TL;DR: This was aggressively fine.Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Not real enemies become lovers and seemingly random hijinks.Characters: These two were… not that impressive to be honest. I wasn’t sold on either one and honestly got them confused the entire way through.Setting: A vaguely regency (maybe?) time period. I distinctly recall one location,... Continue Reading →
Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes
TL;DR: A deeply unsettling horror about history and memory.Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: The cost of ignoring the past, and what it does to those that do remember.Characters: Very flawed, but fascinating primary PoVs, a hair weaker on side charactersSetting: An utopia of a 1920s town, this was felt more than seen.Horror:... Continue Reading →
The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
TL;DR: A great, slow paced historical paranormal fantasy.Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Doctor Van Helsing’s daughter chases his killer and gets caught up in much more.Characters: I loved a lot of this cast of characters. In fact I’d love to read another book focused on the others.Setting: This was a great part to... Continue Reading →
Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado
TL;DR: A coming of age story for two very different characters.Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: One part revenge, one part politicalCharacters: A bit on the standard side for me, but not bad.Setting: A lovely setting, but I don’t know if I could clearly visualize a lot of it.Fantasy: I generally enjoy a... Continue Reading →
Love is an Open Book by Chandra Bloomberg
TL;DR: A bit forgettable but with interesting ideas.Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Two friends become more after trying out book tropes.Characters: Gavin was adorable, but Mia was frustrating beyond belief at times.Setting: I don’t know that I can clearly visualize anywhere these two went.Romance: I wasn’t sold on this one from the jump.... Continue Reading →
Something Wicked by Falon Ballard
TL;DR: A lot of work on the sex, not so much on the actual plot.Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: There is an attempt at a political engine here, but I think the story was written for the sex and the characters.Characters: These two read identical in their voice. They had different ideas and... Continue Reading →
Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood
TL;DR: More of the same tropes and a cliffhanger ending with no satisfaction. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Silver haired fae girl enters trials to get freedom, black haired broody man gets horny. Characters: I can’t say much for them because honestly there wasn’t much too them. Setting: Felt very much like every... Continue Reading →
Kill All Wizards (The Barbaric Ledgers #1) by Jedediah Berry
TL;DR: This felt like Conan had an acid trip in a wizard city. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Gotch is trying to avenge his brother in a city run by wizards, the weird follows Characters: Gotch was our best character, but I really liked the variety we were introduced to Setting: This city... Continue Reading →
The Dungeon Book (As Told by Cornelius the Skull) by Gareth Hanrahan
TL;DR: A super fun little adventure. I really enjoyed this. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: Bait has to figure out how to live in two worlds. In the Dungeon or beneath? Characters: We’re being told this from a third perspective so not super deep but still lovable. Setting: I loved the Dungeon. I... Continue Reading →
March’s End by Daniel Polansky
TL;DR: An ambitious mix of Narnia, The NeverEnding Story, and really any contemporary story. Source: NetGalley, thank you so much! Plot: A family balances normal life and struggles with ruling a fantasy world. Characters: There are SO many here, even for me there were probably too many. Setting: I loved the idea of the March,... Continue Reading →