Tag Archives: Romantasy

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton

Title: The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love
Author: India Holton
Series: Love’s Academic #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Magic, Romantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2024

Thoughts

Beth and Devon are just way too damn cute, I honestly couldn’t stop reading about them and the insanity that leads to their happily ever after. From the very first sentence, they are a somewhat unorthodox couple in a very unorthodox world. Something that I love about Holton’s writing. They are a cute and hilarious couple, one that obviously belongs together. But, the journey to getting there was so entertaining and fun filled, that I couldn’t put it down.

One of the things I love about this story is just how ruthless and utterly insane the Ornithologists are. I mean, kidnapping, guns, just mayhem and total insanity. All in a race for academic recognition (something that I absolutely can believe). I mean, their insanity had me laughing out loud at moments throughout this story. The fact that there is a façade of hilarious politeness to the ruthlessness was just so very British. I also loved how all of these very British moments and corrections were highlighted with a crossed out line through the more honest words. It just added to the humour and entertainment.

A story that starts out with two ornithologists competing against one another, and then unfolds into a huge conspiracy was vastly entertaining. I absolutely love that there is a huge conspiracy in this competition, and how this steadily unfolds. Plus, there is the structure of the magical world and all of the different types of incredibly dangerous birds messing up Beth and Devon’s plans. Then, there’s the involvement of the media in the conspiracy, constantly trigging and altering the direction of the story line. The power of the media was kind of brilliant, and seriously enjoyable.

I absolutely adored this novel. I couldn’t put it down, and I was laughing throughout the whole thing. Yet, Holton was also able to bring a lot of heart and emotion to the story. Amongst the entertainment and chaos, there is a lot of affection and the building of a great relationship. A relationship that I was completely invested in, something that doesn’t always happen.

<- More India HoltonThe Geographer’s Map to Romance ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
The Knight and the Moth: the spellbinding gothic romantasy from multi-million-copy bestseller Rachel Gillig (Stonewater Kingdom) eBook : Gillig, Rachel: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

Title: The Knight and the Moth
Author: Rachel Gillig
Series: The Stonewater Kingdom #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Gothic, Magic, Romantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2025

Thoughts

Holy crap. Nothing about this story went like I anticipated. I thought it was going to be yet another somewhat predictable young adult novel with a bit of a spin to it. Which, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love. I also didn’t think that it was going to end quite, well, like this. Once I realised how wrong I was about the predictability of the story, I could definitely feel something building and brewing in the story line. And I kind of figured that there was going to be something BIG at the end of the story… but I seriously did not anticipate this ending. I both loved, and kind of hated the fact. Loved it because it was brilliant. Hated it because, well, the second book isn’t quite out yet.

I must admit, at first I was kind of a bit “eh” about this book. I mean, it was good, but it wasn’t, holy crap, I can’t put it down kind of good. To start with, and then Gillig really hit her stride. From that point on, I was completely gone. I honestly couldn’t put this down, and even the small bits that I kind of guessed were coming, tended to hit me from left field. The world building was brilliant, the writing was brilliant, and I completely fell in love with the characters. And had my heart shattered alongside of them.

It was kind of obvious that some of the other Diviners were being set up to not survive the horrors of this story. But, the loss of them was still a physical blow. I read a lot of stories with sadness in them, but this one hit particularly hard. I really enjoyed that, as horrible and difficult as it was. Plus, even with that understanding and the bittersweet texture to the whole story, nothing was quite as it seems, and everything hit as a pretty major surprise.

Like everything about The Knight and the Moth, Rory was kind of a surprise as a love interest. There was something that didn’t necessarily sit perfectly with him from the beginning. But, as his own story unfolded and the layers were peeled back, he was kind of perfect. I also love how, in unravelling Rory’s story, you got to find out more about the horrors and tragedies of this world. And hope like heck that they are all going to be on the way to fixing them in The Kanve and the Moon.

<- More Rachel GilligThe Knave and the Moon ->

Image source: Amazon