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thebooknerdscorner's reviews
1452 reviews
Rainbow Bridge by Steve Orlando, Steve Foxe
3.0
A delightful comic that explores the grief of losing a pet through a magical adventure set across the Rainbow Bridge!
Andy's life has felt pretty empty after he lost his best friend, Rocket. Despite the fact that his parents constantly foster other animals, Andy still misses Rocket dearly. Just as Andy is supposed to be attending Freshman orientation, he visits Rocket's grave and is whisked across the Rainbow Bridge into the afterlife for beloved pets. Elated for the chance to see Rocket one last time, Andy sets off on an adventure of a lifetime.
This is a cute graphic novel that explores a topic very near and dear to many people's hearts: what happens to our pets after they leave our world? This is a concept that has been done time and time again, but I still felt that this book executed this theme well.
My favorite part about this book is definitely the imagery. The full color illustrations are lovely and truly depict this story in such a powerful way. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the details are stunning, and the characters are done with such skill.
Unfortunately, I feel as though this book ends rather abruptly. There is a major conflict that remains entirely unresolved with one character pretty much saying to another, "Don't worry; I got this, bro!" This wasn't a satisfying ending in any means, and the time jumps that the book uses at the end seem a bit lazy. This book isn't very long, so this was quite a blow to it.
Overall, "Rainbow Bridge" is a heartwarming graphic novel that explores grief, growing up, and moving on. It isn't the most in-depth or original, but the story is pretty solid. The art is also stunning, which is certainly the highlight of this graphic novel.
Andy's life has felt pretty empty after he lost his best friend, Rocket. Despite the fact that his parents constantly foster other animals, Andy still misses Rocket dearly. Just as Andy is supposed to be attending Freshman orientation, he visits Rocket's grave and is whisked across the Rainbow Bridge into the afterlife for beloved pets. Elated for the chance to see Rocket one last time, Andy sets off on an adventure of a lifetime.
This is a cute graphic novel that explores a topic very near and dear to many people's hearts: what happens to our pets after they leave our world? This is a concept that has been done time and time again, but I still felt that this book executed this theme well.
My favorite part about this book is definitely the imagery. The full color illustrations are lovely and truly depict this story in such a powerful way. The backgrounds are gorgeous, the details are stunning, and the characters are done with such skill.
Unfortunately, I feel as though this book ends rather abruptly. There is a major conflict that remains entirely unresolved with one character pretty much saying to another, "Don't worry; I got this, bro!" This wasn't a satisfying ending in any means, and the time jumps that the book uses at the end seem a bit lazy. This book isn't very long, so this was quite a blow to it.
Overall, "Rainbow Bridge" is a heartwarming graphic novel that explores grief, growing up, and moving on. It isn't the most in-depth or original, but the story is pretty solid. The art is also stunning, which is certainly the highlight of this graphic novel.
The Coffee House Witch & The Grumpy Cat by Ariana Jade
4.0
After a failed engagement, a young witch returns to her hometown to work at her grandma's coffee shop.
Cassiopeia's life has taken a turn for the worst. When she finds herself unemployed after a failed engagement, she returns home as an almost thirty-year-old witch. There, she resumes work at her grandmother's coffee shop and begins to reconnect with her childhood friends. One day, she meets a mysterious cat familiar by the name of Balthazar that seems to be hosting a dark secret. With nothing better to do, Cassiopeia begins to investigate.
This was a really fun and sweet novelette. Cassiopeia is a great protagonist whose luck has taken a turn for the worst. Seeing her reconnect with her hometown is really heartwarming after she returns home from the big city.
This novelette does a swell job of introducing us to an eccentric cast of characters that will certainly appear in future installments of this series. My favorite has to be Balthazar, the titular grumpy cat. It is hard not to enjoy a talking cat, period. But one with an attitude? Yes, please! I can't wait to see more of Balthazar in the future.
I'm excited to see how the sapphic romance arc between Cassiopeia and Faye develops in the future. The childhood besties vibe is powerful between them, so I am certainly looking forward to experiencing them growing closer in the future.
Overall, "The Coffee House Witch & the Grumpy Cat" is a quick and cozy read with great autumn vibes. It's not the strongest story on its own, but it does a fabulous job of setting up for future installments in this series. I look forward to exploring more of this world and seeing how the characters grow in the next few books!
Cassiopeia's life has taken a turn for the worst. When she finds herself unemployed after a failed engagement, she returns home as an almost thirty-year-old witch. There, she resumes work at her grandmother's coffee shop and begins to reconnect with her childhood friends. One day, she meets a mysterious cat familiar by the name of Balthazar that seems to be hosting a dark secret. With nothing better to do, Cassiopeia begins to investigate.
This was a really fun and sweet novelette. Cassiopeia is a great protagonist whose luck has taken a turn for the worst. Seeing her reconnect with her hometown is really heartwarming after she returns home from the big city.
This novelette does a swell job of introducing us to an eccentric cast of characters that will certainly appear in future installments of this series. My favorite has to be Balthazar, the titular grumpy cat. It is hard not to enjoy a talking cat, period. But one with an attitude? Yes, please! I can't wait to see more of Balthazar in the future.
I'm excited to see how the sapphic romance arc between Cassiopeia and Faye develops in the future. The childhood besties vibe is powerful between them, so I am certainly looking forward to experiencing them growing closer in the future.
Overall, "The Coffee House Witch & the Grumpy Cat" is a quick and cozy read with great autumn vibes. It's not the strongest story on its own, but it does a fabulous job of setting up for future installments in this series. I look forward to exploring more of this world and seeing how the characters grow in the next few books!
Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee
4.0
When an academic obsessed girl ends up in a culinary arts class that she absolutely sucks at, she must turn to an unlikely ally in order to keep her GPA from crashing drastically.
Eliza Park is ready to have the perfect senior year with her two best friends and her superior grades. That is, until she learns that she is put into Culinary Arts instead of AP Chemistry. Finding herself stuck in a "regular" class, Eliza soon realizes that she is horrible at anything that involves a kitchen. Desperate to maintain her prestigious GPA, Eliza teams up with Wesley Ruengsomboom, the class's culinary expert. As Eliza learns to cook in order to pass the class, she also gleans more about her family than she ever could have imagined and discovers there is so much more to Wesley than meets the eye.
This one is such a sweet romance with so many great messages about discovering yourself, chasing your dreams, and the connections that bind families together. I often have a hard time connecting with cooking books, but Lee did such an amazing job at portraying what food means to the Park family that I found myself completely absorbed by this concept.
I relate a bit to Eliza's addiction to honors classes and getting good grades. By no means was I as intense as she is about academics as she is, but school was pretty much my entire life when I was in high school, too. There were many times that I felt Eliza was crossing a line with the lengths she was willing to do just to score good marks, but some of the quotes resonated with me so deeply that it brought tears to my eyes (especially when it talked about not feeling like she was good at anything besides school and her not knowing what to write about for the personal segment of her college application).
Wesley was such a great love interest. His passion for cooking is contagious and all his worries are so valid. I totally feel his fears when it comes to pursuing his love for cooking even though it's not the most sustainable career. I love really niche art forms, and I hope to make a career out of them too, so I found Wesley's narrative to be super applicable to my life. His love for Pixar movies is also super adorable, and I love the way that he shared his passion for them with Eliza while he helped her learn to cook.
This book starts with Eliza and Wesley as academic rivals (even though they are in quite different leagues), but the two grow pretty close rather quickly. The banter between these two is comical and witty; I always enjoyed listening to these two go back and forth while in the kitchen. The fact that Wesley helps Eliza with her culinary skills and Eliza helps Wesley with his math is also super cute. I must admit that the third act conflict between these two was slightly frustrating, but sadly very realistic. They got through it quick enough though, so I wasn't too bothered by it.
The way that Eliza learns to connect with her mother through her grandmother's recipes is such a touching part of this story. Eliza has grown up in a pretty traditional Korean household with her mother speaking Korean and making classic cuisine, but that doesn't mean that Eliza always feels like she belongs. She barely feels any connection to her deceased grandmother, and I absolutely adore the way that cooking with her mother allowed Eliza to learn more about her mother's childhood as well as form a deeper connection with her grandmother that she never got the chance to bond with herself.
Overall, "Eliza, from Scratch" is a very sweet rom com featuring one school obsessed girl who learns to widen her worldview through culinary arts. I relate immensely to both Eliza and Wesley, which made this a bit of an emotional read. The academic setting is great, the themes are powerful, and the characters are riddled with realistic issues. This is a strong debut, and I look forward to seeing what else Lee pens in the future!
Eliza Park is ready to have the perfect senior year with her two best friends and her superior grades. That is, until she learns that she is put into Culinary Arts instead of AP Chemistry. Finding herself stuck in a "regular" class, Eliza soon realizes that she is horrible at anything that involves a kitchen. Desperate to maintain her prestigious GPA, Eliza teams up with Wesley Ruengsomboom, the class's culinary expert. As Eliza learns to cook in order to pass the class, she also gleans more about her family than she ever could have imagined and discovers there is so much more to Wesley than meets the eye.
This one is such a sweet romance with so many great messages about discovering yourself, chasing your dreams, and the connections that bind families together. I often have a hard time connecting with cooking books, but Lee did such an amazing job at portraying what food means to the Park family that I found myself completely absorbed by this concept.
I relate a bit to Eliza's addiction to honors classes and getting good grades. By no means was I as intense as she is about academics as she is, but school was pretty much my entire life when I was in high school, too. There were many times that I felt Eliza was crossing a line with the lengths she was willing to do just to score good marks, but some of the quotes resonated with me so deeply that it brought tears to my eyes (especially when it talked about not feeling like she was good at anything besides school and her not knowing what to write about for the personal segment of her college application).
Wesley was such a great love interest. His passion for cooking is contagious and all his worries are so valid. I totally feel his fears when it comes to pursuing his love for cooking even though it's not the most sustainable career. I love really niche art forms, and I hope to make a career out of them too, so I found Wesley's narrative to be super applicable to my life. His love for Pixar movies is also super adorable, and I love the way that he shared his passion for them with Eliza while he helped her learn to cook.
This book starts with Eliza and Wesley as academic rivals (even though they are in quite different leagues), but the two grow pretty close rather quickly. The banter between these two is comical and witty; I always enjoyed listening to these two go back and forth while in the kitchen. The fact that Wesley helps Eliza with her culinary skills and Eliza helps Wesley with his math is also super cute. I must admit that the third act conflict between these two was slightly frustrating, but sadly very realistic. They got through it quick enough though, so I wasn't too bothered by it.
The way that Eliza learns to connect with her mother through her grandmother's recipes is such a touching part of this story. Eliza has grown up in a pretty traditional Korean household with her mother speaking Korean and making classic cuisine, but that doesn't mean that Eliza always feels like she belongs. She barely feels any connection to her deceased grandmother, and I absolutely adore the way that cooking with her mother allowed Eliza to learn more about her mother's childhood as well as form a deeper connection with her grandmother that she never got the chance to bond with herself.
Overall, "Eliza, from Scratch" is a very sweet rom com featuring one school obsessed girl who learns to widen her worldview through culinary arts. I relate immensely to both Eliza and Wesley, which made this a bit of an emotional read. The academic setting is great, the themes are powerful, and the characters are riddled with realistic issues. This is a strong debut, and I look forward to seeing what else Lee pens in the future!
The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire
5.0
When a young girl's mother is afflicted by a generational curse, Penny finds herself stuck in the middle of a magical feud between two powerful rival covens.
Rumors about the De Luca and the Barrion families are the lifeblood of Idlewood, Indiana. Penny has heard many things about the two infamous legacies and has been warned time and time again to stay away from these dangerous people. However, when Penny's mother is affected by a curse that is said to be cast on the Barrion family by a member of the De Luca household, Penny can't ignore the rumors anymore. Despite their differences, Penny convinces Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion to form a temporary alliance to break the curse that is plaguing all three of their lives. Unfortunately, things aren't nearly as simple as they seem and the secrets between the Barrion and the De Luca's run deeper than anyone could have predicted. . .
This book is a bit of a chonky one and it takes a while for the main story plot to really get rolling. Despite this, I was never bored, and I enjoyed getting to slowly learn about Penny, Corey, and Alonso. The length also had me wondering where the story was going; if I would have read this one as an ebook I would have been convinced that this book ended like eight different times. It's been a bit since I've read a book of this length, and I am quite pleased to say that the page count never discouraged me on this one and I enjoyed my time with every flip of the page.
Right away I had a pretty hard time keeping Corey and Alonso (as well as their families) straight. I think this is the main reason I appreciated the one hundred or so intro pages at the beginning of this one, because it would have been super confusing to jump into the main plot line without having a solid foundation of the main characters.
By the time I finished the last page of this book, I felt like I knew and cared about the main trio greatly. Penny, Alonso, and Corey have always judged each other unfairly, so it was nice to see them learn more about one another and put their biased expectations aside. Penny is a typical sweet girl who suffers from social anxiety and panic attacks. I relate quite a bit to her personally, despite the fact that we have very different lifestyles. Alonso is a classic "bad boy" who everyone thinks is a totally troublemaker, but who has a gooey side when you let him truly be himself. I personally found him to be my favorite of the three. Corey is a little more entitled than the other two and is also a tad selfish, which was a nice way to balance out the trio.
The "will they or won't they" trope went pretty crazy in this book. I wouldn't say that this book has a traditional love triangle in it, but there is certainly romantic tension between Penny and both of the boys. It's pretty obvious which one she's crushing on though, so I wouldn't call it a love triangle. The slow burn nature of this book was quite nice (I love me a good slow burn), and I am excited to see where the romance that blossoms at the end of this one goes in the second installment of this duology.
The cliffhanger in this book is crazy, guys! This book tied up many things nicely, but some truths were revealed about the curse that I knew would have to be resolved in book two. There are a couple other more spoilery elements that I was also looking forward to seeing how they would fold out in book two. However, I was not expecting Villaire to pull out one of the cards that she did in the last three pages of this novel. I will be waiting desperately for the last book in this series. I really need to know what happens to Alonso (and the rest of the gang, I guess)!
Overall, "The Glittering Edge" is a fun slow burn urban romantasy starring two covens who hate each other and a girl that will do anything to save her mother. It may not have the most unique premise, but it was executed rather splendidly. I love the characters, the complicated generational lore, and all of the twists that this book pulled. The cliffhanger ending is an absolute banger which has me desperate to get my hands on book two. I would definitely recommend this one if you are a lover of slower paced fantasies that are a bit lore heavy and feature a slow burn romance!
Rumors about the De Luca and the Barrion families are the lifeblood of Idlewood, Indiana. Penny has heard many things about the two infamous legacies and has been warned time and time again to stay away from these dangerous people. However, when Penny's mother is affected by a curse that is said to be cast on the Barrion family by a member of the De Luca household, Penny can't ignore the rumors anymore. Despite their differences, Penny convinces Alonso De Luca and Corey Barrion to form a temporary alliance to break the curse that is plaguing all three of their lives. Unfortunately, things aren't nearly as simple as they seem and the secrets between the Barrion and the De Luca's run deeper than anyone could have predicted. . .
This book is a bit of a chonky one and it takes a while for the main story plot to really get rolling. Despite this, I was never bored, and I enjoyed getting to slowly learn about Penny, Corey, and Alonso. The length also had me wondering where the story was going; if I would have read this one as an ebook I would have been convinced that this book ended like eight different times. It's been a bit since I've read a book of this length, and I am quite pleased to say that the page count never discouraged me on this one and I enjoyed my time with every flip of the page.
Right away I had a pretty hard time keeping Corey and Alonso (as well as their families) straight. I think this is the main reason I appreciated the one hundred or so intro pages at the beginning of this one, because it would have been super confusing to jump into the main plot line without having a solid foundation of the main characters.
By the time I finished the last page of this book, I felt like I knew and cared about the main trio greatly. Penny, Alonso, and Corey have always judged each other unfairly, so it was nice to see them learn more about one another and put their biased expectations aside. Penny is a typical sweet girl who suffers from social anxiety and panic attacks. I relate quite a bit to her personally, despite the fact that we have very different lifestyles. Alonso is a classic "bad boy" who everyone thinks is a totally troublemaker, but who has a gooey side when you let him truly be himself. I personally found him to be my favorite of the three. Corey is a little more entitled than the other two and is also a tad selfish, which was a nice way to balance out the trio.
The "will they or won't they" trope went pretty crazy in this book. I wouldn't say that this book has a traditional love triangle in it, but there is certainly romantic tension between Penny and both of the boys. It's pretty obvious which one she's crushing on though, so I wouldn't call it a love triangle. The slow burn nature of this book was quite nice (I love me a good slow burn), and I am excited to see where the romance that blossoms at the end of this one goes in the second installment of this duology.
The cliffhanger in this book is crazy, guys! This book tied up many things nicely, but some truths were revealed about the curse that I knew would have to be resolved in book two. There are a couple other more spoilery elements that I was also looking forward to seeing how they would fold out in book two. However, I was not expecting Villaire to pull out one of the cards that she did in the last three pages of this novel. I will be waiting desperately for the last book in this series. I really need to know what happens to Alonso (and the rest of the gang, I guess)!
Overall, "The Glittering Edge" is a fun slow burn urban romantasy starring two covens who hate each other and a girl that will do anything to save her mother. It may not have the most unique premise, but it was executed rather splendidly. I love the characters, the complicated generational lore, and all of the twists that this book pulled. The cliffhanger ending is an absolute banger which has me desperate to get my hands on book two. I would definitely recommend this one if you are a lover of slower paced fantasies that are a bit lore heavy and feature a slow burn romance!
Dragons and Dumplings by Laura Greenwood
Princess Evie tries to be a proper princess, but she wants nothing more than to spend her days baking with her best friend, Nate. When a delegation from Shengda arrives, Evie receives a dragon egg, and she decides that its hearth is going to be the castle kitchen's oven. As Evie and Nate wait for the dragon to hatch, they decide to make a foreign dumpling recipe from the Shengdan envoy.
I thought that this is a cute introduction into the "Falhaven Castle" series. I definitely adore the little bit that I know about Evie and Nate; I look forward to reading their happily ever after this fall. I also think that it's neat that Evie is asexual and maybe even neurodivergent. It's cool that she loves to bake and the fact that she's gradually falling for her baker bestie is a pretty cute narrative to follow.
I honestly only rated this one so low because I'm not a huge fan of solid baking stories. Reading about people cooking is hard for me to follow and I often lose track of what is happening. I really liked all other aspects of this story though, so I feel that I'll really like the rest of this series.
Overall, "Dragons and Dumplings" is a quick introduction to the Falhaven Castle and its many residents. I'm excited to learn more about all the royals in the next installments of this series, and I'll be awaiting Nate's return vigilantly.
3.0
A novelette that introduces Falhaven Castle and a princess that loves to bake.
Princess Evie tries to be a proper princess, but she wants nothing more than to spend her days baking with her best friend, Nate. When a delegation from Shengda arrives, Evie receives a dragon egg, and she decides that its hearth is going to be the castle kitchen's oven. As Evie and Nate wait for the dragon to hatch, they decide to make a foreign dumpling recipe from the Shengdan envoy.
I thought that this is a cute introduction into the "Falhaven Castle" series. I definitely adore the little bit that I know about Evie and Nate; I look forward to reading their happily ever after this fall. I also think that it's neat that Evie is asexual and maybe even neurodivergent. It's cool that she loves to bake and the fact that she's gradually falling for her baker bestie is a pretty cute narrative to follow.
I honestly only rated this one so low because I'm not a huge fan of solid baking stories. Reading about people cooking is hard for me to follow and I often lose track of what is happening. I really liked all other aspects of this story though, so I feel that I'll really like the rest of this series.
Overall, "Dragons and Dumplings" is a quick introduction to the Falhaven Castle and its many residents. I'm excited to learn more about all the royals in the next installments of this series, and I'll be awaiting Nate's return vigilantly.
Tenderly, I am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone
Lacrimosa "Lark" Arriscane has just been kicked out of her prestigious boarding school after the betrayal of her best friend takes a violent turn. Upon returning home, Lark soon learns that her family is broke and desperate to escape their financial debt. In a last-ditch attempt, Lark agrees to marry the swan god, Therion, in exchange for the salt mines her family runs to be refilled with their prosperous goods. Unfortunately, the betrothal doesn't quite go as planned, and Lark finds herself connected to a god who is quite literally beginning to disappear from the world. With few options remaining, Lark turns to Alastair and Camile Felimath, her childhood best friends who she hasn't spoken to amicably in years. They must do everything they can think of to restore Therion to his former glory and save Lark in the process.
"Tenderly, I Am Devoured" has been on my most anticipated read lists since December of last year. I've been sitting on the ARC for quite some time, but I finally got around to reading it. Unfortunately, I didn't adore it as much I hoped that I would, but it was still a good read. Folk horror is a genre that has greatly intrigued me, but I feel that most of them I've read aren't as great as I hoped they'd be, so maybe it's just not typically a genre for me.
The complex world, god system, and magical elements in this book are a bit ambiguous and unexplained, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just had me doing a double take now and again and led to me having to overly explain myself when people asked what this book was about. I think the world Clipstone crafts is really cool and that Therion was an interesting concept, despite the fact that he didn't do all that much throughout the course of the novel.
The chaotic bisexuals in this book are also pretty iconic (and I mean this is the best way possible). Lark literally kisses all the important characters that she isn't related to in this book, so I never knew what Lark was going to do romantically. I believe that this is the first poly book that I have ever read, which I also found super insightful. Lark is greatly attracted to both of the Felimath siblings, which is quite an interesting dynamic. Camile makes her thoughts on the situation obvious quite early in the novel, but I was intrigued by how Alastair was going to react to this fact. (He ended up also being a chaotic bisexual, so it all worked out in the end.)
Clipstone creates such an enthralling atmosphere. The way she writes is so lyrical and beautiful, especially when it comes to describing emotion. This became a tad frustrating at times, though, because I felt that flowery language was taking over the narrative at certain moments.
On the surface, this book is a story of a girl who must marry a swan god to save her family, but it also explores so much more. Lark has been betrayed time and time again by those she loves, so her learning to love herself and find her self-worth is a super important part of this story. Learning to trust those she loves that have wronged her in the past in another important element of this story that most readers can (sadly) relate to.
I think the biggest downfall of this one for me is the pacing. It took a while for much action to really occur, and I spent over half of this book wondering what the main plot line was. This book really reads like a magical slice of life story with some creepy moments that add to the horror-esque vibes. Some moments in this book felt a tad repetitive, too, but this wasn't a major concern of mine.
Overall, "Tenderly, I Am Devoured" is a beautifully penned folk horror novel that utilizes figurative language and a haunting atmosphere to the max. It may not have been my most favorite novel ever, but I really enjoyed learning about Lark and the Felimath siblings. I would definitely be interested in checking out more of Clipstone's work in the future and seeing if it ends up resonating with me or not.
3.0
A folk horror tale about a girl coming home to fight for what she loves most and relearn who she is in the process.
Lacrimosa "Lark" Arriscane has just been kicked out of her prestigious boarding school after the betrayal of her best friend takes a violent turn. Upon returning home, Lark soon learns that her family is broke and desperate to escape their financial debt. In a last-ditch attempt, Lark agrees to marry the swan god, Therion, in exchange for the salt mines her family runs to be refilled with their prosperous goods. Unfortunately, the betrothal doesn't quite go as planned, and Lark finds herself connected to a god who is quite literally beginning to disappear from the world. With few options remaining, Lark turns to Alastair and Camile Felimath, her childhood best friends who she hasn't spoken to amicably in years. They must do everything they can think of to restore Therion to his former glory and save Lark in the process.
"Tenderly, I Am Devoured" has been on my most anticipated read lists since December of last year. I've been sitting on the ARC for quite some time, but I finally got around to reading it. Unfortunately, I didn't adore it as much I hoped that I would, but it was still a good read. Folk horror is a genre that has greatly intrigued me, but I feel that most of them I've read aren't as great as I hoped they'd be, so maybe it's just not typically a genre for me.
The complex world, god system, and magical elements in this book are a bit ambiguous and unexplained, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just had me doing a double take now and again and led to me having to overly explain myself when people asked what this book was about. I think the world Clipstone crafts is really cool and that Therion was an interesting concept, despite the fact that he didn't do all that much throughout the course of the novel.
The chaotic bisexuals in this book are also pretty iconic (and I mean this is the best way possible). Lark literally kisses all the important characters that she isn't related to in this book, so I never knew what Lark was going to do romantically. I believe that this is the first poly book that I have ever read, which I also found super insightful. Lark is greatly attracted to both of the Felimath siblings, which is quite an interesting dynamic. Camile makes her thoughts on the situation obvious quite early in the novel, but I was intrigued by how Alastair was going to react to this fact. (He ended up also being a chaotic bisexual, so it all worked out in the end.)
Clipstone creates such an enthralling atmosphere. The way she writes is so lyrical and beautiful, especially when it comes to describing emotion. This became a tad frustrating at times, though, because I felt that flowery language was taking over the narrative at certain moments.
On the surface, this book is a story of a girl who must marry a swan god to save her family, but it also explores so much more. Lark has been betrayed time and time again by those she loves, so her learning to love herself and find her self-worth is a super important part of this story. Learning to trust those she loves that have wronged her in the past in another important element of this story that most readers can (sadly) relate to.
I think the biggest downfall of this one for me is the pacing. It took a while for much action to really occur, and I spent over half of this book wondering what the main plot line was. This book really reads like a magical slice of life story with some creepy moments that add to the horror-esque vibes. Some moments in this book felt a tad repetitive, too, but this wasn't a major concern of mine.
Overall, "Tenderly, I Am Devoured" is a beautifully penned folk horror novel that utilizes figurative language and a haunting atmosphere to the max. It may not have been my most favorite novel ever, but I really enjoyed learning about Lark and the Felimath siblings. I would definitely be interested in checking out more of Clipstone's work in the future and seeing if it ends up resonating with me or not.
Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho
4.0
A quirky modern day apocalypse novel in which one young boy with amnesia may just be the key to stopping the end of the world.
Jasper's life is nothing to write home about. It only gets worse on Hell Day when a bunch of portals release demons and monsters into the world. Now, not only does he have to drudge through working at a grocery store called the Here For You Mart, but he also has to worry about being eaten alive during his shift. And on top of it all, Jasper has amnesia and can't remember what life was like before the apocalypse began. At least the cute girl that he has a crush on, Kyle Kuan, works for the monster-vanquishing Vanguard and can save his butt whenever he's in danger. When Jasper and Kyle learn that they both have seen the same alarming vision, the two form an unlikely team and must work together to save the dumpster-fire of a world that they have come to know.
This was such a quirky, humorous read with a unique, yet familiar dystopian apocalypse setting. I think it's neat that this book literally takes place in 2024 and features a lifestyle that those alive now are very familiar with. Despite all the crazy monsters popping out of portals, people try to live their day to day lives as normally as possible. Of course, this means that people still get up way too early in the morning to go Black Friday shopping.
The best part of this book is definitely its quirkiness and its humor. For example, Jasper lives with a plush cat demon who is addicted to the TV show "Friends." This is just one instance that showcases the odd nature of Jasper's every day. Jasper's life working in retail is also super hilarious. The incident with the man and the expired toaster made me laugh really hard; I just had to share this portion of the book with several people. Jasper definitely works with many unhappy customers, and it makes me really appreciate that I don't work in retail.
The romance in this one isn't super overt, but it ends up being a super sweet love story in the end. Amnesia romances are always intriguing, especially when the second party knew the amnesiac before their memory loss. Seeing Jasper and Kyle grow to know each other a second time was very cute, and I like the way that they support each other through a literal apocalypse.
This book has several predictable moments (especially when it comes to the big reveal during the last few chapters), but I don't think this took away from the story too much. The only thing that honestly surprised me about this book is the fact that Lara (the cat demon) wasn't more sus. She's just kind of there the entire time without contributing much. Yes, she gives Jasper and Kyle some useful information, but that's I about it. I was definitely watching the cat every time she came into the scene, but she never did anything out of the ordinary.
Overall, "Aisle Nine" is a quirky, witty take on the end of the world genre. The fact that it's super modern is neat, and something that I've only seen done effectively a handful of times in dystopian novels. The mundanity of people literally just trying to buy their groceries during the end of the world was very amusing and the way that Jasper deals with people is super funny. I would certainly give another book by this author a try, especially to see what other odd topics he is willing to write about.
Jasper's life is nothing to write home about. It only gets worse on Hell Day when a bunch of portals release demons and monsters into the world. Now, not only does he have to drudge through working at a grocery store called the Here For You Mart, but he also has to worry about being eaten alive during his shift. And on top of it all, Jasper has amnesia and can't remember what life was like before the apocalypse began. At least the cute girl that he has a crush on, Kyle Kuan, works for the monster-vanquishing Vanguard and can save his butt whenever he's in danger. When Jasper and Kyle learn that they both have seen the same alarming vision, the two form an unlikely team and must work together to save the dumpster-fire of a world that they have come to know.
This was such a quirky, humorous read with a unique, yet familiar dystopian apocalypse setting. I think it's neat that this book literally takes place in 2024 and features a lifestyle that those alive now are very familiar with. Despite all the crazy monsters popping out of portals, people try to live their day to day lives as normally as possible. Of course, this means that people still get up way too early in the morning to go Black Friday shopping.
The best part of this book is definitely its quirkiness and its humor. For example, Jasper lives with a plush cat demon who is addicted to the TV show "Friends." This is just one instance that showcases the odd nature of Jasper's every day. Jasper's life working in retail is also super hilarious. The incident with the man and the expired toaster made me laugh really hard; I just had to share this portion of the book with several people. Jasper definitely works with many unhappy customers, and it makes me really appreciate that I don't work in retail.
The romance in this one isn't super overt, but it ends up being a super sweet love story in the end. Amnesia romances are always intriguing, especially when the second party knew the amnesiac before their memory loss. Seeing Jasper and Kyle grow to know each other a second time was very cute, and I like the way that they support each other through a literal apocalypse.
This book has several predictable moments (especially when it comes to the big reveal during the last few chapters), but I don't think this took away from the story too much. The only thing that honestly surprised me about this book is the fact that Lara (the cat demon) wasn't more sus. She's just kind of there the entire time without contributing much. Yes, she gives Jasper and Kyle some useful information, but that's I about it. I was definitely watching the cat every time she came into the scene, but she never did anything out of the ordinary.
Overall, "Aisle Nine" is a quirky, witty take on the end of the world genre. The fact that it's super modern is neat, and something that I've only seen done effectively a handful of times in dystopian novels. The mundanity of people literally just trying to buy their groceries during the end of the world was very amusing and the way that Jasper deals with people is super funny. I would certainly give another book by this author a try, especially to see what other odd topics he is willing to write about.
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
4.0
I read "Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? (And Other Concerns)" earlier this month, and I was intrigued enough by Kaling that I hunted down her second memoir almost immediately. I enjoyed learning more about Mindy as her career took off a little more and she had more secrets of the industry to share.
This book talked in great detail about Mindy's work on her feature show "The Mindy Project." I've never seen this one, but I still found it fascinating to learn how she secured this gig and how a typical day on set and in the writer's room go. It was fun to see how much her career has grown, as well as see that she grew quite a bit as a person in the last few years since she wrote her first memoir.
Mindy shares her opinions on fashion, sororities, the film industry, dating, alternate dimensions, and so much more in this quirky memoir filled with wit and heart. I love how she manages to be super transparent while also sharing the oddest anecdotes and crazy stories that I know aren't real in the actual sense. It is so easy to tell the difference though, which is a skill set in its own.
On a super random note, I found the segment about filming sex scenes to be really interesting. This is something I've never really thought about and I found it super engaging to hear Mindy's thoughts and opinions on this topic.
Overall, I enjoyed reading "Why Not Me?" in just a few days. It's quite a short book and certain segments fly by even faster than I expected them to. Mindy is quite an interesting lady with strong opinions, and it was fun to learn even more about her and her career through this book.
This book talked in great detail about Mindy's work on her feature show "The Mindy Project." I've never seen this one, but I still found it fascinating to learn how she secured this gig and how a typical day on set and in the writer's room go. It was fun to see how much her career has grown, as well as see that she grew quite a bit as a person in the last few years since she wrote her first memoir.
Mindy shares her opinions on fashion, sororities, the film industry, dating, alternate dimensions, and so much more in this quirky memoir filled with wit and heart. I love how she manages to be super transparent while also sharing the oddest anecdotes and crazy stories that I know aren't real in the actual sense. It is so easy to tell the difference though, which is a skill set in its own.
On a super random note, I found the segment about filming sex scenes to be really interesting. This is something I've never really thought about and I found it super engaging to hear Mindy's thoughts and opinions on this topic.
Overall, I enjoyed reading "Why Not Me?" in just a few days. It's quite a short book and certain segments fly by even faster than I expected them to. Mindy is quite an interesting lady with strong opinions, and it was fun to learn even more about her and her career through this book.
Salvación by Sandra Proudman
4.0
An alternate universe historical piece inspired by "Zorro" in which a young girl must stand up for what she believes is right and discover who she truly wants to be along the way.
Lola de La Peña has always felt suppressed by society's expectations. Wearing dresses and acting ladylike isn't exactly her forte, but she must pretend to be a proper señorita while her mamá uses sal negra, a newly discovered magical salt, to heal those with ailments. Luckily, at night she is allowed to shed the disguise and become her true self, Salvación. As Salvación, she and her trusty sword get to protect the people of Coloma from those who would do them wrong. Due to the newly signed Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, tension in Alta California is higher than it's ever been before making Salvación's duties even more important. When Damien Hernández comes to town with his dangerous sal roja, Salvación must fight harder than she ever has before to protect those she cares about most.
"Salvación" is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so it is no surprise that I flew through this book once I was lucky enough to win a copy of it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be, but I'm still down for a feminist "Zorro" reimagining any day. It is important to note that the action in this book isn't nearly as intense as in the "Zorro" TV series and the book has quite a different plot line; it takes place in a similar era and setting, but Salvación is not Zorro. I repeat Salvación is NOT Zorro. I think people that are hating on this book because it isn't "Zorro" need to learn the definition of the word inspired.
This book honestly reads as a historical fiction book with magical realism and a hint of romance. It is certainly not a high fantasy, and I pity those who thought it was. I found the subtle romance plot to be quite nice, especially when so much of the book focuses around Loli finding herself and the importance of familia. Not having the romance suffocate the rest of the story was much appreciated, and the speed that Loli and Alejandro's relationship developed at was more my speed than many YA books that I've read recently. The Mexican American War is often forgotten about, so I think it was nice that this book dwells in this era of history.
The themes in this story are all so uplifting and sweet. One of the overarching ones is finding peace—be that with oneself, one's lifestyle, or one's family. Some others are the importance of family, standing up for what you believe is right, and embracing the person that you always wanted to be. The feminist lens of this story showcases how Loli feels alienated by how society wants a young woman to behave and validates the fact that she feels more at home in her skin when she acts as Salvación.
The way that this book talks about the Earth is also quite magical. It speaks to not fearing nature, because it is never inherently evil (unlike humanity) and that we must not take from the earth unforgivingly without expecting to face the consequences. The way that Loli is one with her horse, Carisma, is also very endearing.
Loli has a complex relationship with all the members of her family. She and her brother, Víctor, are quite close now, but weren't always that way. Loli adores her papá and feels like the chosen child, but she doesn't recognize the man that he has become recently. She has never seen eye to eye with her mamá for many reasons, but Loli begins to understand where her mother is coming from in the end.
Overall, "Salvación" is a fun historical read with a hint of magical realism and a touch of romance. It didn't quite live up to the unobtainable expectations I had going into it, but I still enjoyed my time with it regardless. "Salvación" is filled to the brim with feminist messages, asks that you find peace with the life you have been given, and begs that we embrace the person that we are meant to be. I think this book is a great example of an alternate universe historical fantasy, and I hope that people can accept it for what it is. I really enjoyed my time with Loli and the gang; I certainly look forward to reading more of Proudman's work in the future!
Lola de La Peña has always felt suppressed by society's expectations. Wearing dresses and acting ladylike isn't exactly her forte, but she must pretend to be a proper señorita while her mamá uses sal negra, a newly discovered magical salt, to heal those with ailments. Luckily, at night she is allowed to shed the disguise and become her true self, Salvación. As Salvación, she and her trusty sword get to protect the people of Coloma from those who would do them wrong. Due to the newly signed Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, tension in Alta California is higher than it's ever been before making Salvación's duties even more important. When Damien Hernández comes to town with his dangerous sal roja, Salvación must fight harder than she ever has before to protect those she cares about most.
"Salvación" is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so it is no surprise that I flew through this book once I was lucky enough to win a copy of it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be, but I'm still down for a feminist "Zorro" reimagining any day. It is important to note that the action in this book isn't nearly as intense as in the "Zorro" TV series and the book has quite a different plot line; it takes place in a similar era and setting, but Salvación is not Zorro. I repeat Salvación is NOT Zorro. I think people that are hating on this book because it isn't "Zorro" need to learn the definition of the word inspired.
This book honestly reads as a historical fiction book with magical realism and a hint of romance. It is certainly not a high fantasy, and I pity those who thought it was. I found the subtle romance plot to be quite nice, especially when so much of the book focuses around Loli finding herself and the importance of familia. Not having the romance suffocate the rest of the story was much appreciated, and the speed that Loli and Alejandro's relationship developed at was more my speed than many YA books that I've read recently. The Mexican American War is often forgotten about, so I think it was nice that this book dwells in this era of history.
The themes in this story are all so uplifting and sweet. One of the overarching ones is finding peace—be that with oneself, one's lifestyle, or one's family. Some others are the importance of family, standing up for what you believe is right, and embracing the person that you always wanted to be. The feminist lens of this story showcases how Loli feels alienated by how society wants a young woman to behave and validates the fact that she feels more at home in her skin when she acts as Salvación.
The way that this book talks about the Earth is also quite magical. It speaks to not fearing nature, because it is never inherently evil (unlike humanity) and that we must not take from the earth unforgivingly without expecting to face the consequences. The way that Loli is one with her horse, Carisma, is also very endearing.
Loli has a complex relationship with all the members of her family. She and her brother, Víctor, are quite close now, but weren't always that way. Loli adores her papá and feels like the chosen child, but she doesn't recognize the man that he has become recently. She has never seen eye to eye with her mamá for many reasons, but Loli begins to understand where her mother is coming from in the end.
Overall, "Salvación" is a fun historical read with a hint of magical realism and a touch of romance. It didn't quite live up to the unobtainable expectations I had going into it, but I still enjoyed my time with it regardless. "Salvación" is filled to the brim with feminist messages, asks that you find peace with the life you have been given, and begs that we embrace the person that we are meant to be. I think this book is a great example of an alternate universe historical fantasy, and I hope that people can accept it for what it is. I really enjoyed my time with Loli and the gang; I certainly look forward to reading more of Proudman's work in the future!
Bargains with Benefits by Jillian Witt
5.0
A struggling innkeeper and an aspiring journalist strike a bargain to better both of their careers in this cozy fantasy series started set in an intriguing magical world.
Luna Pierce is a half-fae who is trying to reconcile with her estranged father and finally run the inn of her dreams, Cliff House Inn. There is one major problem though—the inn hasn't had guests in a long time. That doesn't get Luna down though: she is determined to do whatever it takes to save the inn, even if that means striking a bargain with the devilishly handsome, yet annoying fae journalist, Vincent Andiveron. Vincent wants nothing more than to get the chance to write a featured article in the newspaper, but he needs help following a lead on Darius Pierce. If Luna can get him into Pierce House, Vincent agrees to write a piece about Cliff House Inn in his column. The two may be opposites, but the more they work in tandem, they begin to learn just how magical love can feel.
I'm still pretty new to the cozy fantasy genre, but this book is exactly what I want in one! It has an intriguing magic system, an elaborate political system, relatable characters, witty banter, great chemistry between our love interests, and super cozy occupations like journalism and innkeeping.
I'll kick this off by talking about Luna and Vincent. Individually, I love them both. When their together? I couldn't keep myself from giggling from their constant teasing and swooning at their chemistry. These two are so cute together; I completely adore them as a couple! Luna is a colorful half-fae who isn't willing to let her voice be silenced. She's spunky, she isn't afraid to take what she wants, and she's willing to reach for the stars despite the adverse events of her childhood. Vincent, on the other hand, is a noble fae with an ancient lineage that has him acting quite proper and a tad arrogant at times. When he's with Luna though, he is such a goofball. I truly can't get enough of Vincent's antics. Luna truly brings out the best in Vincent. The way that Vincent's wind magic acts as its own character and adds to these two's relationship is also really wholesome; the wind gust is also quite a flirt, which is really fun to read.
The magic system and the politics in this world drew me in from the very beginning. The realm is split into four sections and is mapped by the points of a compass. Norden (north) is home to the water fae, Suden (south) houses the earth fae, the fire fae reside in Vesten (west), and the wind fae hail from Osten (west). The lore behind this is established more in the author's first series, "Compass Points," which I will definitely have to look into in the future.
This world certainly has some prejudices between humans and fae, and even between faes of different elements and heritage. Luna is half-fae so she is constantly experiencing the feeling of living on the border between two worlds. I personally love when author's explore identity in magical worlds; many people can relate to such experiences even though they obviously aren't half-fae, half-human themselves. Vincent hails from an old fae family that is very proud of their pure bloodlines. The Andiveron household often looks down on other families and frowns upon those who would dilute their lineage with human blood. Luna and Vincent meeting has both of them questioning their prejudicial thoughts and revaluating things that they took as fact their entire lives.
The bargain aspect of this book made for a really fun time. Luna and Vincent constantly utilize their deal as a chance to hang out with one another and try to use it as a way to avoid their feelings for one another. This ploy doesn't stand for long and the two quickly realize that they are falling in love faster than they could have ever expected. Watching Vincent and Luna learn to care about one another so tenderly and unconditionally was so sweet and honestly inspiring.
Seeing Luna deal with both of her parent's was touching and heartbreaking. She has always been distant from her father, Darius, so it was super sweet seeing them grow closer to each other throughout the course of this book. Luna and her deceased mother had always been close, so it was crushing to learn about all the secrets she was hiding from her beloved daughter. It would break me to learn all that Luna discovered about her mother, but sometimes the truth needs to come to life.
I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the spice in this book. There are a couple of open door scenes, but I actually found them to be done quite masterfully. I could really feel Luna and Vincent's love for one another in their intimate moments. I am pleased to report that both of their main concern in bed was pleasing the other and I could hear the dialog between the two despite the sparse amount of conversation happening. And Vincent's wind buddy made for some exciting new instances that you don't see terribly often.
This is the first book in a series of stand alone cozy fantasy romances. I seriously hope that future books explore Ambrose and Evelyn's story as well as Skye's happily ever after. I enjoyed my time with all of the side characters, so I will definitely be checking out the rest of the books in this series.
Overall, "Bargains with Benefits" was an amazing cozy fantasy romance. I enjoyed meeting Luna and Vincent; watching them fall in love was a journey I would definitely repeat again. I am super intrigued by the world and the politics, so I very much want to check out Witt's "Compass Points" series, too. I loved the relentless teasing, the swoony moments, and everything else that this romance entailed. I'll be looking forward to reading the next book in this series as soon as I am able to do so!
Luna Pierce is a half-fae who is trying to reconcile with her estranged father and finally run the inn of her dreams, Cliff House Inn. There is one major problem though—the inn hasn't had guests in a long time. That doesn't get Luna down though: she is determined to do whatever it takes to save the inn, even if that means striking a bargain with the devilishly handsome, yet annoying fae journalist, Vincent Andiveron. Vincent wants nothing more than to get the chance to write a featured article in the newspaper, but he needs help following a lead on Darius Pierce. If Luna can get him into Pierce House, Vincent agrees to write a piece about Cliff House Inn in his column. The two may be opposites, but the more they work in tandem, they begin to learn just how magical love can feel.
I'm still pretty new to the cozy fantasy genre, but this book is exactly what I want in one! It has an intriguing magic system, an elaborate political system, relatable characters, witty banter, great chemistry between our love interests, and super cozy occupations like journalism and innkeeping.
I'll kick this off by talking about Luna and Vincent. Individually, I love them both. When their together? I couldn't keep myself from giggling from their constant teasing and swooning at their chemistry. These two are so cute together; I completely adore them as a couple! Luna is a colorful half-fae who isn't willing to let her voice be silenced. She's spunky, she isn't afraid to take what she wants, and she's willing to reach for the stars despite the adverse events of her childhood. Vincent, on the other hand, is a noble fae with an ancient lineage that has him acting quite proper and a tad arrogant at times. When he's with Luna though, he is such a goofball. I truly can't get enough of Vincent's antics. Luna truly brings out the best in Vincent. The way that Vincent's wind magic acts as its own character and adds to these two's relationship is also really wholesome; the wind gust is also quite a flirt, which is really fun to read.
The magic system and the politics in this world drew me in from the very beginning. The realm is split into four sections and is mapped by the points of a compass. Norden (north) is home to the water fae, Suden (south) houses the earth fae, the fire fae reside in Vesten (west), and the wind fae hail from Osten (west). The lore behind this is established more in the author's first series, "Compass Points," which I will definitely have to look into in the future.
This world certainly has some prejudices between humans and fae, and even between faes of different elements and heritage. Luna is half-fae so she is constantly experiencing the feeling of living on the border between two worlds. I personally love when author's explore identity in magical worlds; many people can relate to such experiences even though they obviously aren't half-fae, half-human themselves. Vincent hails from an old fae family that is very proud of their pure bloodlines. The Andiveron household often looks down on other families and frowns upon those who would dilute their lineage with human blood. Luna and Vincent meeting has both of them questioning their prejudicial thoughts and revaluating things that they took as fact their entire lives.
The bargain aspect of this book made for a really fun time. Luna and Vincent constantly utilize their deal as a chance to hang out with one another and try to use it as a way to avoid their feelings for one another. This ploy doesn't stand for long and the two quickly realize that they are falling in love faster than they could have ever expected. Watching Vincent and Luna learn to care about one another so tenderly and unconditionally was so sweet and honestly inspiring.
Seeing Luna deal with both of her parent's was touching and heartbreaking. She has always been distant from her father, Darius, so it was super sweet seeing them grow closer to each other throughout the course of this book. Luna and her deceased mother had always been close, so it was crushing to learn about all the secrets she was hiding from her beloved daughter. It would break me to learn all that Luna discovered about her mother, but sometimes the truth needs to come to life.
I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the spice in this book. There are a couple of open door scenes, but I actually found them to be done quite masterfully. I could really feel Luna and Vincent's love for one another in their intimate moments. I am pleased to report that both of their main concern in bed was pleasing the other and I could hear the dialog between the two despite the sparse amount of conversation happening. And Vincent's wind buddy made for some exciting new instances that you don't see terribly often.
This is the first book in a series of stand alone cozy fantasy romances. I seriously hope that future books explore Ambrose and Evelyn's story as well as Skye's happily ever after. I enjoyed my time with all of the side characters, so I will definitely be checking out the rest of the books in this series.
Overall, "Bargains with Benefits" was an amazing cozy fantasy romance. I enjoyed meeting Luna and Vincent; watching them fall in love was a journey I would definitely repeat again. I am super intrigued by the world and the politics, so I very much want to check out Witt's "Compass Points" series, too. I loved the relentless teasing, the swoony moments, and everything else that this romance entailed. I'll be looking forward to reading the next book in this series as soon as I am able to do so!