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edgybutfemme's reviews
125 reviews
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 2 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The intrigue continues to pick up this volume, and I really love how oblivious Maomao is to the attention on her. This manga continues to be a delight!
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 1 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
My partners started showing me the anime, so I started reading the manga as well! I really enjoy mao mao as a main character, and I'm enthusiastic about her long term romance. I think harem settings are always fun, and having two main characters who opperate within that setting but aren't consorts/concubines/the emperor is a super interesting approach. I've enjoyed the episodic case of the week format, and look forward to digging into more of both the anime and manga!
Monsieur X by Adriana Herrera
emotional
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
4.5
I absolutely adore these men and thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall in love and learn to let themselves have one another. This had enjoyable spice, a fun historical setting, and a compelling dynamic. I have read many historical romances, but I hadn't read one with a painter as the main character and I quite enjoyed the dynamic of the painter and his eccentric engineer / lord.
The Bootlegger's Bounty by Adriana Herrera
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was everything I wanted it to be and more! It's absolutely filthy in the most delicious way. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Cam, Enzo, and Rosi. They are a wonderful little polyamorous triad and each individual dynamic was so delightful. It's always nice to find a MMF triad where the men also have a compelling dynamic and attraction to each other independent of the FMC. I really enjoyed the triad's romance arc and watching them find their HEA. A lot of this novella is pure erotica, and it was super fun and well written. I didn't go into it expecting a lot of plot, and the bit that was there felt like it moved at the right pace and didn't try to do more than could reasonably fit in this smutty novella. I am definitely going to continue to pick up anything by Adriana Herrera that sparks my interest because this really checked all the boxes for me!
Odyssey by Alethea Faust
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This series is absolutely everything to me! It's like it was perfectly designed for me in particular. You can look at my past reviews to get a sense of generally why I love this series, but the quality kinky smut, interesting magic system, and peak polyamory rep are all top contenders for why.
This book in particular really delves even deeper into the plot and the worldbuilding is so amazing. I am absolutely obsessed eith Olbric and Arlon getting to develop there relationship and I really enjoyed the switching perspectives (though, if you are wondering about the page count, it's because this book is basically two entire books in one because of the complex plotlines playing out at the crux and on Dom's mission). It was also great to see Dom experience the wider world and meet some excellent characters along the way! This book definitely gets dark, but I was here for every second of it and the smut is still top tier. If you haven't started this series yet, go do it!!!
This book in particular really delves even deeper into the plot and the worldbuilding is so amazing. I am absolutely obsessed eith Olbric and Arlon getting to develop there relationship and I really enjoyed the switching perspectives (though, if you are wondering about the page count, it's because this book is basically two entire books in one because of the complex plotlines playing out at the crux and on Dom's mission). It was also great to see Dom experience the wider world and meet some excellent characters along the way! This book definitely gets dark, but I was here for every second of it and the smut is still top tier. If you haven't started this series yet, go do it!!!
Nan Chan, Vol. 1 by Tang Jiu Qing
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is excellent! I hope that more of Tang Jiu Qing's works get liscensed and that she has more absolutely unhinged love interests for me because this and ballad of sword and wine are some of my current top danmei series. Cangji and Jinglin are both feral little guys and I am so compelled by them. The whole vibe is "i'll devour you so we are together forever" and "not if I devour you first". They are constantly flirting and bickering as they run around investigating the most tragic and horrific cases, each one linked to one of the eight worldly sufferings (and it seems like eventually they all tie together). Both main characters have a lot of mystery surrounding them and I can't wait to see their dynamic continue to grow more complex as more is revealed. Definitely mind the trigger warnings, but this is a deeply compelling wild ride that I am excited to read the rest of as the official english translations release!
To Rule in a Turbulent World, Volume 1 by Gu Xue Rou
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm absolutely obsessed with everything about this book and the main couple's dynamic. This first volume is going to probably be my new favorite comfort reread because despite bad things happening to them, they are just so SOLID as a couple immediately. They are like an old married couple and are so strongly devoted to each other. The back third of the book is basically a farming arc where you get to see them just enjoy each other and scheme to get things done. I cannot wait to buy the next one and I am SO sad I missed the preorder.
Dawning III by Ice
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was an excellent conclusion that wraps this series up nicely!
Most of this last volume is extras and I always love getting to see what happens further down the road. I'm really glad I stuck with the extras because I almost stalled out in the middle of the first one, which is a very long flashback retelling of their early relationship through Duan Mingyang's POV. While the insight into his character was wonderful and I was glad to have it, jumping from the happy ending back into the Bad First Time Around where everything goes wrong was just not what I initially wanted. However, the est of the extras more than make up for it. They wrap up any lingering questions about what their future will look like, provide several more extremely good spicy scenes, and give several lighthearted moments of post canon relationship bliss as well. All in all, a very satisfying conclusion to a wonderful story that brings two deply wounded people back together to give them their happily ever after.
I hope more of Ice's work gets officially translated because I am definitely interested to see what else they have written!
Most of this last volume is extras and I always love getting to see what happens further down the road. I'm really glad I stuck with the extras because I almost stalled out in the middle of the first one, which is a very long flashback retelling of their early relationship through Duan Mingyang's POV. While the insight into his character was wonderful and I was glad to have it, jumping from the happy ending back into the Bad First Time Around where everything goes wrong was just not what I initially wanted. However, the est of the extras more than make up for it. They wrap up any lingering questions about what their future will look like, provide several more extremely good spicy scenes, and give several lighthearted moments of post canon relationship bliss as well. All in all, a very satisfying conclusion to a wonderful story that brings two deply wounded people back together to give them their happily ever after.
I hope more of Ice's work gets officially translated because I am definitely interested to see what else they have written!
My Step Sister is A Vampire by K.L. Mann
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
This is...not good. This starts with a huge infodump and complicated relationship dynamics and worldbuild. I was like "cool, I'm going to read till I hit the smut" and the first smut scene was, like, fine? But then we are adding another complicated person and dynamic to this mix and it feels the need to walk you through this pack's whole history and this vampire having stalked them and I just so aggressively do not care. I may have stuck with it if it was just the pack, but this is trying to do way too much in a novella that really could have just cold opened on the erotica because that is so clearly what all this is actually barely there to justify in the most hand wave fashion. Also, why luna and not omega? Werewolves have Established Lore any smutty reader knows, which you could lean on in a novella so you don't have as much to explain. I am so sad this wasn't good because I love paranormal romance as well as why choose / polyamory content and I totally would have been here for some brain off monsterfucker smut but I guess I can't have nice things.
The Duke Makes Me Feel... by Adriana Herrera
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
4.0
I was absolutely delighted by this little novella. I am so glad I ended up with this in the probably smut special edition novella box because it will definitely end up being one of my favorites of the 12 novellas. Even better, it let me try another book by Adriana Herrera and I will definitely be reading more after this! I think the only other book I read by her (Hellmouth Guardian's Lover) just wasn't the right dynamic for me to get into her writing. Any small issues I had with that novella were not at all an issue here.
The banter and dynamic between Arlo and Marena was absolutely delightful. I was also pleasantly surprised by how grounded and well researched the historical setting was (only surprised because unfortunately the probably smut cover artist did not do a great job conveying the historical setting. I was truly shocked when I opened the first page and saw 1879 London because the clothing and furniture on the cover look unmistakably contemporary).
This novella really hit every note I wanted it to! The relationship felt like it grew organically, they struggled with very realistic obstacles, and both their romantic moments and their smutty scenes were fun and well written! Best of all when looking at a novella, it felt like it had good pacing and left me satisfied at the end even though I would have gladly read more about these two. I am really looking forward to looking into the rest of Adriana Herrera's work!
The banter and dynamic between Arlo and Marena was absolutely delightful. I was also pleasantly surprised by how grounded and well researched the historical setting was (only surprised because unfortunately the probably smut cover artist did not do a great job conveying the historical setting. I was truly shocked when I opened the first page and saw 1879 London because the clothing and furniture on the cover look unmistakably contemporary).
This novella really hit every note I wanted it to! The relationship felt like it grew organically, they struggled with very realistic obstacles, and both their romantic moments and their smutty scenes were fun and well written! Best of all when looking at a novella, it felt like it had good pacing and left me satisfied at the end even though I would have gladly read more about these two. I am really looking forward to looking into the rest of Adriana Herrera's work!