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thiscryptidreads's reviews
37 reviews
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
118 pages (32%)
DNF
That far in and the plot has barely advanced. I guessed the twist right away and went to read reviews to confirm/spoil it because I could not read this kids rambling thoughts anymore. So many things in this book felt so unnecessary.
It took 12 pages to describe the initial "incident" then there's 55 pages of just them getting back into town and dealing with the sheriff asking questions and going on about their lives.
All that to explain the reason why he became a slasher i dont think I could stand another 200 pages of explaining how he got his revenge on these kids.
DNF
That far in and the plot has barely advanced. I guessed the twist right away and went to read reviews to confirm/spoil it because I could not read this kids rambling thoughts anymore. So many things in this book felt so unnecessary.
It took 12 pages to describe the initial "incident" then there's 55 pages of just them getting back into town and dealing with the sheriff asking questions and going on about their lives.
All that to explain the reason why he became a slasher i dont think I could stand another 200 pages of explaining how he got his revenge on these kids.
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Book felt repetitive, could not keep focus on it. Eventually my loan expired for the library.
Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Stopped at chapter 9. Just wasn't giving me the winter, Yule, holiday vibes I was wanting. Felt like Krampus was sort of a side character to Jesse's story. Might try to finish it another time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology by Ellen Datlow
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Library loan expired before I finished all the stories. Stopped after "the blessing of the waters"
These were good stories, great creep factor, just ran out of time.
These were good stories, great creep factor, just ran out of time.
Knowing the Ogre's Heart by Lyonne Riley
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I did not expect this book to be so spicy right from the beginning!
Cragnorr and Mia are so impossibility sweet. Childhood best friends who grow up together and eventually realize they're each other's mate. Cragnorr often calls Mia his sunshine in the beginning of the book and it's so unbelievably adorable and once they realize they were always meant to be they try even harder to take care of one another. I just love them.
I love how Lyonne does fated mates for the Trollkin. That feeling of just being made for one another and the sweet longing each has for one another. You never once think the couple could go another way they're always united and drawn together.
This book features a pair that's experiencing all their firsts together. Both virgins who explore together but that doesn't mean that the spice isn't top notch as always. I'm excited for the next book in the series and curious if Ogres will pop up again in the future.
Cragnorr and Mia are so impossibility sweet. Childhood best friends who grow up together and eventually realize they're each other's mate. Cragnorr often calls Mia his sunshine in the beginning of the book and it's so unbelievably adorable and once they realize they were always meant to be they try even harder to take care of one another. I just love them.
I love how Lyonne does fated mates for the Trollkin. That feeling of just being made for one another and the sweet longing each has for one another. You never once think the couple could go another way they're always united and drawn together.
This book features a pair that's experiencing all their firsts together. Both virgins who explore together but that doesn't mean that the spice isn't top notch as always. I'm excited for the next book in the series and curious if Ogres will pop up again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
This book and most of the Trollkin series have breeding and resulting pregnancy as a theme for the couples. The MCs in this book lose their virginity together and quickly become pregnant together.
A Tangle of Tusks by Sasha Onyx
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
📖 - 889 pages
Format - ARC Ebook
Publication date - July 1, 2024
3.0 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: Modern fantasy, Monster Romance
This was a long one! Tons of amazing world building as you follow the characters before they get together and I love the modern city setting. The fantasy takes a bit of a back seat for this book but it's definitely a fun ride. This is so original compared to the light fluffy monster romance or more gritty crime centric modern fantasies I'm used to, instead Sasha has perfectly blended the two into a very well done romantic book. Can't wait for more!
Thank you to Sasha and Luna Bloom for my ARC copy, for more reviews check my social media under ThisCryptidReads
Format - ARC Ebook
Publication date - July 1, 2024
3.0 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: Modern fantasy, Monster Romance
This was a long one! Tons of amazing world building as you follow the characters before they get together and I love the modern city setting. The fantasy takes a bit of a back seat for this book but it's definitely a fun ride. This is so original compared to the light fluffy monster romance or more gritty crime centric modern fantasies I'm used to, instead Sasha has perfectly blended the two into a very well done romantic book. Can't wait for more!
Thank you to Sasha and Luna Bloom for my ARC copy, for more reviews check my social media under ThisCryptidReads
Love on the Korlyan Moon by Petra Palerno
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
📖 - 244 pages (novella)
Format - ARC Ebook
Publication date - June 18, 2024
3.0 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: sci-fi erotica, Alien Romance
POV: Duel
Ending: HEA
Book is part of the Bubbleverse
This was such a sweet and quick read! Kitaico is an absolute cinnamon roll and the perfect doting partner with Lena. An absolute master of consent even with the language barrier and despite the venom induced heat that leaves Lena absolutely desperate he holds out and waits until she's ready and wins her love. Even for such a short book the world building is filled with lovely imagery and the side characters are all likeable. I can't wait to read what happens next in the Bubbleverse!
TW/CW
Alien abduction, fear of drowning, drowning discussed, human trafficking discussed, SA mentioned, forced heat, chaffing, needles, stinging, tattooing, fangs, poison, restraints, alien culture discussion on honor suicide, violence, dismemberment, kidnapping, tattooing, pregnancy (epilogue), xenophobia regarding humans, hand to hand combat, death, graphic sexual content including masturbation, oral, penetrative sex, tentacle sex, anal sex, and double penetration.
My Spice Rating - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
1 🌶️- May include hands, more kissing, "fade to black" scenes. No open door spice.
2 🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens, but it isn't often. May include open door scenes but they're infrequent or rare.
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens more often and it is more detailed, Spice is part of the plot, or the book is 50/50 spice to plot.
4 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - More spice than plot, may contain kinky themes.
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Absolute smut. Very little plot, sex heavy. The spicy scenes are very explicit, may contain triggering or dangerous themes, Dark romances and erotica.
Thank you to Petra for my early copy! You can find more of my reviews on all social platforms under the username ThisCryptidReads.
Format - ARC Ebook
Publication date - June 18, 2024
3.0 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: sci-fi erotica, Alien Romance
POV: Duel
Ending: HEA
Book is part of the Bubbleverse
This was such a sweet and quick read! Kitaico is an absolute cinnamon roll and the perfect doting partner with Lena. An absolute master of consent even with the language barrier and despite the venom induced heat that leaves Lena absolutely desperate he holds out and waits until she's ready and wins her love. Even for such a short book the world building is filled with lovely imagery and the side characters are all likeable. I can't wait to read what happens next in the Bubbleverse!
TW/CW
Alien abduction, fear of drowning, drowning discussed, human trafficking discussed, SA mentioned, forced heat, chaffing, needles, stinging, tattooing, fangs, poison, restraints, alien culture discussion on honor suicide, violence, dismemberment, kidnapping, tattooing, pregnancy (epilogue), xenophobia regarding humans, hand to hand combat, death, graphic sexual content including masturbation, oral, penetrative sex, tentacle sex, anal sex, and double penetration.
My Spice Rating - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
1 🌶️- May include hands, more kissing, "fade to black" scenes. No open door spice.
2 🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens, but it isn't often. May include open door scenes but they're infrequent or rare.
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens more often and it is more detailed, Spice is part of the plot, or the book is 50/50 spice to plot.
4 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - More spice than plot, may contain kinky themes.
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Absolute smut. Very little plot, sex heavy. The spicy scenes are very explicit, may contain triggering or dangerous themes, Dark romances and erotica.
Thank you to Petra for my early copy! You can find more of my reviews on all social platforms under the username ThisCryptidReads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Welcome to Fae Cafe by Jennifer Kropf
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
📖 - 371 pages
Format - Ebook (Libby borrow)
Publication date - October 3, 2023
zero chili peppers 🌶️ on the spice scale. (they kiss, that's all you get)
Genre: (humerous) Fantasy
POV: Duel
Ending: HEA (ish)
Book 1 of 3 - High Court of the Coffee Bean
Whoever said this was for people who enjoyed Legends and Lattes or for fans of reverse harem, you owe me a cookie for those lies.
This had cozy moments crammed into the plot, but the cafe was really just for funny moments with the assassins who were goofballs, in-between broody prince time, and the "not like other girls" main character Kate being clumsy and somehow bumbling through her day. She wants to be a writer but apparently never goes to class and has zero grasp of vocabulary. All the characters were two dimensional and had zero growth.
The moments with Grandma Lewis were really the best and the only parts I liked Cress at all really otherwise he's pretty obnoxious and the spoiled prince trope was held on to instead of giving him real growth, really his only growth was him acknowledging his feelings but even then he really isn't super caring to Kate most of the time, you get glimmers of sweetness but in the end he's still terrible. The ending was super disappointing since he basically embarrasses her and somehow that's meant to be loving? Kate blink twice if you need help...
The three fae Assassins were more likeable and honestly, I wish it had been a reverse harem just so they got some attention besides just being comic relief.
Format - Ebook (Libby borrow)
Publication date - October 3, 2023
zero chili peppers 🌶️ on the spice scale. (they kiss, that's all you get)
Genre: (humerous) Fantasy
POV: Duel
Ending: HEA (ish)
Book 1 of 3 - High Court of the Coffee Bean
Whoever said this was for people who enjoyed Legends and Lattes or for fans of reverse harem, you owe me a cookie for those lies.
This had cozy moments crammed into the plot, but the cafe was really just for funny moments with the assassins who were goofballs, in-between broody prince time, and the "not like other girls" main character Kate being clumsy and somehow bumbling through her day. She wants to be a writer but apparently never goes to class and has zero grasp of vocabulary. All the characters were two dimensional and had zero growth.
The moments with Grandma Lewis were really the best and the only parts I liked Cress at all really otherwise he's pretty obnoxious and the spoiled prince trope was held on to instead of giving him real growth, really his only growth was him acknowledging his feelings but even then he really isn't super caring to Kate most of the time, you get glimmers of sweetness but in the end he's still terrible. The ending was super disappointing since he basically embarrasses her and somehow that's meant to be loving? Kate blink twice if you need help...
The three fae Assassins were more likeable and honestly, I wish it had been a reverse harem just so they got some attention besides just being comic relief.
Redeem Them All by Emily Casilli
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
This book was a struggle.
There are WAY to many characters to count, I frequently lost track of who was doing what since many sections were incredibly vague.
This needs some heavy-handed editing to trim off all the unnecessary details and add more details to the things that matter. 25 antagonists feels like way too much, and a lot of the side characters were nothing more than cannon fodder to up the body count.
The short version of this is 14+ people die so that a girl they didn't even know save for a few could learn to have empathy. At the end she is forgiven and told to live a better life, so their sacrifice wasn't in vain and those who survived are traumatized, Injured and hate this girl forever for needlessly refusing to help them survive.
The "Romance" is incredibly awkward and in my opinion not a romance but what happens when a human is enthralled by a supernatural creature. They often kiss or make out at inappropriate times, even after the death of their friends.
Everyone sobs and hisses in this book WAY too much.
Normally I would give a book an automatic 2 stars if I complete the book but honestly, I wish I hadn't finished. I highly suspect AI was used in the creation of this book with how some paragraphs were structured and how certain words repeated.
There are WAY to many characters to count, I frequently lost track of who was doing what since many sections were incredibly vague.
This needs some heavy-handed editing to trim off all the unnecessary details and add more details to the things that matter. 25 antagonists feels like way too much, and a lot of the side characters were nothing more than cannon fodder to up the body count.
The short version of this is 14+ people die so that a girl they didn't even know save for a few could learn to have empathy. At the end she is forgiven and told to live a better life, so their sacrifice wasn't in vain and those who survived are traumatized, Injured and hate this girl forever for needlessly refusing to help them survive.
The "Romance" is incredibly awkward and in my opinion not a romance but what happens when a human is enthralled by a supernatural creature. They often kiss or make out at inappropriate times, even after the death of their friends.
Everyone sobs and hisses in this book WAY too much.
Normally I would give a book an automatic 2 stars if I complete the book but honestly, I wish I hadn't finished. I highly suspect AI was used in the creation of this book with how some paragraphs were structured and how certain words repeated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
Married to my Grumpy Minotaur Boss by Ami Wright
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Married to my Grumpy Minotaur Boss by Ami Wright
Absolutely giggling, grinning and kicking my feet as I read this one! Ronan and Justine are just too cute for words. I love grumpy/sunshine it's my favorite and this book totally serves thar as Ronan tries his best to stay professional and keep his distance from his former assistant turned wife for the day on a reality TV show, but real feelings get in the way.
I loved this so much. It was sweet and spicy and just oh so good!
Tropes:
Fake marriage
Only one bed
Forced proximity
Pleasure dom
Bosshole
Groveling
Billionaire boyfriend
"That's my wife!"
Thank you to the author for my copy. I thoroughly enjoyed ARC reading this.
Absolutely giggling, grinning and kicking my feet as I read this one! Ronan and Justine are just too cute for words. I love grumpy/sunshine it's my favorite and this book totally serves thar as Ronan tries his best to stay professional and keep his distance from his former assistant turned wife for the day on a reality TV show, but real feelings get in the way.
I loved this so much. It was sweet and spicy and just oh so good!
Tropes:
Fake marriage
Only one bed
Forced proximity
Pleasure dom
Bosshole
Groveling
Billionaire boyfriend
"That's my wife!"
Thank you to the author for my copy. I thoroughly enjoyed ARC reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Fatphobia and Toxic relationship