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REVIEW: We Met in Dreams by Rowan Mcallister
We Met in Dreams – Rowan Mcallister
In Victorian London, during a prolonged and pernicious fog, fantasy and reality are about to collide—at least in one man’s troubled mind.
A childhood fever left Arthur Middleton, Viscount Campden, seeing and hearing things no one else does, afraid of the world outside, and unable to function as a true peer of the realm. To protect him from himself—and to protect others from him—he spends his days heavily medicated and locked in his rooms, and his nights in darkness and solitude, tormented by visions, until a stranger appears.
This apparition is different. Fox says he’s a thief and not an entirely good sort of man, yet he returns night after night to ease Arthur’s loneliness without asking for anything in return. Fox might be the key that sets Arthur free, or he might deliver the final blow to Arthur’s tenuous grasp on sanity. Either way, real or imaginary, Arthur needs him too much to care.
Fox is only one of the many secrets and specters haunting Campden House, and Arthur will have to face them all in order to live the life of his dreams.
Really, really not a fan of huge age gaps so it sort of bothered me all through out the book and the ending was a bit of an overkill but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Most of the events happened in one room but it was never boring. I found myself rooting for Arthur and was so glad that this is a HEA type of book. Fox, I didn’t really care for TBH but he was the kind of support Arthur needed.
Plus this book has the best dedication ever:
“To all those who fight a daily battle that no one sees.
Fight on.”Aaaand…the cover is perfect!! Given how cringe-inducing most M/M book covers are, this one was refreshingly not tacky and the blurb definitely made me start reading it right away.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34034729-we-met-in-dreams)
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REVIEW: Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk
Hexworld: Hexbreaker – Jordan L. Hawk
Will a dark history doom their future together?
New York copper Tom Halloran is a man with a past. If anyone finds out he once ran with the notorious O’Connell tunnel gang, he’ll spend the rest of his life doing hard time behind bars. But Tom’s secret is threatened when a horrible murder on his beat seems to have been caused by the same ancient magic that killed his gang.
Cat shifter Cicero is determined to investigate the disappearance of one friend and the death of another, even though no one else believes the cases are connected. When the trail of his investigation crosses Tom’s, the very bohemian Cicero instinctively recognizes the uncultured Irish patrolman as his witch. Though they’re completely unsuited to one another, Cicero has no choice but to work alongside Tom…all the while fighting against the passion growing within.
Tom knows that taking Cicero as his familiar would only lead to discovery and disaster. Yet as the heat between them builds, Tom’s need for the other man threatens to overcome every rational argument against becoming involved.
But when their investigation uncovers a conspiracy that threatens all of New York, Tom must make the hardest decision of his life: to live a lie and gain his heart’s desire, or to confess the truth and sacrifice it all.
Gay guys, cats and gay guys that turn into cats. What more could you ask for?
I had a reading slump for a few months and this book got me back on track. I love how the author handled the shape shifting part. It would have been really cheesy but she made it seem natural and smooth. You couldn’t help but love Cicero and of course he knows you do.
My only complaint, my pet peeve is that the other half of the pair (Tom Halloran in this case) always has to be some hulking, overly muscled man. Like 99% of the time one of the main MC is built like a truck. For me this is an equivalent of having the female romantic interest with exaggeratedly large boobs. This is the only reason why I can’t go beyond a few pages of Psycop. Other than how he looks, Tom is a likable, all around nice guy.
The author also wrapped things quite nicely at the end but left just enough openings for the next book. Jordan L. Hawk has always been good at keeping the momentum of her series going so, yeah, on to the next one.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29505845-hexbreaker)
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REVIEW: The Center of the World by Andreas Steinhofel
The Center of the World – Andreas Steinhofel
Seventeen-year-old Phil has felt like an outsider as long as he can remember. All Phil has ever known about his father is that he was Number Three on his mother’s long list—third in a series of affairs that have set Phil’s family even further apart from the critical townspeople across the river. As for his own sexuality, Phil doesn’t care what the neighbors will think; he’s just waiting for the right guy to come along.
But Phil can’t remain a bystander forever. Not when he’s surrounded by his mother, Glass, who lives by her own rules and urges Phil to be equally strong; his sister, Dianne, who is abrupt and willful, with secrets to share; his uncle Gable, a restless mariner, defined by his scars; his best friend, Kat, who is generous but possessive. And finally, there is distant Nicholas, with whom Phil falls overwhelmingly in love—until he faces the ultimate betrayal and must finally find his worth … and place in the world.
Wanted to like it but it was boring as fuck.
Rating:
2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18410469-the-center-of-the-world)
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REVIEW: Remnant: A Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery by K.J. Charles & Jordan L. Hawk
Remnant: A Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery – K.J. Charles & Jordan L. Hawk
London, 1899. The beautiful people are dying…
A malevolent power is attacking London’s bright young things, and the only clue to what’s happening is written in ancient Egyptian script. As ghost-hunter Simon Feximal and his companion Robert Caldwell investigate the mysterious deaths, the arrival in London of a notorious scholar-sorcerer seems to hold the answer to more than one of their problems.
A quiet break in London while en route to Egypt turns dramatic for Dr Percival Endicott Whyborne and his lover Griffin Flaherty when they encounter the hostile ghost-hunter. Feximal clearly suspects the worst of Whyborne – and his flirtatious sidekick seems to think a great deal too well of Griffin…
Jordan L Hawk’s heroes Whyborne and Griffin meet KJ Charles’ occult detectives from the Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal in a mystery that takes all four lovers through the decadent underworld of Victorian London in pursuit of an ancient and deadly evil.
While I don’t particularly care for Caldwell and Feximal, I love this story as it gave me a glimpse of Whyborne and Griffin from a third person point of view. Whyborne’s view of humanity is as misanthropic and hilarious as ever. As usual, Griffin charmed his way around but his devotion to Whyborne is as strong as ever. “Gay Victorian occult investigators” should be a thing.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20880073-remnant)
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REVIEW: A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles
A Charm of Magpies: A Case of Possession – K.J. Charles
Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets.
Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. True, Stephen’s job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician’s disappearing act bothers Crane more than it should. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, Crane knows a smart man would hop the first ship bound for China. But something unexpectedly stops him. His heart.
Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he’s turned warlock. With all eyes watching him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He’s not sure if he can take that risk much longer. And Crane isn’t sure if he can ask him to.
The rats are closing in, and something has to give…
Hooray! Finally get to meet the other justiciars! The author made it seem like a tedious, bureaucratic job but magic police are cool. Kind of wanted Saint to have a book of her own. Still wishing there was more magic, the author put most of them at the end of the book. Loved the balance of power between Lord Crane and Stephen Day. Love this series!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18074870-a-case-of-possession)
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REVIEW: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Boy Meets Boy – David Levithan
This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.
When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.
This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.
This is definitely a classic. This book is so damn adorable even though if you really think about it, it’s just a typical teenage love story with the requisite prom night HEA except most of the characters are LGBT. A must-read for everyone.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23228.Boy_Meets_Boy)
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REVIEW: Kings Rising by C. S. Pacat
Captive Prince Trilogy: Kings Rising – C. S. Pacat
Damianos of Akielos has returned.
His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill.
On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor’s forces are massing. In the north, the Regent’s armies are mobilising for war. Damen’s only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight together with Laurent against their usurpers.
Forced into an uneasy alliance the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have built survives the revelation of Damen’s identity—can it stand against the Regents final, deadly play for the throne?
The perfect ending to a perfect story.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25810368-kings-rising)
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REVIEW: Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite
Exquisite Corpse – Poppy Z. Brite
A terrifying novel of love and slaughter set in London and New Orleans.
To serial killer Andrew Compton, murder is an art, the most intimate art. After feigning his own death to escape from a life sentence in prison, he makes his way to America with the intention of bringing his art to new heights. Tortured by his own perverse desires, he inadvertently joins forced with Jay, a dissolute playboy. They set their sights on a young Vietnamese-American runaway, whom they deem to be the perfect victim. Moving from the grimy streets of London’s Piccadilly Circus to the decadences of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Poppy Z. Brite dissects the landscape of torture and invites us into the mind of a serial killer in this riveting, unforgettable masterpiece of horror.
This for me is an absolute gem of a book. It has one of the best love stories I ever read, a love story between two male serial killers. So achingly beautiful, so damn gory. It is indeed a masterpiece.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6015241-exquisite-corpse)
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REVIEW: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Raven Cycle: The Raven Boys – Maggie Stiefvater
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Gansey is different. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been told by her psychic family that she will kill her true love. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
I actually avoided reading this book because of what’s written above. It is seriously a very misleading blurb that makes the book sound like it is a romance-driven, reverse harem story about an annoying, oh so special girl whose main concern is whether to kiss a boy or not. So I stayed away despite some very positive reviews.
I finally decided to give this one a try after seeing pictures of people shipping Ronan and Adam and finally noticing that it has a GLBT tag in Goodreads. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it enough to buy the rest of the books although I felt a nagging feeling that something was a little off. I like all the characters. I don’t know why Ronan is so angry but I see him as a punk and I love punks. Gansey’s tendency to unwittingly offend people through unfortunate phrasing is something I also suffer from. Noah is precious and Adam is nice. Blue is a level headed, sensible type who can make her own clothes. And I am so glad nobody’s forcing the romance angle, nobody got on my nerves, they can speak Latin, they got their own HQ and the ending is bam!
Now to what’s nagging me about it all. The book reads like a story with British characters but speaking in American English. All that tea, all those eccentricities (especially the women), all those posh private school boys in their uniforms, the woods, the atmosphere, that dead Welsh king, it gave me a British book feel. It’s not necessarily something that detracts from my enjoyment of the book but sometimes I get disoriented and realize that this is all in Virginia.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and love(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17675462-the-raven-boys)
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REVIEW: Threshold by Jordan L. Hawk
Whyborne & Griffin: Threshold – Jordan L. Hawk
Introverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne wants nothing more than to live quietly with his lover, ex-Pinkerton detective Griffin Flaherty. Unfortunately, Whyborne’s railroad tycoon father has other ideas, namely hiring Griffin to investigate mysterious events at a coal mine.
Whyborne, Griffin, and their friend Christine travel to Threshold Mountain, a place of dark legend even before the mine burrowed into its heart. A contingent of Pinkertons-including Griffin’s ex-lover Elliot-already guard the mine. But Griffin knows better than anyone just how unprepared the detectives are to face the otherworldly forces threatening them.
Soon, Whyborne and Griffin are on the trail of mysterious disappearances, deadly accidents, and whispered secrets. Is Elliot an ally, or does he only want to rekindle his relationship with Griffin? And if so, how can Whyborne possibly hope to compete with the stunningly handsome Pinkerton-especially when Griffin is hiding secrets about his past?
For in a town where friends become enemies and horror lurks behind a human mask, Whyborne can’t afford to trust anything-including his own heart.
This one takes our beloved trio out of town. Expect complaints from Whyborne. Scary aliens from outer space or possibly other dimensions and ex-lovers make their presence known. Christine is Christine but to be honest I don’t particularly feel attached to Griffin here or even in the first book. He really does love Whyborne but I don’t really go squeeee over the two them. Could be that I have come across characters similar to Griffin in most books. But his loyalty to Whyborne counts in his favor so he’s fine and their chemistry as a trio adds color to the book. Another minor complaint: I wish there was more magic but it’s understandable given that Whyborne still learning that we don’t see a lot of spells.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17840306-threshold)
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