The Laughing Listener
July 2020
Format: Paperback

A masterful piece of satire and a great study of human nature. Also enjoyed the part where he turned into a giant centipede. Give that assistant a raise amiright??

The Laughing Listener
April 2020
Format: Ebook

Story Rating: 3 Stars

Holy hot damn.



#1 ↦ [b:Corrupt|21981841|Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398947518l/21981841._SY75_.jpg|41292505] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#2 ↦ [b:Hideaway|29082755|Hideaway (Devil's Night, #2)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495731109l/29082755._SX50_.jpg|49314977] ↦ (4.5/5) ✦✦✦✦✦
#3 ↦ [b:Kill Switch|43908024|Kill Switch (Devil's Night, #3)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549821508l/43908024._SX50_.jpg|51820767] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#3.5 ↦ [b:Conclave|48921239|Conclave (Devil's Night, #3.5)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574537639l/48921239._SX50_.jpg|74319475] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#4 ↦ [b:Nightfall|53750794|Nightfall (Devil's Night, #4)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591049482l/53750794._SX50_.jpg|51820772] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧

The Laughing Listener
April 2020
Format: Ebook

Story Rating: 3 Stars

*Shakes head in bewilderment* I just… have no words. In my brain. For what I just read. What in the HELL just happened?????? I’ve never had this hard of a time rating a book.



Okay. Okay. Let me try and break down my feelings somehow.

The friend who recommended this book to me gave me a bazillion warnings about it ahead of time. I could tell she was nervous and now I completely understand why because this shit is DARK. It’s probably good that I got so many warnings because I went in expecting the absolutely worst and this was pretty on par with what I thought. But friends, I am not joking around. DARK. ROMANCE. Trigger warnings galore. It’s kind of bully romance-esque if that gives you a better idea of what you’re in for.

Normally bully romances aren’t my thing. I’m all for enemies-to-lovers, but personally I have a hard time watching someone fall for the cause of their emotional or physical distress. I have to hand it to Penelope Douglas though, she weaved this story PERFECTLY. I couldn’t put this down if I wanted to because my need to get answers outweighed everything else. The way she flipped between the past and present was genius and kept me reading, even during the dark times. And she managed to dance right to the edge of what I could tolerate without ever crossing the line.

And now I’m in this series for the long haul because I NEED to know what happens.



But the rational side of my brain is very aware of how fucked up this all is. Like… this story is CRAZY INSANITY and these people need extensive therapy. I also spent 90% of this book being completely pissed off on Rika’s behalf because she’s surrounded by idiot men who are incapable of communicating. Like, imagine torturing and ruining someone’s life over a minor misunderstanding you didn’t bother double check.

That’s why I’m giving this 3 stars, because it’s batshit and being that mad for 400 pages isn’t exactly fun. But also, I was completely captivated by this story and characters and couldn’t put this down.

FINAL WORD

I’m tentatively recommending this book, but please proceed with extreme caution. If you decide to go for it, you’re in for a wild ride.

#1 ↦ [b:Corrupt|21981841|Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398947518l/21981841._SY75_.jpg|41292505] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#2 ↦ [b:Hideaway|29082755|Hideaway (Devil's Night, #2)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495731109l/29082755._SX50_.jpg|49314977] ↦ (4.5/5) ✦✦✦✦✦
#3 ↦ [b:Kill Switch|43908024|Kill Switch (Devil's Night, #3)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549821508l/43908024._SX50_.jpg|51820767] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#3.5 ↦ [b:Conclave|48921239|Conclave (Devil's Night, #3.5)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574537639l/48921239._SX50_.jpg|74319475] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#4 ↦ [b:Nightfall|53750794|Nightfall (Devil's Night, #4)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591049482l/53750794._SX50_.jpg|51820772] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧

The Laughing Listener
April 2020
Format: Ebook

Story Rating: 4.5 Stars

If you’re reading this review, I’m gonna assume that you’ve survived Corrupt and now you’re either; A) comparing notes to your own reading experience or B) you’re like me and hesitant to start, wondering if book two will be as rough (PUN ABSOLUTELY INTENDED) as book one.



I’ll skip the part where I shout at you about how dark this series is and how pretty much every trigger warning you could think of is in it. If you’ve read the first installment, then YOU KNOW. And while this is still very dark and contains a lot of trigger warning-y themes, I had such a better reading experience with Hideaway! I spent about 90% of the last book pissed the hell off and frustrated. I mean, they LITERALLY torture and ruin a childhood friend for no reason. But this book had waaaaay less outright fuckery and was more focused on the mystery of everything. I had so much fun trying to guess what was going to happen next and being completely wrong every time. It was so unpredictable and I loved every second.

And the romance bits! UGH. I loved it. Officially in love with Kai ya’ll.



Before this, I was already on board for this series because I wanted to see what happens, but now I’m 100% HERE FOR THIS SERIES AND COMPLETELY OBSESSED. I NEED ANSWERS. I can’t wait to start Damon’s book next, it’s gonna be WILD.

FINAL WORD

If you even remotely enjoyed the crazy ride of the first book, then READ THIS ONE. NOW. DO IT.

#1 ↦ [b:Corrupt|21981841|Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398947518l/21981841._SY75_.jpg|41292505] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#2 ↦ [b:Hideaway|29082755|Hideaway (Devil's Night, #2)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495731109l/29082755._SX50_.jpg|49314977] ↦ (4.5/5) ✦✦✦✦✦
#3 ↦ [b:Kill Switch|43908024|Kill Switch (Devil's Night, #3)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549821508l/43908024._SX50_.jpg|51820767] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#3.5 ↦ [b:Conclave|48921239|Conclave (Devil's Night, #3.5)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574537639l/48921239._SX50_.jpg|74319475] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#4 ↦ [b:Nightfall|53750794|Nightfall (Devil's Night, #4)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591049482l/53750794._SX50_.jpg|51820772] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧

The Laughing Listener
July 2020
Format: Ebook

Story Rating: 4 Stars

Well... shit. That was INSANE. I knew Will was hiding more under all the liquor and jokes. The first 75-ish% of this ah-mazing. I loved the mystery of Blackchurch, the characters, getting a view into Will and Emory's past, and seeing the previous books get woven together so well. I gotta admit though, I was lost the last few chapters. Sooooo much happens in such a short amount of time. I'm still reeling. Gotta sit with this a while and see how I feel. RTC.

#1 ↦ [b:Corrupt|21981841|Corrupt (Devil's Night, #1)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398947518l/21981841._SY75_.jpg|41292505] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#2 ↦ [b:Hideaway|29082755|Hideaway (Devil's Night, #2)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495731109l/29082755._SX50_.jpg|49314977] ↦ (4.5/5) ✦✦✦✦✦
#3 ↦ [b:Kill Switch|43908024|Kill Switch (Devil's Night, #3)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549821508l/43908024._SX50_.jpg|51820767] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#3.5 ↦ [b:Conclave|48921239|Conclave (Devil's Night, #3.5)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574537639l/48921239._SX50_.jpg|74319475] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#4 ↦ [b:Nightfall|53750794|Nightfall (Devil's Night, #4)|Penelope Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591049482l/53750794._SX50_.jpg|51820772] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧

The Laughing Listener
August 2020
Format: Ebook ARC

Story Rating: 4.5 Stars

“I stopped looking at the bars of my cage and started looking between them. If my life sucks, that just means it hasn’t peaked yet. I’m in the middle of my story. And every tomorrow could be my happily ever after.”



I just… I’m speechless! This book was so good!! I’m not really sure what I was expecting from this story, but it definitely wasn’t this. And I mean that in the best possible way. Romina Garber has blown me away and stolen my heart.

Admittedly, it took me some time to really get invested in this story. The first handful of chapters are slower moving and pretty normal, minus a few minor details. It read more like contemporary/magical realism, which caught me off guard, but intrigued me nevertheless. Around chapter 8-ish, however, the plot takes off running and I’m telling you I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN.

“I’m a passenger not just in this vehicle, but in my body, in this country, in my life. Defined by decisions I didn’t make.”

This is one of those books that gets better the less you know going in, so this is going to be weirdly vague. But man, what a ride. I can honestly say I had no idea where the story was going the entire time and I got thrown some MAJOR curveballs. It was great. I can’t wait to see what happens next in book two.

The characters were too precious and I found myself falling a little in love with each of them. Manu is such an amazing, relatable protagonist with a huge heart and watching her grow over the course of the story was amazing. And I would pretty much lay my life on the line for everyone in her little found family. Saysa is the best little feminist Tinkerbell, Tiago the most adorable story-loving protector, Cata who’s fiercely loyal, and everyone else in the manada. I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL HUGS.



And the world building! I’m so fascinated by the universe that Garber has created. It has pieces of familiar legends and fairy tales, but is something completely new. The descent into this new world was very slow and gradual, which I also really liked. It added to my urgency to keep reading because every new thing I saw made me was MORE. Lately it feels like every fantasy book throws you in head first and I have to struggle to keep up, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it was so nice to get a break.

My absolute FAVORITE aspect of this book though, above all else, was the amazing way Garber wove important messages into the fabric of the story. There are so many different layers to this and I was continuously blown away about how it all connected together. This book is about so many things—immigration, not fitting in, feminism, being from two worlds, gender binaries, self-esteem, friendship, LGBTQ+, found family, and so much more. But it all bleeds together, just like real life. No one fits into a predetermined box, we’re all unique individuals and I LOVED seeing that reflected in this novel.

“Now go forth and shatter every convention.”

FINAL WORD

Such a fun and gripping story with some important things to say. I loved every second and can’t wait for the next book. If you love fantasy, then I definitely recommend.

I was graciously given a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review

#1 ↦ [b:Lobizona|51179882|Lobizona (Wolves of No World, #1)|Romina Garber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571242220l/51179882._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72729786] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧
#2 ↦ [b:Untitled|43311447|Untitled (Wolves of No World, #2)|Romina Garber|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|73342258] ↦ ????