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Is Arrow of Fortune Worth Your Time?
Information:
- Goodreads: 4.51 out of 180
- My Rating: 2.5
- Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
- Series: Raiders of the Arcana, book 3
- Age Category: Adult
Summary:
This is the third book in the Raiders of the Arcana series. This series is essentially following Adam and Ellie, an American boy who rebelled against his rich family and a woman seeking her own autonomy in England, as they travel across the world to work towards saving ancient relics from the villains of this world who would use them for their own personal gain (usually to the detriment of others). Once again, we are following Adam, Ellie, Constance, and Neil to India full of intrigue, mystery, a hero’s hidden past, and lush Indian history. Ellie and Adam are working through their nontraditional love for one another while Constance and Neil may (or may not) have something going on with them as well. How super cute.
This is an ARC provided by Netgalley.
Review:
I started this series absolutely in love with it. There’s even a post here about how much I fell in love with the first book, Empire of Shadows. It was sold to me as ‘for the girlies who loved the Mummy.’ And, honestly, it absolutely provided that. The second one was okay. There is one complaint I have that I know is absolutely a ‘me’ problem – to the extent that it doesn’t affect my score other than in my enjoyment aspect because I know this is very much so personal preference. I don’t like. books that are following this one couple and then introduces another that we follow during the series as well. I tend to feel as if the couples almost always follow the same formula and it just feels like I’m watching the same thing twice. That’s not entirely the issue with this one, it’s just not my preference.
With this third book, I’m not sure what I was fully expecting. I was excited to pick it up, even with the fact that I didn’t entirely enjoy the second. While reading this one, it’s clear that there’s a formula being followed nearly exactly. That’s fine for cozy reads. But I would caution people to read these a decent time apart to take that into account. The characters start by traveling somewhere and finding out there’s a relic for them to go after because the bad guys – who are always the same people – are also after it and they can’t allow that to happen. They run into the bad guys, the bad guys have a chance to kill em, they end up not doing so because Ellie and Adam having something to do with their plans ( though no one knows what that is, not even the bad guy himself), they end up rescuing the relic, and onto the next place. Throughout that, Ellie struggles with how her nontraditional life fits into Adam’s life and doesn’t communicate about it (another trope I hate) while Constance does whatever her little heart desires and flusters the hell out of Neil.
It’s not a bad story. It’s well written, the characters are good, they all have chemistry – to an extent – and the mystery is always interesting as well. Granted, I could be looking at this as an undereducated white lady, but it seems like the cultures and history within these books are well researched and treated with respect. Adam and Ellie have sweet moments throughout this, such as when they were discussing fully having sex with one another instead of Adam creatively going about it. It’s closed door, but you do get to see some of these conversations. Ellie had asked if Adam could locate contraceptives that she had learned about and he was down to do that. Two points about that before I carry on: I love that Ellie is the one who asked rather than Adam bringing it up or pushing for it. They truly go with whatever Ellie is comfortable with and at her pace and I love that. But, Adam makes sure Ellie is fully knowledgable about that option, too. He makes sure she knows that contraceptives, especially during this time period, are not foolproof and there would still be a possibility that she gets pregnant. He then goes further to reassure her that he doesn’t care that she doesn’t want children. He chose her and he’s happy with that, however it looks. And it truly does seem that way – this man appeared to be perfectly happy never fully having sex with her as long as he got to be with her. Love that.
Ellie, however, is struggling. She wants more time with Adam but can’t share a room because they aren’t married. Constance tells her she could just pretend like her and Adam are married. Then they get all the benefits of it without the legal ties. I have a few complaints and/or questions about this, though. I will admit that I could be confused or looking at it wrong. But, still. Ellie disagrees with marriage because it’s used as part of the system that hold women down and removes their autonomy. I get that and I can stand behind that. But how is she not, in a certain way, still putting herself in that system by pretending to be married? Maybe I’m silly. But would she be kicked out or arrested if she just said no, I’m rooming with Adam and we’re spending time together? We saw her stand on her beliefs to the point of being arrested before and I’m just confused about this stance. Also, it’s getting tiring with her wrestling with a decision that impacts Adam as well yet refusing to have that conversation because she’s worried about how he’ll react or what he’ll think. He’s shown nothing but kindness and understanding and has proven that he is more than willing to go with whatever she needs him to do. Why would this be any different? Spoiler alert: it isn’t.
This book is good. It’s not a bad read in the slightest. It’s just very much so not to my preference. I do feel as if it would be difficult to have this kind of story not become formulaic, but I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t enjoy the lack of communication or my lack of understanding why certain characters had to make certain decisions. I don’t think I’m going to continue, but I do still love the first book.
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Flawed Characters in Contemporary Romance: A Review of Daddy Issues
Information
- Goodreads: 3.85 out of 667 Ratings
- My Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Age Range: Adult; New Adult
- Category: Romance, Contemporary
- Series: None
Summary:
I did receive this as an ARC copy from Netgalley.
Samantha is down on her luck. She thought her career would have kicked off by now, but she’s been living the corner of her mother’s office for 5 years. Not at all how she imagined her life would be at 26, but here we are. Not all is lost, though. She could still get into that PhD program that would change everything. Nick is everything Samantha isn’t. He’s almost 40, has a child, has just moved into the apartment next to Sam, and just seems so put together. I mean, he even plays with his kid and engages with her, has given up nights of fun for being a manager at Chili’s just so his little girl can have a relatively good and stable life. That isn’t something Sam thought was possible. It definitely wasn’t something her father was capable of. She’s not interested in Nick or children, but he’s nearly impossible to avoid and there’s something about seeing a loving, doting, and dependable man that kind of does it for her. And his kid isn’t too bad, either. Even if Sam does have a mini panic attack every time they talk.
Review:
I had also received Goldbeck’s You, Again through Netgalley and didn’t like it. I think I gave it 2 or 3 stars. I really enjoyed the people and the banter, but the relationship felt….very pushy. There was a scene in that book that made me incredibly uncomfortable; the kind where I wouldn’t have blinked twice if it were a dark romance, but alas, it wasn’t.
This book felt different. I loved the characters and banter still, but everything else felt like it got better. I genuinely feel like I’ve gotten to see an author grow and improve just over two books and I’m really excited to see how much she continues to grow. The characters in this book are unlikable – or Sam is, anyway. But even the people who are likable are still flawed. Goldbeck doesn’t write beautiful and magnificent characters who have everything together and no regrets and no real flaws. Sam is stuck in a rut. She goes into Youtube spirals and has essentially wasted away five years of her life because she can’t do what she’s always dreamed of. Sam flat out refuses to try for opportunities if they aren’t exactly what she wanted. Nick had a child and has completely turned his life around. And he absolutely made mistakes within his marriage and it could be said it’s a little uncomfy for an almost 40 year old to be going to a 26 year old – rest assured, that is talked about. Still, you feel for em. The characters feel real. They don’t feel like someone’s glamorized version of a romance. Nick is a little chubby – he’s got a dad bod. He’s not conventionally attractive. Neither is Sam. They feel like actual people that I could run into on the street. Characters are absolutely Goldbeck’s niche.
The plot of the book is also a little more interesting for me, personally. I love when people are willing to have real conversations and looks at what dating a single parent could look like. Sam is told over and over again that she will never be Nick’s biggest priority and it’s never villainized. That’s just how it is and she has to figure out if she’s okay with that. And if she isn’t, that’s perfectly fine. If she is, that’s perfectly fine. There’s no right or wrong answer here and I love that. Nick doesn’t want to hold her back. I think that’s what makes him go from an almost 40 year old preying on younger women to someone who happens to be almost 40 falling for someone else. He’s happy with what he can have and doesn’t rush or ask for more. Sam’s not ready for sex yet? No worries, I can savor what we have. Sam’s not ready to be a step mom? No worries, I wasn’t asking her to be.
There’s a moment when Sam’s mom is (rightfully) worried about Sam and Nick being together. Nick is divorced and will be here for the next 10 years or so, tied to Ohio and his wife (ex) and his child. Sam is a young woman with big ambitions, seeking to get a PhD and move to New York (or somewhere like it). Yes, that dynamic is concerning. No one would want their child to settle for something they never wanted just because a potential partner asked them to. But Nick doesn’t and would never ask her to.
What I love more, though, is the absolute lack of miscommunication. I initially hated the romance genre because of the miscommunication trope alone. There is miscommunication, don’t get me wrong. Especially between Sam and her mother. But the miscommunication that is there feels realistic instead of something thrown in for the 3rd act breakup. Sam is brutally honest with Nick about her reservations. She isn’t ready to be a mother. She doesn’t know if she wants to be a mother. And she is freaked out about how much his daughter, Kira, seems to like her. And Nick, when hearing this, agrees. You’re completely right, we did do this a bit backwards. But he’s not asking her to be a step mother. He’s not asking her to have it all figured out right then and there. He’s just asking her to enjoy time with him, if that’s what she wants, and see where it goes.
If you read this book, you’re going to get a romance with flawed people. You’re going to get witty banter that genuinely made me giggle. You’re going to get people having real conversations. And that’s all I ever want and ask for from a romance. But, you’re also going to get something that isn’t perfect.
There are a few scenes that, once again, made me slightly uncomfortable. Nick and Sam’s first sexual encounter happens after Sam has been drinking – kind of heavily. Granted, it is stated clearly in her point of view that she’s sobering up a bit. But she also calls it a drunken endeavor the next day, so. I believe, pretty firmly, that consent given when drunk doesn’t count. However, when she retracted her consent, Nick immediately backed off. I don’t know if I count this as something bad the character did or a strange lack of nuanced consent. You, Again has a similar consent issue in, too. But neither feel damaging. Neither are objectively awful. Just something to be aware of, particularly if you’re sensitive to those issues.
I think it’s phenomenal. A fun and quick read – yes, I read it in one sitting. Definitely worth it.
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Boring or Provocative? A Look at Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson
Information
- Goodreads: 3.71 out of 709 Ratings
- Age Range: Adult
- Genre: Romance, Erotica, Gothic, Fantasy Romance
- Series: Unearthly Delights, Book 1
Summary
Adam and Nicola are best friends who definitely aren’t in love with each other, why would you ask? He takes her on a trip with him and it ends with the two being left at the mercy of Eileen and Finley. They waste absolutely no time getting into kinky stuff and completely ignore the obvious signs that Eileen and Finley are probably up to something. Also, there’s faeries.
I wish I could say this was fun, but I found it to be so, so boring. S.T. Gibson says that this is porn with plot. Fun, I can get behind that. I have an entire post about letting women read porn. I love a spicy read every now and then. So I went into this with expectations of at least enjoying Gibson’s vibes and spicy scenes. For something that is porn with plot and a ton of content warnings, the scenes in this felt so lackluster to what they could’ve been. More so, the plot was basically no where in sight. The characters were annoying. There was nothing about this that felt like S.T. Gibson to me other than the atmosphere- which was as phenomenal as she always does.
Review
Starting with the characters, there’s some good things here. All of Gibson’s characters have something about them that I think can be relatable, even if its exaggerated or the kind of qualities we have in the back of our minds but try really hard to not act on. Gibson is phenomenal of bringing characters to life in a way that makes them feel flawed and so real, even if we desperately wish they weren’t. That being said, they just aren’t interesting. Which is weird because we have a boy who is seeking to see the magical place his grandpa always told him about, a girl who grew up in the system and has an intense fear of abandonment and an air of whimsy, a man who both loves and hates the woman he grew up with and has a relationship with, and a woman with a chronic illness doing whatever it takes to save herself. These people should not be boring, but they are. I just could not find it in myself to care about anything they were going through.
Gibson’s prose is always stunning. It hasn’t quite gotten up to A Dowry of Blood for me, but it’s gorgeous. She has a way of weaving in a heady atmosphere that almost keeps the reader in a chokehold. Before you know it, you’ve finished the book. She’s insanely talented and wonderful. Unfortunately, only the atmosphere of this book was what I enjoyed. There is no plot, unless maybe you count the first and last chapters. It’s quite honestly just porn, but not even really porn that’s great? It was a bummer for sure.
I don’t really have a lot more to say about this one. I was looking forward to it and I can see why people will enjoy it. There’s a group relationship – 2 main ‘couples’ that enjoy one another – and the dynamics between them are interesting. I like that there’s not really a ‘hierarchy’ – everyone is interested in each other. But there’s also a lot of jealousy, miscommunication, abuse, and toxicity. There’s also somewhat-but-not-quite incest which I couldn’t get into. A couple who grew together as brother and sister and call one another brother and sister and then a couple that are kind of cousins by legality but not blood. Not fond of that. But it is stunning, it’s atmospheric, it’s spicy, and it’s got deadly faeries. I’d say give it a try, but be cautious of your expectations.
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The Friends to Not-Quite Lovers to Strangers to Friends again to Lovers Situationship of Adam and June – It’s Different This Time
Information
- Goodreads: 4.35 out of 1,172 Ratings
- Age Range: New Adult, Adult
- Category: Romance, Contemporary
- Series: None
Summary
June Wood’s life is just going down hill and has been for a small while. She’s on a tv show that doesn’t really spark her interest and that just got canceled so now she has…exactly nothing going for her other than trying to figure out how she’s going to pay her half of the rent. Luckily for her, she gets a weird email. Subject – 74 Perry Street. Mind you, she hasn’t lived in this place in years. And now, here she is. Being asked to come back to New York to look into some paperwork because, somehow, this place that she hasn’t been back to in 5 (maybe 6??) years is now hers. Unfortunately, it also is the name of a certain someone June never thought she’d have to face again. The two of them decide to stay in the home, once again, sparking old memories and old feelings.
It’s really cute. I gave it four stars and actually really debated 5 for a while. It’s not perfect, but I’m learning to read and rate books for what they are. A five star romance is not typically going to be the same as a five star fantasy or horror. There are some flaws that I’ll talk about more in the review section, such as how the characters feel younger than they are, but this is just a really cute book. It’s giggly and tow-curly, while also having some emotions tied to it (looking at you, June’s commitment issues and avoidant attachment style). I read it fast and had a blast. So let’s chat about it.
Review
I’m going to start with the plot, as there are some great things and some not so great things. June is an actress whose tv show just got canceled. She has no idea what she’s going to do, but get an email right in the nick of time – she is the owner of her old home that she was renting about 5-6 years ago. The agent couldn’t discuss anything over the phone and demanded she come to New York from LA to discuss it. Her agent is extremely excited; she’s been trying to convince June to get back into Theatre anyway. June was incredibly successful until she dropped it all on what seems like a whim and ran off to LA. When June gets there, she finds out that her old roommate, Adam, is also listed as an owner. They have a week to decide what they want to do with the house and June decides she may as well stay at the house instead of paying for somewhere to stay. Sounds like a smart and sound decision. But, Adam decides to stay, too. And, boy, do they have a lot to talk about.
I liked the plot. But let’s be real – that shit could’ve been discussed over the phone. She absolutely did not have to go all the way to New York, not in today’s grand age of 2025. However, I can respect a need to get her to New York for something. It played its part. I just have a hard time with suspension of disbelief when I’m reading contemporary romance specifically. It’s split into 2 different timelines – one in the past when June and Adam meet, become roommates, and develop a ‘friendship.’ The other is in the present following as June comes back after 5 or 6 years. The second timeline does jump around a bit. There’s time skips of a year, a few years in order to cover their beginning, developing the ‘friendship’ and how + why it ended. But the pacing never feels too fast or too slow in either timeline that’s followed. It feels just right for each. It’s kind of a slow burn romance, kind of not. I, personally, think the book is too short to be fully slow-burn, but I’m not the greatest judge as I love slow burns that take about 85% of the book before the characters even kiss for the first time. But it isn’t vista-love, either, and I’m sure other readers will disagree with me on what is and isn’t slow burn. That’s okay.
Onto my favorite topics of the book, characters, emotions, and thoughts. I’m tying all of these together because I find it nearly impossible to talk about one without mentioning the other. Starting with the few complaints – the main characters are basically the same person in different fonts. I had to remind myself which of June’s friends lived in LA vs. New York. Genuinely, the only differences between the two is one lives in New York with a wife and kid and the other lives in LA and is dating. Their personality is the same – bland. I know, I know. I’m going to sound picky when I say this, but I have to have other people who are also interesting in my romances. The couple isn’t enough for me. I want to see their other relationships and how those relationships impact them. I love getting scenes with siblings, friends, parents. Anything and everything to show that these people are whole people, not just who each other are through the lens of the person who loves them.
That being said, I love June and Adam. June has a shit mother who does not care about her even a little bit. Adam had picturesque parents and is working through the impact of loss. June has an avoidant attachment style, something a lot of people develop when they grew up as she did. It’s a protective coping skill that a lot of people don’t even realize they’re doing. And when they do realize it, it’s still hard to work through and work against. It’s so fun and interesting each time an author adds in something like that. It feels realistic and gets my little counselor brain excited. Adam is relatively healthy. I would say he tends to go further towards an anxious attachment style, especially when considering how he kind of just bulldozes past June’s (albeit shitty) boundaries and moves into the house, despite having his own home, just to be close to her and try to talk to her. The entire story is essentially June realizing what she’s been doing, coming to terms with her fear of abandonment, and making changes to be able to live happily ever after with the love of her life. I do wish we got to see Adam realize a lot of his mistakes as well. He does acknowledge some, but him pushing her boundaries isn’t ever really talked about. They do also read a lot younger. They’re supposed to be early thirties, but reading this felt like talking to some of my younger cousins and friends who are just starting out – mind you, I’m 25. I know people can and do start over. It’s not necessarily what they’re going through, just the way they act and the mindsets they have that make them seem so much younger. I can’t give too many examples because I don’t want to spoil the book. Just be prepared – you’re going to love them. But they will feel like they are in their early 20’s instead of late 20’s-early 30’s. It doesn’t seem like it, but there is a big difference between the ages mentally.
All in all, I had a fantastic time with this book. I read it very quickly. It had me hooked, even with the few complaints I had. I love June and Adam and I love them together. I don’t even usually enjoy romance books with 2 different timelines. I typically find one timeline more interesting than the other and prefer for that timeline to just be the whole story. But for this one, I just had a great time. I loved getting to see them meet and fall for one another and completely mess it up. I also loved getting to see them adjust and grow and fall for one another again (as if they ever fell out of love with one another). It’s cute, it’s giggly, and it’s (occasionally and vaguely) emotional. And I loved it.
— I’ve been gone a while. I didn’t quite know what I was doing here and lost my excitement for talking about books. But I’m back, baby. And there should be another review coming this week (maybe a couple).
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Ling Ling Huang Strikes Again in New Literary Horror: Immaculate Conception
Information:
- Goodreads: 4.00 out of 2,912 Ratings
- Genre: Literary Horror
- Age Range: Adult
- Series: No
- My Rating: 4 Stars
Summary:
Could your friendship last if you had access to their memories? Enka and Mathilde have an interesting dynamic. They’re each artists, so of course their relationship is borderline obsessive, intense, and occasionally pretentious. Enka adores Mathilde. Her art is one of a kind. Enka is also jealous of Mathilde. She’s never seemed to be able to create something so wonderfully original, controversial, or intense. When Enka’s husband offers a piece of new technology where Enka can see and experience Mathilde’s trauma in an attempt to absorb some of it and lessen the blow, Enka jumps on it. But, she might also have other benefits as well.
Review:
I really, really enjoyed this. This first half of the book is fairly slow, but the last half packs such a punch that it kind of makes up for it. I loved so much of this. The character analysis is intriguing and also heart breaking at some points. This is truly an exploration of two women throughout their friendship as they grow their relationship, explore art, attempt to compete with ever advancing technology, and so much more. There is so much incredible commentary throughout the book, which I adore. Speaking on characters, Enka is interesting. She is not a good person. She’s greedy, jealous, impulsive, pretentious, and sometimes just really dumb. Her very first thought when she wakes up from having this technology implanted in her brain is whether or not she can see what Mathilde thought of her when they first met. I think a lot of people can relate to wondering what you look like in someone else’s perspective, particularly when it’s someone you know and love. However, how many of us would jump at the opportunity if the person didn’t really want us to know? It feels like such an invasion of privacy born from something so many can relate to. Meanwhile, Mathilde loves Enka. She makes sure Enka knows how much she appreciates her. Tries to share her excitement and happiness. Allows herself to lean on Enka when she needs too. Is this acknowledgement enough? No. Of course not. There’s even a moment when Enka finds Mathilde. I’m not going into detail for spoilers, but she finds her and people were worried. However, when the media finds them, Enka appears to almost be jealous that the media isn’t focused on the billionaire’s wife walking out dirty and hurt. They’re more focused on what Mathilde is doing – rightfully so. In that moment, Mathilde deserves the attention (though not the kind she’s getting, no one needs that in a crisis) but Enka wants it – wants it without experience what Mathilde had to in order to get it. The writing can be really pretentious and oddly clinical. There were moments when I felt pulled out of the story because of the writing itself. For example, there’s a moment when Enka is, as usual, doing something awful. Again, no details due to spoilers. But, the reader isn’t really allowed to sit with it or experience it, they’re more so told. Which does make the moment feel… almost less than. Which could also be argued is exactly what Huang is getting at, as Enka cares less unless she is able to actually see and experience it herself as well. Something happens with Mathilde’s child. They are both mothers at this point. Yet, Enka doesn’t seem to be able to fully express empathy until she sees and experiences the trauma herself in Mathilde’s mind. The horror within the novel is great. There’s some body horror, though not nearly as much as Huang’s other work. The horror of the concept, someone else having access to your mind and doing whatever their little heart’s desire, is what got me. Aside from occationally having an issue with the writing, the ending also felt off to me. I know some people will love it, but I could’ve ended the book a chapter earlier and been fine. This ending felt a little too neat for me. It almost came across as when you’re watching a movie and there’s a tiny little thing in the end that ensures there’s space for a sequel. Not my favorite, but not horrible either.
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Fantasy Whodunit: Solving the Murder in Yarrowdale in A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
Information:
- Goodreads: 4.58 out of 826 Ratings (being Published April 1st, 2025)
- Age Category: Adult
- Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
- Series: Shadow of The Leviathan, Book 2
Summary:
Ana and Din are back at it, but Ana may have met her match. They’re in Yarrowdale, a city at the edge of the Empire – half way empire and half way under control of the Yarrowdale King. There have been discussions about Yarrowdale officially becoming part of the empire – unfortunately a death of the most curious nature takes place during the negotiations. Enter Ana and Din on their never-ending quest to solve the insolvable. It’s a locked room mystery with the killer completing tasks that, previously, were deemed impossible. So incredibly fun.
Review:
If you enjoyed the first book, I don’t see this sequel being a disappointment. The writing and tone of the story reminds me of if Knives Out and Glass Onion were fantasy and Benoit Blanc was an enhanced older lady. And I say that with the most love possible. It’s serious and has gruesome and horrible depictions of death. There are characters who are the definition of depravity. Yet it still somehow maintains such an upbeat and kind of funny way of telling the story. You have a gruesome and dreary atmosphere that’s told in a slew of comments that genuinely made me giggle. Out loud.
“You know, you are not a stupid person, Din.” “Thank you, Ma’am,” I said, pleased. “Or rather, not an unusually stupid person.” “Thank you, ma’am,” I said, far less pleased.
Let’s start with Ana and Din because they are, quite honestly, what makes these books absolutely perfect. Ana, this old woman with substance use issues and some manic tendencies, absolutely obsessed with finding patterns and solving issues. Din, this younger (?) guy who is a bisexual king, sleeping with whoever is willing to let him smash in order to find peace at night and be able to sleep. There’s something about seeing two people who are the polar opposites getting along and being just about the only people to fully accept one another. Watching the calm and ‘normal’ one handle the very not normal one with an air of almost begrudged amusement or even just being the only one able to roll with it is something I eat up every single time.
Though she slept before me like a child, this frail white thing remained beyond me. I gently lifted her blindfold from her nightstand and tucked it about her eyes again. “For when you wake, ma’am,” I said softly. Then I left.
This book has the main mystery of solving the murder(s) and find the culprit. It’s mysterious and interesting – I tried to guess what I thought was going on at 25%, 50%, and 70%. I will say I was partially right on one guess and there are moments that could lead you – roughly – to the right conclusion. But Ana’s ending monologues laying out how the killer did the killing (and the why) are always perfection. It’s dramatic and funny and absolutely bonkers. Loved every minute of it. Think of the ending of Knives Out and Glass Onion, where Benoit Blanc does his monologues and that’s exactly what Ana’s feel like, except she’s also somehow a little more sinister.
Din is struggling throughout this whole book. He wants a different job to be with the man who stole his heart in the first book and also have a job that feels more important and potentially more rewarding. But there are circumstances that hold him where he is and he doesn’t feel like he can tell anyone about it. He’s sleeping with anyone willing just about every single night because he can’t find enough peace to sleep without doing so. He’s struggling and he’s struggling pretty hard but trying to keep his head above water. He’s trying to find his place throughout this entire thing and, surprise surprise, Ana is completely aware of it. She gives him advice and comfort in the only way that makes sense for Ana, but it makes absolutely no sense to Din until later. It’s fantastic seeing Din grow to see the importance in what he does towards the end of the book. Even if he isn’t in love with it just yet, he grows to see why his job is needed and why Ana might need him.
Then she reached out, fumbled to find me, took me by the hand, and squeezed it: the first time she’d ever done so in my memory. “Then I thank you, Dinios Kol,” she said quietly. “I hope I shall be an instrument of service to you, just as much as you are to me. And..I can hardly think of a better watchman than you. I shall keep you close – for though you and I are small, together we can forge grand things indeed.”
Ana is a mystery in and of herself. She’s manic. She’s bonkers. She’s is terrifying. You see hints of what she may be throughout the story, with her doing even more insane things than she did in the first novel. The reader gets a hint of how her augmentations affect her more in this and how intense it can be. I’m so excited to read more about her and what she is and what she’s gone through – I truly hope her mystery is one that continues to be unraveled as we go. And it was so incredibly interesting to see how she reacted to having someone who appeared nearly as intelligent and spooky as her running around. It was even better for her to realize the killer had no huge, grand, outrageous reasoning and be so incredibly disappointed by how small it all really was.
I’ve already touched on the mystery, which I can’t talk too much about without spoiling it. I found it to be satisfying, even if Ana didn’t. The atmosphere and picture of Nature taking over and being this incredibly dangerous thing in this world and how grotesque it can be really lends to the almost gothic, foggy, and spooky atmosphere to the mystery itself. Even though the writing style is more upbeat, it allows itself to slow down when the time calls for it. I loved every piece of this book. The only critique I really have is towards the writing with Ana cussing nearly every other sentence. There are time when it feels like her natural speak and other times when it feels forced. I can also see how this isn’t for everyone. It is fantasy, but it’s an investigative mystery first. And if you’re looking for something a little more serious or don’t like Benoit Blanc’s movies, then I don’t know if you’d enjoy this either. For me, it’s nearly perfect.
I would love to know if you’ve read the first book and what you thought about it if you have. Do you plan on picking this one up when it comes out? I’ve already preordered a physical copy so that I can add in my annotations.
“This work can never satisfy, Din, because it can never finish. The dead cannot be restored. Vice and bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall aways persist. The duty of Iudex is not to boldly vanquish it but to manage it. We keep the stain from spreading, yes, but it is never gone. Yet this job is perhaps the most important in all the Iyalets, for without it, well…the Empire would come to look much like Yarrow, where all the powerful and cruel prevail without check. And tell me – does that realm look capable of fighting off a Leviathan? “
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The Inklings Digest 17
Currently Reading:
I am currently 25% into The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song. This is heavily inspired by Mulan and is pretty good so far. Goodreads doesn’t list what age category this is in and it reads very YA so far, but really well done YA currently. Really enjoying it so far. Then I am also 25% into The Ruins by Scott Smith. This is very, very different. It’s a horror about tourists who, naturally, ignore everything the locals are trying to tell them and end up on a spot of land that may or may not be itching to kill them. This reads so fast so far and reminds me of older, early 2000’s horror movies. Which just so happens to be my favorite type of horror books.
Recent Reads:
I’ve hit 47 books so far this year. This past weekend was the Gala of Peace for Cover’s With Cassidy’s Realmathon, where every book you read gets an extra 10 points. I read Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh. Pretty good. Had me hooked, especially for the investigation they’re doing. Unfortunately, the investigation (which is horrid and gruesome and my favorite part) is in the background while the romance is the primary focus. And it was good, okay, I enjoyed it, but I wanted more of my favorite part. I was informed the second book focuses more on the plot than the romance, so I might give it a try. But I also don’t think I’d be missing out on anything if I never read from this series again.
I also finished up the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett and it was so cute and so cozy. I listened to the audiobook while playing Spyro – definitely recommend. Emily and Wendle are precious to me. The Wren In The Holly Library by K.A. Linde was alright. Its a heist but the training and planning for the heist doesn’t feel like it got much attention. It was more about creating tension for the romance. Yet, despite trying to create the tension, the romance also felt like it came out of no where. They heavily dislike/distrust one another one second, then they’re spilling secrets the next. It was good but I, once again, don’t feel like I absolutely have to continue. I may read the second when it comes, I may just listen to someone talk about it. We’ll see. I finished the weekend up with A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya was pretty good. It was well-written and cute with interesting lore for the vamps within the story. Unfortunately, YA is a hit or miss for me lately, especially when it’s romance focused.
As mentioned in the last Digest, I was reading A Drop Of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett and finished it. This was absolutely five stars. I love Din. I love Ana. I love the Sherlock-esque mystery. I love how every murder is tied into this horrific turn of nature surrounding this Empire that you don’t know how to feel about and these Leviathans that are scary, yet somehow take a backseat to the horrible people Ana and Din are coming after. You get information on what Ana is, but there are still questions. How is this old lady one of the most terrifying people in this series? I don’t know, but she has my entire heart. I love her relationship with Din. Truly, the two of them just spark joy in my little heart. So excited for the next. I absolutely consumed this book within about 2 days and I’m back to waiting for the next release.
Plans This Week:
Libby loves to interrupt my plans, so I guess I’ll be reading through the libby holds that came through. I’ll be finishing The Ruins and The Night Ends With Fire. I also plan on getting to The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick and The Passage by Justin Cronin. I’m also planning and outlining reviews as we speak, as well as designing a few more bookmarks for my bookclub.
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Exploring the Jinn Realm: A Review of The Ashfire King, Book 2 in the Sandsea Trilogy
Information:
- Goodreads: 4.39 out go 126 Ratings as of March 12, 2025 – release date is April 15th.
- Age Category: Adult but reads more closely upper end of YA in my opinion
- Series: Sandsea Trilogy, Book 2
- Genre: Fantasy
Summary:
Loulie, the Night Merchant, and Mazen are trapped in the jinn realm, which is currently crumbling thanks to a certain king. In order to get back home and to Qadir, they must save the jinn world. The world is on the cusp of collapse and Loulie and Mazen find conflict and shady people around every corner. They are faced with considering their own lives, as well as fix the mistakes of others. Meanwhile, Aisha is fighting her own fight as well.
Review:
I gave this a 3 star rating. I adored the first book in the series. The world is so intricate and beautiful. There are jinn, magical relics, actual flying carpets. It is absolutely stunning. The world building is even better within this book, as we actually get to see the jinn world. The characters aren’t even really what I struggled with. They are fun and interesting. This book is about them deciding their legacy. Do they take on someone else’s or carve their own?
It’s a book full of introspection. Mazen is deciding what kind of ruler he is willing to be, if it comes to that. Loulie is deciding who to believe and trust in, particularly when her trust in specific people is called into question. Aisha is navigating her hatred for the jinn while having one live currently sharing her body. You see a lot of character arcs throughout this book, especially when looking at how they were in the beginning of the Stardust Thief. There’s even a cutesy little romance growing, but no worries about that taking over, it doesn’t. It’s barely there at all, but still sweet. My gripe with the characters is that my favorite and the one I wanted to see the perspective of and learn more about is hardly in this book. It’s even named after him and he’s hardly in it.
Next is the writing. The prose is nice; it’s not overly descriptive and not overly simple. It has a lovely flow that feels perfect for the book. The battle scenes are absolutely phenomenal and gripping. Unfortunately, it was also incredibly repetitive. I lost count of how many times Loulie or Mazen commented on Rijah’s eyes – I get it, they glow and they almost never change their eyes when they take the form of someone else. I know it’s a way for the two of them to note whenever it’s Rijah they’re looking at and not someone else, but it just got so repetitive. I swear, the comment “but the eyes were glowing blue and I knew it was Rijah” (not a direct quote, but something very, very similar) at least 5 times within one chapter. Still, each chapter ends on a cliff hanger that has the reader desperate to keep turning pages.
While the writing is done really well, aside from repeating specific phrases, it also reads as if it’s the older portion of YA instead of purely adult. I have read two of these books now and I have no idea how old these characters are. I can believe Aisha is an adult, but Loulie and Mazen? They read as 15-16 at most. They feel so immature. Maybe that’s because they’re constantly around other characters who are centuries older than them. I’m willing to give it that benefit of the doubt, but it just reads as extremely well-written YA in the way the characters interact with one another and view things. That’s not a bad thing at all, just something to take note of.
The plot also felt like it took a small step behind the characters in this one. The first felt like the plot was two steps over the characters, so it makes sense. The plot is still absolutely happening, but it’s the characters making these big decisions that feels more like a focal point. Still, the plot was incredibly interesting. I hate Omar. There were times the characters were confused on who to believe and who to trust and I’m still not sure who is doing what. I believe that’s on purpose. Hopefully. There’s a queen who has made some fucked decisions, but ultimately wanted what she thought was good for her people – though her plan was hurting them. There’s an ifrit who feels alone and abandoned and is acting out on that – though her plan was saving the jinn realm. There’s a servant of the queen who hated her more than anything and is apparently the biggest villain of them all? I like that it’s not a nice and pretty bow. I like that each of them are bad people in some aspects and great people in others. You can feel for each of them.
Ultimately, this was slightly a bummer. But, I’ll give it to Chelsea Abdullah, she knows how to write an ending because that ending has me absolutely needing the next book immediately. It’s well-written with a stunning world and compelling characters, but it was not what I was expecting this book to be or what I wanted it to be. That in no way makes it bad, it just wasn’t what I wanted. And that’s okay. I do think a lot of people are going to enjoy this even more than the first. Are you planning on reading this one? Let me know!
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How Readathons Boost Your Reading Habits
What are Readathons:
Read-a-thons are typically just a fun way to encourage reading and community engagement. There is usually a theme and specific prompts for books you read. I’m currently participating in Cassidy’s (Covers With Cassidy) Realmathon, which is set is ‘Carrion City’ and has a competitive aspect to it. Within this readathon, participants choose a team – Stags, Monarchs, Ravens (my selected team), and Stingers. Each team represents a family within this city and the families are competing for control of Carrion City. Each team has specific bonus prompts to complete, with the Ravens currently having: read a book found on a list, read a book with a character hiding a secret, and read a book with an urban setting. You don’t have to hit all of the bonus prompts. You don’t even have to read any of the bonus prompts because there are more prompts your book could fit. For example, you can increase points for your team by reading a book that’s fast paced or your can decrease points for another team by reading a book you gave five stars. It’s super easy and super fun and really just encourages any reading at all while still being fun and community building.
How participating in readathons can impact your reading:
First and foremost, I’m a very competitive person but in strange scenarios. Before ever participating in a readathon, I usually read about 5-8 books a month. That’s a lot of books for the average person. Then, I did my first month-long readathon host by G (Found as BookRoast on YouTube). I found that my reading bumped up to 15-30 books a month, depending on how long they are. I averaged around 10-12 thousand pages per month. And the more readathons I engaged in, the more those numbers stayed consistent. Now, I am well aware that I am outside of the norm here. And I’ll openly admit that about half of those books are audiobooks. I started listening while I was cooking, cleaning, driving, getting dressed. I’m listening almost all the time, unless what I’m doing requires more focus and would result in me not catching a detail or something like that. Every moment that I have to spare is spent reading in one format or another and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. It’s lead to me creating this blog, debating making a podcast, and engaging in communities that are so fun to be a part of. So, readathons have a ton of benefits.
They can:
- Increase your reading habits
- Build, foster, and encourage communities
- Add a level of fun to a hobby that a lot of people see as ‘boring’ – but don’t even get me started on that.
- Improve reading skills
- Helps promote libraries – you gotta get your books from somewhere
- Fosters self-esteem + pride
- provides a challenge (even if it is small risk) and who doesn’t like those on occasion?
- Improves memory
- Improves creativity
- + all the typical benefits of reading without the challenge because reading is reading
Readathons are just so fun and interesting to participate in and I highly encourage people to find a reading challenge/readathon that feels like a great fit for you. Not all of them are month long. There are bingo challenges in which you have to get bingo for the reading prompts that are year long. There are week long readathons. Really, they can be however long your little heart desires. Do you have a favorite if you’ve ever participated in one? Have you ever done one? I highly recommend Cassidy’s – covers with Cassidy. Lexie’s at Books with Lexie – it’s a sort of escape room theme. Mel’s Battleathon at Mel Leanore Reads is also a ton of fun. Would love to know your thoughts below!
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The Inklings Digest 16
Currently Reading:
I’m currently reading a few books! First, Kill for me, Kill for you by Steve Cavanagh. This says its for fans of the Silent Patient and Gone Girl, so I’m excited to see why it has such a high rating. I’m about 50% through and really enjoying it so far. I’m also currently reading an ARC copy of The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. I’m close to 40% through this one and really enjoying it. It’s the follow up to The Stardust Thief and is set to be a trilogy. Really intricate and beautiful world building. I’ve also started This Woven Kingdom as well, but have only gotten through the first chapter. I think I’ll be doing a read with me for this one.
Recent Reads:
I’ve averaged about 15-20 book per month so far for 2025. Notable reads since the last Inklings Digest are Quicksilver by Callie Hart. I understand this book is not the most well-written, but it had everything in it that I was wanting and expecting. I absolutely devoured it and definitely recommend if you’re a romantasy fan who doesn’t mind looking past a bit of cringe-inducing moments.
Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang had my heart in its grip and then ripped it out of my chest. I read this book before Sword of Kaigen, so I didn’t have any expectations for it. I’ve seen a lot of people who say this is still wonderful, but not as good as the Sword of Kaigen was. I’ve also seen a few people who prefer this one. I don’t have the comparison right now, though I do plan on getting to the Sword of Kaigen soon. All I can say is this book was rage inducing and written for the overlooked, over worked, and underestimated girlies. I loved it. I sobbed. I loved the magic. I loved the characters. I loved the realistic reactions to certain situations – though some of that realism tapered off towards the end. It was damn well near perfect and I cannot wait to read more of her work.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy was another book that hurt my feelings and I will be telling my therapist about it. This is a book about grief, fear, and what all of that can look like to a child. It’s about how parents take desperate measures to protect their children, occasionally without considering how their methods could impact their children. It’s intense, interesting, and absolutely heart breaking. Nat Cassidy always makes sure to put trigger warnings in the beginning of his books and please be sure to read those before reading this novel.
The Butcher’s Masquerade by Matt Dinniman and Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave are two more recent reads of mine. I finished Finlay Donovan yesterday. Both of these are great continuations of their series. Carl and Princess Donut have my heart and their fight to stay as human as they can during this is heartbreaking but also so fun to watch (I am not better than the aliens in this series, I know). I’ve seen some critiques for the Finlay Donovan series, such as how unrealistic they are or expressing frustration that Finlay is a mother yet consistently does not have her children much in the book. There is always someone else watching them. My reasoning for why those critiques don’t bother me are these: the plot is that Finlay is an author who is accidentally mistaken for a hitman and, unfortunately, gets caught up in the mafia and has to juggle that with her divorce and being a parent. It has never been realistic. It was never meant to be. It’s a cozy series. I suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the ride all the way through. Also, she has her kids enough for them to play into the story without them making the story impossible. I love this series. It is not for everyone, but I adore them. And I need the next one immediately.
This Week’s Plans:
I would like to plan a few posts for the blog for the rest of this month. I’m also participating in Realmathon, hosted my Cassidy on Youtube under Covers With Cassidy. It’s a really fun month long readathon with a competitive twist Cassidy does every year in March. I’m on Team Ravens this year, host by Lexie at Books with Lexie and Leandra at Leandra the TBR Zero. I would like to finish the books I’m currently reading and there are about 2 holds that should be coming in soon. I don’t have any plans for what I’ll be picking up next, I’m just going with the flow. What are you currently reading? Let me know!
