Category: Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Intense Nordic Tale: Freya’s Transformation and Bjorn’s Love | Review

Cayla

Rating: ★★★★★
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

This one deserves all the stars. I adored every minute of this. For some reason, Vikings are one of my favorites to read about. The ferocity of everything they do makes things so much more intense. Be that their love, their fighting, literally just their existing.

Freya is one part badass, one part impulsive, another part loyal, and yet still one more part endearing. Bjorn is one spicy, fiery, sweet, and caring Viking that has raided my shores for my heart. Okay, that was cheesy. But still, he’s a top notch book boyfriend.

It is hard to keep one’s wits when faced with a woman as beautiful as the sight of shore to a man who has been lost at sea.

Bjorn is hilariously poetic even when he does not mean to be, but the above quote is by fat one of the sweetest things I think he tells Freya.

I love the growth that Freya goes through in this, and it’s been awhile since I read a book that didn’t have a POV in the male lead’s eyes. However, it was actually refreshing to not immediately have answers to what was happening in Bjorn’s head. Danielle really takes us on a journey through this and not just across the map of Skaland. We see Freya go from beaten and downtrodden to finding her voice to questioning her voice to really leaning into the emotions she feels.

I will be anxiously waiting for the next installment of the Saga of the Unfated because I feel as though I’ve been left in an icy fjord waiting for a drakkar to come pick me up.

Have you read this one yet? How did you feel about Freya, Snorri, Bjorn, and Ylva? If you haven’t read this one yet, have you read any other Nordic/Viking books?

Cheers and happy reading!

Book Reviews

Mysterious FMC in Cutthroat Grad School | Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance

Cayla

Rating: ★★★★★
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
– Academy setting
– Reverse Harem
– Fated mates
– Curses
– Paranormal
– Hidden identity

I was not expecting this book at all. A cutthroat, blood thirsty grad school setting? I didn’t know I needed this in my life. Our FMC is mysterious as heck, we don’t know who she is or where she comes from, but man, does she give me Wednesday Adams vibes. We have four unique MMCs: an over-the-top protective dragon shifter with a temper, a frosty, smart as hell ice elemental with commitment issues, a psychotic incubus prince with some violent tendencies, and a morally grey blood fae with a curse that might be his undoing.

Watching the FMC futilely try to push them away was sheer comedy, and I loved every minute of it. The writing and pacing are so well done that it had me devouring this in a matter of hours.

My only drawback is that the third book isn’t out yet!

I am so surprised there are not more people talking about this book, and I will shout it from the rooftops that this book is amazing and worth the read!

Have you read this one yet? What was your last five star?

Book Reviews, General Bookish

Kindle Vella

Cayla

The first 11 episodes of my story are up for viewing with more on the way if anyone is interested!

As a friendly reminder, it’s a college, sports romance between a football player playboy and the true crime loving athletic training student. They both sign up for the schools dating app turned tv show, only to match despite it being forbidden by the school for them to be together.

It’s spicy. It’s a little angsty. It’s giggle inducing.

You can try it out here!

Book Reviews, General Bookish

Retellings You Should Totally Read

Cayla
Photo by David Gonzales on Pexels.com

What is that quote that’s been circulating bookstagram lately? “I still read fairytales, they’re just dirtier now?” Well, that feels rather accurate with some of the books I’ve been reading and also adding to my TBR lately. Beauty and the Beast is a super popular fairytale in the retelling world, but I recently read a Rapunzel retelling, and thought to myself, you know, I should make a list of retellings that *aren’t* Beauty and the Beast. So, here we are.

Kept by Evelyn Flood

I devoured this one. Fair warning, it is why choose, but it is so well done. I thoroughly enjoyed that one of the MMCs is named Ryder. Shout out to Disney’s Tangled. I’ve never actually read the original fable, so I can’t say whether or not the villain is supposed to be a male or female, but I liked that the “Mother Gothel” in this situation was a male, it added some interesting twists and turns.

You can read it on KU free here! Evelyn Flood has a whole series of retellings too!

Gild by Raven Kennedy

This one is a few years old, but Kennedy just released book five, book six will be released in September! Gild is a King Midas retelling, which if you aren’t familiar, King Midas turned everything he touched into gold. In the legend, he was gifted this power from Dionysus and delighted in turning his garden into gold, but he later lamented his choice of gift when he turned his food and drink into gold and could not control the power.

The Plated Prisoner, though, is the story of Auren, the true source of King Midas’ power. I loved the twists and the drama and the emotional rollercoaster that this one sent me on.

You can snag a copy on KU or order here!

A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle

I love a good Little Mermaid Retelling, and this one did not disappoint! Princess Maren has a secret and now she’s trying to escape the bargain that she made with the sea witch Edonia. This one is dark, as many of Halle’s books tend to be, so check trigger warnings before diving into this one! However, it is such a delectable and emotional ride between Maren and Captain Ramsay.

You can find it on KU or order a copy here!

A Curse of Shadows and Thorns by LJ Andrews

So, I think I said earlier I wouldn’t do a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I couldn’t leave this one out. I think this is one of my favorite BatB retellings. It has Viking vibes and the MMC is such a delicious morally grey cinnamon roll. If you’ve read her Ever King series, you definitely need to pick up this series. Even if you haven’t read Ever King, this one is a great read. Honestly, just thinking about this one makes me want to go reread it.

You can snag a copy here!

There are so many retellings out there, but these are just a few that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love new and original stories, but sometimes revisiting our favorite fairytales in new formats can be such a comfort. Do you have any that you always recommend to people?

Cayla

ARC Reviews, Book Reviews

Book Review: Just This Once – Lena Hendrix

Cayla

I love all of Lena’s main male characters. Whip King was no different. I had the distinct pleasure of being sent this book as an ARC, and let me tell you, I was so thrilled to get my grubby paws on it.

I have been dying for the King’s side of the feud and more of their back story. This initial dive into their nuances left me wanting so much more. I cannot wait for this series to continue. As always with interconnected series and standalones, we get glimpses of other characters we’ve met before. Seeing Whip’s relationship with Lee in the fire house and the secret soft spot they all seem to have for Duke.

Back to Just This Once.

Hendrix gives us a spicy, sweet, cocktail with a piercing bite to it. Yes. Piercing is emphasized right there. One of my favorite things about Lena and her writing is her ability to give me just enough spice without compromising her incredible plots. Plus, she writes a killer feud that I’ve been hooked on finding more about for what six books now?

If you haven’t picked this one up yet, it’s available on KU—Here!

Happy reading, bookworms!

ARC Reviews, Book Reviews

Review: Double Dog Dare

Cayla

A solid 3.5 sports romance. This book had a lot of things that worked for it and a few things that weren’t so great.

To start, I absolutely love that the cover of this book was not just a shirtless man. The addition of the dog in the photo makes it super appealing plus he actually looks like he’s having fun?

I also liked that the FMC had an unusual hobby/career path. You don’t see a lot of books with a cellist as the main character. She was on the hot mess express for most of the book, which was endearing most of the time but obnoxious at others.

The MMC was great. He seemed mature and well adjusted, which is sometimes a rare find in this genre. I loved his love for Monty. His dares at the beginning of the book were also a big highlight for me. I wish that there had been more dares throughout the book ….seeing that the title has the word dare in it. Plus the word dog….we only ever met two dogs and on some level they weren’t really that big of a part of the plot.

My favorite part of this whole book though was the social life of the senior citizens. They were the stars of this book. I loved meddling Mrs. H.

The things that didn’t work so well for me were things like the poorly translated French. I promise you there’s a world of people who would love to help you translate things instead of going it on your own if you’ve never taken French or don’t speak it. I also don’t really know how it helped the plot…so there’s that.

The chemistry between Luke and Summer was there but it was like a warm pot rather than a scorching read. In the beginning, I kinda thought she was going to end up with Antonio because they seemed to have more in common and better chemistry.

Another thing I struggled with was that while it was a sports romance….the sport didn’t seem to play that big of a part.

I also struggled because every once in a while, someone would call the dog Lillie when her name is Milli and I don’t know if that was intentional…I’m assuming not because I doubt that Summer would forget her own grandmothers dogs name.

Lastly, the characters, while somewhat developed, still fell a little flat. What was Luke’s favorite meal, what pet peeves does he have? We know he likes dogs and dares and football and dislikes his dad but beyond that? No idea.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Reviews, Book Reviews

Review: The Dead Romantics | Ashley Poston

Cayla

3.5⭐️/5

You know, despite being titled The Dead Romantics, I didn’t expect the love interest to be a ghost. This book gave me everything I wanted: small town, handsome main male, a disaster ghostwriting main female, banter with sibling. Yet. Yes, yet. I wasn’t sold.

This book was heavy. Another thing I wasn’t ready for was the main plot device being the father’s death. Every page. You never move beyond it because every. Single. Page it’s mentioned. I’m a sap when it comes to the mortality of my family, but this family…..I didn’t really feel or see the close bonds I was told about after the patriarch of the family died. The mom’s response to her husbands death was also a bit out of character in my opinion.

Ben seemed flat to me. She didn’t get along with him, then she’s kissing him in a back alley, and then she’s annoyed because his ghost is following her….next thing you know, “I love you don’t go.” -_- I didn’t feel the pining the love the angst. I just didn’t feel.

This is marketed as adult romance but it has the flowery prose of an old 1900s classic or even older. I love the classics but this was no pride and prejudice. Lastly, the twist. I saw the twist coming from the first time we met benji.

Oh wait. One more. Heather. Her redemption was sooooooooo flip of a switch. Regina George mean girl one night and she gets a talking to from Florence and the next morning “omg I’m so sorry I am a horrible person”

Enough complaints. The idea behind this was fun. Neat. Family has a funeral home, daughter can see ghosts, the ghostwriter bit, romance is dead. I liked the bed and breakfast. Dana was an interesting character (minus the fact that the author used the wrong pronouns for their own character at one point.), I wanted more backstory on Rose, I wished Benji could have gone and haunted Lee or sabotaged his release of his book.

As for spice 🌶 one lowly pepper. My friend. You had options here that could have been worthy of many peppers…as Florence would say, you watched the opportunity sail by you like a ship.

Book Reviews

Review: City of Bones Cassandra Clare

Cayla

I have been waffling between a three and a four star on this book. It wasn’t necessarily the most well written book, the most interesting book, or exciting. I’m also not sold on the plot, but what I am sold on is the characters and their relationships.

The world that this is set in is actually fairly interesting with the use of the stele and runes. The supernatural creatures that are in the book aren’t unique by any means, but the Shadowhunter take on nephilim is fairly creative.

Clary is fifteen, and I am hoping that she continues to not act that age. I have gotten to the age where I really don’t want to read about people that are early to mid teen range…..maybe because I need some spice in my life. I thought Clary was a little too okay with magic after having grown up with her mother beating into her head that there is no such thing, but maybe Luke saying that her artistic mind had more to do with her seeing things that aren’t there helped a little.

Our villain was just kind of meh. He didn’t really instill terror. I feel like he definitely should have since he was advocating basically genocide and segregation and all that, but he was just kind of like Disney villain level of scary? I didn’t feel there was enough build up to warrant any level of fear or concern on the reader’s part for the villain. Which is why I was low key frustrated that Jace went from being very outspoken, aggressive, kind of assholish to a passive, take information at face value character in his final scene with Valentine?????

What I, and other bookstagrammers that I’ve talked to, really found that Clare did well in this book was the level of attention to the little things within the character development and the relationships between the characters. It was the little things that I enjoyed through this books. The little interactions between Jace and Clary, or Simon, Isabelle, and Alec. Even adding in Lucian and Alaric (brb why am I crying over a side character we met like three times?).

I really liked the relationship between Clary and Luke. I will admit that I hated that I knew he was just being protective when he told Clary off originally. I am really hoping that their paternal relationship continues as we try to save Jocelyn, but even if she wakes up, I hope that this relationship continues to flourish.

Book Reviews

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom duology

Cayla

Overall, I have very mixed feelings about this set in the Grishaverse. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve really enjoyed my time so far in the Grishaverse, but this set and I had a hard time seeing eye to eye.

I wanted it to live up to the hype so badly, especially so because I really enjoyed the Shadow & Bone trilogy, even the cursed second book that suffered from second book syndrome.

I actually really liked the Oceans 11 vibe that LB was going for in SoC. I thought the heist aspect was actually pretty interesting. One of my hesitations for diving in whole heartedly was that the characters seemed like they should be mid-twenties instead of teenagers. I really and truly can’t see them being in their teens with how they act.

I also felt like some of the descriptions and inner monologues felt clinical rather than emotional or described by the POV we were reading. Which, I hated how much we jumped from POV to POV. Really and truly, in CK, it felt like we saw the same bit of time over and over again because we saw it from multiple POVs. There was also a lot of telling instead of showing of backstories, particularly Kaz.

Speaking of Kaz, (I will get flamed for this I know) I didn’t like him. From what I saw on Booksta, I thought there was going to be some great love story between him and Inej. That awkward moment when I felt like Inej had more chemistry with Jesper or Matthias than Kaz. He was also all bark and very little bite. With all of his threats he made to people, he only carried out a seldom few. On top of that, I found it hard to believe that he was the most ruthless in Ketterdam as a teenager.

Inej was a queen. Nina was great, but her whole fabrication of the lie surrounding why she got Matthias sent to prison annoyed me. I also literally do not remember a description of her including being overweight. Somewhere I remember it being said she was curvy, but I see fan art all over the place where she is overweight. Jesper, I liked him. Sharpshooter, farm boy, secret Grisha. I liked him. He actually seemed relatable to a teenager because he was impulsive when it came to gambling and still had the foolhardy sense to go into shootouts without much fear which relates back to that teenage ideology that “it won’t happen to me.”

Don’t crucify me, I loved baby Wylan……but I forgot he was there a lot. Matthias. I loved him. While I liked Nina and liked the idea of Helnik…..I liked the idea of Inej and Matthias more. The fact that I can see Matthias with someone other than who LB planned is a problem. If she was writing with their end ship in mind, then I shouldn’t be able to say that Matthias and Inej would actually make a better couple than Nina and Matthias.

I say this because they seem like they would have more in common, better chemistry, and a better understanding of each other. the Helnik ship seems to stem from some sense of duty that they have for each other rather than actual chemistry.

….I will get major flames for this, but I almost feel like the book will be better as the Netflix show than the book. The narration style just didn’t do it for me. Also, if they follow the plot and kill my boy Matthias, I will have words.

Book Reviews

Post Blood and Honey Feels

Cayla
  1. Madame Labelle annoyed me to high heaven.
    I said what I said. I get that she is trying to protect her son, but he didn’t know that you were more than the owner of a brothel until five minutes ago, you cannot expect him to have some familial relationship in that time, and he had a relationship with Lou before you. Her constant need to try and undermine his relationship with Lou was exhausting.
  2. I need more about the Blood Witch Coven and the Loup Garou.
    Their history sounds interesting. I want to know more about Coco and her ties to the leadership of the Blood Witch Coven. She’s a princess, so I want to know about what her life is going to be like once La Voisin dies….if she ever dies because of the whole heart eating thing.

    As for the Loup Garou, their culture is probably super interesting. What are their laws like? Do they have some tie to the moon? Can they always shift? I need answers.
  3. Lou and Reid’s relationship. It pained my heart.
    They were just kind of on different wavelengths it felt like. They worked so well together in the first book, but in this book they were each doing their own thing and not really focusing on making progress in their relationship. I really just wanted them to communicate with each other!

    Madame Labelle did her part in trying to create doubt with Reid in regard to Lou. Like shouldn’t she want her son to be happy, shouldn’t she want to help Lou overcome her spiral? Lou had a tendency to martyr herself and once things started to go downhill at all, she sabotaged as much as she could and would say nasty things. Like I just want you guys to love eachother.
  4. Celie and Jean Luc!?!? What
    You loveeeeeeeeed Reid, but you hooked up with his ‘brother!?’ You also may have done so prior to Reid ending things? I cannot handle this. Jean Luc you’re supposed to have loved Reid with your whole being because he was basically your dang twin growing up, but you turned your back on him and slept with Celie because you were basically jealous of what Reid had. Ugh. Drama.

    And thennnnnnn. After Lou saves her she gets all up on her high horse that Lou stole Reid and when she sees Reid she tries to hug and curl up with him. Helloooooooo Jean Luc is in the room too!?
  5. My baby, Ansel.
    I am distraught. Literally distraught. I think in my commentary about Serpent and Dove I literally said I would die if anything happened to poor baby Ansel.

    That was so unnecessary!! He needed to be important, but not that important!

Anyways, I wish that Reid had explored his magic a little more. I am also interested to see how the twins’ magic works since it does not seem that they sacrifice anything for the magic to work, same with Reid. It just sort of happens. It also feels like they do not use patterns to work their magic.

This book didn’t quite succumb to the Second Book Syndrome curse, but it was almost there. It felt as though they kind of wandered around to see new places and people while Reid and Lou argued. I missed Coco and Beau’s comedic relief. Which, coming to that. The love triangle that was never necessary…..ugh. It was almost a freakin’ love square at one point because of Coco’s childhood love. bah.

Anyways, none of my annoyances will prevent me from reading Gods & Monsters, but for now, I’m onto From Blood and Ash.

See you after the next chapter, bookworms,

Cayla