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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
This is the third S.T. Gibson novel I have read and it’s also my least favorite. What drew me in her other novels was her lush, rich prose. I felt drawn in and totally absorbed in Gibson’s other books. The prose in Savage Blooms didn’t work quite as well for me.
Most of the book involves two men and two women in a gothic mansion on a sprawling estate involved in sex games with one another. The characters in the book are extremely horny. I think the exploration of kink and sexual tension would work for a lot of people but it’s not something I find that interesting. I was waiting patiently for the faeries to come along and waiting and waiting but there was little interaction with them throughout.
I think if you want a book with a lot of sexual tension this will work for you. If you want a book with more magic or fantasy elements this won’t work.
Most of the book involves two men and two women in a gothic mansion on a sprawling estate involved in sex games with one another. The characters in the book are extremely horny. I think the exploration of kink and sexual tension would work for a lot of people but it’s not something I find that interesting. I was waiting patiently for the faeries to come along and waiting and waiting but there was little interaction with them throughout.
I think if you want a book with a lot of sexual tension this will work for you. If you want a book with more magic or fantasy elements this won’t work.
dark
emotional
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
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of Savage Blooms. All thoughts are my own.
Savage Blooms is the first book of the gothic erotic polyamorous trilogy Unearthly Delights, featuring fae bargains and LOTS of complicated feelings and forbidden desires.
Savage Blooms is the first book of the gothic erotic polyamorous trilogy Unearthly Delights, featuring fae bargains and LOTS of complicated feelings and forbidden desires.
Following his grandfather’s death, Adam travels to Scotland in search of Craigmar, a place of magic and mystery and the setting of many of Adam’s grandfather’s fantastic stories. Accompanied by his best friend Nicola, who Adam is hopelessly in love with but unable to admit it even to himself, the pair find themselves trapped at Craigmar with the lord of the manor, the mysterious and sultry Eileen and her dark brooding groundskeeper/lover Finley. As time goes on nothing is what it seems, and Adam finds himself caught in a web of lust and desire as he tries to solve the mystery connecting his grandfather to the manor and it’s many secrets connecting it to the fae realm.
Filled with complex characters, undeniable sexual attraction, mind games and Celtic folklore Savage Blooms takes the reader on a sexy adventure that explores forbidden love and dominance/submission. The erotic thrill ride is non-stop and highly addictive and will leave you feeling drunk of fae wine. I loved every minute of it and am anxiously awaiting book two!
I bow my head to one of the Queens of erotic fantasy, S.T. Gibson.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Reading Savage Blooms was a long drawn out process but not necessarily in a bad way. There were 4-5 povs which tended to middle some of the story line here and there. I was extremely interested in the plot but felt like it took a long time to get what was actually happening and even at 90% done I was still confused. I felt as the author wanted to write a taboo fea book but was scared to enter into either dimension. I wouldn't say this book is overly spicy, there are a few scenes that were just there. I'm not sure if I did or didn't like the book.
I went into this mostly blind. I did read the trigger warnings and suggest for others to do so as well.
I liked the premise and I loved the mysterious gothic vibes and atmosphere. The text reads very fast paced but the plot and story itself were very slow moving to me.
There was definitely a lot more spice than plot. I did like the spice, but I didn’t really love the characters, and I think that maybe the author wrote them like that on purpose. They definitely are not perfect and each have flaws.
The story finally picks up in the last few chapters and I am curious to see if there will be a second book as the way it ends leaves you wanting to know what happens as it finally starts to get really interesting and explore the fae more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I liked the premise and I loved the mysterious gothic vibes and atmosphere. The text reads very fast paced but the plot and story itself were very slow moving to me.
There was definitely a lot more spice than plot. I did like the spice, but I didn’t really love the characters, and I think that maybe the author wrote them like that on purpose. They definitely are not perfect and each have flaws.
The story finally picks up in the last few chapters and I am curious to see if there will be a second book as the way it ends leaves you wanting to know what happens as it finally starts to get really interesting and explore the fae more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.
That was a WILD ride.
First off let me just say that this book pulled me in immediately and kept me guessing and going through the whole story.
I loved having all the different POVs ... we got a little version of the story playing out from so many POVs.
I felt as though the story was told at a perfect pace. I did not feel as through, at any point, we were rushing through times just to get to the end.
Speaking of the end .....
That ending ... I just know the author has to be laughing knowing each and every one of us having the same reaction.
This book is definitely on the spicy scale.
Please check the triggers at the beginning of the story. The author gives a very thorough explanation of what will be brought up in the story so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not to pursue the book.
This is my honest review in exchange for a free copy of this book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
E-Arc provided by Netgalley
I can say I don't think I've read a book quite like this. Also this book is VERY horny like way more than I was expecting honestly felt like the magic/fantastical part was a subplot which I don't think was the intention. The epilogue did make me curious for book 2 though (even though I think this could have been a standalone)
I can say I don't think I've read a book quite like this. Also this book is VERY horny like way more than I was expecting honestly felt like the magic/fantastical part was a subplot which I don't think was the intention. The epilogue did make me curious for book 2 though (even though I think this could have been a standalone)
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is what happens when you put 4 messy, horny bisexuals in an isolated manor and let them run wild.
Adam is on a quest in Scotland, his beloved grandfather just died and Adam wants to find Craigmar, the haunting land and manor from his grandpa's tales. He bring along his best friend (and screct love of his life) Nicola on a trip to Scotland, where they happen upon Finley, the hot but surly caretaker. A massive storm leaves them stranded in the grand, but old, home along with it's eccentric and odd heir, Eileen. Secretive and sexy shenanigans then being.
There's a lot of tension between the quartet as they become a bit of a polycule. Everyone has secrets, some more dark than others. Adam and Nicole get drawn into Finely and Eileen's world of kink and sex. My only real complaint is the vast majority of the sex in this story is m/f. I was a little disappointed there wasn't much m/m and f/f, but there are two more books to go!
This story is hot, twisted and fun. I love the fantasy twist with the fairies and the magical element. There were a lot of twists and surprises, I had a hard time putting this one down. And the end? I can't believe I have to wait for the next book in the series!
The characters all felt fleshed out and had their own goals and reasons. If you like dark, hot and twisted stories I think you'll really enjoy this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Adam is on a quest in Scotland, his beloved grandfather just died and Adam wants to find Craigmar, the haunting land and manor from his grandpa's tales. He bring along his best friend (and screct love of his life) Nicola on a trip to Scotland, where they happen upon Finley, the hot but surly caretaker. A massive storm leaves them stranded in the grand, but old, home along with it's eccentric and odd heir, Eileen. Secretive and sexy shenanigans then being.
There's a lot of tension between the quartet as they become a bit of a polycule. Everyone has secrets, some more dark than others. Adam and Nicole get drawn into Finely and Eileen's world of kink and sex. My only real complaint is the vast majority of the sex in this story is m/f. I was a little disappointed there wasn't much m/m and f/f, but there are two more books to go!
This story is hot, twisted and fun. I love the fantasy twist with the fairies and the magical element. There were a lot of twists and surprises, I had a hard time putting this one down. And the end? I can't believe I have to wait for the next book in the series!
The characters all felt fleshed out and had their own goals and reasons. If you like dark, hot and twisted stories I think you'll really enjoy this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group/Orbit for sending me a copy of this arc.
This is yet another disappointing read from S.T Gibson. Prior to this I had read Ascension and found it to be an awful book with lacklustre writing and plot. For this one the prose is significantly stronger with writing that was quick to read, but it was not the same as A Dowry of Blood, and had zero plot at all.
Savage Blooms is book with very little plot and a hell of a lot of porn. Every chapter had smut within, which makes sense for a more erotic novel but it meant the story and actual character development was pushed to the side so these four grown adults can sort out their issues through sex. So much sex. They immediately were in love and attracted to one another and never took a breather between their sessions, it was the main focus for the book instead of the gothic nature of the home and the fae. If we had built up to these sessions rather than throw it all in at once I would have cared more, but instead everyone was just fucking all over the house instead of worrying about the dangers outside.
The epilogue was honestly the strongest part of the whole book and the only bit where the plot came in, but I know I won’t continue the series so in the end it didn’t even matter.
It’s disappointing as I adored S.T. Gibson’s more vampire focused books, so I wonder is she better at creating a story that already exists compared to her own narratives. Aka fanfiction.
This is yet another disappointing read from S.T Gibson. Prior to this I had read Ascension and found it to be an awful book with lacklustre writing and plot. For this one the prose is significantly stronger with writing that was quick to read, but it was not the same as A Dowry of Blood, and had zero plot at all.
Savage Blooms is book with very little plot and a hell of a lot of porn. Every chapter had smut within, which makes sense for a more erotic novel but it meant the story and actual character development was pushed to the side so these four grown adults can sort out their issues through sex. So much sex. They immediately were in love and attracted to one another and never took a breather between their sessions, it was the main focus for the book instead of the gothic nature of the home and the fae. If we had built up to these sessions rather than throw it all in at once I would have cared more, but instead everyone was just fucking all over the house instead of worrying about the dangers outside.
The epilogue was honestly the strongest part of the whole book and the only bit where the plot came in, but I know I won’t continue the series so in the end it didn’t even matter.
It’s disappointing as I adored S.T. Gibson’s more vampire focused books, so I wonder is she better at creating a story that already exists compared to her own narratives. Aka fanfiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Classism
