bookish_selkie's Reviews (2.14k)

Once enslaved, Jerusalem is gifted with exceptional strength and speed. This makes her a Saint, able to hunt down vampires and Confederates with ease. There’s one vampire that she won’t hunt yet though- Alexei. Alexei came from Europe to help the Union cause. When Jerusalem and Alexei head out on what should be a routine mission, their lives completely change.  Jerusalem and Alexei are soon on the trail of one of the most dangerous vampires to exist. As skeletons from their closets arise, Jerusalem and Alexei must work together to survive. 

I loved Jerusalem! She has been through horrible events and yet bravely chooses to use her power to help others. Jerusalem is always courageous and looking for a fight. Alexei has a lot to learn from Jerusalem despite being immortal. The romantic tension between Alexei and Jerusalem was intense and beautifully written. They work closely together, but Jerusalem has to reckon with whether she can ever care about a vampire after what happened to her family. Lauren Blackwood crafts an unputdownable story! The Dangerous Ones is action-packed and filled with historical details with fantastical twists. I particularly loved how creatively The Underground Railroad was represented. Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, action-packed adventure, and fierce characters will love this book. 

Thank you to Lauren Blackwood, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Hawk Lachlan will lose the zoo over his dead body. Nothing is more important to him than saving the zoo that his family started on Prickle Island. But wishes don’t sign contracts and his family will have to come up with the money to buy the zoo from their patron. Hannah Murphy is desperate to earn enough money so her mom can retire. When she is offered a staggering amount of money to infiltrate the zoo for nefarious purposes, Hannah must put her journalism skills to the test. As the charming zoo and surprisingly hot zookeepers work their way into her heart, Hannah must decide whether she’s willing to hurt the zoo. 

I love Hawk and Hannah!! Hawk is the strong, confident sibling who feels he always needs to have his emotions locked down. After tragically losing his dad, Hawk is laser-focused on keeping the zoo running and his siblings safe. Hannah is the delightful hurricane that sweeps in bringing chaos to Hawk’s well-ordered life. Hannah and Hawk really balance each other out and I loved how they helped each other grow. 

Ali K. Mulford writes neurospicy heroines and the rep is always excellent. Hannah’s chaotic adventures were truly hilarious. I adore the Lachlan family, learning interesting animal facts, and the lovable sibling interactions. The Prickle Island Zoo is one of my favorite series and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Easy Tiger is the perfect book for readers looking for grump/sunshine, steamy romance, and adorable animals. I can’t wait to read Finch’s story next! 

Thank you so much to Ali K. Mulford for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

As a struggling author, Emily Hung is the child her mother is most worried about. This includes badgering her into meeting Mark Chan, the perfect boy her mother can’t stop pushing on Emily. At her wit’s end, Emily decides to ask Mark if he’s interested in a fake-dating scheme. While they fake-date, Emily starts to realize that Mark isn’t the stuck-up and perfect guy she thought he was. Can this fake relationship turn into a real one? 

I love Jackie Lau’s sweet romances! Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie is the perfect lighthearted read for readers seeking a Pride and Prejudice inspired relationship. I can clearly see Emily’s resemblance to Lizzy and Mark’s to Darcy. One of my favorite parts was Emily’s relationship with her mom and her sisters. They all love each other fiercely, but don’t always know the best way to express it. Jackie Lau will make readers want to take a vacation to Toronto! Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie is ideal for readers looking for fake-dating, complex family dynamics, and sweet romance. 

Thank you to Jackie Lau, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Traci is the hotel owner of The Saint, a famous hotel along the coast. When her husband passes away in a freak accident, Traci must run The Saint by herself. With the help of her niece Parrish, a motley crew of college kids, and her trusty right-hand man can Traci keep The Saint going? If she fails, her annoying brother-in-law will be all too happy to take the place away from her. When a murder happens on the grounds, Traci must use all her skills to keep The Saint in business and find answers. 

This was my first book from Mary Kay Andrews and I enjoyed it! There was a lot going on in this book and it felt difficult to put down. Throughout the book, there were many mysteries going on and it created a great sense of pacing and tension. I enjoyed getting answers about what happened between Traci and Shannon. I was so surprised by the answer to the main mystery! There is a large ensemble cast that always keeps it interesting and provides additional perspective on the mysteries. Readers who enjoy complex family mysteries, twists and turns, and a dash of romance will enjoy this book. 

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Black Shield Maiden follows Yafeu, a warrior girl who is stolen from her people to become a thrall in the North during the time of the Vikings. As Yafeu forms alliances and accidentally shows off her warrior abilities, she is drawn into a complicated web of politics. In the North, she meets Freydis, a princess who is determined to try and forge her own fate. When Freydis is forced into an arranged marriage by her father, Yafeu and Freydis must decide how far they will go to control their own destinies. 

Black Shield Maiden is an action-packed and rich fantasy. Yafeu is a character who it is impossible not to root for and she undergoes many challenges during her time in the North. There is a wide range of interesting characters and I enjoyed learning more about the shield maidens. Freydis and Yafeu have a complex relationship especially because of the power dynamic between them. As the story goes on, they form a strong bond. I’m curious if there will be a sequel and hope the story continues! 

Readers who enjoy epic Viking fantasies, engaging characters, and fast-paced adventure should check this book out. 

Thank you to Willow Smith, Jess Hendel, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah grew up in foster care with Miss Fairchild. Unbeknownst to the authorities, Mrs. Fairchild was far different behind closed doors than she presented herself on wellness check visits. Miss Fairchild was obsessed with cleaning, held the girls to unrealistic expectations, and was the farthest thing from a warm mother figure. But was she a murderer? When the three women receive a call from police saying that human bones have been found under Miss Fairchild’s swimming pool, the sisters are pulled back into Miss Fairchild’s devious web. 

Wow, what a thrilling story! I literally couldn’t put it down. Sally Hepworth is an auto-buy author for me at this point. I tell myself that I’ll only read a few pages and then find myself completely sucked in! I felt connected with all the sisters in different ways. All of them were so desperate to protect each other and were forced to go through terrible things. One of the most intriguing parts was trying to figure out whether Miss Fairchild was a murderer or not and who the bones belonged to. I won’t say more except that there were some excellent red herrings and twists that made me gasp. I love Sally Hepworth’s thrillers and look forward to her next book! 

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Godly Heathens was one of my favorite reads of 2023, so I was very excited to pick up Merciless Saviors! H.E. Edgmon has such an engaging and creative writing style; I’ll happily read anything they write. Merciless Saviors picks up right where Godly Heathens left off. Gem, Rory, and Enzo have unlocked their memories of godhood and have their powers again. Yet with the balance broken, their powers are not behaving as they used to. As the god charged with balancing the scales, Gem must fight to save the world for their family and friends. 

Merciless Saviors is an enthralling and heartfelt sequel. Gem has built such strong bonds with Enzo and Rory both in this lifetime and others. H.E. Edgmon writes about queer love so beautifully and realistically. The dialogue in Merciless Saviors is hilarious and witty. I am in awe of the way Edgmon plays with time and the way that we perceive it. I love how they write found family; it feels like a warm hug. Gem is a morally gray character who makes some selfish choices, yet finds themselves pulled back from the brink by their partners. There are important themes of grief, PTSD, and trauma that are carefully explored. 

Merciless Saviors is a sequel that you’ll be thinking about long after the last page. Readers who enjoy morally gray characters, fantastic LGBTQ+ rep, found family, and heartfelt writing will love this book. I can’t wait to read what H.E. Edgmon writes next! 

Thank you to H.E. Edgmon, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Late Bloomer is my favorite book from Mazey Eddings yet! When Opal wins the lottery, she finally has the opportunity to do what she wants for herself. As a people pleaser, Opal often finds herself helping people whether she wants to or not. When she decides to buy a flower farm, she is shocked to find the farm is already inhabited. Pepper is a bit of a grump, though Opal soon learns she has very good reasons to be. When it appears that they’ve both been scammed, Opal and Pepper must work together to save the flower farm. Surely any feelings they catch along the way are only temporary…? 

Late Bloomer is such a delightful sapphic romance. There’s forced proximity, shenanigans, and a sunshine/grump dynamic. Opal and Pepper have a lot to learn from each other and I enjoyed watching them gradually open up. Pepper is dealing with a lot of grief from the passing of her grandmother, one of the only loving and stable adults in her life. The way Mazey Eddings writes about grief is heartfelt and realistic. There is also excellent anxiety, autistic, and ADHD rep. This all seemed very thoughtfully done. The ensemble cast of characters created a warm and loving found family for Pepper and Opal. Opal’s sisters were also great and I enjoyed how they refused to let Opal get back with her terrible ex! 

Late Bloomer is a cozy romance, perfect for Stardew Valley lovers who romanced Emily or Leah (or anyone who imagines what it would be like to live on a flower farm!). I would highly recommend Late Bloomer to anyone who enjoys sapphic romance, forced proximity, and a sunshine/grump dynamic. Can’t wait to see what Mazey Eddings writes next! 

Thank you to Mazey Eddings, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.