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edgybutfemme's reviews
126 reviews
Far from Neverland by Rylee Hale
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️4 / 5
This features many explicit scenes with lots of detailed language. This book is heavier on the spice, but the plot is still there and doing something interesting. Also, it's probably at least a little kinky.
The Smut / Kinks include: breathplay, knife (hook) play, blood play (light), fear play, pain play, light BDSM, dubious consent, edge play, and a lot of literal swordfighting as foreplay.
This book was everything I hoped it would be based on the pitch: a grown up Peter Pan and Captain Hook having a queer fairytale romance. It's been 14 years since Peter left Neverland and Captain Hook would tell you he's never been happier (outside of the shadow consuming more and more of Neverland) but that is a lie. Meanwhile, Peter is living a totally normal life having forgotten Neverland: he's 26 years old and working at a college teaching music but haunted with a loneliness he can't seem to escape (and that no amount of dating Perfectly Nice Guys seems to fix).
My absolute favorite part of this book, and what really sold me on this dynamic, is how much Peter and Hook both live for the game. They both need adventure and battle and an equal to fight against. It appears immediately in their dynamic and the smut was incredibly fun because of it. Hook feels like a villain and certainly has his red flag moments, but it is also genuinely so sweet how he never wants to actually do real permanent harm to Peter or anyone he cares about.
I love a villain/hero romance, and this also delivers on both ends of the enemies to lovers dynamic. Hook doesn't want to like Peter and has a very good reason to hate him (small spoiler, and not much of one if you know the original story:y'know, the whole cutting his hand off thing ). It is so funny to see Captain Hook have to deal with searching for Peter in 21st century America because he needs his nemesis of hundreds of years to come back and fix Neverland. Peter's half of the dynamic is made even more complicated by memory shenanigans, but once he does remember, he also has a perfectly good reason to hate Hook (bigger spoiler, unique to this story: He thinks Hook killed Tinkerbell. It's more complicated than he thought, but that's the place he's starting from once he has his memories back ). Their romance is incredibly spicy and also ends up surprisingly sweet by the end.
There is a plot here outside of the numerous excellent sex scenes and romance, and I enjoyed it even though the main focus of the story is definitely the romance. They also both have interesting relationships outside of each other, and I enjoyed all the side characters which is always a bonus. This isn't a groundbreaking novel, but it isn't trying to be, and it succeeds at delivering exactly what it set out to do. Like other good fairy tale re-imaginings/sequels, this delivers the beats I expected in a way that I enjoyed. I am really looking forward to checking out this author's other work, especially the next book in this series of stand alone romances.
This features many explicit scenes with lots of detailed language. This book is heavier on the spice, but the plot is still there and doing something interesting. Also, it's probably at least a little kinky.
The Smut / Kinks include: breathplay, knife (hook) play, blood play (light), fear play, pain play, light BDSM, dubious consent, edge play, and a lot of literal swordfighting as foreplay.
This book was everything I hoped it would be based on the pitch: a grown up Peter Pan and Captain Hook having a queer fairytale romance. It's been 14 years since Peter left Neverland and Captain Hook would tell you he's never been happier (outside of the shadow consuming more and more of Neverland) but that is a lie. Meanwhile, Peter is living a totally normal life having forgotten Neverland: he's 26 years old and working at a college teaching music but haunted with a loneliness he can't seem to escape (and that no amount of dating Perfectly Nice Guys seems to fix).
My absolute favorite part of this book, and what really sold me on this dynamic, is how much Peter and Hook both live for the game. They both need adventure and battle and an equal to fight against. It appears immediately in their dynamic and the smut was incredibly fun because of it. Hook feels like a villain and certainly has his red flag moments, but it is also genuinely so sweet how he never wants to actually do real permanent harm to Peter or anyone he cares about.
I love a villain/hero romance, and this also delivers on both ends of the enemies to lovers dynamic. Hook doesn't want to like Peter and has a very good reason to hate him (small spoiler, and not much of one if you know the original story:
There is a plot here outside of the numerous excellent sex scenes and romance, and I enjoyed it even though the main focus of the story is definitely the romance. They also both have interesting relationships outside of each other, and I enjoyed all the side characters which is always a bonus. This isn't a groundbreaking novel, but it isn't trying to be, and it succeeds at delivering exactly what it set out to do. Like other good fairy tale re-imaginings/sequels, this delivers the beats I expected in a way that I enjoyed. I am really looking forward to checking out this author's other work, especially the next book in this series of stand alone romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Kidnapping and Murder
The Content Warnings from the front of the book include the kinks I listed above as well as: assault, violence, grief & trauma, references to kidnapping & murder
The Hellmouth Guardian's Lover by Adriana Herrera
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was fine! It was a short 106 pages and I probably wouldn't have finished it if had been longer. This is mostly smut and honestly I would have preferred it if it had really committed to just being erotica. The dynamic / second chance romance plus the plot theoretically bringing them together was just too much to execute on effectively in such a short novella, especially considering how many of those pages were devoted to the sex.
The one thing that I really commend this novella for is committing to the monsterfucking. Augustus is a snake demon and they put some fun thought into the sex scenes and monster anatomy. Spoilers about the smut & magic:Something that I find fun in magic/monster media is when sex with a magical creature causes some sort of physical changes or bestows some fun magic powers on their partner. This novella did commit to that and that aspect was fun.Drinking Augustus' blood and having sex often gives Ari fangs, changes her eyes, and makes her glow green in addition to giving her some sort of snake powers. Idk, don't think about it too much.
Since I really saw the writing on the wall that it was mostly going to be smut, I turned my brain off and tried to enjoy the ride for what it was: some smut between two people who have been apart for five years and carry old hurt and regrets, but are still irresistibly drawn together the second they are back in the same place. Nothing to write home about, but not much to complain about either. Just perfectly fine monsterfucking with a HEA.
The one thing that I really commend this novella for is committing to the monsterfucking. Augustus is a snake demon and they put some fun thought into the sex scenes and monster anatomy. Spoilers about the smut & magic:
Since I really saw the writing on the wall that it was mostly going to be smut, I turned my brain off and tried to enjoy the ride for what it was: some smut between two people who have been apart for five years and carry old hurt and regrets, but are still irresistibly drawn together the second they are back in the same place. Nothing to write home about, but not much to complain about either. Just perfectly fine monsterfucking with a HEA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.
It just...fine. I was fine while reading it, but the second I put it down I had no desire to pick it back up. Also, like, I come from fandom communities and I'm queer, I've read so much good omegaverse and this isn't it. I can name three fics off the top of my head that do it better and have something interesting to say about it. This is bland straight omegaverse to introduce it to your mainstream heterosexual audience and therefore it has nothing for me in it. It doesn't even really seem to have put much thought into HOW it works both biologically and societally. How are these two doctors so uneducated about what their biology means for them? Are the unable to resist each other becauze they like each other, or because biology, or because fated mates, or some combination of the three? It truly can't seem to decide by the point I hit. I can't believe I apparently walked away from a book mid sex scene. I'm a smut lover! This is a bad sign. Anyway, hit me up if you want GOOD omegaverse recs. I guess now I am going to go see if there is any good published omegaverse books out there. *sigh*
The Remarried Empress, Vol. 8 by Alphatart
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This is the best volume yet and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one. Unfortunately, I will have to wait (or, more likely, go back to webtoon and finish reading it there since it's complete I believe).
Ah, Sovieshu, my beloathed: welcome to the consequences of your actions! I am living my every second of Sovieshu and Rashta falling apart as Heinrey and Navier get closer and closer. It is so good to see things going Navier's way for a change, and I love how bold Heinrey is able to be now that they are married.
Ah, Sovieshu, my beloathed: welcome to the consequences of your actions! I am living my every second of Sovieshu and Rashta falling apart as Heinrey and Navier get closer and closer. It is so good to see things going Navier's way for a change, and I love how bold Heinrey is able to be now that they are married.
The Remarried Empress, Vol. 7 by Alphatart
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
There are so many things to like about this volume, but a definite highlight is shirtless Heinrey and Navier's reaction to seeing shirtless Heinrey. I absolutely love getting to see Navier establish herself as Queen while Rashta and Sovieshu continue to blunder around messing things up. So excited to see Navier and Heinrey finally get to get more extended time together. This comic is the MOST slowburn but I love it.
The Remarried Empress, Vol. 6 by HereLee, Alphatart
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!! I love this issue so very much. Navier and Heinrey are so good. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Sovieshu losing his mind over Navier. I know each volume from here will only get better and better.
The Remarried Empress, Vol. 5 by Alphatart
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
We are really getting into it now! I am So Excited that the wheels for the divorce and Navier's remarriage to Heinrey were set in motion in this volume. I was struggling slightly with the earlier parts of my reread of so much familiar content (even though it's excellent), but we are really getting to the parts I was most looking forward to! At some point here, I'll also hit the part of the story I haven't read get, but it will probably be several more volumes.
The Remarried Empress, vol. 4 by Chiho Christie, Alphatart
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Not much to say about this volume! I am enjoying getting further into the plot and some major players like Navier's brother showing up. I can't wait till Heinrey and Navier are back on screen together, and we are approaching ever closer to the inevitable divorce! I can't wait for Navier to not have to deal with Rashta and Sovieshu's nonsense every day.
The Remarried Empress, Vol. 3 by Sumpul (숨풀), Chiho Christie, Alphatart
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Navier continues to be perfect! I love how good she is at doing the Court Politics Thing. This volume happens to have one of my favorite scenes in it. Specificially, the gift and blessing Navier gives Rashta at the banquet for Rashta's child. looking forward to continuing to chew through these volumes.
The Remarried Empress, Vol. 2 by Alphatart
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is a good series! I am continuing to enjoy it! I don't have much to say because it's volume 2/8. I forgot how much I am Suffering anytime Rashta and/or Sovieshu are on screen. Also, like, cannot WAIT to get to the divorce but kinda forgot how far in it is.