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popthebutterfly
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Bluest Sky
Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Cuban MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, historical fiction, Cuba, 1980s
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 9+ (activism, refugees, dictatorship, violence, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The book discusses 1980s Cuba and it showcases a lot about activism and the dictatorship. It also talks about refugees. The book shows some physical violence and there is one death on scene and grief shown.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: There are two versions of Hector: the public and the private. It's the only way to survive in communist Cuba--especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Hector must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves.
But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country--if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not.
So when Hector’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future?
In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Hector’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?
Christina Diaz Gonzalez's great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family's history.
Review: I adore this book so much! The book did so well to talk about 1980s Cuba and it offered so much information and insight into an area of history that I don’t know a lot about. The book had a math prodigy MC and featured a lot of Spanish phrases. The book also had a really good message, about making your dreams follow you. The book did well with the worldbuilding and character development as well.
The only issue I really had with the book is that it feels like a series book, the ending is a bit open-ended. I want to see more of this universe in other books, because I think the MC is a strong enough character to build on what America looks like in immigrant lenses.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: The Bluest Sky
Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Cuban MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, historical fiction, Cuba, 1980s
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 9+ (activism, refugees, dictatorship, violence, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The book discusses 1980s Cuba and it showcases a lot about activism and the dictatorship. It also talks about refugees. The book shows some physical violence and there is one death on scene and grief shown.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: There are two versions of Hector: the public and the private. It's the only way to survive in communist Cuba--especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Hector must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves.
But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate. No longer able to suppress a public uprising, the Cuban government says it will open the port of Mariel to all who wish to leave the country--if they can find a boat. But choosing to leave comes with a price. Those who want to flee are denounced as traitors by family and friends. There are violent acts of repudiation, and no one knows if they will truly be allowed to leave the country or not.
So when Hector’s mother announces that she wants the family to risk everything to go to the United States, he is torn. He misses his father, but Cuba is the only home he has ever known. All his dreams and plans require him to stay. Can he leave everything behind for an unknown future?
In a summer of heat and upheaval, danger and deadly consequences, Hector’s two worlds are on a collision course. Will the impact destroy him and everything he loves?
Christina Diaz Gonzalez's great-grandmother, great-uncle, and extended family came to the U.S. through the Mariel boatlift. She vividly remembers meeting them all for the first time in the summer of 1980 and is proud to share this part of her family's history.
Review: I adore this book so much! The book did so well to talk about 1980s Cuba and it offered so much information and insight into an area of history that I don’t know a lot about. The book had a math prodigy MC and featured a lot of Spanish phrases. The book also had a really good message, about making your dreams follow you. The book did well with the worldbuilding and character development as well.
The only issue I really had with the book is that it feels like a series book, the ending is a bit open-ended. I want to see more of this universe in other books, because I think the MC is a strong enough character to build on what America looks like in immigrant lenses.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ravenfall
Author: Kalyn Josephson
Book Series: Ravenfall Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Jewish decent MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, horror, mystery
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Paranormal Horror
Age Relevance: 12+ (death, gore, parental death, murder, violence, animal death, scary moments)
Explanation of Above: There is a death/murder that happens in the book and parental death is discussed. Nothing graphic is shown, but there is some blood mentioned in the book and some physical and weapon violence. There is an animal death in the book and there are some scary moments.
Publisher: Delacorte-Press
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family's standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it's hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death.
So when fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects. . . .
As the two team up to find answers, they unearth Colin's family's secret past and discover that Colin has powers beyond his imagination. And now the supernatural creature, one with eerie origins in Celtic mythology, is coming after him. If Anna and Colin can't stop the creature by Halloween night, the veil to the Otherworld could be ripped open--which would spell destruction for their world as they know it.
Review: For the most part I thought this was a good book. The story is riveting and I loved the use of the multi-POV. I really liked how Addams Family this book felt and it was a great mystery/comedic horror book as well. The book did well with the world building and the character development.
However, I thought that the book was too fast paced and that it offered little explanation of what was going on in the book. The book was confusing and sometimes hard to follow. I think that the arc I got was just very raw and I have very high hope that the finished product is polished and well written, but for this copy it was just hard for me to figure out what was going on.
Verdict: It was good, just needs a little work.
Book: Ravenfall
Author: Kalyn Josephson
Book Series: Ravenfall Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Jewish decent MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, horror, mystery
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: MG Paranormal Horror
Age Relevance: 12+ (death, gore, parental death, murder, violence, animal death, scary moments)
Explanation of Above: There is a death/murder that happens in the book and parental death is discussed. Nothing graphic is shown, but there is some blood mentioned in the book and some physical and weapon violence. There is an animal death in the book and there are some scary moments.
Publisher: Delacorte-Press
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family's standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it's hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death.
So when fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects. . . .
As the two team up to find answers, they unearth Colin's family's secret past and discover that Colin has powers beyond his imagination. And now the supernatural creature, one with eerie origins in Celtic mythology, is coming after him. If Anna and Colin can't stop the creature by Halloween night, the veil to the Otherworld could be ripped open--which would spell destruction for their world as they know it.
Review: For the most part I thought this was a good book. The story is riveting and I loved the use of the multi-POV. I really liked how Addams Family this book felt and it was a great mystery/comedic horror book as well. The book did well with the world building and the character development.
However, I thought that the book was too fast paced and that it offered little explanation of what was going on in the book. The book was confusing and sometimes hard to follow. I think that the arc I got was just very raw and I have very high hope that the finished product is polished and well written, but for this copy it was just hard for me to figure out what was going on.
Verdict: It was good, just needs a little work.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Other Ever Afters
Author: Melanie Gillman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Sapphic characters, people of color main characters, plus size characters, trans character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel, LGBT, fantasy, queer, retellings, fairy tales
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 13+ (illness, gore, violence, death, poverty)
Explanation of Above: There is some illness depicted in the book. There is some gore with blood and violence shown with weapons. Death is mentioned and shown in the book. There is also extreme poverty shown.
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Once upon a time . . . happily ever after turned out differently than expected. In this new, feminist, queer fairy-tale collection, you’ll find the princesses, mermaids, knights, barmaids, children, and wise old women who have been forced to sit on the sidelines in classic stories taking center stage. A gorgeous all-new collection in graphic novel format from a Stonewall Honor-winning author and artist.
What if the giant who abducted you was actually thoughtful and kind? What if you didn’t want to marry your handsome, popular, but cold-inside suitor? What if your one true love has all the responsibilities that come with running a kingdom?
Review: I really liked this short anthology of queer fairy tale books. I love the overarching story theme and I loved how diverse the book was. The book did well to keep the ton of the fairy tales and to also have important life lessons in them. I especially liked the trans analogy one and the one with the flowers. The book was also beautifully illustrated. I also think it could be good for children younger than the intended audience, as it was overall sweet and had very little graphic details.
The only issue I had with the book is that it ended really short. I think it could have fit in a few more stories and offered a bit more LGBT aspects to it.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: Other Ever Afters
Author: Melanie Gillman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Sapphic characters, people of color main characters, plus size characters, trans character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel, LGBT, fantasy, queer, retellings, fairy tales
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 13+ (illness, gore, violence, death, poverty)
Explanation of Above: There is some illness depicted in the book. There is some gore with blood and violence shown with weapons. Death is mentioned and shown in the book. There is also extreme poverty shown.
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Once upon a time . . . happily ever after turned out differently than expected. In this new, feminist, queer fairy-tale collection, you’ll find the princesses, mermaids, knights, barmaids, children, and wise old women who have been forced to sit on the sidelines in classic stories taking center stage. A gorgeous all-new collection in graphic novel format from a Stonewall Honor-winning author and artist.
What if the giant who abducted you was actually thoughtful and kind? What if you didn’t want to marry your handsome, popular, but cold-inside suitor? What if your one true love has all the responsibilities that come with running a kingdom?
Review: I really liked this short anthology of queer fairy tale books. I love the overarching story theme and I loved how diverse the book was. The book did well to keep the ton of the fairy tales and to also have important life lessons in them. I especially liked the trans analogy one and the one with the flowers. The book was also beautifully illustrated. I also think it could be good for children younger than the intended audience, as it was overall sweet and had very little graphic details.
The only issue I had with the book is that it ended really short. I think it could have fit in a few more stories and offered a bit more LGBT aspects to it.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Book: Take My Husband
Author: Ellen Meister
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Jewish characters, Black character
Recommended For...: dark comedy, women’s fiction, contemporary, thriller, fiction
Publication Date: August 30, 2022
Genre: Dark Comedy Women’s Fiction
Age Relevance: 18+ (fatphobia, death, violence, gore, weaponized incompetence, sexual content, grief, cursing, suicidal ideation, depression, gaslighting, emotional abuse, pregnancy, childbirth, illness, animal death, alcoholism)
Explanation of Above: There are some fatphobic comments made in the book. Death, grief, and murder are mentioned and discussed throughout the book, along with varying degrees of violence mentioned and some very slight gore shown via blood. The book showcases weaponized incompetence and has some sexual content. There is some cursing in the book. There are scenes where suicidal ideation are shown and suicide is mentioned. There is some depression shown in the book and the book focuses on gaslighting and emotional abuse. There are mentions of pregnancy and childbirth in the book. There is some illness shown in the book. There are animal deaths mentioned with mice and turtles. There is some alcoholism mentioned once in the book.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: In this darkly comic novel about a wife whose rope is so frayed it's about to snap, Laurel gets a call that her husband has been in an accident. She imagines the worst. But as she is on the way to the ER, another emotion seizes her. Relief. Doug's death could solve all her problems. No more catering to his incessant demands. Then there's the insurance money. Laurel's dreams seem so close. There's just one problem: Doug is very much alive. Now Laurel has to decide if she is going to do something about it.
Subversive, irreverent and surprisingly poignant, Take My Husband probes the deep corners of a marriage and emerges to find the light. For anyone who's spent a little too much time with a significant other and thought, One of us has got to go.
Review: This was a hilarious read about a woman who, after hearing some unfortunate news about her husband and thinking that he died only to realize he didn’t and also being persuaded by a recent widower, is determined to off her husband to better her life. I thought that the book, while hilarious, also did so well to talk about weaponized incompetence and emotional abuse. The book is honest about how hard women work in a relationship for the statistical majority of the time and how the division of labor and division of emotional stress rests majorly on them. The book was interesting and you switch between rooting for the MC to hating her to rooting for her again as you explore your own emotional roller coaster. The writing was well done and the character development was great, as I enjoyed the non-linear sometimes fluxuating manner the characters developed. The book also had great pacing.
The only issue I had with the book is that I wished that some of the outside players were a bit better developed and I wished that some of the twists had a bit more room to fully play out in the book.
Verdict: It was well done!
Book: Take My Husband
Author: Ellen Meister
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Jewish characters, Black character
Recommended For...: dark comedy, women’s fiction, contemporary, thriller, fiction
Publication Date: August 30, 2022
Genre: Dark Comedy Women’s Fiction
Age Relevance: 18+ (fatphobia, death, violence, gore, weaponized incompetence, sexual content, grief, cursing, suicidal ideation, depression, gaslighting, emotional abuse, pregnancy, childbirth, illness, animal death, alcoholism)
Explanation of Above: There are some fatphobic comments made in the book. Death, grief, and murder are mentioned and discussed throughout the book, along with varying degrees of violence mentioned and some very slight gore shown via blood. The book showcases weaponized incompetence and has some sexual content. There is some cursing in the book. There are scenes where suicidal ideation are shown and suicide is mentioned. There is some depression shown in the book and the book focuses on gaslighting and emotional abuse. There are mentions of pregnancy and childbirth in the book. There is some illness shown in the book. There are animal deaths mentioned with mice and turtles. There is some alcoholism mentioned once in the book.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: In this darkly comic novel about a wife whose rope is so frayed it's about to snap, Laurel gets a call that her husband has been in an accident. She imagines the worst. But as she is on the way to the ER, another emotion seizes her. Relief. Doug's death could solve all her problems. No more catering to his incessant demands. Then there's the insurance money. Laurel's dreams seem so close. There's just one problem: Doug is very much alive. Now Laurel has to decide if she is going to do something about it.
Subversive, irreverent and surprisingly poignant, Take My Husband probes the deep corners of a marriage and emerges to find the light. For anyone who's spent a little too much time with a significant other and thought, One of us has got to go.
Review: This was a hilarious read about a woman who, after hearing some unfortunate news about her husband and thinking that he died only to realize he didn’t and also being persuaded by a recent widower, is determined to off her husband to better her life. I thought that the book, while hilarious, also did so well to talk about weaponized incompetence and emotional abuse. The book is honest about how hard women work in a relationship for the statistical majority of the time and how the division of labor and division of emotional stress rests majorly on them. The book was interesting and you switch between rooting for the MC to hating her to rooting for her again as you explore your own emotional roller coaster. The writing was well done and the character development was great, as I enjoyed the non-linear sometimes fluxuating manner the characters developed. The book also had great pacing.
The only issue I had with the book is that I wished that some of the outside players were a bit better developed and I wished that some of the twists had a bit more room to fully play out in the book.
Verdict: It was well done!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake
Author: Mazey Eddings
Book Series: A Brush With Love Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 4/5
Diversity: ADHD MC, Sapphic side character
Recommended For...: contemporary, romance, adult, ADHD rep
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (cursing, sexual content, violence, gore, pregnancy, abortion, fatphobia)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of cursing in this book and a lot of sexual content. There is a pregnancy throughout this book and abortion is mentioned as an option briefly. There is some physical violence with punches. There is some vomit gore shown in the book. There are also some slight fatphobic comments made.
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Lizzie has made endless mistakes. Kitchen fires, pyramid schemes, bangs (of the hair and human variety), you name it, she’s done it… and made a mess of it too. One mistake she’s never made is letting anyone get closer to her than a single hook-up. But after losing yet another bakery job due to her uncontrolled ADHD, she breaks her cardinal rule and has a two-night-stand that changes everything.
Once burned, twice shy, Rake has given up on relationships. And feelings. And any form of intimacy for that matter. Yet something about charming, chaotic Lizzie has him lowering his guard. For two nights, that is. Then it’s back home to Australia and far away from the pesky feelings Lizzie pulls from him. But when Lizzie tells him she’s got an unexpected bun in the oven, he’ll do whatever it takes to be a part of his child’s life… except be emotionally vulnerable, obviously. He’s never going to make that mistake again.
Through a series of mishaps, totally “platonic” single bed sharing, and an underground erotic baking scheme, Lizzie and Rake learn that even the biggest mistakes can have the most beautiful consequences.
Review: I absolutely loved this book so much! The book had me laughing from page one and I loved the use of the multi-POV in this one. I’m not usually one for the unplanned pregnancy trope, but it worked so so well in this book and I was ADDICTED to reading this one after the first chapter. The book also features the one bed trope slightly and is a little grump/sunshine. The book showed a guy who has a great relationship with his parents, which is super refreshing, and I fell in love with Lizzie so much. I loved the ADHD rep and I felt seen as my brain rapidly bounces from topic to topic, I also deal with RSD, and I also spiral so easily. I also felt seen with Lizzie and her mother’s relationship. I don’t have the best one with my mother either and while the circumstances are different, my mother’s rejection of me stings and I felt Lizzie’s pain so acutely. I also struggled with letting people in and letting them come close and I too had to find a community to fit into. I thought that the book was extremely well written, the character development so well done, and the world building immaculate. As an aside, I also love that I share a birthday with Rake. THANK YOU MAZEY EDDINGS!
The only nit-picky thing I could think of that I thought could be better is that there didn’t seem to be a lot of lead up to the next book (The Plus One) like there slightly was in A Brush With Love for Lizzie’s book. I wish I would have seen that a bit more, but other than that I am floored with how amazing this book was.
Verdict: YOU NEED THIS BOOK! Highly recommend!
Book: Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake
Author: Mazey Eddings
Book Series: A Brush With Love Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 4/5
Diversity: ADHD MC, Sapphic side character
Recommended For...: contemporary, romance, adult, ADHD rep
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (cursing, sexual content, violence, gore, pregnancy, abortion, fatphobia)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of cursing in this book and a lot of sexual content. There is a pregnancy throughout this book and abortion is mentioned as an option briefly. There is some physical violence with punches. There is some vomit gore shown in the book. There are also some slight fatphobic comments made.
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Lizzie has made endless mistakes. Kitchen fires, pyramid schemes, bangs (of the hair and human variety), you name it, she’s done it… and made a mess of it too. One mistake she’s never made is letting anyone get closer to her than a single hook-up. But after losing yet another bakery job due to her uncontrolled ADHD, she breaks her cardinal rule and has a two-night-stand that changes everything.
Once burned, twice shy, Rake has given up on relationships. And feelings. And any form of intimacy for that matter. Yet something about charming, chaotic Lizzie has him lowering his guard. For two nights, that is. Then it’s back home to Australia and far away from the pesky feelings Lizzie pulls from him. But when Lizzie tells him she’s got an unexpected bun in the oven, he’ll do whatever it takes to be a part of his child’s life… except be emotionally vulnerable, obviously. He’s never going to make that mistake again.
Through a series of mishaps, totally “platonic” single bed sharing, and an underground erotic baking scheme, Lizzie and Rake learn that even the biggest mistakes can have the most beautiful consequences.
Review: I absolutely loved this book so much! The book had me laughing from page one and I loved the use of the multi-POV in this one. I’m not usually one for the unplanned pregnancy trope, but it worked so so well in this book and I was ADDICTED to reading this one after the first chapter. The book also features the one bed trope slightly and is a little grump/sunshine. The book showed a guy who has a great relationship with his parents, which is super refreshing, and I fell in love with Lizzie so much. I loved the ADHD rep and I felt seen as my brain rapidly bounces from topic to topic, I also deal with RSD, and I also spiral so easily. I also felt seen with Lizzie and her mother’s relationship. I don’t have the best one with my mother either and while the circumstances are different, my mother’s rejection of me stings and I felt Lizzie’s pain so acutely. I also struggled with letting people in and letting them come close and I too had to find a community to fit into. I thought that the book was extremely well written, the character development so well done, and the world building immaculate. As an aside, I also love that I share a birthday with Rake. THANK YOU MAZEY EDDINGS!
The only nit-picky thing I could think of that I thought could be better is that there didn’t seem to be a lot of lead up to the next book (The Plus One) like there slightly was in A Brush With Love for Lizzie’s book. I wish I would have seen that a bit more, but other than that I am floored with how amazing this book was.
Verdict: YOU NEED THIS BOOK! Highly recommend!
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor
Author: Biance Marais
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1.5/5
Spice: 1/5
Diversity: Black character
Recommended For...: paranormal, adult, thriller, heist, magic, fantasy
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Age Relevance: 18+ (cursing, sexual content, sexism, death, HP references, illness, alcohol consumption, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of cursing in this book and sexual content mentioned, hardly any shown. There are some sexist comments thrown around and illness is shown and mentioned. There are 3 HP references. There is alcohol consumption shown a lot. There is some gun violence.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.
But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.
The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.
Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.
Review: This was a meh book for me. For the good portions of the book, I liked that it poked some fun at older witch media and it’s got a strong Fuck The Patriarchy tone to it. I also liked that it included the recipes for the items that the witches were making throughout the book.
However, I didn’t like this book. The book was a bit too heavy handed on the “wokeness” and while I’m definitely all there for changing society and everything, I felt like the author tried too hard and it leaned into the satirical territory or the “let’s make fun of liberals” territory. I also hated that the book had a character who was very feminist, but loved Harry Potter. Like… make it make sense? You can’t have true feminism unless you fight for every female. Maybe I missed the whole point of the novel and it’s really not a true witches book, but it’s certainly messy and doesn’t make sense half the time. Unless I’m completely wrong about the character of the author, I think the author tried but really needs to do some rewrites on this one and needs to make sure that they’re as socially aware as their characters pretend they are.
Verdict: It’s a no for me.
Book: The Witches of Moonshyne Manor
Author: Biance Marais
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1.5/5
Spice: 1/5
Diversity: Black character
Recommended For...: paranormal, adult, thriller, heist, magic, fantasy
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Age Relevance: 18+ (cursing, sexual content, sexism, death, HP references, illness, alcohol consumption, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of cursing in this book and sexual content mentioned, hardly any shown. There are some sexist comments thrown around and illness is shown and mentioned. There are 3 HP references. There is alcohol consumption shown a lot. There is some gun violence.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.
But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.
The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.
Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.
Review: This was a meh book for me. For the good portions of the book, I liked that it poked some fun at older witch media and it’s got a strong Fuck The Patriarchy tone to it. I also liked that it included the recipes for the items that the witches were making throughout the book.
However, I didn’t like this book. The book was a bit too heavy handed on the “wokeness” and while I’m definitely all there for changing society and everything, I felt like the author tried too hard and it leaned into the satirical territory or the “let’s make fun of liberals” territory. I also hated that the book had a character who was very feminist, but loved Harry Potter. Like… make it make sense? You can’t have true feminism unless you fight for every female. Maybe I missed the whole point of the novel and it’s really not a true witches book, but it’s certainly messy and doesn’t make sense half the time. Unless I’m completely wrong about the character of the author, I think the author tried but really needs to do some rewrites on this one and needs to make sure that they’re as socially aware as their characters pretend they are.
Verdict: It’s a no for me.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The House With The Golden Door
Author: Elodie Harper
Book Series: Wolf Den Trilogy Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Diversity: Egyptian character
Recommended For...: historical fiction, romance, tragedy, Italian, adult
Publication Date: May 12, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction Tragedy
Age Relevance: 18+ (slavery, rape, sexual content, romance, cursing, death, grief, domestic violence, violence, gore, fatphobia, pregnancy, childbirth)
Explanation of Above: The book discusses characters who live in brothels or are contractually bound to other people and also people who are just outright slaves in slavery positions. There is some slight romance, a lot of sexual content, and rape is mentioned. There is a lot of cursing and grief is shown and mentioned. There is some death mentioned. There is one scene of domestic violence, where a character is grabbed by the throat by another character, and there is some violence shown in the book and mentioned. There is also some gore with blood. There is one instance of fatphobic comments about a character being made. There is a pregnancy in the book shown a lot and there is a childbirth scene as well.
Publisher: Apollo
Pages: 472
Synopsis: The life of a courtesan in Pompeii is glittering, yet precarious...
Amara has escaped her life as a slave in the town's most notorious brothel, but now her existence depends on the affections of her patron: a man she might not know as well as she once thought.
At night she dreams of the wolf den, still haunted by her past. Amara longs for the women she was forced to leave behind and worse, finds herself pursued by the man who once owned her. In order to be free, she will need to be as ruthless as he is.
Amara knows her existence in Pompeii is subject to Venus, the goddess of love. Yet finding love may prove to be the most dangerous act of all.
We return to Pompeii for the second installment in Elodie Harper's Wolf Den Trilogy, set in the town's lupanar and reimagining the lives of women long overlooked.
Review: Ok this was a wild ride! In this book we got a little more into the thriller/intrigue aspect of this series. Amara is out of the fire for the most part, but still wishes to make right with her blood oath and to help out the girls still at The Wolf Den. Amara is quickly caught up in a new issue though, as our heroine finds herself haunted by old fears and new concerns. I thought the book did well to keep that epic feel to it. It’s kind of like a drama much like the first one, but it also has that epic feel to it much like The Odyssey or The Iliad, which I guess would make this more of a Tragedy. The character development was well done and the world building was great as well. As a final note before the third book is released, I’m wondering if the series will ever explore the fall of Pompeii or if this is set so far before it that it won’t happen. I’m invested and can’t wait for book 3.
The only issue I had with the book is that it felt a little flatter than the first one and a lot of the plot is stretched out, as the timeframe in this book is much shorter than the first one. I also wished that the plot was a bit more sped up, but overall I enjoyed it.
Verdict: It was well done! Highly recommend!
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I bought an e-copy of this book! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Wolf Den
Author: Elodie Harper
Book Series: Wolf Den Trilogy Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 3/5
Diversity: Egyptian character
Recommended For...: historical fiction, ancient Rome, ancient Pompeii, adult
Publication Date: May 13, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction Tragedy
Age Relevance: 18+ (sexual content, cursing, violence, slavery, animal death, sexism, gore, rape, human trafficking, grief, alcohol consumption, abortion, pregnancy, suicide, death)
Explanation of Above: The book focuses on the lives of brothel workers in ancient Pompeii, so the book focuses on slavery and sexual content, including rape. There is cursing in the book and a lot of physical violence, along with some weapon violence. There is blood gore and a dead dogs body is mentioned in the book at one point. There are sexist comments and sexism in the book. Human trafficking is mentioned throughout the book, in the sale of adult and children. There is death and grief in the book, as well as one scene that shows a suicide and a couple of other mentions of suicide. There is alcohol consumption, abortion is mentioned, and there is a pregnancy shown as well.
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Pages: 464
Synopsis: Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii's brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den...
Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now she is a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises. Sharp, clever and resourceful, Amara is forced to hide her talents. For as a she-wolf, her only value lies in the desire she can stir in others.
But Amara's spirit is far from broken.
By day, she walks the streets with her fellow she-wolves, finding comfort in the laughter and dreams they share. For the streets of Pompeii are alive with opportunity. Out here, even the lowest slave can secure a reversal in fortune. Amara has learnt that everything in this city has its price. But how much is her freedom going to cost her?
Set in Pompeii's lupanar, The Wolf Den reimagines the lives of women who have long been overlooked.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought that it was a very epically told tragedy and it reads a lot like how drama TV shows are now (which is how you should kinda look at epics and tragedies, it makes the reading much more fun lol). The book is very honest about the horrible conditions that our main character goes through and you really feel for her throughout the book and at the end you’re celebrating how far she’s come. The book was very well written and the world building and character development were absolutely amazing.
The only issue I had with the book is that the beginning is a bit scattered, which makes it a little hard to get into, and the book can be confusing at certain points. Overall though I’m super happy with this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series.
Verdict: It was so good! Highly recommend!
Book: The Wolf Den
Author: Elodie Harper
Book Series: Wolf Den Trilogy Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 3/5
Diversity: Egyptian character
Recommended For...: historical fiction, ancient Rome, ancient Pompeii, adult
Publication Date: May 13, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction Tragedy
Age Relevance: 18+ (sexual content, cursing, violence, slavery, animal death, sexism, gore, rape, human trafficking, grief, alcohol consumption, abortion, pregnancy, suicide, death)
Explanation of Above: The book focuses on the lives of brothel workers in ancient Pompeii, so the book focuses on slavery and sexual content, including rape. There is cursing in the book and a lot of physical violence, along with some weapon violence. There is blood gore and a dead dogs body is mentioned in the book at one point. There are sexist comments and sexism in the book. Human trafficking is mentioned throughout the book, in the sale of adult and children. There is death and grief in the book, as well as one scene that shows a suicide and a couple of other mentions of suicide. There is alcohol consumption, abortion is mentioned, and there is a pregnancy shown as well.
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Pages: 464
Synopsis: Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii's brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den...
Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now she is a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises. Sharp, clever and resourceful, Amara is forced to hide her talents. For as a she-wolf, her only value lies in the desire she can stir in others.
But Amara's spirit is far from broken.
By day, she walks the streets with her fellow she-wolves, finding comfort in the laughter and dreams they share. For the streets of Pompeii are alive with opportunity. Out here, even the lowest slave can secure a reversal in fortune. Amara has learnt that everything in this city has its price. But how much is her freedom going to cost her?
Set in Pompeii's lupanar, The Wolf Den reimagines the lives of women who have long been overlooked.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought that it was a very epically told tragedy and it reads a lot like how drama TV shows are now (which is how you should kinda look at epics and tragedies, it makes the reading much more fun lol). The book is very honest about the horrible conditions that our main character goes through and you really feel for her throughout the book and at the end you’re celebrating how far she’s come. The book was very well written and the world building and character development were absolutely amazing.
The only issue I had with the book is that the beginning is a bit scattered, which makes it a little hard to get into, and the book can be confusing at certain points. Overall though I’m super happy with this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series.
Verdict: It was so good! Highly recommend!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Belladonna
Author: Adalyn Grace
Book Series: Belladonna Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, gothic, paranormal, thriller, mystery
Publication Date: August 30, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (parental death, death, violence, gore, illness, child neglect, attempted suicide, self harm, romance, sexual content, grooming?)
Explanation of Above: There is some parental death mentions and there is death shown in the book. There is some violence with poisoning and vomit and blood gore. Illness is also shown. There is some child neglect shown in the book. There is an attempted suicide mentioned and some self harm mentions as well. There is some romance and slight sexual content. The relationship between the MC and the LI is a bit weird in that it’s a young child and an immortal being who saw her as a child, which gives off a slight grooming/predatory vibe.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
Synopsis: Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.
Review: This is a beautifully written read. The book is very flowy and poetic. There are a ton of gothic vibes in it and it’s wonderfully atmospheric. For the most par the book is well written and the character development and world building are very strong. The book is probably one of those that will be on classic/future YA to read lists for a long time.
However, I thought that the twists were very easy to see coming and the book ended weird. It felt like it set up a sequel but it feels like a standalone? I also had issue with the relationship in the book. The MC is a young child and the LI is an immortal being. While there are a ton of YA books that are like that, I have always felt a bit ick about it and I do for this relationship as well, especially when you consider that the LI has been watching the MC since she was a young child? It might be other’s cup of tea, but it’s not mine.
Verdict: It’s good!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Beguiled
Author: Cyla Panin
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, retelling, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Celtic mythology, Historical fiction, horror, fairy tale
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Age Relevance: 14+ (gore, death, religion, self harm, gaslighting, emotional abuse, domestic violence, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of gore involving blood and self harm in the manner of the MC purposefully hurting herself so she can supply the loom. There are some domestic violence mentions and knife violence. Death is shown and mentioned. There are some mentions of religion. There is some gaslighting and emotional abuse shown in the book too.
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Ella is a 17-year-old weaver whose entire livelihood depends on her loom. She dreams of opening her own shop, but when her father died in debtor’s prison, she had to support herself by taking whatever clients she could get. In order to buy her supplies she goes into debt of her own, and when her loom breaks, Ella realizes she needs more help than a repairperson can give her. She, like everyone, has heard about the old washerwoman spirit called the Bean-Nighe who will grant any one wish—for a price.
But Ella is desperate, so she asks the Bean-Nighe to fix her loom. And it works. The loom is fixed, and she's creating beautiful pieces she could have never imagined before. All she has to do is feed the loom a drop of blood each time she weaves—a small price to pay for such magnificent silks. And when she brings two bolts to a rich client, she meets a mysterious young man named Callum and bargains for an invitation to his exclusive party. At that party, he's so mesmerized by her talent, he offers Ella a place to live and patronage for her art. It seems like Ella's fortune is finally turning for the better . . . until she begins to notice the loom taking more from her than she offered.
As she becomes entangled in the lives of the city’s rich, swept into Callum's allure, and trapped by the Bean-Nighe’s magic, Ella must figure out a way to secure her future while she still has a future at all.
Review: Overall, I really liked this book! I thought it was a little bit Cinderella and a little bit Sleeping beauty, which is a cool combination. There book is easy to read and reads like a classic fairytale, maybe something a bit Grimms Brothers? The book is based in Celtic mythology and it’s beautifully written and flows well.
However, I thought that the book needed a little bit of work still. I would like to see more world building and a lot more character development. I also thought that the book was a bit too slow for how it was written.
Verdict: It’s good!
Book: Beguiled
Author: Cyla Panin
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, retelling, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Celtic mythology, Historical fiction, horror, fairy tale
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Age Relevance: 14+ (gore, death, religion, self harm, gaslighting, emotional abuse, domestic violence, violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of gore involving blood and self harm in the manner of the MC purposefully hurting herself so she can supply the loom. There are some domestic violence mentions and knife violence. Death is shown and mentioned. There are some mentions of religion. There is some gaslighting and emotional abuse shown in the book too.
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Ella is a 17-year-old weaver whose entire livelihood depends on her loom. She dreams of opening her own shop, but when her father died in debtor’s prison, she had to support herself by taking whatever clients she could get. In order to buy her supplies she goes into debt of her own, and when her loom breaks, Ella realizes she needs more help than a repairperson can give her. She, like everyone, has heard about the old washerwoman spirit called the Bean-Nighe who will grant any one wish—for a price.
But Ella is desperate, so she asks the Bean-Nighe to fix her loom. And it works. The loom is fixed, and she's creating beautiful pieces she could have never imagined before. All she has to do is feed the loom a drop of blood each time she weaves—a small price to pay for such magnificent silks. And when she brings two bolts to a rich client, she meets a mysterious young man named Callum and bargains for an invitation to his exclusive party. At that party, he's so mesmerized by her talent, he offers Ella a place to live and patronage for her art. It seems like Ella's fortune is finally turning for the better . . . until she begins to notice the loom taking more from her than she offered.
As she becomes entangled in the lives of the city’s rich, swept into Callum's allure, and trapped by the Bean-Nighe’s magic, Ella must figure out a way to secure her future while she still has a future at all.
Review: Overall, I really liked this book! I thought it was a little bit Cinderella and a little bit Sleeping beauty, which is a cool combination. There book is easy to read and reads like a classic fairytale, maybe something a bit Grimms Brothers? The book is based in Celtic mythology and it’s beautifully written and flows well.
However, I thought that the book needed a little bit of work still. I would like to see more world building and a lot more character development. I also thought that the book was a bit too slow for how it was written.
Verdict: It’s good!