The Wishing Stone by Adam Holcombe is the second book about the necromancer grandma Gam Gam and her new ward Mina.
The relationship between these two hThe Wishing Stone by Adam Holcombe is the second book about the necromancer grandma Gam Gam and her new ward Mina.
The relationship between these two has grown even stronger, and I just adore the found family vibes. The humour and love makes this a warm and cosy book, but then there's the necromancy, and the big bad villain, so it's quite dark in places as well.
Cosy-Dark is definitely my latest obsession, and after I found Kingfisher I can't get enough of it. Holcombe absolutely delivers on this craving!
This second book is faster paced and has more stakes and adventure. We meet friends and enemies, old and new, and get into a whole lot of trouble.
The story also delves a little deeper into the characters emotions. So it gives us both more action, but also more introspection and a look on loss and how they deal with it. There's hope, friendship and family to counter balance the hard bits, which works out perfectly for my taste. I have no idea how the author manages to put so much story and character in such a short book, it must be magic....more
I knew early on that I’m not the target audience for this. I struggled a bit to get into the world, and especially the characters who cRead for SPFBO
I knew early on that I’m not the target audience for this. I struggled a bit to get into the world, and especially the characters who couldn’t be any more different. It’s a comedy in a way, so the over the top feel of opposites attract was intentional, but it felt a bit too tropey and jarring at first.
But then… Slowly, and without me noticing it, this story started to actually draw me in. Where I found myself lightly rolling my eyes at first, I suddenly found myself snorting. Instead of being annoyed, I was giggling? What happened?
I’ve no idea how, where, or when, but this cosy dark romantic comedy definitely won me over somewhere along the way. Instead of naive and too virtuous, I suddenly found the female MC endearing. Instead of the walking trope of a brooding, mysterious, but hot guy, I really enjoyed the snark and humour of the male MC.
The few sexy (not too graphic) scenes were funny, but actually sexy, which is something I never thought I’d say. It’s a comedy, but managed to pull that off better than most “spicy” books I’ve tried over the years, and usually bounce off hard. Pardon the unintentional pun. To manage that while still being entertaining and making me giggle is a first!
“Shh,” he hissed, leaning closer, but her struggle persisted, and she scuffed a foot against the wall. Strange, scaring her was apparently not the way to get what he wanted despite that it usually worked on others. He couldn’t shout either,that would bring the werewolves right to them. Well, that was him, out of ideas. Except, of course, something even more disgraceful. Damien wrapped his free arm around her back and yanked her away from the wall so she could no longer kick it. Pulling her up against him, he dipped his head beside her ear. “I will not allow anything to happen to you,” he said, leveling something like comfort into his voice, “but you must be quiet now. Please.”
The mix of cute, fun, humourous, with some dark humour, blood, and casual mention of murder made for a great mix, a bit similar to Kingfisher’s books, Liches get Stitches, Hills of Heather and Bone, so if you enjoy cosy-dark, and don’t mind a bit of a silly romance, this is great fun! In fact, I still have three more books left to read, but so far this one is, against all odds and expectations, my favourite out of our batch of 30.
Really? All of you believe this nonsense?” Damien mumbled, casting a glance at his cohorts then back to the ghost he had spattered with blood. “Out with it—what are you really?” “You heard the girl!” The voice came raspy this time, so unlike it had been asecond before. “We are the spirits of the slain, felled here in the Gloomweald thousands upon thousands of years ago.” “Well, then no wonder you came to greet us; this seems a bloody boring eternity to endure.” Damien’s grip on Amma relaxed. “That banishment spell hadno effect on you. You’re of this plane.” “No, we’re ghosts,” another watery voice called from the crowd behind. “Yes. Boo!” cried another.
A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis is such a cute and comforting story!
A scholarly young lady gets forced into a marriage with a vA Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis is such a cute and comforting story!
A scholarly young lady gets forced into a marriage with a vampire lord, who also might not actually have wanted said marriage, for reasons this novella is bound to uncover.
I absolutely loved both main characters, who are quite strong willed, yet able to see when they were wrong. The banter and friendship forming went down like a wonderful mug of iced coffee (it's 30°C in my flat, so hot cocoa does not sound appealing in the least right now ...more
Unfamiliared by JE Hannaford is one super cute cosy fantasy, with so many animals!
The premise of the story is a small town, due to host a magical contUnfamiliared by JE Hannaford is one super cute cosy fantasy, with so many animals!
The premise of the story is a small town, due to host a magical contest, but someone steals all their familiars right beforehand. Now they don't just have to get them back, they also need to muddle their way through various events, but hiding the fact they lost their magic along with the familiars.
I was quickly drawn in by the voice of the main character, who came into her magic very late. She's a bit timid, but still manages to get things done, and I found her so very relatable!
The plot itself is cute and fun, and I especially enjoyed the friendships, and how the whole town came together. It's exactly what I like in my cosy books, it just making me happy. Not everyone in the town is extra friendly, which made it a bit more realistic, while the overwhelming feeling is still comforting.
There's a really tiny slow burn romance, which rounded the story up, without ever taking center stage. I'm usually not a fan of romance at all, but a cute and slowly developing one like in Legends and Lattes I can actually enjoy, and this was a similar amount. Just a small dash of it to add flavour.
I'm surprised just how different this book is from JE Hannaford’s other books, and how well she manages to pull off something completely new!...more
The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk was a delightful read!
I loved the setting and the world building. I always enjoy the historical fantasy books when The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk was a delightful read!
I loved the setting and the world building. I always enjoy the historical fantasy books when courtship is more "proper" than sexy...
Here you get to glimpse both the cute side, with a partner who actually cares, as well as the dark side, when a woman is married off against her well, and then it's at the mercy of her husband.
There was a great balance between fighting for emancipation, for women's rights and freedom, and the sheer complication to try and work against the established rules of society. It was neither too fluffy or cosy, nor too depressing and dark.
I really appreciate how the romance was not as predictable as it usually is! There are a good few moments where I went "Oh, I didn't expect this..."
I also really liked the main characters, even if I wanted to shake them at times, as they felt quite real. Some bits were a bit stereotypical, but in a way that wasn't annoying, but seemed more in line with how these stereotypes came into being.
I enjoyed this a whole lot, and it won't be my last Polk book!...more
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers is just as comforting and soothing as book one.
I really love the relationship between Mosscap and Brex, aA Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers is just as comforting and soothing as book one.
I really love the relationship between Mosscap and Brex, and how they are growing together.
The LGBTQIA+ inclusivity is also always nice to read, when it just doesn't matter who loves whom, or how many, as long as everyone is happy with it. It's simply not a topic at all, which I adore.
This story is quiet and slow, and yet speaks right to the heart.
There are so many gorgeous little quotes and moments, and I am so here for it! I definitely need more of this....more
Oh no, how did that happen? I just ran out of books in this series...
Hessians and Hellhounds by Tilly Wallace is the last full novel in the series, onOh no, how did that happen? I just ran out of books in this series...
Hessians and Hellhounds by Tilly Wallace is the last full novel in the series, only a Christmas novella after this (which I read last Christmas...)
I loved this world so much, and kinda hope we'll see these two solve more murder mysteries in the future, maybe some 20 years later, with a fixed up home?
Anyway, this cosy dark story actually had one moment so full of suspense I felt queasy for a second, before it all was balanced out with a good chuckle. It's not even that unpredictable of a scene, but with the comforting vibes (despite eating brains and murder victims), it definitely surprised me nicely.
The end is open enough to definitely allow more stories, but also complete enough to feel satisfying.
Really my only gripe is having no more books like this to read!...more
Vanity and Vampyres by Tilly Wallace is yet another cute and fun entry in the series.
I really enjoy the strong friendships, family bonds and relationsVanity and Vampyres by Tilly Wallace is yet another cute and fun entry in the series.
I really enjoy the strong friendships, family bonds and relationships in here so much! It might have brain eating zombies, other monsters and murder, it's still a cosy and comfy read.
If you like Gail Carriger, I highly recommend trying this as well! I like it even better as the romance is even more glacial and more a side aspect of the characters than a main plot point....more
I loved Legends and Lattes so much, but Bookshops & Bondedust by Travis Baldree sadly didn't manage to hook me as much.
This story is less cosy, and inI loved Legends and Lattes so much, but Bookshops & Bondedust by Travis Baldree sadly didn't manage to hook me as much.
This story is less cosy, and instead has more of a typical fantasy plot. I would have loved to read more about the bookshop, the daily running of it, and just the slice of life kind of story.
The fantasy aspect was too low key to satisfy me as an action sort of story, but too much to give me the comfortable and warm feeling.
The side characters mostly stayed a bit blank, especially the love interest, but there are two I really loved. So that's also not bad, but not a favourite bit either.
It's still an easy and quick read, and I don't regret the time or money spent, however it didn't leave a lasting impression like Legends did....more
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely!
I really enjoyed A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick a lot!
EspeciallRead for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely!
I really enjoyed A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick a lot!
Especially the first half was my cup of tea, or rather my cauldron full of potions! This is a cosy fantasy, with found family, banter, charming small street shops and a slice of life feel to it.
I really adored the slow and harmonic feel to this! Exploring the life of our main character and his friends, and getting a glimpse of this new world that feels familiar and fresh at the same time. I love the heroes coming through, shopping for their next quest, and also the magic and alchemy at hand.
There's some adventures and suspenseful scenes, but overall it's more of a calm and quiet read. The few quicker scenes definitely struck a good balance for me!
The romance was a bit heavy for me in the second half. It was cute, but I could have done with less "I'd wanted to take him into the supply closet" thoughts - I understood it after the first few times... Overall it was nice to see these two slowly getting closer, and if even I, who usually detest romance in my fantasy, doesn't mind, that speaks for the book surely!...more
Seams like Murder by Tilly Wallace is mostly a cosy murder mystery, with just a little dash of fantasy. The main character can sometimes "see things" Seams like Murder by Tilly Wallace is mostly a cosy murder mystery, with just a little dash of fantasy. The main character can sometimes "see things" when she touches others, outside of that there is no actual fantasy aspect, at least not in book one.
I enjoyed the main character being a single mum who manages to get by with her own business, in a time when it's hard for women to do anything on their own. She is absolutely set on making it on her own, and not being caught in a marriage or beholden to a man.
The sewing background was a good backdrop, and the tone and voice made an easy and enjoyable read! Book two is already waiting for me!...more
Time Tourist Outfitters, Ltd. by Christy Nicholas should be my ideal read. Almost no romance, older female main character, banter, humour, adventure, aTime Tourist Outfitters, Ltd. by Christy Nicholas should be my ideal read. Almost no romance, older female main character, banter, humour, adventure, and tome travel!
While I did enjoy the book overall, sadly for me it didn't live up to its potential. I did like the main character, but I didn't really click with her as fully as I'd have hoped to. Some of her snappy attitude just didn't resonate with me, like these usually do. There's also a very tragic backstory for her, which is a mystery for most of the book, and we only learn what actually happened late in the book. That scene should have been a real sucker punch emotionally, but for me it didn't really carry through. It might have been international, to keep this a more fun and easy read, but with the set-up we had, it felt a bit disappointing to me.
The adventure and banter were still fun to read, and I liked the mystery angle about a strange illness that needs to be uncovered to be able to find a cure. So even though this won't be a favourite, I don't regret reading it, and was quite well entertained....more
I haven't yet read any of the pretty new small hardcovers I bought for my shelf, so it was high time!
And boy how I loved Going Postal by Terry PratcheI haven't yet read any of the pretty new small hardcovers I bought for my shelf, so it was high time!
And boy how I loved Going Postal by Terry Pratchett!
The main character is a scoundrel and a crook, who suddenly finds himself promoted to postmaster - of a post office that hasn't been operating in ages, and is literally stuffed to bursting with undelivered letters.
I really enjoyed both him, and his loveably weird side characters. But as always what made this book special and an instant favourite is the humour in it. Not just the banter and just absolutely and fantastically weird people in it, but also the phrases and wording. Just one example from near the end, which stuck with me:
It was raining now, a gray, sooty drizzle that was little more than fog with a slight weight problem.
It's simply an overall enjoyable and feel good read, which sucked me in right from the start, and kept me perfectly well entertained right to the end!
And the new audio version is also brilliant, highly recommended....more
“I have learned in my time that if two men are chasing a young girl,it is never the girl’s fault.”
Oh what a delight. Five stars, ten stars, ah hell,
“I have learned in my time that if two men are chasing a young girl,it is never the girl’s fault.”
Oh what a delight. Five stars, ten stars, ah hell, all the stars!
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe immediately jumped onto my very favourites shelf. Not only is the hardcover insanely pretty, the author super nice (he sent me an ebook copy when I said somewhere I had trouble reading the small print) and the story a great one, it also features two of my favourite things:
Necromancy, and an old female mentor figure as a main character.
Grief and exhaustion overwhelmed her. She cried into the dress of the kind stranger until her tears dried up. Her voice fled from her in great, heaving sobs until it cracked and turned to coughing. And the woman held her for as long as Mina needed to be held. A few minutes or a few hours, she did not know. All she knew was the black pit of despair that hollowed out a place within her. It hurt worse than her bruised and cut feet. Worse than her scraped knees. So much worse than any pain she had felt before.
If you love books like Kingfishers, which are cosy and comfy, but still feature dark and disturbing bits as well, this is a perfect choice for you. It has painful emotions, but it's also like a warm blanket on a cold night. I adored the sheer amount of love radiating from Gam Gam, and her determination to help others.
“Oh, nonsense, dear. If you have nowhere to go then there is nowhere you will go.“
Mina and Gam Gam both felt solid and real to me, which is quite rare in fantasy featuring teen girls or older women.
The blend of humour, banter and cute things like a skeleton cat with dark bits like the loss of family or being shunned for your abilities worked incredibly well, and I devoured this novella more or less in one go.
If you haven't yet gotten this from my review - you wanna go and get yourself a copy of this book right now! ...more
The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell is on eof those books that just worked for me. There's is almost nothing happening, very little actual plot, and The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell is on eof those books that just worked for me. There's is almost nothing happening, very little actual plot, and the "wizardry and magic" are also not much more than a sprinkling.
However the tone and voice immediately hooked me completely!
“The world is magical, my boy. Always has been. We put names to things we don’t understand and tend to avoid the things with no names. It makes them no less real because we don’t believe in them.”
Roger Mulligan was incredibly likeable in his very stoic and matter of fact way. He's been in the military first, then an EMT, but now he's learning to be a butler. His background definitely helps him with just staying polite but determined in his position, and just taking things in stride. I quickly grew to like his new employer, an elderly wizard who is struggling with loosing his memories, and maybe himself. The way these two interacted just made me happy. Not a direct quote but how a lot of these conversations end:
"Anything else sir?" "No thank you Mulligan, carry on."
Now don't ask me why, but I simply loved the respectful way of these conversations, especially in contrast to how Mulligan uses that exact same slightly distant tone to annoy the hell out of the evil niece, trying to get at the estate and money. The audiobook definitely added to my enjoyment here, the narrator really nailed the delivery.
I loved exploring the premises, I adored the invisible pixis, the characters were lovable and for some reason I delighted in all the tiny details and minutia of running the house.
This was just an all around cosy book that had me smile and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling, like Becky Chambers books usually do....more
This is a cosy fantasy, that does have a bit bigger stakes in at least one scene than I'm used to from this sort of story. I didn't mind, but if you'rThis is a cosy fantasy, that does have a bit bigger stakes in at least one scene than I'm used to from this sort of story. I didn't mind, but if you're looking for a book where *everyone is safe all the time*, or without some traumatic past, this might not be the best choice.
For me the darker bits in the past just added a bit more depth, so I actually thought it improved on the story. The big show down on the other hand didn't really fit as well into the feel of the story, and the aftermath felt a bit too quick. It didn't bother me really, but it didn't add much either.
I really liked how there's obviously a bigger world you explore, and this is really just a slice of life story about one of its inhabitants. It felt warm and friendly, though it definitely made me crave a cocktail, when none was at hand...
The very, very low romance factor was decidedly a plus for me. I liked that there was a strong bond firming up, but it was just a solid matter of fact thing, and no drama about it. This I felt was a pretty balance for the story!
I always enjoy a book with a character who is different in some way, so suffering from chronic pain due to his magic is something I liked seeing, even if he feels mostly "well" as long as he stays away from magic. On the other hand I know how busy having tolerable pain can feel like a brilliant day to those with chronic pain, so it might just be him being used to it so much, rather than him being just healed....more
I was recommended Beware of Chicken by CasualFarmer as a cosy Slice of Life fantasy, and it mostly for that well! It's about leaving the fighting, poliI was recommended Beware of Chicken by CasualFarmer as a cosy Slice of Life fantasy, and it mostly for that well! It's about leaving the fighting, politics and problems of a cultivation sect behind you, and instead becoming a peaceful farmer.
I always enjoyed Slice of Life stories, and love learning and leveling right along with the characters, so this was an easy sell for me. The humour and tone worked really well, and the sentient animals immediately drew me in and kept me hooked all the way. The book made me smile and laugh a lot, and left me in a better mood than I was before reading it.
I especially liked how friendly and open the characters are, and how it's just a happy and healthy way of living, close with nature and their community.
For a cosy story, there's quite some mention of horrible things from the villains. Defeating said villains is more like a few quick side quests, so it seemed like more of window dressing or backdrop, and didn't bother me, but it makes it clear that outside of our happy farming bubble this world is all but cosy. Cultivators often misuse their power, so "peasants" and especially women aren't safe. Just wanted to put that somewhere so of threat of SA or such is a trigger, this might not be the cosy read you want. It's not actually happening, but there's a few mentions / threats....more
I enjoyed A Dangerous Ruse by Tilly Wallace more than the first book in the series. The main character seems to come more into her own power, the worlI enjoyed A Dangerous Ruse by Tilly Wallace more than the first book in the series. The main character seems to come more into her own power, the world building gets expanded a bit and it just overall has a bit more depth to it.
I like the way she won't back down in a world run by men, for men, but rather sticks to her own path and choices. The romance is minimal, which is a big plus for me, just like the friendships that are growing.
While Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater was a fun and easy story with some dark bits, it didn't grab me just as well as Half a Soul or Small MirWhile Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater was a fun and easy story with some dark bits, it didn't grab me just as well as Half a Soul or Small Miracles did.
Maybe it's because this book is more about pursuing romance / marriage, instead of finding it kinda accidentally along the roadside, and me not being a romance fan. Maybe it was the different tone, but I found it less charming and more ... I don't even know how to phrase it.
Half a Soul has the horrible treatment in workhouses, dying kids and all, it made you think about those things and reflect on the past, it did smoothly got into the story as well though. In this book we get the horrible way servants were treated and worked to death, but it somehow felt a bit more telling than showing in a way? Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing the perspective from the other side of the pretty regency houses. So it wasn't the inclusion of the topic at all, rather the way it written? Or as I said just the more romancy side of the story that didn't mash as well with it. So it might be purely my personal taste than anything wrong with the book.
Now this Al sounds so much more negative than I meant it to be. It is still a fun book with an adorably weird Fae and loveable side characters. I don't in any way regret reading it, and still happily give it four out of five stars! It's just not the same "10 stars aren't even enough" level of the two previous books I read by the author....more