Category Archives: book review

BOOK REVIEW: From Myths to Monsters #anthologies #mythology

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Seeking refuge in your disbelief, they can do as they please—hide in plain sight to live among us or they might scurry into places unknown, weaving new traps to seduce their prey.

In our second annual Supernatural Beings anthology, we have eleven enchanting tales of legendary creatures to keep you warm at night.

Hate them or love them, once you plunge yourself into these pages you may be seduced by a creature or two.

Releasing March 2, 2021

MY REVIEW

4 stars

I typically prefer stories with a happy ending, but these short macabre tales were fascinating. Some were better than others, but as a whole, From Myths to Monsters was a good book. Quite a few had a “be careful what you wish for” sort of theme, and each had a lesson to impart. I think my favorite, despite the sad ending, was Fated, with Salt Water and Song a close second. If you’re crunched for time but need an escape, each of these short tales would keep you entertained.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The review above is only my opinion.

BOOK REVIEW: The Redwood Asylum by L.A. Detwiler #paranormal #horror @ladetwiler1

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From the USA Today Bestseller L.A. Detwiler comes a new eerie horror filled with secrets, ghosts, and murder.

The dead do talk … if you’re brave enough to hear their sinister secrets.

In a thick forest sits a forgotten stone building, The Redwood Asylum. Once inside, the criminally insane, the darkly disturbed, and the eternally confused residents learn one thing very quickly: they are at the mercy of ruthless evil in many forms.

At twenty-six, Jessica Rosen starts a new job at Redwood in the hopes of forgetting an insidious past. She quickly realizes, however, that Redwood harbors malevolent secrets and beings in every chilly corner. On her second day adjusting to her job, the unstable man in 5B quickly latches onto Jessica in an unsettling way. When his rantings and warnings start to make sense, though, Jessica will be taken on a ride of secrets, murder, and dangerous beings. As she begins to uncover the horrifying truths behind the man’s past , the terrors of Redwood Asylum will follow her home and make her question her own sanity.

Can Jessica solve the secrets of the man in 5B in time to save herself, or will the terrors trap her in Redwood’s evil clutches forever?

A spine-tingling page-turner by USA Today Bestseller L.A. Detwiler perfect for paranormal horror fans.

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Release Date: March 12, 2021

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MY REVIEW:

5 stars!

Who doesn’t love a good horror story involving ghosts?

The way the story is narrated reminds me of Stephen King’s Rose Red, which happens to be a favorite of mine. Yes, there have been countless books about haunted asylums, and there will certainly be more. The ramblings of a mad man, locked away at Redwood, make nurse Jessica sympathetic. She wants to help him find peace, not realizing she’s placing herself in danger.

Jessica’s role in the story wasn’t just that of a nurse who wanted to help others. She had a dark secret in her past, one that would play a prominent role in her future. She also seemed to fancy herself a detective, and with determination, dug into the patient’s past trying to find the truth. Sadly, some things are better left buried.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. I’d definitely be interested in more stories featuring Redwood, and I want to know more about the other staff.

*Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.

BOOK REVIEW: The October Faction Vol. 1 by Steve Niles illustrated by Damien Worm #bookreview #graphicnovels

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The October Faction details the adventures of retired monster-hunter Frederick Allan and his family… which include a thrill-killer, a witch, and a warlock. Because sometimes crazy is the glue that binds a family together.

Published by IDW Publishing

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MY REVIEW:

4 stars

The October Faction Volume 1 doesn’t have a lot in the way of a story, but it does introduce you to the main characters, prominent secondary characters, and the bad guys. I think it sets things up nicely for the rest of the series, giving you just enough to want more.

The art is phenomenal! If you like darker artwork, reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe and The Addams Family, you’ll enjoy the images in this graphic novel. I’m looking forward to picking it up a copy of Volume 2, and I can’t wait to see how Netflix handles the cinematic adaptation.

*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. Neither the publisher nor author requested a review. I purchased a copy of the graphic novel from a comic shop.

BOOK REVIEW: Demon Kissed by H.M. Ward #fantasyromance #youngadult @hmward

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The Valefar boy tricked Ivy Taylor into kissing him, but he took much more than a kiss – he stole her soul and left her within inches of death. By surviving, Ivy is drawn into the conflict between the Martis and the Valefar. The war between these two immortal forces has raged for millennia without distraction. Until now.

Ivy is an anomaly-she is the only person who has ever walked away from a demon kiss alive. Her survival gives her unique and deadly abilities. Too powerful to ignore, Ivy is a threat to both armies. These two ancient enemies will stop at nothing to kill the seventeen-year-old.

Surviving is nothing new for headstrong Ivy, but her survival has never depended on another person before. This time it does. And if she misplaces her trust, she’s dead. To her horror, she starts falling in love at the worst possible time-with the enemy. He appears to be protecting her. But she can’t be certain if he is trying to help her, or help himself to her power. For Ivy, trusting the right person is the difference between love and survival, or a deadly demon kiss. 

MY REVIEW:

5 stars!

I stumbled across this one as recommendation from Amazon, based on previous books I’ve read. I didn’t read the reviews before downloading it, and I’m glad I didn’t since so many said the book was awful.

Good vs Evil will be a common book theme until the world ends. Yes, there are ideas in this one that seem similar to other romance with demons or angels, but not enough for me to say it’s a copy of any other book. It stood on its own and was unique enough to keep me intrigued. Yes, there are errors but even books from large publishers aren’t completely error free. There weren’t that many and it didn’t distract me from the story.

I found Ivy to be an interesting mix of light and dark. She was stronger than she realized. Collin is the bad boy everyone loves and wants to reform. He’s typical in every way, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Then there’s Eric, who is so blinded by his beliefs he struggles to see the truth until it’s nearly too late.

Be warned, it ends on a cliffhanger.

If you want to be entertained for a few hours, and enjoy paranormal young adult romances, give Demon Kissed a try.

*Disclaimer: Neither the publisher nor author requested a review. I purchased/borrowed a copy from Amazon. The review above is only my opinion.

BOOK REVIEW: A Debt of Dishonor by Lillian Marek #historicalromance #bookreview

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Kate Russell is furious.

It was bad enough that her father had let her grow up in virtual poverty, but now her dissolute brother wants to use her as payment for his debts. She runs away, determined to make her way so that she will never again be at the mercy of powerful men.

Then she encounters the Duke of Ashleigh.

He has overcome the shame of his parents’ scandalous lives and has a well-deserved reputation for honorable behavior. Then he encounters Kate, the niece of an old friend. There is some mystery about her background.

She is not the sort of well-bred lady of impeccable reputation that he plans to marry someday, but he can’t get her out of his mind.

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MY REVIEW

3 1/2 stars

The first romance I read was a Regency, back when I was only twelve or thirteen and I had to sneak it from my mother’s room. I’ve loved them ever since. The description for A Debt of Dishonor immediately intrigued me, and I knew I needed to read it.

The story flowed well, and I enjoyed the characters. Especially Kate’s fire! The banter between her and the Duke made me smile and at times outright laugh. It was clear from the beginning something was brewing between them, even when they wouldn’t admit it to themselves. As far as villains go, Farnsworth was dastardly and completely insane. A truly vile man I wanted to bash over the head every time he entered a scene.

There were so many characters! And not just small parts either. Mrs. Darling, the Duke’s family, his friends, and Kate’s friends from back home all had their parts to play. At times, I found it a bit tedious to suddenly be in the point of view of a minor character. Instead of driving the story forward, it made it feel as if it had stalled while I had to wait and find out what was going on with Kate and the Duke. I can appreciate the minor characters’ perspectives of what was happening, but it seemed completely unnecessary. As did the side romance with the Duke’s sister. It would have been better served in a book of their own. For me, it detracted from Kate and Peter’s romance.

Overall, A Debt of Dishonor kept me entertained and I enjoyed the book. I’m not quite certain if I liked it enough to necessarily read more in this series. It would depend on how much focus was given to the main characters. I give A Debt of Dishonor 3 1/2 stars.

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.

BOOK REVIEW: Chaos (The Library of the Profane) by J.B. Trepagnier #reverseharem #urbanfantasy

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The Library of the Profane has everything your black heart desires. But we don’t just allow anyone to get a library card.

Need to summon a demon? Raise the dead? A clan of vampires bothering you? Do you like the really nasty werewolf erotica? The Library of the Profane has all of that, but not everyone can handle the contents (Some people can’t handle their werewolf erotica). I’ve been a librarian here for five years and when I say I killed to get this job, I’m not being facetious.

You can’t check out our books. Some of the books are sentient and don’t like it. We have rooms to perform the spells in or hell, we do have a copy machine (copies are extra). When a witch came in and said they needed to do a little necromancy, I didn’t question it. They wouldn’t have been given a library card if they were going to raise someone really bad. I helped with the necromancy because it’s just my job as a librarian.

Except it wasn’t a normal resurrection. It was the physical embodiment of Chaos and when he woke up, he saw me first and now he’s attached. Chaos personified is a horrible library guest and he won’t leave with the witch who raised him. He’s constantly getting into things he’s not supposed to and he’s really into the werewolf erotica.

It’s not like I can let him out because the Library of the Profane is meant to contain Chaos. The rest of the world isn’t. He’s awful about keeping his identity secret too. A warlock, a Hellhound, and a vampire know he’s here and they are bugging me to let Chaos have a little fun.

I just want a normal day of summoning demons, cursing people, and telling people to be quiet in my library. This is too much.

MY REVIEW:

5 stars

Gods, witches, familiars, hellhounds… this book has a little bit of everything. As a lover of paranormal romances, the description for this one had me intrigued. Throw in the fact it popped up under a search for reverse harem, and I knew I had to read it.

Let me start by saying I gave it five stars for originality and a great concept. There are editing issues, both content and line, but those could easily be cleaned up. It wasn’t distracting enough to detract from the story.

I loved the characters. All of them. Ripley is feisty, sexy, and seems to find trouble even when she’s not looking for it. She’s not your typical librarian, but seems perfect for running such an unusual establishment as the Library of the Profane. The god of Chaos is hilarious, and not as oblivious as he appears. Ripley’s familiar, Felix, is definitely an added bonus to the book. The way all the characters play off one another will have you smiling or laughing nearly the entire way through.

Despite the romance building between the characters, and the comedy thrown in, there’s also a bit of action and a mystery to solve. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next installment in the series.

*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. Neither the author nor publisher requested a review. I purchased/borrowed this book from Amazon.

BOOK REVIEW: The Princess of Nothing (The Fate of Crowns) by Rebecca L. Garcia #YoungAdult #Fantasy @rlgarciabooks

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Run. Hide. Pray for escape.

Racing down the winding streets of Imperia, my only hope of reclaiming my throne is to escape. Unfortunately, that means returning to the one place I truly fear—Berovia.

My fears—it seems—were justified. In the dark underbelly of Berovia, I am captured by King Xenos’s men and thrown into the pits with traitors and criminals to pray for salvation I knew wouldn’t come. My only hope to make it out alive is by agreeing to marry the king’s arrogant son. But this union comes at a terrible price. If I agree to be his bride, my people may be stripped of their magic and forced into submission under Kiros’s reign. If I die, I leave my corruptible cousin, Edgar, to ruin my family’s rule.

Can I find a way to save my people and myself? Or, will I die as the princess of nothing?

Release Date: February 2, 2021

MY REVIEW:

5 stars

The saga continues as Winter fights for throne, her people, and struggles with the desires of her heart.

Book one hooked me, and the second installment in this fantastic series is no different. Intrigue, battles, love, and more fill the pages of The Princess of Nothing. If you’re ready to begin an epic journey fraught with danger, death, and love, you can’t go wrong with The Fate of Crowns series.

Winter fights for what she believes in, and will stop at nothing to reclaim her crown. Change is in the air, but it’s not the type the people need. With her cousin on the throne, the ways of the lunas have been threatened and will soon be a thing of the past. Unless Winter can find the courage and strength to take back what’s rightfully hers.

I enjoyed getting to see Winter grow. With each story, she matures a little more, and becomes more worthy of the crown she’s destined to wear. In book one, we saw her start as a spoiled child who believed everything she’d been told, refusing to question the beliefs she held dear were tainted. Until she met Cedric and the light fae opened her eyes to the world around her. In book two, she continues her journey of self-discovery, and learns more about herself and the world around her. By the end, Winter has grown from a spoiled girl to someone who wants to fight for the injustice of not only her people, but others who are treated unfairly.

Winter is full of passion and determination. But with anyone faced with such a heavy burden, she also has her doubts. She gains strength from her best friend, as well as the dark fae king and Cedric, her light fae prince. The secondary characters in this story add a richness to the book and help suck you into the world of magic.

As with the first installment, this one ends in a cliffhanger. While I typically dislike them, I find with The Fate of Crowns series, they only make me eagerly anticipate the next book. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Winter, Cedric, and even Blaise in book three. Very well done, Ms. Garcia! You’ve crafted another masterpiece.

*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: Monsters (Prodigium Academy) by Katie May #ReverseHarem #Horror

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As the daughter of Dracula, you would think I’d be born the perfect monster.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

As far as monsters go, I’m a screw up—if I’m not tripping over my own feet, I’m accidentally murdering someone (it’s a real issue, guys).

Left with no choice, Dad decides to send me to Prodigium—otherwise known as Monster Academy—to train me on how to be a better monster.

When bodies turn up on campus, I’m the prime suspect (not that I can blame them. I’ll be pretty suspicious too if bodies drained of blood show up right after Dracula’s daughter arrives).

With the help of my mortal-nemesis Vin, Van Helsing’s son

Frankie, Frankenstein’s son

Mason, Medusa’s son

And Jack (sometimes Hux), Dr. Jekyll’s son

I might have a chance of uncovering the truth.

If I’m not murdered first.

The struggles of being a vampire, am I right?

This is a horror comedy reverse harem with some dark elements. After all, you can’t have a bunch of monsters without some darkness. This is book one of a series.

MY REVIEW

5 stars!

First, let me say that I don’t often read reverse harem books. I tend to prefer a guy who is so alpha that there’s only room for him and his woman in the relationship. But… that being said, the idea of Dracula’s daughter and the sons of all those other monsters was just too intriguing. And once I started reading, I couldn’t stop!

There’s humor, carnage, and Violet’s men are each so different, and yet similar in some ways. With a hint of mystery, danger around every corner, and love blossoming between Violet and her men, it kept me enterained from beginning to end. I flipped the pages, eager to find out what happened next. And when the book ended, I immediately went to look for book 2.

While there’s some sexiness in this story, and a lot of adult language and situations, the overall setting still gives the book a Young Adult feel (but it’s definitely not for younger readers). If you like fantasy, horror, mystery, humor, and romance, then you can’t go wrong with Monsters. Go grab your copy!

BOOK REVIEW: Dead Man Walking by Giana Darling #MCromance #darkromance

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From USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Giana Darling comes a dark MC romance about a broken enforcer and the beautiful, innocent woman who shows him that light can exist even in the dark…

A killer. A criminal.
A psychopath.
The Irish enforcer for The Fallen Men MC is everything good girls are taught to stay away from.
Only, I found myself inexorably drawn into his dark gravitational pull. I wanted to know what it would be like to walk beside the human personification of Death and hold his hand, feel his kiss, and maybe even earn his undying love.
But Priest McKenna is older, cold as ice, and notoriously unfeeling.
So what are the odds that a dead man walking would come to life for little, insignificant me?
When a serial killer begins to target the women of Entrance, BC, and The Fallen suffers another terrible blow, Priest resolves to hunt down the killer himself.
And when the murderer sets his eyes on me?
My very own psychopath steps between me and certain death, thrusting us into an intimacy I prayed we would never recover from.

*A standalone book in The Fallen Men Series.*

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MY REVIEW

4 stars

A minister’s granddaughter and the club’s enforcer – a man who thinks of himself as a psychopath, a killer, a man without a heart or conscience. If dark romances are your thing, with an MC theme, you’ll enjoy Dead Man Walking.

Bea has long been the good girl, doing what’s expected — on the outside. Inside, she feels the pull of the darkness, and the man called Priest. Like a moth to a flame, she can’t keep away, looking beyond what everyone else sees to the lonely man who hides in the shadows. While her family wants to keep her from Priest, fearing he’ll hurt her, there’s another man stalking her. Someone worse than the monster she loves – or so he thinks. But once Priest claims Bea, there’s no going back. He’ll walk through fire for her. Die for her. And he will damn sure protect her at all costs.

Be warned, there’s knife play and Priest has a certain fascination with Bea’s blood. If that’s a hard pass for you, this may not be the right book for you. But if you like the thought of a good girl who’s not so good, not trying to tame the beast but live in the darkness with him, go one-click! You won’t be disappointed.

*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. I purchased a copy at Amazon. The author did not request a review.

BOOK REVIEW: The Fate of Crowns by Rebecca Garcia #YoungAdult #Fantasy @rlgarciabooks

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With my brother’s death came the crown and all the trappings that accompany it. Now, my father—the most dangerous man in Magaelor—seeks to control my future.

But fate has other plans.

Thrown into mer-filled waters, I’m dragged into the rival kingdom of Berovia. Surrounded by those who murdered my brother and wished my entire family dead, I must find my way back to my kingdom. There, a marriage between myself and the dark fae prince could bring peace to a century’s old division between the fae and sorcerers.

But dark revelations and deadly lies threaten to destroy my destiny. I must make the choice between my duty, family, and heart before it’s too late.

Will I allow myself to become the exalted Queen of everything? Or be reduced to a cautionary tale as the shattered princess of nothing?

The Fate of Crowns is a young adult fantasy, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Laura Sebastian, Holly Black and Kendare Blake.

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MY REVIEW

5 stars!

Magic, intrigue, betrayal, and a princess determined to protect her people,

In a time of fae and magic-wielding humans, when prejudices run deep, there’s one girl who could save them all. The princess first has to learn to see the world with her own eyes and stop believing the lies she’s been told her entire life. Her family isn’t as perfect as she believes, and those closest to her will cause her the most pain. Even when she finds herself in enemy lands, Winter can’t accept that things aren’t what they seem. So eager to please and protect her family, she’s blinded to the truths she faces every day. Will she ever be able to accept her entire life has been a lie?

The book was beautifully written, full of mystery and fantasy, friendship, and so much more. With strong characters, the tried and true plot of corrupt kingdoms, and enough action and drama to keep you turning the pages, The Fate of Crowns has proven to be a memorable tale. But be warned, it does end with a cliffhanger. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the next installment in this series.

The Fate of Crowns is a must-read!

*Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.