30something_reads's Reviews (820)

 Overall, I think I'd give this one a 3.5.

This was a delightful pairing of gaslamp fantasy and cozy monster romance and an excellent introduction into this world. The structure was really interesting because it's written as kind of a recounting of past events while also having these lovely little academic and personal annotations alluding to future events.

I do think the romance suffered a little bit but only because it felt like I didn't get enough time with Sirin and Berne as a couple and I wanted more of them together. Both of them are such adorable characters and I love how obsessed they are with one another.

I am excited for future books in this series to see if there is a better balance between relationship building and world building. (I definitely think there will be.) 

DNF @ 17%

No. My tolerance for tomfoolery is really low right now apparently.

Also, I just wanted a short smutty Krampus romance but this is a WHOLE book and I do not have it in me. 

 Umm. Adriana, what?😅

You know that audio, that's enough slices!? This one suffered from too many slices. We needed like... Two less slices for this one to work.

The lore in this series never truly made much sense but it just got wilder. Adding in the alpha/knotting portion could have been fine but compounded with the:

➡️ Brothers best friend
➡️ Body guard
➡️ Him being a widower
➡️ Age gap
➡️ Exhibitionism
➡️ Toys
➡️ The FMC being SO thirsty

It was.... Too much.

Unfortunately the audiobook for this one was NOT for me. The FMC sounded like a total idiot and the MMC- who is supposed to be an alpha in his 40s- sounded really young. It just didn't work for me.


Series Ranking:
1. The Toy King
2. Her Night with Santa
3. Run Darling 

Oh so THAT'S why it's called The Toy King 🤓

Do I fully understand the lore? Nope. But I don't think that's the point here. Just a smutty good time for all and to all a good night.

Desperate to get into a holiday spirit so going to read through this series.

This first one: 5% Santa Lore and 95% sapphic sexcapades (and obv Santa had a lot of toys.) 

What I was NOT expecting: Vico Ortiz on the audiobook 😳🔥

Somehow, this is the exact book that I needed for my moody fantasy vibes but also make it a holiday related romance. 

And Aveda Vice just always knows what you need. 

✅Fat FMC x nB love interest

✅Second chance romance

✅Snowed in at a cabin surrounded by spooky forest

✅Angst for days

✅A little sprinkling of degradation, bondage, primal, monster fudgery.

No. I have changed my mind. I will not be reading this. The final straw:

“No.” His lashes lower, hooding his eyes. “I’m not talking about my personality. I’m talking about my cum.”

🥴🥴🥴

 

Absolutely fucking delightful with just a dash of angst that I adore in my romance 😘🤌🏻

Honestly, I haven't met a Kathryn Moon book that I didn't like.

Some things that I loved:
✔️ This one did not suffer from the same post third act slump that the first book in this series had. I LOVED the drama that unfolded in the last 25%.
✔️ Hannah's entire character arc. She is a recently turned werewolf that is struggling to come to terms with her "monster" and seeing her learn to embrace these new parts of herself was wonderful.
✔️ The spice. Kathryn Moon never fails to deliver on the spice and this one has monster p*gging! (A+)

 

 This is a phenomenal collection of short stories from some powerhouse writers. And as with any collection, there are some that I loved more than others. These are my standouts from the bunch:

White Hills* - Rebecca Roanhorse
Quantum - Nick Medina
Snakes Are Born in the Dark - D.H. Trujillo
Behind Colin's Eyes - Shane Hawk
The Prepper - Morgan Talty
Collections* - Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
Limbs* - Waubgeshig Rice

*The ones where white people be white peopling Get Out style.