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spicycronereads's reviews
161 reviews
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book is simultaneously a coming of age story and a love letter to reading, libraries, and reproductive choice. Throw in a love story involving Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the Scarlet letter, and you’ve got The Invisible Hour. (Weirdly the second recent read to have Hawthorne as a love interest… I may need to re-read The Scarlet Letter)
There’s no spice and no diversity to speak of. And if you were coming here after having read the practical magic books, be prepared for a bit of a wait as the narrative takes quite a while to get to anything magical.
Even so, it was an enjoyable listen. Many among us might recognize the way in which reading can save someone’s life. There is a bit of whimsy here and there, but ultimately it’s a sad tale with themes of loss and a lack of agency over one’s choices. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
There’s no spice and no diversity to speak of. And if you were coming here after having read the practical magic books, be prepared for a bit of a wait as the narrative takes quite a while to get to anything magical.
Even so, it was an enjoyable listen. Many among us might recognize the way in which reading can save someone’s life. There is a bit of whimsy here and there, but ultimately it’s a sad tale with themes of loss and a lack of agency over one’s choices. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
The Big A.S.S. Party by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Lots of fun. This is what a companion novella should be - doesn’t just rehash events buts adds new dimension and information. This is told entirely from Max and Geraldine’s POV so depending on how you feel about Grus, you will either love it or hate it.
Origins of an Academy Bully by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham, Caroline Peckham
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I hate to say it, but I was pretty much bored by this. I’m only giving it three stars because at the very end it showed a little glimpse into the dynamic between two beloved characters. But there was no new information. It was all expanding on an event we already knew about from the main books. It could’ve easily been a short story. None of the trademark twisted sisters’ sass or spice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
When We Lied by Claire Contreras
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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 read this as a buddy read with some of my book friends from TikTok and it was a lot of fun. I had read Until I Get You last fall and liked it quite a bit. So I suggested we read this book without really paying much attention to the plot description. I didn’t realize there would be a murder mystery at the heart of it! But it was a lot of fun trying to figure it out and then also being able to comment and share theories with friends on the buddy read.
The timeline is dual POV between the MCs. FMC Josslyn is a college basketball player and social media influencer who has a brief encounter at a seggs club with Finn, who is a player both for the NHL and of hearts. Josslyn is friends with Finn‘s sister, Mallory, who is unalived. The book unfolds over repeated encounters between Finn and Josslyn as they separately try to figure out what happened to Mallory.
The timeline is occasionally confusing. I think partly because there is a mystery so there are red herrings and twists. And, for me at least, it took me a while to realize that there are two seggs clubs (seriously Fairview must be the capital of untimely unaliving and seggs clubs per capita for whatever state it is in!) I was wishing I had read it in print so I could annotate and tab it, which I think would have helped me keep things straight. But any confusion is worth powering through, made up for by great characters, amazing plot twists, and lots of romance and spice.
Josslyn is such a great character. She’s smart and independent and kind. Finn is the kind of alphahole MMC who quickly became a book boyfriend. And his character arc is really great. They both have traumas they are dealing with and their relationship becomes a catalyst for healing. Their chemistry and banter are off the charts.
And speaking of characters, Lyla and Lachlan from Until I Get You make multiple appearances here as Josslyn is related to Lyla by marriage and Lachlan knows Finn through business and hockey. So that was fun and I appreciated seeing how their relationship progressed.
There is some interesting commentary in the book about social media, influencer culture, and intense sports fandom. I need to sit with it a bit longer to really unpack that critique, I think.
The spice is plentiful. It starts off early and like a five alarm fire. Since they start with a hookup and move into romance, there is lots of really hawt spice at the beginning, that tempers a bit as lot of swooniness is added as the narrative progresses. It is a great balance of 💖 and 🌶️. It’s a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ for me, with the understanding that it is also really swoony in parts.
In terms of diverse representation , Josslyn and her bio family are Cuban American. There are other Latine characters among the secondary characters as well. There are queer characters, namely lesbians or bi women. And there is class diversity. Many of the characters have multi generational wealth, but Joslyn’s family is more middle class (and consequently more down to earth, more welcoming, and less toxic than the other families depicted).
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this, practically devouring it in a little over a day. I was only slowed by my kindle running out of battery! 😂 With that kind of intensity, I have to rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. And 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.
The timeline is dual POV between the MCs. FMC Josslyn is a college basketball player and social media influencer who has a brief encounter at a seggs club with Finn, who is a player both for the NHL and of hearts. Josslyn is friends with Finn‘s sister, Mallory, who is unalived. The book unfolds over repeated encounters between Finn and Josslyn as they separately try to figure out what happened to Mallory.
The timeline is occasionally confusing. I think partly because there is a mystery so there are red herrings and twists. And, for me at least, it took me a while to realize that there are two seggs clubs (seriously Fairview must be the capital of untimely unaliving and seggs clubs per capita for whatever state it is in!) I was wishing I had read it in print so I could annotate and tab it, which I think would have helped me keep things straight. But any confusion is worth powering through, made up for by great characters, amazing plot twists, and lots of romance and spice.
Josslyn is such a great character. She’s smart and independent and kind. Finn is the kind of alphahole MMC who quickly became a book boyfriend. And his character arc is really great. They both have traumas they are dealing with and their relationship becomes a catalyst for healing. Their chemistry and banter are off the charts.
And speaking of characters, Lyla and Lachlan from Until I Get You make multiple appearances here as Josslyn is related to Lyla by marriage and Lachlan knows Finn through business and hockey. So that was fun and I appreciated seeing how their relationship progressed.
There is some interesting commentary in the book about social media, influencer culture, and intense sports fandom. I need to sit with it a bit longer to really unpack that critique, I think.
The spice is plentiful. It starts off early and like a five alarm fire. Since they start with a hookup and move into romance, there is lots of really hawt spice at the beginning, that tempers a bit as lot of swooniness is added as the narrative progresses. It is a great balance of 💖 and 🌶️. It’s a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ for me, with the understanding that it is also really swoony in parts.
In terms of diverse representation , Josslyn and her bio family are Cuban American. There are other Latine characters among the secondary characters as well. There are queer characters, namely lesbians or bi women. And there is class diversity. Many of the characters have multi generational wealth, but Joslyn’s family is more middle class (and consequently more down to earth, more welcoming, and less toxic than the other families depicted).
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this, practically devouring it in a little over a day. I was only slowed by my kindle running out of battery! 😂 With that kind of intensity, I have to rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. And 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Suicide
Minor: Stalking and Drug use
Zodiac Academy 8: Sorrow and Starlight by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
After the heartbreak of the last book, this one almost feels lighthearted. Lots of shifting relationships and fates. But still no HEA for the characters… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a fun read! The protagonists are four women of 60 years old, about to retire from
their careers as international assassins. Someone tries to kill them and they have to figure out what is going on before the killer can strike again.
If the plot sounds pretty tried and true, you are not wrong. The things that makes it feel fresh are the way the author deals with gender, aging, women’s friendships, and the accoutrements of domesticity. That and a fair amount of humor in the narrative voices.
I listened to the audiobook and the vocal performances by Jane Oppenheimer and Christina Delaine brought the characters to life and added dimension to the story.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
their careers as international assassins. Someone tries to kill them and they have to figure out what is going on before the killer can strike again.
If the plot sounds pretty tried and true, you are not wrong. The things that makes it feel fresh are the way the author deals with gender, aging, women’s friendships, and the accoutrements of domesticity. That and a fair amount of humor in the narrative voices.
I listened to the audiobook and the vocal performances by Jane Oppenheimer and Christina Delaine brought the characters to life and added dimension to the story.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Squire by Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a fun read but it felt *really* rushed. So much happens and the story and characters don’t ever get the chance to breathe. It could have easily been 2-3 times longer to show relationships evolving, the plot developing, and so forth.
Aiza the FMC is from a disempowered ethnic group and dreams of becoming a Squire. When she goes to training she hides her identity. And hijinks ensue.
The book deals with such important themes and lovable characters . I just wish they were given the time it would take to really tell the story with nuance.
So definitely read it. But be prepared for things to move really quickly and for it to be pretty heavy handed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Aiza the FMC is from a disempowered ethnic group and dreams of becoming a Squire. When she goes to training she hides her identity. And hijinks ensue.
The book deals with such important themes and lovable characters . I just wish they were given the time it would take to really tell the story with nuance.
So definitely read it. But be prepared for things to move really quickly and for it to be pretty heavy handed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, and Racism
Minor: War
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I am a fan of all of Bardugo’s books but this is probably her most mature work to date. I don’t mean in terms of content necessarily (and certainly not in terms of steaminess). It takes a historical setting and adds magic, which makes it pretty dark. The themes of patriarchy and the violence of men are realized here in a way that you really feel the weight of them and a throughline to present times. Like there is a palpable weariness toward the violence of men and a familiar way that women have to band together for protection. It lends a sobriety or somberness to the text. In addition, the lyricism of Bardugo’s writing is elevated from prior books.
It did take me a bit to get into it. It is in third person POV and the characters are not necessarily likeable. FMC Luzia is sympathetic and she has a certain strength that evolves but I can’t say that I really liked her. The MMC Santángel is blonde, so there’s that 😂 I’m kidding. Mostly. But I would not say he’s a book boyfriend. I heard Bardugo speak recently and she said Valentina is her favorite character I agree that she has the best character arc. Also, what was the deal with the playwrite? Were her writings influencing things or was she just using everything as inspiration? It kind of felt like that went nowhere. The magic system is based in language, which seems like it isn’t that common these days. It is done in a way that feels fresh.
In terms of diversity, Luzia and a few other characters are Jewish and living in hiding, having descended from those who converted to Catholicism under the violence of the Inquisition. There are also a few queer folks among the secondary characters.
There is a romance element to the plot. Santángel recognizes Luzia’s strength and helps her develop, and then gets out of her way (which is one of my favorite micro-tropes(?) in romance.) . There is a bit of pining and romantic tension. And it becomes a closed door romance. I give it one swoony heart 💖 I actually think it would have been better and more romantic to leave the ending more ambiguous. We have ambiguity around the playwrite and the orange grove is never fully explained. I think it would have improved the book to gesture toward Santángel regenerating each day but not spelling it out. That would have aligned with the weightiness of the setting and would have put this at 5 stars for me.
There is a plot point where the Jewish characters are planning to travel to a land that is sanctuary for them. I was a bit worried it was going to be some kind of Zionist sub-plot but Bardugo has expressed support for Palestine and there is nothing to suggest that this place is intended as an analog to Israel. It is more that the characters are seeking somewhere free from persecution and there is no sense that this requires colonizing another place or displacing other people.
Overall, the setting and writing are lush. The plot is interesting and the magic feels fresh, with the weight of historical events adding a somber texture to the book. It was a bit of a slow start but then it really picked up. I really liked it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
It did take me a bit to get into it. It is in third person POV and the characters are not necessarily likeable. FMC Luzia is sympathetic and she has a certain strength that evolves but I can’t say that I really liked her. The MMC Santángel is blonde, so there’s that 😂 I’m kidding. Mostly. But I would not say he’s a book boyfriend.
In terms of diversity, Luzia and a few other characters are Jewish and living in hiding, having descended from those who converted to Catholicism under the violence of the Inquisition. There are also a few queer folks among the secondary characters.
There is a romance element to the plot. Santángel recognizes Luzia’s strength and helps her develop,
Overall, the setting and writing are lush. The plot is interesting and the magic feels fresh, with the weight of historical events adding a somber texture to the book. It was a bit of a slow start but then it really picked up. I really liked it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Infertility and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
There is a threat of sexual assault but it does not occur.
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was an interesting concept - a post apocalyptic North America where the apocalypse was a combination of climate change, colonialism, and capitalism. So…near future sci fi. The central concept - that non-indigenous people have lost the ability to dream and now hunt and try to harvest dreams from indigenous folks, killing them in the process - was really strong.
The story initially follows MMC Frenchie as his family is displaced and eventually lost. He joins a group of other indigenous folks in his quest to continue following his parents’ direction to travel North. But it feels more like an ensemble of characters rather than necessarily Frenchie’s story. We get glimpses of the backstories of a few of the secondary characters and as result they seem to almost have more dimension than Frenchie or his love interest Rose, the multi racial character who joins the band of travelers. There was a bit more showing rather than telling in terms of character development so I didn’t quite feel as drawn in as I could have.I would have liked more back story on Minerva. Obviously her role as elder is really important but that and the brief story of her SA is kind of all we know. Similarly, there was no attention to where Frenchie’s dad had been all this time or how he came to be where he was. Same for Isaac. Though I was pleasantly surprised when it was him among the other group. I expected it to be someone else from Frenchie’s family
That said, it was still an enjoyable read. As I said, the concept is really interesting. It is well-paced. I read most of it in a day. And there are a few twists that are simultaneously predictable and surprising. Don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling.
In terms of diverse representation, the book is primarily indigenous characters, with a few multi racial characters here and there. There is a gay man among the main characters.
There is a romance subplot but it is also suffers from the author telling rather than showing. It also goes from the character stating they are in love with the other person to later only really liking them. So that was a bit confusing. I give it one swoony heart. 💖
Overall, I liked it, despite these issues. They didn’t accumulate to the light where I didn’t enjoy the book. I will likely read the second one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 💖
The story initially follows MMC Frenchie as his family is displaced and eventually lost. He joins a group of other indigenous folks in his quest to continue following his parents’ direction to travel North. But it feels more like an ensemble of characters rather than necessarily Frenchie’s story. We get glimpses of the backstories of a few of the secondary characters and as result they seem to almost have more dimension than Frenchie or his love interest Rose, the multi racial character who joins the band of travelers. There was a bit more showing rather than telling in terms of character development so I didn’t quite feel as drawn in as I could have.
That said, it was still an enjoyable read. As I said, the concept is really interesting. It is well-paced. I read most of it in a day. And there are a few twists that are simultaneously predictable and surprising. Don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling.
In terms of diverse representation, the book is primarily indigenous characters, with a few multi racial characters here and there. There is a gay man among the main characters.
There is a romance subplot but it is also suffers from the author telling rather than showing. It also goes from the character stating they are in love with the other person to later only really liking them. So that was a bit confusing. I give it one swoony heart. 💖
Overall, I liked it, despite these issues. They didn’t accumulate to the light where I didn’t enjoy the book. I will likely read the second one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 💖
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Animal death
Reservation schools, SA happens once on page (though not described in detail) and once mentioned in passing.
This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Could not get into it. I will try to pick it back up again another time.