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ClareR (6250 KP) rated Spitting Gold in Books

Jun 4, 2026  
Spitting Gold
Spitting Gold
Carmella Lowkis | 2024 | Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+, Paranormal
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’ll be honest: I didn’t know what this was going to be about. It was a case of judging the book by its cover. I didn’t even read the synopsis before I got stuck in. I was very happy indeed when the first page took me in to a woman’s prison in Paris, France in 1866 - just for a little while, until we start to learn why exactly Sylvie is in this predicament.

Atmospheric writing places the reader in Paris after the French Revolution, where Baroness Sylvie is living a perfect life with her affluent lawyer husband.

Her estranged sister, Charlotte Mothe, visits with an offer that’s hard to refuse. Their father is very ill, Charlotte needs to pay the bills, and Sylvie must come out of retirement and conduct a seance to help her out. But Sylvie is risking her marriage.

Spitting Gold is a debut, and I thought it was gripping and entertaining - it kept me reading! The characters were fleshed out, believable and colourful (to say the least!). There were moments where it made me feel very uncomfortable - was it the ghosts?

There’s a bit of something for everyone here: historical fiction, mystery, the paranormal, sapphic romance and family dynamics.

Recommended!
  
Accidentally Vacationed with an Incubus (Briar Coven, #2)
Accidentally Vacationed with an Incubus (Briar Coven, #2)
Belle Blakley | 2025 | Erotica, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ACCIDENTALLY VACATIONED WITH AN INCUBUS is the second book in the Briar Coven series, although the coven doesn't appear for most of the book.

Jen was sent to prison nine years ago for killing her parents and has never forgiven herself. Devlin has never been summoned and has given up, taking a vacation instead. With the help of a magical bedsheet, these two meet and realise they can help each other, falling in love along the way.

This was a great story that had more of a mystery than the first book, with red herrings thrown in too. I loved the connection between Jen and Devlin and how it played out naturally. Fated mates with a twist. And not only that but there is another magical house! I love Boo-dini just as much as House, and I definitely want my own.

A great addition to the series that will leave you wanting more. Definitely recommended by me.

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 19, 2025
  
Cruel Elites (Nocturnal Academy book 2)
Cruel Elites (Nocturnal Academy book 2)
Holly Hook, Margo Ryerkerk | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
203 of 250
Kindle
Cruel Elites ( Nocturnal Academy book 2)
By Margo Ryerkerk and Holly Hook

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

I refuse to end up as a vampire's slave.

There's no escape out of Nocturnal Academy's prison school. Being here means I've lost my mother, my best friend, and my freedom.

Now, Nocturnal Academy plans to make me into a courtesan for the vampires. My only hope out is topping the Placement Tests and becoming the 1 out of 100 fae who gets to shape her own fate.

But between a mysterious vampire guard confusing my feelings, my nemesis circling in on me like a viper, and a teacher who hates my guts, all my plans are falling apart. If I'm not careful, I won't even end up as a courtesan, but as dead meat.


This is the second book and definitely a star more than I rated book 1. This was more settled and the story is picking up and getting interesting. It’s definitely a tough concept that these Young mainly female fae really have limited outcomes on their lives and can be a bit tough to read in places, but I’m finding it well written! Looking forward to reading the next one.