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rougesreads's reviews
17 reviews
The Curious Incident of the Great Cookie Snackcident of 979 by Kass O'Shire
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I just wanna say I was super excited about this. A gaslamp Sapphic romance with nonbinary and demi representation? Tasty 😋!
It's just as cozy and cute as the cover and title imply, with a dash of decadent spice to go with it.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I identify as genderfluid, and a lot of the time I prefer to be a gender neutral critter. So, Senka really really resonated with me, and I was so intrigued by the shades and their lore. I also found the way their shadowy body worked fascinating, I would love to be completely enveloped by Senka, I bet it would feel reeeeeally nice.
Kass' writing always feels like a warm hug, and that's true here most of all.
I also now have a huge craving for lemon lavender cookies and pasta, so be warned about that 🤣
I give this novella:
SEXUALLY CHARGED PASTA MAKING / 10
And I super recommend it to anyone who likes:
🍪 sapphic romance with demisexual and nonbinary representation
🍪 owl shifters and shadow monsters
🍪 food as a love language
🍪 workplace romance
🍪 shadow tentacle play
🍪 accidental Goddess awakenings
It's just as cozy and cute as the cover and title imply, with a dash of decadent spice to go with it.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I identify as genderfluid, and a lot of the time I prefer to be a gender neutral critter. So, Senka really really resonated with me, and I was so intrigued by the shades and their lore. I also found the way their shadowy body worked fascinating, I would love to be completely enveloped by Senka, I bet it would feel reeeeeally nice.
Kass' writing always feels like a warm hug, and that's true here most of all.
I also now have a huge craving for lemon lavender cookies and pasta, so be warned about that 🤣
I give this novella:
SEXUALLY CHARGED PASTA MAKING / 10
And I super recommend it to anyone who likes:
🍪 sapphic romance with demisexual and nonbinary representation
🍪 owl shifters and shadow monsters
🍪 food as a love language
🍪 workplace romance
🍪 shadow tentacle play
🍪 accidental Goddess awakenings
Wed to the Alien Warlord by January Bell
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Sink Into Her by Elaine J. Daniels
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book excites me for many reasons, but the two biggest reasons I jumped at the chance to ARC read it? Krakens are one of my favorite monsters and this book is FF! There's a deficit of femme monsters in the world, and especially sapphic monster romances, so I was downright *thirsty* for this book to exist.
AND IT'S CUTE!
Oh my gosh this book is adorable. There is some slight angst so it's not 24/7 cute and cozy, but I love a side of angst with my cozy.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves
🦩Cute sapphic monster romances
🦀Disney movies (especially The Little Mermaid)
🍌Spice!
🐙Tentacles!
🐚Fated Mates (with a brief Rejected Mates trope as a bonus)
⛅Grumpy/Sunshine
AND IT'S CUTE!
Oh my gosh this book is adorable. There is some slight angst so it's not 24/7 cute and cozy, but I love a side of angst with my cozy.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves
🦩Cute sapphic monster romances
🦀Disney movies (especially The Little Mermaid)
🍌Spice!
🐙Tentacles!
🐚Fated Mates (with a brief Rejected Mates trope as a bonus)
⛅Grumpy/Sunshine
By the Pint by Jemma Croft
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Okay so I was in love with vampire Dima at first sight with the bunny slippers, and signed up for this ARC so fast I didn't notice that By the Pint was the third in the Fantasy Flatmates series. Apparently that's my toxic trait this year because it's happened twice now.
Did I have enough time to read the first two before diving into this one? NOPE! Especially with my migraine struggles (thanks spring). So the following review is from the context of someone reading it as a standalone.
I was NOT confused. Characters that I assume were much more fleshed out by being main characters in previous books were still portrayed with enough personality that I was easily able to tell them apart, and the important aspects of Jemma Croft's fantasy world was explained that I didn't feel like I forgot to do my homework. I think the only thing I missed out on by accidentally skipping By the Horns and By the Fae was the anticipation for Dima's story, but I'll make up for it by anxiously awaiting Mal's story. Mal, one of Dima's flatmates, was only mentioned a few times in By the Pint but I want more.
Back to Dima and Casey, I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and I loved the mutual angsty pining. Mild spoiler: They are both telepaths and that leads to some very interesting scenes and situations. I thought the lore of Jemma Croft's vampires was fascinating, and one particular aspect of becoming a vampire, without spoiling it, lead to me legitimately sobbing while I was reading, twice.
The fact that I was brought to tears by this cozy romcom is a testament to how loveable these characters are. You will fall in love with Dima and Casey, but especially Dima.
I super recommend this to anyone who enjoys:
🧵Vampires
🧵Quilting
🧵Cozy AND Angsty stories
🧵Grumpy/Sunshine trope
🧵Absurd British humor
🧵Having Books make you feel things
Did I have enough time to read the first two before diving into this one? NOPE! Especially with my migraine struggles (thanks spring). So the following review is from the context of someone reading it as a standalone.
I was NOT confused. Characters that I assume were much more fleshed out by being main characters in previous books were still portrayed with enough personality that I was easily able to tell them apart, and the important aspects of Jemma Croft's fantasy world was explained that I didn't feel like I forgot to do my homework. I think the only thing I missed out on by accidentally skipping By the Horns and By the Fae was the anticipation for Dima's story, but I'll make up for it by anxiously awaiting Mal's story. Mal, one of Dima's flatmates, was only mentioned a few times in By the Pint but I want more.
Back to Dima and Casey, I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and I loved the mutual angsty pining. Mild spoiler: They are both telepaths and that leads to some very interesting scenes and situations. I thought the lore of Jemma Croft's vampires was fascinating, and one particular aspect of becoming a vampire, without spoiling it, lead to me legitimately sobbing while I was reading, twice.
The fact that I was brought to tears by this cozy romcom is a testament to how loveable these characters are. You will fall in love with Dima and Casey, but especially Dima.
I super recommend this to anyone who enjoys:
🧵Vampires
🧵Quilting
🧵Cozy AND Angsty stories
🧵Grumpy/Sunshine trope
🧵Absurd British humor
🧵Having Books make you feel things
Demons & Doves by Clio Evans
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ARC REVIEW
Demons & Doves by Clio Evans
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I'm LATE 😳 and it's because this book made me kind of sit and stare into space after I was done, and I needed some time (and some selective rereading) to process my thoughts. WOAH. Just. WOW.
Doves & Demons was my absolute favorite book last year, so I've been anxiously awaiting the completion of the duet. I was fascinated by Florence in book 1 so I was super interested to get more information about her and her villains.
This one was even darker than Doves & Demons, in my opinion. @toastyreads and I kept throwing the term "scaroused" (scared+aroused) out, because that's exactly the feeling I had half the time! I'm not usually into ovipositioning, I'm not usually into "flesh eating, but Clio makes it so hot. I AM into somnophilia and a bunch of the other kinks in this book and WOW. I know I keep saying "wow" but this is where I'm at after trying to take a few extra days to process lol.
I love how villainous the villains are. Jack is a vampire dommy mommy that I would accidentally give way too much blood to. Ace is a demonic jester weirdo that I found myself loving way more than I thought I would (He's my favorite). Cat is a shapeshifter who's preferred form is a werewolf, and same- if I could shapeshift I would probably try that out too. They're awful terrible villains, and the book doesn't shy away from that, they do awful things, but then they have the most tender, ooey gooey moments with each other and I melt.
Florence is a little innocent lamb wracked by trauma and guilt and loneliness and it was so invigorating watching her become a badass. And, as someone who was once so touch-starved she was practically feral, I totally related to her on a visceral level.
I loved the consent discussions, the after-care tea, the teasing, the cheekiness, the tenderness. It's been so hard to put my thoughts into words. If you like dark romance, monster romance, and especially if you love both, you need to read this.
Demons & Doves by Clio Evans
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I'm LATE 😳 and it's because this book made me kind of sit and stare into space after I was done, and I needed some time (and some selective rereading) to process my thoughts. WOAH. Just. WOW.
Doves & Demons was my absolute favorite book last year, so I've been anxiously awaiting the completion of the duet. I was fascinated by Florence in book 1 so I was super interested to get more information about her and her villains.
This one was even darker than Doves & Demons, in my opinion. @toastyreads and I kept throwing the term "scaroused" (scared+aroused) out, because that's exactly the feeling I had half the time! I'm not usually into ovipositioning, I'm not usually into "flesh eating, but Clio makes it so hot. I AM into somnophilia and a bunch of the other kinks in this book and WOW. I know I keep saying "wow" but this is where I'm at after trying to take a few extra days to process lol.
I love how villainous the villains are. Jack is a vampire dommy mommy that I would accidentally give way too much blood to. Ace is a demonic jester weirdo that I found myself loving way more than I thought I would (He's my favorite). Cat is a shapeshifter who's preferred form is a werewolf, and same- if I could shapeshift I would probably try that out too. They're awful terrible villains, and the book doesn't shy away from that, they do awful things, but then they have the most tender, ooey gooey moments with each other and I melt.
Florence is a little innocent lamb wracked by trauma and guilt and loneliness and it was so invigorating watching her become a badass. And, as someone who was once so touch-starved she was practically feral, I totally related to her on a visceral level.
I loved the consent discussions, the after-care tea, the teasing, the cheekiness, the tenderness. It's been so hard to put my thoughts into words. If you like dark romance, monster romance, and especially if you love both, you need to read this.
Partying with Pixies by Hazel Mack
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
Getting It On with Gargoyles by Hazel Mack
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Tangling with Trolls by Hazel Mack
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
How to Marry a Lich by Lizzie Strong
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I have jokingly described this book as being made specifically for me. It has all of my weaknesses: a plague doctor mask, tentacles, gothic vibes, found family, bondage, mystery, a haunted house, a badass plus sized FMC, and a book loving, doting, and "kinda scary" MMC.
It's been really hard for me to write this review because of how much I love it, it feels like there's too much to go over, and I don't want to spoil anything. It's a 5 course meal of friends to lovers in a heart warming slow burn romance. It has a super spooky mystery. It has a huge cast of unique characters that I love dearly with all my heart, and I never once went "wait, who's that guy?" because of how well they were all characterized. Once I was done with this book I hadn't just fallen in love with Sebastian and Dahlia, I had fallen in love with Rosemont Manor, its inhabitants, and a few of the people in the city of King's Fall (I added Hauntings & Company to my reading list to get more Ophelia and Markus action).
One thing I do want to mention: the setting is modern with some fantasy quirks. After seeing the cover art, I got a little confused when in the first few pages a cell phone was mentioned, so I wanted to let others know ahead of time. It reminds me of The Ancient Magus bride, where the time it takes place is clearly modern but there's this holdover of old things. Sebastian helpfully explains that technology just doesn't play nice with his magic, so his house is like stepping into a period drama. It gives the book a bit of extra whimsy, but I can understand why it could be jarring for some people if they didn't expect it.
Overall I really, really, loved this book. It's a contender for my book of the year already, and I really encourage anyone interested in the tropes mentioned to check it out!
It's been really hard for me to write this review because of how much I love it, it feels like there's too much to go over, and I don't want to spoil anything. It's a 5 course meal of friends to lovers in a heart warming slow burn romance. It has a super spooky mystery. It has a huge cast of unique characters that I love dearly with all my heart, and I never once went "wait, who's that guy?" because of how well they were all characterized. Once I was done with this book I hadn't just fallen in love with Sebastian and Dahlia, I had fallen in love with Rosemont Manor, its inhabitants, and a few of the people in the city of King's Fall (I added Hauntings & Company to my reading list to get more Ophelia and Markus action).
One thing I do want to mention: the setting is modern with some fantasy quirks. After seeing the cover art, I got a little confused when in the first few pages a cell phone was mentioned, so I wanted to let others know ahead of time. It reminds me of The Ancient Magus bride, where the time it takes place is clearly modern but there's this holdover of old things. Sebastian helpfully explains that technology just doesn't play nice with his magic, so his house is like stepping into a period drama. It gives the book a bit of extra whimsy, but I can understand why it could be jarring for some people if they didn't expect it.
Overall I really, really, loved this book. It's a contender for my book of the year already, and I really encourage anyone interested in the tropes mentioned to check it out!
Space for More by Emily Antoinette
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
So just to preface it I haven't read Space for Love yet, and I didn't feel completely overwhelmed or confused by Spire Station or the large cast of characters, the background information and pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book helped, too! Now that I've read Space for More, I am definitely going to read Space for Love sooner (it's been on my TBR I just get distracted).
👾 Plus size rep
👾 Second Chances and Fated Mates
👾 Knotting and public indecency
👾 He has two 🍆🍆 and strawberry 💦
I love how *real* the three of our main characters felt. Mezli is an absolute gremlin that hides her soft parts behind the party girl persona, Eden is an incredibly intelligent and kind doctor that craves adventure and connection, and Phelix is an insecure doctor that wants to be seen for his own merits and not just for his born nobility. They all battled their own insecurities and baggage throughout the story and I just want to give them all a big hug, especially Phelix, because I love soft tummies on wide, strong men 💜.
I also loved how *real* the navigation of a relationship as a polyamorous couple felt. There is insecurity, there is misunderstandings, there is tons of communication during intimacy, there is reassurance that everyone matters and no one is a third wheel or a unicorn. I loved that Mezli and Eden had a strong bond with each other and not *just* Phelix, I think the FFM dynamic was handled extremely well.
This book was a fun ride. It has espionage, mystery, awkward dinner parties, and extremely hot spice, and I'm so glad they all got a HEA because they deserve it.
👾 Plus size rep
👾 Second Chances and Fated Mates
👾 Knotting and public indecency
👾 He has two 🍆🍆 and strawberry 💦
I love how *real* the three of our main characters felt. Mezli is an absolute gremlin that hides her soft parts behind the party girl persona, Eden is an incredibly intelligent and kind doctor that craves adventure and connection, and Phelix is an insecure doctor that wants to be seen for his own merits and not just for his born nobility. They all battled their own insecurities and baggage throughout the story and I just want to give them all a big hug, especially Phelix, because I love soft tummies on wide, strong men 💜.
I also loved how *real* the navigation of a relationship as a polyamorous couple felt. There is insecurity, there is misunderstandings, there is tons of communication during intimacy, there is reassurance that everyone matters and no one is a third wheel or a unicorn. I loved that Mezli and Eden had a strong bond with each other and not *just* Phelix, I think the FFM dynamic was handled extremely well.
This book was a fun ride. It has espionage, mystery, awkward dinner parties, and extremely hot spice, and I'm so glad they all got a HEA because they deserve it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Vomit
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical trauma