marvelousmarbles's reviews
138 reviews

"I'm tired of being good."

Hide your wife, husband or partner or wait maybe I have that wrong.
Make sure they are at the ready?

THIS IS SPICCCCCCCCCCCY! 🥵

A Hades and Persephone retelling with all the spice, consent, and power exchanges that are.. woo wee, and there's still a plot!

I really enjoyed Persephone's journey from a clear and known privileged life to realizing that really wasn't what she wanted and finding freedom, choice and her own power elsewhere. (Yes Queen!)
If it weren't for life getting in the way I would have devoured this in one sitting.

I didn't know if I needed a bunch of cold showers, to smoke or all of the above after this. I did just really wanted to see it all burn though! ahaha

I was provided an ARC for my honest review. Thank you so much January Foxx for the opportunity! 

 "There's something special about this wretch here, and you're desperate to get it."

"I don't need it - I want. I crave. I yearn. I covet."

Whoa! What a wild ride. Cooper reached out in regards to receiving an arc for an honest review of Osgood as Dead, and I'm so glad that they did. Fantasy is my jam but I have not dived into the Horror/Paranormal side of this genre much. This was super enjoyable and most certainly pushed me out of my usual reading comforts (in a good way).

From what I watched of Supernatural this is giving me Supernatural meets maybe Goosebumps ish?

There is a lot going on here, without spoiling anything, the main character 'Prudence Osgood (Os) is recovering from a very traumatic subway crash that leaves her in the hospital with Locked-In Syndrome. The very crash Osgood survived managed to kill 844 other Chicagoans, ushering in an opportunity for someone .. or something else to bring forth the end of the world'?!

I felt all the feelings reading this. From laughing, to sad, PISSED OFF, to yeaah.. I related to that self-deprecating shit too, to just that overall relief and pain of having a really amazing support system around you - fuck the consequences.

Cooper included really awesome recaps of the previous books, as this is Book 4 in the series which helped jumping into this without reading the others, and yet I can't help but think that if I had read the others first, I would have had a better connection with the characters and understanding of what they had gone through prior to were we kick off in Book 4.

Osgood As Dead releases on February 6th, 2025.. soo you have time to catch up on the series ;)- highly recommend! 

🫑-🌶️(closed door)

"When the world is at its darkest, follow the stars."

Fast paced and easy to read YA dark academia, fantasy, romantasy with elements of Greek mythology, mages and assassins. The Greek mythology is sprinkled throughout using different lore which is really intriguing. This novel is inspired by the love story of Nyx and Erebus (and now I want to learn more about Nyx and Erebus.)

Kiara's world goes from being an assassin for the king to being a mage - a mission for vengeance turning into a battle for survival and uncovering truths.

The book pulled me in the beginning, I enjoyed the magic coming from grimoires, the different aspects of the mages magic (elemental, beast forms and affinities) There are also secret societies and an academy with hidden history and more secrets. The secondary characters are also really interesting and I want to know more about them. (I really want Octavia and Tobias to be fated and I need to know more about Tobias and his brother!)

I do wish the pacing slowed down or more that there were more details provided. I would have liked further exploration with the different societies, learning more about the other characters, classes Kiara was in, and her learning or practicing her newfound magic. I'm also not a huge fan of when things are repeated to close to each other or many times (or more so when I notice it) and found that a few instances where the main characters thoughts were a little repetitious.

Overall, I thought this was a really interesting and promising start to the series and I will be on the look out to dive back in the series and see what's in store for the Kingdom of Ithaka, Kiara and Lucien. 

Received and ARC for my honest opinion. Thank you so much!

 

"Goddammit, Donut!"

This was a "hey husband, pick out a book you think I'd read" at the store one night that turned into purchasing and then doing our first buddy read together just from the synopsis.

This book gives me Hunger Games meets intergalactically/species game show meets dungeon crawler RPG.

It was really enjoyable, hilarious and written really well. I wasn't expecting all the hack/slasher gor- ish vibes situations at first but I got over that quickly. The book very much reads as a litrpg but I appreciated it, as a casual gamer I didn't find it too much or boring.

Princess Donut sucked us in to buy this book and kept me and my husband thoroughly laughing all the way through the book. Really like Carl and Princess Donut's banter and although we felt that the book ended a bit abruptly, we are very much looking to continuing the series!

 "You will not break me. Fuck you all. You will not break me." 

"There's nothing more natural than death; it's the answer to life."

If it weren't for picking this up around the most busiest time for me, I would have devoured this book so much faster than I did. Cozy Horror is a thing right? Because if so, this is that - this is such a perfectly spooky, cozy book for the fall and darker than I expected it to be.

There's mystery and curses, witches , ghosts, demons, personal growth and sapphic romance? OH and magically pastries and I really wish was a real world thing... And then you want to make me all misty eyed on top of all that over Brume and her friends in Misttown.

Overall, the characters and story was interesting even when I was getting a bit frustrated with Brume's actions and I'm always a sucker for a familiar!

I saw this book described as 'Spooky Ghibli vibes' and 1000% agree.

Thank you so much Apolline for the ARC for this gem and for your patience!

(Totally read the CW for this book.) 

3.75⭐

This was my first time doing an audiobook and it did not disappoint. Good mix of spice and plot and would recommend for anyone whose starting to get into Dark Romance. I really really enjoyed the first half of the book, a bit more than the 2nd half. Regardless - JOSH is everything 🥵.

The banter between Aly and Josh was top notch and I love love FRED! <3 

--

“He made me feel alive. He'd dragged me out of the gray world I'd been living in and taught me how to see colors again. In a sea of men who barely put in any effort, this man stood out for going above and beyond. He was the definition of "If he wanted to, he would."

“I need so much more therapy than I’m currently getting.”

"Maybe it was time to accept the face that I wasn't normal and I never would be. I wanted things most people didn't, craved darkness and depravity instead of light and love."

I enjoyed this book, it was quick, fun and wholesome annnd spicccyyyy HEA.

I really lovee Iggy! Black cat, she is unapologetic, authentic, goes for what she wants / edgy self, coupling with the working through family expectations and holding on to secrets. I also really liked that Iggy noticed what others aren't quick to admit to themselves.

Chad is such a cinnamon roll, consistently putting his heart on his sleeve and genuinely putting others needs before his own. At first he annoyed me but that quickly went away as his and Iggys friendship/relationship progressed. The negotiations between the the two 🤌.

Love this book cover! This is my first book in the A Winter Bliss Romance Series and I'm already adding the rest to by TBR.

I received an ARC for an honest and voluntary review. 

 "May the fate laid before us be kind - and may we be strong enough if it's not."

What an absolute gem! I'm not going to lie, at first I was like oh noo because I don't like one of the MMCs but.. SHIT WENT DOWN and I'm so excited to read more. The world-building and blending mythical elements and magic systems that feel both familiar and yet still unique.

I relate to Nyleeria's character so much and love how she wasn't a 'woe is me, I'm fragile type'. She is sassy, take no shit FMC with emotional depth.. and she's a badass with the blades. I also really loved some of the other characters and hope to see more of them.

Luca is 💖

Lots of twists and turns, some I guessed and other blowing me away. There's suspenseful and emotional scenes that tug at the heartstrings and spark the imagination. What a fantastic start to the series, and I can't wait to see where the adventure goes next.

TeamEndymion

Highly recommended for fans of adult high fantasy and magical adventures!

Thank you so much to Book Sirens & CC Hartly for this ARC for an honest review. 

 'One for the fire, Two for the Storm'

Fate and Fury is a Slavic-inspired romantasy, where Katerina Ivanova, the most powerful Dimi in Iriska, commands the four elements with her Shadow, Niko, to guard against Underworld invasions. When they are recruited for Iriska’s elite force, their secret bond threatens to unleash ancient Darkness. Despite the prophecy, they succumb to their forbidden love, causing devastating consequences. As they fight to save their realm, unexpected enemies emerge, willing to risk everything—even making a deal with the Devil.

--

'Fate and Fury' was thrilling ride with emotional depth, a perfect balance between thrilling action and deep emotional storytelling. I was hooked from the first few chapters. The characters are well-developed and mostly relatable, making it easy to invest in their fates and the immersive world-building was really great.

- Katerina is sassy and I'm all about it
- Nico is possessive and I don't hate it
- The book I would say is more plot/ character focused than spice focused but HIGH tension which was just chefs kiss
- Chapter 46 gutted me (grab your tissues)
- I really love Katerina's best friend Ana (and hope to see more of her in book 2)
- I found the demons/'villains' super sassy and funny

I do wish we got to know more about some of the other characters a bit more as there were times where a lot of characters where introduced and that the trials were longer. Elaine just plane drove me crazy. Above all this was an emotional rollercoaster and I can't wait for Book 2!

--
Quotes -

"You kneel for no one," she said in wonder, gazing down at him.
His throat worked. "I think we both know, my Dimi, that I kneel for you."

"I swear on all we hold holy, Katya, You are the other half of me. You are my blood. You are my blade."

"I'm not done," he promised darkly. " Then and only then, when I had you pleading for more beneath me, as desperate for me as I've been for you, would I bury myself inside you."

"If I'm the fire," she whispered, "then you are the kindling that lights the flame. Mind yourself, Shadow. Fire wants nothing but to burn."

"One for the fire,
Two for the Storm
Three for the black dog that guards against harm
Four for the silence that follows the dark.
Five for the cold one whose path is stark
Six for the dream that brings secrets to light
Seven for the curse that spreads blight through the night
Eight for the loss that cuts beyond price
Nine for the heart carved wholly from ice
Ten for his tears, the rest for her fears
Eleven for the blood that has tasted the blade
Twelve for the one who breaks yet is bold
Thirteen for the story that remains untold."

Received an ARC from Emily Colin in exchange for an honest review ~ Thank you so much!