Author: Lady Nightwolf

Historian. Wife. Dog Mom. Book Hoarder. Gamer. When she's not working or studying, she can most often be found in a hammock devouring a book, buried under her 70 pound lap dog, or in the kitchen creating new delicious things to feed to her mountain man husband.

Historical Fiction Romance

The Chessmen Part 1

Books 1 & 2, by Lorraine Heath

Book 1, The Counterfeit Scoundrel, 4*s

Pub Synopsis:

“Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society’s strictures, Marguerite “Daisy” Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a wife’s infidelity, she secures a position in the household of the woman’s lover, never expecting to be lured into the seductive blackguard’s arms herself.

Devilishly handsome, David Blackwood, known widely as Bishop, quickly realizes the enticing maid is interested in far more than dusting. She aims to uncover his sins. Although tempted by the dangerous beauty, he can’t risk her learning the truth: his affairs are chaste. As a boy who witnessed his mother’s abusive relationship, Bishop now helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages.

Yet when he is accused of murdering the husband of a “paramour,” he is forced to seek Daisy’s assistance in proving his innocence. As their perilous search draws them into a web of deceits, they can no longer deny their simmering desire. Once secrets are revealed, will Daisy’s counterfeit scoundrel give up the scandalous games he plays and surrender his heart into her keeping?“

REVIEW:

Lorraine Heath never ceases to entertain me with her romances, which are always packed to the gills with intrigue and tension, the two things I find most important in a romance.

As an investor, Bishop understands how a well planned investment now can lead to a big payoff later, and that’s why he took all the hurt from his childhood and is now secretly getting back at his father for the pain and heartache he caused him by buying everything out from under him and ruining his reputation as much as possible. That includes helping women like his mother get out of abusive or loveless marriages by posing as their lover to help them obtain a divorce from their spouse. No one knows these affairs are facades and are affairs in name only. If anyone knew they weren’t, the women would be in trouble and he would no longer be branded as a rake. This is why his newest servant, Daisy, is a bit of a problem for him. The moment he sees the strangely poised and incredibly beautiful maidservant, he knows he’s in trouble.

Daisy is far more trouble than he realizes, however. After all, Daisy isn’t simple maidservant. She’s a Private investigator who has been hired by the husband of one of his fake mistresses to sus out what is really going on with his wife, and the best way for her to do that is to infiltrate his household. What she wasn’t prepared for during this undercover mission was to discover this sensuous and intriguing man who makes her weak in the knees and heated in all the wrong places.

As they circle one another, slowly uncovering one anothers’ secrets, they will soon uncover a secret danger that indelibly ties them together. Will exploring the heat between them only lead to heartbreak and danger? Or is it the one thing that will save them both?

This was an excellent start to a new series by Lorraine Heath, a true mistress of historical romance. I’m so happy this is the first in a series, and I had to read this one before I started on the story of Lord Knightly. So glad I did.

Book 2, The Notorious Lord Knightly, 4*s, Pub Date 7/27/23

Pub Synopsis:

“A scandalous book by an anonymous author takes London by storm, and everyone is convinced its villainous “Lord K” is the greatly admired Earl of Knightly. Heartbroken that he left her at the altar, Miss Regina Leyland impulsively sought revenge by revealing the true Knightly to the world but never expected the uproar to bring enemies to her door. To keep her identity hidden, she must trust the one man with the power to destroy her.

Furious to be the object of notoriety and gossip, Knightly confronts the lady he suspects of penning the tome only to discover she is no longer the naïve innocent he was forced to betray, but a woman of strength and conviction, who will bow before no man.

Knightly and Regina pretend a reconciliation to salvage their reputations and throw the ton off their scent. But false friendship soon turns to powerful passion. When truths emerge, threatening all they hold dear, they must face the consequences of their past if their story is ever to deserve its happily ever after.”

REVIEW:

After finishing this one, I really can’t wait for the next book in the Chessmen series. Listen, I have major respect for Lorraine Heath. She’s been one of my favorite romance authors since…ever. I’m a big Historical Romance fan. Okay, you caught me. I’m just a romance fan. Historical…Romantasy…etc… I think it’s the tension. It must be, because I love thrillers and horror also. And Heath? She knows tension. She knows intrigue. I sometimes feel like she may know me, because she gets real down deep in there and pulls me straight in. I’m a poor fish hopelessly caught in her word net.

The story of Knight and Regina starts off far before the events of the book. The story does jump timelines and perspectives, so we get to see what went wrong between them that caused such broken hearts and hurt feelings. Now, Regina wants to move on, but not without some small revenge. But this small revenge may have a profound effect on her future prospects, unbeknownst to her when she anonymously publishes a rather erotic tale of a young lady and her adventures in love with a certain Lord K.

Obviously, everyone thinks that Lord K is Knightly. And they have their suspicions eventually on who the author could be. He still cares about Regina in a big way, and calling off their wedding was a little…outside of his hands. He had a good reason, but he can’t tell her what that is. He’s been sworn to secrecy by the person who caused their greatest heartbreak.

And because he still loves her, he is going to make sure he does his part to secure her a better future, an olive branch that Regina reluctantly grabs onto. Because she still has feelings, too. Dangerous feelings. And Regina and Knightly may need to explore those feelings if they ever plan to move on from one another. But what if those feelings are more than just surface? Are they setting themselves up for more hurt, or are they setting themselves up for a chance at a future neither thought they could ever have?

This one was GOOD. The complex relationships, navigating society’s strict structures. Avoiding the pitfalls of finding one another in the dark of a garden at a party? Fantastic. This one is all ‘Love is messy’ and ‘Is Revenge served cold really a thing?’ Yeah. I read it one night. I may not have slept more than three hours. Was it worth it? Yup. 100%. And I’d do it again, Heath. Matter of fact, I may insist on it when the next Chessmen is within reach!

Thank you Lorraine Heath, Netgalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for this review. It was a delight and I cannot wait for the next installment!

Horror Survival

Dead of Winter

by Darcy Coates. Pub Date 7/11/2023

4*s. Best Enjoyed

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“When Christa joins a tour group heading deep into the snowy expanse of the Rocky Mountains, she’s hopeful this will be her chance to put the ghosts of her past to rest. But when a bitterly cold snowstorm sweeps the region, the small group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. Despite the uncomfortably claustrophobic quarters and rapidly dropping temperature, Christa believes they’ll be safe as they wait out the storm.

She couldn’t be more wrong.

Deep in the night, their tour guide goes missing…only to be discovered the following morning, his severed head impaled on a tree outside the cabin. Eight drops to seven and it becomes clear that someone in the group is killing for sport. “

REVIEW:

I’m sure if you’re a long time lurker—first time caller—you may know that I absolutely LOVE survival thrillers. This was my first Darcy Coates book and it will not be my last. Her writing is fantastic. Granted, I had a feeling I knew exactly what was happening from the beginning, which was later confirmed for me, but she still kept me in suspense on a lot of the events. It also made me want to keep reading. It was a bloody, gory book, and I felt the tension to my marrow, which is exactly what I love about stories like this.

When Christa’s boyfriend finally convinces her to come on a trip with him into the mountains in winter, she is packed up—if not entirely ready–to go. Maybe this is exactly what she needed to shake the ghosts that have haunted her for the last few years. Plus, Kiernan grew up in the area and is the one person she feels she can trust, so coming out of her comfort zone in order to make him happy is important to her. However, when a sudden snowstorm blows in out of nowhere, separating Kiernan and Christa and stranding the tour group in a cabin in the woods, all bets are off. A member of their group is most likely dead and there’s no way to call for help.

They soon have a bigger problem on their hands as members of their group are brutally murdered one by one, their heads impaled on the tree outside of the cabin door and their beheaded bodies are found in shocking places. Suspicions turn inward. Someone in this cabin is picking them off one by one.

As tensions grow and supplies dwindle, the group needs to figure out who the killer is before they all starve to death or end up as gruesome ornaments hanging from the creepy pine outside.

The descriptions are absolutely horrific and the characters are so well thought out that they feel like real people. You also can’t help but root for Christa, who may have made some mistakes in her past, but is definitely a survivor. I highly recommend this story!

Thanks to Netgalley, Darcy Coates, and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced e-book in exchange for this fair and honest review!

Historical Fiction Romance Uncategorized

What Happens in the Ballroom

Post author By Lady Nightwolf
Post date May 12, 2023
No Comments on What Happens in the Ballroom

by Sabrina Jeffries, pub date 3/28/23

3.5*s, Best Enjoyed when you want a romantic escapade filled with intrigue and comedy.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“A young military widow, Eliza Pierce is enjoying both freedom and financial success as part of Elegant Occasions. When her late husband’s best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, hires Elegant Occasions to help another young widow of an officer become part of high society, Eliza wonders why. Is the woman a relative? Or is she the earl’s mistress and her adorable toddler his child? If so, why does he take Eliza in his arms every chance he gets . . .

Foxstead’s family situation makes it difficult for him to marry, so his visceral attraction to his best friend’s widow is an unwelcome complication. Burdened by family secrets and those of his commanding officer, he’s determined to do his duty even when it means being around Eliza every day. But how can he resist when the fetching Eliza keeps tempting him to break his own rules? For if he dares to expose the truth, will she ever forgive him? Or will she banish him from her life forever . . .“

Review:

Here’s what I really love about Sabrina Jeffries: her characters are consistently well written, the plots are almost always exceptionally tantalizing, and the romance leaves an ache in your heart until it’s requited. Often, the biggest draw for RR is that society is so strict that it makes the amorous situations a little hotter, but with Jeffries, I’m often skipping it to get back to the romance. It’s not because the adult situations aren’t delightful, but her plots and storytelling are just THAT. GOOD.

The Designing Debutantes series has been great so far. I’ve loved both installments. A Duke for Diana, the first book in the series, was great, with a bit of a grumpy v sunshine vibe. What Happens in the Ballroom is much more of a ‘proper lady with a hidden side’ situation.

I loved how independent Eliza was, with very little interest in giving up any of her freedoms, even though she enjoys the handsome Lord Foxstead, her late husband’s bestie…probably a little more than she should. But who is this mysterious Jocelyn that he has taken in and who is the father of her child—is it Foxstead? She can’t start anything with someone who might tarnish the reputation of Elegant Occasions, her and her sisters’ company. Heaven knows their parents did enough tarnishing that they’ve been working hard to polish out. Eliza is right. Foxstead and Jocelyn do have secrets – but are they the ones that Eliza is thinking they are?

Foxstead is all in for Eliza, though, with no interest in Jocelyn. It’s Eliza’s curves that he wants next to him when he wakes up, her blond hair he wants to see spread across his pillow. He has no idea which woman was describing when talked about his wife being a cold harpy – Eliza is enchanting, warm, whip smart, and undeniably sensuous. But will the secrets he holds ruin any chance he may have with this incredibly exciting woman that he can’t get out of his head?

Overall, this was another great book from Jeffries. There’s one more sister left and I can’t wait to read about her and her mysterious stranger—but you’ll need to read the first two to understand what I’m talking about.

Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Books (always a pleasure!) for the advanced copy in exchange for this fair and honest review.

After Dark Fantasy Romance

Mountains Made of Glass

By Scarlet St. Clair. Pub Date: 3/7/23

5 (very smutty)*s. Best enjoyed when…you have some ‘me’ time.

This is not your average fairy tale retelling. This is super new-adult. Lots of anatomy, lots of heat, and lots of seggsual content. Reader discretion advised.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“I wanted to answer, to whisper yes into the space between us, but I was afraid.

All Gesela’s life, her home village of Elk has been cursed. And it isn’t a single curse—it is one after another, each to be broken by a villager, each with devastating consequences. When Elk’s well goes dry, it is Gesela’s turn to save her town by killing the toad that lives at the bottom. Except…the toad is not a toad at all. He is an Elven prince under a curse of his own, and upon his death, his brothers come for Gesela, seeking retribution.

As punishment, the princes banish Gesela to live with their seventh brother, the one they call the beast. Gesela expects to be the prisoner of a hideous monster, but the beast turns out to be exquisitely beautiful, and rather than lock her in a cell, he offers Gesela a deal. If she can guess his true name in seven days, she can go free. Gesela agrees, but there is a hidden catch—she must speak his name with love in order to free him, too.

But can either of them learn to love in time?“

Review:

This is definitely an NSFW book. I have no problem with heavily erotic novels—I’ve ready Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty amongst others—but I wanted to preface this with that little caveat. That said, this is some hot hot heat.

Basic Plot ,Beauty and the Beast retelling: Elven king is cursed, the only way to break the curse is for someone to guess his name and say it out of love. Woman is trapped in a situation she doesn’t want to be in, accidentally kills another elven king (oops) while trying to break a curse, gets taken by the brothers of the dead and cursed elven kings, and they make her the prisoner of the cursed one. Presumably so she can break the curse, but also because they are assholes and want to torture their brother, possibly.

That’s the basic plot. Obviously our heroine wants to make her way home. She has trauma. She is part fae, which isn’t great when you live amongst humans, but may be worse if you hate fae because that means you kind of hate yourself. At the same time, there’s an undeniable sexual attraction between the Thorn King and our Geselda, the heroine. Like, major heat. A million Scoville. And it doesn’t help that everyone seems super horny all the time around the palace, and those who aren’t are either tiny pixie jerks or are spreading around magic lust dust to make everyone else feel hot and heavy in all the right places.

Now, given the above, this could go incredibly wrong and super corny/gratuitous, or it could go very well. Luckily for us, we’re talking about St. Clair, here. Author of Adrian x Isolde (King of Battle & Blood). She knows how to handle a hot scene, and she writes the shit out of it in this book. Like, woah. I honestly dug the whole thing. Had to drop my kindle a few times to keep from getting my fingerprints burned off. Honestly, can’t wait for the next one. Really hope theirs a next one. This was well worth the super sleepless night, and my spouse would agree.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest (too honest?) review. I had already purchased it, but I was still grateful for the chance to review it more formally for NG 😉

Adventure Fantasy Romance

Queen of Roses

Blood of a Fae #1

By Briar Boleyn, Pub date 4/15/23

5*s. Best enjoyed when you need an adventure with some enemies to lovers slow burn.

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war…
A cast-off princess…

Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate.

A dangerous temptation…

As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts, led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty set her heart ablaze. But while Morgan struggles to reconcile her desires with her duty, she and her new comrades discover dangers that await them beyond anything in their wildest nightmares.

A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood…

Believed to have vanished generations ago, a fae kingdom dreaded by mortals is ascending once more, bound to reclaim what was lost by violence and bloodshed. As the fae world, with its intricate web of lies and mysteries, is slowly revealed to Morgan, she is led to the terrible realization that the secrets she carries in her blood make her a greater threat than she could ever have imagined.”

Review:

I need to preface this review by revealing that this is a darker take on Arthurian legends, and I am NOT usually a fan of the tales that spring from the mythical Camelot. I usually find them excessively boring and unoriginal. I really struggle with them. However, Queen of Roses was an absolute DELIGHT. There are quite a few trigger warnings for it and some dark material here, so you need to be prepared for that, but it really sets the tone of this darker version of Arthur and his kingdom.

Often, Morgan (Morganna in some instances), Arthur’s half sister, is painted in a negative light by authors or put in a position where she is the villain. This story flips that on its head.

Morgan watched her father kill her fae-blooded mother. And then had to live with that fact. Now, Morgan lives in a very human kingdom where anyone with fae blood is heavily persecuted and sometimes killed. The only thing that really saves Morgan is that she is King Arthur’s sister. As a child and because she is part fae, she was passed up for the throne. She is to be sent to the temple when she turns 21 to study under the High Priestess Merlin, a fate she’s not exactly thrilled with, but one she must accept. After all, it would get her away from Lord Florian, the son of Arthur’s most trusted advisor, who terrorizes her at every turn.

However, it also becomes a matter of survival. Any resistance on her part could mean trouble for those she cares about most like her friends Galahad and Lancelet, and Kaye, her youngest brother, who means everything to her and is the one person in her life that loves her for exactly who she is.

What she’s not expecting is for Arthur to come to her with an important task, one that could save the kingdom. She is threatened with dire consequences should she resist or fail, and is sent with the bare minimum in the way of supplies and protection. One of her protectors is the handsome but infuriating and always grumpy new head of the Royal Guard, Kairos Draven, whose rumored past is one of terror and violence.

As their journey progresses, Draven and Morgan find themselves relying on one another more and more, and Morgan begins to suspect that there is more to Draven then what she was told. But before she can find her way into the cracks she finds in his armor and into the spaces that reveal a far kinder heart, the two are joined by a third party, one that makes Morgan question if her heart and body really belong locked away in a temple, and one that Draven is suspect of, not because he’s competition, but because his motives are suspect, and he may be posing more of a danger to Morgan than just heartbreak.

The major vibes throughout this one were: enemies to lovers, a little love triangle, duty bound, deep secrets revealed, betrayal, interesting magic, and surviving/escaping abuse.

I truly loved this story and I’ve already preordered the next installment!

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwater Press for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. Opinions herein are my own.

Uncategorized

Not Your Ex’s Hexes

by April Asher. Pub date 2/7/23

Supernatural Singles, Book #1

4*s. Best enjoyed when you need a little magic and romance in your life.

For my review of Violet’s story:

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“For her entire life, Rose Maxwell trained to become the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. Now that she’s stepped down, it’s time for this witch to focus on herself. And not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can’t get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. But when Rose is sentenced to community service at Damian’s animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their sparking attraction. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both.

After a sequence of dead-end jobs, it’s not until Rose tangos with two snarly demons that she thinks she’s finally found her path. However, this puts Damian back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. He doesn’t approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there’s one thing he’s learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did.

Working―and sleeping―together awakens feelings Damian never knew he had…and shouldn’t have. Because thanks to his ex’s hex, if he falls in love, he’ll not only lose his heart―but his humanity.”

Review:

I was very excited to be approved for the next installment in the Supernatural Singles series. In Not Your Ex’s Hexes, we get the chance to see the next Maxwell sister, Rose, find her happiness. If you haven’t read the first installment, you can see my review here: https://alwayslostinwords.blog/2023/04/30/not-the-witch-you-wed/.

Asher has a talent for writing MCs with troubled or stressful pasts that are working to turn over a new leaf. The story of Rose and Damien is not an exception.

After losing what was essentially Rose’s predetermined path in life when her older (by a few minutes) sister Violet comes into her powers, she’s a bit thrown off. She’s been training for the Prima position her whole life, and though she’s not upset that her sister is now in that position, it leaves Rose with a freedom of movement she’s never before had. Plus, not being forced into a bonding with a truly awful tiger shifter also frees her to dive into the dating pool if she so desires, or just a one night stand, and one thing she finds she desires is a certain half demon that catches her eye at Potions Up who helps her forget for one night.

However, after Rose and her friends try to save two malnourished horses from a farm that turns out to be Damien’s animal rescue (and yes, those were horses he had JUST rescued), she ends up seeing a lot more of Damien than she ever thought she would. Unfortunately, Damien has his own problems that have put his heart firmly on the shelf for his own self-preservation and it’s a major problem when Rose seems to be the one person with a ladder tall enough to reach it. Falling in love is a literally threat to his very humanity. But when his brother gets involved, he realizes he may already be in the fire.

I really enjoyed this installment in the series. From the previous installment, it felt like Rose always had to the be responsible one, whose life was driven by the structured traditions of the Supernatural world. It was really great to see her come tumbling out of that and into a fresh world where those expectations were no longer trying to stuff her into a box. I also loved the super broody Damien and the love of animals that brought their hearts together. This one felt slightly grittier than the first, but also cozier? Not sure if that makes sense. They seem to be getting better now that the world building is done. Bring on the heat!

Thank you to Netgalley, April Asher, and St. Martin’s press for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for this book!

Uncategorized

Not the Witch You Wed

By April Asher, 3.5*s

Publisher’s Synopsis:

“Magic-less witch Violet Maxwell wants nothing to do with alpha wolf shifter Lincoln Thorne—the man who broke her fragile, teenage heart. But when the two of them are forced by arcane Supernatural Laws to find mates, Violet and Lincoln agree to fake-date their way to a fake-mating in order to conjure themselves some time.

The joke’s on them. When old feelings make a reappearance—along with Violet’s magic—they both realize there’s nothing fake about their feelings. But there are old secrets and looming threats that could snatch away their happily ever after, again. One thing’s for sure: magic doesn’t make dating and love any easier.”

Review:

Not the Witch You Wed was a spectacular novel that took me very little time to read, but stuck with me after! I couldn’t wait for the next installment.

The MCs are definitely the kind you want to root for. They’re both fighting against an outdated system in the Supernatural world, laws that have no place in the modern age. Seeing Violet come into the powers that she never thought she had (while trying to hide them because of forced sup marriage laws-blah!) and finding someone she can trust with her secrets and her heart was absolutely empowering and heartwarming. On top of that, I’m always ready for a plus sized heroine who is strong willed and kickass. Plus, Lincoln fighting to get out from under the shadow of his overbearing father and fight for peace in his community against centuries of bloody tradition while reuniting with the one woman he has never been able to forget was…kind of hot, to be honest!

Such a cute romantic supernatural comedy! Packed with shifters, witches, magic and heat, and so many amazing characters that you can’t help but want future stories about. I loved the dynamic between Violet and Linc. Stories of enemies to lovers with history almost always have the delicious tension, especially when there’s a fake engagement involved. No matter how hard Violet tried to fight her attraction to Linc and remember how much he hurt her, she also was in a position to remember all the ways that they fit perfectly, and Link wanted to tell her what really happened, but was literally unable to. The truth was, they both never lost their feelings for one another, nor would they have been able to, but you’ll have to read it to see what I mean with that.

Overall, it’s a great story with good people finding happiness, and that alone is well worth the read!

Uncategorized

Greymist Fair

by Francesca Zappia. Pub Date 3/28/23

4.5*. Best enjoyed when you need a dark fairy tale.

Publisher’s Synopsis

“Two roads lead into a dark forest. They meet at Greymist Fair, the village hidden in the trees, a place kept alive by the families that never leave. The people of Greymist Fair know the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and to set foot off the road is to invite trouble.

When Heike, the village’s young tailor, discovers a body on the road, she goes looking for who is responsible. But her quest only leads to more strange happenings around Greymist Fair.“

Review:

Zappia was inspired by the original, much bloodier version of Grimm’s fairy tales while writing Greymist Fair. With witches, Death, blood thirstly wargs, deadly woods, cannibalism, and many more darker themes, this story told in parts has them all.

I honestly had started this book awhile back and when I picked it back up after the first story I suddenly could not put it down. I was absolutely transfixed. Not only did this feed my inner child, but it also fed my horror-loving adult side. The stories were both dark and emotional, somewhat humorous at times but so very human. Like most of Grimm’s fairy tales, not all of them had a happy ending but every single one played on the others, building an absolutely enchanting overall story with well-rounded characters and a delicious atmosphere.

If I can find a special edition copy of this I would be remiss not to add it to my library in much the same way you would be remiss not to add this to your TBR if you have at all found the above intriguing. And perhaps it was because of the many smaller stories that made this world feel so rich. We got to know the backgrounds in a deep way; the lore was laid out for us in a detailed way and the history of Greymist Fair had such gravity it almost felt real (which is a part of the story that cannot be ignored).

I highly recommend this book to you. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Francesca Zappia, and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

Uncategorized

Damsel

by Evelyn Skye, pub date 4/18/23

4*s, Best enjoyed when you need a moment with a kick ass heroine experiencing extreme survival.

Publisher’s Synopsis

“A price must be paid.

Elodie never dreamed of a lavish palace or a handsome prince. Growing up in the famine-stricken realm of Inophe, her deepest wish was to help her people survive each winter. So when a representative from a rich, reclusive kingdom offers her family enough wealth to save Inophe in exchange for Elodie’s hand in marriage, she accepts without hesitation. Swept away to the glistening kingdom of Aurea, Elodie is quickly taken in by the beauty of the realm—and of her betrothed, Prince Henry.

But as Elodie undertakes the rituals to become an Aurean princess, doubts prick at her mind as cracks in the kingdom’s perfect veneer begin to show: A young woman who appears and vanishes from the castle tower. A parade of torches weaving through the mountains. Markings left behind in a mysterious “V.” Too late, she discovers that Aurea’s prosperity has been purchased at a heavy cost—each harvest season, the kingdom sacrifices its princesses to a hungry dragon. And Elodie is the next sacrifice.

This ancient arrangement has persisted for centuries, leading hundreds of women to their deaths. But the women who came before Elodie did not go quietly. Their blood pulses with power and memory, and their experiences hold the key to Elodie’s survival. Forced to fight for her life, this damsel must use her wits to defeat a dragon, uncover Aurea’s past, and save not only herself, but the future of her new kingdom as well.”

Review

Damsel is a novelization of the upcoming movie by Netflix of the same name starring Millie Bobby Brown. I was excited to get an e-copy of this ARC given the premise, which takes the “Save Yourself” heroine trope and pumps it up super high octane. And it delivered!

I didn’t expect Elodie to be as well prepared as she was, nor for this to be what is a fantasy survival thriller—two of my favorite genres smashed together into one awesome story. This may seem cliché, but this is NOT your typical fairy tale love story. It’s gritty, bold, and ultimately powering. Tradition is the true villain of this story.

Elodie is the eldest daughter in a remote Dukedom, Inophe, where famine and drought reign supreme. She has grown up in harsh conditions caring for their people. When the chance comes for her to be married to the prince of Aurea in exchange for the goods and services needed to support the population she has helped protect her entire life, she is eager to be able to provide something more than just solace. However, what she doesn’t know until it’s too late is that she’s not meant to be a true princess of her newly adopted land, but a sacrifice to the dragon who provides the true power that provides the abundance to the people of the land.

Elodie finds that she has not been the first—there have been 2400 princesses that have been sacrificed in the proceeding eight centuries, and not all of them have gone quietly. She finds maps, resources, and magic that have helped those before her that she is able to take advantage of. But will she be able to escape the lair of the dragon, or will she become just another pile of moldering bones deep in the heart of Aurea?

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

Uncategorized

There are Too Many Milks

By Anne Marie Wonder & Tara Lawall

Pub date 3/7/23

4.5*s, Best enjoyed when you need a good laugh at yourself.

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS

“A laugh-out-loud collection of illustrated scenarios that perfectly captures the tribulations of being an adult human in the twenty-first century.

Whether pondering the overwhelming plethora of nondairy milk options that drag out your coffee shop experience or grocery trip by a solid half-hour, trying to figure out why you always have a fork that never matches all of your other forks, or wondering why a salad costs $30 (the lettuce costs extra!), this exploration of modern life and its toll on our collective sanity invites readers to revel in the hilarity of these shared experiences. Poking fun at the things we all do to make life more bearable, like crystal healing, picking the perfect email sign-off, eating fancy cheeses, or Botox, this is the perfect sassy gift for birthdays, holidays, graduations, or any other day that needs some comic relief.”

REVIEW

There were a lot of mixed advanced reviews for There are Too Many Milks, but I found it hilarious. The pictures really drive home the anxiety of current life. However, you really need to be able to laugh at yourself and the world around you to truly enjoy and understand the point of this book. It’s a picture book of true commiseration for modern adult humans that exploits the maddening volume of choices we face daily and the expense that comes with making good choices and creates a literal and figurative portrait detailing why what should be a simple process of grocery shopping/getting lunch/etc often turns into an epic journey. It also emphasizes why we’re all so tired these days from decision fatigue and why we consistently make poor choices for ourselves in the current generation. It’s a daily multiple choice question with 25 answers. There are just too many freaking milks.

Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for access to this advanced copy.