This has long been on my TBR, and I have almost picked it up so many times, but it's a chonky one, and that's always a bit intimidating. But a recent overseas trip, with lots of travel time, felt like the perfect opportunity to start a book like this. I'd have lots of time and, since it's such a tome, I wouldn't have to pack as many other books. Plus, I was able to get the audiobook from my library, so I'd have flexibility in reading style vibes. Perfect. 

 

In the land of Terre d'Ange, nothing is more important than beauty, and the people that live there follow one rule above all others" love as thou wilt. Into this land is born Phèdre nó Delaunay, unique even in this land of beautiful things for the scarlet mote in her left eye, marking her as one blessed by Kushiel, chosen to always experience pain and please together as one. Phèdre's benefactor chooses to train her not just in the arts of, essentially, sex work (the way it could be, if it were properly monitored and protected as a legitmate job by policy and public opinion, but I digress), but also in the intimacies of courtly intrigue, political machination, interpesonal relationships and psychology, and general public policy/global studies/langauges. This dual role of courtesan and spy thrusts Phèdre into a complex and dangerous world of power-grabbing and violence, in which she is betrayed gravely and experiences much beyond her original duties. But honor of her benefactor and love of her country goad her ever further into drama and danger, while her connection grows ever stronger with one (a *celibate* priest-warrior named Joscelin) oath-sworn to protect her.  

 

Whoa. This was some real old school classic fantasy writing vibes, with the high formal language and unnecessarily high-handed ways of saying basic things. I mean, it's absolutely as long as it is because of that writing style. Although, to be fair, the complexity of the political machinations and personal motivations for power/influence and interpersonal relationship drama (which, if I'm honest, I definitely did not follow all of) were *chef's kiss.* And while a simpler writing style could have conveyed just as much complexity, the slightly overblown style added a lot to the vibes of the novel. It is for sure a style not everyone will be into, nor be able to tolerate for the length of the book, so do be cognizant of that. Another writing note, the foreshadowing was...heavy...as in: not subtle and a lot of it. That probably grated on me more than the style of the writing, if I'm honest. Mostly just, I want readers to know what kind of book they're picking up, as this is a situation where incorrect expectations can ruin the experience. 

 

And speaking more to that experience. As I said, the complexity of the world-building and characters was spectacular, deep and detailed. There is a very clearly recognizable parallel to many of the nations and histories of our own (Western) world, and those inspirations and shades did help a bit, as the many elements of the story grew in scope and intricacy. There are many classic, for a reason, epic fantasy tropes included in this novel and I was really here for them. It took me until about forty percent of the way in to really feel caught up in things (pretty standard for world-building of this extent), but it happened. And then all the alliances and betrayals, slow burn opposites relationship, journeys/quests, loyalties formed and fought for, the magical entraption of best friends (and let me take a moment here to say I did really like this side plot of Hyacinthe's) the final major battle, and the surprise inheritances from dead benefactors - all the cornerstone fantasy tropes were there as they should be. 

 

And there were some bonus things as well that I really loved. The way pleasure, in all its forms and variations, with consent on all levels because of the widespread social acceptance and its connection to worship and godliness, is fascinating. And wonderful. And I loved it. It feels akin to what Le Guin’s Left Hand of Darkness does with gender, as far as the casual reality of how it’s incorporated into the world-building and storytelling. On that note, specific to Phèdre's specific experience with the conflation of pain and pleasure, content warning for pain and injury, both wanted (due to Kushiel's Dart) and unwanted (because it's fantasy and that's a trope too...). Andddddd at the two thirds mark, when we finally got the long-awaited encounter between Phèdre and Joscelin, which everyone see coming from a mile away because that's how these things work - I was here for it. Though it would have been easier (and wanted!) for more sexual interaction on the part of our MC and her emotional love after that, I’m happy with how it played out true to their characters. It's that love it-hate it kind of tension that makes reading such a visceral experience.       

 

Well. I wasn't sure for a while if this was going to be"for me" or not. But, y’all, the hardcore epic fantasy nerd still lives within me. I don't regret a single minute of my thirty hours with the audiobook. And though I think it'll be a hot minute before I read further (if I ever do, because I may have convinced myself that the ending of this first book is just...the end), if you're feeling some classic, bombastic, high political intrigue, sex-positive (at least within the central cultural belief system of the book) female-hero/MC epic fantasy, this one will hit the spot. 

 

After getting lost in the story in Ninth House, I was excited to return to the magical secret society, dark academia world of Yale/New Haven that Bardugo had created for this trilogy. The cover promised just as much creepy intrigue as the first book and I was ready. 

 

The summer between her first and second years at Yale doesn't allow Alex quite as much downtime and recovery as she might have liked. Although the campus societies that Lethe oversees aren't as active, so she has less responsibility in overseeing their rituals, she still has to deal with the drama of replacing the Praetor, the reappearance of some evils from her past that she thought she left behind in California, and the plan that she and Dawes are putting together to break Darlington's soul out of purgatory...even if no one thinks he's actually survived this long, no one at Ninth House supports their effort and there's a chance that at best they get kicked out of Yale/Lethe and at worst they never make it back from their journey into Hell. But being on her own, without guidance and against all odds has never stopped Alex before. So, she and Dawes recruit some reluctant helpers (enter returning characters Turner and Tripp - who are either old favs or will definitely grow on you throughout this novel!) to make the descent with them. And through the process, they learn the societies' closely guarded secrets, histories, texts, and artifacts, confront old enemies (and memories) and make new ones, reckon with the demons from Hell face-to-face, and maybe, maybe, manage to bring back a version of Darlington. 

 

Well if I thought Ninth House brought the vibes, that was nothing compared to this second book. Hell Bent is *all* vibes. In fact, for probably the first quarter or so, it was perhaps too much vibe and not enough....anything else. There is a chance that jumping into this while on vacation was not the right timing (maybe I needed a lighter sort of escapist fantasy in that situation), but if I'm being honest, I think things could have picked up a bit faster, plot-wise. Now, about a third of the way in, when the planning for the Gauntlet hit with greater force (and a vampire showed up!), the pacing hit its sweet spot in balance with aforementioned vibes. This still felt like a much slower reading experience overall, despite the fact that many things did happen, and I don't know if that's a result of the writing style or the (fantastic) theoretical gothic-magical academia energy of the story, but this is more of a "lose yourself in it" read than a "high speed plot" reading experience. This leant itself nicely to the slower middle-book build. And this novel did have a bit of that. There's a clear come-down from the events of the first and, once you get to it, a clear cliffhanger-into-the-finale sort of ending. But once I hit the real plot, with the Gauntlet, I enjoyed this further getting to know our primary characters. We get more from Alex, of course, with the way she must actually address the trauma of her recent (pre-Yale) history and the choices and monsters that still haunt her from that, plus the developments/changes in her ghost-seeing/communicating reality. Then, with the way the Descent gives her insight into each character's internal perspective of the situations that caused them to become killers (with bonus moral commentary on what counts as being "guilty" enough to be labeled as such), we get a lot of new depth on Dawes, Tripp and Turner as well. And Darlington! There are a couple points where Alex sees into his internal experiences too, and getting that background on him, letting the reader learn more about him even if he doesn't feature as prominently in this plot, knowing that he'll be abck in a major way in the last book, was important for connection and continuity. I also loved that Mercy got more involved as well! She got to live the dream of every "normal kid raised on stories of magic" - to actually be involved with magic. While the way it falls out feels like a let down (in that that's probably what it would be like, despite picturing/dreaming for it to be different), I can't argue with it. It's authentic in a way that is not usually depicted. And. I still loved to see it. 

 

Alright, what else... Oh! The multiple meanings of the title are woven in so well (Darlington bent by time in Hell and Alex/Dawes hell bent on getting him back). Such awesome language play. I was a bit hesitant on a real-world murder mystery being included again; it felt too similar to the first and I wanted the narrative to have moved past that device. But it ended up being ok because it fell very much to the background by the final quarter and was tangled into the general thread of the story, but not central. And the narrative ended up expanding past the first book the way I wanted it to eventually as well. The connection(s) back to how these societies were formed as Alex and company figure things out (and reveals were revealed) were lovely growth and did a great job continuing some of the social and moral critical commentary that was introduced in the first, as Alex becomes ever more immersed in the worlds of power and money (and how the temptation for both tends to overcome any morals almost without fail).    

 

Y'all, those last lines though. I want more now!! It took a hot minute, but by the end, I was sufficiently into the internal reckoning, the spooky and devilish, downright creepy and power-hungry evils, that this book gave the reader. The subtlety of the power-seeking/holding dark magic secret society we get here (under the radar, but worse for it), built spectacularly. And with that intensity from this book, and the promise of more action in the last book left in those final moments (and a little more to the mystery of Alex’s power and what Darlington has become), my anticipation is *high.* Plus, the change in the way Alex and Darlington are approaching each other after their experiences in this book...ohhh I neeeeeeeeeeed for them to get together so hard. I cannot wait for this finale! 

 

“But this was what real magic looked like—indecent, decadent, perverse.” 

 

“If I must be a prisoner I would desire to have no other prison than that library.” 

 

“She was a cannonball. She wasn’t good for much at rest, but give her a hard enough shove, let her build up enough momentum, and she’d punch a hole through anything.” 

 

“It was one thing to hurl yourself headfirst into the dark. It was another to feel like someone had deliberately turned off the lights.” 

 

“That was the problem with love. It was hard to unlearn, no matter how harsh the lesson.” 

 

“Take then this lesson: ‘When faced with death, better to dance than to lie down for it.’” 

 

“Why raise children on the promise of magic? Why create a want in them that can never be satisfied—for revelation, for transformation—and then set them adrift in a bleak, pragmatic world?” 

 

“The problem wasn’t books and fairy tales, just that they told half the story, offering up the illusion of a world where only the villains paid in blood, the ogre stepmothers, the wicked stepsisters, where magic was just and without sacrifice.” 

 

“But she liked this life full of pointless beauty.” 

 

“…she was going to protect what was hers – even if she didn’t deserve it, even if it might not be hers for much longer.” 

 

“To pay your debts, you had to know who you owed. You had to decide who you were willing to go to war for and who you trusted to jump into the fray for you. That was all there was in this world. No heroes of villains, just the people you’d brave the waves for, and the ones you’d let drown.” 

 

“A little magic. A talent for taking a beating. A demon at her side. That was all she had, but maybe it was all she needed.” 

 

 

 

I really was into the first book in the Bright Falls series last year, Delilah Green Doesn't Care, and my "lean into the romance" vacation vibe meant the time was right to pick up the second in this series. 

 

So the first book ends with Astrid making the major decision to call off her perfect (as per her mother and societal standards) wedding. This feels like it should be a fresh start for Astrid, finally casting off all the expectations and finding who/what she wants. But, as we open this book, we see it hasn't really. She's even more stuck than she was before, trying to claw her way back into her mother's good(?) graces. So when the opportunity comes for her to revitalize her life and business as the lead interior designer for the local Everwood Inn renovation (a renovation that's going to be televised on a very popular HGTV-style show), she grabs it as her chance to turn everything around. But a disastrous meet-cute the morning of the first taping, that ends up (of course!) being with Jordan Everwood, the lead carpenter on the project *and* granddaughter of the Inn's owner Pru. Despite being opposites in so many ways, and knocking heads repeatedly on the plans and vision for the inn's remodel, the tension between Astrid and Jordan turns into something different. And they'll both have to decide if their respective second chances/new directions in life will include each other or not. 

 

I was hesitant to pick this one up after the first because honestly, I was iffy on Astrid. Her super uptight and rigid kind of character is just not my favorite to read. (Full disclosure here, as I read, I realized her internal dialogue was very familiar, perhaps too familiar? And maybe that's why I was feeling tentative about reading it - there are some parts of oneself that are not super fun to be introspective about and that just is what it is.) On the other hand, Jordan is my jam..the kind of person that I wanted to be and realized later (similar to Astrid, see?) that I maybe just wanted. But anyways, in the end, I really liked them together. Their chemistry felt real within its context. The enemies to lovers started in a place and for reasons that I feel good about them overcoming (as opposed to some really bad histories I’ve read and just can’t wrap my mind around putting in the past) and it’s making their pull towards each other feel all the more legitimate, because neither really wants but there's nothing truly bad  holding them back. I was excited for them to finally give in. And when it happened...the sparks were stellar. There was also a bit of guilelessness to this relationship that you don’t always get with romance novels, and there was something so soft and sweet about it that grew on me more than I’d have expected. I was just really bought into this pairing. 

 

A few other notes on the book. Plotwise, the setup was a good one. Reasonable and believable, which is not always a given in contemporary romance. The Inn remodel was giving Gilmore Girls vibes that were perfect for the switchover from summer to autumn. And it provided a great emotional backdrop for the rest of the story to unfold within. I could not love this friend group more, honestly, and I was thrilled to be back with them. There was a fun tarot theme woven throughout and I'm a sucker for tarot, so I did love that. I actually *gasped* out loud when this contemporary queer romance series referenced others (Written in the Stars, among others) on-page. That is the kind of book-inception I can get behind. What a deeply fulfilling nerd moment. Finally, with the (slightly) older characters and "figuring it out" late that were central to the plot and themes of this novel, I really appreciated the deeper level of the problems (both internally and externally) that Astrid and Jordan were dealing with. How flawed they were, in how they dealt with their own problems and with each other, alongside how willing to recognize and address it they were (after realizing first responses were less ideal) all rang very authentically messy-mature. I was here for it. 

 

Overall, I enjoyed this second book more than I'd been expecting to (perhaps even against my will, a bit?). Bright Falls is a fun setting and these characters are just wonderful. Definitely ready for the next one sooner rather than later!   

 

"For everyone who figured it out a little later in life." 

 

 

“Never before doesn’t mean never ever. You know that, right?” 

 

“There were other memories, countless moments she’d long ago chalked up to admiration or envy. Just good old-fashioned jealousy. She wanted to be those girls, or maybe even compete with them, as horrible as that sounded, not make out with them. And maybe that really was all it was sometimes. Simple observation. But maybe those tiny clues actually added up to a whole lot more, and she’d simply never let herself face it. She liked guys, so she focused on guys. It was easy to ignore anything else.” 

 

“…and for once she was going to do what she wanted. She was going to act instead of all this constant, exhausting thinking.” 

 

The fourth book in The Witches of Thistle Grove and I am, again, nothing less than thrilled to be back in this magical little town. I love Thistle Grove. And even for the romances in this series that aren't my favorite of the bunch - though to be clear, none of them are bad, there are just some I enjoy more than others - I love every second of being in this world. (If you're curious, to date, the first, Payback's a Witch, and third, Back in a Spell, are top notch. The second, From Bad to Cursed, is a solid second tier.) 

 

In Charm's Way is Delilah Harlow's story. If you'll recall, she was the kind of annoying cousin to Emmy (a first book MC), who wanted nothing more than to take over the running of the Harlow book store, the central knowledge base and magical reference point for Thistle Grove. And she was happily doing that when, in the last book, she ended up on the wrong side of a powerful memory spell gone a bit too far, and as we meet her here, she's still working on recovering the fragments of herself after that. She's nursing quite a bit of (well deserved and understandable) anger and grudge as a result of that spell and has lost her way in those emotions to the point that she attempts a dangerous spell of her own to get back to her old self. Naturally, there are unintended consequences, onces that put not just herself, but all of Thistle Grove, in danger. Luckily, a stranger in town, Catriona Quinn, just happens to be the exact right person to help Delilah protect herself and the town against the supernatural creatures her spell has summoned. And as they spend time together, the pull between them starts to get stronger, deeper, and both have to make some difficult decisions about who to trust, how to stop the power of the spell Delilah's cast, and whether or not to try and make their relationship something real. 

 

This was a second tier romance of the series for me. I enjoyed it though, of course. There was a lot of potential from the start, as the arcane magical botany and books(!) Delilah has a special interest in is definitely a vibe I'm into, as is Catriona (phew - big yes to Cat!). Plus, supernatural creatures joined the world-building and I am alwayyyyys down for that. So, bear in mind that whatever I say next about the parts I'm lukewarm on, all those parts remain highlights and I loved reading all of those aspects. 

 

The thing is...I just never really got into Delilah as an MC. I don't know if it's a build-up of the way her character was incorporated in the series to date and it just isn't one I really care about, or if it was just something about her in general that never really clicked for me, but something wasn't "it." This note I jotted down while reading really sums it up: "This is a tough one because of Delilah’s personality and recent history of trauma/loss. It’s totally reasonable, and I love that Delilah has space and room to be angry and act out well deserved rage and then be protected and helped getting out of it, and she deserves love and happiness in her personal resolution, but she’s just not my favorite MC." 

 

Perhaps part of my lukewarm reaction to Delilah is that, overall, there is a lot less focus on the romance in this installation. I mean, don't get me wrong, Delilah and Cat are absolutely central - everything very much revolves around them - and they do get some very steamy scenes. But the balance between the plot and Delilah's personal internal and emotional journey, and the traditional romance vibes of the novel, feel unequal. I'm not sure I could put my finger on how or why exactly, though perhaps it was the way the third act break-up/betrayal played out that really did it for me. The way it's written here fits the plot well (and the way it ends, kinda happy with the “maybe hope for the future” finale as opposed to full-on HEA, is spot on), but it was a tough one for me to swallow. 

 

Regardless, this was a solid and deserved entry in the Thistle Grove series. I was happy to watch Delilah's growth and thought the way Cat was brought in did a lovely job introducing the concepts of other magical realities/communities to the series, which totally makes sense, but didn't overly break the comfort bubble of Thistle Grove itself. The story made so much sense within the world that's been built and I was totally on board for the ride this fourth book took me on. Plus, the cameos from previous book's characters are always a part of romance series that I love, so those were great here. It was a fast read, just like the others, because once I started, I didn't want to put it down. I don't know if Harper plans to write any more books in this series, but I remain absolutely invested in reading them all. 

 

 

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this one. I was long in getting to it, as per usual, but I got there. And it turns out it's a good thing that I waited long enough to get the audiobook from the library as well, because I have to be honest and say that I might not have made it all the way through without that narration-assist. I mean, it may be partially my own fault, as the timing (starting this right before leaving for a long vacation) was probably not quite right - I usually prefer lighter (magic, romance, magical romance) reads on vacay and this book is most definitely none of that. So, that being the case, I'm going to do my best to give a fair objective review, but know that, subjectively, this is not a new fav. 

 

When gentrification comes to the (predominantly Dominican) NYC neighborhood where the Guerreros have lived for years, each member of the family decides to face it in different ways. Luz, having recently been let go from her high-profile law firm job, begins a later-in-life coming of age, rebelling against the bougie lifestyle she's been living (the one her parents worked so hard to give her). Luz's mother, Eusebia, hatches a plan with other neighborhood ladies to undermine the construction in ever more dangerous ways (threatening the safety not only of the project, but also themselves and  the rest of the families in the neighborhood). Luz's father, Vladimir, counts down the final months until his retirement, while secretly building a retirement home for himself and Eusebia in the DR. As things spiral for everyone involved, the finale comes in a dramatic and near-fatal rush. 

 

Alright, like I said, I struggled to get into this novel. On the surface, it has a lot of promise, and addresses some really complex and important topics. Specifically, the rumination on gentrification, and then in this case how far would someone go to save their home (and what to do when it spirals out of your control), asked some tough questions in a really unique way that definitely made you think, as a reader. Plus, the look at where the lines of acceptability in skirting legality, and commentary on how they’re different for those with different amounts of money/power, is always important to examine. 

 

I also appreciated how Natera incorporated the "finding yourself" concepts of what you are supposed to want/be in life and how that is measured as success, or not. Luz faces difficult choices on whether to give in and follow those expeditions or not; and if not, how and when do you break out/away? Related, the choices Luz faces between heritage and opportunity, and how she begins to ask if it's always necessary for them to be mutually exclusive, feature highly. And the accumulation of past trauma that’s been tamped down so long that when it finally breaks, it’s terrible and horrible and so unforeseen/unexpected by everyone around you, even the closest (and how that builds directly into intergenerational trauma) is demonstrated with unmissable melodrama - the point *really* hits. These are universal questions, and ones that often come up thematically in first/second generation immigrant stories, and I feel that Natera did them justice. 

 

However, I have to note that the depth with which Natera looks at these themes is presented in such a surprisingly uncomfortable way. Like, this was such an uncomfortable read. From Luz’s firing and job search and relationship with Hudson to Eusebia’s plans for “saving” the neighborhood - I had so many icky feelings while reading. And I do love that these characters got to be so authentically messy (as all humans are), but still, those were not the reading vibes I was in the mood for and it was tough to stick with it. There were just so many red flags everywhere, for so many characters, that got ignored until a point of dramatic no return. 

 

There was a final piece of the story-puzzle here that was unexpected and also really one of the most unique aspects. Natera weaves all the abovementioned thematic threads together with the (terrifying) reality of TBIs/brain tumors. I'll try not to give too many spoilers on this front, but it was  interesting (and scary - I was tense for a lot of the time I was reading/listening to this book) witnessing how that can change personality, etc. And even more so, the consequences when combined with stress and family mental health history. Seeing this unfold from both internal and external perspectives actually, was fascinating. 

 

As you can see, there were so many things going for this book. Plus, the way it ended felt right to me. On all fronts. The power of community in creating and holding memory, while also forging something new, and the release of realizing that and then coming together with a purpose - in pain and joy - is cathartic and strong here. I loved the feeling I was left with. And yet... I just struggled with the kind of strange observational tone of the writing that was reminiscent of satire but not enough to make this anything other than a "normal" contemporary literary fiction. And honestly the pacing just felt so slow - the story seemed to drag and, while I understand that some "side plots" are necessary for world and character development, there was just so much I didn't really understand the inclusion of. So, I respect the author, and what they created, but this book just wasn't the right one for me.    

 

Look, I cannot lie, I wasn't planning to read this. I loved Boyfriend Material, but I was also happy with where it ended and didn't know if I needed/wanted more from the story. And then. And then the RWARB movie came out and I watched it daily for a week and I was struggling with some *real* emotions because I needed more like it...like I needed everything I read/watched to be exactly that, over and over. It's been awhile since I've had feelings like that about something I've read/watched. The hangover feels were (are) SO big. Googling read-alikes brought me quickly to Alexis Hall's work, which makes sense (I actually should have gotten there on my own, tbh)...it's all similarly snarky and steamy and wonderful. But the issue was that I have already read quite a few of his novels (at least the ones my library has, which is where I am financially at in my book-life), because, let's be honest, I already knew I loved his work. And thus, I found myself picking up this sequel in the hopes that it would ease my heart a bit. 

 

In the last book, Luc and Oliver met, fake dated, fell in love for realsies and fought through a number of family issues with the help of each other and their friends. Now, as seems to be the natural progression of aging and relationships, everyone around them is getting married and the pressure to follow suit is intense. But are they ready? And is that even what they want for themselves? Told in the well-loved format of "four weddings and a funeral," Luc and Oliver work through the difficulties of attending and planning weddings as their relationship develops in depth and they try to figure out what their HEA actually looks like. 

 

Let me just start by saying that picking this up was the right call. I was one chapter in and had already laughed out loud a couple times. Alexis Hall success! I mean, don't get me wrong, it's mostly fluff and filler. There's not really a plot, per se, just a lot of time spent with characters you already know and love and you're just watching them live their lives. Like, look, I realize this may not be everyone’s cup of tea (British jokes!) but I loved this long-term-committed-relationship banter. It’s honestly not something you get a lot of in romance, the snark and love and (borderline ridiculously inane) arguments, without the tension and drama of "will they, won’t they" because they already have. And I get that that tension is part of what makes romances great to read, but sometimes, and in this case as a person in a similar-sounding committed relationship, seeing it on page it’s really heartwarming and enjoyable! Kudos to Hall for keeping it real in this way. (And also, what a perfect book vibe to read to start a ten-year anniversary trip). So basically, it's fluff, but it's exactly the fluff I wanted.  

 

In other news, Hall's writing remains unmatched, in my opinion. It's hilarious and creative (he uses words like "flummoxosity" and how can you not love that?) and real and so easy to read. Plus, there is one moment, during the funeral part of the novel, where Oliver gives a eulogy that is just...stunning. It’s a literary masterpiece of writing and Hall is a genius of humanity complexity and that sweet-authentic-messy-funny that is the hallmark of being a person. So good. 

 

Despite there not being much of a plot, I could not put this down. The growth that Luc and Oliver experience separately and as a couple here is everything. Perhaps it's not as break-neck or groundbreaking, but it felt so genuine and there are so many times that, as a reader, I could recognize myself in their feelings and choices and even if mine were different, the conflict remains so relatable, while also retaining enough of a comic edge that it doesn't overwhelm and keeps the reading experience on the lighter side. The side characters mostly help with that as well - all our favs are back, with some new or bigger roles from previous bit characters - and as always, that supporting cast added a lot of fun and movement to the overall novel, even though the focus remained largely on Luc and Oliver. 

 

A final note, I've seen a ton of reviews of people hating on the ending. Honestly, I loved it. It was the right choice for the characters and the way it played out, and when, was so in line with who they each were.And it's both because of their growth and because of how much more growing they have left that it happened like that. Everyone's HEA is different and they got the one they wanted and isn't that what we all deserve? Yes, it is. And I was here for it. 

 

A delightfully entertaining read that filled the exact hole I needed it to, I acknowledge that my original reaction of not wanting to read more about Luc and Oliver was misguided and I'm thrilled to have been proven wrong. 

 

“You had a bad experience once, and you’re afraid it’ll happen again. But past performance is no guarantee of future results.”
 

 

"Even after two years. When surely it should have stopped feeling this way: all, you know, intense and stuff." 

 

"...it’s for those of us left behind to pick over ourselves and ask, ‘Am I this way in spite of this person or because of them?’ And so often the answer is simply yes." 

 

"How could something that objectively did not matter become the hill you were most determined to die on?" 

 

"Lucien,” he said softly. “You know you are the truest thing I have ever dared choose for myself. And we are the only thing I’ve ever had that I haven’t let other people define for me." 

 

Well, I liked this second book better than the first. Though I can say a lot of that probably comes down to my own personal preferences for reading types of romance and sex, rather than any major difference in the writing itself. 

 

Persephone’s younger sister, Psyche, is center stage for this book. After a throwaway meet-cute (on her end, anyways) with Eros that is caught on camera and posted on tabloids, Aphrodite’s well-known jealousy comes out and she sends Ero (her son and fixer) to “take care of” Psyche. Instead, he hatches the only plan he can come up with to save her from his mother’s wrath: a fake marriage. Faced with no other options, Psyche says yes. But their ploy takes some major turns with they start to develop real feelings for each other, from sexual pull to the protectiveness born of love, they throw everything on the line to protect each other from Aphrodite’s wrath and cold-hearted parenting and revenge. 

 

I enjoyed seeing the world of Olympus developed more here, with cameos from some first-book-favs (looking at you Hermes), as well as greater development of some other side characters, like Demeter and Aphrodite and the new Zeus. Plus, the overall inter-god/goddess machinations, a central part of Greek mythology, are all strong here. 

 

The romance itself though was much more insular, as the effects of the relationship this time were more intra-family, as opposed to having effects on the whole of the “world” (as Hades and Persephone’s did). This book is hyper-focused on the internal struggles of Psyche and Eros – their transition into the limelight with “non-traditional” beauty and being raised by the cold and emotionally-manipulative Aphrodite, respectively – and how they have to work through those issues, separately and together, to make their connection work. I do love a “he falls first and harder” story, so that was really sweetly done here. And some combo of that type of relationship and their personalities more broadly, but this was just overall a more light/wholesome romance vibe. That being said, the steaminess factor was still high AF, and so good. Not really any kinks here, just more straightforward sex, but well-written and (once we got there) a lot of it. 

 

There are some attempts so far to be inclusive in these romances. Some are less impressive to me, like the bit mentions of previous non-hetero relationships/attractions that feel more like checking a box. And some are more pervasive, like Psyche’s plus-size figure, in this case. Not sure how successful the overall impression is, and I recognize the work. 

 

Very solid second book – quick and sexy and a little bit sweet here – exactly the vacay vibes I needed. And now I’m on the long hold-list for the third book. Cool.  

 

Remember a few years ago when I started the Psy-Changeling series while on vacation and the proceeded to read through all 15 books of the first wave of that series/world? Well, the time was again ripe for a steamy, escapist vacation series. Enter Dark Olympus. This one has been on the back burner for this exact situation for a bit now. And since this vacay included a lot of time in Greece, a hot romance series based on Greek mythology seemed *just right.* 

 

As these books are exactly as advertised, I am not going to waste my time (or yours) with long or in-depth reviews. Rather, I’ll just jump right into a couple major notes and thoughts about each and we’ll move along. 

 

This first book, Neon Gods, focused on Hades and Persephone. I have read a couple retellings of this story, it’s currently really popular for romance retellings especially (check out my review for St. Clair’s A Touch of Darkness as well). Anyways, in this one, Persephone escapes from a surprise and deeply unwanted engagement to Zeus and, pursued by his enforcers, flees across the River Styx, where she runs straight into the arms of Hades (who has been so long out of the public eye, everyone thinks he’s just a story). And thus begins their “fake dating to save Persephone and stick it to Zeus” plan that turns into something much deeper and more electric. 

 

This was a very solid retelling, for me (in context of it being a steamy romance situation at base, of course). I liked the set-up of the court of thirteen gods and goddesses that rule the city as a more “real life” situation. Still just as manipulating and dramatic and violent, but without an overabundance of magic or the other paranormal accoutrements of folklore/mythical life. The plot moved steadily and was reasonably complex. The emotions were all there. And the dialogue was solid enough that I didn’t cringe. I also loved some of the side characters (Hermes, in particular, is stellar and Persephone’s family details were nicely done). The overall reworking of relationships and backstories to be something more developed here, not leaning too heavily into popular mythology knowledge to fill gaps (and thus leaving the readers, in this case, annoyed by the lack of depth and/or plot holes).  

 

The main event, the romance, was as steamy as promised. There was so much sex. And it mostly leaned hot, as opposed to cringy, with the language Roberts used, which is a major selling point for me and mostly the reason I will be continuing the series (as the kink, in this case, was mostly exhibitionism and voyeurism based - with some incredibly light nods to BDSM - and I’m not usually have interest in the “watching” vibes, so I’m glad I liked this one anyways; it’s a good sign for the rest).  And there were some very sweet moments of connection built in as well, which gave it enough depth to be believable and to get me emotionally invested in the couple (important for me, as a reader). 

 

So yup, this delivered as advertised. And on to the next one. 

 

Every once in a while, as you know, I get in the mood for a graphic novel (thought recently I’ve been filling that mood with Lore Olympus). But there are more, if you’ll recall, like The Prince and the Dressmaker, The Girl from the Sea (which is actually written by Steveson’s partner, as my random Googling has just informed me – cool!), On a Sunbeam, and, of course Heartstopper. This is one I’ve held on the backburner for some time now, and with the new Netflix adaptation having just come out (which I’ve heard great things about and am really excited to watch), I decided to go for it. Because, book first, always. #booknerd 

 

Pitted against each other, in a tale as old as time are the villain with a vendetta, Lord Ballister Blackheart, and the hero defending the governmental structures, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin. When our titular MC, Nimona, shows up and offers her shape-shifting services to Blackheart, to help his take down the Institution, he reluctantly accepts. And though their methods are polar opposites, order and science versus chaos and destruction, the find themselves becoming more than just a good team, but relationally important to each other. While on the other side of the law, Goldenloin struggles with serving the powers that be while not compromising his own morals…well, not any more than he already has, in an action that cost him the friendship (and more?) of Blackheart himself. 

 

My goodness, I did not expect this to be so freaking funny! I mean, I laughed three times in the first couple chapters, out loud! It’s a snarky humor that’s both self-aware and punchy, and I loved it all. Speaking of self-aware, the clear self-awareness in the story (you can tell just from the names of our opposing forces – Blackheart and Goldenloin? – I mean come on, LOL) lends itself perfectly to the irreverent tone of the unfolding plot. Like, if you were a fantasy-loving kid (and I assume probably remain so as an adult…), this graphic novel is the stuff of your dreams, but with an edge of hilarity because it takes those common tropes and uses them effectively but with deep humor. It’s just so fun. 

 

And then, somewhere in there and a bit unexpectedly, this also hit my feels! I felt like Blackheart actually, a bit blindsided by the connections (and reconnections) that he didn’t plan to make, or even want to make, but found himself with in the end. Like, the sweet and cautious tension between him and Goldenloin gave me butterflies in my belly. And the Nimona-Blackheart dynamic was just…heart-swelling. And my goodness that ending and epilogue just melted my giant swollen heart all the way down with the bittersweetness and hope and reconciliation and the special kind of belief/defense/loyalty/support that is always welcome but means even more when it comes out even when the person it’s meant for isn’t there to receive it directly. OMG. Yes. 

 

And let’s not forget all the drama and action in the plot itself: dragons and swordfights and explosions and taking down evil authorities and so much shapeshifting! It’s packed full and oh so much fun! Plus, the illustrations are simple, but fit the story just right, in style and coloring. 

 

This was just such a fun (and funNY), fast, entertaining, sarcastic and surprisingly heartwarming read! Netflix adaptation, here I come! Also, I absolutely will now be checking out more of Stevenson’s work. 

 

I was so impressed when I read PRK's Empire of Pain last year. HIs research is meticulous and the writing is both compelling and thorough. So, I knew I'd eventually pick up his other works. This one was the next... 

 

This is a collection of essays/articles in which Keefe tells the stories of the sub-titular "grifters, killers, rebels and crooks." The subjects range wildly, from cartel kingpins to wine forgers to perpetrators of gun violence/murder to whistleblowers of questionable intention to bomb-makers/terrorists to "reality" tv masterminds of image to black market arms dealers and more.   

 

Well, yet again, I was blown away by the clear diligence in Keefe's research. In each essay, it is so clear how much effort and attention he gives to gathering information. He presents so many perspectives - and is careful to always note which POVs were unable to be included/unwilling to talk with him - to make sure the reader knows what is missing. And for all the details that he manages to get into such short pieces (as I imagine that each of these essays could be expanded to a full-length book, just like Empire of Pain), I never felt like I was experiencing an info-dump or any confusion of timeline/interconnectedness. That is such skill. 

 

I also really appreciate how, even for the profiles that I was less personally interested in, he was able to keep my attention. It did help that these were essays, and thus a shorter format, of course. But it would still be so easy to lose a reader's interest and it just...never happened. It is worth noting that, for sure, I was less into some of the chapters, topically. For example, the one about the resurgence of Trump's image, the insider trading situation and the mass shooter backstory one weren't necessarily favorites and I never would have picked up a book about them alone. On the other hand, I was absolutely fascinated by the ones related to gangster families and cartel leaders and arms dealers. And the wine forging was so interesting - I learned a lot from that one. Overall, even with the topics I was less excited (is that the right word?) by, the breadth of types of stories - how varied the “crooks” and “killers” are - was fascinating. Though note, for some reason, I was expecting a slightly lighter-hearted read whereas most of the stories are quite heavy (other than the wine one, really). If I really think about it, that does make sense, but I think the cover design and sub-title made it seem more like "fun caper" vibes than it ended up being. Just, heads up. 

 

This is a short review, but there's not much more to say really. The research journalism writing tone is spot on. The research itself is just stunning. The reading experience is spectacularly detailed and yet somehow still wildly interesting and follow-able, cohesive and complex while not overdoing the information or narrative is just…wow. These short snippets (or I guess, short for a book, but like, regular length for articles articles) are just enough to generate and keep interest. I was fascinated and entertained and if these topics sound like something you'd be into, you should go read and learn/experience these stories for yourself. 

 

“When violence suddenly ruptures the course of our lives, we tend to tell ourselves stories in order to make it more explicable. Confronted with scrambled pieces of evidence, we arrange them into a narrative.”