clairetrellahill's reviews
3229 reviews

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 stars. Lots of longing and broken finger nailed emotions and a heroine who’s a scrapper and a hero that’s a sad and a house that’s a bit messed up but just wants to be a home. Reminiscent of Gallant and Treason of Thorns all all the books where the house just needs its people real bad. So enjoyable and Kentucky rooted.

A good time.

Heat level: one low detail on page scene that you can cruise over.

The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

I dnf’ed about 50%. Absolutely nothing wrong with the book, just not vibing and I am in my “not forcing myself to finish books” era. it was a cool private high school mystery with a ghost boy if you’re into that.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

4.0

We all need a little fairytale sometimes.

The Highwayman's Folly by Daria Vernon

I want very particular things from pirate and highwayman stories it seems, and this wasn’t for me.

System Collapse by Martha Wells

4.0

Look what they’ve done to this construct, it’s got anxiety. Love my little Murderbot guy try to figure out feelings.

This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede

adventurous medium-paced

3.5

This Cursed Light wrapped up the story that started in This Vicious Grace. I enjoyed my time back with the characters and the world, dealing with the fallout of book one and learning more about Dante's people. I was hampered by the fact that I didn't reread book 1 beforehand, and so had to reach back and really recall what happened in the first book. All in all this was a fine book, but as I recalled more about book 1, I think that a lot of the drama, the tension of the romance, and the driving action was not super present here. Still a fun read for those who like the characters and want to learn more, but acted as more of a coda, rather than a new and fresh adventure. 

The Trail to You and Me by Mandi Lynn Bell

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

I am not the most outdoorsy person, but I have always had a fascination with the Appalachian Trail ever since I read HALFWAY TO THE SKY by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley as a kid. So picking up THE TRAIL TO YOU AND ME by Mandi Lynn Bell was at once fresh and fun and also nostalgic for me, taking me back to something I loved as a kid, now with more romance :) 

I’ve been familiar with Mandi for a while from her YouTube videos on writing but my exploding TBR kept me from picking up one of her books until now. I’m glad I did! This was a really sweet contemporary romance (both sweet in heat level and sweet in the overall vibe). Lori is an overachiever and a go-getter with regards to her life goals—it seems like the last thing she’d do would scrap her summer plans to hike the Appalachian Trail with a cute guy she just met. And yet???

The book started a little slow for me but once Lori and Caleb met and started hanging out I was on board fully. Lori has to learn how to hike and also how to not be so hard on herself for not instantly excelling, which are both things I also struggle with! She also has to learn how her high standards for herself can fit with Caleb, a guy who is hiking the AT and flunked out of college. I really enjoyed how the story came together at the end. 

This is a really great feel good sweet romance. The Trail to You and Me is a standalone but contains references to the other Roadtrip Snapshot series. I had no problem picking it up on its own, however! 

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

*taps mic* ladies we have a new fae butler to add to the fae/sorcerer/demon butler/steward shelf

Half a Soul was fun but this was for ME, SPECIFICALLY. Enjoyed it so much. The fae are tricksty and sinister but somehow not the worst thing bumping around the gothic mansion at night. Lovely brand of faerie gothic. Definitely run to the bookstore and treat yourself to this one (and sign me up for the sequels!!! MORE PLEASE!!!)

I will say having read Half a Soul definitely helped with background. I have not read the other two HAS sequels so I don’t know if they’re necessary, but having some knowledge of prior world and character events was helpful.

Heat level: just kissing
The author has cws at the start of the book for anything folks might be sensitive to.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. The Witchwood Knot releases Nov 28. All opinions are my own and this is my honest review.

Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind and Other Stories by Beka Gremikova

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind and Other Stories is an aptly named collection. Within these pages I was delighted by the wide variety of story, setting, theme and emotions presented to the reader. The worldbuilding in each story is unique and the short plots still surprise and captivate. I laughed and teared up in equal measure—‘Sir Gawain and the Green Thumb’ got the most laughs, while ‘A Taste of Grace’ and ‘Mer-Child’ got the tears. (‘Mer-Child’, in particular, came for my life with a Dad Reunion).

Some stories nodded to well known tales and fairy stories, others felt wholly unique, but each carried a fresh perspective and jolt of originality. The unexpected encounters with heartfelt emotion and well drawn characters kept me reading until the last page. I’m very much looking forward to what the author writes next!

Black and Deep Desires by Claire Trella Hill

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

I think this is pretty great because... I wrote it. Surprise! Today (9/26) is RELEASE DAY for Black and Deep Desires! You can get it wherever you buy books here: https://books2read.com/BlackAndDeepDesires

For those that would like any CWs you can check my spoiler tags here or any of the CWs readers have added:

This book includes vampire related blood and death, animal death, familial emotional/physical abuse. Death of a parent from cancer before the book begins.
All current pets will be okay. Please take care if any of these topics could be harmful.