Perfect if you're in the mood for something light, fun action and superhero(ine) related! Also - throw in a nice dose of redemption and justice and alPerfect if you're in the mood for something light, fun action and superhero(ine) related! Also - throw in a nice dose of redemption and justice and also a cute ship in there. ;) It's a short read that moves fast.
I would have liked a bit more distinctiveness and depth in terms of the MCs and relationships, but overall it left me feeling ~~good in a fluffy way~~ in terms of satisfaction (hey so much so that I bumped this from a 2.5-3 to 3.5-4 ;).
Wouldn't mind seeing more of Juliet Park + Sandstorm AT ALL in the future though! :D
Points for the MC's backstory-family dynamics as well.
Lastly, like probably everyone else who thought the story was good, I liked how the whole "hostage falling for the bad guy" (aka Stockholm Syndrome) topic was handled overall. Could have used a bit more development, but still, everything's fairly logical and realistic and well-handled and I APPLAUD the author for doing it in that short amount of time (word count).
Content: PG-13 for some language (not very frequent, but more than a few I think). And there are some suggestive content (also sorta "the bad guy imposing on girl") and kissing (not very descriptive, so quite clean overall).
Thank you to the author/publisher for giving me a free ARC of this book. I am under no obligation to write a review or ensure my review is positive in exchange, nor am I compensated in any way. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you for reading! Please like this review if you’ve found it helpful, and feel free to leave a comment with any questions/comments!...more
With this single book, Melissa Wright is now at the top of my 2022 New To Me Authors. <3
Absolutely loved the entire atmosphere (it's Regency but also With this single book, Melissa Wright is now at the top of my 2022 New To Me Authors. <3
Absolutely loved the entire atmosphere (it's Regency but also with some more modern twists so I don't call it fully Regency) and the prose (it FEELS very appropriate for the story and very fast paced and intense and clicked with me so much so that I'd MEANT to read a couple of chapters to get a feel of the story but then stayed up 'till the wee morning hours and next thing I knew I'd read almost half xD). I love fast-paced stories that still use relatively long sentences and long paragraphs because it's something I'd love to learn as a writer.
I relate to Etta a lot in her determination and perseverance (despite the lack of support) in doing the right thing and fighting for herself (well, and also her flaw of being very, very stubborn). (Also: P&P vibes 'cuz Gideon IS a total secret cinnamon roll despite having a very hardened, proper exterior.) Etta and Gideon deserve some fireworks, and while I'd hoped for some more development between them, I think the story is still well done because the focus is more on the mystery of the fae curses.
The mystery and climax is of the mystery sort, so no epic battles or super complex plotlines, but since I'm a Sherlock fan I absolutely love the same vibes.
If you like immersive, fast-paced reads with a period atmosphere and fae magic, this is for you.
Looking forward to the next installment! This is a standalone series, but a Nickolas + Jules story is BOUND to be AWESOME.
This story is EVERYTHING... SUCH an Intense & Breathtaking Masterpiece! Full of twists and surprises and dry humor and spooky vibes (just in time for This story is EVERYTHING... SUCH an Intense & Breathtaking Masterpiece! Full of twists and surprises and dry humor and spooky vibes (just in time for fall!), while still remaining bright and beautiful with hope and restoration and sacrifice and love.
It's the BEST sort of poetic, Shakespearean justice + dark comedy + unique lore + odyssey + twisty retelling (yet, NOT a retelling since it's its OWN story) all rolled into one.
This finale feels quite different from the previous three, but I still love it. Wilson is the QUEEN: she has the ability to tell this story (I'm talking about prose, characters, dialogue, clever riddles, wit, plot, themes... EVERYTHING) in such a way that makes my reader heart burst open with joy while also ache as if it has been torn into a thousand pieces.
Likely the closest word I have for describing this is Tolkien's eucatastrophe.
And if THAT doesn't make you want to read it, I can likely safely say that we don't have similar tastes in books. xD
Lastly, since this series has made it onto My All-Time Favorites shortlist, OF COURSE I must reread the entire thing back to back now that they're all released, and then TRY to piece my brain back together to write coherent reviews... ;) <33
10.13.2022 Am I going to dump every other of my Currently Reading books off to the side for this MOST ANTICIPATED FINALE Release of the Year?? Yes. Yes I am, sir. ^.^ <33 I'm excruciating in love with the dedication and the (new!) artwork in this one already.
I'm doing it right now because about an hour ago, Sarah posted up the ebook for her Patreon supporters' early access. If you haven't started reading this series, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?? Get off of Goodreads and go read it NOW. >> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P3W81HM?...
This book is officially going to release at the end of this month. But it LOOKS like the hardcopy/paperback is already out according to Amazon!!...more
short review for now because this author have ALWAYSSSS BLOWN MY MIND (or it is my heart? ;) AWAY and it's currently in pieces.... will be back for a short review for now because this author have ALWAYSSSS BLOWN MY MIND (or it is my heart? ;) AWAY and it's currently in pieces.... will be back for a proper, long review: 1. Ilsaletta + Vargaard is Still My Ship of the year. Period. 2. Duke Stekkan REALLY surprised me in this one! He goes through A LOT of growth and deeper in character depth and I really like him a lot for this. Although there might be what some may call a love triangle, it only lasted for a short time, and there really was never any competition in Ilsaletta's mind imo. xD So it never FEEL like a love triangle, while STILL keeping all the complexity and dynamics of the trio of characters' respective relationships and developments. >>> Thus, I totally LOVE this because I can't even recall when was the last time I've seen something like this done so well! Quite original on the part of the author and double thumbs up for this! 3. Perhaps some may consider the story to be a bit repetitive (in terms of how the plot goes, and perhaps Vargaard the Shadow Guard Himself), but I'M HERE FOR IT BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LIKE A REPEAT OF SOMETHING SO PRECIOUS AND ACHINGLY BEAUTIFUL?! ^_^ 4. Still very fast paced and action-focused. The romance is more of a subplot but still quite important and quite proper. :)
The entire book is entirely too delicious for words. ...more
E-book AND MP3 Audiobook currently for FREE from the author's Payhip store https://payhip.com/RachelMorgan/colle... E-book currently for FREE on KindleE-book AND MP3 Audiobook currently for FREE from the author's Payhip store https://payhip.com/RachelMorgan/colle... E-book currently for FREE on Kindle This is a simple and fun read featuring a Cinderella retelling set in a urban fantasy world.
At first, I had difficulty trying to get into it because of Morgan's simplistic style (but honestly, most contemporary books are, and I'm VERY picky when it comes to prose - if you like quick/easy reads, this is for you), but thankfully the author offers the audiobook for free on her site and I decided to download it and listened while washing dishes.
I like the urban fantasy spin and the fact that our "prince" character is still rather undetermined. I really like Sienna - she's probably my favorite character at this point, due to her kindness to Elle despite the fact that she's a stepsister. Dex is also interesting - I want to see more of him with Xander and Oliver!
The magic system is not super original, yet enough to make the story interesting. There's a fae-human class system (with Elle being a slave since her stepmother placed a slave charm on her), the vampires being the "bad guys" (as far as that goes - one part of this was a bit confusing since it seems like Morgan is trying to introduce things from the antagonists' perspective, but never did it again for the rest of the story?) who are kidnapping and probably murdering humans, and Dex and his two buddies are trying to work as some sort of justice officers (without being technically police, so they're likely powerful fae who are very keen on protecting humans - hopefully this will get clarified with more backstory in the other books).
Considering the fact that I've been reading W. R. Gingell's City Between books (Between Jobs) recently, this one pales in comparison despite a lot of similarities in the world/system/premise (human meeting three fae of a law enforcement nature) etc.
I expected more humor or more mystery or more SOMETHING from this but that expectation was never quite fulfilled, but I'm going to be generous and give this a rounded up 3 stars since it's fun enough that I'm going to get the rest of the episodes in audio when I can to finish this tale. =) 2.5 Stars, Rounded up to 3 Stars
Recommend for whoever wants a quick, simple, fun light read
If you like this type of story, you should really read W. R. Gingell's City Between books (Between Jobs) if you like more complexity, character depth, more mystery, more fun/humor, and original spins on urban fantasy creatures/races, etc. ;) <3
Contents: Light language (hell, cr*p); no sexual content; light violence due to the setting and the setup of the story
Read as an audiobook. 11.21.2021-11.22.2021...more
09.13.2022 This is currently just 0.99 USD on all major ebook retailers! Expires tomorrow on the 14th! (Amazon, Kobo/Walmart, B&N/Nook, Apple, etc.) >09.13.2022 This is currently just 0.99 USD on all major ebook retailers! Expires tomorrow on the 14th! (Amazon, Kobo/Walmart, B&N/Nook, Apple, etc.) > https://books2read.com/u/4jPkn2
“A medium; an inventor; an acrobat; a confidence-trickster; a bodyguard.”
An intriguing and fun tale of mystery, with apparitions, forged identities, and royal monsters in a classically dark (and ghostly) Victorian setting.
This is my first read from Rowntree and I’m happy to say that it certainly does not disappoint. The prose flows smoothly and feels very reflective of the historical period it is set in. It’s on the descriptive end of the scale (so expect full-length paragraphs and long sentences), but not what I would call slow since I thought it works well to set up the entire atmosphere and setting and is very immersive. (At first I wanted to say the world feels akin to Jane Eyre and Sherlock Holmes, but it also includes some steampunk…? I cannot be certain since I’m not entirely acquainted with the genre.)
I admire Molly’s struggle to do what is right by her own family’s needs as well as by the rightful heir/s to the inheritance. She is the first-person POV the entire story is told from and I'm happy to report she is not lacking in either sense nor humor. :) Her interactions with the Baron are delightful. And the rest of the company - Nijam, Alphonse (I admit, the repeated “Nijam’s Alphonse” cracked me up), and Mimi - involved in this deception are all diversely presented and uniquely voiced. The entire company’s dynamic is very fun (RIOT might be the right word here ;) to watch.
The mystery is not what I would consider especially difficult to solve for the part of the reader, but I think the journey of reading this book has been well worth the time. Again I applaud Rowntree’s ability to convey all the historical details in such an interesting way (as a rule, I tend to dislike “historical” stories that sound, well, not true to period at all).
And as for the next installment, I can already see hidden layers of mystery set up (I’m looking at you, Vasily <3) and I can’t wait to read about Miss Dark & Co.’s next mystery-adventure!
Content: PG-13 for ghostly elements and serpent-like monsters. Also talk of a medium – but this is only presented as something that the main character can see and not something she sought or really wished for. There are some violence (being a mystery), none graphic. Light, infrequent British-style swearing (I think “D—n” may appear once to a few times). Some non-descriptive kissing. There is a scene which mentions kissing between females in a all-girls school/convent as an experiment, such action is not thought of positively – but mostly inquisitively - on the part of the main character. Personally, I think the author did an accurate job of representing my response in this matter… but you must read that section to determine this for yourself. It’s not sexualized – just deliberated in the main character’s head. I'd suggest some parental guidance/discussion for this topic....more
I was 100% sold when I found out that this story was born out of the author's love for Chinese wuxia (martial arts heroes) and xianxia (immortal heroeI was 100% sold when I found out that this story was born out of the author's love for Chinese wuxia (martial arts heroes) and xianxia (immortal heroes) media/culture, and that the story will explore the very real struggles of individuality vs. family responsibility and duty, adding on top the exploration of history being always written by the winners and how that affects our current perception of reality and truth. *
I grew up loving to watch wuxia and xianxia, as well as reading Chinese mythology. So all of this nostalgia really psyched me up for JADE FIRE GOLD. I came in wanting some fulfillment of aforementioned nostalgia, wondering what influences I will catch, what twists Tan will make in her tale; I thought that this book's got everything going for it for my experience.
I blew through the first third of the book due to my anticipation. The writing style is rather basic - it's not especially vivid or gripping or atmospheric. During the setup, I felt sympathetic for both Ahn's and Altan's respective situations (although they were the standard "my family was murdered or missing or I don't know them").
The story is told in alternating 1st-person POVs from Ahn and Altan (with fairly equal portions to both). And one major problem I had was that they both sounded (maybe I should say their brains...?) too alike, and I'd often get lost in recalling/identifying whose story-line I'm reading. Especially since the chapter endings and beginning are not done well.
I expected the twists and awe to kick in any moment, but the more I read, the more I observed that my investment in these characters diminished greatly. The pacing felt off: I felt like I was reading a lot of pages, but nothing genuinely interesting or shocking happened. (Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the smaller/more domestic moments as well, and banter is present, but none of them were notably original or funny or struck home for me.)
So by the middle of the book, I was fighting with myself about actually finishing it. I reasoned that this book deserves to be finished given the amount of investment I put into it - what with the Owlcrate box and my anticipation.
The Ahn-Altan ship lacked chemistry and sparks. They argue, they fight, they make up, but it lacked realism and a sense of wholeness when they're together.
In conclusion, I REALLY wanted to like/love this story, but it didn't meet any of my expectations, even partially. And it's tragic. I don't like to ever rate a story poorly, since I recognize all the hard work that the author must have poured into a debut release. I think it had a lot of potential since it was very successful in building my anticipation before reading, and if only it went through some developmental editing, I think the story could have been a lot better than it is. As a writer, I try to balance out my reader brain feeling "this was a waste of time" with my writing brain learning from the shortcomings.
If you want to read an epic fantasy with Asian/Chinese mythology influences, check out Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. That story is well done; the heroine is realistic and grows throughout the story; the hero is simply too awesome for anyone to pass up. [image]
Cover: 3 stars
Interesting Premise: 5 stars (not so much premise as the promises that the author made about what the book explores and influences - see above for explanation)
Prose: 2 stars (too basic; not descriptive enough when it needs to be)
Pacing: 2 stars
Story: 2 stars
Characters: 2 stars
Theme: 2 stars
Fun or Depth: Fun/Depth, 1 star
Recommend / Reread?: N
If this was a movie, I’d rate it: PG-13 for some light language ("gods"), non-descriptive kissing, fantasy-style violence/killing/war
No sex or excessively descriptive sexual content. There's a lesbian couple and it's either mentioned or they come up quite often throughout the story. And a male character who obviously likes another male.
01.10.2022 I HONESTLY TRIED. But that was .... very disappointing. Nothing was horrible in terms of content. But nothing stood out as good either. I really don't want to say this about any book, but what can I do when I could hardly bear to finish reading it?
[image]
12.20.2021 OwlCrate's list of related books for JADE FIRE GOLD: Descendant of the Crane by Joan He Shadow of the Fox by Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
*Source note: You can read the author's note on Goodreads here. I also received an exclusive letter with my Owlcrate edition....more
This may or may not count as a proper review considering how rambly it is. ^-^
What I liked is most of the book: from the modern English setting with sThis may or may not count as a proper review considering how rambly it is. ^-^
What I liked is most of the book: from the modern English setting with some classy elements (see: ahem, the history emphasis and in general Aaron Oliver), to the banter between Joan and Aaron (who are in an interesting enemies to allies/friends/maybe lovers I'm def. shipping these two over Nick).
I loved the time travel via time theft (it's an interesting take for sure!) magical underworld/monsters as well as Joan's struggles to deal with her grief/loss as well as her love for Nick. The stakes feel high and the characters distinct and the writing is well done and easy to get into and follow.
What I was disappointed is mostly the last part of the book and especially the ending. Perhaps it's because it's rather like a cliffhanger... but also feel like it's trying to offer me closure at the same time but one that is altogether too inadequate to be indeed a closure.
Also: Joan's love for Nick is too much of a pre-story backstory for me to relate to, and with Aaron there (and all the BANTER between these two - truly, those moments are the highlights of the book for me), that ending I feel like the author is trying to get me to care more for the Joan-Nick dynamic in a way that didn't work for me.
Overall, though, I think this book deserves a reread when the sequel comes out so I can decide the series as a whole. I think it can definitely work very well as a whole. And if the ending was different I would have did a fully starred review. <3
Content: R for brief strong language. Honestly, I don't know why there's one (or perhaps a couple of) F- words in this story. It felt out of place for me given how the characters usually talk and act throughout the story (but then, one CAN argue that they are still modern teenagers and thus one or two F words can be understood? still, I will say it felt strange for me). Other than that though, no sexual content, and some non-graphic violence....more
Sidra: ✨“Once we were acquaintances sharing a vow. But you have become more to me than mere words spoken on a midsummer night.” ✨
this is too beautifulSidra: ✨“Once we were acquaintances sharing a vow. But you have become more to me than mere words spoken on a midsummer night.” ✨
this is too beautiful for words - it has everything about family and struggles and marriage and children and to top it all off it's set on a Scottish-inspired isle - I love it
A brilliant and creative masterpiece. Ross writes beautifully, vividly, realistically - the entire story is a DREAM. It's raw and gripping but also deA brilliant and creative masterpiece. Ross writes beautifully, vividly, realistically - the entire story is a DREAM. It's raw and gripping but also descriptive and lovely. A delicious treat. I related to Clem, the heroine - surprisingly, we're both rather intelligent but also can be vengeful and manipulative but at the same time rather sorry and worried and intimidated even though we pretend we're not. And I was impressed by Phelan (because honestly, I love how he is one of the few people Clem - or me for that matter - can ever look up to =). The world and setting is Victorian-inspired and DUELING MAGICIANS PEOPLE. Dreams/nightmares coming alive! I'm always in for that. :D
So yeah.... I'm still trying to recover. (WHY is it that it's the most brilliant books that I have the most difficulty writing reviews for??!! o.O) So yep. Naturally a proper Review To Come! <3 I'm trying to collect all of my PostIt tags right now so I can type down my favorite quotes/moments.......more
This is one of few series that I can say... WOW. I don't even know what to say... it's so complete in its development and it's INSANELY AMAZING. It's This is one of few series that I can say... WOW. I don't even know what to say... it's so complete in its development and it's INSANELY AMAZING. It's one of those books that I need to reread to get my brain back together to form coherent thoughts... You. Go. Read. It. Now....more
Reading books like this make me SO HAPPY (but alas - it happens too rarely). I couldn't put it down. It's beautiful AND fast paced and YET the charactReading books like this make me SO HAPPY (but alas - it happens too rarely). I couldn't put it down. It's beautiful AND fast paced and YET the characters are still deep and realistic - Wilson's style of writing/storytelling is SO GOOD. I'm speechlessly in awe. Ilsaletta + Vaargard is gonna be one of my top ships of the year. I CAN'T WAIT for the next release (in April...? how will I LIVE? xD)
An intensely immersive and fun story with characters that WILL GRIP YOU and will NOT let go.
Sarah K. L. Wilson had my deepest respect as a reader ever since reading her STOLEN MAYFLY BRIDE novella, so when I noticed this delicious cover while on her website, I just HAD to preorder a copy. <3
Wilson's writing style is thoroughly quotable (my copy is filled with post-it notes), wonderfully unique, immersively gripping, filled with witty humor and deep reflections about life (and, ahem, death ;) at the same time. (And starting this story with Ilsaletta locked up in a closet while finding a sword that awakens a SHADOW WARRIOR/GUARD is simply the best beginning.)
I love the "they're stuck together" scenario and all the tension and twists involved. ^-^ The dynamics and banter between Ilsaletta & Vaargard is original and fun and very revealing of each. I especially admire how these moments build them up as unique, solid characters while also revealing how they complement one another as well as encourage growth.
The pacing is entirely en pointe, and I loved the surprises (didn't see the one with the Duke and the princess comin' to be honest. /thumbs up/) It's books like this that Define The Genre for me, people.
My review currently simply cannot express how amazing this story is. So I shall be rereading it for the release of BLADE OF SHADOW. :)
Content: PG-13 for action and violence. No language (that I recall, there are some swearing in congruent to the fantasy world). A kiss and no other sexual content. All in all a perfectly intense story while still keeping it clean - I APPRECIATE.
This book is EVERYTHING. Lots of fun and laughs and interesting character dynamics~~
Heyer possesses SO MUCH wit: the dialogue between ALL the characteThis book is EVERYTHING. Lots of fun and laughs and interesting character dynamics~~
Heyer possesses SO MUCH wit: the dialogue between ALL the characters and side characters are simply PRICELESS to witness.
The fact that the siblings swap genders in their dress+mode disguises (in order to run from the law) make for a very loaded premise and it's carried out with so much goodness.
If this was a movie, pretty much any main character (minus the bad guy lol) here deserves the title LEGEND. It's that brilliant. Go read it.
~
Am I the only one who feels that Sir Anthony Fanshawe aka The Mountain xDD give the same vibe as Sir Percy Blakeney aka The Scarlet Pimpernel? Actually, when I DO think about it, it's almost like that Prue/Peter took the part of TSP that involves disguises, and left the rest for Anthony to deal with. xPDD...more
I was a little skeptical because I was worried that Hero would be another of those innocent dove girl characters (wI'm speechless. Heyer is THE QUEEN.
I was a little skeptical because I was worried that Hero would be another of those innocent dove girl characters (who married the worldly and wealthy) who pretty much has no agency in her own story, BUT Heyer always has her stepping her foot down at ALL THE RIGHT TIMES and I'm SO here for it!!
Plus, Sherry actually goes through Proper Character Development&Growth and I could never hate him as much as I would if his character is any less nuanced and well rounded out ;). In fact, he won me over...
Oh, and George. I love poor George (xD). George and Isabella are TOO fun being the chaotic ship who doesn't really ship well until the very end but who you just KNOW throughout will get together nonetheless. xD
**If George has a bumper sticker (oh he would def be driving something sporty and just oozes with lux, if not for his sake then def for Our Incomparable xD) it would Def say something along the lines of "I CALL YOU OUT, SIR! NAME YOUR SECONDS!" and he would view it as entirely literal and Not funny whatsoever :PxDD, but That'sHisCharm & WeLoveHimForIt.**
I love them All so much. This book is loads of fun and wit and adventure (there's even a duel xDD) and just so darn Smart. So many characters and dynamics and they're each so unique and interesting!! Def. a prime reread candidate. Reading this also feels so cozy and magical (without featuring any magic - yep, Heyer is THAT good.)
(There were so many I NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS!! moments while reading, but as I'm on a time crunch for my end of year readings/catchups I shall reread and return with some proper analysis. =)
5+ stars. Masterpiece.
(PG-13 for language and some mature topics. There are British (light) language by most of the male characters and topics due to to the times portrayed for realism. Heyer is so good at the cant and slang of the times - she doesn't really gloss over anything, it's impressive.)
~Many thanks to Rebecca and Sam for recommending this gem of a book, and Heyer's works in general, to me. Much indebted to you, ladies!<3~...more
This is my first read from Gingell that's NOT from her absolutely too-brilliant-for-words urban fantasy (with some crime/found family drama), the CityThis is my first read from Gingell that's NOT from her absolutely too-brilliant-for-words urban fantasy (with some crime/found family drama), the City Between series. And I have to say, I'm supremely impressed with the way she twisted the fairy tale of Rapunzel, as told from the "villainess" (the witch) perspective.
Lucien is absolutely a darling - he makes the (secret) cinnamon roll of Gothel actually sweet and not just all strong spice and bitterness xD, and I love how he was able to bring out the sun in Gothel's dark life and past. He's not the typical classical hero (as is proper in this story), but I was surprised at how impressed I am at his non-typical strengths regardless as the male hero of this story.
Everything is quite logical and delightful and ORIGINAL I kind of feel like if Jane Austen wrote fairytale retelling, they'd sound similar to Gingell's style. <3
As a writer, there are SO many things to learn from this short novella. Gingell's storytelling embodies everything I love in fairytales and beyond: A lovely balance of depth, fun, delight, humor, realism, and spice. There are many moments while reading that I thought: "Wow! THIS is how you do it right!" ^-^
I shall be back with highlights from the book. (And there are many... my paperback copy if filled with sticky notes sticking out.) So be on the lookout. O>O
Also, I want to try that curry goat ragout now. It sounds a big strange yet interesting at the same time...?
Content: Everything is super clean. There are implications of physical/sexual assault/abuse but nothing graphical - simply implied by the way things are worded and expressed and shown....more