alyssa
A cozy, low-angst regency romance told entirely through letter correspondence. This book was a beautiful surprise, down to the subtle yet effective world building of queer normativity and practical magic use. I was delighted to find that the main character read introverted and demisexual in such relatable ways. His older brother was a true [insert any insult here], aka my only source of true grief, but nothing could detract from the slow burn goodness of the main pair (especially when I'm such a sucker for bedside vigils).
My only quibble is that the story hadn't continued on for a while longer!
i've only read [b:Crybaby 56850248 Crybaby Marina Vivancos https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611692934l/56850248.SY75.jpg 88867973] by this author previously, but now i'm wondering why i haven't checked out more of her work because my heart is once again feeling awfully warm & toasty right now
[4.25] well, i'll be! what ancient relic did GA stumble upon between 2015 and 2017, because while The Weeping Lore was a fine piece of historical cosmic-horror fiction (i say as if i've read much of the genre lol), the writing style here was booster injected with a super dose of tantalizing language: electric prose, punchy dialogue, effortless descriptions weaving together beautifully lyrical passages - this is poet Gregory Ashe returning with a vengeance.
picking up directly where book 1's cliffhangers left us off, the story takes us on an epic ride of horrible fathers, femme fatales, kooky cults trying to awaken sleeping gods, cat and mouse chases that surely must come to a head at some point, and so much more. the number of concurrent plot points certainly had my head spinning, but i can't complain too much as Pearl was at the center of it all. my heart ached for her and her predicament, but she is rightfully my one and only goddess, and no one can take that away from me
[3.25] Requires some suspension of disbelief but short, sweet, and pure fluffy BFFs-to-lovers <3 Wished it were longer to develop their relationship more but it was a nice read to have in between longer ones.
"Our minds want to take us to dark places, but we don't have to go. We can stay right here. And if we are going to fantasize about the future, why not fantasize about a happy one?"
[4.5] i wouldn't dare classify these books as romances, but Henry is a romantic in every sense of the word, in how he sees the world, in how he sees his relationships. he falls so hard and so fast. his heart bleeds.
this book is comparatively more out-there in the final stages and resolution with that neat & tidy bowtie when forced to stand amongst the others i've read, but it doesn't come close to changing the fact that i would pick up another hundred - so long as Michael Nava was at the helm penning the story. i simply can't get enough.
[2.9] when a wedding arrangement goes south after the bride goes missing, Ford forces her conman companion River to take her place at the altar.
this is one of those stories with a straightforward plot that i'd randomly pick up in the middle of night when feeling extra self-indulgent. i'll admit there's too much steam for my personal tastes, and the characters are fueled by rather one-dimensional motives, but if you're looking for a no thoughts, head empty read, this could be it :)
I received a complimentary copy of the book from GRR (thank you!), and this is my honest review.
[4.4~4.5] you couldn't get a better introduction to these characters than this. the mcs don't even know of each other's existence yet, and their banter hasn't had the opportunity to grace us with its presence, but let me tell you: they each possess this enticing allure that's bound to snatch a piece of your heart before you can blink for help.
and being in the know of their goings-on in the not-so-distant future? oh boy is a cosmic explosion just waiting to happen
[4.4~4.5] oh boy things are really picking back up again, but with a much more personal twist. as Scudder's alcoholism becomes an increasingly vocal & incessant devil on his shoulder, he's approaching a crossroads where he either confronts his hard drinking or keeps his eyes shut, giving into the temptation right up until his life snuffs out.
this internal battleground plays against the backdrop of an unsolved murder and the Ice Pick Prowler, a serial killer caught years ago who denies any involvement (solid alibi included) in an eighth woman's killing.
i haven't read a lot of noir crime fiction, but from my own experience, i can say that Lawrence Block is more than living up to his Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America title.
as a note for audio listeners, the books from here on out are narrated by a colorful variety of folks, so i wouldn't get too attached to one voice. the narration quality can be especially jarring if you've come from listening to the first three books (the narrator of which did a superb job). but please don't let that deter you from reading on with the series - book 5 has been so worth it.
the potential!!! give me a story that carries the initial cuddle vibes from this book till the very end, and i will devour it like a buffet. i was sitting at a 4 star rating at the start, because even if it required a step back from reality, the characters' interactions were cute! but then there must've been a typo in the recipe, because suddenly we were hit with an unsatiable emphasis on steamy scenes, half-baked mental health rep, and a sprinkling of casual gunslinging as a pastime (AMURICA).
part of me wants to call it quits here, but i'm also morbidly curious to know what the rest of the series is like
[4.4~4.5] Gregory Ashe's writing is the milkshake that brings all the masochistic boys/girls/nonbinary folks to the yard
[3.9] oh how i love a second-chance, hurt-comfort story stemming from an estranged friendship.
i'm not usually one for flashbacks, particularly chapters alternating timelines, but i loved their inclusion here (and confession: i almost preferred the glimpses of their past to the present - I KNOW, GASP
I wondered whether it was worse for men to do the wrong things for the right reason or the right things for the wrong reason. It wasn't the first time I wondered, or the last.
[4.7] what an intro to Matthew Scudder: unlicensed PI who conducts the odd [insert quotes as needed] favor for friends in exchange for gifts, 10% of which he never fails to donate to church alms boxes, and lights candles for the dead. a far-cry from the stock hardboiled detective who carries an air of macho superiority and strong arms the world for answers. he has both bark and bite, still greases palms and entertains the games that have to be played, but his actions, the way he carries himself, they're filtered through the light of a man who tries to do good as he drinks his bourbon-spiked coffee, metes out his own crafty justice, and battles with his own guilt.
it only took one book to make him a standout character in my mind.
the only qualm i have is with a particularly salient point of the case extrapolated with little to no buttressing that we're told to accept out of thin air. i have a feeling readers will immediately know what i'm referring to: the Freudian rationale was a mighty stretch for the actions taken upon seeing the dead body.
but everything else? i'm jonesing for my next Scudder book.
[3.75] at long last, i've reached the final leg in my quest to master all four elements (aka conquer GA's backlist in its entirety): the Witte & Co. Investigations series. a noir-inspired adventure with a cosmic horror twist, it's one of his few remaining m/f relics still out in the wild today (but if you were wondering, gay side characters do make an appearance in some capacity).
our two unlikely heroes (and pov characters) are Cian, an alcoholic war veteran running from past deeds, and Irene, a sassy gal vying for her independence while shouldering a major father complex (she has daddy issues in spades and rightfully so; he's a nasty piece of work, and there's a humorous irony to their family name being Lovell when we can guarantee there is no love lost there
[3.4~3.5] Miss Marple was my work commute companion this week, and while I prefer the full-length novels, I'll admit it's not easy to keep track of a new crime and new suspects when you go through 3-4 short stories in a row while half my brain is focused on playing defense with the slew of reckless drivers on the road
[3.7] y'all weren't kidding when you said AH's writing was addicting! these stories flow so smoothly that i don't even realize i've reached the end until there's simply no next page to turn to, i'm shooketh !!
this is my current fave story of the bunch, though book 3 is a close second. now if i were judging based on the couple alone, i honestly don't know which pair i'd choose..... let me ponder this question for a while longer
Wow...I was expecting vigilantism and revenge but not this level of violent grittiness reminiscent of noir thrillers. Admittedly too on the nose at times with its preaching, but I'd rather that than a complete dismissal of reality, even if magnified, in rural parts of America.
I don't recommend picking this up if the premise is enough to get a rise out of you, but I do like to think culpable (yet receptive) humans deserve a chance to learn from their mistakes, no matter how late. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily say the fathers are redeemed by their actions or by the narrative itself - revenge is simply the only way they can channel their regret in the physical plane.
Thanks to Marie for the push to finally listen to this!