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_isabel_'s reviews
962 reviews
Salt by Fearne Hill
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
What a freaking gorgeous book. I'm seriously in awe. Fearne Hill is one of the best MM contemporary romance authors out there, and I've loved many of her books before, and "Salt" is absolutely no exception. I loved it so damned much.
This book is magical: it sucked me right inside its pages from the very first paragraph, and I'm pretty sure it will stay with me for the next few months, at least. This one isn't an easy romance: it's magical for sure, and sweet and lovely and heartfelt and dreamy, but it's also dark and tough and angsty and gut-wrenching. Hill is one of the few authors out there who excels at balancing out the lighthearted with the angst, the steam with the emotional, the sweetness with the "oh god I'm about to start sobbing out loud". And she also excels at backing all of this up with wonderfully real, relatable protagonists and absolutely believable, tangible, unforgettable character and relationship arcs. I seriously felt like I was there with Charles, battling his demons, his colours and his soul-wrenching grief, and with Florian, facing his own demons, an aging grandfather and struggling business; I was with them through the thick and thin, and I can't say how happy, and how satisfied, their story made me feel.
Charles is one of the most fascinating protagonists I've read about in quite a while: he's full of contradictions, and even more real because of it. He's a business shark and genius; he's an artist; he's funny and sincere and gentle; he's also grief-stricken and suicidal, so fragile you just want to jump into the book and hug him to bits and protect him from the whole world (and his landmine of a mind). Needless to say I loved him; I felt what he was going through at a deep personal level, and I related to him so damned much.
I think I've said this a dozen times in my reviews before, but the romance genre NEEDS more mental health rep. And it needs authors like Fearne Hill, ones who manage to tackle deep, important topics without cheapening them, without disrespecting them, and without losing a touch of lightheartedness and sweetness.
Florian was as unforgettable as Charles, and as real. He's a flirt, open-hearted and gentle and charming, but he also isn't afraid of showing his vulnerabilities and his insecurities.
I loved their relationship so damned much. Their romance made me want hurl myself from the nearest building, sob in a corner and squeal like a little girl, simultaneously. I laughed and swooned and cried alongside them, and their hard-won HEA was the most satisfying, perfect HEA you could wish for.
The setting was absolutely magical, so vividly depicted; it made me want to move to French, salt-harvesting island myself. The side characters, from Jerome to the mysterious (and seriously hot) Nico, from Papi to all the colourful, hard-working people of the island.
And the writing! God, like I said, Fearne Hill is one of a kind, and I can't believe I still haven't devoured all of her backlist.
I'm sooooooooo excited for the next book. I'm sure it will be as unforgettable as this one; I'm also seriously hoping it will have some mental health rep too. Nico's such a fascinating character, and I can't wait to get to know him properly and to finally meet his love interest.
TWs/CWs: suicide (described), suicidal thoughts, mental health crisis, depression, death of a parent and of other family members (mentioned), grief, character with dementia.
Thank you GRR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
This book is magical: it sucked me right inside its pages from the very first paragraph, and I'm pretty sure it will stay with me for the next few months, at least. This one isn't an easy romance: it's magical for sure, and sweet and lovely and heartfelt and dreamy, but it's also dark and tough and angsty and gut-wrenching. Hill is one of the few authors out there who excels at balancing out the lighthearted with the angst, the steam with the emotional, the sweetness with the "oh god I'm about to start sobbing out loud". And she also excels at backing all of this up with wonderfully real, relatable protagonists and absolutely believable, tangible, unforgettable character and relationship arcs. I seriously felt like I was there with Charles, battling his demons, his colours and his soul-wrenching grief, and with Florian, facing his own demons, an aging grandfather and struggling business; I was with them through the thick and thin, and I can't say how happy, and how satisfied, their story made me feel.
Charles is one of the most fascinating protagonists I've read about in quite a while: he's full of contradictions, and even more real because of it. He's a business shark and genius; he's an artist; he's funny and sincere and gentle; he's also grief-stricken and suicidal, so fragile you just want to jump into the book and hug him to bits and protect him from the whole world (and his landmine of a mind). Needless to say I loved him; I felt what he was going through at a deep personal level, and I related to him so damned much.
I think I've said this a dozen times in my reviews before, but the romance genre NEEDS more mental health rep. And it needs authors like Fearne Hill, ones who manage to tackle deep, important topics without cheapening them, without disrespecting them, and without losing a touch of lightheartedness and sweetness.
Florian was as unforgettable as Charles, and as real. He's a flirt, open-hearted and gentle and charming, but he also isn't afraid of showing his vulnerabilities and his insecurities.
I loved their relationship so damned much. Their romance made me want hurl myself from the nearest building, sob in a corner and squeal like a little girl, simultaneously. I laughed and swooned and cried alongside them, and their hard-won HEA was the most satisfying, perfect HEA you could wish for.
The setting was absolutely magical, so vividly depicted; it made me want to move to French, salt-harvesting island myself. The side characters, from Jerome to the mysterious (and seriously hot) Nico, from Papi to all the colourful, hard-working people of the island.
And the writing! God, like I said, Fearne Hill is one of a kind, and I can't believe I still haven't devoured all of her backlist.
I'm sooooooooo excited for the next book. I'm sure it will be as unforgettable as this one; I'm also seriously hoping it will have some mental health rep too. Nico's such a fascinating character, and I can't wait to get to know him properly and to finally meet his love interest.
TWs/CWs: suicide (described), suicidal thoughts, mental health crisis, depression, death of a parent and of other family members (mentioned), grief, character with dementia.
Thank you GRR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Dementia
You're Not My King! by Eryn Hawk
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Well, this was absolutely lovely!
It lost my interest a smidge in the second half (but it was probably my brain's fault; and my very busy life at the moment), so I ended up skimming a bit, but in all in all I really enjoyed it.
Hot and lighthearted, sweet and fun, with an underlying current of tension and emotional angst; it ended ip tackling some important topics (heed the trigger warnings people!), and all in all, it left me feeling very satisfied.
I loved Reuben and Vo'ak to bits! They're both idiots, and they're both impulsive and reckless and share one braincell between them, but oh god, I loved those horny, disastrous wrecks to bits. I loved their chemistry, and I loved all the side characters too!
The world-building was so vivid and magical, and I also adored the dry humour, especially in Roo's POV (such a cute nickname!): I laughed out loud many times at his antics.
Like I said, I got a smidge bored in the second half, but I'm pretty sure it was my fault. I loved it until life started getting in the middle of my reading time, so I'm sure if I'd read it at any other time, I would have kept loving it.
Maybe it was a smidge too long, but yeah, I still adored it!
I'm sooooo excited to read the next book in this series! I'm hoping it will be about a certain lovely, reticent human and his stoic, patient alien, and I can already see myself going feral over them.
I'm also excited about Fae Quin's book too! The covers of both these books are GORGEOUS, and I'd totally buy them based solely on the art. Beautiful!
TWs/CWs: kidnapping, domestic abuse and sexual assault (past), rape (on page, minor character), violence and injury.
Thank you GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
It lost my interest a smidge in the second half (but it was probably my brain's fault; and my very busy life at the moment), so I ended up skimming a bit, but in all in all I really enjoyed it.
Hot and lighthearted, sweet and fun, with an underlying current of tension and emotional angst; it ended ip tackling some important topics (heed the trigger warnings people!), and all in all, it left me feeling very satisfied.
I loved Reuben and Vo'ak to bits! They're both idiots, and they're both impulsive and reckless and share one braincell between them, but oh god, I loved those horny, disastrous wrecks to bits. I loved their chemistry, and I loved all the side characters too!
The world-building was so vivid and magical, and I also adored the dry humour, especially in Roo's POV (such a cute nickname!): I laughed out loud many times at his antics.
Like I said, I got a smidge bored in the second half, but I'm pretty sure it was my fault. I loved it until life started getting in the middle of my reading time, so I'm sure if I'd read it at any other time, I would have kept loving it.
Maybe it was a smidge too long, but yeah, I still adored it!
I'm sooooo excited to read the next book in this series! I'm hoping it will be about a certain lovely, reticent human and his stoic, patient alien, and I can already see myself going feral over them.
I'm also excited about Fae Quin's book too! The covers of both these books are GORGEOUS, and I'd totally buy them based solely on the art. Beautiful!
TWs/CWs: kidnapping, domestic abuse and sexual assault (past), rape (on page, minor character), violence and injury.
Thank you GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Addiction
Death In The Spires by KJ Charles
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've no words. "Death in the Spires" was freaking amazing. Absolutely, wholly, ridiculously good. I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to say in this review other than: KJ Charles, the writer you are.
Full desclaimer, this book is not a romance. It's a mystery, with a queer protagonist, but it's not a romance, although there IS love. Unrequited love, obsessive love, pining love, familial love, platonic love; it has all the spectrum of the emotions you can expect from a cast of seven brilliant, and brilliantly doomed, Oxford students who end inseperable friends thanks to the charisma of their leading man, the uniting force behind their group, one Toby Feynsham, who, like in all mysteries of the dark academia genre, ends murdered in dark, mysterious circumstances on a fateful night their final year at Oxford.
Ten years later, Jeremy Kite, OUR leading man, with his prospects and ambitions ruined, once again adrift because of the repercussions of that fateful night, finally embarks on a journey to discover what went down with Toby, and who's to blame for everything that went wrong after that.
"Death in the Spires" is a quitessential dark academia mystery, and with the added early 20th century setting, it instantly becomes an unforgettable work, maybe even a classic, of the genre: it's clever and brilliant, and KJ Charles writing, with her dry snark, her magical way with words, the sheer beauty of it, makes it even more so.
The Seven Wonders' story is unforgettable: I was literally sucked into their world, and I was so wholly immersed in what was going I managed to reach that end, that painful, bittersweet, yet hopeful (and immensely satisfying) end, without even realising it.
Seeing their life, slowly but surely, splinter and shatter around them from the brilliant first few years together, all of them kings and queens of their little kingdom, to that doomed last year, was like watching a trainwreck in slow motion: the build-up to the disaster, although told through flashbacks and brief timelines shifts, had me on the edge of my seat the whole damned time. Seeing how they went from being inseperable, loyal companions, this gang of seven ready to take on the whole world, to brutal murder and violence, backstabbing vileness and obsessive, possessive love turned sour, had me my heart it overdrive from start to finish.
I won't spoil anything else, but god. I don't think I've ever encountered a character quite like Toby: his character arc was literally the thing of dreams; the way KJ Charles built him, the way she showed the cracks inside him? You can feel the end of the Seven Wonders' golden age coming, yet you're powerless to stop anything; the only thing you can do is read with the same dread and the same bitter, powerless disillusionment Jem and the others go through. I think I mourned alongside them, Jem especially, and it left me feeling both hollowed out and absolutely in awe with what KJ Charles is capable of doing, of writing, in just under 300 pages.
I feel like I've lived through a whole lifetime with Jem.
Obviously, I adored our steadfast, righteous protagonist: quiet, stubborn, bitter, broken, but still wonderful and wonderfully relatable. I was rooting for him from the start, even when he took needlessly stupid risks, even when he was being so pig-headed I wanted to jump into the book and shake him (quitessential amateur sleth behaviour eh?). I kinda guessed where the mystery was leading to, but I think it added to the whole experience: I just sat there with my mounting dread and the slow realisation of what had really happended that fateful, horrible year. Some things still took me by surprise though. So, I sat there both in dread and in awe. I had the time of my life, okay?
Anyway, I won't forget this book anytime soon; I think I might end up re-reading it as soon as my heart settles and I can stop feeling so many feelings. I loved that ending: like I said, it's hopeful but also, immesely bittersweet. Satisfyingly bittersweet though; an end of a painful, horrible era, and the start of something new, something better, something true.
Go and read this book: PLEASE. I need someone to shout and scream at, because wow. Dark academia, a stubborn queer man as a lead, a gripping mystery, an unforgettable cast of characters that will stay with you for a long time: what more can you ask for?
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Full desclaimer, this book is not a romance. It's a mystery, with a queer protagonist, but it's not a romance, although there IS love. Unrequited love, obsessive love, pining love, familial love, platonic love; it has all the spectrum of the emotions you can expect from a cast of seven brilliant, and brilliantly doomed, Oxford students who end inseperable friends thanks to the charisma of their leading man, the uniting force behind their group, one Toby Feynsham, who, like in all mysteries of the dark academia genre, ends murdered in dark, mysterious circumstances on a fateful night their final year at Oxford.
Ten years later, Jeremy Kite, OUR leading man, with his prospects and ambitions ruined, once again adrift because of the repercussions of that fateful night, finally embarks on a journey to discover what went down with Toby, and who's to blame for everything that went wrong after that.
"Death in the Spires" is a quitessential dark academia mystery, and with the added early 20th century setting, it instantly becomes an unforgettable work, maybe even a classic, of the genre: it's clever and brilliant, and KJ Charles writing, with her dry snark, her magical way with words, the sheer beauty of it, makes it even more so.
The Seven Wonders' story is unforgettable: I was literally sucked into their world, and I was so wholly immersed in what was going I managed to reach that end, that painful, bittersweet, yet hopeful (and immensely satisfying) end, without even realising it.
Seeing their life, slowly but surely, splinter and shatter around them from the brilliant first few years together, all of them kings and queens of their little kingdom, to that doomed last year, was like watching a trainwreck in slow motion: the build-up to the disaster, although told through flashbacks and brief timelines shifts, had me on the edge of my seat the whole damned time. Seeing how they went from being inseperable, loyal companions, this gang of seven ready to take on the whole world, to brutal murder and violence, backstabbing vileness and obsessive, possessive love turned sour, had me my heart it overdrive from start to finish.
I won't spoil anything else, but god. I don't think I've ever encountered a character quite like Toby: his character arc was literally the thing of dreams; the way KJ Charles built him, the way she showed the cracks inside him? You can feel the end of the Seven Wonders' golden age coming, yet you're powerless to stop anything; the only thing you can do is read with the same dread and the same bitter, powerless disillusionment Jem and the others go through. I think I mourned alongside them, Jem especially, and it left me feeling both hollowed out and absolutely in awe with what KJ Charles is capable of doing, of writing, in just under 300 pages.
I feel like I've lived through a whole lifetime with Jem.
Obviously, I adored our steadfast, righteous protagonist: quiet, stubborn, bitter, broken, but still wonderful and wonderfully relatable. I was rooting for him from the start, even when he took needlessly stupid risks, even when he was being so pig-headed I wanted to jump into the book and shake him (quitessential amateur sleth behaviour eh?). I kinda guessed where the mystery was leading to, but I think it added to the whole experience: I just sat there with my mounting dread and the slow realisation of what had really happended that fateful, horrible year. Some things still took me by surprise though. So, I sat there both in dread and in awe. I had the time of my life, okay?
Anyway, I won't forget this book anytime soon; I think I might end up re-reading it as soon as my heart settles and I can stop feeling so many feelings. I loved that ending: like I said, it's hopeful but also, immesely bittersweet. Satisfyingly bittersweet though; an end of a painful, horrible era, and the start of something new, something better, something true.
Go and read this book: PLEASE. I need someone to shout and scream at, because wow. Dark academia, a stubborn queer man as a lead, a gripping mystery, an unforgettable cast of characters that will stay with you for a long time: what more can you ask for?
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Misogyny, Bullying, Rape, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Abortion and Suicidal thoughts
The Lemon Drop Kid by Josh Lanyon
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
What a gem. WHAT A GEM.
I think I say this every time I write a review for any of Lanyon's titles, but she's truly one of a kind in the mystery genre. I've loved every single one of her mysteries since I first discovered her "Adrien English" series, and I can honestly say I'll probably love her writing till the day my eyes stop working (and even then, there's still audiobooks right?). She's brilliant, her mysteries are brilliant, her characters are messy AND brilliant, and her romances are just *chef's kiss* brilliantly done.
"The Lemon Drop Kid" is a short, gripping mystery with a dash of second-chance romance (a really complicated, really messy one at that) and a whole lot of betrayal/forgiveness vibes going on that really made me want to simultaneously jump out of the nearest window and jump INTO the book to strangle a certain cop and wrap up Caz in blankets for the horrific hand he's been dealt, and yeah, I was obsessed. I would have totally loved it if the romance has been developed a smidge more, but Josh isn't that kind of writer: the mystery and the MC (usually horrifically unlucky, amateur sleuth-ish, snarky messes a light breeze away from a nervous breakdown; MY kind of protagonist *heart eyes*) are at the front and centre of her books, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Anyway, I loved the mystery to bits. It's gripping and unfair and dark and brillant; and I loved Casper to absolute bits. He's been through a whole lot of pain and trauma, but he still manages to find it in himself to be forgiving and good and, just, absolutely wonderful.
Raleigh on the other hand, is the quintessential Lanyon detective love interest, who has a lot to make up for, with a lot of groveling and a lot of sweet, sweet declarations (will I ever tire of this kind of pairing and love interest? I think not; it scratches my romance brain juuuust right), and again, I even managed to love him by the end. Plus, it's set in a small-town, it's Christmas, and there are dogs: what more could I wish for?
I loved the writing so damn much, and I loved that this novel, despite its Christmas setting and the cute cover and title, was really quite angsty and tough. It gave the story, despite it being quite short, a hefty, complex atmosphere, it gave the characters and their relationship more substance, and it made it seem longer that it actually was. I was completely absorbed.
Again, I loved it.
I can't wait to read what comes next from this author, but in the meantime, I think I might, MIGHT need to do a re-read of a few of her books.
TWS/CWs: suicide/suicidal ideation (mentioned), death, incarceration.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.
I think I say this every time I write a review for any of Lanyon's titles, but she's truly one of a kind in the mystery genre. I've loved every single one of her mysteries since I first discovered her "Adrien English" series, and I can honestly say I'll probably love her writing till the day my eyes stop working (and even then, there's still audiobooks right?). She's brilliant, her mysteries are brilliant, her characters are messy AND brilliant, and her romances are just *chef's kiss* brilliantly done.
"The Lemon Drop Kid" is a short, gripping mystery with a dash of second-chance romance (a really complicated, really messy one at that) and a whole lot of betrayal/forgiveness vibes going on that really made me want to simultaneously jump out of the nearest window and jump INTO the book to strangle a certain cop and wrap up Caz in blankets for the horrific hand he's been dealt, and yeah, I was obsessed. I would have totally loved it if the romance has been developed a smidge more, but Josh isn't that kind of writer: the mystery and the MC (usually horrifically unlucky, amateur sleuth-ish, snarky messes a light breeze away from a nervous breakdown; MY kind of protagonist *heart eyes*) are at the front and centre of her books, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Anyway, I loved the mystery to bits. It's gripping and unfair and dark and brillant; and I loved Casper to absolute bits. He's been through a whole lot of pain and trauma, but he still manages to find it in himself to be forgiving and good and, just, absolutely wonderful.
Raleigh on the other hand, is the quintessential Lanyon detective love interest, who has a lot to make up for, with a lot of groveling and a lot of sweet, sweet declarations (will I ever tire of this kind of pairing and love interest? I think not; it scratches my romance brain juuuust right), and again, I even managed to love him by the end. Plus, it's set in a small-town, it's Christmas, and there are dogs: what more could I wish for?
I loved the writing so damn much, and I loved that this novel, despite its Christmas setting and the cute cover and title, was really quite angsty and tough. It gave the story, despite it being quite short, a hefty, complex atmosphere, it gave the characters and their relationship more substance, and it made it seem longer that it actually was. I was completely absorbed.
Again, I loved it.
I can't wait to read what comes next from this author, but in the meantime, I think I might, MIGHT need to do a re-read of a few of her books.
TWS/CWs: suicide/suicidal ideation (mentioned), death, incarceration.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
A Spooky Legacy by S.E. Harmon
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Where do I start?! I'm really not sure.
This series is one of my absolute favourites. Rain and Danny are one of my most cherished couples, and Rain, especially, he's one of the most iconic protagonists I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I'm so so devastated this will be the last of their adventures, but on the other hand, I was not expecting S.E. Harmon to bless us with it, so I think I'm mainly just so damned happy we got another ride with them.
"A Spooky Legacy" did not disappoint, at all. It's entertaining and gripping, packed with mysteries, murders (and ghosts!), but it's also sweet and romantic and so damned heartfelt that I thought I was going to end up sobbing once or twice (no, I'm kidding; at least a dozen times).
Rain was the same Rain I remembered, snarky and neurotic and full of contradictions, a walking, talking murder magnet, but he's also slowly becoming the better version of himself. I love a good 'ol character arc, and his in particular was absolutely unforgettable. He's one of the best characters out there, and I'm already looking forward to re-reading these books from the start.
I also love a romance that manages to still feel as thrilling, as toe-curling, as when the love interests first get together; but I especially love it when said romance also manages to grow and flourish and become even better, even sweeter, even more satisfying. Rain and Danny have both been put through the wringer in this series, but their love has always come out stronger and better; and in this one, they're more in love than ever. They fight and grapple with insecurities and misunderstandings, but they know they can count on one another, and that theirs is a soulmate kind of love. I'm so damned happy with how thier second-chance romance turned out: it's been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, steam and love, and I'm so satisfied with their HEA.
The mystery here was absolutely gripping: it's dark and painful and complex and haunting, and those last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat the whole damn time. I love this series because while there's a paranormal edge to it, the mystery and the romance are both pretty much the heart of all the stories the author has weaved together here. The ghosts were pretty much entertaining though; and that final twist? Talk about fate.
I loved the mystery, and I adored all the side characters: from Rain's parents to Dakota and all of Rain and Danny's co-workers.
I loved the writing; S.E. Harmon is SUCH a gifted writer, and the way humour is perfectly blended in with the angst and the heartfelt? Absolutely wonderful.
I'm so not ready to say goodbye to Rain; but I'm already excited to start a re-read as soon as I can manage. I read those first books quite a few years back (and another thing I appreciate about S.E. Harmon, is the fact that she's a master at not making a reader feel lost, even when they've forgotten quite a few plot elements and characters), and I'm so looking forward to re-discovering these books again.
In the meantime: if you love mysteries with a smidge of paranormal, second-chance romances that take the bitter animosity and transform it into soulmate love, wonderful character arcs and a MCs who's as snarky as he is unlucky, go and read this series. It's a MUST for all fans of the genre.
TWs/CWs: domestic abuse (secondary characters), death, kidnapping, violence.
Thank you GRR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
This series is one of my absolute favourites. Rain and Danny are one of my most cherished couples, and Rain, especially, he's one of the most iconic protagonists I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I'm so so devastated this will be the last of their adventures, but on the other hand, I was not expecting S.E. Harmon to bless us with it, so I think I'm mainly just so damned happy we got another ride with them.
"A Spooky Legacy" did not disappoint, at all. It's entertaining and gripping, packed with mysteries, murders (and ghosts!), but it's also sweet and romantic and so damned heartfelt that I thought I was going to end up sobbing once or twice (no, I'm kidding; at least a dozen times).
Rain was the same Rain I remembered, snarky and neurotic and full of contradictions, a walking, talking murder magnet, but he's also slowly becoming the better version of himself. I love a good 'ol character arc, and his in particular was absolutely unforgettable. He's one of the best characters out there, and I'm already looking forward to re-reading these books from the start.
I also love a romance that manages to still feel as thrilling, as toe-curling, as when the love interests first get together; but I especially love it when said romance also manages to grow and flourish and become even better, even sweeter, even more satisfying. Rain and Danny have both been put through the wringer in this series, but their love has always come out stronger and better; and in this one, they're more in love than ever. They fight and grapple with insecurities and misunderstandings, but they know they can count on one another, and that theirs is a soulmate kind of love. I'm so damned happy with how thier second-chance romance turned out: it's been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, steam and love, and I'm so satisfied with their HEA.
The mystery here was absolutely gripping: it's dark and painful and complex and haunting, and those last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat the whole damn time. I love this series because while there's a paranormal edge to it, the mystery and the romance are both pretty much the heart of all the stories the author has weaved together here. The ghosts were pretty much entertaining though; and that final twist? Talk about fate.
I loved the mystery, and I adored all the side characters: from Rain's parents to Dakota and all of Rain and Danny's co-workers.
I loved the writing; S.E. Harmon is SUCH a gifted writer, and the way humour is perfectly blended in with the angst and the heartfelt? Absolutely wonderful.
I'm so not ready to say goodbye to Rain; but I'm already excited to start a re-read as soon as I can manage. I read those first books quite a few years back (and another thing I appreciate about S.E. Harmon, is the fact that she's a master at not making a reader feel lost, even when they've forgotten quite a few plot elements and characters), and I'm so looking forward to re-discovering these books again.
In the meantime: if you love mysteries with a smidge of paranormal, second-chance romances that take the bitter animosity and transform it into soulmate love, wonderful character arcs and a MCs who's as snarky as he is unlucky, go and read this series. It's a MUST for all fans of the genre.
TWs/CWs: domestic abuse (secondary characters), death, kidnapping, violence.
Thank you GRR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Homophobia
How To Train Your Human Omega by Arden Fox
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a lovely book!
"How to Train Your Human Omega" is Arden Fox's debut, and what a debut.
I absolutely adored this alien-packed, chemestry-fueled romance, from start to finish. It's entertating and fairly bonkers at times, steamy and light-hearted and sweet, but it also manages to fool you into thinking it's all fun and games, and then it delivers a gut-punch, or twenty, and leaves you clutching your heart because of The Feels™.
I loved Clay and Arcay as protagonists so much! Both of them are oblivious, himbo fools, they literally share one braincell, and I absolutely loved it for them. Talk about a match made in heaven eh? Jokes aside, they're also well-developed characters, with flaws and fears and all the pesky emotions that make them both wholly relatable.
Both of them are ridiculously stubborn, but while Clay lashes out in anger and then runs, Arcay's the master truth-omitter. Like I said, a match made in heaven; not only do they both make mistakes, but they also learn from them. Seeing Arcay change his behaviour, by understanding human traditions and slowly learning that Clay's no helpless damsel, was everything; and seeing Clay slowly learning to trust Arcay, by curbing his automatic flight-or-fight, no-commitments, MO, was everything too.
I loved their character development, and I loved their romance. It's packed with chemistry from the start, and it's also tinged with a delicious non-con, slightly Stockholm Syndrome-ish (or sugar baby-ish? LOL) vibe, and their relationship absolutely flourishes throughout the entire novel. I love watching a relationship tinged with animosity and misunderstandings bloom through trust and care, and this one was no exception. I never wanted to leave this novel.
The writing was fabulous: witty, lovely and it flowed like a dream. I loved the world-building, but I'm sooooo hoping we will have a better understanding of it in the next novel. The Aldar society is fascinating and intriguing, and I also really hope we'll get a bit more omegaverse aspects in the next one.
I'm so looking forward to it!
TWs/CWs: attempted rape (on page, not between MCs), kidnapping, injury, vague suicide ideation.
Thank you GRR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.
"How to Train Your Human Omega" is Arden Fox's debut, and what a debut.
I absolutely adored this alien-packed, chemestry-fueled romance, from start to finish. It's entertating and fairly bonkers at times, steamy and light-hearted and sweet, but it also manages to fool you into thinking it's all fun and games, and then it delivers a gut-punch, or twenty, and leaves you clutching your heart because of The Feels™.
I loved Clay and Arcay as protagonists so much! Both of them are oblivious, himbo fools, they literally share one braincell, and I absolutely loved it for them. Talk about a match made in heaven eh? Jokes aside, they're also well-developed characters, with flaws and fears and all the pesky emotions that make them both wholly relatable.
Both of them are ridiculously stubborn, but while Clay lashes out in anger and then runs, Arcay's the master truth-omitter. Like I said, a match made in heaven; not only do they both make mistakes, but they also learn from them. Seeing Arcay change his behaviour, by understanding human traditions and slowly learning that Clay's no helpless damsel, was everything; and seeing Clay slowly learning to trust Arcay, by curbing his automatic flight-or-fight, no-commitments, MO, was everything too.
I loved their character development, and I loved their romance. It's packed with chemistry from the start, and it's also tinged with a delicious non-con, slightly Stockholm Syndrome-ish (or sugar baby-ish? LOL) vibe, and their relationship absolutely flourishes throughout the entire novel. I love watching a relationship tinged with animosity and misunderstandings bloom through trust and care, and this one was no exception. I never wanted to leave this novel.
The writing was fabulous: witty, lovely and it flowed like a dream. I loved the world-building, but I'm sooooo hoping we will have a better understanding of it in the next novel. The Aldar society is fascinating and intriguing, and I also really hope we'll get a bit more omegaverse aspects in the next one.
I'm so looking forward to it!
TWs/CWs: attempted rape (on page, not between MCs), kidnapping, injury, vague suicide ideation.
Thank you GRR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
For Real by Alexis Hall
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
< He’s got good hands. Because, frankly, he’s got good everything. They’re strong and blunt and very, very steady. Except, sometimes, when they’re really not. And that’s a wild thrill all by itself. I know so little about this man, but I know he unravels hands first. >
What a quote eh? Alexis Hall has a way with words.
This was the quote that made me think "yep, I'm going to adore this book."
I spoke too soon.
I am genuinely shocked I didn't love this as much as I hoped.
I'm also absolutely devastated too.
I can't believe I didn't love this: I don't know what went wrong, but I didn't.
I was so certain this book was going to be my favourite out of the Spires novels: BDSM, older, jaded sub finding himself again at the hands of a younger, unexperienced, Dom, age gap, a bit of an opposites attract, AND the Spires's universe brand of angst and emotional gut-punches? I was so certain I was going to adore it.
I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to say in this review. I keep thinking about how to word this, but it seems like I'm one of the few readers that couldn't manage to connect with this novel.
Mind you, I did enjoy it, and I even loved bits of it.
For one, I adored Laurie: give me all the jaded, afraid, lost men who hide their vulnerable hearts behind a cold façade. ALSO, subs at that? I love that kind of juxtaposition: I swear I could read hundreds of BDSM novels with this premise and I'd never tire. I adored bits of Laurie and Toby's dynamic too: most (most!) of their BDSM scenes together were wonderful, and I enjoyed the hell out of slowly witnissing their kinky relationship flourish. Those last few chapters, where everything comes to a heed? I loved that.
I also loved all the side characters to bits: from Grace and the mysterious Jasper (is there a novel about him?) to Dom-the-Dom; the small glimpses we get of the previous MCs gave me so much joy.
Apart from that, I wasn't feeling much of anything. I skimmed quite a lot, mainly Toby's POVs (@Toby enthusiasts, please don't hate me!!!!); the writing in those left me feeling lukewarm.
I really liked the kink dynamic between Laurie and Toby (like I said, younger Dom/older sub is my jam), but I wasn't feeling their romance, like at all? Outside the kink, I didn't buy the affection and love between them, I think. I'm so sad to be saying this, because I know LOTS of people adore this novel, but there was something not credible about their relationship that made me quite suddenly "leave" the novel, and I just could not, for the life of me, get back inside it. Maybe it was the fact that Toby isn't very Dom-like most of the time, and on the one hand, it's refreshing to see (you can be a Dom, and you can cry and be insecure, and whatnot) but on the other, it just added to the "I don't buy this" factor. I kind of feel cheated on that aspect? I don't know. Like I said, I loved most of the kink scenes, but even there, there was something at times that kept pulling me out of the novel. Plus, I wasn't the biggest Toby fan.
I think maybe I was expecting something different, or maybe it was the fact that "For Real" didn't feel like a Spires novel to me. It didn't make me feel much of anything, unlike "Glitterland" and "Waiting for the Flood" (two of my favourite novels of the past few months, and my favourite Alexis Hall romances to date). Something was off. Maybe it was me, who knows? But I'm still so damned devastated. I jumped into this book with giddy enthusiasm, and now I don't know what to do with this disappointment.
But oh well, better luck next time?
I still enjoyed bits of this, and I'm still looking forward to the rest of the Spires novels.
Long time fans of "For Real" will absolutely ADORE Alexis Hall's footnotes at the end of the book, I'm sure. It offered special insight into this book, its characters, and the whole of the Spires universe, so I'd totally recommend getting your hands on it.
As for the rest, I'd still recommend this book because it's part of a wonderful series (seriously, "Glitterland" and "Waiting for the Flood" OWN my heart), and who knows, you might, hopefully, love it more than me.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a quote eh? Alexis Hall has a way with words.
This was the quote that made me think "yep, I'm going to adore this book."
I spoke too soon.
I am genuinely shocked I didn't love this as much as I hoped.
I'm also absolutely devastated too.
I can't believe I didn't love this: I don't know what went wrong, but I didn't.
I was so certain this book was going to be my favourite out of the Spires novels: BDSM, older, jaded sub finding himself again at the hands of a younger, unexperienced, Dom, age gap, a bit of an opposites attract, AND the Spires's universe brand of angst and emotional gut-punches? I was so certain I was going to adore it.
I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to say in this review. I keep thinking about how to word this, but it seems like I'm one of the few readers that couldn't manage to connect with this novel.
Mind you, I did enjoy it, and I even loved bits of it.
For one, I adored Laurie: give me all the jaded, afraid, lost men who hide their vulnerable hearts behind a cold façade. ALSO, subs at that? I love that kind of juxtaposition: I swear I could read hundreds of BDSM novels with this premise and I'd never tire. I adored bits of Laurie and Toby's dynamic too: most (most!) of their BDSM scenes together were wonderful, and I enjoyed the hell out of slowly witnissing their kinky relationship flourish. Those last few chapters, where everything comes to a heed? I loved that.
I also loved all the side characters to bits: from Grace and the mysterious Jasper (is there a novel about him?) to Dom-the-Dom; the small glimpses we get of the previous MCs gave me so much joy.
Apart from that, I wasn't feeling much of anything. I skimmed quite a lot, mainly Toby's POVs (@Toby enthusiasts, please don't hate me!!!!); the writing in those left me feeling lukewarm.
I really liked the kink dynamic between Laurie and Toby (like I said, younger Dom/older sub is my jam), but I wasn't feeling their romance, like at all? Outside the kink, I didn't buy the affection and love between them, I think. I'm so sad to be saying this, because I know LOTS of people adore this novel, but there was something not credible about their relationship that made me quite suddenly "leave" the novel, and I just could not, for the life of me, get back inside it. Maybe it was the fact that Toby isn't very Dom-like most of the time, and on the one hand, it's refreshing to see (you can be a Dom, and you can cry and be insecure, and whatnot) but on the other, it just added to the "I don't buy this" factor. I kind of feel cheated on that aspect? I don't know. Like I said, I loved most of the kink scenes, but even there, there was something at times that kept pulling me out of the novel. Plus, I wasn't the biggest Toby fan.
I think maybe I was expecting something different, or maybe it was the fact that "For Real" didn't feel like a Spires novel to me. It didn't make me feel much of anything, unlike "Glitterland" and "Waiting for the Flood" (two of my favourite novels of the past few months, and my favourite Alexis Hall romances to date). Something was off. Maybe it was me, who knows? But I'm still so damned devastated. I jumped into this book with giddy enthusiasm, and now I don't know what to do with this disappointment.
But oh well, better luck next time?
I still enjoyed bits of this, and I'm still looking forward to the rest of the Spires novels.
Long time fans of "For Real" will absolutely ADORE Alexis Hall's footnotes at the end of the book, I'm sure. It offered special insight into this book, its characters, and the whole of the Spires universe, so I'd totally recommend getting your hands on it.
As for the rest, I'd still recommend this book because it's part of a wonderful series (seriously, "Glitterland" and "Waiting for the Flood" OWN my heart), and who knows, you might, hopefully, love it more than me.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sicken of the Calm by Marina Vivancos
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Cute, steamy, sweeet; the perfect kink awakening and coming of age story wrapped in one.
I'm usually not the biggest fan of new adult/university set stories because I've pretty much outgrown that phase of my life, but Marina Vivancos could write a shopping list and I'd binge read it (and re-read it) asap.
Joaquin and Ezra's story was damned lovely, and I adored seeing their relationship progress. The kink aspects were sooooo well done, and I loved seeing the communication-and-trust-is-key side of a D/s relationship that's usually so overlooked in many contemporary romances where the kink is just chucked in there for steam points. Also, I loved that both of them were so aware of how much they still had to learn about their relationship! Gimme all the imperfect, work-in-progress romances.
The writing was a smidge too flowery at times, and some chapters could have probably been skipped altogether, but all in all, I adored this, and I'm excited to read book two. This is the year I'll finally read Marina's entire backlist, I know it
I'm usually not the biggest fan of new adult/university set stories because I've pretty much outgrown that phase of my life, but Marina Vivancos could write a shopping list and I'd binge read it (and re-read it) asap.
Joaquin and Ezra's story was damned lovely, and I adored seeing their relationship progress. The kink aspects were sooooo well done, and I loved seeing the communication-and-trust-is-key side of a D/s relationship that's usually so overlooked in many contemporary romances where the kink is just chucked in there for steam points. Also, I loved that both of them were so aware of how much they still had to learn about their relationship! Gimme all the imperfect, work-in-progress romances.
The writing was a smidge too flowery at times, and some chapters could have probably been skipped altogether, but all in all, I adored this, and I'm excited to read book two. This is the year I'll finally read Marina's entire backlist, I know it
Prince of Agony by Tavia Lark
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
"Prince of Agony" might be my favourite Tavia Lark romance to date. I loved it with my whole damn heart and soul.
I've been (im)patiently waiting for Kazia's book since the very first time he appears on page as a cruel, chaotic, spoiled prince with a wall around his heart a mile wide and a thousand different masks. We all knew he was hiding something, probably something painful, but let me tell you, my heart was not ready. Prince of agony, indeed.
And Lucien! He's been one of my favourites since Whisper and Julien's book, and I was sooooooo looking forward to getting to know him better.
And my expectations were not only met, they were surpassed. I think I say this every time I review one of Tavia's books, but her writing and her characters are MADE for me: everything she writes is a dream come true, and every new book of hers leaves me even more in awe. Her latest release is absolute perfection: it's entertaining and ridiculously easy to inhale, it's fun and subtly snarky, it's steamy and sweet and lovely and romantic, and it also captures your heart and then crushes it into smithereens. I cherished every single second I got to spend inside Kazia and Lucien's head: I never wanted to leave.
Their romance left me breathless and swooning: their dynamic was literal perfection, and seeing them start to slowly care for each other, protecting each other in such small but meaningful ways, despite them being on opposites sides of a war (and despite Lucien's captivity in Draskora) was such a treat, a joy to witness. Slow burn deliciousness with a side of enemies to lovers and reluctant attraction, the snarky sunshine/grumpy brat pairing of my dreams, with the sunshine being a meddling protector type and the grump being the touch-starved, tightly wound type.
Both of them are SUCH chaos gremlins though: they literally thrive on being menaces, and can't follow a plan to save their lives. I loved them.
< “How exactly did you plan on doing this without me?”
“I was just going to blow things up,” Lucien admits.
Kazia shrugs. “I was just going to make Lucien blow things up.” >
This quote is so ✨them✨
Lucien and Kazia are WONDERFUL protagonists. Maybe my favourite of Tavia Lark's to date. They both have hidden wounds and secret hurts, and seeing them slowly build a relationship between them, from distrust and reluctance to helpless attraction and affection, the sheer need to take care of one another, to be their own two-person army against the whole world, was absolutely wonderful.
I may have developed a HUGE crush on Lucien: I loved him before to be fair, but now I'd literally jump from a window if he said so. Fierce and snarky and chaotic, attentive and careful and far more insightful than I (and Kazia) gave him credit for. He's absolutely wonderful, and I adored him so much. And Kazia! God, that man is a walking contradiction: he's ruthless and cruel, but out of necessity. He's petty incarnate, but he's also touch-starved and so damned innocent and sweet at times, and seeing his walls come crumbling down from Lucien's persistent, yet careful, brand of care was beyond satisfying and it made me nearly tear up. The build-up to their relationship and their HEA was absolutely brilliant, and I already can't wait to re-read their story.
< “Marek’s a softy, though, based on how he treats his husband. Just act cute and ask for help, and he’ll crack.”
Cuddling his rat, Kazia gives a confused frown. “I don’t know how to act cute.”
Lucien grins. “You’re always cute, brat. It’ll be easy.” >
*SWOONS*
The plot is complex and compelling, the world-building simple yet unforgettable and mesmerizing, and the writing was so damned gorgeous, and it made me feel like I was there with them both, and all the other unforgettable side characters. It was so lovely to see some well-known characters again, and to meet new ones too: Tezurit deserves a special mention. She's as sassy and chaotic as her bonded rider.
I can't believe this series is done, I'll miss this world so much. The ending was perfect though, and I'm so satisfied with how everything turned out.
I'm so excited for the next Tavia Lark masterpiece, but in the meantime, I might have to read her books once or two dozen times.
TWs/CWs: child abuse, torture, violence, death.
I've been (im)patiently waiting for Kazia's book since the very first time he appears on page as a cruel, chaotic, spoiled prince with a wall around his heart a mile wide and a thousand different masks. We all knew he was hiding something, probably something painful, but let me tell you, my heart was not ready. Prince of agony, indeed.
And Lucien! He's been one of my favourites since Whisper and Julien's book, and I was sooooooo looking forward to getting to know him better.
And my expectations were not only met, they were surpassed. I think I say this every time I review one of Tavia's books, but her writing and her characters are MADE for me: everything she writes is a dream come true, and every new book of hers leaves me even more in awe. Her latest release is absolute perfection: it's entertaining and ridiculously easy to inhale, it's fun and subtly snarky, it's steamy and sweet and lovely and romantic, and it also captures your heart and then crushes it into smithereens. I cherished every single second I got to spend inside Kazia and Lucien's head: I never wanted to leave.
Their romance left me breathless and swooning: their dynamic was literal perfection, and seeing them start to slowly care for each other, protecting each other in such small but meaningful ways, despite them being on opposites sides of a war (and despite Lucien's captivity in Draskora) was such a treat, a joy to witness. Slow burn deliciousness with a side of enemies to lovers and reluctant attraction, the snarky sunshine/grumpy brat pairing of my dreams, with the sunshine being a meddling protector type and the grump being the touch-starved, tightly wound type.
Both of them are SUCH chaos gremlins though: they literally thrive on being menaces, and can't follow a plan to save their lives. I loved them.
< “How exactly did you plan on doing this without me?”
“I was just going to blow things up,” Lucien admits.
Kazia shrugs. “I was just going to make Lucien blow things up.” >
This quote is so ✨them✨
Lucien and Kazia are WONDERFUL protagonists. Maybe my favourite of Tavia Lark's to date. They both have hidden wounds and secret hurts, and seeing them slowly build a relationship between them, from distrust and reluctance to helpless attraction and affection, the sheer need to take care of one another, to be their own two-person army against the whole world, was absolutely wonderful.
I may have developed a HUGE crush on Lucien: I loved him before to be fair, but now I'd literally jump from a window if he said so. Fierce and snarky and chaotic, attentive and careful and far more insightful than I (and Kazia) gave him credit for. He's absolutely wonderful, and I adored him so much. And Kazia! God, that man is a walking contradiction: he's ruthless and cruel, but out of necessity. He's petty incarnate, but he's also touch-starved and so damned innocent and sweet at times, and seeing his walls come crumbling down from Lucien's persistent, yet careful, brand of care was beyond satisfying and it made me nearly tear up. The build-up to their relationship and their HEA was absolutely brilliant, and I already can't wait to re-read their story.
< “Marek’s a softy, though, based on how he treats his husband. Just act cute and ask for help, and he’ll crack.”
Cuddling his rat, Kazia gives a confused frown. “I don’t know how to act cute.”
Lucien grins. “You’re always cute, brat. It’ll be easy.” >
*SWOONS*
The plot is complex and compelling, the world-building simple yet unforgettable and mesmerizing, and the writing was so damned gorgeous, and it made me feel like I was there with them both, and all the other unforgettable side characters. It was so lovely to see some well-known characters again, and to meet new ones too: Tezurit deserves a special mention. She's as sassy and chaotic as her bonded rider.
I can't believe this series is done, I'll miss this world so much. The ending was perfect though, and I'm so satisfied with how everything turned out.
I'm so excited for the next Tavia Lark masterpiece, but in the meantime, I might have to read her books once or two dozen times.
TWs/CWs: child abuse, torture, violence, death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Torture
Moderate: Death and Violence
Villain and the geek 2 by L.C. Davis, Joel Abernathy
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Very, very cute and lighthearted!
Not as funny and iconic as Brad's story arc, but these books and the author's writing are ridiculously enjoyable and once again, I devoured this installment. Devon and Costantine's romance is great: a smidge of push and pull, a smidge of rejected mate trope (now that's my jammmm), a fair bit of steam, and a lot of heart. Devon's a lovely protagonist, and a highly relatable one at that, and Costantine, despite me wanting to hit him his head with a blunt object or two, is delicious. I'm still expecting a good ol' grovel though.
I can't believe the next one will be the last though! I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world.
Not as funny and iconic as Brad's story arc, but these books and the author's writing are ridiculously enjoyable and once again, I devoured this installment. Devon and Costantine's romance is great: a smidge of push and pull, a smidge of rejected mate trope (now that's my jammmm), a fair bit of steam, and a lot of heart. Devon's a lovely protagonist, and a highly relatable one at that, and Costantine, despite me wanting to hit him his head with a blunt object or two, is delicious. I'm still expecting a good ol' grovel though.
I can't believe the next one will be the last though! I'm not ready to say goodbye to this world.