sup3r_xn0va_maya's reviews
328 reviews

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

💬:Suddenly the page changed before her eyes, the ink bleeding together and reforming into new pictures, faster than she could register. Words appeared and disappeared in languages she couldn’t read. A ringing filled her ears, and she could hear her blood rushing in time with her heartbeat.

Sbrana, Analeigh. Lore of the Wilds: A Novel (pp. 165-166). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: fantasy, romance, fae, romantasy, adult, magic,

📚Page Count: 339

🎧Audiobook Length: 10:51

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5 - 2.5/5

Lore of the Wilds is the first in the series of the same title by Analeigh Sbrana. This story is about Lore, a human who lives in a society of fae. Her village falls on disaster and she has no choice but to surrenders herself to the dark fae Syrelle. Syrelle instructs her to tend to his library in the castle they're in. It's not long before Lore runs away with one of the castle guards, a fae named Asher. Later on Lore ends up meeting and becoming enthralled with another fae named Finn.

This book has so much potential but the pacing is off, there's little character development, there's close to no romance and very little chemistry between the romantic interests and the main character even though there are TWO romantic interests, and this fantasy crosses over from being a fantasy drama to being a cozy fantasy to wanting to be high fantasy, and the spicy scene at the end wasn't gotten to with build up or banter or any sort of romantic development.

Overall, the pacing felt off and there was very little character development when it came to Lore, herself. There was also very little romantic development despite this being marketed as a "romantasy" or romance fantasy. I'm giving this 2.5 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️.5 - 2.5/5 Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], the author, and publisher for the arc (advanced reader's copy.)

Saint-Seducing Gold by Brittany N. Williams

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challenging dark tense 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? Yes

3.0

💬:"She’d wavered for too long, and her indecision left her conflicted mind open for Ogun to overtake her. He’d attack where she wouldn’t and damn them all to traitor’s deaths. She tried to resist but felt herself drifting, a numbness overwhelming her as her consciousness was shoved away from her physical body. Ogun pushed through and left her to see and feel with no control of her actions."

Williams, Brittany N.. Saint-Seducing Gold (The Forge & Fracture Saga, Book 2) (p. 5). Amulet Books. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: fantasy, historical fantasy, fae, magic

📚Page Count: 304

🎧Audiobook Length: 08:57

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5

Saint-Seducing Gold is the second book in The Forget and Fracture Saga by Brittany N. Williams. This book continues on right where the first book left off. The fae and humans are now at war sort of, Joan is pressured into joining the Royal Court and she can't leave it for fear that her captured godfather won't survive. Can Joan save the world as she knows it while balancing having two romantic interests ?

I didn't really like the first book but I wanted to give the series a chance and I'm sad to say that I didn't really like the second book either. I think there was more action this time around, which was nice, but I think my problem is the setting. For some reason Shakespearean London with an Orisha blessed Blacksmith just doesn't work in my head for some reason.

Overall, the story was just okay. I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], the author, and publisher for the arc (advanced reader's copy.)

woke up no light: poems by Leila Mottley

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

5.0

💬:N/A

📖Genres: poetry, poems

📚Page Count: 104

🎧Audiobook Length: 01:32

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5

woke up no light: poems is a poetry collection by Leila Mottley, the author of "Night Crawling". This poetry collection is raw, amazing, and it honestly blew me away. The poems are about being Black in America, most are about being a Black woman in America. The author talks about race, social justice, police brutality, misogynoir, sexual assault, and much more. Mottley writes some painful truths in such an elegant and gritty way.

There are too many individual works that I liked or that resonated with me to list them all, but I particularly liked the poems in the two sections "girlhood" and "womanhood". The "neighborhood" section made me cry, I'm still processing what I've read overall.

Overall, this collection was moving and it was written with such grace. I definitely resonated with most of the poems in this collection.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], the author, and publisher for the arc (advanced reader's copy.)

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

💬: "People in expensive-looking suits and flashy cocktail dresses cling to glasses filled with champagne or cocktails and amble up and down the hallways and rooms, enjoying an evening of gambling and debauchery. It’s like a scene from one of Gatsby’s parties, except Black people are invited."

Benton-Walker, Terry J.. Blood Debts (pp. 70-71). Tor Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: Fantasy ,Young Adult ,LGBT ,Mystery, Queer, Young Adult Fantasy, Magic , Fiction, Urban Fantasy

📚Page Count: 400

🎧Audiobook Length: 14h 30min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

----

Blood Debts is a queer mystery novel about getting justice for one's past crimes. 30 years ago there were murders and a lynching and it was considered the greatest massacre in magical New Orleans history. This has 5 different perspectives and I thought it wasn't going to work but everything went together really nicely. My reading experience was a good one. This book is a rollercoaster, the plot starts right away in the first chapter and that's one of the things I really liked about this book.

The book starts off with twins, Clem and Christina, tending to their mother and waiting for the Dr. to come and give them an update on their mother's condition. Their mother hasn't been doing well and her health has slowly been declining. They soon discover that

their mother isn't sick, she's cursed!

Will they be able to find out who's trying to harm their family?

A lot of the surprises were predictable but the book was still enjoyable. I think I left probably around 5 notes to myself about the plotline, just of me guessing what the next surprise was going to be. In this regard, the book was really predictable, but that didn't stop the book from being entertaining. There were some secrets I didn't guess but there were more secrets that I DID guess and I thought that was worth mentioning in my review.

This was my first time reading a book by Terry J. Benton-Walker and they did not disappoint me! This was exciting, entertaining, intriguing, and it was just down right good! I'm giving this a 5 out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content Warnings

Charlaine Harris' Cemetery Girl Vol. 3: Haunted by Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

💬: N/A

📖Genres: graphic novels, mystery, paranormal, urban fantasy, young adult(?)

📚Page Count: N/A

🎧Audiobook Length: 01h 36min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5
----

Inheritance part 3 of 3 of the dramatized adaptation of "Cemetery Girl" is the third and finale volume of the dramatized version of the graphic novel of the same name written by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden. This volume starts off where the last volume left off. Calexa Rose Dunhill is still in a nasty situation with the people who just

tried to kill her.

The story was interesting but I think it was really the dramatized performances of the actors that really made the story exciting.

In every volume of this series

someone dies around Calexa and then their spirit inhabits her body until she's helped them with their final business on earth.

This final volume is no different. It was heart wrenching to hear, but then the story became much more exciting.

Overall, I think this was a good ending to this trilogy. I'm giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 4.5/5 Stars

[Hoopladigital.com]

Content Warnings

My Love Story!!, Vol. 13 by Aruko, Kazune Kawahara

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense 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

4.75

💬:N/A

📖Genres: humor, manga, comics, shojo

📚Page Count: 194

🎧Audiobook Length: N/A

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.75/5

My Love Story!!, Volume 13 by Kazune Kawahara was amazing and it made me sob! Volume 13 is the finale volume of My Love Story!! and it didn't disappoint. The story continues on from the last volume, Yamato got the news that

she was going to have to move to Spain with her family because of her father's job. In volume 12, Yamato ran away to Okinawa and Takeo went with her to keep her safe. This volume starts off with Yamato and Takeo still in Okinawa.

I felt so many emotions while reading this and I honestly cried while reading most of it.

Most of what I'm going to say is going to be behind spoilers tags because I don't want to accidently spoil anything from this volume. I will say that I loved this volume but there were two things I didn't particularly like. There were a few scenes where

characters were hitting each other and I don't really like the idea of people putting their hands on other people unless they're defending themselves.

The second thing I didn't like was a trope, and that was

the miscommunication trope that pops up right at the end.

That scene caused me so much anxiety! Other than those two things, I really thought this volume was great.

Overall, volume 13 was a wonderful finish to this series (even though I'm still sad that it's over). I'm giving this 4.75 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.75/5

I read this manga for free on [Libbyapp.com]

Inheritance by Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

💬: N/A

📖Genres: graphic novels, mystery, paranormal, urban fantasy, young adult(?)

📚Page Count: N/A

🎧Audiobook Length: 01h 19min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5
----

Inheritance part 2 of 3 of the dramatized adaptation of "Cemetery Girl" is the second half of the dramatized version of the graphic novel of the same name written by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden. This graphic audio continues to follow the main character, Calexa Rose Dunhill, but now instead of just living in the cemetery, she's started

staying with a kinder older woman that she met in part 1 of this trilogy.

I think I liked episode or part 2 more than I liked part 1, to be honest. I didn't like what happened at the start of the episode but I like how Calexa helped the spirit that needed helping. It's nice to see

Calexa not having to sleep in the actual cemetery anymore and the kindness of the woman who helped her made me tear up. So really, they helped each other in turn.

The identity of the murderous perpetrator in this part was surprising, I didn't guess it at all. Of course, we still don't know much about Calexa's past, just as she still doesn't know much by the end of this story.

Overall, I think part 2 was exciting and the graphic audio was definitely made well. I'm giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars instead.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4.5/5 Stars

Content Warnings

Dead as a Doornail by

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

💬: "Just when I thought I was used to them, vampires would show me their true face, and I would have to remind myself all over again that they were a different race. Or maybe it was centuries of conditioning that made the difference; decades of disposing of people as they chose, taking what they wanted, enduring the dichotomy of being the most powerful beings on earth in the darkness, and yet completely helpless and vulnerable during the hours of light."

Harris, Charlaine. Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse Book 5) (p. 226). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: adult, paranormal, paranormal romance, vampires, shifters, werewolves, urban fantasy, mystery

📚Page Count: 293

🎧Audiobook Length: 10h 03min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2.75/5

----

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris is the 5th book in the Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Mystery series. In this installment of the series Sookie's brother, Jason, is suspected of being a sniper in the area that's targeting the were and changeling people. Sookie takes it upon herself to try and find out who the shooter is, to clear her brother's name, and to avenge some acquaintances who were killed by the sniper. There is more abuse from Bill in this novel, there's victim blaming, and there's a predictable mystery. Other than these issues, the story was okay.

TW -

rape, sexual assault

There's a scene in here where Bill hurts Sookie again, and afterwards the

sexual assault or rape that was perpetrated onto Sookie by Bill (in book 3) was finally address and brought up by Alcied. All Alcied says about the situation though is that Sookie was assaulted by Bill and that he personally doesn't like Bill. Sookie then contemplates about what makes her different from other sexual assault victims. She decides that she's no different from other victims but she excuses Bill's behavior by saying he was taken over by bloodlust and that he wouldn't have hurt her otherwise.

Bill ends up grabbing and bruising Sookie's arm because he's too busy fighting with

Sam to rein himself in.

He apologizes and leaves and we see him only one other time and in this novel and that's perfect for me because bill is a jerk.

A friend of Sookie's, Tera, get's herself involved with a dangerous vampire. This vampire lured in and took advantage of Tera and after Tera has been beatin' and sexually assaulted by this vampire and his friends, Sookie victim blames Tera.

Sookie reads Tera's mind to find out that Tera only liked the lavish gifts that the vampire gave her, and Sookie basically says Tera was hanging around the bad vampire for bad reasons so the abuse is Tera's fault or to be expected. Yeah, screw that message.

There are (spoilers about the ending)

two reveals at the ending and one of them is predictable and the other one is not as predictable.

The surprises in this story didn't make up for Sookie victim blaming Tera though.

I guess overall this was okay but there were certain parts I didn't like, like the ones with Bill or the ones where Sookie gets hurt. It seems someone is trying to

hurt her every book at this point.

I'm going to give it a 2.75 out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to this for free on the library app [Libbyapp.com]

Content Warnings

Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh

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emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

💬: "Hawke bared his teeth. When Stenson flinched, he realized the gesture had been more lupine aggressiveness than human smile. Ah well, the man would have to get used to dealing with wolves sooner or later.

Singh, Nalini. Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling Book 15) (p. 173). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: paranormal romance, romance, urban fantasy, adult

📚Page Count: 479

🎧Audiobook Length: 15h 08min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75/5

----

Allegiance of Honor is the 15th book in the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh. This book has
partly to do with the characters of past books, almost everyone makes an appearance. Although there is a current threat in the story, a lot of the book's focus is on past characters and how they're doing in their friend and romantic relationships. Sascha and Luca's cub is in danger, there's a group of people rumored to be targeting their baby and they have to do everything they can to protect her and other members of the pack.

This story was was 50% catching up with past characters, and the other 50% was dealing with the current threat in the books. It was nice to see how the characters in their relationships progressed but it seemed like these parts were dragging on. We also got to see a few

pregnancies in action

. There were so many characters to address in this final Psy/Changeling novel that it was a bit hard to keep up with who was who, even though I started this series just about one year ago.

The spicy scenes were okay, we got several spicy scenes of characters in different relationships but it was just okay. I would have liked to stay with a specific couple and read their spicy scenes instead of switching couples for every scene. I'm giving it two chilies 🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

Overall, Allegiance of Honor was just okay, there were interesting parts and some not so interesting parts. This was a novel to wrap up character relationships and situations to end the series. We all know now in 2024 that there is a follow up series, one that I'm excited to start soon. I'm giving this book 3.75 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app [HooplaDigital.com]

Content Warnings

A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

💬: "I'll let the past burn to ash, Freya, because you are my present. My future. My destiny."

Jensen L. Danielle. A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated Book 1) (p. ?). Del Rey. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: fantasy, romance, romantasy, mythology (Norse), vikings

📚Page Count: 400

🎧Audiobook Length: 15h 16min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5
----

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen is the first book in the Saga of the Unfated series. This story is about Freya who is a Goddess Blessed fisher man's wife in an unwanted marriage. After her fisher man husband breaks faith with Freya and betrays her to the local Jarl, the local Jarl orders her to fight his son, Bjorn, to the death. Secretly, Freya has the blood of a Goddess on her side, that helps her survive the fight. Soon after she gets the news that she is the shield maiden that is supposed to make this particular Jarl, the King. That was foreseen in a prophecy. The Jarl then forces Freya to bind herself to him and thus begins the saga of Freya learning how to fight and tame her magic. Will she be able to ignore the lingering lust she feels for the Jarl's son?

This book had interesting parts, but it did not do a good job of keeping my attention throughout the book. I had such high hopes for this book. Mostly because it's so highly rated amongst my peers but also because the beginning of the story was really good so I expected the action and the overall story to keep up a good pace. The first 25% was interesting, the next 50% really dragged on and was boring, and the last 25% had everything thrown in there, in an exciting way (spicy scenes, action, fighting, surprises, secrets, and a cliff hanger.)

There was one spicy scene

in the middle of the book

and there are two more spicy scenes

at the end of the book.

Yes there are many ways to be intimate with someone but I really hated that we had to wait until

the end of the book for the two love interests to have intercourse.

I'm giving the spicy scenes two chilis 🌶️ out of five chilies.

Overall, I had high expectations going into this book but it was just okay. The beginning and the ending were very exciting, but the middle of the book was really boring. I'm giving this 3 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app [Libbyapp.com]

Content Warnings

More...

sup3r_xn0va_maya's reviews 328 reviews

sup3r_xn0va_maya's reviews
328 reviews