Book Review: A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1) by Deanna Raybourne

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If a book can make me fall asleep three times a day while reading it, then I have to say that this is a slightly boring book without the murder part, I guess I can say? Because I was looking for the murder part of this cozy mystery, and I felt like it never...came. When it did, I guess I missed it because it was all about her parents and who her father was and all that...which was fine, I guess, but at the same time....I was kinda shocked about it???

So this book introduces Veronica after she buries her Aunt, and she has lunch with the vicar and his wife, she tells them that she and her aunties are not related, stating that she is an orphan and she'll be fine living her best life studying fairies and also not getting married. Leaving them after a really good lunch, she returns home to find that the cottage she was about to sell is about to get robbed. Before she can smack the heck out of them with a German sword, a baron shows up to take her to London, telling her that she's in "grave danger".

Okay...why???

When she gets to London, she is put in the care of a man named Stoker, a naturalist, and a taxidermist. She spends a couple of days with him, helping him with the elephant for a lord and also making sure his collection and place are spot on, when news of the baron's death is in the newspapers. Next thing you know, they are gone on an adventure, not solving the mystery until like the last hundred or so pages, going to the circus and posing as a husband and wife, then having to leave after a fight once the freak show is done.

When we focused back on the mystery aspect of the book, it went back to Veronica and why people was after her. It turns out that people are after her because she is the legitimate daughter of Prince Albert, the son of Queen Victoria. There was something about her mama falling for the prince and them getting married, then nine days later once Victoria was born, that's when Prince Albert gets engaged by Princess Alexandra of Denmark, I believe, or something like that??

At first, Veronica didn't believe it, but the more she looked at the papers and birth certificate, that's when she realized that the children Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra had, including his marriage to her, was void and declared illegitimate, and she was the rightful heir to the throne. Well, she doesn't want the throne-she wants to be her own person, and she wants to live her own life as a naturalist.

Well with her and Stoker getting kidnapped and them meeting her uncle, breaking into the baron's home to find out why she was in grave danger, and also getting the people that want her on the throne or dead in one place so she can destroy the place, it was kinda fun to read and I enjoyed that part. But when she asked Moranday and Sir Hugo Montgomerie who wanted her gone, Moranday only said that it was a "she" not a "he", which makes me think that it's Queen Victoria who's watching over Victoria.

During the Queen's Jubilee, she came and watched her royal family go by, and she was giving a glimpse of them, and that felt like you're with her, watching them go by and actually thinking of the what ifs if the royal family actually accepted her as one of the family, what would her life be. Then one day at dinner, she talked to the Lord who owns the Belvedere if she could work for him getting his natural things together, and when he agreed, that's when she told Stoker (afterwards) and the two started talking about it, thus ending the book.

I have to say, even though this book put me to sleep and it bored me to death in certain parts, but other than that, I really liked it, enjoyed myself reading it, and I might wanna pick up the rest of the series.

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Book Review: The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue! by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first time reading anything by Karina Yan Glaser, and this book didn't disappoint-it made me want to read all of the books in the Vanderbeekers series. This was set during a week of Spring Break, and things were happening left, right, and sideways, and it was also pretty funny as well. Oliver, Laney, Isa, Jess, and Hyacinth planned for a really good Spring Break--with Mama's bakery about to be in Perch Magazine, to Isa's audition and Mama's birthday, things were going well...well it was.

First off, it went off the rails when a city official came to do an inspection, and it failed--twice. So the kids come up with a way to get rid of all of the animals that keep on appearing in the backyard of their brownstone so the next one can work smoothly, but sadly it didn't work the second time, and they also didn't tell Mama about it, which I was sad about. But while they figure out why all these animals are popping up, the children are also doing other things to keep themselves occupied.

Oliver, the builder of the family, wants to make a treehouse. When he couldn't make it because it was raining, he was upset, but he did make bookcases for it. Then when it cleared up, he and his uncle makes the treehouse, and he and his friends sleeps in it. The next morning when they woke up, chickens appeared in the yard, and while he and his siblings were thinking about what to do about who was leaving the animals in the yard, Oliver remembered a camera their Papa had, and he uses it to find out who was leaving them.

Isa is worried about her audition that was coming up during spring break. She practices so hard, even though the noises of the animals and her siblings around her. When it was time for her to finally have her audition, she thinks she does well, but then she does laugh during it, which was something she needed, because right after the kids went to see Herman's dad, who automatically told them no and also told his son that he couldn't hang out with them anymore (meaning I need to read the books to find out why).

Laney fell in love with a black and white cat she named Tuxedo, and then she also fell in love with a bunch of guinea pigs that she knew how to take care of. When Herman is going through his father's slides, Laney sees a place she knows would be perfect for Mama, and the kids go and see it. When they do go and see it--Laney cleans it up a bit--that's when Oliver has an idea for the shop, and how it can be the perfect solution for all of the kids and their Mama, who was studying to become an accountant again. Along with a cat that looks like Tuxedo, they surprise their Mama on her birthday with a sign for the Treehouse and Cat Cafe. When Mama started crying happy tears, that's when they knew that it could work--and it also helped them with their cat problem and animal problems.

This was a really cheerful book that made me tear up once, and I really loved all of the characters and how each of them worked hard to find something for their Mama, and also deal with their animal problem, one day at a time. Also I like the article in Perch Magazine about the cat cafe in the end, and that they went to someone who ran a cat cafe to get some advice.

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Book Review: Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful ending to a beautiful duology. Heart of the Sun Warrior not only hurt my feelings and my soul, but it brought this lovely series to a close. I read Daughter of the Moon Goddess at the beginning of the year, to remind myself what happened before getting to the book, and I wasn't disappointed at all with this book. It broke my heart, made me cry a little bit (in a good way!) and it also shocked me, because it had a love triangle, and I thought she was going to choose the first one, but after she realized who she really loved, that's when she wanted the other one...until he died.

Now Liwei...I thought he was going to be it. He was handsome, the Crown Prince, and pretty much did everything to help her without asking, but she couldn't picture herself sitting there on the throne next to him as the Celestial Empress, fighting for power and trying to be the best Empress she can be. She didn't want to hurt Liwei like that, so she chose Wenzhi, who I really didn't like at all at first, even in the first book, he started to look funny, making me giving him a side-eye. So I wasn't a huge fan of him at first. But in this book, I hated him in the beginning like I thought, but then he started to look appealing as he too started doing things for Xingyin and making sure she's alright, that she, after everything that happened between them, she realized that she loved him.

The small romance of Houyi and Chang'e was so cute. I was gushing when they got back together and he apologized for leaving her and even getting mad at her for taking the elixr. When he protects her it is so cute, even giving her a rabbit because she thought she was lonely awe :) Houyi was so cute and adorable, and seeing Chang'e happy when she got her husband back was so cute.

But everything else hurt my soul. I cried, and gasped, hating Wugong altogether and wished that he was dead, even going so far as to taking the throne and imprisioning the Celestial Emperor. I cannot believe that even the Celestial Empress got into the fight, but she died, which was sad, but at least she died a hero. But I'm also mad at the Celestal Empress who gave Xingyin that ultimatum when they met up. I still a little upset that she kept it, but then once it was broken, I also kinda wish that Xingyin got with Liwei, even though she carried on with the pact with his mama, but even though she chose Wenzhi in the end, I'm glad that they are still friends after all of this.

I really did enjoy this book and I would read this duology all over again.

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Book Review: The Silent Blade by R.A. Salvatore

The Silent Blade by R.A. Salvatore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book took me a while to read, but I enjoyed myself. Even though it flipped between three POVs, which I liked, I liked how we got into the heads of the characters and saw how they feel as they go through their journey. From going to destroy Crenshinibon to fighting demons that cannot be seen, to overcoming Pashas and kinda going into a war with them, reading this book was actually pretty fun. My favorite POV was Drizzt, as usual. But oddly, I liked Artemis Entereri's more.

Artemis came back to Calimport and all of a sudden, all of the thieves' in the thieves' guild were on alert and wonder why Artemis Entereri has suddenly come back--it is because he wants to become the next Pasha? Does he want his title back, the King of Assassins? No one knows why the famous assassin came back home, but they know that whatever he wants, they aren't going to give it to him. So they devise a plan to try and kill him, even kelp-wall him. But Artemis went along with it, even getting some surprising help from the drow and leader of the Bregan D'arethe, Jarlaxle, who helps him take over Calimport and also get rid of the people who didn't do anything or help him. I was also shocked to see that the halflings helped him too (well one halfling-Dwahvel, whom I really liked as Artemis's friend.)

Wulfgar's POV was dark af. After coming back to life and free from Errtu's grasp, Wulfgar still isn't himself, and even when he goes on this journey to give Crenshinibon to Cadderly, he finds himself not really feeling it. After he accidentally punches Catti-Brie after a night of passion because of what happened to him in Errtu's plane, he leaves and goes to Luksan, where he becomes a bouncer for a tavern and also fall in love with one of the barmaids. He spends his nights being with Delly and then drinks the night away, and honestly, I can't think of a simple way to live your life. Also he went to face the shaman that turned the chieftan's son into a spirit, and he got his revenge, but it felt empty, hollow.

As for Drizzt, Cattie-Brie, Bruenor and Regis, they are trying to get to Cadderly's place so they can give him the evil crystal shard, but it feels like everyone and their mama is drawn to the crystal, and they were trying to get to Cadderly fast, until they came across Jarlaxle in the Crystal Tower. Trapping Drizzt in the Tower, Jarlaxle comes up with a plan to get Artemis back to the way he was: a simple fight, just the two of them, to see who won.

Before I went 'R.A. when I see you R.A." for what he did to Drizzt (I was so angry when I read that), I was glad at the end, when he was brought back to life. That honestly scared me, and now that Drizzt is back to life, I am wondering what happened to the Crystal Shard/Crenshinibon, the four friends are wondering if they should go and find Wulfgar, who's living his best life where he is right now.

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Book Review: House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was very gay, but in a good, bloody way.

I wasn't even ready for wlw, passion, and danger when I finally picked this book up--and I was not disappointed. Every bit about this book was so good that I wanted more. I wondered once I was done with the book if Marion and the girls were okay, if someone rebuilt House of Hunger and made it different, did anyone finally find the body of Lisavet??? These questions left me wondering once I was done with the book because it was so good. Marion became one of my favorite characters, and watching her navigate the world of the House of Hunger and try to be herself simultaneously.

The mystery aspect behind it was pretty interesting. I wasn't expecting it, to be honest. I thought Ceceila did move on to an asylum to get better, but instead, it turns out that she was in a cage, and she was called the Wretched, and Lisavet has been draining her, sapping her of her beauty and her life and everything.

When Marion found out what Lisavet did to Cecelia/The Wretched, she decided that it was time to go. That's when she started snooping around, and it turns out the girls that were at the House of Hunger were let go very early and were never paid their pension. So what secret was Lisavet hiding from her and the other girls? And once she found out, oh my gosh...it was very painful and also a very good ending.

The fight between Marion and Lisavet felt painful and deadly, and you would think that almost to the end, Marion was going to die by Lisavet's hand. But somehow she fought back, even gave her a deadly kiss, before she killed her and the girls were able to get free.

This might be on my favorite list of 2024, nay, the top 10 books of 2024, because it was that good.

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Book Review: Critical Role: The Mighty Nein: The Nine Eyes of Lucien by Madeleine Roux

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein—The Nine Eyes of Lucien by Madeleine Roux
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Listen: Lucien Tavelle didn't do anything wrong, he was minding his own business when he found the Somnovem and decided to become one of them, yep, that's what happened. Even though I haven't watched CR in a LONG time, reading this book made me love Lucien and watch him grow from that kid in Shadycreek Run into the most beautiful twisted man that I have grown to love. Reading how Lucien got to where he is now with their friends, and also seeing the Mighty Nein and Essek as well was fun.

Reading how Lucien was betrayed and killed was also pretty interesting to me as well, mostly because I wasn't even expecting the whole betrayal to go down. I thought Vess DeRonga was going to play nice and help The Tombtakers, but instead, under their noses, she turns around and betrays them, turning the whole spell around and shattering Lucien's soul. Then months later, once Mollymauk passed, Molly ended up in his head, and I have to say, it was bloody brilliant to see. Also reading the many voices of the Somnovem talking to Lucien as he figures out what he wanna do once he finds the journal of the mad mage and figures out the spell that'll open up to the Cognouza, so he can live there and bring his friends that died come back to life.

I got worried during the final battle that the Mighty Nein wasn't going to stop him (no, why wouldn't I cheer on Lucien? I was, I swear!) and when they threw almost everything at him and Lucien was going to win, I think it took a lot and Molly to finally destroy Lucien and he died, but the epilogue, when he rose from the grave again, this time as Kingsley Tealeaf...oh my goodness.

I really loved Lucien's character, even from the beginning. He knew what he wanted, even when he came across the Somnovem and the journal and how he became one with the philosophers, and then seeing his rise and fall, TWICE, was very interesting to read and watch, and to see what happened to him once all of it was over. I loved the characters and the action and everything else-very well written, really enjoyed myself.

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Book Review: Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, Katee Robert hit it out of the park with this one. Helen/Achilles/Patroclus as a triad while they compete to be the next Ares? Say less. I was confused as to how this was going to work, the triad, but the more I read it and saw how Achilles and Patroclus work with Helen, even though it was Achilles himself who told Patroclus not to speak or even touch Helen, but somehow someway it worked. Some things were touching and stuff I didn't think would work but my god it did work.

Helen has become one of my favorite heroines in the series so far. Yes, she lived a luxurious life in the spotlight, but she got tired of it. So what does one Helen Kaisos do so she can be her own person? Signs up to be one of the champions so she can become Ares. During the competition, Achilles & big bro Zeus were trying to get her to go back home, saying that she doesn't have the balls to become Ares. But Helen said fuck that and she went on anyway, even though on the side she was doing....many lovely things with Achilles and Patroclus.

When I say "many lovely things" I MEAN "many lovely things I wish I could mention that it even made ME blush." But I did enjoy them to the point that no, I didn't imagine those lovely things, I swear I didn't (dear reader, I totally did).

The competition aspect of the book was one I *shockingly* liked. Even though Paris, the little shit, tried to get under Helen's skin, seeing Theseus and the Minotaur competing to become the next Ares was really fun to read as well. I liked seeing how Helen, Achilles and Patroclus worked together to get through the competition, but before Achilles could even become Ares, he even tasted it...well, an arrow went through his Achilles' Heel, and Helen became Ares.

Was Zeus upset? Yeah. But he could get over it.

Now there's a female Ares, trouble is coming to Olympus, and I need to know what's going to happen. This was a well done written book and I loved every bit of it.

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Book Review: Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book two was even funnier than book one, and I loved every bit of it. Meddy and her Aunties trying to stop a murder during her wedding was downright hilarious. I felt that feeling that my own aunties would pull the funniest stuff to make sure a murder never happened at my wedding. I kept laughing at the Aunties trying to fit into England, speaking the English slang, and then switching back to their English and being themselves was honestly so much fun that I really enjoyed it. Even though Nathan was just there and tried to enjoy himself at the wedding, I still loved him all the same and I am glad that Meddy and Nathan are now a married couple.

The antics that the Aunties did throughout the book cracked me up so much. I couldn't stop laughing as they tried to be a mafia family, even though that failed immediately when everything was revealed, and that the wedding people they hired for Meddy and Nathan's wedding was trying to get them for what they did in the first book to Ah Guan. But still, the antics were so funny, including them trying British slang and almost fighting one other. It was funny to read, and I enjoyed myself while I was reading this.

Even though the romance was barely there, I did like reading about the Chinese-Indonesian culture and how the Aunties were truthful to each other, and even though half of the high jinks made me laugh, and Meddy trying her hardest to get everything under control and trying not to crack under pressure when she was getting married, I found it really cute and funny and I enjoyed myself reading this book. I feel like Jesse Q. Suntanto is going to be a auto-buy author because this one was so good, and Nathan was just there and was worried about what was going on, and why was Meddy and her family acting all weird during the wedding.

The whole story taking place during a wedding was actually pretty damn good. I thought it was going to be quick, but instead it took place during a wedding. In England. I loved and enjoyed every bit of it and I need to read the next book, please and thank you.

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Book Review: Twin Consequences of that Night by Pippa Roscoe

Twin Consequences of That Night by Pippa Roscoe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was kind of terrified to read this book, mostly because the last time I tried to read a Harlequin Presents novel, it didn't go well. But when it comes to this book, I enjoyed this one. I loved reading about Nate and Gabi falling in love again for the kids, Ana and Antonio. I felt like we were seeing these two characters that were torn after their one-night stand and then coming back together and working on their marriage of convenience to falling right back in love with each other, even helping each other out with their problems.

My favorite character has to be Gabrielle. She's strong, tough, and cares about her kids, but at the same time thanks to her mother, she has trust issues that stem from her mother teaching her how not to trust people. She was sent to Nate to seduce him, and even though they did, at the end, her mother called her a whore (to her face, which sucks) and once she found out she was pregnant, she moved out of her mother's house, and her brother, Javier, helped her move on so she can think about her kids and put their needs first and not putting what she wants to do. When Nate came in the picture, she laid out the ground rules for their marriage:

1. They must tell the truth to each other, no matter what it is.
2. They must be together until the kids are twenty-one years of age

Those were the rules, and they followed them to the T-well, until Nate hid his illness from Gabi. She started to have terrible thoughts about what he was up to, and when she got that phone call from Hope that Nate was well, she was so confused and kicked him out of the house. Nate was confused about why she was kicking him out, and even the kids noticed that their Papa wasn't there, Ana cried and wanted him, while Antonio was silent and didn't want to add to his sister's pain. When Nate finally explained-to the whole world at the court case against her mother, Renata Casas, she understood and they have been together ever since, since I was glad about.

Another part I liked about this book was when Antonio had that UTI scare. I liked how the both of them came together and took him to the best hospital to make sure he was alright, and Nate didn't even move and kept gently touching Gabi and even looking over her every once in a while.

This book surprised me in a lot of ways, and I'm glad that I read it, and now I wanna try more books by this author.

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Book Review: Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War #1) by Mark Lawrence

Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took me a week to read it, but I liked it. It was action-packed and it was really fun to read and enjoy. I did like Jalan and Snorri, but to me, Jalan just kept trying to run away and not deal with his problems--all he wanted to do was go back to the Red March or go find one of the DeVeer sisters to chill and have a drink with. I felt like Snorri just took over the battles and fights and whatnot, while he was worried about the women and wine and the food he wanted to eat, all because of his title and what he was comfortable with.

And throughout the book, I felt so sorry for Snorri. He had to deal with Jalan and he was fighting to get back to his family, only for it to turn around and find out that they are all dead, and now he has Asluag in his ear while Jalan has an angel named Baraquel in his. I did like the way the gods were used in the book-it was very interesting, along with the magic system. But other than that...I really was annoyed with Jalan and how he kept running away from pretty much every single thing he could think of, yet he could run to every single girl he saw and bed them without a care in the world. It annoyed me to the point that I really didn't like him as much, and I started to really like Snorri a lot more because at least Snorri did something instead of whining, complaining about him, and doing absolutely nothing to help Snorri in his task to finding his family and killing the man that did it.

So I didn't point out everything wrong with Jalan, but let's turn our attention to Snorri, whom I really liked the most out of the two. Snorri was a gentleman, even though he was a Norseman. He dealt with Jalan, even when he didn't want to, and he forced him to think on his toes instead of with his lower half. I really enjoyed being immersed in the stories that he told about his travels and trials when he was walking towards the Black Keep to save his wife and son, only to turn around and do it again, but with a couple men and his whit about him. I hope he'll be alright in the second book, and I really did enjoy this one. Snorri was my favorite, and Jalan just kept getting on my last nerve throughout the book.

But hey, at least they have a tavern right now, right??? Right??

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2 Book Reviews: For Butter or Worse & Once Upon a Dream

For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The enemies to lovers were there. It was beautiful. I loved Nina and Leo's banter. But the fake dating just threw me off to the point that it made me mad. I'm sorry, you have to plan out your dates and let the paparazzi and everyone believe that you're dating, and not organically date and fall in love? Um, no. I'm sorry, I don't like the fake dating trope. It is confusing to me and I don't understand why they had to do it.

Now I loved how headstrong Nina was. She tries so hard to stay away from Leo and wants nothing to do with him. She wants to focus on her restaurant. But after quitting her cooking competition show after Leo's digs, her publicist came up with a great, but really stupid idea: why don't you two fake date after the paparazzi caught y'all in a very precarious situation. No. I'm sorry, but no. That is the stupidest idea I've ever heard. But the more I kept reading, the more annoyed I was about this trope and how I felt like it didn't work with the enemies-to-lovers trope as well. It didn't. It just confused me more, like why couldn't they fall in love organically, and then they can go on dates and whatnot? That was what I was hoping for. But instead, they just went on these really cute dates, not gonna lie, and then they fell in love.

Leo just...Leo felt boring. Yes, I felt sorry for him with his anxiety attacks and him just taking care of his father's restaurant, but he felt like cardboard and really wasn't interesting and someone I didn't think would work as Nina's fake boyfriend. I was falling asleep each time his parts came up. I wanted him to do something fun and exciting and do something grand...but I felt like in this book he didn't, which was sad because Nina needed someone like that.

I am glad they got together, but that middle part just...kinda ruined it, tbh. I wanted violence from cardboard Leo, but he just...didn't do anything. It made me upset that he didn't, but then he had the anxiety attack, which let him off the hook. But it did start with Nina sending that text message to the wrong person, and no, I'm not blaming her, but it did start with her.

I'm glad they aren't doing a show together anymore and all that, but I don't like the fake dating trope at all, but I'm going to give it another go to see if it's just this book that made me hate it.

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Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm so glad I FINALLY read this book because I enjoyed it. This is my first time reading a Sleeping Beauty retelling, and I enjoyed it. This one is about Sleeping Beauty (Aurora Rose) and how she was stuck in a dream world she created, but the only way to get out of this world she created, she had to defeat Maleficent. See, in the other world where she is sleeping, Aurora is sleeping and Maleficent is supposed to be dead...or is she? In the dream world that Aurora created, Maleficent is her aunt (weird, I know), they hold balls and dinners and stuff every month, and Maleficent keeps telling Aurora that she cannot go outside to the Outside World because "it's dangerous." Well one day, Aurora starts to realize that things aren't what they seem, and that everyone in the castle is starting to either disappear or act strange.

Disappear is right. One night Aurora goes up a tower and finds her dear Auntie Maleficent killed someone and dips her staff into the blood...and Maleficent gets younger and powerful. So what does Aurora Rose do? She escapes and goes to the Outside World, which was supposed to be poisonous, dangerous, and painful...but is cool, has breathable air, and animals that are alive and well.

It looks like "Aunt Maleficent" was lying to her.

While Aurora explores this Outside World, that's when she meets Prince Philip, and the two decide to team up and fight Maleficent, and also get her memories back. The more she's around Philip, the more she starts to fall for him, even try to remember him, but some parts cracked me up, like when she told him to shut up when she wanted to smack him upside his head....there were many funny parts in this book, but I cannot for the life of me remember. I do remember the parts when the memories of her life outside of the dream world and the Outside World collided and she had headaches. All of that-I got worried that she wasn't going to survive it. Still, she recovers, and the two move on and meet the fairies that were "bad" in Maleficent's world, but in reality, they were Aurora's real aunties, even though she was upset that they didn't tell her about the deal and why they had to take her away from her parents.

Speaking of her parents, they were in the book for a short moment before they were killed by Maleficent, which sucked by the way. But other than that, the fight between Aurora Rose, Maleficent, Prince Philip and the fairies was kind of a let down, tbh. I was hoping for the same thing to happen in the Outside Dreamworld, but instead it just...kinda fell flat because of the fact that it took Aurora to create a spindle, tear the needle off from the thing, and then stab her with it. Yes, it was fun and interesting and a nice twist, but the way Maleficent died...kinda made me a tiny bit sad, but at the end it ended nicely, without Aurora and Philip still together, but not married (thank god, tbh.).

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3 Book Reviews, 1 Post: A Venom Dark and Sweet, Hooky, and My Lady Jane

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, this had The Apothecary Diaries vibes, but with a LOT of those C-Drama vibes, and it was a really good ending to the duology. I enjoyed the duel POVs with Kang and Ning, and how during Kang's POV, he was struggling with the position of being the Crown Prince, and all he wanted was to be his dad's son and help him rule the country. But thanks to someone leaving messages in a very delicious cake, there is something wrong in the court. Kang tries to find out what's going on, but he can't until he is sent to get an orb that Chancellor Zhang wanted...or so he thought.

Instead, the one who wanted the artifact was none other than the serpent Gongyu himself, who was possessing his father. When it was revealed that it was Gongyu who wanted all of this, Kang was shocked and also knew that everything that happened to Ning was a lie, because he was there when everything went down in the first book.

While all of this is happening, Ning and her sister, Shu, travel with Princess Zhen and her bodyguard/lover, Runyi, along with Astronomer Wu, to stop the poisoning and to stop Gongyu, but after the events of the first book, when Ning saved her sister from the serpent's bite, only to get bitten by the serpent herself, Ning goes around and tries to help people affected by the poison tea bricks and the serpent. One she didn't save, another she did, and when she reunited with Kang, she hated him in the beginning, but then as she works with him to get what the both of them needed and to stop Gongyu from devouring a thousand souls so he can come back to life.

Even though she didn't have her magic, I'm glad that Ning tried her best with what she got, which was fine with what she borrowed, which was something I really liked. I truly enjoyed this book and I'm glad I read it, can't wait to read what else Judy L. Lin writes.

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Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE.

I really enjoyed the artwork, the colors, and the characters. All of them spoke to me in ways I'd never thought I would like, but I loved every bit of it.

Hooky was really funny and also very cozy. My favorite character in this whole comic was Princess Monica. She knew what she wanted, and even though she was scared and then got brave, she was the best character ever, and I wanted to hang out with her. My second favorite character was Dani, who was very protective of her brother, and she also tried something new, which I enjoyed and also I liked her brother, Dorian.

This comic cracked me up, made me smile when the siblings did something, and this also made me glad that the second one is coming soon because I truly enjoyed where the story was going, and it made me want to pick up book two right now. I do have book three, but I wanna wait for book two to see how all of this picks up and ends.

I really enjoyed this comic, might be one of my new favorite comics that I've ever read in my life, and I need to read more.

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My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Lady Jane was a fascinating and quick read about Queen Jane Grey, who was queen for nine days. But this book's twist is that her husband, Gifford (call him G), can turn into a horse. That's right, a horse. And Jane? She can turn into a ferret, which I did crack up when I read it. I liked how they kept Edward Tudor in the story turned him into a kestrel, and gave him his happy ending, because yes, dear reader, I was worried that they weren't going to give him that happy ending, but when they did, I was so glad, because now he can live out his best life with Grace and also his dog, Pet, who is with Elizabeth I (who, it turns out, is a cat. That we don't see.)

I liked how Jane was such a bookworm and how she put those book facts to the test, she was slowly but surely falling in love with G, who was in love with her, but each time they had time to be alone or to talk about anything, he'd turn into a horse and have to be a horse until nightfall. The escape from the castle when Mary, Bess and Edward's sister, marched her army and took over the castle and usurped the throne from Queen Jane, she refused to denounce her husband and was locked up in the Tower of London, when she was trying to think about escape when she turned into a ferret and thanks to G and Peter Barrister, the both of them escaped and went to find help, so they can find Edward and take the throne back from Mary.

My favorite thing that the Lady Janies does with these books is make them funny, yes, but also they incorporate history into these books and make it really fun, exciting, and also, make history fun. I learn so many things about the people they're writing about, and it makes me want to learn more about the real people they are writing about, because it was so much fun reading this book. I also like the part when it turns out that Mary was a grey mule and she stayed liked that in the end. I also like that Edward gave up his throne and gave it to Bess, whom it turns out was a cat, but she didn't really show it.

I did love all of the characters, but I loved the grandmother. She cracked me up the most and reminded me more of my grandmother, and it made me miss her. I've read My Plain Jane from these ladies, and I cannot wait to read more of this series from them.

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Book Review: A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy L. Lin

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book had a whole bunch of C-Drama vibes and also a whole lot of The Apothecary Diaries vibes, which I love so so much, which I why when I picked this book up to read, I wasn't expecting it to be this good. I really enjoyed the competition that was going on to find the next Shennong-shi, and I also loved the political intrigue and everything. I'm so glad that I got the second book so I can read more of this series, and also enjoy this book as much as I did the first one.

I liked the concept of magic being used with tea because it was a very interesting competition, and learning about the many types of tea leaves that exist in this world is very interesting to me. Mix in the political intrigue and the love story between Ning and Kang/Bo, and this is a perfect book. I did enjoy seeing the people in the background of the Palace and how they helped with the competition, and how in the end Ning, the girl who came to this palace to compete so she can save her sister from poison, but at the same time, Ning is thrust into a terrible world of political intrigue, and meeting people that would do anything to kill her or thrown into the dungeons forever.

I wasn't expecting Ning to have a relationship with Princess Zhen and her bodyguard/lover, Ruyi. I thought the princess was boring and was just there for show, but when Ning finally met her and actually got to know her, it felt like Zhen could be her friend while she goes on this journey to win the tea competition and get her wish to save her sister, only for it fall in her face when the evil Chancellor decided to get rid of her for good, bringing up her mother and how it was supposed to be her sister that was supposed to compete, not her. Then he sentenced her to a lot of lashes that would kill her. But thanks to the Shadow and Princess Zhen, Ning left Jia, the capital, and went back home, after she discovered that the handkerchief her sister made for her had a recipe for an antidote-and all it took was some crushed pearls that Kang was giving to his soldiers, and it helped her get rid of the poison in Shu’s body.

In the process, she got hurt by the snake that was chasing after her sister, and now they are about to head on a journey to try and stop Prince Kang and save Jia. The whole entire thing kept me engaged and I wanted to read more, to see how this book will end, and I’m so glad that I brought the second book so I can read it, because it was so good that I was sucked into the world, and I didn’t want to leave it. I cannot wait to get back into this world, to see how all of this ends because this book was amazing and I enjoyed myself.

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Book Review: Moriarty the Patriot vol. 2 by Ryosuke Takeuchi

Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 2 by Ryōsuke Takeuchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading the manga after watching the anime and remembering how it all went down was so fun--but also SHERLOCK HOLMES STOLE MY SKULL RING AND HE NEVER GAVE IT THE FRICK BACK.

(before you ask me how...I don't know how he stole it. He just did...darn it.)

Anyway, I read this after DNFing a boring book, and I'm glad I picked this book up. The beginning starts out with William being kidnapped--something I wasn't expecting, but I was wondering why the book started out like this, until I saw where it was going and how it all played out. I'm glad that Albert is now the leader of M16, the new shadow organization. And then once that story was over...we go to the Noathic...and the "werewolf" that ended up killing that guy and then everyone saw.

Seeing that storyline in the manga was pretty damn fun. I hated the Count and seeing Sherlock (WITH MY RING) show up and start to guess and go along with what was going on was so much fun to see, it was like I was watching the episodes all over again. I was waiting on Sherly to call William Liam, but then I realized that I had to wait for the other books to get to that, but I did enjoy how William and the others drove the Count to stab the dead body to make it look like he killed him right then and there. I was glad that he was exposed because I didn't like him.

The next one was basically a Study of Scarlet, but they called it 'The Study of S." I believe, and it was really funny seeing Sherlock and Mrs. Hudson and John getting together and Sherlock pulling a prank to see what John would do (WITH MY RING) and then the ending when he was falsely accused and arrested. Darn it. How will Sherlock get out of this one? I don't know, but I cannot wait to read more to find out.

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Book Review: A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was all over the place. I felt like Persephone was making a whole bunch of mistakes and isn't giving a damn about the consequences, and she's not caring for herself. She's not even thinking straight when it came to her friends and her relationship with Hades. She's just doing everything and damning the consequences, which is very bad in my opinion. Every time she and Hades have a conversation, she's either holding back on him, or she's yelling at him, which really doesn't make any sense at all. Why fight him, then turn around and smash him after you get done yelling at him? What kind of relationship is that???

Then the whole thing with Apollo just really...confused me? Like she made a deal with him to be his friend for six months because you wanna save your friend Lexa-which will be my next point of discussion when I get to it-and when he agrees after you nearly take off his penis with your thorns, the first thing he does he take you to a club and forces you to judge a contest that shows how ruthless you can be...like sir? The hell is your damn problem? And he gets mad when she chooses the other guy over you...is you dumb??

The whole Lexa thing was just....plain weird and plain selfish. Lexa wanted to DIE, and yet Persephone tried everything in her power to save her, only for it to backlash in her face...and you want me to feel sorry for her? Really? 'Oh she needed to go through this' BULLSHIT. I felt like Persephone wasn't thinking with her brain or her heart, she just went through it without the consequences. She should've talked this through and not just jumped in, wholeheartedly, into this. If she did that, I think she would've been fine and the book would've been much better. Will I finish this series off? I might, but not for a minute because this book was a hella mess and it's my least favorite one out of the series.

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Book Review: The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander

The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Perfect Mistress, though funny, was just okay to me. Nothing to run home and tell Mama about, TBH. I like the banter and the spark between Julia and Harrison, the ghost thing was fun, and the parts in between chapters with the words Hermione wrote were fun to read. But the one thing that irked me and got on my last nerve was the writer who kept going along with Harrison's plan to take the memoir and write a very terrible book about it.

Julia has to be one of my favorite characters of all time. Yes, she is trying to save money, and the only way she can get money is if she sells her great-grandmother's memoir called The Perfect Mistress. Everyone is giving her an offer to purchase it-Mr. Cadweller, the author Mr. Ellsworth, and Harrison. At first, Harrison devises a plan to try and get her to see reason to NOT publish it-a story of his father is in the book, and he doesn't want scandal to touch the family. Well, it didn't go well, and then Harrison came up with another scheme to get her to not publish the book, which is both very smart and also very stupid of him: be her friend and then get her to not publish the book.

Sounds fun, right?

Nah. It doesn't sound fun at all.

Because after kissing her on the terrace at a poetry reading, that's when Harrison realizes that he's in love with her, and now he's warning her about men who might take advantage of her and all of that. And each time he and Julia are in a room, they are fighting and nearly ready to kill each other. Harrison even saved her before she was kissed by Ellsworth. I was happy that they got together, but then at the end it was just them arguing until they forgave one another--which was fine, and that was it.

I did enjoy myself, it was funny at some parts, but other than that it was okay, nothing to run home and tell mama about TBH.



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Book Review: Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation volume 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 3 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading this book and having SO MANY FLASHBACKS to The Untamed and going "oh no" with each page, knowing where this was going and how painful it was going to be. I almost cried at certain parts, and laughed at some parts. I even cheered when Yangli stood up to that guy whose name I've already forgotten because I hate his bloody guts.

And Wei Ying...poor Wei Ying...everyone hating him for what he did, and then everyone turning their backs on him because of what he did...ow. I felt sorry for him. Even when he and Lan Zhan met up again I just couldn't help but repeat the lines, Wei Wuxian!, Lan Wanji. Like it was like he said his name so calmly instead of shouting it like he did it in the book...ow my heart.

Reading how Wei Wuxian turned into the Yiling Patriarch almost made me cry, but also FUCK Wen Chao, and I'm glad he got what he deserves. Because I'm imagining what Wei Ying went through to start the Demonic Cultivation path...god that hurt. But now I cannot wait for the next volumes because I know they're going to be good, and also they might make me rewatch The Untamed again because goddamn this book was so good. Even the scene in the cave with Wei Ying and Lan Zhan in the cave cracked me up--and the shocking part when Wei Ying was blindfolded and Lan Zhan kissing him instead of the other way around. It was beautiful and it made me smile.

But my favorite parts is whenever Wen Ning showed up and just...just be baby. I love Wen Ning so much (as much as I love Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan). Wen Ning just needs to be protected at all cost.

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Book Review: Galatea by Madeline Miller

Galatea by Madeline Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was a sad one. I originally gave it a three-star, but after thinking about it, gave it a four-star. This story broke my heart in many ways, mostly because I felt like those doctors and nurses and her husband treated her like an invalid and a sex toy, and never gave into her wishes, like wanting to go for a walk, wanting to go see her daughter, actually getting pregnant and being happy about it. But it's like they wanted her to be some kind of living, breathing doll, only for her husband to have around the house, and that made me so sad. I'm glad that she got out of the house and into the sea and also visited her daughter, but good lord, she wants to go out and have some fun for once in her life, not stuck in the house like some invalid or someone who really wants to stick around and do nothing. I really enjoyed this one, but this one broke my heart so much.

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Book Review: That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I can summarize this book, I would say that this book is like if the song "Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend" by Powerwolf slammed together with a funny, laugh-out-loud book, then this book is for you. I enjoyed this book so much that I have a feeling that I'm going to reread this book all over again because it didn't take me long to read, and I really enjoyed reading about Cinnamon and Fallon.

I liked the adventure Cinnamon and Fallon went on, even though she didn't want to go at first. She kept saying "nope", but then as she got better and stronger, that's when she started to gain confidence in herself. Even when she started to fall in love with Fallon when she didn't mean to, coming up with so many excuses when in reality she did want him, but she tried to resist him, even when he turned into a huge Shadow Dragon and nearly burned a whole city down, but he didn't, thank god. The part I liked was when she saved Felix the werewolf and Ambrose the Yuan-Ti snake man from that horrible man who wanted to skin them for their pelts, which was very terrible, but I liked how the author handled that situation.

The second thing that I liked about this book was the many monsters that appeared in the book, which were almost a lot. Meeting orcs that didn't want to tear your face off, the two different dragons that were very different but one was controlled by the evil lich, and also I liked how there was no animosity when they came together after what happened in the city of Wandermere. It was like everyone came together and hung out on the boat.

Even though I only read this book for the comedy and the adventure, and the romance and the spice are down on the list of things I would love about this book, the romance and the spice is up there, because good lord I loved every bit of it. Even though it was a little fast and I got worried that it was going to get bad, instead the flow of how Fallon and Cinnamon fell in love, even when he called her "Rabbit" or "Little Rabbit", I still enjoyed it and the spice was just perfect for me-not to little and not too much.

I would read this book all over again for the very first time because it was *that* good.

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Book Review: The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book, like Amari, completely broke me, but in a different way.

My favorite thing about this book, first and foremost, is the relationship between Vincent and Oraya. Yes, she's his daughter (I thought she was adopted, but after the ending and what it was revealed, yeah they're related), but I found it odd that Vincent treated her like his own progeny instead of a daughter, which was shocking. Secondly, almost every thought Oraya had, sounded like Vincent's voice, which made me oddly believe that they had the same kind of relationship like the vampires from Vampire: The Masquerade. But when it was revealed that she was his daughter and she was a half-vampire, well...things changed for me.

Secondly, this was my first time reading a book with a tournament setting. I didn't read The Hunger Games because I thought I wouldn't like it, but after reading this book, I kinda wanna read more about tournaments like this and why they were so bloody. I mean, the Kejari sounds like fun, but after reading and witnessing the pain, death, and trauma that it causes the contestants participating in them, I was kinda scared, to be honest, that I wasn't going to enjoy this book. But the more I read, the more I got worried for nearly all of them, including what happened to Mische.

Thirdly....Raihn Ashwhatever his last name is because I forgot. I liked Raihn. I wanted to make fun of his name. But I fell for him, even was about to put him in my Garden of Tall Men. But no. He turned around and betrayed me AND Oraya at the end once she wished for him to win instead of her, and I was shocked. DISHONOR ON HIM, DISHONOR ON HIS COW, DISHONOR ON HIS WHOLE ENTIRE CLAN for what he did to Oraya. And that boastful promise he made? BRUH. On sight the next time I ever read the second book, because WTF--why would you say that??? I know it was to protect her BUT WHY??? Ugh, I hated that part of the book.

The way Vincent died once he found out who Raihn was...it was painful to read (and I did gasp when I read it) but OMG it hurted so much. Like, bad. I wasn't expecting that to happen to Vincent, even though he deserved it after going to war with the Rishan, for no reason, and then destroying the city his daughter was born and came from. I had a major side eye when it came to him, and I'm so glad that I was right on the money about it.

Will this make me read the next book of the series? Yeah it would make me do that. I'm just gonna take a break first and then I'll read it, to see how it ends because WTF I'm still not over it. I just need to relax for a moment, read some good books, and then I'll come back to this world because it was just so good.

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Book Review: Amari and the Great Gamer by B.B. Alston

Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you're wondering if I'm okay after reading this...NOT. REALLY.

B.B. Alston did an amazing job with this world, and jumping back in didn't take me long to do. There were so many shocking things that happened in this book-like Amari teaming up with Lara, this Great Game that nearly made my heart drop, Dylan Van Helsing doing the most to make sure Amari doesn't get the Crown, and then the whole attack against the Supernatural World and how one person, a faun with the ability to control people--which is terrible, btw--but other than that, I enjoyed the book that I cannot wait for the next book.

The ending was the one that shocked me the most, mostly because her brother finally woke up after two books. I thought he wasn't going to wake up after what happened to him, but then I remembered what happened during the last game between Dylan and Amari, and how Amari used one of Dylan's spells to make him good again, but after he did that, that's when things went to hell and Dylan went back to being eeevil, which hurts my soul but in a good way, and then Elsie finally turning into a dragon was SO COOL.

The shadow thing that bounced all around Lara's room was pretty funny, but when Jayden talked it down and gave it a cool nickname, I was both shocked and very proud of him for showing off his skill, which is talking to animals and stuff, actually be helpful. But how Amari found out what happened during the congress meeting was pretty interesting and I want to know more.

I think one my favorite parts of this book was how B.B. Alston uses supernatural creatures and spins them in his own way, like the thing with the wraiths. They are very interesting and I really like how they are trying to make a way into this world. I'm glad that I read this book and now I'm ready for book three, because I really need to know how all of this ends and how Amari does things with and without her magic, and how her brother Quinton fits into all of this and how he's going to help her save the world from Director Harlowe (whom I really don't like).

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Book Review: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OH MY GOD. Amari Peters, why weren't you around in my CHILDHOOD?!

I LOVED this book. This book FLOORED me when I picked it up and read it. I wasn't expecting to love this book because I thought it was going to be like any other middle grade, but NO. It wasn't. In fact, one of my students actually picked up this book and said "Hey, this girl looks like me!" and I was proud of myself, that I could bring this book to work and one of my kids saying that one of the characters looked just like her. Anyway, Amari and the Night Brothers was written so well, that I instantly checked out book two from my library so I can read it once I'm gone with this one.

Amari and the Night Brothers is about a girl named Amari Peters, who is trying to find her brother, Quinton, who has suddenly disappeared. After receiving a gift from her brother in the form of a suitcase, she is opened to a world filled with Supernatural things she thought didn't exist until now. She goes and befriends a weredragon named Elsie who is super smart, and a boy named Dylan van Helsing. When it was time to prove that she has some kind of powers or abilities, it turns out that Amari is a magician, and with all the attacks by magicians and hybrids are happening all over the world, everyone is either scared of her or don't trust her. But it turns out that Amari is an illusionist, and seeing her learn how to use her magic for good and not for bad is a really good thing.

Every time Lara Van Helsing appeared, I immediately didn't like her. She kept bullying Amari, which had gotten out of hand that I'm glad Amari fought back. Even Director Van Helsing kept wanting her to fail, but she didn't. She kept proving her wrong, even asking if she can use her magic during one of the trials so she can get the plant thing. But the ENDING.

OMG THE ENDING.

THAT BETRAYAL?? Wasn't expecting it. It was so out of left field for me, and I wasn't expecting it or didn't see it. and to learn that Moreau was going to use Maria and Quinton for a spell to bring back his partner??? What??? Shame. But for Dylan to do that....mouth is still on the floor. But I'm glad that Quinton and Maria are alright, and now I need to know what happens next in the second book.

I just need everyone to read this book, please and thank you because I LOVED IT so much.

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