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Little Black Bird #2
Tall White Tenement
The magical world is at the brink of war and Wiktoria is pressured to pick a side. Should she break the curse, condemning magic but saving humanity, or should she save magic at the cost of leaving humans to the mercy of demons? Torn between following in her parents’ footsteps and listening to her heart, she delves deeper into the hidden society of sorcerers, Guardians and demons. Her magic is more unpredictable than ever and her bond with Artur is put to the test as they try to complete the legendary Circle of Four. As more and more demons find their way into our realm and human enemies close in, the time to decide which world to save runs thin. When nothing is black and white and enemies turn into allies, how does one pick a side? To make matters worse, just as Wiktoria and her friends finally decide on a plan, a forgotten secret is rediscovered and everything is cast into doubt once more—but the clock is still ticking. The sequel to Little Black Bird brings back familiar faces and a host of new ones, along with introducing us to even more Slavic demons.
541 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2022
2 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 14, 2022
I had the honour of reading this book very early on and I can't wait to do a reread of the finished printed book. Maybe then I will be able to write a coherent review. Haha
It is such an incredible fantasy and I highly recommend you start this series!
It is such an incredible fantasy and I highly recommend you start this series!
December 31, 2022
This book y'all
I can't
These characters mean the absolute world to me and to finish the book at the end of 2022 brilliant. I need Book 3 as soon as possible please and thank you!!!
I can't
These characters mean the absolute world to me and to finish the book at the end of 2022 brilliant. I need Book 3 as soon as possible please and thank you!!!
October 31, 2022
Since this is now released, I suppose it's time for me to attempt to write a review. Reviewing this book is a weird feeling, because this series has come to mean so very much to me. The characters have helped me so much to figure out myself and my identity, so writing this review is different.
But let's get to it! There are a lot of things to love about this book. The characters, for one. Wiktoria and Artur steal the show, for sure. Wiktoria is just so easy to love and relate to. And it's impossible to not root for her. And Artur... Artur is the biggest cinnamon roll. I just wanted to hug him. In a totally platonic way. But what I find truly impressive with Kirchner's writing is that all the characters are equally interesting. Reading this, I got the feeling that every single character had their own story, and the book could’ve just as easily been written from any other perspective and it would’ve been just as interesting. Even the antagonists! I now love Zuzanna an unreasonable amount.
The other truly amazing thing about this book is the writing. Kirchner has this incredible ability to write the most emotional scenes. It's immersive and impossible not to get sucked into the book. While reading, I got so lost in her world that I was thrown out of the café I was reading at because they were closing and I missed that.
Oh, and let's not forget about the mythology. Tall White Tenement is based on Slavic mythology, and it's so much fun to read about a mythology that isn’t in many books. And the world Kirchner has built is an intricate balance between magic, mythology and modern life. It's amazing.
Finally, I just have to mention the queer representation. Finding aromantic asexual representation is difficult enough, but finding questioning aromantic asexual representation? It's rare, and it's so well-written. Kirchner truly manages to capture all the mixed feelings of questioning, which is a major reason why this book has come to mean so much to me.
I could go on for a long time about the things I loved about this book, but I'll stop myself here. Full of loveable characters, interesting mythology and intricate world-building, Tall White Tenement packs an emotional punch, and will leave you guessing until the very end. It's perfect for people who love mythology but are a little done with the same old Greek and Norse stories.
But let's get to it! There are a lot of things to love about this book. The characters, for one. Wiktoria and Artur steal the show, for sure. Wiktoria is just so easy to love and relate to. And it's impossible to not root for her. And Artur... Artur is the biggest cinnamon roll. I just wanted to hug him. In a totally platonic way. But what I find truly impressive with Kirchner's writing is that all the characters are equally interesting. Reading this, I got the feeling that every single character had their own story, and the book could’ve just as easily been written from any other perspective and it would’ve been just as interesting. Even the antagonists! I now love Zuzanna an unreasonable amount.
The other truly amazing thing about this book is the writing. Kirchner has this incredible ability to write the most emotional scenes. It's immersive and impossible not to get sucked into the book. While reading, I got so lost in her world that I was thrown out of the café I was reading at because they were closing and I missed that.
Oh, and let's not forget about the mythology. Tall White Tenement is based on Slavic mythology, and it's so much fun to read about a mythology that isn’t in many books. And the world Kirchner has built is an intricate balance between magic, mythology and modern life. It's amazing.
Finally, I just have to mention the queer representation. Finding aromantic asexual representation is difficult enough, but finding questioning aromantic asexual representation? It's rare, and it's so well-written. Kirchner truly manages to capture all the mixed feelings of questioning, which is a major reason why this book has come to mean so much to me.
I could go on for a long time about the things I loved about this book, but I'll stop myself here. Full of loveable characters, interesting mythology and intricate world-building, Tall White Tenement packs an emotional punch, and will leave you guessing until the very end. It's perfect for people who love mythology but are a little done with the same old Greek and Norse stories.
October 30, 2022
A wild ride with magic and demons, all while still finding time to discuss ace and aro feels 💜🖤💚
TL;DR review:
The sequel to LITTLE BLACK BIRD is filled to the brim with magic, Slavic demons (and even some non-Slavic 😏), and as said: all the ace, aro, and questioning rep. It was amazing and has plenty of little Easter eggs for people in those communities, making it extra special when reading and feeling seen.
The story itself is fast-paced and you can feel the time-pressure Wiki and her friends are under all too well as they run from one thing to the next as they try to save the world (even if they are still in doubt what saving it would actually entail).
Longer, more in-depth review:
On LGBTQ+:
Where Little Black Bird started with the questioning and ace rep, Tall White Tenement continues. There's more ace rep, aro rep, and all the commentary on amatonormativity, heteronormativity, and allonormativity. Of course, there's also more questioning rep as labels are vast and it's okay to not know what describes you best. There's more queer rep too, and a little content warning as not everyone is as accepting as our main characters are.
On magic and demons:
I really love the magic system in these books and how tangible it feels. The way it also describes how different kinds of magic work, and how other cultures/religions have basically made their own is really on point with how things went down here in Europe. The demons mentioned are also a real treat, featuring some more well-known ones and some you may know with a completely different look. (I'll admit: I looked one up because I had such a different image in mind and was happily surprised to learn otherwise.)
On style:
The book is written in first person and is fast-paced. There are a lot of Polish names/terms, but the front has a very handy list of all these and how to pronounce them, for anyone who wishes to know. There are also a few Polish treats/dishes mentioned and you might look those up as some sound really tasty. Overal, the addition of all these things add to the vibe of the book and really make it stand out ♥
Final notes:
If you enjoyed the first book, you're going to love this one even more. The aspec-rep, the demons, and dare I say... dragon 😏 Get yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee, maybe a nice jagodzianka to go with it, get comfy under a blanket, and dive back into the magical world and find out if Wiki and her friends will break the curse or save magic...
TL;DR review:
The sequel to LITTLE BLACK BIRD is filled to the brim with magic, Slavic demons (and even some non-Slavic 😏), and as said: all the ace, aro, and questioning rep. It was amazing and has plenty of little Easter eggs for people in those communities, making it extra special when reading and feeling seen.
The story itself is fast-paced and you can feel the time-pressure Wiki and her friends are under all too well as they run from one thing to the next as they try to save the world (even if they are still in doubt what saving it would actually entail).
Longer, more in-depth review:
On LGBTQ+:
Where Little Black Bird started with the questioning and ace rep, Tall White Tenement continues. There's more ace rep, aro rep, and all the commentary on amatonormativity, heteronormativity, and allonormativity. Of course, there's also more questioning rep as labels are vast and it's okay to not know what describes you best. There's more queer rep too, and a little content warning as not everyone is as accepting as our main characters are.
On magic and demons:
I really love the magic system in these books and how tangible it feels. The way it also describes how different kinds of magic work, and how other cultures/religions have basically made their own is really on point with how things went down here in Europe. The demons mentioned are also a real treat, featuring some more well-known ones and some you may know with a completely different look. (I'll admit: I looked one up because I had such a different image in mind and was happily surprised to learn otherwise.)
On style:
The book is written in first person and is fast-paced. There are a lot of Polish names/terms, but the front has a very handy list of all these and how to pronounce them, for anyone who wishes to know. There are also a few Polish treats/dishes mentioned and you might look those up as some sound really tasty. Overal, the addition of all these things add to the vibe of the book and really make it stand out ♥
Final notes:
If you enjoyed the first book, you're going to love this one even more. The aspec-rep, the demons, and dare I say... dragon 😏 Get yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee, maybe a nice jagodzianka to go with it, get comfy under a blanket, and dive back into the magical world and find out if Wiki and her friends will break the curse or save magic...
September 9, 2023
I probably should've reread Little Black Bird before giving this one a try, but thankfully there was a pretty comprehensive synopsis of book one at the beginning of this one so I don't think that fully affected my enjoyment of this one. The synopsis was effective and I went in feeling like I had a pretty good grasp of what had happened in book one. Granted, I probably sould've reread it so I had even more understanding going in, but I was grateful for that part of it.
This is another great installment in this series. we have more demon hunting, we're tracking down other magic users, trying to make bargains with a devil, and there's some really great and affirming queer rep. I really liked returning to this world, but overall the book felt very dialogue heavy and that bogged me down with my enjoyment of this sequel. I liked the bits of action that we got, but then everyone was just talking about what had just happened, talking about what's going to happen next, or just chit-chatting about other random things instead of actually doing anything.
Also separate from anything authorial but does anyone else's copy randomly start over with its page numbers? My copy just randomly started over around chapter five or so. I don't think any chapters or anything were missing, but I just thought that was weird and didn't know if anyone else had that problem either. It's out of print now so nothing I can do about it.
This is another great installment in this series. we have more demon hunting, we're tracking down other magic users, trying to make bargains with a devil, and there's some really great and affirming queer rep. I really liked returning to this world, but overall the book felt very dialogue heavy and that bogged me down with my enjoyment of this sequel. I liked the bits of action that we got, but then everyone was just talking about what had just happened, talking about what's going to happen next, or just chit-chatting about other random things instead of actually doing anything.
Also separate from anything authorial but does anyone else's copy randomly start over with its page numbers? My copy just randomly started over around chapter five or so. I don't think any chapters or anything were missing, but I just thought that was weird and didn't know if anyone else had that problem either. It's out of print now so nothing I can do about it.
December 30, 2022
ahhhh this book is so AMAZING pls go read it NOOOW!!!!!!
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December 13, 2024Artur from Little Black Bird is questioning aspec!
Wiktoria from Little Black Bird is questioning aspec!
https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
Wiktoria from Little Black Bird is questioning aspec!
https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
June 22, 2023
“Don't let them hate you just for existing. Don't accept their hatred. Don't let it get to you because it'll consume you.”
What a great second book in the Little Black Bird series.
Tall White Tenement starts with action and a good place, after where Little Black Bird ended. The flow in Tall White Tenement is very well written and I flew through Tall White Tenement. I really enjoyed how I was unable to guess the plottwists, they all surprised me. The plot development was great, I kept wanting to read more and did not want to stop reading.
There are new elements added to the story in Tall White Tenement and it works really well, I enjoyed all the new elements - especially the new mythological elements.
I loved reading about all the different mythological elements and Slavic mythology, just as much as I loved reading about it in Little Black Bird.
I loved how the new characters in Tall White Tenement was introducere and how well they were included in the plot. There are especially two of the new characters that I really love. I really enjoyed reading about the different characters delvelopment, the different development felt very realistic.
The cover is gorgeous and I absolutely love it, and it fits very well with the story and the cover of Little Black Bird.
I can’t wait to read the next book, because this series keeps getting better and I really love the books in the Little Black Bird series.
What a great second book in the Little Black Bird series.
Tall White Tenement starts with action and a good place, after where Little Black Bird ended. The flow in Tall White Tenement is very well written and I flew through Tall White Tenement. I really enjoyed how I was unable to guess the plottwists, they all surprised me. The plot development was great, I kept wanting to read more and did not want to stop reading.
There are new elements added to the story in Tall White Tenement and it works really well, I enjoyed all the new elements - especially the new mythological elements.
I loved reading about all the different mythological elements and Slavic mythology, just as much as I loved reading about it in Little Black Bird.
I loved how the new characters in Tall White Tenement was introducere and how well they were included in the plot. There are especially two of the new characters that I really love. I really enjoyed reading about the different characters delvelopment, the different development felt very realistic.
The cover is gorgeous and I absolutely love it, and it fits very well with the story and the cover of Little Black Bird.
I can’t wait to read the next book, because this series keeps getting better and I really love the books in the Little Black Bird series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews