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eliotts_library
This was... not great imho
The first book was the good kind of bad where it was entertaining and exactly what I was looking for. The second book was just straight up bad. There were elements that I liked, such as the friendship between Delphine and Tarrak, and the atmosphere of the Starlight Court. But the plot was barely there, the writing incredibly repetitive and full of typos, and I wasn't feeling the romance whatsoever. I wasn't even sure who the romance was supposed to be towards, since there was really only lust between her and the main "love interest" in this book.
I'll still read the third book whenever it comes out, because the plot did get interesting right at the end there and I'm curious to see where it goes. But if there are plans for this to be more than a trilogy then I'm probably going to drop it tbh
The first book was the good kind of bad where it was entertaining and exactly what I was looking for. The second book was just straight up bad. There were elements that I liked, such as the friendship between Delphine and Tarrak, and the atmosphere of the Starlight Court. But the plot was barely there, the writing incredibly repetitive and full of typos, and I wasn't feeling the romance whatsoever. I wasn't even sure who the romance was supposed to be towards, since there was really only lust between her and the main "love interest" in this book.
Spoiler
I still can't get over the fact that she spent an entire book lusting after her maybe-grandfather... yikesI'll still read the third book whenever it comes out, because the plot did get interesting right at the end there and I'm curious to see where it goes. But if there are plans for this to be more than a trilogy then I'm probably going to drop it tbh
Before We Disappear is an ahistorical fantasy with a shining cast of characters, a unique setting, and a plot that will leave you guessing until the very last page. Set at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, we follow two young men as their fates collide in a way that will change both of them forever. Jack, the semi-adopted assistant to the magician known as The Enchantress, is a thief, pickpocket, and general trouble maker. Wilhelm, on the other hand, is a soft and naive boy who was kidnapped as a child by a man who wanted to exploit him for his magical ability to travel through space in the blink of an eye. Masquerading as rival magicians to The Enchantress at the AYPE, Wilhelm's captor has a plan, one that Wilhelm has not been made privy to but knows he will have no choice but to be a key component of. But then Jack and Wilhelm meet, and the two quickly fall in love so deeply that Jack couldn't imagine a world in which he does not save Wilhelm from his horrible future. And so, with the help of the friends he has made at the exposition, he must devise a plan to save the boy he loves, before anyone gets hurt.
This was so much fun! This book was definitely character focused as the plot didn't really get going until about halfway through, but given how much I loved these characters I'm certainly not complaining about that. Jack and Wilhelm's relationship to each other, as well as the friends they make, are by far the shining stars of this book. I loved that the author used the fantasy setting to change the past and allow for queer characters to exist without fear; it was lovely to read and his comment about it in the author's note made me tear up. I loved these characters, getting to know them was truly a delight! In terms of plot however, that is where Before We Disappear fell short just a little bit for me. I did really enjoy where the plot went, I thought it was engaging and fast paced in the last half. But the majority of it was painfully predictable, and relied heavily on convenience and suspension of disbelief for a lot of the big reveals. With that said, the plot was still a lot of fun, especially the climax right at the end.
Overall, Before We Disappear was a charming fantasy with a lovely romance at the centre, and I had a great time reading it! I'll definitely be checking out some of Hutchinson's backlist after reading this one.
This was so much fun! This book was definitely character focused as the plot didn't really get going until about halfway through, but given how much I loved these characters I'm certainly not complaining about that. Jack and Wilhelm's relationship to each other, as well as the friends they make, are by far the shining stars of this book. I loved that the author used the fantasy setting to change the past and allow for queer characters to exist without fear; it was lovely to read and his comment about it in the author's note made me tear up. I loved these characters, getting to know them was truly a delight! In terms of plot however, that is where Before We Disappear fell short just a little bit for me. I did really enjoy where the plot went, I thought it was engaging and fast paced in the last half. But the majority of it was painfully predictable, and relied heavily on convenience and suspension of disbelief for a lot of the big reveals. With that said, the plot was still a lot of fun, especially the climax right at the end.
Overall, Before We Disappear was a charming fantasy with a lovely romance at the centre, and I had a great time reading it! I'll definitely be checking out some of Hutchinson's backlist after reading this one.
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I could not put this book down, it was so much fun! The characters and their constant roasting of each other was the best part of this, it was a laugh riot from start to finish. I also really appreciated the moments of seriousness sprinkled throughout, they made the book feel perfectly balanced. The plot was predictable, but not in a bad way. I felt like reading a story that I'd grown up reading, albeit with a lot more swearing, and had a comforting tinge of nostalgia to it. Can't wait to see what F.T. Lukens comes out with next, they're definitely an auto-buy author for me now!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to Payback’s a Witch, a series of companion novels that take place in the charming town of Thistle Grove. Thistle Grove is a special place, filled with cute shops, friendly people, and the feeling of magic in the air. Literally. Unknown to the “normies” of the town, the four founding families are all modern day witches who get their magic from the power source in the lake nearby. These families have worked together to protect the town for generations, despite them not always getting along. Such is the case for the Thorns and the Avramovs. The Thorn’s practice Green magic, light and healing and good vibes only. Meanwhile the Avramovs are necromancers, practitioners of Death magic. The two families are complete opposites to each other, and therefore have had a rivalry spanning hundreds of years. Our main characters, Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn, have taken this rivalry to the next level due to the rocky past they share, and have barely tolerated each other’s presence for years. But when a member of the Thorn family is viciously attacked by an unknown person using Death magic, Isidora and Rowan are forced by their leaders to work together to find the culprit. What follows is a hilarious romcom filled with laugh-out-loud insults and roasting, drunken adventures, a magical mystery, and a softening between the two characters so slow and reluctant that it will melt your heart while making you laugh hysterically at the same time.
After reading Payback’s a Witch last year and falling in love with the town of Thistle Grove, I was so excited that Lana Harper was planning on revisiting this world. And she did not disappoint! From Bad to Cursed was such a fun romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy), and I had a wonderful time reading it. It was unexpectedly hilarious and had me laughing at nearly every moment, but still with a romance that had me smitten from page one.
The characters are easily the best part of this book, especially our main characters and the budding romance between them. I bought the chemistry between our love interests immediately, well before they even admitted it to themselves. The attraction between them, both physical and emotional, was palpable and left me so excited to see how things were going to develop. From page one, the two spend every moment together hurling insults, but even before they start to actually like each other, it was never done with malicious intent. They make each other laugh, although they both try their hardest to hide the fact that they think the other is hilarious. This is very much an enemies to reluctant friends to lovers trope, which is easily one of my favourite tropes in romance, and one that I don’t see often enough.
The setting and atmosphere is just as good as it was in the first book. I was a little worried at first when I realized that this book takes place in the spring, as the fall setting in the first book was so perfect for Thistle Grove. But the magic is still just as present, and it ended up having a more cottagecore/forest witch feeling to it, which I just adored. I loved the descriptions of their festivals and yearly rituals that they were doing throughout the book; it was so much to learn more about the history of the witches and see more of what they’re all about. I really love the magic system in this world! We got to see more of it in this book, and got to watch Isidora and Rowan explore each other’s magic and teach each other about it. It was fascinating to see the different sides to their magic, and get a more in depth look at how it worked for them, as well as the similarities and differences between them.
In terms of plot, this was possibly the weakest aspect of the story but it was still enjoyable! Rowan and Isidora have to uncover the mystery of who cast the hex that hurt Rowan’s family, and so they have to interview people, follow clues, and try to piece things together. I did find it to be fairly predictable, and even the plot twist at the end didn’t surprise me in the least. I hadn't fully guessed what was going to happen, but I did have a general idea of where the plot was going that ended up being correct. But even with the plot not being the most inventive thing that I’ve ever read in my life, I was okay with that as I was more here for the romance anyways.
Overall, From Bad to Cursed was a fantastic addition to The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and I ended up giving it four stars. It was fun, fast paced, steamy, and just generally a good time. I could definitely see this one becoming one of my favourites in the romance genre!
From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to Payback’s a Witch, a series of companion novels that take place in the charming town of Thistle Grove. Thistle Grove is a special place, filled with cute shops, friendly people, and the feeling of magic in the air. Literally. Unknown to the “normies” of the town, the four founding families are all modern day witches who get their magic from the power source in the lake nearby. These families have worked together to protect the town for generations, despite them not always getting along. Such is the case for the Thorns and the Avramovs. The Thorn’s practice Green magic, light and healing and good vibes only. Meanwhile the Avramovs are necromancers, practitioners of Death magic. The two families are complete opposites to each other, and therefore have had a rivalry spanning hundreds of years. Our main characters, Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn, have taken this rivalry to the next level due to the rocky past they share, and have barely tolerated each other’s presence for years. But when a member of the Thorn family is viciously attacked by an unknown person using Death magic, Isidora and Rowan are forced by their leaders to work together to find the culprit. What follows is a hilarious romcom filled with laugh-out-loud insults and roasting, drunken adventures, a magical mystery, and a softening between the two characters so slow and reluctant that it will melt your heart while making you laugh hysterically at the same time.
After reading Payback’s a Witch last year and falling in love with the town of Thistle Grove, I was so excited that Lana Harper was planning on revisiting this world. And she did not disappoint! From Bad to Cursed was such a fun romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy), and I had a wonderful time reading it. It was unexpectedly hilarious and had me laughing at nearly every moment, but still with a romance that had me smitten from page one.
The characters are easily the best part of this book, especially our main characters and the budding romance between them. I bought the chemistry between our love interests immediately, well before they even admitted it to themselves. The attraction between them, both physical and emotional, was palpable and left me so excited to see how things were going to develop. From page one, the two spend every moment together hurling insults, but even before they start to actually like each other, it was never done with malicious intent. They make each other laugh, although they both try their hardest to hide the fact that they think the other is hilarious. This is very much an enemies to reluctant friends to lovers trope, which is easily one of my favourite tropes in romance, and one that I don’t see often enough.
The setting and atmosphere is just as good as it was in the first book. I was a little worried at first when I realized that this book takes place in the spring, as the fall setting in the first book was so perfect for Thistle Grove. But the magic is still just as present, and it ended up having a more cottagecore/forest witch feeling to it, which I just adored. I loved the descriptions of their festivals and yearly rituals that they were doing throughout the book; it was so much to learn more about the history of the witches and see more of what they’re all about. I really love the magic system in this world! We got to see more of it in this book, and got to watch Isidora and Rowan explore each other’s magic and teach each other about it. It was fascinating to see the different sides to their magic, and get a more in depth look at how it worked for them, as well as the similarities and differences between them.
In terms of plot, this was possibly the weakest aspect of the story but it was still enjoyable! Rowan and Isidora have to uncover the mystery of who cast the hex that hurt Rowan’s family, and so they have to interview people, follow clues, and try to piece things together. I did find it to be fairly predictable, and even the plot twist at the end didn’t surprise me in the least. I hadn't fully guessed what was going to happen, but I did have a general idea of where the plot was going that ended up being correct. But even with the plot not being the most inventive thing that I’ve ever read in my life, I was okay with that as I was more here for the romance anyways.
Overall, From Bad to Cursed was a fantastic addition to The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and I ended up giving it four stars. It was fun, fast paced, steamy, and just generally a good time. I could definitely see this one becoming one of my favourites in the romance genre!
4.5⭐️
I’m not emotionally capable of articulating my feelings right now other than to say THIS WAS SO GOOD, so review to come!
I’m not emotionally capable of articulating my feelings right now other than to say THIS WAS SO GOOD, so review to come!
Picked this up on a whim after hearing about it on TikTok, and had a surprisingly good time with it! The plot was painfully predictable, but let’s be real I wasn’t really here for the plot anyways
This being pitched as "as epic sci-fi graphic novel romance" is very misleading and definitely impacted my overall enjoyment of this. "An epic sci-fi graphic novel about between two non-binary best friends as they find one another through time, distance, and war" sounds just as good, so I don't understand why they decided to advertise it as romance. But alright
This was good! I really liked the themes of colonization and capitalism that were explored in here, especially when we got to see Lu's reactions to Fassen's reality. It was interesting to see an outsider's perspective to something that Fassen thinks of as normal, and to see their abject horror in response to it. The idea that things like food, shelter, healthcare, and basic needs are a cause for extreme anxiety and instability is such a foreign concept for Lu, and their conversations/disagreements surrounding them were fascinating. I thought those themes were so well done, definitely the best part of this book!
I do wish that this had either been longer or maybe been a series instead so that we could have spent more time developing Lu and Fassen's friendship. From the moment they met, I didn't understand why they were so attached to each other that they would go to such lengths to stay in communication over all those years. I like them both individually as characters, but we just didn't get enough time of them being together for me to fully buy into their friendship.
The side characters were a lot of fun as well! I loved how queer this world is, and the little moments between some of the trans characters were wonderful to see. This was such an interesting world, and I really hope the author revisits it in the future and adds more to it!
This was good! I really liked the themes of colonization and capitalism that were explored in here, especially when we got to see Lu's reactions to Fassen's reality. It was interesting to see an outsider's perspective to something that Fassen thinks of as normal, and to see their abject horror in response to it. The idea that things like food, shelter, healthcare, and basic needs are a cause for extreme anxiety and instability is such a foreign concept for Lu, and their conversations/disagreements surrounding them were fascinating. I thought those themes were so well done, definitely the best part of this book!
I do wish that this had either been longer or maybe been a series instead so that we could have spent more time developing Lu and Fassen's friendship. From the moment they met, I didn't understand why they were so attached to each other that they would go to such lengths to stay in communication over all those years. I like them both individually as characters, but we just didn't get enough time of them being together for me to fully buy into their friendship.
The side characters were a lot of fun as well! I loved how queer this world is, and the little moments between some of the trans characters were wonderful to see. This was such an interesting world, and I really hope the author revisits it in the future and adds more to it!
3.5⭐️
What a wild ride! There’s so much going on in this book, so many threads of plot that seemingly have nothing to do with each other until all of a sudden they interconnect at perfectly the right time. Confusing as hell, what with all the different characters and trying to keep their relationships straight, but definitely entertaining! I don’t really care for the actual plot of this series, I just want all the relationship drama tbh, it’s a whole lot of fun. Can’t wait for the next book!
What a wild ride! There’s so much going on in this book, so many threads of plot that seemingly have nothing to do with each other until all of a sudden they interconnect at perfectly the right time. Confusing as hell, what with all the different characters and trying to keep their relationships straight, but definitely entertaining! I don’t really care for the actual plot of this series, I just want all the relationship drama tbh, it’s a whole lot of fun. Can’t wait for the next book!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for review (even though I'm very late on posting said review, oops)
Chef’s Kiss is a new adult graphic novel following Ben and his roommates right after graduating college. After several years of working hard for his English degree, Ben is expected to find a job in the field of his dreams and become a writer, as he always thought he wanted. But when interview after interview goes terribly wrong due to his lack of professional experience, Ben is desperate for money and ends up taking a job as a chef in a rather eccentric restaurant, no experience required. It doesn’t hurt that his coworker is cute, too. But as time goes on Ben starts to realize how much he enjoys his job, and that maybe he doesn’t want to be a writer after all. Between the ridiculous challenges of the restaurant, difficulties with his friendships, and all the other troubles of being a young adult, Ben must decide between the life he is expected to have, and the one that he wants to create for himself.
This was a very sweet, hilarious graphic novel. The art was incredibly beautiful, I couldn’t stop myself from staring at the pages just taking in the illustrations. My favourite thing about this though were the characters; Ben, his coworkers, and all his roommates were such a delight to read. I wasn’t expecting the level of humour and absurdity that is present throughout the entire novel (the Shakespeare roommate and the cigarette smoking pig are my favourite examples), but it was a welcome surprise! The absurdity did teeter on being a bit much at times, and I think this book would have benefitted from having just a little bit less of it in order to make room for getting to know the characters better. There were also some panels, or entire sections in some cases, that I didn’t feel were necessary to the story, such as Watson’s fake backstory, and a very drawn out yoga class. But otherwise this was a very fun book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for review (even though I'm very late on posting said review, oops)
Chef’s Kiss is a new adult graphic novel following Ben and his roommates right after graduating college. After several years of working hard for his English degree, Ben is expected to find a job in the field of his dreams and become a writer, as he always thought he wanted. But when interview after interview goes terribly wrong due to his lack of professional experience, Ben is desperate for money and ends up taking a job as a chef in a rather eccentric restaurant, no experience required. It doesn’t hurt that his coworker is cute, too. But as time goes on Ben starts to realize how much he enjoys his job, and that maybe he doesn’t want to be a writer after all. Between the ridiculous challenges of the restaurant, difficulties with his friendships, and all the other troubles of being a young adult, Ben must decide between the life he is expected to have, and the one that he wants to create for himself.
This was a very sweet, hilarious graphic novel. The art was incredibly beautiful, I couldn’t stop myself from staring at the pages just taking in the illustrations. My favourite thing about this though were the characters; Ben, his coworkers, and all his roommates were such a delight to read. I wasn’t expecting the level of humour and absurdity that is present throughout the entire novel (the Shakespeare roommate and the cigarette smoking pig are my favourite examples), but it was a welcome surprise! The absurdity did teeter on being a bit much at times, and I think this book would have benefitted from having just a little bit less of it in order to make room for getting to know the characters better. There were also some panels, or entire sections in some cases, that I didn’t feel were necessary to the story, such as Watson’s fake backstory, and a very drawn out yoga class. But otherwise this was a very fun book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!