cozysquib's Reviews (165)

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

Ok ok ok, hear me out. This is a DNF... for now.

Something about this book's vibes are way off. And I can’t tell if it’s a me problem or a book problem, so I’m tapping out at 40% and calling it an intermission. Not a full breakup. Just… maybe we see other people for a while.

Let me give you the quick and dirty of why I bailed.

First off, the writing feels weirdly juvenile for an adult fantasy. The FMC is allegedly grown, but her decision-making reads more like a chaotic 14-year-old with a death wish. You’re warned that a sketchy government squad is actively hunting you down, and your response is... to go straight home to check it out? Be serious.

The dystopia itself barely shows up. It’s technically there, I guess, but mostly just loitering off-page like a background extra who never gets a line.

But the biggest issue? I’m not invested. I’m entertained, I’m intrigued, I’m... vaguely along for the ride, but I’m not emotionally hooked. It kind of feels like someone tried to manufacture a romantasy without actually understanding why the genre hits. Like, all the pieces are here, but none of the heart.

Hot take: it almost reads like a man wrote this under a female pen name to hop on the romantasy wave. I have zero proof of that. But the tone, the character dynamics, and the emotional disconnect all feel like things I’ve seen before in male-authored fantasy. Which, for me, usually ends in the same result: entertained but not emotionally involved.

Take it all with a grain of salt, I didn’t finish the book. You might love it. I might even come back to it someday. But right now, we’re on a break.

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book. While it kept the gloomy, foreboding tones I loved in One Dark Window, it still managed to differentiate itself and stand on its own feet, which I really appreciated.

I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of a comic relief character, who brought some much-needed levity to the heavier, moodier themes. It gave the story a breath of fresh air and helped me connect with the characters on a deeper level.

Now, I’ll admit that I enjoyed the romantic tension and the ✨ yearning ✨ in this one even more than I did in ODW. The plot itself, was little less compelling, at least personally. Don’t get me wrong, I still really liked the story. It was beautifully written, the imagery was vivid, and the main character’s journey was gripping. But at its core, the story felt pretty predictable. There weren’t many surprises, and most twists were easy to guess well in advance. It’s only worth noting because, unfortunately, this book will inevitably be compared to its sibling and One Dark Window is a personal favorite of mine.

That said, the vibes here are immaculate. I fell in love with this world and its characters. I didn’t love the name chosen for the MMC (a personal ick), but his roguish charm won me over. And honestly? The name fit him perfectly, even if I couldn’t get past it myself.

The ending wrapped up in a satisfying way. If you’re itching for more, there’s a second installment coming. But if you’re content with where things land, it also works perfectly as a standalone. I’ll see how I feel about rereading or continuing when book two is finally announced.

Overall, I loved it and would recommend it to most readers. The spice is minimal and not overly explicit, and the world is a gorgeous blend of shadowy gloom and mysterious, hopeful rebirth.

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

This was a fun, well-rounded read. It had unique elements, a exciting world, and overall it was a really good time. While I do have some moderate gripes, it gave me enough to stay invested and I’d definitely recommend it.

I like that the FMC doesn’t wake up chosen by the gods and wielding unspeakable power by page 37. She’s soft, but she's got grit. She’s real and not interested in proving herself through sheer brute force. When she does pick up a sword, it’s not to become the next legendary warrior, but because she's growing as a character. She feels grounded in a way that a lot of fantasy heroines don’t, and that was genuinely refreshing.

That said, this book is 660 pages long. And buddy, you feel every one of them. The pacing struggles, especially in the first half, where there’s a lot of walking and talking and describing every detail of every dagger and trunk and tattoo. It’s not info-dumpy, but it is very extra. Things don’t really pop off until the last quarter, and by then I was begging the plot to do something deeper. So while I was engaged, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a tighter edit would’ve made the emotional beats land harder.

I love a good twist, however, it was so heavy-handed I guessed it in chapter two. I kept hoping it would zag last minute, but alas, it zigged... hard... straight into predictability. There were still some fun turns that I didn't see, but the major ones were very obvious quite early on. 

And I hate to be that person, but when the MC's name was finally revealed, it was an immediate attraction killer for me. I hated it. Full stop. A personal ick for sure, but it was a sharp pivot from intrigue to cringe.

Personal icks aside, this book still pulled me in. The writing is engaging, the world feels lived in, and there are enough breadcrumbs to keep you flipping pages.  I had a good time. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a slower fantasy romance that leans character-focused with just enough magic to keep things interesting. It didn’t blow me away, but it absolutely held my attention. And sometimes, that’s enough.

Of Dreams and Demons by Willow Hadley
 

Ma'am… that ending? Are you kidding me right now?!

I swear, Willow Hadley looked me dead in the eye and said, “You thought you were getting answers? That’s cute.” Because wow. That ending was mean.

Now, let’s talk about the start. The first 15% is basically a retelling of book one’s events, but through different POVs. It does add context and insight, sure, but it dragged just a smidge too long for my liking. I found myself itching to jump back into fresh content rather than marinate in an extended recap.

That said, getting to see what was happening in the other realm during book one’s timeline was still super interesting. It added some really solid depth to the world and answered a few lingering questions. But if I’m being honest, book two definitely had weaker bones than book one. It’s not bad, not at all, but there’s something about getting dropped into mostly new characters when you’re still emotionally attached to your favorites from book one. It takes a minute to care again.

Also… Alistair. Good heavens. This man was working my last nerve. I get his role, but wow, was he a lot. Not in the fun way. In the “can you not?” way.

Despite all that, I really did still love it. The stakes are a little higher, the tone is a little heavier, and the cozy slice-of-life feel is shifting as we approach the crossover, but it works. The story is expanding, the world is evolving, and I’m absolutely here for it.

I may have a few minor gripes, but the magic is still there.

Of Moons and Monsters by Willow Hadley

Thank the good lord for junk food books. I was in a bit of a slump, and this story kicked me out of it. Did it cure me? No. But it definitely made me forget I was tired and emotionally dead inside for a few days.

Is it a literary masterpiece? Not even close. Am I about to binge-read the rest of the series like it's my job? Abso-freaking-lutely.

This book is basically fantasy comfort food. Sure, there’s magic and portals and mythical beasties, but the real meat of the story is slice-of-life vibes. Just shifter boys, a cozy forest cabin, and our girl trying to navigate a bonkers situation with a lot of eye contact and zero shared vocabulary.

Which brings me to one of my favorite tropes that I didn’t even know I needed: he can’t talk... and it’s hot. Like, none of the main love interests can communicate with her for... literally *all* of the book. And I don’t mean miscommunication like “I have a dark secret I won’t tell you,” I mean straight up “we do not speak the same language.” And you know what? I loved it.

It turns out actions really do speak louder than words. And maybe, just maybe, men get a little more attractive when they literally cannot speak.

Anyway. The writing is rough around the edges, sure, but the vibes? Immaculate. The story? Addictive. The MMCs? Absolutely precious in a fun way.

If you're craving something low-stakes, moderately spicy, and unreasonably entertaining, this is your sign. Go get weird in the woods with these silent beast men. I regret nothing.

The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman

In with a fizzle, out with a bang.

As much as I devoured and adored book one, book two... kind of limped out of the gate.

The Wolf King gave me everything I wanted, tension, high stakes, romantic tension, and the kind of messy love triangle that keeps you up way too late flipping pages. So I went into The Night Prince expecting to spiral a little. I wanted the angst. The drama. The indecision and confusion. What I got instead was... the honeymoon phase... And not the fun kind.

Which, sure. I’m happy the FMC made her choice (at the end of book one, mind you), and she’s surviving the fallout from that cliffhanger ending. But I missed the back-and-forth, the emotional tug-of-war, the spark. That little bit of chaos that keeps you kicking your feet and rereading lines like they’re love notes.

Unfortunately, the first half of this book leans hard into the “let’s not talk about our problems” trope. Miscommunication, withheld information, and some painfully obvious foreshadowing that has you going “just say it already” for chapters on end. And while I’m always here for a good mystery, this wasn’t mysterious so much as mildly frustrating. To be totally honest, I am not a fan of the “everyone knows what’s going on except the main character” story telling either. Especially when the clues are practically screaming from the page. The tension wasn’t cutting it. The pacing lagged. And I found myself checking how far in I was a bit too often.

But then, THEN, we hit the final 30%. Suddenly, the story remembered who she was.

Everything kicked into high gear. The plot snapped into place. The secrets dropped, the stakes spiked, and I was on the edge of my seat like I’d just shotgunned an energy drink. I binged the rest of it in a single sitting and finally got the drama and momentum I’d been craving.

Will I keep reading the series? Absolutely.
Will I recommend it? Yes, especially if you liked book one.
Is this sequel stronger than its predecessor? Not really... but when it hits, it hits.

Indebted to the Vampires by Erin Bedford

AKA: The one where I said “absolutely not” to a reverse harem of six vampires and a plot held together with vibes and wishful thinking.

Womp. Womp. Womp.

This one was a miss for me like. The writing style is very written-as-spoken, which can work if done well. But here? It felt more like a teen’s diary entry than the setup for a six-vampire harem situation. Casual narration isn’t the issue, childish tone in a grown-up smut book is.

But what really made me tap out wasn’t the style. It was the nonsensical setup for how our girl ends up as a live-in maid to six hot bloodsuckers like we’re in a weird fanfic. Within 15% we’re already spiraling into insta-lust so intense she’s ready to drop everything and, ahem, ✨️self-reflect✨️ over an MMC. Less than 30% in and there’s already a full frontal with eye contact.

Now look, I love a good RH. But I love one that gives me tension, build-up, dynamics... a reason to care about who's sticking what where. I want to earn the spice. This one felt like skipping the foreplay and diving face-first into a lust buffet without checking if the buffet is… y’know, cooked.

I DNFed at 55%. The series seems to be very spice-forward, so if that’s your thing, you might enjoy it. But if you're like me and prefer a little longing and slow-burn ache with your fanged fantasy, you might want to keep this one in the maybe pile with a respectful nod and a firm “not today, Dracula.”

#erinbedford #indebtedtothevampires #bookreview #kindleunlimited #dnf 

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

This book is almost 20 years old now, and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. A definite comfort pick. One of those cozy rereads I reach for when nothing new is calling to me.

It’s technically categorized as paranormal romance, but I’d argue it leans way more toward urban paranormal fantasy. At this point in the series, the romance is barely a footnote compared to the rich, layered world being established. It’s got everything I want in a series: supernatural lore, adult characters, and just enough slow-burn potential to keep you emotionally invested without taking away from the actual plot.

The FMC is a grown woman with a big-girl job and a full life. She’s smart, capable, and deeply rooted in a world that blends the mundane and the magical in all the best ways. Also, she’s a shapeshifter. Because obviously.

This series features my favorite fictional world of all time. Hands down. It brings together Native American folklore and European mythology in a way that feels organic and expansive. Werewolves, vampires, fae, skinwalkers—there’s a little bit of everything here. And the way it’s all threaded together into something coherent and lived-in? Chef’s kiss. It’s the kind of world that just keeps growing book after book, and somehow never loses steam.

I love everything about this book. I love everything about this series. I’ve probably read this one ten times at least, and I still get that same buzz of excitement when I crack it open again. It never gets old.

If you give this one a shot, I seriously hope you keep going with the series. It only gets better. And if you’re someone who wants a bit more romance out of the gate, you can always start with Alpha & Omega—the sister series set in the same universe. Same vibe, same lore, just with more swoon.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

I genuinely don’t know how to feel about this one.

The ending was... rough. Bleak. F***ed up in a way that leaves you sitting in silence after you close the book, just staring at the wall. It’s not a feel-good kind of story, and it definitely doesn’t try to be.

This book does not pull its punches. It’s heavy. Not just in the themes, but in the brutality, the political and social commentary, and the way it leans all the way into the horrors of war. It’s not subtle, and it’s not trying to entertain so much as force you to confront. I can respect that choice. But I can’t lie and say I enjoyed reading it.

The beginning was a slow burn for me. It takes a while to get going, and I had a hard time finding the hook early on. Once things finally start to happen, the pace picks up—but so does the emotional weight, and not in a way that felt especially balanced to me.

It’s not that the violence and trauma didn’t make sense in the story—they did. It fits the tone and message. But the depictions of cruelty, especially toward women and children, were just... too much. Too graphic. Too drawn out. I understand what Kuang was doing, but for me personally, it crossed the line from impactful into disturbing in a way that felt more alienating than effective.

This is a heavier fantasy. Not in the world-building or magic system, but in the sheer emotional toll. It feels very grounded in real-world history and real-world atrocities, and it doesn’t shy away from any of that. In a way, that makes it incredibly powerful. But it also made it a deeply uncomfortable read.

I haven’t decided yet if I’ll continue the series. I can see why people praise it—it’s well-written, unflinching, and bold. But I didn’t walk away feeling like I enjoyed it. I walked away feeling tired.

If you’re looking for something dark and intense with high stakes and serious themes, this might be exactly your thing. But if you’re a more sensitive reader, or you prefer your fantasy with a little more hope and a little less horror, consider this a warning label. It’s a brilliant book. It just might not be for everyone.

Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates

I am not a spooky girlie.

In the world of horror lovers and suspense addicts, I'm over here cowering under a Hello Kitty blanket.

So, naturally, I picked up a horror book! Seems logical...

I was already spooked by 15% in. Yay me. So brave. A brave little toaster.

That being said, I wouldn't say this book hooked me beyond the spook factor. It struggled to keep my interest when it came to the actual plot. I can't tell if it was the story itself or a personal misalignment, but I was fighting to stay invested. The idea was cool, the setting had a lot of eerie vibes, but once I realized I could not be bothered to care about the winery or MC’s personal journey, the plot struggled.

I called it quits around 60%. At a certain point, spooky stuff was happening fast enough that I could kind of coast along, clutching my little blanket and yelling at the main character to get the eff out of the haunted house already. But suspense alone can only drag a girl so far without an emotional hook.

For me, this was a read-during-the-day kind of book. Maybe one day I will grow a pair and start reading horror before bed. But today is not that day. Future me might not be that girl either 😂. I would like to keep my soul tucked safely inside my body and my fear of dark corners at a reasonable level, thank you.

From a baby to other horror newbies:

- The suspense and atmosphere were solid and I had a good time in small doses

- The plot and character motivations were meh at best and could not hold my attention

I think if you are already a horror lover, this might land better. But if your tastes are anything like mine, maybe start somewhere else if you want your first horror dip to really stick the landing.