The openings of epic fantasy stories can often be either overwhelming or too spare in the details, but Z hits the perfect balance of worldbuilding and backstory in the first chapter without any sort of info dump. I got a good sense of Symon and his immediate circumstances enough to feel invested in his character … Continue reading Book Review: Alliance (Triad #1) by Cari Z
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Book Review: Cover-Up (Irons and Works: Key Largo #12) by E.M. Lindsey
Read my reviews of previous books in the Irons and Works series: Free Hand (#1) | Blank Canvas (#2) | American Traditional (#3) | Bio-Mechanical (#4) | Stick and Poke (#5) | Scarification (#6) | Scratcher (#7) | Ornamental (#8) | Snakebites (#9) | Fine Line (#10) | Heavy Hand (#11) | To Touch the Light (follow-up novella) | Last-Minute Walk-In (follow-up novella) One of the overarching themes … Continue reading Book Review: Cover-Up (Irons and Works: Key Largo #12) by E.M. Lindsey
Book Review: Forward Entry (Sydney Swallows #1) by Aurora Crane
Last spring, I joined a “tipping pool” with other readers of this author in picking the winning teams each week for the Australian Football League. It took me at least 3 months to figure out that the sport was not, in fact, rugby. By that point, I was committed to my strategy of picking teams … Continue reading Book Review: Forward Entry (Sydney Swallows #1) by Aurora Crane
Book Review: How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy by A.J. Sherwood
This post includes reviews of all individual installments of the How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy series. Miracle 1 The author admits to this project being “crack” in the back cover description, so I went in anticipating humor and ridiculousness. I was not disappointed, and I enjoyed myself even … Continue reading Book Review: How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy by A.J. Sherwood
Book Review: All I Fear (All’s Fair #2) by Abrianna Denae
Read my review of the first book in the All's Fair series, All I Want. Though this is not always true, the found-family nature of some series means that the books are so interconnected that they cannot stand alone. While I think this novel could be read and enjoyed without the broader context of the … Continue reading Book Review: All I Fear (All’s Fair #2) by Abrianna Denae
Book Review: Tango Down (The Renegades #4) by Cara Dee
Read my reviews of previous books in The Renegades series: Rogue Launch (#1) | Enemy Combatant (#2) | On the Double (#3) The beginning of this book directly intersects with the action-packed finale of the previous novel. It means that all the various characters I’ve come to care about, main heroes and secondary, are in immediate danger right … Continue reading Book Review: Tango Down (The Renegades #4) by Cara Dee
Book Review: The Courtship of Nora Fagan (A Marriage Made in Hell #1) by Michelle Renee Lane
This book is marketed as both romantic erotica and paranormal erotica. I started reading it with those genre expectations in mind, and the bad news is that is book is only one of those three things. It’s not erotica when the first kiss doesn’t occur until the 50% mark, and it’s a fully clothed one … Continue reading Book Review: The Courtship of Nora Fagan (A Marriage Made in Hell #1) by Michelle Renee Lane
Book Review: Salt Kiss (Lyonesse #1) by Sierra Simone
Read my review of the series prequel, Salt in the Wound. I have zero regrets about enjoying the series prequel before this official beginning to the trilogy, but I’m curious how readers who did not read it engaged with the progression of this compelling story. For me, Isolde was a constant, almost ominous presence even … Continue reading Book Review: Salt Kiss (Lyonesse #1) by Sierra Simone
Book Review: Claiming Marcus (Lords of Discord #1) by Jocelynn Drake
Sometimes I get the urge to go back to my original love of my vampires, and this series by an author I already enjoy seemed like the perfect opportunity. Drake pulls no punches by introducing us immediately to (half) the main heroes, dropping tantalizing clues and setting up future conflict right out the gate with … Continue reading Book Review: Claiming Marcus (Lords of Discord #1) by Jocelynn Drake
Book Review: All I Want (All’s Fair #1) by Abrianna Denae
Denae doesn’t waste any time letting readers know what they’re in for with the start of this book. It’s a fairly brutal way to set up a romance, even a dark one. However, launching us straight into the black moment of this story sets up both main characters well, especially since their emotional (and physical) … Continue reading Book Review: All I Want (All’s Fair #1) by Abrianna Denae
August Wrap-Up & September Goals
Since I finally wrote "the end" on Earth & Water on August 1, the rest of the month was focused on the boring admin side of officially launching myself in the self-publishing world. Most of it isn't very fancy, beyond being able to say I am officially a Maryland small business owner, but I am … Continue reading August Wrap-Up & September Goals
Book Review: Patience (Damned Connections #1) by Lark Taylor
This book picks up moments after the close of the previous series set in the same world, and includes many of those previous heroes as significant secondary characters, so I’m not sure how well this book works as a stand-alone. However, as someone who did read and enjoy that previous series, I was already more … Continue reading Book Review: Patience (Damned Connections #1) by Lark Taylor
Book Review: Sentinel’s Soul (Sentinel’s Saga #1) by Kristopher L. Campa
I had the pleasure of reading an early draft of this book, but it was long enough ago that I came into the final version with mostly fresh eyes and more than enjoyed a second visit to this world. This series debut presents a fascinating urban fantasy world that separates religious mythology and imagery from … Continue reading Book Review: Sentinel’s Soul (Sentinel’s Saga #1) by Kristopher L. Campa
Book Review: Death’s Bloom (Monsters & Mayhem) by Lily Mayne
Read my reviews of previous books in the Monsters & Mayhem series: Lightning Born by Sam Burns | In Darkness and Dank by K.L. Hiers This story begins from Ari’s perspective, in which he is living the opposites-attract trope of a typical contemporary romance. A quick glimpse into Theo’s point of view shows that we’re in … Continue reading Book Review: Death’s Bloom (Monsters & Mayhem) by Lily Mayne
Book Review: Pretty Black (Pretty Broken #5) by J.R. Gray
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Pretty Broken series: Pretty Obsessed (#1) | Pretty Toxic (#2) | Pretty Wreck (#3) | Pretty F*cked (#4) The final book in this excellent rock star romance series, which also serves as the second half of an internal duology with the previous book, Pretty F*ed, drops readers right back into … Continue reading Book Review: Pretty Black (Pretty Broken #5) by J.R. Gray
Book Review: Tempest (Immortals Descending #4) by Iris Foxglove
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Immortals Descending series: Storm Front (#1) | Shadowfall (#2) | Daybreak (#3) Part of me feels like I’ve already gushed about this series as much as I possibly can, but then the authors give me another twist that adds layers to this excellent epic fantasy world. Good fantasy makes … Continue reading Book Review: Tempest (Immortals Descending #4) by Iris Foxglove
Book Review: On the Double (The Renegades #3) by Cara Dee
Read my reviews of previous books in The Renegades series: Rogue Launch (#1) | Enemy Combatant (#2) Reece, River, and Shay Tenley (affectionately known as “TenShay”) are some of my favorite Dee characters across her expansive, connected universe. I’d have read this stand-alone series even without the promise of a book concentrating on this trio, … Continue reading Book Review: On the Double (The Renegades #3) by Cara Dee
Book Review: Gale (Hammer and Fist: Geminatus #2) by Jennifer Cody
Read my review of the first book in the Hammer and Fist: Geminatus series, Inferno. I have previously joked that I want to live in Cody’s brain, and this book is another excellent example of why. I adore the world she has created between the joint Hammer and Fist series, and whether Lextalion or Ranger-Hunter … Continue reading Book Review: Gale (Hammer and Fist: Geminatus #2) by Jennifer Cody
Book Review: Teach Me to Sin (Water, Air, Earth, Fire #4) by Riley Nash
I binge-read the first three books (and supplementary content) in this series in a single weekend, put the release date for the final book on my calendar, and anxiously counted down the days. Then, because I’m a lucky brat, the author was kind enough to send me an advanced copy! Which, of course, I promptly … Continue reading Book Review: Teach Me to Sin (Water, Air, Earth, Fire #4) by Riley Nash
Book Review: Real Gold by Deven Balsam
I’m spoiled for choice these days, which means I don’t often take a chance on new authors. However, this book came highly recommended by an author I enjoy and features the sort of genre-blending that I love to promote, so I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy. The writing style does feature … Continue reading Book Review: Real Gold by Deven Balsam