Alex
The Devil is Fine by John Vercher
Genre: Magical Realism I Psychological Fiction
Narrator: Dion Graham
Length: 8 hours, 36 minutes
Release date: August 18, 2024
Thank you @NetGalley and the author for the e-arc
I was intrigued by the synopsis for The Devil is Fine. A man who is reeling from his 17 year old son's death receives a letter letting him know that he has received a parcel of land from his maternal grandfather. He drops everything to move to the seaside of the Northeast, where his identity is shaken by the dark and haunting secret that lies beneath this inherited land. Devil is Fine is a brilliantly-crafted dissection of the legacies we leave behind, and those we inherit.
Narration thoughts: Dion Graham did a wonderful job with the narration of this novel, sometimes when there is humor it can make or break a novel. The inflection and timing of this narration definitely kept me intrigued and had me laughing out loud at parts and fearful at others.
Thoughts: This book was a solid three for me, it was very much a character driven plot and I loved the humor throughout. I truly felt for the MMC, a big part of the story was centered around his struggle to deal with being both black and white. He seemed to subconsciously resent his son because he was visibly “more black” than the MC. I can relate to a degree, when I was in middle and high school I definitely struggled where do I fit in being mixed. Both seen as too black to be white and too white to be black. It was interesting at at this man's grown age he was still grappling with this, I think we have a duty to our children to do our best to not pass down or place our traumas on them. The horror element was secondary to the identity crisis. Therefore, the horror felt vey rushed as did the ending.
The Devil is Fine by John Vercher
Genre: Magical Realism I Psychological Fiction
Narrator: Dion Graham
Length: 8 hours, 36 minutes
Release date: August 18, 2024
Thank you @NetGalley and the author for the e-arc
I was intrigued by the synopsis for The Devil is Fine. A man who is reeling from his 17 year old son's death receives a letter letting him know that he has received a parcel of land from his maternal grandfather. He drops everything to move to the seaside of the Northeast, where his identity is shaken by the dark and haunting secret that lies beneath this inherited land. Devil is Fine is a brilliantly-crafted dissection of the legacies we leave behind, and those we inherit.
Narration thoughts:
Dion Graham did a wonderful job with the narration of this novel, sometimes when there is humor it can make or break a novel. The inflection and timing of this narration definitely kept me intrigued and had me laughing out loud at parts and fearful at others.
Thoughts:
This book was a solid three for me, it was very much a character driven plot and I loved the humor throughout. I truly felt for the MMC, a big part of the story was centered around his struggle to deal with being both black and white. He seemed to subconsciously resent his son because he was visibly “more black” than the MC. I can relate to a degree, when I was in middle and high school I definitely struggled where do I fit in being mixed. Both seen as too black to be white and too white to be black. It was interesting at at this man's grown age he was still grappling with this, I think we have a duty to our children to do our best to not pass down or place our traumas on them. The horror element was secondary to the identity crisis. Therefore, the horror felt vey rushed as did the ending.
The Untended by Mattea Kramer Genre: Literary Thriller I Appalachia Length: 312 pages Release date: May 6, 2025 Rating: 3. Thank you @booksparks for the finished copy and having me as an #SRC2025 ambassador.
This is a twisty novel that deals with addiction and the seedy underbelly of society that we find our protagonist Casch Abbey in. This was such an addicting read because it is almost solely carried by the dialogue between the characters. This is very much a character driven story, the communication between the characters felt very natural and was an easy read in that regard. Casch is a single mother just trying to make it as a waitress when her foot is ran over in the parking lot of a Dunkin Donuts. She is prescribed painkillers for the incident and everything seems to be going at a decent clip, that is until the medication is recalled due to it being addictive. From here, she descends down a path that was stressful af but I literally could not put down the book because I HAD to know how this ends.
Casch makes decision after decision that I found to be so realistic for someone who is falling into an addiction unknowingly. It's not that she's a “bad” person who is actively seeking out addiciton, but with every choice her through her inner monologue she tries to justify her increasingly terrible decisions by saying she is “just trying to feel normal”. Part of the reason this felt so real is that the author is from the town for which the story is set in and I can only imagine she drew from her either lived experiences or those around her.
With this being said, there were some stylistic choices that I thought were odd. The ending felt very rushed to me, I could have read at least another 50-100 pages easily to make for a better resolution. Another choice that took some time getting use to was when a character was confused that was depicted as a literal question mark on the page instead of describing the character was at a loss or bewildered. I was not a fan of some of the choices made but overall I enjoyed the debut and I am looking forward to what the author releases in the future.
I read a regency romance recently that doubled as a murder mystery so I was expecting more from this one. That's my fault, there is not issues with this book in terms of writing or plot, but more of a me issue. I think this would have been a 5 star read if I didn't read a similar style of book recently. I highly recommend this one.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3⭐️
Length: 12 hours
Narrator: Ellis Evans
Release Date: February 27, 2024
Queer rep: Bi
Red, White and Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.
“Grief demands to be felt, even if it is buried”
About the Narration: I really enjoyed the audio narration on this one, I was questioning myself whether this a single audio narrator or not because the voices were so distinct. The narration made the book fly by, I read it in less than 24 hours, it was a quick and cute book.
Thoughts: Coal's father makes a surprise announcement one day in front of the kingdom that he will be courting Iris, who is the Easter princess and Coal's best friend. Much to the shock of Iris, Coal and Chris (Coal's brother) surprise. Not only are Coal and Iris best friends, but Chris has been in love with her for many years. No one seems happy with this announcement but they are loyal to their fathers and their courts so they outwardly go along with this.
The majority of the story focuses on the budding relationship between Coal and Hex. Coal (who's name is Nicholas) is the son of Santa aka Christmas and Hex is the Prince of Halloween. The two shared a passionate kiss (who doesn't love a bi awakening) in the past and they are confronted with their feelings for one another during the course of the story. Coal learns of his father's rather devious plans to black mail all of the other holidays to attain “joy” which seems akin to power in the kingdoms. The romance was front and center in the story, but I did enjoy the drama of the subplot where Santa is the villain. I know so many people loved this one but it was just ‘good' to me. I think it was a good quick, cute holiday read. I liked it, but it wasn't a love for me. Some of the dialogue screamed insta-love and I wish we had more yearning. There is spice in this one so I expected more from the characters in terms of growth and dialogue. There was a disconnect between the dialogue that felt very YA to me and then we have open door scenes. While I understand this is a new adult novel, the writing read very YA to me and I found myself rolling my eyes at quite a few lines.
Black Salt Queen by Samantha Basil Series: Letters from Maynara, book one Genre: Fantasy Setting: Pre colonial Philippines
Length: 416 pages
Release Date: June 3, 2025
Thank you @coloredpagesbt @bindery_books @sam_bansil for the gifted copy of the arc.
“There can be no victory without betrayal.”
Black Salt Queen is a powerful and moving debut with themes of the fight for power and what one might do in pursuit of it. I was pleasantly surprised that this was the author's first novel, the prose is so beautiful. The plot is one of political intrigue, magic, revenge, and all within the setting of the pre colonial Philippines. This novel is a multi POV that has two central romances: one is a sapphic relationship between rivals and the other is a heterosexual relationship that encapsulates young love. The pacing is slower as this is a character driven story and it is slower action wise. Bansil wrote a beautiful story that leaves room for nuance and I appreciated that she gave room for the reader to come to their own conclusions. Every plot device was done with intention and those twists! In and wait to see what's next from Bansil.
Someone Who Will Love You in all Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Release Date: May 19, 2020
Genre: humor
Length: 6 hours
Narrators: Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Baron Vaughn, James Urbaniak, Kimiko Glen, Colman Domingo, Natalie Morales, Raul Esparza, Will Brill, Stephanie Beatriz, Emma Galvin, and Nicholas Gonzalez
Hilarious, quirky, deep. This was exactly what I would expect and needed from the creator of Bojack Horseman. Favorite stories were Rufus and Most Blessed and Auspicious Occasion. Its so hard to rate short stories, but I fully intend to relisten to this audiobook again. I really enjoyed being in the mind of Bob-Waksberg & co.
One of my favorite quotes:
“Life is terrifying and overwhelming and it can happen at any moment. When you're confronted with life you can be cowardly or you can be brave. But either way you're going to live, so you might as well be brave.”
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith
Genre: Queer Regency Romance Setting: London 1788 Length: 15 hours, 5 minutes I 464 pages Narrator: James Langton Release Date: April 15, 2025
✨(nearly) Locked Room Mystery ✨Regency Romance ✨Secrets Surface ✨Queer normative world
Lord Nicholas Monterris is destined for a marriage of convenience. His intended bride to be is Lady Leaf Serral, the daughter of Nic's father's hated rival. Tradition dictates the families are confined while the marriage contract is crafted. To Nic's surprise, the Serral's vowsmith is his former lover, Dashiell. When the first body appears it is brushed off as an accident, but when another is found tensions rise as long buried secrets start to surface. Nic, Leaf and Dashiell must work together to uncover who is behind all of this before another citing is found.
Thoughts:
TGaHV is a regency era queer romantasy and a murder mystery. The mystery was so intriguing I couldn't put down the book. I loved the friendship that developed between Nic and Leaf. Leaf is by far my favorite character with so much depth and I just really love her. The relationship between Nic and Dashiell is so romantic, I really loved getting to know them and the 🌶️ scenes were everything. 😮💨🥵 To be clear, this is a queer normative world so Leaf is made aware of Nic's preferences but an heir needs to be produced regardless of how either feels about that. I really enjoyed this book, it had a great balance of fantasy and romance. In short, do you like murder mysteries? Do you like romantasy? If you answered yes to both questions, then do yourself a favor and pick up THE GENTLEMAN AND HIS VOWSMITH.
Don't Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo
Companion Novella
Genre: Reimagining I Queer I Character Driven
Setting: 1922
Length: 101 pages
Release Date: April 7, 2025
First, I'd like to thank Colored Pages Booktours, Tot dot com, and Nghi Vo for the finished copy of this novella.
When I found out that this was a companion novella, meaning it can be read on its own but best read following the author's debut. The Chosen and the Beautiful, which is another Great Gatsby reimagining, but from the perspective of Jordan as a Vietnamese orphan turned golf star. It chronicles her friendship with Daisy and the queer relationship between Nick and her. I highly recommend reading The Chosen and the Beautiful before jumping into the novella because it lays the ground work for which Don't Sleep with the Dead expands on.
While it's not necessary, it made the reading experience so enjoyable jumping back into the decadent setting of 1922. I love the reimagining of Jay and Nick as a queer couple and the magic system is quite interesting. I enjoyed this novella but I'm hoping we get more POVs in the future.
I recently found out it was a few days ago that F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby turned 100. What a milestone. The film adaptation is one of my favorite movies I've ever seen.
A Legend in the Sky by Faye Oliander
Series: The Gemini Stones, Booke One Genre: Romantasy I Epic Fantasy I Character Driven I New Adult Setting: Ancient Middle East Length: 508 pages Release Date: April 15, 2025 ✨check trigger warnings on author's website ✨
Thank you to coloredpagesbt and Faye Oliander do the finished copy!
What an adventure! I loved this character driven story about our FMC Naila who is transported into another world. While she is trying to make sense of this world she is also trying to find her best friend, Phillipe to return to earth. Naila finds that something she was always made fun of back on Earth is the key to unlocking something magical in this realm. I loved the twists and turns that were unveiled, there is a pronunciation guide and a glossary of words for the language the author came up with that I referenced a lot. Please let's do to this for every fantasy book. It was so immensely helpful. While this book is marketed as a romantasy I don't feel that the romance over shadowed the fantasy. I personally would classify it as an epic fantasy with a romance subplot although I can see how going forward romance may play a bigger role in the over arching story. I can't wait to read book two!
Lenny Marks Get Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne
Genre: Mystery I Thriller
Narrator: Annie Maynard
Length: 9 hours, 41 minutes
Release date: February 21, 2023
Thank you @NetGalley and the author for the e-arc
I enjoyed the audio narration by Annie Maynard, I love hearing different accents. She really captured me with her tone of the different situations that Lenny found herself in. I recommend the audio for this one.
I am still going strong on my NetGalley clean out, I thought saw this cover and it looked adorable so it was one of the first books that I requested on NetGalley. This book starts out cute enough, we follow Lenny Marks, a school teacher in Australia that would rather be at home with her extensive collection of Lord of the Ring editions than socialize. She rides her bike to school and really just keeps to herself. I will say, until about 50% into the nove I thought this was going to be a cute slice of life novel or one about going out of your comfort zone a bit. Guys, I was so wrong. As the title entails, there is a murder that happens. I can't speak too much on it because it's a massive spoiler, but I say all of this to say that I need to stop judging books by the cover and ACTUALLY read a synopsis. lol. I felt like I had whiplash because of the drastic difference between the first and second half of the book. Overall, I liked it, but I think had I known what I was getting into I would have potentially had a higher rating.
Meet Me At Blue Hour by Sarak Suk Genre: YA Contemporary Romance I Science Fiction Length: 288 pages Release date: March 25, 2025 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
“Seeing Lucas again this summer, I realize that as much as I've missed him, I've missed myself even more.”
Thank you coloredpagesbt, epicreads for a finished copy of the sophomore release from Sarah Suk.
Yena Bae is in Korea for the summer to visit her mother who moved from Edmonton, Canada to Busan, South Korea after divorcing Yena's father. Yena's mother runs a memory erasing clinic that had been very successful, that is trying out a new procedure to regain memories once lost. The procedure is fairly similar to the erasure to memories, the paitent is to record sounds on a casette tape to help locate memories that are to be tampered with. One day while in a rush and listening to patient #201's tape, Yena is distracted while running as she hears her voice on a tape and coincidentially runs into her best friend she hasn't seen in years, Lucas Pak. Lucas and Yena were best friends, until one day they weren't. Lucas has no memory of Yena, he is patient #201. Yena has no idea why Lucas would want to wipe his memory of her, but could rekindling a friendship do more harm than good? As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago–and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.
As a HUGE fan of The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind I was immediately intriged the premise. I have been on the hunt for a long time for a book similar to the plot and I this novel scratched that itch. I loved the young adult aspect of this story, I think the thought of wanting to erase a person from you life is so relatable. Speaking for myself, I have thought it before. Would my life be better if I could forget the person because then you wouldn't have to deal with loss? I think it's such an interesting concept, but then we wouldn't be who we are without knowing loss, pain, regret, love, etc.
As Yena and Lucas grow closer they go on many fun adventures, having never been to South Korea, it made me want to know more about the locations mentioned. The vivid imagery really put the reader in the locations with them. All throughout there are delicious descriptions of Korean food and adorable moments between Yena and Lucas. I enjoyed the alternating POV chapters of the two leads and in between the chapters we have flashback chapters featuring sounds. (The sounds go along with a specific memory to be located for the procedure—a bustling movie theater with popping corn or a gifted wind chime.) This such a beautiful story with deep themes that touch on grief and growing through it all.
Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone
Length: 384 pages
Narrator: Ellis Evans
Release Date: April 29, 2025 (out now!)
@valentine_pr_ thank you for the advanced e-arc.
During an opulent publishing party, Ofosua Addo crosses paths with Cole Drake for the first time. Their flirtatiously witty exchange culminates in a kiss that etches a permanent mark on both their hearts.
But Ofosua's identity as a Ghanaian heiress comes before Cole. She loves the vibrant traditions of Ghana's Gold Coast, and her hand is already promised to a man that even her overbearing mother loves. Yet, when her big Ghanaian wedding transforms from a fairy tale into a spectacle, she's thrust into a whirlwind of heartbreak and self-discovery.
In the midst of it all, Cole enters her life once again, under circumstances far different from their magical first encounter. Can Ofosua and Cole's rediscovered spark overcome the weight of tradition?
Thoughts:
I found myself in Ofusa, a bit insecure at times but still such a hard worker. I love nothing more than an author that infuses the love for reading that so many of us have into a main character. This novel had the perfect balance of making me laugh out loud and other tender moments that made me feel for Ofosua as she made some difficult decisions that went against tradition. The Ghanian dishes mentioned made me want to try this cuisine. The more books I read across the diaspora, the more I realize I have missed out on so many different cultural dishes. The core of this story is several strong female friendships and a love story with some set backs and how to navigate those. This novel just released yesterday, if it sounds like something you'd enjoy, I highly reccomend picking it up.
Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase
Genre: Epic Fantasy I Political Machinations
Release Date: May 27, 2025
Rating: 4⭐️
Thank you to @coloredpagesbt @bindery_books and @chasethemaren for the arc of your debut novel!
In this debut novel from Maren Chase we have gritty, authentic storytelling, combined with elements of fantasy, historical fiction with complex characters. I say in pretty much all of my reviews that I need to be hooked within the first chapter and this novel is no different. The reveal that happens in the first chapter sets the setting for all that our FMC, Vittoria. Princess Vittoria bears witness to a horrific event at merely 11 years old. Her father, the king, exiles her until she is found many years later by Ardaric. He gives her the option to marry him and seek out revenge on her father or die at his hands.
The first 25% starts out rather slow but the pay off was so great! We get to see Vita come into her own as the story progresses. Vita has a forbidden romance with her lady in waiting, akin to Priory of the Orange Tree. I am still blown away that this was a debut and truly exceeded all expectations I had. I enjoyed the set up being a slower pace because it made me really care for Vita.
This novel releases in May on @zorannes imprint through Bindery, fantasy & friens. I still think it's so amazing that influencers get to bring these stories to life.
Lovely dark and deep by Elisa A. Bonnin
Genre: YA dark academia I Mystery I Magic school Release Date: March 25, 2025 Dates Read: March 26, 2025 Rating: 5⭐️
Thank you to tbrbeyondtours and elisa.a.bonnin for the finished copy.
This book! I'm going to need to start seeing more people rave about this one. It had a perfect setting on a remote island north of Seattle in a hidden away magic school, Ellery Academy of Magic West. I loved this magic system and the way it was so clearly described from the onset of the story.
The eerie setting was perfect for the mystery that Bonnin laid at our feet. The story follows a group of characters as they try to uncover a mystery that we flash back to involving our FMC, Maria Castillo. Maria has the ability of fire and three years prior to our story Maria wakes up to realize she killed her best friend Sydney (or did she? 👀). Maria and her friends start to experience anomalies that even their powers can't explain, they are determined to find out what is the force that is emanating from the forest behind the academy.
I just devoured this book. The pacing is spectacular , I couldn't put it down! Typically I read about 60 pages an hour but I was tracking 93 pages per hour with this one. Which is insane for me and read it in one sitting. I loved every moment of this story. This is a perfect example of young adult done perfect. I can't give this book enough praise. It is definitely the best YA book I've read this year. If premise interests you, I highly recommend picking this one up.
Jumpnauts by Has Jingfong
Translated by Ken Liu
Genre: science fiction
Length: 368 pages
Release Date: March 12, 2024
I have been wanting to read more translated works this year, this is the first one so far, but Three Body Problem is another one I am wanting to get to because I feel like we get a unique perspective when we read more books from author's who's language is not our own. Jumpnauts blends elements of adventure, cosmic anthropology, and first contact. The story also includes social and political themes along with Chinese history and mythology.
The story follows three unlikely allies who embarks on a desperate mission to make contact with a mysterious alien race before a more militaristic faction can take control. Jumpnauts has been praised for its compelling promise well-developed characters, and exploration of complex themes.
This book was such a unique experience for me being that it was a translated work, I will say off jump that I don't think this type of book is going to work for everyone. It is very much a character study and it switches to a species study for the remainder of the book. If you aren't one for a book that focuses heavily on the characters and less on plot than this one may not interest you. However, I found this book to be very intriguing and an interesting take on what could possibly be out there in the universe. I would be very interested to read more books by this author to see if the voice changes based on who translates the novel.
Jumpnauts by Has Jingfong
Translated by Ken Liu
Genre: science fiction
Length: 368 pages
Release Date: March 12, 2024
I have been wanting to read more translated works this year, this is the first one so far, but Three Body Problem is another one I am wanting to get to because I feel like we get a unique perspective when we read more books from author's who's language is not our own. Jumpnauts blends elements of adventure, cosmic anthropology, and first contact. The story also includes social and political themes along with Chinese history and mythology.
The story follows three unlikely allies who embarks on a desperate mission to make contact with a mysterious alien race before a more militaristic faction can take control. Jumpnauts has been praised for its compelling promise well-developed characters, and exploration of complex themes.
This book was such a unique experience for me being that it was a translated work, I will say off jump that I don't think this type of book is going to work for everyone. It is very much a character study and it switches to a species study for the remainder of the book. If you aren't one for a book that focuses heavily on the characters and less on plot than this one may not interest you. However, I found this book to be very intriguing and an interesting take on what could possibly be out there in the universe. I would be very interested to read more books by this author to see if the voice changes based on who translates the novel.
The Witch Who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Length: 488 pages
Release Date: March 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to Angry robot for the gifted physical arc of this new release.
Going into this book I had no expectations. The synopsis sounded intriguing and joined with the cover art I definitely had to give this one a shot. I'm so glad I did, it really captivated from from the very first page. This book is about 500 pages and I read it in two sittings if that tells you how much I couldn't put it down I'm not sure what will. This is such a stunning debut of dark fantasy with a touch of romance.
Our FMC Kahana has pretty much the worst origin story. She happens to discover she can do magic at a young age, she and her friend go into hiding because she knows that if you are a witch you have to go be a concubine for the empire. Her parents eventually catch up with her and her friend, friend is killed, parents force her to go and to top it off the emperor is her long distant relative whom she is forced to bed. Kahana learns that the emperor has immortality because he traded with a god. This god goes by many names but Death is their most known moniker.
Yeah that would be my villain origin story but not for Kahana. She trades with Death in order to keep people around her safe. Small things at first like memories but nothing major. Somehow she finds the good in people, she is a great person despite all of the people in her life letting her down. This book is a story of fighting against your oppressor but not forgetting that the community you build will keep you sane when the world around you is nothing but harsh.
Thank you @netgalley and @delrey for the ARC of A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett. Genre: Mystery FantasyLength: 480 pagesRelease Date: April 1, 2025 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am fully convinced that Robert Jackson Bennett has cracked the code on what makes a fantasy mystery unforgettable. After absolutely loving The Tainted Cup in 2024, A Drop of Corruption has easily become one of my favorite reads of 2025. I might have made a mistake reading this alongside The Sword of Kaigen and Blood Over Bright Haven because now I am emotionally destroyed in the best possible way. A Drop of Corruption picks up shortly after the events of The Tainted Cup and brings us back to two of my favorite characters, Din and Ana. Their dynamic is perfection—clever, witty, and filled with humor that balances the darker moments of the story. The mystery element kept me guessing until the very end, and I genuinely had no idea who the culprit was or how everything would unfold. What makes this series so special to me is how it rekindled my love for mysteries. I grew up devouring Nancy Drew books, and this series captures that same spark of discovery and intellectual playfulness, but with the depth and complexity of high fantasy. Bennett weaves a seamless blend of intrigue, humor, and imagination that makes every chapter addictive. If you love stories that make you think, laugh, and gasp in equal measure, this is the perfect series for you. I cannot wait to see what Din and Ana uncover next.
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
Genre: Contemporary Romance l Black Romance I Magical Realism
Length: 12 hours I 352 pages
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Narrator: Mela Lee and Preston Butler
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I read Seven Days in June by Tia Williams in 2023 it set the bar what I expect for a romance novel, SDiJ is stil my favorite romance of all time. When I saw that Tia had another book coming out I dashed over to NetGalley to request it. And then it sat in my NetGalley queue for far too long. Here I am reviewing it, over a year after it's release (whoops).
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a contemporary romance with elements of magic realism and historical fiction, following Ricki Wilde, a free-spirited florist, and Ezra Walker, a mysterious musician, as they navigate a soulmate connection against the backdrop of Harlem's history and magic. Ricki has always been the blacksheep of her very wealthy family in that she wants to make a way for herself rather than falling in line and following the family business. Ricki's parents and sisters are doubtful at best, Ricki sets out to prove them all wrong. One day Ricki is walking through a garden when a strikingly handsome man, Ezra catches her eye and runs away. Ezra and Ricki's love story was so exactly what I needed.
I listened to A Love for Song for Ricki Wilde on audiobook through Libby and I really enjoyed the dual narrators for the the POVs of Ricki and Ezra. Their voices transported me directly in Tia's story and it was so gripping. Their voices were the perfect fit for the characters which made the story fly by. I loved the easter egg of Eva Mercy's book (character from Seven Days in June) being name dropped in this story. I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read Audre & Bash are Just Friends from Tia too!
I'm Not Supposed To Be In the Dark
Author: Riss M. Nielson Genre: Paranormal Romance I Young Adult Release Date: Dates Read: February 25-27, 2025 Rating: 3⭐️
Thank you to @NetGalley for the e-arc of this rerelease. I'm Not Supposed to Be In the Dark is a paranormal young adult romance that follows a teen convinced that her best friend turned enemy is possessed by a ghost. This novel is an alluring ghost story exorcising the past to find a future to believe in.
I was immediately drawn in by the cover, unfortunately this story just honestly bored me. I would have DNF'd this book if it hadn't been sitting in my NetGalley account for almost two years. I wanted more! I think that is what it simply boils down to, I just wanted more story, more reason to care about the characters and more romance. The backstory of why the FMC's powers were hidden from her left a lot to be desired. It left me with more questions than answers, are the powers hereditary? Are these powers somehow connected to the small town where the story takes place? Just really so many questions, so I am very disappointed in this novel, but the author's next novel is one that I hear a lot of people really enjoy so I will be checking it out from my library. This one missed the mark for me but here's to hoping that the next book is one I will enjoy.
The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Release Date: July 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the gifted arc of this novel.
This book was so different from anything I have read in a long time. The cover art of this book immediately caught my attention and I knew I needed to read it. The West Passage is a debut novel by Pechaček was nothing if not memorable. The novel reminded me of the weird fantasy / sci-fi I am familiar with heavy weights of the genre in the vein of China Mieville and Adrian Tschiakovsky. The story follows two apprentinces from the Grey tower, one trainings to become Mother, learning to care for people at death and birth, and the other in training to become a Guardian, charged with the defence of the palace against the Beast. As typically happens in these type of stories, things do not go to plan and a little (or lot) of chaos ensues. I had such a good time with this novel, one of my favorite subgenres is weird fantasy or sci-fi so I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am a bit mad at myself for not reading this one sooner. Just take a look at that cover and tell me that you aren't at least a bit intrigued to find out what goes on within those pages.
The Jade Labryinth by Alanna Mackenzie
Genre: Science Fiction I AI v. Human Kind I Dystopian
Release date: September 1, 2023
Length: 254 pages
4.5⭐️
What an end to a great series! I want to first thank @Zooloo's Book tours and @Alanna_vt for the gifted copies of this series.
Walter and the rebellion had so many obstacles in their way as they were trying to figure out how to alter the AI and do it in a way that would not end humanity as we know it. The circumstances they found themselves in time and time again kept my eyes glued to the page as I had to find out what happened next to the clan! I loved the sense of found family of the members within the group and the glimpse of the side character's lives we saw. I think Alanna Mackenzie does such great character work all throughout the books and really this was no different. The challenges they faced while intense were so worth the pay off. I am so glad that I fell in love with the cover art of the books and stayed for the world building, political intrigue and rebellion uprising. I don't think I could recommend this series enough. If you're looking for a new series that is not too long (each book is under 300 pages), might I suggest your next sci-fi read?
This was my first foray into the world of LitRPG and even for someone who is a novice when it comes to RPG's, I really enjoyed this one! Our MMC Nick is a novice, just like myself so I really connected with him as he completed quests and came across characters to advance his experience points. I enjoyed the blend of humor and fantasy in the setting of a video game. This story is mostly told from Nick's POV but I appreciated while the few chapters told from the side character's POVs as well. This was a very quick read because of the pacing of a typical video game this was no different. This is my first book by Daglish and I can't wait to see where the series goes from here.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Orbit and David Daglish for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee
Genre: YA fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Release date: January 7, 2025
Growing up I remember watching a lot of martial art movies with my dad, Enter the Dragon is a film that has so much nostalgia for me. So when I found out that Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee was co-authoring a book with one of my favorite current authors, Fonda Lee, I knew I needed to read this one. The Breath of the Dragon was a great introduction to Bruce Lee's teachings if you are unfamiliar or if you have that built in nostalgia like I do.
Shannon mentioned one reason she wanted to write this novel is to expose a new generation to her father's teachings. I could feel his lessons all throughout the novel, from the varying types of martial arts all the way through his political activism that we get a taste of in the first installment of this duology. I cam away from this novel with very fond feelings for the characters and I hope we find some answers to my many questions that Fonda and Shannon left open at the end of this novel. It is clear that this book sets us up for what I am sure will prove to be a bigger picture for the next book.