eat, sleep, read

Temple of the Tentacle Priests by Ava Wilde took me back to the days of sneaking and reading my aunt’s over-the-top harlequin romances full of unattainable men and ridiculous situations. Except with a sprinkle of monsterfucking. Well, maybe a little more than a sprinkle. Okay, let’s be real - there is a lot of monsterfucking in this book.  Which makes sense considering our main character, Dr. Poppy Flynn, is a frustrated and unsatisfied sex psychologist who signs up to travel to Hearthpetal, another dimension where monsters of all shapes and sizes exist and sex is something close to holy.

In Hearthpetal, women are put up to auction and chosen by the highest bidder to basically help them reproduce. When Poppy is chosen by a tentacled priest at a template dedicated to studying pleasure, she is tempted into agreeing by the offer to continue her own research. The last thing she expects when she accepts is to develop a deep attachment to the priest who chose her, Father Calder. The question is - will Father Calder be able to keep his vow of detachment as he and Poppy begin their research together? Or will Poppy’s sharp tongue and stubborn personality change everything?

What I loved

This book is exactly what it says it is and I love that. There is mayhem, filth, humor and so much monsterfucking it almost felt illegal.

Father Calder. He is a sweet angel baby who needs to be protected at all costs. He tries so hard not to break his vows but in the end, he chooses what he wants even in the face of death and I just think that’s beautiful.

The author threw in so many different types of monsters and Poppy threw her legs open for every single one of them without discrimination.

Things I wish were different

Poppy clearly has an unhealthy obsession with sex and I’m saying that as someone incredibly sex positive. I kind of wish it had been addressed in the book at least once but at the same time, this is just a silly, funny monster romance so who cares?

By the end of the book, I decided I never want to hear or see or use the word cream ever again. Not surprising considering I already don’t like that word in this context but it was so repetitive and overused that it pulled me out of the story a couple times.

All in all, I definitely enjoyed reading Temple of the Tentacle Priests in all of it’s suspending your beliefs and enjoying the ride glory. I would recommend it, probably with a grin and a cackle, to anyone who likes spicy chaos, a side of humor with their smut and monsterfucking.

          This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede follows Alessa, a girl meant to be the savior of her island home, Saverio. As a Finestra, her duty is to protect her people from a swarm of demons that comes every couple of decades by amplifying the powers of people with magical abilities called Fontes. Unfortunately, Alessa keeps killing her Fontes when she touches them. There have been three weddings and three funerals in her time as Finestra and time is running out. 

          The people of Saverio are beginning to doubt her ability to protect them and she no longer trusts the guards who are meant to protect her. Alessa hires a brooding street fighter with a few secrets up his sleeve as her bodyguard and begins to train with the Fontes that remain on the island, the few that didn’t leave in fear, hoping to build a connection that will stop her from killing them. But will this be enough to stop the demons when they come?

          With beautiful, engaging and atmospheric writing, This Vicious Grace was a compelling debut with so many things that I adored, like the italian-inspired worldbuilding and mythology, the found family trope, a grumpy but sweet bodyguard, and endless batter. Thiede pairs divine magic and religious tension in the best way and crafts characters who grow with each page, who are deeply fascinating and loveable. If you love books with all of this, several scenes that will have you sobbing into the pages and more, This Vicious Grace is perfect for you.

          Led by Vasha, an older woman who has been around for many years, this utopia has shared resources and an organized way of living. When raiders come looking to take advantage of the community’s success, a bargain is struck between the leaders of either group - a contest of sorts that will last one day and will determine the fate of Osto. What can happen in a single day? You would be surprised.

          With a wide variety of characters thrust into unexpected situations, this novella is a quick and easy read with an uplifting message, different from other dystopian stories. The Future Second by Second shines hope and light on a bleak world, filled with violence, cruelty and death.

          Although I wasn’t familiar with many of the women mentioned in this collection of poetry, half the fun was in researching their stories and rereading the poems to connect the dots. I didn’t realize there was a reference sheet in the back of the book until I’d already finished but I’m certainly not going to complain about it. I truly enjoyed learning about these women from history that I hadn’t heard of before.

          While I wish there had been a bit more warning about the contents of this book, I truly enjoyed this collection of poems and can’t wait to read more of Erin Vance’s work in the future.

What I loved:

• The magic system in this book has to be one of my favourites that I’ve read.

• The main character, Agnieszka, was full of determination, never hesitated to help those in need, and held an emotional connection to her magic that I truly loved. She was stubborn as hell and I adored that about her. Every scene where she used magic held me captivated in a way I haven’t experienced in quite a while.

• The side characters were well-rounded and fleshed out. The love interest was mysterious, brooding, sulky and powerful. Exactly what I’m most weak for. I also adored Kasia, the main character’s best friend. She was just as determined as Agnieszka, as well as strong and caring and funny and beautiful.

• The writing, while a bit wordy at times, was full of beautiful imagery that drew you into the world the author created and put down roots. The vibe of the entire novel was immaculate, to be honest. It was dark and tense and perfect.

What I wish were different:

• I wish the book had been a bit longer because the pacing of the third act of the book felt rushed. There was definitely a lot of information crammed in there towards the end and it made it a little difficult to keep up at times.

• There were many characters that I wanted more closure with, including Agnieszka, Kasia and the Dragon. I don’t normally enjoy side stories but for this book, I would have gobbled those stories right up if they existed. I want to know how the prince turns out with Kasia’s influence. I want to know how Kasia’s life turns out. I want to see Agnieszka and the Dragon a few years down the road.

• My biggest complaint was the lack of maps. I didn’t understand the location of most places and didn’t understand the layout of the Tower. It would have helped with visualizing quite a bit.

What I loved:

• Elena was incredibly relatable. I grew up with a mother who favored my younger brother (most of the time if not all) so I understand the struggle she has with feeling like she’s stuck in the shadow of her sisters and her twin brother.  • I loved Robbie and Elena’s friendship! I loved that they picked up where they left off but also still had to learn one another and how they would fit into each other’s lives. I loved their chemistry and their inside jokes. • This was a quick and easy read that made my heart feel all soft. • All of the references to Korean culture and language, especially as a K-Pop fan!

What I wish were different:

• There were a few storylines that didn’t feel like they had been finished or wrapped up enough, like everything with Elena’s mom still felt like a frayed edge. Their relationship definitely needed more work.

• I wish there hadn’t been any miscommunication between the two main characters but they’re teenagers so maybe I’m not entirely mad about it.

Overall, Once Upon a K-Prom was a cute story with cute characters! I definitely would recommend it to anyone who enjoys K-Pop or K-Dramas, friends-to-lovers or overly sweet, cheesy romance novels!

          Mello doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that the “American Dream” is a lie. In fact, she uses her powerful writing to shed light on just how much immigrants give up for safety - language, culture, family, a sense of belonging. With a poem about the ideology of the “grateful immigrant”, Mello makes it known how much Americans expect immigrants to give up in return for safe harbor.

          Mello reaches into her roots, laying them bare for the readers with each poem. She pulls you into not only her story but that of her parents and their parents and their parents, on and on. The vulnerability she shows with each word and line and verse captures emotions that readers have never been able to capture themselves.

          Overall, More Salt Than Diamond is a beautiful, heartbreaking debut collection that I believe is a must-read.

          The imagery was vivid and vulnerable, each poem beautifully written and relatable. There were some parts that felt repetitive, especially toward the middle, but with a style more narrative than descriptive, this collection was able to hold my attention to the very last word. The references to science fiction and horror as well as the homages to Houdini helped with that. 

          Overall, I truly enjoyed this poetry collection and can’t wait to pick up more of Chloe N. Clark’s work.

          When Weston Winters appears on her doorstep, desperate for an apprenticeship from her mother, Margaret soon realizes that Wes is exactly what she needs. They are an unlikely duo. Margaret is a lonely outcast and excellent sharpshooter, enduring all that life has dealt her until it hardens her through and through. Wes, while the biggest flirt Margaret has ever encountered, is uneducated and has his mother and sister’s to take care of. What will happen when these two pair up to take on a centuries old fox?

What I loved:

• The magic system was truly intriguing. I loved the all around vibes of it. I loved the incorporation of alchemy and science, the existence of mythical creatures, the use of religion paired with some of the different aspects of magic. It was brilliant!

• The dual POVs with distinctive voices for each main character. This is something that I really struggle with as a writer and seeing it play out so well is inspiring.

• I’m a sucker for well done world building, especially when it isn’t a massive info dump all at once. Saft did an excellent job of peppering information throughout the story in a way that wasn’t overwhelming. I truly adored the historical aspects of everything even though that isn’t something I typically enjoy.

• The characters were well-rounded and written beautifully. Even the side characters were intriguing and played their roles. Of course, my favourite characters were Margaret and Wes. Their depths, their growth, their journey together - all of it was wonderful!

• The themes of religious persecution and reverence, loneliness, finding a sense of belonging, found family, and the many facets of love.

What I wish were different:

• The hunt was clearly something that played a big part in society, in each culture and in the story in general. The hala too as both are directly connected. It seemed like these parts were glossed over or rushed. The hunt was crammed into the last part of the book with preparation for it taking up more time. I believe Saft could have done a better job with it.

• I loved the relationship between Margaret and Wes and truly enjoyed witnessing it unfold (hello, slow burn!). However, I wish there had been more scenes with them getting to know one another and spending time together. It would have made everything all the more believable.

           Overall, A Far Wilder Magic is a must read! It was beautifully written, captivating and heart-pounding. If you enjoy slow burn relationships, found family, magical fox hunts and alchemy, this book is definitely for you.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of smut - reading and writing it.

It all started when I was thirteen and discovered fanfiction. I’m sure if I read any of the things now that I read then, I would cringe so hard. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve become a little bit picky. And I don’t even want to think about the things I wrote back then.

Honestly, writing smut is no easy task! It’s hard to keep track of where everyone’s limbs are and what each person likes or doesn’t like. And it’s even harder to find the right words to use to ensure that your readers aren’t cringing or being pulled out of the story.

For me, there are quite a lot of words and phrases that do that for me but it also depends on the context and the characters. One character saying ‘tits’ could throw me off but another saying it could grab my attention. Figuring out the time and place for those words takes practice and a lot of reading. I mean, a lot a lot.

The Smut Thesaurus is something I’ve been thinking about and working on for a while so I’m excited to finally share it with y’all! I will most likely be adding more to it in the future so I’ve made it accessible via Google Docs.