Blog Tour Review: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova

Hi friends, as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours I’m excited to share my thoughts on the fantasy debut: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova.

Foul Days (The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters #1)
Publisher
: Tor Books
Publication Date: 25 June 2024
Genre: Adult Fantasy

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

The Witcher meets Naomi Novik in this fast-paced fantasy rooted in Slavic folklore, from an assured new voice in genre.

As a witch in the walled city of Chernograd, Kosara has plenty of practice taming rusalkas, fighting kikimoras, and brewing lycanthrope repellent. Thereā€™s only one monster Kosara canā€™t defeat: her ex the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters. Sheā€™s defied him one too many times, and now heā€™s hunting her. Betrayed to him by someone close to her, Kosaraā€™s only hope is to trade her shadowā€•the source of her powersā€•for illegal passage across the Wall to Belograd, where monsters canā€™t follow.

Life in Belograd should be sweet, but Kosara soon develops a fast-acting version of the deadly wasting sickness that stalks shadowless witchesā€•and only reclaiming her magic can cure her. To trace her shadow, sheā€™ll have to team up with the suspiciously honorable detective investigating the death of the smuggler who brought her across the Wall.

Even worse than working with the cops is that all the clues point in a single direction: one of the Zmeyā€™s monsters has found a crack in the Wall, and Kosaraā€™s magic is now in the Zmeyā€™s hands.

The clock is ticking, the hunt is on, and Kosaraā€™s priorities should be clearā€•but is she the hunter or the hunted? And in a city where everyone is out for themselves, who can Kosara trust to assist her in outwitting the manā€•the Monsterā€•sheā€™s never been able to escape alone?

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Blood, traumatic deaths (recounted), gun violence, gore, murder, abusive relationship (physical and psychological) (recounted), imprisonment, drugging

šŸ“š BUY A COPY

TL;DR: I’m not sure what I expected going into this but it wasn’t what I got and I absolutely mean that in the best way! Foul Days is dark and full of monsters but the “horror” aspect is light enough that those who are scared of dark and scary things (it’s me) can read it in bed alone at night. It’s heavy in Slavic lore and it’s action-packed from start to finish. I loved Kosara and her acerbic nature. She’s crabby and witty but vulnerable enough for us to see past that exterior to the damaged young woman she still carries inside. Her banter with Asen was A+ and their “copper vs. charlatan” dynamic was one of my favourite parts of this story. I was so pleasantly surprised by this fantasy debut and I’m already itching to get my hands on the second book (*please bless me, Tor gods*)!

Read More »

ARC Review: Change of Heart by Kate Canterbary

Special thanks to the author for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Change of Heart
Publication Date: 25 June 2024
Genre: Adult Romance

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

Greyā€™s Anatomy meets a gender-swapped Wedding Crashers in this spicy rom-com about a one-night stand with The One, walking the tightrope of love and workplace ethics, and knowing which rules are worth breaking.

Every summer, superstar surgeon Whitney Aldritch crashes weddings with her best friend. The first one was an accident though after a decade of dropping in uninvited, theyā€™re masters of their craft. They keep the rules simple and they never go to bed alone.

Then thereā€™s Henry Hazlette, best man and the best one-night stand of Whitā€™s summer. She never imagined sheā€™d see him again but now heā€™s one of her new surgical residentsā€”and completely off-limits.

Whitney has staked her reputation on leading the hospitalā€™s new ethics initiative. While Henry is under her supervision, they have to keep it professional. But it doesnā€™t help that she canā€™t turn around without running face-first into his offensively broad chest or rubbing up against him in crammed elevators. Also not helping: the way he smiles at her like he can hear her every not-safe-for-work thought.

All they have to do is survive this residencyā€”and the accidental tarot card readings that hit too close to home, a few uninvited houseguests, and the hospitalā€™s hyperactive rumor millā€”but only if theyā€™re prepared to bend some rules as the feelings go from just for tonight to get it out of our systems to mine.

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Parental estrangement and abandonment; parental divorce; chronic illness (secondary character); brief mention of suicide (in the past, not detailed, not a central character); mention of infidelity (secondary characters); frequent medical, hospital, and surgical discussion (no blood, no gore); discussion of donor organ retrieval and organ transplant surgeries (no blood, no gore); brief discussion of mountain rescue situations (not detailed); discussion of workplace bullying (off-page)

TL;DR: I didnā€™t think I would feel a little weepy reading Change of Heart but that’s how much I loved these characters and their romance. Canterbary somehow manages to do this to me every time and let’s be real: I would willingly let her keep doing it, too! I adored Henry and Whitney and their relationship journey but as much as I loved Whitney and her boss energy, I LOVED Henry! Oh, my granola, this man had my heart ready to burst with his acts of service, loyalty and big golden retriever energy. Help, THE FEELINGS! Also, I’m 100% here for the Greyā€™s Anatomy vibes and I sincerely cannot wait until Canterbary gives us more of this hospital crew because they are amazing.

Read More »

The 2024 Mid-Year Check-In Tag

Somehow we have already made it to the mid-year mark of 2024. Where have the months gone? I feel like I say it ever year now but the past six months have felt too long and somehow not long enough. How quickly are the next six months going to pass before it’s time again to usher in a new year? But I digress…

Making it to June means it’s time to bring out one of my favourite annual tags: The Mid-Year Check-In!

Read More »

ARC Review: True Love and Other Impossible Odds by Christina Li

Special thanks to Rylee at SparkPoint Studio and Quill Tree Books for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

True Love and Other Impossible Odds
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: 14 May 2024
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

After the destruction of her entire Talon gang, eighteen-year-old Shin Linaā€”the Reaper of Sunpoā€”is forced to become a living, breathing weapon for the kingdomā€™s most-feared crime lord. All that keeps her from turning on her ruthless master is the life of her beloved little sister hanging in the balance. But the order to steal a priceless tapestry from a Dokkaebi temple incites not only the wrath of a legendary immortal, but the beginning of an unwinnable gameā€¦

Suddenly Lina finds herself in the dreamlike realm of the Dokkaebi, her fate in the hands of its cruel and captivating emperor. But she can win her lifeā€”if she kills him first.

Now a terrible game of life and death has begun, and even Lina’s swift, precise blade is no match for the magnetic Haneul Rui. Lina will have to use every weapon in her arsenal if she wants to outplay this cunning king and save her sister…all before the final grain of sand leaks out of the hourglass.

Because one way or another, she’ll take Rui’s heart.

Even if it means giving up her own.

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of parent (recounted), cancer (parent of main character), homophobia

TL;DR: True Love and Other Impossible Odds was a solid debut. I loved the concept of this story and while the writing may have suffered from too much telling and not enough showing, I think the author did a good job addressing the heavier themes and with the overall execution. It’s a relatable and down-to-earth story about discovering yourself and shedding peoples’ expectations of you, choosing your path, growing up and finding love. It’s a college story that many will probably relate to, young adults and adults alike. Although I often felt emotionally disconnected from Grace, seeing her grow and find peace with who she is and loves was a wonderful journey.

Read More »

Book Review: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

Voyage of the Damned
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Pub Date: 20 September 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperorā€™s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddessā€™s Mountain.

Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.

Except one: Ganymedes Piscero ā€“ class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.

When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim.

But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?

Or will the empire as he knows it fall?

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Murder, blood, bigotry, xenophobia, classism, fatphobic comments, suicidal thoughts, suicide ideation, attempted suicide (recounted)

TL;DR: Voyage of the Damned is an awesome debut and I didnā€™t want this story to end! While I can see that the mesh of snarky humour and slow-paced mystery might not work for everyone and our main character takes some getting used to. Luckily, I grew to love Dee and I found myself sucked into the slow-building murder mystery on a fantastical ship run by magic and amazing tiny sentient dragons. If you love your fantasy with a huge dose of corny comedy, secrets upon secrets, politicking, magic, murder (obvi), and found family then I would urge you to try this!

Read More »

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Wonderful Wishes of B. by Katherin Nolte

Hi friends, as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours I’m shining a spotlight on a new middle-grade contemporary: The Wonderful Wishes of B. by Katherin Nolte.

Click the banner above or here to check out the other incredible bloggers on the blog tour!

The Wonderful Wishes of B.
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Publication Date: 30 May 2023
Genre: Middle-Grade Contemporary

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

All that stands between ten-year-old Beatrice and an amazing life are five wishesā€¦and sheā€™s got a plan to make them all come true! A magical and heartfelt adventure about grief, hope, and the power of human connection.

Beatrice Corwell has a crooked haircut, eight well-trained cats, and a sheā€™s turning herself into a Tin Man. Once her heart is made of metal, sheā€™ll no longer miss her beloved dead grandma, her absent dad, or her recently moved-away best friend.

While Beatrice awaits her transformation, she keeps vigil with a special doll and a handful of wishes sheā€™s determined to make come true. With her encyclopedic knowledge, there must be a way to grant her heartā€™s deepest desires.

When an unusual boy named Caleb moves to town and mentions his grannyā€™s interest in magic, Beatrice decides to enlist their help. She quickly learns, however, that spells donā€™t always go as planned, and witches canā€™t be trusted.

With the arrival of an unexpected visitor and a series of otherworldly messages, Beatriceā€™s plans begin to falter. Will her heart turn into metal? Will any of her wishes come true?

The Wonderful Wishes of B. is the story of a smart, quirky girl learning what she wants and what she needsā€”and how, sometimes, the wishes we hold dearest are granted in the most unexpected ways.

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of a loved family member (recounted), absent father, grief

šŸ“š BUY A COPY

Katherin Nolte received an MFA from the Iowa Writersā€™ Workshop, where she was a Truman Capote Fellow. Her fiction has appeared in dozens of publications and won multiple awards, but it was a late-night ER visit with her four children that inspired her to write Back to the Bright Before. An Ohio native, she currently lives with her family in Iowa.

Author’s Socials
WebsiteĀ |Ā Goodreads

Is The Wonderful Wishes of B on your TBR or does it sound like a book you’d want to read?

Blog Tour Review: Wrath of the Talon by Sophie Kim

Hello, friends. āœØ Today I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for Wrath of the Talon by Sophie Kim! Special thanks to the TBR & Beyond Tours team for organising the tour and including me in it.

Thanks to Entangled: Teen for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the fantastic bloggers on tour!

Wrath of the Talons (Talon #2)
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Publication Date: 2 April 2024
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rep: Asian, Korean

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

Everyone thinks the Reaper of Sunpoā€”eighteen-year-old assassin Shin Linaā€”is dead. The only ones who know the truth are her cherished little sister and Haneul Rui, the icily gorgeous Dokkaebi Emperor, who she was sent to killā€¦and kissed instead.

Now, with the potent Imugi venom surging in her veins, Linaā€™s returned to right all wrongs. Already her body is changing, growing stronger, stealthier, and more agile, with serpentine scales she can call at will. She is living vengeance, seeking retribution for the massacre of the Talons. Sheā€™ll become the sword who cuts down the rival Blackbloods gang, along with their ruthless crime-lord leader. And when she is through, she will take the kingdom as her own.

But there is a mysterious side to Linaā€™s growing power, a dark voice inside her that whispers and guides her as she slips through the shadows of Sunpoā€™s streets. One that warns her not to trust the Dokkaebi, especially Rui.

Because if her destiny isnā€™t to love himā€¦it must be to destroy him.

The Talons series is best enjoyed in order.

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Violence, murder, mild sex scenes (on page)

šŸ“š BUY A COPY!

TL;DR: Holy wow, this was a sequel! That ending had me floored because no way was that the choice! Author!! The way you built up hope is illegal!!! I canā€™t remember the last time I was so thrilled by the second book in a trilogy but this, to me, did not suffer from that dreaded second/middle book syndrome. Perhaps itā€™s because I went in with lowered expectations having thought the first book was okay; however, I think the writing, plot, and character development were sharper and Iā€™m happy to see that author growth. With such high stakes and a whole lot of tension and angst, this sequel got me invested in this series and after that ending, I canā€™t wait for the finale!

Read More »

Book Review: Brewed in Magic by Jenna Wolfhart

Brewed in Magic (Falling for Fables #2)
Pub Date: 2 January 2024
Genre: Cosy Fantasy Romance

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

Lilia has always had a wandererā€™s heart. She spends her days on the road with her famous Traveling Tavern and only a dragon to keep her company. Despite longing for a deeper connection, she knows sheā€™s destined to wander the world alone.

When she meets a handsome stranger on her journey to the winter festival, she finally feels sheā€™s found a kindred spiritā€¦until he vanishes in the early morning without so much as a goodbye.

Turns out, he rushed ahead to reach the festival first with his own traveling tavern. One he never mentioned. Now her would-be companion is her rival, or worse. Someone is trying to sabotage the festival by stealing supplies, and all her suspicions point to him.

But when he offers to help find the culprit, sparks melt the icy barriers between them. And Lilia must decide if she can trust him with saving the festivalā€”and with her heart.

Brewed in Magic is a stand-alone cozy romantasy set in the whimsical world of Falling for Fables.

TL;DR:Ā This series is living up to its cosy romantasy vibes and this second book was adorable! I enjoyed the festival setting, the rivals-to-lovers romance, and the adventures they get up to throughout the story featuring dragons, thieves, mountain trolls, and more. I admit that some elements were a bit too… Bonkers. I also wish the conflict and “bad guy” were given more page time to be fleshed out because it all ended so quickly that I was left slightly underwhelmed. But if you’re here for romance and a cosy good time, this will be an enjoyable read for you, as it was for me.

Read More »

Blog Tour Review: Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

Hello, friends. āœØ Today I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin! Special thanks to the TBR & Beyond Tours team for organising the tour and including me in it.

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the fantastic bloggers on tour!

Song of the Six Realms
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: 23 April 2024
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rep: Chinese mythology, LGBTQIA+, demisexual

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

šŸ“– SYNOPSIS

Xue, a talented young musician, has no past and probably no future. Orphaned at a young age, her kindly poet uncle took her in and arranged for an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. She doesnā€™t remember much from before entering the House of Flowing Water, and when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she is devastated to lose her last connection to a life outside of her indenture contract.

With no family and no patron, Xue is facing the possibility of a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles that praise her talent with one breath and sneer at her lowly social status with the next. Then one night she is unexpectedly called to the garden to put on a private performance for the enigmatic Duke Meng. The young man is strangely kind and awkward for nobility, and surprises Xue further with an irresistible serve as a musician in residence at his manor for one year, and heā€™ll set her free of her indenture.

But the Dukeā€™s motives become increasingly more suspect when he and Xue barely survive an attack by a nightmarish monster, and when he whisks her away to his estate, she discovers heā€™s not just some country Heā€™s the Duke of Dreams, one of the divine rulers of the Celestial Realm. There she learns the Six Realms are on the brink of disaster, and incursions by demonic beasts are growing more frequent.

The Duke needs Xueā€™s help to unlock memories from her past that could hold the answers to how to stop the impending warā€¦ but first Xue will need to survive being the target of every monster and deity in the Six Realms.

āš ļø CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of parents (off page), grief, death of Fantasy Animals

šŸ“š BUY A COPY!

TL;DR: In Song of the Six Realms, Lin draws us into a richly developed world inspired by Chinese mythology and lore. Following Xue’s journey, we explore the concepts of fate and what it means to be human experiencing the highs and lows of life. With writing that flows, characters that are easy to root for, and a mysterious turn of events that will make you question the trustworthiness of everyone you meet, it was easy to immerse myself in the story. While not the fastest-paced nor the most action-packed (at least in the beginning), I found myself thoroughly enjoying this story and exploring the mythology that’s woven into its pages. If you enjoyed Lin’s debut, I think it’s safe to say you’ll probably enjoy this one too!

Read More »