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811 reviews
Cute But Psycho by Beatrix Hollow
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
3⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: challenging, dark-ish
TROPES: forced proximity, stalker, enemies to lovers
GENRES: contemporary, supernatural/paranormal, lgbtq+
FAV QUOTE:
MAIN CHARACTERS: Bree, Baz, Nemo, Orson
This is a shorter review. I probably should have read this before asking for an ARC of Cute but Creepy but I didn't since I've read books by Beatrix Hollow before so I figured I'd really like this one/this series. That wasn't fully the case. Some of the characters are interesting and the overall idea could have worked way better than it did. However, my three main issues were 1. Bree is annoying as hell and it was really difficult to read from her POV cause she just keeps repeating the same things over and over and it doesn't come across as a "crazy" thing just kind of an a**hole thing. 2. Out of the 4 main characters, I only think 1 really needs to be in Verfallen (not Bree, surprisingly) if we're really focusing on it being that specific type of asylum and 3. The book is too long for the amount of stuff that happens.
CW: sexual content, violence, blood, death, death of a parent
MOOD: challenging, dark-ish
TROPES: forced proximity, stalker, enemies to lovers
GENRES: contemporary, supernatural/paranormal, lgbtq+
FAV QUOTE:
MAIN CHARACTERS: Bree, Baz, Nemo, Orson
This is a shorter review. I probably should have read this before asking for an ARC of Cute but Creepy but I didn't since I've read books by Beatrix Hollow before so I figured I'd really like this one/this series. That wasn't fully the case. Some of the characters are interesting and the overall idea could have worked way better than it did. However, my three main issues were 1. Bree is annoying as hell and it was really difficult to read from her POV cause she just keeps repeating the same things over and over and it doesn't come across as a "crazy" thing just kind of an a**hole thing. 2. Out of the 4 main characters, I only think 1 really needs to be in Verfallen (not Bree, surprisingly) if we're really focusing on it being that specific type of asylum and 3. The book is too long for the amount of stuff that happens.
CW: sexual content, violence, blood, death, death of a parent
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Trust in the Moon by Delaney Rain
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: lighthearted, funny
TROPES: fated mates, bi-awakening, instalust
GENRES: fantasy, contemporary, LGBTQ romance
FAV QUOTE: Caught like a rabbit, I just stood there in stunned silence as a gorgeous and determined wolf stalked towards me.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ezequiel "Zeke" Castro and Sacha Lupescu
TAROT CARD: The Moon
THE GOOD: I am biased cause I love Delaney Rain's monster romances and am happy to say that Trust in the Moon met my expectations and is another great read. This is a fairly quick read and kind of straddles the line between cozy & smutty monster romance but it does get spicy fairly quick. I'm a fan of Shifters having 3 forms so, know that that happens. It's not just the romance and relationship that made this a great read - there's also a B (and C?) plot going on which was enjoyable, mysterious, and had a satisfying outcome.
THE NEUTRAL: I had a hard time picturing Zeke based on the available description and the comparisons made between him and his friends. Sacha's family tree is also a little nutty so I'm glad Zeke worked to figure it out cause I couldn't.
THE MEH: The Owner comes off as more of an a-hole than he does in other books.
CW: sexual content, homophobia, mentions of parental death, some violence
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
MOOD: lighthearted, funny
TROPES: fated mates, bi-awakening, instalust
GENRES: fantasy, contemporary, LGBTQ romance
FAV QUOTE: Caught like a rabbit, I just stood there in stunned silence as a gorgeous and determined wolf stalked towards me.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ezequiel "Zeke" Castro and Sacha Lupescu
TAROT CARD: The Moon
THE GOOD: I am biased cause I love Delaney Rain's monster romances and am happy to say that Trust in the Moon met my expectations and is another great read. This is a fairly quick read and kind of straddles the line between cozy & smutty monster romance but it does get spicy fairly quick. I'm a fan of Shifters having 3 forms so, know that that happens. It's not just the romance and relationship that made this a great read - there's also a B (and C?) plot going on which was enjoyable, mysterious, and had a satisfying outcome.
THE NEUTRAL: I had a hard time picturing Zeke based on the available description and the comparisons made between him and his friends. Sacha's family tree is also a little nutty so I'm glad Zeke worked to figure it out cause I couldn't.
THE MEH: The Owner comes off as more of an a-hole than he does in other books.
CW: sexual content, homophobia, mentions of parental death, some violence
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, and Death of parent
Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5⭐️ 2🌶️
MOOD: funny, emotional, lighthearted
TROPES: contractual relationship, forced proximity, virgin MMC
GENRES: contemporary, fantasy, lgbtq romance
FAV QUOTE: "No quite, pet." He grinned, smug and shark-like. "But I can be your savior, if you wish me to be."
MAIN CHARACTERS: Isaac Miller and Amadeus aka Ash
TAROT CARD: The Sun
THE GOOD: This is a cute, quick low-angst (for having a demon) story. Flower shop owner, Isaac suffers from really low self-confidence and Ash has waaaaay too much (among other things, he's a Demon). The Magician decides that they'd work well together and we get to see what happens.
THE NEUTRAL: The book is dual POV but there are more chapters in Isaac's POV. This is fine when reading but when I got to the end, it made some of Ash's character development feel abrupt given his POV at the start of the book.
THE MEH: This story was more cozy than I expected - cozy is fine, I love a cozy monster romance - but based on the content warnings provided by the author I was expected more immoral & devious behavior from Ash and different levels of sexual content. It could be because I have read a bunch of dark romance and/or monster romance so "morally grey" has a specific meaning to me.
CW: sexual content, mentions of torture and murder
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
MOOD: funny, emotional, lighthearted
TROPES: contractual relationship, forced proximity, virgin MMC
GENRES: contemporary, fantasy, lgbtq romance
FAV QUOTE: "No quite, pet." He grinned, smug and shark-like. "But I can be your savior, if you wish me to be."
MAIN CHARACTERS: Isaac Miller and Amadeus aka Ash
TAROT CARD: The Sun
THE GOOD: This is a cute, quick low-angst (for having a demon) story. Flower shop owner, Isaac suffers from really low self-confidence and Ash has waaaaay too much (among other things, he's a Demon). The Magician decides that they'd work well together and we get to see what happens.
THE NEUTRAL: The book is dual POV but there are more chapters in Isaac's POV. This is fine when reading but when I got to the end, it made some of Ash's character development feel abrupt given his POV at the start of the book.
THE MEH: This story was more cozy than I expected - cozy is fine, I love a cozy monster romance - but based on the content warnings provided by the author I was expected more immoral & devious behavior from Ash and different levels of sexual content. It could be because I have read a bunch of dark romance and/or monster romance so "morally grey" has a specific meaning to me.
CW: sexual content, mentions of torture and murder
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Gray's Shadow by K.A. Merikan
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
Maid for Her Snow Beast by Eva Priest, Evangeline Priest
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Stalking
Brutal Titan by E.V. Olsen
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Savage Titan by E.V. Olsen
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Bullying
Breeding Clinic by Alexis B. Osborne
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5⭐️ 4🌶️
MOOD: adventurous, emotional, lighthearted, hopeful
TROPES: one-night stand, miscommunication, pregnancy
GENRES: omegaverse
MAIN CHARACTERS: Kat, Liam, Gabriel, and Matthew
THE MEH: I'm starting with the MEH cause I did this to myself. I don't like pregnancy in books. I knew this book was about pregnancy and I still read it cause I loved the first two books and I thought I could do it - but I couldn't. I got stuck Chapters 22 and 26 for days - I read other books so it wasn't a lack of desire to read.
THE GOOD: I enjoyed the writing. Up until about halfway through the book I enjoyed the spicy scenes. This is a me problem like stated above - I now know better, even if one of my fav authors writes pregnancy, I should not read it. The overall plot, outside all the smut, works well too - I liked the idea of everything in the relationship kind of being backwards and them having to find their own way of navigating it.
THE NEUTRAL: The last few chapters were super repetitive. I think they would have done better as an extended epilogue novella.
CW: Provided by the author but some big ones include sexual content, mentions of miscarriage
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
MOOD: adventurous, emotional, lighthearted, hopeful
TROPES: one-night stand, miscommunication, pregnancy
GENRES: omegaverse
MAIN CHARACTERS: Kat, Liam, Gabriel, and Matthew
THE MEH: I'm starting with the MEH cause I did this to myself. I don't like pregnancy in books. I knew this book was about pregnancy and I still read it cause I loved the first two books and I thought I could do it - but I couldn't. I got stuck Chapters 22 and 26 for days - I read other books so it wasn't a lack of desire to read.
THE GOOD: I enjoyed the writing. Up until about halfway through the book I enjoyed the spicy scenes. This is a me problem like stated above - I now know better, even if one of my fav authors writes pregnancy, I should not read it. The overall plot, outside all the smut, works well too - I liked the idea of everything in the relationship kind of being backwards and them having to find their own way of navigating it.
THE NEUTRAL: The last few chapters were super repetitive. I think they would have done better as an extended epilogue novella.
CW: Provided by the author but some big ones include sexual content, mentions of miscarriage
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Emotional abuse
Puck & Plume: A Fangs on Ice Novella by Rhea Fox
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death
Camelot's Tower by Brooke Matthews
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
4⭐️ 2🌶️
MOOD: emotional, lighthearted, mysterious, tense, funny
TROPES: fated mates, found family
VIBES: slow-burn, revenge quest
GENRES: contemporary, fantasy, lgbtq romance
MAIN CHARACTERS: Will Towers and Arthur Pendragon
TAROT CARD: The Tower
THE GOOD: Did I think it was funny that Will's last name is Towers? Yes. Overall, I enjoyed this story since I do have some Arthuriana knowledge but in some places it definitely felt like a grown up version of The Kid Who Would be King (2019) more so than a romance story and I think that's just because Will's family was around the whole time and I wasn't expecting that going in.
THE NEUTRAL: I lost track of The Treasures and sometimes the level of challenge felt really inconsistent. Arthur also felt really dumb sometimes, more so than just naive about modern technology, and since don't read time-travel type romance and most of that people go to the past I'm not sure what I expected but it was off putting.
THE MEH: The beginning, first 2 chapters, was really hard to get into and I'm not sure why - it could have just been the writing style or the pacing. And something about the Author provided T&CW bothered me cause "brief mention of past incestuous dubcon" was listed and that took me a moment to figure out, I know there are MANY versions of Arthur's story but I would have just said SA for how Mordred came to exist...dubcon feels like an odd label for that whole scenario.
CW: (summarized from what was provided by the Author) violence, death, sexual assault, death of a parent, suicide attempt, alcohol
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.