The fact that this one was one giant bummer after the next made it difficult to want to pick up, and it 3.75 ⭐
This book was a meat grinder, dear lord.
The fact that this one was one giant bummer after the next made it difficult to want to pick up, and it took me most of the month to read as a result. I also think the story was bogged down by pacing issues for the first 60% or so, and the introduction of even more antagonists threatened to make an already complex tapestry of plot lines convoluted.
That said - wow, were there some excellent character moments in this one. Dark Age is, indeed, dark, but there were glimmers of absolutely shining examples of human grit, determination, and hope in utterly hopeless situations. Lyria and Ephriam in particular had me pumping my fist then tearing up from one paragraph to the next. Darrow will always be my fave, but I think Pierce Brown proved in this one that he can nail the multi-POV format.
New Year's Eve in Chernograd looks a little different from the usual fare. Instead of celebrating with champagne, fireworks, and large parties, its ciNew Year's Eve in Chernograd looks a little different from the usual fare. Instead of celebrating with champagne, fireworks, and large parties, its citizens are restocking their aspen stakes and holing up behind protective wards. Rather than dreaming up optimistic resolutions for the new year, they begin their dreaded countdown to the arrival of creatures straight out of the darkest of fairy tales. The magical Wall surrounding their city keeps the rest of the world safe from these beasts, but in Chernograd, you better know your upirs from your rusalkas.
Fire Witch Kosara usually spends this period of time, known as the Foul Days, trying to get shake off her toxic ex... who also happens to be the Tsar of Monsters. This year is extra difficult, as she's just bargained away her shadow, the source of her power. Even worse, the wasting sickness a witch gets without her shadow seems to be setting in extra quickly. In order to get her shadow back and deal with the ghosts of her past for good, Kosara must team up with Asen, a detective from the outside, who is is in way over his head with all this monster business.
Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova is a folkloric mystery romp. The beginning was a little too fast-paced for me, as I felt we were just speeding through plot points with a really shallow sense of the setting and characters. Things get more interesting once Kosara teams up with Asen, however. Watching them fight monsters and try to unravel the mystery of Kosara's stolen shadow was fun, and I liked the potential their friendship has to grow into something more.
Kosara's ex, the Zmey, gave me major Darkling vibes. But like, the Darkling once Alina sees him for who he is and without an ounce of charm. I wish we had gotten to see a larger peak into the beginning of their relationship, as we're only ever really told about all the horrible things he did instead of shown. Kosara confronting him feels a little empty because we rushed through most of the things that would have had a stronger emotional impact.
Overall, Foul Days ended up feeling a bit rushed. I know there's another installment coming soon, but I felt like this first book could have explored the world a bit better. I love Slavic folklore, but this had none of the lush world building that Naomi Novik or Katherine Arden's stories feature so heavily. The characters were interesting in theory, but I think the breakneck pace was to the detriment of their development.
Still, this was a promising debut and I look forward to picking up the sequel!
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the e-ARC!...more
The Twin Alders is hidden in a place with no time. A place of great sorrow and bloodshed and crime. Betwixt ancient trees, where the mist cuts boneThe Twin Alders is hidden in a place with no time. A place of great sorrow and bloodshed and crime. Betwixt ancient trees, where the mist cuts bone-deep, the last Card remains, waiting , asleep. The wood knows no road— no path through the snare. Only I can find the Twin Alders... For it was I who left it there.
I don't think this will be for everyone, but oh my god was it for me.
This was just the perfect combination of incredible writing, intriguing characterI don't think this will be for everyone, but oh my god was it for me.
This was just the perfect combination of incredible writing, intriguing characters, and a really rich historical setting that I've always found fascinating. Bardugo has clearly always enjoyed exploring dark themes, and she's great at it, but her take on the Spanish Inquisition and the Catholic church was above and beyond.
Our main character Luzia is often defined by how much she wants, and the small magic she's been gifted with allows her to take in a way that is so powerful for this time period. Her Jewish heritage and heretical magic make her very existence a transgression in the eyes of the Inquisition, especially as a servant and a woman, but she embraces that power instead of hiding it. Ugh, it was just so good.
I hope Bardugo continues to explore historical fantasy, because she is excellent at it.
This one kinda feels like the opening of an episode of Supernatural. Young, hot newlyweds get waylaid on their honeymoIf you see her, you're next.
This one kinda feels like the opening of an episode of Supernatural. Young, hot newlyweds get waylaid on their honeymoon, winding up on the ominous Atticus Line in the middle of the night. While driving down this weirdly creepy road, they end up picking up a hitchhiker. If this were Supernatural, the hitchhiker would be some evil spirit and the hot couple would be brutally murdered for the simple crime of trying to be nice to a stranger. Instead, the hitchhiker is the victim here, and April and Eddie (our aforementioned hotties) are the prime suspects when the girl dies at the hospital. In order to clear their names and find justice for the girl they tried to save, the couple takes the investigation into their own hands, finding surprising (and very spooky) answers.
Sit back, Winchesters. April and Eddie got this one.
I had a great time with Murder Road! It didn't hit me in the gut the way The Sun Down Motel did, but a spooky thriller by Simone St. James pretty much always hits for me. I listened to this exclusively via audio (which I rarely do), and the vibes were fantastic. The narrator, Brittany Pressley, was fabulous, and she set the tone for the story really well. And her character voices were distinct without being cringey, which is always a blessing. Highly recommend listening while on your commute!
Though maybe steer clear of creepy roads in the middle of nowhere. ...more
I wanted to check out Jenn Lyons, as I've heard excellent things about her A Chorus of Dragons series, but I don't think The Sky on Fire is fDNF @ 18%
I wanted to check out Jenn Lyons, as I've heard excellent things about her A Chorus of Dragons series, but I don't think The Sky on Fire is for me, unfortunately. I thought the premise of a heist story with dragons sounded super fun, but the world building and setup getting to that point is clunky and not interesting. The characters aren't really doing anything for me either, so just overall my motivation to pick this one up is low.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!...more
Dragons and romance were two things she had not envisioned in her future ten days ago, and now both had fallen into her lap.
For years, it's been TDragons and romance were two things she had not envisioned in her future ten days ago, and now both had fallen into her lap.
For years, it's been Twyla and Frank, Frank and Twyla - neighbors, work partners, and most importantly, best friends. Just a couple years away from retirement, the two plan on buying and operating a ranch together in their golden years. Platonically, of course. But things shake up at their jobs as Tanrian Marshals when they accidentally make a miraculous discovery: dragons, the first anyone has seen in millennia. Except they're adorable, pink, spit glitter, and certainly not what anyone expected.
Now, Frank might have accidentally become a dragon daddy, a hot draconology professor is making moves on Twyla, and things are weird between Frank and Twyla. As they navigate a rapidly changing situation, Twyla is forced to reevaluate her feelings towards Frank and how they fit in with the independence she's suffered for years to gain.
This book had all the things about a great friends-to-lovers romance that I eat up - the pining! The angst! The tension! Frank and Twyla really and truly felt like best friends, and their transition to something more felt so natural. I was dying for Frank's POV, especially since Hart and Mercy was dual perspective, but I can also see why Bannen limited the scope to just Twyla. The heart of this story is ultimately the journey of a woman in her fifties reclaiming love and independence after decades of putting herself last, and jumping back and forth would have weakened that.
(Though maybe Megan Bannen could bless us with a bonus chapter at some point???)
Twyla wanted to hold and be held, but she wasn't convinced that it was possible to be held without being held down or held back.
I don't know if much can top The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy for me, but The Undermining of Twyla and Frank was a fantastic follow-up. I adored these two idiots and the delightfully weird Tanrian antics they found themselves in the middle of. Dragons are not the strangest subject for a fantasy novel, but Megan Bannen made them her own in all their pink and glittery glory. What a ride!
Also shout out to Duckers, the funniest character I've read about in a while. He was a delight in Hart and Mercy, but he truly blossomed in this one. If there's another sequel, I need it to be about him.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC! ...more
Listen, idk if anything will ever top Belladonna for me, but this sure was close. It didn't have quite the same gothic atmosphere as the first tw4.5 ⭐
Listen, idk if anything will ever top Belladonna for me, but this sure was close. It didn't have quite the same gothic atmosphere as the first two in the series, but I still loved the world and the characters that live in it. Blythe was a great protagonist and the hate/love relationship with Aric was fabulous to watch develop. I wish we had a little bit more at the end, but I can see why Adalyn Grace decided to wrap it up the way she did.
What a beautiful and enchanting series! I definitely see myself returning to it again and again.
(view spoiler)[My only minor complaint - I think the inclusion of Chaos was a little out of nowhere. I loved the concept but I wish there had been more build-up to the idea that there are way more immortals walking around than we previously thought. I love that this opens the door for future books in the same world, but it felt like a last minute idea that got squeezed in. (hide spoiler)]...more
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