virgilsaeneid's reviews
337 reviews

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

A netgalley arc provided in exchange for an honest review.

I spent the entire time reading This Fatal Kiss kicking my legs and giggling. This book was a quick-paced, whimsical read with a bi4bi4bi poly relationship that I adored. Jasinska does an excellent job of balancing the lighthearted banter with the darker aspects of Slavic mythology. This Fatal Kiss is genuinely one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a while, and recommend it to anyone with a passion for mythology and urban fantasy.

I did feel mildly let down by the ending, I believe a little bit more clarity and finality would've made this read more enjoyable for me. Despite this, This Fatal Kiss is the most deserved 4 star read I've read all year. I will definitely be looking into Jasinska's other work after this one.

Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

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adventurous reflective slow-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? No

2.5

The Witch's Grave by L.E. Eldridge

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

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dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

Please Fear Me by Jennifer Love

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dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

A Netgalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Please Fear Me was an interesting read. Love crafts a novel that expertly discusses love and guilt in our relationships. This book offers profound insight into the cost of art, and with short chapters, this book is a relatively quick read.

It felt as if Please Fear Me took a while to ground itself and decide what exactly its message was. I would've loved a greater focus on the concept of Smidge yearning to return home from the earlier chapters- and it feels as if the book doesn't pick up until they join the Circus. I also found myself confused by some of the back-and-forth time jumping and often had to reconsider whether Smidge was talking about something currently or in the past.

Please Fear Me is still an excellent insight into performing femininity and a beautiful exploration of female relationships. Therefore, I rated Please Fear Me 3/5 stars.

So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan

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dark emotional sad slow-paced