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Shared danger is the strongest of bonds: Reviewing The Temple of Fortuna (Book 3 of the Wolf Den Trilogy) by Elodie Harper

Hi everyone! I hope you are all still doing well. Before you read this review, read my reviews for the first two books in the series, The Wolf Den and The House with the Golden Door. I am very excited to wrap up this series with you. I mostly plan on reading standalone books but I might start another series. I’ve been getting some good recommendations via the Internet that I hope to share with you all in the future. For now, let’s talk about the third and final book in The Wolf Den trilogy, The Temple of Fortuna.

Content Warning: Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Abuse, Mild Sexual Content, Some Violence, Discussions and Depictions of Slavery

Amara has fought and bargained her way from the brothel known as the Wolf Den to being an upper-class courtesan to a powerful Roman politician. Her life is far from happy, though, as her daughter and the man she truly loves live in Pompeii. Amara decides to visit her family, torn between the life she has fought for and the life she wants. She is still in danger of her secrets being revealed by her former master. Just as Amara thinks the worst of the danger has passed, Vesuvius erupts. Amara must use her survival skills to save her family from her dangerous past and an uncertain future.

This third and final installment of The Wolf Den trilogy wraps up Amara’s story in a satisfying, albeit sad way. Being that the story was set in Pompeii, I was curious if Elodie Harper was going to include the explosion of Vesuvius. Even though it is a large part of the book, it doesn’t overshadow the carefully crafted interpersonal drama and heartfelt relationships that Elodie Harper pays such great attention to. I appreciate how honestly Harper depicts the various struggles of her female characters. It is hard to find truly complex female characters but Elodie Harper delivers that throughout this trilogy. I can find very few weak points in this series as a whole. Each book holds up as its own with plenty of rich historical accuracy and compelling characters. If you are looking for an exciting novel, look no further than the Wolf Den trilogy.

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The world was scary. Worse, I was scary in it: Reviewing Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova

Hello everyone! I’m back to my regularly scheduled reviews! I’m very excited about this one too. I always have a few books on my TBR pile that I look forward to more than others. Monstrilio has been circling around my little corner of the internet and I was immediately intrigued by the premise. Now, let’s not ramble on any longer and talk about Monstrilio.

Content Warning: Death of a Child, Grief and Mourning, Explicit Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Depictions Of Drug and Alcohol Use, Animal Death, Graphic Depictions of Injuries

Magos is shattered after the death of her young son, Santiago. In her grief, she cuts out a piece of his lung as a morbid keepsake. She believes she can bring Santiago back by feeding and nurturing the piece of the lung. Shockingly, it worked but not in the way that Magos had thought. The lung slowly turns into a grotesque little creature that she dubs Monstrilio. Magos does her best to contain this new creature but Monstrilio grows and evolves rapidly. His appetite poses a danger to Magos and those around her. Magos is forced to confront her grief and decide what to do with the creature who may or may not be her son.

I am so glad when the hype for a book pays off. Monstrilio is a beautiful yet terrifying novel about the complexity of grief. This book is so tender and so fierce in its depiction of love and what love can drive someone to do, for better or worse. What I wasn’t anticipating about this book (but absolutely loved) is its depiction of queer love and sexuality. We have these characters who have so much to hide because of what they have done but don’t ever hide from those aspects of themselves. While this novel is classified as a horror, it wasn’t truly “scary,” but it was gruesome at times. You have been warned if you are a little squeamish. It did give me the chills here and there. I did not want to put this book down at all. I know it’s early in the year but Monstrilio is already one of my all-time favorites so far. Put this one on the top of your TBR immediately. You won’t regret reading this truly amazing novel.

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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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We would not be born out of sweetness, we were born out of rage: Reviewing Brutes by Dizz Tate

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m back again with yet another unhinged book about girlhood. Prepare yourself. I promise that my reviews will remain weird. I have said this once and I will say it again: thank you all so much for continuing to support this blog as I ramble on about whatever have read lately and I wish you all the best. Now, let’s discuss Brutes.

Content Warning: Some Harsh Language, Disturbing Imagery, Discussions and Depictions of Child Abuse and Neglect, Some Discussions of Self-harm, Some Discussions about Substance Abuse

Falls Landing, Florida seems like a haven for upper-class Floridians with its clean houses, massive pools, and constant gossip. In this little suburban paradise lives a group of thirteen-year-old girls, dubbed “the Brutes” by their mothers. These girls develop an obsession with Sammy, the preacher’s daughter. They spend their days and nights following Sammy and her boyfriend, Eddie, with a frenzied curiosity. One day, Sammy goes missing and only the girls know what really happened to her. The secret will continue to haunt them into adulthood and rears its ugly head as they reunite in unexpected ways.

In the same vain as Ottessa Moshfegh and Monica Ojeda, Dizz Tate delivers a visceral and harsh look at girlhood and its pitfalls. The Brutes is a dizzying tale of mystery with Southern Gothic elements. I love the combination of abstract prose and blunt honesty that Dizz Tate uses throughout the novel. I have not spent a ton of time in Florida but Tate paints a detailed picture of a childhood among the cul-de-sacs where secrets lie in every house. I also appreciated the flash-forwards to each of the characters as adults because it did an excellent job showing the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Brutes is an impactful look at the bonds created by girlhood and the unspoken truths of growing up in a toxic environment.

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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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Everything can be made from her hands: Reviewing Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval, Translated by Marjam Idriss

Hi everyone! I’m back again with another novella review. I have one other novella in my TBR pile but I might save that one for a later date. Be ready for some weird and depressing books, though. I hope the content warnings I give you in these reviews are helpful. Trigger warnings and/or content warnings are necessary, and I will continue to use them from now on. Now, let’s talk about Paradise Rot.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Some Disturbing Imagery, Some Harsh Language

Jo is traveling from Norway to start university in England. She’s alone and struggling to adapt to her new setting. She meets a strange woman named Carral and moves into her equally strange apartment. It has no walls and seems to have a life of its own. Jo finds herself inexplicably drawn to Carral. The thin boundaries between them begin to break down and Jo finds herself struggling to navigate a world where she can’t separate herself from Carral.

This novella was certainly a bizarre read in a captivating, dream-like way. Jenny Hval’s use of atmospheric writing and vivid (albeit gross) descriptions pull you in as a reader and force you to face the more minutely uncomfortable aspects of life. There is also a sense of catharsis in the way Hval explores sapphic relationships. I am a sucker for the “cannibalism as a metaphor for love” trope and Paradise Rot certainly fits the bill. There were a lot of discussions revolving a bodily fluids so if you are a bit squeamish about that, then you should look for a different book. If you do, however, want an atmospheric and weird book then I would definitely recommend Paradise Rot.

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Could I be a human if you called me one?: Reviewing The Employees by Olga Ravn, Translated by Martin Aitken

Hi everyone! I am back again sooner than anticipated. I have a couple of novellas on my TBR pile to fill in the gaps between some of the longer books I read. I’m watching for new releases and other books to add to my pile. I am unsure if anyone would want this but I know some book-centric influencers put out their TBR list at the beginning of the year. I might do posts like that at the beginning of the year or the beginning of the month. I don’t typically do “reading goals” but I might like to give you all a sneak peek of what to expect from me as far as content. I think I have rambled enough now. Let’s talk about The Employees.

Content Warning: Some disturbing imagery. Brief discussion of infant loss, Brief discussion of sexual content, Some discussion of mental health issues

It’s the maiden voyage of the Six Thousand Ship. The crew consists of human and humanoid workers who all have complaints about the monotonous daily tasks. All of these complaints are carefully tracked by the committee. The voyage of the Six Thousand ship is put in jeopardy when they take on strange objects from the planet New Discovery. The objects begin to have strange effects on the human and humanoid crew members. Tensions begin to boil over, mutiny is on the horizon, and the entire voyage may fall apart.

The Employees is a strange, speculative novella that packs a punch with its chilling narrative and philosophical themes. I do love novels told through unconventional narrative structures. In this case, the entire story is told through statements from the different crew members. It does read rather poetically at times while giving glimpses of the horrifying consequences of the overall mission. Olga Ravn does a great job balancing ambiguity and the concrete aspects of the plot, like the fallout of bringing these mysterious objects onto the ship. I love how the novel questions what defines humanity and what makes someone human. The small details are what really set this novella apart. The Employees satisfied my need for surreal sci-fi, philosophy, and just a touch of horror.

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Our remedies oft in ourselves do die: Reviewing All’s Well by Mona Awad

Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well! January feels like a weird time of year for me. It is nothing that I can’t deal with, and I deal with my problems by reading instead. This is now the second book I have read by Mona Awad. You can check out my review of her other book, Bunny. You all know at this point that I love “weird girl literature” so, of course, I had to check out this book. I am currently reading another book by Ottessa Mosfegh. That review will be out soon-ish. Now, however, it is time to talk about All’s Well.

Content Warning: Some harsh language, Some sexual content, Some depictions of substance abuse, Brief discussion of self-harm

Miranda Fitch’s life has fallen apart. Her once-promising career as a stage actress and her marriage ended when Miranda was in a car accident. Now, she is dealing with debilitating chronic pain. The only thing she has to look forward to is her production of Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well. Her cast of college students, however, band against her to perform Macbeth instead. Miranda feels her rock bottom sinking lower. That is, however, until she meets three mysterious benefactors who assure her that her show will go on and her pain will go away. Suddenly, everything begins to look up for Miranda but she begins to wonder if she will have to pay a price for her sudden success.

Mona Awad continues to deliver weird and layered narratives surrounding women’s issues in ways that I have never really seen before. As a fan of Shakespeare, I love Awad’s use of elements from Macbeth and All’s Well That Ends Well to enhance a story about a woman who just wants someone to believe in her. I particularly enjoy Awad’s ability to write strange, dream-like prose that you can still follow as you read it. Mona Awad’s writing is meant for speculation. It is interesting the way that the characters gaslight themselves and each other throughout the book. I found myself re-reading certain sections because of the way that the book makes you doubt yourself and that is truly a compliment. My only gripe with this book is that I wish we got to see more of the rehearsals because there was clearly a lot of weird stuff going on if you read between the lines. I kind of wish we could have seen that. Regardless, if you are looking for something on the surreal side with just a very slight touch of academia then I would certainly recommend All’s Well.

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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.