clairetrellahill's reviews
3229 reviews

Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

One wouldn’t think a book about a necromancer would be cozy or romantic, but this is. It was a really sweet exploration of grief and loss in a fantasy setting and a great married-people romance. 4.5 stars.

The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

In a world where vampires exist and some humans have special powers that make them Saints, an epic confrontation takes place against the backdrop of the US Civil War. Jerusalem is a Saint and an escaped slave from a plantation run by equally horrible humans and vampires. Alexei is a vampire, but he fights on the side of the Union. They must work together to defeat the South and the vampire that they both have history with.

Vampires in the civil war is a great concept. The author instills this book with her trademark banter between love interests and antagonism that yields to something deeper. Fair warning if you are a historical purist—while the author has clearly done her research, in tone the story owes much more to urban fantasy than historical fiction. Sometimes that annoys me, but as I’ve read her other books, I expected more of that voice from the characters. I think it best to think of THE DANGEROUS ONES as a paranormal/urban fantasy set in the past rather than historical fiction with supernatural elements.

But I mean, Jerusalem fights with a spear. That’s pretty neat.

CWs for lots of language, and slavery and death and blood, and more things that have slipped my mind, but the author has a list on goodreads and her website.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC. The Dangerous Ones comes out May 14, 2024.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and War

Moderate: Cursing, Violence, and Blood

Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington

4.0

I have cudgeled my brain to try to think of any selkie books that I have read prior to this, and surprisingly I could only only come up with A STRANGER CAME TO SHORE by Mollie Hunter, and ironically in that book, the selkie was the BAD guy. So this was quite a fun read!

I really enjoyed the Irish-inspired world and the selkie lore introduced. I also liked how the world felt large and lived-in. I’m sure the author can get many stories out of the world she has created and the family she’s focused on. I enjoyed Ceana’s unique personality playing against type as a heroine who is disappointed she does not get an arranged marriage to help out her kingdom, and deciding to forge one for herself which sets her off on her journey.

It also had little hints of The Little Mermaid, but…backwards? That was fun. Another thing I enjoyed was the main character’s exploration of long kept secrets and learning about a different culture. This author does something I also want to do—ask the question “what does worship look like in another culture?”

If you, like me, cannot recall ever reading a selkie story and enjoy a friends to lovers slow burn, why not pick this fun cozy fantasy up?

My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

5.0

Julie Anne Long crushes it once again, making me laugh and also cry within chapters of each other. I love the world that she has created and each installment is fantastic. Catherine and Dominic’s story is heart wrenching and deeply lovely.

Heat level: a very slow burn UST-y 3.5

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.

DNF 36%. Was not vibing and the main reviews kind of track what I was feeling.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

4.25

4.25 stars! Very fun and action packed. This series delivered as a very dense book 2.

Heat level: 3

Illuminare by Bryn Shutt

For a book with only 12 chapters, ILLUMINAIRE contains quite a bit of lore, worldbuilding, faith, and history centered around the Venetian-like society and intrigues of the characters.

Inheritance by Nora Roberts

4.25

Well ain’t that a kick in the head

The Night Dance: A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Suzanne Weyn

2.0

Fine I guess? But there was too much going on. Compared to Crimson Thread and Water Song this one did not hit

The Voice Upstairs by Laura E. Weymouth

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0