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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book as something lighthearted. The characters are extremely likeable and the world building was different to your typical witch/vampire. I really liked the concept and thought the progression of the characters made sense. Also, the smut was 🔥
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am that I joined in for Lily’s kickstarter. I just wish I had read this as soon as I got it. Because oh my goodness, this was so incredibly good!!
Lily’s writing style, at least for this, was so incredibly perfect for me. I can’t say for her past books because I haven’t read them…yet. And that’s a hard yet because I need more! I’m going to be a nerd for two seconds. The format of how this book was published, was exactly what I needed. I don’t know why I’m so in love with it. Maybe because it was different? But my god, I’ll nerd out forever about it. And the little pictures throughout!!! As someone who has a hard time picturing things in books, this was nice. And they weren’t even like, things I needed an image for. But it was a nice break of trying to imagine what a building looks like. More books should do this.
Okay, enough rambling. Anyway, I absolutely loved Aisla & Jinn. I loved their dynamic so much. Both incredibly headstrong. But knows when to be soft and caring when they need to. And the tension between them, muah, chef's kiss. It was so amazing to see a strong South Asian main character. Good lord, Aisla was so strong. Especially with what she faced. More than she even knew. Shadow mommy Jinn, god she was something else. Definitely makes me want to read more shadow mommies hehe. Also, makes me want to read nothing but sapphic vampire books!
Even though they were a little frustrating, I loved Aisla's siblings. I'm really interesting about finding more about Maia. Can't wait to find out what Lily has in store for her. She seems like she could be a little trouble maker. And I hope we can also learn more about Brodie and I hope they fight back with the High Coven's misogyny.
Grief was dealt very well in my honest opinion. What it's like losing someone very important to you. Trying to get on with day to day life. Wanting nothing more than to bring them back.
I think the only negative thing I could come up with that I didn't like about this book...was that it wasn't more. Lol. Honestly, I could have probably read 1000 pages of Aisla & Jinn. And I don't say that lightly. Because I've never read a book that large. So that tells you how much I loved this book. But at least...we're coming back to this world in the future! So I'll take what I can get!
Even though they were a little frustrating, I loved Aisla's siblings. I'm really interesting about finding more about Maia. Can't wait to find out what Lily has in store for her. She seems like she could be a little trouble maker. And I hope we can also learn more about Brodie and I hope they fight back with the High Coven's misogyny.
Grief was dealt very well in my honest opinion. What it's like losing someone very important to you. Trying to get on with day to day life. Wanting nothing more than to bring them back.
I think the only negative thing I could come up with that I didn't like about this book...was that it wasn't more. Lol. Honestly, I could have probably read 1000 pages of Aisla & Jinn. And I don't say that lightly. Because I've never read a book that large. So that tells you how much I loved this book. But at least...we're coming back to this world in the future! So I'll take what I can get!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Will It Hurt? As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
✨ Adult Sapphic Fantasy
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 3.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Book 1 in a Series (possibly standalone within a series)
✨ Rep: South Asian MC, lesbian MC, trans SC, pansexual SC
I recommend if you enjoy…
- sapphic vampyres and wytches
- a faster paced, compressed timeline
- spice with your plot
- themes of grief and rejection of duty
- found family and complex mother-daughter dynamics
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
This was a highly anticipated read of mine, so I was excited to get started! By the end of the first chapter, I was absolutely hooked. A wytch whose job is to provide voluntary “neutralization” to vampyres? The whole concept appealed to me. Add in complex feelings? Yeah, I needed to know what happened next.
Plot
With a compressed timeline (span of days), this book to be fast paced despite being over 400 pages long (on kindle). I had a hard time putting it down! I probably wouldn’t have minded if the book was about 150 pages longer just to see more of the main character, but all the important things happened with enough time for character arcs to resolve. A couple loose ends were left that I am hoping might be answered in the next book (or perhaps future books as I don’t know how many are anticipated).
Characters
I absolutely loved both Aisla and Jinn. I wanted more of them because I was obsessed with their dynamic. I appreciated the representation within the book as well as the commentary in regard to racism. The characters were complex in their desires and motivations. Plus, the side characters held more depth than simply being plot devices or props.
Romance
Not really insta-love, but the romance develops from one character needing the other to do something (created forced proximity of sorts). Combined with heightened emotions and clear physical attraction/chemistry, when the match finally strikes it practically takes off. Also, as one expects from Lily X, the spice was spicing.
World-building
Being a low fantasy, the world-building is focused more on the lore behind vampyres and wytches, how their magic works, the council, etc.. As opposed to more wide-spread, in depth world-building. This story takes place in a modern Edinburgh, so there is a contemporary setting with fantasy elements. I felt there was enough world-building to be satisfying and answer most of my questions without being too world-building heavy.
Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed Will it Hurt? and I’m excited to read the next book! I hadn’t read a sapphic vampyre story in a while, and this hit the mark for me. An easy read to devour.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
blood/blood drinking, grief, loss, mental health, mercy killing, vampyric euthanasia, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, violence (mild), casual modern-day racism (from author’s own lived experience), sexually explicit content, decapitation (aftermath described), stalking, addiction
✨ Adult Sapphic Fantasy
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 3.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Book 1 in a Series (possibly standalone within a series)
✨ Rep: South Asian MC, lesbian MC, trans SC, pansexual SC
I recommend if you enjoy…
- sapphic vampyres and wytches
- a faster paced, compressed timeline
- spice with your plot
- themes of grief and rejection of duty
- found family and complex mother-daughter dynamics
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
This was a highly anticipated read of mine, so I was excited to get started! By the end of the first chapter, I was absolutely hooked. A wytch whose job is to provide voluntary “neutralization” to vampyres? The whole concept appealed to me. Add in complex feelings? Yeah, I needed to know what happened next.
Plot
With a compressed timeline (span of days), this book to be fast paced despite being over 400 pages long (on kindle). I had a hard time putting it down! I probably wouldn’t have minded if the book was about 150 pages longer just to see more of the main character, but all the important things happened with enough time for character arcs to resolve. A couple loose ends were left that I am hoping might be answered in the next book (or perhaps future books as I don’t know how many are anticipated).
Characters
I absolutely loved both Aisla and Jinn. I wanted more of them because I was obsessed with their dynamic. I appreciated the representation within the book as well as the commentary in regard to racism. The characters were complex in their desires and motivations. Plus, the side characters held more depth than simply being plot devices or props.
Romance
Not really insta-love, but the romance develops from one character needing the other to do something (created forced proximity of sorts). Combined with heightened emotions and clear physical attraction/chemistry, when the match finally strikes it practically takes off. Also, as one expects from Lily X, the spice was spicing.
World-building
Being a low fantasy, the world-building is focused more on the lore behind vampyres and wytches, how their magic works, the council, etc.. As opposed to more wide-spread, in depth world-building. This story takes place in a modern Edinburgh, so there is a contemporary setting with fantasy elements. I felt there was enough world-building to be satisfying and answer most of my questions without being too world-building heavy.
Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed Will it Hurt? and I’m excited to read the next book! I hadn’t read a sapphic vampyre story in a while, and this hit the mark for me. An easy read to devour.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
blood/blood drinking, grief, loss, mental health, mercy killing, vampyric euthanasia, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, violence (mild), casual modern-day racism (from author’s own lived experience), sexually explicit content, decapitation (aftermath described), stalking, addiction
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i love when authors have fun with fantasizing !!
Oh my god! This is such a GREAT book! The tension and spice is 🔥
The way they both came into their own, especially Aisla, was amazing to read! I loved Maia’s protectiveness and Lily X’s use of crossword puzzles in the chapters!
This is a 10/10, definitely recommend
The way they both came into their own, especially Aisla, was amazing to read! I loved Maia’s protectiveness and Lily X’s use of crossword puzzles in the chapters!
This is a 10/10, definitely recommend
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spicy shadow Mommy!
I enjoyed this book more than Lily X’s OV series (though I liked those as well). PNR is my fave subgenre, so that’s probably a big reason. The premise seemed unique. Aisla, the wytch, is paid to legally “neutralize” Belle, who wishes to end her immortal life. Her vampyre mother (creator), Jinn finds out and decides to take her grief and anger out of Aisla. They fall in love instead. Lots of spicy tension and interference from Jinn’s mother make things exciting. And the interrogation by Jinn’s sister, Maia, brings a nice dose of humor into the story. It seems weird to say, but Jinn and Aisla have a cute love story. Thank you, Lily X—“adolescent bollocks” is now my new favorite curse.
I enjoyed this book more than Lily X’s OV series (though I liked those as well). PNR is my fave subgenre, so that’s probably a big reason. The premise seemed unique. Aisla, the wytch, is paid to legally “neutralize” Belle, who wishes to end her immortal life. Her vampyre mother (creator), Jinn finds out and decides to take her grief and anger out of Aisla. They fall in love instead. Lots of spicy tension and interference from Jinn’s mother make things exciting. And the interrogation by Jinn’s sister, Maia, brings a nice dose of humor into the story. It seems weird to say, but Jinn and Aisla have a cute love story. Thank you, Lily X—“adolescent bollocks” is now my new favorite curse.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Love love loved this book! Wytches and Vampyres are pretty much always a hit for me, but on top of being super sexy paranormal creatures getting it on, this book delved into heavy topics of grief and working through it as well as touching on issues of colonization.
And on top of that (it keeps getting better) it was so funny I was laughing out loud at parts. Maia provided the perfect comedic relief while still showing full-hearted dedication to her sister.
The way the title tied into this book was so unique, showing up in the beginning and then bringing us closure toward the end.
It would be hard to not fall in love with Aisla and Jinn. Give this book a read!
Excited to dive into this author’s sapphic omegaverse series.
And on top of that (it keeps getting better) it was so funny I was laughing out loud at parts. Maia provided the perfect comedic relief while still showing full-hearted dedication to her sister.
The way the title tied into this book was so unique, showing up in the beginning and then bringing us closure toward the end.
It would be hard to not fall in love with Aisla and Jinn. Give this book a read!
Excited to dive into this author’s sapphic omegaverse series.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Racism
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I had no clue what to expect going into this book, but I loved every minute of it. I’ll give a qualifier that I’m someone who enjoys fantasy books, but even if I didn’t, I believe I’d like this story. This is what I like to call a fantasy light story. It’s the world we understand with some magical elements thrown in.
There are so many things I enjoyed about this book, and I’m not sure where to start. The characters, the setting, the spice? So many things…
Setting: Lily X does an amazing job setting up the world quickly and efficiently, and she does so in a way that pulls the reader in. Her imagery had me feeling the cold, seeing the moon, and so many other things. I loved each new place the characters experienced, because I felt like I was there as well.
Characters: The MCs are described so well that when I started looking at the character art (the author provided), each character was exactly as I envisioned. They are witty, and fearless, but they are also relatable. While Jinn isn’t human, her struggles are. Grief, loss, and betrayal are all emotions that humans feel, and Jinn is written in a way that makes the reader feel her grief. Aisla, is equally as brilliant, but she also struggles. She has the weight of expectations, not only from herself, but history as well. I came into this book expecting an enemies to lovers, which it is, but Lily X wrote the characters in a way that had me as a reader falling for them as they were falling for each other.
Spice: It’s spicy, and magic, and spicy! I know that’s not proper grammar, but it’s the only way I can describe it.
Love this story, and I’d definitely return to this book and these characters again if the opportunity arose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts