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er_inreads's reviews
301 reviews
Not Without Me by Maria Dean
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Please ensure you check trigger warnings for this book before you read it.
Main triggers: death of a parent, alcohol abuse, on page sexual assault, mental health issues, on page attempted rape & murder.
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the flashbacks to give you the then and now storyline. I loved Alex & Cade and their love. My heart broke during the flashbacks & then again right at the end. I am a sucker for a happily ever after though, and this is one.
I did want more, more reconciliation between the two, more spice scenes, and more after, but it was still a great read.
Thank you to the author and hot tree publishing for this review copy. All opinions are my own.
Main triggers: death of a parent, alcohol abuse, on page sexual assault, mental health issues, on page attempted rape & murder.
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the flashbacks to give you the then and now storyline. I loved Alex & Cade and their love. My heart broke during the flashbacks & then again right at the end. I am a sucker for a happily ever after though, and this is one.
I did want more, more reconciliation between the two, more spice scenes, and more after, but it was still a great read.
Thank you to the author and hot tree publishing for this review copy. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Rape
Party Animal by Ali K. Mulford
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
This book was everything I needed. Sapphic romance, forced proximity, fake dating, plus size FMC & later-in-life realisations of actual sexuality, masc representation, gay panic moments and body positivity and encouragement, plus, returning to Pickle Island Zoo and all its antics is always needed.
Party Animal follows Finch Lachlan, our Pickle Island vet and Frankie, chef extraordinaire while they do a whole lot of pretending their feelings don’t exist. Frankie’s later in life sexuality light bulb moment was incredibly relatable, and so many readers will find the same levels of comfort in these words that I did. Special mention to Ron, the meddlesome flamingo. I loved every minute of this book. I think Finch and Frankie’s story is my favourite of the three books.
Now, where can I get my own Finch?
Party Animal follows Finch Lachlan, our Pickle Island vet and Frankie, chef extraordinaire while they do a whole lot of pretending their feelings don’t exist. Frankie’s later in life sexuality light bulb moment was incredibly relatable, and so many readers will find the same levels of comfort in these words that I did. Special mention to Ron, the meddlesome flamingo. I loved every minute of this book. I think Finch and Frankie’s story is my favourite of the three books.
Now, where can I get my own Finch?
Field Of Lilies by DV Fischer
Field of Lilies is a great conclusion to the Bouquet of Lies duet. I loved Tori and Killians story, it’s a fast read that has you on the edge of your seat, screaming at your book. The suspense that follows killian, not knowing who he is or what his story was, the frustration with the sheriff (this town and its sherif issues I swear), and the heartbreak felt for the women impacted by the Lilian Breeder. I did guess the baddie immediately, but it didn’t take away from the story for me, I still really enjoyed this book.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Field of Lilies is a great conclusion to the Bouquet of Lies duet. I loved Tori and Killians story, it’s a fast read that has you on the edge of your seat, screaming at your book. The suspense that follows killian, not knowing who he is or what his story was, the frustration with the sheriff (this town and its sherif issues I swear), and the heartbreak felt for the women impacted by the Lilian Breeder. I did guess the baddie immediately, but it didn’t take away from the story for me, I still really enjoyed this book.
Empress of Fae by Briar Boleyn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Couldn’t get into it, felt like it was dragging.
These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
I am grateful to have received this book to review. Unfortunately I DNF’d at 36%. I tried for over a week to push through, but I struggled to connect to the story & the characters.
I LOVED the premise of this story. I love a Peter Pan retelling & I am an absolute sucker for a villain origin story. I felt the pacing of the book was too varied; there was not enough backstory. For example, we had Tier introduced with a clear background between himself and Jordan that left hate and anger, but no real explanation of that when they brought him in. The multiple POV for the characters seemed not to flow well, and the characters didn’t seem able to stand on their own legs without impact from the FMC Jordan.
I loved the LGBTQIA+ rep, the disability rep and the mental health rep. I think these are all super important to not be shied away from, and the author did this really well. I love a dark imagining, and this did this well too. I loved the SE Asia geographical setting, this made it unique and set away from the standard westernisation of all other novels, I loved the nod towards the Bermuda Triangle too.
I wanted so badly to love this; and maybe I will pick it up another day & try it again and love it then, and there will absolutely be readers out there who will absolutely inhale this book and love it in the way the author deserves it to be loved.
Thanks again, NetGalley and Angry Robot, for the opportunity.
I LOVED the premise of this story. I love a Peter Pan retelling & I am an absolute sucker for a villain origin story. I felt the pacing of the book was too varied; there was not enough backstory. For example, we had Tier introduced with a clear background between himself and Jordan that left hate and anger, but no real explanation of that when they brought him in. The multiple POV for the characters seemed not to flow well, and the characters didn’t seem able to stand on their own legs without impact from the FMC Jordan.
I loved the LGBTQIA+ rep, the disability rep and the mental health rep. I think these are all super important to not be shied away from, and the author did this really well. I love a dark imagining, and this did this well too. I loved the SE Asia geographical setting, this made it unique and set away from the standard westernisation of all other novels, I loved the nod towards the Bermuda Triangle too.
I wanted so badly to love this; and maybe I will pick it up another day & try it again and love it then, and there will absolutely be readers out there who will absolutely inhale this book and love it in the way the author deserves it to be loved.
Thanks again, NetGalley and Angry Robot, for the opportunity.
Shades of Smoke and Shadows by Celia Ralk
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As I read this book I tried to think how I would review it. I could talk about the magic systems, the various species of fae, of shifters, I could talk about the wingspan. And I probably should.
I should tell you how it’s a unique take on fae and magic, on tyrannical kings & entire missing courts. We should talk about how the FMC is clearly more than she appears, about how certain magic appears on your skin in a physical form. We should talk about the sort-of love triangle, what I assume is a fated mate, the hidden identities that are slowly coming to light. The betrayals, the miscommunication, the attitudey, naive FMC who is absolutely not here to fuck spiders. We should talk about it all, about how I loved it, mostly. There was a few spots I felt were draggy (is that a word, idk, my heart and mind are destroyed), and a few that felt not needed, which is why it’s not a full 5 star. We should. But I can’t.
Because I kept reading. I read, and my heart rate increased. And then it shattered. It shattered twice. The ending. THE ENDING. I need book 2, immediately.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review this book. These opinions are my own.
I should tell you how it’s a unique take on fae and magic, on tyrannical kings & entire missing courts. We should talk about how the FMC is clearly more than she appears, about how certain magic appears on your skin in a physical form. We should talk about the sort-of love triangle, what I assume is a fated mate, the hidden identities that are slowly coming to light. The betrayals, the miscommunication, the attitudey, naive FMC who is absolutely not here to fuck spiders. We should talk about it all, about how I loved it, mostly. There was a few spots I felt were draggy (is that a word, idk, my heart and mind are destroyed), and a few that felt not needed, which is why it’s not a full 5 star. We should. But I can’t.
Because I kept reading. I read, and my heart rate increased. And then it shattered. It shattered twice. The ending. THE ENDING. I need book 2, immediately.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review this book. These opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Vivid Avowed by Kaydence Snow
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Vital Found by Kaydence Snow
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Variant Lost by Kaydence Snow
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every Last Suspect by Nicola Moriarty
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: none
Trauma: none.
Harriet Osman is impossible to turn down. Understatement of the entire book. Harriet is confident and self-assured, she knows what she wants & she takes it. Typically at the detriment of those around her.
Harriet crosses so many lines in her life, and someone has finally snapped back - someone killed her, but who? We spend the book going through Harriet’s suspect list - her husband, Malek, her best friend and lover, Victoria & Karen, the new school mum friend.
We get a point of view from everyone involved with her in an intimate sought of manner, and the author does an amazing job to make us hate Harriet and spend the entirety of the book suspecting each main player in her life.
Every Last Suspect is set in Sydney, with brief flashes to Brisbane & Melbourne. I loved the LGBTQ representation, the nod to more non-traditional marriages & the twist and turns throughout the story, leaving you guessing and unsure (though, I was so sure I had guessed it at 6% - as usual, I was wrong).
The ending? Loved it. My heart was in my throat reading the last few chapters. And the last few pages? PERFECT. The last two sentences? EXQUISITE.
I urge everyone to read this story.
Spice: none
Trauma: none.
Harriet Osman is impossible to turn down. Understatement of the entire book. Harriet is confident and self-assured, she knows what she wants & she takes it. Typically at the detriment of those around her.
Harriet crosses so many lines in her life, and someone has finally snapped back - someone killed her, but who? We spend the book going through Harriet’s suspect list - her husband, Malek, her best friend and lover, Victoria & Karen, the new school mum friend.
We get a point of view from everyone involved with her in an intimate sought of manner, and the author does an amazing job to make us hate Harriet and spend the entirety of the book suspecting each main player in her life.
Every Last Suspect is set in Sydney, with brief flashes to Brisbane & Melbourne. I loved the LGBTQ representation, the nod to more non-traditional marriages & the twist and turns throughout the story, leaving you guessing and unsure (though, I was so sure I had guessed it at 6% - as usual, I was wrong).
The ending? Loved it. My heart was in my throat reading the last few chapters. And the last few pages? PERFECT. The last two sentences? EXQUISITE.
I urge everyone to read this story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Murder