Tag Archives: Book Reviews

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

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Overview
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands: the charming light academia Sunday Times bestseller (Emily Wilde Series Book 2)

Title: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Author: Heather Fawcett
Series: Emily Wilde #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Historical fiction, Romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2024

Thoughts

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a great follow up to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. It follows the same entertaining and engaging style. It draws you in from the very beginning. And it is absolutely impossible to put down. Plus, it expands on some of the revelations from Wendell at the end of the first book. Something that I was seriously looking forward to and greatly enjoyed.

I love how Emily is, again, able to use her knowledge of folklore and understandings of the myths to win the day. Her ability to move fluidly within the rules that govern the world of the fae makes her a surprising, but wonderful heroine. She is exactly the kind of unassuming heroine that I sometimes long for. I particularly like, that, even as the series unfolds, it becomes more and more obvious that Emily doesn’t have some hidden secret, she is exactly as human and lacking in power as she seems. Not the typical for a paranormal fantasy story.

Although I enjoyed the fact that there wasn’t much romance in Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, I also enjoyed that there was slightly more throughout the Map of the Otherlands. I did wonder a little at the conclusion of the first book in this trilogy if Wendell was faking his affection for ulterior motives. And, also how Emily would fit into a relationship with someone who is objectionably very sought after. It was fun to see how they settled into their love and affection for one another.

I honestly can’t get enough of this very unique take on the tales of the fae. Fawcett completely leans into the traditional tales of the fae and uses this to create not only a fantastic world, but one that mimics the traditional stories that anyone who is obsessed with folklore will recognise. It creates a story that is kind of familiar and predictable, but also entirely unique in the joy of the voice (and the mistakes made along the way).

Wendell is a fun counterpoint to Emily. Where she is very intellectual, ethical and struggles with emotions, Wendell is, well, her exact opposite. But, I also love that they love each other for exactly who they are. I also enjoy the fact that Wendell is actually genuine, he doesn’t pretend to be anything or anyone less than what he is, and he has found a woman who embraces him for who and what he is, not an idealised version that has been built up in her head.

<- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of FaeriesEmily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales ->

Image source: Amazon

A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase

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Overview
A Duke in Shining Armor

Title: A Duke in Shining Armor
Author: Loretta Chase
Series: Difficult Dukes #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

This was one of those few stories that I almost put in the DNF pile, but then decided to plod along. Normally, even if I do this, I find that I regret just not stopping. That was not the case with A Duke in Shining Armor. Once I got past that hurdle, about a third of the way through, I actually started to fall in love with this story. Not only did I find that the storyline picked up pace, but I also started to really and truly connect with the characters. It was at this point that I realised I wanted to know what was going to happen. And I really, really wanted a happily ever after for the main characters.

A Duke in Shining Armor was a fun historical romance with all of the typical social morales and expectations. It didn’t necessarily detour too far from the genre’s conventions, but I loved how well Chase slotted into this. There’s a reason I like regency / historical romances, and I love that Chase ticked all of my boxes for this genre. She was also able to use this lens to really highlight the difference in societal expectations for men and women. Although women may have more choice and freedom in the world today (at least where I’m from), but there is still a stark difference between the different pathways. Chase was able to not only reflect on today’s difference in expectations and societal norms, but also those of the past. And she did this so seamlessly that I kind of didn’t realise it was happening until I turned the final page. Potent, beautiful and gifted.

Although it took me a little while to engage with the storyline of A Duke in Shining Armor, I did love Olympia from pretty much the beginning. It takes a lot of courage to run out on a wedding in this day and age, so the fact that she does this in a regency romance? It was already going to show a very different character. Then, there’s the fact that she is fiery and independent, initially it seems to be due to alcohol, but it quickly becomes apparent that this is how she is. Plus, she is completely loyal and loving to her family. I love how much of a backbone she has and how willing she is to stand on her own two feet to do the right thing. I also love how truly exasperated she gets with the males of her species – because, honestly, who hasn’t been there before?

Where I immediately took to Olympia, Ripley was more “alright”. And possibly why it took me a little longer to warm to the romance. Probably because he wasn’t any of the things that I really enjoy in a literary man. Plus, he took a little too much joy in messing with his friends, without really thinking through the consequences. Honestly, most of the conflict throughout this story was simply because Ripley and his two best friends just refuse to actually think through the consequences of their decision making. But, ultimately, he decides on Olympia (eventually), and this made all of the mehness of his character kind of okay. It was, at least, enough for me to want to know what happens to his two best friends next.

<- More Loretta ChaseTen Things I Hate About the Duke ->

Image source: Booktopia

Burn for Me ReRead by Ilona Andrews

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Overview
Burn for Me: A Hidden Legacy Novel: 1

Title: Burn for Me ReRead
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2014

Thoughts

It doesn’t matter how many times I reread literally anything by Ilona Andrews, I still love it the second, third, fourth, fifth time around. And Burn for Me is no exception. I honestly couldn’t put this down, even though I had a rough idea of what was going to happen (my goldfish brain forget the minutiae). There is just something about this world building and the strong women that make up this world that I absolutely loved. Plus, I always route for the Underdog, and Nevada and her family definitely qualify as the Underdogs. They have the grit, determination, and fight though to win the day. It may not happen in real life, but I love reading about characters who are able to turn things around like this.

Nevada is brilliant, beautiful and a whole lot of fun. And by beautiful, I mean on the inside (the outside I imagine is the same). I love that above all, she has a loyalty to her family and loved ones that beats everything else. Having a character that is driven by the love of family isn’t always typical in the books I read, they often feature people who are total outcasts and have no family. So the fact that Nevada’s internal confidence and power absolutely come from her mother, grandmother, sisters and cousins – too wonderful for words.

Mad Rogan is a great contrast to Nevada. Where Nevada is all about family and loyalty and love, Rogan is ridiculously about power. The fact that he has almost lost his humanity in points of this is a great opposites attract kind of counterpoint. And I love that Nevada is able to bring him back to centre a little bit – remind him that nothing in this world is worth doing unless there are people you love to share it with. I also love how Nevada’s willingness to to sacrifice herself (continuously and with enthusiasm throughout this story) is balanced out by Rogan’s need to survive and ensure her survival.

I may have read this series before, but I loved picking up all of the little hints and tips about the future. It gave me a little more insight into some of the moments and how that would feed into what is to come. I also love that, with each read through, different themes show up and different moments hold importance. For me, this read through was all about loyalty and love of family. I wonder what I will focus on the next time I have the pleasure of picking up this series.

<- More Ilona AndrewsWhite Hot ReRead ->

Image source: Amazon

So Gay For You by Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig

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Overview
So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All

Title: So Gay For You: Friendship, Found Family & The Show That Started It All
Author: Leisha Hailey & Kate Moennig
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Celebrity, LGBTQI, Memoirs
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2025

Thoughts

I’ve watched all of The L Word, except for the final season (and the reboot), so, when I saw that two of the actresses had written a memoir together, I was intrigued. And, I was definitely not disappointed. I mean, everything about this was interesting and intriguing. I enjoyed the insight into what it was like to be a part of The L Word team and how groundbreaking it was at the time. But, I also enjoyed how honestly and openly Hailey and Moennig wrote about their lives, before, after and during their hit show. I always love how insightful memoirs that are built around a TV Show (or movie) can be, and how it can provide an insight into the lives of others and different experiences.

Although I loved the insight into The L Word, mostly I just really loved the voices of Hailey and Moennig. They were smart and sassy, with a whole lot of honesty that I seriously appreciated. One woman was out before the show even came to form, the other slowly had her sexual recognition throughout her filming of The L Word. I loved how different their tales and journeys were, but how they built together. Particularly to the moments when they first met, how they felt about it, and then how they built a friendship that is the envy of all friendships. Their love for one another and honesty was enviable and I really enjoyed learning more about how other women have grown and found each other.

I read a lot of stories which feature Found Family and Soul Mates (not romantic Soul Mates, those friends who are forever). But I haven’t read many memoirs that actually feature the reality of this kind of relationship. I love how they were able to find each other in this insane world that we live in, and figure out a way to have each other’s backs. But, they aren’t romantically entangled – I love that Hailey and Moennig found each other and created their own Found Family – one in which they are accepted and beloved. That support and love is something that I think everyone deserves, and I absolutely loved reading about it.

Although I picked up So Gay For You because of my knowledge of The L Word, I love that this novel wasn’t actually all that much about it. Yes, it featured in it for a fair chunk of the book, but even then, it was just a part of a greater story. One which I really enjoyed, and would definitely enjoy reading further. Mostly though, the focus was on the beautiful friendship between these two women, and the ways in which they were able to find each other. The community that they built together and the way that their love for one another was supportive and helped them both to grow into better versions of themselves.

<- The Last Black UnicornThe Hospital by the River ->

Image source: Amazon

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish

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Overview
Accidentally On Purpose by Kristen Kish

Title: Accidentally on Purpose
Author: Kristen Kish
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Celebrity, Food, LGBTQI
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2025

Thoughts

I know of Kristen Kish from the Disney+ show, Restaurants at the End of the World, but I didn’t really know much about her beyond that. Which meant, that when her biography showed up on one of the Goodreads Challenges that I wanted to read, I couldn’t wait to dive in. It was also pleasant reading a biography about someone I knew I liked, but with no actual idea of any of her life. Everything about Accidentally on Purpose reminded me of the voice of Kish from her food documentary, but with an extra layer of honesty and integrity that I admired.

One of the parts of this memoir that I really loved is how Kish is able to incorporate multiple facets of the life that she lives. It starts pretty simple with Kish talking about her adoption and upbringing. But, the more she shares, the more she talks about how the different aspects of her personhood intersect. From being adopted, to being Korean, to being gay, Kish is honest and open about who she now is. But, also the struggles that she experiences to get there. And I loved how she talks about each and every part of her identity with raw brilliance.

Before reading Accidentally on Purpose, I knew nothing about Top Chef, beyond the fact that it was a TV show. Now, knowing that this is how Kish got her Celebrity Chef start, I’m a more than a little intrigued. The whole idea of the show and Kish’s love for it make me want to watch it. Then there’s the history behind it and the importance of representation which Kish touches upon. Again, all aspects of the story that make me really want to get to know more about Top Chef, and maybe watch a season or two.

Each memoir I read has some kind of life message or wisdom to impart that I enjoy. In the case of Accidentally on Purpose, it’s Kish’s openness to new experiences and just enjoying the path that you are on. She frequently shares how she just stumbled into lucky positions throughout her life, and took advantage of them. It’s a good reminder that sometimes we have to take advantage of the path we are on, and remember that the journey is absolutely more important than the destination.

<- Twas the Nightshift Before ChristmasPirate Hunters ->

Image source: Amazon

June 2017

List, ,

June 2017

You just have to love finals time… for me it always means a lot of short story readings to reduce the stress. After all, there is nothing like momentarily losing yourself in a story to help you get away from the daily stresses.

Image source: Glen Park Healthy