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hmgauthier's Reviews (243)
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
This book wasn’t what I expected at any point. I expected more of a rom-com but that likely was misreading/understanding on my part.
I liked a lot about the book: the premise of a sapphic Victorian novel, numerous Taylor references, the fabulous found family with Gwen’s cousins, all the layers to the clothes, wine cellar scene, Mrs. Stelm and Mrs. Gilpe.
I struggled with a few things in this story. I wish the story had as much fun/romantic pining to sad pining (which bogged down my read). I wish the build up to Gwen and Beth getting together was a little more. I wasn’t as invested in them as I wanted to be when it happened. Honestly, the story of the girls parents was so interesting and I was so invested I would have almost rather read that story. Keeping track of everyone and all the titles was tricky. Also, the parent trap aspect of this romance really lost me a bit, it felt weird especially with how the book ended…
I wanted to love this, it was cute but nothing fantastic.
This book wasn’t what I expected at any point. I expected more of a rom-com but that likely was misreading/understanding on my part.
I liked a lot about the book: the premise of a sapphic Victorian novel, numerous Taylor references, the fabulous found family with Gwen’s cousins, all the layers to the clothes, wine cellar scene, Mrs. Stelm and Mrs. Gilpe.
I struggled with a few things in this story. I wish the story had as much fun/romantic pining to sad pining (which bogged down my read). I wish the build up to Gwen and Beth getting together was a little more. I wasn’t as invested in them as I wanted to be when it happened. Honestly, the story of the girls parents was so interesting and I was so invested I would have almost rather read that story. Keeping track of everyone and all the titles was tricky. Also, the parent trap aspect of this romance really lost me a bit, it felt weird especially with how the book ended…
I wanted to love this, it was cute but nothing fantastic.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Man mistakes his own experiences as the canvas on which all truths are drawn.”
I knew within 10 pages this wasn’t for me. The writing is stylistic to its detriment. The story becomes hard to read.
Beautiful and macabre.
I knew within 10 pages this wasn’t for me. The writing is stylistic to its detriment. The story becomes hard to read.
Beautiful and macabre.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“Life is long …. and memory is longer. I hope you live forever.”
I knew from the first sentence this book would be fantastic. A book about the love of two women that spans two millennium? It feels like Burke tapped into my brain and put all my favorite things on the pages.
I loved Clara and Fidah but the letters were probably my favorite part of this read. They were rife with love, loneliness, and the pain of being separated.
I struggled following the fungus aspect of the book at times, I figure another read would help. Additionally, more information on the vampiric world at large (I can also see the argument for not though.)
Easily one of my favorite books this year. I can’t wait for the sequel!!
“Life is long …. and memory is longer. I hope you live forever.”
I knew from the first sentence this book would be fantastic. A book about the love of two women that spans two millennium? It feels like Burke tapped into my brain and put all my favorite things on the pages.
I loved Clara and Fidah but the letters were probably my favorite part of this read. They were rife with love, loneliness, and the pain of being separated.
I struggled following the fungus aspect of the book at times, I figure another read would help. Additionally, more information on the vampiric world at large (I can also see the argument for not though.)
Easily one of my favorite books this year. I can’t wait for the sequel!!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“Why don’t you go on and set this whole place on fire. I’ll lie here and burn with it.”
The premise of this book sounded like Beauty and the Beast with a sapphic vampire which I was incredibly excited about but it unfortunately fell so short of hopes/expectations.
For a book titled “Bride of the Crimson Queen,” I expected more of the Crimson Queen and for the Kami to be an actual bride.
The whole world created here is a heaping pile of misogyny that Kami is not fleshed out enough to combat or help distract the reader from. Her lack of real character and the horrible virginity obsessed society made for a painful read.
The writing itself left much to be desired and it needs an edit.
Additionally, the book absolutely needs trigger warnings. If it wasn’t for other reviews I wouldn’t know about the on page rape and attempted rape of the main character.
Aradia was easily the most interesting aspect of this book, I just wish she was in it more than Skye and Wasser. The slow burn of her and the Kami was fun.
“Why don’t you go on and set this whole place on fire. I’ll lie here and burn with it.”
The premise of this book sounded like Beauty and the Beast with a sapphic vampire which I was incredibly excited about but it unfortunately fell so short of hopes/expectations.
For a book titled “Bride of the Crimson Queen,” I expected more of the Crimson Queen and for the Kami to be an actual bride.
The whole world created here is a heaping pile of misogyny that Kami is not fleshed out enough to combat or help distract the reader from. Her lack of real character and the horrible virginity obsessed society made for a painful read.
The writing itself left much to be desired and it needs an edit.
Additionally, the book absolutely needs trigger warnings. If it wasn’t for other reviews I wouldn’t know about the on page rape and attempted rape of the main character.
Aradia was easily the most interesting aspect of this book, I just wish she was in it more than Skye and Wasser. The slow burn of her and the Kami was fun.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
I liked a number of things about this story: the different points of view the story was told through, the classic scary movie gore, a compelling evil, and the unpredictability of who would survive, if anyone.
I truly struggled with this read. The exposition was painfully slow, easily 100 pages passed before anything hugely substantial happened. Adding to the long, slow exposition was the repetitive words and phrases. The mask was described countless times, so much so I skipped over chunks of book. The many POVs got a little confusing at times and it seemed like there were pov switches mid chapter towards the end. Additionally, for a book where the repetitive importance of the location seemed crucial to the story it was very distracting that the locations mentioned (REPEATEDLY) are no where near each other. Utica is not in Warren County and Utica is not in the Adirondack’s. If this wasn’t such a harped upon point it would have been far easier to look past. But the repeated insistence of the geography took me out of the story.
I liked a number of things about this story: the different points of view the story was told through, the classic scary movie gore, a compelling evil, and the unpredictability of who would survive, if anyone.
I truly struggled with this read. The exposition was painfully slow, easily 100 pages passed before anything hugely substantial happened. Adding to the long, slow exposition was the repetitive words and phrases. The mask was described countless times, so much so I skipped over chunks of book. The many POVs got a little confusing at times and it seemed like there were pov switches mid chapter towards the end. Additionally, for a book where the repetitive importance of the location seemed crucial to the story it was very distracting that the locations mentioned (REPEATEDLY) are no where near each other. Utica is not in Warren County and Utica is not in the Adirondack’s. If this wasn’t such a harped upon point it would have been far easier to look past. But the repeated insistence of the geography took me out of the story.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“…his affections, like ivy, were the growth of time.”
Easily one of the best classic horror novels I’ve ever read. Great pacing, intrigue, and storytelling.
Easily one of the best classic horror novels I’ve ever read. Great pacing, intrigue, and storytelling.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely fell in love with this book. The premise, the plot, and the characters were all magic. I kept taking breaks from reading to hug my iPad.
I never imagined I would connect so much with this book but especially Pepper.
The lush descriptions of Thistle & Bloom made me feel like I was there.
I can’t wait to own this book!!
I absolutely fell in love with this book. The premise, the plot, and the characters were all magic. I kept taking breaks from reading to hug my iPad.
I never imagined I would connect so much with this book but especially Pepper.
The lush descriptions of Thistle & Bloom made me feel like I was there.
I can’t wait to own this book!!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
I loved the premise of this book, a gay horror novel set in rural Pennsylvania but it never really delivered on the horror or the romantic subplot for me.
This book has ALOT happening to a detrimental extent that it bogged down the plot trying to keep all the people and plot threads separate. I think I caught and understood everything but who knows.
The religious aspect was compelling if a little on the nose.
The epilogue was perfection.
I loved the premise of this book, a gay horror novel set in rural Pennsylvania but it never really delivered on the horror or the romantic subplot for me.
This book has ALOT happening to a detrimental extent that it bogged down the plot trying to keep all the people and plot threads separate. I think I caught and understood everything but who knows.
The religious aspect was compelling if a little on the nose.
The epilogue was perfection.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“I can’t imagine, that you could ever be unextraordinary.”
Pretty sure I swooned my way through this read.
I love Pride and Prejudice, so reading a trans MLM retelling? Chefs kiss amazing.
I loved Oliver’s joy in this book, it made my heart soar and the romance is so so endearingly sweet. It kept so many things from the Classic I loved while adding new dimensions to Mr Bennett and other characters.
A must read retelling.
“I can’t imagine, that you could ever be unextraordinary.”
Pretty sure I swooned my way through this read.
I love Pride and Prejudice, so reading a trans MLM retelling? Chefs kiss amazing.
I loved Oliver’s joy in this book, it made my heart soar and the romance is so so endearingly sweet. It kept so many things from the Classic I loved while adding new dimensions to Mr Bennett and other characters.
A must read retelling.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
This may be the most gorgeous, grotesquely written story I have ever read. And I mean that in the best way.
The large, compelling cast of characters are all mostly unlikeable but it just adds to the story. They are gods, they don’t need to be likable. I did struggle a bit with Gem so I hope to maybe see a character growth arc in the future. Additionally, the town of Gracie itself as a character and the palpability of how faith dominates over the region is visceral.
It may not always be an easy book to read but Edgmon’s powerful mastery of language is jaw dropping.
This may be the most gorgeous, grotesquely written story I have ever read. And I mean that in the best way.
The large, compelling cast of characters are all mostly unlikeable but it just adds to the story. They are gods, they don’t need to be likable. I did struggle a bit with Gem so I hope to maybe see a character growth arc in the future. Additionally, the town of Gracie itself as a character and the palpability of how faith dominates over the region is visceral.
It may not always be an easy book to read but Edgmon’s powerful mastery of language is jaw dropping.