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shannonmreviews's reviews
492 reviews
The Knight And The Moth by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
I received a physical Advanced Reader Copy, not from the publisher, but a very kind woman who happened to receive a second copy at the B&N Book Fest (thanks again, Anna). These opinions are my own.
Actual Rating: 4.25
The Important Highlights
After the Shepard King duology, I hyped the Knight and the Moth up to the very top of a giant pedestal and I was ANXIOUS going into this. What if it wasn't as good? What if I DNF'd it? I was promised a gothic/medieval slow burn romantasy with detailed worldbuilding and interesting magic system. Upon reading, I discovered only one horse, witty AF banter, adversaries-to-lovers, and oh, did I mention the slow burn already? I also found the most lovable and precious side character in any book ever. This is book one is a brand new duology that does end in a cliffhanger.
My Unhinged and Messy Thoughts
Let's just get this out of the way... the bat-like gargoyle is MAIN CHARACTER material. I would take a novella strictly from his point of view about literally anything. Once you have read this, you will agree with me. So, let's petition Miss Rachel for a gargoyle spin off. This is the most loveable character in the whole book.
I struggled with the other characters. They are fleshed out, with unique backstories, but they didn't wow me, if that makes sense. Six is a very interesting character though and learning about her backstory was super intense. Rory isn't book boyfriend material for me, unfortunately. He's alright, I guess. This is definitely not enemies-to-lovers and I could have sworn that's how it was marketed. I give this a hesitant "adversaries to lovers".
The romance itself is VERY slow burn. I think it was 75% before the romance kicked into gear, which I LOVE. The longer it takes, the better. There was tension and banter, which is super important to Romantasy, IMO.
Okay, let's talk about the magic system. It's not unique by any means, at least I don't think so, but it IS super interesting. It doesn't feel as unique as the magic system in her previous duology. It gives off Doctor Strange vibes, for sure. This world isn't full of magic the way it is in most fantasy novels, much like the Shepard King duology.
This book was a wee bit on the slow side and took a bit to build up, around 20-25%, I'd say. But once it got rolling, it was great! I do have some concerns about the pacing for duology overall. I am worried that... the thing they set out to do was complete, basically, at the end of the book and honestly, without giving too much away, I think this could have easy been a standalone with an extra 100-150 pages to follow the cliffhanger we were left on. I have confidence that the author will make a fantastic sequel, but it just may not be necessary. We shall see!
I am also incredibly worried that she uses a specific formula in her duologies that will take the mystery out of them and that will just become super predictable as she keeps releasing stories. But, it really doesn't matter, because if Rachel Gillig writes it, I will read it.
In Conclusion
This is absolutely not a bad book, clearly, because I rated it 4.25, but it definitely didn't live up to the personal hype that I created for it. If the Shepard King duology had you in a chokehold, you will absolutely love this one too. If you liked the religious (i.e. nun) and side character (the relic and Trouble) aspects of Vespertine but wanted more adult vibes then you will LOVE this book. I am excited to see where this goes in book 2!
Actual Rating: 4.25
The Important Highlights
After the Shepard King duology, I hyped the Knight and the Moth up to the very top of a giant pedestal and I was ANXIOUS going into this. What if it wasn't as good? What if I DNF'd it? I was promised a gothic/medieval slow burn romantasy with detailed worldbuilding and interesting magic system. Upon reading, I discovered only one horse, witty AF banter, adversaries-to-lovers, and oh, did I mention the slow burn already? I also found the most lovable and precious side character in any book ever. This is book one is a brand new duology that does end in a cliffhanger.
My Unhinged and Messy Thoughts
Let's just get this out of the way... the bat-like gargoyle is MAIN CHARACTER material. I would take a novella strictly from his point of view about literally anything. Once you have read this, you will agree with me. So, let's petition Miss Rachel for a gargoyle spin off. This is the most loveable character in the whole book.
I struggled with the other characters. They are fleshed out, with unique backstories, but they didn't wow me, if that makes sense. Six is a very interesting character though and learning about her backstory was super intense. Rory isn't book boyfriend material for me, unfortunately. He's alright, I guess. This is definitely not enemies-to-lovers and I could have sworn that's how it was marketed. I give this a hesitant "adversaries to lovers".
The romance itself is VERY slow burn. I think it was 75% before the romance kicked into gear, which I LOVE. The longer it takes, the better. There was tension and banter, which is super important to Romantasy, IMO.
Okay, let's talk about the magic system. It's not unique by any means, at least I don't think so, but it IS super interesting. It doesn't feel as unique as the magic system in her previous duology. It gives off Doctor Strange vibes, for sure. This world isn't full of magic the way it is in most fantasy novels, much like the Shepard King duology.
This book was a wee bit on the slow side and took a bit to build up, around 20-25%, I'd say. But once it got rolling, it was great! I do have some concerns about the pacing for duology overall. I am worried that... the thing they set out to do was complete, basically, at the end of the book and honestly, without giving too much away, I think this could have easy been a standalone with an extra 100-150 pages to follow the cliffhanger we were left on. I have confidence that the author will make a fantastic sequel, but it just may not be necessary. We shall see!
I am also incredibly worried that she uses a specific formula in her duologies that will take the mystery out of them and that will just become super predictable as she keeps releasing stories. But, it really doesn't matter, because if Rachel Gillig writes it, I will read it.
In Conclusion
This is absolutely not a bad book, clearly, because I rated it 4.25, but it definitely didn't live up to the personal hype that I created for it. If the Shepard King duology had you in a chokehold, you will absolutely love this one too. If you liked the religious (i.e. nun) and side character (the relic and Trouble) aspects of Vespertine but wanted more adult vibes then you will LOVE this book. I am excited to see where this goes in book 2!
The Tenant: A Psychological Thriller by Freida McFadden
4.0
Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
The Important Highlights
In true Freida fashion, this book had the twists you expected they would.
What I Liked
It was entertaining as usual. It's an easy read -- by this I mean that anyone could pick up this book and understand it (I feel like it's important I point this out, because the fantasy genre I normally read is NOT easy LOL)
What I Didn’t Like
I mean, it was kind of predictable in a few spots, and around the halfway mark I really didn't see how it could realistically get any worse (like what else could possible happen lol).
In Conclusion
I enjoyed it and will be continuing to read her books as she publishes them. Roommates are the worst, but spouses are worse .
The Important Highlights
In true Freida fashion, this book had the twists you expected they would.
What I Liked
It was entertaining as usual. It's an easy read -- by this I mean that anyone could pick up this book and understand it (I feel like it's important I point this out, because the fantasy genre I normally read is NOT easy LOL)
What I Didn’t Like
I mean, it was kind of predictable in a few spots, and around the halfway mark I really didn't see how it could realistically get any worse (like what else could possible happen lol).
In Conclusion
I enjoyed it and will be continuing to read her books as she publishes them. Roommates are the worst, but
A Letter from the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathrall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
The Important Highlights
DNF (first book, this was an automatic DNF).
This is book two in a duology that is set in a queernormative, underwater world, with mental illness rep. It is written in epistolary format, which means it is completely written in letters and missives. It is very academic and written in a scholarly tone (big words and long sentences). This book tackles grief and loss. The following information is from my review of book one:
What I Liked
If you are looking for "scrolling Facebook posts and reading every single comment because I need to know what's going on" vibes, this is for you. I loved the format of this story. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the main characters and how the book is a collection of letters that are meant to formulate a timeline. The diversity in this book is fantastic with mental illness and LGBTQIA+ rep in a way that felt realistic.
What I Didn’t Like
The scholarly writing, while completing my finals week of the semester, made this very difficult for me to get into. I am intelligent but the writing hurt my brain LOL. The letters, although interesting, feel like they are all written by the same person. Other than a heading that states who the letter is going to and who it's from, there is no indication within the body of the letter that it's a different character than the previous one. There aren't many individual quirks or mannerisms.
In Conclusion
I believe it has been mentioned, but if you are a fan of Emily Wilde, then this book will absolutely be for you (I haven't read it yet, and I am now concerned about attempting it). Unfortunately, with DNFing the first book, I will not be continuing the duology. I might still keep my Fairyloot edition though, because it is absolutely gorgeous, we shall see.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
The Important Highlights
DNF (first book, this was an automatic DNF).
This is book two in a duology that is set in a queernormative, underwater world, with mental illness rep. It is written in epistolary format, which means it is completely written in letters and missives. It is very academic and written in a scholarly tone (big words and long sentences). This book tackles grief and loss. The following information is from my review of book one:
What I Liked
If you are looking for "scrolling Facebook posts and reading every single comment because I need to know what's going on" vibes, this is for you. I loved the format of this story. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the main characters and how the book is a collection of letters that are meant to formulate a timeline. The diversity in this book is fantastic with mental illness and LGBTQIA+ rep in a way that felt realistic.
What I Didn’t Like
The scholarly writing, while completing my finals week of the semester, made this very difficult for me to get into. I am intelligent but the writing hurt my brain LOL. The letters, although interesting, feel like they are all written by the same person. Other than a heading that states who the letter is going to and who it's from, there is no indication within the body of the letter that it's a different character than the previous one. There aren't many individual quirks or mannerisms.
In Conclusion
I believe it has been mentioned, but if you are a fan of Emily Wilde, then this book will absolutely be for you (I haven't read it yet, and I am now concerned about attempting it). Unfortunately, with DNFing the first book, I will not be continuing the duology. I might still keep my Fairyloot edition though, because it is absolutely gorgeous, we shall see.
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
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The Important Highlights
DNF @ 30%.
This is book one in a duology that is set in a queernormative, underwater world, with mental illness rep. It is written in epistolary format, which means it is completely written in letters and missives. It is very academic and written in a scholarly tone (big words and long sentences). This book tackles grief and loss.
What I Liked
If you are looking for "scrolling Facebook posts and reading every single comment because I need to know what's going on" vibes, this is for you. I loved the format of this story. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the main characters and how the book is a collection of letters that are meant to formulate a timeline. The diversity in this book is fantastic with mental illness and LGBTQIA+ rep in a way that felt realistic.
What I Didn’t Like
The scholarly writing, while completing my finals week of the semester, made this very difficult for me to get into. I am intelligent but the writing hurt my brain LOL. The letters, although interesting, feel like they are all written by the same person. Other than a heading that states who the letter is going to and who it's from, there is no indication within the body of the letter that it's a different character than the previous one. There aren't many individual quirks or mannerisms.
In Conclusion
I believe it has been mentioned, but if you are a fan of Emily Wilde, then this book will absolutely be for you (I haven't read it yet, and I am now concerned about attempting it). Unfortunately, with DNFing the first book, I will not be continuing the duology. I might still keep my Fairyloot edition though, because it is absolutely gorgeous, we shall see.
The Important Highlights
DNF @ 30%.
This is book one in a duology that is set in a queernormative, underwater world, with mental illness rep. It is written in epistolary format, which means it is completely written in letters and missives. It is very academic and written in a scholarly tone (big words and long sentences). This book tackles grief and loss.
What I Liked
If you are looking for "scrolling Facebook posts and reading every single comment because I need to know what's going on" vibes, this is for you. I loved the format of this story. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the main characters and how the book is a collection of letters that are meant to formulate a timeline. The diversity in this book is fantastic with mental illness and LGBTQIA+ rep in a way that felt realistic.
What I Didn’t Like
The scholarly writing, while completing my finals week of the semester, made this very difficult for me to get into. I am intelligent but the writing hurt my brain LOL. The letters, although interesting, feel like they are all written by the same person. Other than a heading that states who the letter is going to and who it's from, there is no indication within the body of the letter that it's a different character than the previous one. There aren't many individual quirks or mannerisms.
In Conclusion
I believe it has been mentioned, but if you are a fan of Emily Wilde, then this book will absolutely be for you (I haven't read it yet, and I am now concerned about attempting it). Unfortunately, with DNFing the first book, I will not be continuing the duology. I might still keep my Fairyloot edition though, because it is absolutely gorgeous, we shall see.
Direbound: A Dark Romantasy by Sable Sorensen
dark
emotional
funny
tense
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
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The Important Highlights
This dark romantasy is the first in a series with the next two books coming SOON! The cliffhanger is not fair (GIMME BOOK 2 PLEASE!) but I think you can handle it. The tropes you can find in this include secret identities, found family, one bed, the enemies aren't allowed to lover, and fated mates (but a twist). This book gives off Fourth Wing vibes but add in Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and Abigail (IYKYK). This book is also a debut for Sable Sorenson, who is actually two people -- friends! I love that for them!
What I Liked
Literally everything. I was intimidated by the page count but the pacing and excellent writing make this a BREEZE to get through. The FMC is a little chaotic and unhinged in all the best ways. Direwolves. Vampires. Strong FMC in her own world but kinda sucky in the real world -- we all love seeing people get HUMBLED.
What I Didn’t Like
There is nothing, well, other than the fact that I cannot immediately start book 2. That's a real problem.
In Conclusion
I ate this shit UP. I stayed up all damn night to finish this (by that I mean, to read 65% of it in one go). A few of the twists were definitely easy to spot but there were two at the end that GOT ME. I didn't mind that I had figured some of it out, I think it was intentional, and when it happened, it still hit like a brick. I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series and anything else that they write.
The Important Highlights
This dark romantasy is the first in a series with the next two books coming SOON! The cliffhanger is not fair (GIMME BOOK 2 PLEASE!) but I think you can handle it. The tropes you can find in this include secret identities, found family, one bed, the enemies aren't allowed to lover, and fated mates (but a twist). This book gives off Fourth Wing vibes but add in Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and Abigail (IYKYK). This book is also a debut for Sable Sorenson, who is actually two people -- friends! I love that for them!
What I Liked
Literally everything. I was intimidated by the page count but the pacing and excellent writing make this a BREEZE to get through. The FMC is a little chaotic and unhinged in all the best ways. Direwolves. Vampires. Strong FMC in her own world but kinda sucky in the real world -- we all love seeing people get HUMBLED.
What I Didn’t Like
There is nothing, well, other than the fact that I cannot immediately start book 2. That's a real problem.
In Conclusion
I ate this shit UP. I stayed up all damn night to finish this (by that I mean, to read 65% of it in one go). A few of the twists were definitely easy to spot but there were two at the end that GOT ME. I didn't mind that I had figured some of it out, I think it was intentional, and when it happened, it still hit like a brick. I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series and anything else that they write.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
5.0
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The Important Highlights
Listen, I am not going to get into tropes or anything like that, because let's face it, you aren't randomly picking this up. You're here for Haymitch and already know what to expect. I will add that this is first person, like the original trilogy, and very much unlike Ballad, which I DNF'd SO HARD (my review). Spoiler: Haymitch wins. Haha, jk, it's not actually a spoiler. *smirk* Anyways, let's get on with it before I try to make more stupid jokes...
What I Liked
I know I already said it, but I really liked that this was in first person POV. I loved the nod to all the characters we already know from the OG trilogy (okay, and even a few from Ballad, but don't tell anyone I said that). I won't lie, most of them made me bawl like a wee little baby. I really enjoyed the fact that it was about more than just the Games itself. It felt very similar to The Hunger Games (book 1) and really pulled us back into the world.
What I Didn’t Like
What I didn't like, Suzanne, was the big ole headache I got from all the damn crying. MY EYES WERE SORE WHEN I CLOSED THE BOOK. I didn't like the fact that after 15 years you were able to make me sob uncontrollably the way you did. I didn't like that I clearly NEEDED that sob. Otherwise, this was pretty perfect.
In Conclusion
I really enjoyed jumping back into Panem between the reread of the OG trilogy and this delightful addition to the story. I will gladly read more in this world as long as it stays in first person (I clearly will never shut up about this lol). Some ideas: a brand new character that has never been mentioned that maybe won a random Hunger Games between Haymitch and Katniss, especially if they are from a different district. Actually, exactly that. Give us first person from people in other districts. So basically, keep writing them, and I will keep reading them.
The Important Highlights
Listen, I am not going to get into tropes or anything like that, because let's face it, you aren't randomly picking this up. You're here for Haymitch and already know what to expect. I will add that this is first person, like the original trilogy, and very much unlike Ballad, which I DNF'd SO HARD (my review). Spoiler: Haymitch wins. Haha, jk, it's not actually a spoiler. *smirk* Anyways, let's get on with it before I try to make more stupid jokes...
What I Liked
I know I already said it, but I really liked that this was in first person POV. I loved the nod to all the characters we already know from the OG trilogy (okay, and even a few from Ballad, but don't tell anyone I said that). I won't lie, most of them made me bawl like a wee little baby. I really enjoyed the fact that it was about more than just the Games itself. It felt very similar to The Hunger Games (book 1) and really pulled us back into the world.
What I Didn’t Like
What I didn't like, Suzanne, was the big ole headache I got from all the damn crying. MY EYES WERE SORE WHEN I CLOSED THE BOOK. I didn't like the fact that after 15 years you were able to make me sob uncontrollably the way you did. I didn't like that I clearly NEEDED that sob. Otherwise, this was pretty perfect.
In Conclusion
I really enjoyed jumping back into Panem between the reread of the OG trilogy and this delightful addition to the story. I will gladly read more in this world as long as it stays in first person (I clearly will never shut up about this lol). Some ideas: a brand new character that has never been mentioned that maybe won a random Hunger Games between Haymitch and Katniss, especially if they are from a different district. Actually, exactly that. Give us first person from people in other districts. So basically, keep writing them, and I will keep reading them.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
What I Liked
Well, I actually can't say that I liked much. I was most excited about learning about the dynamics and mechanics of the early games. Learning how things changed from the 10th games to the 75th and being able to compare all the differences was actually very interesting.
What I Didn’t Like
I’m SOOOOOO bored. Snow is a piece of shit who randomly thinks a nice thought but then manages to fuck it up by continuing to be a piece of shit. I’m sick of cabbage soup, the lyrics of all these songs, and these stupid long ass names taking up all the page count in a rotten ass word salad.
In Conclusion
I’m sorry but no. This is not for me. I love that people love this but it felt SO disconnected from the OG trilogy (which I JUST reread). Sunrise on the Reaping better be PHENOMENAL or I will RIOT.
Well, I actually can't say that I liked much. I was most excited about learning about the dynamics and mechanics of the early games. Learning how things changed from the 10th games to the 75th and being able to compare all the differences was actually very interesting.
What I Didn’t Like
I’m SOOOOOO bored. Snow is a piece of shit who randomly thinks a nice thought but then manages to fuck it up by continuing to be a piece of shit. I’m sick of cabbage soup, the lyrics of all these songs, and these stupid long ass names taking up all the page count in a rotten ass word salad.
In Conclusion
I’m sorry but no. This is not for me. I love that people love this but it felt SO disconnected from the OG trilogy (which I JUST reread). Sunrise on the Reaping better be PHENOMENAL or I will RIOT.
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
3.75
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The Important Highlights
This romantasy has a few fun tropes in it such as hidden identities, chosen one/prophecy, trials/competition, and a little rebellion. This is NOT a standalone and there is a wee bit of a cliffhanger in the epilogue but really, it ends quite calmly for those of us who struggle with massive cliffhangers. I like the way it wrapped up at the end. There is spice in this book — I would say 3/5 on the pepper scale. There are really only 2-3 major scenes (two chapters that can easily be skipped if you’re not interested in reading about it).
What I Liked
I read a lot of romantasy at surface level, which means I read for the vibes — and this book had great vibes. People said that they didn’t like that it was marketed for adults but read like YA, however I actually loved that aspect. It has the fun world building of YA but it has adult spice in it. Best of both worlds, really. The characters were easy enough to like. I LOVED the simurgh and how it tied into the story in different ways. The magic system was interesting.
What I Didn’t Like
Well, the writing style was definitely something. It’s written in a bit of a weird way, to be honest. Most of the book is written in a way that a wide audience can enjoy it — basic, simple, and even YA in nature (I loved this part, see above). However, every once in a while she would throw in a big word that, while I personally knew what it meant, was rather jarring. That being said, I found it strange that she used such common (and even juvenile) phrasing within the story. Some examples of this would be “resting bitch face”, “don’t threaten me with a good time”, and “prince-splain”. These REALLY pulled me out the story, to be honest, with it being a fantasy book set in a fantasy world.
In Conclusion
This was fun! I enjoyed the fact that it pulled from several different cultures (as explained in the authors note). I will definitely be reading the next book in the series when it comes out!
The Important Highlights
This romantasy has a few fun tropes in it such as hidden identities, chosen one/prophecy, trials/competition, and a little rebellion. This is NOT a standalone and there is a wee bit of a cliffhanger in the epilogue but really, it ends quite calmly for those of us who struggle with massive cliffhangers. I like the way it wrapped up at the end. There is spice in this book — I would say 3/5 on the pepper scale. There are really only 2-3 major scenes (two chapters that can easily be skipped if you’re not interested in reading about it).
What I Liked
I read a lot of romantasy at surface level, which means I read for the vibes — and this book had great vibes. People said that they didn’t like that it was marketed for adults but read like YA, however I actually loved that aspect. It has the fun world building of YA but it has adult spice in it. Best of both worlds, really. The characters were easy enough to like. I LOVED the simurgh and how it tied into the story in different ways. The magic system was interesting.
What I Didn’t Like
Well, the writing style was definitely something. It’s written in a bit of a weird way, to be honest. Most of the book is written in a way that a wide audience can enjoy it — basic, simple, and even YA in nature (I loved this part, see above). However, every once in a while she would throw in a big word that, while I personally knew what it meant, was rather jarring. That being said, I found it strange that she used such common (and even juvenile) phrasing within the story. Some examples of this would be “resting bitch face”, “don’t threaten me with a good time”, and “prince-splain”. These REALLY pulled me out the story, to be honest, with it being a fantasy book set in a fantasy world.
In Conclusion
This was fun! I enjoyed the fact that it pulled from several different cultures (as explained in the authors note). I will definitely be reading the next book in the series when it comes out!
Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim
5.0
This book was absolutely phenomenal. I literally have nothing bad to say about it — other than the fact that now I want to reread Six Crimson Cranes instead of reading more from my physical TBR.
Unbortion by Rowland Bercy Jr.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
This book felt entirely too familiar in the first chapter; turns out that I’d read a similar book 2 years ago (Unbortion came out first). As soon as the second chapter started, talking about a man being lice-ridden and smelling putrid, I tossed the book aside. It’s the same old trope with extreme horror and Splatterpunk. Why does every dude in these stories have to smell funky, have boils, etc? Kinda over it.