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eggcatsreads's Reviews (480)
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re in the mood for a dark romantic thriller, with some hints of supernatural elements thrown in, this is a good book to read.
I was surprised how wholesome the romance in this book was between Cain and Mercy - yes there’s some elements of the dark romance, but as a whole there wasn’t really much concerning about their relationship. (I will admit that at times I was almost hoping for the romance to become more/actually toxic, but they both seemed determined to somehow be pure and sweet despite being surrounded by so much death and bloodshed. I have to hand it to them, I wasn’t honestly expecting that.) Cain does have some stalkerish tendencies towards Mercy, but up until the events of this book he seemed able to stay away from her anyway. And with their almost supernatural connection between them, I’ll give him a pass for it since it’s almost like he didn’t have the ability to not be obsessed with her. (And in Cain’s defense, he was almost forced into kidnapping Mercy, it’s not like he went to her planning on doing so.)
Learning about Cain’s strange powers through connecting with blood was interesting - and I also thought it was kind of amusing that everyone just seemed to accept it. The idea of the FBI being okay with someone smearing blood all over his face as a profiling technique, and then suddenly having knowledge about the crime scene that no one else was able to discern - it’s interesting, but also I kind of found it almost hilarious. I liked it - don’t get me wrong - but just thinking about it in a real world scenario instead of in this book occasionally made me laugh. In the same way, at the end with them offering Mercy a job from her using her own powers was also a little funny. Other than their almost supernatural abilities, this book is very grounded in reality.
I did think it was interesting how the serial killer father was the one that set into motion Mercy and Cain’s connection with each other - and that he did it on purpose. Throughout the novel I wondered if he too had some kind of supernatural ability, and that’s how his actions gave both Cain and Mercy their powers.
This book is very fast-paced with a insta-love romance, along with all the thriller elements happening extremely quickly. If you were looking for a more slow-burn dark romance this might not be the book for you.
With this being a dark romance thriller, I know I’m going to miss adding all the trigger warnings. I would include anything to do with: death, murder, knives, guns, blood, child abuse, medical torture/abuse, doctor/patient abuse, mental illness, sexual abuse/assault/rape (nothing explicit but heavily implied at some points), fighting, violence. I’m definitely missing a lot, but if it fits in the themes of the ones I’ve mentioned I’d maybe assume it’ll probably be there to be safe.
If you’re in the mood for a dark romantic thriller, with some hints of supernatural elements thrown in, this is a good book to read.
I was surprised how wholesome the romance in this book was between Cain and Mercy - yes there’s some elements of the dark romance, but as a whole there wasn’t really much concerning about their relationship. (I will admit that at times I was almost hoping for the romance to become more/actually toxic, but they both seemed determined to somehow be pure and sweet despite being surrounded by so much death and bloodshed. I have to hand it to them, I wasn’t honestly expecting that.) Cain does have some stalkerish tendencies towards Mercy, but up until the events of this book he seemed able to stay away from her anyway. And with their almost supernatural connection between them, I’ll give him a pass for it since it’s almost like he didn’t have the ability to not be obsessed with her. (And in Cain’s defense, he was almost forced into kidnapping Mercy, it’s not like he went to her planning on doing so.)
Learning about Cain’s strange powers through connecting with blood was interesting - and I also thought it was kind of amusing that everyone just seemed to accept it. The idea of the FBI being okay with someone smearing blood all over his face as a profiling technique, and then suddenly having knowledge about the crime scene that no one else was able to discern - it’s interesting, but also I kind of found it almost hilarious. I liked it - don’t get me wrong - but just thinking about it in a real world scenario instead of in this book occasionally made me laugh. In the same way, at the end with them offering Mercy a job from her using her own powers was also a little funny. Other than their almost supernatural abilities, this book is very grounded in reality.
I did think it was interesting how the serial killer father was the one that set into motion Mercy and Cain’s connection with each other - and that he did it on purpose. Throughout the novel I wondered if he too had some kind of supernatural ability, and that’s how his actions gave both Cain and Mercy their powers.
This book is very fast-paced with a insta-love romance, along with all the thriller elements happening extremely quickly. If you were looking for a more slow-burn dark romance this might not be the book for you.
With this being a dark romance thriller, I know I’m going to miss adding all the trigger warnings. I would include anything to do with: death, murder, knives, guns, blood, child abuse, medical torture/abuse, doctor/patient abuse, mental illness, sexual abuse/assault/rape (nothing explicit but heavily implied at some points), fighting, violence. I’m definitely missing a lot, but if it fits in the themes of the ones I’ve mentioned I’d maybe assume it’ll probably be there to be safe.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Angry Robot for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told from mostly two points of view - Vedma Kada, and noblewoman Sladyana. We also occasionally get a point of view from the fox - our main antagonist in this book, as well as Secha, Kada’s daughter. There are a few others sprinkled throughout, but these are the most plot significant.
Kada is the Vedma for the town she lives in, a kind of witch who helps people with their issues - delivering babies, curing ailments, as well as communing with the goddess Zemya - the source of the bone roots which gives the book its name. Her goal is to protect her daughter Secha at all costs - as her daughter will only become fully human, and safe from the goddess claiming her as her own, when she turns sixteen. Until then, she runs the risk of being captured by the fox and given to the goddess Zemya - unless Kada can stop her, even if it means betraying everything she’s worked for.
Sladyana is a noblewoman whose daughter, Luba, went missing 15 years ago - taken by the same fox hunting Secha. She has been searching everywhere for a trace of her daughter, but has also adopted a four year old mute child named Tula. Sladyana is convinced Kada - who is the woman who helped her have a child in the first place years ago - knows something about what happened to her missing daughter. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back.
The conflict in this book is between these two mothers trying to do anything they can for their daughters. However, we eventually find that only one of them can have a truly happy ending - and she must bring suffering to the other to achieve it.
Once the plot of this book kicks off, it’s easy to sympathize with both of the mothers and their respective scenarios. We might not agree with everything they do to achieve their goals - but we can understand them. There’s also a twist at the end that I very much didn’t see coming, but it recontextualizes previous scenes in a way I wasn’t expecting. The reveal at the end makes much of the earlier character’s actions (especially Kada’s) make significantly more sense than before, and I thought it was a really clever interpretation, as well as fitting into a common theme in folklore of hidden agendas and betrayals. I was especially not expecting how this book ended itself, with neither mother getting what they wanted or expected to happen by the end.
The biggest issue with this book is the pacing, and how it starts. Each chapter of this book is told from a different character’s perspective, which at the start of the book, with no knowledge of who or what these characters are - is very confusing and off putting. It was kind of hard knowing who was who, or how they fit together, until significantly later in the book.
As well as the fact that the two mother POVs aren’t connected to one another until later in the book, and I wasn’t aware until they met each other that they were happening at the same time, but separated from one another. I couldn’t tell if these POVs were past/present or who was what until this point, which made me miss a lot of the beginning context for the first 20% of this book.
Honestly, I think if you liked the premise given in this book, as well as stories focused on Slavic folklore - just read through the first 20% until it makes sense. Then, you can decide if you want to go back and re-read (or do what I did and just continue on the journey the book takes you.) Once you can piece together the relationships and how everything fits together, this is a very good book and I significantly enjoyed the last 70% and wanted to stay up to finish reading this to see how it resolved itself.
If you like Slavic folklore, I think you’d like this book. Even if you’re not too familiar with Slavic folklore, I don’t think this book will be altogether too confusing for you - as I’m not overly familiar with it and I was able to follow along fairly well. It was a really good read that made you understand the motivations and actions of all the characters, without a true villain in it causing the issues for you to root against. Even with the copious creatures and forms of magic present within the book, the conflicts feel real and grounded in a way I wasn’t expecting - nor was I expecting to be simultaneously rooting for the victory of both of the mothers at the end, regardless of what they had done beforehand.
This story is told from mostly two points of view - Vedma Kada, and noblewoman Sladyana. We also occasionally get a point of view from the fox - our main antagonist in this book, as well as Secha, Kada’s daughter. There are a few others sprinkled throughout, but these are the most plot significant.
Kada is the Vedma for the town she lives in, a kind of witch who helps people with their issues - delivering babies, curing ailments, as well as communing with the goddess Zemya - the source of the bone roots which gives the book its name. Her goal is to protect her daughter Secha at all costs - as her daughter will only become fully human, and safe from the goddess claiming her as her own, when she turns sixteen. Until then, she runs the risk of being captured by the fox and given to the goddess Zemya - unless Kada can stop her, even if it means betraying everything she’s worked for.
Sladyana is a noblewoman whose daughter, Luba, went missing 15 years ago - taken by the same fox hunting Secha. She has been searching everywhere for a trace of her daughter, but has also adopted a four year old mute child named Tula. Sladyana is convinced Kada - who is the woman who helped her have a child in the first place years ago - knows something about what happened to her missing daughter. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back.
The conflict in this book is between these two mothers trying to do anything they can for their daughters. However, we eventually find that only one of them can have a truly happy ending - and she must bring suffering to the other to achieve it.
Once the plot of this book kicks off, it’s easy to sympathize with both of the mothers and their respective scenarios. We might not agree with everything they do to achieve their goals - but we can understand them. There’s also a twist at the end that I very much didn’t see coming, but it recontextualizes previous scenes in a way I wasn’t expecting. The reveal at the end makes much of the earlier character’s actions (especially Kada’s) make significantly more sense than before, and I thought it was a really clever interpretation, as well as fitting into a common theme in folklore of hidden agendas and betrayals. I was especially not expecting how this book ended itself, with neither mother getting what they wanted or expected to happen by the end.
The biggest issue with this book is the pacing, and how it starts. Each chapter of this book is told from a different character’s perspective, which at the start of the book, with no knowledge of who or what these characters are - is very confusing and off putting. It was kind of hard knowing who was who, or how they fit together, until significantly later in the book.
As well as the fact that the two mother POVs aren’t connected to one another until later in the book, and I wasn’t aware until they met each other that they were happening at the same time, but separated from one another. I couldn’t tell if these POVs were past/present or who was what until this point, which made me miss a lot of the beginning context for the first 20% of this book.
Honestly, I think if you liked the premise given in this book, as well as stories focused on Slavic folklore - just read through the first 20% until it makes sense. Then, you can decide if you want to go back and re-read (or do what I did and just continue on the journey the book takes you.) Once you can piece together the relationships and how everything fits together, this is a very good book and I significantly enjoyed the last 70% and wanted to stay up to finish reading this to see how it resolved itself.
If you like Slavic folklore, I think you’d like this book. Even if you’re not too familiar with Slavic folklore, I don’t think this book will be altogether too confusing for you - as I’m not overly familiar with it and I was able to follow along fairly well. It was a really good read that made you understand the motivations and actions of all the characters, without a true villain in it causing the issues for you to root against. Even with the copious creatures and forms of magic present within the book, the conflicts feel real and grounded in a way I wasn’t expecting - nor was I expecting to be simultaneously rooting for the victory of both of the mothers at the end, regardless of what they had done beforehand.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Orbit Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”
Two Twisted Crowns is able to take the momentum and pacing of One Dark Window and run with it to create the perfect ending to this duology. This book adds the POV of Ravyn and Elm, and both really are integral to the plot and pacing in this book. TCC begins just where ODW left off - with Elspeth gone and the Shepherd King in charge.
I loved the inverse of the dynamic Elspeth and the Nightmare/Shepherd King have in this book as compared to the last book - with the Nightmare in charge and Elspeth the voice in the head. It’s cleverly done, and it works as a great parallel to the first book and Elspeth’s degeneration as she works to heal herself and no longer be lost and alone in the second book.
We also learn more about the Nightmare/Shepherd King and who he is and how he became the monster we knew in ODW. I was a little wary of him being a more forefront character in this book as I wasn’t sure if he would work becoming more than the voice in Elspeth’s head - but he does. His characterization has changed a bit in TCC as he’s able to be more of his own person with his own motivations, but he doesn’t lose any of his speech patterns or mannerisms that he had in the first book
We also get to see more of Elm in this book as he has his own POV and multiple chapters where he’s separated from the rest of the characters. I liked him in the first book, but I absolutely LOVED him in this one. His character growth and actions are much more focused on in this book, and even in chapters where Elspeth and the Nightmare never appear I was fully invested in what was going on. He also gets his own romance storyline in this book that you can see the hints of in One Dark Window - and so when it develops in this book you can connect the strings and see the plot threads all the way back to the beginning.
It seems that everyone and their neighbor has said this, but I’ll also say it - the magic system in this duology is so unique I’ve never read anything like it. Rachel Gillig is able to take what we learned and understood about the Providence Cards from ODW and turn it on its head with the fuller understanding we get from the creator of them - the Shepherd King - while also staying within the rules she created in the first book. There’s a few draw-drop reveals about the power and magic of certain cards, as well as the true magic a certain character possesses - and his connection to the Shepherd King. Everything we learn makes sense - but I never saw a few of them coming .
This is the perfect bookend finale to the worldbuilding and plot that was created in One Dark Window, and while sometimes the sequel to a duology falls flat and doesn’t deliver, Two Twisted Crowns absolutely DOES. I cannot recommend this duology enough, and a part of me wishes I could wipe my memory of both these books so I could enjoy them completely new and be blown away again.
“There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King, a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same. The girl, the King, and the monster they became.”
“Be wary. Be clever. Be good.”
Two Twisted Crowns is able to take the momentum and pacing of One Dark Window and run with it to create the perfect ending to this duology. This book adds the POV of Ravyn and Elm, and both really are integral to the plot and pacing in this book. TCC begins just where ODW left off - with Elspeth gone and the Shepherd King in charge.
I loved the inverse of the dynamic Elspeth and the Nightmare/Shepherd King have in this book as compared to the last book - with the Nightmare in charge and Elspeth the voice in the head. It’s cleverly done, and it works as a great parallel to the first book and Elspeth’s degeneration as she works to heal herself and no longer be lost and alone in the second book.
We also learn more about the Nightmare/Shepherd King and who he is and how he became the monster we knew in ODW. I was a little wary of him being a more forefront character in this book as I wasn’t sure if he would work becoming more than the voice in Elspeth’s head - but he does. His characterization has changed a bit in TCC as he’s able to be more of his own person with his own motivations, but he doesn’t lose any of his speech patterns or mannerisms that he had in the first book
We also get to see more of Elm in this book as he has his own POV and multiple chapters where he’s separated from the rest of the characters. I liked him in the first book, but I absolutely LOVED him in this one. His character growth and actions are much more focused on in this book, and even in chapters where Elspeth and the Nightmare never appear I was fully invested in what was going on. He also gets his own romance storyline in this book that you can see the hints of in One Dark Window - and so when it develops in this book you can connect the strings and see the plot threads all the way back to the beginning.
It seems that everyone and their neighbor has said this, but I’ll also say it - the magic system in this duology is so unique I’ve never read anything like it. Rachel Gillig is able to take what we learned and understood about the Providence Cards from ODW and turn it on its head with the fuller understanding we get from the creator of them - the Shepherd King - while also staying within the rules she created in the first book. There’s a few draw-drop reveals about the power and magic of certain cards, as well as the true magic a certain character possesses - and his connection to the Shepherd King. Everything we learn makes sense - but I never saw a few of them coming .
This is the perfect bookend finale to the worldbuilding and plot that was created in One Dark Window, and while sometimes the sequel to a duology falls flat and doesn’t deliver, Two Twisted Crowns absolutely DOES. I cannot recommend this duology enough, and a part of me wishes I could wipe my memory of both these books so I could enjoy them completely new and be blown away again.
“There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King, a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same. The girl, the King, and the monster they became.”
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Tor Publishing Group for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is perfect if you wanted something with slight cosmic and body horror with a queer main character - and you wanted a quick read.
This book is set in a slightly alternate reality London in 1675, where a slew of babies are being born with strange appearances - extra body parts, webbed fingers, gills, etc - in an almost endemic fashion. Our main character, Sarah, has escaped her previous life after her husband mysteriously died and has taken on a midwifery apprenticeship to a Mrs. June, and sees firsthand the increase in these strange births.
Sarah, however, has a secret - she was also one of these “strange” babies, as she was born with a tail and has magic and powers she doesn’t fully understand, nor can she use consistently. She is able to masquerade as a normal woman as her tail was removed as an infant after she was born, before anyone could see it. It happens to be that this is the exact reason Mrs. June had hired her - as she is part of a secret and unofficial Midwife’s Guild who focus on using magic - through a connection to a universe they don’t fully understand, called “The Other Place”. And this guild wants to use Sarah’s unique power to connect with The Other Place to remake the current one for themselves.
Sarah also meets the enigmatic Sir Wren who also wants to use Sarah’s power to change the world, but he wishes to use it to remove any guesswork from day-to-day life. He believes that by using the power of The Other Place, Sarah can remake the world so people can be in complete control - without any tragedies or deaths or any variables at all. And when Sarah and Mrs. June are hired to be the midwives for his pregnant wife, it’s revealed he’ll do anything to accomplish this goal - even if he has to use his own newborn strange son.
Sarah has a romance with a woman named Margaret, who also has a connection to The Other Place and possesses two horns on her head. And in contrast to Mrs. June and Sir Wren, Margaret only wishes for what’s best for Sarah and wants Sarah to do whatever would make her the happiest - and allow them to be together.
Sarah must make a choice on who she wishes to use her powers to help - Mrs. June or Sir Wren. The issue arises when she realizes that neither see her as her own unique individual, and instead only as a tool to use for their own means. Sarah must see her own self-worth to decide if she can make her choices for herself, instead of only what others want of her.
It’s also interesting how the book makes a parallel to the prejudice Sarah faces as having her “strangeness,” and the prejudice and inequality Sarah faces for being a queer woman in the 1600s. The danger of being discovered in a relationship with Margaret is both dangerous because they are both “strange” but also because they are both women. This is even more explicitly shown when Margaret takes Sarah to the kind of underground brothel that has both women and men being together - where it’s explicitly stated that while the people there might not be other in the same exact way as them, but that they are still all outcasts just the same.
This book is great as a short novella of under 200 pages with both cosmic and body horror elements. However, if you wished for a more in-depth look into the issues or characters in this book, you might want to choose another novel. While I think this book could easily be adapted to a much longer piece and fleshed out, currently it’s a very fast-paced book without too much of a deeper look past stating the issues and then solving them.
This book is perfect if you wanted something with slight cosmic and body horror with a queer main character - and you wanted a quick read.
This book is set in a slightly alternate reality London in 1675, where a slew of babies are being born with strange appearances - extra body parts, webbed fingers, gills, etc - in an almost endemic fashion. Our main character, Sarah, has escaped her previous life after her husband mysteriously died and has taken on a midwifery apprenticeship to a Mrs. June, and sees firsthand the increase in these strange births.
Sarah, however, has a secret - she was also one of these “strange” babies, as she was born with a tail and has magic and powers she doesn’t fully understand, nor can she use consistently. She is able to masquerade as a normal woman as her tail was removed as an infant after she was born, before anyone could see it. It happens to be that this is the exact reason Mrs. June had hired her - as she is part of a secret and unofficial Midwife’s Guild who focus on using magic - through a connection to a universe they don’t fully understand, called “The Other Place”. And this guild wants to use Sarah’s unique power to connect with The Other Place to remake the current one for themselves.
Sarah also meets the enigmatic Sir Wren who also wants to use Sarah’s power to change the world, but he wishes to use it to remove any guesswork from day-to-day life. He believes that by using the power of The Other Place, Sarah can remake the world so people can be in complete control - without any tragedies or deaths or any variables at all. And when Sarah and Mrs. June are hired to be the midwives for his pregnant wife, it’s revealed he’ll do anything to accomplish this goal - even if he has to use his own newborn strange son.
Sarah has a romance with a woman named Margaret, who also has a connection to The Other Place and possesses two horns on her head. And in contrast to Mrs. June and Sir Wren, Margaret only wishes for what’s best for Sarah and wants Sarah to do whatever would make her the happiest - and allow them to be together.
Sarah must make a choice on who she wishes to use her powers to help - Mrs. June or Sir Wren. The issue arises when she realizes that neither see her as her own unique individual, and instead only as a tool to use for their own means. Sarah must see her own self-worth to decide if she can make her choices for herself, instead of only what others want of her.
It’s also interesting how the book makes a parallel to the prejudice Sarah faces as having her “strangeness,” and the prejudice and inequality Sarah faces for being a queer woman in the 1600s. The danger of being discovered in a relationship with Margaret is both dangerous because they are both “strange” but also because they are both women. This is even more explicitly shown when Margaret takes Sarah to the kind of underground brothel that has both women and men being together - where it’s explicitly stated that while the people there might not be other in the same exact way as them, but that they are still all outcasts just the same.
This book is great as a short novella of under 200 pages with both cosmic and body horror elements. However, if you wished for a more in-depth look into the issues or characters in this book, you might want to choose another novel. While I think this book could easily be adapted to a much longer piece and fleshed out, currently it’s a very fast-paced book without too much of a deeper look past stating the issues and then solving them.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning for rape. (I realize the entire mythos of Medusa originated from this, but on the off chance that someone reading this is unaware, I wanted to give a warning.)
Despite knowing the story of Medusa, this retelling packs a punch with the childhood and eventual rape of Medusa by Poseidon, and the curse cast upon her by Athena. I thought the adaptation of Stheno and Euryale of having also been mortal and likewise cursed by Athena was an interesting take on the myth. My general understanding was that all three of the gorgons were born, but only Medusa was mortal and a priestess for Athena, while the other two were always immortal. I thought this interpretation allowed cohesion between the two stories in a way that made thematically sense.
This book is good at placing the reader into the myth to experience it firsthand, but it is very quick and efficient in doing so. I really appreciated that neither Medusa nor Perseus were set to be the antagonist or villain of this story - both are victims of the wills of the men and gods around them. Typically, depending on the slant of the story that this myth is being retold, one or the other is cast in a less than sympathetic light, when neither has done anything deserving of derision. They are characters in a play, forced into roles that neither wanted but have no choice but to continue until the curtain drops.
There were also a few points I felt that this book incorporated a too modern perspective into the characters, in a way that felt almost confusing. I don’t necessarily disagree with them, as this is a feminist retelling of Medusa, but some aspects I found jarring. For instance, Medusa’s father wants to prevent her from marrying young and so that is the motivation for her becoming a priestess for Athena - and yet, her sister is married just as young as Medusa was when she left. I felt like there could have been a better reason for Medusa to become a priestess of Athena, to account for this discrepancy.
There are also times when the timeline skips around in a way that I found confusing, even being familiar with the entire story of Medusa. The biggest one I noticed was the change from Danae and infant Perseus almost drowning in the chest, to an adult Perseus talking to characters about events that we have not seen. I know the mythology, so I was aware of what was happening, but I felt there should have at least been a chapter or two to cover this timeline change to keep the reader aware of everything going on.
This novel also isn’t the best at letting the reader be aware of the passage of time as it happens. While I obviously knew time had passed from Medusa and her sisters escaping to their island, and Perseus making the promise of beheading her for the king, I was not aware millennia had passed until it was stated explicitly. The writing had led me to believe that maybe a few generations had passed, but not the expansive passage of time that the story explicitly states later.
I believe that as long as a reader is familiar with the myth of Medusa, this story is told very well and really brings to life the characters within the story. Overall, this book is a fairly quick read, so I do suggest giving it a try.
Trigger Warning for rape. (I realize the entire mythos of Medusa originated from this, but on the off chance that someone reading this is unaware, I wanted to give a warning.)
Despite knowing the story of Medusa, this retelling packs a punch with the childhood and eventual rape of Medusa by Poseidon, and the curse cast upon her by Athena. I thought the adaptation of Stheno and Euryale of having also been mortal and likewise cursed by Athena was an interesting take on the myth. My general understanding was that all three of the gorgons were born, but only Medusa was mortal and a priestess for Athena, while the other two were always immortal. I thought this interpretation allowed cohesion between the two stories in a way that made thematically sense.
This book is good at placing the reader into the myth to experience it firsthand, but it is very quick and efficient in doing so. I really appreciated that neither Medusa nor Perseus were set to be the antagonist or villain of this story - both are victims of the wills of the men and gods around them. Typically, depending on the slant of the story that this myth is being retold, one or the other is cast in a less than sympathetic light, when neither has done anything deserving of derision. They are characters in a play, forced into roles that neither wanted but have no choice but to continue until the curtain drops.
There were also a few points I felt that this book incorporated a too modern perspective into the characters, in a way that felt almost confusing. I don’t necessarily disagree with them, as this is a feminist retelling of Medusa, but some aspects I found jarring. For instance, Medusa’s father wants to prevent her from marrying young and so that is the motivation for her becoming a priestess for Athena - and yet, her sister is married just as young as Medusa was when she left. I felt like there could have been a better reason for Medusa to become a priestess of Athena, to account for this discrepancy.
There are also times when the timeline skips around in a way that I found confusing, even being familiar with the entire story of Medusa. The biggest one I noticed was the change from Danae and infant Perseus almost drowning in the chest, to an adult Perseus talking to characters about events that we have not seen. I know the mythology, so I was aware of what was happening, but I felt there should have at least been a chapter or two to cover this timeline change to keep the reader aware of everything going on.
This novel also isn’t the best at letting the reader be aware of the passage of time as it happens. While I obviously knew time had passed from Medusa and her sisters escaping to their island, and Perseus making the promise of beheading her for the king, I was not aware millennia had passed until it was stated explicitly. The writing had led me to believe that maybe a few generations had passed, but not the expansive passage of time that the story explicitly states later.
I believe that as long as a reader is familiar with the myth of Medusa, this story is told very well and really brings to life the characters within the story. Overall, this book is a fairly quick read, so I do suggest giving it a try.
A huge thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book drew me in from the concept - vampires operating in Los Angeles? Color me intrigued. And to be honest, I was hooked the entire novel. I really enjoyed our main character Sonia, and I appreciated how this was definitely more of a plot-related story than simply a “sexy vampire” story. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those! They just tend to not be my cup of tea.)
I’m unsure how to describe this book, but honestly reading this felt like I was almost playing Vampire: The Masquerade - and I mean that in a complimentary way. I really liked how as we (as Sonia) were investigating the disappearances of other vampires, we traveled around to learn more about the world of the vampires living in Los Angeles, as well as the rest of the world. I also liked how as she was investigating, she kept running into more and more issues - as well as danger - trying to force her away from the answers she’s finding.
The storylines in this novel were complex, and while they were “solved” by the end, you can tell there is a lot going on beneath the surface of this world to be explored further. I personally hate when books don’t solve the problem they have just to force sequels, but I really like it when the problem is “solved” but you can tell it will cause more issues down the line.
I was also surprised how much I enjoyed the relationships in this novel. Generally, I’m not the biggest fan of any kind of love triangles, but I believe this book does the one it has well. (To the point it’s not even a love triangle, but each character has a different relationship dynamic with each other.) I will admit to not being that interested or liking Sunny that much at the beginning of this novel, and was almost dreading him becoming more of a player character - but he surprised me, and he wound up being one of my favorites.
Overall, I would really recommend this book if the idea of modern-day vampires interests you, but you wanted them to focus on living their lives, as well as fighting with the main establishment that they operate under. If you prefer your vampire stories focused more on the political aspect, with some romance and relationships thrown in, then this would be a good book to grab.
This book drew me in from the concept - vampires operating in Los Angeles? Color me intrigued. And to be honest, I was hooked the entire novel. I really enjoyed our main character Sonia, and I appreciated how this was definitely more of a plot-related story than simply a “sexy vampire” story. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those! They just tend to not be my cup of tea.)
I’m unsure how to describe this book, but honestly reading this felt like I was almost playing Vampire: The Masquerade - and I mean that in a complimentary way. I really liked how as we (as Sonia) were investigating the disappearances of other vampires, we traveled around to learn more about the world of the vampires living in Los Angeles, as well as the rest of the world. I also liked how as she was investigating, she kept running into more and more issues - as well as danger - trying to force her away from the answers she’s finding.
The storylines in this novel were complex, and while they were “solved” by the end, you can tell there is a lot going on beneath the surface of this world to be explored further. I personally hate when books don’t solve the problem they have just to force sequels, but I really like it when the problem is “solved” but you can tell it will cause more issues down the line.
I was also surprised how much I enjoyed the relationships in this novel. Generally, I’m not the biggest fan of any kind of love triangles, but I believe this book does the one it has well. (To the point it’s not even a love triangle, but each character has a different relationship dynamic with each other.) I will admit to not being that interested or liking Sunny that much at the beginning of this novel, and was almost dreading him becoming more of a player character - but he surprised me, and he wound up being one of my favorites.
Overall, I would really recommend this book if the idea of modern-day vampires interests you, but you wanted them to focus on living their lives, as well as fighting with the main establishment that they operate under. If you prefer your vampire stories focused more on the political aspect, with some romance and relationships thrown in, then this would be a good book to grab.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Brigids Gate Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun novella focusing on Limos - the Greek goddess of starvation, and her thoughts and relationship with Demeter - the Greek goddess of the harvest. The two are destined to never meet, as told by the Fates, but Limos has always been intrigued by her “opposite half.”
When Kore/Persephone is captured and kept in the underworld by Hades, Demeter decides to ignore the Fates’ prophecies and meets Limos directly, during her grief. Limos during this time almost becomes Demeter’s protector, as only she can understand the hunger Demeter has for her daughter to return and her refusal to allow anything to grow until she is returned to her.
I liked Limos’ personality, and how she almost stands up for Demeter and Kore/Persephone, refusing to back down on Demeter’s negotiations or caring what other gods or goddesses she annoyed. I also liked how hunger and devastation are almost shown to be things that need to exist in some capacity, and Limos’ refusal to see any condemnation for what someone does when they are starving.
This was a very quick read, and an interesting perspective on the “lives” of the gods and goddesses - and their experiences. I also really thought it was interesting to see the creation of the seasons happening through Demeter’s grief from someone not involved in the situation, allowing for other perspectives.
This is a fun novella focusing on Limos - the Greek goddess of starvation, and her thoughts and relationship with Demeter - the Greek goddess of the harvest. The two are destined to never meet, as told by the Fates, but Limos has always been intrigued by her “opposite half.”
When Kore/Persephone is captured and kept in the underworld by Hades, Demeter decides to ignore the Fates’ prophecies and meets Limos directly, during her grief. Limos during this time almost becomes Demeter’s protector, as only she can understand the hunger Demeter has for her daughter to return and her refusal to allow anything to grow until she is returned to her.
I liked Limos’ personality, and how she almost stands up for Demeter and Kore/Persephone, refusing to back down on Demeter’s negotiations or caring what other gods or goddesses she annoyed. I also liked how hunger and devastation are almost shown to be things that need to exist in some capacity, and Limos’ refusal to see any condemnation for what someone does when they are starving.
This was a very quick read, and an interesting perspective on the “lives” of the gods and goddesses - and their experiences. I also really thought it was interesting to see the creation of the seasons happening through Demeter’s grief from someone not involved in the situation, allowing for other perspectives.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Wicked House Publishing for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book incorporates all my favorite things from a Southern Gothic tale, and you can almost feel the heat and humidity as the story presses in on you from all sides. Once the story kicks off, there is almost no time to take a moment for a breath, and every new chapter leaves you wanting more. Just when you think you finally understand what is going on, something will happen that will change your entire perspective and understanding of the story.
We follow Rhiannon and her younger brother Rhett as they return to their old house next to the bayou after their mother’s death. Both siblings were forced from their home by their mother after their father’s suicide, and given no explanation on why she could not go with them. Due to this, Rhiannon holds hostility to her late mother and wants nothing more than to sell the house and be done with it completely. However, as they live in the house to get it ready to be sold, it slowly starts coming to life as something begins lurking in the shadows.
This story is told through both dual perspectives and timelines, flashing back to when Rhiannon and Rhett were children and the events that lead to them leaving the house and their mother behind. Confronted with their memories of their father’s suicide, and the hostility of the town they return to, both are left on their one to try to survive whatever is lurking in the bayou. They must rely on their own faulty memories, as well as the clues their mother left behind, to try to piece together how to stop the horror that haunts their old ancestral home.
This book never goes where you expect it to, and just when you think you understand what exactly is going on, it will surprise you with new information. If you were looking for a nice heavy and oppressive Southern Gothic tale where you can feel just as trapped as the characters, I would look no further than this book.
This book incorporates all my favorite things from a Southern Gothic tale, and you can almost feel the heat and humidity as the story presses in on you from all sides. Once the story kicks off, there is almost no time to take a moment for a breath, and every new chapter leaves you wanting more. Just when you think you finally understand what is going on, something will happen that will change your entire perspective and understanding of the story.
We follow Rhiannon and her younger brother Rhett as they return to their old house next to the bayou after their mother’s death. Both siblings were forced from their home by their mother after their father’s suicide, and given no explanation on why she could not go with them. Due to this, Rhiannon holds hostility to her late mother and wants nothing more than to sell the house and be done with it completely. However, as they live in the house to get it ready to be sold, it slowly starts coming to life as something begins lurking in the shadows.
This story is told through both dual perspectives and timelines, flashing back to when Rhiannon and Rhett were children and the events that lead to them leaving the house and their mother behind. Confronted with their memories of their father’s suicide, and the hostility of the town they return to, both are left on their one to try to survive whatever is lurking in the bayou. They must rely on their own faulty memories, as well as the clues their mother left behind, to try to piece together how to stop the horror that haunts their old ancestral home.
This book never goes where you expect it to, and just when you think you understand what exactly is going on, it will surprise you with new information. If you were looking for a nice heavy and oppressive Southern Gothic tale where you can feel just as trapped as the characters, I would look no further than this book.
The art in this is beautiful, and was what first drew my eye to it. The imagery is phenomenal, and even on pages without words it still invoked the emotions it hoped to.
The worldbuilding was natural, and the story started slow at first but very quickly picked up at the end. The conflict of the mist and the creatures in it vs the witches vs the “lost ones” potentially hunting the witches all felt natural and made the world seem much bigger than the little sliver we can see in this first book.
Plus the ending was a heart punch and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Europe Comics for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The worldbuilding was natural, and the story started slow at first but very quickly picked up at the end. The conflict of the mist and the creatures in it vs the witches vs the “lost ones” potentially hunting the witches all felt natural and made the world seem much bigger than the little sliver we can see in this first book.
Plus the ending was a heart punch and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Europe Comics for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of this story was cute and sweet, like a typical highschool romance where one person pursues the other for friendship - or more? It quickly became more of a romance type manga, but the jealousy Honda showed seemed to be more than was warranted - and more than should have been forgiven during one simple conversation/confession.
I will admit that pacing seemed to be off at times, as after the confession they both suddenly admit to loving each other, despite them not having dated before that point - and Honda intentionally embarrassing Kaido due to jealousy. If this were a one-off comic I could forgive the speed of which it ended with them together, but if this was continued I think a proper ending would have been something like Kaido punching Honda for his actions and making Honda actually prove he would change for the better.
Also, the last chapters kind of confused me after they were together - as the timeline both insinuated they had graduated, but also did not tell me that at the beginning. So it felt like just the chapter after the confession. After the initial few pages there seems to be a flashback, but I thought it would have been better shown with something telling us that they’ve graduated - the flashback - and then indicating another timeskip.
The bones of this manga are there, and the relationship had cute moments, but overall I felt it was a bit rushed and underdeveloped to where they ended up at the end. Since this is the first in a series, I think there could have been more time dedicated to them bonding and becoming friends with feelings before a real relationship starts.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kodansha Comics for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit that pacing seemed to be off at times, as after the confession they both suddenly admit to loving each other, despite them not having dated before that point - and Honda intentionally embarrassing Kaido due to jealousy. If this were a one-off comic I could forgive the speed of which it ended with them together, but if this was continued I think a proper ending would have been something like Kaido punching Honda for his actions and making Honda actually prove he would change for the better.
Also, the last chapters kind of confused me after they were together - as the timeline both insinuated they had graduated, but also did not tell me that at the beginning. So it felt like just the chapter after the confession. After the initial few pages there seems to be a flashback, but I thought it would have been better shown with something telling us that they’ve graduated - the flashback - and then indicating another timeskip.
The bones of this manga are there, and the relationship had cute moments, but overall I felt it was a bit rushed and underdeveloped to where they ended up at the end. Since this is the first in a series, I think there could have been more time dedicated to them bonding and becoming friends with feelings before a real relationship starts.
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kodansha Comics for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.