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_isabel_'s reviews
952 reviews
Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
Absolutely wonderful, freaking delicious gem of a romance romp: I'd totally forgotten how great Keira Andrews is when it comes to this kind of genre ("Wed to the Barbarian" is *chef's kiss*), and I'd also forgotten what a freaking delight pirate romps and historical bodice rippers are. I definitely need more recs after this one because my god, I was obsessed.
Forbidden relationship, captive/captor with kidnapping, angst, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-grudging-respect-to-lovers-to-soulmates? This is my jam, 100%.
Once again, thank you Chelsea (and your amazing review) for the rec, it was precisely what I needed.
I loved this book so freaking much. It's fun, it's hot, it's delicious, it's packed with tension and angst and all my favourite tropes (age gap, forced proximity, forbidden relationship, first times ft. "whoops, I was just scratching an itch but now I can't help but climb you everytime I see you", hurt/comfort and all the possessiveness my little romance-lovin' heart could wish for), plus the two main characters are fantastic. Their dynamic had me in a chokehold, I am FERAL over them; their chemistry was truly top-notch, and the forbidden aspect of their bond made it even more delicious; and the way they both got to know each other, slowly over time? The way both of them became more and more whipped for one another? GAH. I loved it.
Individually they're both pretty great, and I adored seeing both of their more vulnerable sides come out: Nathaniel (HOW CUTE IS THE NICKNAME "PLUM" THOUGH?!?!) with his insecurities and secret shame, Hawk with his loneliness and the way he was so scared of getting close to another person *tears up* they broke my heart, and then remade whole by how freaking cute and precious their bond was.
Keira's writing was great as well, and I definitely need to read a few more of her books now. I also need a loooong list of pirate and historical romp recs, because omg: I love this genre so damn much: it's so fun. I spent three whole days giggling and kicking my feet in the air, and I have zero regrets: it was just what I needed.
Forbidden relationship, captive/captor with kidnapping, angst, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-grudging-respect-to-lovers-to-soulmates? This is my jam, 100%.
Once again, thank you Chelsea (and your amazing review) for the rec, it was precisely what I needed.
I loved this book so freaking much. It's fun, it's hot, it's delicious, it's packed with tension and angst and all my favourite tropes (age gap, forced proximity, forbidden relationship, first times ft. "whoops, I was just scratching an itch but now I can't help but climb you everytime I see you", hurt/comfort and all the possessiveness my little romance-lovin' heart could wish for), plus the two main characters are fantastic. Their dynamic had me in a chokehold, I am FERAL over them; their chemistry was truly top-notch, and the forbidden aspect of their bond made it even more delicious; and the way they both got to know each other, slowly over time? The way both of them became more and more whipped for one another? GAH. I loved it.
Individually they're both pretty great, and I adored seeing both of their more vulnerable sides come out: Nathaniel (HOW CUTE IS THE NICKNAME "PLUM" THOUGH?!?!) with his insecurities and secret shame, Hawk with his loneliness and the way he was so scared of getting close to another person *tears up* they broke my heart, and then remade whole by how freaking cute and precious their bond was.
Keira's writing was great as well, and I definitely need to read a few more of her books now. I also need a loooong list of pirate and historical romp recs, because omg: I love this genre so damn much: it's so fun. I spent three whole days giggling and kicking my feet in the air, and I have zero regrets: it was just what I needed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual harassment
A Shadow and a Storm by Adelaide Blaike
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Well, what a third installment!
This one's my favourite out of them all for now: I adored "A Shadow and a Storm", and I managed to devour it, start to finish.
I was absolutely hooked!
I'm so glad I decided to give this series another go, after not loving book one, because I swear these keep getting better and better. The writing is wonderful, despite some word usage being a bit too modern and jarring for the high fantasy atmosphere, and the pacing is absolutely fantastic: I swear I was on the edge of my seat the whole damn time, drowning in what-the-hell-will-happen-now anxiety, but I still managed to enjoy the story a whole lot. I loved seeing Mat and Ren (finally, FINALLY) at such a good point in their relationship, and I adored seeing them both so devoted and in love with one another. I swooned a whole lot.
Also, I think this is the first time I've actually loved them wholeheartedly start to finish: character arc and development, better writing, or maybe I've just given in and my heart is firmly in the "they're my sons, your honour" stage now? I don't know, and I don't care. I loved them, and I loved them as a couple too. The kinky D/s relationship they share is explored a smidge more, and whew *fan herself*, thank you Adelaide Blaike for that.
I loved the side characters a whole lot too: Mat's siblings, and of course El and Luis and Jiron (AND if something were to happen to them, especially after losing Ad.... I swear I'll- *sobs*). I cannot wait to read book four: I already know it's going to be epic, especially after THAT cruel, cruel ending.
This one's my favourite out of them all for now: I adored "A Shadow and a Storm", and I managed to devour it, start to finish.
I was absolutely hooked!
I'm so glad I decided to give this series another go, after not loving book one, because I swear these keep getting better and better. The writing is wonderful, despite some word usage being a bit too modern and jarring for the high fantasy atmosphere, and the pacing is absolutely fantastic: I swear I was on the edge of my seat the whole damn time, drowning in what-the-hell-will-happen-now anxiety, but I still managed to enjoy the story a whole lot. I loved seeing Mat and Ren (finally, FINALLY) at such a good point in their relationship, and I adored seeing them both so devoted and in love with one another. I swooned a whole lot.
Also, I think this is the first time I've actually loved them wholeheartedly start to finish: character arc and development, better writing, or maybe I've just given in and my heart is firmly in the "they're my sons, your honour" stage now? I don't know, and I don't care. I loved them, and I loved them as a couple too. The kinky D/s relationship they share is explored a smidge more, and whew *fan herself*, thank you Adelaide Blaike for that.
I loved the side characters a whole lot too: Mat's siblings, and of course El and Luis and Jiron (AND if something were to happen to them, especially after losing Ad.... I swear I'll- *sobs*). I cannot wait to read book four: I already know it's going to be epic, especially after THAT cruel, cruel ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment and War
Minor: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Transphobia
Under His Name by M.A. Grant
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
So so fun, and so delicious and delightful.
M.A. Grant is one of favourites out there, and I'm so glad she's decided to come back to us with a hoot of a book like this one: it's not her usual brand of fantasy and paranormal, but the writing is majestic as usual. "Under His Name" is quick, action-and-mystery-packed gem of a book, with just the right amout of spice and romance. It has absolutely wonderful protagonists (I adored both Sam and Nico) and some pretty unforgettable side characters (from Bev to Sam's infuriating twin), and I adored it, start to finish.
The plot is bonkers and so damn fun it kept me hooked from the very first page: a honey pot case, a handsy bad guy with a penchant for blondes, a trafficking ring to dismantle, a very mysterious (and intriguingly hot) Director with a secret agenda, spy work and near-miss disasters, faulty kidnappings, swapped identities and high stakes: this little book has it all. Plus, like I said, the romance! It's all on the low-key considering the fact that the plot is pretty much central, but god, I adored it. There's a little spice, a whole lot of chemistry, a smidge of jealousy and possessiveness, plus the emotional side was very, very satisfying. Sam and Nico's story made me very happy, and I definitely need to look into the other books in this series, asap.
M.A. Grant is one of favourites out there, and I'm so glad she's decided to come back to us with a hoot of a book like this one: it's not her usual brand of fantasy and paranormal, but the writing is majestic as usual. "Under His Name" is quick, action-and-mystery-packed gem of a book, with just the right amout of spice and romance. It has absolutely wonderful protagonists (I adored both Sam and Nico) and some pretty unforgettable side characters (from Bev to Sam's infuriating twin), and I adored it, start to finish.
The plot is bonkers and so damn fun it kept me hooked from the very first page: a honey pot case, a handsy bad guy with a penchant for blondes, a trafficking ring to dismantle, a very mysterious (and intriguingly hot) Director with a secret agenda, spy work and near-miss disasters, faulty kidnappings, swapped identities and high stakes: this little book has it all. Plus, like I said, the romance! It's all on the low-key considering the fact that the plot is pretty much central, but god, I adored it. There's a little spice, a whole lot of chemistry, a smidge of jealousy and possessiveness, plus the emotional side was very, very satisfying. Sam and Nico's story made me very happy, and I definitely need to look into the other books in this series, asap.
The Husband Game by Brigham Vaughn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
First DNF of the year? Ugh. TOD: 31%
A shame since I've loved a few of this author's books.
Anyway, it's too long and a smidge shallow. I'm very picky with my contemporary romances (and my hockey ones too, I think; when did that happen?), and the MCs aren't leaving much of an impression. I'd hoped, since it deals with a couple of tough themes, that the book would have a smidge more heft, but yeah, nope. Like I said, I've become very picky.
I usually don't write reviews for DNFs, but I need to remind future me that I gave this one a try and that, despite the appealing blurbs, I doubt the rest will work for me.
A shame since I've loved a few of this author's books.
Anyway, it's too long and a smidge shallow. I'm very picky with my contemporary romances (and my hockey ones too, I think; when did that happen?), and the MCs aren't leaving much of an impression. I'd hoped, since it deals with a couple of tough themes, that the book would have a smidge more heft, but yeah, nope. Like I said, I've become very picky.
I usually don't write reviews for DNFs, but I need to remind future me that I gave this one a try and that, despite the appealing blurbs, I doubt the rest will work for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
In This Shadow, Longing by Marina Vivancos
God, what a treat.
This third book in the "Coven Ties" series was absolutely lovely: sweetly gut-wrenching, emotionally packed, steamy and absolutely, ridiculously romantic. I loved Cross and Alex's story so damn much!
I adore a fake "you're my client" relationship turned real love with my whole damn heart, and this one was even more special because of how vulnerable Cross was, of how intimate their proximity had to be, or how the D/s relationships works in Marina Vivancos' "Coven Ties" universe.
Both characters stole my heart, but I literally wanted to jump into the book and hug Cross to death.
In just over 200 pages, he managed to make me feel so damn much: his thoughts and feelings of unworthiness, the way he kept thinking he was manipulating the Meliora coven into caring for him, the fact that he couldn't seem to trust his brain anymore... God, it absolutely resonated with me so much, and I can only thank Marina for it: Cross made me feel seen, and he made me feel so damn much.
Alex too was such a great character! A great friend, a great person, and I loved how open he was to his new life in Meliora, despite his past and his own fears about love and belonging.
The whole cast of side characters, from our previous MCs (I LOVE THEM YOUR HONOUR!) to Connie and Ursula, were absolutely unforgettable. The found family atmosphere between them all was so damn lovely.
However, I'm once again, begging Marina to gift us a book about Archie: that man is a damn mystery, and I'd seriously sell a kidney to see his defences crumble around a sub. Pretty please?
Anyway, I love this universe so much. Biological kink dynamics are such a fun thing to write (and read about!), and I can only hope Marina has many more books planned for it.
"In this Shadow, Longing" was a gorgeous, gorgeous book, an emotional, sweetly angsty ride of a romance, and I could not get enough. I wholly recommend this series to any lover of magic driven romances (and kink!), with so much heartwarming, aching healing. Marina Vivancos is one of a kind in the emotional angst department, and every single one of her books have absolutely destroyed me. In the best way possible.
TWs/CWs: suicidal thoughts, depression (implied), disordered eating, medical issues (including fainting, vomiting, weight loss), domestic abuse (past), violence and death (past), childhood abuse (past).
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
God, what a treat.
This third book in the "Coven Ties" series was absolutely lovely: sweetly gut-wrenching, emotionally packed, steamy and absolutely, ridiculously romantic. I loved Cross and Alex's story so damn much!
I adore a fake "you're my client" relationship turned real love with my whole damn heart, and this one was even more special because of how vulnerable Cross was, of how intimate their proximity had to be, or how the D/s relationships works in Marina Vivancos' "Coven Ties" universe.
Both characters stole my heart, but I literally wanted to jump into the book and hug Cross to death.
In just over 200 pages, he managed to make me feel so damn much: his thoughts and feelings of unworthiness, the way he kept thinking he was manipulating the Meliora coven into caring for him, the fact that he couldn't seem to trust his brain anymore... God, it absolutely resonated with me so much, and I can only thank Marina for it: Cross made me feel seen, and he made me feel so damn much.
Alex too was such a great character! A great friend, a great person, and I loved how open he was to his new life in Meliora, despite his past and his own fears about love and belonging.
The whole cast of side characters, from our previous MCs (I LOVE THEM YOUR HONOUR!) to Connie and Ursula, were absolutely unforgettable. The found family atmosphere between them all was so damn lovely.
However, I'm once again, begging Marina to gift us a book about Archie: that man is a damn mystery, and I'd seriously sell a kidney to see his defences crumble around a sub. Pretty please?
Anyway, I love this universe so much. Biological kink dynamics are such a fun thing to write (and read about!), and I can only hope Marina has many more books planned for it.
"In this Shadow, Longing" was a gorgeous, gorgeous book, an emotional, sweetly angsty ride of a romance, and I could not get enough. I wholly recommend this series to any lover of magic driven romances (and kink!), with so much heartwarming, aching healing. Marina Vivancos is one of a kind in the emotional angst department, and every single one of her books have absolutely destroyed me. In the best way possible.
TWs/CWs: suicidal thoughts, depression (implied), disordered eating, medical issues (including fainting, vomiting, weight loss), domestic abuse (past), violence and death (past), childhood abuse (past).
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, and Violence
Heart2Heart: A Paranormal Charity Anthology, Volume 7 by Leslie Copeland
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I read the Eliot Grayson and Tavia Lark short stories, and both were absolutely wonderful. Cute, steamy, lovely!
Both of these authors are among my favourite paranormal romance writers, so I definitely couldn't miss out on them. I haven't read the rest, so my rating is based solely on these two short stories.
The premise was fantastic and cute though! I love the idea of a Cupid controlled dating app.
Both of these authors are among my favourite paranormal romance writers, so I definitely couldn't miss out on them. I haven't read the rest, so my rating is based solely on these two short stories.
The premise was fantastic and cute though! I love the idea of a Cupid controlled dating app.
Second Song by Con Riley
challenging
emotional
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
4.5
Freaking adorable. What a resounding success my first Con Riley book was! I can't believe I haven't tackled this author's backlist yet, but "Second Song" was a beautiful introduction to it.
Sweet, soft, lovely, gut-wrenching in the best way possible; a tale of second chances, of healing, of finally finding yourself after years of pain and uncertainty. It made me feel a truckload of emotions, from start to finish, and I absolutely fell in love with all its beautiful, complicated characters, and the beautiful, complicated, wholesome found family they've made for themselves in this dream of a school for second chances: despite not knowing any of these minor characters previously, I fell in love with them so fast, and I also fell in love with the two protagonists. Liam and Rowan were unforgettable MCs: Rowan, with his quiet grit, his bravery, his vulnerabilities, his enormous heart, and Liam with his painful past and present, his sweet gruffness, his protectiveness and the sheer amount of care he has for the people he loves. I loved them individually, and I loved them as a couple too. I have a thing for a good ol' protector/whoops-I'm-a-danger-magnet trope, and they absolutely did not disappoint in that regard: they made me laugh and swoon and sigh, and they had me smiling like a fool from start to finish. They made such a lovely couple.
I loved the side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to go back and meet Charles and the padre, Luke and Austin and all the others from the very start. I'm sure all of their stories will be an emotional, gut-punching ride, and I cannot wait to dive in.
I also adored the writing: it's very evocative and poetic, although at times I had a few difficulties following along. I think it's partly because Rowan's past is pretty much muddled in secrets and events he can't remember, and also because my brain's not at its best at the moment. I'm sure my next Con Riley will be MUCH more easier on my brain now that I know what to expect.
Anyway, I wholly recommend this book: it made me cry, it made me swoon, and I finished it with a huge, proud smile on my face. I adored it!
TWs/CWs: PTSD, war stories, loss of family members, grief, childhood trauma, SA, non-consensual drugging, bullying.
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Sweet, soft, lovely, gut-wrenching in the best way possible; a tale of second chances, of healing, of finally finding yourself after years of pain and uncertainty. It made me feel a truckload of emotions, from start to finish, and I absolutely fell in love with all its beautiful, complicated characters, and the beautiful, complicated, wholesome found family they've made for themselves in this dream of a school for second chances: despite not knowing any of these minor characters previously, I fell in love with them so fast, and I also fell in love with the two protagonists. Liam and Rowan were unforgettable MCs: Rowan, with his quiet grit, his bravery, his vulnerabilities, his enormous heart, and Liam with his painful past and present, his sweet gruffness, his protectiveness and the sheer amount of care he has for the people he loves. I loved them individually, and I loved them as a couple too. I have a thing for a good ol' protector/whoops-I'm-a-danger-magnet trope, and they absolutely did not disappoint in that regard: they made me laugh and swoon and sigh, and they had me smiling like a fool from start to finish. They made such a lovely couple.
I loved the side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to go back and meet Charles and the padre, Luke and Austin and all the others from the very start. I'm sure all of their stories will be an emotional, gut-punching ride, and I cannot wait to dive in.
I also adored the writing: it's very evocative and poetic, although at times I had a few difficulties following along. I think it's partly because Rowan's past is pretty much muddled in secrets and events he can't remember, and also because my brain's not at its best at the moment. I'm sure my next Con Riley will be MUCH more easier on my brain now that I know what to expect.
Anyway, I wholly recommend this book: it made me cry, it made me swoon, and I finished it with a huge, proud smile on my face. I adored it!
TWs/CWs: PTSD, war stories, loss of family members, grief, childhood trauma, SA, non-consensual drugging, bullying.
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, War, Bullying, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Death
The Queen's Starfire Throne by Hailey Turner
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oh god, what a ride. What a ride!
This final installment had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish: it did not disappoint. My heart's still beating out of my chest, and I'm pretty sure I'll be thinking about that ending, that bittersweet, epic ending, for a long, long time.
Also, I think I need a whole month to get over everything that has happened; my heart won't recover, I fear. Betrayals, death, war, magic; heart-stopping romance, emotional upheavals, found family, and gut-wrenching angst; and, also, a boatload of heart-clenching close calls from start to finish.
I swear, I need at least twenty palate cleansers to get over the sheer amount of nail-biting angst I've just gone through. Gah.
I'm going to miss these characters a whole lot; and I'll miss this whole magical, deadly, complicated, messy world they all live it, where poisonous spores, revenants, backstabbing politicians and morally gray nobles are a daily occurrence. I love epic fantasies, and I love them even more so when everything is delightfully queer and delightfully packed with romance.
Hailey Turner's Infernal War Saga as a whole, but this final installment in particular, is yet another confirmation of how damned great she is at creating such wonderful worlds and such wonderful (and wonderfully complicated and nuanced) characters. Even though Soren is, and will remain, my favourite, I won't be forgetting Caris and Blaine and Honovi and Vanya any time soon. They all have a special place in my book-loving heart.
"The Queen's Starfire Throne" is packed, absolutely teeming, with action from start to finish, and the desperate, fierce rush towards that bitter, deadly, violent end, against Eimarille's madness, had me simultaneously clutching my heart, tearing my hair out, and screaming at the top of my lungs. It's also, like I said, packed with love: familial love, platonic love, romantic love. Hailey Turner is a masterful writer of the found family trope, and all the bonds that emerge from the death and violence and poison afflicting Maricol had me in tears more than once.
Also, that ending had me in tears. I knew not everyone was going to get their happily ever after at the end, and I guess there was only one way for all that mess to be resolved, but it still made me unbelievably sad too. Thankfully there are enough HEAs for my romance loving heart to be satisfied, but god, what a bittersweet, albeit epic, ending.
Hailey manged to weave together every single plotline, every single story arc, in a crescendo that made my heart soar: she was already one of my favourite writers, but this series is a testament to her skills. Epic fantasies with a complicated world-building and an even more complicated political landscape (or hellscape; I wouldn't want to live in Maricol; except, maybe, in E'ridia: they seem to be the least crazy and power hungry of the lot), packed with a huge cast of morally grey, ambiguous, messy, flawed characters, that, despite the sheer number of them, still manage to make a lasting impression, isn't an easy feat. I knew she'd be up to it, and I'm so, so happy we have this trilogy in our hands.
Or I will be, as soon as I get over that ending and all the damn angst: I'm still crying.
I can't wait to have my heart broken by Hailey with whichever book she gifts us next. <3
Thank you GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review
This final installment had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish: it did not disappoint. My heart's still beating out of my chest, and I'm pretty sure I'll be thinking about that ending, that bittersweet, epic ending, for a long, long time.
Also, I think I need a whole month to get over everything that has happened; my heart won't recover, I fear. Betrayals, death, war, magic; heart-stopping romance, emotional upheavals, found family, and gut-wrenching angst; and, also, a boatload of heart-clenching close calls from start to finish.
I swear, I need at least twenty palate cleansers to get over the sheer amount of nail-biting angst I've just gone through. Gah.
I'm going to miss these characters a whole lot; and I'll miss this whole magical, deadly, complicated, messy world they all live it, where poisonous spores, revenants, backstabbing politicians and morally gray nobles are a daily occurrence. I love epic fantasies, and I love them even more so when everything is delightfully queer and delightfully packed with romance.
Hailey Turner's Infernal War Saga as a whole, but this final installment in particular, is yet another confirmation of how damned great she is at creating such wonderful worlds and such wonderful (and wonderfully complicated and nuanced) characters. Even though Soren is, and will remain, my favourite, I won't be forgetting Caris and Blaine and Honovi and Vanya any time soon. They all have a special place in my book-loving heart.
"The Queen's Starfire Throne" is packed, absolutely teeming, with action from start to finish, and the desperate, fierce rush towards that bitter, deadly, violent end, against Eimarille's madness, had me simultaneously clutching my heart, tearing my hair out, and screaming at the top of my lungs. It's also, like I said, packed with love: familial love, platonic love, romantic love. Hailey Turner is a masterful writer of the found family trope, and all the bonds that emerge from the death and violence and poison afflicting Maricol had me in tears more than once.
Also, that ending had me in tears. I knew not everyone was going to get their happily ever after at the end, and I guess there was only one way for all that mess to be resolved, but it still made me unbelievably sad too. Thankfully there are enough HEAs for my romance loving heart to be satisfied, but god, what a bittersweet, albeit epic, ending.
Hailey manged to weave together every single plotline, every single story arc, in a crescendo that made my heart soar: she was already one of my favourite writers, but this series is a testament to her skills. Epic fantasies with a complicated world-building and an even more complicated political landscape (or hellscape; I wouldn't want to live in Maricol; except, maybe, in E'ridia: they seem to be the least crazy and power hungry of the lot), packed with a huge cast of morally grey, ambiguous, messy, flawed characters, that, despite the sheer number of them, still manage to make a lasting impression, isn't an easy feat. I knew she'd be up to it, and I'm so, so happy we have this trilogy in our hands.
Or I will be, as soon as I get over that ending and all the damn angst: I'm still crying.
I can't wait to have my heart broken by Hailey with whichever book she gifts us next. <3
Thank you GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Violence, and War
Moderate: Slavery
The Husband Experience by Maya Jean
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
What a lovely, sweet novella. "The Husband Experience" was exactly what I needed after the angsty reads I've just gotten through: the perfect palate cleanser, with a whole lot of sweetness and delicious, kinky steam. I devoured it in a sitting and it left me with a huge smile on my face.
Fake dating has got to be one of my favourite tropes: its just packed with so much potential for emotional angst *chef's kiss* and this novella totally delivered on that front!
Although "The Husband Experience" is much more light-hearted and easy on the angst than Maya Jean's previous book ("Just a Footnote", which I absolutely adored, but isn't unfortunately available anymore), it still packed a punch at times. There's an underlying current of bittersweet angst, emotional upheveals and that sweet, sweet "I'm falling for you when I'm not supposed to, and I don't know what to do" trope that makes me want to squeal in my pillow, kicking my feet and twirling my hair. Yep, it totally delivered on that front.
This book is packed with some of my favourite things: a fake dating slash pretty woman kind of scenario, where one of our protagonists, the grieving Colby, hires Eli for a week to get his feet back into the romance game after losing his husband a few years before; a set of wonderful protagonists (both of them so sweet you won't stop grinning) with a delicious age gap between them; and spanking hot steam, with a smidge of D/s dynamic and some of my favourite kinks (I was swooning and blushing at the same damn time).
I adored them both, and I adored the side characters too, although we only get a few glimpses of them. I'm especially intrigued by Eli's friends, and I can't wait to see what Maya has in store next!
I totally recommend this novella if you're looking for something sweet and spicy, with an absolutely heartwarming, satisfying ending.
TWs/CWs: death of a partner, grief, cancer.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
Fake dating has got to be one of my favourite tropes: its just packed with so much potential for emotional angst *chef's kiss* and this novella totally delivered on that front!
Although "The Husband Experience" is much more light-hearted and easy on the angst than Maya Jean's previous book ("Just a Footnote", which I absolutely adored, but isn't unfortunately available anymore), it still packed a punch at times. There's an underlying current of bittersweet angst, emotional upheveals and that sweet, sweet "I'm falling for you when I'm not supposed to, and I don't know what to do" trope that makes me want to squeal in my pillow, kicking my feet and twirling my hair. Yep, it totally delivered on that front.
This book is packed with some of my favourite things: a fake dating slash pretty woman kind of scenario, where one of our protagonists, the grieving Colby, hires Eli for a week to get his feet back into the romance game after losing his husband a few years before; a set of wonderful protagonists (both of them so sweet you won't stop grinning) with a delicious age gap between them; and spanking hot steam, with a smidge of D/s dynamic and some of my favourite kinks (I was swooning and blushing at the same damn time).
I adored them both, and I adored the side characters too, although we only get a few glimpses of them. I'm especially intrigued by Eli's friends, and I can't wait to see what Maya has in store next!
I totally recommend this novella if you're looking for something sweet and spicy, with an absolutely heartwarming, satisfying ending.
TWs/CWs: death of a partner, grief, cancer.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Cancer
The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
5.0
Where do I start?
I've read "The Sunshine Court" twice in a row, and I'm still not sure what to say or where to begin.
I tried to keep the spoilers hidden, but just in case: some spoilers ahead.
My brain has been completely taken over by this book, and by this whole series (and to be fair, that isn't new, since it happens at least once or twice year; I swear it's like crack in book form), and it's been on a constant loop of giddy (and sometimes anguished; sometimes frustrated; sometimes unbelievably, ridiculously happy) squeals/screeches/screams since Monday.
I don't know how am I ever supposed to recover; maybe I should re-read it a third time? Or wait, maybe I should re-read the previous three books for the umpteenth time, and for the second time in *counts weeks* a month. Yep, a new record for me.
One thing I know I want to say is: thank you, Nora. Thank you for gifting us Jean's story. Thank you for not giving up on this series, this world, despite how ridiculous and obsessive, and sometimes mean and toxic, the fandom is. Thank you.
I still can't believe this story is in our hands, and not only that, we have A SECOND BOOK COMING? Special editions of AftG with shorts stories on the way?! I feel like these two things, the anticipation of them being in my grabby little hands in just a few months, have made my life infinitely more brighter.
Back to "The Sunshine Court" though. Where do I start?
This story was exactly what I was hoping for, but it also absolutely exceeded my already high expectations.
It's Jean's story, but it's also the Trojans' story.
It's a story of healing, of a boy who's finally able to start picking up the pieces of a tortured, unhappy life, who's starting to see, one small miracle at a time (thank you Renee, my queen), finally, slowly, torturously, that happiness and health and friendship and safety, and yes, even love, might be something that's not earned or snatched away at a whim, but given freely, kindly, wholeheartedly.
It's also, mainly, a story about broken bonds, healing bonds, creating bonds; a story about friendships, and I absolutely would not want it any other way.
Jean's perfect for the Trojans, and the Trojans are perfect for Jean. I seriously wanted to start sobbing more than once, because oh god, found family as a trope will be the absolute death of me one day. My heart can't take it; and the way Nora writes found family? Absolutely crushing, absolutely masterful, absolutely brilliant.
I had high expectations for this book, and I was also worried that maybe after loving that feral, unhinged, complex, beautiful man that Neil Josten is, and his beatiful, complicated Foxes, for counts years eight, nine years now, I wouldn't be able to love a new AftG protagonist, and his new team, as much.
Oh boy, how glad I was to be wrong.
I'd literally die for Jean, but I'd also literally die for the other protagonist Nora has gifted us, Jeremy (my precious angel), and I'd also literally die for the whole Trojan team too, no exceptions (no okay, maybe one, but I'm okay with redemption arcs!).
Jean's head, his thoughts, his personality, his whole character was everything I expected it to be, and then some: awful, lonely, brutally unfair, traumatized and traumatizing; but also snarky and resilient, and so damned brave and unexpectedly sweet, I wanted to tear my heart out. I also wanted to jump into the book, resuscite Riko, and get somebody (maybe Neil?) to murder him again. And also the whole of the Raven lineup; also that despicable, monstrous coach of theirs.
My precious son Jean, I loved him so damned much. Seeing the Trojans through his eyes was a treat, and seeing the Foxes and especially Kevin and Neil through his eyes even more so. I had everything on my bingo card, but not <spoilers> him having a soul-wrenching crush on Kevin for years, and also absolutely not this quote about Neil: "He was Jean’s misplaced forever partner, an unfulfilled promise Jean had stopped believing in years ago." I cried. A whole lot.
Also, I know this has been said a lot, but Jean's POV finally shows us (for real this time, fandom lore aside) what an unreliable narrator Neil was. Jean's not normal, by any standards, but his head is screwed on very differently from Neil's, and it definitely shows. My feral sons, my gangster sons, my traumatized baby girls, I love you so much <3
And this also shows how absolutely brilliant Nora was and is at character building, and writing it general. Absolutely brilliant, no notes, chef kissing all around. And here, all of the Trojans, even the ones that appear briefly, make a lasting impression: I loved them all to bits.
And one Trojan in particular. Jeremy Knox, where do I start?
I haven't read much Jerejean fanfiction these past few years, because I try to steer clear of non-canon pairings to save my sanity. That Nora made Jeremy our other protagonist was already a dream come true. The fact that they're set up as love interests makes me want to pinch myself just to check it's true.
The thought of what (I'm assuming/hoping/crossing all my fingers and toes/praying/ready to sacrifice a few organs praying) will happen with them in the next book, them finally becoming canon, has my heart palpitating and in general, me wanting to jump on a roof to squeal from happiness. The signs are all there, the chemistry is DEFINITELY there, as is the attraction, the leaning on each other, the slow build-up to friendship, trust, happiness: Jean trusting Jeremy with his health, his safety, his words (and then, to come, his body and his heart) made me so, so, so happy, and I still cannot believe it is happening. I need Nora to confirm it though, because I fear this could be a mass hallucination.
Anyway, Jerejean aside.
Jeremy Knox, the man you are. The beautiful, silly, golden retriever, kind, gentle, generous man you are. He's the literal best. He's also, still, a bit of a mystery. Our Captain here has a lot of hidden issues: I've just read a post on Tumblr where somebody said that Jeremy might have "I'm fine" Neil Josten, the king of deflection and avoidance, beat here. Something's going on with Jeremy, but he'll lie to himself and he absolutely won't shows us WHAT IS HAPPENING. Nope.
I fear the second book will crush us.
Anyway, I adored that man, I'd walk under a bus for him. He's silly and serious, funny and wacky and absolutely wonderful. He and Jean are a pairing of the ages, and I can't wait to get more of their interactions, of the bond slowly building between them.
< “If you say you deserved it, I’ll trip you,” Jeremy warned him. “You wouldn’t,” Jean returned. “Maybe not,” Jeremy allowed. “But I’ll think about it really hard.” >
And the other Trojans? The sunshine court indeed.
Laila and Cat: you're everything I hoped you'd be. Iconic, hilarious, absolutely wonderful. The way they were with Jean, fiercely protective, indignant and furious on his behalf, the easy way both Jeremy and them included him in their group, reminded me of how Dan was with Neil. Both Laila and Cat were unforgettable side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to have more time with them on page. I think I might have underlined half of the group interactions, but a few of these scenes will remain with my for months. Also, how I cackled. This book is definitely trauma packed, but the Trojans and their easy, just, kind, silly (THE FLOOZY LINE) demeanor gave the story a much needed lighter tones at times.
< “Sorry, sorry! His English is a little hit and miss still. That’s why you never see him talking to the press, you know?” She waggled her fingers at Jean to get his attention and said in as serious a tone as she could muster, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” >
I loved this book, and I also loved how packed it is with parallels. The original AftG trilogy was absolutely teeming with them already, and god, this one just made everything even better. The Neil/Jean parallels (also @Nora, give us the Neil/Jean friendship we deserve!!!!!), the conversations between Jeremy and Jean giving me all the Andrew/Neil feels (including the "I'll have your back" conversation and the consent one too sniffles) (minus all the Neil cluelessness, and plus all the bisexual panic from Jean and the reluctant horniness/attraction) ( both Jean and Jeremy startling because of shirts, low hanging shorts, shower-plastered hair and skin? YES PLEASE, gimme more of that )
< “Will you help me?” he asked. “Anything you need.” “A blank check is a dangerous thing to offer.” “Try me,” Jeremy said. “I can afford it.” >
I have so many more thoughts, and since I refuse to engage in fandom shenanigans just yet, I think I'll be adding to this review in the upcoming days and weeks (and years).
Anyway, I loved this, and I need the second book LIKE AIR. I can't wait, I can't wait, I'm so excited I might cry.
Sorry for the rambling review friends, but this series is seriously my favourite thing.
TWs/CWs: violence, child abuse, sexual assault and rape (past, but there's a violent encounter with the rapist on page), waterboarding (flashbacks), suicide and suicide attempt, hospitalisation, hazing, death of family members.
I've read "The Sunshine Court" twice in a row, and I'm still not sure what to say or where to begin.
I tried to keep the spoilers hidden, but just in case: some spoilers ahead.
My brain has been completely taken over by this book, and by this whole series (and to be fair, that isn't new, since it happens at least once or twice year; I swear it's like crack in book form), and it's been on a constant loop of giddy (and sometimes anguished; sometimes frustrated; sometimes unbelievably, ridiculously happy) squeals/screeches/screams since Monday.
I don't know how am I ever supposed to recover; maybe I should re-read it a third time? Or wait, maybe I should re-read the previous three books for the umpteenth time, and for the second time in *counts weeks* a month. Yep, a new record for me.
One thing I know I want to say is: thank you, Nora. Thank you for gifting us Jean's story. Thank you for not giving up on this series, this world, despite how ridiculous and obsessive, and sometimes mean and toxic, the fandom is. Thank you.
I still can't believe this story is in our hands, and not only that, we have A SECOND BOOK COMING? Special editions of AftG with shorts stories on the way?! I feel like these two things, the anticipation of them being in my grabby little hands in just a few months, have made my life infinitely more brighter.
Back to "The Sunshine Court" though. Where do I start?
This story was exactly what I was hoping for, but it also absolutely exceeded my already high expectations.
It's Jean's story, but it's also the Trojans' story.
It's a story of healing, of a boy who's finally able to start picking up the pieces of a tortured, unhappy life, who's starting to see, one small miracle at a time (thank you Renee, my queen), finally, slowly, torturously, that happiness and health and friendship and safety, and yes, even love, might be something that's not earned or snatched away at a whim, but given freely, kindly, wholeheartedly.
It's also, mainly, a story about broken bonds, healing bonds, creating bonds; a story about friendships, and I absolutely would not want it any other way.
Jean's perfect for the Trojans, and the Trojans are perfect for Jean. I seriously wanted to start sobbing more than once, because oh god, found family as a trope will be the absolute death of me one day. My heart can't take it; and the way Nora writes found family? Absolutely crushing, absolutely masterful, absolutely brilliant.
I had high expectations for this book, and I was also worried that maybe after loving that feral, unhinged, complex, beautiful man that Neil Josten is, and his beatiful, complicated Foxes, for counts years eight, nine years now, I wouldn't be able to love a new AftG protagonist, and his new team, as much.
Oh boy, how glad I was to be wrong.
I'd literally die for Jean, but I'd also literally die for the other protagonist Nora has gifted us, Jeremy (my precious angel), and I'd also literally die for the whole Trojan team too, no exceptions (no okay, maybe one, but I'm okay with redemption arcs!).
Jean's head, his thoughts, his personality, his whole character was everything I expected it to be, and then some: awful, lonely, brutally unfair, traumatized and traumatizing; but also snarky and resilient, and so damned brave and unexpectedly sweet, I wanted to tear my heart out. I also wanted to jump into the book, resuscite Riko, and get somebody (maybe Neil?) to murder him again. And also the whole of the Raven lineup; also that despicable, monstrous coach of theirs.
My precious son Jean, I loved him so damned much. Seeing the Trojans through his eyes was a treat, and seeing the Foxes and especially Kevin and Neil through his eyes even more so. I had everything on my bingo card, but not <spoilers> him having a soul-wrenching crush on Kevin for years, and also absolutely not this quote about Neil: "He was Jean’s misplaced forever partner, an unfulfilled promise Jean had stopped believing in years ago." I cried. A whole lot.
Also, I know this has been said a lot, but Jean's POV finally shows us (for real this time, fandom lore aside) what an unreliable narrator Neil was. Jean's not normal, by any standards, but his head is screwed on very differently from Neil's, and it definitely shows. My feral sons, my gangster sons, my traumatized baby girls, I love you so much <3
And this also shows how absolutely brilliant Nora was and is at character building, and writing it general. Absolutely brilliant, no notes, chef kissing all around. And here, all of the Trojans, even the ones that appear briefly, make a lasting impression: I loved them all to bits.
And one Trojan in particular. Jeremy Knox, where do I start?
I haven't read much Jerejean fanfiction these past few years, because I try to steer clear of non-canon pairings to save my sanity. That Nora made Jeremy our other protagonist was already a dream come true. The fact that they're set up as love interests makes me want to pinch myself just to check it's true.
The thought of what (I'm assuming/hoping/crossing all my fingers and toes/praying/ready to sacrifice a few organs praying) will happen with them in the next book, them finally becoming canon, has my heart palpitating and in general, me wanting to jump on a roof to squeal from happiness. The signs are all there, the chemistry is DEFINITELY there, as is the attraction, the leaning on each other, the slow build-up to friendship, trust, happiness: Jean trusting Jeremy with his health, his safety, his words (and then, to come, his body and his heart) made me so, so, so happy, and I still cannot believe it is happening. I need Nora to confirm it though, because I fear this could be a mass hallucination.
Anyway, Jerejean aside.
Jeremy Knox, the man you are. The beautiful, silly, golden retriever, kind, gentle, generous man you are. He's the literal best. He's also, still, a bit of a mystery. Our Captain here has a lot of hidden issues: I've just read a post on Tumblr where somebody said that Jeremy might have "I'm fine" Neil Josten, the king of deflection and avoidance, beat here. Something's going on with Jeremy, but he'll lie to himself and he absolutely won't shows us WHAT IS HAPPENING. Nope.
I fear the second book will crush us.
Anyway, I adored that man, I'd walk under a bus for him. He's silly and serious, funny and wacky and absolutely wonderful. He and Jean are a pairing of the ages, and I can't wait to get more of their interactions, of the bond slowly building between them.
< “If you say you deserved it, I’ll trip you,” Jeremy warned him. “You wouldn’t,” Jean returned. “Maybe not,” Jeremy allowed. “But I’ll think about it really hard.” >
And the other Trojans? The sunshine court indeed.
Laila and Cat: you're everything I hoped you'd be. Iconic, hilarious, absolutely wonderful. The way they were with Jean, fiercely protective, indignant and furious on his behalf, the easy way both Jeremy and them included him in their group, reminded me of how Dan was with Neil. Both Laila and Cat were unforgettable side characters, and I seriously cannot wait to have more time with them on page. I think I might have underlined half of the group interactions, but a few of these scenes will remain with my for months. Also, how I cackled. This book is definitely trauma packed, but the Trojans and their easy, just, kind, silly (THE FLOOZY LINE) demeanor gave the story a much needed lighter tones at times.
< “Sorry, sorry! His English is a little hit and miss still. That’s why you never see him talking to the press, you know?” She waggled her fingers at Jean to get his attention and said in as serious a tone as she could muster, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” >
I loved this book, and I also loved how packed it is with parallels. The original AftG trilogy was absolutely teeming with them already, and god, this one just made everything even better. The Neil/Jean parallels (also @Nora, give us the Neil/Jean friendship we deserve!!!!!), the conversations between Jeremy and Jean giving me all the Andrew/Neil feels (including the "I'll have your back" conversation and the consent one too sniffles) (minus all the Neil cluelessness, and plus all the bisexual panic from Jean and the reluctant horniness/attraction) (
< “Will you help me?” he asked. “Anything you need.” “A blank check is a dangerous thing to offer.” “Try me,” Jeremy said. “I can afford it.” >
I have so many more thoughts, and since I refuse to engage in fandom shenanigans just yet, I think I'll be adding to this review in the upcoming days and weeks (and years).
Anyway, I loved this, and I need the second book LIKE AIR. I can't wait, I can't wait, I'm so excited I might cry.
Sorry for the rambling review friends, but this series is seriously my favourite thing.
TWs/CWs:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse