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lizacorn's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder and Mental illness
Minor: Abandonment
While it’s not explicitly discussed or defined, Nuni has some clear eating issues He’s also an anxious bean which is why I’ve tagged mental “illness”whiskis's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
I'd give it 6 stars if i could. I'm super in love with everything Lily Mayne writes, and this one was no different. The characters were so lovable I'm a bit in love with both of them. The sexual tension was on point and the whole universe she created in this series is so unique I can't explain how fantastic it is. I have not enough words of praise for this book or this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Dysphoria
thenextbookdilemma's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Bullying
Minor: Abandonment and Drug use
cluckieduck's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.25
I was so happy to revisit the Deep Earth Dating world. Lily has a great knack for world-building within her series and she has certainly found the recipe for creating characters that you want to root for.
Pooni Nuni was such an unlikable character in book 1, but the way Lily was able to flesh out his backstory and show his growth throughout this one made him an endearing lead. While I don't know if the juxtaposition between how Nuni handled his anxiety (Mr. highly regimented perfectionist) compared to Greid (softboi stoner) influenced me, I felt that I didn't connect with Nuni as a MMC as much as I did Greid. That's not to say he wasn't enjoyable, because he certainly was, I think that's just a personal preference of mine.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nuni & Anita, and reading their ever-evolving competitiveness was fun. And the snark was top notch!
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nuni & Anita, and reading their ever-evolving competitiveness was fun. And the snark was top notch!
I bet he swaggered, as if his enormous dick was throwing him off balance.
Anita is a great FMC - strong-willed, competent, and caring. I also appreciated the IBS rep without it being a defining character trait! The way she was able to balance Nuni, and both finding equal support with one another was really enjoyable - they were a perfect match.
"Nuni, you do know they're not up there specifically worshipping you, right?"
"I know," I shot back defensively. "But it's like...I'm like the demiurgus version of that old Italian statue of a human dude. You know? The ideal or whatever. I'm probably what they're all up there imagining as the ultimate demiurgus specimen."
"This is starting to feel like I need to contact your family for an intervention."
I also really enjoyed getting to spend some more time with with extended var Rorik family, especially seeing the relationship Nuni has with Laki. Very much looking forward to their upcoming book. I'm glad that Nuni & Greid got to air their stuff, though it did seem to wrap up a little too nicely. Also really digging this trend away from 3rd act break-ups - keep it going please!
All in all, a great continuation of the series and can't wait to see where it goes next!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Cursing, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Eating disorder
furahuahua's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
catsandbookstacks's review
medium-paced
5.0
*Thank you to the author for the eARC.*
Another Lily Mayne special! I love this sweet, fun, steamy and slice of life series!
Shots and Barbs is book two in the Deep Earth Dating Series featuring diverse monster/human pairings. While not necessary, I would recommend reading book one first to understand the dynamics of the van Rorik family.
This dual POV story involves a work rivalry, between an architect and his event planner, that builds with tension, banter, competition, and nerves over developing feelings. The slower burn and length of the novel showcases the small moments of real life, with a focus on the two main characters and those surrounding them. If you're looking for a fast paced plot, this series likely isn't for you.
I wasn't sure about douchebro Nuni at first, but he has such depth behind his character that I just want to squish him. Anita's no nonsense attitude makes her great at her job and I love how she allowed herself the opportunity to take control of what she desires. Both characters are flawed, as we all are, and these two just can't help be drawn to each other.
Nuni and his brother Greid have their talk we knew was coming from Berries and Greed. My heart was warmed and it made me so happy to see them build their connection. The extra time with the rest of the van Rorik family has me so excited for future books: Sorin's trepidation about opening a bakery, Laki's "okay so you like her, and..." phone calls, Greid opening up to his arrogant older brother, etc.
Shots and Barbs features multiple open door scenes, as well as characters who are focused on their eating and exercise (body consciousness, meal planning, disordered eating).
Read if you like:
- MCs in their 30s
- saunas
- treadmill competitions
- MMC knows he's attractive
- frogs
- low angst
- special manicures
- secret f*ck buddies
- different genitalia
CW: discussions of childhood bullying, details of parentification of MMC when younger, mentions of difficult childhood and absent parent, brief mention of worries coming out as bisexual (no conflict)
Another Lily Mayne special! I love this sweet, fun, steamy and slice of life series!
Shots and Barbs is book two in the Deep Earth Dating Series featuring diverse monster/human pairings. While not necessary, I would recommend reading book one first to understand the dynamics of the van Rorik family.
This dual POV story involves a work rivalry, between an architect and his event planner, that builds with tension, banter, competition, and nerves over developing feelings. The slower burn and length of the novel showcases the small moments of real life, with a focus on the two main characters and those surrounding them. If you're looking for a fast paced plot, this series likely isn't for you.
I wasn't sure about douchebro Nuni at first, but he has such depth behind his character that I just want to squish him. Anita's no nonsense attitude makes her great at her job and I love how she allowed herself the opportunity to take control of what she desires. Both characters are flawed, as we all are, and these two just can't help be drawn to each other.
Nuni and his brother Greid have their talk we knew was coming from Berries and Greed. My heart was warmed and it made me so happy to see them build their connection. The extra time with the rest of the van Rorik family has me so excited for future books: Sorin's trepidation about opening a bakery, Laki's "okay so you like her, and..." phone calls, Greid opening up to his arrogant older brother, etc.
Shots and Barbs features multiple open door scenes, as well as characters who are focused on their eating and exercise (body consciousness, meal planning, disordered eating).
Read if you like:
- MCs in their 30s
- saunas
- treadmill competitions
- MMC knows he's attractive
- frogs
- low angst
- special manicures
- secret f*ck buddies
- different genitalia
CW: discussions of childhood bullying, details of parentification of MMC when younger, mentions of difficult childhood and absent parent, brief mention of worries coming out as bisexual (no conflict)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
So sweet, so h0rny! I really did not think I would be able to enjoy Nuni as an MMC since her was such a douche-bro in Greid’s book and quite honestly for the beginning of this book - until Lily peeled back the layers like she is so good at doing, helping us as readers see Nuni for the imperfect but absolutely loveable character he really is.
This book is so adorably soft and very spicy. There is no third act breakup, and the main conflict is really Anita and Nuni coming to terms with their feelings for each other over time. Other than the fact that Nuni is not human, their relationship is just so NORMAL, like absolutely the kind of relationship someone you know would have, or maybe even you. That’s not a complaint - it makes the story so easy to understand and relate to!!
Recommend!! Thanks to Lily for the advanced copy!
Romance details:
- M/F relationship, she is bi
- Human/demiurgus (monster), her parents are Indian-English
- FMC is 37, both MCs are well established in their lives
- FMC has IBS
- workplace romance - he is her client
- competitive relationship? They are both type-A gym lovers and honestly perfect for each other
- open door, explicit, very spicy (5+ scenes, toys, primal play)
This book is so adorably soft and very spicy. There is no third act breakup, and the main conflict is really Anita and Nuni coming to terms with their feelings for each other over time. Other than the fact that Nuni is not human, their relationship is just so NORMAL, like absolutely the kind of relationship someone you know would have, or maybe even you. That’s not a complaint - it makes the story so easy to understand and relate to!!
Recommend!! Thanks to Lily for the advanced copy!
Romance details:
- M/F relationship, she is bi
- Human/demiurgus (monster), her parents are Indian-English
- FMC is 37, both MCs are well established in their lives
- FMC has IBS
- workplace romance - he is her client
- competitive relationship? They are both type-A gym lovers and honestly perfect for each other
- open door, explicit, very spicy (5+ scenes, toys, primal play)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The MMC in this book follows an extremely regimented eating and exercise plan that could be triggering for readers who deal with disordered eating. He is not fatphobic or body shaming in any way but needs to be in control of his food and eating and experiences anxiety around food.greystory's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND
When Shots & Barbs was announced, I was excited but also anxious. I loved Berries and Greed SO MUCH that I was afraid anything else wouldn't compare. I also had some other concerns I'll address below but I needn't have been concerned because LILY MAYNE YOU FUCKING DID IT AGAIN YOU MAGICAL WRITING SORCERESS! I trusted in Lily and that was 100% the right decision. This book is FANTASTIC and I LOVED IT.
The premise of these characters written by most authors would have annoyed me too much. Arrogant, a bit conceited, seemingly self-centered and materialistic frat-bro Nuni. Competitive to a fault, driven, and a tad overbearing in the need to exert control Anita. I would have hated it. But Lily? I love it. I'm laughing, I'm having a good time, it's fun to read. How does she do it?
Well first off, some of that characterization is first impressions only and, as we dive into the story, the reader and characters Anita and Nuni realize the other is not all what they first thought. I loved that we get to learn about the characters as they learn about each other and see past some of those wrong assumptions about the other. We learn Nuni is deeply caring, not actually self-centered, and the reasons for why he works so hard and values material wealth. We learn that Anita's need for control stems from anxiety and her perfectionism is tied to a deep-seated concern over being liked or feeling like she's good enough. They realize they have overlap and come to an understanding about each other. They were a seriously good, well-balanced couple.
It's absolutely great and I loved seeing these two grow with each other. Nuni especially has a lot of character growth and we see more of the var Rorik demiurgus family, which I was super pleased with. One of my favorite parts of this book was Nuni working on his relationship with Greid. I laughed, I howled, I cried, I laughed some more, and then just couldn't stop smiling because I was so happy for them both!
Anita and Nuni's relationship has something of a rocky start given they cross a professional boundary and try to, well, not have a relationship at all at first. The development of the relationship felt well-paced with the character growth. Although they're arguably a bit insta-lust given some immediate physical attraction happens and they hook up early on, the romance is kind of a slow burn and I was HERE FOR IT. The whole romance was so sweet and I loved every bit of it. There were so many great details of little things they'd do or feel or think as their feelings for each other grew.
The whole professional boundary issue was also handled really well. I realllllly appreciated that Anita took it seriously and didn't just completely shrug and YOLO it like I've run into with other stories. She was arguably taking it TOO seriously in a way. Although they fumble their way back and forth across the professional boundary, they also set out clear boundaries (e.g., professional stuff while working, non-professional stuff is for when they're not working) and got their work done. They were still professionals and adults about it. I also really admired the way Anita ultimately handled the Big Scary Decision with Corva towards the end.
The spice scenes may not be for everyone but I had a pretty good time. I enjoyed some scenes more than others but that comes down to pure personal preference. I will say that I was happy to see some different exploration going on and I was pleased with how some of them were handled.
When Lily's warnings included mention of some exhibitionism stuff, I was a bit concerned. I have a hard time with most exhibitionism in romance books I've read because it feels like authors often completely forget about consent being a thing - as in CONSENT FROM ALL PARTIES. Consent doesn't disappear because y'all are horny and get off on being in public! From what I can tell, there's really 2 ways to handle it. 1) There is merely an illusion of being in public without actually being public, such as one-way mirror/glass, windows people can't really see in, you can hear or see them but they can't hear/see you, etc. 2) All parties know what's happening and have consented, such as in a club, group, or event organized with that purpose. Thankfully, Lily's scenes are mostly on the side of illusion of public rather than actually public so it was mostly a non-issue.
I could go on and on but I'm trying to not write a dissertation on my love for Lily's writing so I'm going to fall back on the old faithful: bullet points
MORE STUFF I HELLA ENJOYED AND YOU MIGHT, TOO, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
* Both main characters in their 30s!
* Not one but TWO bisexual women! (Anita and Corva)
* Hustin, Anita's coworker bro
* Svyn, Nuni's masseuse
* Laki, Nuni's extra chill sibling who helps Nuni work through his shit
* Lipa, Nuni's sweet, hard-working personal assistant
* Frogs! Frog facts! FROGFLAME
* Beryl and Greid (still love them!)
* The random woman sitting next to Nuni at the nail salon
* Nuni thinking of almonds as a cheat snack while Anita treats herself to something sweet by adding half of a banana to her kale smoothie
* The random old demiurgus woman on the street overhearing a conversation about hot sex and encouraging Anita to "Go for it, honey!"
* Sorin being encouraged to open a bakery
* Intimate hand-holding (the ultimate, kinkiest of filth)
* The var Rorik family
* The true demiurgus form reveal
* Treadmill competitions
* AND SO MUCH MORE
When Shots & Barbs was announced, I was excited but also anxious. I loved Berries and Greed SO MUCH that I was afraid anything else wouldn't compare. I also had some other concerns I'll address below but I needn't have been concerned because LILY MAYNE YOU FUCKING DID IT AGAIN YOU MAGICAL WRITING SORCERESS! I trusted in Lily and that was 100% the right decision. This book is FANTASTIC and I LOVED IT.
The premise of these characters written by most authors would have annoyed me too much. Arrogant, a bit conceited, seemingly self-centered and materialistic frat-bro Nuni. Competitive to a fault, driven, and a tad overbearing in the need to exert control Anita. I would have hated it. But Lily? I love it. I'm laughing, I'm having a good time, it's fun to read. How does she do it?
Well first off, some of that characterization is first impressions only and, as we dive into the story, the reader and characters Anita and Nuni realize the other is not all what they first thought. I loved that we get to learn about the characters as they learn about each other and see past some of those wrong assumptions about the other. We learn Nuni is deeply caring, not actually self-centered, and the reasons for why he works so hard and values material wealth. We learn that Anita's need for control stems from anxiety and her perfectionism is tied to a deep-seated concern over being liked or feeling like she's good enough. They realize they have overlap and come to an understanding about each other. They were a seriously good, well-balanced couple.
It's absolutely great and I loved seeing these two grow with each other. Nuni especially has a lot of character growth and we see more of the var Rorik demiurgus family, which I was super pleased with. One of my favorite parts of this book was Nuni working on his relationship with Greid. I laughed, I howled, I cried, I laughed some more, and then just couldn't stop smiling because I was so happy for them both!
Anita and Nuni's relationship has something of a rocky start given they cross a professional boundary and try to, well, not have a relationship at all at first. The development of the relationship felt well-paced with the character growth. Although they're arguably a bit insta-lust given some immediate physical attraction happens and they hook up early on, the romance is kind of a slow burn and I was HERE FOR IT. The whole romance was so sweet and I loved every bit of it. There were so many great details of little things they'd do or feel or think as their feelings for each other grew.
The whole professional boundary issue was also handled really well. I realllllly appreciated that Anita took it seriously and didn't just completely shrug and YOLO it like I've run into with other stories. She was arguably taking it TOO seriously in a way. Although they fumble their way back and forth across the professional boundary, they also set out clear boundaries (e.g., professional stuff while working, non-professional stuff is for when they're not working) and got their work done. They were still professionals and adults about it. I also really admired the way Anita ultimately handled the Big Scary Decision with Corva towards the end.
The spice scenes may not be for everyone but I had a pretty good time. I enjoyed some scenes more than others but that comes down to pure personal preference. I will say that I was happy to see some different exploration going on and I was pleased with how some of them were handled.
When Lily's warnings included mention of some exhibitionism stuff, I was a bit concerned. I have a hard time with most exhibitionism in romance books I've read because it feels like authors often completely forget about consent being a thing - as in CONSENT FROM ALL PARTIES. Consent doesn't disappear because y'all are horny and get off on being in public! From what I can tell, there's really 2 ways to handle it. 1) There is merely an illusion of being in public without actually being public, such as one-way mirror/glass, windows people can't really see in, you can hear or see them but they can't hear/see you, etc. 2) All parties know what's happening and have consented, such as in a club, group, or event organized with that purpose. Thankfully, Lily's scenes are mostly on the side of illusion of public rather than actually public so it was mostly a non-issue.
I could go on and on but I'm trying to not write a dissertation on my love for Lily's writing so I'm going to fall back on the old faithful: bullet points
MORE STUFF I HELLA ENJOYED AND YOU MIGHT, TOO, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
* Both main characters in their 30s!
* Not one but TWO bisexual women! (Anita and Corva)
* Hustin, Anita's coworker bro
* Svyn, Nuni's masseuse
* Laki, Nuni's extra chill sibling who helps Nuni work through his shit
* Lipa, Nuni's sweet, hard-working personal assistant
* Frogs! Frog facts! FROGFLAME
* Beryl and Greid (still love them!)
* The random woman sitting next to Nuni at the nail salon
* Nuni thinking of almonds as a cheat snack while Anita treats herself to something sweet by adding half of a banana to her kale smoothie
* The random old demiurgus woman on the street overhearing a conversation about hot sex and encouraging Anita to "Go for it, honey!"
* Sorin being encouraged to open a bakery
* Intimate hand-holding (the ultimate, kinkiest of filth)
* The var Rorik family
* The true demiurgus form reveal
* Treadmill competitions
* AND SO MUCH MORE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Xenophobia and Bullying
More...