bookinitwithahtiya's reviews
2006 reviews

Trang Thanh Tran’s sophomore novel They Bloom at Night is a feminist, queer eco-horror that blends and perfectly balances surrealist horror and gore with pitch perfect commentary about environmentalism, gender, and community. It’s a quick read once you get into it, and I appreciated the focus on non-biological relationships and how important those connections are, as well, especially for those of queer identities. There were some confusing aspects of the narrative, and I wish the connection between the cultural legends and ecological horror was clearer and more defined so that the actual moments of surrealism were more poignant.

An Academy for Liars is built on such an interesting premise and immediately had me intrigued. It definitely had the possibility of being super confusing, but it was done in a way that is clear, thorough, and engaging. I was pleasantly surprised. I truly never knew where this book was headed, and this is definitely a book I’d reread.