Read for MM Summer Pride 2023

For the 18+ crowd!

This was a supet quick and fun read. A bit insta lovey, but in the context of it only being 120 pages or so it'd probably be considered medium burn. I had fun with it tho!!

Obviously, check content warnings before hand!

 

Read for MM Summer Pride Challenge 2023

"I have been in love with no one, and never shall... unless it should be with you"


You know I love my gothic reads!! This has the eerie and dreadful atmosphere & imagery, the melancholy, and the tragedy.

This vampire novel predates Dracula by 20+ years and it has lgbtq themes. I definitely recommend to those who want a quick and gothic read! 

Read for MM Summer Pride Challenge 2023

For the 18+ crowd!

I listened to the audiobook while reading the ebook for this one. I loved the narration of the audiobook.

I loved the premise of this book! Bishop, needing someone to cleanse their haunted home and holding on to secrets, and Colin, a priest who's hired by Bishop to cleanse the home. As they both interact in the home and secrets are unraveled, they find themself bonding over a shared grief of losing a loved one and find comfort in each other.

I think the only downside for me was the pace, I think if this book had a medium or even slowburn pace and gave time to world build more and sit with events, it would have been a 5 star for me. Regardless tho, I did love the characters, the depictions of grief are well done, and I loved the different forms of magic and mysticism in this <3

Check content warnings before heading in. This is a book with sex scenes with horror elements as well so be warned. 

Read for MM Summer Pride Challenge 2023

For the 18+ Crowd!

I loved the gothic setting in 1920s Paris. Absolutely adored Claire and Leon, and even more so after Matthias comes into the picture. The revenge Claire had at the end was amazing, I love that for her. This was a super quick, dark and spicy novel. Will definitely be reading the author's backlog and new releases <3

Please check the content warnings before reading!
More notably: recollection of off screen SA, PTSD, and blood. 

Read for MM Summer Pride Challenge 2023

This was a great indie debut! It was well paced and I loved the urban fantasy setting. I loved the found family between Ezra, Killian, and Mari. The vampires are more reminiscent of old vampire lore and there's a mix of other supernatural beings in this book.

I'll definitely be waiting for the sequel to this just to see the banter between the trio again and see what happens with Ezra after the ending reveal! 

 Read for MM Summer Pride Challenge 2023

This was a super quick and fun read! The art style was cute and simple. 

Read for MM Summer Pride Challenge!

I really enjoyed this memoir, which is rare cause I don’t typically enjoy memoirs lol but it was a nice break from just words on a page and enjoy illustrations to learn about Maia Kobabe and eir life.

It was nice to see some bisexual rep and learn about neopronouns while reading about em! Some things I could totally relate to, especially the androgynous page and the questioning attraction lol

Definitely recommend this book to those in the lgbtq community and those that have loved ones in the community! It’s informative and it’s easy to read as a non-fic! 

Edit:
REREAD: July 2023

4.5 Stars*

I think I appreciate this book way more the second time around. I took my time with this read and really tried to absorb everything given. There's a lot going on in Jaeth's Eye from multiple perspectives. You see more of the world outside of Jin-Sayeng, especially with trade happening between Jinseins and Dageians. You have a backdrop of politics and foreign policy between the two while also having characters from different parts of the world of Agan. The first character, Sume, is a merchant's daughter who grew up in Akki who goes to Fuyyu to earn money since her brother has been unresponsive. Ke-if is a mercenary for the Boarshind and also happens to be an escaped Dageian mage-thrall that was saved by Sume's brother Oji. You also have Ylir, the apprentice and face of Yn Garr Industries which gained prominence with foreign trade opening up. Dai and Hana, Sume's family, also have a couple minor chapters. It is a lot to take in but once you get into it, I think it's absolutely stunning. The political and social intrigue of how characters interact or see each other is great, learning lore of ancient mages, the horror scenes (and there is body horror galore), and the characters make this story great. It takes place over a couple years and sometimes things seem to be at a standstill in some chapters, but you learn something is always being done even if the characters aren't aware of it. I love Villoso's writing so much and how much she pores into Jin-Sayeng and the surrounding areas, the way she writes creatures and the lore of her world. I do have the same sentiment that there may be too many characters to bounce between in this book, but I appreciate it way more now than I did 2 years ago.

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2021 Review: I definitely got more into this book after the half way mark and I can’t wait to read the next in the series! I think this book was easier to get into already being familiar with the world that the series is set in! It’s a multiple POV book between characters that seem to be connected by fate. This is set in a time before the events of Wolf of Oren-Yaro, where the agan is heavily present and I love it!! I love the world building, the lore, and the action. But, I feel with the amount of character’s pov and not spending enough time with each - I feel like I didn’t get attached as much to them. I still can’t wait to read the next in the series even with that aspect.

Disclosure: I received Jaeth’s Eye as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review. 

Something Wild & Wonderful was a cute MM romance between strangers. You learn about Ben & Alexei as they hike 2,000+ miles.

Ben coming from an accepting, loving family - but struggling with grief of a loved one passing. Alexei trying to figure himself out after he came out to his religious family. It was super sweet to see them grow close, going from one word conversations to more in depth ones. The steam was steaming, it'll have you blushing and kicking your feet, giddy for them to be happy.

Obviously, there is some conflict, but I'm happy with how Anita Kelly handles it, because normally I despise third act break up type of deals. But, I think this was done well and I didn't get aggravated for the conflict.

If nothing else, I know I can count on Anita Kelly for contemporary romances from now on since this is the second book I've loved from them!! <3 

 My 3rd series finished this year so far??? I'm glad I finally caved and read Folk of the Air. It was very much worth a read.

There isn't much to say that hasn't already been said about this series. I loved it from beginning to end. I loved Jude throughout the series, she's hard headed and strong willed. Doing everything in her power to do what she needs to do, whether that's scheming, learning assassin like capabilities, mithridatism, just everything. Cardan being cocky yet down bad for Jude & scheming alongside her.

This series was great - it was dark, action packed, and with a lot of political intrigue. Dealing with everybody who wanted the throne of Elfhame.