booksalacarte's reviews
698 reviews

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

4.75⭐️2🌶️

Young adult rom com

High school  Mc’s

Gamer group

🏳️‍⚧️ side character rep

Forbidden love

I’ve really come to enjoy Kristie Boyce’s YA rom-coms, and this one was no exception. The covers are always adorable, and the charming, youthful nature of her stories never makes me cringe. Instead, they take me back to my own teenage years with a sense of nostalgia.

This book strikes the perfect balance for a YA rom-com. The maturity level feels just right—age-appropriate yet sweet, with moments of steaminess that never go too far. Boyce handles more serious themes like friendship dynamics, aging grandparents, sibling affection, and adjusting to a new town with great care. I especially appreciated how well the story portrayed the experience of being a non-athletic, slightly eccentric teen just trying to make and keep friends. It felt both relevant and authentic.

The characters really shine, and the side characters are a joy as well! I particularly loved the grandma—she added such a delightful touch to the story. In fact, I’d happily read an entire book about the kids helping senior citizens play D&D. That concept is pure gold!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Childrens/Delecorte Press for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Vilest Things by Chloe Gong

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

4.75⭐️3🌶️

Urban Fantasy
Multi POV
Eastern Asian Influence
Unique Magic System
Forbidden Love
Slow burn
Morally Grey MC’s
Political Intrigue
Betrayal
Rebellion 


A Gripping Sequel that Delivers on All Fronts

This second book in the series is a fantastic follow-up! While the first book centered around the Games, this installment dives deeper into the political landscape, exploring how the kingdom teeters on the brink of civil war. With shifting power dynamics and secrets that keep you on the edge of your seat, I was hooked from the very beginning. The pacing was spot-on, maintaining a steady build of tension throughout.

The romance is another highlight. The forbidden love between the characters is filled with jealousy, denial, and longing, creating an irresistible “will they, won’t they” pull. I found the emotional conflict—the mix of fear, anger, and desire—between the two main characters to be incredibly relatable and engaging.

But perhaps my favorite aspect of the series so far is the magic system. It’s complex and thoughtfully developed, with new layers continuously being revealed. The system is constantly explored and explained, but it maintains a strong core that holds everything together. Even as the characters experiment with and question the magic, Gong skillfully keeps the essence of the magic system intact, adding depth and intrigue to the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

2.5⭐️2.75🌶️

Second book
Romantasy
Dual POV 
Slow burn
Unique Fae magic and lore
Mythical beasts 
Politics

This book introduces a lot of new issues that weren’t foreshadowed in the first one, and it makes for a confusing read. It’s hard to stay engaged when it feels like the story has taken a sharp turn with little build-up, especially when so much foreshadowing was laid out in the previous book.

I also feel that the magic system—specifically how the fae races’ magic and their vows work—should have been explained earlier, especially in book one. The way it’s revealed only as it becomes relevant doesn’t really work for me. Had it been explored earlier, it could have added more tension and given us deeper insight into Vor’s perspective. The constant references to it in the plot felt like missed opportunities to show its significance, leaving the stakes feeling a bit hollow.

One thing that really bugged me was the portrayal of the MMC’s interactions with the female protagonist. It often feels like he treats her as fragile, almost as if she’s a delicate object that needs to be handled with care. This constant dynamic didn’t sit well with me—it felt overdone and took away from their connection.

Ultimately, I’m struggling to stay invested in this story. The magic system, plot, timeline, and character development all have weak points that make it hard to truly enjoy the series as I read. I was hoping for more consistency and depth, but right now, it just isn’t pulling me in.

I will not be continuing with this series

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

4.5⭐️3🌶️

Asian inspired Urban Fantasy
Multi POV
Death Trials/Games
Unique Magic System
Rebellion
Treason 

This was such a great series start that I took notes, but didn’t write a review except “so good!” 

The premise was similar to hunger games in in the video of a to the death games. But that’s really where the similarities stop. I was so interested and invested in the characters and what was going on. The magic system was unique and intriguing. I had so many questions that kept me in the story. The politics were well done. I’m so excited for this series!

Not in My Book by Katie Holt

emotional funny informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary romance
College romance
NY setting
Academic Rivals
Rivals to lovers
Writer MCs
Peruvian FMC
Slow burn
Deception



The premise is rivals in phd are so disruptive and childish in class that they are assigned a co-written project and I loved it! The tension and banter is realistic for people who argue and obsess over their angst, but because of the level of unprofessionalism it felt a little juvenile. I had to keep reminding myself that they were over 25 and in their MFA program. I think the single POV was definitely the best choice, thank goodness. If this book had been dual POV it would have spoiled so much. 

The fact that the writers are writing themselves into their project seems really stereotypical… but I found it a little repetitive to read the project excerpts of the same moment from the project. I wish that it had given glimpses into moments we didn’t see on page instead. But it was an interesting use of POV shift. 

I love when NY as a setting make an appearance as more of a character. 

There was a lot of Meg Ryan movie references and parallels. As a lover of Meg Ryan, I approve. It wasn’t overdone, but it was palpable. 

Thank you NetGalley and Aclove Press for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

3.75⭐️2.25🌶️

Romantasy

Dual POV 

Slow burn

Unique Fae magic and lore

Mythical beasts 

Politics

Deception

Tw: misogyny 

The worldbuilding was pretty crazy. I wish there had been more information about the difference between the fae differences, and the magic left me with questions still. I’m hoping that a lot will be explained in book 2.

That ending was wild. A lot was foreshadowed,   And I’m interested to see what happens… I was interested in some of the side characters, to only have them gone when so much was character building was put into them was an interesting choice. 

It was a little too insta-love for me. But also slow burn at the same time? 

I didn’t love the POV shifting and having to read the same scene from the new POV. It made things too repetitive for me. I think it stunted the pace of things.

The emotions from the MMC in the end reveal was confusing. It didn’t fit the character as far as we know him in this book. I’m hoping his reaction to things get explained in book 2, because…. It made me not like him for character inconsistency. 

The last chapter is very interesting!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

3⭐️3.25🌶️

Novella

Contemporary romance

Gamer romance

Workplace romance

Unrequited Romance

Forced proximity

I listened to this book, and while the narrator was great, there were moments when the cadence felt a bit off.

I wasn’t a fan of the ‘big, strong man’ and ‘tiny, delicate woman’ dynamic—it just didn’t sit well with me.

The story also reminded me a lot of Love on the Brain, with some of the dialogue feeling a bit cliché and immature. I got the sense that the book leaned more towards erotica than contemporary romance, especially in the second half, which focused almost entirely on romance scenes with minimal character development.

The miscommunication trope was also a bit too predictable and felt overused, taking up way too much of the plot—especially considering the story takes place during a short work trip.

It delivers for Ali Hazlewood fans.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5⭐️.5🌶️

Fantasy
Sleeping beauty reimagining
Farie
Mythical beasts
Diverse characters
Found family


This was a great sleeping beauty reimagining novella! The writing was beautiful and eire. It was engaging and moving. The pacing was steady with great worldbuilding and connection between the characters. 

The audiobook was beautifully narrated. I was able to listen at 2x and finish in just over 2 hours. 

The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Challenge to Victorian Medicine That Changed Women's Lives Forever by Lydia Reeder

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.25

The cure for women

3.25⭐️1🌶️

Historical Non-Fiction

Victorian medicine

Women’s health

Gender discrimination

Misogyny

TW: everything and anything you can think of in regards to medical trauma, malpractice and experimentation.

Victorian healthcare and women in health has been an interest of mine since I read Women in White Coats by Olivia Campbell and My Notorious Life by Kate Manning last year. The idea of the levels of mysogny being so profound, and continuing in small ways into todays healthcare system is mind blowing and very revealing.

This book was an interesting look at women’s health in Victorian times, and more specifically the life of Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, daughter of a NY publisher and first woman to be accepted into a world renown medical school in Paris. Dr. Putnam Jacobi focused her attention in researching women’s reproductive health with backed up data rather than the fabricated women’s health practices of the time.

It was more in the style of a textbook than a story, so thankfully the book was very well researched. The storyline that was promised was very much non-linear, and would shoot off topic fairly often, following other well known individuals. With how much research was done, I really wish there had been more direct quotes. I think this would have lent to feeling like we knew Dr. Putnam Jacobi better as a person and practitioner. More showing and less telling.

The medical procedures were well written and documented. 

The topic of women’s healthcare, gender discrimination and women’s rights is so important and timely. Proper recognition is due to so many more silent (or quieted) leaders in women’s health, women’s continued education and standard sterile practices.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Tale of the Heart Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

3.5⭐️3🌶️

Fourth book

New Adult

High Fantady

Fantasy Romance

Adult Fantasy

Multi POV

Flashbacks

BIPOC

Fae courts

Magic

Politics

Tw: death

I wish there had been more of a recap. Having been so long since I read the 3rd book, I had forgotten exactly what led up to the moment of the opening chapter. 

Books 1-3 were great! This book was good, but it was a book of tying up ends, not necessarily explaining anything further or MC growth. The character growth that did happen was for side characters and bad guys… which was an interesting choice.

The big bad had quite the setup for very little payout. There was so much opportunity to expand on his role, magic and setting. We got the barest of that, which was disappointing.

I felt like every chapter was a closing chapter… which made the reading experience unfortunately, very repetitive. All the things that were listed as problems by the characters just… fix themselves quickly and neatly. This could have been edited a little more to cut some of the repetitive moments and internal dialogue in favor of SHOWING us more of the key aspects from the previous books resolved. 

I liked how it ended… but thought the final steps of the lead up were skimmed over.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

—————————

Artifacts of Ouranos

Trails of the Sun Queen- 4⭐️2.5🌶️

Rule of the Aurora King- 3.75⭐️2.75🌶️

Fate if the Sun King- 4.5⭐️3🌶️

Tale of the Heart Queen- 3.5⭐️3🌶️