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On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder
Ratings:
GoodReads Rating: 4.24 ⭐️
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Price:
Paperback: $12.00 (USD) / $16.00 (CAD)
Length:
126 pages
Review:
The Barnes and Noble associate told me this book was "very popular" when I purchased it. I knew it was, seeing as it was all over TikTok and Instagram.
I understand now that I've read it. I understand more and more as each news day goes by.
The best time to read On Tyranny was prior to November 5, 2024. The next best time to read On Tyranny is now.
Wolves and Daggers: A Red Riding Hood Retelling, by Melanie Karsak
Ratings:
GoodReads Rating: 3.72 ⭐️
My Rating: 2.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🔥
Purchasing:
On Kindle Unlimited?: No
Kindle E-book: Free
Paperback: $9.99
Length:
174 pages
Review:
Clemeny "Little Red" Louvel is a member of The Red Cape Society. A group commissioned by Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria to take care of supernatural events, all while keeping it hidden from the general public.
Business is booming for her organization...unfortunately it comes at the cost of a pack of werewolves kidnapping all manner of academics for nefarious but as yet unknown purposes.
And when her partner is kidnapped and injured, The Queen assigns her a new partner: a werewolf, Sir Richard Lionheart. Sir Lionheart isn't like other werewolves: he's intelligent, kind, thoughtful, and in no manner a brute. It makes Clemeny maybe want to find a gentleman caller...
But before she can do that, she has to stop the wolf packs from uniting for this less than stellar purpose, and when an ancient enemy of the crown emerges at the center of the controversy, Clemeny needs to work twice as hard to keep her loved ones safe.
Will Clemeny be able take down the alpha? Or is she just another damsel in distress?
You'd think this book would've had a higher rating. I was hoping it would. But, the longer the story went on, and it didn't go on very long, the more I thought of the question in this post's title card: What are we doing here?
Turns out, we are subverting subverted expectations. And while I do try to avoid this, there is no avoiding it now: ⛔️ SPOILERS BELOW ⛔️
So, we have Clemeny, an agent for a secret society. Decidedly telling us that she's focused on her work and family and doesn't want any distractions. That's great, except barely one-third of the way through the book we have Clemeny saying "I need a man," for her, presumably, Victorian era bosom heaving levels of lust.
Okay, then what about Sir Lionheart? He's a werewolf. That's sure to add some intrigue to the tale. One would think; he's a nonentity in the plot. When we do see him, we relearn what we already know: he's a werewolf, but not like other werewolves, because he's kind and genteel. He's also a knight, loyal to the crown. Even at the end, when Lionheart and the rest of the knights arrive for the final battle, we don't get to see him fight.
Okay, well what werewolves themselves? If they're supposed to be a secret to people outside of The Society, then Karsak must have written them to be somewhat interesting. She did not. Male werewolves, save Lionheart and the big bad, are categorized as criminals and brutes with no redeeming qualities.
Female werewolves have it worse, being the lowest on the totem pole of society. They're written as being extremely weak and good for nothing but sex. The only female werewolf our characters interact with is both the owner and "performer" at a brothel who Clemeny immediately compares herself to. Clemeny decides that while the she-wolf is better endowed, she is morally superior.
What about the big bad? Yeah, there's barely a fight with him. He's deus ex machina-ed by another character who's in the book for barely five minutes. But don't worry! Clemeny does get her fight with a villain! That leaves her scarred and worried that she's now too ugly to find a man...
Somewhere between the internalized misogyny and speciesism I realized whatever hook Karsak was trying for did not catch me. Luckily, this series starter is free. I will not be reading the rest of "The Red Cape Society."
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Paperback (found on book): $18.00 (USD) / $24.95 (CAD)
Length:
370 pages
Review:
The calm of Cooper's Chase, a British retirement village, is suddenly broken by news of a murder. Tony Curran, a developer for the village has been found bludgeoned to death in his home.
Word spreads fast in the retirement village, and four seniors specifically, Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce, all members of Japanese Opera: A Discussion, are hungrier for information than most.
Except, no, they're not actually part of an opera discussion group. That's a ruse created by these four seniors. They're actually part of a group called The Thursday Murder Club. And they're willing to use everything at their disposal to solve the case themselves...even if their methods are seemingly senile subterfuge.
But when more bodies turn up, can these septuagenarians solve the case? Or are they about to stick their other foot in the grave?
Now, I don't read too many mysteries. So while I cannot speak to how well the mystery is written, I can say that I was somewhat dissatisfied with the ending. The mystery is solved...but :/
However: this story, at its heart, is not about a murder mystery. The murders are the vehicle used to discuss grief, and the love at the center of that grief.
While I don't think I can recommend The Thursday Murder Club as a mystery book, I can tell say it's a heartfelt, laugh out loud story that makes me feel good about getting old.
So, if you're looking for a funny book that might remind you of your grandmother or grandfather, I doubt you'd find a better choice...in the murder mystery section of your local bookstore.
I bought this book with no idea what it contained. Though the title mentions worms, there was no summary on the back, or anywhere else on the book, so could I really be sure this book had worms? Well, I can tell you one thing: this book has worms.
And that's really all I can say without giving anything away. You don't really see it at the start, but there is a story here, a story about dealing with life... and worms.
Buffy Martinez (yes, that is her real name) is a Blossom in the Cult of Wrath. She has been trained her entire life to smile, keep sweet, and be the perfect wife for her eventual husband.
And while it might've been smart to think about that whole "Cult of Wrath" thing, she doesn't; can't really, it's her wedding day, and after all, stress is bad for the bride! But before she joins her fellow Blossom brides, they're all getting married today, the local Witch of the Woods issues her a dire warning. A warning she really wished she'd listened to, as now she's on the run from would be murderer/fiancé.
But help comes to Buffy in an unexpected form: Wrath, the god her cult worships. Except, he's not a god, he's a demon, and, as Buffy quickly learns, there's more going on with her cult than she could ever imagine.
Also, she and Wrath are married now.
Will Buffy and her beau escape the clutches of the cult? Or will greater powers force Buffy to submit to them once more?
One thing about Carter's story that surprised me was the blasé attitude toward the cult. Usually, in stories about cults, the MC finds out they were raised in a cult and wrestles with that throughout the story. Buffy knows she's in a cult from page one. She's not defensive about it, she's not worried, she’s just in a cult and fine with that. Though there is dialogue referencing other cults outside of Buffy's, we don't have enough information to know if cults are the way of world in this universe.
Another thing that caught me off guard was Carter's use of secondary characters. People that Buffy and Wrath help throughout the book don't just disappear. They are used to flesh out the landscape of Sweet Tooth, and I think most, if not all, of them come back in the climax of the story. I wasn't expecting that for this story and it was refreshing to see.
And while there isn't a big "OMG I'M IN A CULT" moment I expected from the story, I think this book could be somewhat cathartic for someone who was in a cult/strict religious community. Buffy is a pretty neat character, who, though terrified at first, doesn't run from the actions she has to take, and actually revels in what she has to do to save her and her friend's lives. It's interesting to hear her inner monologue compare and contrast her thoughts from before and after finding out her cult wasn't the cheery place she thought it was. And that maybe she isn't the person she was raised to be.
Those thoughts, however, are a bit disjointed at times. I think Carter should have done one more once over of the story to give it that final bit of polish that would have made the story shine. As, there were instances where I had to stop and reread a few sentences to figure out what was going on.
And, don't be fooled by the spice rating: though "That Time I Took Down A Cult" deserves its four flame rating, the spicier romance takes a backseat to the "taking out the cult" stuff. It's more of an action oriented romance than a romance with action on the side.
Overall, Rebel Carter's "That Time I Took Down A Cult" was an enjoyable read, and fun way to end my 2024. If you like action, demon romance, and quests for bloody vengeance, put this on your 2025 TBR!
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Alejandro Alvarez is many things: a superhero, a single father, a widower. One thing he is not is a computer expert, so when, on the anniversary of his wife's death, his powers overload and destroy his office, he has no choice but to call the Heroes IT Department.
Sarah Bailey answers the call. Quick witted, fixer oriented, and nomadic, Sarah has applied for an IT position at the Heroes Organization on a whim. She never expected to meet its leader...or that said leader's power would cause every piece of technology in his office to explode. Still, Sarah is undaunted, and gets to work.
Sparks from broken electronics aren't the only kind flying as Sarah works. She and Alejandro have undeniably instant chemistry. But is that enough to combat Sarah's transient nature and the disparate parts of Alejandro's life that he desperately tries to protect her from?
Poorly Wired Circuit is a wonderful read. The relationship between Sarah and Alejandro is believable and their reactions to the situations they find themselves in are understandable. Alejandro's powers are not used by Page as a crutch or a plot device...after that first meeting. Sarah's struggle with settling down is realistic and her growth as a character is well earned and delightful.
That being said, the secondary, action oriented plot, the non-romance focused part doesn't take precedence in the story until halfway through the book. There's little hints of it sprinkled here and there, but it doesn't hit you until later in the story. So if you are expecting an action packed superhero romance, this is not the read for you.
However, if you are looking for a book that is rich in its descriptions with a sucker punch second act, Poorly Wired Circuit should earn your steel of approval.
Two years ago, at her town's Halloween carnival, Avina was sexually assaulted had a ✨totally consensual encounter✨ with a masked man. During the encounter, he told her that she belonged to him, and he would kill anyone who tried to take her from him.
Two years and two first dates later, the masked man's statement's are truer than she'd like. Both of the boys she's dated died after the first date: murdered in cold blood.
Now, Avina's best friend is suggesting they all go to Carnage's Halloween Carnival. Surely, a night of fun will quell her worries.
Meanwhile, Nyx, her brother's best friend, lurks in the shadows, watching and being watched. The "darkness" he exudes attracts Avina, no matter how hard she resists. And Nyx, for his part, can't wait to finish the "game" they started two years ago.
Now, as l've said in some other posts: I would not call myself a dark romance reader. So, I might be missing something that seasoned dark romance readers wouldn't, because, if a friend gave me this book to try and get me into dark romance, I would never touch the genre again.
First, let's talk about Nyx, the "romantic" lead for our FMC. Nyx would be the type of guy that everyone knew in grade school: that guy who tries to be edgy because it's what people think is cool. But then, as you get older, you realize that same guy, who never grew out of his "dark" phase, is a loser. And yes, Winters tries to give us reasons behind Nyx's propensity for murder, but, well, I couldn't bring myself to care.
Not only do we only find these things out at the end of the book, by the time we find out that he had an abusive father who murdered his sister when she was three years old, and that he burned the house down to kill his father, killing his mother by accident, Nyx has already killed three people because he thinks he and Avina belong together. That Avina belongs to him.
He claims to love Avina, and that the "darkness" in him is compatible with the "darkness" in her, but c'mon. We're all old enough to see through this shit: it's pathetic. The book would've been better if Nyx had been arrested.
Which brings me to Avina. Now again, as I don't often read the genre, l'm not sure how other dark romance heroines behave, but god dammit if Avina isn't dumo as a rock. She is, surprisingly, somewhat quick to put together that Nyx murdered her dates...and then does nothing with that information. She could have gone to the police, the police actually interview her because of the murders. They suggest she go into witness protection, or that she be used as bait in a sting operation to catch the killer.
But Avina does neither of those things. Instead saying she has no idea who the murderer is, and then spending the rest of the book trying to manage Nyx's "darkness" so he doesn't end up murdering her brother or her best friend.
And why does she do this? She does this because allegedly there is a "twisted darkness" inside of her, a "twisted darkness" that only Nyx will understand. Although we don't even understand what that "twisted darkness" is. We are never privy to any of Avina's dark thoughts, and other than not going to the police, it seems the only darkness she contains is the space between her ears where her brain should be.
Oh, yeah, and I think she's conflating darkness with horniness. For reasons known only to Avina, Nyx is so attractive. I'm not sure if it's actual attraction since, based on the way he's written, I can only see him as a tool, or if it's attraction due to propinquity since he is her brother's best friend.
What Avina really needs is for someone to tell her that feeling horny is not bad, no feeling is bad, it's the actions you do and do not take in response to those feelings that makes you good or bad. Then after that, Avina needs is to go to therapy to get over her parents' death, and then call the police and get Nyx arrested.
If you haven't read dark romance, but want to give the genre a try, pick another book. If you are a dark romance reader, don't waste your time.
Trick or Beast: The Beasts of Blackmoor Book One, by Sarah Spade
Ratings:
GoodReads Rating: 3.40 ⭐️
My Rating: 2.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Purchasing:
On Kindle Unlimited?: Yes
Kindle E-book: $2.99
Paperback: $7.99
Length:
96 pages
Review:
Layla Smith walks the dark forest of Blackmoor thanks to her red hair. That's what her guide tells her, anyway, that the Council wanted someone whose hair was more red orange than orange red. Layla for her part, is simply glad to have been chosen. She's spent too long researching Blackmoor to turn back now.
Blackmoor, Layla reasons, is the answer to her problems. She wants her forever. She's tired of watching her friends move on to milestones that she can't reach alone. If she can survive three days in the Blackmoor forest, she'll be granted a wish, and with it, she will seize her forever. And if it turns out the whole wish thing is bullshit the $1,000 cash payout isn't bad either.
But, she will admit, it was kind of weird her guide made her take birth control before entering the forest.
Will Layla get her "forever"? Or will she wish she never entered Blackmoor.
First thing's first: do not let the 2.5 ⭐️ rating keep you from reading this book if the premise interests you. This is, for the most part, a competent story. However, there were some things, for me, that made the story less compelling.
The biggest thing being Layla herself. She states her goal was to find her one true love, her "forever." At which point I stated, "Okay...and?" It's fine to have a character that wants to find love, but I need a bit more than that.
Okay, Layla wants to find her "forever." Okay, what does that entail? Someone that won't abandon her. That's a given. What else? Someone that she can feel connected to...through sex. That's the only way she's been able to feel even the slightest "connection" to anyone these past few years. Well, yeah...l'm sure most people would like to feel "seen" during intimate moments with their partner.
And that's pretty much all we get. We never learn what Layla wants in a partner. We never learn what kind of future she envisions with a partner. It more or less feels like, even if Layla hadn't been selected for the Blackmoor forest event, she would have found someone eventually. She is desperate enough to settle for anyone who'll pay attention and give her decent sex.
Which, yes, I know, sounds harsh, but I am, in general, not a fan of the "pick me, choose me, love me" types of characters. They're pathetic. And unfortunately, that attitude, exuded by Layla, soured my reading. Again, I don't think this book is bad, I just wish Spade had done a little more with Layla's character.
That being said, if you're looking for a Halloween read that's full of treats without tricks "Trick or Beast" won't disappoint in that regard.
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It's Halloween, and Suzy is kind of over it; she's spent all day reading the cards and telling her clients about their future love lives, but when she tries to read the cards, to see how she can get laid...the answer is less than ideal. When she gets that same less than ideal answer a second time, she decides to interpret the cards literally.
Spurred on by that literal interpretation, a little bit of wine, and slightly supernatural happenings, Suzy decides to cast a spell to summon a lover.
The spell works! But...a large, pumpkin headed demon with a large pumpkin cock wasn't what Suzy was expecting...
Will Suzy get all she desires from her summon? Or will Jack smash her like a pumpkin?
The first Halloween read!! It's short, sweet, and to the point. What you see is exactly what you get and then some. Though I will admit, the breeding kink was a surprise.
If you think you'd be a fan of a fiery pumpkin headed man with a huge pumpkin cock this short read will definitely lendsome mischief to your night.
The Sea Witch: A Little Mermaid Retelling (Beloved Villains Book 1), by Rebecca F. Kenney
Ratings:
GoodReads Rating: 4.12 ⭐️
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Purchasing:
On Kindle Unlimited?: Yes
Kindle E-book: $3.99
Paperback: $19.99
Hardcover: $29.99
Length:
428 pages
Review:
Averil, youngest daughter of Tarion, King of the Sea, has broken an ancient rule: you do not save who the ocean claims. Averil, however, could not resist. When she saw the helpless sailor cast adrift and drowning, she felt the fabled Soul Echo. This man may be her one True Mate. She cannot miss this opportunity to save his life.
The Sea Witch knows an opportunity when he sees one.
Watching Averil, the young, virginal, daughter of his enemy, saving Prince Kerrin, son of Perindal, his other enemy and King of the lands bordering the Sea fills with thoughts of vengeance. Mostly. But he will not allow his wandering thoughts to cloud his judgment...even if this little mermaid is more tantalizing than she first appeared. A deal is a deal. And the man is going to keep it.
Will Averil be able to seize her happily ever after? Will she be able to acclimate to humanity's—to Kerrin's expectations? Or will a Sea Witch call off the farce and sweep her off her new feet?
The Sea Witch is described as a "dark romance." I am not one that readily reads dark romances, as I find some of their tropes uncomfortable. And there was one particular thing that did make me uncomfortable in the first several pages of this book. However, I am pleased to report that Averil's virginity, which is first brought up by the Sea Witch, is not brought up to declare her as virginal and pure and worth the corruption of mind blowing sex...after the first few times.
Instead, after those first few times, Averil's virginity was used as foil to Prince Kerrin and an explanation/ exploration of purity culture. This fish purity culture then leads into the family dynamic, and the reshaping and erasure of culture.
Another heavy theme in this book is abusive relationships. I don't want to go into too much detail, too many spoilers, but there are quotes and descriptions of that relationship that could be troubling to someone who was in an abusive relationship, so if that is something you're sensitive to, be cautious when picking up this book. As this toxic relationship leads to state sanctioned torture.
Overall, The Sea Witch was an enjoyable read that had a lot to say. If you're looking to read a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid", this could be a good fit. Just make sure you read the author's warnings and make your choice wisely.
