Complete emotional devastation achieved. Amazing. 10/10. No notes.
I remain astounded that this is a debut effort. This series of books has felt so unComplete emotional devastation achieved. Amazing. 10/10. No notes.
I remain astounded that this is a debut effort. This series of books has felt so unique and engaging and I have been on the edge of my seat the whole time. Literally every book has built upon the ground work of the one before and gotten better and better with each release.
Fitch is a wonderfully complex character and I love him dearly, trauma and all. The increasing boil of the slow burn with Nash is also delicious.
Now I have the regrettable task of waiting 9 days for the last book to be released ...more
You know how there are some books that just cut so aggressively to the emotional core of a person that you find yourself breathless? This was one of tYou know how there are some books that just cut so aggressively to the emotional core of a person that you find yourself breathless? This was one of those books for me.
I loved this book and I loved Jude and his grand capacity for love despite what he has experienced. The way this book described that first, really devastating, soul crushing heart break and the process of recovering from it and how you are never quite the same person after it, of how you kind lose yourself in the madness of being something you don’t recognize, was actually kind of cathartic and I didn’t realise I needed to read it.
Jude relationship with Luke was actually also surprisingly lovely and I think it became one of my favourite elements of the book.
For a vibes check, this was giving me very Cruel Intentions but set in England and like maybe a sprinkling of Saltburn. I kind of think of this book as being Dark Academia adjacent. Whilst it didn’t have a direct academia focus, the setting and feature of Oxford and the sprawling Deveraux mansion and grounds was very significant throughout and put me in that mindset.
This book was so messy and toxic and complicated and I can imagine this wouldn’t be for everyone. The story spans over a 13 year period following the complicated relationship that exists between Cas and Jude and this includes their relationships with other people, but to me it was kind of perfect. I really am a tragically easy sell for queer vicious blonde sad boys and Cas is really the poster child for this archetype.
I didn’t expect the ending to come together the way it did and for me to find it so satisfying. I saw someone else mention this and felt it’s the perfect endorsement of how much I loved it, that despite this being on KU I will be purchasing a copy to keep forever.
(As an aside I would be curious to know if anyone else who has read this picked up modern au Drarry vibes or if it was just me? Cause it never left me throughout. I know that this was a Great Expectations retelling but I would love to know if there was elements of that too)...more
This was such a lovely, uncomplicated and wholesome story and I really enjoyed this as easy escapism. This was my first time reading K.L Noone’s and tThis was such a lovely, uncomplicated and wholesome story and I really enjoyed this as easy escapism. This was my first time reading K.L Noone’s and their narrative voice really works for me but i could imagine it’s perhaps a bit too lyrical for some.
A relatively high stakes/ low stress mystery in which wholesome and noble (and handsome) Kings guard Jeryn encounters and recruits apprentice magician Talisman in an effort to uncover and stop a planned assassination attempt against the King.
This was probably a bit too insta-love for some people, not that it’s shocking given that it’s only a short book but it totally worked for me. Talis and Jer were never particularly secretively about their attraction for one another and their desires and I enjoyed their chemistry and connection together. Very sweet and wholesome with a sprinkling of BDSM and praise kink-as you do.
Perhaps my favourite part of this was the fascinating perspective it put on magic and its world building. Talis’ magical talent lies in luck, which in itself is not necessarily unique but this story takes the approach of viewing it as a flip side coin of gift and curse, which I found fascinating. The idea that the luck that comes from side stepping to avoid someone walking into you with a plate of food in a tavern might mean the someone else gets that same hot plate of food thrown on them instead and then the moral complications of knowing that your gift could hurt the people around you that you care about in the process of your ‘luck’ and managing the potential isolation that would come with wanting to protect people from that? Surprisingly deep for such a brief look into this world.
A lovely, wholesome (I know I’ve said this a lot but it really is), steamy little palette cleanser with handsome Knights and Magicians. I loved it....more
I utterly adored this. This book is the biggest, coziest dose of chicken soup for the soul and I can already tell this will be a comfort reread.
This I utterly adored this. This book is the biggest, coziest dose of chicken soup for the soul and I can already tell this will be a comfort reread.
This is simultaneously a very simple, cozy low stakes/ high fantasy book, whilst also surprisingly complex in its emotional depth.
The core of the story features Tam having to come to terms with and understand the situationship he has found himself in with Lord Nicolau Lyford and needing to reflect and challenge the most complicated and hurt parts of himself for the sake of his future happiness (there is actually something a bit ‘A Christmas Carol’y about the vibe).
This is huge black cat and golden retriever energy (one of my favourite relationship dynamics) and it was refreshing that Tam really truly is a difficult little Goblin, but I found myself loving him completely as he works so tirelessly to navigate his hurt and isolation in order to try and be a happier version of himself.
The biggest criticism I had of ‘Running Close to the Wind’ was that I thought that the highly sexual humor was weirdly out of sync with the book given that there was an awkward lack of actual sex and physical intimacy. I can happily report that this book 100% improved that balance and that while there was a lot of jokes of a sexual nature it actually matched the tone of the book and the connection between Tam and Nicolau perfectly.
I just really loved this. I want to hold this book to my heart and just be warm and golden....more
When I die if someone could please throw a copy of this in with me I will bestow forehead kisses from the after life.
I just really loved this book soWhen I die if someone could please throw a copy of this in with me I will bestow forehead kisses from the after life.
I just really loved this book so much and adored my time with it. Also considering the quality of some fan translations this one has been done so well ❤️.
Lin Qingyu is an aspiring young doctor who is forced into an arranged marriage at the decree of the empress to the terminally ill young noble Lu Wangchen. Lin Qingyu is deeply resentful initially at being forced into a Chongxi marriage (a marriage arranged for a very sick young man in the hopes that the great joy would hasten recovery) however soon discovers that things are not as they seem. I’m torn between not wanting to give too much away and also noting that a lot of the major plot points are basically spelt out in the synopsis ...more
Perfect. No notes. I love this trilogy of books and I feel a grief to be finished with it. If you are in the mood for a large scale queer, steampunk, Perfect. No notes. I love this trilogy of books and I feel a grief to be finished with it. If you are in the mood for a large scale queer, steampunk, political/war fantasy epic I don’t think you could do better than these brilliant books. The first one was definitely the slowest but each one built and gathered steam until that explosive finale.
The acting in the audiobook was phenomenal. The accents and voices were all perfectly performed. I would highly recommend the audio book as a way to consume the story.
Soren and Vanya will forever be one of my favourite fictional couples. I love them so much ...more
I feel like I say this a lot, but I completely understand the hype around this series and why so many people cite this as a comfort reread for them. II feel like I say this a lot, but I completely understand the hype around this series and why so many people cite this as a comfort reread for them. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the last book and also found myself laughing out loud multiple times.
The development of Will and Kim’s relationship over the course of the books is just so so great. The two of them learning how to be vulnerable, to trust and support each other and allow themselves the idea of a future together was just a joy to read. I will definitely return to this series in the future. Their chemistry on page was just off the charts.
Also Maisie and Phoebe have got to be some of my favourite supporting characters I have come across. I love them so much. It’s so easy, especially in historical fiction, to write off women as these flighty accessories to the main characters and the fact that both of these women were taken seriously and were so strong and well realised as characters with their own motivations and goals delighted me.
Asking me to pick a favourite KJC books is a bit like asking me to pick a favourite child and I don’t know if I could ever do it. But if push came to shove I would secretly admit it’s probably this series lol....more
second read August 24 This totally held up for me. I still adore Rakos and Bellamy and their chemistry together. The very definition of a comfort reresecond read August 24 This totally held up for me. I still adore Rakos and Bellamy and their chemistry together. The very definition of a comfort reread for me ❤️. Thank you to this book for being such a fun shining light when everything else I’ve been reading has underwhelmed me so much.
first read May 24 Do you ever feel like an author reaches inside of your head and just plucks out a story that feels like it has been written just for your tastes? Cause that was this one for me.
Bellamy, is the third and youngest Prince of Silaise, has always been prone to illness and headaches, and as the baby of the family, he has been sheltered from realities of the outside world. On a return trip home, Bellamy’s ship is forced to find shelter from a magical storm in enemy land and whilst there, he is accidentally captured by soldiers and imprisoned in a local fort. Whilst prisoner, Bellamy meets Rakos, an infamous dragon rider, who has been kidnapped and framed as a treasonous deserter. Whilst they make their escape, they both realise the danger of the other knowing their true identities, with Bellamy masquerading as a minstrel and Rakos (poorly) pretending to be a farmer wanted for tax evasion (idiots. Bless them). Together they embark on a journey to reunite Rakos with his dragon and return Bellamy to his home in Silaise.
This was just so much fun and I just flew through this. Bellamy and Rakos just have such great chemistry together and really bring out the best in each other. It’s one of my favourite things when you see characters who are sheltered and insecure grow into their own confidence and competency and the growth in Bellamy over this book is just a delight.
Also, if you love the ‘one something’ trope this will be good soup ...more
I am having alot of thoughts about this one, but I feel relatively confident with this being a rounded up 4.5 stars. This book was on my list of superI am having alot of thoughts about this one, but I feel relatively confident with this being a rounded up 4.5 stars. This book was on my list of super anticipated releases for the year based on the covers alone and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint.
Firstly, this story is an amazing effort for a debut. You can feel the blood, sweat and tears that must have gone into the research and world building, especially regarding medical scenes and the healers. This book was smart, unique and morally complex. I finished this whole thing in one sitting cause I was so absorbed and this will likely go on my list for favourites of the year.
The author has invested so much time into this final product. I’m still shocked at how polished it is. The author worked closely with an illustrator to produce some stunning art which is on their Instagram and I believe will be included in the final hard copy of the book. For that reason alone (amongst many) I’ll be purchasing a hard copy when it’s available. The pride and effort that has been taken in this work has made this author one that I will come back to in the future.
This is a wonderful example of SFF. This story is set in a futuristic London where the city has started sinking and is growing vertically to escape destruction and clean water is a rare commodity controlled by the rich and powerful. This world had such a unique tone of crime noir/ gritty cyber-punk vibes. There are some ‘magic’ elements in the story where people possess special abilities such as healers, empaths, telekinetics and firestarters, and while these powers are important to the story, these abilities are also not the main focus of the narrative.
The core relationship in this is Ethan and Javier and I just adored them. The slow build in trust and love was very sweet and as a reader you were so invested in them and their happiness. Full disclosure, there is very little spice in this book, so if that’s something that you need, you may be left a little unfulfilled. While I would have welcomed a scene or two to cement the emotional payoff of the build of their relationship, I didn’t find that it impacted my enjoyment of their dynamic as a whole.
I don’t want to say much more cause it feels like everything could be a clue or spoiler but I knocked off half a star because the ending was left a bit open and ambiguous. And I understand why it’s been done that way, but just for personal preference it drives me a little nutty.
I would encourage any fans of queer SFF to support this standalone (?) and give it a read.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. These are my own thoughts and feelings....more
This was such a joy of a reading experience. This (upper) YA stand alone fantasy story both celebrates and subverts the Magic school trope (think HarrThis was such a joy of a reading experience. This (upper) YA stand alone fantasy story both celebrates and subverts the Magic school trope (think Harry Potter and Percy Jackson) and is a bright and fun reading experience.
This world felt so effortlessly lush and expansive. The amount of world building that was squeezed into this book was so impressive. I think that this is because of its somewhat unique story structure; Instead of chapters, this story had parts, with each part covering a year of their lives from 13 to 17 years old.
I loved Serene, with her matriarchy elven society and flipped gender roles and expectations. And I loved Luke with the struggles that come with the pressures of being a golden child from a legacy family and his complex identity. But most of all I loved Elliot.
Elliot is one of those characters who worms their way into your heart (although I can appreciate not everyone would love him). Truly the poster boy for a bisexual disaster. He’s clever, witty and has a smart mouth that gets him in trouble (I have a character weakness and this type is it). I thought it was such a unique experience to get to see a character grow through their various relationships over the years the way that this book has done. It was also heart breaking to see how the terrible relationship Elliot had with his parents impacted his sense of self worth and trust and came to impact him and his relationships over the years as he grows up. I am so glad he got his happy ending cause he deserves everything in the world. Also I loved the friends to lovers in this. It was so wonderful.
This is one of those books that I feel a bit of grief to be leaving and would happily live in this world for many more books. Highly recommend for people looking for a fantasy stand alone....more
This book is just so stunningly beautiful, I was just completely enchanted the whole time I was reading this. The translation of this story is so wellThis book is just so stunningly beautiful, I was just completely enchanted the whole time I was reading this. The translation of this story is so well done, I felt like I was reading poetry the whole time.
This story is first and foremost a story of court politics and drama and is a romance second (not to take away from how wonderful the romance is). I always think it’s important to set that expectation early so people are aware of what they are getting into.
Fu Shen, the young and powerful General of the Beiiyan Calvary, which has been led by his family for generations, falls victim to an ambush which leaves him crippled and wheelchair bound.
Fu Shen is directed to return to the Capital, primarily to be under the watch of the Emperor, who has grown suspicious and paranoid of Fu Shen’s power and influence. In an effort to gain control over him, the Emperor arranges his marriage to the infamous Imperial Investigator of the Feilong Guard, Yan Xiaohan.
Of course, Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan have a long history of rival politics between them but slowly work to find common ground. Their dynamic has me completely deceased, both of them are renowned for being cold and imposing figures in their fields, but when they are together in private, they are so tender and soft and their flirty banter had me literally giggling more than any other book I have read in a long time.
Also, the amount of secret long held pining in this book is like my drug of choice. I fucking love that shit.
Probably my biggest challenge with this book was needing to concentrate on all the different names and players in the court and how they are all connected. Once you find your stride reading this book it does gets easier though, and I found that the story provided context clues which made it pretty clear what was going on if you got confused and just continued to read on.
I was initially a bit disappointed that this didn’t have digital rights and it’s the first physical book I have purchased in a while, but I have zero regrets now that I have both volumes in my hands. These books are stunningly pretty and the story is completely fabulous. Well worth the investment for me.
This book has singlehandedly provided me with one of the most romantic lines of literature that I have ever come across and it will be tattooed into my brain forever.
Yan Xiaohan easily said "One look at you interfered with the rest of my life. What could I do?"
This series continues to have me in a tight grip by the throat. Pretty sure I experienced the entire spectrum of human emotions reading this. I laugheThis series continues to have me in a tight grip by the throat. Pretty sure I experienced the entire spectrum of human emotions reading this. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I’m pretty sure I had a whole ass dissociative episode reading all 430 pages in one go.
I continue to love Jack and Holloway so much ...more
These books just keep getting better and better as the mystery deepens and becomes more layered and complex. I loved this one and I’m so glad book fouThese books just keep getting better and better as the mystery deepens and becomes more layered and complex. I loved this one and I’m so glad book four will be here in the near future. Also Everett and Ira have some of the funniest, dry humor banter. It really just hits every time for me.
Whilst I really enjoy Everett as a main character and every book explores a little more of his trauma, history and neurodivergence, this book was really Ira’s. Poor, sweet Ira, who cries when someone finally loves him, who is so charming and so sweet and just trying so hard to be vulnerable about his past and trauma while still being optimistic. I really love him a lot and hope for good things for him.
Also this book is so romantic and I can’t believe they haven’t progressed past kissing (this is very low spice for people who care about that) but the slow build of emotional intimacy that’s being cultivated here is going to make me feral when Everett has recovered enough for them to take their relationship to the next step.
Also Ira music taste has introduced me to a new subgenre of punk called Queercore which I am stoked to have a name for cause I have been unknowingly listening to it for ages ...more
I completely adored this. Oh my god I can’t even begin to explain how perfect I found this book. I can feel it sitting under my chest still.
The premiI completely adored this. Oh my god I can’t even begin to explain how perfect I found this book. I can feel it sitting under my chest still.
The premise commences simply enough. Following on 10 years after the murder of his friend at Oxford in 1905, Jem is still being haunted by the events of that night and after an anonymous letter is delivered to his work, leading to the loss of his job, Jem sets out to uncover the truth (very I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes there at the start).
Regarding the quality- It’s KJ Charles and if you know, you know, I don’t need to sell you on how accomplished her skill as a writer and storyteller is. KJ Charles prefaced this book by saying that it was a murder mystery and not a romance. I think that this was a completely unnecessary disclaimer, cause I have rarely read a story that demonstrated so many layered, complex, genuine and sometimes toxic relationships and demonstrations of love and I am OBSESSED.
The whole cast of characters was fabulous. I feel reluctant to say too much to give anything away but everyone in the group of friends felt well realised as characters with genuine and complex motivations. Jem was a delightful main character who was clever and damaged and whose heartache and pain caused me to have actual goosebumps.
At times this gave me dark academia vibes that triggered off elements of Babel or Saltburn. It was a tense, emotional, engaging and queer historical mystery and will go down as one of my favourites for the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC....more
This was shockingly good and I had such a fantastic time with it.
Seth, the straight laced and serious Curator, who is hunting down a magical fugitiveThis was shockingly good and I had such a fantastic time with it.
Seth, the straight laced and serious Curator, who is hunting down a magical fugitive, hires Raider, the handsome happy-go-lucky desert wanderer as his guide.
This had the perfect grumpy/sunshine vibes that I look for and I am sure that this would get marketed as enemies to lovers but this falls more into the category I like to call ‘antagonistic acquaintances to lovers’ ...more
4.5 stars rounded up. I often shy away from books and media detailing the horrors of WWI because it’s just so fucking heavy, and it can just be too ro4.5 stars rounded up. I often shy away from books and media detailing the horrors of WWI because it’s just so fucking heavy, and it can just be too rough to imagine the realities of the suffering experienced by the poor people there for me. However, I found myself so engaged with this story and these characters and with Arden’s ability to weave a beautiful story, all whilst staring down the horrible reality of the lived experience of the soldiers and civilians during the war, that I was deeply grateful for giving this book a chance.
This story follows the dual narratives of Laura, the medically discharge trauma nurse, who returns to the battle fields to try and find out more information about her brother Freddie, who went missing and is presumed dead in battle after a major offensive.
Laura, Jones, Freddie and Winter were all wonderful, robust characters in their own rights and I found myself loving my time in both Laura and Freddie’s POVs equally.
I listened to this by audiobook and I think the narrators did a fabulous job conveying the drama and emotion of the story. I initially didn’t vibe with the voice actor for Freddie but within a chapter or two I was completely sold.
This is my first book by Arden, but I get the impression that if you vibe with her work then you vibe with her work and this makes me keen to pick up and read ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ cause her style of prose really worked for me here.
This is primarily a historical fiction, however features a supernatural element and a queer relationship. For those who need the reassurance though (much like myself) this story does feature HEAs....more
I really loved this. It was such a unique world and story which is kind of ironic considering how much inspiration it’s drawn from other established mI really loved this. It was such a unique world and story which is kind of ironic considering how much inspiration it’s drawn from other established media.
There are several moving parts to this story and world building.
Firstly is the larger context of the world. The closest thing I can compare it to, strangely enough, is Attack on Titan. This world has townships which exist behind a series of walls that have been built to defend against Leviathans, giant sea monsters single-mindedly focused on the destruction of people.
Then there is the ‘magic’ system of this world (although it’s not really fantasy, yet also not really sci-fi- still struggling to put my finger on this one). This world appears to possess grafts which enhances people characteristics, providing things like super strength, heightened memory, enhanced sense of smell and sight. How this occurs is not explained in great detail and just exists.
Finally there is Ana and our main character Din. They are the Sherlock and Watson of our story. Ana was truly the mad genius Sherlock and her scenes so regularly made me laugh. Din will take a place as one of my favourite MCs in a book for a very long time. He is dry and witty, determined and sneaky, yet there is a warmth to him that draws the reader in. And as always I cackle with joy when even the books I didn’t realise were queer when I started them end up being queer. I love to be able to live in a time when this can be a reality and not just side eyeing and being reconciled to queer baiting the reader and never committing.
There were some periods when this was a little slow, and I admit it took me till about the 40% mark to get my head around the world building but once I hit that 40% mark I did the next 60% in almost a single sitting. For what little faults this had for me, I am desperately excited to see where the series goes to from here!
If Captain Strovi isn’t in book two I will riot....more
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