Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own. Aparna Verma’s The Phoenix King is a monster of a fantasy with lots of twists & turns, a couple of “oh sh** moments,” & an ending that left me with a couple of questions. An heir to a kingdom, a former assassin trying to secure freedom, a ruthless king who will do anything, go to any lengths, no matter how violent, to take the future he thinks is right… This fantasy has a lot going on, not to mention secrets, betrayal, gods, conquered countries, & a smidge of a love triangle. In its best moments, this book captivated me & I waited with bated breath to see what other danger / horror would attend the characters in this world. But there are also moments when the book drags a bit for me, & by the end I had the feeling that the book is somewhat too long—never a great feeling to have. The scope of this one feels too large. This is definitely a big book in all the ways & it takes the reader for a real ride. I think book 2 could be a turning point for the series, seeing if it focuses in more & picks up & tightens the threads started in book 1. 4⭐️. Out 08/29.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWS but know that this book includes gory depictions of violence & murder, including burning people alive.
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Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.Sarah MacLean gave me what I wanted with Detective Inspector Tommy Peck: thick thighs, a nice beard, a strong sense of honor, & a stern & stoic way of presenting himself. Then comes Lady Imogen Loveless like a wreckinggggg ball. She leads him on a merry chase, all while she & the Belles are investigating the series of explosions that have been set at places of refuge / help in the East End. All the while she is captivating Tommy though he is very aware of the class difference between them. The “cat & cat” dynamic between Imogen & Tommy is too good. He sees her as an equal & as someone who is endlessly resourceful & who can find answers. His confidence in her is hot. As is his possessiveness about who can see Imogen in moments of dishevelment following smooching & more. “He doesn’t get to see this.” Freaking swoon. Imogen—like the other Hell’s Belles we’ve met—is a total bada** & I wish I had her bag filled with tricks. Their story has weight & twists & the Belles manipulating events in an attempt to help others. But I think my expectations were a bit off the mark for this one. Based off of impressions from earlier books I thought this one might be more fun, more madcap, & while I enjoyed seeing what lies beneath Imogen’s chaos I also kinda wanted more chaos. More explosions set by Imogen. More like Bringing Up Baby but with explosives ;) . Still, Knockout is hot & sensual & romantic & I really adore the gravity of SM’s writing. It’s provocative but there’s also a seriousness in tone & scope that compels. I don’t know if that makes sense? Either way, this reviewer is looking forward to the next book because this one left off on a real moment. 4⭐️. Out 08/22.CWs: Explosions targeting places of refuge; misogynist remarks; cruel remarks; attempted murder; references to murder; violence.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.This was a first for me: reading an already married couple as the stars of a supernatural-investigating fantasy & did I like it! Author Josiah Bancroft offers a rich imagination in The Hexologists, writing an unpredictable tale flush with mystery & mayhem. Our protagonists Warren & Iz have a fascinating, loving dynamic, each bringing things to the table that make the other feel secure despite how formidable/unflappable they might appear to others at first glance. The book opens with a member of the king’s staff approaching Iz & Warren with the mystery of the king-who-has-apparently-gone-mad. Iz & Warren are Hexologists, which is a form of magic—& they decide to take the case even though it’s not their usual cup of tea. Mysteries abound in this book & though it becomes a bit convoluted, it was fun & engaging & I enjoyed following their investigation with its many twists & turns (& its moments of humor) a great deal. The ending started dragging for me somewhat but this is an entertaining book written by someone who clearly delights in the genre & I really enjoyed it. 4⭐️. Out 09/26.CWs: please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.I’ve long waited for Matthias & Pet’s book & Codename Charming has some great moments that pulled at the ole heartstrings. Starting with the fact that Matthias is a security guard for royals & becomes VERY protective of Pet, their royal assistant, & including the fact that to everyone else, their romance is beauty & the beast but to Pet, he is beauty & strength & dependability. & it didn’t quite pull at my heartstrings that Matthias has chest hair but I liked it, okay? Codename Charming also has a fake dating, opposites attract (but really they have compatible backgrounds) premise, a slooooow burn, some humor, & a story of two people creating this world where they can feel comfortable, together. Add to that an investigation into Pet’s father’s family & a meddling set of Royals & you have a cheery romance that is—as the title says—charming. 4⭐️. Out 08/15.CWs include: an emotionally abusive father; knife attack flashback; attempted knife attack in current book. Death of friend & feelings of responsibility. An unknown father that Pet discovers in book.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.You, Again by Kate Goldbeck is quite the emotional ride. If you’re an angst-lover, jump in, the water’s very warm. If you’re like me, you might read this one with that Chrissy Teigen cry-grimace-smile on your face because objectively you can acknowledge it’s a great book but subjectively you need the pain to be over & the HEA to hit you with sweet relief . Compared to When Harry Met Sally, this book features leads who keep bumping into each other over a series of years, at first fighting & disliking each other & gradually moving into friendship. This is where the book really got to me, in seeing the characters change & in seeing that the characters *have changed* since we saw them last. The leads’ first clunky forays past animosity are wonderfully revealing & sweet. Of course the leads don’t stay in the friendship zone—& I didn’t want them to!—but both have a lot of baggage to work through before the reconciliation. It’s the way the baggage is worked through that caused me secondhand distress as a reader: see paragraphs above about angst. But the story is compelling & the characters feel real & the ending is lovely & unique & something I won’t likely forget . I think a lot of people will love this one, & a lot of people will be moved by this one. It definitely makes an impact. 4⭐️. Out 09/12.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. Witches have had hold on my imagination since The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin has witches, forbidden love, tested friendship, & a young woman trying to figure out a path forward while learning the lies that her society has been built upon. Tana has known forever that she will marry the governor’s son in order to cement an alliance between her community of witches & the non-magical humans who fear magic & try to control its wielding. But meeting Wolfe Hawthorne & seeing a lie revealed opens up her eyes & makes her question the fate she once accepted. Bring Me Your Midnight is an atmospheric story layered with secrets & yearning & tension. This is a world where magic is powerful & where using it makes Tana feel conflicted, where magic is loved by some & feared by many others. With complicated family dynamics—there are secrets & also love—, with powerful external & internal forces that make Tana wonder what is right & wrong & how her own self factors into the equation, with a strong friendship that might crumble under the weight of those aforementioned factors, Bring Me Your Midnight is a stirring, intriguing tale of moonlight & waves. 4⭐️. Out 08/01.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
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