unsuccessfulbookclub's Reviews (916)

Fast paced and complex, a great mix of harder science fiction themes (interplanetary politics, war, space travel, medical advancements) and more relationship focused themes. I enjoyed the depth of character portrayal and commentary on politics, military service, humanity, leadership, trust and just… people. Excited to read more of this series!!

If this is the “worst book” in this series I am in for a really great reading journey.

Gritty class difference hissy feat. kinky Lord Caire and Temperance, she of the repressed wanton desires. There’s a murderer on the loose and Caire and Temperance are bound to find them. Lots of characters to track and I loved the side stories with Silence and William, St. John and Clara, the mysterious Ghost of St Giles aka Yiga clan boi. Oh, and super h0rny with trips to a brothel and payoff for every mention of Caire’s “unusual” desires. 

The pacing in this bad boy is ALL over the place and it really feels like a romance author deciding to write fantasy vs the other way around. I wanted a lot more emphasis on the plot, magic system and politics, because there is some EPIC stuff going on here but instead we live in Harlow’s head for 80% of the book and the girl has some things she has to WORK ON, ok? And that is fair but it makes the book a little boring until the last 15%, which I have to say I absolutely loved. Will I be reading book two? Yes.

So sweet, so h0rny! I really did not think I would be able to enjoy Nuni as an MMC since her was such a douche-bro in Greid’s book and quite honestly for the beginning of this book - until Lily peeled back the layers like she is so good at doing, helping us as readers see Nuni for the imperfect but absolutely loveable character he really is. 

This book is so adorably soft and very spicy. There is no third act breakup, and the main conflict is really Anita and Nuni coming to terms with their feelings for each other over time. Other than the fact that Nuni is not human, their relationship is just so NORMAL, like absolutely the kind of relationship someone you know would have, or maybe even you. That’s not a complaint - it makes the story so easy to understand and relate to!!

Recommend!! Thanks to Lily for the advanced copy! 

Romance details:
- M/F relationship, she is bi
- Human/demiurgus (monster), her parents are Indian-English
- FMC is 37, both MCs are well established in their lives
- FMC has IBS
- workplace romance - he is her client
- competitive relationship? They are both type-A gym lovers and honestly perfect for each other
- open door, explicit, very spicy (5+ scenes, toys, primal play)

I loved the escalation of commentary on colonialism and artifact theft in this book and Elias and Catriona make an explosive pair. 

The plot felt a little heavier and slower in this book than the previous three and I also feel like if you haven’t read the first three books in this series this book is not going to work as well as the other books in this series do as standalones. THAT SAID, the little glimpses into each of the other three couples felt like a gift to the reader. I did miss Elias and Catriona in the epilogue although this epilogue is DOING A LOT. 

I enjoyed this one and it felt like a fitting end to the series. Catriona is very relatable and sensitive and observant and I enjoyed being in her head although it was just as hard as being in my own head at times. I would have jumped out of that carriage too!!!

Recommended, but you need to read the other three books first.

Short and sweet but with some darkness in the backstory. I liked how slowly these two MCs came toward each other and Jonas is hilariously blunt. These two are really meant for one another!!

An interesting setting for a historical romance (1955) featuring a divorced single mom and the man who is remodeling her kitchen. I loved the neighborhood dynamics and the character growth! Would definitely read more from Jane Hadley!!

I went on a spate of reads involving a semi-anonymous / masked hook-up or one night stand that resulted in the characters being important to each other in some way and I am in no way mad about it!!

This book features Tess, our FMC, who is widowed on her wedding night to the (very old) Duke of Wansford. She goes on to form a secret detective agency with her friends Ellie and Daisy. Then we meet Justin, our MMC, who by a series of unfortunate events (for everyone else) has become the new Duke of Wansford. Justin and Tess meet before they actually know each other for a hookup at a house party where Tess is masked.

Justin is a starchy business man who has vowed never to fall in love (DOES HE NOT KNOW HE IS IN A ROMANCE NOVEL??), and Tess has a lot to hide in her side hustle.

👍🏻Recommended!The chemistry between these two MCs was off the charts and the spice in this was SPICING. I loved the (semi-bananas) side plot involving the actual QUEEN OF ENGLAND (lolllll). This is a very solid start to a new series and I’m excited to read more!

ARC review - this comes out Dec. 26, 2023! Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Romance Details

Girl is after her evil twin for revenge, Krampus is hot, lots of sex, the end. A fun little holiday romp.