Charlotte

This book really wasn't for me. I did enjoy the writing but I found myself bored with a lot of the story. I enjoyed the bit about Chiron but the entire war felt empty and vague

I'm not a fan of Patroclus and Achilles relationship because Achilles treats him so poorly. Once again a Greek hero plagued by his own hubris. Poor Patroclus never deserved what happened to him, that's what I'm sad about

When I say this is probably one of my all time favourite books, I am not lying. It's filled with magic and dragons and books and tea!!!! I wasn't sure if I would like the genre of cosy fantasy but this book proved that I absolutely do and need to read more.

I found myself relating to both Reyna and Kianthe which is rare when two characters are both the complete opposite but so intertwined. They were written so well and it made me very invested in their futures. I found myself falling in love with them and for anyone who has already read this you know how absolutely perfect their relationship dynamic is. And their communication skills??? (minus the whole shoulder thing) is everything you could want in a relationship. When I grow up, I want nothing more than to have this exact relationship where they can help each other to grow and be the people they truly are. I won't settle for anything less than an ex-guard with deep insecurities or an elemental mage with so much anxiety and self doubt - bonus points if you'll open a tea and bookshop :)

Now magic was a big part of this book and it is very uniquely done. I love the idea of the ley lines being a huge part of their magic as well as dragon magic and alchemy magic. I definitely want to see more of it in the next book. I will never say no to more dragons! I will also never say no to the numerous amount of puns in the book (I'm looking at you Kianthe) and I expect nothing less than for it to continue in book 2. I've seen reviews where people say that there are too many high stakes for this to be a cosy fantasy but personally I think it has just the right amount to keep the reader engaged (it certainly did with me) - if you have too much mundanity I would have just gotten bored. It was as perfect as Reyna's steeped teas and Kianthe's ever-plant xD

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. If you love sapphic stories, magic, dragons, tea, and books, look no further because this is the book for you!

“What are memories if not stories told repeatedly to oneself? Her whole body is the very narrative of her existence.”

Not going to lie, I quite liked this book. There are some... interesting plot holes that really should have been addressed such as the lack of consent and I would have loved to know more about the entire class system and it's politics. Despite that, the entire premise is engaging and I am excited to read more about the world and magic system.

Was it easy to guess the plot twists? yes but I don't view that as a bad thing. I enjoyed the book either way. The characters are not perfect and nor do they claim to be. In fact the majority are quite ruthless and bask in it

To me it's very YA with added ruthlessness and gore. There is a minor intimate scene but nothing crazy. All in all it's a fun read if you don't look into it too much. It definitely needs some things ironing out and I hope that the author can do that in the next instalments

After the mess that was the last book I read, Lore was a much needed breath of fresh air. It truly is the Greek mythology version of hunger games and my younger self was very happy. The ending was almost perfect, though I do wish there was a sequal or even a prequal. I loved the story and it definitely kept me on my toes (looking at you athena). All in all a really nice read

“Love honor's your spirit. Not just the other person's but your own spirit too”

I went into this book not knowing anything about Indian tribes and now I know a whole lot more. Creating something for people who may not have felt seen before is important and Boulley has done an amazing job. Whilst this is fiction I learnt a lot about tribal communities and the culture that surrounds it. I did however find that I was struggling with what everything meant, especially at the beginning.

As for the plot, it was absolutely thrilling. It did take a 100 or so pages to get into but once it did, the stakes were high and the plot twists twisty. The narration was really enjoyable to experience and exploring the main characters own experince within her tribe. I'm both happy and furious at the ending. Some people got the justice and treatment they deserved but like in real life, many did not

It really is an amazing book and a must if you're looking to diversify your reading

I know that it's kinda the point of the book to be graphic, but we did not need such a detailed account about bulimia techniques. It also felt like it was portrayed way too much in a jokey manner to fit the rest of the book, despite it being quite a serious subject matter. Maybe it was just me that found it uncomfortable, or maybe that's the point

Despite this, I enjoyed the rest of the book, especially as an audiobook. The topics he talks about are important and enlightening and I hope there's more to come

“I???m always telling stories before I even know what they???re about, getting carried away and turning words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into chapters, chapters into love stories.”

You'd have thought I'd learn my lesson after last time? Spoiler: I didn't.

This book shattered my heart into a million pieces. I'm struggling to find the words to describe this experience because it was so surreal. The two main characters are wonderfully complicated with fleshed out backstories that made them feel like real people. I was a bit worried going into it that it wouldn't be as good as They Both Die at the End but I think I actually prefer this

The story is full of so many magical moments both sad, funny and tender. There were so many moments that made me almost tear up but the ending broke me. I highly recommend xD

“Everyone is a pawn... but this isn't my board.”

I never usually read the horror genre because it's not something I always enjoy. But Rebecca is on my “immediately buy” author list so I just had to. To say this book had my hooked like a fish (pun intended) is an understatement and as my flatmate can attest, I was gripped the entire way.

I found myself actually scared while reading the book which is hard to do in writing and I am ever impressed with Rebecca's writing abilities. This book is full of all the best tropes (you'd definitely win trope bingo if that was a thing) and it is gay so who can say no to that?

I loved the constant chess references as it really makes the book feel whole if that makes any sense. And the quotes that come out of that will leave your jaw on the floor. Not only that but this is full with so many plot twists you don't know who to trust, much like the characters' own experiences. Despite me knowing it was a horror, it still shocked me at the chaos that ensued the characters which adds to the feeling of actually experiencing the book with them.

My favourite part of this book was the enemies to lovers dynamic that the two characters were a part of. It is done so well and you can really see the progression of enemies to lovers in both of them, despite it only being single pov. The dynamic is impressive and makes you with you were a part of it because it is sooooo satisfying to read. I found myself mad at the ending just because it had ended rather than it being a bad one. I cannot wait for the sequel to this book because I absolutely need to know more.

Thank you Rebecca for giving me the opportunity to advance read your book because once again you have not disappointed with your writing ability and story making. It is truly an amazing book and Nix and Kess are officially some of my favourite characters now.

I'm annoyed I'm rating it this high

“Ladies, gentlemen and those wise enough to transcend the binary”

This is gonna be a book I will be thinking about for a long time. Not only is the plot, for me, engaging and exciting, but the messages woven throughout the book are important. First of all the best part of this book is that there are CHAPTER TITLES! and we get multi pov with a label at the start of each chapter. You don't understand how nice it is to know what is going on xD I would like to see more povs aside from the 4 characters we saw in this book, but I understand the choice not to for this book.

The magic system in this book is so very interesting and I hope we get more of it in the sequel. If I was to be in a fantasy universe of my choosing it would probably be this one. I loved all of the characters, apart from Helena of course - she I hate. They were all unique in their own way and had their own faults. The book is written in a unique way that I think would translate to a movie or tv show very well. All the scenes and flashbacks are perfectly placed and I think it would do really well. Also the pop culture references woven throughout the book were so cool and I enjoyed finding them. I know some people found them clich?? but it was something I enjoyed out of it.

As for the social commentary, I can understand why certain demographics are not as fond of the book as I am as it is quite triggering and hard to read even for me. Some people have made valid points about how things were approached and I have to agree with them. I feel like it can be improved upon and I hope that Dawson does in the next book.

That being said, this book chewed me up and spat me out, I enjoyed it so much and there were so many jaw dropping bits, especially at the end. I am absolutely shocked at the ending. Like wtf???

It feels a bit cheat-y to give a 40 page book 5 stars but after the ending of book 5 of ZA, this was absolutely perfect and I don't want it to ever end. I didn't realise how much I missed the guys from RB and I really hope there are more cross overs in the future because they are absolutely purr-fect. I also really really really need them to meet the heirs, especially Seth because it will be such a funny interaction.

“Violence always left a fingerprint”

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, I had seen it on display at my local wtaerstones and was intrigued. Now that I've finished, it has left me with a sort of empty feeling.

I am not a huge fan of books which jump time lines, I find it hard to keep up with and this book was the same. It wasn't until right at the end that I understood who everyone was - maybe that was intentional but it wasn't my cup of tea.

The ending was not satisfactory, but it was written not with that intention. It did fit well with the idea of the book, but that did not make it enjoyable.

At first I was like “awwwwwwwwwwwwwww” but the ending really ruined it

“It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people.”

I went into this book not knowing much about what it was other than the fact it was a feel good book. A feel good book it is, but it is also riddled with philosophical and politic commentary. It's crazy to me that this was published in 1990 because it is unbelievably self aware. The way I'd describe this book is a bit like a fever dream. Did I have any clue as to what was going on? Not entirely. Did I have a good time? Absolutely

I can't wait to finally watch the tv show now!

Witches? ???
Werewolves? ???
Magical books? ???
Disability rep? ???
LGBTQ+ rep? ???
Badass characters? ???
Cozy story? ???

and most importantly, cats? ???

I know this book was supposed to make you feel sorry for the heirs, but that only happened with Darius and Celeb. Max and Seth are honestly just asshole, yeah they have their fair share of pressure but they don't seem to feel any remorse over any of it. Orion though is a man sent from the stars themselves and deserves to be protected at all costs. Same with Xavier.

I'm definitely glad I read the first 3 books before reading this as a lot of the major plot points would have been spoilt, but it was good none the lesw. My final words are: fuck you Lionel you deserve to rot in darkmore for all the shit you've done.

“Desperation is not the same thing as consent. That it can't be. And it's time we stop pretending it can”

Oh boy did I have fun with this book. It's a fast paced, action packed, tech filled adventure that will leave any techy wanting more. It's been a while since I've read a sci fi that doesn't leave you confused about all the lore and politics. However because this so closely relates to the real world, it was much easier to get into.

The whole idea of mindwalking is fascinating. I'd say I want it to be real but I definitely do not. The underlying themes of consent and the politics behind governmental and corporate control is scary but real. It really does highlight how we have to be careful with innovation and that things really can go too far in the name of science. That being said, having a supercomputer in your head sounds like it would make life a little easier xD

As for the characters, they were all unique and enjoyable to read. The author does an amazing job of keeping the character's secrets and letting them lose at the best possible moment. Sil is such a fun character to read. You can experience in real time how she uses humour to deny the ticking time bomb that is her mind (quite literally). Her sarcasm and snark is off the charts and I am here for it

Can we stop for a minute and talk about that ending? I did not see those plot twists coming (maybe I'm just blind) and audibly gasped when things were revealed.

If you're looking for a easy and engaging read, focussing on incredible new technology, a cyberpunk world, and commentary on consent and control - this is the book for you

“You cannot expect a child to be able to tell you why they are the way they are; they can only tell you that they are.”

This book is a very intimate conversation that is a snapshot of the authors experience navigating both the real world and the online world as a gay trans man. It manages to both feel happy and sad whilst touching on some very important issues. I highly recommend everyone to read this book and I want to thank Liam for writing such a moving mini memoir

Ahhhh, this series is so cute and it ended on such a nice note. Now somebody tell me where I can find my own tea dragon!

this was certainly something of a book. I really enjoyed it and it had a really comforting vibe. I loved the characters and the language was very delicate and overall such a nice read. At times I had to go back and read because I couldn't tell who was actually speaking but the translation note cleared that up a bit as to why. The end was all nicely wrapped up in a bow which is hard to get right so I'm really impressed. I now have so many quotes about books and all in all a lovely short read that brings lots of comfort

omg I finished a book

“I was angry at the fate I'd been given. Because I realised that in order for you to have what you want, I'd have to lose the only thing I've ever wanted.”

I'm going to start off by saying the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous. There are so much detail and care put into the cover that I will treasure it for a long time. This book is a retelling of a Korean myth, one that I am not familiar with, but I loved it all the same. At first I thought it was all a bit dramatic but as the story progressed I fell in love with the characters which resulted in a pleasant read.

I'd like to put it out there that Shin is now one of my favourite characters ever. He is so complex and I loved to watch his progression as a character. Not to say that this didn't mean my heart was shattered multiple times.

I enjoyed this book, don't get me wrong but I agree with other readers when they say that this was written for the author. There are many important themes like grief, loneliness, complex family relationships, cultural acceptance and so much more. I had the joy of listening to this memoir read by the author themselves and that gave it a more personal touch. Not a bad read and I enjoyed the way it was written, I hope that this book helps others feel not alone in their grief

You know you still deserve to have this love story.

I want to start off this review and say that I am not a romance girly. Never have been, never will. Despite this, I really enjoyed this book and I think that's because of the themes of mental health. It's almost as if mental health is the main plot and romance is the subplot - my favourite type of books.

Stop pretending you're okay. You don't have to pretend with me.

I don't think happily ever after is something that happens to you. I think it's something you choose to do for yourself.

it was a stupidy romance until right at the end. But the ending intrigued me enough that I will probably read the next one eventually