I am a sucker for sapphic books. This is probably nothing new to anyone. No big revelation. But, if I'm in the right mindset, I especially love sapphic Science Fiction and Fantasy books. There's something about a brand new world that I just adore. This review was originally posted over on YABooksCentral and can be read using this link.
If you enjoy challenging the systems you were raised in, falling in love along the way, and ending up with two wildly adorable "children"; this book might be just what you're looking for. Check the trigger warnings first though, there's quite a few. Happy reading!
Series: NO
Author: Laura Genn
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Publication Date: May 5, 2026
Genres:LGBT, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Retelling< / span>
Pages: 464
Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.
Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?
However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?
A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.
Finish Date: May 26, 2026
Format: Digital
Source: YABooksCentral
Representation: Sapphic
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Audible
Overall:
Plot:
Writing:
Characters:
Romance:
My name is Adria, and I want.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is its two main characters. Adria and Kori are complex characters, with layers of emotions and history. The book splits between their two POVs, allowing readers a deep glance into both characters’ minds and emotions. There are dark moments, moments when the characters are unable to face what they have done in their lives. While this might not appeal to all readers, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the side of these characters that felt distraught and pained.
The romance between Kori and Adria is a pretty interesting one. There’s a bit of intrigue from the beginning, both characters curious about this other person who is so very different from them. It slowly expands as the two spend time together, especially when Adria can’t seem to resist spending more time with Kori even though she should be fighting back a rebellion. Some extra time to develop the relationship post-story might’ve been nice, but it also wasn’t necessary.
The pacing of this story is inconsistent. The beginning of the story drags, bogged down by pages and pages of worldbuilding and information. Then it slowly picks up steam a bit more, the crashlanding forcing the book to move at a higher clip. But the plot didn’t really captivate my attention until the last third of the book or so. That was when the plot seemed to really pick up steam, careening down a hill and just throwing reveal after reveal at the reader.
The reveal and overarching plot of this book is fairly solid. Some of the reveals might be predictable, but they work well within the context of the story. On the other hand, some of the reveals weren’t really given enough time to truly breathe. This book is definitely best experienced without spoilers, so I’ll refrain from specifically saying those plot points.
The action scenes are fantastic. The author leans into the way that the two areas, Daylands and Shadowlands, would fight with their given experience and it makes the fights feel memorable. Like a movie brought to the page, you can picture the events as they unfold.
There are also a handful of side characters in this book and they honestly make the book more fun. Especially Aspect. I loved Aspect from the get-go and that only deepened as the book went on.
About the Author:
Laura Genn writes about queer teens confronting fantastical challenges. She graduated with a BS in strategic communication and enjoys building with LEGO® bricks, having TV marathons, and playing competitive Street Fighter.
She lives with her girlfriend and three goofy rescue cats somewhere in New Jersey, surrounded by an ever-growing collection of dragon tchotchkes. Follow her on Instagram and Threads.
No comments:
Post a Comment