Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

15+

I have so many thoughts about this one because it is such a difficult read to review. This is the third time I have read this book and it manages to surprise and horrify me even though I know what is going to happen.

I think I’m going to start with the romance, because this is the most difficult part to pin down, especially with no spoilers. We do have romance close to the end (I rated it Sweet) but I really struggled with the age gap, 19 and 33, and I think that might be why I cannot give it a full five stars. Fantasy so often has these HUGE age gaps and sometimes when it is within human lifespan parameters it is trickier for me to except than when the MMC is like five hundred plus years. If we ignore the age gap, and the power dynamics, I do really enjoy how the enemies-to-lovers trope is drawn out so they are properly enemies first.

The world is military fantasy based. The Commander has taken over from the old king, divided up the kingdom underneath Generals and everyone is assigned to a specific duty. I would have loved some more exploration of that, but the touches we did get showed the effects upon the people of the palace. It is really clear how Yelena sees the world especially after her very traumatic experiences, and the subsequent betrayals mean that we see through her a world that is grimly political and mostly emotional less.

Characters – 4/5 – I enjoy them a lot!

Romance – 3/5 – Sweet – I have already said something so I will let it be.

World – 4/5 – solid fantasy world

Plot – 4/5.- there are no twist around moments that make you gasp out loud because it is a slow reveal. Part of the beauty of the plot is that the protagonist almost knows what is going to happen and what she is going to find but just cant admit it to herself yet.

Romance Rating: Sweet

Violence Rating: Level 6

Content Warnings: SEVERE – rape, (past, vividly remembered and practically on page), physical abuse, child abuse, torture, sexual assault (from a different man, this is on page, she is clothed but causes PTSD from the last time)

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Mini Mention Monday: Nikita Gill

This poetry anthology is one that I have multiple times read cover to cover like a novel, and I cannot stop absorbing every single poem she writes. This anthology delves deep into the Greek myths but also imagines the deities living in our times – Eros lost without Psyche as her immortality wanes, Aphrodite finally able to reach out to other women, Hera able to divorce Zeus, Zeus being held in court for his crimes. Every time I read one of these I think WOW then I read it again and I am speechless. Each poem (sometimes mixed with some prose) breathes life into the myths and reimagines the motivations and minds of the great goddesses of Greek Myth.

She is releasing Hekate soon and I absolutely cannot wait because I love her work so much!

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We Are The Beasts by Gigi Griffis

15+

Honestly this was great! I wasn’t expecting this at all, and I may say that before but this one was a read I don’t think I will ever forget.

Set in a medieval (or perhaps colonial times? It’s tricky to pin down exactly!) French village, the Beast is a unknown power that roams the hills and kills shepherdesses, growing a reputation as something supernatural. Our two main characters discover the victim of one of the beasts hunts and a survivor of a little girl hiding in the trees and from there they decide to use the beasts murders as a cover to get the girls of the village away from the abusive men. However as the king sends soldiers to hunt down the beast, the beast itself roams closer and everyone teeters on the verge of famine, it has become far more complicated than they could have ever imagined. But it is their only chance of getting out.

I genuinely am not sure how this one has not become a booktok obsession because it is dark and twisty and teeters on the edge of the supernatural – honestly this is going to be a best read of 2025 I know it!

Plot – 5/5 – perfection.

Characters – 10000/5 – so so so good, I honestly cannot describe how great these characters are. From the insolent soldiers to the scared girls all seeking a way out to the Beast itself roaming the woods hunting its prey they are just all so complex and intriguing.

Romance – NA – there is no romance, a hint of it perhaps between the main two girls but it might just be a very close friendship. Especially with how dark it is and how they are constantly in high stress tension ruled scenarios I cant tell.

World – 1000/5 – dark and historically inspired??? Sign me up, I loved it!

Romance Rating: NA

Violence Rating: Level 5

Content Warnings: Domestic violence (a lot, but not described explicitly on page), sexual violence (hinted at, and discussed in the past, one attempt by a priest is stopped), child death.

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June’s Recommendations

June the 24th is international fairy day and no I am not making that up that is something that actually does exist! In honour of that I am going to be giving my ultimate Fae read- and if you have any faerie ones that are no-spice/low spice then I would LOVE to have them!

A Court of Midnight and Deception by KM Shea

The second trilogy of the Magiford Paranormal Books (so you can read the first and get your vampire hit and then read this one! Spoilers are present for the previous trilogy, but only surrounding the main couple of the last series which is probably predictably going to happen so you can take a view on that!).

This has Fae. Tea drinking, etiquette obsessed, monarch-less but snobby about the one they are given, fae. With quirks and charming cultural details, it is set in an America that knows that paranormal exist but they have to present to be charming and less threatening than their faerie myths declare. They are none the less the fae of the myths, bound by tradition and powerplays within them but when the half-human Leila becomes their queen, the Night Court is at its most vulnerable.

If you like tropes here are some!

  • Marriage of convenience
  • Reluctant Monarch x Grumpy Assassin
  • Horsies but dangerous ones
  • Fae Power Games
  • No-nonsense heroine.

Content Details

These are what is generally called ‘clean’ fiction, no swearing and no sex (or allusions to it!). I would rate this Soft on my Romance Ratings, and Level 2 or 3 on the Violence Ratings. Genuinely no content warnings either! For a general age rating I would probably say 13 and up would enjoy it the most – it’s a Paranormal Romance, and I don’t think many people in middlegrade are looking for that, but I would have enjoyed it then and I do now so honestly this is sutiable for 12+!

If you want to know what kind of world you are going to be addicted too… then here is a timeline of the rest of the Magiford Books!

 Also a link to KM Shea’s website where you can learn more!

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Forever by Judy Blume

16+

There is a reason that Judy Blume’s books have become modern YA classics and honestly this one feels timeless and yet a perfect snapshot of less than a year and a relationship that would change forever and yet change nothing.

I originally picked this up because it was a banned book in American schools, and I got curious because I had loved Blume’s Tiger Eyes the previous month. I can see why it is banned because it explores sex more explicitly – but not gratificationally to the reader –  than YA books especially ten or so years ago did. I enjoyed this one because of how directly it discusses the difficulties of teenage life, and Blume’s straightforward writing style guides us through a summer with Katherine that somehow changes everything and nothing.

The plot was relief to read after the trope filled books on my shelf and this is definitely a book that I would recommend for readers who are looking for a lasting impact. When you finish it you don’t think – wow, this was perfection – but you slowly start to realise that the simplistic prose and the characters stay with you in a way that lots of four stars don’t.

World – 4/5 – its our world. Albeit a few years ago so I can’t really say much about it.

Characters – 5/5 – human. So so human. They all are complex or some of them even aren’t because we are seeing them through Katherine’s eyes whom doesn’t really understand some of the people’s emotions.

Plot – 4/5 – it is achingly straightforward and realistic while still being interesting which is very very rare.

Romance – 4/5 – Swoony C – can’t say much for the spoilers but realistic and also perhaps a little toxic. This is not the idealised romance that many YA feature where they always know what to say and respect each others emotions completely without ever discussing triggers/experiences and it was enjoyable for that.

Romance Rating: Swoony C

Violence Level: Level 1 – but with content warnings, this is not a romance level 1!

Content Warnings: attempted suicide by a side character, negative body image (between Katherine’s parents and focused on her mother. Small sentences but heartbreaking.)  

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Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

Notorious Virtues was a fun trials led fantasy between two heroines from very different pasts. I enjoyed how Lottie and Honora didn’t fall into the trope of the one raised rich is evil and how Lottie wasn’t as innocent as she pretended to be to win the support of her relatives. With a love interest that is a journalist that hates the Holzafall family and a really interesting origin story of the monarchy/goverment this is a must read if you enjoy your fantasy with a side of trials! 

This feels like the Inheritance Games but set in a fantasy world with a rebellion! We have trials, we have a family warring over an inheritance and we also have touches of world building that go delightfully deep and mention the economic power that these families wield.

World – 4/5 – it feels like the quintessential rebellion fantasy world but a little bit more Victorian and I honestly cannot wait for where this goes, I think the way the few locations that are described are all so vivid is really promising!

Characters – 3/5 – I didn’t love love love any of the characters but I didn’t hate any of them either (as characters, morality aside). I think that this books strength is the trials and the world and the characters were for me just a way of exploring that.

Plot – 3.5/5 – trials for me are a very predictable plot because they are so popular in fantasy right now but I did still enjoy it.

Romance – 4/5 – not there much, but what was was cute.

 Violence Rating: Level 3 

Romance Rating: Sweet

Content Warnings: family killing each other, magical slavery (forcing certain members to obey or die by magic, determined by heritage not race).

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Rapunzel’s Gambit by Mary Mecham

(ARC personally sent by author, part of the All that Glitters release team, but all opinions are my own!)

Release Date – 24th of May – (it’s on KU so you can read it there if you have the subscription!)

This was honestly the Rapunzel retelling I NEEDED! Instead of a captive naïve princess held at the will of a witch we have a strong tactical princess who makes a deal with a dragon!

Pollux (the dragon she goes up to offer herself as the kidnapped to) is just so much more than I expected. Yes he is tactical and hoards gold like a dragon but he is also wickedly intelligent and genuinely cares for both Rapunzel and her ‘hoard’ or kingdom.

 The plot twists and turns and completely dumps the fairytale on its head, pulling out a few elements and weaving them into a fairytale retelling that feels like something new and nostalgic!

Also the drugged lipstick? Genius.

World – 4/5 – I will say that the world isn’t really the focus, it is the characters and the romance set within it but there were no moments it really made me trip up like some books and fit the plot perfectly.

Characters – 5/5 – This is the big change from the usual fairytale, it has been taken from Rapunzel being a naïve princess to one who is dangerously manipulative and I love both Griffin and Pollux so so much.

Romance – 5/5 – I am too worried I’ll drop a plot twist spoiler so let me just say wow – this was such an enjoyable change from predicable plots!

Plot – 4/5 – changes a few things here and there, but we kept the tower, we kept the royal heritage and I enjoyed it very much!

Romance Rating: Soft

Violence Rating: Level 3

Content Warnings: None.

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Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche

ARC – coming out 22nd of April

Let me just say I loved that she made the prince a pirate! It changes the entire dynamic, making them at sea (a place where Celeste the little mermaid) is comfortable and experienced as well as adding extra to the tensions between the two kingdoms! I have read a lot of Little Mermaid retellings that don’t make sufficient changes from the original fairytale that the plot is still entertaining to follow but the reveal at the end (even though there were clues!) I was still surprised by.

I also really liked that Celeste was able to speak and just didn’t because she knew her accent would stand out.

World – 3.5/5 – I mentioned that it was at sea, we get to see a little bit of the palace as well as generally her on the ship and then on the land for a brief amount of time. There isn’t much word building, the focus is Celeste and her personal relationships.

Romance – 4/5 – It was predictable, after all one of the major points of the Little Mermaid is that she falls in love with the prince, but I still liked the journey to get there and Raiden himself was interesting and I would have liked more development of his morals and character.

Plot – 3.5/5 – there was a twist at the end, but the rest of the plot stayed smooth and predictable. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, one of the things of retellings is we know the plot but it’s the journey to get there!

Characters – 3.5/5 – Mauve the Cecaelia was actually my favourite despite her limited page time because she had the interesting position of agreeing with the siren properganda/beliefs but also being friends with someone who is muddying up the waters (sort-of-pun intended!).

Damsel Reader Recommendation: 13+, for lovers of fairytale retellings!

Violence Rating: Level 3

Romance Rating: Sweet

Content Warnings: she is stripped at one point, I was worried it would lean into SA but it balanced on the edge.

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A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizel

Let me start with wow and go from there.

This is a simply stunning book that felt like a piece of art to read. We had so many historical and mythical references, a real mix of genres and throughout a plot that I couldn’t predict.

Let me start with the world. We have a tinge of Arthurian Legend, one of our main characters is called Arthie and she pulls a pistol from a stone. The lore around that was just so intricate too – a few sentences that don’t matter much to the plot but really highlight how everything is machined in this city that is ruled by a masked king. And Arthie goes directly against all the rules that should oppose her.

The world doesn’t stop at a touch of the Arthurian though, we also have a gloriously vivid depiction of a empire and colonialism and the EJC (The East Javeet Company = East India Company!) which throughout ties to this depiction of a city which feels at once same to our world but yet so far away in others.

From vampires that lurk the street and the serial killer vampire that gave them their bad name, the daughter of the EJC being part of a huge heist and it all led by a main character who has built an empire of secrets in the empire that stole her family.

Simply everything, it feels raw and intricate and deserves so much more hype than it has!

Plot – 4/5 – It was slower in the middle but the first and last 100 pages were simply breathtaking.

World – 5/5 – I’ve already gushed about this and I am sure there are details I have missed because it is just so full of tiny details that I cant wait to pick up on my next read-through (because this is going straight back on the reread pile!)

Characters – 4/5 – yes. Just yes. They all have personalities and they all have secrets and they all have motivations and honestly I just need the sequel now!

Romance – 5/5 – Sweet – oh this gave me all the butterflies. Honestly the wait was worth it and I need all the details because the last few pages have me in a whirlwind of theories!

Damsel Age Recommendation – 14+B

Romance Rating: Sweet (kissing, cuddling, clothes on, very mild innuendo) – honestly this one almost felt Suggestive but that’s just because the characters had such chemistry –  in actuality there is hardly any kissing just all the chemistry in the world!

Violence Rating: Level 4 – but there is no SA in it, this is for the violence!

Content Warnings: Colonalism, genocide, blood (minor descriptions).

 

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Best Book Reviewing Sites?!

The top 3 at the moment seem to be Goodreads, StoryGraph and Fable so here are a few pros and cons for each of them I have found so far

1) _📖Goodreads📖

So this is the biggest one and a lot of readers (especially when starting) use this because of its popularity and familiarity. I personally have used this since forever but I personally prefer other reviewing sites now even if I still use this one trequently!

💚PROS💚

so many reviews! Thousands and hundreds of thousands of opinions to go through!

on the browser version you can search for specific words which helps when figuring out content of books!

❤️CONS❤️

No half or quarter star ratings which as a reviewer and a reader means that books often are bumped up and down instead of being precise.

no content warnings slot. Just your review, doesn’t take any other stats or opinions on your book that other readers can easily find.

I know there are people on Goodreads but it is REALLY hard to find them on the communities unlike Fable!

📚StoryGraph📚

Up until trying Fable this was absolutely the best no questions asked (opinion is still out on which is better because I have only had fable for a few days).

💚PROS💚

Content Warnings

Fun quiz you can do to get recommendations!

Stats from readers like the diversity in the book and pacing as well as characters etc.

book clubs/readlongs that are easy to join and have multiple little sections which can be locked to avoid spoilers!

❤️CONS❤️

Less social media/connection with other readers. (Which might also be a pro!) If you just want to log your books then it’s great but it can feel a little lonelier if you aren’t doing a readlong/buddy read with active participants! It all depends because personally I think the pros are so great l use it all the time to make a quick decision in the bookstore whether to buy a book or not!

📖Fable📖

I just started Fable but it feels so easy to use and really user friendly. It is a microblogging platform and full of reviews with a organised profile that you can fill with lists as well as seeing stats!

💚PROS💚

Microblogging part means you can see what other readers think and post in a chattier way than other platforms!

A gorgeous layout with a reader summary (so cute!) that updates regularly with your new and different reads!

you can review and rate with emojis and on various different parts of the book including content warnings!
❤️CONS❤️

I have been hearing online that there were some insensitive and insulting comments made by Al summaries a while ago? I think those have been removed since and I haven’t seen any recent complaints. I haven’t been on it long enough to notice anything off about the way it handles topics yet.

So what do you think? Do you have a book reviewing site you love that I haven’t mentioned or any pros and cons you think people should know?

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