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thereadinghammock's reviews
571 reviews
How Not to Date a Demon by Lana Kole
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Fun and short, I'm so glad I finally made time for this series! Maeve has a temper to be reckoned with, and Galen is swoon-worthy sweet. Lana packs a whole lot of spice in under 200 pages, but also great intimate communication between Maeve and Galen, making sure they're always on the same page as they play. Watching Maeve try to figure out what kind of supernatural being Galen is on the sly was adorable and hilarious as he was also suspicious of her, but neither could quite figure the other's motives out until Galen finally came clean. And the addition of the hellhound puppies was just icing on the adorable cake!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
A Wolf in the Garden by Allegra Hall
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.5
There is so much story packed into this book! There's world building. There's romance. There found family. There's family coming back to each other after a falling out. There's fae shenanigans. There's magic. There's supernatural beings of all kinds!
I loved that there was never a doubt in my mind about Ellie and Van from the moment they reconnected. No third act breakups here! Only copious amounts of fae peril. I can't wait to learn more over the course of the series about the politicking of The First Realm and how its bleeding over into the lives of these characters.
I love the supporting cast of characters, and am already looking for hints of future books, and am so excited for Cassidy and Kaito in book 2!
I loved that there was never a doubt in my mind about Ellie and Van from the moment they reconnected. No third act breakups here! Only copious amounts of fae peril. I can't wait to learn more over the course of the series about the politicking of The First Realm and how its bleeding over into the lives of these characters.
I love the supporting cast of characters, and am already looking for hints of future books, and am so excited for Cassidy and Kaito in book 2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Child death
Curated by Nellie Wilson
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
"I will not be a footnote. I'm the whole damn book."
What a fiery pair Emmy and Ryan are. I loved how Emmy could always put Ryan in his place and show him that things were most definitely not so easy for those outside the well funded science departments, or the highly educated, straight, white, male demographic. Ryan, we love a man who does his homework, puts in the effort, and does the extra credit. How much pleasure he took from Emmy's magnetism, and ensuring her overall pleasure was *chef's kiss*. I was dying for then to get together and once they did it was straight fire.
The overall setting was a love letter to working in academia/higher education/non-profits and all of the little quirks that come with the territory. (Almost) everything is done on a shoe string and everyone pitches in to get the job done.
What a fiery pair Emmy and Ryan are. I loved how Emmy could always put Ryan in his place and show him that things were most definitely not so easy for those outside the well funded science departments, or the highly educated, straight, white, male demographic. Ryan, we love a man who does his homework, puts in the effort, and does the extra credit. How much pleasure he took from Emmy's magnetism, and ensuring her overall pleasure was *chef's kiss*. I was dying for then to get together and once they did it was straight fire.
The overall setting was a love letter to working in academia/higher education/non-profits and all of the little quirks that come with the territory. (Almost) everything is done on a shoe string and everyone pitches in to get the job done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexism
Mantras & Minotaurs by Ashley Bennett
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I struggled to connect with Pam & Al. Not sure if it's because their place in life is so far from where I'm at currently, or if I was coming off a strong book hangover. It was still the same sweet and swoon-worthy love story you can expect from the Muscles & Monsters series! I loved the positive affirmations and mantras at the beginning of each chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death
Hold Fast by Eliza MacArthur
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I know this book was such a labor of love (pun maybe slightly intended) and the work Eliza put into it shines. As a patron, I got to read an early draft of Hold Fast and I loved it then. Now having read it with the polish and shine of the final version, it's even better!
Una's strength throughout the book is nothing short of inspiring. Her sense of agency, even in the face of her abuser is remarkable. I love how much she allowed herself to grow in the love and support of the MacDonald clan.
Jamie Fraser better make some room in the royal court. Ewan MacDonald is giving him a run for his money as the King of Men. He has some learning to do about listening to the wise women around him, but he's taking his lessons and his lumps admirably, while drinking ALL his Respect Women Juice daily.
I loved the delightful and plucky cast of supporting characters as well, and am looking forward to the next book (which has already started serialization on the 'treon!) and seeing who else is going to get a story as well!
Una's strength throughout the book is nothing short of inspiring. Her sense of agency, even in the face of her abuser is remarkable. I love how much she allowed herself to grow in the love and support of the MacDonald clan.
Jamie Fraser better make some room in the royal court. Ewan MacDonald is giving him a run for his money as the King of Men. He has some learning to do about listening to the wise women around him, but he's taking his lessons and his lumps admirably, while drinking ALL his Respect Women Juice daily.
I loved the delightful and plucky cast of supporting characters as well, and am looking forward to the next book (which has already started serialization on the 'treon!) and seeing who else is going to get a story as well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Grief, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Minor: Misogyny, Stalking, and Miscarriage
Faraway by Abigail Kelly
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
"As centuries of political unions could attest, there was no better way of making friends with your neighbors than by marrying them."
Clementine is just looking for a place to find peace. Burdened by a telepathic ability so strong that she resorts to living on a nearly inhospitable island in Grim's Bay for a job that hopes to rebuild a relationship with the local merpeople.
Emory is an outcast from his pod, feeling quite alone in his familial cove while his pod mates roam the Bay. When a beautiful mate is quite literally dropped on his island, who is he to say no to a gift from Tempest?
I love the way Abigail brings these two together. Like many of her other pairings, it's not by the most conventional means, but they fit together like puzzle pieces. They meet each other where they're at and ask for what they need from each other (after some introspective pining, of course). I love love love a solid foundation of communication between a couple. In classic Abigail style, "No breakups, Only peril ™️"
Clementine is just looking for a place to find peace. Burdened by a telepathic ability so strong that she resorts to living on a nearly inhospitable island in Grim's Bay for a job that hopes to rebuild a relationship with the local merpeople.
Emory is an outcast from his pod, feeling quite alone in his familial cove while his pod mates roam the Bay. When a beautiful mate is quite literally dropped on his island, who is he to say no to a gift from Tempest?
I love the way Abigail brings these two together. Like many of her other pairings, it's not by the most conventional means, but they fit together like puzzle pieces. They meet each other where they're at and ask for what they need from each other (after some introspective pining, of course). I love love love a solid foundation of communication between a couple. In classic Abigail style, "No breakups, Only peril ™️"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Sanctuary with Kings by Kathryn Moon
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
Falling in love with Evanthia and her monsters for the first half of the book was classic K.Moon at her finest, and getting the righteous retribution and vengeance of Evanthia, Esther, and Hazel against Birsha was chef's kiss!
I adored getting to have all three polycules together at Hywel's castle! Oh the exhibitionism of it all! And the three mistresses were quite the ringleaders when they wanted to be. I love them all so so much!
And the time jump forward in the epilogue was brilliant! A twist I didn't know I needed and am now feral for! Give me all those modern advances and let me see what they've fallen in love with over the decades! I love it I love it I love it!
I adored getting to have all three polycules together at Hywel's castle! Oh the exhibitionism of it all! And the three mistresses were quite the ringleaders when they wanted to be. I love them all so so much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Murder, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: War, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
The misogyny that undercurrents the entire plot kept me so distracted from anything else that went on. I want to know what happened with Ruby and what will happen to these witches, but right now I just couldn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Cozy vibes, with late to the party plot. I wasn't too sure where this story was heading for the first half of the book. The characters were meandering, setting up their soft, new life on the lam and hoping things wouldn't catch up with them for a few years at best. Cute, adorable, the tea & book shop is a total vibe, but as a reader I was getting antsy. I needed something more to happen.
Enter, dragons. A pact, a theft, a mystery! Finally a little plot to sink our teeth into a an audience. I enjoyed how it bright the plot showed up a few notches and made me start caring a bit more about what was happening. I had been staying to worry the cozy vibes were all there was, and as much as it was sweet and all, I was having a hard time staying invested in just that.
Around 77% I had the realization that this story wasn't going to be fully wrapped up by the end. I was a little put out for a cliffhanger with no warning, but I'll survive. At least book 2 comes out this year!
Enter, dragons. A pact, a theft, a mystery! Finally a little plot to sink our teeth into a an audience. I enjoyed how it bright the plot showed up a few notches and made me start caring a bit more about what was happening. I had been staying to worry the cozy vibes were all there was, and as much as it was sweet and all, I was having a hard time staying invested in just that.
Around 77% I had the realization that this story wasn't going to be fully wrapped up by the end. I was a little put out for a cliffhanger with no warning, but I'll survive. At least book 2 comes out this year!
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
On the Care and Keeping of Orcs by Kass O'Shire
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Single mom, doing her best: check
Childhood friends/brother's best friend: check
Golden retriever orc who specializes in praise dirty talk: check
Forced proximity/road trip: check
Horse heist: check
More sassy footnotes from Sirin: check
I loved getting to dive back into the world of Sanctuary and getting to see this world grow and expand. As always, I love Sirin's pithy and contextual footnotes throughout the story. They add great context to the worldbuilding and also promise little hints of books yet to come! Getting to add a few new and saucy friends to the Sanctuary family (looking at you Aegir and Calida!!) gives us all the more to look forward to in the next books!
Cat is doing her best, but just "surviving;" Tor is floundering with what comes next after achieving the goal he's worked the last 15 years to achieve. A rare chance for them both to have a little fun and get out of their routines gives them both time for a little reflection and self-discovery on the road. I loved that we had chapters from Tor's perspective, mostly because for as intimidating as he looks on the outside, he's a gooey cinnamon roll of an orc, with a squishy gum drop heart that makes me love him even more.
Childhood friends/brother's best friend: check
Golden retriever orc who specializes in praise dirty talk: check
Forced proximity/road trip: check
Horse heist: check
More sassy footnotes from Sirin: check
I loved getting to dive back into the world of Sanctuary and getting to see this world grow and expand. As always, I love Sirin's pithy and contextual footnotes throughout the story. They add great context to the worldbuilding and also promise little hints of books yet to come! Getting to add a few new and saucy friends to the Sanctuary family (looking at you Aegir and Calida!!) gives us all the more to look forward to in the next books!
Cat is doing her best, but just "surviving;" Tor is floundering with what comes next after achieving the goal he's worked the last 15 years to achieve. A rare chance for them both to have a little fun and get out of their routines gives them both time for a little reflection and self-discovery on the road. I loved that we had chapters from Tor's perspective, mostly because for as intimidating as he looks on the outside, he's a gooey cinnamon roll of an orc, with a squishy gum drop heart that makes me love him even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Pregnancy