crin_d1nk's reviews
55 reviews

How to Fake It with a Fae by Amy Boyles
Did not finish book. Stopped at 72%.

I loved the start of this book. It checks all the boxes about what I enjoy reading in a fantasy romance book. The characters are age appropriate (both in thier 30s), the relationship between the MMC and FMC is a true slow burn where you can actually believe that they are falling in love, and the female's character growth resonated with my own dating expereinces. However, when I realized that the MMC's ex girlfriend was setting the FMC to fail I got a bad feeling about how this was going to play out. Thankfully I don't care about spoilers and looked up the ending. A reviewer on reddit SAVED me from having to read the main characters hate fuck to get out of a contract, watch him destroy her, AND her not even stick up for herself. PLUS his anger towards her family makes NO SENSE!!!! Ugh, I'm honestly just incredibly disappointed that this book did not live up to the expectations I was building up in my head. 

The Chow Maniac by Vivien Chien

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-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? No

3.0

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Lana Lee, the local sleuth, often solves cases with the help of her friends, in their community. In The Chow Maniac by Vivien Chan, Lana is called upon by a local private detective to investigate a secret group known as the Eight Immortals. The group, which has existed for generations, has a mission to support the success and well-being of the local Asian community. However, someone is now systematically murdering its members. Why would someone want to kill individuals who have quietly devoted themselves to helping others? Is there a power struggle brewing within the group? Lana and her friends must race to solve the mystery before another member falls victim.

The Chow Maniac is the eleventh book in the Noodle Shop Mystery series, and this is the first book I've read in the series. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how accessible it was for new readers. Vivien Chan does an excellent job of weaving in references to past events without overwhelming the reader with repetitive exposition, making it easy to dive in without needing prior knowledge of the earlier books. The series features a rich supporting cast with well-developed relationships that add depth to the story. This was my favorite part of the book, and it made me eager to go back and explore the earlier entries to learn more about these characters.

The mystery itself is straightforward and logical, which I found refreshing. It's a rare talent to craft a mystery that doesn't rely on extravagant plot twists or over-the-top surprises. Chan strikes a perfect balance by keeping things grounded and engaging without resorting to unnecessary complexity.

That said, my only criticism is that, due to the large supporting cast and my entry point being late in the series, I didn’t fully experience what makes Lana such an effective detective. This book feels more like a transitional story for her character, perhaps setting the stage for more high-stakes cases in the future. As a result, it seemed like her supporting cast played a larger role in solving the case. However, it was clear that Lana had solved cases independently in the past, and this one served as a test of her confidence.

Overall, The Chow Maniac is a solid read, perfect for anyone looking for a light, engaging mystery. While it doesn’t break the mold, it offers enjoyable storytelling that will keep readers hooked.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is the definition of cozy. On the surface, it’s a simple tale about an orc named Viv who is taking a chance on herself by opening a coffee shop in the city of Thune. However, coffee is a rare commodity—outside of a gnomish city where Viv discovered it—and orcs don't run shops; they fight. As Viv battles her own insecurities, she forms new friendships, finds love, and learns what it means to call someplace home.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. At first, I was nervous I’d find the story dull, but instead, it offered a sense of comfort. In many ways, it felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. The characters are incredibly likable and familiar, like old friends you haven’t seen in a while. Their personal struggles—like dealing with imposter syndrome or feeling out of their depth when embarking on a new venture—are things most of us can relate to.

I was also impressed by how Baldree vividly describes the process of making, drinking, and experiencing coffee and pastries—something many readers will be familiar with. He takes these everyday elements and transforms them into a novel experience for the characters, making the mundane feel magical. More than once, I found myself wishing there was a café like this I could visit in real life.

Another reason why I’d call this book cozy is that while the stakes are real, they’re low. I felt safe and comforted while reading, knowing that the characters I was falling in love with were in relatively little danger. As an occasional Dungeons & Dragons player and someone who loves Baldur’s Gate 3, I started this book with a heightened sense of danger, but as the story unfolded, I found myself relaxing into the gentle pacing.

That said, this isn’t a book for everyone. If you're looking for fast-paced, high-stakes adventure, this isn't it. But if you’ve ever wondered what your Dungeons & Dragons character might do after the campaign ends—and you love coffee—you might be pleasantly surprised.

All My Lies by Nelle Lamarr

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

0.75

All My Lies tells the story of Sloan, an aspiring writer who finds herself at a crossroads after discovering her boss dead under suspicious circumstances. Faced with a tempting opportunity, Sloan must decide: should she steal her boss’s unfinished bestseller and publish it as her debut novel? Through questionable decisions and a series of clumsy mistakes, Sloan finds herself in over her head with no one to trust. Can she keep her secret safe—and herself alive?

The premise of this book intrigued me when I first read the synopsis. However, I found the overall execution disappointing and clunky. Sloan had the potential to be a relatable, likable main character. Initially, I was rooting for her, and the mystery of her past kept me engaged. But, unfortunately, the constant reminders of her supposed "lovable clumsiness" became grating. Every time she attempted something, the reader was reminded of her tendency to trip over her own feet, or the various ways she might hurt herself. This repetition eventually overshadowed her character and turned what could have been endearing into something irritating.

Additionally, Sloan’s character felt one-dimensional. There was little development, and she never had a true "hero" moment to make her feel more fleshed out. I think the plot progression did her no favors, either. The reveal of the villain felt anticlimactic. I had already suspected who it was, and as a result, the reveal came across as more of an emotional payoff for Sloan rather than the reader. This is problematic because it felt like it took too long for Sloan to connect the dots. I would have preferred if she had suspected the villain earlier on and started to act more cautiously around them or it turned into a game of cat and mouse.

The big reveal about Sloan’s past in high school also felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the story. If you removed that event entirely, the plot wouldn't change significantly, and the villain’s motivations would be the same. The villain’s actions were exaggerated to the point of excess. I understand the desire to show that he has no morals and is willing to resort to violence, but it felt over the top and detracted from the overall believability of the story. It would be more compelling if he had conflicted feelings about his plan or if Sloan and him engaged in mind games trying to outwit each other. This, along with the flat emotional payoff, made it difficult for me to connect with or care about the characters.

One of the final missteps for me was the flashback in the epilogue. It felt out of place and served more to shock the reader than to add anything meaningful to the story. Instead of feeling like an important plot point, it left me confused and added to the sense of disconnect I had with the characters.

Another barrier for me was the excessive detail and overuse of popular culture references. The narrative often included mundane events, like Sloan opening containers, in almost every scene. As a reader, this made me feel like the author didn’t trust me to fill in the gaps using context clues. It resulted in a lot of hand-holding, which ultimately detracted from the flow of the story.

Despite these issues, there’s potential here. The pacing was well done, and I enjoyed how the story progressed through time. The gradual buildup of tension and the constant sense that Sloan was never truly safe kept me engaged. It was an easy read, and I was genuinely curious to see how the story would end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing the DRC for review. All opinions are my own.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence

Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The True Amazon offers a fresh perspective on Wonder Woman's origin story, focusing on the inherent human flaws that would come with growing up on Themyscira. Jill Thompson takes Diana—who, like many DC heroes, can sometimes lack dimension—and makes her feel more human and relatable. Thompson is an incredible storyteller, and her hand-painted art truly brings the story to life. Her style complements the Greek-inspired clothing and landscapes perfectly, making the pages feel vibrant and full of energy.

While her art can sometimes seem simplistic, I thought she did an excellent job adding subtle details to the characters' faces, allowing them to emote and express their dialogue more powerfully. My biggest disappointment with the book is that Jill Thompson hasn’t created more stories about Diana set after this one. I would have loved to see her continue exploring and developing Diana's personal journey into the hero she becomes.

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Ji-won's life is falling apart during her first year at college. Her father unexpectedly abandons her family, her friends have all moved away while she lives at home attending community college, and her mom is barely keeping it all together. One night Ji-won agrees to eat a fish eyeball to try to make her mom happy. Little does she know that this one decision will begin an obession that will change her life forever. 

Monika Kim does an amazing job creating unsettling scenes that has the reader squirming in their seats. I was pleasantly surprised by the deeper commentary Monika Kim threaded throughout the book about asian fetishization, misogyny, and generational trauma. Her ability to write male characters who give you the ick before their true nature is revealed was very impressive. I found the characters and their choices frustrating at times because I wanted them to make better choices. However, that frustration really added to the tense feelings that built up throughout the book. My only complaint was that there was an element in the ending that didn't fully make sense to me as it pertained the to the story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Cannibalism

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Classism

Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

My initial thoughts about this book was that it's a harsh read. The characters are not super likeable while also being relatable. Alhtough my female friendships do not look like theirs we have had similar conversations and angst over growing up. Even their fights were echos of past arguments I have had with friends. His art is perfect for this story becuase the characters are drawn with hyperbolic realisim. My only complaint about the art was that I couldn't tell how old anyone was. There were moments where I thought some of the male characters were older than they really were which gave the conversations a creepier vibe than what I think was intended. This is a book that I want to reread becuase I think I will score it higher after sitting with it and reading it a second time. 

Jackal, Jackal: Tales of the Dark and Fantastic by Tobi Ogundiran, Tobi Ogundiran

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

It's hard to review a collection of short stories. On average, I found the stories very engaging and imaginative. However, most felt like ideas that hadn't been fully realized and could of been developed into their own full lenght books. I really enjoyed how at the end the author wrote a paragraph for each short story, explaining what inspiried him to write it. It's rare to get a peak behind the curtain like that and it made me like the stories more. This book is described as horror but I wouldn't personally classify it as such. It's more of a thriller with supernatural elements. 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous 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

5.0

I read this book as apart of my vision therapy (lens reading). 

I found this book a pure joy to read which was difficult becuase I wanted to finish it ASAP. The speed of the plot did not hinder my ability to connect with the characters. Towards the end, I felt the book wrapped up a little too quickly. More time could of been spent focused on the final battle. However, the emotions behind it and what it meant for character development was still impactful. 

The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this audiobook. A smutty book with a dragon lover sounded more like somthing I would laugh at. Instead I fell in love with Briar, Sol, and thier love story. Katee was able to weave a romantic tale of earnest love with a lot of sex. I also found that the story of Briar reclaiming her independence after being a survior of abuse to be well written. I could identify with her desire to want to take control of what happened in the bedroom and loved how it impowered her in other areas too. Overall, this is an extremely fun book that will not dissapoint.