You know how it is when you've been raised in an art nouveau mansion to become the chatelaine for its owner, a monstrous arachnoid lady, only to fall You know how it is when you've been raised in an art nouveau mansion to become the chatelaine for its owner, a monstrous arachnoid lady, only to fall in love with her and be courted as her bride, right? Oh, you don't? Well, Dalia does, and if you read her story, you will, too.
I don't know if horror romance will ever be my favorite thing, but I love how it is bringing a SpecFic look at the monster romance genre. If an eerie sapphic romance with only a hint of physical intimacy sounds like your jam, you definitely want to check this one out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella....more
We love Loretta Chase and we've been looking forward to reading how she handles a marriage in crisis. Turns out she manages it by ... not really writiWe love Loretta Chase and we've been looking forward to reading how she handles a marriage in crisis. Turns out she manages it by ... not really writing a marriage in crisis? The majority of the book is set BEFORE the first two books in the series; the main characters don't even get married until mumble-ty % into the book (trying to be spoiler free but just take our word for it that it's a significant way into the book).
Blackwood is one of the 3 "Disreputable Dukes" we met in A Duke in Shining Armor; Alice is one of their sisters. They've been gone for each other since she was 17 and he was 19, but he chose his friends instead of her. (Honestly, at 19? we can't really blame him. We're working on historical romance timelines, though!) Now she's 25 and has realized that she needs to marry soon because her brother's heir is awful, and her brother doesn't seem destined for a long life. Blackwood is determined to help her make the match of her dreams ... even if he wishes it were him.
Chase's prose is as sparkling and funny as always, and the couple is well-matched and loving. Our only gripe is that they seemed TOO well matched for a marriage in crisis! But read as a brother's best friend romance? This is pretty pitch perfect.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
Do you have a favorite villain? Why do I ask? Let's talk about Long Live Evil for a bit. Rae, in the hospital with terminal cancer, is awoken by a myDo you have a favorite villain? Why do I ask? Let's talk about Long Live Evil for a bit. Rae, in the hospital with terminal cancer, is awoken by a mysterious person who offers her the chance to enter her favorite books (super violent epic fantasies a la Game of Thrones). If she can find the Flower of Life and Death, she'll be cured and able to return to her own world. If she can't complete the task? She'll be stuck in Eyam (remember, super violent fantasy world) forever. She says "Sure" (mostly to get this person out of her room) but does, in fact, wake up in the body of the villain of the first book on the eve of her execution. She's got to scramble immediately to put together a group of villains in the hopes of living long enough to get the flower. At first, I was rolling along and having fun reading, just waiting for the next sendup of epic fantasy tropes. (The Room of Memory and Bone especially tickled my fancy, both for the name itself and for the over-the-topness of a room entirely furnished with ground up human bones, complete with a throne where rulers' dead bodies are placed until they decompose.) But as the stakes got higher, I got more and more invested in Rae and in the other characters. It helps that the book is really funny, because if it took itself entirely seriously it would probably be a little too grim. While it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, the ending is ambiguous enough to make me really happy to see that this is the first in a series! Long Live Evil reminds me a bit of the The Invisible Library series in the way it engages with narrative, and of course with the Fractured Fables: Containing A Spindle Splintered and A Mirror Mended duology, which has a similar setup and focus. It also called me back to one of my favorite '90s fantasy standalones, Villains by Necessity. If you love fantasy novels, fandom in general, or thinking about reading, you should definitely check this one out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
It feels like Silvia Moreno-Garcia can write in any genre. This book follows Vera Larios, a young woman plucked out of obscurity to star in The SeventIt feels like Silvia Moreno-Garcia can write in any genre. This book follows Vera Larios, a young woman plucked out of obscurity to star in The Seventh Veil of Salome, an epic swords-and-sandals film of the sort that every great director had to have during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The narrative structure is a mix of 3rd person limited POV from the perspective of Salome (which might be just her from the film, or might be a historical version...), Vera, and aspiring starlet Nancy; and retrospective interviews from various cast- and crewmembers. From what the interviews imply, the reader knows that something unexpected (and possibly tragic) happened during filming. This gives an ominous overtone to the portions from the characters' perspectives, since they don't know what tragedy awaits.
SMG is really playing with mythmaking: as she says in her author's note, we know very little about the historical figure of Herodia's daughter. ("Salome" likely isn't even her name!) This book looks at three different women who will become famous for three very different reasons, and gives the reader their interiority even as we see the construction of the myth.
That makes the book sound really high brow, and it's not NOT high brow. But it's also the gripping story of three women who are trying to make the best of their circumstances. I really liked it, but also cried at the end, so, y'know. Reader beware!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
In two timelines, 1989 and 2009, Meche and Sebastian fight, make up, break up, hurt each other, love each other, but above all, misunderstand each othIn two timelines, 1989 and 2009, Meche and Sebastian fight, make up, break up, hurt each other, love each other, but above all, misunderstand each other. In 1989, they are written as two true 15-year-olds who don't understand mortality or consequences. As 35-year-olds, we see how they're still the same people they were back then, no matter how much they tell themselves they've changed.
This isn't quite a romance or a coming-of-age story. We know /something/ happened in 1989 to make Meche and Sebastian enemies. We see that she's followed their mutual dreams, while he's been stuck in Mexico City. But we also see that their experiences as teenagers have shaped them into the people they are today.
I listened to this one, and I appreciated the narrator's deft touch in differentiating not only between characters, but between 15-year-old Sebastian & Meche and 35-year-old Sebastian and Meche. This was easy to follow, despite the dual timelines. Silvia Moreno-Garcia really knows how to write a book with a story that can be /told,/ not simply read.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook....more
Part fairy tale, part picture book, The Wood at Midwinter is an unsettling story about a young woman, Merowdis, who goes on a wintry walk and sees herPart fairy tale, part picture book, The Wood at Midwinter is an unsettling story about a young woman, Merowdis, who goes on a wintry walk and sees her future. The language is beautiful and the illustrations are perfectly strange and beautiful. This is a very short story that's more about giving the reader a sense of eerie atmosphere: and it succeeds.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the story....more
We have had a ton of fun reading this post-revolutionary France-set series! In this one, we descend into the criminal underworld, where Nicolas is an We have had a ton of fun reading this post-revolutionary France-set series! In this one, we descend into the criminal underworld, where Nicolas is an independent player (organizing prize fights and training savate fighters), and Vilette is trapped. There's a tinge of instalove: when Nicolas catches Violette picking pockets, he immediately wants to know her story and goes looking for her. We loved, though, that Nicolas wasn't the macho pursuer. Instead, Violette goes to him to learn self-defense lessons so that she can protect herself from her current "employer," the Boneman. She's not paid to work for him; she follows his orders because her brother is in debt, so she is scrabbling out a way to survive.
Speaking of that employer, Violette is under the constant threat of sexual violence. She knows that she could be violated by any number of people for any number of reasons: personal, financial, or just because the Boneman feels like it. If there's a problematic part of the book, it's how violent it is, and how illogical that violence can be. (We just don't love when the reason a woman is threatened is to punish a man for his behavior.) That aside, we loved that Violette takes an active role in her own rescuing. She doesn't wait around for someone to come get her when she can make her own contribution. She and Nicolas work as a team, which really emphasizes how suited they are to each other.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
If you like a governess romance with mature leads (they're both 30!), this is a good one to pick up. Rory's wife and son perished in a carriage accideIf you like a governess romance with mature leads (they're both 30!), this is a good one to pick up. Rory's wife and son perished in a carriage accident on his 30th birthday, leaving only his daugher alive. His marriage might have been unhappy, but Rory's still grieving. He seems to have forgotten he has a living daughter, so when he returns to his estate, he's shocked when his in-laws tell him they can no longer care for her.
Genevieve is part Mary Poppins governess perfection and part "I don't care about your wealth and title as long as you're a good dad and person" (or, in other words, the perfect match for Rory). And yet she also isn't a Mary Sue paragon! This is a low angst romance despite the background of grief and it's on the shorter side. It's the third in a series and wraps up an overarching plot device, but I think it could be read as a standalone.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
After finishing Full Speed to a Crash Landing, I was absolutely charmed by Ada's mix of snark, confidence, and hidden vulnerability, and really wantedAfter finishing Full Speed to a Crash Landing, I was absolutely charmed by Ada's mix of snark, confidence, and hidden vulnerability, and really wanted to see where the whole story went with Rian. As soon as I got my hot little hands on How to Steal a Galaxy I absolutely devoured it. At the end of Full Speed, Rian notes that he expects Ada to show up at a charity event held at a museum. He's not wrong: Ada continues her troublemaking ways with a heist at the gala. What priceless objet d'art will she take? Or is she working to disrupt the event?
I was a little spoiled (by the book jacket!) so I knew what she was there to steal, but seeing Rian and co. figure it out was so fun. At this point, I'll just read anything featuring Ada and her chaotic competency and strong inner voice. Like the first book, this is a slow burn (just a couple of kisses) and includes a hilarious epilogue from Rian's POV.
I seriously cannot wait to read the concluding book in a series, but I'm also enjoying the anticipation of having a brand new series to obsess about.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella....more
We enjoyed the hell out of this sci-fi romance/heist novella! It's short, it's sweet, and it's super fun.
Ada is rescued after her space ship suffers aWe enjoyed the hell out of this sci-fi romance/heist novella! It's short, it's sweet, and it's super fun.
Ada is rescued after her space ship suffers a hull breach. Turns out the people who rescued her are on a top secret mission to salvage ... SOMETHING ... from the surface of a nearby planet. She invites herself along to help them out, totally altruistically, obvs (and, well, for some hazard pay, too).
There's plenty of snarky banter, insta-lust that doesn't go too far (this is a novella, y'all!), and a tight plot that resolves at the very end like the best heist stories do. It's told in first person, present tense like a lot of sci-fi romance seem to be these days (a la Jessie Mihalik and Constance Fay), but partially because this is such a short book that didn't grate. Honestly, Ada's snarky internal dialogue reminded us a lot of The Murderbot Diaries, which is a real treat. (You've gotta love a self-aware, caustic MC.) There's also a really great epilogue from the POV of Rian (the LI), which really added to the romance. (One of the things we miss in so much sci-fi romance is the MMC's perspective, and it was great to have it here!)
Absolutely loved this and cannot wait for the next two planned books in the trilogy!
6-Word Summaries: Laine: Trick the enemy into trusting you. Meg: It’s tough conning a hot smarty.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
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