There’s slow burn, and then there’s just a book that never catches light.
The Monstrous Kind doesn’t lack for atmosphere or aesthetics, believe me. ItThere’s slow burn, and then there’s just a book that never catches light.
The Monstrous Kind doesn’t lack for atmosphere or aesthetics, believe me. It also doesn’t lack a sense of romance or chemistry between characters. The dialogue is actually the best part of the novel, which is nice when dialogue tends to be a problem in some other gothic fantasy novels.
None of these positives can make up for the host of negatives that this novel is composed of, however. From its slow, predictable, and writ beginning that failed to engage me, to the absolute cookie-cutter trope-ish characters, to the painfully apparent foreshadowing and false leads, and scenes that were obviously filler and could have easily been cut to help the dreadful pacing of the story, this book just never took off. I can honestly say I didn’t even become halfway interested in how the story might end until almost 60% of the way through, and by then I had already guessed how everything went together. I just wanted to see how they were going to assemble it all at the end.
Even there I was disappointed.
I can’t recommend this book. I just think it’s a lackluster example of gothic fantasy in a world where there are thousands of gothic fantasies that outshine it by far.
The premise behind Tell Me Who You Are sounded very intriguing when I first read it and in the long run that’s not my issue with this book. The plot iThe premise behind Tell Me Who You Are sounded very intriguing when I first read it and in the long run that’s not my issue with this book. The plot is still very compelling and the book itself is well-paced and well-constructed. This book just didn’t vibe with me from the beginning in almost every other way: I didn’t enjoy the writing style, the narrative voice was rather annoying, and there seemed to be a few holes here and there that maybe could’ve been taken care of with another pass through with the editor.
I didn’t find it to be as sharp or propulsive as other reviewers have found it to be. While it does have some unpredictability in its favor the shock factor isn’t that great when the turn comes.
Sometimes we just don’t vibe with a book, and I think this is one of those times.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review was rated three stars or lower, meaning it will not be appearing on my social media pages. Thank you.
I love comic thrillers. In accordance with family tradition, about 30% of my sense of humor is set aside specifically for dark and morbid humor. When I love comic thrillers. In accordance with family tradition, about 30% of my sense of humor is set aside specifically for dark and morbid humor. When an invite to read this book came along you can bet I accepted it right away. Come on, look at that cover! The title! Like I had a chance. I knew I was going to enjoy it, but enjoy it I did.
You’d Look Better as a Ghost walks down the middle of road somewhere between two of my favorite comic thrillers: Sascha Rothschild’s Blood Sugar and Katy Brent’s How to Kill Men and Get Away With It. Wallace’s writing is more irreverent and sly than Rothschild, but has more of a sense of self and less sociocultural satire than Brent. Wallace likes her humor drier than bones in a desert and dark as a cave, her inner narratives extensive and hyper-critical, her plotting full of little unexpected twists and turns, and her protagonist (Claire) is a delightful serial killer to read as she tries to play catch up with a tiny mistake, understand the process of grieving, and play the unexpected role of vigilante (even if it’s only a means to an end, really).
On a personal note: Even though I’m not a serial killer, I appreciated reading a book with a protagonist who doesn’t grieve in the manner which people are accustomed to, because I don’t and I never have. I don’t go to funerals or memorial services anymore because of the looks I get at my lack of grief when people pass away. Nothing happened to me or anything–I have Alexithymia, and the way in which it presents itself is that my sadness meter isn’t there most of the time. I’m either mildly sad or I’m having a complete depressive breakdown. There’s no in between. It’s either shallows or an abyss. I’ve been like this my entire life. It’s led to everything from me being called a sociopath or narcissistic to being accused of not loving those who have passed away or not missing them.
The protagonist in this book, Claire, is grieving her father. She’s just grieving him in her own way. The only way a person like her can. Just because she’s not crying her eyes out or drinking her nights away doesn’t mean she’s not grieving. Everyone grieves differently. Sure, she chooses to take out her grief with a hammer at first, but no one can accuse of her of not caring for her father in her own way.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Dark Comedy/Murder Thriller/Psychological Fiction/Serial Killer/Suspense Thriller ...more
Tropes: Queer Representation (more than one LGBTQ+ character); Historical (17th century England); Forbidden Romance (physician and patient, but they dTropes: Queer Representation (more than one LGBTQ+ character); Historical (17th century England); Forbidden Romance (physician and patient, but they don’t become familiar until he stops being her physician); Interfaith Couple (Christian and Jewish); Forced Proximity (for the time period); Yearning and Pining like Pine Trees. (Fated mates is also listed as a trope but since there’s no magical element to this story I’m leaving it off).
Sometimes you get interested in a book due to Shiny Cover Syndrome and it works out great!
The Phoenix Bride was a lyrical, engrossing, romantic, and lovely book to read on a dreary day like today (where I live, anyway). If you like your historical romances to be full of swoon-worthy moments, pining like evergreen forests, feelings of desperation and helplessness, emotional outpourings, lamentations of “we can’t!”, and that whole vibe of “we rescued each other”, then you’re going to love this book.
There is young love followed by great loss, terrible grief, desperate dealings undertaken by loved ones, tentative and surprising friendships, frightening circumstances and courage under fire, and daring maneuvers for the sake of a chance at happiness.
Does it end happily? Yes. I was happy to have read it, because it made me smile and it was easy to love.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
Rob Hart won me over with his darkly funny, intense action-adventure-in-a-hotel, tragically romantic novel The Paradox Hotel, which is a book I think Rob Hart won me over with his darkly funny, intense action-adventure-in-a-hotel, tragically romantic novel The Paradox Hotel, which is a book I think about all the time and constantly recommend because I love authors who know how to write perfect blends of dark comedy, intense action, and love of varying types.
Assassins Anonymous runs in a similar-but-definitely-not-same vein as The Paradox Hotel: darkly funny, intense action-adventure (not in a hotel), and a few different types of love. The plot is what it says on the tin: An assassin gave up the game almost a year ago and joined a 12-step program to stop killing people. A few days shy of earning his one-year chip he gets attacked and now he’s on the run to get to the bottom of the matter and get back out all without relapsing and killing someone.
Why wouldn’t I want to read that? Why wouldn’t anyone want to read that? That plot sounds like the bee’s knees.
And it was the bee’s knees! This book was fantastic. From the first page to the last this book was an interesting and fun read. It’s witty, dark, action-packed, adrenaline-fueled, reflective, and emotionally-aware. I nearly cried a couple of times, and I really loved the found family aspect that comes in clutch. I totally recommend it.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
This novella speaks my language: queer, noir, cyberthriller. This combination of genre keywords is like magic for my mind and soul. I’m always up for This novella speaks my language: queer, noir, cyberthriller. This combination of genre keywords is like magic for my mind and soul. I’m always up for the latter two (see Harkaway’s Titanium Noir!), but add in queer and I’m soaring.
This is an engrossing and intriguing novella about a trans woman who sets out to investigate the murder of her former lover who was still living at the anarchist commune that she herself left in a fit of grief and pique some time ago. It explores themes of identity, memory, grief, belonging, nihilism, control, security, friendship, ethics versus morals, creating and maintaining safe spaces, and self-discovery.
I think reading the afterword for this novella is very important. I don’t always read the afterword in a book, but sometimes it’s nice to read where an author’s head was at when you have questions about why they might have written something a certain way (even if you have your own theories, which is fine). When some authors write, characters take on minds of their own and start to make choices the author didn’t think they’d make when they started writing. Reading the afterword for this book helped me understand where Wasserstein was coming from in her writing, even with my own theories floating inside my head.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it. Since this is a trans sci-fi and does involve trauma and some hate speech I suggest you look up CW/TWs online if you need them.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
We’re Sara Cate readers, so of course we love our good girls and good boys; however, we also love it when our good girls and boys go bad, too. That’s We’re Sara Cate readers, so of course we love our good girls and good boys; however, we also love it when our good girls and boys go bad, too. That’s exactly what The Home Wrecker has in store: A sweet married couple with a silly daughter who live in the suburbs and have gotten caught in a very big rut (not that kind of rut, get your head out of the omegaverse). What do these two happy marrieds need? A bit of a shake up. And if that shake up just happens to come in the shade of tall, dark, tattooed, sexy, and working at the local sex club? Well, they’re good people and he needs a place to stay. Charity begins at home, right?
Did I like The Home Wrecker as much as The Anti-Hero? No. Does that mean it isn’t good? Absolutely not. Sara Cate is just as amazing as always. I don’t know what it was about this book that just didn’t make it hit 100% with me, but it had nothing to do with the quality of the book or the writing. I just couldn’t vibe with it all the way. It happens with the best of authors, and Sara’s an auto-buy author for me anyway.
I did love just about every character in this book, especially Caleb with his need to please, his daddy issues, his protective instincts, and his endless well of love. I also adored Dean for every interaction he had with little Abby, because sometimes adults who’ve never interacted with kids have some of the most honest interactions with them.
I’m excited for this series to continue because this family is so interesting and I love seeing them learn, love, and grow.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. No compensation was offered or accepted in exchange for this review. Thank you.
This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances (to be referred to as TSWOM from here on out in this review) is a set of four short stories centered arThis Skin Was Once Mine and Other Disturbances (to be referred to as TSWOM from here on out in this review) is a set of four short stories centered around toxic and/or abusive relationships of different types, the ways in which such humans can harm one another, and the ways people develop coping mechanisms and/or certain obsessions in order to deal with the trauma and pain they’ve gone through.
LaRocca gives a clear warning that there are a couple of significant triggers in a letter at the beginning of the book, but if you’re the sensitive sort I suggest maybe trying to find a more comprehensive list of triggers and content online before you read.
This is a great short story collection, with imaginative and truly creepy tales. LaRocca manages to write truly beautiful horror prose, making things vile and wretched somehow sound almost poetic in their horrid tragedy.
I give kudos to the titular short story, “This Skin Was Once Mine”, for being one of the creepiest stories I’ve ever read. It’s not about the story’s topic or content, either. It’s all about the protagonist’s obsession and coping mechanisms. And the snakes. Yeah, there’s a warning for you: danger noodles all up in this story.
I’d also like to point right to “Seedling” for being one of the most touching, emotional, and beautiful horror stories I’ve ever read while still managing to be gross and freaky.
The last story in the collection, “Prickle”, is just plain creepy-weird and all I could keep thinking about is the word “cruelty”.
The low point in the book for me was the story “All the Parts of You That Won’t Easily Burn”, which was a great story, but I didn’t totally understand the dynamic or the motivations in it.
I truly do recommend reading it if you’re a horror fan. It’s great and the stories are so lovely.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
The Truth of the Aleke is the second book in The Forever Desert series, which is made of novellas set in North Africa long past. The first novella, ThThe Truth of the Aleke is the second book in The Forever Desert series, which is made of novellas set in North Africa long past. The first novella, The Lies of the Ajungo, was released last year and was just 90 pages. It served to mostly just set the stage for the world of the Forever Desert and the larger story that starts here in The Truth of the Aleke. While you don’t necessarily need to read it to enjoy this book I highly recommend it because it’s an outstanding and entertaining read.
The Truth of the Aleke is only about 12 pages longer than The Lies of the Ajungo but takes place 500 years after the events of that book.
Utomi uses fantasy to continue to tell the fable of a war over land and resources in The Forever Desert, with the moral of the story being that both sides are liars. The truth is a murky and nebulous thing that’s shaped by whoever is currently on the winning side. Ultimately, no one cares what the truth truly is–they only care about who holds the power. There’s no room to care for anything else.
These books aren’t lighthearted. I almost feel like their covers do these books a disservice, because they’re so much prettier than the stories inside. The stories are bleak, violent, messy, and distinctly unhappy. These books don’t end happily. But they’re written so well and with great imagination. I highly recommend them.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: 5 Star Review/Book Series/Fantasy/Fantasy Series/Historical Fantasy/Novella/OwnVoices ...more
Thirst is a lovely vampire (though the term is never used) origin story, following one woman from old Europe (the text is open to interpretation, but Thirst is a lovely vampire (though the term is never used) origin story, following one woman from old Europe (the text is open to interpretation, but the timing and the general narration suggests vampires originated from Vlad Dracul) to the newly opened port at Buenos Aires in the late 18th century where she spends near a century contemplating her never-ending thirst, the pain but necessity of loneliness, her monstrous existence, and the heavy knowledge of her immortality as she chooses to live eternally, locked inside of a lovely mausoleum inside of the labyrinthine La Recoleta Cemetery.
The first 50% of the book is this lovely, sweeping historical fiction that I just described to you. The prose is heavy, gothic, violent, and full of anger aimed both internally and externally.
Then the book switches gears and protagonists for the second half and the story is being told by a human woman with a five year-old child, a mother dying from a disease that is briskly paralyzing every part of her body, and living with the knowledge that disease will come for her someday too. Everyday is another crisis and it’s all blending together until her mother gives her an envelope with the ownership papers and keys to a crypt in the La Recoleta Cemetery. Her mother can’t talk anymore or write more than short words, but there’s something about this crypt that just speaks to her.
Both of these women were just trapped: One by thirst and loneliness, one by family obligation and fear of her own impending demise. This book turns the historical (and still relevant) lack of female agency and the fragility of human life into a sapphic romance about escaping the trappings of men and embracing the arms of monsters.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
Toxic Revenge is the first half of an omegaverse duology that’s part mafia, part motorcycle club, part criminal conspiracy, part scent-match sketchineToxic Revenge is the first half of an omegaverse duology that’s part mafia, part motorcycle club, part criminal conspiracy, part scent-match sketchiness, and part “omega has a revenge agenda”. It’s a whole lot of tropes and microtropes to cram into one plot and it does show, here and there, but by and large it’s spicy and fun.
When it comes to duologies, the first half has to do triple duty: the world building, characterizations, and place the most important building blocks for the story arc and romantic dynamics. This leaves the second half to do the heavy work carrying through with the plot, emotions, intimacy, and character growth. This first half has a lot to juggle and I think it does the best it can with the page length its given, but some elements did end up getting a bit of a lopsided treatment.
You know what makes it all better? Spicy revenge. Spiteful, spicy revenge. I loved the spice scenes in this book. Olivia Lewin writes excellent omegaverse spice and I love how she decided to take the idea of “cheating the cheater” and ran with it with no regrets. It was salacious. It was hot. I was here for it.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. No compensation was offered or accepted in exchange for this review. Thank you.
A Feather So Black starts out wobbly, but by the end of the first act it finds its footing and really takes off, providing a very fantastical and romaA Feather So Black starts out wobbly, but by the end of the first act it finds its footing and really takes off, providing a very fantastical and romantic story with plenty of intrigue, wit, chemistry, danger, sorrow, action, and sacrifice to make the page count (close to 500) totally worth it; not only that, but loose threads, ponderous angles, and the ongoing storyline are definitely enticing enough reasons to be interested in the sequel without the author having to resort to a cliffhanger ending.
Orbit Books has been publishing some bangers in the last couple of years, so I was excited for A Feather So Black because the plot synopsis seemed to speak of a retelling blend of Swan Lake (my favorite ballet) and the fairy tale colloquially known as The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and then we toss in some fae stuff. (This isn’t an insult, because fae stuff can encompass some of the best stuff). It does all of these things extremely well. Where it stuttered was in the initial engagement and worldbuilding.
There are a lot–A LOT–of books like A Feather So Black in the marketplace right now. Maybe not with the same plot, but with a lot of the same themes and a lot of similar characters. In order to work on every level, romantasy novels need to snag us readers from the get. I’m not talking about spice or love: I’m talking about hooking us on your main protagonist. But we’ve met Fia before, in lots of different books but with different names. And we’ve met her in a similar manner before too. We’ve even met her best friend/former lover as well, even if he had a different name. It made the first act feel rather formulaic, even timeworn in a book where the rest felt rather bold and emotionally fresh.
It won’t stop me from eagerly awaiting the sequel!
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Fairy Tale Retelling/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series ...more
Miles and Bilson, despite their (not significant) age gap, are both just a couple of man children. Miles is a rookie goalie, has youngest child syndroMiles and Bilson, despite their (not significant) age gap, are both just a couple of man children. Miles is a rookie goalie, has youngest child syndrome, and is an overgrown frat boy from the frattiest frat to ever frat (which would, if you can’t guess, the Sigmas from Saxon’s Frat Wars series, which you should definitely read. For science.), except with lots of bromotions and LGBTQ members. Bilson is in a state of arrested development: He was raised by a coterie of nannies, butlers, maids, and other household staff and never had models around to show him what love looked like, or what a healthy relationship might look like. By the time Bilson was an adult all he longed for was affection and attention, which led to a disastrous four marriages (and the subsequent four divorces), and numerous failed relationships. He’s a serial monogamist who’s in love with love.
When Bilson transfers to Nashville from Seattle it’s the same day Miles is starting his rookie year with the same team. It’s the shared excitement of a fresh year, a fresh start, and a sense of camaraderie that leads these two to a fast friendship and a close bromance.
The Puckboys books never fail to entertain in any way. They’re funny, sweet, hot, spicy, and heartwarming. Eden and Saxon have built such an intricate universe of characters that finding the easter eggs hidden in each of their books becomes a fangirl’s treasure hunt and treat with each read. I love how, with each Puckboy book, the worries about coming out lessen more and more thanks to the efforts of the Queer Collective and the worries of each couple shift more to their own personal dynamics. There will never be a day I don’t recommend a Puckboys book.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
You can really tell this book was originally published as an Audible Original. It’s a small blessing, but a larger curse.
YoReal Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
You can really tell this book was originally published as an Audible Original. It’s a small blessing, but a larger curse.
Young Rich Widows is a multi-POV thriller set in 1985 just after a plane crash that kills all four partners of a law firm. The story itself is about the widows of the four partners and what they have to deal with in the wake of the unexpected disaster that takes a wrecking ball to all of their lives.
I’ve never read a book that was published as an audiobook first, and maybe that has a lot to do with how the book was transitioned to paperback and therefore how I received it as a reader. The reason I think the transition from Audible Original to paperback may be a larger curse than a blessing is because while the book is entertaining it feels rather flat. I didn’t get anything other than surface vibes and emotions from the pages. While the dialogue was well written it didn’t pack any emotion behind it. I just all read like cheap champagne when I imagine it could’ve read like Dom.
So while it’s a fun read, it just felt kind of empty at the end.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
Endless is the first book in author Devyn Sinclair’s new omegaverse series, set in the rich and eccentric seaside town of Clarity Coast. Each novel wiEndless is the first book in author Devyn Sinclair’s new omegaverse series, set in the rich and eccentric seaside town of Clarity Coast. Each novel will follow a new omega but the stories are interconnected. This story is about an omega named Isolde and the pack she hires to escort her to her sister’s wedding because she’s the co-maid of honor and her dreadful ex is the best man.
I’m not huge on the fake relationship trope, but I like Devyn Sinclair’s omegaverse novels a lot and I’ve been gobbling up omegaverse novels like candy for the past year so I signed up for this one as soon as it was announced. I’m glad I did, because Endless had everything I love about fake relationship tropes and nothing I hate about them. Not only that, but the spice was so, so nice–full of filthy talk, rope, and endless pleasure for an omega who’s been starved of it.
I’m grateful to Sinclair for writing a FMC who has had difficulty with orgasms, because it’s not a topic discussed often in romance novels, especially not omegaverse novels. Even in real life it’s taken for granted that not all women have an easy time reaching climax. Sometimes it gets tiring reading novel after novel where every FMC can just orgasm as easily as she can breathe. To see Sinclair write an FMC like Isolde, who has had a hard time with orgasms and has a pack of men willing and able to help her explore what she likes and needs while giving her space…well, it means a lot to me as a reader.
This book is romantic, has a great story, has great characters, and is sexy. I enjoyed it a great deal and look forward to seeing what else Clarity Coast has in store.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. No compensation was offered or accepted in exchange for this review. Thank you.
The Gunrunner Princess series is connected to Elizabeth Knight’s prior mafia why-choose romance series, Caprioni Queen, by way of the feral, unhinged The Gunrunner Princess series is connected to Elizabeth Knight’s prior mafia why-choose romance series, Caprioni Queen, by way of the feral, unhinged smuggler (that’s the best way I can describe it, really) Von, also known as The Wolf. The Wolf and her mute companion, Bear, helped Astin and her men complete her takedown and takeover of the Five Families. In the process, Von finally gave up her vow of neutrality and swore a blood oath to Astin. At the end of the last book in the Caprioni Queen series, Von was last seen going off on the task she was set to: tracking down and killing the last two remaining Accardi heis, who have been in hiding for years. One for the Money starts with not only seeing the beginnings of the fallout from Von’s vow to Astin, but the story arc also follows Von’s quest to find those heirs and their awful stepmother, Serena Accardi.
I fell in love with Von during the Caprioni Queen series. I have a serious weakness for feral FMCs and the characters who love her, especially when the characters love her because she’s absolutely feral. Von is, unquestionably, unhinged. Personally, I wouldn’t have her any other way. Von is fun to read, as are her paramours. Her paramours in this book are Bear (of course), her longtime bodyguard and companion; and Erik, a veterinarian of dubious providence whom Von and Bear kidnap after an emergency that has them breaking into his vet office in the middle of the night.
This book does a terrific job of setting up the rest of the series without sacrificing character building, spice, relationship blocking (by which I mean building the connections between Von and her paramours as well as teasing about who else Von may be interested in), and letting us have insight into Von’s past. We also get to hear from Astin and Ivy from the Caprioni Queen series, even if Von doesn’t see them in the flesh.
There is no mm action in this installment, but it is suggested that in future installments there will be such a dynamic. This is always a plus for me, but I know it’s a no for some readers. I’m really looking forward to the next book, Two for the Show, because I absolutely need to know where Von’s search for the Accardi heirs is going and how they plan to take Serena Accardi down.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
This is the first Ava Reid novel I’ve disliked, and I’ve read her entire backlist.
Up until Lady Macbeth, Ava Reid had a flaReal Rating: 2.5 / 5 Stars
This is the first Ava Reid novel I’ve disliked, and I’ve read her entire backlist.
Up until Lady Macbeth, Ava Reid had a flawless track record with me. There are very few fantasy authors who can match her when it comes to beautiful prose matched with fantastical worldbuilding. Her love of powerful female protagonists is always a huge bonus for me, too.
It’s not that Lady Macbeth lacks beautiful prose, because there is beautiful prose in this book. It’s not as plentiful as in Reid’s other books, but there is a sparseness to this book that I feel might be part and parcel of the overall aesthetic for the story and so it might be on purpose. The worldbuilding is fantastic, actually, but I have a feeling it probably doesn’t feel like it if you aren’t familiar with a lot of aspects of medieval Europe. Reid definitely made a choice to write this without simplifying anything for readers who might want things explained more plainly to them.
Where I came up short in this book was in the protagonist and just the book as a whole.
I understand where the author was coming from and (likely) where she was trying to get to with Lady Macbeth and this story. Most of what I came away with was about lost girlhoods, weaponizing female beauty, fetishizing certain types of women, men taking credit for a woman’s labor, men blaming women for their shortcomings, male anger and pride, man’s sense of entitlement, misogyny, how scared men are of the idea of women having the least amount of power, and how everyone has a breaking point. Even the most docile-behaving women. The issue I had is the story managed to touch lightly on all of these things but somehow also seemed to never get to the point about any of them. It skimmed lightly over all of these talking points like it was a buffet and ended up with an overloaded plate full of unresolved issues.
This is where my overall disappointment comes into play: It was just so scattershot. Have a sip of daddy issues. Take a nibble of my love for animals. I’m into being queen. I’m not into being queen. I’m cunning but I’m not. I’m not just a girl but I’m totally just a girl. Here’s some beautiful prose, but here’s a whole lot of boring.
It’s an inconsistent book with an inconsistent protagonist and an inconsistent plot. I’d like to say I don’t regret finishing it, but I do. I wish I had DNFd it. But I thought I owed Ava Reid the finish.
I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews three stars or under do not appear on my social media. Thank you.
I don’t have the best record with Silvia Moreno-Garcia novels, but The Seventh Veil of Salome is one of the most beautiful novels I’ve read this year,I don’t have the best record with Silvia Moreno-Garcia novels, but The Seventh Veil of Salome is one of the most beautiful novels I’ve read this year, and definitely the most beautiful novel I’ve read since early spring.
Moreno-Garcia has made this book as much of a juxtaposition as the titular character Salome is: it’s all at once grand and intimate, fantastic and mundane, showing us the glory of old Hollywood on one page and the sordid underbelly on the other. There’s a lot going on inside these pages: the main story with the dual third-person POVs of Vera and Nancy, interspersed testimonials from supporting characters in the main story written as if they’re in a documentary, and the story of the fictional character Salome. This whirling mix of narrative styles and plot devices keeps this book moving, keeps it interesting, keeps it fresh, and helps the reader to understand all of the characters more and more as the book moves on. As an added bonus, it also helps to ratchet up the tension and chemistry between everyone, too. One petal of the story unfurls and you’re rewarded with another petal of the adjacent story unfolding. It’s a domino effect of sorts, where the story just keeps unfurling like a beautiful flower blooming with lovely words, impeccable worldbuilding, and fascinating characters.
I absolutely, positively loved this book. I haven’t had much luck with historical fiction this year, so this was a very welcome read. This was a lush, decadent, technicolor dream read. I’ll definitely be needing a copy for my own shelf.
I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: 5 Star Review/Historical Fiction ...more
Possessive Park Avenue Prince picks up almost right after Scandalous Park Avenue Prince left off, with cinnamon roll Park Avenue Prince Gavin moving iPossessive Park Avenue Prince picks up almost right after Scandalous Park Avenue Prince left off, with cinnamon roll Park Avenue Prince Gavin moving in with resident bad boy Park Avenue Prince, Daire so he doesn’t have to listen to his brother’s noisy bedroom activities anymore. Could Gavin have asked for his own apartment in the Towers? Well, yes, but he’s neer lived alone before, and Daire has a two bedroom and offered it up so why not?
Then there’s the fact Daire knows things about Gavin none of the other Princes know and Gavin feels safer around Daire than most other people. There’s that.
I’m not going to lie to you: This book wasn’t what I expected and I didn’t dig it as much as I did the previous three installments in this series. It felt uneven in almost every way and I had issues with the chemistry between Gavin and Daire. Does that mean I didn’t enjoy the heck out of it? No, not at all! I always enjoy Ella and Brooke’s books. They’re excellent authors and they craft enjoyable and sexy gay romance novels. This series has been excellent up until now and I believe it’s unrealistic to expect every reader to adore every book in a series as much as the other. We’re only human–we’re going to have our favorites. Right now, I still love Scandalous PAP the most. That could change with the upcoming release of Salacious PAP, but who knows?
Just know, if you love very grumpy boys with very low self-worth, precious cinnamon roll boys who decide to put on some devil horns to get what they want, possessive alphaholes, jealous good boys, and a sumptuous helping of “touch him and die” (where he actually might mean it), then you’ll love this book.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
Like the Taylor Swift song of the same name, How You Get the Girl is sweet, cute, lighthearted, and irresistible (to me, at least).
I absolutely adoreLike the Taylor Swift song of the same name, How You Get the Girl is sweet, cute, lighthearted, and irresistible (to me, at least).
I absolutely adored the first book in this series, 2022’s Love & Other Disasters (it’s on my shelf!). I didn’t like 2023’s Something Wild & Wonderful as much. I was worried about how I’d feel about this book but it turns out I shouldn’t have been because from the very start I fell in love with the amazing cast of characters and Anita Kelly’s absolutely hypnotizing dialogue and effortless storytelling.
This is a cute love story about a queer high school basketball coach who meets her childhood idol and crush via one of her players and somehow their lives slowly but surely become enmeshed via high schooler antics and interference, genuine care and concern for one another as human beings, holiday meet-ups, cats (just cats), “practice dates” (yeah, sure), and basketball (because of course).
The spice level is rather low but that’s absolutely fine because the chemistry and cuteness is off the charts. The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy because Julie and Elle are absolutely next-level sweet, sometimes clueless, and absolutely needed an intervention a time or two.
There is a lot to be said for mental health concerns and LGBTQIA+ rep in high school sports in this book too, and that was a great topic to see handled well. Kelly also tackles the topic of labels and identity and I thought the way it was written about in this book was not only intelligent but very moving.
This was another Anita Kelly winner. Loved it.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
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