kitsunesdiary's reviews
59 reviews

I’ve been 𝑊𝐴𝐼𝑇𝐼𝑁𝐺 for a book like this! A pirate adventure with all the right elements—slow burn romance, found family, sea creatures, curses, gods, and, of course, a morally grey MMC! 𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 is the perfect blend of 𝑃𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑛 and 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑑, wrapped up in that magical Disney feel. It’s the kind of emotional, beautiful story that stays with you long after you finish reading 🧜🏻‍♀️🩰🤍

The chemistry between Donna and Captain Calico had me swooning! Their slow-burn moments were so heartfelt and romantic, I was MELTING! All the things Captain Calico says?! I’m obsessed with him 🫠

But it wasn’t just the romance that had me hooked—every character was such a delight, and their bond was so special! They truly felt like a family, and I adored how everyone had their own unique quirks. Captain Calico and Ela were my absolute favourites, I couldn’t get enough of them!! 🥹 And Donna? She’s such a soft, lovable FMC who completely captured my heart 💘✨

The plot was absolutely captivating! The curses, the myths, the 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑦—it was like reading a fairytale, but with a fierce pirate twist. Rut's writing was so vivid and immersive, I felt like I was sailing the seas with them. The imagery was breathtaking, and OH MY GOD the 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑠—don’t even get me started! They were the cutest surprise every time and made each chapter even more exciting to dive into 🌊🏹

Honestly, I loved 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 part of this book. It flowed so smoothly, and I couldn’t put it down!

Huge thank you to Rut for writing this lovely piece of art and the ARC! I've been counting down the days to read this and it did not disappoint 🐚🪸 I'm already dying for the next book in the series! 💌💫

-`ღ´-

Book tropes:

❥ Pirates vs. nobility

❥ Slow burn

❥ Found family

❥ Morally grey MMC

❥ Soft hearted heroine

❥ betrayals & secrets

❥ Mythology & divine interventions

❥ Pirates, sea creatures, gods, curses, art, love

Nightshade by Autumn Woods

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dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

📖💌🔪🏉🎓🩸

“Until midnight, a hundred years from now.”

— ♡ —
OH MY GOD— Nightshade had me hooked from the first page. The tension, the mystery, and the chemistry between the characters drew me in instantly. I could feel the weight of Ophelia’s grief and determination, and I instantly related to Ophelia—her vulnerabilities, her inner struggles, and everything about her felt so real. And Alex, he is so complex, mysterious, charming, and funny… I am completely head over heels for him!! I’ll admit I have a thing for broken boys. Alex is such an emotional & soft person beneath his tough exterior.

They are both grumpy, and stubborn which made their witty, back-and-forth banter so much fun to read. The tension & longing was so good!! I am OBSESSED. He falls first and HARD. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic.

Nightshade masterfully blends dark academia, enemies-to-lovers, and slow-burn romance. It’s a perfect balance of tension, and raw emotion. As much as Ophelia is on a quest for revenge, the book explores her struggles and how her feelings for Alex evolve, making it a beautiful emotional journey to witness.

The pace of the story is perfect— the plot unfolds naturally while still keeping you on the edge of your seat. The writing is nothing short of STUNNING. It’s incredibly poetic, with beautiful, evocative descriptions that painted vivid pictures in my mind. I was completely immersed in the world, and I felt like I was right there. The atmosphere and world-building are so rich that you can practically feel the chill of the Scottish air and the weight of the secrets that hang in the shadows.

But that ending?! I was NOT prepared for the cliffhanger, now I can’t wait for the second book. If you're after a dark, captivating read with stunning prose and a romance that’ll keep you hooked, Nightshade is a must.

💌: i’m so grateful, thank you so SO much for the ARC Autumn Woods & Lovenotes PR !! I was beyond excited for this book, and it exceeded every expectation I had 🫠🫶🏻

— ♡ —

🏰 Book tropes:
➳ hate to love
➳ grumpy x grumpy
➳ dark academia
➳ Scottish castle setting
➳ creepy events
➳ email banter
➳ rainy weather
➳ rugby player MMC & swimmer FMC (not a sports romance!)
➳ old grudge & mysterious murder
➳ an anonymous stalker

MANACLED by SenLinYu

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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Sonat by Işılsu Gültekin

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

Bilinmeyen Bir Kadının Mektubu by Stefan Zweig

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dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced