Week 52 Review: Juniper & Thorn

From Goodreads:

From highly acclaimed, bestselling author Ava Reid comes a gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, set in another time and place within the world of The Wolf and the Woodsman, where a young witch seeks to discover her identity and escape the domination of her abusive wizard father, perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Catherynne M. Valente.

A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites.

Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father in a city shifting from magic to industry. As Oblya's last true witches, she and her sisters are little more than a tourist trap as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate her tyrannical, xenophobic father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. But at night, Marlinchen and her sisters sneak out to enjoy the city's amenities and revel in its thrills, particularly the recently established ballet theater, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who quickly captures her heart.

As Marlinchen's late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her father's rage and magic. And while Oblya flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it.

My Review:


Author: Ava Reid  
Read: December 21st, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded great, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, SAC 2024 Book and a Sophomore Challenge Book! 
Publisher: Harper Voyager 
Published: June 21st 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 51 Review: The Crimes of Dorian Gray

From Goodreads:

This gripping fictional true crime podcast delves into the story of the enigmatic Dorian Gray, a vigilante who changed the world, rewriting history in the blood of her victims. Her targets were the titans of their era—billionaires, movie stars, politicians. Dorian said they had one thing in common: they had all committed crimes against women. They were rapists, abusers, master manipulators. Dorian left evidence of their heinous offenses with their bodies, and then she vanished without a trace.

To some, Dorian was a feminist icon, a #MeToo crusader who single-handedly rebalanced the scales of sexual power. To others, she was the worst terrorist of the 21st century. But who was the real Dorian Gray? A demon or an avenging angel? Was she even human? How did one woman manage to take down the most powerful men of her generation and win?

These and other burning questions echoed through the internet since Dorian's disappearance, until now. Speranza, a relentless young journalist, is determined to unravel the pure and simple truth on her podcast, The Crimes of Dorian Gray. Unfortunately for Speranza, the truth is seldom pure and never simple.

Written and directed by Arvind Ethan David and produced by Prodigal, The Crimes of Dorian Gray is a radical reinvention of Oscar Wilde's gothic masterpiece, exploring the question he asked 150 years ago: what does it mean for the powerful elite to live without consequences? What does it say about the society that allows them? Executive Produced by Milena Govich, Amanda K. Price, and Lexi Underwood, the show's extraordinary cast includes Lexi Underwood, Lara Pulver, Richard Schiff, and Neil Brown Jr., and an original song by ASCAP winning composer Erran Baron Cohen, performed by Olivier Award winner Lara Pulver.

My Review:


Author: Arvind Ethan David 
Read: December 19th, 2024  
Source: Audible 
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book and a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Audible Originals 
Published: April 18th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 49 Review: Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife

From Goodreads:

Every woman wants to be Elizabeth Bennet Darcy-beautiful, gracious, universally admired, strong, daring and outspoken-a thoroughly modern woman in crinolines.

And every woman will fall madly in love with Mr. Darcy-tall, dark and handsome, a nobleman and a heartthrob whose virility is matched only by his utter devotion to his wife.

Their passion is consuming and idyllic-essentially, they can't keep their hands off each other-through a sweeping tale of adventure and misadventure, human folly and numerous mysteries of parentage.

Hold on to your bonnets! This sexy, epic, hilarious, poignant and romantic sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" is not for Jane Austen purists. Self-published in 1999 as "The Bar Sinister," this sequel continues the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy through a sweeping tale of adventure.

My Review:
This was a fantastic read! It wasn't fully what I was expecting, with the writing style very much like the original, but of topics that were more in the erotica wheelhouse. The spice of these newlyweds, yeah, I had a great time with their newlywed bliss. 

Once this book had me hooked on their present, it went back and told us how we got there, that period between when they got engaged and when they got married. Which was interesting, because of the standards of the time, but when they were that attracted to one other? Yeah, that was great. 

One thing that got to me, was that we'd have this time with Darcy and Lizzie, and I'd want more, and then we'd be in another character's perspective. Overall it added to the story, but in the moment, I just wanted to go back to the main couple. And when you consider just how dense the writing style is, how much longer it took to get back to them, that wasn't my favourite, but I know why it was there. 

There were a few things that marred their happiness, like the jealously of his previous experience, as well as a possible result of said experience. That there was someone who had ill-intent close by, I was nervous about what he was going to do. 

This was such an enjoyable read, and I can't wait to continue on with the series! 

Author: Linda Berdoll
Series: Darcy & Elizabeth #1
Read: December 1st, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, DAC Book, Historical Fiction 2024 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Published: October 15th 1999

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 48 Review: Storm of Ink and Blood

From Goodreads:

Dark magic courses through Zarya's veins—magic that could save countless lives… or doom her world.

Shattered by Rabin's betrayal, Zarya vows to leave all thoughts of him behind. In the dangerous city of Ishaan, she joins an ancient struggle for freedom.

Ishaan is a city of violent contrasts. Nobles and scholars live in golden luxury. But thousands of vanshaj workers are born into magical slavery—in punishment for a crime forgotten centuries ago.

Zarya is outraged, and certain that the fate of the vanshaj is linked to her own forbidden magic. She joins a band of rebels battling for their freedom, and with Yasen at her side she throws herself into the fight.

On a deadly raid, Zarya uncovers the key to freeing the vanshaj for ever. But to use it, she must harness a power that could tear her apart.

Only one person can give Zarya the strength to reach her destiny. The one who ignited her magic. Who brings her more pleasure and more pain than any other. The last person she wants to see right now. Rabin.

With searing chemistry, a stunning world, and heart-racing action, The Nightfire Quartet is a fast-paced and addictive fantasy romance that's perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Carissa Broadbent, and Rebecca Yarros. If you love slow-burning passion and razor-sharp banter, dive in to discover your new fantasy obsession.

My Review:
Reading this book was so great! I've really enjoyed this series, and her writing as a whole, and I was looking forward to reading this one! With everything that happened in book 2, I had to know what was going to come as a result, and it was so enjoyable to read! 

Zarya is in the country that her mom was Queen of, that her half of her DNA is still ruling. But with the prophecy of how she's going to be the one to free them, presumably the vanshaj, well, the way the royal family treats them is awful, which puts them at odds, not that they knew about it, or her. 

I really enjoyed watching as she worked on her magic, because she was under a lot of pressure, mainly that she put on herself. And when you add in Rabin and their complicated relaitonship and how he broke her trust, yeah, her life was very much in chaos.

Honestly, I'm so worried about the 4th book. Like, maybe Rabin is right and her dad isn't an awful guy. But maybe he's wrong, and her mother is right, and she's going to him. So I'm scared about how it's going to play out, but I need to know! 

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to see how the series is going to end! 

Author: Nisha J. Tuli
Series: The Nightfire Quartet #3 
Read: November 27th, 2024  
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Second Sky 
Published: October 4th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 48 Reviews: Crossed, Crossed Extended Epilogue

From Goodreads:

He is righteousness. She is sin.

Father Cade Frederic is a holy man. Brought up in the streets of Paris, he has dedicated his life to the church. But there's a monster that lingers just beneath the surface. A sickness. One that bleeds darkness and feeds on the damned. When he's tasked to become the priest in Festivale, Vermont, a town both beautiful in architecture and riddled with despair, his sickness sings, demanding he rid the place of evil.

Amaya Paquette is Festivale's beautiful mystery. She spends her days caring for her younger brother and her nights transforming into Esmeralda, dancing for greedy eyes and shameless lips. Although she longs for love, she shies away from companionship, afraid of being abandoned again.

When Father Cade lays eyes on Amaya, he finds himself ensnared, convinced she's using witchcraft to lure him to her. He can't eat. Can't breathe. Can't think unless it's of her.

And temptation is a devastating mistress.

She's his weakness, so he decides he'll be her demise . . . even if it means killing the only woman he might ever love.

Contains mature themes.

My Review:

Author: Emily McIntire
Series: Never After #5, 5.5
Read: November 25th, 25th, 2024
Source: Audible, Online 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and they're 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge 2024 Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Books! 
Publisher: Tantor Audio, Emily McIntire
Published: September 12th 2023, August 1st 2024

Crossed:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Crossed Extended Epilogue:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 48 Review: Lore Olympus: Volume 7

From Goodreads:

Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including a brand new bonus short story!

An ingenious take on the Greek Pantheon, Lore Olympus is a modern update on the story of Hades and Persephone. Follow the propulsive love story of two Greek gods, told with lavish artwork and contemporary sensibilities.

This full-color edition of Smythe's original Eisner Award-winning webcomic Lore Olympus features exclusive behind-the-scenes content and brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 153-179 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

My Review:
I had a fantastic time reading this volume! I love this series so much, and events are really heating up in this volume, so much has been built, and it was phenomenal to see all that start to pay off. I had to keep reading and consuming this story again! The chicks are starting to come home to roost, and this is where the snowball starts rolling! 

We're finally at the episodes that I had to wait for, and oh, it was just a delight to read them again! From dealing with turning Minthe into a potted plant, dealing with Leto and Apollo being the worst again, as well as Persephone's first therapy season, yeah, these episodes pack a punch. Oh, and the moment when Hades called her his wife! I remember the speculation about what that meant, so it was great to read it again!

There were so many awesome moments in this volume, for when Persephone and Hades accept each other's differences, to when they were flirting with one another with a plant as Ares and Hephaestus were having a conversation, that was a nice, light moment that was really needed! Especially with what happened with the arrows and what happened next. Another funny moment was when Hermes was going on about how great his mom was and Zeus gave a very Zeus response and their faces afterwards. This really is it's own story based on myths, and brought to life with this take on these characters! 

I loved the bonus short story, to see them spend a little more time after the shopping just having fun, with no pressures, yeah, I'm really glad that they got that time, because boy, things are just heating up now, and it's a heck of a ride! 

Loved reading this volume, and I can't wait for the next!  

Author: Rachel Smythe 
Series: Lore Olympus Volumes #7 
Read: November 23rd, 2024
Source: Library 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge 2024 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Inklore
Published: October 1st 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 47 Reviews: Heart of Night and Fire, Dance of Stars and Ashes

From Goodreads:

A city of magic. A passion born in dreams. A secret that will set their world aflame.

Packed with enemies-to-lovers tension, heart-pounding action and devastating twists, The Nightfire Quartet is an epic fantasy romance that begins with a slow burn and builds in intensity.

For years, Zarya has been trapped in a gilded prison. Her magic is forbidden, a dangerous secret—though nobody will explain why. Now she is ready to break free and find the truth.

Escaping to the dazzling city of Dharati, Zarya discovers a new world of enchantment and intrigue. With the help of seductive, blood-drinking rakshasa and magic-weaving Aazheri sorcerers, she searches for answers.

But the city is under siege. Every night, dark creatures attack. And since Zarya's arrival they are growing stronger. To protect her new home, Zarya joins the fight.

As she battles on the walls and hunts through libraries for clues about her gifts, Zarya's dreams are haunted by a mysterious stranger. Powerful, arrogant and handsome, Rabin sees through her secrets and ignites a desire she cannot resist. But can he be trusted?

When darkness threatens to overwhelm Dharati, Zarya is faced with a deadly choice. Will revealing her magic save the city? Or destroy everything she loves?

Enter a glittering new world inspired by Indian mythology and prepare to discover your new obsession.

From Goodreads:

A love that burns brighter than starlight. A gift that could leave her world in ashes. It's time for Zarya to release the fire within.

In the jeweled city of Dharati, Zarya found passion and adventure for the first time. A mysterious stranger named Rabin helped to free the power within her—a dark, ancient magic that should not exist.

Now, Zarya learns Rabin's true identity. A warrior prince, born to rule, he is as deadly as he is beautiful. He's also insufferable. Arrogant and superior, with dangerous secrets of his own.

Zarya wants nothing to do with him. Terrifying demons are gathering beyond the walls and Zarya's friends are rushing to complete a ceremony that will protect the city. Her mind is fixed on saving her home and finding the origin of her magic.

But every discovery and every dream pulls her back to Rabin. Does an enchantment bind them, or is it pure desire? Will opening her heart give Zarya the power to turn back the demons, or will it let the darkness to devour her?

Dance of Stars and Ashes is the second book in an addictive series that builds from a slow burn to irresistible steamy romance. Packed with tension, action, and heart-stopping twists, it will keep fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Rebecca Yarros reading late into the night.

My Review:
These were really fantastic to read! I really enjoyed her other book from the other series, and I was looking forward to seeing what these books would bring! I loved the world, and these characters, I needed to know more about Zarya and Rabin!

I know that I've enjoyed her other book, and I was interested in this series, the whole set up sounded really interesting! I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, this world, as they were dealing with these attacks on the city and how to protect it!

Going in knowing that it was a slow burn was good, because oh, the tension between them was fire, and with all of the secrets between them, once the truths were coming out, it made it harder and easier, and I loved seeing them deal with it all!  

This world with the magic, and the demons and what they're capable of, I had to keep reading and finding out! It was really brought to life, and with writing that made me care about what was going to happen next, I had to keep reading! I'm so glad that this is a quartet, so we're halfway through-I can't wait to see what's going to happen next! 

Loved reading these books, and I can't wait to continue on with this series! 

Author: Nisha J. Tuli
Series: The Nightfire Quartet #1, 2
Read: November 21st, 22nd, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and they sounded really good, and they're 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Books!
Publisher: Second Sky
Published: September 15th 2023, February 16th 2024

Heart of Night and Fire: 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Dance of Stars and Ashes:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 46 Review: How to Summon a Fairy Godmother

From Goodreads:

If a fairy godmother can get one sister into a marriage, getting another out of one should be easy… 

Lady Theodosia Balfour has certainly gotten the short end of the stick—her stepsister, the newly crowned Princess Beatrice, is telling everyone in polite society that Theo, her sister, and their mother are evil, wicked, and horrid people who treated her like a slave. Though Theo knows this isn't exactly true, it seems her life is thoroughly ruined by the rumor. With the Balfour family estate on the verge of bankruptcy, Theo's only path forward is a forced betrothal to the Duke of Snowbell, a foul-tempered geezer who wishes only to use her as a brood mare for spare heirs. 

Desperate for help, Theo clings to the only thing that might save the rumor of a fairy godmother, one that supposedly helped her stepsister secure a prince. After discovering a way to summon a fairy in Beatrice's old room, Theo thinks her prayers have been answered. But the fairy she meets isn't at all what she imagined. Drop-dead gorgeous, incredibly cunning, and slightly devious, Cecily of the Ash Fairies is much more interested in gathering powerful favors and smoking her pipe than providing charitable magic for humans in a bind.

Before she receives magical assistance, Cecily sets Theo to three tasks, seemingly to prove that Theo is a selfless and kind person. Helping her along the way are Cecily's familiars, the flirty human-turned-mockingbird Phineas and the aloof Kasra, a fox shapeshifter who should not be as handsome as he is for someone with such cutting remarks. As Theo works on her tasks, she shockingly finds kinship with the magical creatures she's helping, and starts to wonder if a continued life among her human peers is what she really wants after all.

From debut author Laura J. Mayo comes a hilarious new spin on the Cinderella tale!

My Review:
This was such a fantastic read! I loved the idea of a Cinderella retelling, but from the perspective of one of her stepsisters! And oh, it was such a terrific read! I really enjoyed watching Theo having to do these tasks for her fairy godmother, so she can get out of a marriage.

Theo is not the most likeable, between her personality, and the way that she was raised, which was to give little thought to others. Now that her stepsister had her tale, things haven't been well for her family-leading to an engagement to a Duke who has a grandchild her age. Who expects children, even though she doesn't like kids. So I fully understand why she wanted out of that situation.

That these tasks require her to help other people, to think of them, was great character growth. It came in fits and starts, but slowly she became more aware, of others and her own actions, which was great to read! I really enjoyed her journey! 

Watching as she did these tasks was great, it gave us a chance to get to know this world, of fairy godmothers, of fae, and that was fascinating to read! Given how things resolved, with where we left Theo and bargains, has me really excited to see where things go from here! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel! 

Author: Laura J. Mayo
Series: Fairies and Familiars #1
Read: November 11th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, DAC Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Orbit 
Published: October 8th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 44 Review: Unequal Affections

From Goodreads:

When Elizabeth Bennet first knew Mr. Darcy, she despised him and was sure he felt the same. Angered by his pride and reserve, influenced by the lies of the charming Mr. Wickham, she never troubled herself to believe he was anything other than the worst of men—until, one day, he unexpectedly proposed.

Mr. Darcy's passionate avowal of love causes Elizabeth to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about him. What she knows is that he is rich, handsome, clever, and very much in love with her. She, on the other hand, is poor, and can expect a future of increasing poverty if she does not marry. The incentives for her to accept him are strong, but she is honest enough to tell him that she does not return his affections. He says he can accept that—but will either of them ever be truly happy in a relationship of unequal affection?

Diverging from Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice, this story explores the kind of man Darcy is, even before his "proper humbling," and how such a man, so full of pride, so much in love, might have behaved had Elizabeth chosen to accept his original proposal in the Huntsford parsonage. 

My first review of Unequal Affections
My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book again. I really enjoyed reading it the first time, and I want to enjoy the story again because Pride & Prejudice is such a beloved tale for me. I've only read the original once maybe, but I've seen the 2005 movie multiple times. So the story, where instead of rejecting his first proposal, she accepted it, I have a such a fun time with it.

Having read the story before, I know this ends up in about the same place as the original, with them both in love with each other. But have them start off where Elizabeth does not care for him, but he loves her, that was perfection. They have the same issues and misunderstandings, but coming from this understanding that they were going to get married, was really great to read!

They also had to deal with the fact that she was not in love with him, so that they did, in fact, have unequal affections. Especially since it was the guy that had the feelings and the girl that did not. That that guy was Mr. Darcy, who is well known for being very reserved, was an interesting situation, and I enjoyed reading about it.

Watching as they dealt with their issues and eventually they both fell in love, it's just really great to read. Plus the whole story with Mr. Wickham, with her, knowing that he's not the best guy, and how the story changed because of that, I really enjoyed.

I loved reading this book again, and I would love to read more by Lara S. Ormison! 

Author: Lara S. Ormison
First Read: September 21st, 2021

Read: October 31st, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge, Historical Fiction 2024 Book and a SAC 2024 Book!
Publisher: Skyhorse
Published: January 7th 2017

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 43 Review: Lucy Undying

From Goodreads:

In this epic and seductive gothic fantasy, a vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love.

Her name was written in the pages of someone else's story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula's first victims.

But her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire, and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula's clutches--and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants.

Her undead life takes an unexpected turn when, in twenty-first-century London, she meets another woman who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris's family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they'll do anything to stay in power.

Lucy has long believed she would never love again. But she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris, while Iris is mesmerized by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by forces from without. Iris's mother won't let go of her without a fight, and Lucy's past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl again.

Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?

My Review:


Author: Kiersten White
Read: October 21st, 2024
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, Historical Fiction 2024 Book, SAC 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: September 10th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 41 Review: The Glass Casket

From Goodreads:

Death hasn't visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders' bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.

Rowan's village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan's door once again.

Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

My Review:


Author: McCormick Templeman
Read: October 5th, 2024
Source: Own
Reason Why: I enjoy her writing (which I didn't realize that I'd already read a book by McCormick Templeman!) and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge 2024 Book, SAC 2024 Book and a Sophomore Challenge Book! 
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: January 25th 2014

5/5 Hearts

3/5 Books

5/5 Stars