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readingnesting's Reviews (70)
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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:
Complicated
This book transported me to a dark academia world. Leatherbound books, earl grey tea and graveyards.
I love this book. It is special. Magical. A book about transformation and trans joy. I think people of all genders will find comfort within these pages.
"Love after all, is its own kind of magic, one that transcends the boundaries of convention and expectation. It has the power to transform lives, to bring light to the darkest of places. And in a world so often shadowed by grief and sorrow that is a gift beyond measure."
Ren isn't the most confident person when he first arrives at Blackwood Academy.
"I felt as if magical adept as a potato a very sad, very lonely potato." It is wonderful to see him grow into the truest version of himself.
Ren's professor, Dorian, is way too hot with kind eyes. He is in awe of Ren. Honestly Dorian is great.
Yes, this is a taboo romance. This is not my cup of tea, but this is done well. It contains spice that makes sense for the plot and development.
There are many great side characters. But my favourite is the familiar. Ren is hoping for a dragon. During the ritual, he summons something very different. And it is eating his homework π
5 stars π
I love this book. It is special. Magical. A book about transformation and trans joy. I think people of all genders will find comfort within these pages.
"Love after all, is its own kind of magic, one that transcends the boundaries of convention and expectation. It has the power to transform lives, to bring light to the darkest of places. And in a world so often shadowed by grief and sorrow that is a gift beyond measure."
Ren isn't the most confident person when he first arrives at Blackwood Academy.
"I felt as if magical adept as a potato a very sad, very lonely potato." It is wonderful to see him grow into the truest version of himself.
Ren's professor, Dorian, is way too hot with kind eyes. He is in awe of Ren. Honestly Dorian is great.
Yes, this is a taboo romance. This is not my cup of tea, but this is done well. It contains spice that makes sense for the plot and development.
There are many great side characters. But my favourite is the familiar. Ren is hoping for a dragon. During the ritual, he summons something very different. And it is eating his homework π
5 stars π
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a review of the second edition. It comes out 17th of January.
Silas is gay and in highschool. He is bullied. When his biggest bully is crossing the line to sexual assault, Ben interferes. Ben is a pretty boy and part of the swimteam. Silas tries to keep Ben and others at a distance. Like a hedgehog he tries to keep the soft parts protected with a prickly outside. He is in survival mode.
Ben is worried and keeps checking in, not deterred by Silas' glowering.
So when those walls slowly crumble, it is tender and sweet to behold.
"I like it when you exist," I told him, and he beamed at me."
This story gripped me. There is feeling being connected to characters as a reader. And there is me with this story; actually feeling it in my own body. The fear, laughs, doubts and the hugs.
"He held me just as tight, like maybe, just maybe, I was something worth holding on to."
It is a slow burn and there is no sex in this book. I love that, but I know that is not for everyone.
A sense of impending doom is building up during the last part of the story. And then the book ends. It felt sudden and abrupt. I think that jarring feeling I had, adds to and matches the story.
Luckily I have the next book in my possession. To be continued.
Favourite quote: "Okay, so I wasn't suicidal by any stretch of the imagination, but oh my God, did Shakespeare tempt me to consider my options."
It is a bit of an angsty/gritty book. Please check trigger warnings and check if your nervous system is ready for an emotional journey. (Nik Knight has the most accurate depiction of trauma and PTSD, but also of healing, in my experience.)
Silas is gay and in highschool. He is bullied. When his biggest bully is crossing the line to sexual assault, Ben interferes. Ben is a pretty boy and part of the swimteam. Silas tries to keep Ben and others at a distance. Like a hedgehog he tries to keep the soft parts protected with a prickly outside. He is in survival mode.
Ben is worried and keeps checking in, not deterred by Silas' glowering.
So when those walls slowly crumble, it is tender and sweet to behold.
"I like it when you exist," I told him, and he beamed at me."
This story gripped me. There is feeling being connected to characters as a reader. And there is me with this story; actually feeling it in my own body. The fear, laughs, doubts and the hugs.
"He held me just as tight, like maybe, just maybe, I was something worth holding on to."
It is a slow burn and there is no sex in this book. I love that, but I know that is not for everyone.
A sense of impending doom is building up during the last part of the story. And then the book ends. It felt sudden and abrupt. I think that jarring feeling I had, adds to and matches the story.
Luckily I have the next book in my possession. To be continued.
Favourite quote: "Okay, so I wasn't suicidal by any stretch of the imagination, but oh my God, did Shakespeare tempt me to consider my options."
It is a bit of an angsty/gritty book. Please check trigger warnings and check if your nervous system is ready for an emotional journey. (Nik Knight has the most accurate depiction of trauma and PTSD, but also of healing, in my experience.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My rating isn't because of the writing. I suspect that if you have read the other two stories, this one will probably be your favourite.
I felt connected to the characters and the world they live in. But.
I read all three books and what started as a niggle, it got worse in this book.
The author is a woman (married to a man) that is writing mm romance. Not a problem as a standalone fact. She is writing very spicy books about queer boys with severe and often s** trauma.
I don't have a sentence in the book that I can point to. But it feels off.
These books are explicit and contain very detailed spicy scenes. Triggers are described, but not during after being intimate. So the author is familiar with trauma and triggers. But then they don't use that for their intimate scenes. It feels exploitative and predatory.
That is why my rating is a two star. I did finish the series. But it leaves me feeling icky.
I felt connected to the characters and the world they live in. But.
I read all three books and what started as a niggle, it got worse in this book.
The author is a woman (married to a man) that is writing mm romance. Not a problem as a standalone fact. She is writing very spicy books about queer boys with severe and often s** trauma.
I don't have a sentence in the book that I can point to. But it feels off.
These books are explicit and contain very detailed spicy scenes. Triggers are described, but not during after being intimate. So the author is familiar with trauma and triggers. But then they don't use that for their intimate scenes. It feels exploitative and predatory.
That is why my rating is a two star. I did finish the series. But it leaves me feeling icky.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Perfect cozy and lovely read.
relaxing
slow-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:
No
From Coast to Coast by J.J. Mulder.
ARC review. It comes out on 16th of January.
If you like people unknowingly texting each other on a dating app, this is your book!
Hockey romance. Demisexual representation. Size difference. Queer awakening. It has spice. The flavour? I would say vanilla with a sprinkle.
Grayson came out as gay with his current NHL team. To his surprise and hurt, the team and coach have iced him out since.
Remy is newly divorced and looking for a new start. His trade to this Canadian team comes at a perfect time.
Remy's ex wife was an amazing friend. But their intimate times weren't anything like books would have you believe. Nor with the women that came after the divorce. Could men bring a different experience? He signs up for dating app.
Unknowingly they app each other and form a connection.
Dating a teammate comes with difficulties. Dating a teammate in a team that is homophobic? Disastrous.
It is an easy read, easy to fall in love with the characters.
I love how enthusiastic Remy is. Golden retriever energy.
Grayson holds himself back, understandingly so, and my heart goes out to him.
I love the banter and interactions between them. It gives me a cozy feeling. It was realistic in the best way.
I love the premises of the story too.
The pace was good for me up till 84%. It felt a bit slow after that and my interest waned a bit.
Prior reading is recommended but not necessary. I didn't. The only place where it was an issue for me was in the epilogue. I was wondering where all these people came from? But not in a way that took away from the story.
ARC review. It comes out on 16th of January.
If you like people unknowingly texting each other on a dating app, this is your book!
Hockey romance. Demisexual representation. Size difference. Queer awakening. It has spice. The flavour? I would say vanilla with a sprinkle.
Grayson came out as gay with his current NHL team. To his surprise and hurt, the team and coach have iced him out since.
Remy is newly divorced and looking for a new start. His trade to this Canadian team comes at a perfect time.
Remy's ex wife was an amazing friend. But their intimate times weren't anything like books would have you believe. Nor with the women that came after the divorce. Could men bring a different experience? He signs up for dating app.
Unknowingly they app each other and form a connection.
Dating a teammate comes with difficulties. Dating a teammate in a team that is homophobic? Disastrous.
It is an easy read, easy to fall in love with the characters.
I love how enthusiastic Remy is. Golden retriever energy.
Grayson holds himself back, understandingly so, and my heart goes out to him.
I love the banter and interactions between them. It gives me a cozy feeling. It was realistic in the best way.
I love the premises of the story too.
The pace was good for me up till 84%. It felt a bit slow after that and my interest waned a bit.
Prior reading is recommended but not necessary. I didn't. The only place where it was an issue for me was in the epilogue. I was wondering where all these people came from? But not in a way that took away from the story.
challenging
slow-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:
Yes
Stix & Stone by Courtney W. Dixon.
Stone is one pissed off cookie about Stix. There is something about him that ticked off all the wrong boxes in Stone's messed up head.
And Stix loves to push those buttons.
They both work at a bar called Alpha's rejects (no, this is not omegaverse, this is contemporary romance).
Alpha is a guy from the same background, creating a safe place for people. "He'd been trying to get us to shoot straight instead of zigzagged through life."
Turns out that the push and pull is their attraction to each other.
"My dick had no business reacting to him. It wasn't the first time that had happened. Making me resent him even more. It should always be flaccid with the thoughts of him."
I loved reading their story. It is not easy to navigate the world when money is tight, when there is pain, but these boys have a lot of love to give.
"When you're a child with no way out, not knowing if you will be fed, hit, loved or hated is suffocating. It leaves you confused about who you are and what you want out of life. Ambitions are snuffed out with a slap to the face."
Both have daddy issues and I had strong feelings about their dads. The word douchenozzle came to my mind. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll be a bit cryptic. I personally connected with Stone and the closure he achieved with his parents. I appreciate Courtney Dixon for writing it in this way.
I was easily transported to all the places in this book. The workplaces, homes, where they skate. I love the boys.
There is a lot of spice, with a bit of light kink.
I would advise to check trigger warning before picking up this book.
It is a Hurt/Comfort story. It has demisexuality and health issues representation.
After finishing all three books:
what started as a niggle, it got worse in the last book.
The author is a woman (married to a man) that is writing mm romance. Not a problem as a standalone fact. She is writing very spicy books about queer boys with severe and often s** trauma.
I don't have a sentence in the books that I can point to. But it feels off.
These books are explicit and contain very detailed spicy scenes. Triggers are described, but not during after being intimate. So the author is familiar with trauma and triggers. But then they don't use that for their intimate scenes. It feels exploitative and predatory.
That is why my rating is a two star. I did finish the series. But it leaves me feeling icky.
Stone is one pissed off cookie about Stix. There is something about him that ticked off all the wrong boxes in Stone's messed up head.
And Stix loves to push those buttons.
They both work at a bar called Alpha's rejects (no, this is not omegaverse, this is contemporary romance).
Alpha is a guy from the same background, creating a safe place for people. "He'd been trying to get us to shoot straight instead of zigzagged through life."
Turns out that the push and pull is their attraction to each other.
"My dick had no business reacting to him. It wasn't the first time that had happened. Making me resent him even more. It should always be flaccid with the thoughts of him."
I loved reading their story. It is not easy to navigate the world when money is tight, when there is pain, but these boys have a lot of love to give.
"When you're a child with no way out, not knowing if you will be fed, hit, loved or hated is suffocating. It leaves you confused about who you are and what you want out of life. Ambitions are snuffed out with a slap to the face."
Both have daddy issues and I had strong feelings about their dads. The word douchenozzle came to my mind. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll be a bit cryptic. I personally connected with Stone and the closure he achieved with his parents. I appreciate Courtney Dixon for writing it in this way.
I was easily transported to all the places in this book. The workplaces, homes, where they skate. I love the boys.
There is a lot of spice, with a bit of light kink.
I would advise to check trigger warning before picking up this book.
It is a Hurt/Comfort story. It has demisexuality and health issues representation.
After finishing all three books:
what started as a niggle, it got worse in the last book.
The author is a woman (married to a man) that is writing mm romance. Not a problem as a standalone fact. She is writing very spicy books about queer boys with severe and often s** trauma.
I don't have a sentence in the books that I can point to. But it feels off.
These books are explicit and contain very detailed spicy scenes. Triggers are described, but not during after being intimate. So the author is familiar with trauma and triggers. But then they don't use that for their intimate scenes. It feels exploitative and predatory.
That is why my rating is a two star. I did finish the series. But it leaves me feeling icky.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hellfire & Tinsel by A.M. Rose
My tbr looked at me in disbelief whilst I ignored all the lovely books there and grabbed this book.
I was in a mood -I felt hurt and needed comfort - and this was it. I am so glad I did! It made me laugh and swoon.
Beau is a tiny, touch starved human. He summons a demon because he is lonely.
Kassel, handsome Mr. Hell, has to answer his call.
"Do demons breathe? No. Does Kassel sigh anyway? Yes."
The big purple demon is going be a companion of sunshine in a human form and grocery shop, eating his cookies and wandering around a Christmas market together.
βKassel had no idea if they (cookies) were passable by human standards or not, but he was pretty sure this recipe was the worst thing that had ever happened to humanity. On the bright side, he could take the rest of the cookies back to Hell and use them to torture the souls in his care.β
Beau likes to spend more time with Kassel.
ββI hope you have a wonderful Christmas!β Beau calls out. βI thought you were trying to get into Hell?β Kassel asked. βOh,β Beau said. βI mean, get wrecked, grandpa! I hope your turkey burns!ββ
But is the feeling mutual?
At the market someone calls Beau a name. Suddenly, that same person bolts away screaming like a banshee. "Did you set him on fire?β he asked. βJust a tiny one,β Kassel grumbled.β
Awww! Romantic! But earth and hell give a new meaning to long distance. Like impossibly so. Or is it?
Read if you love hurt/comfort, demisexual demons and calling angels featherbrain!
Oh and the spice? Beau is a virgin that gets deliciously defiled!
My tbr looked at me in disbelief whilst I ignored all the lovely books there and grabbed this book.
I was in a mood -I felt hurt and needed comfort - and this was it. I am so glad I did! It made me laugh and swoon.
Beau is a tiny, touch starved human. He summons a demon because he is lonely.
Kassel, handsome Mr. Hell, has to answer his call.
"Do demons breathe? No. Does Kassel sigh anyway? Yes."
The big purple demon is going be a companion of sunshine in a human form and grocery shop, eating his cookies and wandering around a Christmas market together.
βKassel had no idea if they (cookies) were passable by human standards or not, but he was pretty sure this recipe was the worst thing that had ever happened to humanity. On the bright side, he could take the rest of the cookies back to Hell and use them to torture the souls in his care.β
Beau likes to spend more time with Kassel.
ββI hope you have a wonderful Christmas!β Beau calls out. βI thought you were trying to get into Hell?β Kassel asked. βOh,β Beau said. βI mean, get wrecked, grandpa! I hope your turkey burns!ββ
But is the feeling mutual?
At the market someone calls Beau a name. Suddenly, that same person bolts away screaming like a banshee. "Did you set him on fire?β he asked. βJust a tiny one,β Kassel grumbled.β
Awww! Romantic! But earth and hell give a new meaning to long distance. Like impossibly so. Or is it?
Read if you love hurt/comfort, demisexual demons and calling angels featherbrain!
Oh and the spice? Beau is a virgin that gets deliciously defiled!
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It is an easy and cozy read. Both mmcs are burn survivors. It was interesting how it impacted the shifting. The world building is thoroughly done.
Insta lust, which isn't my favourite trope.
Insta lust, which isn't my favourite trope.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
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:
No
I never saw this coming when I started this series.
There is so much depth! This one might be my favourite. This story is about unpacking religious trauma and being free.
There is so much depth! This one might be my favourite. This story is about unpacking religious trauma and being free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry