I originally requested an arc of the molly x chang book bc she was unfortunately one of the authors targeted in the cait corrain scandal. then people were saying it's a colonizer romance when if they had read the book they would see that it was genuinely not. I do think she was let down by her synopsis but it seems like this poor woman has been through one thing after another with her book release (something that should be an exciting time for her.) anyway, hope you enjoy it!
@@Shntty I should have been more clear in my comment but in my opinion it's not a romance full stop. The reader is given more information than the main character even from the authors note at the beginning, so we are aware that Antony's motives are based in colonialist thinking. That's why it can't be simply reduced to a colonisers romance, because it's made clear we can't trust him and its not going to end well. This was just my opinion reading the book :)
@@thisisagift01 yes i know. Im pointing out the enemies to lovers vibes in it. Like them from 2 different sides of kingdom disputable kingdom, a lot of enemies to lovers books out there like that, but none have the same reaction to molly book. Hence i said people just complain about everything and like becc said ‘lack of reading comprehension’ 😂
Well I just added a few books to my goodreads TBR. And that copy of Evocation is GORGEOUS. The top and bottom sprayed edges are a little too bright, but everything else is *chefs kiss*
Illumicrate did a 1000 piece jigsaw in the December, I think it was, afterlight box! It's the same bookshelf concept but it's a different theme and the shelves are each a different rainbow colour. I ordered the whole box just for the jigsaw and it didn't disappoint 🙌
I read an arc of TGUWG before all the buzz about it being a colonizer romance blew up....and I was genuinely disappointed by it. The arguments about it being a colonizer romance do unfortunately hold water...sure Chang told us that it isn't *endgame*, but when it's the main couple for 90% of the book and the writing is using romance tropes to depict their attraction to each other, AND it's being marketed as "Zutara on steroids" you can't really say it's an issue of reading comprehension. I absolutely agree that Chang did not deserve the death threats and racist/hateful comments, but it's hard to talk about this book at all after all the drama it's been directly and indirectly involved in.
Obvs I haven’t read it so I can’t give an opinion but generally I would have to question WHY it is written like it is. Books don’t have to hand you the information and tell you how you should feel/think etc. Also, is it a series? Based on the information I have on this book without having read it yet, I would argue that if this is a coloniser romance, then The Unbroken by C.L. Clark is a coloniser romance - partially why I didnt love the book, as the romance doesn’t make any sense to me based on the characters backgrounds and also the actions that play out in the first 2 books. Even though I dnf’d the series I did say I was interested in how the series would resolve romantically in book 3 as I would be disappointed if they did indeed end up together in the end and it would be much more interesting (and make more sense) if they didn’t. I’m not saying you’re wrong at all, the beauty of books is that people interpret them differently and have different takeaways. However I do think that reducing a book by a POC woman to being “a coloniser romance” and then borderline cancelling it to the point people are too scared to talk about it in case their opinion is “wrong” is pretty f**kd up.
Mari (mynameismarines) did a video on To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods. She’s brought forth the perspective that the book tried to address problematic content and colonizing, but that it didn’t meet the mark. It seems that while the author intended no harm, she definitely didn’t do her research. I’ve seen several other Black, Indigenous and Asian creators echo that. Do with that info what you will. I know the UK has been grappling with its past in ways we aren’t here in the States so that does muddle things.
Yes, I totally agree with this. I wanted to read the ARC to be able to have opinions on the controversy but the poor editing and writing style made me DNF at the end of ch 1. I have heard from several BIPOC friends who pushed through to the end (specifically Asian Americans) that there are a lot of elements that support the same conclusion Marines and those other reviewers alluded to. I personally think that the author and publisher pivoted on the original plan that was heavily marketed, once they saw how bad the online backlash was (but still kept things in the book that seem to be in direct conflict with the new direction-- like the POV chapter one of the characters gets toward the end of TGUWG) The framing in the author's note at the beginning also didn't work in her favor, since it puts the reader in a certain mindset while engaging with the story.
April was my first month to receive a book box!! Illumicrate! I was so happy. I have to skip May because I'm going to see Taylor in Paris saturfay so I have to prioritize the money lol.
25:59 I LOVED this book so much!!! The love that Ruying has for her family & the kind of emotional strength she has is heartwarming yet heartwrenching at the same time. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it🫶🏼
That’s also what I thought, but the Saint threw me 😂 I have discovered that the author’s name is Saint though so I’m wondering if the S T is actually their initials or just a play on their first name 🤔
Hi Becca, I love your channel and I just wanted to say that I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding about the to gaze upon wicked gods dramas. There’s a lot about the book that is seen as offensive and insensitive from a lot of East Asian readers (myself included), not just the “colonizer romance”. Not just western Asian people, but also Asian people overseas. And it’s important to know that the author herself was marketing the book as enemies to romance. I understand wanting to support a debut author, but please listen to the marginalized groups affected about these types of things before you form an opinion and share it on your platform.
Hello lovely! I totally understand what you’re saying and you’re right, there has been a misunderstanding on this book. In the video I’m specifically responding to the fact that this book is known as “the coloniser romance” which is extremely reductive, as there’s plenty of coloniser romances out there and whether it was done successfully or not, Molly X Chang did at least try and give it a bit of nuance so I feel to reduce it to a “coloniser romance” to the point that’s the only impression people have of it is a bit unfair. On the flip side of that, I do understand that this deals with sensitive and real life topics that can definitely upset people and that it seems the author didn’t do a great job and so naturally people are going to be hurt by that. Obviously as this was an unboxing it’s not the space for a nuanced discussion on cancel culture and problematic content so I reduced it all to a couple of sentences that def appear flippant and don’t do a good job of explaining all of the controversy around this book and that while some of it is valid, the level of vitriol to that stemmed from one book is a pretty scary.
I’m going to say no. I’ll read a book a discover for myself if I think it’s a bad book. People will say all kinds of crazy things about a book just based off what they heard someone else say so how about you let people decide for themselves. Congratulations Nayayaya you just helped make me want to read a book I previously had no interest in.
![[TH] 2024 PMSL SEA W3D1 | Fall | สัปดาห์ตัดสิน ทีมไปไฟนอล](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZBU3GyzqErI/mqdefault.jpg)
the pure joy of watching you open the jigsaw puzzle made this wonderful video more amazing hahaha.
Loving this look Becca! The hair, fit, accessories, all awesome! ❤
I originally requested an arc of the molly x chang book bc she was unfortunately one of the authors targeted in the cait corrain scandal. then people were saying it's a colonizer romance when if they had read the book they would see that it was genuinely not. I do think she was let down by her synopsis but it seems like this poor woman has been through one thing after another with her book release (something that should be an exciting time for her.) anyway, hope you enjoy it!
Riiightt it has everything that enemies to lovers vibes. It’s like aelin an dorian used to be. People just complain about everything nowdays
@@Shntty I should have been more clear in my comment but in my opinion it's not a romance full stop. The reader is given more information than the main character even from the authors note at the beginning, so we are aware that Antony's motives are based in colonialist thinking. That's why it can't be simply reduced to a colonisers romance, because it's made clear we can't trust him and its not going to end well. This was just my opinion reading the book :)
@@thisisagift01 yes i know. Im pointing out the enemies to lovers vibes in it. Like them from 2 different sides of kingdom disputable kingdom, a lot of enemies to lovers books out there like that, but none have the same reaction to molly book. Hence i said people just complain about everything and like becc said ‘lack of reading comprehension’ 😂
By the synopsys I had the impression it was a a "zutara" romance
I love the gardening gloves and jigsaw!!! That Illumicrate box is fire!!!
Evocation is best read of 2024 for me. Highly recommend.
Well I just added a few books to my goodreads TBR. And that copy of Evocation is GORGEOUS. The top and bottom sprayed edges are a little too bright, but everything else is *chefs kiss*
I ADORE your hair like this.. such a cutie patootie!
I grew up watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer so i really love your shirt!!
Illumicrate did a 1000 piece jigsaw in the December, I think it was, afterlight box! It's the same bookshelf concept but it's a different theme and the shelves are each a different rainbow colour. I ordered the whole box just for the jigsaw and it didn't disappoint 🙌
Damn that’s the first one I skipped 😭😭😭😭
@BeccaandTheBooks it was November not December 😭 I should've checked first haha, the box is still available in the shop section though!
My puppy chewed on few puzzle pieces so I ended up binning the whole thing 😢
The excitement over the jigsaw, I don't even do jigsaws and I was hyped for you 😅
S.T. Gibson is actually called Saint Gibson! 😊
I read an arc of TGUWG before all the buzz about it being a colonizer romance blew up....and I was genuinely disappointed by it. The arguments about it being a colonizer romance do unfortunately hold water...sure Chang told us that it isn't *endgame*, but when it's the main couple for 90% of the book and the writing is using romance tropes to depict their attraction to each other, AND it's being marketed as "Zutara on steroids" you can't really say it's an issue of reading comprehension.
I absolutely agree that Chang did not deserve the death threats and racist/hateful comments, but it's hard to talk about this book at all after all the drama it's been directly and indirectly involved in.
Obvs I haven’t read it so I can’t give an opinion but generally I would have to question WHY it is written like it is.
Books don’t have to hand you the information and tell you how you should feel/think etc.
Also, is it a series?
Based on the information I have on this book without having read it yet, I would argue that if this is a coloniser romance, then The Unbroken by C.L. Clark is a coloniser romance - partially why I didnt love the book, as the romance doesn’t make any sense to me based on the characters backgrounds and also the actions that play out in the first 2 books. Even though I dnf’d the series I did say I was interested in how the series would resolve romantically in book 3 as I would be disappointed if they did indeed end up together in the end and it would be much more interesting (and make more sense) if they didn’t.
I’m not saying you’re wrong at all, the beauty of books is that people interpret them differently and have different takeaways. However I do think that reducing a book by a POC woman to being “a coloniser romance” and then borderline cancelling it to the point people are too scared to talk about it in case their opinion is “wrong” is pretty f**kd up.
Mari (mynameismarines) did a video on To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods. She’s brought forth the perspective that the book tried to address problematic content and colonizing, but that it didn’t meet the mark. It seems that while the author intended no harm, she definitely didn’t do her research. I’ve seen several other Black, Indigenous and Asian creators echo that.
Do with that info what you will. I know the UK has been grappling with its past in ways we aren’t here in the States so that does muddle things.
Yes, I totally agree with this. I wanted to read the ARC to be able to have opinions on the controversy but the poor editing and writing style made me DNF at the end of ch 1. I have heard from several BIPOC friends who pushed through to the end (specifically Asian Americans) that there are a lot of elements that support the same conclusion Marines and those other reviewers alluded to.
I personally think that the author and publisher pivoted on the original plan that was heavily marketed, once they saw how bad the online backlash was (but still kept things in the book that seem to be in direct conflict with the new direction-- like the POV chapter one of the characters gets toward the end of TGUWG)
The framing in the author's note at the beginning also didn't work in her favor, since it puts the reader in a certain mindset while engaging with the story.
Fabulous books this month!
I've always heard it S T Gibson, so that's what I go with, but I've had the same wonder lol
Finally got my Fairy Loot box invite!! So excited to be unboxing it myself for May
Do you remember when you join the waitlist?
@@Shntty a few months ago but I'm not sure if it was before the new year or not. I'm in the USA.
I love taran matharu’s writing!
You had my exact reaction to the illumicrate jigsaw!
I just got my April fairy loot ya n adult box they are gorgeous covers ❤❤
Can I get the name of your Vinted? X
YOU ARE WEARING A BUFFY SHIRT I LOVE BUFFY.
S.t is the abbreviation for saint although it is more commonly seen as street but it can be short for saint 💖
I know that, I just want to know if it’s supposed to be pronounced as saint or whether it’s initials like Stephanie Teresa lmao
@@BeccaandTheBooks ohh lol most people ive seen just say saint but tbf ive also heard people just say s.t as well so thats unhelpful😂😂
new subscriber here! so happy to stumble upon your channel!
Thanks for subbing 🫶🫶
April was my first month to receive a book box!! Illumicrate! I was so happy. I have to skip May because I'm going to see Taylor in Paris saturfay so I have to prioritize the money lol.
I hope you enjoy Taylor!
@@BeccaandTheBooks i will, thanks ❤️
I didn't even know that happened to that author, that sucks. I want to go buy the book now to support her 💟
25:59 I LOVED this book so much!!! The love that Ruying has for her family & the kind of emotional strength she has is heartwarming yet heartwrenching at the same time. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it🫶🏼
I can‘t find the Romantasy subscription plan on fairyloot anywhere 🤨
I would assume it’s ST Gibson as Saint is usually abbreviated as St. & the author instead uses S.T. To indicate two different names
That’s also what I thought, but the Saint threw me 😂 I have discovered that the author’s name is Saint though so I’m wondering if the S T is actually their initials or just a play on their first name 🤔
Hi Becca, I love your channel and I just wanted to say that I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding about the to gaze upon wicked gods dramas. There’s a lot about the book that is seen as offensive and insensitive from a lot of East Asian readers (myself included), not just the “colonizer romance”. Not just western Asian people, but also Asian people overseas. And it’s important to know that the author herself was marketing the book as enemies to romance. I understand wanting to support a debut author, but please listen to the marginalized groups affected about these types of things before you form an opinion and share it on your platform.
Hello lovely!
I totally understand what you’re saying and you’re right, there has been a misunderstanding on this book.
In the video I’m specifically responding to the fact that this book is known as “the coloniser romance” which is extremely reductive, as there’s plenty of coloniser romances out there and whether it was done successfully or not, Molly X Chang did at least try and give it a bit of nuance so I feel to reduce it to a “coloniser romance” to the point that’s the only impression people have of it is a bit unfair.
On the flip side of that, I do understand that this deals with sensitive and real life topics that can definitely upset people and that it seems the author didn’t do a great job and so naturally people are going to be hurt by that.
Obviously as this was an unboxing it’s not the space for a nuanced discussion on cancel culture and problematic content so I reduced it all to a couple of sentences that def appear flippant and don’t do a good job of explaining all of the controversy around this book and that while some of it is valid, the level of vitriol to that stemmed from one book is a pretty scary.
I’m going to say no. I’ll read a book a discover for myself if I think it’s a bad book. People will say all kinds of crazy things about a book just based off what they heard someone else say so how about you let people decide for themselves. Congratulations Nayayaya you just helped make me want to read a book I previously had no interest in.
I’m getting the Fairyloot adult book monthly but how do I get the Romantasy one also?
Join the waitlist
Hey there! If you're selling that copy of Fourth Wing I'd like it please!
I’m not 😂
I think Saint is ST Gibson’s first name
Okay this makes sense!
I received To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods as an ARC and the colonizer romance piece was extremely disappointing. The book had so much potential