Let's talk about... hot takes about the stuff I read in January, 2023177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI1XSW6me4
[In-depth reviews and Kindle Notes can be read on my Goodreads.]177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYkk6xpgYS
1. "Pair of Fools" by Lillian Lark (Harpies of a Feather, Book 2)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfejv5c6zi
8/10 - A cute story about a spicy assassin/info broker couple. The world building is on point, as usual, and the steam is very steamy. Nothing is sexier than consent, kids. Nothing. (Lark puts a list of CW at the start of every one of her books so you know what you're in for, and I really appreciate that.)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZXEo5Ke27
2. "Slippery Creatures" & "The Sugared Game" by K. J. Charles (Will Darling Adventures)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB5zuta9pB
10/10 & 10/10 - I have read this series a total of three times now (and you should know, I don't re-read anything). I absolutely adore them. The main characters AND the side characters have such depth. The best part? Even if you decided to skip all the steamy scenes, the plots themselves are riveting, action-packed, 1920s spy thrillers! Oh, and the fashion! Ugh. I love this series. I knew she couldn't write on forever, but boy how I wish she had...177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDULMstCnos
3. "Dragon Age: Blue Wraith" & "Dark Fortress" by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, et al. (Dragon Age Comic Series Vol. 7 & 8)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp67bxJGAC
8/10 & 9/10 - The art's great, & the action's sublime. This story arch, compared to other DA works? Transcendent. The story, compared to other fantasy comics? So-so. If you like Dragon Age though, you'll like Vol.s 6 through 8.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN0hcLIOMO
4. "A Rival for Rivington", "A Case for Christmas", "An Affair for Aumont", and "A Sanctuary for Soulden" by J. A. Rock & Lisa Henry (The Lords of Bucknall Club)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHgaK1Rpq1
8/10, 9/10, 9/10, & 8/10 - I am glad to report that you don't have to read these books in order of publication... but you will get more out of it if you do. Usually when a romance series has cameos of other couples in later works, the appearance seems contrived. Not so with the Lord of Bucknall. If a character from a previous couple appears, it's because they have legitimate plot purpose for being there. Other fine points about this series? There are multi-lingual characters that aren't caricatures, and the steam is incredibly well-informed. On top of that, there is an in-universe series of romance novels within this series that actually serves the plot in the final novel... and I appreciate that level of foresight, honestly.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvjeT0PzZk
5. "Jujutsu Kaisen" Vol. 0 through Vol. 5 by Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xApWPkIOl
9/10, 7/10, 8/10, 9/10, 10/10, 8/10 - It's good. Reminiscent of early Bleach vols and Wuxia web series. But the best part besides the glorious art? The freaking pacing is ON POINT. Like, holy cow. Most manga series are clunky and all over the place, but this series ebbs and flow like an ocean of titanic ideas. What a treat!177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ10lczCTA5
6. "Fine Print" Vol. 1 by Stjepan Šejić (Fine Print)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6giGbNLna
7/10 - The art and the story are amazing, but the major detractor from it all is the notorious flaw in most of Sejic's work: It's all set-up and no pay off. Granted, this is the first volume of the series, but this thing had to be Kickstarted in the first place just to get it on the shelves and off Sejic's Twitter feed. I don't have high-hopes we'll be seeing volume 2 anytime soon, so this great idea is stuck in limbo...177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIINdWc7TE
7. "The Seven-Figure Marketing Mindset For Novelists" by Jody J. Sperling177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRWpqf4lpJ
7/10 - I have an in-depth review on Sperling's Goodreads. Bottom line: this book is for novice writers and folks completely unfamiliar with publishing. It's also very short. Outside of that, I'd stick with Jody's podcast if you're just looking to just support him.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU7fJhxzlQ
8. "Harleen" by Stjepan Šejić177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPXyp3XuIV
10/10 - Wow. Exactly how you'd want to experience a Harlee Quin origin story, honestly. It's toxic and vile and beautiful. Would recommend to folks who like reading stories about demented sociopaths falling in love. (Or fans of Batman-related comics.)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtGeQfgryx
9. "Wielder of Names" by Tom Parkinson-Morgan (Kill 6 Billion Demons, Vol. 2)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsaoiROGeB
10/10 - I don't have all the words to describe how much I love this series, or why I am loving this series. I can only write that I am incredibly jealous that I did not come up with it first, because it is absolutely breathtaking in its depth, but oh-so tickling and heartwarming in its execution. This could have been a terrifying horror series, and yet it is filled with so much color and heart as to render it practically toothless. If you like existential dread paired with dick jokes, you will find that exact match in Parkinson-Morgan's tour de force.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF2XsUDtPd
10. "Hamlet" by Shakespeare177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhJvROcalp
9/10 - It's Disney's "The Lion King", but with silly people instead.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkTEWzpq9U
11. "Wounded Kiss" by Willow Winters (To Be Claimed, Book 1)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OhLWojm0i
1/10 - No consent, senseless abductions, and sexual assault. This isn't a kinky romance novel, this is a wrap sheet. I hated every page of it, and only finished it because it was so short. Willow Winters was recommended to me by a friend, and I had seen some of her BookTube, and so I had high hopes. After reading this book (which is the start of one of her more popular series), I question the friends I keep.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNNbmHdq6p
13. "Midnight Rain" by CTK177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQOx2xkWkf
7/10 - There's some non-con in the middle, but it's revealed later to not be. Pacing is a little clunky and the conflict is simple misunderstandings, as per usual. Nevertheless, the artwork really carried it, and since this story only lasts one volume, it doesn't overstay its welcome.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOLBuCBw90
14. "Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost" by Z. A. Maxfield177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbDp2xwv1n
8/10 - I felt a lot of emotions reading this one, and I would recommend it. HOWEVER, the only reason this thing didn't get a perfect score is because the CHAPTER TITLES SPOIL THE CHAPTER CONTENT. I get that chapter titles (if used) should communicate at a glance the contents of a given chapter. Fine. So why are these chapter titles ENTIRE PARAGRAPHS DESCRIBING THE OUTCOME OF THE CONFLICT BEFORE I HAVE EVEN READ THE CHAPTER ITSELF? Very frustrating... Nevertheless, the ghost couple was a cute foible/deus ex machina and, if you have a chance to listen to the audio book, their accents really make them pop.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15IMX4PBK3
15. "Found by the Lake Monster", "Deceived by the Gargoyles", & "Ensnared by the Werewolf" by Lillian Lark (Monstrous Matches, Books 2 through 4)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFdnZlYm2J
7/10, 9/10, & 7/10 - "Lake" can be read in one sitting. It does what it says on the tin. My only complaint is that the conflict is sheer and flimsy, like wet toilet paper. "Gargoyles" is a poly couple's wet-dream and actually has some incredibly realistic relationship logistics in it. The conflict also felt a bit more substantial and threatening. Despite its strengths, its pacing is a bit uneven. "Ensnared" is even shorter than "Lake" and took me about half an hour to finish. I like the world building in it, but fated mates stuff is so boring. (Lark puts a list of CW at the start of every one of her books so you know what you're in for, and I really appreciate that.)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeqMvVPEYJ
16. "Awakening" & "The Blood" by Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda (Monstress 1 & 2)177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrRmuBT0kO
8/10 & 9/10 - The art? Gorgeous. The pacing? Break-neck. The story? DENSE. There is a LOT of set up in these two volumes, and it can be hard for new readers to follow. TAKE MY ADVICE: read the goddamn filler stories! Ironically, the most world-building and explanation is done between chapters in the bonus material pages. I have never seen its like before. Entire background plots are rendered insignificant without the CONTEXT offered in these "optional" reading book-ends. Do not skip the bonus pages... If you don't skip them, a rich world filled with vibrant characters awaits you. I can hardly wait for volume three!177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y6zUIaied
