tonyaf's reviews
378 reviews

The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

 If anyone has paid any attention to what I've been reading this year, it's pretty clear that queer romantasy and I are having a moment. Most of my favorite reads this year fall into the genre and I have many more lined up to read in the future. The Crack at the Heart of Everything is one of the ones that I've been looking forward to reading the most. I saw some great early buzz about the book and I love character-focused stories with redemption arcs, so this felt like it was handcrafted to be something I would love. 

The main character in this book is a sorcerer named Orpheus. I thought Orpheus was interesting from the very start. He's capable of very dark magic and inspires fear in the people around him, but there's also some humor thanks to his curse and rivalry with Fenrir. Fenrir is also a great and interesting character. Both main characters have a lot of regrets about their actions in service to Empress Lore. Their growth arcs, especially Orpheus', are the true highlight of the book.

Orpheus and Fenrir have an amazing rivals-to-lovers story that starts off as a little comic relief and grows into something truly heartfelt. As their relationship builds slowly, there's a lot of back-and-forth, pining, and uncertainty. Their connection by the end is emotional and based on a deep understanding of each other. Along with rivals-to-lovers the two also fit the "grumpy x sunshine" trope and there is definitely some hurt/comfort too! 

The magic system is creative and the world the story is set in is surprising and not what I expected going into the book. The world-building feels like a blend of a few different genres: there are moments when it feels very high-fantasy with magic and monsters. However, there are some serious post-apocalyptic, Dystopia, and even some horror vibes. 

The plot is adventurous, with a quest that involves traveling to various locations, meeting fun side characters, and battling multiple foes. I found it exciting, touching, and very fun to read. 

The Crack as the Heart of Everything is a great addition to the queer romantasy genre that has been truly thriving this year. If you're looking for a queer romance with an adventurous plot and great character arcs, I highly recommend this one! 
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Pansies by Alexis Hall

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

Pansies is the latest in Alexis Hall's "Spires" series to get a re-release, and I've been really excited to read it. I love everything by Alexis Hall, so it's not surprising that I enjoyed this one, too. 

Alfie and Fen are interesting characters with a complicated history. When they meet again as adults, the two men are immediately attracted to each other, but their past and personal struggles complicate their deepening relationship. 

I found myself rooting for Alfie and Fen pretty quickly. Both of them are funny, complicated, and have satisfying character arcs. Their relationship starts off rocky but grows into something incredibly sweet and healing. 

Like the other books in the "Spires" series, this deals with some heavy topics in a realistic but sensitive way. It's also seriously spicy and very funny!

Pansies is one of my favorites in the "Spires" series. It has great characters (both the two leads and the supporting players), and a relationship that I got seriously invested in. 

I genuinely love this series and can't wait to read Alexis Hall's future additions to it. 
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Les Normaux by S. Al Sabado, Janine Janssen

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

I recently got the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of the upcoming graphic novel of Les Normaux. I have not read the webcomic version but I absolutely adored reading the graphic novel and I can't wait to read more! 

Les Normaux: A Graphic Novel is set in a magical version of Paris and follows Sébastien, who has recently run away from the human version. He quickly meets Elia, an attractive vampire, and the two soon find out that they are neighbors. As the two slowly become close, we meet their friends and family and get to know the fun and diverse world that they inhabit. 

My favorite thing about the graphic novel is the burgeoning relationship between Sébastien and Elia, of course. The two are seriously adorable and I loved all of their interactions. Their dynamic is so cute and squeal-worthy. I'm enamored with them already. 

Sébastien/Elia's slow-burn relationship is the main focus of the story but there's also a lot of character-building that I really enjoyed. Every character in this is delightful. Both main characters are interesting and have a lot of depth. The supporting characters are all fun and enjoyable. Even Pierre, Sébastien's pet bunny, gets a few interludes that made me laugh out loud. The characters are also incredibly diverse. There's gay, bisexual, pansexual, and aroace representation among the characters! 

There's also a strong focus on friendships and chosen families in this that I loved. The friendship dynamics are sweet and I always love the found family trope. 

Finally, the artwork in this is truly beautiful and has gorgeous coloring. 

I highly recommend any fan of diverse and queer media to pick up a copy of Les Normaux: A Graphic Novel when it is released. I genuinely enjoyed every second of reading this and I look forward to future volumes (and getting a hardcover copy of this volume). In the meantime, if anyone needs me, I will be binge reading the webcomic! 
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

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

4.5

This is genuinely creepy with a captivating story and great characters. Perhaps it was only because I just read The Lottery and Other Stories but it gave me Shirley Jackson vibes (which is one of the highest compliments I can give to a horror novel). 
Love Immortal by Kit Vincent

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Love Immortal by Kit Vincent is a new queer paranormal romance about a young man and the centuries-old vampire that he becomes enthralled by. It's juicy and almost impossible to put down. It also has lots of fun gothic references and great Dark Academia vibes.

The book is mostly set in 1987 and focuses on Jonathan Evergreen. He's in his Sophomore year at Camden University and is dealing with some past trauma (a forced outing while in high school) and blatant class-based favoritism in his school.

He soon meets Dacian Bathory, the new professor of his Gothic Literature class. Mr. Bathory seems to have hot-and-cold feelings toward Jonathan until they bond over Jonathan's love of old books and his desire to pursue a career in book conservation.

The story is a slow-burn romance between Dacian and Jonathan but it also has a mystery that plays a central role in the plot. I thought the resolution of the mystery was a little obvious but I still enjoyed reading how the characters figured it out. Plus, the book still had a few surprises I didn't see coming. The story always felt propulsive with many chapters ending with cliffhangers or a daunting bit of foreshadowing that made me always want to keep reading.

One of my favorite elements of the story is the class and political issues that are addressed. I also really enjoyed all the gothic references. There are several quotes and mentions of some of my favorite gothic classics. Some even play a role in the plot.

The author of Love Immortal clearly loves books and that shines through in this book. If you also love gothic novels, Dark Academia, or are interested in a vampire romantasy, I recommend trying this. I found it to be a quick and fun read! 

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South Carolina Haunts by Kevin Thomas Ward

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dark informative tense medium-paced

3.0

I read half of this book back in June and forgot about it, so I thought October would be the perfect time to pick it back up and finish it. It's a collection of ghost stories, cryptid tales, and other spooky legends from South Carolina history. Nothing remarkable but the author did a good job compiling some of the best scary stories from the area.
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Several unnerving and creepy stories. "Like Mother Used to Make," "After You, My Dear Alphonse," "Charles," "Flower Garden," and, of course, "The Lottery" are my favorites.
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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

4.25

This was so different from what I was expecting, I thought it was going to be a silly space romance but instead, I got a shocking and layered sci-fi mystery and survival story with a touching love story as a backdrop. 

Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa

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adventurous emotional funny 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

4.5

Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa is a new queer fantasy romance about a mage who tries to give himself and his kingdom a second chance. It's fun, unique, and filled with strong characters and a truly captivating relationship dynamic that I think fans of romantasy and cozy fantasy will really enjoy. 
The book starts off on a fairly dark note. The first chapter features the death of a beloved cat familiar and a very dark magic spell that Cyril, the main character, uses to send himself back in time. Once he's back several decades in the past, his goal is to prevent the tragic events that lead his husband to become a tyrant king. 

Cyril is a truly delightful main character, He's always trying his best but he struggles with his self-esteem and mental health. He blames himself for not preventing Eufrates, his husband, from becoming a despot. Eufrates and Cyrill have an incredibly fascinating relationship. They grew up as friends and eventually became lovers. Now, they are bitter enemies scheming against one another while still linked by a magic oath made on their wedding day. One of my most unpopular bookish opinions is that I'm not usually a fan of enemies-to-lovers. However, I really love the relationship between Eufrates/Cyril. They are complicated and passionate. Their feelings for each other are always intense no matter what the current status of their relationship is. Their journey together has some surprising and emotional moments that made the two far more interesting to me than the standard enemies-to-lovers pair. Fans of the trope and those, like me, who don't usually enjoy that dynamic will both love this juicy and ever-evolving duo. 

Along with Cyrill and Eufrates, there is also Tigris who is Eufrates' older sister. She's funny, loyal, and tough. I love Achillean romances but they don't often have many great women characters in them. Shoestring Theory overcomes this flaw with both Tig and Cyrill's aunt and mentor, Heléne. Both women are among the many highlights of the book - especially Tig! 

Though it is described as cozy fantasy, and I can see why it's being described that way, it does have more stakes and plot than some cozy fantasies do. If you struggle with books with no or little plot, Shoestring Theory might be the perfect cozy fantasy book for you. There's an action-packed plot alongside the character and relationship growth that moves the story along quickly. There were also some great twists in the story which kept me flipping pages as fast as I could read! 

I really enjoyed Shoestring Theory. It's creative, fun, and heartwarming. It also has a great blend of characters, relationship, and story. I recommend it to both romantasy and cozy fantasy fans especially those who like complicated relationship dynamics and stories with unique and complex characters. 
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A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

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adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.75

Another great fairytale retelling from T. Kingfisher. I loved the characters and thought it had some creepy elements that made it the perfect read for Autumn. The love story is really sweet too!