Wayward

All In creates such satisfying characters and character arcs with the most emotional, intense, whirlwind romance that left my head spinning and my heart in my throat. Christian and Kale are AMAZING characters, and the way they're suited for each other and magnetized to each other was a thrill to read, but when emotions swell and the roadblocks trying to keep them apart come up and these two decided to fight for each other, I absolutely tipped off the chasm right into adoration. I ADORE these two and the way they found themselves in each other.

All In is so well-written! It builds the romance quickly, yes, but the whirlwind of it made perfect sense for the characters and their suitability to each other and their growth. I never doubted, and I was just as swept up in it as they were, my heart thumping and my head swooning every time they kissed. It was like, when they were together, they found themselves in a perfect tango, matched step for step and seducing each other across the stage, and gosh, was it beautiful and hypnotizing.

The way this story is created, the spice in it is just as important to character growth and progression as the characters' histories, verbal sparring, or emotional discussions - actually, probably more so. It's LOADED with kinks but written with depth in a way that explains motivations, wants, and needs, and AMPLIFIES those kinks into another realm of significance while still being utterly, painfully HOT. There's SO MUCH spice in this, some of it quick and some of it long, some of it simple, and a LOT of it kinky, but it all left a delicious ache in my gut because of the emotional PUNCHES it all carried with it. It's so good, so yummy, and so easy to get swept up in!

All In is hard to describe to someone who hasn't read it for themselves. Saying it's “kinky and emotional,” is just way too insignificant a description, even though at the most basic level, that's absolutely what it is. But it's more than that... It's that times a HUNDRED. And then there are all the side characters, best friends, past mistakes, overbearing family, dear relationships, and kinky comrades that I haven't even touched on. It's just SO good.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes kinky contemporary or emotional contemporary or BDSM. Even if you don't have much experience reading BDSM, I feel this would be a great book to dive in because it's so excellent at explaining motivations and reasons for WHY the characters feel, want, and need the things they do. As for me, this will go on my permanent rec list, and I can't wait to start reading book 2!!

The last chapter of this was closer to what I wanted the whole novella to be (other than the lack of motorcycles). This chapter had more vampirism in it and some fun and spicy themes I enjoyed. I slowed down to read this chapter and didn't regret it.

Unfortunately, most of this book had some problems and also just wasn't for me. For one, instead of combining elements, it switched between them in a way that made it feel like it didn't know what it wanted to be. Motorcyclists all shirtless but for vests are later finely dressed in suits lounging on Victorian style sofas surrounded by candlelight. Talk about whiplash. Not to even mention how there was a whole chunk in the middle that was completely separate and went a little bit of everywhere as well. Instead of being hot, it felt nonsensical and didn't blend well. 

The characters were 1-dimensional and irrational, especially the vapid MC who barely questions anything, and is completely willing to be led like a lamb to a slaughter. Zero fight, zero personality.

Where this book is just not for me, it went places I didn't enjoy and ended up having to skim through in some of the middle chapters. I knew there would be degradation, but this takes it to some gross lows without any follow-up reward or praise. The smut is dirty in a literal sense, the main character being left covered in dry, flaking spend all day and later forced to perform acts behind a restaurant in an alley where it's frequently mentioned how gross it is and how bad it smells and how much the MC smells afterwards.
Including the VARIETY of synonyms or euphemisms for various body parts that made me cringe, the total lack of stretching or prep other than some lube, and the literally eye-rolling, unbelievable amount of spend that EXPELS from the MC, I couldn't enjoy most of the places this story went. Which is a shame, because I went into it with excitement. But, oh well, you win some you lose some. 

If you're into hardcore degradation and literally unclean, dirty smut with multi-use, you might enjoy this. It's straightforward, doesn't hesitate, dives in headfirst, and the spice never really stops from start to finish.

With fun, queer characters that have more depth than I realized, a hateable villain, and a unique twist on a flavor of “superheroes” and superpowers, The Seven is a dark yet exciting romp into the lives of people all just trying to do their best with the gifts they've been given. It's easy to read, and with an ending that leaves the story open for a sequel, I do wish there would be more books about these characters both individually and together. I find that there's a LOT here that could be explored!

I do have to say, though, that where the characters' personalities soared, their intelligence, at times, waned, which is part of why this ended up with a mid-rating. There were a few instances when I felt as if there was an obvious answer in front of them that they didn't see, such as when they were looking to find a particular character in love with the villain and found a DIFFERENT character who claimed to also be in love with the villain, yet it never even occurred to them to use her the same way they were going to use the other. This lack of noticing the obvious wasn't a constant but something that did creep up from time to time and made me wish I could shout a warning or suggestion through the pages of this book.

The wandering plot also felt very seat-of-your-pants the whole time, which isn't always bad or good, but might be less of a personal preference for me. I love to see a plot move forward in an ordained, meticulated way, but this, while full of surprises, felt like the author may have been just as surprised by the happenings as I was, reading it. This left me never knowing quite what was going to happen next, though.

On the whole, I had fun with these characters and would return to their world if there were ever a sequel. Especially if the characters found some unexpected way to change the events of the finale, whether it be with a new power, a new, stronger character, a machine, or something else. I think that would make for a twist that's desperately satisfying and exciting. Regardless, however, I would read any sequel! Whether that happens or not, I'm glad I journeyed into this world and these characters' painful journey, fighting back against the darkest of their own. Would recommend to anyone who likes the idea of morally gray superheroes just trying to live their lives and save themselves from someone they should have been able to trust.

This was SO FREAKING GOOD! GAH!! Hell of a Witch kicks off with just as much fire as Hell for Hire and gave me a new appreciation for all things magical and WITCHY! I was hoping this would be as good as the first book, and, gosh, was it.
Continuing shortly after the last book left off, we get more sorceror-slaying and demon-freeing, except this time, Adrian and Bex take us places we haven't seen in the first book and end up in huger battles that change not only the very nature of their relationship but possibly the Kingdom of Gilgamesh and the world. It's a HUGE story that never gives itself time to drag, all woven into the perfect length. I was always DYING to read more - and AM NOW even when the third book isn't released! I can't WAIT for more of these characters next year!

One thing Hell of a Witch avoids beautifully is what I refer to as “second book bridge syndrome,” which is when the second book feels like a bridge between the first and third books without having a whole lot of substance of its own. This totally subsumes that! Developing everything from characters' personal growths, familial histories, and the war raging between Bex and Gilgamesh on these pages, the overarcing story going HARD while the interpersonal ones go on some intense emotional rollercoasters. It's an exciting, RICH read with all of the beloved characters from book one and a few new ones masterfully created ans represented.

The writing in this book is just superb, creating easy-to-follow lore and dynamic action. I got sucked in from the first chapter and found myself wanting to read “just one more chapter” over and over again, even when I had intended to only read a little. The way the plot develops naturally, the adorable slow-burn and very mild romance between the MCs? It's addictive!

If you liked book one, book two has more fights, more burgeoning feelings, more clever witchcraft, and more delicious lore. I'm thirsting for  more, for ALL of this EPIC story and these beloved characters.

I am honored to have been an ARC reader for Hell of a Witch and am eagerly anticipating 2025 book three's release! All I can say is this is a SUPERB continuation of a masterpiece, and I couldn't recommend it more!

This vampire romance was a quick, easy read with a surprising amount of plot and cultural/political world-building. Some of my favorite aspects were the effortless, absorbing descriptions of atmosphere and the eloquent and concise writing style.

I love a book that takes a standard trope of vampires and adds a little bit of spice, or, in this case, a little bit of magic and some lore to back it up. While I wish we could have gotten more of a history lesson on Lightborns, I loved the idea of a lightborn awakening once a century, there specifically to combat the dark creatures of the night, or, in other words, vampires. That was a really cool idea and one of the first things that drew me into this story. I also like the idea of them being surprised that the Lightborn is not whom they expected it to be, and, again, I wish we could have gotten a little more information into how this all works, but overall, I enjoyed the concept.

The characters here have some interesting motivations, especially Julien, whose immediate fascination with Oren, exacerbated by their sire/bitten bond, made him instantly likeable, secrets and all. I do wish Oren would have gotten a smidgen more character building, or, perhaps, that we could have seen some of his dark past encroach into his present behavior. That being said, I still liked the curly-haired bean and his charmingly quiet neediness.
The interactions between these two were immediately electric, and reading a full book about them was easy and gratifying.

As I said, one of my favorite aspects of Burning the Darkness truly was the sharp, clean, descriptive, yet concise writing. Big ideas were able to be delivered to me in manageable, bite-sized packages, while expressions, emotions, and the chill, snowy atmosphere were effortlessly described, making scenes vivid to all five senses. It's a book that absorbed me right from the start and continued to do so all the way through to the end. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lucien and Oren's tale, and I'm so glad I found this ARC on booksprout. Thank you for the chance to read it! I'll be following the author for more releases, and I recommend this book to anyone looking for something quick and easy to read that's moody with fall/winter, cozy vibes.

Hell for Hire is an explosively unique and clever read full of driven, realistic characters, rich history, interesting lore, and magic building.

From the gorgeous cover alone, I was confident this was going to be a good book, but the contents are even better than expected! Well-written and easy to read, the plot takes a couple of turns as we learn more about Adrian's history and his reasons for moving as well as Bex's complicated and dangerous past. This thrilling progression as histories unravel, secret identities are revealed, and chess pieces are set into motion as battles both expected and unexpected ignite, had me on the edge of my seat, furiously flipping pages.

What makes all this exciting plot have such emotional weight, however, are the characters, each with individual personalities, each with their own personal histories and motivations. Somehow, the author managed to combine dire importance, agelessness, and capability with charming ignorance and naivete. This well-orchestrated character-building makes the whole crew so lovable and easy to root for.

Most of all, Hell for Hire has a special je ne sais quoi, a quality to it that's hard to describe. It's unique - it changes the lore and takes directions I didn't see coming. There are outside forces pulling and pushing and beings I only sort of came to understand. There are horrors only glimpsed and magics only tasted. This gives “good versus evil” in a totally unexpected way, flipped sideways from any sort of classical story. It's just really likable and really well-done.

Hell for Hire deserves every fraction of its 5* stars, and I can't wait for book two, Hell of a Witch! I'll be scooping that up as soon as I can get my hands on it. 
Basically, if you love an urban fantasy full of magic, powerful beings, action, encroaching strategy, and relatable, excellent characteres, this book is for you, too.

If you've read book one, book two is everything book one is, multiplied by a glorious TEN! It's horrifying, it's painful, it's smutty, it's intimate, it's sweet, it's spicy, it's shocking, it's DELECTABLE and EXCELLENT. Miners of the Tempest WRECKED me on multiple levels. I'm still thinking about it, and I don't think I'll ever STOP thinking about it.

This one takes off from where book one left off but goes so much farther, delves so much deeper, leaving me gasping for more.
Aside from all the delicious horror, the twisting motivations and plots, and, to use Oliver's term, mouth-wateringly intimate, intensely delicious swiving, the CHARACTERS in this story are so FREAKING lovable, and gosh, do I love them with all my heart. This is where, when I tell friends about this book, I follow it up with sparkly heart and sobbing emojis. I honestly CAN'T with these two - Oliver and Tau - or, frankly, any of the other dear, loving, loyal, faithful, tortured, courageous friends. I say “friends,” but, really they're the found family that gives this book so much heart. This book almost could have ended the series here (almost), but I'm SO glad it didn't because even though it's a cliffhanger it means there's MORE COMING, and I want ALL OF IT. Every single drop, fed to me like golden nectar from a flaming spoon, delicious and painful (because that's exactly what this story IS).
I adore a plotty story, and this series has plot in SPADES, so much big, world-changing plot intermingled with horrifying darkness, danger, twisted monsters, and gore, yet condensed down through the eyes of a few humans and one unearthly, luminescent creature desperately in love with one of those humans. These characters have witnessed and survived so much darkness that there's inevitably a little darkness inside each of them, making them some shades of gray, yet their intention, their motivations, their longings, and their guilt-laced need to fix theirs - or others' - mistakes make them inarguably the HEROES and intensely easy to root for.
Oliver and Tau in particular. These two... these two are SO precious to me. Tau, forever misunderstood, forever subjected to the naive disdain of lesser beings. Oliver, ever loyal to his friends, even the ones that hurt him, and intensely, drunkenly, toxically, painfully co-dependent on Tau, the LOVE of his LIFE. The faith and the comfort these two find in each other, makes me want to THROW UP, sob in the rain, and then wrap myself in blankets, and bask in the roar of a fire, re-living every single second of their moments spent together. Without literally quoting you spoilers and wildly gesturing, crying disgustingly, and shouting, “SEE!? SEE!??!” I can't make you understand how beloved and darling and intimately precious they are. 
If you haven't read book one, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Go now!!! And if you have, then GET ON BOOK TWO because I NEED more people to read this series and gasp with me and SOB with me every time Oliver smiles at his Sunshine and his Sunshine scrapes his claws through Oliver's hair.

Not to even MENTION all the new, GORGEOUS chapter art here, including new characters, terrifying monsters, and yes, even spicy scenes. Everything about this book is created with love and with passion and with TALENT. This series is a FAVORITE, and I literally can't recommend it more than by screeching at you in this review. Absolutely one of the best reads of the year and one of the best indie books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

What a dark, little tale full of visceral longing, hatred, fear, and a dozen other encompassing emotions, fully felt by me as I read. This is one of those unputdownable stories you hear about with vivid scenes and loaded silences that carry such significant weight for its characters that you find yourself holding your breath anticipating - or dreading - what will happen next.

I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into with this story when I picked it up for Indie Ink Awards, and whatever I might have expected was certainly wrong. It's full of big scenes, big histories, big worlds, the weight of war and bloodshed, the guilt of war crimes, and the craving for things that aren't meant to be craved - needed.

Most of me was enraptured with Amitiel and Stolas' story, but part of me is not at all sure how to feel. Mostly, though, I'm just glad I read it. The only reasons this gets 4* stars instead of 5* are a few minor consistency questions, a glazing over of how shirts get taken off and put on over wings, and personal preference over some of the themes. 

On the whole, however, First Creation was fascinating, well-written, and an experience I won't soon forget. Heed the warnings, for it IS a blend of horror with dark, heavy themes threaded throughout, but if you're okay with that then this is definitely worth picking up. 

Once again, Claudie Arseneault has created a cozy yet thrilling episodic continuation of the adventure Horace, Aliyah, Rumi, and Keza have ventured on. This story features Horace being adorably talkative, excitable, curious Horace in a new city with new customs and rules. But there are some exciting twists along the way, and we're left with a few more questions than answers.

Meanwhile, the characters continue honing their skills and abilities, learning new things along the way, and we get development of their relationships. There are more interesting characters as well, and more intrigue into the characters we already know and love. It's everything I would have wanted from this book!

Honestly, some of the things I love about this book are how easy and quick it is to read, yet full of kinship, epic adventure, and, of course, incredible diversity. There's a continuing, over-arcing plot, but each book has its own featured story. And the characters always want to learn and improve themselves! It reminds me of episodic adventures I read as a kid, except so much more diverse. When I read this series I'm perpetually left with a feeling of comfort, and it's been an honor and joy to be an ARC reader for it.

I recommend this series to anyone who likes a tale full of found family, fantasy adventure, and queerness. I can't wait to dive back in when book 4 comes around!

This was a fine short story that was well-written, dreamy, dark, and unique. It probably deserves 4 stars, but I found it a terribly sad read and got 3 stars of enjoyment out of it.

It's a chilling, ghostly tale that feels like it should be read in autumn twilight as the cold creeps in. There are dark desires here and allusions to past murder and possibly present thoughts of suicide. It's got a bit of Romeo/Juliet vibe of toxic longing, obsession, and dependency, except with a strange kind of polyamory.

Overall, it was a quick, interesting read, and I would check out the author's other works. But I would only recommend this to someone without triggers who enjoys an eerie, slightly erotic ghost story.

 While this book wasn't quite what I expected from the synopsis and was, instead, much more fluffy and sweet, it still thrived at what it was, which is a light read full of spice and ABO tropey sweetness.

With the almost non-existent world building and light political intrigue overlaid with characters who lacked much depth Unnatural is the kind of book you don't look too closely at for fear of it all falling apart. If you can zoom out a bit, not think too hard, and just enjoy the ride, then Unnatural is FUN and can satiate that particular thing you're looking for in a book - clingyness, obsessive natures, and tantalizingly “taboo” smut.

Honestly, the one thing that bothered me the most was Haydn. Haydn, who was apparently a war general who'd been leading armies and killing in the thralls of war for years. I would never have known he was capable of such things have such a history were it not for comments such as, “Just because I was good at killing didn't mean I liked it.” Haydn didn't have a single characteristic of a war veteran. He wasn't hardened, he wasn't quiet or brash, he had no war trauma, he didn't act as if killing, fighting, or protecting himself was second-nature, and, frankly, he was kind of silly and overly good-natured in a way that struck me as never having touched a weapon before in his life. I could ignore the lack of world-building, the aimless side characters, and the minute political intrigue, but Haydn was the hardest feature of this book to suspend my disbelief on. He was just... unrealistic.

However, barring that, overall, I DID enjoy this book. I really did. I was usually able to do exactly what I recommend and ignore all the problems, instead focusing on the relationship between Haydn and Royce and enjoying that progression. If you can do that, then this book is light, it's needy, it's hot, and it's fun. I may even pick up the sequels in the future, especially if I can catch them on sale one day or find them on a digital library. They're perfect filler books that will scratch that itch when I crave a read that's not too plotty, but dirty, and, in the end, that's exactly where and when this book should be read. 

A furry and heavily toned leg curled around him, eased him forward, careful enough that should he put up any resistance, it would stop. Ryurikov's heart did a thing, a thing he didn't like. It lurched and stuttered at the same time. His hands connected with Awimak's torso, fingers splayed against the muscular chest to catch himself. The scent of earth and stone greeted him, drifting into his very soul with a deep, nervous inhale.

Little did I know when I started reading this book how much I would love it. How I would be swept into a place full of demons good and bad, magic, witches, strange beings, monsters, enchanted forests, and a romance that would grip my soul and make me mewl at least every other chapter. Besides being so lush with lore, this story is also full of characters, both lovable and loathsome, a full cast with found-family, found-home vibes exploding off the page. Coil of Boughs has history and secrets and bonds old and new, and it's so WRETCHEDLY good, I want to be friends with everyone who loves this book as much as I do.

When I first started Coil of Boughs, I knew I would like it, but I wasn't sure how much I would as I was presented with an MC, Ruri, who launched himself at a witch's ambling tree house and left the soldiers chasing him to the demons below. Immediately I knew Ruri was a bit of a morally gray character, and that realization was only confirmed as the story unfolded and I journeyed with this character willing to threaten and murder and steal but who, equally, felt the weight of his past and tried to find a way to kill the demons tormenting the kingdom.

Ruri is a bit of a scoundrel with a heart of gold who's more liable to act before he thinks and is careless with his own well-being but achingly protective of those he finds he cares about. And I loved him. I loved his stupid rashness, his endless ability to take a beating without complaint, his churlish snappy attitude, his willingness to have fun and leave a little chaos in his wake, and his clingy protectiveness once he finally allows himself to believe he has and deserves something good. I loved him. I adored him. He is precious boy and no one will ever change my mind.

But, while Ruri is the main character, he's still just one character in a book full of a cast of equally well-written folk with histories and secrets and personalities all their own. One favorite is his sword-weilding, magic-pipe-playing, stained-glass-enchanted-tunic-wearing sister. Another is the grumpy, ancient, squat witch of the forest who kills Ruri twice and tries a third time, full of her own history and reasons and who gives as good as she gets. And, of course, there's Ruri's counterpart, the immensely large, horned, dream-eating, goofy, loyally protective, incredibly powerful, forest demon, Awimak. It's hard for me to even begin describing my love for Awimak other than to say I would die for him. He's precious and silly and giant and ridiculously strong, and he's everything Ruri didn't admit he needed and then some, and I would protect the sweet, darling, tender demon with my life.

Basically? This story has an insane amount of HEART, and every time I picked it up I was sucked in and didn't want to come back out of their world ever again. The writing is gorgeous, rich with strong vocabulary, quick and light and easy to get sucked into. I already can't wait for this tale's sequel while book one has found its way to my Favorites shelf. This is a book I already look forward to coming back to, and I rarely re-read any more, so me wanting to already is saying a lot.

If you like a plotty fantasy M/M romance with incredible world and character building, this is for you. If you're remotely interested, try it out. It's so delicious, it's so much fun, and, just like me, you likely won't want to leave the world once you join it.

This was legitimately a good book, and I can see why it has the ratings it does. If you enjoy extremely safe and consensual, rough M/F romance with protective and sappy sweet saccharine protagonists, this is the book for you. I was going to give it 4 stars, but the last half of the book tapered the rating down to a 3-star read for me because it just got painfully, tooth-rottingly sweet for such a large stretch of the book without any of the darkness I was promised that I got bored and felt the rest of the pages drag a bit.

To begin with, “dark romance” is listed in the blurb, but it's really, really not. As much as the MMC pushes boundaries in the beginning, he doesn't go as far as I expected/wanted, and he makes absolutely sure the FMC feels as safe and consenting with everything he does as possible - which, yes, is a good thing. Just, again, not really a dark romance if all he does is break into her workplace security feed to watch her because he wants to see her and protect her, and she's totally okay with it and even likes it.

Beyond the first 30%-40% of the book, all pretense of “dark romance” is gone, and it turns into a fluff piece with horny, adorable, sweet, and goofy MCs, a little bit of plot, and BDSM that is resolutely NOT called BDSM. The only ways the BDSM is different is there's no pre-discussion of kinks and adamantly “no safe words,” choosing instead to use “stop” as their non safe-word safe word, lol. Otherwise, everything is very much BDSM, and, as someone who only knows enough about BDSM to recognize what good and bad practices of it are, this was ... okay. There was un-labeled aftercare and the “stop” safe word, but it was without all the other safety rules BDSM otherwise comes with. I feel like the author likely knows little about BDSM other than what's in badly written books like Fifty Shades of Gray, or she wouldn't have avoided it and “safe words” so intently. I rolled my eyes a few times at these antics, but, regardless, all of the play between the MCs was enjoyable to read, despite the disappointment of my expectations, and as long as they're having fun and feeling safe and good about themselves then it doesn't really matter in the end, I guess.

As for the rest of the plot, I was led to believe by the blurb I read on the back cover that it would, again, be a bit darker.
“Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he's willing to go for the woman he's obsessed with.”
Let's just say that this doesn't play out the way you'd expect it to from this blurb, and Aly is much more aggressive about the whole situation than Josh ever was. So, again, aside from some very consensual over-protective hacking/camera feed watching from Josh, there's no real darkness in him and extremely little darkness at all in this book. Josh's really just a goofy guy who loves harder than the average fellow. And the MCs just deal with their darker familiar ties, cracking jokes the while time. Which is cute and lovely, but NOT how the book is marketed.

Overall, this is 450 pages of fluff and kinky spice with a little bit of plot, and had I not been binge-reading it so I could finish before my digital loan expired, it would have taken me much longer to get through the last 50%-60%, since the majority of what I'd signed up for when I picked up this book fell away into tooth-rotting sweetness, only so much of which I can enjoy before getting bored.

What I will say for this book is that, despite it not being what I was promised, it was a well-written book that was easy to read and engaging with lovable characters. As long as you're not expecting exactly what is marketed and you enjoy a lot of adorable characters making endless eyes and sex jokes at each other, you'll like this. It's been one of the best M/F romances I read with a FMC I actually liked, so that's something anyway. Would I read something else by this author? Yes. It's rated as high as it is on average for a good reason. She's a good writer, and I'll be keeping an eye out for her name in the future.

FLOODED SECRETS continues Horace's, Aliyah's, and Rumi's tale in what ends up being a bit of a side quest as they help clear a pass and meet a new friend. Just as warm and cozy as the first book, this one expands slightly on the world, the beings in it, and the main characters' burgeoning relationships with one another.

The characters, in fact, continue to be the light and life of this tale, their morals and motivations pulling them into and out of danger. They're each incredibly wholesome and GOOD in their own driven ways, making this story a comfort one for audiences of all ages.

Keza, the new character who enters the scene, who's picture is on the cover, has a bit more of an edge to her than the others, willing to toe the lines of law for the good of those she protects. I honestly wish we could have gotten a little bit more of a deep dive into her history and home life, but, alas, we only got windows into what quickly became her past through the pages of this book. She's an interesting character whom I think will add a snarky dynamic that was missing before, as well as some additional fighting training for Horace.

In any case, I love the way this series is set up with little jaunts into this world as our heroes continue their journey, and I'm eager to pick up the next book when it comes out. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for wholesome, platonic friends in a fantasy world on a quest surrounded by mystery and danger.

AWAKENINGS is different from anything I've read! With lovable, queer characters and a vast fantasy world that includes different species, strange technology, and captivating enemies, this novella seized my interest immediately and never let it go. It's so easy to read!

There is hardly anything that could have been improved, but I would have liked a bit more description of surroundings and the characters' senses of those surroundings, such as the oppressive heat from the desert sun, or grit finding its way into clothes and shoes. I would also have appreciated a little more character backstory for Rumi, especially, and his reasoning for so quickly accepting this “quest” of sorts.

Regardless, what this novella did in the space it had available to it was exciting. The story kicks off immediately and never stops. The plot is an interesting mix of cozy found family vibes on the road mixed with the darkness of the world and a mysterious enemy who knows more than he's willing to say. All of this tied up with the vague impression of prophecy of some sort that may or may not come true depending on the main character's, Horace's, choices.

This plot is delivered with smooth, sharp writing that is easy to get absorbed in and never once distracted me from the story. It takes place in a huge fantasy world with unique markets, sprawling landscape, and a sentient, bigger-on-the-inside wagon. If I didn't already find myself falling in love with the characters and eager to follow them on their journeys, I would be enthralled with the world-building and anxious to learn more.

Horace, the main character, is such a sweetheart. Brave, protective, and open-hearted e uses e/eir pronouns and is also aro/ace, yet finds emself inexplicably attached to the nonbinary elf, Aliyah, who transforms into a giant tree creature and protects Horace's city from attack. Rumi, an “isixi,” a short, reptile species, is transmasc and a traveling inventor. It's his wagon that Horace and Aliyah find themselves on as they start their journey.
This cast of characters, already is exceptional, interesting, and loveable, with individualized personalities that find they fit together. The loyalty that is already growing among them through this first of the series novella soothes something in my soul. I love the comaraderie and friendship that is increasingly growing, and I'm so excited to read book two.

If you're looking for a fantasy with platonic, queer relationships, I couldn't recommend this more. It's gripping, yet feel-good, and it possesses every element of fantasy I love so much. It's so worth picking up!

 Caller of CrowsTrigger/Content warnings at the bottom of the review.

Look, this wasn't that bad, and if it were a debut, I would have rated it slightly higher. It's definitely not a debut, however, clocking in as at least the 5th book the author released, so the glaring realism issues, the smallness (nondescriptness) of the setting, and the lack of character building in Sven, the main character were not forgivable for me. My suspension of disbelief was sadly lost several times.

At first, I wanted to compare this book to Roman by Grae Bryan, but, frankly, all the above issues I mentioned were handled much better by Grae Bryan - and Roman WAS a debut.

I'm going to start with what was done well with this book, which were largely the flow of the writing, the spice, and the kink of possessiveness/touch-him-and-die elements. I'll even go so far as to say I could almost buy into the insta-love since it was implied from time to time Sven and Altair were a type of True Mates. I also enjoyed the ending.

While the writing wasn't descriptive at all, and I largely had to come up with my own images for the characters, let alone the atmosphere this story takes place in (there was a distinct lack of all five senses for the majority of the story, and it focused largely on sight and sound with some touch), the writing was easy to read and kept up a fast clip for most of the story, moving both the relationship and the meager plot revolving around that relationship, forward. Once I sat down to read, it was easy to go through several chapters in one sitting.

The spice in this, while I, personally, found a little too quick to begin and intense, was quite well written, easy to read, and relatively realistic. There's a decent amount of it, but it didn't drag and there were several yummy moments throughout.

As someone who enjoys the trope, Altair's almost immediate “touch him and die” possessiveness was one of my favorite aspects of the story, even though it's a bit Dark Romance toxic at times, as he definitely doesn't treat Sven as an equal and refers to him as his “property,” treating him as such, rather than as a lover/partner/boyfriend/etc. for 90% of the book. Still, this is a fiction, and in a fictional setting - especially one in which when the other character largely enjoys the treatment - I had fun with this slightly monstrous, over-protective, obsessive nature of Altair's.

The ending was pretty thorough for the characters' relationship. It wrapped some things up nicely and quite fluffily, leaving me with a warm glow when I turned the final page - which is exactly what I like in a standalone romance.

Now for the aspects that weren't done as well, starting with what I already touched on - the smallness/nondescriptness of the atmosphere. The majority of the book takes place in one building and specifically one room. Incredibly little of the atmosphere was ever described throughout this, to the point where I don't even know the size of the bed or whether the room possessed a closet. No colors, styles, shapes, or decor were described in the entirety of the vampire base. Sven briefly returns home, but nothing about it is mentioned - not what it looks like or smells like or where anything is, let alone any sentimental mentions of his mother's decorating or physical presence.

Next, the lack of realism. Look, I read romance. Specifically fantasy, paranormal, or sci-fi romance. I can put aside a LOT. But - to be frank for a moment - when a character has semen dripping out of him and pulls on a shirt and pants to go eat dinner up in the club without the idea of cleaning up ever being remotely touched upon, you've lost me.
I ASSUME there's a bathroom in the bedroom with a shower, but was cleaning up or showering, or even brushing their teeth ever done or thought about or mentioned? No. There's never any toothpaste scent on the breath or damp hair, even when one chapter ends with Altair covered in someone else's blood and the next chapter begins back at home base. I don't need to SEE all the daily ablutions, but SOMETHING about them happening the background NEEDS to be mentioned at SOME POINT. While this irked me quite a lot, it wasn't the only issue with realism.
The world/setting this story takes place in is BARELY described, and all we know is that the world is largely composed of supernaturals of one sort or another with humans being nearly extinct. How this world operates in any way, from cityscapes to habitats, to law enforcement, is never described.
Also, various vampires have random magical abilities in addition to regular vampirism, but this isn't elaborated on. Altair can not only control and see through the eyes of crows, but he can also read thoughts. How reading thoughts or controlling crows works is, again, never even described. He just DOES it. Is it only crows? Can he control other birds? Why crows? Does he just like crows? Are crows smart enough to understand him? These are questions that are never put forth, let alone answered.

Lastly, I have some big issues with Sven, who has very little personality, is largely spineless and, frankly, not the smartest. He keeps losing sight of his goal, which is to save his MOTHER, yet he never once asks if Altair can at least turn HER if he won't turn Sven, even though that question becomes a painfully obvious one early on when Altair quickly learns of Sven's mother and continues to imprison Sven to retrieve and sell his blood. Sven offers everything if only HE can be turned. Why not offer everything so his MOTHER can be turned - which is the only thing he wants?
Sven comments on the fact that his relationship with Altair is messed up, but does he do anything about it? No. He BARELY even fights with Altair and just accepts the way Altair tells him what he will and will not do. And when Sven DOES leave for an event that's very important to him and gets attacked, he misses the event he left for DOESN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE MISSED IT, and proceeds to apologize to Altair for leaving EVEN THOUGH ALTAIR KNEW AND NEVER TOLD SVEN THAT HE WAS IN SERIOUS DANGER OF BEING KIDNAPPED OR ATTACKED. Keep in mind, this whole story takes place in roughly 7-10 days (aside from the final chapter), and it's not like he's been brainwashed or manipulated or abused into obeying Altair.
Like, look, I'm here for some slightly dark romance with a controlling lead, but the way the other lead has literally no backbone, SEES that the situation is messed up, yet BARELY fights back on the messed up aspects that he doesn't like, is just hard for me to get around.
Honestly, Sven was just terribly lightweight in character building. He's there for the better built Altair to desire and cling to and ravage. We don't even know what Sven does for a living or what his last job was, let alone any passions or hobbies he has. His old neighborhood where he did “odd jobs” was mentioned in a single sentence, but what those jobs were or how they got by on that money is never explained. It's never stated that he's poor, but it's also never stated that any sort of job will be looking for him or waiting for him to return, which gives me the impression he's jobless.
There's just a serious DEARTH of expansion when it comes to Sven, and it left the story wanting.

To sum it up, there were parts of this book I could blur my eyes for and enjoy, and if you're not looking for a depth of character building or plot but just a quick, spicy, slightly dark, supernatural romance instead, I can see you enjoying this. However, if you can't suspend your disbelief that much, I couldn't recommend it.
I just wish there were a bit more here in terms of depth and progression. I enjoyed some of the ideas, but the follow through was painfully lacking.


Caller of CrowsCONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS:

~Kidnapping
~Imprisonment in a bedroom
~Dubious consent (because consent isn't possible when someone's not allowed to leave and is under the control of a more powerful person)
~Objectification
~Dark Romance style controlling character/jealousy/possessiveness/etc.
~Violence (brief gruesome imagery, not described in detail)
~Slavery/ownership of humans as blood slaves and the selling and buying of slaves
~Implied physical abuse of blood slaves (muzzles/bruises/force feeding/etc.)
~Implied rape/non-consent of blood slaves in exchange for “better treatment” 

This book could swing a 2.5 for me or possibly a 3 on a generous day, but that's the highest I'd be willing to rate it for decent writing, backstory building, and inclusivity. The counterbalance of those is that while the writing was okay, it felt extremely slow-paced, especially in the first hundred or so pages; the plot and spy gear were far-fetched at best; and while it was stated multiple times that the main characters were physically attracted to each other, I never felt ANYTHING between them, let alone the deeper feelings they were supposed to be having.

It's sad to me that I didn't enjoy this book more because, while I've never read anything by Marie Lu before this book, I've owned Legend for years and have always anticipated one day reading it. I'll probably still read it eventually, but I'm less optomistic that I'll love it. But, that isn't this book.

As for Stars and Smoke, while the writing style is largely very readable (if slow-paced), it focuses closely on the characters and their thoughts. Most actions are slightly awkward and sometimes difficult to picture. Overall, though, it was alright, and I enjoyed the descriptions of atmosphere and the internalized histories and motivations of the characters.

The plot was sort of a standard spy thriller series of events, although it did have a couple of twists that surprised me. While I found the whole idea of a 19-year-old spy who's already been in the spy business for several years on active missions hard to believe, what truly wasn't believable to me were some of the spy gadgets, such as a regular phone that can cast a human-sized hologram or a car that shifts into different functions by... clapping. It's a clapper car. Because that's super functional for a driver who will have to take his hands off the wheel to clap in order to shift his car into a different mode. These were some fairly eye-rolling moments for me.

Worst of all, as previously mentioned, I barely felt anything between the main characters in what is supposed to be a YA romance. The thoughts they tended to have towards each other were along the lines of, “Gr, why am I noticing that he/she is hot?” Accompanied by zero butterflies and even less depth. I had far more connection to the characters individually and their backstories than the characters together.

Fortunately, the characters DID have moderately interesting histories with real families and some tragedies. I felt like I could like either of them if the story was solely about one or the other of them, Winter Young, especially, who had an especially moving backstory and likeable personality, and who was queer.

Overall, I didn't hate this story, but I was far from loving it. Stars and Smoke took me several days longer to read than the 500 page book I read before it. I can certainly see some people enjoying it more than I did, especially those that find it easier to suspend their disbelief of sequences that they find far-fetched. To sum up this book: it's okay, but it wasn't for me.

  4.5
I loved this book. Whatever I was expecting - this wasn't that, and I was BLOWN AWAY by how much I enjoyed this. While there were definitely high stakes, this was SUCH a cozy, comfy read for me, and I just wanted to snuggle down with it and read thousands of pages of these characters' adventures through this world. I'm SO HAPPY that this won't be the only book of the series, and I already can't wait for its sequel!!
The Hunter is a heartwarming story of found family and discovering the strength to fight for one another in different ways. It's a RICH, enticing fantasy world with an ever-developing plot and intensely loveable characters who grow and change throughout their journeys. Though The Hunter is a generous length, I really did wish it were longer, because I could spend forever following Strider, Greer, Addy, Tevin, and any other characters who come along the way on their misadventures.
The only reason this is half a star shy of five stars is because there were a couple of scenes that moved too quickly. I felt a need to linger and experience the emotional depths of the drama and excitement a bit more, especially when the group was in the caves. I also took a few chapters to warm up to the author's writing style and the shifting POVs, but I gradually did and found the style very readable and easy to get absorbed in. As my rating reflects, this book was simply VERY GOOD, regardless, AND intensely impressive with dearly lovable characters and a plot I could sink my teeth into.
One of the features that impressed me the most about this book was the landscape the characters moved through. It wasn't uniform but shifted and changed as they traveled through different areas, a variety of terrains crossed in the span of this book. It was obvious the author had done careful research to make her settings as realistic as possible - and it wasn't just the landscape she made accurate! There were so many windows of insight that made it clear the author had a working knowledge of how medieval tools, weapons, and horses worked, and it was so refreshing.
What gives this book its heart, however, is the characters, and wow, I loved them SO MUCH! Greer, the huge, fluffy wolf, is loveable right from the start with his doggy ways yet protective nature. Strider is exactly the kind of character I can't resist adoring. He's a rough, world-weary hunter with a painful and bloody past who's as likely to kill you as offer a helping hand, depending largely on whether Greer approves of you. Strider is intelligent, highly skilled, and dangerous, but once he decides he cares about your wellbeing he'll do literally anything to protect you. At first, I didn't think I would like Addy much, and, to be honest, it took a little while for her to grow on me. What I liked about her right from the start is that her personality matched her history and made sense for her character. Coming from a wealthy family, used to a certain kind of lifestyle and only recently forced into an entirely different world, she's a bit snooty, to be frank. What's cool about her is that she's curious, sharp, and interested in learning. She grows and learns and changes the most of any of the characters while still holding on to her core personality and values, and she quickly became yet another loveable character I was eager to follow. While these are the primary characters, they're certainly not the only ones present in the story, and I enjoyed nearly all the other characters. In fact, I'm hoping to see more of some of the side characters in the next book!
To sum up, this fantasy novel is a GIFT for almost any age group, with all the elements I crave in a fantasy, PLUS all the heartwarming moments between bonded characters I've rarely seen so well done in any literature, but especially fantasy. This is an indie that deserves every glimmer of limelight it can get, and I can't recommend it enough!
P.S. the author does all the artwork herself (NOT AI), including cover, maps, and chapter art! It's so pretty, and I LOVE the personal touch and the author's own image of the wolves and of Strider.

The HunterTrigger/Content Warnings:
~Overuse of magic leading to sickness and apathy/suicidal thoughts -ish (one of the characters thinks of letting go and dying, especially when drained of magic/sick. This is a recurring theme throughout, especially in the latter half.) ~Overuse of magic leading to “coldness” and temporary feelings of self-loathing ~Racial discrimination ~Blood/death/killing ~Past kidnapping/attempted kidnapping ~Brief mentions of possible, implied sexual assault (very vague and brief, but the theme is implied as a threatening future outcome a couple of times)
 

Don't skip the content warnings, which I'll copy/paste below directly from the book. As someone who can read a lot of messed up stuff without blinking, this one largely didn't handle things in a way that I found remotely appealing. Add to that the unrealistic plot of serial killers murdering wantonly whomever they can get their hands on, including dozens of hikers in their woods, as well as some people directly related to one of the characters, without police ever coming sniffing, and the subpar writing that generally felt very lazy - well, this one only skated by with its 2*-stars because some of the spice scenes were written well. The ones I wasn't cringing at anyway.
Content warnings below:

bloodplay/knife play/cutting each other for pleasure/unaliving bodies/light necro/dubious consent/non-con/Sadomasochism/light voyeurism/profanity/stalking/gun violence/mention of childhood neglect and abuse/degradation/consumption of blood/mental health issues/kidnapping/gore/SA/kidnapping/torture

  3.5

It took 50%-60% of the book before this story found its stride and took off, the plot finally taking precedence over the constant descriptions of geography and unnecessary traipsing back and forth by the characters. If that first half could have been edited down and the irrelevant parts chopped out, this would have been much closer to a 5-star read.As it is, the author truly created some loveable characters within an exotic urban fantasy world, reminiscent of an adult version of my favorite children's series, Skulduggery Pleasant. The snark of the characters is endless, but so is their obvious love for each other and willingness to endure unimaginable horror to save or protect one another. We get little peeks into the past through the story to help understand these characters and their friendships with one another, building them into who they are today.What I love most about them and the story is that they can actually SHOW that platonic love for each other without anyone ever questioning it or feminizing them. There's not a trace of misogyny or homophobia present anywhere, and the characters are even overt allies.Honestly, such characters were incredibly refreshing to see in a story that wasn't a romance, and I loved them for all of these traits and more.The story is set in and around Toulouse, France, which did cause the plot to drag in that first half of the story, as the author continued to give street-by-street narrative while the characters rambled back and forth through the city. Once they finally got out of the city, the plot soon picked up and didn't let go. I appreciated the accurate geography, but a lot of it could have been cut down and out without losing any of its charm.Overall, I did like a lot about this story and, after the finale - to my surprise - could see myself reading the next book in the series. I would even recommend this one, with a warning about the slowness of the first half beforehand. Regardless, there are some great characters in an interesting world here, and I do wonder what happens to them next.Imperfect Magic *Trigger Warnings

~Suicides (by character(s) who know they will reincarnate)
~Blood/Gore
~Religious past/religious iconography/religious character(s)
~Torture (past and present, described in a fair amount of detail)
~Mentioned drug/alcohol abuse



 

This one was a little more difficult to read with heavier angst but a satisfying conclusion and HEA. Can easily be read in a sitting. Quick, slightly dark BL duology that I managed to pick up from Cloud Library. It was worth the read for me, and I'm glad I finished the set! Just keep in mind the triggers/content warnings.

Undead Volume 2 Trigger Warnings:

~Rape
~Blood/gore, still mild but more than volume 1
~Kidnapping

This is the ideal BL manga for the impatient reader. While I was hoping for more world's story development and plot, this manga focused very closely on the relationship between Ai and Hikaru and read speedily with immediate progression from one scene to the next. While I enjoyed it and will read the second volume - especially since I already borrowed the digital copy from Cloud Library AND volume one ends on a cliffhanger - it's not nearly as dark and gory as I was expecting from the cover or the idea of a romance during a zombie apocalypse.
Somehow, this is terribly cute, instead, despite the subtle undertones of pseudo-incest xD
Spicy scenes are brief and largely closed-door/fade-to-black.


UNDEAD: Volume 1Trigger Warnings:

~Attempted rape
~Dubious consent
~Mild blood/gore
~Past physical/emotional abuse by a parent to their child

The amazing history, the twists, turns, and the romance that SoRelle persists in writing into this series will never not surprise me! Four books in, and I'm still utterly hooked. Alfie and Dominick are close to my heart, painfully in love, utterly precious, and I could happily read 100 books about them and their lives and adventures.
The plots in this one are shocking and exciting in the best ways with a return of characters we know and an introduction of several we don't as Dominick persues his heritage and discovers some incredible possibilities along the way.

Don't miss this one. It's so good. I can't wait for book 5, but in the meantime, I'm excite to finally pick up The Gentleman's Gentleman about Jarret and Gil Charleton's story!!

2.0-2.5

While this isn't the most well-written short story with simple characters and very little world-building, it's the kind of short you read for a diversion, and it's successful at that. It's an entertaining little story, especially if you don't think about it too much and just sit back and enjoy Dragon shifter/Wolf shifter smut.
Do beware that it's a dub-con because the Dragon shifter is a bit out of his mind as his instincts take over, and while he needs and wants the Wolf to a degree, he resists him, and, to help, the Wolf forces the issue.
 
Tamed and Mated Trigger Warnings:

~Attempted rape by the MC's assigned dragon fiancee
~Past mutilation (to prevent “weak” males from ever fully shifting into dragons)
~Dubious consent

Let me get this out of the way: the ending was STUPID. It could have easily wrapped up a variety of ways and been sent off into this green earth, but the author or publisher or someone must have wanted a sequel, because the author made Nhika a freaking imbecile in order to create a plot for the second book of her duology, and that frustrates me. If you're going to write a duology, fine. Don't make your previously intelligent characters IDIOTS in order to do that.

If you ignore the last few pages, this book was quite good. So good, in fact, that I had already started jotting down praising notes and commendations for a glowing 4-star review that I would have recommended to everyone who enjoys the genre. I think my exact words were: “Is it perfect? No. Is it excellent? YES.” In fact, aside from a few minor inconsistencies (and the idiotic ending) there was very little wrong with this book and whole lot good about it.The world that's spun in The Last Bloodcarver is somewhere between fantasy and steampunk and brings to mind Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, though where that series seems futuristic, this one seems historical. It's an interesting, clever world with prejudices and politics that you don't often see so well-crafted in a YA.The plot is a bit of a shifting thing that keeps developing as the story progresses, which makes it seem alive and breathing along with the characters and generally kept me hooked, though it did slow down a bit at one point before picking up again and never letting go. Still, even this slow point moved along steadily with pages quick to flip one after another, and when I picked it up, I truly didn't want to put it down.While, as aforementioned, Nhika was necessarily stupid in the finale for the way the author wrote the ending in order to create a plot for the sequel, the rest of the time she was quite sharp. She had depth and obvious motivation, longing for a family like the one she lost when she was too young, her heart softer than she pretends it to be. I appreciated her as a character (except in the finale) because it's somewhat uncommon to find female characters with whole personalities who seem like real people, especially in YA, but this book excelled at it.For a while, I didn't understand how the romance and love interest would make sense, but finally things clicked into place, and I grew to like Ven Kochin so much more. There was more to him than I realized, and everything he was made sense for his character arc. I really enjoyed him and his bond with Nhika.Alongside these two were a handful of other characters that all played reasonably significant roles in the story. They each had character traits that set them apart, and I was intrigued in all of them any time they were on the page.Overall, the uniqueness of this world and the richness of the characters in it, developed through the skilled writing of its author made this a good book that I was invested in. It was almost a great book, but that ending left me with a bitter feeling of frustration that it took me a while to overcome even to write this review, and I'm not sure whether I will push past that to read the sequel. Do be aware that these characters' stories do not get a HFN, and the sequel will be a necessary read if you want to get their full story. If you're okay with that, then this is a solid YA read that shines in its genre, and you'd be hard-pressed to not enjoy it.The Last Bloodcarver *TRIGGER WARNINGS:

~Caged animals for sale in an underground market
~Killing of a monkey and another small animal
~Guns/knives
~Blood, corpses, mild gore, mild anatomical horror
~Blackmail/threats