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364 reviews
Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
relaxing
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? No
3.75
This cozy fantasy is one I feel confident recommending to fans of T Kingfisher and Heather Fawcett. Numerous times, the plot and world-building reminded me of the Emily Wilde series in particular. A journey narrative with emphasis on found friendship and discussions surrounding what it means to exist in a world that a creature like Jenny Greenteeth may no longer belong in...a world where magic and magical creatures like her are no longer welcome or safe.
L O V E N O T E S
One of my favorite elements in Greenteeth is the first-person POV we receive from Jenny herself. I couldn't imagine following the perspective of any other character. I especially would not have wanted to be in the head of Temperance, for instance (see: Criticisms). Jenny was such a dynamic and easy to love voice, not to mention her worldview of humanity, society, and magic (having lived several centuries by the book's opening pages) was fascinating. Her running commentary across various scenarios lent itself to humor as well, which provided a great balance for the darker and more emotional moments in this book. And the book does, in fact, get far darker at times than I expected, but I would still classify this as a cozy read.
The best part of Greenteeth hands down would be the characters' observations of and reactions to the disquieting impermanence of magic that has become widespread, an ever growing concern for magical beings in this historical Britain. And it's a heavy topic that weighs on our ragtag group of heroes as they embark on a quest to expel a truly dark and evil thing from their home.
C R I T I C I S M S
The most glaring place where I found the narrative lacking involved the missed opportunities to dig deeper into how one might value a human life compared to the life of a magical creature. Twice, the author provides a scenario where lake monster and witch butt heads regarding who should be saved and who should be slain. Both women arguably straddle the same two worlds: one of magic and one of non-magical humans. While the witch Temperance has a stronger foothold in the human world, being human-passing with her husband and children, Jenny needs a glamour when interacting with humans and her "allegiance" leans toward the world of high and low fae even though she did start out her life as a human baby.
We see two identical scenarios which at their core challenge Jenny and Temperance to ask themselves who deserves to live. The first involveshuman soldiers attacking Jenny (and Temperance eventually) without hesitation or pause to consider if these women are even dangerous. Temperance is unyielding in her stance that the men should be allowed to live after Jenny announces her intention to kill them. Not long after this event, Temperance is cold-hearted and ready to kill an innocent unicorn--a creature that is basically an endangered species destined to eventually go extinct. When Jenny stops Temperance from killing the magical creature, the witch declares that Jenny has saved her soul but damned her family. And, here is when I said to my ereader: "Temperance, you better take a SEAT, right now."
Here was the time for O'Neill to have these protagonists observe the hypocrisy of Temperance as she places human life (violent humans at that!) above the life of a defenseless magical creature. Instead, O'Neill decides to explain Jenny's interference in the killing of the unicorn by connecting the unicorn's eye color to that of Jenny's daughter. I understand that one element that connects these women is their identity as mothers, but it honestly cheapened the scene for me. What would have been more powerful (and made slightly more sense) is if the author placed the two scenes side by side. She could have used them to open the door for social commentary surrounding a very topical and deep-seated issue of humans failing to care about groups they do not personally identify with. Temperance identifies more with humans than she does with the magical beings with which she interacts; therefore, it doesn't even occur to her that a magical creature's life should be respected and protected in the same way.
In general, I was disappointed with how narrow-minded the witch, Temperance, revealed herself to be in the latter half of the book. The friendship that Jenny forges with Temperance was lovely at first, but eventually Temperance becomes quite selfish in my opinion, and she only considers her own grief and struggle, never pausing to wonder what trauma or worries Jenny may be carrying with her. The two women argue at one point, both making good points and BOTH making harsh remarks, and it is only Jenny who apologizes to Temperance while the latter simply accepts said apology and they move on. Meanwhile, I was left thinking, "And, Temperance, babe, do you have anything to say or apologize for? Hint, hint: the answer is yes..." Eventually, Temperance apologizes for some things but the entire interaction was quite vague and unsatisfying. By the end of the story, it simply felt like an imbalanced friendship in which Jenny mostly gave, and Temperance was happy to take. I just wanted more sympathy and self-awareness from our witch.
My issues with Temperance's character and the missed opportunities for more depth will not bother all in the same way, and it in no way made me regret reading this book. I am also very much interested in what O'Neill elects to publish next!
Actual Rating: 3.75 stars
Original Pub Date: 25 Feb 2025
Reading Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
L O V E N O T E S
One of my favorite elements in Greenteeth is the first-person POV we receive from Jenny herself. I couldn't imagine following the perspective of any other character. I especially would not have wanted to be in the head of Temperance, for instance (see: Criticisms). Jenny was such a dynamic and easy to love voice, not to mention her worldview of humanity, society, and magic (having lived several centuries by the book's opening pages) was fascinating. Her running commentary across various scenarios lent itself to humor as well, which provided a great balance for the darker and more emotional moments in this book. And the book does, in fact, get far darker at times than I expected, but I would still classify this as a cozy read.
The best part of Greenteeth hands down would be the characters' observations of and reactions to the disquieting impermanence of magic that has become widespread, an ever growing concern for magical beings in this historical Britain. And it's a heavy topic that weighs on our ragtag group of heroes as they embark on a quest to expel a truly dark and evil thing from their home.
C R I T I C I S M S
The most glaring place where I found the narrative lacking involved the missed opportunities to dig deeper into how one might value a human life compared to the life of a magical creature. Twice, the author provides a scenario where lake monster and witch butt heads regarding who should be saved and who should be slain. Both women arguably straddle the same two worlds: one of magic and one of non-magical humans. While the witch Temperance has a stronger foothold in the human world, being human-passing with her husband and children, Jenny needs a glamour when interacting with humans and her "allegiance" leans toward the world of high and low fae even though she did start out her life as a human baby.
We see two identical scenarios which at their core challenge Jenny and Temperance to ask themselves who deserves to live. The first involves
In general, I was disappointed with how narrow-minded the witch, Temperance, revealed herself to be in the latter half of the book. The friendship that Jenny forges with Temperance was lovely at first, but eventually Temperance becomes quite selfish in my opinion, and she only considers her own grief and struggle, never pausing to wonder what trauma or worries Jenny may be carrying with her. The two women argue at one point, both making good points and BOTH making harsh remarks, and it is only Jenny who apologizes to Temperance while the latter simply accepts said apology and they move on. Meanwhile, I was left thinking, "And, Temperance, babe, do you have anything to say or apologize for? Hint, hint: the answer is yes..." Eventually, Temperance apologizes for some things but the entire interaction was quite vague and unsatisfying. By the end of the story, it simply felt like an imbalanced friendship in which Jenny mostly gave, and Temperance was happy to take. I just wanted more sympathy and self-awareness from our witch.
My issues with Temperance's character and the missed opportunities for more depth will not bother all in the same way, and it in no way made me regret reading this book. I am also very much interested in what O'Neill elects to publish next!
Actual Rating: 3.75 stars
Original Pub Date: 25 Feb 2025
Reading Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
It brings me such joy to see this marked as the first in the new Dorothy Gentleman series, because I am already looking forward to Dorothy's next case!
At the opening of this novella, Dorothy awakens in an elevator during a magnetic storm on the HMS Fairweather...in someone else's body. Not to mention, there has been a murder on board this interstellar passenger liner making its way to a new Earth. AND someone has been purposely damaging memory books (literal backups of passengers' minds) in the Library. Are these events connected or separate crimes? It's a good thing that Dorothy happens to be one of the ship's detectives. Thus begins her hunt for answers...
I can definitely see why this sci-fi mystery genre blend was marketed as 'Miss Marple in space'. While Dorothy does share Marple's keen eye for human nature and a love of knitting, I would argue Dorothy is her own character and a modernized spinster sleuth in the best way possible. And I loved following her character's perspective. I also enjoyed the blending of science fiction with mystery, and I found the two intertwined nicely together. The technology, the spaceship setting, and the culture created from people living hundreds of years en route to a new version of Earth...all of it affected the crimes at hand. And I think that makes it a true genre BLEND.
My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer. Understandably, this is a novella, so sacrifices must be made when it comes to development and description. With that said, the ending did feel slightly rushed, and I would have liked more space on the page allocated to developing motive for the culprit. As that was lacking, and we had little time with all suspects, I am hesitant to call this plot a fair play mystery.
A fast-paced, easy-to-read palette cleanser for quozy (queer + cozy) mystery readers!
Actual Rating: 4.0 stars
Original Pub Date: 18 March 2025
Reading Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley and Tor for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
At the opening of this novella, Dorothy awakens in an elevator during a magnetic storm on the HMS Fairweather...in someone else's body. Not to mention, there has been a murder on board this interstellar passenger liner making its way to a new Earth. AND someone has been purposely damaging memory books (literal backups of passengers' minds) in the Library. Are these events connected or separate crimes? It's a good thing that Dorothy happens to be one of the ship's detectives. Thus begins her hunt for answers...
I can definitely see why this sci-fi mystery genre blend was marketed as 'Miss Marple in space'. While Dorothy does share Marple's keen eye for human nature and a love of knitting, I would argue Dorothy is her own character and a modernized spinster sleuth in the best way possible. And I loved following her character's perspective. I also enjoyed the blending of science fiction with mystery, and I found the two intertwined nicely together. The technology, the spaceship setting, and the culture created from people living hundreds of years en route to a new version of Earth...all of it affected the crimes at hand. And I think that makes it a true genre BLEND.
My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer. Understandably, this is a novella, so sacrifices must be made when it comes to development and description. With that said, the ending did feel slightly rushed, and I would have liked more space on the page allocated to developing motive for the culprit. As that was lacking, and we had little time with all suspects, I am hesitant to call this plot a fair play mystery.
A fast-paced, easy-to-read palette cleanser for quozy (queer + cozy) mystery readers!
Actual Rating: 4.0 stars
Original Pub Date: 18 March 2025
Reading Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley and Tor for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
It Will Only Hurt for a Moment by Delilah S. Dawson
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Upon arriving at Tranquil Falls, a secluded artists’ colony, Sarah Carpenter hopes for a fresh start. She recently escaped an abusive partner and hopes to retake control over her own life by returning to her love of pottery. The longer she stays at the colony, however, she discovers disturbing truths about the property's history. Strange, paranormal events begin to happen to her and the other artists...and someone dies under mysterious circumstances.
I entered this book having loved a previous experience with Dawson's writing. Her horror novella, Bloom, was one of my favorite reads of 2023, so I was ecstatic when I was approved for a Netgalley ARC of her most recent publication. Unfortunately, this novel missed the mark. That isn't to say that I don't respect and appreciate Dawson's motivations for writing this narrative. I recommend that if you do read It Will Only Hurt for a Moment, make sureyou pause and read her author's note at the end. Dawson opens up about a terrifying experience—a reality that so many women can relate to—and how it gave her the groundwork for Sarah's story.
The first half of the book is far stronger than the second half. I enjoyed the narrative pacing, the eclectic group of characters, and the direct way Dawson addressed issues like misogyny and not believing women when they seek help/support. The latter half is where the narrative action felt too hurried, and there was an awkward imbalance once in a while when the author tries to infuse humor and banter during a serious situation. Moreover, I found the random rivalry between Sarah and another woman at the colony to be odd and distracting from the social commentary at hand. It also seemed that the backstory of Sarah's alcoholic mother went nowhere and had no influence on the plot, so I wonder why it's so heavily included in the first couple chapters.
CW:animal death, forced institutionalization, gaslighting, domestic abuse, SA, some body horror, an alcoholic parent
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Original Pub Date: 22 October 2024
Reading Format: audio
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
I entered this book having loved a previous experience with Dawson's writing. Her horror novella, Bloom, was one of my favorite reads of 2023, so I was ecstatic when I was approved for a Netgalley ARC of her most recent publication. Unfortunately, this novel missed the mark. That isn't to say that I don't respect and appreciate Dawson's motivations for writing this narrative. I recommend that if you do read It Will Only Hurt for a Moment, make sureyou pause and read her author's note at the end. Dawson opens up about a terrifying experience—a reality that so many women can relate to—and how it gave her the groundwork for Sarah's story.
The first half of the book is far stronger than the second half. I enjoyed the narrative pacing, the eclectic group of characters, and the direct way Dawson addressed issues like misogyny and not believing women when they seek help/support. The latter half is where the narrative action felt too hurried, and there was an awkward imbalance once in a while when the author tries to infuse humor and banter during a serious situation. Moreover, I found the random rivalry between Sarah and another woman at the colony to be odd and distracting from the social commentary at hand. It also seemed that the backstory of Sarah's alcoholic mother went nowhere and had no influence on the plot, so I wonder why it's so heavily included in the first couple chapters.
CW:
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Original Pub Date: 22 October 2024
Reading Format: audio
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson
adventurous
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Timeless by Gail Carriger
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
At this point, it's a 5-star series! Already exciting for when I eventually rereading these books!
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
For about the first 3/4th of the story, I had accepted my fate that this book simply wasn't for me. However, as I could (at the time) see myself recommending this to others, I would settle with a 3-star rating.
My reasons for not vibing with the book:
- First-person POV narrator is our amateur sleuth; and he was way too impressed with himself
- The fun GAD nuggets would be spoiled a bit by overexplaining/the references being overdone
- I love a narrative that can pull off breaking the fourth wall and being meta, but this one was way too distracting as every. single. chapter. we would have the pacing stunted with a reminder our narrator is writing this all down.
And then what got me to drop my rating from 3 stars to 1.5 stars...
I will always hate when an authorreveals that the killer's motivation relates to sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies. The LAZIEST plotting. And THIS explains his crazy killing spree of his adoptive parents, the police officer, his brother, etc... 😒
I also found a certain PIVOTAL plot point to make absolutely no sense:The bad cop let's Jeremy go free rather than killing him after the kidnapping. Okay, I'm with you. The bad cop has been keeping tabs on Jeremy even after the kid is adopted. Okay, sure. Even though Jeremy would obviously know NOTHING about his previous life and family, the bad cop approaches him because "hey you're a Cunningham, so you know how to do this stuff..." OBVIOUSLY HE WOULD HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ARE YOU DUMB?? And that is what sparks Jeremy's search for the Cunninghams and his killing spree... WHAAAAT.
My reasons for not vibing with the book:
- First-person POV narrator is our amateur sleuth; and he was way too impressed with himself
- The fun GAD nuggets would be spoiled a bit by overexplaining/the references being overdone
- I love a narrative that can pull off breaking the fourth wall and being meta, but this one was way too distracting as every. single. chapter. we would have the pacing stunted with a reminder our narrator is writing this all down.
And then what got me to drop my rating from 3 stars to 1.5 stars...
I will always hate when an author
I also found a certain PIVOTAL plot point to make absolutely no sense:
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
- Inappropriate explicit sexual scene between minors
- Lazy world-building: A bunch of French people running around historical Europe (but instead Kristoff makes up a bunch of empire names rather than just placing them in our world); Christians vs Vampires
- Language is reminiscent of teenage boys who think crass dialogue and sexism is what masculinity is...
- Lazy world-building: A bunch of French people running around historical Europe (but instead Kristoff makes up a bunch of empire names rather than just placing them in our world); Christians vs Vampires
- Language is reminiscent of teenage boys who think crass dialogue and sexism is what masculinity is...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content