Title: Cinderella is Dead Author: Kalynn Bayron Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:LGBTQI, Retellings, Romance Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2020
I really wanted to love this story. Everything about it drew me in. The premise, the storyline, the writing style. But, very quickly, something became a little same same for me about the reading. And, eventually, even though I kept on reading, I eventually got to a point where I wasn’t excited to open the book anymore and dive right in. Which is generally when I know this isn’t one of my favourite books.
Cinderella is Dead isn’t a book that I would suggest to others. I really struggled to love it as much as I wanted. And I really struggled to connect strongly with the characters and the overall story line. I have read so many amazing books lately, that this one just didn’t quite measure up.
I absolutely adored A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, there was something about the story that had me from the first moment, and made me fall for the characters. And, although I liked A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, I didn’t love it quite so much. I might have still really enjoyed this paranormal romance, but it definitely wasn’t quite as good as the first book in the Glimmer Falls series. Not that that has stopped me from buying A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire. An enjoyable story, and one that I may reread, but not one of my favourites either.
One of the parts of this story that I really loved was the redemption arc of Astaroth of the Nine. I mean, he was an absolutely fantastic villain in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, but somehow, he made an even better hero. Particularly as there wasn’t all that much “heroic” about him. I mean, even though he’s falling in love and starting to turn to the “good” side of this story, his first instinct is still absolutely to just destroy everyone and everything in his way. Really, he felt a little bit like the inside voice we all have that is a little bit less than kind, and a whole lot chaotic.
Calladia, like Astaroth, wasn’t your typical “hero” type character. I mean, I related to her a lot and found her absolutely adorable, but, again, her first instinct is violence and mayhem. I also love that she is tough, strong and has this constant need to fight. It’s a somewhat neurotic tendency to respond to abuse in a very aggressive manner. Which, again, felt a little bit like the Inside Voice that is constantly needling me to make horrible choices that end in chaos. Plus, I just wish I was as good of a fighter / brawler as Calladia. Yet, partnering these two grey heroes together works perfectly. And, more than anything, I love that it’s the not-so-pure influence of Astaroth which finally lets Calladia take control of her abusive relationships and finally walk away.
As much as I enjoyed the chaos and insanity that was Calladia and Astaroth on an adventure, I really liked how they tried to restructure the whole of demon culture. There is an extra layer of world building within this story that wasn’t in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, and I really liked getting to know more of these nuanced factors. Plus, there’s the way that in becoming more like the mortals, Astaroth is able to figure out how to become less stagnated. I also love how it is those of us who live the shortest lives that are the most passionate, a great reminder to live each day as full as possible.
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 Chaseticked 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. Chasewas 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.
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
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 Purposereminded 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 Kishtalking 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’slove 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’sopenness 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.
Tower of Thornshad some pretty major Mother Gothel vibes to it, and because of this, I most definitely figured out who the culprit / bad guy in the story was. But, even though I 100% knew what was coming, I still loved going on the journey. Probably because it was still fun, still had a lot of emotion, and I loved how the story unfolded.
Rapunzel’s strength of self and forethought into how her prophecy might come true were beautiful things. I love that, although she wanted to trust her mother, she still decided to put things in place for just in case. I mean, the idea that she has this great strength of will and willingness to not let “fate” determine her future was beautiful. Particularly when there are so many retellings that have historically painted Rapunzel as a victim.
As much as I enjoyed Tower of Thorns, I really wanted to know more about Gavin’s prophecy. I mean, both of them have prophecies involving love. They both fall in love knowing that it will probably trigger their prophecies. You can understand how Rapunzel’s unfolded and what happened (plus, Greenwood brilliantly uses the more violent original of the fairy tale). But there is no hint about Gavin’s prophecy beyond the fact that he has one. And it is about being in love.
I really loved how Greenwood utilised the original Rapunzel fairy tale (which was slightly more violent and gruesome than Tangled). Which just means that I’m absolutely dying to jump into the rest of the series. I wonder if she will use the Grimm-style versions of the fairy tales, rather than the sweeter Disney ones… now onto Spindles and Spells, a Sleeping Beauty retelling.
I absolutely loved this story – I mean, it’s a tale about steampunk doctors, with paranormal problems. It’s a short and fun read, but with a whole lot of drama that I was honestly not even expecting. To be fair, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this, so it was a really pleasant journey to go on. Plus, it meant that this was a story that was next to impossible to put down.
Amongst all of the paranormal and steampunk fun, there was a bit of a romance amongst this story. I love that Piyali chooses to pursue the career that she wants, even if it could potentially ruin her relationship with the man that she loves. The fact that she is forced to return to him after some fairly large misunderstandings and they eventually find their way back to one another was really fun. They both want their second chance, but it is only when they are able to be open and honest that they actually manage to take advantage of this chance.
I spent a lot of this book having a good giggle about the different local women vying for Evan’s attentions. And then there is the fact that there is just a… blue frog running around biting people. I actually wanted to know more about the frog and the politics of the little village than the romance. I mean, Piyali and Evan as a couple were great, but mostly I really loved the frog. I’m not really sure what that says about me to be honest.
A Trace of Copper was a quick, easy and fun read. I pretty much read it cover to cover, I just didn’t want to put it down. So maybe it’s good that it was a short read – I didn’t abandon my responsibilities for too long to enjoy this story. I’m definitely looking forward to reading In Pursuit of Dragons and the rest of the books in this fantastically crafted steampunk world.
I’m not sure why I decided to pick up the final book in The Rooftop Crew series last. But I’m really glad that I did. It was a fun and engaging read, and has really made me keen to dive into the rest of the series. Plus, it was the first contemporary romance book that I’ve read by Piper Rayne that isn’t also a sports romance. It just shows that they can also write well in this genre, with slightly more damaged heroes and heroines than I have previously expected.
Frankie and Jax work together wonderfully well. They go from workmates who irritate each other, to friends, to lovers, to forever. And it was so much fun going through this transition with both of them. Plus, they are both working through their own legal and social battles to try and get answers and clarity in their lives. Again, a journey that I enjoyed as a backdrop to their romance. The use of tattoo artists in this world was also a unique and fun angle to take. I haven’t read many (if any) contemporary romances which feature a tattoo parlour and tattoo artists as the leads. I always love finding out about new worlds in the joys of my readings.
Although Frankie and Jax don’t really do the apart and back together part of the relationship that I was expecting, they definitely have some battles to face. In fact, the largest battle that they have to face is that they need to learn to trust again. Or, in the case of Jax, fully learn to trust for the first time ever. I really enjoyed that throughout all of this, Jolie, Frankie’s daughter is a slightly manipulative driver of everything. It is done through the lens of childhood innocence, but it was quite entertaining watching (in my mind’s eye) Jax and Frankie fumbling with how to deal with her desires and choices.
A Co-Worker’s Crush by Piper Rayne was a relatively low angst story that just involved a lot of personal growth. Frankie’s dealings with her ex were horrible, but I love how her mother-in-law quickly steps in and deals with him when she’s over his nonsense. Rather than being a relationship that was strained because of the outside influences, which I kind of expected, this was one that was very much influenced by the internal battles the couple are facing. It is their past they have to move on from, not the present nonsense that they have to overcome. I loved this and can’t wait to go back to the beginning of the series to see how all of the other couples fell in love first.
Title: A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon Author: Sarah Hawley Series: Glimmer Falls #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Cozy fantasy, Demons, Romance, Witches Pace: Fast Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2023
To begin with, Mariel and Ozrath are honestly a bit of a calamity as a couple. But, I love how they develop their relationship and grow to love one another. Also, this is one of those greatest Meet Cutes I’ve read in a while – accidentally summoning a demon instead of a bag of flour? And that demon being one with a soul who is completely thrown by all of the nonsense around him? Yeah, they manage to enact calamity after calamity until they finally find their routine together. And I absolutely adored the entire journey, one that made me laugh multiple times throughout.
At it’s core, A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is all about being true to yourself, and figuring out how to respect yourself. Ultimately, Mariel’s ties with nature show a power that is unrivalled by anyone else in her family. And when she decides to actually embrace that, she shows a whole lot of power and beauty that I just wasn’t expecting. I love that, in falling in love with Oz, she finds a way to maintain her own sense of self and power. And honestly, the way that she ultimately stands up for herself just takes a whole lot of strength, confidence and penache.
Oz has already started his journey into mortality before the beginning of this story. But I love how A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon lets him explore his new found mortality. And what that actually means – the conflicting feelings and drives the he has. The conscience. And the idea that the soul is such an integral part of Mariel and who she is. Why loving her is more important to him than anything else. I love how he slowly but surely learns to deal with all of the conflicting emotions that are thrown at him, and, finally, decides to embrace his new reality.
I love that, in the end, Oz and Mariel are able to win the day, using smarts, technicalities and all sorts of cleverness. I knew that they would ultimately win, but I didn’t expect the way that they managed to do so. It just made the finish of this cozy fantasy / paranormal romance all that much cuter. I loved taking a trip through this world, and I can’t wait to dive into A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch and find out what the next strong willed woman in this series is going to do as she falls in love.
I absolutely adored this take on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. As the first book I’ve read in the Grimm Academy series, I love how it set the tone for me and how this world is going to work. Rather than being a story of being punished for going against their fathers wishes, this is all about surviving a curse. It’s also a cute little romance that had me smiling and feeling calm as I turned that final page.
This story is all about Audrey starting at Grimm Academy, falling in love with a boy, fighting to beat her curse, and working on her relationship with her dad. The combination of all of these things meant that it was almost impossible to put down The Winter Ball and left me smiling throughout the entire read through. I was mostly just really intrigued how Audrey’s curse was going to manifest, and just how she was going to overcome the process of dancing herself (and her sisters) to death.
I’m not going to lie, I thought throughout The Winter Ball that Audrey’s dad would end up having some redeeming reason or communication to explain why he doesn’t immediately make her heir. He doesn’t. Honestly, the man is kind of annoying and truly sucky. A fair bit of the interpersonal build up is for Audrey to meet her father face to face and discuss the curse. Not one moment of that ends up happening, and his disjoint from his daughters becomes clear – kind of like the father in the original fairy tale.
Eugene is an interesting love interest for Audrey. He is loyal and supportive, willing to help her with her curse from the very beginning. They also build their relationship in that really organic university / college / academy way – by having a class together and getting to know one another. Ultimately, this story is just the very first blossoms of a romance, and I look forward to them being a more established couple and cameo in later stories within the series.
Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries Author: Heather Fawcett Series: Emily Wilde #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fae, Historical fiction, Romance Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2023
Sometimes I can be quite hesitant to read books which are getting a whole lot of hype, and this was one of those times. I really wanted to read this and enjoy it, but I was, admittedly, hesitant. It turns out that I didn’t need to be. This is just as amazing as the hype makes it out to be. And it is one of the most unique fae stories I’ve read in quite a while. Not only is the format of writing is through a journal, but it is also based in what I’m assuming is Sweden or something of that calibre, not the UK or US, which is often where I read about fae-based storylines.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an epic journey in which she sets out to find out more about the fae of Ljoslander. I love how she is a bit of a socially awkward being who manages to actually annoy an entire village through her misunderstandings. Yet, she also manages to save them and become a part of their community. All of this is told through her journal entries – her lack of social finesse, her inability to understand it, and her completely, total and utter fascination of the fae, to the detriment of all else. It also highlights the time lost whilst cavorting with the fae and the stupidity of some of her decision making – stupidity that she is in fact aware of even while she is pursuing her chosen pathway.
It is fairly obvious (to me at least) from early on that Bambleby is also romantically interested in Emily, even if he doesn’t necessarily pursue her in the more traditional sense. The way that this little romance unfolds is kind of adorable, and I love that Emily is completely oblivious to the fact, even as she writes all of the hints throughout her journal. Plus, there is something about Bambleby that is just out and out hilarious. He is almost his own kind of bumbling fool in the world of humans, but to a more charismatic and forgiving degree. The way that they end the story with their future lives and romance together had me smiling and kind of sighing.
I love that, even though Emily thwarts fae plans and shows that she has a whole lot of moxie and power, she is still entirely human. There is no hidden heritage to explain away her skills, no secrets in her past. Rather, she is entirely human, just a mortal with a whole lot of knowledge, intelligence and drive. The fact that her knowledge is what ultimately wins the day (and also gets her into untold trouble), despite her physical and magical limitations made me so happy. And again, is something that most definitely sets this fae story apart from many of the others gracing my shelves. Now, I can’t wait to see where this intelligence and disregard for anything but the pursuit of knowledge will land Emily and Bambleby next!
Earth and Skye 
