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betwixt_the_pages's reviews
936 reviews
The Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson
5.0
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: why do you have to hurt me so, books?!; painfully exquisite ending to a beautiful duology; I think Tade Thompson just might be a new favorite author for me; this was wrapped up so, so gorgeously; once again, I have not the words
There's just something about a gorgeously crafted duology that gets me all SWOONY, Penguins! And this duology? Was fanTASTic from start to finish. I can't even.
This character...this story....will crawl beneath your fingernails, claw beneath your skin, and seek shelter in your veins. This will stick with you. This will HAUNT you, until the very end, and for a while after. If I were to scoop a piece of my heart out of my chest this second, MONTHS after having finished this duology....it would be riddled by this journey. There's an altering, a changing, that happens while reading, that I would never wish to go back on.
Again, the prose was poetic and gorgeous. There is a ghostly, phantasmic quality to the pages that leaves readers feeling almost dreamlike--as if they're just on the verge of awakening, and are still quite foggy with sleep, and don't quite yet know what is real. This is coupled with the horror of the story, the riddle of the ending. Tade Thompson knows how to weave a story in all the BEST ways--and he does so prominently with this duology.
If you're looking for a paranormal, unique, DEEP read....check out this series. Dive into these pages, dive into this character, and let her take you over. Because she will. By the end, you'll wonder if mayhaps you're just another molly, seeking out the answer to your life. As for me...this will be the series that I compare all the next reads to. I cannot WAIT to hear what you all think of Molly Southbourne, and the mollys.
Quick Reasons: why do you have to hurt me so, books?!; painfully exquisite ending to a beautiful duology; I think Tade Thompson just might be a new favorite author for me; this was wrapped up so, so gorgeously; once again, I have not the words
There's just something about a gorgeously crafted duology that gets me all SWOONY, Penguins! And this duology? Was fanTASTic from start to finish. I can't even.
This character...this story....will crawl beneath your fingernails, claw beneath your skin, and seek shelter in your veins. This will stick with you. This will HAUNT you, until the very end, and for a while after. If I were to scoop a piece of my heart out of my chest this second, MONTHS after having finished this duology....it would be riddled by this journey. There's an altering, a changing, that happens while reading, that I would never wish to go back on.
I suppose I killed enough mollys to warrant a haunting, but I don’t believe in ghosts, and I hate problems that I cannot punch into submission.
Again, the prose was poetic and gorgeous. There is a ghostly, phantasmic quality to the pages that leaves readers feeling almost dreamlike--as if they're just on the verge of awakening, and are still quite foggy with sleep, and don't quite yet know what is real. This is coupled with the horror of the story, the riddle of the ending. Tade Thompson knows how to weave a story in all the BEST ways--and he does so prominently with this duology.
If you're looking for a paranormal, unique, DEEP read....check out this series. Dive into these pages, dive into this character, and let her take you over. Because she will. By the end, you'll wonder if mayhaps you're just another molly, seeking out the answer to your life. As for me...this will be the series that I compare all the next reads to. I cannot WAIT to hear what you all think of Molly Southbourne, and the mollys.
Cress by Marissa Meyer
5.0
In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: drama, action, romance, suspense! this book has a little bit of everything; kickass characters; spectacular character growths; intriguing introduction of new plot points/plague elements to further the sub story; emotionally charged, heart-wrenching scenes
Being the third book in a series, there's not a LOT I can say about this book without breaching the “spoilers” line and betraying any readers who haven't gotten the chance to pick this series/this book up yet. I promise I'll do my best to keep this utterly spoiler free; if I fail, you have permission to douse me with glue, cover me with silver glitter, and call me Edward Cullen. (Wait... that's a totally different book! Oh well, too late now to take it back.)
Now, I listened to this via audiobook. I decided not long ago that I wanted to at least TRY audiobooks sometimes, when I wasn't in the mood to actually read but still wanted to “read.” I started this one sort of spur of the moment...and absolutely fell in love! The narrator, Rebecca Soler (who I guess also did the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series) went to a lot of trouble to make each character unique, easy to tell apart, and personable. She put a lot of extra depth to them just with her voice, which really helped to bring this story to life for me. So if you're considering audiobooks and this read is on your list, you should definitely give it a shot—I was thoroughly entertained!
That being said, let's move on to the actual review, yes?
The characters REALLY leapt to life for me in this book. Where I was a bit disappointed overall in the characters/their motivations/their interactions in Scarlet, this addition more than made up for it. Marissa Meyer is QUEEN at writing snarky dialogue and emotionally charged scenes, and I was kept on my toes the entire read—anticipating, hoping, squealing, or flushing from exasperation. Each character brought his or her own flair to this story, spinning and weaving it into a masterful journey of suspense, action, humor and (at times) romantic intrigue.
The prose is well-done, the dialogue is entirely realistic and ALWAYS entertaining. I giggled aloud more than several times, especially during scenes involving Cress (my favorite, I think, of them all) and Thorne (these two just... gah, the feels. All the feels, all the time). They're just so freaking snarky and innocent and... I had secondhand embarrasment more than once. We also get a hint of mystery in our newest character addition—I have to admit, I can't wait to see what book four brings! The plot is action-packed, the pace hardly ever slows down; it's a gut-churning adventure, with more than a few surprising twists to keep readers on the edges of their seats!
I really, really enjoyed this read, and would definitely recommend the series to lovers of fairy tale retellings, space and cyborgs, and uniquely crafted worlds! I can't wait to see what book four brings to the table!
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: drama, action, romance, suspense! this book has a little bit of everything; kickass characters; spectacular character growths; intriguing introduction of new plot points/plague elements to further the sub story; emotionally charged, heart-wrenching scenes
Being the third book in a series, there's not a LOT I can say about this book without breaching the “spoilers” line and betraying any readers who haven't gotten the chance to pick this series/this book up yet. I promise I'll do my best to keep this utterly spoiler free; if I fail, you have permission to douse me with glue, cover me with silver glitter, and call me Edward Cullen. (Wait... that's a totally different book! Oh well, too late now to take it back.)
A laugh came from the cockpit and Thorne appeared in the doorway, strapping a gun holster around his waist. "You're asking the cyborg fugitive and the wild animal to be the welcoming committee? That's adorable."
Now, I listened to this via audiobook. I decided not long ago that I wanted to at least TRY audiobooks sometimes, when I wasn't in the mood to actually read but still wanted to “read.” I started this one sort of spur of the moment...and absolutely fell in love! The narrator, Rebecca Soler (who I guess also did the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series) went to a lot of trouble to make each character unique, easy to tell apart, and personable. She put a lot of extra depth to them just with her voice, which really helped to bring this story to life for me. So if you're considering audiobooks and this read is on your list, you should definitely give it a shot—I was thoroughly entertained!
That being said, let's move on to the actual review, yes?
“But you're a prisoner," said Thorne.
"I prefer damsel in distress," she murmured.
One side of Thorne's mouth quirked up, into that perfect half smile he'd had in his graduation photo. A look that was a little bit devious, and all sorts of charming.
Cress's heart stopped, but if they noticed her melting into her chair, they didn't say anything.
The characters REALLY leapt to life for me in this book. Where I was a bit disappointed overall in the characters/their motivations/their interactions in Scarlet, this addition more than made up for it. Marissa Meyer is QUEEN at writing snarky dialogue and emotionally charged scenes, and I was kept on my toes the entire read—anticipating, hoping, squealing, or flushing from exasperation. Each character brought his or her own flair to this story, spinning and weaving it into a masterful journey of suspense, action, humor and (at times) romantic intrigue.
The prose is well-done, the dialogue is entirely realistic and ALWAYS entertaining. I giggled aloud more than several times, especially during scenes involving Cress (my favorite, I think, of them all) and Thorne (these two just... gah, the feels. All the feels, all the time). They're just so freaking snarky and innocent and... I had secondhand embarrasment more than once. We also get a hint of mystery in our newest character addition—I have to admit, I can't wait to see what book four brings! The plot is action-packed, the pace hardly ever slows down; it's a gut-churning adventure, with more than a few surprising twists to keep readers on the edges of their seats!
Her satellite made one full orbit around Planet Earth every sixteen hours. It was a prison that came with an endlessly breathtaking view— vast blue oceans and swirling clouds and sunrises that set half the world on fire.
I really, really enjoyed this read, and would definitely recommend the series to lovers of fairy tale retellings, space and cyborgs, and uniquely crafted worlds! I can't wait to see what book four brings to the table!
Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
4.0
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: I have SO many questions that remain unanswered; paranormal and poetic; spooky in the way it makes you think and LEAVES you thinking; where does the line that defines "humanity" get drawn?
There is something beautifully otherworldly about this read that had me both breathless and fulfilled all in one. Nnedi Okorafor wove a gorgeous expose on humanity--where it stops, where it ends, and where it's all just people.
She pursued the seed around Northern rural Ghana, never telling anyone why she went where she went, moving about with earned and justified entitlement, listening for word of the seed in a box and allowing others to wrap her in the mythology of a spirit. People whispered things like, "She's the adopted child of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one if its own." There was truth in every single one of the stories.
The prose is poetic and rife with wonderment. How? Why? When? These questions, among so many others, kept rampaging through my head as I followed Sankofa through the world. There were very few answers to find at the end....but the question marks, the opening to interpretation, made this read all the more delicious. "Reality" and "science fiction" made this read a ticking timebomb, always counting down to the flashbang, the big revelation, the ending. Normally, being left bereft of answers and still seeking might have annoyed me...with this read, I found it strangely fitting.
" I am The Adopted Daughter of Death," Sankofa told the vulture. "You are just a bird of death. Fly away. Or walk if you prefer. Just leave me."
I definitely recommend this read if you're a fan of sci-fi, being left to make your own interpretations, and otherworldly prose. Humanity is awe-inspiring, beautiful, and fleeting; these characters will hurt and heal you in turn. Are you ready to face the future?
Quick Reasons: I have SO many questions that remain unanswered; paranormal and poetic; spooky in the way it makes you think and LEAVES you thinking; where does the line that defines "humanity" get drawn?
There is something beautifully otherworldly about this read that had me both breathless and fulfilled all in one. Nnedi Okorafor wove a gorgeous expose on humanity--where it stops, where it ends, and where it's all just people.
She pursued the seed around Northern rural Ghana, never telling anyone why she went where she went, moving about with earned and justified entitlement, listening for word of the seed in a box and allowing others to wrap her in the mythology of a spirit. People whispered things like, "She's the adopted child of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one if its own." There was truth in every single one of the stories.
The prose is poetic and rife with wonderment. How? Why? When? These questions, among so many others, kept rampaging through my head as I followed Sankofa through the world. There were very few answers to find at the end....but the question marks, the opening to interpretation, made this read all the more delicious. "Reality" and "science fiction" made this read a ticking timebomb, always counting down to the flashbang, the big revelation, the ending. Normally, being left bereft of answers and still seeking might have annoyed me...with this read, I found it strangely fitting.
" I am The Adopted Daughter of Death," Sankofa told the vulture. "You are just a bird of death. Fly away. Or walk if you prefer. Just leave me."
I definitely recommend this read if you're a fan of sci-fi, being left to make your own interpretations, and otherworldly prose. Humanity is awe-inspiring, beautiful, and fleeting; these characters will hurt and heal you in turn. Are you ready to face the future?
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
3.0
Rating: 3.5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: why are all the adults in this book so awful?!; campy horror that plays with the idea of the "final girl" trope; surprising ending coupled with a SURPRISING ending; fun, quick read that I couldn't put down
I picked this book up because: 1. it was on special on Kindle; 2. that title was intriguing; 3. it's SPOOKY SEASON, y'all! And I'm so glad that I did. I had a great time diving into this read and trying to "peer around the corners" at where the author was leading us. Turns out, even I, who have seen too many horror flicks and tend to know what's in store for our characters...even I got caught off guard a couple times through this journey. And I LOVE that I was kept guessing!
I found myself wondering, about halfway through, how it was that all these characters were just...left to fend for themselves. Turns out, all the adults in this book are, somehow?! total trash. I'm not sure how that happened, honestly... you would think there would be at least 1 adult in this novel who would not be absolute garbage. Maybe Grandma...we only got a small snippet from her, so I suppose she gets a pass, but then, she wasn't really a MAIN. This bothered me most about this book, I think--I could only suspend my disbelief so far, but having grown up in a small town that is admittedly a bit backwards in most ways...maybe I'm biased in that regard. Or out of touch. Still, the friendship between the characters, and the love between Charity and Bezi, was relatable, realistic, and endearing.
Now, in this situation, horror films tell us that the final girl might go ahead and enter the community showers, disrobe, and then barely escape a masked killer as she slips around butt naked in the bathroom. However, I only play a final girl at Camp Mirror Lake; I don't actually want to be one. I turn my Black ass right around and book it back to my cabin, where I close and lock the door. For now, my face full of fake blood is going to stay just the way it is.
Either way, this was a quick, fun read filled with twists and turns I didn't always see coming. The final girl trope was well-done: not TOO overdone, not too underwhelming. And in true horror fashion, the ending you THOUGHT was going to fade to black...ended up not really being the ending, after all. Because there's always got to be a final cut-scene.
If you're a fan of horror and horror tropes, and you're looking for something to while away the dark hours in the countdown to Halloween, this is the PERFECT read for you! Kalynn Bayron played with the genre from start to finish, and while I don't believe this will be a book I return to again and again, I still recommend for those who want to add a little edge to their spooky season this year. Happy haunting!
Quick Reasons: why are all the adults in this book so awful?!; campy horror that plays with the idea of the "final girl" trope; surprising ending coupled with a SURPRISING ending; fun, quick read that I couldn't put down
I picked this book up because: 1. it was on special on Kindle; 2. that title was intriguing; 3. it's SPOOKY SEASON, y'all! And I'm so glad that I did. I had a great time diving into this read and trying to "peer around the corners" at where the author was leading us. Turns out, even I, who have seen too many horror flicks and tend to know what's in store for our characters...even I got caught off guard a couple times through this journey. And I LOVE that I was kept guessing!
I found myself wondering, about halfway through, how it was that all these characters were just...left to fend for themselves. Turns out, all the adults in this book are, somehow?! total trash. I'm not sure how that happened, honestly... you would think there would be at least 1 adult in this novel who would not be absolute garbage. Maybe Grandma...we only got a small snippet from her, so I suppose she gets a pass, but then, she wasn't really a MAIN. This bothered me most about this book, I think--I could only suspend my disbelief so far, but having grown up in a small town that is admittedly a bit backwards in most ways...maybe I'm biased in that regard. Or out of touch. Still, the friendship between the characters, and the love between Charity and Bezi, was relatable, realistic, and endearing.
Now, in this situation, horror films tell us that the final girl might go ahead and enter the community showers, disrobe, and then barely escape a masked killer as she slips around butt naked in the bathroom. However, I only play a final girl at Camp Mirror Lake; I don't actually want to be one. I turn my Black ass right around and book it back to my cabin, where I close and lock the door. For now, my face full of fake blood is going to stay just the way it is.
Either way, this was a quick, fun read filled with twists and turns I didn't always see coming. The final girl trope was well-done: not TOO overdone, not too underwhelming. And in true horror fashion, the ending you THOUGHT was going to fade to black...ended up not really being the ending, after all. Because there's always got to be a final cut-scene.
If you're a fan of horror and horror tropes, and you're looking for something to while away the dark hours in the countdown to Halloween, this is the PERFECT read for you! Kalynn Bayron played with the genre from start to finish, and while I don't believe this will be a book I return to again and again, I still recommend for those who want to add a little edge to their spooky season this year. Happy haunting!
Second to the Right by T.S. Kinley
3.0
Rating: 3.25/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: SPICY SPICY SPICY; you all know I'm a sucker for a Peter Pan retelling; reverse harem for the win; this leaves on a cliffhanger, be warned; if you're all about the "Peter Pan never grows up" lore, you probably won't like this book
A spicy, reverse harem, PETER PAN retelling?!?!? Uhm. Yes PLEASE, gimme gimme gimme!
I awoke to the sound of tinkling bells.
"Lill! Don't be rude."
"No! We are not going to sacrifice her!"
"Stop! Lill, don't touch her! She's just here for spring cleaning."
Of course, with any good erotica retelling, you have to bend the rules a little bit to make it fit, right? Right. So in this instance...if you're a stickler for the whole, "Peter Pan never grows up because he CANNOT grow up" piece of lore...you probably won't like what they did with Peter in this book. T.S. Kinley kept to the finer details of the lore where they could--all the same creatures are present, the author pulls well from the original text to make this world come together and patch in where it falls, etc.
There was a bit of storytelling that came with this title. Some background building, some "tug on your emotions" tactics. We also had a fair amount of unnecessary "woman on woman" hate. AND, on top of that, an unnecessary amount of OPP (from the FMC, of course) due to jealousy she was not able to come to terms with or work through herself. For a split second, this put me off--it was VERY contradictory of her to put those rules in place, honestly. And unethical, as well. But so it was.
I finally begin to drift off to sleep with the lulling patter of rain and the repetitive caress of his hand along my body. As I slipped into the clouded haze of sleep, I thought I heard Ryder's soft voice whisper, "We have time. I won't rush things with you. I plan to draw this out. Savor every step along the way...then maybe you'll stay."
Still, I enjoyed the read, and because I am invested, will need to pick up the next book in the series ASAP (does she make it back?! what happens next?!?! I need to know!) If you're a fan of reverse harems and spicy retellings, I definitely recommend checking this book out! Second to the right and straight on 'til morning, Penguins--but be prepared. You just might lose your heart along the way.
Quick Reasons: SPICY SPICY SPICY; you all know I'm a sucker for a Peter Pan retelling; reverse harem for the win; this leaves on a cliffhanger, be warned; if you're all about the "Peter Pan never grows up" lore, you probably won't like this book
A spicy, reverse harem, PETER PAN retelling?!?!? Uhm. Yes PLEASE, gimme gimme gimme!
I awoke to the sound of tinkling bells.
"Lill! Don't be rude."
"No! We are not going to sacrifice her!"
"Stop! Lill, don't touch her! She's just here for spring cleaning."
Of course, with any good erotica retelling, you have to bend the rules a little bit to make it fit, right? Right. So in this instance...if you're a stickler for the whole, "Peter Pan never grows up because he CANNOT grow up" piece of lore...you probably won't like what they did with Peter in this book. T.S. Kinley kept to the finer details of the lore where they could--all the same creatures are present, the author pulls well from the original text to make this world come together and patch in where it falls, etc.
There was a bit of storytelling that came with this title. Some background building, some "tug on your emotions" tactics. We also had a fair amount of unnecessary "woman on woman" hate. AND, on top of that, an unnecessary amount of OPP (from the FMC, of course) due to jealousy she was not able to come to terms with or work through herself. For a split second, this put me off--it was VERY contradictory of her to put those rules in place, honestly. And unethical, as well. But so it was.
I finally begin to drift off to sleep with the lulling patter of rain and the repetitive caress of his hand along my body. As I slipped into the clouded haze of sleep, I thought I heard Ryder's soft voice whisper, "We have time. I won't rush things with you. I plan to draw this out. Savor every step along the way...then maybe you'll stay."
Still, I enjoyed the read, and because I am invested, will need to pick up the next book in the series ASAP (does she make it back?! what happens next?!?! I need to know!) If you're a fan of reverse harems and spicy retellings, I definitely recommend checking this book out! Second to the right and straight on 'til morning, Penguins--but be prepared. You just might lose your heart along the way.
Pestilence by Laura Thalassa
5.0
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: not a cliffhanger ending!; aghhhh this story hurt me so many times; SOBBING BRB; the character arcs are phenomenal; gorgeous purple prose; snark and wit galore
If you've been following my reviews for any amount of time, Penguins.....you KNOW where this one is headed. Because what really IS a Horseman of the Apocalypse....but Death in a different form? And this is just ONE!?!?!?! JUST ONE?!?!?! book in this series? I'm glad I already have book 2, because let me tell you, I'm going to be making time to read it ASAP.
I should be wary of days like today, when the sun burns bright and the sky is a blinding shade of blue--the kind of day that hurts your eyes and squeezes your heart. It's the kind of day that, even in the heart of winter, reminds you what summer feels like.
It's a fucking liar of a day, and just like all painfully beautiful things, I should know better than to trust it.
Laura Thalassa has a way of weaving witty, snarky banter with gorgeously purple prose to make a labor of love and devotion. It is obvious the author put a lot of thought, time, and effort into creating and molding this end of the world, world--and the characters who are in it. This is a slow-burn, enemies to lovers, "can't understand the attraction but it's there and there it will stay" read that will have you on the edge of your seat, breathless, waiting to see what happens next.
There are some pretty descriptive, gory moments, Penguins...so if that bothers you, be warned going into this book. There is deception, destruction, death...as many beautiful moments as are found in these pages, there are equally as many deeply disturbing ones. This read is not for the faint of heart...but it is SO, so worth it for the ways it will change and shape the way you think of things.
For most people, I get good at nonanswers. For those who matter, I give them half-truths. At some point, I can't NOT; the truth is suffocating the life out of me.
But even then, I don't share everything--like how I fell in love with a monster, or how in the end he saved all our miserable lives. How I recited poetry to him and felt him change from a nightmare into a man.
I definitely recommend this to lovers of mates destined to change each other/the world, slow-burn steam, and journeys that balance both the gorgeous and the gore. Pestilence is riding the world, Penguins....and he's taking no prisoners. Save one.
Quick Reasons: not a cliffhanger ending!; aghhhh this story hurt me so many times; SOBBING BRB; the character arcs are phenomenal; gorgeous purple prose; snark and wit galore
If you've been following my reviews for any amount of time, Penguins.....you KNOW where this one is headed. Because what really IS a Horseman of the Apocalypse....but Death in a different form? And this is just ONE!?!?!?! JUST ONE?!?!?! book in this series? I'm glad I already have book 2, because let me tell you, I'm going to be making time to read it ASAP.
I should be wary of days like today, when the sun burns bright and the sky is a blinding shade of blue--the kind of day that hurts your eyes and squeezes your heart. It's the kind of day that, even in the heart of winter, reminds you what summer feels like.
It's a fucking liar of a day, and just like all painfully beautiful things, I should know better than to trust it.
Laura Thalassa has a way of weaving witty, snarky banter with gorgeously purple prose to make a labor of love and devotion. It is obvious the author put a lot of thought, time, and effort into creating and molding this end of the world, world--and the characters who are in it. This is a slow-burn, enemies to lovers, "can't understand the attraction but it's there and there it will stay" read that will have you on the edge of your seat, breathless, waiting to see what happens next.
There are some pretty descriptive, gory moments, Penguins...so if that bothers you, be warned going into this book. There is deception, destruction, death...as many beautiful moments as are found in these pages, there are equally as many deeply disturbing ones. This read is not for the faint of heart...but it is SO, so worth it for the ways it will change and shape the way you think of things.
For most people, I get good at nonanswers. For those who matter, I give them half-truths. At some point, I can't NOT; the truth is suffocating the life out of me.
But even then, I don't share everything--like how I fell in love with a monster, or how in the end he saved all our miserable lives. How I recited poetry to him and felt him change from a nightmare into a man.
I definitely recommend this to lovers of mates destined to change each other/the world, slow-burn steam, and journeys that balance both the gorgeous and the gore. Pestilence is riding the world, Penguins....and he's taking no prisoners. Save one.
The Finder of the Lucky Devil by Megan Mackie
4.0
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins (rounded down)
Quick Reasons: magic, mythologies, mystery and mayhem; entertaining, fast paced read; a self discovery journey; absolutely delightful snarkfest; cyberpunk meets Jumangi meets the doors in Nightmare Before Christmas
HUGE thanks to Megan Mackie and 4 Horsemen Publications for the title! My review is voluntarily done and in no way impacted by the gesture.
"I must obey. I have grabbed you," she said. "And now I'm gonna throw you through the door because nothing else has been said about that."
I will admit, Penguins--seeing the cover for this read, I was only slightly apprehensive about the journey I was about to embark on. Let me tell you....that apprehension? Unnecessary. HUGE liar. This book is like the amalgamation of cyberpunk meets Jumangi meets the forest doors in Nightmare Before Christmas, and I am HERE for it (and also here for needing to know what happens next because WAY TO SLOW BURN BLOCK ME, Megan Mackie! Totally rude. This Penguin is salty right now.
This is an entertaining read filled with twists, turns, enchanting magic systems, and characters you'll want to scoop up and put into your pockets (I mean...some of these characters would even FIT in said pockets)! The premise is both well-known (a journey of self discovery) and utterly unique (a discovery of MAGIC, not the self) at the same time. The dialogue is witty, often taking popular phrases and turning them on their head--and SUCH a snarkfest, I was constantly giggling. Megan Mackie has a uniquely individualized voice, and has crafted that to an exquisite advantage for this story. There's mayhem, mystery, mermaids....devils and doggos (but is it really a dog?) and demons. SO MUCH happens, it's hard to point out every minute detail--I may even have missed a few here and there, with everything else I was trying to focus on. And yet, somehow...this book doesn't feel cluttered.
"Bridesmaids are easy. Bar fights, on the other hand..." He shrugged.
"You have a real knight-in-shining-armor complex, huh?" Rune asked, flirting just a little.
"I hate seeing a damsel in distress, especially when she's the one putting herself there," he responded.
I definitely recommend this read to lovers of Cyberpunk, magic, and (disappointing because I was expecting slow burn and instead got THAT ENDING WHAT EVEN WAS THAT WHY?!) romance. If you're looking for an intriguing, entertaining, easy to fall into read, this is SURELY the one for you. And remember, Penguins...there's always help to be found at the Lucky Devil.
Quick Reasons: magic, mythologies, mystery and mayhem; entertaining, fast paced read; a self discovery journey; absolutely delightful snarkfest; cyberpunk meets Jumangi meets the doors in Nightmare Before Christmas
HUGE thanks to Megan Mackie and 4 Horsemen Publications for the title! My review is voluntarily done and in no way impacted by the gesture.
"I must obey. I have grabbed you," she said. "And now I'm gonna throw you through the door because nothing else has been said about that."
I will admit, Penguins--seeing the cover for this read, I was only slightly apprehensive about the journey I was about to embark on. Let me tell you....that apprehension? Unnecessary. HUGE liar. This book is like the amalgamation of cyberpunk meets Jumangi meets the forest doors in Nightmare Before Christmas, and I am HERE for it (and also here for needing to know what happens next because WAY TO SLOW BURN BLOCK ME, Megan Mackie! Totally rude. This Penguin is salty right now.
This is an entertaining read filled with twists, turns, enchanting magic systems, and characters you'll want to scoop up and put into your pockets (I mean...some of these characters would even FIT in said pockets)! The premise is both well-known (a journey of self discovery) and utterly unique (a discovery of MAGIC, not the self) at the same time. The dialogue is witty, often taking popular phrases and turning them on their head--and SUCH a snarkfest, I was constantly giggling. Megan Mackie has a uniquely individualized voice, and has crafted that to an exquisite advantage for this story. There's mayhem, mystery, mermaids....devils and doggos (but is it really a dog?) and demons. SO MUCH happens, it's hard to point out every minute detail--I may even have missed a few here and there, with everything else I was trying to focus on. And yet, somehow...this book doesn't feel cluttered.
"Bridesmaids are easy. Bar fights, on the other hand..." He shrugged.
"You have a real knight-in-shining-armor complex, huh?" Rune asked, flirting just a little.
"I hate seeing a damsel in distress, especially when she's the one putting herself there," he responded.
I definitely recommend this read to lovers of Cyberpunk, magic, and (disappointing because I was expecting slow burn and instead got THAT ENDING WHAT EVEN WAS THAT WHY?!) romance. If you're looking for an intriguing, entertaining, easy to fall into read, this is SURELY the one for you. And remember, Penguins...there's always help to be found at the Lucky Devil.
Art of the Chase by Jennifer Giacalone
4.0
Rating: 4.25/5 Stars (rounded down)
Quick Reasons: queer, diverse romance; quick-witted humor; believable character arcs; a true redemption romance; a different kind of detective story; entertaining and fast-paced read
HUGE thanks to Jennifer Giacalone and Yvla Publishing for the title! My review is voluntarily written and in no way impacted or altered by this gesture.
"You're already on my bad side." She stepped back and gave him a disdainful once-over with her eyes.
"Then I don't want to be on your worse side."
"That's the first intelligent thing you've said."
This was SUCH a fun foray out of my comfort zone, Penguins, and I am SO glad that Jennifer Giacalone put this book in front of me for reading! This is an entertaining, fast-paced race to figure out who-dun-it...but with ART thievery! I feel like, 5 years down the road, I might find myself picking up detective books MORE often...and it will be all thanks to this book falling into my lap at just the right time. On top of the drama, the intrigue, the mystery and the SNARK (because what's a book to this readerly Penguin without a lot of sass?), this is ALSO an LGBT diverse read and I am HERE. FOR. ALL. OF. IT!
The character redemption arcs are believably written and heart-wrenchingly natural to read. The struggles with humanity, addiction, and the heart plucked just the right amount of strings to keep readers both immersed AND hanging on, bated breath, waiting for the forgiveness...or for the fall. All the while, our pair of Art Detectives (honestly, while I SHOULD have known that was probably a thing, I had never thought about it BEING a thing before this book) are on the hunt and casing the chase...and tossing snark at each other like it's going out of style.
"Well, as the old saying goes, one cannot forever sustain a lie when one's spouse is, in fact, an excellent detective."
"I wasn't aware that was a saying."
"I said it. Now it's a saying."
I definitely recommend this to lovers of who-dun-it mysteries, LGBTQ+ readers, and those looking to embark on new adventures/try something out of their comfort zone. Jennifer Giacalone will keep you guessing, enmeshed in the finer details of the case and the heart, and flipping pages as if you're drowning with this entertaining read. The chase is afoot, Penguins...are YOU ready to check the clues and find your answer?
Quick Reasons: queer, diverse romance; quick-witted humor; believable character arcs; a true redemption romance; a different kind of detective story; entertaining and fast-paced read
HUGE thanks to Jennifer Giacalone and Yvla Publishing for the title! My review is voluntarily written and in no way impacted or altered by this gesture.
"You're already on my bad side." She stepped back and gave him a disdainful once-over with her eyes.
"Then I don't want to be on your worse side."
"That's the first intelligent thing you've said."
This was SUCH a fun foray out of my comfort zone, Penguins, and I am SO glad that Jennifer Giacalone put this book in front of me for reading! This is an entertaining, fast-paced race to figure out who-dun-it...but with ART thievery! I feel like, 5 years down the road, I might find myself picking up detective books MORE often...and it will be all thanks to this book falling into my lap at just the right time. On top of the drama, the intrigue, the mystery and the SNARK (because what's a book to this readerly Penguin without a lot of sass?), this is ALSO an LGBT diverse read and I am HERE. FOR. ALL. OF. IT!
The character redemption arcs are believably written and heart-wrenchingly natural to read. The struggles with humanity, addiction, and the heart plucked just the right amount of strings to keep readers both immersed AND hanging on, bated breath, waiting for the forgiveness...or for the fall. All the while, our pair of Art Detectives (honestly, while I SHOULD have known that was probably a thing, I had never thought about it BEING a thing before this book) are on the hunt and casing the chase...and tossing snark at each other like it's going out of style.
"Well, as the old saying goes, one cannot forever sustain a lie when one's spouse is, in fact, an excellent detective."
"I wasn't aware that was a saying."
"I said it. Now it's a saying."
I definitely recommend this to lovers of who-dun-it mysteries, LGBTQ+ readers, and those looking to embark on new adventures/try something out of their comfort zone. Jennifer Giacalone will keep you guessing, enmeshed in the finer details of the case and the heart, and flipping pages as if you're drowning with this entertaining read. The chase is afoot, Penguins...are YOU ready to check the clues and find your answer?