years (this is an actual measurement of time) and she sent me an ARC.

I can't even tell you how fun this was - cosy tropes encased in beautiful language and FEELS, because obviously. Mage from the slums who can do ‘impossible' things, because he hasn't been taught they're impossible. Should-be debutante who instead hangs out with the lower classes and gets her eyes opened to social and class injustice. A fight against prejudice and authoritarianism.

BUT ALSO, inter- and extra-planar shenanigans, a cracking pace, a delicious romance (FEELS), and a sidekick I did not see coming. 

This was the most fun I have had reading a book in a very long time. Years, probably. This book is a thrill-ride in all the right ways. The characters are often charming and witty (the good ones, at least), and the antagonists are properly threatening. It's a high stakes adventure that keeps a mostly fast pace that keeps you interested. Definitely one of my favorite books from 2022 and will probably be one of my favorite reads from 2023.

Siyon Velo dreams of being an alchemist. But ever since the Sundering (a magical earthquake) almost tore the world apart, alchemy is forbidden to all but the rich and elite. All Siyon can do is save money and convince someone to give him lessons. He does odd jobs for the rich like retrieve items from other planes they need for their alchemy.
His plans are put on hold when the alchemists realize that the planes are unstable. Something needs to be done to fix them because they don't think anyone would survive another Sundering.

I loved this! I would've given it 5 stars but I was confused by the alchemical magic system at times. Other than that, I thought it was fantastic. I feel like this is more character than plot driven. That being said, I loved every character. I would love more from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.

How have I not heard more buzz about this book? I loved it. Nuanced, well-drawn characters, families of choice, strong platonic bonds, and a lovely queer romance that wasn't overdone? Right up my alley. When I go into a book marketed as M/M romance I'm never sure what kind of female characters I might find therein, but the women in here were fantastic, a whole host of them with a wide range of personalities and strengths and motivations. Zagiri in particular is my baby and I adore her.

I liked the pacing, the balance of action with exposition and quieter moments, and also the worldbuilding; this just isn't a book that holds your hand at all, so it's up to you to figure out what unfamiliar terms mean, Locked Tomb style. I much prefer that to the “As you know, Bob” type of exposition, so I rolled with it and was able to get my bearings before long.

Also, I just really enjoyed the flow of the prose:

The demon court was a congregation of nightmare and menace, bristling with horns and talons and tusks, rustling with scales and weaponry and speculation.

The world was so thick. Like a soup made of hallucinations and hangover.