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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
16 Apr 2021
Tropes: Complicated shady magical family, attempted coup, relationship problems, murder et Al, quirky characters
1. I like Lanyons' prose and characters, and I'm actually pretty impressed by the worldbuilding in this series. Sure it's not a hard magic system but there's a lot about underground societies and family drama (I LIVE for family drama) and it's all pretty funny and fairly consistent and I'm quite fond of the characters. Cosmos' mom is my favorite. Cosmo would be my favorite if it wasn't for his inexplicable fondness for his asshole of a husband but more on that later.
2. The mystery was also pretty good. Lots of personal grievances and betrayals and entitled assholes. I do love a good entitled asshole takedown it's so satisfying. I'm less sure one what to feel about the whole demonic magic (?) plot hook, but my problems with Lanyon don't have anything to do with her worldbuilding so I'm cautiously optimistic.
3. My problem is the romance. Theres a running gag where people in Cosmo's life tell him repeatedly to divorce John. It's not funny, mostly because all of these characters have a point I absolutely agree with. John is a toxic, unreliable asshole. I put up with his crap for two books. Hell, I even gave him the benefit of the doubt because Cosmo wasn't exactly forthcoming early on in the series but Cosmo's learned to adjust and compromise. John claims very loudly and very often that he's compromising his principles for Cosmo without ever doing anything of the sort.
4. Cosmo. Honeybun. Sugarpie. I don't know how to tell you this, but "I will avoid having anything to do with my life before you came into it because it makes you uncomfortable" and "I will generously ignore the fact that your existence creeps me out so long as you pretend that a significant part of your life is not a thing" are not equivalent compromises. Forget a divorce. I'm rooting for your family and friends to murder the asshole and hide the body, only you'd get upset and that would make them upset. Are you sure you're not under a love spell?
5. You know the thing? Where a very attractive, competent, nice young lady is somehow completely enamored with a beefy handsome alpha male to the point of compromising her life choices for his sake and he eternally takes that as his due and gets upset when she does something he doesn't approve of? It's that, but gay. I cannot say it's any more palatable because it's been queered.
6. It doesn't even have to be this way! I think a John pov would likely help a LOT with smoothing out the relationship inequalities. This is why romance novels have dual perspectives. And Lanyon is a competent writer with a ton of very sweet and compelling platonic relationships under he belt so she could absolutely use this to make the story better. I wish I could say I think this would still happen, but so far I've only seen lampshades and no actual explanations.
Merged review:
16 Apr 2021
Tropes: Complicated shady magical family, attempted coup, relationship problems, murder et Al, quirky characters
1. I like Lanyons' prose and characters, and I'm actually pretty impressed by the worldbuilding in this series. Sure it's not a hard magic system but there's a lot about underground societies and family drama (I LIVE for family drama) and it's all pretty funny and fairly consistent and I'm quite fond of the characters. Cosmos' mom is my favorite. Cosmo would be my favorite if it wasn't for his inexplicable fondness for his asshole of a husband but more on that later.
2. The mystery was also pretty good. Lots of personal grievances and betrayals and entitled assholes. I do love a good entitled asshole takedown it's so satisfying. I'm less sure one what to feel about the whole demonic magic (?) plot hook, but my problems with Lanyon don't have anything to do with her worldbuilding so I'm cautiously optimistic.
3. My problem is the romance. Theres a running gag where people in Cosmo's life tell him repeatedly to divorce John. It's not funny, mostly because all of these characters have a point I absolutely agree with. John is a toxic, unreliable asshole. I put up with his crap for two books. Hell, I even gave him the benefit of the doubt because Cosmo wasn't exactly forthcoming early on in the series but Cosmo's learned to adjust and compromise. John claims very loudly and very often that he's compromising his principles for Cosmo without ever doing anything of the sort.
4. Cosmo. Honeybun. Sugarpie. I don't know how to tell you this, but "I will avoid having anything to do with my life before you came into it because it makes you uncomfortable" and "I will generously ignore the fact that your existence creeps me out so long as you pretend that a significant part of your life is not a thing" are not equivalent compromises. Forget a divorce. I'm rooting for your family and friends to murder the asshole and hide the body, only you'd get upset and that would make them upset. Are you sure you're not under a love spell?
5. You know the thing? Where a very attractive, competent, nice young lady is somehow completely enamored with a beefy handsome alpha male to the point of compromising her life choices for his sake and he eternally takes that as his due and gets upset when she does something he doesn't approve of? It's that, but gay. I cannot say it's any more palatable because it's been queered.
6. It doesn't even have to be this way! I think a John pov would likely help a LOT with smoothing out the relationship inequalities. This is why romance novels have dual perspectives. And Lanyon is a competent writer with a ton of very sweet and compelling platonic relationships under he belt so she could absolutely use this to make the story better. I wish I could say I think this would still happen, but so far I've only seen lampshades and no actual explanations.
Tropes: Complicated shady magical family, attempted coup, relationship problems, murder et Al, quirky characters
1. I like Lanyons' prose and characters, and I'm actually pretty impressed by the worldbuilding in this series. Sure it's not a hard magic system but there's a lot about underground societies and family drama (I LIVE for family drama) and it's all pretty funny and fairly consistent and I'm quite fond of the characters. Cosmos' mom is my favorite. Cosmo would be my favorite if it wasn't for his inexplicable fondness for his asshole of a husband but more on that later.
2. The mystery was also pretty good. Lots of personal grievances and betrayals and entitled assholes. I do love a good entitled asshole takedown it's so satisfying. I'm less sure one what to feel about the whole demonic magic (?) plot hook, but my problems with Lanyon don't have anything to do with her worldbuilding so I'm cautiously optimistic.
3. My problem is the romance. Theres a running gag where people in Cosmo's life tell him repeatedly to divorce John. It's not funny, mostly because all of these characters have a point I absolutely agree with. John is a toxic, unreliable asshole. I put up with his crap for two books. Hell, I even gave him the benefit of the doubt because Cosmo wasn't exactly forthcoming early on in the series but Cosmo's learned to adjust and compromise. John claims very loudly and very often that he's compromising his principles for Cosmo without ever doing anything of the sort.
4. Cosmo. Honeybun. Sugarpie. I don't know how to tell you this, but "I will avoid having anything to do with my life before you came into it because it makes you uncomfortable" and "I will generously ignore the fact that your existence creeps me out so long as you pretend that a significant part of your life is not a thing" are not equivalent compromises. Forget a divorce. I'm rooting for your family and friends to murder the asshole and hide the body, only you'd get upset and that would make them upset. Are you sure you're not under a love spell?
5. You know the thing? Where a very attractive, competent, nice young lady is somehow completely enamored with a beefy handsome alpha male to the point of compromising her life choices for his sake and he eternally takes that as his due and gets upset when she does something he doesn't approve of? It's that, but gay. I cannot say it's any more palatable because it's been queered.
6. It doesn't even have to be this way! I think a John pov would likely help a LOT with smoothing out the relationship inequalities. This is why romance novels have dual perspectives. And Lanyon is a competent writer with a ton of very sweet and compelling platonic relationships under he belt so she could absolutely use this to make the story better. I wish I could say I think this would still happen, but so far I've only seen lampshades and no actual explanations.
Merged review:
16 Apr 2021
Tropes: Complicated shady magical family, attempted coup, relationship problems, murder et Al, quirky characters
1. I like Lanyons' prose and characters, and I'm actually pretty impressed by the worldbuilding in this series. Sure it's not a hard magic system but there's a lot about underground societies and family drama (I LIVE for family drama) and it's all pretty funny and fairly consistent and I'm quite fond of the characters. Cosmos' mom is my favorite. Cosmo would be my favorite if it wasn't for his inexplicable fondness for his asshole of a husband but more on that later.
2. The mystery was also pretty good. Lots of personal grievances and betrayals and entitled assholes. I do love a good entitled asshole takedown it's so satisfying. I'm less sure one what to feel about the whole demonic magic (?) plot hook, but my problems with Lanyon don't have anything to do with her worldbuilding so I'm cautiously optimistic.
3. My problem is the romance. Theres a running gag where people in Cosmo's life tell him repeatedly to divorce John. It's not funny, mostly because all of these characters have a point I absolutely agree with. John is a toxic, unreliable asshole. I put up with his crap for two books. Hell, I even gave him the benefit of the doubt because Cosmo wasn't exactly forthcoming early on in the series but Cosmo's learned to adjust and compromise. John claims very loudly and very often that he's compromising his principles for Cosmo without ever doing anything of the sort.
4. Cosmo. Honeybun. Sugarpie. I don't know how to tell you this, but "I will avoid having anything to do with my life before you came into it because it makes you uncomfortable" and "I will generously ignore the fact that your existence creeps me out so long as you pretend that a significant part of your life is not a thing" are not equivalent compromises. Forget a divorce. I'm rooting for your family and friends to murder the asshole and hide the body, only you'd get upset and that would make them upset. Are you sure you're not under a love spell?
5. You know the thing? Where a very attractive, competent, nice young lady is somehow completely enamored with a beefy handsome alpha male to the point of compromising her life choices for his sake and he eternally takes that as his due and gets upset when she does something he doesn't approve of? It's that, but gay. I cannot say it's any more palatable because it's been queered.
6. It doesn't even have to be this way! I think a John pov would likely help a LOT with smoothing out the relationship inequalities. This is why romance novels have dual perspectives. And Lanyon is a competent writer with a ton of very sweet and compelling platonic relationships under he belt so she could absolutely use this to make the story better. I wish I could say I think this would still happen, but so far I've only seen lampshades and no actual explanations.
Ugh, I'm so torn on this one and this series in general. It doesn't help that there's been a lot of time (and delays) between each book so I often forget details from the previous ones--and apparently the next book isn't coming out for another year and a half?? Partially, these are on the short side, and there's so much going on in terms of magical stuff that it doesn't feel like quite enough time to really feel satisfied, and though I really love Cosmo, I am starting to find his relationship with his husband incredibly frustrating. Like... I legitimately don't feel like they are a good match for each other and it seems like they would be much better off if they broke up, which isn't generally the feeling you want when reading a romance. I'm starting to lose interest in this one...
Merged review:
Ugh, I'm so torn on this one and this series in general. It doesn't help that there's been a lot of time (and delays) between each book so I often forget details from the previous ones--and apparently the next book isn't coming out for another year and a half?? Partially, these are on the short side, and there's so much going on in terms of magical stuff that it doesn't feel like quite enough time to really feel satisfied, and though I really love Cosmo, I am starting to find his relationship with his husband incredibly frustrating. Like... I legitimately don't feel like they are a good match for each other and it seems like they would be much better off if they broke up, which isn't generally the feeling you want when reading a romance. I'm starting to lose interest in this one...
Merged review:
Ugh, I'm so torn on this one and this series in general. It doesn't help that there's been a lot of time (and delays) between each book so I often forget details from the previous ones--and apparently the next book isn't coming out for another year and a half?? Partially, these are on the short side, and there's so much going on in terms of magical stuff that it doesn't feel like quite enough time to really feel satisfied, and though I really love Cosmo, I am starting to find his relationship with his husband incredibly frustrating. Like... I legitimately don't feel like they are a good match for each other and it seems like they would be much better off if they broke up, which isn't generally the feeling you want when reading a romance. I'm starting to lose interest in this one...
I received an ARC of this book but my opinions are my own.
It's always a joy for me to read this author, but I've been on the fence with this series. It's well-written and I love the main character, but the relationship with his husband is complex and doesn't always seem healthy. On the other hand, it's also realistic in a lot of ways that makes for uncomfortable romance. So at the end of the day, while I deviate several times in the middle of the book, I always end up rooting for them. And I think I'm starting to see a healthier and happier relationship emerge.
Plus it's hard not to love Cosmo and not to love stories with magic. Especially witchcraft that's part bewitched and part the magicians. Really well done!
It's always a joy for me to read this author, but I've been on the fence with this series. It's well-written and I love the main character, but the relationship with his husband is complex and doesn't always seem healthy. On the other hand, it's also realistic in a lot of ways that makes for uncomfortable romance. So at the end of the day, while I deviate several times in the middle of the book, I always end up rooting for them. And I think I'm starting to see a healthier and happier relationship emerge.
Plus it's hard not to love Cosmo and not to love stories with magic. Especially witchcraft that's part bewitched and part the magicians. Really well done!
I really enjoyed this series but I feel like there was more to tell. It's told in such a short time span and Cosmo & John have only known each other for a short time. I want to read more of their relationship growth because as it stands at the end of book 3, there is still a power imbalance and John still doesn't accept all of Cosmo as he is. I mean, does John even know that Cos is Craft royalty??! John was such an asshole so many times and I don't feel like he is yet absolved of his assholery. However, I actually enjoyed asshole John and the relationship angst in this series. It has the flavor of Adrien English but is not quite at the same level of angst & pain.
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Bell, Book and Scandal is the third book in the Bedknobs and Broomsticks paranormal fantasy/mystery by Josh Lanyon. Released 30th March 2021, it's 222 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
For fans of this paranormal mystery series, this is a re-visit with returning characters, lots more drama, some murder, more family drama, some minor cop-stuff, and an extra helping of drama. Although I've read the previous books in the series, I find myself wondering just how Cosmo and John actually wound up staying together long enough to get married. They're *such* a weird combo. It's not even a case of opposites attracting; they're just really badly matched. Both of their families are horrific and toxic, and I find myself wincing and rolling my eyes when their friends wind up making bad situations even worse.
For fans of the author who haven't yet read this series, there's a lot of backstory to unpack and though the author does a decent job of providing the necessary background without info-dumping or spoon-feeding the reader, there are numerous plot developments which will seriously spoil the earlier books. For readers who are planning on reading the earlier books, I strongly recommend reading them in order.
For readers unfamiliar with the author, this is a M/M romance mystery and it does include some explicit scenes. Definitely not safe for work-time reading. The author does do a very good job of warmly sympathetic LGBTQIA+ depictions (including pronouns where indicated). The denouement and resolution felt a bit rushed/tacked on to me, personally, but all in all I found it satisfying with one minor bit of unresolved continuity.
Four stars. I would recommend this one to fans of paranormal mystery, drama laden M/M romance, and light reads.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Bell, Book and Scandal is the third book in the Bedknobs and Broomsticks paranormal fantasy/mystery by Josh Lanyon. Released 30th March 2021, it's 222 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
For fans of this paranormal mystery series, this is a re-visit with returning characters, lots more drama, some murder, more family drama, some minor cop-stuff, and an extra helping of drama. Although I've read the previous books in the series, I find myself wondering just how Cosmo and John actually wound up staying together long enough to get married. They're *such* a weird combo. It's not even a case of opposites attracting; they're just really badly matched. Both of their families are horrific and toxic, and I find myself wincing and rolling my eyes when their friends wind up making bad situations even worse.
For fans of the author who haven't yet read this series, there's a lot of backstory to unpack and though the author does a decent job of providing the necessary background without info-dumping or spoon-feeding the reader, there are numerous plot developments which will seriously spoil the earlier books. For readers who are planning on reading the earlier books, I strongly recommend reading them in order.
For readers unfamiliar with the author, this is a M/M romance mystery and it does include some explicit scenes. Definitely not safe for work-time reading. The author does do a very good job of warmly sympathetic LGBTQIA+ depictions (including pronouns where indicated). The denouement and resolution felt a bit rushed/tacked on to me, personally, but all in all I found it satisfying with one minor bit of unresolved continuity.
Four stars. I would recommend this one to fans of paranormal mystery, drama laden M/M romance, and light reads.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Making a marriage work. Politics. Familiars. Parrot headed umbrella. Drowning.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
The conclusion of this bewitching trilogy did not disappoint. It’s full of action, much uncertain romance, and a bit of gay sex (within the confines of holy matrimony.) The characters in this series are interesting and fun. There is magic, socializing, and crime investigation (mostly done by amateurs.) Cosmo and John’s marriage has it’s ups and downs. You will likely route for them, but find it increasingly difficult to trust mortal love. Don’t miss this volume. I was thrilled to learn that there will be three more books in the series, but saddened to know there are no currents plans beyond that. I’m hoping that the author will change her mind. There is so much more these characters can do. Please encourage her to continue their adventures indefinitely.
Blackmail, betrayals, family drama, political intrigue and conspiracies... spiced with romance, if this is not a great mix, I don't know what could be it :P
Although I really liked the mystery I must say that what I enjoyed the most was the struggle between Cosmo and John. Cosmo keeps breaking his promise to John, which is not the best thing to do if you want your marriage to last. But, the thing is, extracting that promise from him was quite unfair (and unrealistic on John's part) because it requires that Cosmos leaves aside a part of himself. What we see here is how they are trying to really understand each other and accept each other for who they are, and they are making evident progress in this book.
I also adored the 'Bewitched' references, what can I say? I'm a fan *laughs*
And Kale Williams narration was fantastic.
Although I really liked the mystery I must say that what I enjoyed the most was the struggle between Cosmo and John. Cosmo keeps breaking his promise to John, which is not the best thing to do if you want your marriage to last. But, the thing is, extracting that promise from him was quite unfair (and unrealistic on John's part) because it requires that Cosmos leaves aside a part of himself. What we see here is how they are trying to really understand each other and accept each other for who they are, and they are making evident progress in this book.
I also adored the 'Bewitched' references, what can I say? I'm a fan *laughs*
And Kale Williams narration was fantastic.
3.5*
John and Cosmo continue from their almost MAFS start to a stronger couple - but not without a few stutters and disagreements along the way.
Cosmo continues to plough his own path, usually against John’s principles but they manage to grow stronger together.
John and Cosmo continue from their almost MAFS start to a stronger couple - but not without a few stutters and disagreements along the way.
Cosmo continues to plough his own path, usually against John’s principles but they manage to grow stronger together.