booksalacarte's reviews
736 reviews

Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary Fantasy

Magical Realism

Stand-alone

Multi POV

Sibling Story

🏳️‍🌈 Main Characters

Polyamory

Magic

Family Disfunction

Olivie Blake is known for her long, introspective paragraphs that dive deep into unlikable characters and complex plots.

The cover of this book immediately caught my attention. It gives off a disjointed vibe before you even open the book, and that feeling carries through in the writing. The prose mirrors the cover and the characters, with a fragmented quality that works surprisingly well. Blake shifts between writing styles and storytelling techniques, creating a dynamic reading experience that keeps the plot steady even while it challenges the reader’s expectations.

A sly nod to The Prince of Egypt had me laughing out loud—it’s a delightful touch of nostalgia.

However, I did feel that the focus of the story shifted midway through the book. What started as a compelling tale about siblings eventually became more about the challenges of mothering a toddler. By this point, my interest had waned, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The plot wasn’t advancing as I had hoped, and I found it harder to pick up the book and finish it.

Despite the book’s compressed timeline, with so much happening in a short period, not much actually seemed to take place. There were moments of tension, but they often felt overshadowed by the complexity of the narrative itself, which at times made it harder to connect with the story.

Thank you Tor Publishing for the gift of an eARC of Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

4.5⭐️3🌶️

Novella

Supernatural

1st POV

Gothic

🏳️‍🌈 MCs

Dark historical

Vampires

Gore

Tw: gaslighting, murder, domestic abuse, explicit,

This was such an interesting novella about Dracula’s bride, Contessa, and his last family of the undead.

The writing is so beautifully poetic. I was drawn into the story right away. The tragic beginning seeped into the entire story.

I really didn’t enjoy the confusing familial description of their relationship when it was also sexual. Very icky, but I understand it being tied to vampire lore.

Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious reflective slow-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

1.25

1.25⭐️3🌶️

6 POV

Fae + Humans

Dated mates

Found family

Chosen one

Curses

Prophecy

Witchcraft

The blurb for this book was great. I was excited to start it. The premise had so much potential.

I wish it was otherwise, but the inconsistent shifts between past and present tense as well as 1st and 3rd person within the 6 POvs was absolutely too much for me. The lack of chapter heading that stated which POV the chapter was in really hurt the flow of the book.

This book needs another round of line editing. The structure and style of what is here is not refined. There are many poorly structured chapters. I found at-least one moment in each chapter that needed heavy restructuring and proofreading.

The writing was drawn out with many moments that failed to move the plot forward. It fell into the trap of being overly descriptive at inoperative moments and relying on internal monologuing to world-build. I wanted to be shown, not told. I feel like this book was really made to set up the action for the next book.

This book just really wasn’t for me.

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

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.5

2.5⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary Romance
Dual POV
De Moines Setting
Fake dating
Plus size FMC
Interracial relationship
Opposites attract

Just My Luck by Denise Williams offers a charming premise but left me with mixed feelings. The female main character’s undiagnosed ADHD is central to the story, but I struggled with the portrayal. She lacked coping or masking skills, which made it difficult to fully connect with her. Her behavior seemed more in line with how ADHD manifests in men, which felt somewhat jarring.

While the topic of adult ADHD is important, I felt the exploration of it was underdeveloped. The narrative also skips over significant time gaps, leaving the plot feeling disjointed and less engaging. The setting of Des Moines was barely mentioned until Chapter 11, and even then, it felt interchangeable.

On a positive note, the plus-size representation was refreshing. The FMC’s body type was portrayed in an empowering way without becoming the focal point of the story. Additionally, the interracial relationship was portrayed effortlessly, without focusing on societal judgment, which made their connection feel natural and genuine.

Ultimately, while the premise had potential, the execution lacked depth, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the story was missing something to truly make it stand out.

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

The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara

Go to review page

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

1.75

1.75⭐️2.75🌶️

Fantasy
Witches
Royalty
Morally Grey FMC
Mythical creatures
Rebellion
🏳️‍🌈 normative society

The Prince’s name, Ashoka, means “Without Sorrow,” making the book’s title very literal. It’s a clever way to tie the character’s name to the story, but this isn’t explained in the book. I only discovered it after googling his name, wondering if it was from a Star Wars character (it’s not, but close).

Some word choices made me pause—nothing too distracting, just enough to make me think.

The dynamic between the pacifist prince, standing up to his violent family, and the righteous witch who defies her creed to do no harm, is interesting. However, the themes behind their choices weren’t explored enough. While we get a solid backstory for the FMC’s departure from the witches’ pacifist beliefs, we don’t learn much about how the MMC came to his views. This would have added depth to his character.

The side characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and many conflicts were resolved too easily by happenstance. The lack of personal growth or challenges made their journeys less believable.

The worldbuilding had great potential, but it was limited by a magical forest sprite popping in to explain things to the FMC. That didn’t do enough to immerse me.

There’s some repetition, especially in the internal monologues—like the author expects you to catch on just from restating things rather than showing them through the plot.

The premise was intriguing, but the execution fell short for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood

Go to review page

hopeful informative lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

3.25⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary Romance

Novella

Women in STEM

Grumpy/sunshine

🏳️‍🌈 bi rep

Non-linear storytelling

Workplace Romance

“I know you” when the mc’s have only had 5 conversations before he says it… whaaaat? So many people get annoyed with the big man/slight girl dynamic. It’s over done. But I can’t hate a book just because that is a part of it.

Also, the joke about frostbite… it should have been actually addressed… because in no way did she not have almost die in a frozen tundra and not have lost toes. And she gets a NASA assigned snow suit and he saves her in a NORTHFACE and ski mask?

The Mars boobs/body comparison was just awful.

But over all it was a cute novella. The miscommunication was short lived. I feel like this could have been a full length novel and been good!

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Our infinite Fates

4.5⭐️3🌶️

YA fantasy Romance

Stand-alone

17yo MCs

Soulmates

Non-linear Storytelling

Hunter/Hunted Romance

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Narratives

Poetic

Historical Cultural Glimpses

Unique Plot

**The book covers a true historical timeline with every triggering societal issue you can imagine when it comes to non-cis love. It also has death, forced institutionalism, torture, cancer, attempted suicide/suicide idealism, kidnapping, loss of a loved one, and many more.

**This is on the spicy side when it comes to YA standards. The author notes on social media that while the bodies in the story are 17, the souls are over 1,000 years old.

I have to reiterate that this is a young adult book. The main characters are 17, about to turn 18 in every timeline. Within that context you see this story through the POV of Evelyn, and I think that is intended because they know less of their own back story than Arden. This does not feature the POV of Arden who struggles with knowing their 1,000 year timeline. This keeps the plot from being even darker and deeper than its intended audience.

“I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you”

Was this book perfect? No, not by a long shot. The characters, while rich and complex, felt as though there was a lot left unexplored. Their depth was there, but I couldn’t help but wish for more. Still, despite these gaps, it drew me in, and I was hooked.

One of the most powerful themes woven through the narrative is the idea of love transcending physical form—the idea that love is not confined to one body or one lifetime. It’s a notion that feels both timeless and profoundly moving. The thought of being able to recognize your soulmate, even in a completely different vessel, is pure, unadulterated romance to me. It resonates on a deep emotional level, tapping into that universal longing we all have for a love that outlasts time and space. That’s what made this plot so refreshing. It felt like a new perspective on an age-old concept, something I hadn’t seen explored in quite the same way before.

What struck me most was the sheer poetry of it all. And I don’t mean just in the literal sense, though the inclusion of poetry added a beautiful layer to the narrative. But beyond that, the writing itself exuded a kind of lyrical quality, almost like a rhythm that captured the aching, unfulfilled desire between the characters. Their tragic romance, filled with longing, loss, and the hope (and trepidation) of reunion, was so tangible. Every chapter that revisited their backstory was bittersweet. That longing made the entire journey feel profound and deeply emotional.

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

Content Warnings

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

3.75⭐️3.5🌶️

Contemporary romance
Small Town Romance
Pregnancy/Serrogacy
Curvy FMC
Age Gap (10yrs)
Opposites attract
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Strong Side Characters

I could see how if you have a problem seeing ethics surrounding surrogacy, its process, and seeing a book make light of it… this book is not for you.

I love a good stoic man whose love language is acts of service. Add on a FMC who is strong and independent and it makes for great banter and a fun romance with lots of tension!

I was a little disappointed how negative the internal monologue of the FMC was about her own weight and body type.

There were lots of pop culture references, especially when we were given the teenage niece’s POV. I was really not a fan of having to wade through the modern slang/“brain rot” breaking up the flow of the book. I didn’t need her internal monologue about her own love life and plans in the book focusing on her Uncle’s romance.

Over all it was a cute book!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

3⭐️3🌶️

Fantasy

Fae

🏳️‍🌈 Main Characters

Older fmc’s

Dual POV

BIPOC

War

Unique Magic System

Sister story

Disability rep

Animal familiars

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ normative societies

The recap was definitely needed, and I think it was executed really well! I loved the unique approach of presenting it as a journal entry from one of the characters. It added a clever, personal touch that made the recap feel more engaging and immersive. However, I do feel that there could have been a bit more effort put into rebuilding the world and reintroducing key elements of the setting. While the recap set up some foundation, I think for readers coming back after a break from the first book, the transition into the second book might feel a little abrupt without enough of the worldbuilding being revisited.

Additionally, there seems to be a slight disconnect between the narration and the characters’ internal dialogue. The narration at times feels a bit detached from their personal perspectives, which might make it harder to fully connect with their emotions and motivations. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but I think more consistency in aligning the internal dialogue with the characters’ actions and emotions would help make them feel more authentic and relatable.

As for the characters themselves, they were fine. They had their moments, but I didn’t feel as deeply invested in them as I had hoped. They served their roles in the plot, but I think there could have been more depth to really make them stand out.

The foreshadowing, unfortunately, felt a little too heavy-handed at times. Many of the plot twists were fairly easy to predict, which made the story feel less suspenseful and exciting when they finally played out. A bit more subtlety in the foreshadowing might have helped build more tension and kept readers on their toes.

On a more positive note, I find myself increasingly drawn to the historical implications of the elf, fae, and human races. The slow unraveling of their past and the intricate dynamics between them have really captured my interest. At this point, I find myself more engaged with the worldbuilding and the lore behind these races than with the relationships between the characters. There’s definitely potential there for deeper exploration, and I’m curious to see how that aspect of the story develops.

Faebound- 3.75⭐️3🌶️

Cursebound- 3⭐️3🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Del Rey for the Advanced eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD by Penn Holderness, Kim Holderness

Go to review page

challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.0

I listened to this and found that the level of this author’s adhd was underscores and highlighted in the writing style. This was probably to emphasize the level of adhd he has… it also disrupted the flow of the book and made me care less about the points being made, especially when the tangent was not adhd or behavioral related. It was a lot.

More...

booksalacarte's reviews 736 reviews

booksalacarte's reviews
736 reviews