30something_reads's Reviews (820)

 DNF @ 11%. I got caught up by that pretty cover. The writing is really juvenile and even though it's only 97 pages, I just don't have time for that. 

I cannot properly explain the effect this had on me. I do not typically pick up historical romance but something about this book screamed to me and it did not disappoint. 

Luz Alana is a phenomenal heroine, and I loved her determination and dedication to her family and business. I just adore a heroine who can verbally eviscerate a person – men, women; doesn’t matter. Destroy those haters. 

James Evanston Sinclair… how dare you propose a marriage of convenience and then have the audacity to be so supportive and hot and perfect. It’s outrageous, really. 

Absolutely cannot wait for the other (what will hopefully be multiple) books in this series. I am obsessed with Manuela and Aurora, both. 

 "The candles are burning, ever burning."

I really like the abrupt, almost sinister, ending of this one. I do wish there had been more time spent with Death prior to the final resolution though.

Into Shadow Series:
Book 1: The Garden - not yet read
Book 2: Persephone - not yet read
Book 3: The Six Deaths of the Saint - 4.75⭐
Book 4: What the Dead Know - 3.75⭐
Book 5: Undercover - 4.5⭐
Book 6: The Candles Are Burning - 3.5⭐
Book 7: Out of the Mirror, Darkness - not yet read 

Through a beautiful collection of short stories told through the perspectives of different animals, the author attempts to better understand the world by imagining it through their lives, discussing themes of environmentalism, identity, belonging, loss, and family..

Some of my favorites:

Someone Must Watch Over the Dead- the vulture reflects on their sacred duty to consume the flesh in order to shepherd the dead into the next life.
May God Forever Bless the Rhino Keepers- a dog and his man must to watch over and protect a mother rhino and her calf from poachers.
The Open Ocean Is an Endless Desert- A Baleen whale navigates his own way to the warm waters for the first time using the whale songs as directions.
A Level of Tolerance- a wolf relives the day she left her den to go find her brother and met a hunter and his cub. 

3.5⭐

This was definitely what I needed. Low stress. Natural enemies. Fated mates. Hero is 1000% smitten from the beginning while the heroine's feelings are a bit more stabby. 

Big smiles the whole time.

Thank you, Talia Hibbert 😘

I will never get over how phenomenal this series is... I'm just- 🤯😩 speechless. 

RTC 

 Elizabeth Stephens was not lying when she said this one was DARK and that is great because that is exactly what I was looking for when I picked this one up. (Also, I'm just patiently waiting for the final book to drop.)

Taken by the Pikosa Warlord is a standalone in the Xiveri Mates series so this one can be read at any point. This story takes place on Earth... but Earth 4000 years after humanity has destroyed itself and the planet.

Halima is a linguist and part of the team dedicated to restarting civilization 10,000 years after the fall of Earth. But they are awoken from stasis early and enslaved by the Pikosa, one of the warrior races that now inhabit this new earth. Now Halima must use her skills as a linguist to bring together her people and the other enslaved tribes in order to escape their captors.

And Ero, the Pikosa warlord, is dealing with his warring decisions to either kill Halima and be rid of the problem, or to give into his instinct that she is his and he must keep her.

Yeah, it's fucking dark. Ero is barely redeemable. But I still loved it. One of my favorite things is the idea that, as a linguist, Halima is the key to their success because all of the tribes different languages are derivative from the ancient human languages that she knows.

ALSO... I would love to stay here and see some of the side characters get additional stories of their own (novellas, maybe?) Jia FOR SURE... like, we're told what happened but I'd love to SEE it. And I think Chayana's story would be a really good time too.

TWs: slavery, racism, xenophobia, torture, murder, violence 

* I updated this to 5 stars because I cannot stop thinking about it* 

This was such a great mix of science and memoir. I loved the scientific tidbits on the various species discussed and thoroughly enjoyed reading through these essays and the connections that the author makes to their life. 

Some of the essays resonated more that others. I am still tickled by the authors Petco anecdote and observations of the feral goldfish. The stories of the starving octopus and sturgeon were really thoughtful pieces regarding the authors relationships with their mother and grandmother. I had to set the book down for a few days after the Sand Striker essay. (Not because it was bad... it was, in fact, <i>too good</i> and very haunting.) And the essay "We Swarm" discussing Salps and finding joy in queer community made my heart swell.

Would absolutely recommend. I will definitely be looking into Imbler's other works. 

TWs: rape, sexual assault, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, coming out, transphobia, racism, gender dysphoria, substance abuse,

Oh look, I read my first sports romance book and ended up really enjoying it!

This is a MM rivals-with-benefits to lovers hockey romance told over the course of years during their NHL careers.

I really enjoyed these characters snarky banter and secret hook ups throughout the first half but this story really shines after the moments they realize that they have deeper feelings for one another. The denial, the longing, and then the eventual acceptance was beautifully written.

I would like to read their follow up story, however, I will not be purchasing at the moment due to it being published by Carina Press (a Harper Collins imprint). Maybe once HC agrees to meet the union at the bargaining table for fair wages and more diversity initiatives, I will reconsider 🙂)

 *gapes at screen in stunned silence over Tamsyn Muir's special brand of crazy* I love it.

"Once upon a time the dancer had been a good-looking brunette—before early decomp and the rigors of undeath had hit. Now she was only parts of a good-looking brunette."

Honestly, as per the usual with TM, I had no idea what I was listening to until about 60% of the way through. But, damn. This is horror/noir with gangsters, ghouls, gore... and murderous lesbians (of course).

Into Shadow Series:
Book 1: The Garden - not yet read
Book 2: Persephone - not yet read
Book 3: The Six Deaths of the Saint - 5⭐
Book 4: What the Dead Know - 3.75⭐
Book 5: Undercover - 4.5⭐
Book 6: The Candles Are Burning - not yet read
Book 7: Out of the Mirror, Darkness - not yet read