He wanted to punish her, make her beg with need for him, and he wanted her to enjoy it.

Well, I love Kai

He couldn’t fuck his way out of trauma, but it sure as hell made everything hurt less.

4.5 stars

The author sent me this amazing PR Package 😭 Thank you thank you!!

Unboxing Reel

You're gonna want to see this art it is PERFECTION

The hardest fucking part, he’d learned, was finding his damn home.

This was such a fun read. It wasn’t a fun *book*, it was dark, depressing, and violent, but I had a great time reading it lmao

“How’s therapy treating you?”
“Well,” he feigned, “it made me mad enough to fuck you in a field, but that probably means it’s working.”

Kai and Miya were great! I rarely read books (or find them) with established couples and I always love that because there usually isn’t that standard relationship drama. You can technically read this one as a standalone, but I think I would have liked reading the other duology first, for all the background on our characters. But, it was described very well, so after the initial *new world, who dis* confusion, I was doing fine in understanding.

After his first therapy session with Dr. Krunić, he wanted to lie on a cold floor and stare at the ceiling. People yammered on about how validating therapy was, but Kai felt like a deflated tricycle tire after running over a mastiff turd.

I think the big thing about this book that stands out is the mental health rep. Not only the rep itself but also the fact that Kai starts therapy in the middle of the book and it helps him sort out his head and stop lashing out, as one does. That was seriously great.

It’s hard to empathize with others when you’re in pain.

Miya was so sweet but tough, I don’t have much to say about her, it’s one of those *vibes*, except I’m looking forward to reading the duology to see more of her beginning!

“It’ll take more than a few cracked ribs to stop me from fucking you”

I was crying at the plot tho, how it all unfolded, the revelations, and conclusions, ugh, so good.

He thought it was jealousy, seeing Ama’s fingers woven with his girl’s, until he glared at the white wolf and realized he felt nothing. The feeling wasn’t for her. It was for himself. Ama was there to comfort Miya because he’d fucked up. Kai wasn’t jealous. He was ashamed. 

Holy shit.

HOLY SHIT.

AND THAT ENDING!?

How do I recover from this book?

Willow, you were perfection. Alaric, you were dream-worthy.

I am dead. 

 Phew. I feel like I just experienced every emotion under the sun 😂

This book was the definition of the miscommunication trope. Which I hate in books.

BUT HEAR ME OUT. Because this was perfect.

This book was a great example of the power of anxiety and panic. Neither Moria nor Rhys felt that they could say anything first, be the vulnerable one, show fear, show weakness, and this was a really great portrayal of that. It was about preconceived notions of what a man should be, how one should control their emotions, how to bottle everything up tight, and the consequences of your actions.

It was also about David

lmao

David was such a dick in this and I loved it.

I have read Evocation and while this is a prequel, I actually recommend you read it after Evocation! I feel like you’ll have a better understanding of the characters.

I also had quotes highlighted for this review but my kindle library seems to have deleted the book, so f you kindle, this is the second time you've deleted one of my books.

Thank you to Angry Robot and the author for providing me with an eARC and a gorgeous finished copy!

 I think this DNF is 100% my fault because I didn’t realize this was a YA.

But, Sophie, it’s literally in the first sentence of the blurb?

Your girl is an idiot.

Okay, so this was rushed and slightly annoying. Both MCs were whiny (this is where the YA comes into play because this may not have bothered me 10 years ago) and kinda superficial. Like, I get it, Tia is supposed to be this city girl, but introducing her by having her complain about her nails and then borderline insult her friend in her head while they're talking, yeah, it wasn’t a good start. Also, her boyfriend wants to break up and she says "I still have to host his party, I love him" girl, love yourself more at this point.

Quincy was mostly forgettable, aside from his whining too lmao

I kept thinking his name was Cam and I was like, why?? It’s his brother 💀 I literally couldn’t keep the characters straight in my head, including the POV swtiches (their tones/voices were kinda all the same)

Anyway, take this with a grain of salt because like I said, I thought this was NA/Adult and it threw me off because I had high expectations😭😅

*All this to say I still like YA, but don't reach for YA contemporary aside from a few exceptions*

Thanks to Soho Press and Coloured Pages Book Tours for this eARC and physical ARC

 This is a weird review for me. I actually skimmed most of this book, I think I jumped like 50 pages in the beginning, didn’t even bother with most of that, but in the end I was still crying over this story.

3.75 stars? Can I even rate this book that high with how much I glossed over?

I didn’t like the Shakespeare, which was an integral part of this, so that sucked, but I loved the prologues and read more after the death, I skimmed most of it before the death.

But as I write this, at 2:30 in the fucking morning, my face is wet and puffy from the epilogue because these characters were so broken and I am still not a fan of books with open endings.

EDIT: I'm still thinking about this book days later, so like who knows what my thoughts are on this

EDIT 2: I just read this epilogue written by helloearthlings called what is woven into the lives of others and OHMYFUCKINGGOD this is just what I needed. I'm actually not a huge fan (hehe) of fanfiction most of the time. I used to like it when I was younger, but this one...wow, fits the tone perfectly.

 "I'm not your sweetheart."
"No. But you'll let me wreck you anyway, won't you?"

3.75 stars

This was quick and fun but I actually didn't like either of the main characters lmao

The dialogue was cringy, he was just a dick, and she was "curvy." Like, that was her personality from his perspective, curvy. I just didn't like them as characters or together.

"An enemies-to-lovers sex ritual with a smoldering Englishman." 

His smile makes me want to swear my soul to whatever god created him.

I was actually laughing out loud reading this. When was the last time that happened!? Re: Holiday Mafia, more about that later.

Hex pulls back, looks up at me, and says only, simply, “Grab my hair, please,” then he’s on me again.
Please. Fucking please.

Coal’s, or Nicolas’, humour was literally amazing 😂 almost everything that came out of his mouth was funny (do we detect some masking? Probably). It also fits in line with my style of funny, dry/dark, like I could see myself saying these things and I was dying.

“You’re the heir of Christmas,” he says, barely contained. “I’m the heir of Halloween. How did you see this ending?”

Anyway, what a fun concept! Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween, etc., “The Holidays,” are real and made up of families who collect joy from those who celebrate. They use that joy to create magic. Create magic? Becomes magic? I dunno.

HEX: I really don’t care what you call me. As long as you say it in that way where you moan a little.
My eyes snap shut. I put my phone to my forehead, and breathe, deep, deep breaths, because that’s all my body needs. Just air. That’s all it’s going to get right now so it’d better learn to be okay with it real quick.

This book was about taking back control of your life, of finding yourself, your family, and not letting anything get in your way.

Kris’s words end in a garbled cough as I pulse my hand at his mouth and fill it with holly. He hacks and spits it into his lap. “This stuff is poisonous!”
“Well, don’t eat it.”

I loved the brother's relationship, they were so supportive and wholesome and I can’t wait for Kris’ book. I was also a big fan of Coal and Hex together, they were just perfect. Also, Hex’s clothes, good lord yes, he was wearing a corset vest the first time he makes an official appearance in the book. Yes, please.

The Headlines, group chat names, Kris’s sweaters, the fact that this was like a Holiday Mafia: backroom deals, shady characters, arranged marriages for political and capital gain, family alliances HOLIDAY MAFIA. I was living for all of it.

I used to be made of something other than nerve endings. But suddenly, that’s all I am.

Who do I sell my soul to to get the next book? Cuz I will.

Thank you to Bramble, Coloured Pages Book Tours, and the author for this eARC and a pretty finished copy (with sprayed edges! That one’s up for preorder now!)

I’d have to learn to live without it. Without him. To be okay going back to grays and beiges when I now knew that the world could exist in magenta and aquamarine and violent auburn. 

 “I want to keep earning your love, Everly. Every damn day.”

Okay, but this was the perfect blend of cute, spicy, emotion, recovery, and cats.

“Get on my dick and show me how much you’ve missed me.”

4.5 stars

"I wanted to drape an arm around you and say, he’s taken, back the fuck off.” His smile is the biggest cat-who-ate-the-canary grin ever.
“That is the hottest thing you’ve ever said, Everly.”

I absolutely love a story that has good representation and I think this one showed a great portrayal of coping mechanisms and overcoming trauma. Everly was absolutely amazing. Overcoming her scars and PTSD were heartbreaking to read but gave the story great depth!

Then I whisper, low and menacing in his ear, for him only, “Do not ever fuck with Everly again or I won’t be so nice. That clear?”

Max. My sweet Max. You were perfect. I loved how he evolved with Everly, how he also overcame his past experiences with that demon woman and came out of his shell. He had huge trust issues and when they did become an issue, he was called out on it and he immediately owned up to it. That was great! I love a man who can apologize and recognize what he’s done wrong.

Overall, I loved this and more hockey players need to own cats. Athena the wall climber was adorable.

“I slept in my car because I needed to be here when you woke up. I needed to be here to bring you your latte. Because I want you to know I will show up for you every day. Even if I make a mistake, I will keep showing up. I spiraled because of my past and my fears, but they have nothing to do with you, and you’re not responsible for them. I am. And I promise I will do better.

Thank you, Lauren, for this ARC!

“I want you even more than I did before.”
“Then get a condom, Max Lambert, and fuck me like you mean it.”

________________

Rtc

🐈

 “Death doesn’t come to those who deserve it”

This was an experience lmao
I can see why reviews are either “loved it” or “hated it”

A woman could bear only so much. "If you wish to say I am plainer than expected, I ask only that you address your insult to me rather than talking around me as if I were a candelabra.
De Paredes stared at her as if she actually were a candlestick that had begun speaking.

But once again, Leigh shoots it out of the park because this was amazing. I experienced everything with these characters, sadness, bordem, anger, unending rage, happiness, everything. I can see the main characters not being too popular to readers, but honestly, if you’ve ever felt the way they feel, or experienced their trauma or mental state, I think they were amazing.

"I'm sorry for all the things you will never see."
Luzia had laughed. "I feel sorry for all the people who will never get to meet me.

There was also dry/dark humor and sometimes that goes right over people’s heads and they see it as a character being one-dimensional or emotionaless, but again, it’s something that's hard to like if you don’t get it.

"Very well, " Valentina said. "But no dawdling. I expect you back within the hour. I don't know how you can spend so much time confessing when you have nothing to confess."
I have many murderous thoughts, Luzia considered saying, but managed to restrain herself.

It was very atmospheric-y and poetic-y, which was nice for me (again, this could be an issue for some people) and I felt like I was immersed in the scenes and the magic.

I wish I could have died a free man, not bound to a post. But I've earned my place on the pyre. You did nothing but try to live."
"Don't deny me credit for all my immoderate striving. I worked hard for my place in this prison.

I was raging on behalf of our FMC and MMC, how badly they were treated and I was pretty happy with the ending. Maybe 4.9 stars because of the ending lol

Had Santángel been a true friend or a true advisor he might have said all these things. But he was a captive, and a captive's only thought could be of freedom.

“One must never expect miracles, but one can hope for them all the same.”

“There are worse things for a woman than being alone.”



________


jesus christ

 

“Perhaps it’s more knowing the bloody handprint around your neck is mine, but whatever it is, I quite like it.”

4.5 stars

“You taste like mine.”

What an atmospheric, spooky read, perfect if you’re looking for Fall/Halloween vibes! What a great time of year to read this lol

“Don’t. Do not say my name like that, my wolf.”
“Why not?”
“It makes me want to find out how you taste, with your thighs wrapped around my head.”

Okay, this was really great. I was worried about Odyssa in the beginning, thinking that she’d be this pushover character, but man, I was wrong! She had a great backbone, stood up for herself, and I was living for it! Aside from her brothers, but oh no

“You deserve something good in your life. You deserve someone who thinks you worthy without you having to do a godsdamned thing for them.”

I DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM OR HER MOTHER. Are you kidding me!? Literally, the end was perfect for me about them 😂#oops but yeah, her strength and determination was great. I mean, it was super sad, since she basically had no regard for her life, she was living for her piece of shit family, but still great.

“You’re not used to being wanted. To being loved. It’s quite alright, my wolf. We will teach you.”

Ghosty cat, you are my fav, we all need a ghost cat to protect us in this world.

“I think you’ll find you belong in the darkness more than you might think. You survived me; you survived death.

I also really appreciate the disability rep in this (hearing and lung issues) because I have these too AND I completely love what happened in the end with her disabilities, that was *perfect* Read it to find out 😂

The marks on his forearm, the ones that spiraled up his arm and spilled down onto his chest, shifted, pulling away from the skin and reaching out to caress my cheek.

Tallon. My beautiful bad guy. But not as bad as the Prince obviously, that man, that whole family, was psychotic. With his masks, tattoos, shadows 😏, bloody hand necklaces, protectiveness, yes, I *quite* liked him. And the reveal was *unexpected* but I really liked it! So, look forward to that when you read this lmao

Thank you Jessica for this eARC, a cute box of merch, a t-shirt, and a finished copy! Lmao, that sounds like a lot, and it is, I love her(!) but I am on her content creation and ARC team for full disclosure😂

“Now you are the darkness. And no one will ever harm you again.” He leaned down, brushing his lips against my ear. “You have never looked more stunning than now, my wolf. I cannot decide if I want to show you off across Veressia and the Beyond, or if I want to lock you in my room and never leave.”