Search

Search only in certain items:

The Dark Cry of Aristid
The Dark Cry of Aristid
William Brian Johnson | 2022 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


The village of Elta is under the rule of the White Citadel. The villagers must do what they're told or face the serious consequences of their actions, including who they worship. They are forbidden to use magic unless they have permission from the overseer, there are however certain people in the village that are gifted with magic and still believe in the old ways.


I found I liked this book from the start the opening chapter 1 is supposed to ease you in and let you get settled, but I found that straight away it was pulling me in and I wanted to find out more about the characters and the village itself. There are so many avenues this book could go! The way it's finished could leave it open for a series, it's one I would continue to read if the author were to go down that route.


I like the support that the villagers give each other in the hard times they suffer.


It's a book I recommend


** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

 

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
  
Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising
Valerie Ullmer | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's a bit different to the usual adding a third troupe, and I do like a difference.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

For the most part, I liked this book. It's a bit different to the usual adding a third troupe, and I do like a difference.

Luka and Burton live together, but at the beginning of this book, they are NOT a couple. Phoenix thinks they are. They both want Phoenix in their lives, but they also want each other.

Mostly, its three guys getting down and dirty, There is much, MUCH smexy times. I'm usually one to say I like my books on the smexy side, but I also like some story with my smex. And apart from these three getting together, the only real plot line is Phoenix' father and him getting his comeuppence. It was a bit too much smexy times, if I'm totally honest.

Some minor editing niggles: misplaced names was the biggest for me.

Did I love it? No. But I did enjoy it, and it's the first I've read of this author. I'd like to jump into their world.

4 good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Blackmailer’s Delight
Blackmailer’s Delight
David Lawrence | 2024 | Humor & Comedy, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
steamy in places but lacking in romance
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It's the first I've read of David Lawrence.

I liked Daniel and Luke, together and separately. I did think at points, Daniel was using his greater age over Luke to get what he wanted, but I don't think he was doing it deliberately, or maliciously.

It's steamy and smexy, plenty of that but I did find the romance element lacking. As a reader of romance, I do like a more in depth romantic element, to go along with the smexy stuff.

I did like the twist at the end! Clarence, Daniel's ex, was a thoroughly nasty piece of work, but he does come around to Daniel moving on, and does redeem himself somewhat.

Apart from the above mentioned, the story is well told and well written. I found the character development very good. It is a little long winded in the beginning, but it does pick up and then runs away with itself.

I saw no editing or spelling errors to spoil my reading.

I'd like to read something else by this author, he's on my radar now.

4 good stars
  
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
Mallory Ortberg | 2018 | Gender Studies, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
5.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
So this JUST came out. I'd had my eye on it for a few months, and put a request in as soon as my library ordered it. The author recently came out as trans, so it's also part of my effort to read more inclusively. Ortberg definitely played with gender and sexuality in several of these tales; in one of them people decided whether to be the husband or the wife, independent of their gender, in their marriage. (One party to the marriage in the story stated "I've been trained for both roles.") In another all of a man's daughters used male pronouns and that was never explored further. That was slightly odd.

These were dark, twisted versions of these stories. "Our Friend Mr. Toad," for example, involved gaslighting and psychologically torturing poor Mr. Toad. I found that one particularly disturbing. I enjoyed the title story, Ortberg's version of Beauty and the Beast, which has a very different ending from expected. I also really liked "The Daughter Cells", inspired by The Little Mermaid. I LOVED "Fear Not: An Incident Log."

I think this was a great, albeit strange, little book. It's unique, for sure, and a quick read. If you're looking for a fairy tale collection that is VERY different, try this one.

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
Beloved Lives
Beloved Lives
Marilyn J. Evans | 2018 | Paranormal, Thriller
6
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
doesn't quite work for me
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

And I gotta be honest here, it was very touch and go whether I would actually finish this!

The story tells of April, and Mitch and Weston. April only has her say here, and I would probably have enjoyed in more if the guys had had a say.

April and Winston have history, ancient history. And through time, they have, according to Weston, found each other and lived long and happy lives. But something doesn't ring true for April and she uses Mitch skill at hypnotherapy and past life regression to finally get some answers.

Like I said, touch and go for a while. I got way past half way, and I still wasn't able to figure out what was going on, and where this was going. But I kept at it, hoping it would make sense at some point. It did, but only once it was all revealed in the book.

It's not overly explicit, but there is some violence when they talk about how it all began. It's well written and I saw no editing or spelling errors.

It just didn't work for me.

But for a first time author, well done.

3 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**