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Mechanical Universe: A Matter of Disagreement – E.E. Ottoman
The rise of mechanical animation, and its popularity at court, is threatening to end Andrea’s scholarly pursuits of spell craft and literature—and force him to let go of his assistants, who depend on him to support their families In retaliation against the field that is ruining his life, Andrea begins to campaign against it. The efforts gain him notoriety, but do not solve his financial dilemmas.
When he is dragged to a party by his brother, he comes face to face with the man who pioneered mechanical animation: Leon Gregory de la Marche VI, Marquis de la Marche. And he is not at all what Andrea expected.
Major points to the author for having an MC who’s slightly out of shape (aren’t we all?) and a nerdy transman who’s a gentleman and an inventor The conflict between the two MCs was not as intense as other friends-to-enemies stories but the chemistry was there. The whole book read like cute YA, written in Andrea’s POV and sounded like a 17 year old’s ‘voice’ except near the end where it got all kinky and explicit. I don’t know what the spells are in the spell craft part (I suspect it could probably be just electricity) but I imagine the mechanical birds are as delicate as Faberge eggs.
I think this story is a good introduction to E.E. Ottoman’s works. It sure as hell made me pick up book 2 immediately.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and love(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20445481-a-matter-of-disagreement)
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REVIEW: Witches of London – Eagle’s Shadow by Aleksandr Voinov
Witches of London – Eagle’s Shadow –
Aleksandr Voinov & Jordan Taylor
What if the new love of your life also holds the keys to your past?
When Chicago journalist Tom Welsh meets British banker Sanders Templeton at a conference, Sanders insists they have a connection, though he does not know what it is. They’ve never met before—but the strangest thing is, Tom can also feel it.
Sanders Templeton is a highflier who has it all—the money, the lifestyle and a rare intellect. Only a few chosen people know that he also suffers excruciating pain since childhood, with no cure, a mystery to western medicine.
Sanders knows that meeting Tom may be the most significant event of his life. As their relationship deepens, they learn that this is not the first lifetime in which they’ve fallen for each other. This time, true love can be theirs if they find the courage to forgive.
This is a standalone novel in the Witches of London world.
Dear Tom and Sanders,
Adopt me please. I want to be a cat and live with you two so I could watch you both just being in love and happy and I could eat Francesca’s food everyday.I started reading this because I just love the cover and stayed because the chemistry was off the charts. Even without the supernatural elements, I could practically feel the air crackling between Tom and Sanders. Not just the main couple, even the supporting characters were the kind of people I would like to get to know more (at the very least, I would love to get my hands on Francesca’s croissants). There was so much fluff and love and sweetness with a some dose of drama and history. Aaand delicious food, impeccable service, fancy suits, cats, London. Perfect!
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33284517-witches-of-london—eagle-s-shadow)
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Captive Prince: The Summer Palace – C.S. Pacat
“When all this is over, we could take horses and stay a week in the palace…”
Set after the events of the Captive Prince trilogy, The Summer Palace is a story about Damen and Laurent. It’s an epilogue of sorts to the Captive Prince series.
I’m sorry, I can’t form any coherent thoughts….this is simply, absolutely everything you have ever asked for and more.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33230173-the-summer-palace)
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Kiss Me at Midnight: Saved by a Demon –
Alessandra Ebulu
Parker’s New Year’s resolution is to end his own life. What he didn’t expect upon reaching the bridge where he planned to jump was to encounter a demon whose New Year’s resolution is to save a human.
This could very well be saved by a totally random, completely human person and it would make no difference to the story because no magic powers were on display save for materializing out of nowhere. However, interesting premise and cute characters but needs more characterization and substance. Started with misery then morphed to holiday-ish and sickly sweet like a watered down cocktail with too much sugar.
Rating:
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a like(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16133164-saved-by-a-demon)
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Bloodguilty –
When Casimir reaches Brightgate, he isn’t sure what to expect from the City of Monsters, though he’s a monster himself. He definitely doesn’t anticipate being attacked mere moments after arriving—or that he’d be rescued by Mikki, the city’s rough-edged guardian angel.
He gets another unpleasant surprise in the form of ex-lover Jared, who instead of talking responds with violence, dead-set on exacting vengeance for the events that drove them apart. Given the way his visit is going, about the only thing Casimir is sure of is that the City of Monsters could very well be where he dies.
I like Brightgate. Seemed like an interesting place to live in minus the flesh-melting slugs. You get to meet a variety of monsters, humans and demons so it never gets dull. There’s Jewel Box where you can play out your fantasies. Just play nice and don’t forget to greet the snow maiden. Yeah, it’s a good town.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25583628-bloodguilty)
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Skybound – Aleksandr Voinov
Love soars.
Germany, 1945. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.
When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.
But there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger.Lots to love about this. WWII from the German POV, men in uniform, beautifully written story, pacing that didn’t feel rushed, historical authenticity, poetic imagery, the atmosphere of fire, smoke and steel plus a gripping and suspenseful climax. Even without the romance this is already a gem. The romance itself was full of longing and love. I love the subtly of actions and the tender moments, the sharing of cigarettes, the tinkering of the piano, the clinking of the safety belt. Never had I wished so hard for a story to have a happy ending.
Rating
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32506330-skybound)
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REVIEW: The Servant’s Heart by Missouri Dalton
The Servant’s Heart – Missouri Dalton
Terence has spent his life in the shadows. Even now, far from his home country serving the Lady Linnaea, he lurks behind a servant’s mask. But secrets like his cannot be hidden away forever, and as his mask starts to slip, the castle weaponsmaster, Iolyn, begins to take more notice of him. Will budding romance be enough to shake Terence free of his past? Or will he always be stuck in the shadow of a tainted bloodline?
This is interesting enough for me to want to read it as a full-length novel. The romance angle here was like,”we’re both gay so why don’t we hook up” so I was more into the story rather than shipping Terence and Iolyn. The royal couple reminded me of Mathias and Esta from Prisoner and lightning magic seemed badass.
Without the obligatory m-m relationship, this would work pretty well on its own but the short story structure might not be the best medium for all the great ideas the writer had.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17372742-the-servant-s-heart)
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Kria: Prisoner / Bound Ficbits – Megan Derr
Kriaverse short stories.
If you are hungry for more Beraht and Dieter, here’s what you need.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect -
A Society of Gentlemen: The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh – K.J. Charles
Passion is on the cards for two reckless rogues as K. J. Charles ups the ante in her Society of Gentlemen series with a sizzling eBook short story.
The youngest son and the blackest sheep in his family, Lord Gabriel Ashleigh never imagined he could sink so low. Though he’s a notoriously bad gambler, he takes on the formidable but strangely alluring Francis Webster, only to lose everything: all his money, the lovely estate he inherited from his aunt, and any hope of future happiness. So it’s a shock when Webster summons him to a private game for a chance to win back his possessions. The stake? If he fails, Ash must surrender his body.
Francis has been waiting years for this moment. At Eton, Ash’s elder brother harassed him relentlessly. Now, consumed by lust and rage, Francis is only too happy to exploit Ash’s foolish indiscretions. But as Francis strips the magnificently built youth—first of his family assets, then his clothes—he begins to wonder whether he’s been plotting revenge … or exquisite seduction.
I love short stories and quick reads because I have a short attention span but sometimes you need a full length book or at least a novella to flesh out the development of a relationship. They, here, need at least a couple more card games. Still this did a good job of making me want to read the series. K.J. Charles can do no wrong.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26067203-the-ruin-of-gabriel-ashleigh)
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Whyborne & Griffin: Necropolis – Jordan L. Hawk
Introverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne has spent the last few months watching his lover, Griffin Flaherty, come to terms with the rejection of his adoptive family. So when an urgent telegram from Christine summons them to Egypt, Whyborne is reluctant to risk the fragile peace they’ve established. Until, that is, a man who seems as much animal as human tries to murder Whyborne in the museum.
Amidst the ancient ruins of the pharaohs, they must join Christine and face betrayal, murder, and a legendary sorceress risen from the dead. In the forge of the desert heat, the trio will either face their fears and stand together—or shatter the bonds between them forever.
I don’t know if this was shorter than the other books but I finished this one really quick. Griffin gets to take Whyborne to Egypt, Whyborne gets to do some bad ass magic and Christine gets what coming to her.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21533138-necropolis)
