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Book Review: Cupid’s Compass (The Soulmate Seekers Series #1) by Ashley Weiss

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Magical Realism
Length: 434 pages
Author: Ashley Weiss
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Some say it’s a blessing. Others swear it’s a curse.
Cupid’s compass is the enchanted tattoo that links soulmates and reveals when they will first meet. Most seekers, such as fifteen-year-old Lacey Baker, are thrilled to wake up to their sealed fate, but not everyone’s future is clear.
Her best friend is cursed by a compass that never moves but she can’t figure out why. Her mother’s soulmate link spontaneously changes, leaving their family in shambles. And Lacey’s soulmate. . . that’s another story.
A city away, Jaylynn Clare has a different problem. After a haunting prediction from a local psychic, her life becomes a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Promised unavoidable tragedy if she meets her linked partner, she takes it upon herself to run at all costs. But can fate be avoided, or only prolonged?
In a mad dash of love, lies, and long-forgotten curses, seekers across the globe weave together in this heart-wrenching narrative of entangled soulmates.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

UNIQUE CONCEPT.

If you’re looking for a very diverse read with a concept I haven’t heard of, this might be the book for you! I loved the compass idea and how this book looked into MANY types of love situations. From love of a friend, companion, partner, self and more. I enjoyed finding out each person’s story.

There was a looooot of POV’s though. I think I counted 12?? And that really didn’t feel necessary. I feel like the author was trying to make sure we saw every single angle, but it took me awhile to remember who was who and which story line and everything in between.

I liked how short and fast the chapters were. And this isn’t a FANTASY book. More of a urban fantasy + magical realism kind of vibe. I didn’t mind, as I thought it functioned well within the world built around these compasses and the Roman gods. I loooove meddling gods and look forward to hopefully seeing more of them too.

The writing was fantastic. I had set out to read x amount of pages a day, and proceeded to find something continually wanting to pick it up. It was an engaging story and after that ending I NEED ANSWERS.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban Fantasy / Magical Realism
  • Language: low
  • Romance: Kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, death of loved ones, a religious cult, self-harm off page, homophobia, emotional abuse

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Book Review: The Stolen Heir (The Stolen Heir Duology #1) by Holly Black

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 358 pages
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: January 3rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

I AM INVESTED.

I do admit to thinking that this was going to be from Oak’s perspective??? Or at least dual. Sadly that was not the case. BUT I did love Suren. She was feisty and intense. Full of every emotion and just wanting a safe place to land and be loved. I am wholly invested in her journey and can’t wait to see how it further twists in Elfhame.

Oak is just flat out adorable. In his murderous rampage + golden retriever personality ways. It’s a fantastic combination that worked beautifully for me. I love these two together. And I actually like that they have a different vibe than Jude/Cardan. I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading a repeat kind of storyline/personality dynamics.

As usual, I still think these books are too short. I did like everything else though. There’s a good amount of action and plenty of twists that are hard to see coming. This is an adventure tale with lots of travel but doesn’t feel stagnant or drawn out. Another truly good read from Holly Black.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, attempted murder, kidnapping, imprisonment, weapons and physical violence

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Book Review: Testing Times (Wayfair Witches #15) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 157 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 18th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wanda is truly in the midst of some testing times. Her boyfriend is still trapped in another world, and her exams are being constantly rescheduled. The latest change of plans, though, was for a very good reason – the examiner has died.

The death seems to have been a natural one – after all, the woman was ill. But her familiar, an owl called Minerva, is convinced it was murder, and Wanda wants to help – even if Minerva seems determined to go it alone.

There are other problems for Wanda to contend with. Her friend Gretel is growing in clumsiness and losing her confidence. As for the new Max, he is becoming dangerously accident prone.

Can Wanda solve all of these problems, catch the killer, and pass her exams? And can she ever bring the real Max home?

ALMOST FINISHED.

I can’t believe I’m a book away from finishing this series!

This installment was (as per usual) a good one. I enjoyed the mystery and that things were still progressing with the larger plot. I do feel like there’s a lot that’s supposed to be wrapped up in the last book which makes me nervous for seeing how it all comes together.

Who does Wanda end up with? Are all the foes vanquished? This is such a fun series that hits all of my cozy mystery love and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something to switch things up.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Cozy Mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder

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Book Review: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

BETTER THAN I HOPED.

After book two I went into this with low expectations, no pre-ordering, nada. And HALLELUJAH this was something I really enjoyed.

I absolutely adored Jack. He was a swoony love interest. I wish I had a physical copy to highlight many passages where he let out all the feels. I loved the way he pushed Elsie to choose herself and to see herself as someone of worth. Elsie and her super people pleasing ways hit me too. I could relate to that a lot and thank heavens she broke that unhealthy cycle. I loved watching her growth.

The academia politics and scholarly drama was all very interesting to me. It floated well in the background letting the romance shine but I still wanted to know what would happen with Elsie and her quest for a new job and the security she craves (and deserves). Truly a great rom-com. I laughed, cheered, swooned and fell in love with Jack and Elsie!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door; high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexism, chronic illness (Type 1 Diabetes), death of a parent recounted

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