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Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
However, with a fate stone hanging around her neck sentencing she would die at age 27, 24-year-old Thea had no time to follow rules or mind the fears and prejudices of cowardly men. She had a goal, and the drive and passion to achieve it no matter what, even if she had to fight Guild Masters, Kings, and a very broody Warsword for it.
The world-building was immersive, the story interesting, the premise intriguing, and the execution very solid, with grounded characters and a sense of impending doom that kept things moving at a pace that made it easy to binge-read. I especially enjoyed the different styles of relationships portrayed, between Thea and her younger sister, Wren, between her and her friends, and the slow-burn romance between her and infamous Wilder Hawthorne, the Hand of Death and youngest Warsword of Thezmarr.
But here’s the thing: I never fully clicked with any of it, didn't manage to connect to the story or characters. The emotional beats felt a little forced, and while the stakes were sky high, I didn’t find myself holding my breath or really rooting for Thea. It was like watching an epic movie on mute— entertaining enough, but lacking something vital.
While I admired her tenacity, her single-minded drive made her feel a bit one-note at times. Scheuerer gave her flashes of vulnerability—fleeting doubts, some fears and worries, simmering rage at the system that was rigged against her—but those moments got buried under her “succeed no matter what” mantra. And the magic thing, which I expect will play a major role going forward, was very heavy-handed, so I can't imagine it was meant to be a shocking reveal. Instead, it was annoying to have to wait the whole book for answers to something that had been made so conspicuous.
Also, for some reason I couldn't quite put my finger on, Thea read very young, and I often found that I had to remind myself of her age and the fact that Blood and Steel wasn't YA, even if those were the vibes I got.
Wilder started out being a mystery, and ended without much change. He was your classic brooding, tight-lipped mentor with a chip on his shoulder—think grumpy/sunshine trope, but dialed down to "perpetually overcast" as neither of them was very sunshine-y. As Thea’s reluctant, unofficial trainer in her quest to become a Guardian, he was all hard edges and cryptic advice, hiding a vault of secrets behind his stoic facade. He was painted as fiercely competent (had that "I've survived hell and it shows" vibe), but his emotional range skewed… TBD. His backstory was teased through half-truths and fleeting glimpses of vulnerability—a secret brother here, a shadowy past there—but the details stayed frustratingly vague, which might be why he felt more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out person at times.
His and Thea's dynamic hinged on slow-burn tension: he was all stern commands and clipped retorts, while she was all fiery determination. There were glimmers of something deeper—shared glances, lingering touches, unexpected protectiveness—but the romance never ignited. His rigid moral code and role as Thea’s obstacle-turned-ally added some friction, but I kept waiting for him to surprise me. Sadly, he stayed firmly in "gruff mentor with a hidden heart of gold" territory—serviceable, but safe.
That said, the writing was sharp, and the book set up some intriguing threads for the series. I'm not sure how three more books will be filled when what's left is for Thea to become a Warswod, the Veil to be fixed, and maybe die? But I'd like to find out. Blood and Steel wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't the book for me.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A few long months ago, I read and reviewed The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and even though that one and Blood & Steele didn't have too much in common, the reading experience was similar for me.
Blood and Steel had all the basic ingredients of a hit fantasy: a world in danger, daunting prophecies, rare magic, and a protagonist racing against death to leave her mark and achieve her lifelong dream.
Thea, our main protagonist, knew who she was and what she wanted. She burned with the desire to become a Guardian of the Midrealms and help protect the people and territories from the dark creatures leaking through an ever-weakening Veil. But with a dark prophecy foretelling a grim future, women had been banned from ever taking up arms.
Blood and Steel had all the basic ingredients of a hit fantasy: a world in danger, daunting prophecies, rare magic, and a protagonist racing against death to leave her mark and achieve her lifelong dream.
Thea, our main protagonist, knew who she was and what she wanted. She burned with the desire to become a Guardian of the Midrealms and help protect the people and territories from the dark creatures leaking through an ever-weakening Veil. But with a dark prophecy foretelling a grim future, women had been banned from ever taking up arms.
In the shadow of a fallen kingdom, in the eye of the storm, a daughter of darkness will wield a blade in one hand and rule death with the other.
When the skies are blackened, in the end of days, the Veil will fall.
The tide will turn when her blade is drawn. A dawn of fire and blood.
However, with a fate stone hanging around her neck sentencing she would die at age 27, 24-year-old Thea had no time to follow rules or mind the fears and prejudices of cowardly men. She had a goal, and the drive and passion to achieve it no matter what, even if she had to fight Guild Masters, Kings, and a very broody Warsword for it.
The world-building was immersive, the story interesting, the premise intriguing, and the execution very solid, with grounded characters and a sense of impending doom that kept things moving at a pace that made it easy to binge-read. I especially enjoyed the different styles of relationships portrayed, between Thea and her younger sister, Wren, between her and her friends, and the slow-burn romance between her and infamous Wilder Hawthorne, the Hand of Death and youngest Warsword of Thezmarr.
But here’s the thing: I never fully clicked with any of it, didn't manage to connect to the story or characters. The emotional beats felt a little forced, and while the stakes were sky high, I didn’t find myself holding my breath or really rooting for Thea. It was like watching an epic movie on mute— entertaining enough, but lacking something vital.
While I admired her tenacity, her single-minded drive made her feel a bit one-note at times. Scheuerer gave her flashes of vulnerability—fleeting doubts, some fears and worries, simmering rage at the system that was rigged against her—but those moments got buried under her “succeed no matter what” mantra. And the magic thing, which I expect will play a major role going forward, was very heavy-handed, so I can't imagine it was meant to be a shocking reveal. Instead, it was annoying to have to wait the whole book for answers to something that had been made so conspicuous.
Also, for some reason I couldn't quite put my finger on, Thea read very young, and I often found that I had to remind myself of her age and the fact that Blood and Steel wasn't YA, even if those were the vibes I got.
Wilder started out being a mystery, and ended without much change. He was your classic brooding, tight-lipped mentor with a chip on his shoulder—think grumpy/sunshine trope, but dialed down to "perpetually overcast" as neither of them was very sunshine-y. As Thea’s reluctant, unofficial trainer in her quest to become a Guardian, he was all hard edges and cryptic advice, hiding a vault of secrets behind his stoic facade. He was painted as fiercely competent (had that "I've survived hell and it shows" vibe), but his emotional range skewed… TBD. His backstory was teased through half-truths and fleeting glimpses of vulnerability—a secret brother here, a shadowy past there—but the details stayed frustratingly vague, which might be why he felt more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out person at times.
His and Thea's dynamic hinged on slow-burn tension: he was all stern commands and clipped retorts, while she was all fiery determination. There were glimmers of something deeper—shared glances, lingering touches, unexpected protectiveness—but the romance never ignited. His rigid moral code and role as Thea’s obstacle-turned-ally added some friction, but I kept waiting for him to surprise me. Sadly, he stayed firmly in "gruff mentor with a hidden heart of gold" territory—serviceable, but safe.
That said, the writing was sharp, and the book set up some intriguing threads for the series. I'm not sure how three more books will be filled when what's left is for Thea to become a Warswod, the Veil to be fixed, and maybe die? But I'd like to find out. Blood and Steel wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't the book for me.
Baby Be Mine by Kay Lyons
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
Baby Be Mine by Kay Lyons was a quick, easy read with some sweet moments, but it didn’t totally wow me.
The premise was fun—marriage of convenience with a surprise baby thrown into the mix—and I liked the beachy, laid back setting. The banter was fine, and there were a few sweet moments.
That said, the story was very formulaic. If you’re a regular reader of romance, you won't find anything original or unique here, except for the fact that, for whatever reason, this was a love story about a woman caring for her dead sister's baby, that baby's father, and the father's younger sister. I'm still proverbially scratching my head at the decision to throw another woman's POV into a narrative that had very little to do with her. She had an ARC that added nothing to the main story and was resolved in a hurry during the 3rd act "break-up" of the lead couple.
The baby scenes were adorable, but sometimes the drama felt forced just to keep things moving. And, in my opinion, the book lacked depth. The feelings didn't hit for me. Maybe because Mia's issues with love, men, and relationships had more to do with her late mother and sister than herself—I didn't vibe with the sheer amount of baggage she insisted on carrying around because of, mainly, second-hand experiences. Maybe because we were told a lot of things, like Alec's fierce love and protectiveness over his family, or Mia's grief over the loss of her mom and sister, but didn't get to actually experience much of them.
Overall, it was a decent read—perfect if you want something light and fluffy without too much depth. Not my favorite fake-dating romance, but worth getting if you find it for free on Amazon like I did!
The premise was fun—marriage of convenience with a surprise baby thrown into the mix—and I liked the beachy, laid back setting. The banter was fine, and there were a few sweet moments.
That said, the story was very formulaic. If you’re a regular reader of romance, you won't find anything original or unique here, except for the fact that, for whatever reason, this was a love story about a woman caring for her dead sister's baby, that baby's father, and the father's younger sister. I'm still proverbially scratching my head at the decision to throw another woman's POV into a narrative that had very little to do with her. She had an ARC that added nothing to the main story and was resolved in a hurry during the 3rd act "break-up" of the lead couple.
The baby scenes were adorable, but sometimes the drama felt forced just to keep things moving. And, in my opinion, the book lacked depth. The feelings didn't hit for me. Maybe because Mia's issues with love, men, and relationships had more to do with her late mother and sister than herself—I didn't vibe with the sheer amount of baggage she insisted on carrying around because of, mainly, second-hand experiences. Maybe because we were told a lot of things, like Alec's fierce love and protectiveness over his family, or Mia's grief over the loss of her mom and sister, but didn't get to actually experience much of them.
Overall, it was a decent read—perfect if you want something light and fluffy without too much depth. Not my favorite fake-dating romance, but worth getting if you find it for free on Amazon like I did!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a while to get around to reading this one, but when I saw there'd been a movie adaptation of this debut novel by Delia Owens, I knew I had to read it! And btw, if you're in the same boat, do not, I repeat, DO NOT read the book before watching the movie. Do it the other way around. It wasn't a bad adaptation, but it lacked the depth of feeling and tiny details that combined to make this book the profound, heartfelt story it was.
Where the Crawdads Sing had no trouble drawing me in with its lush, poetic descriptions of the North Carolina marsh—it was so vivid that I could almost feel the damp air and hear the rustling reeds and buzzing insects. However, I'll admit that at times, all the descriptions got a little overwhelming. During the first handful of chapters, the picture of what the marsh looked, sounded, and even smelled like was painted in so much detail, I felt like I was standing right there, so eventually I couldn't help but grow a little tired of going over those details over and over again.
At first, I also felt like that way about Kya, too. Her isolation and admirable independence as a very young child were portrayed in stark relief. The way Delia Owens wrote her isolation—being abandoned over and over again—made me ache for her, yet her connection to nature and quiet strength were so moving. But, not even 100 pages in, it'd been made abundantly clear that she had almost no interaction with other human beings and could fend for herself. Her loneliness and resilience broke my heart in the best way, but once all that had been firmly established, I wanted to move on to the rest of the story.
But be patient. This book is slow to start, but all that solid groundwork is what infuses the gravitas and depth that eventually blooms into one of the best, most emotional coming-of-age arcs I've ever read. It may be boring at first, but the wait is well worth it.
Aside from the nature documentary and coming-of-age aspects, Where the Crawdads Sing was also in part a combined murder mystery/courtroom drama, told in a dual timeline that skipped between the times before and after the death of golden-boy Chase Andrews. The police investigation and courtroom scenes added unexpected tension, and I loved how Kya’s past built up her character and was seamlessly woven to intertwine with the trial.
My favorite parts were all that had to do with Jumpin' and Mabel, Kya's unofficial parental figures, and Tate, her tutor, friend, confidant, and first love. Oh, Tate, you beautiful, sensitive, smart, idiotic man. He wasn't perfect, but I loved him nonetheless, because as much as he screwed up, he was also Kya's biggest supporter and the man that saw her for her. Not as the marsh girl, but the curious, bright, tender, and creative woman that she was.
And then the ending. Wow. I oscillated between thoughts of "well deserved" and "was it too much?". A bit of a full circle moment where the experiences of the child influenced and guided the decisions of the woman, even if perhaps projecting the actions of one man into another wasn't the fairest thing to do. Heartbreaking, and yet also somewhat satisfying in its justness.
The themes of love, betrayal, and survival lingered with me long after I finished. It was not a perfect book (hence 4 stars), but it's one that I'll remember for some time. If you love emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of mystery, this is absolutely worth reading.
Where the Crawdads Sing had no trouble drawing me in with its lush, poetic descriptions of the North Carolina marsh—it was so vivid that I could almost feel the damp air and hear the rustling reeds and buzzing insects. However, I'll admit that at times, all the descriptions got a little overwhelming. During the first handful of chapters, the picture of what the marsh looked, sounded, and even smelled like was painted in so much detail, I felt like I was standing right there, so eventually I couldn't help but grow a little tired of going over those details over and over again.
At first, I also felt like that way about Kya, too. Her isolation and admirable independence as a very young child were portrayed in stark relief. The way Delia Owens wrote her isolation—being abandoned over and over again—made me ache for her, yet her connection to nature and quiet strength were so moving. But, not even 100 pages in, it'd been made abundantly clear that she had almost no interaction with other human beings and could fend for herself. Her loneliness and resilience broke my heart in the best way, but once all that had been firmly established, I wanted to move on to the rest of the story.
But be patient. This book is slow to start, but all that solid groundwork is what infuses the gravitas and depth that eventually blooms into one of the best, most emotional coming-of-age arcs I've ever read. It may be boring at first, but the wait is well worth it.
Aside from the nature documentary and coming-of-age aspects, Where the Crawdads Sing was also in part a combined murder mystery/courtroom drama, told in a dual timeline that skipped between the times before and after the death of golden-boy Chase Andrews. The police investigation and courtroom scenes added unexpected tension, and I loved how Kya’s past built up her character and was seamlessly woven to intertwine with the trial.
My favorite parts were all that had to do with Jumpin' and Mabel, Kya's unofficial parental figures, and Tate, her tutor, friend, confidant, and first love. Oh, Tate, you beautiful, sensitive, smart, idiotic man. He wasn't perfect, but I loved him nonetheless, because as much as he screwed up, he was also Kya's biggest supporter and the man that saw her for her. Not as the marsh girl, but the curious, bright, tender, and creative woman that she was.
And then the ending. Wow. I oscillated between thoughts of "well deserved" and "was it too much?". A bit of a full circle moment where the experiences of the child influenced and guided the decisions of the woman, even if perhaps projecting the actions of one man into another wasn't the fairest thing to do. Heartbreaking, and yet also somewhat satisfying in its justness.
The themes of love, betrayal, and survival lingered with me long after I finished. It was not a perfect book (hence 4 stars), but it's one that I'll remember for some time. If you love emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of mystery, this is absolutely worth reading.
Come Dance With the Witchwood Boys by C.M. Stunich
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Come Dance with the Witchwood Boys was another fun, wild ride. C.M. Stunich delivered her usual brand of steamy, snarky chaos, but while I had a good time, I wasn’t completely spellbound.
The vibe remained great—small-town setting, witchy hot guys with questionable morals, and a heroine who will not—under any circumstances—take crap from anyone. The banter was tingly, the tension was delicious, and the romance had the bite and heat needed to keep things interesting amidst a plot that didn't really move much from where we'd left off in the previous book. There was a specific development that caught me off guard (in a good way) involving the Witch's tree and Kate's friends, but other moments had me itching for the story to move a bit faster. But unlike the plot, on the relationships front, some big steps forward were made.
Speaking of, the guys continued to be… a lot. Sexy, possessive, and harder to crack than a high security vault, at least until Kate found the itty bitty crack to burrow through their defenses. Marlow was the first to be bested by our intrepid leading lady, and is already whipped, even if he continues to be his sourpuss, prickly self sometimes. Tanner's suave, chill facade has been cracked, and the process to help the love-starved, lonely man beneath heal has begun. And the power struggle with Brooks to assert dominance continues chugging along, but at least they're clear now that their relationship isn't purely transactional and something deeper is there. Maybe we'll get a love confession or two in the next book.
On the whole? Entertaining as hell, with plenty of sass and steam. If you’re looking for a spicy, fast-paced paranormal romance with a side of lewdness, magic, and chaos, this’ll hit the spot. Just be warned that this one is all about the relationship drama and not so much about the overall plot.
The vibe remained great—small-town setting, witchy hot guys with questionable morals, and a heroine who will not—under any circumstances—take crap from anyone. The banter was tingly, the tension was delicious, and the romance had the bite and heat needed to keep things interesting amidst a plot that didn't really move much from where we'd left off in the previous book. There was a specific development that caught me off guard (in a good way) involving the Witch's tree and Kate's friends, but other moments had me itching for the story to move a bit faster. But unlike the plot, on the relationships front, some big steps forward were made.
Speaking of, the guys continued to be… a lot. Sexy, possessive, and harder to crack than a high security vault, at least until Kate found the itty bitty crack to burrow through their defenses. Marlow was the first to be bested by our intrepid leading lady, and is already whipped, even if he continues to be his sourpuss, prickly self sometimes. Tanner's suave, chill facade has been cracked, and the process to help the love-starved, lonely man beneath heal has begun. And the power struggle with Brooks to assert dominance continues chugging along, but at least they're clear now that their relationship isn't purely transactional and something deeper is there. Maybe we'll get a love confession or two in the next book.
On the whole? Entertaining as hell, with plenty of sass and steam. If you’re looking for a spicy, fast-paced paranormal romance with a side of lewdness, magic, and chaos, this’ll hit the spot. Just be warned that this one is all about the relationship drama and not so much about the overall plot.
Promise Me by Jami Rogers, Jami Rogers
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't recall the book mentioning Hudson having a super bushy beard, so I don't know what the deal with the cover is.
Anyhoo, Promise Me was an ok book. Not too deep, not fussy, very straightforward and very low angst. It was cute and well written (in dual POV style) and a typical small town romance. Easy and quick to read, with good flow. Very formulaic, and as it was a short book, very surface level and with a fairly boring and easy to overcome conflict.
Secondary characters have already been set up as the future couples of the next books in the series, but I'm not sure I'll be returning for more stories. I like my romance books a little more dramatic and complex, but this one is ok if you're looking for something light and fast.
Anyhoo, Promise Me was an ok book. Not too deep, not fussy, very straightforward and very low angst. It was cute and well written (in dual POV style) and a typical small town romance. Easy and quick to read, with good flow. Very formulaic, and as it was a short book, very surface level and with a fairly boring and easy to overcome conflict.
Secondary characters have already been set up as the future couples of the next books in the series, but I'm not sure I'll be returning for more stories. I like my romance books a little more dramatic and complex, but this one is ok if you're looking for something light and fast.
After the Plague by Imogen Keeper
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
After the Plague by Imogen Keeper was an entertaining read with a lot of potential. The premise—a deadly pandemic utterly collapsing society and forcing survivors to navigate a dangerous new world—immediately drew me in. The writing style was casual and accessible, making it an easy book to binge, and the romantic tension between the leads kept me hooked. The action scenes were well-paced, and the post-apocalyptic setting had some stark survivalist details and very tense moments that added realism.
However, while I enjoyed it, I couldn’t give it a full four stars because of some missed opportunities. The world-building, while intriguing, felt underdeveloped. I wanted more depth and details: what year was it? What had sparked that 3rd World War against Russia? How long did it last? How old had Yorke been when he'd joined? What other countries were involved? What were the immediate consequences? How did the world change after it? It all felt very current, and yet was supposed to be taking place decades in the future, and there was a big disconnect there for me.
Vibes-wise, though? This book was immaculate. There was a constant undercurrent of tension and danger threaded together into a sense of dread that never let up. Very reminiscent of "The Walking Dead". It made the happy and cozy moments all the sweeter, but never let you forget tragedy was just around the corner.
The itty bitty bits of romance were raw and heartfelt. Hindered, logically, by Frankie's grief over her husband's death and her guilt for falling so quickly for a new man, pulling her back and forth between past and present. But the spark between the leads felt electric and real. Impossible to deny but scary as hell given the circumstances. It deviated from the darker, more brutal aspects of the apocalypse, and added a different angle and more weight and complexity to the story. Just like little Auden did.
The characters grew to be likeable, Frankie particularly, but could have been more fleshed out (I'd have loved more background on Yorke). Both of the protagonists had strong, distinctive voices, but the side characters blended together (sometimes getting mixed and mistaken in the narration). A few emotional moments that should have hit harder fell flat because the groundwork wasn’t fully laid.
That said, it was still a fun, fast read—perfect for fans of dystopian romance who want something engaging without too much heavy world-building. If you go in expecting an entertaining escape with action, the beginning sparks of what promises to be a scorching romance, and survival drama with a strong human component, you’ll likely enjoy it. This small omnibus edition was a great introduction to the story, but I feel there's much more to be told yet.
*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own**
However, while I enjoyed it, I couldn’t give it a full four stars because of some missed opportunities. The world-building, while intriguing, felt underdeveloped. I wanted more depth and details: what year was it? What had sparked that 3rd World War against Russia? How long did it last? How old had Yorke been when he'd joined? What other countries were involved? What were the immediate consequences? How did the world change after it? It all felt very current, and yet was supposed to be taking place decades in the future, and there was a big disconnect there for me.
Vibes-wise, though? This book was immaculate. There was a constant undercurrent of tension and danger threaded together into a sense of dread that never let up. Very reminiscent of "The Walking Dead". It made the happy and cozy moments all the sweeter, but never let you forget tragedy was just around the corner.
The itty bitty bits of romance were raw and heartfelt. Hindered, logically, by Frankie's grief over her husband's death and her guilt for falling so quickly for a new man, pulling her back and forth between past and present. But the spark between the leads felt electric and real. Impossible to deny but scary as hell given the circumstances. It deviated from the darker, more brutal aspects of the apocalypse, and added a different angle and more weight and complexity to the story. Just like little Auden did.
The characters grew to be likeable, Frankie particularly, but could have been more fleshed out (I'd have loved more background on Yorke). Both of the protagonists had strong, distinctive voices, but the side characters blended together (sometimes getting mixed and mistaken in the narration). A few emotional moments that should have hit harder fell flat because the groundwork wasn’t fully laid.
That said, it was still a fun, fast read—perfect for fans of dystopian romance who want something engaging without too much heavy world-building. If you go in expecting an entertaining escape with action, the beginning sparks of what promises to be a scorching romance, and survival drama with a strong human component, you’ll likely enjoy it. This small omnibus edition was a great introduction to the story, but I feel there's much more to be told yet.
*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own**
The Witchwood Boys Are Trending by C.M. Stunich
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First of all, Caitlin, your books are fucking awesome and I remain a big fan. Keep doing what you're doing, girl.
Okay, so I devoured this book. It wrestled me into a nice, sexy little chokehold and did not let go until I was over and done with it.
The Witchwood Boys Are Trending was hot, messy, and totally addictive—exactly what I expect from C.M. Stunich. I'll take hot, toxic assholes that make the FMC want to repeatedly stab them over insta-love ANY DAY OF THE DAMN WEEK. There's just something I love about that "I hate your guts but I'll gut anyone that even looks at you funny" dynamic.
The vibe? Witchy, lewd, and packed with morally questionable actions and fucked-upness that'll have you raising intrigued eyebrows and developing weird obsessions—there's something to be said for ritualistic blood-licking.
The Witchwood boys, Brooks, Marlowe, and Tanner, for sure had their red-flag moments. They were—at least in the beginning—low-key awful in an overwhelming, possessive, bossy, slightly misogynistic kind of way, and yet that made them so much more entertaining and hot than if they'd been lovey-dovey simps. Don't worry, I know that's fucked up and I'm side-eyeing myself for liking them, too. But hey, it’s fiction.
The plot was fast-paced with enough drama, danger, and fuck-hot steamy moments to keep me hooked. Here's the cliffnotes: Girl travels through tree to magical word, gets trapped there, has to join the Coven of three other guys who'd also been trapped in order to escape. They manage it, but the portal is left open, allowing threatening creatures to pass through. And we're left on a cliffy ending.
I really enjoyed the premise of the story, but what makes Stunich one of my favorite authors is how she writes. She's a master at building the sexual tension that's so quintessentially delicious about enemies to lovers: be it the angry, glaring-across-the-room, I-fucking-hate-you kind or the burn-the-world-down-for-you kind. And the romance? Whoo, boy. Let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart—this is dark romance, so check those tropes before diving in.
So you may be wondering why not 5 stars? Well, because the relationship development was a bit all over the place. I get they all met under extreme and unusual circumstances, but all the back and forth gave me a bit of whiplash. There was this mutual desire between Kate and the guys to screw each other's brains out, but none of them wanted to be the first to be vulnerable and admit it, plus there was a whole lot of emotional baggage going on between the fourth of them, that had them lashing out and playing it hot-and-cold.
But honestly? I had a blast reading this book. If you’re into morally grey guys, high-stakes drama, and don’t mind a bit of magic made stronger by the use of bodily fluids, this one’s a winner.
Point me to the nearest magical tree portal, please!
Okay, so I devoured this book. It wrestled me into a nice, sexy little chokehold and did not let go until I was over and done with it.
The Witchwood Boys Are Trending was hot, messy, and totally addictive—exactly what I expect from C.M. Stunich. I'll take hot, toxic assholes that make the FMC want to repeatedly stab them over insta-love ANY DAY OF THE DAMN WEEK. There's just something I love about that "I hate your guts but I'll gut anyone that even looks at you funny" dynamic.
The vibe? Witchy, lewd, and packed with morally questionable actions and fucked-upness that'll have you raising intrigued eyebrows and developing weird obsessions—there's something to be said for ritualistic blood-licking.
The Witchwood boys, Brooks, Marlowe, and Tanner, for sure had their red-flag moments. They were—at least in the beginning—low-key awful in an overwhelming, possessive, bossy, slightly misogynistic kind of way, and yet that made them so much more entertaining and hot than if they'd been lovey-dovey simps. Don't worry, I know that's fucked up and I'm side-eyeing myself for liking them, too. But hey, it’s fiction.
The plot was fast-paced with enough drama, danger, and fuck-hot steamy moments to keep me hooked. Here's the cliffnotes: Girl travels through tree to magical word, gets trapped there, has to join the Coven of three other guys who'd also been trapped in order to escape. They manage it, but the portal is left open, allowing threatening creatures to pass through. And we're left on a cliffy ending.
I really enjoyed the premise of the story, but what makes Stunich one of my favorite authors is how she writes. She's a master at building the sexual tension that's so quintessentially delicious about enemies to lovers: be it the angry, glaring-across-the-room, I-fucking-hate-you kind or the burn-the-world-down-for-you kind. And the romance? Whoo, boy. Let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart—this is dark romance, so check those tropes before diving in.
So you may be wondering why not 5 stars? Well, because the relationship development was a bit all over the place. I get they all met under extreme and unusual circumstances, but all the back and forth gave me a bit of whiplash. There was this mutual desire between Kate and the guys to screw each other's brains out, but none of them wanted to be the first to be vulnerable and admit it, plus there was a whole lot of emotional baggage going on between the fourth of them, that had them lashing out and playing it hot-and-cold.
But honestly? I had a blast reading this book. If you’re into morally grey guys, high-stakes drama, and don’t mind a bit of magic made stronger by the use of bodily fluids, this one’s a winner.
Point me to the nearest magical tree portal, please!
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I guess one good thing to come out of Goodreads' super racist decision to make a challenge based on nothing but the authors' skin color—and a holiday solely observed in the US, when the platform is global—had the lone silver lining of introducing me to a very unique fantasy author I'd never heard of before: Mr P. Djèlí Clark.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins was not quite any book I'd ever read before, but it reminded me of the quirky, peculiar air of another author I've recently discovered: T. Kingfisher.
Amidst a world of undead assassins, magic, and revelry, Eveen, our undead, deadly, amnesic main character, sets out to unravel the mystery behind a mission that "brings her face-to-face with a past she isn’t supposed to remember and a vow she can’t forget".
First, some things I liked: The world-building was vibrant, the concept interesting, and the characters were quirky and, at times, delightfully bonkers.
The story started a bit rocky for me. It took me a long time to get into it. I struggled with the odd syntax, and the overly verbose prose and sometimes-off punctuation made this difficult to read. The convoluted, complex world-building and how new information kept getting dumped at random over my head with little explanation also tripped my enjoyment. I was continuously bewildered because things kept popping up, and I couldn't make sense of them or estimate their implications, given I knew and understood next to nothing about this world.
I also had a bit of a hard time with the many, very long-winded descriptions that abounded throughout the novel. Interestingly enough, I noticed a sharp contrast between the overall narrative bits and the parts where the characters conversed. The dialogues were exceedingly snappy and crisp, with scarcely a speech tag to be found, which I think would be fantastically suited for the audiobook version, but didn't work as well in the written form.
The awful written accents—which I personally hate with a passion and find incredibly off-putting and unnecessarily hard to read when they add nothing to the story—also probably worked out a lot better in the audiobook.
All in all, a cool premise, an interesting world, and a unique execution that managed to cram a lot of story into not that many pages. I personally found the execution of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins to be very fiddly and full of little snarls everywhere, but while it was a slow and difficult book to get through, it was still quick-paced and more welcoming the further into the story it got. If you’re in the mood for something weird and undeniably creative, you might dig this. But if you’re looking for tight, gripping, fantastical storytelling, I wouldn't recommend it.
A solid 2.75 "liked the idea of it more than the book itself" ⭐ rating. Not bad, just... clearly not the book for me.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins was not quite any book I'd ever read before, but it reminded me of the quirky, peculiar air of another author I've recently discovered: T. Kingfisher.
Amidst a world of undead assassins, magic, and revelry, Eveen, our undead, deadly, amnesic main character, sets out to unravel the mystery behind a mission that "brings her face-to-face with a past she isn’t supposed to remember and a vow she can’t forget".
First, some things I liked: The world-building was vibrant, the concept interesting, and the characters were quirky and, at times, delightfully bonkers.
The story started a bit rocky for me. It took me a long time to get into it. I struggled with the odd syntax, and the overly verbose prose and sometimes-off punctuation made this difficult to read. The convoluted, complex world-building and how new information kept getting dumped at random over my head with little explanation also tripped my enjoyment. I was continuously bewildered because things kept popping up, and I couldn't make sense of them or estimate their implications, given I knew and understood next to nothing about this world.
I also had a bit of a hard time with the many, very long-winded descriptions that abounded throughout the novel. Interestingly enough, I noticed a sharp contrast between the overall narrative bits and the parts where the characters conversed. The dialogues were exceedingly snappy and crisp, with scarcely a speech tag to be found, which I think would be fantastically suited for the audiobook version, but didn't work as well in the written form.
The awful written accents—which I personally hate with a passion and find incredibly off-putting and unnecessarily hard to read when they add nothing to the story—also probably worked out a lot better in the audiobook.
All in all, a cool premise, an interesting world, and a unique execution that managed to cram a lot of story into not that many pages. I personally found the execution of The Dead Cat Tail Assassins to be very fiddly and full of little snarls everywhere, but while it was a slow and difficult book to get through, it was still quick-paced and more welcoming the further into the story it got. If you’re in the mood for something weird and undeniably creative, you might dig this. But if you’re looking for tight, gripping, fantastical storytelling, I wouldn't recommend it.
A solid 2.75 "liked the idea of it more than the book itself" ⭐ rating. Not bad, just... clearly not the book for me.
The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed The Keeper of Happy Endings . The story was beautifully woven between two timelines—one during World War 2 France, and the other, 1985 Boston—following Soline, a Parisian dressmaker with a tragic past, and Rory, a young woman coping with her own grief and trying to find her place in the world. The magical realism mixed with angst, romance, mystery, and a touch of fate made it a captivating read.
The writing was lovely, very accessible and flowed fantastically, making this an easy book to get lost in. The story was fairly predictable, but heartbreaking and beautiful nonetheless. A tale of sorrow and hope, anguish and love.
Admittedly, the WWII part was more of a plot device than a critically significant part of the story. All of the horror, struggle, and violence tied to it were used to darken that timeline and give it a heavy feeling of urgency and danger. But Soline and Anson could have met in any politically unstable country, and with a few minor adjustments, the story would ultimately still have been the same.
The narrative wasn't so much about the "then" as it was about the "now". It was more about two women finding strength and healing in themselves and their families than about war and romance. But overall, it was a heartwarming, hopeful book with a satisfying ending.
If you love dual timelines, lost loves, and a sprinkle of magic, this one’s worth picking up! Not quite a perfect 5 for me, but definitely a great read.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
The writing was lovely, very accessible and flowed fantastically, making this an easy book to get lost in. The story was fairly predictable, but heartbreaking and beautiful nonetheless. A tale of sorrow and hope, anguish and love.
Admittedly, the WWII part was more of a plot device than a critically significant part of the story. All of the horror, struggle, and violence tied to it were used to darken that timeline and give it a heavy feeling of urgency and danger. But Soline and Anson could have met in any politically unstable country, and with a few minor adjustments, the story would ultimately still have been the same.
The narrative wasn't so much about the "then" as it was about the "now". It was more about two women finding strength and healing in themselves and their families than about war and romance. But overall, it was a heartwarming, hopeful book with a satisfying ending.
If you love dual timelines, lost loves, and a sprinkle of magic, this one’s worth picking up! Not quite a perfect 5 for me, but definitely a great read.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
Monsters Within by R.L. Caulder
Actually, they held three: Lucien, Kylo, and Elwin. Weird for the blurb to be at odds with the content of the book itself 🤷🏻♀️ Where are these two missing, mysterious, extra guys, Alex?
Anyhoo, Monsters Within was an ok book, nothing to gush over but also not an unpleasant endeavor to undertake.
I think the premise of a seemingly human girl, with a very realistic, very detailed imagination, finding her fictional creations brought to life and being whisked alongside them to a magical Academy was interesting if a bit generic. The development of the relationship between Alexandra and her monsters had already been done off-page, so that got skipped, and the narrative didn't have much of a plot or conflict to speak of. In a way, this book was like a super-long prequel, good for setting the groundwork, but uneventful outside of that.
Overall, I liked the prose, but there were these weird, awkward moments every so often, where characters would spew exposition at each other, or the tone would go from dark and mysterious to kinda cringe, with Alex's intimidating, spooky, four-armed shadow monsters acting like absolutely whipped, overly emotional cheese-balls.
In any case, yeah, nothing much happened, and I don't have much of an idea of where this series will go. But in broad terms, outside of some weird syntax and malapropisms, the writing was ok, and the possibility for the story to go some interesting places is very much there. The cliffhanger ending didn't succeed in hooking me in, but I still may check out the next books. 3.5⭐
Go check out my Pinterest mood board! (character casting included)
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The pages of my notebook hold five sinful, feared monsters.
Actually, they held three: Lucien, Kylo, and Elwin. Weird for the blurb to be at odds with the content of the book itself 🤷🏻♀️ Where are these two missing, mysterious, extra guys, Alex?
Anyhoo, Monsters Within was an ok book, nothing to gush over but also not an unpleasant endeavor to undertake.
I think the premise of a seemingly human girl, with a very realistic, very detailed imagination, finding her fictional creations brought to life and being whisked alongside them to a magical Academy was interesting if a bit generic. The development of the relationship between Alexandra and her monsters had already been done off-page, so that got skipped, and the narrative didn't have much of a plot or conflict to speak of. In a way, this book was like a super-long prequel, good for setting the groundwork, but uneventful outside of that.
Overall, I liked the prose, but there were these weird, awkward moments every so often, where characters would spew exposition at each other, or the tone would go from dark and mysterious to kinda cringe, with Alex's intimidating, spooky, four-armed shadow monsters acting like absolutely whipped, overly emotional cheese-balls.
Anger unfurled within my chest as I yelled, “Don’t ever say you aren’t special again!”
In any case, yeah, nothing much happened, and I don't have much of an idea of where this series will go. But in broad terms, outside of some weird syntax and malapropisms, the writing was ok, and the possibility for the story to go some interesting places is very much there. The cliffhanger ending didn't succeed in hooking me in, but I still may check out the next books. 3.5⭐
Go check out my Pinterest mood board! (character casting included)