Review of Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney

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Synopsis:
He was the other half of my soul—the mirror to my every dark desire. My destruction, my redemption, my salvation: my Heathcliff.

Cathy Earnshaw’s got the devil inside her—or at least that’s what the small, cultish community she’s spent her whole life trapped inside would say. She can sense death coming, and every loss sends her spiraling into a violent, uncontrollable episode of grief, wailing like a banshee across the swampy forests of the Lowcountry. With a secret as dark as hers, there’s no hope of relief, or escape, or finding someone with a chance of understanding.

Until she meets him.

Heathcliff’s got his own trauma, and a secret just as dangerous as Cathy’s. Stolen as a child, raised by necromancers, he’s the most forbidden sin she could ever imagine…and the most desperately tempting. Violent in his passions, tender in his affection, he feels like the other half of her soul, but even as they claw desperately to be together, the world seems just as determined to keep them apart.

Because it turns out their little Southern community was built long ago on a graveyard of lies…and every cult needs its sacrificial lamb.

Review:
“… his soul and mine were cut from the same shimmering fabric, hewn from the same rock, dipped from the same pool. Wherever souls come from, we share the same source.” (Page 274)

I wasn’t sure that anyone or anything could make the story of Wuthering Heights have Cathy and Heathcliff be redeemable characters that you would actually care about and not just think about as horrible people but Kenney did the impossible! There were a lot of changes to the original in family matters etc that I did wonder for the first 3/4 of the book why she decided to have this be a Wuthering Heights spin off and not let the story live on it’s own without the very flimsy connections but in the end it did make sense. In many ways I think this story stands as a Dark Modern Fantasy book of its own. There was an extra dimension to this retelling by mixing in religion and cult practices, with much thought given to how people can be persuaded to do things that might usually be against their better judgement or interests. This book also features a lot about death and what can go into mourning.

There are complicated family dynamics, lots of different types of magic, and a love that could not be separated even by death. If that sounds interesting to you, I’d highly recommend this book. Once I started it, I found it near impossible to put down, even though I didn’t really want it to end.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Pusheen the Cat Collection Boxed Set: I Am Pusheen the Cat, The Many Lives of Pusheen the Cat, Pusheen the Cat’s Guide to Everything by Claire Belton

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Synopsis:
Get reintroduced to the internet’s favorite cat with I Am Pusheen the Cat and learn all about this cuddly feline who has won hearts around the world.

Then go on fun escapades with Pusheen as she dives in her unicorn, dragon, alien, mermaid, dinosaur, and even dog alter egos in The Many Lives of Pusheen the Cat.

Finally, get her expert advice and adorable wit with Pusheen the Cat’s Guide to Everything.

Review:
I absolutely love these books! They have all the feel good Pusheen comics put together in colour and paper and it’s just perfection. While there are lots of interesting fantasy bits of Pusheenicorn or Mermaid Pusheen, there are also a lot of very relatable comics about how cats live/view things. If you love cats, I highly recommend this book collection for you!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Noragami Omnibus 4 (Vol 10-12) by Adachitoka

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Synopsis:
BACK FROM THE DEAD
Yato is still trapped in the underworld and Izanami is doing everything in her power to prevent his escape. The only one capable of helping him now is his old nemesis Bishamon. Will she find it in her heart to rescue her hated foe? Or is there another way?


Review:
This book gives you all the feels about Yato and his upbringing. There is so much more about our favourite stray god than what we give him credit for, and it explains why he seems to lost about things all the time. Bishamon evolves quite a bit in these volumes as well, and we even learn more about Yato and his connection to Kazuma.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Valentine’s Slay by Navessa Allen

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Synopsis:
Roses are red, violets are blue, Emma’s not dead, and her gravedigger’s hot too. This Valentine’s Day, love claws its way out of the grave in #1 New York Times bestselling author Navessa Allen’s steamy and hilariously dark rom-com.

Louisiana gravedigger Noah Evans’s Valentine’s night shift takes an unexpected turn when his high school crush starts screaming from her freshly dug grave. Whoever tried to bury Emma six feet under is in for a nasty surprise—they should have checked for a pulse because she’s got unfinished business, starting with the hot gravedigger who just saved her life. As they unearth a deadly family conspiracy, Noah and Emma discover that old flames burn even hotter the second time around—especially when someone’s trying to kill them.

Navessa Allen’s Valentine’s Slay is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.

Review:
This book is more a novella than a novel and is a good, quick read if you’re looking for something super spicy with a bit of grit and edge to it. Did I think things went a bit too fast? Yes, in parts. This is also an extremely short story in regards to doing the most you can with the least amount of characters possible, but having it make sense as to why there aren’t more people around. It’s a great dark romance with some very serious stuff going on in the background. The chemistry between the main characters was great, and the ending was just perfect. This is definitely one that will grip you from the first page, and leave you hoping for a happily ever after because damn, do they deserve one.

If you’re looking for a quick in between palate cleanser book of dark romance with quite a lot of spice, this is the book for you! If you just want some dark romance that involves graveyards, also the book for you!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

*Added after original posting.
Forgot to mention that while an intriguing premise, given modern day practices for burial, it does seem incredibly unlikely that there wasn’t a layer of concrete involved. (Thank you for this knowledge, Stephen King’s Pet Semetary)

Review of The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

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Synopsis:
Can there be any greater challenge to London’s Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?—Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister—the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it’s all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it’s hard to remember that their courtship is a sham. Maybe it’s his devilish smile, certainly it’s the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her . . . but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke . . . for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love.

Review:
“I don’t believe I have ever been condescended to by a woman before.”
She shrugged, “It was probably past time.” (Page 102)

I decided to give this book a shot as it was on kindle unlimited and I am waiting for the end of the fourth season of Bridgerton the television show to drop on the 26th. I was very pleasantly surprised as once I started I could not set this book down! I spent most of yesterday reading, finishing well into the early hours of the morning (thank goodness authors set their own hours and can sleep in!) The characters were so very different from the show, in good ways and bad. Violet has far more gumption and intention than her television counterpart; soft spoken about the marital act aside, she has whims and ways of controlling and manipulating the family that the children aren’t even aware of. The looks of the characters also very distinctly from the television show, with all the Bridgerton children having chestnut hair and various eye colours and Violet being fair haired with blue eyes. Simon himself also instigates more than the television show led one to believe. I loved the brotherhood of Anthony, Benedict and Colin and how Anthony was willing to go up against Simon all the time for his sister. I definitely hadn’t expected what actually happened at Lady Trowbridge’s ball, nor how Daphne actually learned more about the marital act.

I could write an entire compare and contrast of the two but in the end the most important thing to note is that the book absolutely enthralled me from the first page and I could not set it down. There was not any intimacy until deep within the novel which made it all the more alluring. Simon and Daphne had a far superior connection in the novel than the book, and I quite enjoyed the difference in Daphne’s personality and her understanding of men given her three older brothers. Daphne is far more witty and cutting than her television counterpart.

As with all things book to screen one has to almost consider them completely separate entities but this author will encourage you to read the first book in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, for if we are anything alike, you’ll be hooked.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Owl Take Thee by Leanne Leeds

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Synopsis:
Wedding bells are in the air for witch Astra Arden and her werewolf fiancé Lothian—not to mention her divine owl familiar Archie and his feathery bride-to-be Noctua. But when a guest turns up dead at their joint bachelor-bachelorette party, “till death do us part” takes on an entirely new meaning.

With both weddings just days away, Astra finds herself juggling seating charts, cake tastings, and a murder investigation that’s hitting too close to home. Even worse, the victims’s dying message points to someone in the wedding party as the killer. Could one of their nearest and dearest be harboring deadly secrets beneath their celebratory smiles?

As magical mishaps plague the wedding preparations and suspicion falls on their friends and family, Astra and Archie must race against time to unmask the murderer before they say “I do.” With wedding gifts arriving that seem more like threats and mysterious omens appearing at every turn, the path to matrimonial bliss is anything but smooth.

Can Astra solve the case and still make it down the aisle? Or will this wedding celebration end with a funeral instead of a reception?

Review:
“Bacon transcends tradition. It’s universal. Timeless.” (Page 5)

“… love isn’t about finding someone perfect but about finding someone whose imperfections fit perfectly with yours.” (Page 430)

This book had one of the most intricate and well done mystery plots I have read in a Leeds book in a while! For the first part of the book I found myself frustrated that nothing seemed to relate to Astra’s past in the military and specifically her pyrometry power but both of those things became integral to the plot of this novel! I do wish that there had been more mention of what type of owl Archie is, as I found myself at a loss at one point. I also wish that the cover more accurately portrayed what Astra’s wedding vision is, though perhaps this is the “Percy-ified” version with Blushing Bride pink.

I loved the layers to this mystery and how while certain fae may have been trying to help, they couldn’t outright do so. There were definitely many worries that the wedding would not happen in time, or that a curse would befall them for having to postpone. Though there was tension with Astra’s mother (as always) it was so sweet how much she wanted to be there for her daughter… though I’m sure the cost will equal another book’s adventure in the future. The ending of this book was absolute perfection, and all my love goes to Midnight the owl for being the best little boy he could be!

I recommend this series to anyone who loves cozy modern fantasy mystery and especially owls.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Wizard’s Cat by Nathan Lowell

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Synopsis:
It started with a dandelion.
Innocuous. Ubiquitous.
Who knew it was a warning?

After claiming his big bonus, things are coming up roses for Roger Mulligan. A job he loves. A house that feels like home. Money in the bank. A solid roof over his head and job security.

But when he finds a dandelion on the pristine grounds of Shackleford House, he starts down a twisted, garden path. Old man Shackleford says the fairies have a problem, the pixies keep falling down on the job, and the house seems to grow weaker by the day.

He’s soon tossed into a confusing mixture of fact and fantasy, accompanied by Shackleford’s cousin and – of all things – a stray cat. Surrounded by the fantastical, it’s hard to tell magic from mundane.

Review:
I loved how Barbara got to become front and center in this novel, and how Roger, while changed, has become more resilient than he ever thought possible. While following Roger was always amusing, it was clearly the cat who was the star of the show. I really enjoyed this novel, but in some ways I felt like it didn’t feel as extravagant and all encompassing as the first in the series. In the first novel there were a series of different things that Roger, the house and family had to overcome. In this novel, while there was technically more to be overcome, most of the discourse and nitty gritty of such things (Barbara’s turmoil, the company issues) were done off the page and only vaguely mentioned or referenced. I don’t feel like we are done with the Wizard, his Apprentice, or the Cat so I really hope there will be another book in the future.

I would recommend this series to anyone who loves the average guy using his wits to save a situation (especially the magically people involved), people stepping out of their comfort zones and finding their true place, and in the second book- cats!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez

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Synopsis:
The wizard Margle the Horrendous takes special pride in never killing his enemies. Instead, he transforms them into various accursed forms and locks them away in his castle. His halls are filled with his collection of fallen heroes and defeated villains, along with a few ordinary folk who were just unfortunate enough to draw Margle’s attention.

It’s Nessy’s duty to tend this castle. It’s a lot of work, but she manages, taking pride in housekeeping talents that keep the castle from collapsing into chaos. But when Margle suddenly dies, everything begins to unravel. Nessy finds herself surrounded by monsters, curses, a door that should never be opened, and one very deadly dark wizardess.

Nessy doesn’t have might or magic on her side; she’s just a kobold: short, furry, and sensible. Her allies aren’t much better: a voice without a body, an angry fruit bat, a monster under her bed, a wizard in a jar (or some of him, anyway), and a one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple, people eater. It would be smarter to walk away, but taking care of the castle is Nessy’s job, and that’s just what she intends to do.

If only she could find time to polish the silver while beating back the forces of darkness.

Review:
This book was gifted to me for Christmas, so therefore counts towards the paper books read tally. I personally found the book a bit hard to get into, but then it wasn’t a book I would have picked up for myself. This book was interesting in that it dealt with a lot of neat Dungeons and Dragons adjacent creatures/effects. This was definitely a younger age book than I would have expected, though marketed for adults I really think 8+ could read and enjoy this novel. There were a lot of good moments of learning about one’s self and abilities and not being defined by a title you may have gained/have or what you are considered because of the station you were born into in life.

I would recommend this to any young readers into DnD that like adventure.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell

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Synopsis:
“He thinks he’s a wizard,” they said. For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn’t care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year. They didn’t tell him about the pixies.

Review:
“Ebooks. This is my only connection to the outer world.” (Page 84)

This book has everything except romance, and always left me wanting to keep reading on. I had to sleep halfway through a chapter many a night because I didn’t want to put this book down! While this book has some sort of wizard, maybe, one of the main focuses is easy to relate to Roger Mulligan, who is former army/former EMT. He’s got a steady mind and can be quick on his feet, which makes his entry into a world he had never imagined; that of being a butler, a job that many think doesn’t even exist, all the more exciting. Especially when you add in that Shackleford thinks he’s a wizard. Despite being about the mundane things we do not want to think about in our own day to day life, Lowell writes Mulligan’s activities in a way that make you want to see more of just what a butler may do and how his job influences and interacts with all of the other ongoing plots. All of the characters had great depth and motives. While at times it seemed a very low-risk cozy modern/urban paranormal fantasy, the fatality at stake leads one to need to keep reading. I loved seeing how the house encouraged change for the inhabitants, and how it helped them to find what they most needed in their lives. Mulligan needed this job, but in many ways, Shackleford needed him to lead him into a new era. I’ve already started the second book, and so far (19% in) it is just as good as the first.

I loved this book immensely and cannot wait to share it with my husband and friends in the near future.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Ether Witch 2: Confronting the Crafty Concubine by Delemhach

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Synopsis:
A devil, a familiar, and magic gone wild—Tam’s life is more than a little complicated! Can he turn the chaos into triumph, or will it drag him someplace far darker?

Having narrowly escaped capture by the Zinferan army, Tam, Eli, and Luca find themselves on the run.

Their goal?

Find a way home to Daxaria.

Preferably alive!

But as Tam carries on his family legacy, he continues to land himself in a whole cauldron of hot water!

Despite discovering his familiar and beginning to embrace his magic, greater powers like corrupt covens and a villainous concubine loom over him.

Will he be able to guide his loved ones out of danger, or will he be forced to take drastic actions to end the brewing calamity?

Find out in the second volume of The Ether Witch!

Review:
“Sometimes in life, the disaster we find ourselves in aren’t our faults. But it’s still up to us to figure it out. And sometimes, the best person to save us is ourselves.” (Page 134)

Ah, to be back in with Tam! In this book, Tam really came into his own. He learned how to be assertive and speak up about his thoughts and feelings, in part because he knows he has to be an example for Luca. This book featured quite the epic journey and more hidden surprises along the way. It was also awesome seeing Eli step more into herself and find a true voice. I absolute did not expect Tamlin to go as far as he did, given his social standing, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I adore Penelope and cannot wait to see what happens with her and everyone else in the future!

There were so many unexpected characters throughout this novel that really made it more enjoyable. It has been wonderful getting to learn more about characters we’ve gotten to know and journeyed with for three trilogies. I can only hope that we will have more epic journeys with future characters after the third book in this series comes out; an ending I look forward to reading.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯