Lumen Benja Moretum commented on Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb, #1)
Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian …
gosh I'm hooked
gosh I'm hooked
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Unpopular opinion: E-Books > "real" books
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Success! Lumen Benja Moretum has read 30 of 12 books.
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Lumen Benja Moretum started reading Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb, #1)
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb, #1)
Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off …
Lumen Benja Moretum reviewed Forest Euphoria by Patricia Kaishian
Identity Rooted (or Mycorrhized) in the Forest
4 stars
Forest Euphoria is a lyrical manifesto about how identity, culture, and nature are entangled. The book shows that nature laughs at binaries, whether human-made or scientific, and that queerness is not an exception but the exuberant rule of life.
Forest Euphoria also critiques research narratives — those supposedly “objective” frames that strip away personal voice and cultural context. Kaishian insists that science is richer when it acknowledges the identities of those who practice it. Overcoming these rigid narratives can spark paradigm shifts: just as the recognition of fungi as a separate kingdom in the 1960s transformed biology, so too can new ways of telling research stories transform how we understand both nature and ourselves.
In this book, identity is not simply rooted in the forest — it is mycorrhized, woven into the living networks of culture and ecology. Kaishian invites us to see research not as detached observation, …
Forest Euphoria is a lyrical manifesto about how identity, culture, and nature are entangled. The book shows that nature laughs at binaries, whether human-made or scientific, and that queerness is not an exception but the exuberant rule of life.
Forest Euphoria also critiques research narratives — those supposedly “objective” frames that strip away personal voice and cultural context. Kaishian insists that science is richer when it acknowledges the identities of those who practice it. Overcoming these rigid narratives can spark paradigm shifts: just as the recognition of fungi as a separate kingdom in the 1960s transformed biology, so too can new ways of telling research stories transform how we understand both nature and ourselves.
In this book, identity is not simply rooted in the forest — it is mycorrhized, woven into the living networks of culture and ecology. Kaishian invites us to see research not as detached observation, but as a deeply human, deeply entangled act of belonging.
Lumen Benja Moretum finished reading Forest Euphoria by Patricia Kaishian
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty plain, a seer shows two children their fates. …
A Story of Desire, Power, and (Not Just Bodily) Becoming
4 stars
Content warning vague spoilers for content
She Who Became the Sun reimagines Chinese history and places questions of identity at its core. Parker-Chan explores how the body—whether whole or marked by suffering—shapes the way characters perceive themselves and are perceived by others. Desire in its many forms—sexual, romantic, and deeply political—drives the narrative forward, intertwining personal longing with ruthless ambition.
The book is particularly striking in its treatment of gender perspectives: it challenges traditional roles and reveals how power and identity are constantly negotiated through them. Fate itself becomes a component of identity, not a fixed path but something characters wrestle with, redefine, and ultimately claim for themselves.
The cast is strikingly, even painfully human—driven by longing, flaws, and the weight of destiny.
I wouldn't have needed the smut though. Sorry.
Lumen Benja Moretum finished reading She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty plain, a seer shows two children their fates. For a family’s eighth-born son, …
Lumen Benja Moretum wants to read Emperor of the Seas by Jack Weatherford
Lumen Benja Moretum wants to read He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
What would you give to win the world?
Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory …
Lumen Benja Moretum wants to read Forest Euphoria by Patricia Kaishian
Lumen Benja Moretum started reading She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty plain, a seer shows two children their fates. For a family’s eighth-born son, …
Lumen Benja Moretum finished reading I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to …
Lumen Benja Moretum reviewed I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of …
What about the lobster?
4 stars
Content warning Spoilers ahead!
In contrast to many reviews that label this book as "wholesome" or "feel-good," I found I Wish You All the Best to be emotionally heavier and more complex. While it certainly has moments of warmth and kindness, the story is steeped in angst, self-deprecation, and the painful reality of toxic parenting.
Ben’s journey is deeply affecting, but the lack of redemption for their parents left me unsettled. I understand the need for conflict and antagonism in a narrative, but for the book to truly earn its “feel-good” reputation, I would have liked to see some form of growth or reconciliation in that relationship. Without it, the emotional wounds feel unresolved.
That said, many of the other characters—especially those who support Ben—are genuinely wholesome. Their ways of coping, connecting, and showing empathy offer a counterbalance to the darker themes and make the story rewarding in its own way.
Overall, this was a tough but worthwhile read. It doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of identity, rejection, and healing, and while it may not be the lighthearted comfort read some suggest, it offers something deeper: a raw, honest portrayal of resilience.
(the most important question remains unanswered, though: what happened with the lobster???)
Lumen Benja Moretum wants to read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb, #1)
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb, #1)
Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off …
Lumen Benja Moretum reviewed Gregor And The Prophecy Of Bane by Suzanne Collins (The Underland Chronicles, #2)
Voyage through the Underland
4 stars
Gregor’s second journey into the Underland is once again a thrilling adventure. Familiar characters you’ve grown to love are joined by new faces that bring fresh energy to the story. Some mysteries are solved, while others remain open—just enough to keep you curious about what’s next. While you shouldn’t expect deep psychological portraits, both main and supporting characters often surprise with their choices and actions. The plot stays engaging, and the interactions between the characters feel dynamic and alive. All in all, it’s a well-paced and enjoyable read for younger audiences. The story flows easily, and I’m already looking forward to continuing Gregor’s journey in the next book.
Lumen Benja Moretum rated Gregor And The Prophecy Of Bane: 4 stars