Goblins in Georgia by Diane Jones

Book Review
Overview

Title: Goblins in Georgia
Author: Diane Jones
Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again)
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I really liked the premise of this book and series. And I even enjoyed reading this story. But, I probably won’t continue on with the reading of Diane Jones. As much as I enjoyed it, I also found it entirely forgettable. I couldn’t quite get hooked and attached to the characters, and I just didn’t really dive deeply into the tale.

The narrators voice in this story was fantastic, and I love that it dealt with a different culture. The learning of the craft and dealing with goblins also made this an incredibly intriguing and enjoyable story. Especially the way in which they eventually win the day at the end.

As much as I did enjoy this story, I also found it incredibly difficult to sink into and, even write a review about. It was just all too forgettable. Not enough action and emotional drama in it.

Image source: Smashwords

Fisher-Bird by T. Kingfisher

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Fisher-Bird
Author: T. Kingfisher
In: The Mythic Dream (Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Greek mythology, Mythology, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I absolutely freaking loved this Hercules retelling, I mean I’m kind of programmed to like anything with Greek mythology anyway. And, because it’s an area that I absolutely love, I picked that this was a Hercules retelling pretty much from the get go. I love that, rather than retelling the whole myth, it takes one of the tasks and talks about how Hercules was helped.

I love that Fisher-Bird is told in the vein of other traditional myths – why the fisher-bird has a red belly. It’s from that animal perspective mythos, rather than the human. I love that it shifts the focus to why fisher-bird has a red belly, not how Hercules beat the Scythian Birds. Plus, Fisher-Bird as a fun narrator created a beautiful flow to the story that I just didn’t want to end!

After reading this, I really want more T. Kingfisher. Something about the flow and tone of this writing really spoke to me. And I absolutely adored this! Retellings are normally a big hit with me, and this was just even better and more beautiful than anticipated.

<- The JustifiedA Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Fake Dating a Witch by Brigid Hunt

Book Review
Overview

Title: Fake Dating a Witch
Author: Brigid Hunt
Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again)
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2024

Thoughts

I did like this story at the beginning. I was optimistic and enjoying it. The premise was just great and I love how the two lead characters started trying to get to know one another. I mean, a town filled with witches who are part of the economic backbone? That was kind of fantastic. And I really enjoyed getting to know the cast. For the first third. And then everything just lost traction. I couldn’t keep focus and found that the story suddenly felt like it had stopped moving forwards. As much as I wanted to adore this story, and as much as I wanted to continue onwards. I just couldn’t. Probably one of my most disappointing reads on my TBR of late – just because there was so much promise to begin with and it so quickly fizzled.

Image source: Amazon

Ever Night by Gena Showalter

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Ever Night
Author: Gena Showalter
In: On the Hunt (Gena Showalter, Shannon K. Butcher, Jessica Andersen & Deidre Knight)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Medieval fantasy, Paranormal romance, Time travel
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2011

Thoughts

At the beginning of this novella, I was a bit… disturbed by the idea that Rose was going to fall for the weird abductor guy. I mean, it was a bit Stockholm Syndrome-y and made me start this story with a feeling of total ick. But then, as I got to know the two characters, I decided that I actually loved this. There was something kind of fun and cute about this story, and, even though the beginning was uncomfortable, I settled into this and was really disappointed that it had to end.

I thought that the idea of being forced to transport oneself into an alternate world every year on your birthday was brilliant and incredibly imaginative. I ended up really loving the world building in this and seriously enjoyed this novella. I love that its two worlds built around somewhat familiar ones. Yet, fear and misunderstandings have led to murder and mayhem throughout the two groups of peoples. An thoroughly enjoyable world that left me smiling and wanting more and more after I turned that final page.

Honestly, although I knew just who Rose would end up with the end, I didn’t quite expect how they were going to end up. Neither did I expect their conflict resolution at the end. It was a really great way to tie up a romantic and lustful novella. This is the first story I’ve read by Showalter, even if I have multiples of her stories on my shelves. And, I’m glad to say that I’ve got more of her stories to continue on with. Now to dive into them and the rest of my TBR.

<- On the HuntThe Collector ->

Image source: Penguin Random House

Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva

Book Review
Overview

Title: Drowning Mermaids
Author: Nadia Scrieva
Rating Out of 5: 1.5 (Couldn’t get past the first chapter)
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2012

Thoughts

This wasn’t my favourite novel, and not one that I was able to finished. Something about the prose just kept getting stuck and I really couldn’t get into it. Then, there was a mermaid stripper who was stripping, but wasn’t one, even when she was taking off her clothes. And then an old guy who knew he was being creepy as the love interest. So many problematic points that I just couldn’t get past and continue on with sadly.

Image source: Smart Bitches Trashy Books

Darkangel by Christine Pope

Book Review
Overview

Title: Darkangel
Author: Christine Pope
Rating Out of 5: 1 (Couldn’t get past the first page)
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2014

Thoughts

I have now tried to read this novel twice, and both times I just… nope. Which is disappointing. But I just found that the lead was impossible to connect with and care about. And, even though I read about 3 chapters (my standard limit), nothing was really happening. It was all just background information on the worldbuilding. Definitely not a story that I could stink my teeth into.

Image source: Overdrive

Claiming Her SEAL by Kat Cantrell

Book Review
Overview

Title: Claiming Her SEAL
Author: Kat Cantrell
Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again)
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2016

Thoughts

I could not, for the life of me get into this. I was probably a little bit put off by the blurb in the first place. I’m honestly not a huge fan of alpha males who just… can’t communicate. But I thought I’d give it a shot, because sometimes it still works. But I really couldn’t get there.

Honestly, this just wasn’t my cup of tea and I stopped after just three chapters. I didn’t have any connection to the characters, I didn’t think Emma and Dex has any connection to each other. And I just didn’t enjoy the prose. But this might be suitable for someone else.

Image source: Amazon

Clawed by Ophelia Bell

Book Review
Overview

Title: Clawed
Author: Ophelia Bell
Rating Out of 5: 1.5 (Couldn’t get past the first chapter)
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I’m honestly really over starting any kind of story that pits women against each other. Especially when it’s the entire start of the story – referring to each other as bitch. And honestly, as much as I tried, I just couldn’t get past that feeling of distaste. I’ve tried this twice, and just don’t like the whole feeling of this story. But onwards.

Image source: Author Ophelia Bell

Apex Jump by David J. Schwartz

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Apex Jump
Author: David J. Schwartz
In: Glitter and Mayhem (Amber Benson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: LGBTQI, Science fiction, Space
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2013

Thoughts

Roller Derby, whilst something I’ve never seen (or tried), is something that I am completely intrigued by. Which means that the idea of Roller Derby in space just makes me all that much more intrigued. Honestly, Roller Derby in space is a fantastic idea that I absolutely loved, and the way that Schwartz executed this, completely brilliant!

This would have been an amazing story regardless of who the narrator was, but the fact that they are a trans woman and keep alluding to a painful past? Somehow that just made it all that much better. Plus, the narrator was brilliantly able to explain the dynamics of her team and how much they all love each other, even if they’re not perfect. I also love how there are multiple (in the double digits) gender groupings for the aliens. It just serves as a great reminder of how narrow-minded our culture is about gender.

This short story felt like a snippet in time and just a beautiful moment in somebody else’s life. And I really like that I got to visit this. It had such a positive and joyful feeling to it. One that involved Roller Derby and a fun trip to space. I absolutely loved this story and found it a joyful journey into an unimaginably creative world.

<- Sister TwelveWith Her Hundred Miles to Hell ->

Image source: Amazon

Reading Update as of Late-October 2024

List,

It’s been an insane few months, so I’ve been burying my head in my books a little bit. But, it’s been hard to write reviews and keep up to date with website stuff. But, I’m slowly getting there.

Series

Short story collections

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Short stories