Dark Rings (Dark Things Book 1) by Lainey Delaroque

 I received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Lainey for writing this book.

Unfortunately, this book was not my favorite out of all of her books. It has nothing to do with the author or the book. This is entirely a me thing as I loved the MCs as side characters more. They felt too childish to me in this book and I was not fond of the problem because I feel like Hanako, Mathias, and Connor deserve to have a cpmpletely different and new problem. It felt like a problem that is a cross between the Lavender Club Duet and (I believe the eighth book is the hospital one) The Series of Unfortunate Events plus almost every mystery thriller book I have ever read. I wanted them to have a more original problem to solve because those three deserve the stars and moon.

Upon further inspection, I think the reason why I loved them as side characters more is because the main characters would always have this need to protect them without realizing they were stronger than they got credit for. I did not get that so much when they became the main characters.

I did love that Mathias and Hana's relationship grew into what it became. I loved the relationship that Hana had with her mother and that her mother was very accepting of her daughter's relationships with the men and even trying to add more men to it 😏 it was my favorite part of the book and still makes me chuckle. I also adore that Hana was starting to embrace her heritage and culture. I loved how diverse the characters were and watching them embrace themselves.

⭐3

💧6

Chambers of the Heart: Speculative Stories

 I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for a honest review.

Chamber of the Heart: Speculative Stories by B. Morris Allen is a good anthology as it has a little bit for everyone who likes fantasy and sci-fi. The stories have great diversity from m/m to m/f to f/f relationships (although the latter one is more of the unrequited love variety). It has aliens that look completely human to a girl who slays dragons to collect their tears. Whether you are in the mood for serious thoughtprovoking stories or want something lighter you will find it in here.

My favorite stories were Full of Stars, and Dragons I have Slain. Full of Stars is a short imaginative piece of hope, wishes, imagination, and the wonder that comes with being a child. It’s short but poignant with emotion. Dragons I have Slain, I mean if it didn’t have you at dragons. I am a sucker for unrequited love and this story has it in spades and the best part is that it’s not in your face like most male authors do when they write a love interest from a female perspective. It has enough hints that you can decide for yourself if she is in love with her female friend or not. 

Chamber of Hearts gave me Edgar Allen Poe vibes which I loved, the only reason it’s not in the favorites is I had a hard time picturing where we were supposed to be in the story. Blush reminded me of Oryx and Crake with the whole baby genes being altered for perfection.

The only story I did not like was Buried on Sand for the sole reason that my tired brain couldn’t keep track of all the names being thrown at it. It was a struggle trying to get through the story because I had no clue who was being talked to or who was the one talking.

It is a great collection of stories and I would recommend picking up a copy (it comes out April 16, 2022).

⭐️4

💧8

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli

 Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a copy in exchange for a honest review (and having it in the Read Now section last year). This review contains spoilers read at your own discretion.

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli is an urban fantasy, but somehow the cover fooled me into forgetting that it is not straight fantasy.

Oh, and do not worry if you forget what kind of boots Emeline is wearing (Blundstone boots) because it will be the most repeated detail in the book. Also, at some point in the book her boots were off and I never realized until she put her Blundstone boots back on (I am preparing you peeps for the book. if you survive the review you can mostly survive the book). Honestly it feels like the only thing I can mention is the boots and I wonder if the author got a paid endorsement from the shoe people because no books should have Blundstone boots mentioned as much as this book. I almost want the author to do me a favour and go to her manuscript and search for the term "Blundstone boots" then delete half of what comes up (even then it will still be too much). I thought the boots were supposed to be magical from the fact that it is the only article of clothing that is capitalized (my older sister had to explain to me that they were a brand).

Also, be aware that the pacing is slow like you had better hunker down with no distractions because you will be easily distracted from the book. Granted I finished this in one day because I did not want to spend another day reading it.

I loved Hawthorne even though there were some definite creepy vibe moments like Emeline finding the sketches of her being nude and yes it was explained away, but yeah gave me a moment to pause.

I do not like Emeline but unfortunately, the entire book is in her POV. I kind of wished that we had Hawthorne's POV as well because there is only so many times I can listen to her lament about her job and how she cannot lose her dream. Do not get me wrong there is nothing wrong with pursuing dreams, but she casts everyone else aside.

I also found it hard to suspend my disbelief in this book because in the first chapter I had no clue what genre this book was supposed to be what with the Blundstone boots and the real fire (I could have done without the real because then I found myself asking as opposed to what? A holographic fire? A painted fire? I wished the author trusted her readers more to understand that logs next to a crackling fire is a good indication it is real).

Honestly, I liked the book, but I could spend a good hour ranting about it because the author could have done so much with the fae and the Wood King and the King's City, but no lets focus on Emeline and how she needs to get the grandfather she abandoned out of the king's tithe and get back to her career. I love fat books which is why I wanted to read it well that and also the cover. It will be a cover buy and the promise of fae that will lure people in that is for sure.                                                                                  

If you do not mind whiny main characters and blatant product placement then this is the book for you.

3.5 ⭐

5 💧

Reclaim the Stars: an anthology by Zoraida Córdova

 Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a copy in exchange for a honest review.

Do not get me wrong all of the authors in this anthology were amazing. I picked this up in the Read Now category because a) it's an anthology its rare that they are on a site like NetGalley, and b) I was really hoping I had gotten over my weird lets call it an issue with sci-fi.

It turns out that nope I still have my issue and I don't know why even those sci-fi books that I adored I cannot stand reading them.

This is entirely a me thing I am sure you will enjoy it because like I said the writing is incredible. Just personally like all books that involve space I could not get into it.

3 🌟

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

 Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a copy in exchange for a honest review. This review might contain spoilers so please read at your own risk.

Thank you to Allison Saft for writing A Far Wilder Magic it is one of the better books I have read from this publishing company. 

Full confession: I skipped the first chapter after the second page because it read like a checklist to me. Margaret does this? Check. Margaret complains about weather? Check. Did she start cutting wood? Check. Honestly, if I had not skipped it I would have despised the book and Margaret, but thankfully it gets better after the first chapter. Also, the name Wes is ruined for me (if anyone else has watched Nailed It from Netflix then they will probably understand why).

I love Wes and Margaret together especially when they start to realize that they have *shudder* feelings for each other. I also adore that he did not find Margaret attractive at first sight even though by every other books definition she would be seen as beautiful. I also laughed when he was wondering what was wrong with him when the most beautiful girl in the world was right beside him but all he wanted was Margaret (all together now... aww). His name might be ruined for me but he will have a piece of my heart.

The things I did not quite love about the book and the reasons for why its not five stars is because of the religions. I would have loved the religions to be something newer because its pretty much everyday religion and so it got me confused if this was supposed to be one earth or some other world. I thought the actual Hunt would be longer, but we spent more time on the preparation of the Hunt and the Hala than anything else and when it finally got to the Hunt all the excitement was gone.

Perfect for those who love alchemy or female MCs who finally find a way out of the shadows or male MCs who don't care what people think about them but will do anything for the ones they love even if it makes them appear selfish.

4 💫

6 💧

Cursed Beauty by Stacey O'Neale

 Thank you NetGalley and Phoenix Reign Publishing for allowing me to read a copy in exchange for an honest review.

And a huge thank you to Stacey O'Neale for writing this book. I was hooked from the first page because curses, witches, a sleeping prince, forbidden forest, wolf leader like hello.

I loved this book so much and will definitely be buying a copy of this book. It does not disappoint if you like fairytale retellings, gender reversed Sleeping Beauty, or witches.

I finished this book in a hour because I needed to know what happened.

This satisfied my fairytale loving heart.

Go get a copy for yourself.

5 stars

9 feels

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

 Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review a copy in exchange for a honest review.

This is not a love story. There is no romance it is all a lie. If you are reading this book for romance then don't, but if you are one of those people who don't mind little to no romance then this is the book for you.

I'm one of those people who was mislead by the title and the summary that it would be a romance. Oh my word, I was bored out of my skull reading this book and speed read it just to get it over with (hence why it took little time to read it).

1.5 stars.

1 feels