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samandthebookstack's Reviews (99)
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What happens when a grumpy fallen god turned detective is forced to work with a soul-devouring gumiho who loathes him in order to save their city from certain destruction?
This story was hilarious and entertaining and it scratched my itch for something light, funny and filled with some of my favorite tropes. I have never watched a kdrama before, but now I feel inclined to thanks to this book.
I loved Hani so much I wanted to squeeze her. She is hilarious and I adored that she isn't some perfectly good, well-behaved gal who always does the right thing. In fact, she's the opposite. She unalived Jack the Ripper. She enjoys the taste of men's livers.
Although I guessed the plot twist way ahead of the end of the story, I found that I didn't mind because I was having so much fun reading this.
Tropes/Things of note:
- Grumpy x sunshine (very well executed, and the banter was hilarious)
- Detective mystery
- he falls first (Seokga is a precious, coffee loving grumpus)
- Korean mythology (I spent a solid hour googling to learn about this after reading this book and had a blast.)
This story was hilarious and entertaining and it scratched my itch for something light, funny and filled with some of my favorite tropes. I have never watched a kdrama before, but now I feel inclined to thanks to this book.
I loved Hani so much I wanted to squeeze her. She is hilarious and I adored that she isn't some perfectly good, well-behaved gal who always does the right thing. In fact, she's the opposite. She unalived Jack the Ripper. She enjoys the taste of men's livers.
Although I guessed the plot twist way ahead of the end of the story, I found that I didn't mind because I was having so much fun reading this.
Tropes/Things of note:
- Grumpy x sunshine (very well executed, and the banter was hilarious)
- Detective mystery
- he falls first (Seokga is a precious, coffee loving grumpus)
- Korean mythology (I spent a solid hour googling to learn about this after reading this book and had a blast.)
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
"Unanswered questions were like boxes you never opened, their contents vanishing and reappearing, stretching and contracting, being nothing and everything all at once."
You know that moment after waking from a particularly cozy dream when your brain struggles to separate the world you dreamed in from the real world? You rub at the sleep in your eyes and try to recall the details of the dream, but everything is fuzzy around the edges and then by mid-day, all you can remember is that you dreamt something lovely. Water Moon is just like that- a fever dream that is just as whimsical as it is heartfelt and thought provoking.
The blurb doesn't quite do the full scope and depth of this story justice and I am 100% certain if I stick to my regular review format, I will accidentally include spoilers and I think this book has the best impact going in the way I did, completely unaware of anything other than that very intriguing blurb. However, I will say this, I am a big fan of the kind of stories that punch you right in the feels and Water Moon is precisely that in the very best way. You won't be sobbing into your pillow, but the beautiful prose and the emphasis on choices coupled with the kind of world building that any Studio Ghibli fan will love, will have you clutching your kindle (or physical copy, because you're gonna need one to annotate, trust me) and holding your breath.
Some final thoughts:
This is definitely a recommendation for anyone who loves the whimsy, romance and tenderness of Howl's Moving Castle. I would also recommend this book to my fellow fans of authors like Hannah Whitten, Olivia Atwater and Rachel Gillig-as the lovely prose and unique world-building will likely vibe well for you.
I want to send a very heartfelt and sincere thank you to Samantha Soto Yambao, Del Rey, Random House and NetGalley for sharing an e-ARC of this beautiful story with me.
medium-paced
Hecate Goodwin is the first hedgewitch in her coven in decades and lives in a cottage by herself with her beloved cat, Merlin. A strange dream and a visit from an old acquaintance begins a sequence of events that sees Hecate struggling to unravel a mystery. Her mother named her a hedgewitch, but she doesn't know why and to make matters worse, she's uncovered a book that belonged to her mother-protected by blood magic, it holds secrets that will hold the key to her survival.
Hecate Goodwin is truly a very lovable character. I really liked her and particularly enjoyed her inner monologue as it just felt really genuine and comfortable. Matthew is also top notch. He's sweet and the relationship between the two of them was really quite lovely.
Overall, I am so glad I requested an e-ARC of this on a whim and I definitely recommend this one for anyone who loves the fall season and witchy vibes. Pair this read with a big heaping mug of apple cider and warm butter drenched bread.
* Easy read with Practical Magic vibes in abundance
* Witches and an interesting magic system
* Hidden powers
* Animal companion
* Tender romance (sort of enemies to lovers, but not in an intense way)
* Plot twists
* Satisfying, but slightly bittersweet ending
Hecate Goodwin is truly a very lovable character. I really liked her and particularly enjoyed her inner monologue as it just felt really genuine and comfortable. Matthew is also top notch. He's sweet and the relationship between the two of them was really quite lovely.
Overall, I am so glad I requested an e-ARC of this on a whim and I definitely recommend this one for anyone who loves the fall season and witchy vibes. Pair this read with a big heaping mug of apple cider and warm butter drenched bread.
* Easy read with Practical Magic vibes in abundance
* Witches and an interesting magic system
* Hidden powers
* Animal companion
* Tender romance (sort of enemies to lovers, but not in an intense way)
* Plot twists
* Satisfying, but slightly bittersweet ending
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Imagine this: A story that carries all of the charm of Divine Rivals and blends that with the wit and Whimsy of an afternoon strolling around the Ton with the Bridgertons - that is A Rivalry of Hearts. In my opinion, this book was the perfect blend of cozy fantasy and historical romance. I laughed out loud with enough frequency that my husband stopped me to ask what was so funny... the banter was absolutely perfect. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants low-stakes, cozy vibes with lovable characters and easy to follow world building. The writing was flawless. I forced myself to read slower because I enjoyed hanging out with these characters so much.
Details to consider:
- Spicy
- Cozy fantasy/historical romance
- Dual POV
- Witty banter
- Simple world-building
- Rivals to Lovers
- MMC falls first
- Forced Proximity
- Touch her and X
- Magical bets
- Silly nicknames
Thank you so much Tessonja Odette and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an E-ARC of this lovely story.
Details to consider:
- Spicy
- Cozy fantasy/historical romance
- Dual POV
- Witty banter
- Simple world-building
- Rivals to Lovers
- MMC falls first
- Forced Proximity
- Touch her and X
- Magical bets
- Silly nicknames
Thank you so much Tessonja Odette and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an E-ARC of this lovely story.
dark
tense
fast-paced
I feel poorly equipped, having finished this at nearly 3 minutes to midnight, to properly express how much I enjoyed this book.
I have often found that when reading a duology, I am left wanting once I've turned the last page. I'm a sucker for world building and generally that leaves me with lingering questions and little details my brain won't relinquish once I've closed a book. But The Shepherd King may very well be the most perfectly executed fantasy duology that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. These books contained everything: excellent characters, a mysterious forest brimming with magic, darkness and light, action and adventure, wit and banter, romance of the very best caliber and a final retribution of the sort that I was grinning like a cat at the very end. This story ended in such a satisfying way that I have zero questions...just stunned awe. Bravo, Rachel Gillig.
I have often found that when reading a duology, I am left wanting once I've turned the last page. I'm a sucker for world building and generally that leaves me with lingering questions and little details my brain won't relinquish once I've closed a book. But The Shepherd King may very well be the most perfectly executed fantasy duology that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. These books contained everything: excellent characters, a mysterious forest brimming with magic, darkness and light, action and adventure, wit and banter, romance of the very best caliber and a final retribution of the sort that I was grinning like a cat at the very end. This story ended in such a satisfying way that I have zero questions...just stunned awe. Bravo, Rachel Gillig.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Before we talk about this book can we just take a minute to gawk at that stunning cover? Seriously, it's so pretty, I hope it becomes available in paperback at some point because leaving that gorgeous cover to hide on my Kindle feels wrong. I need it on my bookshelf where I can gawk at it when I'm in need of something lovely to look at.
If I'm not mistaken, The Crimson Thread is Aspen Kilgore's debut and WOW what a home run! The writing was beautiful, descriptive and lush. I can't say enough about the setting. It gave "traipsing through middle earth" vibes and I loved every second of that. I did not guess at the ending at all (because I was probably too distracted by the immaculate vibes-please note that there is a mild cliffhanger at the end) and now I am sitting here wishing I had the next books in my hands because I am desperate to know more about this world Aspen has constructed. What happened to the gods? Did Arit and Gingel find the peace they deserved? What is the grand scheme behind Elle's connection to Eth? Will we get to learn more about Eth's background in future books? I'm chomping at the bit and if I keep going I'm going to accidentally drop spoilers, so I'll stop.
If you're looking for something that is a quick read that manages to be as immersive as something with twice as many pages, this is for you.
* trigger warnings for death, attempted SA/murder, mild violence, amputation and injury, and mild spice
Thank you, Aspen, for sharing an ARC copy of this story with me!
If I'm not mistaken, The Crimson Thread is Aspen Kilgore's debut and WOW what a home run! The writing was beautiful, descriptive and lush. I can't say enough about the setting. It gave "traipsing through middle earth" vibes and I loved every second of that. I did not guess at the ending at all (because I was probably too distracted by the immaculate vibes-please note that there is a mild cliffhanger at the end) and now I am sitting here wishing I had the next books in my hands because I am desperate to know more about this world Aspen has constructed. What happened to the gods? Did Arit and Gingel find the peace they deserved? What is the grand scheme behind Elle's connection to Eth? Will we get to learn more about Eth's background in future books? I'm chomping at the bit and if I keep going I'm going to accidentally drop spoilers, so I'll stop.
If you're looking for something that is a quick read that manages to be as immersive as something with twice as many pages, this is for you.
* trigger warnings for death, attempted SA/murder, mild violence, amputation and injury, and mild spice
Thank you, Aspen, for sharing an ARC copy of this story with me!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
“There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King… and the monster they became.”
Wow. Absolutely enthralling. The fact that this is Rachel's debut is astounding to me. I don't even know precisely where to start. The world-building was superb and seamless with little-to-no data dumping. The magic system was among the more unique I've encountered with magic being relegated to the use of cards (akin to tarot cards) and those infected by the mist. The pacing was absolutely perfect, not a sluggish section to be found. Add to that, Rachel's beautiful, atmospheric writing and you get a really satisfying gothic fantasy sprinkled with romance and monsters.
The Characters:
Elspeth is a realistic FMC. She comes across as a normal girl who isn't trying to become something she just isn't for the sake of the story. She isn't interested in learning to fight by physical means to save herself. Instead, despite the strangeness of her circumstances, she relies on her wit and her adherence to doing the right thing compels her efforts to make right the unfairness of her world. She doubts herself like any sane person would. There were several instances while reading where I could feel her fear and the urgency of her actions as if they were my own. I loved that I felt like I really got to know her without ever feeling like I was being "told".
Obviously, Ravyn Yew is freaking fantastic. He ticks all my MMC boxes. He's tall, dark haired, and handsome and willing to crush the bones of anyone who harms his girl. His characterization is a no brainer and is spot on for those who gravitate towards this type of male lead in a F/M story. I do feel that there's a lot more to him than we got to see in book 1 and I'm curious to see if book 2 gives more with regards to the inner workings of his mind.
Not one of the side characters in this book fell short for me. They were all intriguing and I found myself wanting to get to know each of them because their inclusion in the story felt truly compelling and not at all like any of them were there as mere plot devices. However, I loathed Prince Hauth almost immediately. I am rooting with every fiber of my existence for him to meet a very grisly end in book 2.
The Romance:
The progression of things between Elspeth and Ravyn felt so natural and not at all sluggish or forced. I adored the fact that there is very little conflict between Elspeth and Ravyn. Too often, I find that although they can be great fun, some stories are bogged down by poorly executed adherence to certain tropes. That did not happen in One Dark Window. Here, it was clear pretty early on that Elspeth and Ravyn are drawn to one another and neither of them put up contrived barriers that prevent them from being honest about how they feel. It was so satisfying to read a story with so much depth that played out the romance in this manner. There was also a dash of smut, but it was so well written. See quote below as evidence:
"Can I kiss you?"
"A bit late to ask, isn't it?"
"Not on your mouth, Elspeth."
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
It is no secret to anyone who has been around me for at least five minutes that I am a huge fan of Hannah Whitten's books. I loved The Wilderwood duology so much and was lucky enough to read an eARC of the The Foxglove King. I've been waiting impatiently ever since to get my hands on The Hemlock Queen.
I have written and rewritten this review about five times already because I kept writing things that were too riddled with spoilers. The Hemlock Queen picked up right where book 1 left off and expands the world building and lore tremendously, however the immaculate vibes remained wholly intact despite the increase in information scattered throughout book 2. I did think the pacing to be a tad slower than book 1, but Hannah still delivered the same gorgeous, immersive prose and character driven narrative that made me fall in love with her characters and world building in the first place. The Hemlock Queen was a win for me overall and now I find that I am once again nursing a book hangover as I wait in rapt anticipation for book 3 of The Nightshade Crown series.
The Nightshade Crown series is perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig, Lyra Selene and anyone who read Hannah's debut duology (The Wilderwood Duology).
Some highlights:
- love triangle
- unique magic system - death magic/necromancy (mortum)/life magic (spiritum)
- adult gothic romantasy
- exploration of loss and religious trauma
- warring deities
- a hot priest
- tension and angst galore (and some gore, because it wouldn't be a Hannah Whitten book without a little gore)
I have written and rewritten this review about five times already because I kept writing things that were too riddled with spoilers. The Hemlock Queen picked up right where book 1 left off and expands the world building and lore tremendously, however the immaculate vibes remained wholly intact despite the increase in information scattered throughout book 2. I did think the pacing to be a tad slower than book 1, but Hannah still delivered the same gorgeous, immersive prose and character driven narrative that made me fall in love with her characters and world building in the first place. The Hemlock Queen was a win for me overall and now I find that I am once again nursing a book hangover as I wait in rapt anticipation for book 3 of The Nightshade Crown series.
The Nightshade Crown series is perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig, Lyra Selene and anyone who read Hannah's debut duology (The Wilderwood Duology).
Some highlights:
- love triangle
- unique magic system - death magic/necromancy (mortum)/life magic (spiritum)
- adult gothic romantasy
- exploration of loss and religious trauma
- warring deities
- a hot priest
- tension and angst galore (and some gore, because it wouldn't be a Hannah Whitten book without a little gore)
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Presented in epistolary format, A Letter to the Luminous Deep offers letters written between Sophy and Vyerin as they attempt to discover the mystery of their missing siblings. (E and Henerey) in the aftermath of a sea quake.
There are a few drawbacks to a story in letter format, and unfortunately I felt that in this case those drawbacks were present and hindered the overall feel of the story. I didn't hate it, but I did find that the characters fell slightly flat for me and their individual voices were not as clear as they could have been. However, the overall feel of the story...the oceanic setting, atmospheric vibe mixed with the academic aspect paired well enough alongside the sweetness of the romance that it made up for everything I didn't love about this story. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I found the prose to be very beautiful and will be impatiently waiting for the next book.
Imagine Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries mixed with the vibes of A Series of Unfortunate Events, that was what came to mind for me as I read this. If you love academia, beautiful prose, character driven stories with interesting atmospheric settings and romance that is slow building and sweet, this story might be for you.
A huge thank you to Orbit, Sylvie Cathrall and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review and E-ARC of this beautiful story.
There are a few drawbacks to a story in letter format, and unfortunately I felt that in this case those drawbacks were present and hindered the overall feel of the story. I didn't hate it, but I did find that the characters fell slightly flat for me and their individual voices were not as clear as they could have been. However, the overall feel of the story...the oceanic setting, atmospheric vibe mixed with the academic aspect paired well enough alongside the sweetness of the romance that it made up for everything I didn't love about this story. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I found the prose to be very beautiful and will be impatiently waiting for the next book.
Imagine Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries mixed with the vibes of A Series of Unfortunate Events, that was what came to mind for me as I read this. If you love academia, beautiful prose, character driven stories with interesting atmospheric settings and romance that is slow building and sweet, this story might be for you.
A huge thank you to Orbit, Sylvie Cathrall and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review and E-ARC of this beautiful story.
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
4.5/5 stars
Butcher & Blackbird is not a story for every reader: there are a boatload of trigger warnings to consider (I'll list the ones I can recall off the top of my head below), and it is a story about two serial killers who unalive other serial killers. However, the promise of dark comedy and the villains getting their happily-ever-after lured me in and by the time I was finished binging this book at 1:30 in the morning I was cackling and wiggling my toes.
The smut is excellent. Rowan Kane is a the golden retriever, serial killer MMC heartthrob I didn't know I needed in my life.
Read this if:
Butcher & Blackbird is not a story for every reader: there are a boatload of trigger warnings to consider (I'll list the ones I can recall off the top of my head below), and it is a story about two serial killers who unalive other serial killers. However, the promise of dark comedy and the villains getting their happily-ever-after lured me in and by the time I was finished binging this book at 1:30 in the morning I was cackling and wiggling my toes.
The smut is excellent. Rowan Kane is a the golden retriever, serial killer MMC heartthrob I didn't know I needed in my life.
Read this if:
- you consider yourself to have a dark sense of humor and you aren't squeamish
- you like it when the villains get their HEA and don't actually stop being villainous
- you enjoy tropes like friends to lovers, the MMC falls first, forced proximity, light grumpy/sunshine dynamics, only one bed, and touch him/her and die vibes (like, literally)
Trigger warnings
murder, violence, blood, gore, accidental cannibalism and not so accidental cannibalism (the not so accidental is not by the FMC or MMC), vomit, chainsaws, eyeballs and eye-sockets, sexual content (booty stuff, edging, etc), parental loss (not detailed on page), I'm sure there's more and it is my understanding that Brynne Weaver has a more comprehensive list on her website
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Blood, Vomit
Minor: Gun violence, Death of parent