Not to be crude, but… they need to fuck. We’re on volume 6! The sex already happened in volume 1 of Sweat & Soap and volume 5 of What’s Wrong with SecNot to be crude, but… they need to fuck. We’re on volume 6! The sex already happened in volume 1 of Sweat & Soap and volume 5 of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? There’s zero reason for the holdup considering the relationship has lasted this long without problems.
Why is the secondary couple having so much sex?!? ...more
Reread on July 21, 2024: Curious if Yu Fong will return for the Blood Heir sequel. Read via audio (narrated by GraphicAudio full cast).
Reread on AprilReread on July 21, 2024: Curious if Yu Fong will return for the Blood Heir sequel. Read via audio (narrated by GraphicAudio full cast).
Reread on April 4, 2024: The GraphicAudio adaptation of MAGIC SLAYS includes the novella MAGIC TESTS, so I just reread that story. Read via Hoopla/audio (narrated by GraphicAudio full cast)....more
Reread on July 18, 2024: I love the sneak peek into the slavic volhv community before Roman shows up in the fifth book. Read via audio (narrated by GrReread on July 18, 2024: I love the sneak peek into the slavic volhv community before Roman shows up in the fifth book. Read via audio (narrated by GraphicAudio full cast).
Reread on April 11, 2023: The GraphicAudio adaptation of MAGIC BITES includes the prequel A QUESTIONABLE CLIENT and the first couple Curran POVs, so I just reread those stories. Read via audio (narrated by GraphicAudio full cast)....more
Reread on June 15, 2024: Loved revisiting this collection. I think I must've read it a hundred times in elementary school! Totally worth the impulse bReread on June 15, 2024: Loved revisiting this collection. I think I must've read it a hundred times in elementary school! Totally worth the impulse buy in the Audible sale. Read via audio (narrated by Jorjeana Marie). ...more
Reread on July 30, 2024: Oooh, I love the narrator! Great choice. Read via audio (narrated by Chris Brinkley).
First read on July 2, 2024: Note: I did Reread on July 30, 2024: Oooh, I love the narrator! Great choice. Read via audio (narrated by Chris Brinkley).
First read on July 2, 2024: Note: I did not read the blog serial other than the first chapter way back when. This review is solely about my arc read.
This was a very interesting read because I never believed this novella would exist. I mean, I've always loved Roman as a side character but never actively *wanted* his own story either. Usually a comedic relief-type character ends up hollow if an author delves too deeply into their psyche.
The smartest thing this novella could've done is immediately break any preconception the reader held from other books. Roman is depressed and bitter, wanting no company during the winter holiday. He's very careful not to present this side to the public or friends. While I was aware that Roman held inklings of darkness, I didn't know that he hid *this* degree of misery either. It's a LOT. At first I wasn't completely on-board (selfishly, I really loved Roman's interplay with his meddling family in the main Kate Daniels series and we hardly get those funny interactions here). But as the novella went on, I was sucked into Roman's weird, deliciously twisted adventures with his witchy pets. There's a line in MAGIC BINDS where Curran says (paraphrasing), "Kate, you're like a cat lady but instead of collecting fluffy cats, you collect killers." This quote perfectly describes Roman collecting his hoard of demonic beasties. I completely lost it when [redacted animal] joined the collection after defecting from the other side. Roman may feel lonely and ostracized from his family (for very good reasons!), but he isn't without (villainous) companionship. He also gains a pretty cool pair of magical siblings tied to Slavic gods.
And whatever we missed from meddling family antics, we made up for it with the meddling Slavic gods. I am *obsessed* with the two main gods centered in this story. They are *so* petty and selfish (the tree! I could not believe the root cause of the dream request, lol). The concept of balance in Slavic traditions is really fascinating, with darkness not necessarily being "evil" as folks traditionally view it.
Excluding Sweep With Me, this is probably the closest thing IA has ever written to a holiday novella. Plus, you know, gore and man-eating scorpions and child-hunting mercenaries. It's very wintry and desolate — some might say untimely for summer, but it was a welcome respite from the heat wave.
My one note is that SANCTUARY feels like a prequel setup novella. I personally don't have a problem with this, but [redacted storyline] is unresolved and that's going to bother some people. Like, we get the Big Villain dangled in front of us and we still don't know what their deal is by the end of the novella. We also get a bunch of setup with the teenager, new friend, future love interest, and backstory explanation of Roman's family nightmare. But nothing is resolved because, well, it's clearly setting up a future book and it's too much plot for one novella. And who knows when the sequel will come out because it could be five months or five years? Just be warned. But from what I read, I really liked Roman's new found family and am looking forward to the sequel.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
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