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Love is a patient, exasperated emotion, and she knew it well: Reviewing Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Hi everyone! Happy Fall! Well, it doesn’t feel like fall yet but that isn’t going to stop me from trying to participate in fall activities. I have my “spooky” book reviews coming soon and I know some of you are really looking forward to that. For now, I have some other things to talk about. This book will be my fifth review for a book by T. Kingfisher. I even have a sixth one ready to go. Feel free to check out my reviews of her other novels. Let’s talk about one of her latest: Swordheart.

Content Warning: Some Violence, Some Gore, Mild Sexual Content, Animal Death

Halla, a respectable widow, unexpectedly inherits her wealthy uncle’s estate. Unfortunately, she has to contend with her dead husband’s horrid family members who are determined to marry her off so they can have the estate. Halla decides the only sensible solution is to kill herself. The only tool she can find in her uncle’s estate that might do the trick is an ancient sword that was just laying around. When she unsheaths the sword, an immortal warrior named Sarkis appears and informs her that he is now her personal guard. Sarkis was not expecting his weilder to be a woman like Halla. He certainly wasn’t expecting to go on the run with her, fleeing from angry family members and murderous priests. As Sarkis and Hall grow closer, they must face dangers and figure out if there is a way to free him from the sword.

I’m going to be honest. I have often looked down upon “romantasy” as a genre because it always felt so formulaic and cliche. Leave it to T. Kingfisher to write a romantasy that I absolutely loved from beginning to end. The writing is earnest, humorous, and creative. I loved the world of this novel and the interesting fantasy elements. There were so many fun moments peppered throughout that made me smile. The romance, though, is the main feature of this novel and I loved every second of it. While there certainly were tropes, the novel didn’t rely on the tropes to make the romance happen. Sarkis and Halla had such great chemistry. I loved seeing them come closer together. I also loved that the relationship wasn’t perfect and they had to work through things to come together. They reminded me a lot of Wesley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride. The main reason why I liked this book is because it was very reminiscent of works like The Princess Bride. The romance was lovely, the humor was great, and I loved the world of this novel. Go read Swordheart immediately because there is going to be a sequel next year.

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He was mine to protect. Mine to adore. Mine to lose forever: Reviewing Sweet Obsession (Book 8 of the Dark Olympus series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! I hope you are all still doing well. I don’t intend to keep you waiting much longer for reviews. I’m going to keep cranking them out. I’m debating giving my review of Dune, or at least sharing my thoughts on it. I think “reviewing” such a widely regarded book is a little unnecessary, but I think some of you might be interested in knowing whether it is worth reading or not. That is a topic for a different day, though. If you’re interested, feel free to read my reviews of the previous books in the Dark Olympus series. Now, let’s talk about Sweet Obsession.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence, Discussions of Abuse

Olympus is officially under attack by Circe and her armada of ships. That, however, is the least of Icarus’ worries. He dared to take a chance and fell right into the hands of the enemy. He didn’t mess with just anyone, though. Icarus is now captive to Poseidon, whom he finds to be frustratingly handsome. Poseidon is just trying to keep his crew safe and stop Circe’s attack, but he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Icarus’ charm and mysteriousness. The two find themselves being drawn closer together as they are forced to cooperate to stop Circe. Poseidon and Icarus are forced to reexamine their relationship and decide if their allegiances lie with each other or with their respective legacies.

Sweet Obsession is Katee Robert doing what Katee Robert does best: providing fun drama and steamy romance that keeps me coming back for more. While I do enjoy Katee Robert’s Greek myth series, my only gripe is that this is the only one that isn’t based on any particular myth like the previous books. In Greek mythology, Poseidon and Icarus never interact unless you count Icarus falling into the sea. It’s a little bit of a stretch, but maybe Katee Robert was going for something with that. I digress. Sweet Obsession had my favorite romance by far, mostly because the dynamic was a bit unexpected. Katee Robert, though, continues to create surprisingly believable romances that aren’t just “insta-love” or one character basically falling in love because the plot says so. That is why it’s all the more satisfying when the relationships end up working out, regardless of the challenges. The obstacles don’t go away, but the characters actually work through them. In a world where a lot of “dark romance” means that the characters are weirdly abusive to each other, and that’s somehow deemed to be love, Katee Robert’s books are a breath of fresh air. That is what keeps me coming back. With that all being said, if you want some steamy scenes and juicy drama (without any of the icks), then I’m going to continue to recommend the Dark Olympus series.

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Let us show the world what love and poetry truly mean: Reviewing Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying your summer so far. I also hope that you have found plenty of time to read. I feel as though I am not reading fast enough. Unfortunately, I live close to a couple of used bookstores and libraries that have summer book sales. With that being said, I can’t control myself when I see books for sale. I’m sure you all understand the “struggle.” Let me not ramble on any longer. It is of the utmost importance that I give you my review of Orphia and Eurydicius.

Content Warning: Grief and Mourning, Discussions of Sexual Assault, Brief Descriptions of Violence, Discussions of Misogyny, Self-Harm

Orphia knows in her heart that she is destined to be a poet. Her father, the sun god Apollo, has other plans for her and forbids her from studying art. Instead, Orphia spends her days training with the finest warriors on the Whispering Isle. The only person to recognize her true passion is a young shield-maker named Eurydicius. As their love blooms, Orphia finds the courage to stand up to all of the men who have forced her to be someone she isn’t. With Eurydicius by her side, Orphia sets out to claim glory for herself by sailing with the Argonauts and facing many deadly foes along the way. This, however, is not her destiny and Orphia will have to decide how far she is willing to go for love.

If you know me then you know I love a good Greek mythology retelling and one of my favorite myths is about Orpheus and Eurydice. Elyse John handles her re-telling of the myth with such care and passion. The prose is as gorgeous as it is blunt at times, balancing the idealistic romance of two poets and the reality of power imbalance between men and women. Too often, women-centered stories force the main female character to choose between love and herself. It is nice to see Elyse John strive for a story where Orphia and Eurydicius love and support each other in equal measure. With that being said, the novel still holds true to the original tragedy of the myth. It is a story of love, perseverance, identity, and empowerment. I loved everything about this novel and I sincerely think that you will love Orphia and Eurydicius too.

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Who said true love is a myth?: Reviewing Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I love feeling motivated to read again. Thank you all for continuing to support my blog and reading all of my posts. I can’t tell you all how grateful I am for your continued support. I just felt like being sappy there for a moment. Now, without further ado, let’s talk about Psyche and Eros.

Content Warning: Some violence, Some strong language

Psyche, the princess of Mycenae and granddaughter of the legendary Perseus, was given a prophecy at birth. The Oracle told her that she would become a legendary hero by conquering a monster that even the gods feared. She spent her childhood training to fulfill her destiny. Tales of her beauty and skill reached the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who grew jealous of the princess. She decided to send her adopted son, Eros, to place a curse upon the young woman. Eros, though, accidentally cursed himself and fell hopelessly in love with Psyche. Psyche and Eros must fight against the odds to be together as fate threatens to tear them apart once and for all.

Luna McNamara offers a fun take on a classic myth. I loved the individual perspectives of Psyche and Eros as characters. McNamara makes the world of the book feel immersive with many careful details that flesh out all of the characters. My favorite aspect of this book, though, was the romance. At my heart, I am a romantic and this satisfied my need for a heart-warming love story that wasn’t too cheesy or unrealistic. It was overall a sweet and fun read with plenty of adventure. I am going to give this a solid recommendation.

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Life was here, and life was now: Reviewing The Half Light (Book 3 of the Capherayna Chronicles) by Karen Menezes

Hi everyone! I’m back sooner than I expected! As you all know, I love reviewing indie authors. I am totally down to review your books. If you want to get some buzz going, feel free to reach out to me and I will happily review your book. I absolutely love it when that happens. Feel free to check my reviews of Karen’s other books. I will leave her information below so you can send her your support and love. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Half Light.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Genocide, Discussions and Depictions of Violence (Including Sexual Violence), Sexual Content

The ghetto of Crikwood is not for the fainthearted. The Lightbender is not fainthearted. The ghetto nourishes his soul with its vibrant culture and eternal chaos. He unwinds in its Gothic nightclubs and hangs out with pansexual stoners and war veterans. But settled life is killing his spirit. One morning, a highly depressed woman lands at his door. She is a soul without a body, a body without a soul. Together, they drudge up clues from a painful past that shapes their destinies in ways they have yet to comprehend.

The Half Light was easily the most intense and intriguing book in this series. I appreciated the shift in perspective as Menezes explored the individual impact of such atrocities. It was a very intimate novel at times. It explores human connection and the deep-seated need to care about each other, as well as to be cared for. It was as heartfelt as it was passionate at times. Menezes incorporates existential prose along with cheeky dialogue that helps balance the different elements of the novel. Overall, reading this series was such a great experience. Please send your support to Karen and I want to thank her for reaching out to me with this opportunity.

Website: https://karenmenezes.com/the-chronicles-of-capherayna.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.menezes/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50832081.Karen_Menezes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_menezes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechroniclesofcapherayna

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Death is his Undoing: Reviewing The Cursed (Book 2 in the Coven of Bones Series) by Harper L. Woods

Hi everyone! I can’t believe it either! You get back-to-back reviews! Before you check out this review, you can check out my review for the first book in the series, The Coven. We’re also continuing with dark romance/dark fantasy books, so I hope you’re interested. I promise I have more books that are in my wheelhouse coming soon. They just happen to be pretty long books. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, we’ll discuss The Cursed.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Strong Language

Willow Madizza was betrayed by the man she loved most, Alaric Gray. Despite what he did to her, she cannot deny the passion that they share. Unfortunately, to right the wrongs done against her family, she must destroy the man she loves the most. Willow still has a duty to her Coven after playing a part in the destruction of their leaders. Now, she must choose between the man she loves and the freedom she craves. Either way, she will change the fate of all witches forever.

Admittedly, the first book gave me some hope that I would enjoy the sequel. I was entertained, yes, but not in the way that I should have been. I understand that dark fantasy and/or dark romance is about the suspension of disbelief, but Harper L. Woods made it difficult for me with her questionable (even cringy) writing. Some of the sex scenes were particularly uncomfortable. I didn’t like the lack of spoken consent. Again, I understand that dark romance is its own game, but I just can’t bring myself to enjoy it when it feels like one of the characters is not there by choice. I also didn’t even like the relationship between Willow and Gray/Lucifer. I wanted her to destroy him or something, but she was so wishy-washy in her chapters. Gray/Lucifer was also just gross, in my opinion. I won’t completely rag on this book, though. I still liked the magic elements and world-building. I wish there had been more focus on that, as opposed to the dubious sex scenes. Overall, I am not going to necessarily recommend this series. I got the two books for free and I will only read the other books if I get them for free as well.

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Nothing but the impossibility of us: Reviewing Dark Restraint (Book 7 of the Dark Olympus series) by Katee Robert

Hi everyone! It’s my first review of the new year! Sorry for the delay but I am finally motivated to post again. Before you check out this review, feel free to check out my previous reviews of the other books in the Dark Olympus series. I don’t have much else to say so, let’s talk about Dark Restraint, the latest entry in the Dark Olympus series.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Violence, Strong Language, Discussions of Child Abuse, Discussions of Assault

Ariadne Vitalis is in danger. After betraying her father, Minos, she has no choice but to join forces with the Thirteen. That means entering into a staged engagement with Dionysus. Asterion, aka The Minotaur, is determined to get Ariadne back – no matter the cost. Unfortunately, he is also being hunted down by Minos, his former employer. To be together, Ariadne and the Minotaur will have to do the impossible and flee Olympus, as well as Minos’ fury. The two might have to burn Olympus to the ground to be together, once and for all.

I have to admit that Dark Restraint, while it has its merits, is not my favorite out of this series. I think Katee Robert’s books (in this series) are the strongest when they are more accurate to the myths that they are based on. While I appreciated the references, it kind of felt like the names were just sort of tacked onto a different story. With that being said, as a romance, I still enjoyed the steamy scenes and the drama of this particular pairing. There was also plenty of action and suspense, which is what makes me want to keep reading this series. While this isn’t the strongest start to the year, it was still an enjoyable read. Go ahead and check out the Dark Olympus series. It’s a fun and spicy time.

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Death is not your end: Reviewing The Coven by Harper L. Woods

Hey everyone! Wow, I was gone for far longer than I had intended. Life got in the way of me reading more. You all know how it is with the holidays. I was so tired that I could barely make myself read. In fact, I actually fully intended to finish this book in October. It’s no matter now. I am here, alive, and I have another book review for you. Thank you so much for reading my blog. I appreciate all of your support and will link the donation form below. Let me not make any further excuses and let’s talk about The Coven.

Content Warning: Violence, Explicit Sexual Content, Harsh Language, Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Harm, Abuse, Dubious Consent

Willow Madizza was raised to be a weapon by her father. Her duty is to her coven, but she is torn between her duty and protecting her younger brother. After her mother passes, she has no choice but to travel to the secret town of Crystal Hollow to attend Hollow’s Grove University, a prestigious school for young witches. Willow faces an entirely new problem: her attraction to the devilishly handsome Headmaster Alaric Grayson Thorne. Just as Willow finds herself settled into Hollow’s Grove, murders of students begin to happen. As Willow investigates, she realizes that there is a larger plot happening that could doom all witches and humans alike and only she can stop it.

As far as dark fantasy/dark romance goes, this is one of the better books I have read in this genre. The plot and worldbuilding were interesting enough to keep my attention. The steamy scenes were well-written, and I appreciate the tension between Willow and Gray. Where it fell flat for me is that it can be a little cheesy. Willow is very much “not like other girls,” which can be annoying to read at times. The book honestly felt like it was trying to be something akin to The Vampire Diaries, which is all fine and dandy until it snags itself on tropes that are common in the dark “romantasy” genre. Was it a bad book, though? No. In fact, I actually have the second book, and I fully intend to read it. What I’m saying is that this is my soft recommendation for The Coven.

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Love does that. It changes you in ways that cannot be undone: Reviewing The Mermaid by Christina Henry

Hi everyone! I am back much sooner than I anticipated. This is not the first book I have read by Christina Henry. Feel free to check out my review of Horseman, which I loved. I wanted to delve back into the world of “fairy tales for adults,” so to say. I also don’t see enough books about mermaids for adults so I grabbed this one immediately. I think mermaids are an underrated subject for fiction. I am definitely interested in reading more so leave any reccomendations in the comments below. Now, we can talk about The Mermaid.

Content Warning: Violence, Animal Abuse, Mild Sexual Content

Amelia was a mermaid who was curious about life on land. When she came to the land, she met a man named Jack and fell in love. Years later, Jack passed away and Amelia was left with nothing but her isolated cottage by the sea. One day, she recieved an offer from the famous P.T. Barnum to perform at his museum. With no other options, Amelia decided to take his offer. Thrown headfirst into the chaotic world of humanity, Amelia must find the courage to take control of her life before someone takes control for her.

The Mermaid is a nice mixture of romance and fantasy with just a hint of realism. Christina Henry weaves in conversations about autonomy, consent, and persepective into this romantic tale of a woman trying to find her place in a strange world. I liked how Henry crafted Amelia’s perspective, particularly in regards to the culture of “sideshows” that were popular during the 1800s. The romance was well-written and I liked how it became the focal point without taking away from the meaninful themes that are explored throughout the book. Overall, The Mermaid was a thoughtful and gripping novel with plenty of fantasy and romance to keep you from putting the book down.

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In the end, you either fight or lie down to be trampled: Reviewing Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno – Garcia

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. This is the sixth book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I have reviewed. You are more than welcome to check out my past reviews of her books. Needless to say, she is one of my favorite authors now. Let’s just dive into this review of Velvet was the Night.

Content Warning: Strong Language, Violence, Sexual Content

The 1970s is a time of great political unrest for Mexico. Maite is a lonely young woman who lives vicariously through the romance novels she reads. Elvis, a thug with a love for music and words, is sent by his boss to investigate a missing girl named Leonora. Leonora just so happens to be Maite’s neighbor and left her with an odd message that implies she is in danger. Maite and Elvis both set out to find what happened and find themselves in entangled in political espionage. Their lives are on the line as they navigate the dangerous world of political espionage.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia proves time and time again to be a strong writer who does a great job creating interesting characters and intriguing plots. Velvet was the Night is the first non-fantasy book I have read by her and I liked the Neo-noir feel of the novel. The characters are unique but have relatable qualities. There is plenty of tension and mystery throughout the novel. It moves at a pretty fast pace too. With all of that being said, it was not necessarily my favorite novel by Moreno-Garcia. I liked it better than The Beautiful Ones but less than Silver Nitrate. My favorite Moreno-Garcia novel as it stands is Gods of Jade and Shadow. If you aren’t big into fantasy but love thrillers, then I will still recommend Velvet was the Night.

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