lionelle_swithens's reviews
170 reviews

Gaming at Randy's by Duckie Mack

5.0

Final Boy at Randy's by Loren Leigh

• Loveable characters? Yes

By Rude Strength by K.L. Hiers

5.0

The Nephilim's Touch by Morgan Lysand

funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4,5 Stars

ARC Read: 13/09/2024
I received this ebook for free and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Morgan Lysand for this gift. 🥰

What to expect from this book? 🤔

❤️‍🔥 Adult MM Paranormal Romance 🥵💦
👉 Small Supernatural Town
🍃Plant Daddy & Bartender Nephilim x Crossroads Demon😈
👿 Grumpy x Sunshine 🌈😳
👉 Strangers To Roommates To Lovers
🥵👌 One Bed
👉 Opposites Attract 🧲
🤌 Size Difference
💞 Mutual Insta-Crush/Lust
😇🙏Please Teach Me Magic (& Bottoming Demon)
😈🙏Be My Angel Angel
🥵Tail & Horns Play
👉Possessiveness & Jealousy
💫 A Cute, Androgynous, Little Half-Angel
&
🧶 A Loyal, Grumpy, Stubborn, Rule Breaker Demon
👉ADHD & Bisexual Rep
👉Found Family
🐕Adorable Hellhound Doggy & Cutepie Kitten Shifter🐈
🌿🍂Magical Nymph Shows At The Community Garden By The Moonlight🍃🍁

Series: Tales From The Tarot #8
Cover: 5/5
Story: 4,5/5

This book is filled with so many funny, fluffy, and hot moments, I couldn’t get enough! 😍

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾Q🌱u🌿o🌾t🌱e🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱

"Van: “I hope you’re okay with me touching you,” someone whispers, then there’s a light pressure on my face. The warm cloth instantly soothes me. “I don’t know who you are, but you can touch me anytime.” They squeak when I circle my hands around their waist. I’m enjoying the peace and quiet with my eyes closed, but I want to see who disturbs my slumber so sweetly. Also, why on earth are they sitting on me?"

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾

Genre/Trope:Adult/MM Romance/Size Difference/Opposites Attract/Friends To Lovers/Insta Lust/Insta Crush/Low Angst/Please Teach Me/Shameless Flirt/Cranky Nature/Sun Kissed Spirit/Bi Rep/Paranormal/Fantasy/Sweet Tooth/Angel Or Demon/Beast Glamour/Bite Isn't Enough/Dirty Talker/LGTBQIA Plus/New Authors/Off Grid Attraction/Very Possessive Mc/Forced Proximity/Very Tempting Roommate/ARC/Morgan Lysand

Content/Trigger Warnings:  vomiting mentioned
Plot: 5/5
POV: 1

Main Characters:
5/5 – Gabe, nickname: Angel, 28yo, he/him, Nephilim (half-angel, half-human), bartender at Flutter & Fangs, kind, cute, plant daddy, (and according with Van smells “like sunshine and rain and rainbows, if rainbows had a scent.”)
5/5 – Vander, nickname: Van, 30-35yo, he/him, demon: crossroads demon, grumpy pants, stubborn, loyal friend.

Van and Gabe’s relationship felt so natural, cute, and true… so adorable and spicy with all that flirting and teasing!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me such a great time.

I absolutely loved how patient Gabe was with Van, and the scene where they were knitting? H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S. 🤣

Oh, and let’s talk about the neutral pronouns they used for each other in their minds before even knowing each other’s pronouns…..UFFFF, I ATE THAT UP. 👏👏👏
As someone who is enby/gfluid, it made me feel so seen.
It’s so refreshing and also gives such insight into how the MCs see the world, showing the respect they have for others.
It was just purrfect. I can’t even begin to explain how much this means to me!

Honestly, just days ago, I was reading a book (duh) where the MCs magically knew each other’s pronouns without asking.
It irritated and confused me…..? like, how can anyone still think that clothes, body shape, or voice give you all the info you need to assume someone’s gender?!
So, 🙌THIS WAS SUPER REFESHING🙌!!!

Now the flirting and the sex? 🤌🤌🤌 Tail and horn play, any time you want please!

Major Arcana Tarot Card: The Empress (The Consort)
Card Info:
-UPRIGHT. femininity, beauty, nature, nurturing, abundance.
-REVERSED. creative block, dependence on others.

The Magic Shop, The Owner, the magic book, and the runaway tarot card were the perfect combo!
I just wish Gabe had bought a plant to bring back with us and describe more of his plant babies.
I know. I know. I know. I'm being very demanding today… I feel it but it just bc I loved this book so much that I can’t help wanting more!

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾Q🌱u🌿o🌾t🌱e🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱

"Van: “It’s not what it looks like,” Gabe says, going even pinker and scrambles to get off me. “Aw, I want you to stay, angel,” I tease, as I tighten my hold around his hips. Warwick ignores me to address Gabe directly. “You are straddling my brother. What do you think it looks like?” Gabe squeezes his towel so hard the water drips into my chest. “I couldn’t reach anything from the side of the bed and he was passed out and—” Wick’s lips twitch, and he doubles over. “I’m just giving you a hard time. I’m glad that of all the people to find him, it’s you.” “I didn’t find him, he sorta—” “Poe shoved me through the veil right into Hex.” I growl, causing Gabe to shiver on top of me. If he doesn’t watch it, he’ll make me hard and I’m fighting as it is."

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾

Side Characters: 4/5

I love Nef, the wood nymph! All the scenes in the community garden beneath the moonlight, with Nef’s performances, felt absolutely magical.
The descriptions were so vivid, and the non-binary Rep?
Wow! Can we even ask for more?

My only issue with this story was that some of the side characters didn’t appear as much as I expected. I was hoping for more involvement from them, so while the book doesn’t feel incomplete, it still left me wanting more backstory or even just a few more appearances from those characters.

For example, Gabe’s mother (his angel side) was awful and hardly a mother. I was really expecting her to show up, leading to a much-needed confrontation with Gabe with a whole lot of drama between them for Gabe’s sake.
I also thought Gabe’s grief over his human father’s death would be mentioned more rather than just mentioned at the beginning.

On the other hand, Van and Wick’s mother was explained in enough detail that I felt satisfied. Van’s description alone made it clear she was quite a piece of work, so I didn’t feel the need to meet her or learn more about her.
I completely understand that the book is meant to be short, which limits how much the author dives into the characters, places, and even the plot.

But for me, some side characters felt underdeveloped. Likely because of my high expectations and my habit of trying to predict where the story is headed... something I’m working on… my bad!

I feel that the HEX series Morgan Lysand created, with its mini cliffhanger vibes, is meant to be read in order for a full understanding of the Hex Universe.
Some characters seem underdeveloped or deliberately kept mysterious because the author plans to explore them further in future or previous books.

Take Poe, for example the King Of Crossroads.
I feel like we needed to get to know him a bit better. I didn’t like how he treated Van and his brother, and it didn’t feel well justified, especially with his over-the-top dramatic solution concerning Van’s temper issues.

But anyway, that said, I can’t wait to dive deeper into the Hex Universe and learn more about these characters!!!

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾Q🌱u🌿o🌾t🌱e🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱

"Gabe: I’m out of breath once I get to the door of the shop and take a few minutes to center myself before going full Kool-Aid Man inside. I wonder what kind of plants will be here today. As I enter, I breathe in the familiar scent of old books and incense."

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾

Humor: Medium High Focus
Angst: Low Focus
Steam Level: 3,5/5
Romance: High Focus
Cheating? No
Cons:The only thing I didn't need was the specifics on the food. My favorite kinds of books are the ones that don't describe the food the characters are eating in every scene, or at least only once or twice. It's not just because I'm vegan—I respect everyone's choices—but I also don't think it's necessary to define a character's lifestyle or personality by their food preferences. That's why I don't read chef or food-related books. That being said I didn’t need the specifics of scrambling eggs, it was cute the mutual liking but too much description.
The Ending: 2,5/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger? HEA

Once again, just me and my assumptions, but I was expecting a bit more from the ending. It was cute, but maybe not quite enough.

Favorite character? Plant Daddy Of Course
Would I read more of this author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Will I read this again in the future? Yes

This is my 1st book by Morgan Lysand.
Enjoyment: 4,5/5

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾Q🌱u🌿o🌾t🌱e🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱

"Van: And there’s that grin again. Okay, that’s the goal. Keep Gabe smiling. “I bet you get all the guys, gals, and pals all hot and bothered.” (...) The back of his hand presses to my forehead. “Maybe you should stay in bed, you’re—” I grab his hand. “Angel, demons run hot.” “Oh. Right.” And the blush is back. Blushing and grinning. That’s what I want. “But, I do think…” My head spins and I fall back. I can’t keep my eyes open and sleep takes me again."

🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾🌱🌿🌾

Hex Universe Series by Morgan Lysand:
1./10. Kisses At The Crossroads In Fortune Favors The Fae Multi-Author Series To Read
2./8. The Nephilim’s Touch - 4,5 stars
Expected on 11/10/2024:
3./ How To Summon A Memory In Cauldrons And Kisses Multi-Author Series To Read

Tales From The Tarot Series:
💙 4. King Of Hollywood by Fae Quin - 4,45 stars 💙
💜 5. My Minotaur Daddy by Laura Lascarso - 40% DNF For Now 💜
🖤 6. Across Space And Time by Kit Barrie - 10% DNF Forever 🖤
❤ 7. Chariot Of Souls by Morgan Mason - 3 Stars ❤
💚 8. The Nephilim’s Touchby Morgan Lysand - 4,5 Stars 💚
🧡 9. By Rude Strength by K.L. Hiers - 4,5 Stars 🧡
💛 10. Found In Obscurity - 2,5 stars 💛


!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!

Hope this review was helpful.
Click Here:
To See My Goodreads Review
To See My BookBub Review
To See All My Reviews On StoryGraph
To See All My Socials 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Vomit

Temptation at Randy's by Emily Alter

• Loveable characters? Yes

Cramming at Randy's by Alex Silver

slow-paced

Found in Obscurity by A.M. Rose

challenging emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

2,5 light in the dark Stars

ARC Read: 16/09/2024
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, A.M. Rose.

What to expect from this book? 🤔

❤️🔥 Adult MM Paranormal Fantasy Romance
🔮 Witch x Fox Shifter Familiar 🦊❄️
👉 Fated Mates/Soul Bounded
👉 Insta-Together
👉 A Cursed Shifter/Familiar Looking For His Mate
&
👉 A Lonely Witch Afraid Of A Past Tragedy Repeating
📜 Witch Magic Powers 📖🔮
❄️🦊❄️👉 Virgin MC
👉 Witch Community
🤔👉 98% Slow Burn: Mystery, Flirting, Solving Problems, Doing Magic, Shifting
🤔👉 2% Of Smut

Series: Tales From The Tarot #10
Cover: 5/5
Story: 2,5/5

Genre/Trope:Adult/MM Romance/Fated Mates/Queer First Times/V Card/Sun Kissed Spirit/Off The Grid/Paranormal/Fantasy/Not To Much Darkness/Insta-Love/Opposites Attract/Forced Proximity/Mystery/LGTBQIA Plus/New Authors/Possessive Shapeshifter/Slow Burn/ARC

Content/Trigger Warnings:

descriptions of enslavement of shifters, forest fire

❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲Q❄️u🦊o🌲t❄️e❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲

"Kit buried himself against the witch’s chest, burrowing deeper like he could crawl straight inside him and curl up and rest. Finally safe. Finally whole. Finally with his mate."

❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊

Plot: 2,5/5
POV: 2

Main Characters:
4/5 – Kit, Age Unknown, Fox Shifter, Familiar
2/5 – Lorin, 25-30yo, witch

The first thing I LOVED about this book was the cozy vibe I got from being in Lorin’s house with the delightful Kit.
The second was Kit's POV in his fox form or Lorin’s descriptions of Kit 🦊 being absolutely adorable and cute! Oh, and also the bathtub spell!

If, after reading my whole review, you're wondering why my rating is 2.5/3 stars instead of 0/2, it’s because I don’t rate books that low if they don’t include discrimination or hate speech, even if the book isn’t the best thing you’ve read.
ARC or no ARC, this is my honest opinion, and according to my rating system, this is my rating.

The smut was... ah, nonexistent and very poorly written. The authors skipped the most important trivial parts.

Maybe the authors thought they didn’t have to bother with the "not-so-trivial" stuff because they had cheesy, fluffy, sugar-coated content with sprinkles on top....and a cherry too (pun intended). Instead of writing at least half a page (no more than that) of NORMAL HUMAN RELATIONSHIP COMMUNICATION.
😮‍💨 What the authors gave us just didn’t feel real! It's just disappointing bc it had pontecial!

Let’s look at the important trivial conversations that adults in real life have before doing anything sexual related, which the authors decided weren’t worth including:

1. No discussion about roles, whether either of them were tops, bottoms, or versatile. Lorin was like, oh, we’re going to do it now? No need to talk because I know I’m going to top you. Sooo we just going to pretend that the MCs talked...okay I'm closing my eyes 🙈....is it done already? 🙉 are you finish....ufff I'm glad that's over! 🙄
2. Super confusing relationship, Lorin was initially jealous (based on assumptions he didn’t clarify with Kit) about whether Kit had been with anyone intimately. Then, in the first and only intimate scene we get in the entire book, Lorin says it’s Kit’s first time? Okay... confusing, but this is what happens when there’s zero communication between the main characters about such important topics.

🤔So, to recap: Lorin, the more experienced one, doesn’t communicate at all with Kit about their sexual preferences, even though it’s Kit’s first time.....🤨 okay.okay.okay.sure.sure.sure.sure.no doubt.no doubt.no doubt

On to the next common trivial facts or the "no need to have a guideline" guideline....usually, u just need common sense!

3. Brief description of prep, but no lube, there’s no mention of Kit having natural lubrication either, so... okay. For Kit’s first time? 🤔🙂👍👍...hmmm.... the prepping was done by Lorin...hmmm....who is what?....A witch....And this kind of witches have what?.....Glad u ask! Sharp, claw-like nails.... that definitely damages skin, and they are also longer than average human nails...🤔🤔🤔 so how exactly was Lorin able to prep Kit without any lube (bc there’s no mention) and with sharp nails? 🙃 that makes PERFECT sense!! Another mystery to add to the over growing pile...
And this could’ve been EASLY solved with magic!!!!
4. Unprotected sex, as we often see in Fated Mates stories, there’s a lack of conversation about protection. Lorin and Kit don’t discuss whether they’re comfortable with going without a condom or if it even matters to them, just like in many Fated Mates books.
This might be overlooked 😒, but there’s nothing sexier than a bit of communication about what they’re going to do!!! Another missed opportunity to add a little more smut!!! Easly
5. The Post-Sex and Morning creampie disappearance Mystery🔍🤔. So, the deed is done. What’s next... aftercare, Lorin? You’re not going to take care of your mate, even after his first time? No?👌 Morning comes, and Kit "magically" doesn’t even need to shower....nothing, zero. He just gets up and goes for his morning run in his fox form. Okay, let’s just forget that he had residue inside him... Really, what are showers for?

Okay, I’m done. Sorry, not sorry....just keeping the facts real. 🤗

I’m not judging the book for having no smut. I saw the trope list, and it does say Slow Burn (however, that should’ve been made clearer in the blurb) and it has almost no smut.
🤔 Well, I think there isn’t really smut....just the act...or...action...or a brief description of intercourse.

Even though I’m not a fan of slow burns, I can still enjoy one... but with the expectation that we’d get to the smut by at least 60%, not at 78-86%! And then we get just one and a half scenes? WTF?

So, I’m going to think this book as the intended audience this is for, not as someone like me who expects at least five smut scenes...whenever the authors feel like giving them, really!

Side Characters: 2/5

Well, let’s keep this quick, shall we?
The cliché of a small hometown with a small-minded community ✔️
A another trope that I prefer not to read... 😮‍💨🤧

The thing that bothered me the most was the 'sex thing' (I’m not sure what to call it).
Besides that, I can overlook the rest.
But here is THE REST:
I didn’t understand why the witch community was mean, rude, and made stupid assumptions about Lorin.
There’s no solid explanation for their behavior. It’s unnecessary and full of futile assumptions about Lorin... like with Grandma.

Lorin’s Grandma is indecipherable. I don’t think this grandmother-grandson relationship is healthy, and the fact that Grandma never truly admitted she was a COMPLETELY mean, old know-it-all was frustrating. Lorin always mentioned how mean she was to him but somehow just got over it!
That didn’t seem right. Why make the grandmother so horrible... rude, mean, disrespectful, and manipulative.... if she’s not going to fully redeem herself? That felt like a plot hole or just plain bad writing!

Glenn seemed like a missed opportunity for representing a gender neutral or trans character.

Oh, and I just remembered, I didn’t like the descriptions of the MCs about each other before they met, because they assumed each other’s gender. In today’s context, that just feels wrong.

Also, the heteronormative role descriptions of the MCs’ respective parents were just cliché and unremarkable. He is described as strong and musky, while she is beautifully in flowing dress and smells like flowers... You know the drill 😐

Tarot Card: The Hermit

The description and ambiance of The Magic Shop were good, as was The Owner interactions.
The only thing I didn’t understand was why The Owner, even though he sent the package to Lorin's home like he said he would, also said he was coming back but never appeared or was brought up again.
At least we had The Hermit tarot card drawn in this book.

❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲Q❄️u🦊o🌲t❄️e❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲

"Kit had crawled his way into Lorin’s lap before he could even process it, winding himself into a tight ball on his knees before plopping his head down and falling asleep.
His fluffy tail was wrapped around Lorin’s wrist as if he was afraid Lorin would find a way to leave without him, even with Kit literally sitting on top of him."

❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊🌲❄️🦊

Humor: Low Focus
Angst: High Focus
Steam Level: 1,5/5
Romance: Medium High Focus
Cheating?

No

Cons:The only thing I didn't need was the specifics on the food. My favorite kinds of books are the ones that don't describe the food the characters are eating in every scene, or at least only once or twice. It's not just because I'm vegan—I respect everyone's choices—but I also don't think it's necessary to define a character's lifestyle or personality by their food preferences. That's why I don't read chef or food-related books. That being said, the book mentions food about 5-7 times. What I found COMPLETELY unnecessary was the need to specify exactly what Lorin was feeding Kit in his Fox form.
The Ending: 2/5 (predictable and too long)
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger?

HEA

Favorite character?

Kit (specially in his Fox form)

Would I read more of this authors? Maybe, if the next book has a good amount of smut
Will I read this again in the future? No

This is my 1st book by A.M. Rose
Enjoyment: 3/5

Tales From The Tarot Series:
💙 4. King Of Hollywood by Fae Quin - 4,45 stars 💙
💜 5. My Minotaur Daddy by Laura Lascarso - 40% DNF For Now 💜
🖤 6. Across Space And Time by Kit Barrie - 10% DNF Forever 🖤
❤ 7. Chariot Of Souls by Morgan Mason❤
💚 8. The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand - 5 stars 💚
🧡 9. By Rude Strength by K.L. Hiers - Currently Reading 🧡
💛 10. Found In Obscurity - 2,5 stars 💛


!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!

Hope this review was helpful.
Click Here:
To See My Goodreads Review
To See All My Reviews On StoryGraph
To See All My Socials

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent

My Minotaur Daddy by Laura Lascarso
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.

Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason

adventurous challenging emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

3 Holy hotness, Batman Stars

ARC Read: 08/09/2024
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Morgan Mason.

What to expect from this book? 🤔

❤️🔥 Adult MM Paranormal Romance 🥵💦
👉 Soul Mates/Fated Mates
👉 Insta-Love
😗👉 Clumsiness Prone Sweet Human
&
💀👉 Obsessed Grim Reaper with Stalkish Tendencies
⏳️ Codependency
👉 Virgin MC ☠️
👉 Reincarnation
🤔👉 Slow Burnish

🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀Q🏝u💀o🏝t💀e🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀

"Arit: Death is universal.
Death is constant.
It’s unavoidable.
It’s inevitable.
Death is a friend I know by name, for we have been together since time immemorial.
And death is my purpose, my reason for being."

🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀

Series: Tales From The Tarot #7
Cover: 3/5
Story: 3,5/5

Genre/Trope:Adult/MM Romance/Fated Mate/Queer First Times/V Card/Please Teach Me/Sun Kissed Spirit/Paranormal/ Fantasy/Age Gap/Insta-Love/Angel Or Demon/Beast Glamour/Mystery/LGTBQIA Plus/New Authors/Possessive MC/Slow Burnish/ARC

Content/Trigger Warnings:

Nixon gets sick, faints and chokes on food

🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀Q🏝u💀o🏝t💀e🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀

"Nixon: I remember scrambling over rotting wet logs, slipping on sopping piles of dead leaves, and the crack of lightning looming just over our shoulders. I do not recall tripping over roots or hitting my head on a rock, but I do remember waking up to Cami crying and dragging me through the open doorway to the scariest structure I’d ever been in. If I hadn’t nearly died of a cracked skull, I’m sure I would have died of fright."

🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀🏝💀

Plot: 3/5
POV: 2

Main Characters:
3/5 – Arit, Grim Reaper, 6million yo
3/5 – Nixon Everhart, nicknames Nix, Nixy, human, 25yo

I really liked the MCs, and the book had an excellent start. It kicked off strong… but then things changed.
It felt rushed, and at the same time, it dragged a little, mainly due to the MCs' inner monologues that went on throughout the book.

I really liked Nixon at the start. We were getting to know him, but by the middle of the book, it became all about the couple. I felt like we didn’t get enough time to fully explore Nixon, and his character development stalled at around 40%. Arit’s development also felt limited, but not as much as Nixon's.

I wish the author had taken a bit more time to arrange the story. At times, it felt rushed, dragged, and, as a result, a bit boring. I found myself skimming sometimes.
That being said, there were still plenty of cute and funny moments, and overall, it was an enjoyable read.

What bothered me the most was how Nixon being an accident magnet suddenly it disappeared without explanation. It wasn't well explored.
That was the main reason I signed up for the ARC was because it reminded me of Jeff (aka Jesk) from What We Do In The Shadows (Nadja's reincarnated lover) where Laszlo would always find and kill him in every reincarnation, for making Nadja unhappy.
I thought Nixon’s clumsiness would be funny in that way, but I guess it was only used for the plot sake.

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" Nixon:“I’ve kept you. Forgive me.” He does his bow again, accompanied this time by his hand over his heart, and takes a step back.
“Wait!” I blurt, suddenly struck by the irrational sense that if he leaves now I’ll never forgive myself for at least not asking his name. He looks up, concerned again, his pale, almost white-blue eyes laser focused on me. “I didn’t catch your name.” Real smooth, idiot.
(...)
“Arit,” he says, but there’s something in the way he says it, the way he forms the word on his lips, that intrigues me. It’s like he’s never said his own name before, and he’s pleased with how it sounds.
“Arit,” I repeat and finally gather myself enough to step forward and hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

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Side Characters: 3/5 Just because of The Magic Shop scenes and Lincoln (Nix's friend)

The other characters were meh. I kinda didn't like the Fate Mother of Arit, and Nixon's family (or mother, since she was the only one who appeared, and only once) was also meh. She didn’t do much besides chastising Nixon for not responding to her texts.

In the end, it felt incomplete. We didn’t get any more appearances from Nixon's family

just a mention of Arit meeting them, but nothing more

and neither did we get Lincoln, whom I would have actually loved to see more of.

And finally! 3 trips to The Magic Shop!
One of the best parts of the book was meeting The Owner!
Unfortunately, we still didn’t get a tarot reading, but the author made up for it with plenty of magic.... and seeing The Owner sweat a little. (Hehehe, Arit, you rascal!)

Tarot Card: The Chariot

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“Yes,” I reply, taking a centering breath. “It’s the one soul I’ve encountered more than any other soul I’ve carried. I would recognize it anywhere. In any lifetime. In any era.”
Rai stares at me like I’ve spoken gibberish. “Really?”
I nod and look out over the water. “Four thousand, two hundred, forty-two. Give or take.”
“What?!”
“That’s the approximate number of times I’ve carried Nixon’s soul.”
“Gods in the cosmos.” Rai’s eyes are the size of saucers. “I’m not even going to comment on the fact that you’ve been keeping track because of course you would, but what in Fate’s name does that mean?

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Humor: Medium Focus
Angst: Medium High Focus
Steam Level: 2,5/5
Romance: High Focus
Cheating?

No

Cons:The only thing I didn't need was the specifics on the food. My favorite kinds of books are the ones that don't describe the food the characters are eating in every scene, or at least only once or twice. It's not just because I'm vegan—I respect everyone's choices—but I also don't think it's necessary to define a character's lifestyle or personality by their food preferences. That's why I don't read chef or food-related books. That being said, this one was only mentioned twice.
The Ending: 3/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger?

HEA

Favorite character?

Lincoln and also Rai

Would I read more of this author? Maybe, I don't know
Will I read this again in the future? No

This is my 1st book by Morgan Mason.
Enjoyment: 3,5/5

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The idea of kissing Nixon is suddenly all I can think about, primarily because I’ve never kissed anyone before, reaper or otherwise. What would it feel like to press my lips to his? Would my body respond? Would his? “Definitely the latter. Kissing you seems like a brilliant idea.”
Nixon huffs an adorably cute sound that’s a cross between disbelief and humor. “You’re crazy.”

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Tales From The Tarot Series:
💙 4. King Of Hollywood by Fae Quin - 4,45 stars 💙
💜 5. My Minotaur Daddy by Laura Lascarso - 40% DNF For Now 💜
🖤 6. Across Space And Time by Kit Barrie - 10% DNF Forever 🖤
❤ 7. Chariot Of Souls by Morgan Mason - 3 stars ❤
💚 Expected on 14/09/2024:
4. The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand - Currently Reading 💚

!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!

Hope this review was helpful.
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Content Warnings

Warnings: Nixon gets sick, faints and chokes on food