Eira Grey

I have zero valid complaints about this book. A queernorm m/m fantasy based on Welsh folklore and history sounds like it was written specifically for me, so I had to get into it as quickly as possible. I don't usually read the first in a series unless there's at least another book out, so I was really cranky with the cliffhanger ending here, but that's on me for not paying attention! While reading Princeweaver, my only gripe was that I just found it difficult to really care about the characters until the second half of the book, but I think the series is headed in a great direction! Excited for book two. 🦊

I was looking for smutty escapism and Soul Eater delivered 😅 Kicking myself for not checking out Lily Mayne's work sooner! The rest of the series looks great too.

I had some misgivings at the start of this book, I'll be honest. I struggled with how Nina's character was written, and didn't love Big Eddie throwing the word "tr*nny" around, but once I realized this was one of Klune's earlier works, it was easier to cut him some slack as I kept reading. I'm really glad I did, honestly! This book handles grief expertly and intimately, and seemed to come along right when I needed it the most. I went into this one with the expectation "gay angel romance, this should be fun" and came away from it in tears that wouldn't stop. All of Klune's books have a lot of heart, but there's something special about this one, a depth that is alluring and strange and beautiful. It's unpolished, a bit rough around the edges, but that ended up making me love it even more. Overall, I'm just delighted to have read this book. I highly recommend if you're struggling with the loss of a loved one, or with grief in general.

Interesting take on the Tarot. Rachel Pollack infuses all her books with such genuine wisdom! Personally, this work did not resonate with me as much as it should have, as I'm very much a Tarot newbie, so I think it will be something to come back to later in the journey. I can definitely see how it would be tremendously helpful for experienced Tarotists in shifting some entrenched ways of looking at the entire system. Pollack urges readers to "play" with the Tarot, encouraging a sense of wonder, which is a refreshing break from studying formulaic meanings and structures.

This was a horrifying, heartbreaking, and weirdly sweet conclusion to the Angels trilogy. I think Nicolás really stuck the landing! I would've been unhappy with another tragic ending or an HEA, but the ending was just ambiguous enough.