#Readers’ Favorite Book Review - 5 Stars

[mad-rdr]

Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5

One of my favorite books of all time, this reread was to prepare me for the TV series that recently came out. My favorite thing about TJR is her ability to tell stories in new and different ways. Essentially told in interview format, this book was an interesting take on culture of rock 'n roll in the 1970s. One of my favorite things is how the memories of each of the band members differs in their retelling of events. Everyone sees that time of their life differently and when you read one after the other, you realize how little can actually be told objectively. This is especially true when it comes to the relationship between Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne. Billy, who is married and has a daughter, refuses to acknowledge just how far he went with Daisy and downplays his emotions for her. Meanwhile, Daisy is all in and doesn't back down. TJR really knows how to write romantic relationships because wow are Daisy and Billy so dynamic together. They simultaneously bring out the best and the worst in each other, and the chemistry they have together is astounding. And yet, they don't end up together. At the end of the day, Billy's commitment to his family and sobriety are what he will always prioritize, which I think is greatly admirable. Daisy deserves the world, but she definitely has to learn some hard lessons first. Starting with drug abuse. I love how real and raw this story is, it genuinely doesn't feel like a work of fiction, especially with the actual songs included. TJR is a mastermind and never misses, I will always love her books.

#daisy jones and the six #dj&ts #taylor jenkins reid #daisy jones #billy dunne #adult fiction #fiction #book #5 stars #booklr #reader #books #reading #book blog #book review #books and reading #favorite book #book recommendations

[jjspina]

WIP - Gateskin Chronicles Book 3 coming along!

View On WordPress

#Book awards #Book Excellence Award Finalist #book reviews #Gateskin Chronicles #Readers’ Favorite Book Review - 5 Stars #reading for all ages #Reading for YA #The Legend o the Taken Ones (Gateskin Chonicles Book 1) #The Unknown Territory (Gateskin Chronicles Book 2)

[frombehindthepen]

We Are Poetry Receives Readers' Favorite Editorial 5-Star Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We Are Poetry Receives Readers' Favorite Editorial 5-Star Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #BookReview #PoetryCommunity #PoetryEducation

I am so delighted and honored to receive an editorial notification announcing that I received a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews for “We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn’t Learn in a Textbook.” Oh, how delightfully exciting! Thanks Amy Raines, Editorial Reviewer.   Review Rating: 5 Stars – Congratulations on your 5-star review! This review is scheduled to be announced to 500,000…

View On WordPress

#5-star Book Reviews #book reviews #Readers&039; Favorite Reviews #We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn&039;t Learn in a Textbook

[malakkc-poetry]

Book Review of my poetry book, Perfectly Flawed

View On WordPress

#5 star rating #book review #excited! #Malak Kalmoni Chehab #reader&039;s favorite

[thecatsreaderslibrary]

Readers! Fall Into These Autumn Reads By Our Authors Who Have Garnished 4 & 5-Star Editorial Book Reviews Given By Reader's Favorite and Are Worth Your Reading Time...

Readers! Fall Into These Autumn Reads By Our Authors Who Have Garnished 4 & 5-Star Editorial Book Reviews Given By Reader’s Favorite and Are Worth Your Reading Time…

Hello and Welcome, Avid Readers,Are You Looking for some Fantastic Reads? You won’t go wrong by purchasing and reading these sweet reading treats written by many of the fine authors we represent at ‘Lyon Literary Services.’ Cat loves sharing books and ‘The Why’ you should read them when they have these exceptional editorial book reviews like the ones below. With the Holiday Season almost here,…

View On WordPress

#5-star reads #Amazon #Amazon Kindle #Authors #Book Reviews #Books on Amazon #Cats Reading Den #Ebooks #Gift Giving #Lyon Literary Services #New Book Release #Paperbacks #Readers Favorite Reviews #Sales

[shadesofdeviant]

For the fanfic asks … all of them? 😁

HAHAHA Ginger! I mean...you said you'd ask for all of them XD So...I guess I'll answer them all XD.

🍄How do you come up with ideas for your stories?

A variety of ways, sometimes I get inspired to write an AU based on an episode of a show, or a novel etc. Or sometimes my brain just pops ideas into my head.

🍉Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I am very much a plotter. It's also why I don't often get much written because I need SO much to be planned before I can write.

🍒What genres/tropes do you find yourself using most often?

Fluff, 5+1, Domestic Slice of Life, AU's - I am an absolute sucker for AU's.

🥝Who are your literary influences, and have they shaped your own writing?

As much of a problematic person as they were, Anne Rice's first 3 vampire chronicles books were the books that got me thinking...oh I really wanna do this kind of thing. J R R Tolkien's descriptions very much shaped my own (i used to write horrifically long paragraphs). Neil Gaiman inspired my shorter style, quirky dialogue with inside jokes aimed at the reader.

🥕What's your favorite fic you've written, and why?

My favourite fic is a toss up between "Your Arms Are Like Corset Strings" (9-1-1, Buddie) and "Rainbow Coloured Monstrosity" (9-1-1: Lone Star, Tarlos).

The rest I'm gonna put under a cut haha or this post is gonna get SUPER long.

🥨How do you overcome writer's block?

When I work it out I'll tell you haha. I don't think I've ever managed beyond just pushing through and hate-smashing at the keyboard, or just waiting for the inspiration to come back by itself.

🍕What's your favorite comment you've received on a fic?

Honestly as cliche as it might sound, all comments I get are my favourites. I couldn't pick any specific ones, I enjoy comments so much.

🌭Do you have any writing rituals to help 'get in the zone'?

I use a lot of notebooks, I also get really sad and make powerpoint presentations of planning. Then I either listen to music, or put on some series that Ive seen enough times that it can be background noise.

🍔What's a headcanon that hasn't made it into a published fic yet?

I HC a few things for different people but they're not exactly huge things, but have a few examples. I headcanon that Alec Hardy is a huge fantasy novel fan. I headcanon that Eddie Diaz has chronic pain in his shoulders. I headcanon that Aziraphale hates the scent of pine.

🍭What's been your most challenging story to write, and why?

I'm writing a huge multi-part reincarnated soulmates AU, in which the soulmates meet each other throughout history and have different names etc. and it's...taking me soooo long. And honestly it's just because it so long and has so many historical points I need to research hahaha.

🍬What's a genre/trope you've never written, but might in future?

I'm...not sure tbh. Theres a lot of genre's/tropes I don't like or I'm not comfortable with so won't ever touch. But the ones I do like, I've attempted or I am in the process of attempting.

🍩What advice would you give to aspiring fic writers?

Just go for it. Find something you really, really want to see written and write it, because at the end of the day you write for yourself first and foremost. If you try to write to please everyone you'll stress yourself out too much.

🌶How dependent are you on feedback, good or bad?

Bad feedback is never warranted. I do not write for profit so therefore do not need amazon style reviews. Nor do I ask for constructive criticism. I appreciate if someone wants to tell me they like what I wrote though.

🥑What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a bunch of things: Doctor Who x Good Omens crossover - The events of "The Giggle" with Crowley tagging along. Broadchurch Whump - 2 entries, poor Alec is getting tormented. Broadchurch x Good Omens x Rab C Nesbitt crossover - Alec, Crowley and Davina are identical triplets. Shenanigans ensue. Buddie birthday gift for someone dear to me. Buddie soulmates AU.

🍹How do you decide a story is ready to post?

I finish writing it haha. I let it come to a natural stopping point and then try not to over think it.

🍊What's a story that changed significantly from its initial idea to the final draft?

My reincarnated soulmates AU. I've changed so many historical points and condensed some and completely scrapped a whole half of it haha.

🥠What's your approach to world-building?

Powerpoints. Powerpoints and mind maps haha. If I'm going AU I will plan it like I'm Tolkien creating middle earth haha XD.

🍎How do you prioritize which stories to work on when you have multiple ideas?

I don't. My brain goes brrr and tries to plan all of them at once to the point I can't work on ANY of them haha.

🌮How do you balance the desire to write for yourself versus the desire to write for an audience?

I have been writing on and off since I was 13, and I used to write entirely for the audience and it stressed me out. Whilst I enjoy audience responses and like to receive comments confirming that they enjoyed what I wrote, if I don't like it, I won't post it, but if I enjoyed what I wrote I will love it regardless.

#rinwrites #rintrash #Fanfic writer asks #ask game #Thanks for this! haha #These took me so long to write as well

[bookcub]

book review: little thieves by margaret owen

characters: i have found some of my new favorite characters. vanja is a fantastic mc, i love her voice and her growth. she is overflowing with emotion and so smart, but the kind of smart that bites her in the butt. she is so snarky and lovable and i love her skewed moral compass. AND shes aspec. i thought her companions were also incredibly compelling and complemented her and challenged her in various ways. and the low gods were fascinating and the villains were horrific. *chefs kiss*

relationships: vanja has like 3 foils for characters and they all are so lovely and unique in their own ways. the romantic relationship i did not think i was going to like but they got my onboard. this is also a book i would point to for those who love found family. sometimes i think it gets thrown around where it doesnt apply but you can feel the love here. and the dynamic between vanya and gisele? we love to see growth.

plot: incredibly fast paced and well thought out! thieves make for some of my favorite protagonists and stories so i loved seeing the fast paced action scenes and the scheming. i also am partial to fairy tale retellings, even ones i am not familiar with.

writing: i loved the mix of classic fantasy elements with modern day commentary. sometimes it can both me but owen masterfully intertwined them. i will say i did not care for the sections owen would tell the reader and not show but luckily those were not often.

themes: i would love to do a marxist reading of this book honestly. but also the theme of how past trauma effects people and how power is viewed and who decides who deserves what. . .i thought it was incredibly wise and well thought out.

favorite quotes: so so many but they are also so spoilery

"I've already met Death, she doesn't care if I'm pretty."

"The maid was learning to lie, you see, because she had learned the truth would not protect her."

"I know bravery is real because I see you choose it every day."

5 out of 5 stars, i adored it, if you love ya and fantasy and fairy tales, this is a must read!!

#little thieves #margaret owen #my book reviews #goose girl #ya fantasy #aspec books #my goose girl era

[illiteraterabbit]

A Power Unbound - Freya Marske

★★★★★ (5/5)

Date Started: 10 February 2024 Date Finished: 16 February 2024

"The past could turn you into a strip of paper with a single side, so that comfort and vulnerability slid away down the invisible channels and couldn't be grasped."

Kind of funny to post only a review for the final book in a trilogy, but unfortunately this blog didn't exist when I read the first two, so consider this my personal review for the series overall. Note: It is going to be a glorious, glowing and raving review focusing on this third book overall as it is what primarily weighs on my mind. All three of these books are firm 5 star ratings in my heart of hearts, and I will not budge on the matter.

I'm already a well established fan of historical fantasy, so when I stumbled upon A Marvellous Light back when I still worked at Barnes and Noble it felt like a matter of fate. I was in love with the world from the start and knew I would read as many books as it took to get to the end of the overarching plot line. A Restless Truth enchanted me just as much as the first book, though in a completely new and different sort of way. It was refreshing and fun and left me in dire anticipation for the release of the final book of the trilogy.

And that brings us to A Power Unbound. A book hasn't stressed me out as much as this one did in ages. And I mean that in a good way, of course! The stakes felt appropriately high, and that meant they felt apocalyptic. It might seem impossible to weave a romance within the lines of a book of apocalyptic stakes, but Freya Marske absolutely managed it.

The violent, aggressive, off-putting love between Alan and Lord Hawthorne felt just as desperate as everything else. It was a force to be reckoned with, and it knocked me off my feet every chance it had. Robin and Edwin may still be my favorite couple, but the romance between Alan and Jack definitely felt the most satisfying. Maybe it's because it was at least partially stretched across two books - maybe it was just because it was so... Well, everything it was. I don't know, but I did love every second of it. I don't like to talk plot much when I review books, because I personally hate reading a glorified summary when I seek out other reviews, but I can tell you that this book wrapped up everything perfectly. The ending was satisfying in more ways than one, and the epilogue perfectly reminded me how much I loved every single character throughout this series. I could not recommend this series any more intensely. If you are searching for a wonderful queer fantasy, it's waiting for you here.

I can't wait to see what Freya Marske writes next. I promise I will be a dedicated reader for life.

And with that:

"I would take your heart between my ribs and guard it like my own. Is there any way I could make you believe it?"

#a power unbound #freya marske #last binding trilogy #book review #book blog #book tumblr #no spoilers review #lgbtq fiction #historical fantasy #booklr #book reviewer #more talking to a wall! yay! #i know almost no one will read this but idk i love writing these reviews #and if one person reads this and reads this series because of it #i will feel fulfilled

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: After missing his flight back to Seoul, a disillusioned K-pop idol finds love, acceptance, and the strength to fight for his own happiness at last. As a member of the internationally beloved K-pop group Apollo, Eunjae has learned firsthand that fame and fortune come at a steep price. But leaving it all behind is easier said than done, and it seems Eunjae has no choice but to continue… until he steps through the orange door at Wanna Waffle on the way to the airport, fails to catch his plane to Seoul, and upends his entire existence. Jiyeon and her family don’t know the truth about this quiet, handsome stranger who stumbled into their restaurant. Regardless, it’s clear that he needs them. And the longer he stays, the more Eunjae realizes that he might just be willing to trade the adoration of millions for home, family, and even one chance at true love. But his powerful entertainment agency will never let him go without a fight, and Apollo’s fate hangs in the balance along with his own. If Eunjae hopes to win, he must stand his ground and fight back — not only for himself, but for the brothers who have loved and supported him all this time.

Brimming with warmth, waffles, and too many brothers, "This Place Is Magic" will resonate with any reader searching for a comforting escape. Debut author Irene Te delivers a cozy contemporary read interwoven with found family and gentle romance. Step through that orange door for a heartfelt, hilarious, and irrepressibly hopeful journey of self-discovery, perfect for fans of Axie Oh and Jenny Han.

Review:

When a famous K-pop star stumbles into a waffle house, the last thing he expects is to find happiness, found family, and possible romance... that is if he can remain hidden from his agency and his band. Eunjae is part of Apollo, an extremely famous K-pop band. Eunjae is tired, he wants to leave the band but he doesn't want to hurt his bandmates who he loves like brothers. Eunjae yearns for more, he wants freedom, he wants to escape the constant pressure, the fans, the spotlight, the grueling lifestyle that he never asked for and is afraid to leave in case he disappoints people. So when he stumbles across an orange door like the one in his favorite novel he goes inside... and is immediately warmly welcomed by a sweet waffle shop family. Eunjae meets Jiyeon, a sweet and beautiful girl who works in her families waffle shop. When it's time for him to leave he realizes he missed his flight and Jiyeon and her family welcome him to stay with them, no questions asked. The longer he stays the more he yearns to never leave. But his bandmates need him back, his company is threatening him, and his fans will come after him.... can he find a way to escape it all and hold onto this little bit of happiness that he's finally found? This was such a cozy little read, there was an adorable found family ( both Jiyeon's family and Eunjae's bandmates were all so sweet and cute), and the growth that Eunjae went through was a sweet read. This book really focuses on the struggles that many K-pop stars go through and I loved that this book was from Eunjae's POV. We get to see him dealing with so much and finding a way to go after his happiness and his own freedom, how he stands up for not only himself but for his bandmates. The romance was really light but it was sweet and cute, Eunjae and Jiyeon were a light and very supportive couple with cute moments. This book just felt like a warm hug, it's a cozy read that is perfect for reading at your favorite cafe (and with a waffle of course).

*Thank you to @irenewritesthings for this heartfelt story and @literaryinspired for bringing us together for this read. Ready for an escape into a world where authenticity shines? This novel is for you.  #LiteraryInspiredARCs *

#book review #bookish #cozy books #LiteraryInspiredArcs #literaryinspired #this place is magic #irene te

[v171]

My year in books, 2023

2023 was a pretty good year as far as reading went. Was my lowest reading year for the past three years with the goal of finishing 40 books, and ending up finishing 45 (finished 50 last year), but that's okay. This happened to be a very good video gaming year, so reading took the backseat a bit. Watch me nerd out about my book stats below!

I like crunching some basic metrics around my reading each year, mixing some stuff from Goodreads, TheStoryGraph, and some of my own calculations. Let's start with the basics.

God The Priory of the Orange Tree was the first book I read last year, and it feels like forever ago. I really did try to get to the prequel this year, but it fell through the cracks!

Otessa Moshfegh has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to read her entire backlog of works. And of course I stan Ann Leckie, I'll always read whatever she puts out. Was so thankful to get to read an advance copy of a short story collection she has coming out.

Man I read a lot of sci fi this year. Usually sci fi and fantasy are a bit more balanced, but I read some really good sci fi this year, so I was stuck on it. Notably, I didn't read any nonfiction, romance, or thrillers the whole year. I usually get a couple of those in.

My book ratings look pretty good for 2023, lots of 4 stars and few 2s and 3s. Standard disclaimer, I usually stop reading books that I really don't like, so I generally don't have many one-star reviews because I just stop reading them and I don't rate books that I don't finish.

This is interesting, because in previous years, I didn't really read any ebooks ever. What changed this year was that I got on Netgalley, a site where you can read advance copies of books to provide feedback to publishers before the books release, and they generally provide an ebook for you to read. Extra surprising that I read more that way than audiobooks, which have been on a slow decline given the fact that I don't do a ton of activities that can be paired with listening to a book these days.

I read at least one science fiction book for six months out of the year. Actually pretty surprised to see so much Historical Fiction on here as well as I don't really like that genre.

Damn, I sound like a broken record, but this makes it clear how much I really enjoyed science fiction 13 of the 16 sci fi books I read got a 4 or 5 star. Surprising to see that contemporary fiction got mainly middling ratings, that's generally my second favorite genre. I know I read a lot of fantasy, but I don't actually tend to love a lot of it lol. But this looks like a successful fantasy year as far as ratings go.

Man, 100-200 page books had it rough this year. This is interesting to me, I think the 300-400 range is my ideal, and while it had a similar number of 4/5 star ratings as the 400-500 range, it obviously had some duds in there too. But I'm surprised to see how much I seemed to enjoy the really long books, usually I start to get pretty bored at the 450 page mark.

This is one of my favorite graphs because it shows the months where I rush to finish short books so I can keep up with my reading goal of the year. July seems to be particularly egregious with reading 5 books but not even reading 1000 pages total. I always start the year with the long books...

This is a new metric for me, I decided to compare my rating of books with their average rating on goodreads to see how much I generally agreed/disagreed with the average. This was honestly probably not the best year to do this as I mentioned before, I read a lot of ARCs (advanced reader copies) meaning they have few to no ratings, so my ratings of them skewed the average quite a bit, throwing this whole thing into question (I didn't record number of ratings so I couldn't put in error bars, and I'm lazy and don't know stats that much). Anyway, in this graph, the size of the bubble indicates the number of books I read at that rating during the year, so you can see the 1 star bubble is small because I didn't read a ton of books I rated 1 star. This is such an interesting pattern though, my 1 star books aren't the lowest average, but they're pretty low, but my 5 star books are definitely the best. But the 2-4 star books are a bit all over the place. I'm interested to see how this will map over time when I throw in some of the previous years in

Anyway, that's all I have. I'm going to bump up my goal back to 50 this year, hopefully I can tackle it. I'm hoping to get involved in some book clubs as well, so I hope that'll keep me honest. I don't think people actually care about these posts, but keep an eye out for some more bookish posts soon as I dive into some of the notable reads of last year. To end, here's all of the books I read in 2023

#books #my year in books #reading

[cyrereads]

Haunting Adeline - Full Review

TW: SA

I love love love love love.... what this book could have been.

First off, for those who love this series - Zade specifically, are you okay?

It starts off a little boring, like ooo a stalker. But then it lost me completely - sort of. I was completely turned off of Zade and the book as a whole when he literally rapes her with a GUN. Legit sexual assault.

I honestly didn't even want to continue after that. Because I am sitting here wondering why people are in love with a rapist and why this is considered "dark romance". But I persisted. I wanted to actually complete this book. The main thing keeping me going was the murder of poor Gigi. I wanted to know who the fuck did it. It was a lovely little murder mystery and I was hooked.

I speed read through Zade's POV mostly. Yes he hunting really bad guys but he himself is a bad guys and no matter how HD Carlton tries to paint him, he will always be a rapist. Now the part that saddens me the most. This COULD have been GREAT!! I am a literal whore for cnc, bdsm, dom/sub, and just rough sexual scenes. Their dynamic was so fucking delicious - SA aside. This could have easily been my favorite duet if it hadn't been for the fact that Zade is a literal predator and romanticized for it.

The ending threw me. It was such a huge cliffhanger that would have had me IMMEDIATELY picking up the second book... if I hadn't already decided it wouldn't get my time of day. 40% of the way through is when the gun scene happens, and I was immediately turned off after that point. I refuse to read the second book and have the author try to make me fall in love with a rapist and to watch this "relationship" between them blossom. And it's quite concerning the love Zade receives from readers because he literally admits in his POV that he sexually assaulted Adeline. Literally admits it. S

So instead of reading the second book, I immediately looked up spoilers because I wanted to know who the hell the person is that set Zade up - and who kidnapped Adeline. Like I stated, this could have been great. The plot was amazing, the smut absolutely incredible. A smut book heavy with mystery that almost read as a psychological thriller. HD Carlton, you could have had something amazing here. But you ruined it by romanticizing a rapist and trying to pass it off as dark romance.

1/5 stars

#book review #haunting adeline #h. d. carlton #currently reading #books and reading #book tumblr #booklr #books #book blog

[wiltking]

full review for Ocean's Blood ★★★★★ by Thelma Mantey, provided in return for being an ARC reader:

I am rounding up my review from 4.5 stars to 5 because despite a few small criticisms I had, I consumed this book in about 2 days and am desperately clawing for the sequel.

The book's description does not do it justice. My eyes honestly glazed over the first time I read it, and I only stopped from backing out of the page when I noticed the comparison to Captive Prince at the end. Which filled me with dread, because despite being one of my favorite series to this day, the few dark gay romances Capri has inspired have failed, in my eyes, to hit the marks that make it so special. But my curiosity got the best of me. What if Ocean's Blood understood the marks? What if /this/ was the book that could finally touch the same vein that Capri first awakened in me, and has been starving ever since?

I can't accurately say how glad I am I gave this book a chance. It delivers on every front, and so much more. It goes beyond its own comparison to Capri and delivers wholly unique lore that always had me fully gripped, despite being relatively exposition heavy (the first of my criticisms). Ocean's Blood delivers vampires under its own name, with enough solid and distinct lore to make that name stick. Singers are terrifying, and the dread they instill from the very first chapter had me enthralled. So did the story, which pulled no punches, and had me feeling gored and helpless as I followed Vindt's painful story.

A lot of dark fantasy, in my experience, tends to shy from going too dark, or loses itself in gratuitous misery at the expense of other elements. Ocean's Blood hit a perfect balance for me. Violence, pain, and blood, yes, but also the careful undercurrents of something more. Something that has no business blossoming under these grim conditions, and I can't wait to see how that thread will no doubt continue in the sequel. Because another thing this book throws itself into wholeheartedly is its /slowburn/. Which, in this day and age, seems to be a dying genre, at least in its fullest form. As well as enemies to lovers (truly enemies!), and oh how delightful it is to find a book that not only understands the assignment but loves it, and wields it to tear at my heart like a singer's own song.

As for Vindt and Ashe - I feel like we've only scratched the surface of their personalities, and knowing that the story isn't finished yet makes me wary of giving an assessment too early. But I'm excited for what was set up for them at the end of this book, and my curiosity for what will happen to them (and between them) will eat at me every day. If it wasn't already obvious, I'm deeply invested, and will sing this book's praises every day if that's what it takes to get the next book released.

My only other criticism is a few minor points where the language broke my immersion ('braincells'? 'vibes'? what year and world does this story take place in, again?) but they were very easy to overlook. For a debut novel this is extremely promising, I have already begun to tell all my friends about it, and anyone else who will listen. This is an author to watch and support by any means.

#cross-posting this here too. why not #i deeply relate to the author's note where she talked about chronic illness and how it effects her life and writing #so im willing to wait however long it takes for a sequel to actually come #but good lord that was awesome and im looking forward to whatever else she might put out in the future #lovers of dark m/m fantasy...... rise and rejoice #long post #book thoughts #ocean's blood #lgbt books

[thecatsreaderslibrary]

Intimate Interview With Author Elizabeth Upton and Garnishs a 5-Stars From Reader's Favorite For Her Book, "The Shaman and the Mafia."

Intimate Interview With Author Elizabeth Upton and Garnishs a 5-Stars From Reader’s Favorite For Her Book, “The Shaman and the Mafia.”

Welcome Readers, Friends, and Literary Visitors!You are in for a treat today with a new Author Interview with best-selling author Elizabeth Upton and courtesy of our friends at Awesome Gang. As Elizabeth is writing the next book in her novel series, “John Callahan,” she took some time to be interviewed with Vinny to share some of why she enjoys writing. So, without further ado! I hope you enjoy…

View On WordPress

#5-Stars #Amazon #Author #best selling author #Book Reviews #Elizabeth Upton #Media Press Release #Press #Reader&039;s Favorite #Writer #Writer of Gripping Fiction

[magicshopaholic]

hey, do you read fic at all? i was wondering if you had any recs, i feel like i don't see you interact with fic a lot on here! i love your stories, so wondered what are your favorite authors too :]

Hello! The short answer to this is yes, but it comes with the caveat that I haven’t read much lately, primarily because I have no time but also because now that my characters are getting more and more fleshed out with every fic, reading other fanfic feels like my members are cheating on their OCs 😕 (I read this really good Namjoon fic where he met the reader at a party, and spent a whole week imagining Namjoon cheating on Kaya with that Y/N and it kind of killed me)

Having said that, I still do read fics when I can, definitely those that don’t interfere in my head with my OCs. I’m joining collabs and book clubs as much as I can so that I read more; but in the meantime I’d love to recommend some of my favourite fics and authors to you and any other readers:

(Please read the warnings on each fic before proceeding)

1. Poetry of the Stars by @jjiimin: This is the best fic I have read my entire life (barring one legendary series in the HP fandom - iykyk) and I honestly have nothing else to say about it. Riley has unfortunately deactivated her Tumblr account but I’m so glad I got to tell her how incredible her story was before she did so, so this is my number one. It’s 25K+ words iirc and was one of the first fics I read in the fandom and I just read it all in one go because I couldn’t stop.

(Also a favourite is Irresistible by the same author but I unfortunately don’t have a link to it)

2. @sahmfanficbts: There’s no fic mentioned here because I recommend Sam’s entire masterlist. She’s one of my all time favourite authors in the fandom and I have read and will read every single BTS fic she ever posts. Every fic is so immersive and every character is so deeply developed that they just stay with me and I find myself thinking about them at random times. Just beautiful, fantastic writing.

3. The Rich Man’s Crochet Club series by @kpopfanfictrash: Funny, quippy dialogue is my absolute favourite thing and this series has some of the best combination of humour and heart. Shanna’s works are pretty popular so you may have already checked this one out but I’m gonna recommend it anyway. (I remember coming on anon to gush about it because I was shy af, but I absolutely loved it, Shanna :))

4. Four Seven Eight by @jiminrings: This is the one I’ve read most recently and I’ve had it in my drafts since then so that I don’t forget to write a review because it deserves a great one. So here’s my apology to Hannah for taking so long to do it 🤓 but this is an amazing series, full of angst and hope and has my recommendation for sure.

5. For The Crown by @chimknj: I don’t read mxm fics, particularly mxm smut, but there was no way on earth I was going to pass on this one. Gina and I share an obsession with A Song of Ice and Fire (and I mean OBSESSION - we talk about it 24x7) and the premise of this fic was so compelling and so exciting to discuss that the only thing better than that was actually reading it. The way Gina has written this - I was transported to Westeros instantly. Everything is subtle and nuanced and I found myself connecting with every single character (also Kingsguard!Namjoon was not something I knew I needed). Idk if she’s planning on writing future parts but if she is… fuck, I’m so excited I can’t even talk about it.

6. A Silent Heart Still Beats by @akinnie75: This is another fic I have in my drafts because its review deserves my entire attention. It deals with some difficult topics but is so sad yet hopeful. The OC is such a beautiful character inside and out and this doesn’t usually happen to me with fics, but she actually changed my life and taught me how to rise above, be compassionate and forgive. I won’t give away anymore but this is just a gorgeous, gorgeous fic.

7. Just Practice by @lamourche: I can’t BELIEVE I’ve finally found this fic again!!! I read it once and then lost it (now I realise it’s because the author has seemingly removed their masterlist) but I’d commented on it from my main blog. It is one of my favourite fics of all time: it reads like a college indie movie or like a Sally Rooney novel. I was crying at the end but I couldn’t even put my finger on what it was which just meant that it was the entire vibe of the story rather than a specific scene. It breaks my heart that I’ll never get to read this again but the author has all my appreciation and gratitude for writing it.

These are some recs off the top of my head that have stayed with me and I’ll probably add to this if I think of more. A huge thank you to all these authors for their wonderful work - and thanks to you too, anon, for the question. It felt great to go back to old fics and give a shout out to such talented writers <3

#and thank you for liking my fics too 😌 #notes🍷 #jjiimin #kpopfanfictrash #sahmfanficbts #chimknj #akinnie75 #jiminrings #lamourche #fic recs

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Vietnam War is still something many people don't like to talk about. There's a discomfort there, a veil of despair and shame that is never fully drawn back the way it could be. It's like witnessing a haunted hush that falls over a large clamorous crowd generation after generation, with memories trapped behind eyes in cages, with words dying on tongues and then eroding into silence to become lost stories of sacrifice, of heroism, and of suffering that never makes it into the history book pages. As a result of that, there is still so much we don't know or understand about that time. About the people who were affected. There are still so many veterans - soldiers, nurses, and doctors alike - who were or have been all but forgotten.

This book gives voice to some of them. The Forgotten.

I think partly what makes The Women such a powerful read is that Kristin Hannah does not shy away from peeling back the veil around Vietnam, or around the women who served in Vietnam. BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE, TOO. In fact, she makes it a point to thrust readers directly into the heart of turbulence right alongside her characters, especially Frankie, her protagonist. By doing that, she makes this both an intimate coming of age story about an idealistic young woman turned Army nurse turned disillusioned war veteran as well as a searing commentary on how women's service and commitment to their country has long gone unacknowledged.

I haven't been moved by something this much in a long time. The story is evocative, insightful. It's a kaleidoscope of politically divisive, culturally explosive, war-torn color, and I couldn't help but marvel at its ability to reveal the real Vietnam with all its mucky tangibility and soft, aching, hopeful pulses of humanity.

Frankie's journey is painfully realistic, not just because her youthful idealism is blighted by the atrocities of war but also because she struggles to assimilate when she returns home, battling shame from her parents, anger from her fellow Americans, and PTSD with little to no recourse. She's a courageous and resilient character, though. Understandably flawed. You feel for her, you cry with her, you find a way to survive with her.

The Women is a lyrical and emotional tour-de-force, for sure! One of my favorite reads of the year. I won't be surprised if (or when) it's one of the biggest books of 2024.

I'm incredibly grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

5/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

#the women #kristin hannah #arcs #historical fiction #vietnam #recs: ashlee approved! #read september 2023 #published february 2024 #bookblr #booklr #book reviews #book recs

[hunne-writes]

Little Thieves / Painted Devils

Dates Read: 03/17/22 - 03/24/22

LITTLE THIEVES

“Little thieves steal gold, and great ones steal Kingdoms, but only one goes to the gallows.” • Shapeshifters, Gods, and Curses… need I say more? In case I do: I absolutely devoured this book and enjoyed every single moment. So much so, I even called out of work one day to finish it 🤫 The main character, Vanja, has razor sharp cunning and wit. But I suppose she’d have to with Death and Fortune as godmothers. However, the whole ensemble of characters is great. Each feeling fully realized and imperative to the plot. Everything from the world building to the banter was engaging. I even laughed out loud at points, which is a prerequisite for any of my five star reads. I ship Vanja and Emeric SO hard and can’t wait to read the rest of their journey. Is the sequel out yet? • E’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

______________________________________________________________

Dates Read: 03/31/23 - 04/13/23

PAINTED DEVILS

“There’s a saying in the north: ‘A child’s eye fears the painted devil, but an elder wields the brush.’” • Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for granting my request for an advanced reader copy of Painted Devils. What an emotional and exciting sequel! I wanted to simultaneously devour and savor every second of this book. I was so happy to receive an ARC for this and grateful for the opportunity to read this without spoilers, so I will attempt to keep my review as spoiler free as I can. Vanja makes starting a cult look easy. After staggering drunkenly over a bridge where she spills her bag of rubies into the river, she only has help retrieving them because she invoked the local's legend. Her little white lie blooms into chaos and she once again needs the assistance of Prefect Emeric Conrad to worm her way out of trouble. This series contains some of my all time favorite characters, so I was elated when this sequel was announced. Vanja and Emeric's hilarious snark and unyielding loyalty to one another makes them feel like two halves of a perfect whole. Their budding romance encapsulates the tentative excitement of every first great love. And I was delighted to see other characters from the first book make appearances too. Vanja’s entire journey to finally accepting herself is hard fought but so tender and heartwarming. The answers she always wanted about herself are revealed in such a clever way that I didn't see coming. And the emotional payoff is magnificent. I will admit, I cried more than once. I’m a big fan of plot twists, especially when there are enough breadcrumbs to put it together right before the big reveal. I was kicking my feet throughout the last pages! That is, right up until I reached the very end. And all I have is... WHY?! I will anxiously be waiting for the third book because I NEED them to have a happy ending. • E’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#booklover #books #bookish #bookobsessed #bookhaul #bookmail #bookaddict #YA #booksbooksbooks #book review #booklr #little thieves #painted devils #margaret owen