sup3r_xn0va_maya's reviews
387 reviews

💬: “By the Light, the dagger really was four thousand years old, and possessed of so much magic that it was almost sentient. That knowledge wasn’t the cause of the sudden cold in the pit of her stomach. The dagger’s owner, the dark warrior with the baritone voice, was still . . . somehow . . . alive. And looking for his blade."

Glass, Seressia. Shadow Blade (Shadowchasers Book 1) (p. 20). Pocket Books. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: paranormal action, magic, urban fantasy, fantasy, Egyptian mythology

📚Page Count: 345

🎧Audiobook Length: 09h 05min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 3.5/5 
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TW -

injury, injury detail, blood, death, cursing, grief, violence,

Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass is a paranormal/urban fantasy. The story is about Kira, who is a shadow hunter (beings who fight demons and creatures with chaos energy.) Kira is a shadow hunter by night and an artifact appraiser by day. Her friend brings her an especially rare blade, one that's thousands of years old. Soon the original owner of the blade comes looking for it, and Kira needs to decide if she's going to work alongside them to keep dark forces off of the blade, or if she's going to keep the blade for herself to keep the dark forces at bay, alone. 

The beginning of the book held my attention because it was interesting and action packed. Unfortunately, the middle of the book was very flat. Not much happened in the middle of the book and that caused all the initial steam, from the beginning of the book, to blow out. By the time the end of the book came along, the action scenes picked back up but because the middle had been so slow, I found myself uninterested in the rest of the book. 

Another thing I didn't like was that the antagonist didn't show up until 68% of the way through the book. The main characters talks about the evil forces at work against her and her companions but, I repeat, the antagonist doesn't show up until 68% of the way through the book. 

There was sexual tension, other than that, this book has no intimate scenes in it. I'm giving it zero chilies -🌶️ out of five chilies

I really wanted to love this book but I didn't. I only kind of liked this book, which is disappointing. When this has the action going and everything is exciting, it's good. When this book dials down the excitement for quieter moments, it falls flat. I will continue to read the series until I've completed it. Overall the story was okay, it was disappointing that there wasn't an intimate scene in there. I'm giving this 3.5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 3.5/5

💬: “Learning is not just internalizing everything you process. You must be careful about what data you incorporate into yourself."

Cole, Alyssa. The A.I. Who Loved Me (p. 64). Alyssa Cole. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: romance, sci-fi, novella, contemporary, adult

📚Page Count: 159

🎧Audiobook Length: 05h 18min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 4.5/5 
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TW -

injury, injury detail, chronic illness, blood, death, cursing, grief, violence

The A.I Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole is a story about a woman named Trinity Jordan who works from home for Hive, a massive government research organization. Trinity is trying to put her life back together after an incident took place a while back, when she meets her neighbors handsome nephew, Li Wei. There are a few strange things about Li Wei, and soon Trinity find out that he's not human, he's actually an A.I or artificial intelligence.

This story started off really cute and funny, I enjoyed the progression from a lighthearted story into something a bit more heavy. While a few plot points were predictable, the story itself as a whole was still enjoyable. I would have really loved if this was a full novel instead of a novella, it would be great to just learn more about this world and to spend more time with Trinity and Li Wei (and also Tim.) The audiobook narration was high quality and some famous actors/voice actors did the voices for some characters, I think it's worth checking as I enjoyed it.

There was one and a half steamy scenes in this book, the big one was really nice. If there was one more full scene, I would have given this 4 chilis. I'm giving it three chilies 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

This was a really cute and endearing story, there were also a few funny parts as well. I'm giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 4.5/5 

💬:“& although most people here won’t admit they 
think like me, 
a woman should be able to sell whatever she wants 
to sell. 
But not if it’s at the insistence of a man. This man."

Acevedo, Elizabeth. Clap When You Land (p. 46). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: fiction, teens, young adult, contemporary, LGBT, realistic fiction, poetry

📚Page Count: 424

🎧Audiobook Length: 05hrs 32mins

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

TW -

sexual assault, stalking, parental death, plane crash

Clap When You Land is a young adult fiction story written in verse by Elizabeth Acevedo. This story is heartbreaking and powerful, I cried more than once while listening to the audiobook. This story centers around two teen girls, Camino Rios & Yahaira Rios, who share the same father, but neither knows of the other girl's existence. Suddenly, when their father passes away in a plane crash, the two teens are left to deal with their father's secrets and each other. 

Elizabeth Acevedo definitely has a talent for telling stories in verse, her poetry is always beautiful and it flows so nicely. This story is based on a real life event that took place on November 12, 2001, when a flight taking off for the Dominican Republic crashed after take off in Queens, New York, killing a total of 260 people on the flight as well as 5 people on the ground. More than 90% of the passengers and victims were of Dominican decent. Here's apart of the author's note; 

Overall, I think this story was fantastic, heartbreaking, and moving. I will definitely be reading the rest of Acevedo's work.  I'm going to give this 5 out of 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

I listened to this audiobook for free on [Libbyapp.com]

💬: “When we go wild between the sheets,” he said roughly, “I want you healthy and strong enough that I can bite”—a little nip of her lower lip that made her quiver—“pet”—his free hand stroking down her side—“and take you all night, then come back for seconds.”

Singh, Nalini. Secrets at Midnight (Psy-Changeling Novel, A) (p. 28). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: paranormal romance, romance, urban fantasy, adult

📚Page Count: 93

🎧Audiobook Length: 03h 19min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 3.5/5 

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TW -

death of parents

Secrets at Midnight is a novella by Nalini Singh, it takes place in the Psy/Changeling universe, sometime after Heart of Obsidian. Leopard changeling Bastien and human Kirby end up crossing paths and Bastien is love struck, instantly. I enjoyed this story for the most part because it was really cute, and there was a twist near the end (one that I saw coming, but I liked it all the same.)

There was one spicy scene and it felt rushed and underwhelming. I'm giving it two chilies 🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

This was an okay addition to the Psy/Changeling world, I think the story was cute. I'm giving this 3.5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - 3.5/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app hoopladigital.com

💬:“Bia slithered into Joan’s hand, the blade vibrating at the thought of spilling more blood. Joan spread her stance and glanced around the empty street."

Williams, Brittany N.. That Self-Same Metal (The Forge & Fracture Saga, Book 1) (p. 82). Abrams. Kindle Edition. 

📖Genres: fiction, teens, young adult, historical fiction, historical, romance

📚Page Count: 344

🎧Audiobook Length: 10hrs 31mins

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2.75/5


That Self-Same Metal is a young adult historical action novel by Brittany N. Williams. This story has Orishas (or African Deities), acting, sword fighting, fae, and Shakespeare. The main character, Joan Sands, works for William Shakespeare's acting company with her twin brother James. Joan has the power to shapeshift metal (she keeps this a secret from everyone but her family) and she uses that ability to maintain the weapons on the play stage. After Joan kills a high ranking fae and saves a terrible man's son, the action in the book begins to start. (this happens around the 30% mark in the book.)

I found the action to be slow starting, the main plot of the

treaty being broken

didn't occur until around 25% of the novel. I also found the setting to be really boring, unfortunately. Most of the time the main characters are at the acting house or at Joan Sand's family home. I just didn't get that feeling of excitement or even interest while reading this. I only finished it because it was a buddy ready with a friend.

Overall, I think the concept was interesting but I found the execution didn't quite pique my interest.  I'm going to give this 2.75 out of 5 stars
⭐️⭐️.75

I listened to this audiobook for free on [Libbyapp.com]

💬:“...when women didn't cry in their showers, didn't cry at all
for fear of ruining their complexions.
your complexion is already ruined.
what the fuck are you trying to save? ”

White, Ellie. Vanishing Below the Waist (p.07).

📖Genres: poetry, poems

📚Page Count: 34

🎧Audiobook Length: N/A

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 - 3.75/5


Vanishing Below the Waist is a collection of poems by Ellie White about physical and psychological sexual disorders & dysfunctions in women and non-female folks with vaginas.

This collection was somber but powerful. Someone very close to me has sexual dysfunction and this made me think about her, I even cried while reading some of these poems. These poems were powerful and they gave in a small insight into the pain that these people feel and the struggles that they're going through. My favorite individual poems were "The Spectacle of Craving" and "Everything is so okay."

Overall, I found the collection to be very moving and very sad. I'm going to give this 3.75 stars. 
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you [NetGalley.com], the author, and publisher for the arc (advanced reader's copy.)

 💬:N/A

📖Genres: shoujo, romance, humor, manga, graphic novels, comics

📚Page Count: 192

🎧Audiobook Length: N/A

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 

TW -

adults having crushes on teens, stalking

My Love Story!!, Volume 8 by Kazune Kawahara is mostly lighthearted like the other volumes in the series. There were definitely some laugh out loud moments, but I didn't like this as much as I liked the other volumes. I tend to not love the volumes with the character Ai in them, because the author likes to focus on that the fact that she, as a college adult student, has a crush on the main character, high schooler Takeo.

In the first part of this manga,

Takeo meets Yamato's family, finally! The second part of the manga is about Ai being followed home for the summer by her college peer, Oda. (I get creepy vibes from Oda, it feels like he's stalking Ai. He definitely won't take no for answer either.)
The third part was about Takeo and Yamato getting summer jobs.

Overall, this manga was okay. It wasn't my favorite, I'm giving this 3.5 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I read this manga for free on [Libbyapp.com]

💬: “Fair has nothing to do with it. The universe doesn’t give a damn about your free will. We all must fight to make our own choices. That right isn’t a given.”

📖Genres: adult, paranormal action, paranormal mystery

📚Page Count: 275

🎧Audiobook Length: 08h 41min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 

Temple of the Inner Flame is the first book in the "Rest in Power Necromancy" series by Amber Fisher. This book is an urban fantasy, paranormal action story about a necromancer named Kezia and a cult named "Temple of the Inner Flame". The story, main character, and magical systems all came together to make an interesting story. 

Kezia is a necromancer and a bartender and she's been asked by the owner of a somewhat cult, The Temple of the Inner Flame, to investigate some suspicious things that have been happening around the temple. During her investigation she runs into her ex-husband, who decides to stick around and help her solve the mystery. 

Overall, this was a pleasant surprise, and I'm glad I read it. I thought this story was really interesting and I was happy that it kept it's up a steady pace. I'm going to give this 4 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
4/5

I listened to this audiobook for free on [Libbyapp.com]

💬: “You’ll have to be my conscience.” He knew his flaws, and he knew the parts of him that were irrevocably broken. “Mine isn’t going to grow back.”

📖Genres: paranormal romance, romance, urban fantasy, adult

📚Page Count: 384

🎧Audiobook Length: 13h 08min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 

Heart of Obsidian is the 12th book in the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh, Kaleb Krychek (of the Psy council) and Sahara Kyriakus are the main characters of this novel. I was apprehensive going into this novel but I really enjoyed it. At this point in the series

the Psy council has all but dissolved, with certain councilors on one side and the others on the other side, some even have their own agenda.

The conflict with

Pure Psy

has gotten worse since the last book, the group is now

committing acts of terrorism around the world.

I don't want to say too much because I went in blind and I think that was the best way to do. Just know that there's a lot of action in this book and also some potentially triggering content.

The few spicy scenes in here were really nice, I enjoyed them all. I'm giving it four chilies 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of five chilies

This was a good Pys/Changeling novel, it had romance, spice, and action! I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app hoopladigital.com

💬:N/A

📖Genres: super hero, action, humor, manga, graphic novels, comics

📚Page Count: 192

🎧Audiobook Length: N/A

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2.75/5 

Radiant Black volume 3 was my least liked volume in the series. It was boring and confusing, and not enough action happened in-between the stagnant parts.

I find Marshall to be insufferable, I hate that he's one of our main characters and the focus of volume 3.  The first 60 pages of the comic was just Marshall getting mad at a film director and movie crew because they were making a Radiant Black movie and he was convinced that it was going to be terrible. I don't want to read a superhero comic about some jerk doing mundane or rude things, I want to read a superhero comic about a GOOD person doing alright things. It took me an hour to read the whole thing and out of that hour I enjoyed probably 10 minutes of it. 

Towards the end of the comic we get Radiant Yellow's backstory but, the layout of that part of the comic is just not build for digital consumption, the layout was so confusing which in turn made the story confusing. 

Overall, this was really boring and it convinced me to give up on main story of the series. I'm only going to continue with the side stories for the side characters. I'm giving this 2.75 stars out of 5
⭐️⭐️


I read this comic for free on [Libbyapp.com]