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virgilsaeneid's reviews
332 reviews
These Vengeful Wishes by Vanessa Montalban
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Netgalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest review!
These Vengeful Wishes was an easy, casual read with an intriguing mystery and steady pace. Montalban's prose is easy to read. Ceci and La Cegua's story offered a tragic narrative arc and I found it a compelling mystery. Unlike most people in the reviews, I couldn't have predicted the way the story unfolded and Montalban did an excellent job of building steady tension and mystery. I also have to give at least one whole star to Jamie, I adored the banter between Ceci and him. Honestly, they were easily one of the most fun couple's to root for that I have in a while.
All in all, These Vengeful Wishes was a delightful read, although I did find the beginning a little bit slow. This is exacerbated by the later pace of the book. Despite this, I still had a blast. Easily a 4/5 star read! Best of luck to Montalban on release day!
These Vengeful Wishes was an easy, casual read with an intriguing mystery and steady pace. Montalban's prose is easy to read. Ceci and La Cegua's story offered a tragic narrative arc and I found it a compelling mystery. Unlike most people in the reviews, I couldn't have predicted the way the story unfolded and Montalban did an excellent job of building steady tension and mystery. I also have to give at least one whole star to Jamie, I adored the banter between Ceci and him. Honestly, they were easily one of the most fun couple's to root for that I have in a while.
All in all, These Vengeful Wishes was a delightful read, although I did find the beginning a little bit slow. This is exacerbated by the later pace of the book. Despite this, I still had a blast. Easily a 4/5 star read! Best of luck to Montalban on release day!
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Wolf Steps in Blood by Tamara Jerée
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Partners in Crime by Rachel Bowdler
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Goodnight Punpun, Vol. 2 by Inio Asano
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
If you want time travelling gay husbands who fall under the friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers trope in a grounded, easy-to-read fantasy book, Shoestring Theory is for you. I enjoyed Shoestring Theory with its flowing prose and simple worldbuilding. It's definitely a good start for people looking to get into fantasy without getting bogged down by pages and pages of worldbuilding exposition. Mariana Costa's book is quick, easy, and intriguing.
That being said, however, I don't think Shoestring Theory should be getting marketed as a cozy fantasy due to its simplicity. It is entirely an epic fantasy, targeted at audiences not familiar with the landscape of fantasy fiction. Shoestring Theory is in fact quite dark and deals with some surprisingly heavy topics for a book with Legends and Lattes as a comp title. The stakes were exceedingly high with Costa not shying away from grittier topics- something that doesn't quite fit the cozy fantasy's low-stakes, lighthearted nature.
All-in-all, Shoestring Theory was a good read, but be aware that you will not get a conventional "cozy fantasy." 4/5 stars.
If you want time travelling gay husbands who fall under the friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers trope in a grounded, easy-to-read fantasy book, Shoestring Theory is for you. I enjoyed Shoestring Theory with its flowing prose and simple worldbuilding. It's definitely a good start for people looking to get into fantasy without getting bogged down by pages and pages of worldbuilding exposition. Mariana Costa's book is quick, easy, and intriguing.
That being said, however, I don't think Shoestring Theory should be getting marketed as a cozy fantasy due to its simplicity. It is entirely an epic fantasy, targeted at audiences not familiar with the landscape of fantasy fiction. Shoestring Theory is in fact quite dark and deals with some surprisingly heavy topics for a book with Legends and Lattes as a comp title. The stakes were exceedingly high with Costa not shying away from grittier topics- something that doesn't quite fit the cozy fantasy's low-stakes, lighthearted nature.
All-in-all, Shoestring Theory was a good read, but be aware that you will not get a conventional "cozy fantasy." 4/5 stars.
The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0