A Reviews / A- Reviews / Recommended Readsangels / bisexual hero / childhood friends / China / disappearance / dual-timeline / estrangement / friends-to-lovers / friendship / Guild Hunter series / LGBTQIA+ / m/m / mystery / Nalini-Singh / Paranormal / POC / POC author / Recommended Reads / slow burn / traumatic-past84 Comments
Dear Nalini Singh, Illium—playful, loyal, kind, and powerful—has been a charismatic presence in the Guild Hunter series since the first book, Angels’ Blood. Aodhan hasn’t been quite as prominent a character but his light-refracting beauty, artistry, and remoteness give him an almost haunting quality. Their fast friendship was always intriguing ... more >
A Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readsfamilies / feminist / historical romance / Recommended Reads / Regency England / war hero / Westcott / widow11 Comments
Is love worth the loss of one’s freedom and independence? This is what Mrs. Tavernor must decide in the new novel in the Westcott series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh. When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father’s bigamy, he ... more >
Book ReviewsChristmas / classic / Essays / Gothic / horror / Illustrated Humor / Memoir / mystery / non-fiction / Reading lists / Recommended Reads / Suspense22 Comments
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson This was my annual “spooky Halloween read.” I have a hard time judging it, having spoiled myself on the twist long ago. I find it hard to believe that this twist wouldn’t have been obvious even if I hadn’t known, ... more >
A Reviews / A- Reviews / Recommended Readsbetrayal / disability / guardian / ward / joint review / Mediterranean setting / Recommended Reads / thief / war / YA fantasy / Young-Adult9 Comments
Trigger warning: READERS PLEASE NOTE: The following review contains MASSIVE spoilers for the earlier five books in Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series and this is one series where spoilers should be avoided at all costs. Seriously, don’t even read the blurbs for the later books. If you’d like to try ... more >
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readsgenius loci / Germany / Magic / POC / police procedural / Recommended Reads / Rivers of London / Urban-Fantasy18 Comments
Trigger warning (for the book, not the review) Dear Mr. Aaronovitch, I’m a longtime reader of Rivers of London, your Urban Fantasy series featuring detective constable Peter Grant of the London Metropolitan police. When I heard you were working on a new, Rivers-of-London-adjacent short (216 pages) book set in Germany ... more >
Book Reviews / Recommended Reads / Top Ten ListsAlternative Reality/Horror / Best of 2018 / best of list / Essays / Fantasy/Fairytale / historical romance / Recommended Reads10 Comments
This is a short list because I decided to confine myself to A category books only. Usually I’ll include at least B+s, but looking at my log this past year I really do think these five represent the best of what I read in 2018. Bed of Flowers ... more >