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
2.5 stars rounded to 3. Look. I love Sherry Thomas, and I love Kate Reading reading Sherry Thomas but this book was a big miss for me.
This is the lov2.5 stars rounded to 3. Look. I love Sherry Thomas, and I love Kate Reading reading Sherry Thomas but this book was a big miss for me.
This is the love story of two wildly successful American aristocrats (both 32, she's a MacArthur Grant recipient, he's a heart surgeon AND a millionaire; they should have met at age 18 when he was assigned to be her escort at a debutante ball in Paris) who have a one night stand and then fake date each other? With no realistic conflict (really bizarre for a Sherry Thomas!)? Also everyone uses LOTR as basic metaphors for everything, and despite my affection for fandom in general I felt this particular deployment was a little ... niche.
I was about to say it didn't seem realistic but I think that was really my biggest issue about everything. No one has "real people problems" in this book so I didn't read them as realistic characters. (Yes, I recognize that being ghosted as an 18-year-old debutante in a historical romance might be the basis for a realistic conflict, but this is supposedly a contemporary romance...). Just disappointed, I guess....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
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
This fun, Olympic-set contemporary romance is perfect for Olympic season. It features Zeke, Team GB's star sprinter, who's in the running (heh) for thThis fun, Olympic-set contemporary romance is perfect for Olympic season. It features Zeke, Team GB's star sprinter, who's in the running (heh) for the gold medal in the 100-meter dash; and Olivia, who just landed her dream Olympic internship (although it might end up being much, MUCH less glamorous than she expected). This is a romance, so as you might expect, they meet and fall in love with the Olympic Games as a backdrop.
This is a strong debut novel: I could really see Zeke and Olivia's compatibility without having it rubbed in my face. They're both first generation immigrants from Zimbabwe who have learned they need to make sacrifices for success in the UK. They're both ambitious, competitive, and successful. But they're also both young 24-year-olds who just want to have a great summer while working for their ultimate goals. (I'm not going to name names, but these two young, successful characters felt real in a way other authors haven't managed to bring off.)
If you're a seasonal reader, this is the perfect time to pick this one up! And if you're not watching the Olympics at all, it's still a solid romance.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
Sometimes you just want a historical romance that his all the right beats. A scarred duke! Ward/guardian! It's always been you! Compromised and forcedSometimes you just want a historical romance that his all the right beats. A scarred duke! Ward/guardian! It's always been you! Compromised and forced to marry!
Perhaps my favorite part is that when they were compromised, she had that good ol' romance heroine thought: "Do I really want to marry him even though he doesn't love me?" and then she answered herself: "I sure do!"
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
This is another cute entry in the Magic and Mechanicals series! This one is about a reincarnated ghost and a layabout trust fund baby. In the last booThis is another cute entry in the Magic and Mechanicals series! This one is about a reincarnated ghost and a layabout trust fund baby. In the last book, Claudia, a ghost from the British Roman era, was reincarnated at a seance gone wrong. Ezra was an attendee at said seance. Since then, she's been staying at his place learning how to live in the 19th Century.
The book doesn't go much into relationship building: the two are friends when it starts, both pining for each other. To throw them together, they help one of Ezra's friends banish a demon that he inadvertently summoned.
As with most of Marting's books, there is some sly humor paired with a laid back romance, set in a world with some fun steampunk touches.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel. ...more
It's a heist! With dragons! The world building felt complete without too much info dumping, and although I wasn't thrilled about going to dragon schooIt's a heist! With dragons! The world building felt complete without too much info dumping, and although I wasn't thrilled about going to dragon school everything about it made sense (sorry, Fourth Wing). Although the characters were all true adults, it felt like there was a love triangle being set up a la YA ... until it turned into a triad. (I was very happy about that one, NGL. Why choose, indeed?)
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel....more
PlotTrysts
>
Books:
non-pod
(287)
Loading...
