Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This made my stats loving heart so happy. Tingle’s writing gets better every time I read a new book of his. Vera was a very dynamic and relatable character. Bringing light to biphobia? I loved it. I love Vera and Layne‘s work relationship and the juxtaposition of happy-go-lucky (ha! get it?) Layne with black cat Vera. Tingle hit the recipe for weird entertaining and very sharp horror novels. I liked how he conveyed Vera’s loneliness, isolation, and depression because it felt very real and relatable. This was an amazing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is all right. I enjoy the concept in the writing style, but I truly didn’t care about any of the characters including Beatrice. Women don’t always need to be some crazy badass, but have some backbone. Like why did Beatrice seem whatever about her husband cheating on her? Beatrice‘s family are unrepentant about lying to her, manipulate her throughout the novel and shun her until she does something for them and she still forgives them by the end– not that they actually apologized. I was over it by 20% of the way in. I love books with older female characters, but please have some sort of backbone or strength because I can’t stand a character that lets others walk all over her and doesn’t become more assertive of her boundaries during her arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh my God, I love this so so much! The lesbian rep was beautiful and heartbreaking. All of the girls felt fleshed out and real. Adeline was such a captivating main character. Despite being sheltered her whole life, she’s not naïve. She’s intelligent and witty and craves more. Her character arc? Deranged– and I loved it. Tian was probably my favorite character, my beloved hard ass that cares so much for the people around her that she’s willing to sacrifice herself over and over. I loved the way that the butch/femme dynamic was portrayed. The plot was well paced, and I couldn’t put the book down. I need a physical copy. I need my friends to have a copy. I’m obsessed.

This had a super interesting concept, but not the best execution. I like that so much time was focused on the politics of the world. Also, sentient intelligent dragons > dragons that are just animals. However, this is a very, very YA novel, not the kind of YA that transcends the age group, which was not to my taste. The characters (minus the FMC) were all very stereotypical, especially the villains. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing style either; it was very simple, stilted sentences. I’m sure there’s a perfect audience that will love this, but I didn’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such an interesting concept. I love when authors explore the vicious parts of nature and the Fae. Cal and Evangeline‘s relationship felt so real, and had such depth not usually found in horror. The writing was stunning, and I like the way that the climate change and government overreach all tied back into the story. It’s very dense, even while being fast paced so be prepared to read and reread to understand what’s going on. This was deliciously unsettling, and I would absolutely reread

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well, at least the cover was pretty. The world building was confusing, the characters lacked the depth necessary for me to be invested, and the political plot/side plot felt like an afterthought. The spice and sex lessons felt very mediocre because there was no depth to the character’s relationships or even their motivations. There wasn’t really any chemistry between Cate and Callum at all, just insta-love/insta-lust. The fantasy elements felt like a side thought and weren’t well incorporated into the world-building. I know this is the first book in a series, but I probably won’t be continuing to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ahhh this was so good! I love that it was a fantasy not focused on an 18 to 20-year-old but instead, one of the POV's is a former soldier/current fire wielding nun in her 40s. Sapphic rep? Check. Diversity? Check. Slow burn romance? Check. Well paced fantasy with well thought out world building that doesn't make the story drag? Check. I am so disappointed, actually, that this is a standalone. I want so much more from this universe and I was so invested throughout the entirety of the story. Deva Fagan, you will pay for your crimes of only giving me one book in this world!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was very disappointing. I was excited for Tudor inspired fantasy but I wish this hadn't been a reference to that period. The history was so off that it would've been better to not have historical references at all. And don't even get me started about the sapphic rep. Seymour falls in love way too quickly with Boleyn, who doesn't treat her with anything but disinterest. The magic and fantasy felt like an add-on or afterthought instead of fully incorporated into the story and world-building. I wish I had better expectations but I fear the synopsis gives a false representation of what the book is about.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I do not know the story of Swan Lake well enough to comment on the accuracy of a retelling, however, from a first introduction, it was interesting but not amazing. The twists were expected (from someone who doesn't know the story) and I wanted more of the relationship between Odile and Marie. I also didn't really feel connected to the characters, especially Odile, she didn't feel like she had any depth, just her need for acceptance driving the story. I do think that the atmosphere was wonderfully built and overall it was an easy read to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so strange but wonderfully gothic. The plant-based body horror was fantastic. I loved how beautifully nature was described but also how violently. The writing was so lush and full and gave such an eerie feeling to the story, like a place you might've stopped briefly during a road trip but can't quite remember except that something was off. I really need more horror like this in my life.