Neil Gaiman x (Sherlock + Cthulhu) = Excellence

I found Penny incredibly relatable, honestly she is the personification of the chaotic thoughts that push their way into my brain. Living in a Storage Unit, been there, considered that. But also her thought process about passing bad luck onto other, yep.

I will say that this book takes a sharp left turn from cute quirky contemporary romance graphic novel. To something that felt it was an homage to Scott Pilgrim vs The World and also we never really learned what was going on in the back room. My theory was drugs, gotta get money for chiclets somewhere.

Content Warning: Depictions of Animal Abuse, Child

Spoiler

and Parental Death

, Blood, Bones, Gore, Murder, Pregnancy and Violence. Along with Mentions of Abortion, Miscarriage, and Infertility.

This book felt very long and I cant put my finger on what about it made it drag because I felt engaged with the story for most of the time. So it isn't that, I just felt like the story could have moved faster. It is heavy on world building and also character interaction, which in the end didn't leave it to balance out well.

Am I here for the Eerie foreshadowing? yes
But I also worry that due to this we're just going to be stuck with what is traditionally a "third act" conflict due to Miscommunication (withholding of information) in the first half of the book.

I feel hesitant to recommend this book without knowing what the other half will look like but I will say this is an incredibly interesting world, with very endearing characters that may just steal your heart.


SO I have a thoughts about this books marketing it is not just a Rumpelstiltskin retelling.
So I will be honest my consumption of Once Upon the Time content was solely based on compilation videos. But Gild and Serilda's relationship reminds me specifically at least of the concept of Rumpelstiltskin being the "Beast".



Dude this is 10/10 a Beauty and the Beast Retelling too.
Misunderstood Village Girl: Check!
Cursed Prince: Check!
Delapicated Castle avoided by locals: Check!
Forbidden Area of Castle: Check!

Spoiler

Father's death causing said girl to act: Check!

I honestly can't be convinced otherwise.

I don't recall the last time I picked up a piece of historical fiction, but I imagine it was well over a decade ago. They aren't my cup of tea generally, and after a while they often seem to be the same story just reiterated. But the Downstairs Girl definitely isn't the same old, same old.

If you liked Barbie and The Three Musketeers growing up, you will love this book. It was a fun and empowering adventure, pulling on those same messages of Sisterhood and Self-Love.

It's Sapphic (Side Characters).
It's got disability rep! (Main Character)
and so much more!!!!!

It is also a STAND ALONE!!!!

If you don't have this on your bookshelf you are missing out.

Also the Audio Book is narrated by Mara Wilson and she does a fantastic job!

I will be honest I let this book lure me in with the cover and the title, and I didn't read the description and that was a mistake.
I couldn't get into this book, and honestly really don't care for Meurisse's are style. It's weird to say but her style feels like it is grating on my nerves.
This paired with the fact that this really ended up feeling like another "Westerner goes East for Inspiration" Story made this whole book really off putting for me.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot; it is a nice mix of Bewitched, Practical Magic, and Sabrina (the 90s version).

Bass's writing reminded me so much of Samantha from Bewitched; just in Gwen's inner narration, it felt like stepping back into watching the show with my mother as a child. Which was fun.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was originally Practical Magic fanfiction because, especially in the first half, the beats are closely matched. Like a song done in a different key, different but the same. By the ending, it is entirely different. This was disappointing in some ways, as I found the conclusion to be less meaningful than I found the end of Practical Magic.

I also have mixed feelings about Bass's calling the magical community depicted Wicca. As Wicca is a religion and not the act of witchcraft. Also because the Three-fold Law or Wiccan Rede does not seem to be a cornerstone of their society. Especially with what is going down with the edict and the "repercussions" for breaking the edict.
Was harm done by their ancestor? Yes.
Does that make the things done by the council just? No. (Gods, I have thoughts on those things)
And that's without considering the fact that this is very much a "Sins of the Father" situation to the point it is directly stated in the text by the characters. The history of that phrase is inherently biblical from both my personal knowledge and subsequent research. Also, it just doesn't jive with the core tenants of Wicca.

While I'm not sure, I can recommend this based on that. However, it was a fun rom-com that made me laugh and hit the right spots to fill that hole that those nostalgic pieces of media left.

Let's get this out of the way, the quote on the cover compares it to The Walking Dead. Which plot wise, eh maybe. In every other way, this world is a (somehow) more insane Mad Max-isque

It's interesting, I will give you that and the cast of characters are likable.
Paired with the horror show of where they are dropped leaves you unable to turn away.

I want to give props for the hook of using a hook of "Uncle Sam" wants you to save the USA. It gave me a good laugh and is part of the reason I kept reading.

On a similar not the ending felt very powerful in the fact that it felt like an invitation to the reader as much as our protagonists on whether or not you will continue forward with the story.

I am not sure if I will continue reading this series, probably if it's something my library continues to carry. Just because it was such an oddity that I'm interested. Also because I am always intrigued by speculative fiction that redivides states within the US.

A book that thoroughly highlights the art of process, and how that can make all the difference. Reading this was incredibly interesting and does a fantastic job of conveying information.
The sheer amount of information contained in this book is surprising.

Fishing, creation of rice wine and shoyu, and so much more is covered within the pages of the book. You can feel the passion oozing out of the pages of this book.

10/10 would recommend.

I read this in one sitting, finishing it at 5:30am, because I became quickly invested in this book. Way faster then I had any right too.
I found Psyche and Eros to be an incredibly adorable couple. But most specifically the way Eros is so enraged by how people talk about Psyche and is incredibly protective of her. Also the progression of Eros referring to Psyche as his wife.
Overall this book was super sweet, with a handful of spice.