Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
3.5/5 stars
I'd love more books set in this world! 10/10 would read a book about Tony and the Wrecking Crew.
I really enjoyed the story and writing, and I like that the author incorporated 3 different languages and multiple cultures into the story without providing translations or explanations- I'm glad I read the author's note at the end!
The romance was good, but I desperately wanted more backstory / time devoted to Elle's family relationships and Luc's relationships with Oberon and Tatie - the kids also kind of felt like an afterthought.
I'd love more books set in this world! 10/10 would read a book about Tony and the Wrecking Crew.
I really enjoyed the story and writing, and I like that the author incorporated 3 different languages and multiple cultures into the story without providing translations or explanations- I'm glad I read the author's note at the end!
The romance was good, but I desperately wanted more backstory / time devoted to Elle's family relationships and Luc's relationships with Oberon and Tatie - the kids also kind of felt like an afterthought.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
August 2023. A modern/urban fantasy romance based in Chinese and other East Asian mythologies (e.g., Tanukis, Onis, ancestral gods) as well as elves and sphinxes and harpies. Our main characters live in modern America, though our MC was born in China centuries ago and her parents still live there.
Struggles a bit with pacing and introducing and balancing characters’ past history (lots of events that occurred 13 or 16 or 28 or 30 years ago alluded to) which threw me off and had me wondering at times if it was a spin-off or sequel when reading. The information could’ve been presented better and more smoothly I think.
It had really likable characters (both the leads and supporting characters), some interesting conflicts, a different perspective and values at its core than most fantasy romances, and a unique ending I liked quite a lot.
Worth the read or listen for sure.
Listened to with Libby using my Sac library card. This one is for my zoom romance book club through the library.
“Bitter Medicine” by Mia Tsai.
Struggles a bit with pacing and introducing and balancing characters’ past history (lots of events that occurred 13 or 16 or 28 or 30 years ago alluded to) which threw me off and had me wondering at times if it was a spin-off or sequel when reading. The information could’ve been presented better and more smoothly I think.
It had really likable characters (both the leads and supporting characters), some interesting conflicts, a different perspective and values at its core than most fantasy romances, and a unique ending I liked quite a lot.
Worth the read or listen for sure.
Listened to with Libby using my Sac library card. This one is for my zoom romance book club through the library.
“Bitter Medicine” by Mia Tsai.
adventurous
emotional
fast-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:
No
The very beginning & end of the book need a little polish but as her debut novel, I'm pretty ok with that. I enjoyed the modern fantasy setting, with unique magic mixed in with classic fairy tale stuff. What really compelled me though was the anti-trope romance. This book did not follow many of the plot beats that make most short romances write themselves, to my immense surprise and delight. Can't wait to see what she writes next!
3.5 stars. The pacing was really weird in this one. I liked it! I just got to the middle, and was confused how it wasn't the end. It could have easily been two books, as there were two complete plot arcs (one for Elle and one for Luc) that happened mostly consecutively. Additionally, Elle and Luc didn't really act like there were over 100 years old? Other than Elle's inability to use a cell phone, she seemed a lot younger than her purported 132 years. But the romance was cute.
Ahoy there mateys! I am not a huge romance reader but this world building sounded like so much fun that I decided to give it a shot. And I have no regrets about reading this. Elle is a Chinese glyph maker who is hiding her real skills to work in a fairy temp agency doing basic calligraphy. She has a crush on Luc, a French half-elf secret agent. So she makes him some better charms that save his life. But he has secrets too. Chaos and coincidences ensue.
The first half of the book was a delight. I liked Elle and I liked Luc and I enjoyed their playful banter and the basis of their friendship. For the most part, I enjoyed their backstories. Elle can be annoying and Luc is a bit tortured but the action was fun. I didn't even mind the sexy times too much.
The second half of the book was different. I truly appreciate what the author did here in terms of character and themes but it was more about Elle and Luc's inner demons and making choices about how they wanted their relationship to unfold. I wasn't interested in the angst even if it made complete sense. I also didn't love the resolution of the ending.
I wanted the whirlwind action of the first half and more information about the mythological creatures in the world. I wanted more about how the fairy agency works. That said, I would certainly read more from this debut author. Especially if there is more insight into the fun world she created. Arrrr!
The first half of the book was a delight. I liked Elle and I liked Luc and I enjoyed their playful banter and the basis of their friendship. For the most part, I enjoyed their backstories. Elle can be annoying and Luc is a bit tortured but the action was fun. I didn't even mind the sexy times too much.
The second half of the book was different. I truly appreciate what the author did here in terms of character and themes but it was more about Elle and Luc's inner demons and making choices about how they wanted their relationship to unfold. I wasn't interested in the angst even if it made complete sense. I also didn't love the resolution of the ending.
I wanted the whirlwind action of the first half and more information about the mythological creatures in the world. I wanted more about how the fairy agency works. That said, I would certainly read more from this debut author. Especially if there is more insight into the fun world she created. Arrrr!
3.5 stars. Cute, fun urban fantasy. I liked how the author incorporated different cultures and folklore.
I got 200 pages into this book and then skimmed the rest because I just couldn't.
Despite being one of the books I was most looking forward to, this just didn't work for me. On any level.
The worldbuilding was sparse. I had so many questions about how it worked that never got answered.
Despite all the characters being old - some of them many centuries old - they all spoke the same way and all spoke like they were teenagers. It was baffling.
Not to mention the fact that Luc was French and Elle and Tony were Chinese and all of them were centuries old, and all of them spoke and acted like they were American. I didn't feel anything of their culture about any of them at all - nothing in the way they acted, spoke, thought.
All the dialogue felt rushed and most of it was really badly paced banter. There were no real conversations (unless I missed any in the last third of the book) and no real emotion.
The pacing wasn't great, and there was never any peril. I never felt like any of the characters were in any real danger and everything was solved so quickly and easily. There were just no believable stakes.
And the romance never worked for me. We were told thet Elle likes Luc and Luc likes Elle, but I never felt like we were shown that. It was very tell not show. I felt it really suffered from the reader coming in when both had established that they liked the other. We didn't see them meet, or their friendship develop. There's just some angst, then Elle info dumping a good portion of backstory (which, honestly, seemed rash), and then sex and then angst.
I'm so sad that I didn't enjoy this because the premise sounded awesome and I was so looking forward to reading it. But, yeah, this just didn't gel with me at all.
Despite being one of the books I was most looking forward to, this just didn't work for me. On any level.
The worldbuilding was sparse. I had so many questions about how it worked that never got answered.
Despite all the characters being old - some of them many centuries old - they all spoke the same way and all spoke like they were teenagers. It was baffling.
Not to mention the fact that Luc was French and Elle and Tony were Chinese and all of them were centuries old, and all of them spoke and acted like they were American. I didn't feel anything of their culture about any of them at all - nothing in the way they acted, spoke, thought.
All the dialogue felt rushed and most of it was really badly paced banter. There were no real conversations (unless I missed any in the last third of the book) and no real emotion.
The pacing wasn't great, and there was never any peril. I never felt like any of the characters were in any real danger and everything was solved so quickly and easily. There were just no believable stakes.
And the romance never worked for me. We were told thet Elle likes Luc and Luc likes Elle, but I never felt like we were shown that. It was very tell not show. I felt it really suffered from the reader coming in when both had established that they liked the other. We didn't see them meet, or their friendship develop. There's just some angst, then Elle info dumping a good portion of backstory (which, honestly, seemed rash), and then sex and then angst.
I'm so sad that I didn't enjoy this because the premise sounded awesome and I was so looking forward to reading it. But, yeah, this just didn't gel with me at all.