What she doesn't expect is to be utterly mesmerized by the lead singer of the first band, a girl named Tale. She can tell her bestbest friend, Janet who is obsessed with the radio show's host, Max , everything about that night except Tale. She knows that she must keep that part of her life utterly hidden, even from the person she's known longest and best. Her feelings are dangerous in every way. When she meets Tale, and her band, she finds a kind of acceptance and love she never expected.
And when she gets a job, through her strict father who works the front desk at the radio station - surrounded by music - it seems like her life couldn't be better. But people, including her restrictive parents and overbearing boss, are watching her. Especially as she finds her voice and produces her own show. She decides to ignore warnings from friends and others and use her show as a platform, not understanding the consequences. And, walking back home from a Pride march hand-in-hand with Tale, the worst happens.
It's horrific and horrifying. Some of the men, she knows. The hopeful part is that Neo learns the power of her voice and how to use it, at the very end. She decides to live and use her experiences to fuel engender hope and help for others like her. There is also a comprehensive playlist of the music Neo loves at the end. I do recommend this book. Sep 24, Jennifer rated it it was amazing. It starts in a bar. One of ours, in the heart of Khayelitsha. Nothing special on the outside but inside, tonight, two hundred people cram together beneath the corrugated roof and wait, turned out in their Friday Bests, because everyone knows you have to look good for the radio 1.
Thanks to the great curating at my local public library, I stumbled onto this book totally by accident—intrigued by its cover and by the description on the inside flap. I had just seen the somewhat bland movie, Alex St It starts in a bar. I had just seen the somewhat bland movie, Alex Strangelove, on Netflix and so I was intrigued by a coming out story set in a different country—with the love of music as a backdrop.
This is the story of Neo, a young woman from a township in Cape Town who loves music and wants music to be her life. However, her parents have other more practical plans for her education—she could open a beauty shop like her mother, go into accounting, or work in the tourist industry. You go to school, you get good grades, you listen. However, as the novel opens, things are about to change. Neo sneaks out of the house to meet her friend Janet and go to local bar where the hosts of UmziRadio will be hosting a series of live bands.
I should feel nervous. Terrified that somebody will see my schoolgirl aura and drag me home by the ear. I should feel bad. But all I feel is right 3. And then the first band, Tale and the Storytellers, takes the stage and Neo sees the lead singer: And the band steps up and there she is, and it feels like that moment when the CD player loads your favorite track, and you wait for an infinity for the song that makes you whole and breaks you and changes something every single time.
All in one forever-second 5. By the end of the evening Neo is hooked on the music and on Tale, even though she can barely acknowledge her own desires. These are desires that fly in the face of her upbringing and of her community; however, Neo is brave and as she takes slow hesitant steps toward her dreams, she finds a community and a first love. So go buy it now. Trust me on this.
You need this book in your life. Even though she is a fictional character, there are actually a lot of Neos out there Full review here: They should be able to live their lives like any other human in this Earth. It makes you think and want to help and it makes you want to educate yourself. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough.
Aug 12, Anne rated it liked it. It is lyrical, passionate and plays with the rhythm of the music they are describing. But then I began to lose interest - there was too much description of music I knew little about and dreamy romantic yearnings for someone who never became fully fledged for me, mainly defined by her stage performance and physical attraction. Nov 04, Caitie rated it liked it. I guess the part I didn't like was the music, not that it was all bad it just got old after a while. I got the whole picture of "music isn't your future, but the main character does stuff anyway.
However, I am giving the author props for discussing corrective rape, a term I'd never heard before. I feel bad for not liking this more, and for not being able to pinpoint what exactly it was that I didn't like. But sometimes there are just books that you cannot find a reason for Dec 16, Nay Keppler rated it really liked it. This book discusses a very tough topic, one that I was spoiled by via the library's subject headings: I would very much like to read a young adult book of fiction written by a South African queer person in the author's note, British Benwell states that he has spent most of his life identifying as a queer female , but this was beautifully written and the author clarifies it is meant as a singular story, and not as an all-encompassing experience.
It's an important read, and I wou This book discusses a very tough topic, one that I was spoiled by via the library's subject headings: It's an important read, and I would encourage everyone to stick around for the author's notes and to continue learning about about the horrors of being queer in South Africa, especially queer and female.
Jan 25, Diane Adams rated it really liked it. To be fair, I was warned that corrective rape was a theme in this book right on the book jacket. But as horrific as that was, when it came, I was not prepared for a murder. And then, though there was still a good chunk of book left, it felt as though all of the voices had been silenced.
Perhaps this was what the author was going for? But the story feels incomplete. I feel a new awareness of lack of tolerance for homosexuals in South Africa, and I feel a lot of anger, but I also feel To be fair, I was warned that corrective rape was a theme in this book right on the book jacket.
I feel a new awareness of lack of tolerance for homosexuals in South Africa, and I feel a lot of anger, but I also feel And kind of bummed that a book with a big beautiful rainbow kaleidoscope on its cover has left me feeling this way. Nov 08, Alex rated it it was amazing. I powered through this book in one day, and I can wholeheartedly say that I would do it again in a heartbeat. This book is so important to me, and it made me feel alive.
It made me feel alive. Books like this are so important to me. For the first time in what feels like years, I cried at a story. This book made me feel whole and alive, and yet strangely empty. He I powered through this book in one day, and I can wholeheartedly say that I would do it again in a heartbeat. It can never end, because her friends let her live on. I can wholeheartedly say that I will read this again. Jul 02, Eleora Timberlake rated it it was amazing. This book is hard to read. There are times where it crushed me and all I could do was stare at the wall.
But it is important, because it is REAL. This is a story that needs to be told, because it is and has been a reality for so many people. It speaks of love and passion both for music and for people in a way that is sure to touch your heart. It calls out for something to be done.
For us to all help create a world where these stories are a lot less of a reality. If you are looking for a lighth This book is hard to read. If you are looking for a lighthearted romance, this is not that kind of book. Nevertheless, I encourage you to read it. We need reminders like this to hold what we love close, and never let go. May 13, Monika rated it really liked it Shelves: I love Fox Benwell's lush, passionate writing. Neo is young and spirited. And holy hell, that harrowing ending was so very difficult to read.
This book confronts fears, dangers, hope, bravery, trauma, grief - the complexities of being closeted, coming out, and being out, especially in a hostile area. Jan 18, June rated it it was amazing Shelves: I don't know where to begin. This story was so light and yet so heavy, so alive and yet dying inside. Here is the thing: She lives and breathes music. She can tell you more about artists and songs and albums than you ever knew was there to know.
But she doesn't stop here. She hears the music in everyday life, the joy and sorrow, the light and dark, the laughter and the tears, in the haggling at the market and the talking on the streets. So in a way, this book appreciates music, but I don't know where to begin. So in a way, this book appreciates music, but also life itself, the colour and brightness and chaos of it all. And then comes the other part because we are in South Africa and I made it all the way to the author's notes before realising this was not an Own Voices book.
Perhaps I should have looked it up before starting, perhaps this is a sign of me also being white European and not knowing if any of it is wrong or fake. It read true, it read well-researched and alive and like it could be happening right now. Don't get me wrong - I loved the setting and what it brought to the book, the strong background flavour it added, the way it shaped the characters and their view of the world, their music. But South Africa, for all its progressiveness on paper, is still a dangerous place for queer people, and women, and queer women. This book does not shy away from that - AT ALL - and I was truly not prepared for some of the things that happened here.
Hence the trigger warning. I do love the hopeful tone it ends on, though, and I deeply wish it could have had an actual happy ending, but that would not have fit the setting, I fear. Nov 28, Alexa the Commander rated it really liked it Shelves: The whole first half of this was kind of slow and then it swooped in out of nowhere and broke my heart, made me furious, completely sickened me, and gave me so much hope that I was a complete mess. I'm so used to thinking of my interest in it as weird and out there—I almost cried when they mentioned "Shosholoza" and t The whole first half of this was kind of slow and then it swooped in out of nowhere and broke my heart, made me furious, completely sickened me, and gave me so much hope that I was a complete mess.
Sep 14, Lauren rated it really liked it Shelves: I didn't get to finish this one - Though I like music just fine I'm not a fan of YA books that are seeped in the subject; hence the 4 stars. However, Fox Benwell has beautiful writing. Like the book's subject, their words flow like lyrics and the love story like a poem.
Mist's Worm CYOA Broken Kaleidoscope
It's worth reading for the writing and alone. The setting was also enticing - the South African radio scene and the descriptions of the way the music makes the city and its youth come alive. Aug 01, Dill Werner rated it it was amazing. Fox has such a way with words. He took me on an adventure of the heart and left me feeling fulfilled. I am a huge music lover and was drawn in by the cover alone. But Kaleidoscope song is such an original idea that thinks outside of contemporary fiction, which I don't normally like.
But I'll be reading more from him, guaranteed. My beloved Fox, you deserve all the starred reviews for this book and more! Oct 31, Gwen rated it it was amazing Shelves: This was such an impressive book, with the music coming off every page and such vivid characters throughout. However, while reading the book I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, because the foreshadowing to the pivotal scene is very well done; there's just something about the character involved that raises the hairs on your neck and makes you pray the thing you think might happen won't happen, and then when it does it's such devastation.
Jul 19, Yoselis rated it really liked it. I love that it was a South African story.
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I love that it was a lesbian story. Sure, the first encounter was perfect, but after initial lust, there was no reason given to falling in love with her May 21, Sim rated it it was ok. I liked this book, until the use of the view spoiler [ dead lesbian hide spoiler ] trope. It didn't need to be what it ended up being, and all in all has probably wrecked my mental health for a year. Here is your warning, this book is not the cute and quirky thing that it seems to be.
If you want to read positive queer stories find something else. Mar 09, Allison rated it really liked it Shelves: The first two thirds were so beautiful and evocative, and then the [major plot event] and reality hit like a tonnnnnnnnnn of bricks. The ending felt a little quick, but I appreciated the closure and hope there rather than just ending with [major plot event]. Nov 07, Val rated it it was ok. I was given this book for free. It was an interesting read although quite dark and violent at times.
I did like the prose and felt there was a very poetic feel to the writing. It would have been nice to have more of a resolution. I felt like the ending was a bit abrupt. May 22, Angelina rated it liked it. I think the plot was wonderful, and the book takes you on a journey. However, this book was not that exciting to me. Maybe it's just my opinion, and I am willing to try Fox Benwell's other books in the future. Sep 16, Luna rated it it was amazing Shelves: How many different ways can you say excellent, amazing, breath-taking, shattering in the best possible way , phenomenal, incredible and unbelievably wonderful?
Fox Benwell has a magic way with words. Nearly every sentence feels like it could stand as a beautiful quote on its own.
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I tried to note the quotes and before I reached the halfway mark the book was just overflowing with sticky-notes. In love, music, friendship and betrayal. I can actually count the number of books that have made me truly cry one a single hand. Kaleidoscope Song is without a shadow of a doubt one of my favourite books this year. I figure I can copy the vials, that way we can give them out like candy and not run out. Mist focused on a divination ability that would allow Hermione to check the results of an elixir or potion on a subject.
He tossed her the power. You can already fly so the travel power is useless. What exactly happens if I use the time vial? Magic goes on the list as does Crystal and Terraform. For some stupid reason I was content to let them come… I have no fucking clue why He used his Shaper power to send her unconscious. He was just glad that he was nearly indestructible otherwise the air would have killed him fairly quickly.
He reached out with his powers and grabbed his version of Crawler. He doubted the insect warriors had a viable way to kill crawler which meant that Crawler would likely depopulate the hell dimension eventually. Mist laughed as he summoned Shatterbird and Burnscar. This world could use a hero. He reached out and ripped out his power. Alec sends his love you dumb fuck. He reached out and summoned Victor of the Empire You stole the ability to sing, can you still sing with any particular skill? Do you want me to bring her here or do you want me to send her to a nice vacation home.
You should be able to see it once you get up on the sand dune. He teleported to a version of Star Trek Voyager that was at war with the Klingons. The Federation is currently at war with the Klingon Empire, good luck. Bluemage3 , Blu Storm , Quietlovingman and 29 others like this.
Mist teleported to a Starcraft world that was being overrun by the Zerg. He glanced around at the strange alien creatures coming toward him. He gestured and sent several of them flying the other way with his psychokinesis. Mist reached out with his powers and summoned Lung and Oni then teleported to another Diablo world after flipping them off. Saint spun around as he tried to figure out where he was. His control extends long after the abilities he grants fade. Then concentrated and summoned a Charles.
Charles looked around dubiously, standing there in his boxers with a towel in his hand working on drying his hair. Well shit, I must have gotten the wrong Charles… sorry about that. Tinkertech slut whose ability was vehicles? You snatch me out of the bathroom and stick me on a Mass Effect ship and give me some sort of energy field power and I take it you want to leave me here.
Nah, I can send you wherever. I just figured you might like to run around the Mass Effect world. If you want something else, I can probably find an evil version of it to steal power from. Who are you anyway? How did you get the ability to grab random people? I got bored and decided to recruit some people to help build a magic ninja army. I even gave Hermione the ability to send people into Disgaea like item worlds to improve items.
Mostly because the thought grabbing a instant troop creation ability and making a ninja army was a good idea… that should have been my first clue. Still, what are the chances that she can actually get out? Oh, we should teleport back so that Hermione can give you a guild Seal.
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I figured that way we might get more spells or better options when we use it. If nothing else it gives them experience that they can spend on improving their abilities. Mist tossed her both of the Tinker powers he had been holding. What precisely have you used that thing for? I had to tweak the hell out of both of those power sets to get them to work. Charles caught it and examined it then replaced his belt buckle with it. We pulled some Diablo Hellfire items out of a Diablo world as well if you want to drink a crap ton of potions, the group has been using elixirs of vitality for health potions and elixirs of magic for mana potions.
How durable do you want to be? Any other abilities on the list or should I steal an apple? If we upgrade the item in the item world then we can probably get fantastic armor out of it. Either that or I could see if I can give you a power to move enchantments from one item to another. That and Hermione duplices piles of it. He bought a stack of bags, the phoenix mount, the fishing pole and the elixir that permanently gave you an ability that let you turn into a dragon.
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He grabbed the best of the best cloth armor that he could find for spellcasters then teleported out. I figured all of them can be copied and upgraded. Why else would you use a flying mount? But a E blaster rifle should do nicely. Some of the final fantasy equipment comes with the mug skill you could learn from the item. I could borrow that from a retired hero then teleport it back after Hermione copies it or I can grab a mug materia from one of the other worlds, what do you think? Mist concentrated and shifted through the millions of realities that corresponded to the various Final Fantasy games until he found one where the hero and his party died.
He reached out with his Kaleidoscope power and stole the Soul of Heike from the dead hero. He looked through until he found another dead hero in a different world and stole the Soul of Heike from that hero. One of the heroes died against the final boss in the world and other fell off a cliff, Darwin award winner. He tossed one of the Souls of Heike to Charles and put the other charm in his pocket and activated it. Because personally I want to upgrade the apocalypse book that I grabbed from Diablo just to see if I can get the mana cost down to something ridiculously low.
Because, honestly being able to just walk through a level spamming that spell would be cathartic. Charles reminded me of a Final Fantasy item that is broken as hell. No luck on the spells increased bit. He followed that with another orb to let him swap damage ratings between items. He tossed her the glowing ability orb. That should let you play around with the items.
See what you can do with the items we pulled off the field. She floated the vanilla shake over to Charles and one of the chocolate shakes over to Mist. Hermione grinned as she started playing with various magical items and taking notes on her note pad. If not Czarnians regenerate, right? Hermione pulled a stack of books out of her inventory then copied and handed the copies to Charles. Did you get the specialist? I was able to steal a lot of mana potions off the monsters which is nice. Cloning duplicates all your stuff when you do it.
Sara stuck her tongue out at Charles then turned back to Hermione and did the hand signals and generated 10 clones. And she can probably pull the high stats off a copy of the sword and toss them on a charm then we level the charm. Wait, then we have minions level the charms. I mean that way they get experience.
I mean just picture the entire group being immune to the power and curb stomping that world. It started off good then people got handed the idiot ball and yeah… anyways. We can probably have Sara use the troop machine to make some more soldiers then I should probably consider going back to Worm and dealing with Scion and the remaining two Endbringers. That reminds me, what the hell am I supposed to do with Behemoth?
I mean Leviathan has a use, generating water. That leaves Scion, how do you feel about making a really large bomb Hermione? But I guess it would actually require some effort to accomplish that… Ah well such is life I guess. Jimmy , Blu Storm , Quietlovingman and 38 others like this. Mork Dallah , Feb 12, BrendenHawley , DaGeek , wolfzoid and 1 other person like this. Finbar , Feb 12, A bit too fast-paced for my tastes. Phearo , Feb 12, Great crack fic, but is he asexual?
I mean, he can make himself into the sexiest guy in existence and go to any universe and seduce anyone, but he spends his time doing all that instead? Azrael Winter , Feb 12, He can do the fun stuff now he has completed his quest. Unelemental , Feb 12, I still maintain there is an invisible line you can cross when writing humor. If it's too ridiculous ppl lose interest. I think you found that line then jumped over it with a power pole stolen from Goku. Just not as much as it could be. Spiritdragon , Corvus , confusopoly and 4 others like this.
Bigj , auraofcalm and Azrael Winter like this. Godogma , Feb 12, I lost interest about halfway through. There is no plot. Zealot , Feb 12, Blaster90 , blackshadow , PshychoManiac and 1 other person like this. After reading all of that I have one question Kris , Feb 12, DaGeek , Ame and Bigj like this. Mistofshadows , Feb 13, Bigj and Finbar like this. The Kaleidoscope is the most broken and OP power on the whole list.