Title: Tea Dragon Tapestry Author: Kay O’Neill Series: Tea Dragon #3 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Dragons, Graphic novels, LGBTQI, Tea Pace: Fast Format: Graphic novel Year: 2020
As with all of my other O’Neill graphic novels, this is sickeningly and overwhelmingly adorable. It is so damn cute that it will make your teeth ache. And I mean that in an entirely positive light. Love these books.
One of the aspects of graphic novels I love the most is that they are even more open to interpretation than prose. It doesn’t matter how many times I read one, I find a new meaning and symbol within the storyline.
Reading this was a wonderful journey into the world of tea dragons. It made me seriously joyful to be reading this with a nice cup of tea at my side…
From the first moment, I completely adored Mahiya. There is something kind of vulnerable about her. But underneath that vulnerability is a core of steel. I also love that although she fits into the world, she’s nothing like the other women hunters in this series that tend to act as the primary protagonist. And since I’ve been feeling a little soft and squishy lately… she made me incredibly happy and content.
There are many hints about Jason’s past in the previous Guild Hunter books. Finding out the actual details were far more excruciating than I had anticipated. But also incredibly rewarding. I love that he has a dark complex past, but is nowhere near as twisted and jaded as one would expect. It also gives him a level of understanding towards Mahiya that otherwise wouldn’t have worked.
The different cultures and worlds that the archangel courts create are part of the reason I love Singh’s writing. Actually, her world building is one of my favourite things about her writing. I enjoyed how she constructed Neha’s court. It is so different to the other two courts I’ve been intimately familiar with, and although I don’t necessarily want to go back there (that bitch is crazy), it was certainly a fun journey.
Yet again, Singh not only creates a wonderful romance filled with action that I just couldn’t put down. She also filled a story with a reality and dramas that I just didn’t expect. The Guild Hunter world and its battles are definitely gaining traction, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much further down this war hole the series will go.
Although I have thoroughly enjoyed Elena and Raphael throughout the first three Guild Hunter books, it was nice to read one with a different lead. Focusing on another couple was definitely a good diversion. Although it still continued the main feelings of conspiracy and plots that have underlined every book thus far in this series. I mean, no matter where you turn… There’s a conspiracy.
Dmitri is all sex. He has been since his first appearance in this series. But, the more I got to find out about this amazing man, the more I fell in love with him. The capacity and loyalty that he has makes the heart skip multiple beats. Plus, he is just so… good dream inducing. Which may be why Singh is one of my favourite authors… she makes very dream worthy characters leap off the page.
Honor is peripherally in other stories within this series. And I knew that reading some of her journey was going to be a little painful. Yet, it wasn’t as horrifying as I expected. I mean, the whole aspect of her horrors and tragedies only come to light as she deals with them. So they’re viewed through a lens that is somewhat less painful to read. But dark enough that you feel pride with every milestone she beats.
It’s been a few months since I dug into a Guild Hunter novel. And as always when I pick up a Nalini Singh novel, I wonder why its taken me so long to pick up another one. Maybe because I find it hard to focus on anything else and be a productive member of society… there is just something so… wow about her work.
There is always something difficult about going home. But that can be made far worse when that original home is in another country with some far stricter rules. That sometimes all you want to be is a tourist in a world that you know intimately in another way.
Added to all of the emotional turmoil of this story is the fact that rhe narrator is having to deal with their sexuality. Whilst she is comfortable in it, she is surrounded by people who aren’t. I found this kind of heartbreaking. I mean, these people are supposed to be friends… but they’re just… dismissive in so many ways.
An emotionally difficult story that makes you think about relationships and coming home. And how it can be difficult to navigate different realities.
This story was just… tragic from beginning to end. I mean, it starts woth dead children. And honestly, there is nothing that gets better from there.
Now that I’ve read a few Alexia Arthurs stories, I’m getting used to her jumping around style. And for this story, it added to that feeling of tragedy. Not only are you talking about premature death, but there’s also the sadness and tragedies of those days before.
There is such a feeling of blame and fault throughout this tale. Not that I can pinpoint where the blame is supposed to lie. But it sits there. Incredibly uncomfortably.
I loved the balance of science and personal throughout this collection. The old me who aspired to be an entomologist was completely enthralled by the science. But the me in my new life loved that balance of the relationships one makes in academia. And just life in general. It was the perfect balance.
I read this book while I was seriously distracted. A newborn will do that to you. Which means I can safely recommend this to people who have zero science background. If I can grasp what’s going on when I have a screaming baby throat into my arms, then the language used is very happily accessible. There’s nothing worse than wanting to read about something different to your own life just to find the language totally overwhelming and bizarre.
Not going to lie. While I was reading this, I dreamt of grasshoppers. Frequently. And bugs. And running through fields trying to catch said bugs. Ah, the memories. Bernays is able to bring to life the realities of working in the field. In all of its confusing and bizarre glory. Hot days under the sun and slight madness brought on by long hours… Bernays was able to take me back to my best Uni days.
I like that this collection isn’t in any kind of order. Rather there is a bit of a sensible rambling through the years of work. Everything is clumped into experiences and locales, not in any order. It makes you feel like you’re sitting down with a cup of tea reminiscing on days gone by…
Where I immediately loved Eric in The Doctor’s Secret Bride, it took me a really long time to bond with Bryce. He starts out this story as kind of a dick. I mean, instead of stopping and dealing with the situation in front of him like an adult, he just has a tantrum and expects everything to go his way. Not exactly the most endearing of male leads. He did grow on me. But not as much as other male leads.
Although I didn’t love the male lead in this story, the storyline definitely drew me in. Not that common when I don’t love one pf the leads. I mean, 3 kids losing their parents, a girl losing her sister that she barely knows? It’s enough to make you tear up just a little. And lessens the dumbassery of Bryce.
I like that although Ross features billionaires as the male love interest in this series (not exactly a leap given the name of the series), the women have a much more difficult history. I love how Ross is able to build in a tragic past for Kara. Her, alongside the children really pulled on my heartstrings and made me hope like crazy for a happy ending.
I may not have enjoyed the second book as much as the first, but there are also some fun glimpses of the next story in this series. So I’ve loaded it up on my ereader and I’m ready to dig my tired baby brain into this whole new romance.
Honestly, I’m a sucker for a good romance. Especially now when most of my reading is done on my kobo in the wee hours of morning while my daughter has her feed. There is something about a romance that is simple and hopeful. Something that is very just needed when you’re falling asleep holding a baby. Which meant stumbling across this series felt a little like a godsend.
There was a fun simplicity to this story that didn’t have me wanting to smack either of the lead characters. Not something I can honestly say all that often. There was still the expected romance drama (I mean, it’s a story, you NEED some of that drama). But you could actually understand both motives and mostly just wanted to reach through the pages to hug BOTH the leads.
Through all of the romance and drama, Precious manages to make all of the stakes seem higher. I love when a child (or dog) manages to steal some of the spotlight. Sometimes that’s a bit of comedic relief, Precious just manages to draw your heart into the relationships so much more. Her presence also seriously ups the stakes.
I may find true love and happily ever after to be somewhat believable. The idea that it can happen with a billionaire… well, its a nice little dream there. All in all, that’s probably the part I fins most unrealistic (hopeless romantic here). But, it’s such a nice fantasy that finishing this story left me with a huge grin on my face.
Admittedly, it took me a few chapters to truly get into this. It’s not that the action didn’t start immediately. But I definitely don’t rate Lil as one of my favourite female leads. She’s fun and I love how unique she is in the vampire world. But she’s also heavily into things like fashion and such that I find tedious.
Ty’s evolving into the male lead has slowly been gaining traction in the last 2 books. Actually, I’m beginning to find it a little frustrating that Lil doesn’t just buck up and realise that he’s a good match. Plus, i do want more of him in the story. He’s the lead love interest, but most of the relationship is Lil questioning the relationship…
Introducing new paranormal like the Incubus was quite unexpected. There is this constant underlayer of sex throughout these novels (I mean, what do you expect, she literally runs a dating agency?). But that demonic presence definitely upped the ante. And I’m hoping that it continues to highlight the potential throughout the next books.
I did enjoy this book. And I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series. But, I also am not racing to get the next book on my shelves… its good and definitely a book I would recommend. But also very simplistic and more of an easy read than anything.
Let me preface this review by saying that there is a surprise reveal in this that I DID NOT see coming. Not so much a twist that will shock and awe… but certainly a surprise unveiling of truth that I wasn’t expecting. It was one that suddenly made total sense and has me itching to read These Divided Shores… I just have to buy it first.
Jumping between points if view doesn’t always work so seamlessly. But Raasch is able to do it in a way that is not only enjoyable, but highlights the different voices of the three leads. In fact, she managed to have such great characterisation and relatable characters that I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. For all three of them. Not a feeling that I often have with multiple points of view.
This book had a very pirate-like feel to it. Almost Pirates of the Caribbean in some moments in fact. Add in the not so subtle splashes of botanical magic, and of course this was the kind of story that was up my alley. A dash of romance, plenty of action and violence… of course I fell for this.
The part that destroys me most about this story? The goddam ending!!! It is such a phenomenal cliff-hanger. One that I didn’t anticipate AT ALL. And it is one that I can’t stop thinking about… I really don’t relish the idea of waiting to buy the next book in this series…
Earth and Skye 