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The Season will always return: Reviewing The Obelisk Gate (Book 2 of the Broken Earth Trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin

Hi everyone! I’m back (again) because I like to read fast. Before you check out this review, check out my review for the first book in this trilogy, The Fifth Season. If I get invested in a series, I try to read them as close together as I can because I want to remember everything that happened in the previous books. I will definitely get to the third book sooner than later. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. It’s time to review The Obelisk Gate.

Content Warning: Violence and Abuse, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Harsh Language

Essun’s search for her daughter continues as the world around her dies quicker with each passing day. Instead, she is reunited with her old mentor who gives her a request that could change the fate of the world. Meanwhile, Nassun, Essun’s daughter, begins training with other orogenes. As her powers grow stronger everyday, Nassun makes a decision that could break the world that her mother is trying to save.

Overall, I absolutely love the unique tone and intricate world building that carries over from The Fifth Season to this sequel. I wouldn’t say that this sequel is stronger than the prior book, though. It was missing some of the initial intrigue that the first book had. I did enjoy, however, seeing the magic system be fleshed out more as that is the best part of this series. I was a little iffy about the additional POV chapters we do get in this book of Nassun. Her chapters did end up being more enjoyable than I had thought and pushed the plot in a direction that I was not expecting. The book does drag a tiny bit towards the middle but really picks up towards the end. I am absolutely going to pick up the third book because I cannot stand to be left on a cliffhanger. I am still absolutely loving The Broken Earth trilogy and cannot keep recommending it to all of you out there.

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Magic never dies. It merely fades away: Reviewing The Color of Magic (Book 1 of the Discworld Series) by Terry Pratchett

Hey all! I’m back sooner than I anticipated. For better or worse, I am a fast reader so I have yet another review for you. I did try to read this book years ago but didn’t retain may details at the time. I do enjoy Terry Pratchett. He is the co-author of one of my all-time favorite books, Good Omens. The Discworld series is a pretty long one so I endeavor to read a couple of books in the future. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though, and start from the beginning with The Color of Magic.

Rincewind may be the worst wizard to ever exist. After getting expelled from the Unseen University, he’s been aimless. That is until he becomes a tour guide for a strange little man named Twoflower and Twoflower’s sentient Luggage. Unfortunately, Twoflower is naive and Rincewind is inept. The odd pair soon find themselves among thieves, barbarians, dragon riders, and other unsavory characters. Despite their best attempts to avoid danger, Fate has other plans for the two.

The Color of Magic was a fun, fast-paced, and quirky fantasy that is just the tip of the strange world created by Terry Pratchett. I absolutely love Pratchett’s sense of humor. I found myself re-reading lines because I missed the joke the first time around. His is a really unique take on the fantasy adventure genre. Beneath all of the humor and strange characters, the novel does present poignant little thoughts regarding fate and death. This is easily one of the most imaginative fantasy novels I have read in a bit. There wasn’t anything terribly inappropriate in this book (some of the characters are depicted as nude but there are no graphic details) so I can see this being a good introductory fantasy novel. The Color of Magic was such a fun time. I can’t guarantee I will read the entire Discworld series but I will try to read some more.

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Are you ready to make a deal?: Reviewing Sign Here by Claudia Lux

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I am posting this on St. Patrick’s Day so Happy St. Paddy’s Day if you celebrate! I recently broke my book-buying ban and will return with more fascinating novels soon. I have at least one more novella to read and a shorter novel before I review some of the longer books I own. One of my next books will be Terry Pratchett’s The Color of Magic so I might have a new series to start soon. Before I can talk about any of those, I must talk to you about the subject of this review: Sign Here by Claudia Lux.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Violence and Abuse, Drug and Alcohol Usage, Some Harsh Language, Some Sexual Content,

Despite living in Hell (yes, that Hell), Peyote Trip has a pretty good gig. He works in the Deals Department on the Fifth Floor of Hell. Peyote, though, wants to get promoted to the Sixth Floor, where things are a lot less awful. To do so, he has to convince the last member of the Harrison family to sign over their soul. Completely unaware of this plan, the Harrisons go up to their lake house to spend where they always spend their summers. Their teen daughter brings along her confident and mysterious friend, Ruth. Peyote seizes the opportunity to get to the Harrisons. With the help of his new coworker Calamity, he should have this deal in the bag. These plans, however, begin to fall apart quickly when the Harrisons are forced to confront a tragedy that happened at the lake. As it turns out, these secrets have deadly consequences for everyone.

Sign Here was quite a fun and thrilling read. It was equal parts darkly funny and rather heartwarming at times. Claudia Lux makes the most use of multiple character POVs to create such well-fleshed-out characters. I also loved her depiction of Hell as being a series of the worst workplaces you could ever imagine. The blurb said this book had similar vibes to “The Good Place,” which is one of my favorite shows and I could definitely see the similarities here and there. I thought the overall humor that the book promises worked well with the tone. It never felt inappropriate when it didn’t need to be, considering some of the content matter that this book deals with. My favorite thing about the book, though, was the plot twists that made me not want to put down the book at all. I absolutely needed to know how this book ended and I am glad I did. Overall, I am going to recommend Sign Here, especially if you have a bit of a dark sense of humor.

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These cunning gods and their cunning games: Reviewing Godkiller (Book 1 of the Fallen Gods Series) by Hannah Kaner

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Spring is just around the corner and I am ready for change. If you haven’t yet, you can follow me on Storygraph (a free app that lets you track your reading) under the username n0vel_ideas. An idea that I am toying with right now is creating an Instagram account for my TBR. I haven’t decided yet but I will let you know how to follow me if I decide to make one. I guess I am (very technically) an “influencer,” which is weird to think about. I can at least hope that I am a good influence. While we’re here, let’s talk about Godkiller by Hannah Kaner.

Content Warning: Violence, Some Sexual Content, Harsh Language. Some Descriptions of Injury, Some Disturbing Imagery

Years ago, gods of all sorts ran rampant in the kingdom of Middren. After a war was started by the gods, they were forbidden, and any worship of them was made illegal. Any gods that might still roam the land are dispatched by “godkillers.” Kissen is one of these godkillers. After her family was killed by a fire god, she devoted her life to killing gods and getting paid for it. Everything Kissen knows about the gods is changed when she meets a young noble girl who is bound to the god of white lies. Kissen can’t kill the god without killing the girl so she must find a way to break their bond. On their journey, they meet a knight with secrets of his own who agrees to help them. They must venture to the kingdom of Blenraden, where wild gods still roam and a civil war threatens to break out. Only the ragtag group can stop the kingdom from being thrown into a war unlike any they have ever seen before.

Godkiller was quite the fun, fast-paced fantasy read that I have been looking for for a while now. Hannah Kaner provides an interesting take on world-building. Any fantasy has some religion built into the world but that often gets pushed aside for the plot. I liked how the gods were a major part of the plot in this book. There was definitely some inspiration from Game of Thrones in this book but I personally enjoyed that aspect as well. I thought the four characters whose POVs we alternate between were all interesting in their own way. Multiple POVs can be tricky but Kaner does a great job of balancing all of these characters. Overall, Godkiller was such a fun read and I can’t wait to read its sequel.

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There is nothing wrong with being a monster: Reviewing The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Hi everyone! I’m back again with another review. Before you read this review, you can check out my review of Cassandra Khaw’s other novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth. I still have mixed feelings about that particular book. I didn’t realize how many people really disliked the first novella, though. Rarely, I don’t give authors a second chance. Some authors just need some time to improve. I have a small handful of authors who I won’t ever read or won’t read again. I don’t focus too heavily on that aspect and typically just go off of the books themselves. Maybe some of you are the exact opposite, though. It is fine either way. Now, let’s talk about The Salt Grows Heavy.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Body Horror, Depictions of Harm Towards Children, Non-consensual Medical Experimentation, Discussions and Depictions of Abuse

A prince found a mermaid and brought her to shore. He foolishly thought he could make her a “proper wife.” He was wrong and now her daughters have devoured the kingdom. Now, the mermaid wanders the land with a mysterious plague doctor by her side. The two unlikely companions discover a village of immortal children who are ruled by three cruel beings they call “the saints.” The mermaid and the plague doctor must embrace their darker natures to survive.

I must say that I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed Nothing but Blackened Teeth. I liked the unique take that this book had on mermaid-centric fairytales and embraces the myths in which mermaids (or sirens) are terrifying monsters. I also like the relationship between the mermaid and the plague doctor. The biggest problem with this book is that is a novella. There are some interesting ideas in this book that I would have loved to see explore more. The book seemed so focused on these long descriptions and excessive use of words that I had to stop to look up. While I did indeed learn new words, I also learned you don’t need long words to make your story compelling. That being said, Cassandra Khaw’s writing is strong and the descriptions were both beautiful and visceral. It was one of the more gory books I have read so far this year. Overall, I’m not going to say that you should definitely read The Salt Grows Heavy but I don’t think it would hurt to check this one out if you are interested in super dark and violent retellings of fairy tales.

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Let’s DNF together! It’s okay to stop reading!

Hi all! I’m coming at you with a completely different post than my normal reviews. I’m sure most of you on this side of the internet are familiar with the term DNF but, if you need a refresher, it stands for Did Not Finish. You don’t necessarily have to apply it to books but it is mostly regarding books. I have some free time at this moment so I have been watching different “Book Tubers” talk about their worst or DNFs of 2023. I felt inspired. I am a bit of a completionist when it comes to books. I like to see things through to the end because a book could surprise me or it could justify any negative feelings I have while reading. I might have said this before but I go into every book I read hoping it will be my next favorite. Not everything pans out, though, and I certainly wish I had stopped reading certain books. I am making it a point now to be okay with DNF-ing a book for whatever reason. Now, I will present my most recent DNFs. If you have different thoughts or you agree, feel free to leave me a comment either way.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – You might have heard the hype surrounding this book and its daunting size. The book is about 1,000 pages. I was fully prepared to tackle this book and read about 25% of the book before giving up. It was so bloated and I didn’t care about the court politics of the book. I wanted dragons and was barely getting dragons. I don’t know if I will ever tackle this book again but I’m going to hold on to it, just in case. If a book is over 1,000 pages, it really needs to work double overtime to justify why it is 1,000 pages.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth – This is another case of a book just being too long and not losing my interest. I also didn’t care for the fourth wall-breaking narrator who kept being cheeky and omnipotent. The book goes back and forth between two groups of characters (one set in the past and one set in the present) and I was only interested in the characters from the past. I do really want to give the book another shot because I like the overall premise but the narrative voice annoyed me so much.

Rhapsodic by Lauren Thalassa – Everyone and their mother currently loves dark “romantasy” with fairies who are just hot people with wings. I thought I might give the genre a shot and I am learning that dark romance is not exactly for me. This book was a slog to get through and I was annoyed at how slow the burn was. I flipped ahead and the two main characters didn’t get together until about chapter twelve of a book that was just shy of thirty chapters. Also, the main character’s best friend was a stereotype and that bothered me throughout. I’m not bothering with Laura Thalassa again.

Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert – This book had two things that I should have loved: vampires and Katee Robert. I still stand by my reviews of her other books as “guilty pleasure” books. I thought that this book would be a no-brainer, instant love for me. Let me explain what I like about the Dark Olympus series: in every book, regardless of the circumstances, the couples always have a discussion about consent and boundaries. I truly appreciate all of those conversations and how Katee Robert works those in. In Court of the Vampire Queen (spoiler/content warning) the main character literally walks into the main vampire love interest’s house and he jumps on her, then they just have sex right there. There was no “hi, how are you” nor did he even introduce himself. They get nasty right there and she brushes the whole thing off?!?! It was so icky and I gave that book away as soon as I could.

Phantom by Greer Rivers – Does all dark romance suck? This one was on me for falling for a premise. This book was advertised by the author herself as a re-telling of The Phantom of the Opera that is set in modern-day New Orleans and it had some mafia elements. I put this book down after the first sentence of the first chapter. Now, I fully understand that dark romance is meant to be a little unhinged but I don’t appreciate the male main character fantasizing about assaulting the female main character. It was a major ick and I’m mad at myself for falling for this book.

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt – This one is simply a case of “not feeling it.” I’ve been trying for months to read this book and I’m just not super interested. I do really like the premise so I might just save this one for a different time. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s books so if I don’t finish this one then I might try I different book by him. The book gives me major Stephen King vibes, for better or worse. I really wanted to read it for October but I found other books that I just liked better.

Well, that is my current DNF list. If you have any suggestions for other books I might like instead then feel free to leave those in the comments. I wish you all the best!

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Instinct is a force beyond one’s control: Reviewing Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! This is my second review of a book by Ottessa Moshfegh. You can check out my review of My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I am still on my “weird girl literature” kick and have at least two more “weird” books to review. I’m glad you are all still interested in this blog and I am forever grateful to all of you who read my reviews. Let’s talk about Lapvona.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Graphic Death, Explicit Sexual Content, Depictions of Domestic Abuse, Depictions of Sexual Abuse, Depictions of Self-Harm, Some Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Discussions and Depictions of Ableism

Marek, the son of the village shepherd, has been ostracized from the rest of the Lapvona due to his appearance. His father, Jude, abuses him and blames him for his mother’s death. He seeks solace in nature and God. The only other person he has a personal connection to is Ina, the blind medicine woman. Ina possesses a mysterious ability to connect with nature in a way that frightens Marek, but he has no other source of comfort. Not only is Marek’s faith being tested, but so is the village of Lapvona after a drought befalls the people. During this time, a freak accident brings Marek into the home of the eccentric and calculated lord governor. Marek finds himself plunged into a world that he doesn’t belong in and must change for better or worst to survive.

This book was bleak and visceral in a way that only Ottessa Moshfegh could write it. Lapvona takes an unflinching look at flawed characters who are just trying to survive by any means necessary, even if it means taking drastic measures. There were a few times while reading this book when I raised my eyebrows and thought “Oh no what the hell is this?” I did, however, keep reading because the behavior of the characters, while disgusting, is still undeniably and graphically human. I think that is the element of Moshfegh’s book that keeps drawing me back in. I appreciate the commentary and themes of the novel as none of this is unnecessarily gratuitous. I also like the fact that the novel is meant to be an allegory. It certainly got me thinking, that’s for sure. While Lapvona will not appeal to everyone, it will appeal to those whose morbid curiosity always gets the better of them.

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When it ends, it’s in blood and tears: Reviewing Cruel Seduction (Book 5 of the Dark Olympus Series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well, even though it is still early in the year. I finally get to review at least one dark romance novel after DNF-ing another one after about ten pages. I really want to be more invested in dark romance but most of it is just flat-out creepy and/or abusive. Most of them sound so horribly unappealing to me. Luckily, I can turn to Katee Robert whenever I need that “fix” for the genre. With that being said, let’s talk about the latest addition to the Dark Olympus series, Cruel Seduction.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Some Harsh Language, Discussions about Child Abuse/Neglect

Aphrodite is a woman with a plan. Her current plan is probably her riskiest so far. It starts with her marrying the new Hephaestus, Olympus’s number one enemy. After that, she plans on keeping him in line by seducing Hephaestus’ long-time friend, Pandora. Hephaestus, however, is no fool and decides to get back at his new wife by seducing her ex, a beautiful man named Adonis. These games of power quickly become far messier than anyone had intended. While Aphrodite and Hephaestus trade barbs in and out of the bedroom, a new threat has shaken Olympus. Aphrodite and Hephaestus must find a common ground before they lose everyone they have come to love.

I kind of knew I would enjoy this book when I read the dedication. Katee Robert meant this book for anyone who loves a mess and she sure meant it. When I call this book messy, though, it’s a compliment. I actually love the soap opera vibes of this entry into the Dark Olympus series. The chemistry between the main four characters is palpable and the subplot helps to add to the stakes of the novel. It’s still not the best world-building ever, but that isn’t the reason you are reading this novel. Don’t you worry; Cruel Seduction is particularly steamy in all the best ways. It was definitely an improvement from the last entry in the series. I really am still having fun with this book series. I would recommend this to all of the dark romance fans who are looking for something refreshing and spicy to add to their TBR.

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Death behind and to either side. Only one choice is no choice at all: Reviewing The Hunger of the Gods (Book 2 of the Bloodsworn Trilogy) by John Gwynne

Hi everyone! I hope you are all still staying warm and cozy if it is snowing where you live. I’m gathering up a TBR list for 2024. I mostly read standalone books but I do love a good series every so often. Before I start my review of this book, go check out my review of the first book in the Bloodsworn trilogy, The Shadow of the Gods. The third book hasn’t been announced yet but I will be keeping an eye out. I can’t wait much longer. Let’s talk about The Hunger of the Gods, the second book in the Bloodsworn trilogy by John Gwynne.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Some Sexual Content, Harsh Language, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Intense Battle Scenes

After centuries, the gods have awoken. Lik-Rifa, the dragon god, plans to destroy her fellow gods and any who oppose her reign. Orka, Elvar, and Varg continue on their paths where new dangers have emerged. The Battle Grim and Bloodsworn realize that they are no match for the might of the dragon god and her allies. The only hope lies in a book of magic with the power to resurrect Lik-Rifa’s greatest enemy, Ulfrir the wolf god. Forces beyond the comprehension of man will soon wage a war that no one will be able to escape from.

This sequel was incredible. I sang my praises for the first book and I am so happy I get to rave about its follow-up. The Hunger of the Gods is truly epic and so well-crafted. What I particularly enjoyed was John Gwynne’s riveting prose and how he uses that to build upon the elaborate world he established in the first book. I think the way he structured the book was smart too, as in the first book, he alternates between characters’ perspectives. The additional characters help to add more scope to this world. The characters themselves are so well fleshed out. I became almost embarrassingly invested in the story at points. I wanted to talk about this book so badly so for way too long. I am so glad to tell you all about this. In conclusion, go read this series immediately. You will be hooked from page one.

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So you (still) want to be a half-blood?: Reviewing Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Hello all! I’m back again sooner than expected with another review. I’ve mentioned a few times how I tend to avoid middle-grade and/or young adult books but I have a soft spot for the Percy Jackson series. I absolutely love the TV adaptation so far, so I started feeling nostalgic all over again. I don’t think anything is wrong with holding on to some childhood interests as an adult. Sometimes, it’s fun to look back at the things that inspired you in the first place. I also just love keeping up with Rick Riordan in general. Let’s talk about the latest entry in the Percy Jackson series, The Chalice of the Gods.

Percy Jackson, demigod extraordinaire, is about to face his greatest challenge: college. First things first, he needs three recommendation letters for New Rome University. These letters have to be from gods and, to earn these letters, Percy must complete quests. His first quest is to help Ganymede, Zeus’s cupbearer, who lost his magical chalice. With the help of his friends Grover and Annabeth, Percy must (for the millionth time) face down an array of creatures and gods who seem to have nothing better to do than to fight some (sort of) harmless demigods.

Despite the fact I know I am not the target audience for the Percy Jackson series, I can tell Rick Riordan is aware of how many of his readers are growing up and continuing to enjoy the world of Percy Jackson. I get a sense that he is aware that some of his readers are nostalgic adults. These books, though, can be for readers of all ages. I read so many heavy and dark books on my blog so it is nice to go back to some of the more light-hearted books I grew up with. (The Percy Jackson books can still be kind of dark. Don’t get it twisted.) I do love Riordan’s overall consistent quality with his books but you can still see where the world of the book has evolved to keep up with modern trends. This is certainly a book for all ages and I can see how reading this book would be a great family bonding experience, if you do have any little bookworms in your life looking for their next exciting literary adventure.