**spoiler alert** Lady knights with swords, cool armor and maybe a little crush on a woman mage. This novella gave me so much and I can't wait for the**spoiler alert** Lady knights with swords, cool armor and maybe a little crush on a woman mage. This novella gave me so much and I can't wait for the next installment. I need more time with the White Lady, she's so interesting!!! Also, this book has beef with a few elder brothers, because man those guys are something. I borrowed this from my library via Libby and did a combination of listening to the audiobook (I'd recommend) and reading the ebook.
The men in this book are kinda the worst, but the women...ah, the women!!! ...more
In the Shadow of the Fall (Guardians of the Gods #1) - Tobi Ogundiran
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetFalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are hIn the Shadow of the Fall (Guardians of the Gods #1) - Tobi Ogundiran
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetFalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up
Rep: Black girl protagonist, Black characters, pantheon of Orishas, Western-Africa folklore
TW: violence, massacre, religious piety, death, brutalization of children
I thought this book review was going to be late, but fortunately I mixed up the NetGalley archive date with the publishing date! I absolutely loved this book and I saw that the sequel, AT THE FOUNT OF CREATION (and conclusion, as this is a duology) was posted to NetGalley. Once I submit this review I am going to request that one as well.
This is a novella, sitting at about 150 pages, and once again I can count on Tordotcom to deliver a fantastic fantasy novella. I haven’t experienced a miss from them yet, but I digress. We start off by meeting the young, but old for an acolyte, Ashâke. She is questioning her purpose at the temple of Ifa as she has not been spoken to by an Orisha (Deities from the Yoruba religion), so naturally she goes to extreme means to take matters into her own hands. Consequences ensue and she goes on a journey, which leads to some horrifying truths. This one is a little tricky to talk about, because it is short and I don’t want to give away the plot. However, Ogundiran does a great job creating a sense of urgency and foreboding, while introducing us to the world and the characters in a manner that feels authentic and timely.
We met Ashâke and get to spend time with her at the temple. We come to understand the dynamics and the reasoning for why they exist, which lends itself to us understanding Ashâke’s woes and desires. However, this story is dual-pov so we jump around and follow a rather nefarious character, who serves as a counter to Ashâke. The author intelligently utilizes dramatic irony (when the reader is knowledgeable about things the character is not) to heighten our emotions while reading which inherently scopes out the world for us. Ashâke meets a handful of characters along her way, which enlighten her to understand what she was missing and what is at stake. There’s a group of travelers that we meet along the way which add a layer of culture, richness, and community and aid in the dimensions of the world, without Ogundiran having to info-dump. The reader can organically learn about the world through character interactions and their individual histories.
By way of the second point of view character we also get to see the happenings of the Orisha. I think it’s always interesting to learn more about their pantheon, and we come to learn why they are revered and how mortals suffer when gods clash. I’d recommend this series for fans of African fantasy and folktales, adventure, destiny, self-discovery, and lovers of worlds ruled by divine beings. ...more
TW: marital rape, abuse, neglect, fire (resulting in burns), pillaging, raids, violence, warring clans, murder, sexual scenes,Rating 3 out of 5 stars
TW: marital rape, abuse, neglect, fire (resulting in burns), pillaging, raids, violence, warring clans, murder, sexual scenes, explicit language
I have read a few books by Danielle L. Jensen previously, so when I found out she was writing a Norse romantasy I was all in. Unfortunately, I left this read underwhelmed, mildly annoyed, and overall disappointed. If this is a duology I will still try out the second book, because I still care about the potential plot direction, if this is a trilogy, my continuation will solely depend on my thoughts of the sequel. The first 108 pages, which is a very specific number, however it is what I read in my first sitting left me in good spirits. We were introduced to our impulsive and seemingly charismatic Freya who was married to a horrid man and wanted to live a warrior’s life. However, as I kept reading I realized I was not getting what I thought I was. First, Freya is dealt a pretty crap hand in this book, so I do forgive some of her insufferable tendencies because of this but not all of them.
Repetition can be a powerful tool, it can also be overused.This book was the latter as Freya told us the exact same thing over and over, now I understand if a character is anxious, stressed, conflicted they will probably reiterate an idea mentally. However, her thoughts were worded almost the same way each time, even with all of her pondering she hardly deviated in her actions, and honestly I was tired of reading it. The overwhelming majority of characters were aggressively annoying, whiny, idiotic, can we not have more than one sensible character to balance out the buffoons? Also, I recognize this is a time of warring clans, which made me think people would have more sense and awareness, but I guess we were leaning into the mindless war hungry aspect instead.
My favorite part of this book was the magic system, as some characters are god-touched, where they have god’s blood and are blessed, or cursed, depending on your perspective, with special abilities. I have some familiarity with the Norse pantheon, but I did some googling, as one does. The “foreshadowing” in this book is so incredibly obvious, nothing was a surprise, which took away an aspect of anticipation and excitement for me. All foreshadowing shouldn’t be too masterful that the reader feels no payoff or even slightly informed by what is occurring, but I should be able to guess everything from a few hundred pages in advance, especially in a book that is barely 400 pages long. Is my frustration palpable to you? I had such high hopes, and that is my fault, but dang. I have a handful of online mutuals who thought this book was funny, and predictable, but the predictability endeared them to the story, whereas I was turned off.
What even was the romance part of this book? I wouldn’t deem it as insta-love, but it was definitely instant-attraction which doesn't inherently bother me. However, I didn't even want them to be a couple, it was all lust with no substance. Like consider Freya’s history, honestly, I get it, you go girl, but not in a soulmate sort of way. Bjorn was boring, dry, but good with an axe. Simply because he has dark hair and muscles does not mean I’m going to fall for him. Hot guys need substance too. Lots of contradictions between his actions and his words (and don’t even say anything because I KNOW!), and neither were too appealing.
Anyway, reading is subjective, pick it up and formulate your own opinion if you so desire you might find your...more
TW: internalized fatphobia, FMC sometimes speaks down on her size/how her eating habits can be a burden — it’s important to note that no other character comments or perpetuates these ideas. There were also some ableist remarks, in regards to deafness and general survivalist rhetoric.
I was pretty excited to dive straight into Maddie’s story after reading about her sister Lila, in Barbarian’s Touch. If you have made it this far into the Ice Planet Barbarians (IPB) world you probably have the general idea and outline of the story down. However, these last few installments have been adding additional depth and worldbuilding, creating the expectation that Dixon is about to throw even more surprises our way. Okay, so back to the relationship, Maddie and her lover present the first semi-true friends with benefits dynamic we have seen from a main book couple so far. The only reason I’m saying it is a semi relationship, is because our alien friend absolutely knows that he wants her and is just waiting for her to acknowledge her feelings. This was such a fun couple to root for because I personally enjoy both of them and was pleased to see them find their footing and get their happily ever after.
Maddie provides a valuable, and realistic perspective because she truly does not enjoy being on Not-Hoth and has no qualm hiding it. Sure her anger (I mean her sister was kidnapped), lack of enthusiasm (she was stolen from her home planet with no way of returning), and combative attitude has made her a bit of an outcast, but most of us would be devastated if everything we knew and almost everyone we loved was ripped away from us. I am super happy for all of the well adjusted women and how they have chosen to cope with their trauma, but failing to acknowledge that not everyone is open to a whole planetary re-write would have been a huge oversight. We also explore themes of loneliness from both of our leads. Which added a layer to the tribal dynamic and how life on this alien planet can be tumultuous within, and not only without, like needing a khui to survive or trying to keep from freezing to death.
I’ve mentioned this in previous reviews, but Dixon’s approach to several sensitive topics are simply not handled with enough care. Ableist comments are thrown around, like Lila’s deafness being a hindrance to her survival, in such a dangerous landscape. Does her deafness present unique, and new challenges? Absolutely, but it would’ve been better to see how Lila leaned into this, how she faced these challenges, instead of flippant comments about her abilities. Authors can use ableist language to make a point, to present internalized ableism,, or to demonstrate bigotry, etc, however, we need to see both signs of the coin and how it is challenged. There was not enough balance for me, so not only was it disappointing it also left me wanting. I also wanted to note, I mentioned some internalized fatphobia faced by Maddie. This was not made as a content warning to showcase that Maddie is “bad” or “wrong” for her thoughts. However, I do want other readers to know when a potentially sensitive or triggering topic arises, so they can mentally prepare themselves or decide not to read the book at this time. I do want to reiterate that none of Maddie’s self-deprecating thoughts are supported by anyone else; it is fully her defense mechanism or general insecurity arising.
There are some really interesting events that take place during this book, so fans of IPB buckle up and get ready! ...more
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up
Rep: Black boThank you to Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up
Rep: Black boy protagonist, Black characters, desert setting, disabled characters
TW: classim, violence (resulting in loss of limbs), war, death, brutalization of children, child soldiers, corruption
Although this review will not contain any spoilers forThe Truth of the Aleke I would advise not reading this, if you do not wish to be spoiled for any of the events of book one,The Lies of the Ajungo .
My sincere apologies for not posting my written review sooner. I excitedly gobbled this book up, posted some video reviews and then procrastinated writing this one. I hope you can forgive me. /j
This review is actually a bit difficult to write, the The Truth of the Aleke is the sequel to The Lies of the Ajungo . There is not a ton I can say that will not spoil the book, because yet again, Utomi has shown us that he has a crafty mind. I’ll backtrack for a bit and say that I read The Lies of the Ajungo in either August or September of 2023 and I truly loved it. For such a small book, it packed an immense punch, the sequel is still rather short, but does slightly exceed one hundred pages. Initially, I was not as enamored with our protagonist, Osi, the same way I was with Tutu. It’s not that he was unlikeable, he was simply a different character, more stubborn, a bit arrogant, very steadfast, which contrasted with Tutu’s resilience, innocence, and sheer determination to help his Ma, his people. They did serve as parallels, sometimes even mirrors, during this story which was imperative.
The book picks up 500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , but everything we read previously holds relevance. I did have some separation between reading the books as I read my e-ARC in late January of this year. That did provide a reading experience that was conducive to this story, because much like the people of the land I was navigating truths from lies, truths from half-truths and crafty omissions. I definitely do not recommend reading this if you remember nothing from the first book, but some time between is fine and also you can always read them back to back for the most refreshed reading experience. Honestly, I do not want to say much more except pay attention and enjoy the story.
The last piece I will leave you with is to ensure you do not skip the acknowledgements when you read this one. The first page or so really serves as more of an Author’s Note, a very rewarding one to boot, once you have finished. I’m very excited and mildly anxious to read the third and final installment, hopefully in 2025 (I have no idea about the pub date)....more
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars
TThank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars
TW: sibling death/disappearance (past), slavery, demons, religious exploitation, explicit on the page sexual content, violence, death, fighting, oppression
Rep: Plus-sized Black woman female lead
Originally, I attempted to read this book when it was indie published, before Orbit Books picked it up and I ended up soft-dnfing. I heard so many great things about this book and I wanted to know why I could not connect with it. Since I enjoyed and finished reading it this time around I think there were two primary reasons for my disinterest. The first being how modern some of the language was, because this was a fantasy world and is called ‘MEAD MISHAPS’ I was anticipating something more whimsical and fairytale-esque. So the language threw me off a bit, but I was prepared for it the second time around. The second, it took me a minute to find my rhythm with the author’s humor. As I continued reading there were several laugh out loud moments, but there were also certain jokes which were so modern it threw me out of the world a bit. These are just things to consider and ways you can set your expectations before diving in.
In this book we follow Cinnamon, or Cin, such a cute name, even if it’s a bit on the nose, who as the title suggests saves a demon and ends up on a quest. They go on an adventure which leads Cin to discover that some truths she holds dear are not as they seem. I did like that she was Louisiana or Creole coded, cooking up crawfish, making seafood boils, eating alligator, and bringing her seasonings with her on the journey. While I found this to have cozy elements, this is definitely not a low stakes romance, as there is plenty of bloodshed, battles, and heartbreak.
The romance was lovely, flirtatious, and hot. Fallon, our hot demon fiend, was lovable and capable and constantly showed Cin how much she meant to him. This is a size-positive romance, as the author lets you know Cin is a curvy girl but she is confident. She's plus size, and a fully well-rounded woman with a personality that does not center her body, aside from how it serves, protects, and provides for her.
The world Lemming created is vibrant and dazzling, and she even tackles real world issues while incorporating romance and friendship. All in all, this was a fun read, although I still think there were pacing issues and the fact I still did not completely gel with the writing voice/humor incorporated. I will still check out the subsequent books in this series....more
I was sent an eARC of this by SourceBooks via Netgalley, however I had an outdated email linked and never received it. Therefore, I bought the Kindle I was sent an eARC of this by SourceBooks via Netgalley, however I had an outdated email linked and never received it. Therefore, I bought the Kindle version, so that I could read/review this one. I am not letting my ratio get messed up, because I did not download the book in time!
TW: assault, mentions of past familial deaths, death, some horror imagery/themes, animal death
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Let me preface this by saying I am someone who enjoys Scarlett St. Clair’s work and in my humble opinion, the Hades Saga is her best work. Was this a fun, quick read? Yes. Is this a good intro into St. Clair’s work, to get a feel for her writing? Also, yes. However, to me the execution was lacking. I understand this was a passion project for her and I’m glad she’s delved into the fairy tale space. I definitely plan to read the subsequent books in this series, which are interconnected standalones (I think?). This was told in dual POV, which has become my preference for romance books.
My main gripe with this work is that it felt a bit choppy, rushed, and lacked range and depth. It’s a retelling, and while she heavily pulls from Beauty and the Beast, it is obvious, and intentional, that she has added in several beloved themes and aspects of various tales. In her Author’s Note, it is evident she is knowledgeable about her sources and was attempting to emulate the quick-paced, brusque, intentional heart of fairy tales, but while others have succeeded this one fell short. You can make a romance quick, impactful, mildly hilarious, and have it still accomplish its goal. Maybe my issue is that she was attempting to do too much in a roughly 200 page story. However, when I think about it, as far as short stories/novellas go, 200 pages is actually quite a bit, so that’s not an adequate excuse.
The writing in this one felt juvenile and I know what to expect from St. Clair, I mean I have read how she created Persephone, but my goodness, this lacked refinement. If the language had been tighter, each word purposeful, more could have been accomplished with less. Smut is good, in fact, sometimes I love it, but tension can be better, and the leap to establish immediate sexual tension and general “horniness” took away from the purpose and lessons in the story. Unless your goal is to simply write a purely smut-ladled book without a care for characterization, worldbuilding, dimension, and the like, then that’s fine, but I do not believe that’s all that St. Clair was going for here. It was evident she was wanting to pay homage to stories she loved, with a darker, more mature twist, and at that, she missed the mark, at least in part. Sex is good, but sex should be used to elevate your story and highlight moments, unless for the manner aforementioned.There were aspects of the story I enjoyed, like the opening curse, which leads to another curse, the crow named Wolf, and Gesela’s regret and love for her family. However, those are bits that are gingerly dolled out, constantly overshadowed by over explained and indulged elements of sex.
In my opinion if you have not enjoyed her previous work, especially Hades x Persephone (from Persephone’s POV) picking this one up will not be an enjoyable experience for you....more
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Rep: curvy FMCThank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Rep: curvy FMC, religion, monks, bi and pan spec characters (including a male lead), transgenderside characters (using transgender as an umbrella term) sapphic couple/mothers, gender neutral language/references
TW: child abandonment (past), child neglect abuse (past), emotional/mental abuse, neglectful parents, murderous parents, doing ill in the name of religion, drug use/addiction, terminal illness, detailed descriptions of death, murder, killing, ritual disfigurement, torture, loss of limbs, necromancy, animal death
Sometimes you read a book and you truly appreciate it after you finish. You know, the type of book that demands introspection, one that must settle before you can truly grasp at what the author is trying to convey. A book which lends itself to a reread, not because you could not understand, but because you desire to delve deeper and truly see; now that you have familiarized yourself with the text are my favorite things to read. I will be the first to admit this one has a slow, steady pace, which deviates mildly from the intensity of the Wilderwood duology, but clearly Hannah Whitten has found and sits deeply in her voice now. The craftsmanship of this novel was enhanced and I always appreciate as an author grows with their work, you would think this is the norm, however, it is absolutely not and should not be taken for granted. If you’re into delectable prose, you will be delighted. The imagery Whitten constructs is visceral and decadent, I know that is not everyone’s jam, but it’s something I crave. I wouldn’t say it’s excessively flowery, but it done in an impactful manner. This is an emotionally charged book and the writing sucker punches you at times, truly I’m grateful .
There’s a lot to be said here and honestly, I’ve struggled to fit all of my feelings and thoughts into words. In fact, that’s how I stumbled across the idea of exegesis and eisegesis, because I was trying to convey myself and these terms do it well. These terms relate directly to how one reads a text, but particularly a religious text. Exegesis is an attempt to draw out the meaning of the biblical text, trying to understand what the passages are telling us. Conversely, exegesis is when we try to supplant or lead our own thoughts and biases into the text. The former is objective, whereas the ladder is more subjective in nature. Now, you may be wondering what I’m going on about and how it relates to the text. Overall, the book is an exploration of one’s self and worth and how we grapple with our internal wars and external environment, overwhelmingly, in Lore’s case (our female protagonist and narrative voice) religion and religious trauma. In The Foxglove King we do not only have the Sainted King, August Arceneaux, we also have an Exalted Priest, the King’s twin brother, Anton Arceneaux. Both of these men are two sides of the same coin, whether they desire to recognize it or not. While the Priest views the Holy text through an exegesis lens, the King utilizes a more eisegesis approach. In this respect, it is significant and intentional to have the two most powerful men in the kingdom; opposites, brothers, serve as an antithesis, to the other.
In this book we follow Lore, a death magic wielder. She can manipulate and utilize Mortem, which she shouldn’t be able to do, so naturally she attempts to shield that side of herself. Then there’s Gabe, a monk, devout follower, and who strongly reveres the Exalted Priest as if he were the second-coming of Apollius…is that blasphemous to say? Lastly, but certainly not least, we have Bastian, the highly attractive, criminally seductive, spoiled Prince who has many secrets of his own. Due to circumstances these three come together, some not for the first time, as they each feel an inexplicable pull to the others as they try to solve a mystery plaguing the Kingdom of Auverraine. I do hope that in the two forthcoming sequels we at least get a few chapters from the men’s point of view, as I would love to be inside the heads of all of our favorite chaotic disasters. This book is brimming with parallels, metaphors, gothic scenery and macabre proclivity. Everyone is more and less than what they seem and the epigraphs which line the start of each new chapter give us a deeper insight into the world. Whitten utilizes them seamlessly to assist in worldbuilding without bogging down the reader in superfluous detail.
I will say this was a satisfying read. While we are still left wanting, seriously, I would happily dive into the sequel right now. There is enough payoff to satiate the numerous questions bound to plague even the most mildly interested reader. Pantheon structures are always fun for me to explore, and while this story does pull from Christianity, there are many fictionalized elements. The gods in this story will continue to play a role as the story develops and I anxiously await their uncovering. Also, this is my premature request for a novella regarding the Godsfall and more on the elusive, Nyxara. Whenever a female, whether deity, mortal, or other being is accused as being conniving, evil, beyond reproach in a male dominated religion or society I always take pause. Let’s get to the crux of it, because we all know how the defeated are always demonized.
This is a steady read for those who like a little mystery with their religious trauma. A splash of filicidial schemes, and nobles abusing drugs the King happily exiles commoners for. The typical abuse of power, and the not so typical mass murders and resurrection. If you are keen to character driven stories, with lots of pain, agony, and flirtations this just may be the read for you.
P.S. What is it with the horses???
P.S.S. I may add more to this review, because there are other things I'd like to discuss. Lore's MOTHERS???...more
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC to review. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars TW: death,Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC to review. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars TW: death, murder, grief, fighting/battles
Review was originally posted on November 8, 2022, but I’ve gone back in for grammar and spelling mistakes.
It’s no surprise that Daughter of the Moon Goddess (DotMG) has been one of my favorite reads of 2022 and my expectations for the sequel Heart of the Sun Warrior (HotSW) were very high. I want to set the scene for you all, I read this book in a day, which is very rare for me. I had a long day of travel and spent quite a bit of time on an airplane or waiting around an airport.
As I first began reading, I resigned myself to the fact that while HotSW was enjoyable it did not surpass it’s sequel. In fact, I wondered if it was even a book I would want to reread because the start had a lot of showing and not telling and lacked some excitement. The introductory paragraphs felt a little long winded and mundane, however this might be the author's writing style and with time I realized a good foundation was being set for the new conflict. Before I knew it, the author, Sue Lynn Tan, did what she does best and sucked me into her world and her characters yet again. I truly do not know why I was ever worried, in fact the only fear I should’ve had was how hard it was going to be for me to fight back my tears while on the plane. The sequel is the perfect continuation of DotMG picking up right were we left off in a seamless continuation. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this duology would make a perfect Chinese Drama adaptation. Reading these books feels like watching a movie in my mind and I’m so grateful that I can lose myself between the pages and just feel and enjoy the story I have become immersed in.
I feel like some people may have criticism about the love triangle being too drawn out but I felt like it was believable and very in tune with the Xianxia genre. Xingyin is one of my favorite female protagonists, because while she is flawed and makes mistakes, you can understand her rationale. All of her actions are true to who she is as a character, meaning that the author doesn’t simply throw in conflict for conflicts sake, but creates tension in drama that aligns with the characters she has established. Liwei and Wenzhi both play a role in the sequel and we continue to see how their relationships with Xingyin has changed due to actions in book one. I'm so glad we got to see more of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, and Xingyin's mother. We got to see her as more than one-half of a tragic love story and it was refreshing to see her given more agency and a personality outside of romance. She's a strong mother with a quiet power, who doesn't always view herself with the same reverence those who love her do. There is also additional exploration provided to the legend of Houyi and the Sunbirds, as this duology is based on legend. It's always tantalizing to see an author's spin on a tale we know and how they give the story new life and texture while still holding onto its essence.
Prepare your hearts while reading this one, while there are less action scenes than in book one, there is still plenty of battle and bloodshed. While I won’t provide any spoilers in my review and will try to be rather vague— I don’t tear up easily and I was truly fighting for my life to hold back the floodgates. This book will make you want to laugh, cry, scream, yell and share some choice words with the author. If you're also a Chinese drama fan, this book gave me a reminiscent feeling of Ashes of Love . The stories are very different, but the emotional response they invoked in me was quite similar.
If you didn’t enjoy the first book then no, you probably won’t enjoy this one. While I found the writing to be tighter the author’s voice is very much the same. There are a few new characters introduced, however we've already met a majority of the cast in book one. If you did enjoy the Daughter of the Moon Goddess , I hope you find this sequel and conclusion as riveting and entertaining as I did.
I’m happy to see, through my Goodreads perusal, that while this duology is complete we may yet see other works set in the Celestial Kingdom world!!!!...more
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Rep: terminal il Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Rep: terminal illness rep (the one in the book is fictional, but the type of illness could be real), sapphic rep
TW: society in which LGBTQ+ characters (in this instance Lesbians) have to be closeted
I went into this book knowing that it was some kind of Sleeping Beauty retelling and that’s it. I would say this is more a modern reimagining which takes a Fairytale, makes it real and expands upon it. Quite frankly, I am starting to have a new appreciation for standalone novellas because the amount of plot, character development, conflict and resolution packed into this story astounds me.
We follow Zinnia, Zin for short who lives in Roseville with her overbearing parents, her best friend Charmaine, Charm, and has just had her twenty-first birthday. People who suffer from Generalized Roseville Malady, her terminal illness, usually do not make it to their twenty-second birthday, so as you can imagine the emotional turmoil she was going through. Without saying too much, Zin is transported and she comes to gain a better understanding and appreciation for her story and her path.
I like how Harrow gave us things we know and love about Sleep Beauty but also played around with the different renditions and added in her own spin to the legend. There was a point at the end where I thought this book would become a cliche and follow a particular trope that I thought would be harmful and offensive. However, it didn't happen and I was grateful for the way the story panned out. Endings leave me unsatisfied more times than not, but this was an ending that felt authentic to the story without changing anything too drastically.
My e-galley did not have the illustrations, so I am looking forward to getting my hands on a finished copy to fully appreciate all the beautiful illustrations scattered throughout the story. If you’re a fan of fairy tales, female empowerment, and owning one’s fate I think this would be a great, quick read for you....more
TW: stockholm syndrome, emotional/mental/physical abuse, drug abuse/addiction, torture, mutilation, murder
This is a dark fant Rating 4 out of 5 stars
TW: stockholm syndrome, emotional/mental/physical abuse, drug abuse/addiction, torture, mutilation, murder
This is a dark fantasy romance, however the author does provide trigger warnings and the dark elements are in no way romanticized. I am reviewing this book after having finished the three books that are published in the series.
Gleam is my favorite book in the series so far. My emotions were an absolute mess I felt like I was getting whiplash. Sometimes when you think something couldn't get any worse it does, oh it absolutely does. However, there are a lot of moments of joy and happiness in this book too, it's not all doom and gloom. Also, for everyone waiting for some romance - here you go.
Let’s get some housekeeping items out of the way.
King Midas is indeed still a prick. He deserves to be castrated. Every time I think I couldn’t possibly hate him more, I realize in fact that I can. He is the scum of the earth. Queen Malina and King Midas were actually well matched. She is a horrible, abusive person. Remember, just because you are abused does not give you the right to abuse others. She’s also a bumbling idiot, who needs to stop with the indignant speeches.
Ahh...I feel better already.
Okay, okay so I know a lot of people are team #Arurip right now, and I like them together to but-- and hear me out he needs to do better. He’s extremely judgemental of Auren, and I understand that he sees her potential and wants more for her. He truly cares, and I love that for both of them, but I wish he was more understanding. She was in a abusive relationship for ten years, with the world’s biggest narcissist and master manipulator. Prior to that she was abused and neglected for another five years. I think our girl is doing well, she’s working on herself and trying to overcome her demons. I often felt like he was demanding too much from her too soon in a rather abrasive manner. Tough love can be necessary, but so is grace. I think he gets better as the book goes along, but honestly it was rather off-putting.
There was a plot twist in this book that I didn't see coming and it made me so happy, because now I usually guess them all. It was well-done as the author laid the seeds out all along, I just didn’t pick them up.
Now, the wait for book four begins, but fingers crossed Raven Kennedy surprises us and publishes it sooner than listed....more
TW: stockholm syndrome, emotional/mental/physical abuse
This is a dark fantasy romance, however the author does provide tr Rating 3.75 out of 5 stars
TW: stockholm syndrome, emotional/mental/physical abuse
This is a dark fantasy romance, however the author does provide trigger warnings and the dark elements are in no way romanticized. I am reviewing this book after having finished the three books that are published in the series.
This is the story that begins to untether the ties that we saw in Gild. Auren is taken captive by the Commander of the Fourth Army and realizes that all the stories are not always true. We also get to see King Midas’s and Queen Malina’s POV a few times in this one, which helps to round out what is happening in other parts of the land. Similarly to the first book, it is character driven and “slower-paced” because Auren’s doing a lot of self-reflection and coming to terms with the realities of her time with King Midas.
Initially, I sympathised with Queen Malina, it is hard to be overlooked because you are magicless. To feel your power snatched away and constantly to be denied what your heart desires. Except I cannot stand characters who are unable to take ownership of any of their actions and constantly pin the blame on others. The woman is horrid, point blank, period and everytime we entered into her chapters I would groan, so thankfully we didn’t have to suffer inside of her mind too much.
King Midas is a prick.
If you were looking for romance, well ta-da the slow-burn starts here, so I hope the wait hasn’t been too painful. Auren starts to go through her second character arc and it is beautiful and messy to see. I cannot imagine what she is going through as she takes a deeper look into who she is and what she wants out of life. She is constantly challenged by Commander Rip and his Wrath, along with all that she sees while a prisoner for the Fourth Army. The saddles are still awful to her, which I understand but loathe to read. This reiterates my earlier sentiment that Midas is a prick, pitting them all against our girl, Auren to feed division and to further isolate her.
Can we please talk about how the Commander’s name is Rip? I cannot take that seriously. I mean no disrespect to any Rip’s in the world, or other cultures, but the author is American (as am I) and I just found this name to be a bit too on the nose.
Auren has to work through her trauma and decide what kind of future she wants for herself. Let’s see what she chooses, because every choice has a consequence....more
Thank you Berkley Romance for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I initially read B Thank you Berkley Romance for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I initially read Barbarian Mine back in 2021 and then recently reread it as it was re-released by Berkley Romance. Although this book keeps to the heart and predictability of the Ice Planet Barbarians aka breeding-kink romance the variance in the story line serves as a nice refresher as this is book four in the series. I enjoyed this book the first time around and equally so this time, as we follow Harlow and Rukh. Rukh is a rather peculiar character, because he looks like the blue aliens we have come to know and love; however he is not a part of Vektal’s tribe. When he kidnaps Harlow she has to contend with being separated from the people and the life she has come to know.
This traditional published version comes with two additional bonus stories, one of which I think was previously available and the other I believe to be new, but do not quote me on that. I enjoyed the bonus content, I found it to be both sweet and nice fan-service who simply want more from characters they know and love. This book, likes it predecessors is a fun, light sci-fi romance that still manages to take the time to touch on real life concerns and discussions, which I typically enjoy in romances.
The “magical healing trope” is present in this book and I’m not sure how all readers will feel about it. Sure, we understand why the author did it but like many things in this book it is extremely unrealistic and I felt it could have been handled a bit differently.
I’ve never read past this book, as I grew a little tired of the repetitive nature of the storylines. However, enough time has passed and I would be interested in reading a few more Ice Planet Barbarian books, if not the entire twenty-plus book series....more
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Rep: Jewish rep, Hung Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Rep: Jewish rep, Hungarian culture, sapphic side characters
TW: bloodletting for magical purposes, mutilation for magical purposes, murder, graphic death scenes, religious persecution, antisemitism, torture, sexual scenes (not particularly graphic or descriptive), cultural genocide, body horror
This book was impeccable. From the very first page I could tell that Ava Reid is a very intelligent person and writes cohesively, succinctly, and with vivid imagery. I think that is why I struggled to write this review. There was so much that I loved and wanted to share and every time I went to write my review, I was unable to coherently piece together my ideas. So, I have accepted that I cannot do this story justice and the biggest piece of advice I can leave is for you, if you’re reading this, to pick up this piece of art for yourself and get lost within the pages.
In this story we have Èvike, a wolf girl, a Pagan, who is given as a sacrifice by her people to the Woodsman, the strict followers of the Patrifaith. There she meets Gáspár, a Woodsman, who is more than he seems and together they embark on a journey of love and understanding. As they get to know each other they begin to question their beliefs, fears, and understanding of the society, in which they live. This story is full of parallels, and the exploration of religion, diaspora and one’s place in society was so carefully crafted.T he juxtaposition between the Patrifaith and Paganism also highlighted some pretty important conversations, especially when the practitioners of the Patrifaith would deny or willfully ignore the history the two shared.
I feel obligated to say this, because I know it’s what many people want, let’s talk about romance. It’s an enemies-to-lovers slow-burn, full of forbidden touches, furtive glances, and 'I’ll fall to my knees to/for you' and so much more. It was sweet and careful and great, but honestly there were other aspects of the story that dominated my attention. I know, truly, I am shocked too. One of the hidden gems is the relationship Èvike cultivates with one of the Yehuli (if you’ve read it, you know who I’m referring to).
I can’t speak on it much without spoiling, but the Yehuli people in the book can be equated to Jewish people in real life. The manner and which, and the justification the Kingdom supplies for wanting to send them to a Yehuli-state is very reminiscent of modern-day Israel and how some antisemites think Jewish people should only exist within this quasi-religious state. This diaspora portion of the story was so relevant and important and I hope readers were able to pick up on this nuanced conversation.
My only hiccup at all would be the pacing, there was a lot of lore and history packed into this story and at moments certain discussions felt like they were going on extensively. This is not a major issue by any means, but it was something I noticed, because this is often when I would decide to put the book down for a break. I did not gobble this story up frantically, instead I read it leisurely, over time, whenever I felt called to return to the world.
This story is gritty, wild, and dark at times, but with Reid’s poetic and intentional writing, even the haunting and grotesque could be read with beauty and wonder. So much was encapsulated within this novel, and while I know standalone fantasy can be a challenging feat, it was well executed in this instance....more
Thank you NetGalley and Subterranean Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
TW: The usage of blood magic (inv Thank you NetGalley and Subterranean Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
TW: The usage of blood magic (involves cutting oneself and feeding blood), violence, death, murder, graphic depictions of wounds
This was my first time reading from Silvia Moreno-Garcia and it certainty won't be my last. The prose is quick paced and enticing, easily drawing the reader in as we meet Xalxi, and follow her on her path for revenge. The incorporation of Aztec mythology and lore, only added to the richness and depth of the society while providing a bit of context for the reader. My only complaint is that now I want more, like a full-length prologue novel detailing the studies and adventures of Xalxi, Xellah, and Itzyul.
Despite, the brevity of this novella it was well-rounded, provided political intrigue and mystery, as well as the complexities of Xalxi's mind. The nahual was a fun, and essentially pretty reasonable addition to the cast of characters and they managed to present truth or, at least perspective into the realities of this world. Moreno-Garcia managed to feed us us bits of information in a timely manner, preventing information overload and not revealing too much as to mangle the impact. This enabled precision in how we saw the story and viewed Xalxi and her decisions, allowing us to piece together the events and formulate new conclusions.
As long as you go in understanding this is a quick novella, I feel like this will be an enjoyable and sinister read....more
Content warnings: references to an abusive relationship and dealing with healing, living with chronic pain and references tRating: 4 out of 5 stars
Content warnings: references to an abusive relationship and dealing with healing, living with chronic pain and references to drugs like opiates.
First of all, I would like to say that I have never felt more single as I did while reading this novel and I mean that in the best way possible. Talia Hibbert is a gifted writer and she has several one-liners in this book which just had me looking at the page in a stunned daze. Some of the writing was so beautiful and caressed my heart. Also, I really like the lessons that Hibbert interweaves in her novels. This is my second one by her and I get the impression that this is common practice for her. I’d be lying if I said I did not enjoy a toxic romance every now and again, but it’s also refreshing to see a healthy relationship. To witness two perfectly, imperfect people work on themselves for their own gain and self-fulfillment, but also, so they can be good partners as well.
It’s important for me to note that Hibbert doesn’t lump all of the trauma and necessity to work on oneself solely on her female characters, she also gives her male leads their own issues to work through. I find, at least in literature, that this helps to lessen the power imbalance you often see in fictional relationships. There isn’t a “broken” character and a “whole” character that has to “fix” the other. This isn’t to downplay the genuine ability and openness from some people in relationships to be a positive light for their partner, but they should not be the only light for their partner.
“There’s a big difference between being a coward and putting your emotional safety first…”
Chloe and I have some definite similarities which made reading this book mildly uncomfortable, while also enabling me to feel seen and recognize some things within myself. We are not identical, but there was enough there that really had me like, “Wow, this is absolutely how I react in these situations.” I am not an OwnVoices reviewer when it comes to chronic illness, but I have read the reviews from those who are and I’m glad to see that the author took care and did a good job portraying what it’s like to live with chronic illness and pain. Obviously, everyone is different but I think it’s important for us to recognize good representation, especially when it’s not our identity so we can do a better job of recognizing what is and isn’t harmful in the literature we read.
“Her voice was sharp and expensive, like someone had taught a diamond how to speak.”
I appreciate that we get to meet Chloe’s sisters, Dani and Eve that way when we connect with them before divulging into their stories in subsequent novels. Additionally, their presence did not detract from Chloe’s story, but instead rounded out her life, because yes, people are more than their relationships. This was a really heartwarming romance, which also brought in some of the complexities of life. I can’t wait to see what Dani has in store for us next! ...more
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