**spoiler alert** Here's the thing about ALIEN ATTACHMENTS - I've read similar enough books to this premise that I expected something better. It wasn'**spoiler alert** Here's the thing about ALIEN ATTACHMENTS - I've read similar enough books to this premise that I expected something better. It wasn't bad, persay, but it was rushed and felt a bit slap dash at times, with Priestley relying a little too much on the "alienness" to float some bland world building.
There is a startling lack of consequences for instance - let's start with the guy who attempts to kill Dani (for everyone's safety--this is a trusted family friend) and continue on with the complete collapse of a civilization. Apparently the Empire - which sounds a bit fascist at times, but let's lay that aside because they're are so advanced - is up the creek without a paddle and has been for a long while. But that's okay, instead of worrying about his entire civilization devastating collapse let's angst over the fact he can't possibly have a future with Dani even though Ian can't stand to be more then a few feet from her at a time...unless he turns on his What a Dick mode, then he's just a Dick towards her but its secretly to protect her! They can have no future! Instead he'll send jealous possessive vibes whenever she's talking to someone SHE COULD have a future with so she'll come running to him to yell at him and then he'll mack on her and oh no there's no future we mustn't! Rinse. Lather. Repeat.
It got really tiresome. At first I thought it was dandy that Dani was up for a friends with benefits deal with Ian. That novelty wore off as she angsted about why he wasn't paying attention to her (amidst a life or death battle) and why he was so hot and cold towards her (in the middle of running for her life).
Really? Honestly? Truthfully? I kept reading mostly to see what the Hammer of God (aka the writer) smashed into the story to make it possible for Ian and Dani to be together without breaking every known Taboo in the (un)known universe.
I wasn't disappointed in THAT at least. Priestley gave us THREE deux ex machinas to make it so that they could be (happily, guilt free) together. The Empire that wanted to keep them apart--collapsed quite suddenly (ahead of schedule). Ian's parents--turns out Ian is half human! Ian and/or Dani's relationship hangups - gone in a blazing glow of green mating light.
Oh but there's still danger out there guys so I guess there might be another one. If only to tie up what happened since they all fled the Empire's crumbling remains.
Merged review:
Here's the thing about ALIEN ATTACHMENTS - I've read similar enough books to this premise that I expected something better. It wasn't bad, persay, but it was rushed and felt a bit slap dash at times, with Priestley relying a little too much on the "alienness" to float some bland world building.
There is a startling lack of consequences for instance - let's start with the guy who attempts to kill Dani (for everyone's safety--this is a trusted family friend) and continue on with the complete collapse of a civilization. Apparently the Empire - which sounds a bit fascist at times, but let's lay that aside because they're are so advanced - is up the creek without a paddle and has been for a long while. But that's okay, instead of worrying about his entire civilization devastating collapse let's angst over the fact he can't possibly have a future with Dani even though Ian can't stand to be more then a few feet from her at a time...unless he turns on his What a Dick mode, then he's just a Dick towards her but its secretly to protect her! They can have no future! Instead he'll send jealous possessive vibes whenever she's talking to someone SHE COULD have a future with so she'll come running to him to yell at him and then he'll mack on her and oh no there's no future we mustn't! Rinse. Lather. Repeat.
It got really tiresome. At first I thought it was dandy that Dani was up for a friends with benefits deal with Ian. That novelty wore off as she angsted about why he wasn't paying attention to her (amidst a life or death battle) and why he was so hot and cold towards her (in the middle of running for her life).
Really? Honestly? Truthfully? I kept reading mostly to see what the Hammer of God (aka the writer) smashed into the story to make it possible for Ian and Dani to be together without breaking every known Taboo in the (un)known universe.
I wasn't disappointed in THAT at least. Priestley gave us THREE deux ex machinas to make it so that they could be (happily, guilt free) together. The Empire that wanted to keep them apart--collapsed quite suddenly (ahead of schedule). Ian's parents--turns out Ian is half human! Ian and/or Dani's relationship hangups - gone in a blazing glow of green mating light.
Oh but there's still danger out there guys so I guess there might be another one. If only to tie up what happened since they all fled the Empire's crumbling remains....more
What's a gorgeous, billionaire demigod son of Zeus to do when he's got the hots for his beautiful water nymph executive assisA Demigod kind of love...
What's a gorgeous, billionaire demigod son of Zeus to do when he's got the hots for his beautiful water nymph executive assistant?
Well it all started with a mating ceremony...
This was fabulous. Light hearted, but full of passion and humor, plus a bit of revenge. Castor (yes that Castor), while being the embodiment of every billionaire trope you can think of (he's not a player though) is all broody intensity covering a heart of gold longer than the Nile.
Leia meanwhile I partially got vexed by, as she was not very good about communication. She treated everything as need to know, including stuff that could have potentially lead to a lot of deaths, but no one needed to know until something DIRE occurred.
Once we got past that there was a couple obstacles I side-eyed, but largely this was a quick, engaging read.
Merged review:
A Demigod kind of love...
What's a gorgeous, billionaire demigod son of Zeus to do when he's got the hots for his beautiful water nymph executive assistant?
Well it all started with a mating ceremony...
This was fabulous. Light hearted, but full of passion and humor, plus a bit of revenge. Castor (yes that Castor), while being the embodiment of every billionaire trope you can think of (he's not a player though) is all broody intensity covering a heart of gold longer than the Nile.
Leia meanwhile I partially got vexed by, as she was not very good about communication. She treated everything as need to know, including stuff that could have potentially lead to a lot of deaths, but no one needed to know until something DIRE occurred.
Once we got past that there was a couple obstacles I side-eyed, but largely this was a quick, engaging read....more
Sizzling is an appropriate description of this short story. Almost from the first paragraph Gavin is hot and ready, though truth to tell he's been waiSizzling is an appropriate description of this short story. Almost from the first paragraph Gavin is hot and ready, though truth to tell he's been waiting 6 long months and its been a sort of hell for him. Meanwhile Cassidy has also been hot under the collar for Gavin and has been burning for his touch. Certainly Gavin saving Cassidy from a bad situation works out well for them both, but that's pretty much when the tension stops.
There's sexual magnetism, and the author knows how to make the scenes tempting and scorching, but after the initial frenzied sex (in the bathroom no less), there's no doubt they're together for keeps. Even when their job, which they thought was through and over, comes calling to push a wedgeblock I never had a sense that it meant very much overall.
Between Gavin's possessiveness and Cassidy's rather inappropriate feelings at the scene of a crime, whenever either would internally worry about what would happen if they had to work side by side together again, I just felt irritated at them.
I did think that Christa had a compelling read, but it may have fared better with a longer format.
Merged review:
Sizzling is an appropriate description of this short story. Almost from the first paragraph Gavin is hot and ready, though truth to tell he's been waiting 6 long months and its been a sort of hell for him. Meanwhile Cassidy has also been hot under the collar for Gavin and has been burning for his touch. Certainly Gavin saving Cassidy from a bad situation works out well for them both, but that's pretty much when the tension stops.
There's sexual magnetism, and the author knows how to make the scenes tempting and scorching, but after the initial frenzied sex (in the bathroom no less), there's no doubt they're together for keeps. Even when their job, which they thought was through and over, comes calling to push a wedgeblock I never had a sense that it meant very much overall.
Between Gavin's possessiveness and Cassidy's rather inappropriate feelings at the scene of a crime, whenever either would internally worry about what would happen if they had to work side by side together again, I just felt irritated at them.
I did think that Christa had a compelling read, but it may have fared better with a longer format....more
If you go through my reading log(s) - be they fanfiction or original fiction - you'll see I have a certain...trend towards stories that are less 'the If you go through my reading log(s) - be they fanfiction or original fiction - you'll see I have a certain...trend towards stories that are less 'the world is sunshine and cheerful', that I prefer stories with a darker edge because I view things that way. Often these stories have smut and/or violence.
Which isn't to say everything I read is adult-themed, but there's a balancing act that I think some writers find hard to navigate without being...judgemental. Which has for a long time turned me off from books that are labeled "clean" "sweet" "closed door". However as part of an ongoing venture to branch out and find new authors, I am doing the "Bright Fantasy for a Dark World" challenge (hosted by Sarah K.L. Wilson - https://www.sarahklwilson.com/bright-...). All of the authors involved write "closed door fantasy", either their whole catalog or as part of their catalog, and I've enjoyed some of them in the past.
That all being said brings us to our book today...Of Stormlarks and Silence by Constance Lopez
This reminded me of the fantasy books I read when I was younger. Not in a bad way, but in a "don't look too closely" way (which isn't bad, this is aimed for Young Adults). The "good side" was good, the "bad side" was bad and there was very little discussion about why. Ria is honestly surprised (and possibly disappointed) when Tristan turns out to be the polar opposite of his father. Enough so that she questions her quest as well as him. Which fair Ria, he was a bit too good to be true...but then so were you at times.
Other then her preconceptions about Tristan (and how easy it would be to kill him), she has few flaws. Her mission is easy to relate to and root for, until feelings get involved, and for Tristan its easy to see why she would hesitate and question everything. Why she would be stopped in her tracks and reconsider...is this right? More than even the fact she was falling for him, it gave her a reason to re-evaluate what she had been living with for over a decade and those were the moments I enjoyed the most. When she would talk with Tristan and hint around and he would unabashedly give his opinion, clueless to the larger implications.
That said this isn't overly fussed about giving us more then the most basic of world building. A lot can be inferred or can be read between the lines, but there's a difference between trusting a reader to understand why something happened vs assuming the reader will get what you're trying to convey. I likened this to the fantasies of my youth, where Good triumphs, Evil is brought low and Love wins the day and all of that is true, but this is a soft book that is warm. It leads you serenely towards the ending that will make your heart glow and give you a little light to treasure. There's nothing wrong with any of that and indeed I would hope a young teen would enjoy it....more
If you go through my reading log(s) - be they fanfiction or original fiction - you'll see I have a certain...trend towards stories that are less 'the If you go through my reading log(s) - be they fanfiction or original fiction - you'll see I have a certain...trend towards stories that are less 'the world is sunshine and cheerful', that I prefer stories with a darker edge because I view things that way. Often these stories have smut and/or violence.
Which isn't to say everything I read is adult-themed, but there's a balancing act that I think some writers find hard to navigate without being...judgemental. Which has for a long time turned me off from books that are labeled "clean" "sweet" "closed door". However as part of an ongoing venture to branch out and find new authors, I am doing the "Bright Fantasy for a Dark World" challenge (hosted by Sarah K.L. Wilson - https://www.sarahklwilson.com/bright-...). All of the authors involved write "closed door fantasy", either their whole catalog or as part of their catalog, and I've enjoyed some of them in the past.
That all being said brings us to our book today...Illuminare by Bryn Shutt.
This is the first book I've read by her, though I also have Dawnsong waiting on me and I should have perhaps started there only because this didn't quite hit the ticket for me. The world building is beautiful, and Shutt has a talent with evoking imagery that stays in your mind. The characters were also vivid - even if their motivations were not quite so - and I enjoyed the flow of conversations. Nothing ever felt stilted or unnatural, even as the story took turns for the weird and unhinged. Shutt also gives us characters with clear moral compasses without ever really saying it (technically, more in a moment).
What may have unintentionally colored my opinion was the comparisons the summary makes to the Riyria Chronicles (Michael J. Sullivan) and the real life Medicis, as well as the fact its a "heist" book. I've read a few fantasy heist books in my time - its a favorite of mine actually and its been a good subcategory to me. I wasn't getting a heist vibe here. Did they plan? Sure. Did they execute it? Sure. But there's a sort of...build up and surrounding actions that just did not occur so it made it all fall flat.
I won't touch on the religious aspect - if you read other reviews you'll see folk discuss it with far more knowledge then I could (agnostic over here and as an agnostic, didn't get the anti-catholicism vibes others did...but again not the table I sit at).
So in the end this was a 2.5, rounded up to 3 because while its solid on painting the picture of the world and the atmosphere, it fails at making me believe what's going on in any meaningful way....more
Before any one says a word - smut. This is Plot filled smut. Character driven smut? Emotional smut?
Whatever - there's a lot to enjoy here beyond the kBefore any one says a word - smut. This is Plot filled smut. Character driven smut? Emotional smut?
Whatever - there's a lot to enjoy here beyond the kinky sex.
Maury the Mouth being a softie. Jerry being so gods damned patient. Rowena being so BAMF.
I'm not saying this is a SWEET book, but its definitely a book wherein Hiers spent time considering everything. Giving equal attention to the building relationship between Boss Cold and Jimmy as to how the world fits together.
Now for me - very much outta my wheelhouse. Its m/m (and not adorable m/m, its hardcore), its kinky, its violent, and the worst sin--its CONTEMPORARY, but after reading the sample I had to read it.
Partially cause it has an origination in a favorite ship fandom, but mostly because hot damn Boss Cold is brutally gorgeous. Don't mind me, he said, just fucking up all your careful ideas about acceptable behavior.
Tease me, taunt me, wreck me - baby I'm sick for want of a villain.
Anyhow - while its not hard to guess certain elements (Hiers does a bang up job with the secondary characters, but there's no hiding a prick like Corman), there's a gratifying sense of NAILED IT when pieces come together.
(Gods I can hear Boss Cold making a bad joke if Jimmy said "Nailed It" in his hearing)
This was okay. It was fine. It had some cute moments and characters I enjoyed reading about. It however lacked...What to do with an adorable Saintess?
This was okay. It was fine. It had some cute moments and characters I enjoyed reading about. It however lacked...tension.
The first time Amelia runs into trouble, an attack while she's traveling to Rahel, her knowledge of future events in the book make sense and comes in reasonable handiness. Save the future male lead's brother so that he doesn't have a grudge against her new adopted (future villain) father.
Then the next attack happens. And rhen another and another. Plus minor things that she "fixes" to make things easier.
At no point does she seem to be in danger. Every instance her criminally powerful Saintess powers manifest (much earlier then in the novel), making short work of life threatening moments.
Added the creepy fascination several of her father's subordinates have with her and the religion being utterly corrupt, ut didn't always make for interesting reading. I found her constant "Daddy is the best!" routine annoying.
What showed promise is when she had to think on her dainty feet. Much like others who find themselves reincarnated in this genre, as she changes things some events happen quicker or for a different reason or from a different source. While she's able to predict matters to a certain level of accuracy, she's not always able to predict the consequences of her interference and thus has to use her brain.
In all, it took me longer than it should have to finish, but was moderately enjoyable enough to want to read volume 2....more
Unlike many of the reincarnation themed novels I read this one is very sweet. A young lady finds herself as the tragic A sweet novel, light and fluffy
Unlike many of the reincarnation themed novels I read this one is very sweet. A young lady finds herself as the tragic character in the novel she read. Determined to change her fate she corrects the original character's bad behavior and becomes a model aristocratic lady.
Her only real goal is to marry the male lead. However along the way she makes friends with the womanizing crown prince, becomes the face of society and unfortunately changes the events just enough that she can't predict what will happen next.
Its light and sweet and adorable, aptly translated and easy to read. While its mostly a daily life sort of romance, its enjoyable to read as Aris pursues her dreams and actively encourages those around her to be happier in their choices. As a first volume its set up nicely and I look forward to volume 2....more
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