September 2024

Book Reviews

september_book_reviews

Good Omens

by

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett 

good omens

Rating: 5 ★

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Comedy

Synopsis: Judgement Day is approaching and the forces of good and evil are amassing for an epic collision. There are just a few hiccups: the Antichrist seems to have been misplaced and it turns out that the representatives of good and evil have more in common than you’d expect – they’re both rather fond of the 21st century as is.

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This Summer Will Be Different

by

Carley Fortune

this summer will be different cover

Rating: 4.5 ★

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis: Lucy is a tourist on Prince Edward Island when she meets Felix for the first time. Right off the bat, they have unreal chemistry, but the next day she finds out that Felix is actually her best friend’s brother…

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Quicksilver

by

Callie Hart

quicksilver book cover

Rating: 4 ★

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

Synopsis: Quicksilver is an action-packed story about Saeris, who inadvertently opens a gateway, is transported into another realm and strikes a bargain with one of the Fae to return home. However, her abilities to manipulate metals and the war that she is thrown into makes that journey much more complicated.

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The Wolf King

by

Lauren Palphreyman

the wolf king

Rating: 4 ★

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

Synopsis: In amongst a war between humans and wolves, Princess Aurora is kidnapped by the enemy as a bargaining chip for an ancient relic. Her life behind enemy lines becomes a game of survival, even as she begins to develop feelings for her captor.

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Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman Review

good omens

Rating: 5 ★

I absolutely loved this! If you want a good laugh and don’t want to take yourself too seriously, this is a must-read. I listened to this on Audible, which was fantastic since it has a full cast of voice actors and the entire experience is incredibly immersive.

The premise of the story is that Aziraphale, an angel, and Crowley, a demon, have both been on Earth for quite some time. Over the years, they have formed a bit of an unlikely friendship and have grown very fond of the 21st century. So, when they are informed that they are now needed for the end of the world, they’re both reluctant to trigger the destruction of their beloved 21st-century lifestyles.

Good Omens consistently asks: “What if the people responsible for ending the world are a tad incompetent?”. The humour is top-notch and the characters are written to perfection. Honestly, it was such a hilarious and refreshing read for me.

“Crowley: the angel who did not so much fall as saunter vaguely downwards”

“‘I don’t see what’s so terrific about creating people as people and then gettin’ upset ‘cos they act like people,’ said Adam severely. ‘Anyway, if you stopped tellin’ people it’s all sorted out after they’re dead, they might try sorting it all out while they’re alive.'”

“Tompkins thumbed another paint pellet into the gun and muttered business mantras to himself. Do Unto Others Before They Do Unto You. Kill or Be Killed. Either Shit or Get Out of the Kitchen. Survival of the Fittest. Make My Day.”

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune Review

this summer will be different cover

Rating: 4.5 ★

In the past, I’ve typically been a big fan of Carley Fortune’s books and this was no exception. This Summer Will Be Different is a dual-timeline story that focuses on Lucy, her best friend Bridget and Bridget’s brother Felix. Lucy and Felix meet by chance and it’s only after what was supposed to be a one-night stand that they find out about each others’ ties to Bridget.

What follows is a messy tangle of secrets and longing for years, which is then amplified by the present-day drama of Bridget’s upcoming wedding. Lucy is forced to navigate a rocky patch of her friendship with Bridget, internal battles over her career and her unresolved feelings for Felix.

I really liked that there was a balance between the romance and the friendship. If you’ve ever read Happy Place by Emily Henry, this feels reminiscent of that whole vibe (which is actually directly referenced in the book). It has the same sweetness of romance and chemistry that is then tempered by an edge of melancholy.

This was truly a winner for me and I would definitely recommend it. Especially if you’re someone who likes the brother’s-best-friend trope. This is a nice little twist on that.

“It’s how I learned that the families we make are as significant as the ones we’re born into. It’s how I learned that the greatest loves are not always romances.”

“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”

“I take strange comfort in these waves of heartache. They’re like annotations in a book, a note in the margin that reads, This is important.”

Quicksilver by Callie Hart Review

quicksilver book cover

Rating: 4 ★

On today’s episode of Grown Women Can’t Have Nice Things: who approved this cover?? I can’t even say that this cover looks like something I would read at age thirteen because even the covers of the books I read when I was thirteen were less cringe than this.

Anyway, please don’t let the cover put you off because this was a really fun read. In Quicksilver, we follow Saeris, who hides her secret abilities to manipulate metal. In the chaos of stealing something she really shouldn’t have, she opens a gateway into another realm and is transported to a new world where Fae are no longer fairytales and there is a centuries-old war that is escalating. Desperate to return home, she makes an ill-advised deal with one of the Fae princes.

I loved the pacing, and the action and the characters felt reasonably well-developed (at least for the Romantasy genre which typically lacks that in my opinion). The banter between the main characters and the level of angst that the MMC brings is highly entertaining.

Nothing about the plot or the characters is truly groundbreaking (except maybe Carrion – what a delightful pest) but I had a grand time while reading this. Also, the mystery surrounding the quicksilver substance was very intriguing.

“Humans and Fae were different in many ways, but sarcasm was universal.”

“Your mind is as shallow as a fucking teacup.”

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman Review

the wolf king

Rating: 4 ★

The Wolf King follows Princess Aurora who is kidnapped by one of the enemy werewolves, Callum. But really, the reason I enjoyed this has very little to do with those two, and it has a lot more to do with the third main character, Blake. I feel like I spent most of the book trying to decide if this guy is truly bad or just bad adjacent (i.e. secretly decent morals but very questionable methods). Either way, I was entertained, and more importantly, I was intrigued.

The plot focuses on Aurora trying to survive in enemy territory as a prisoner, even though she honestly isn’t too torn up about being kidnapped; it’s not like her life back home was much better. There’s a nice mixture of action, politics and romance.

I’m not personally a fan of the whole virgin royalty trope but I did enjoy the Outlander vibes with the accents, the wolf clans and the scenery. For me, it really was the characters (or rather, one character – Blake) that made the book worthwhile. But the plot was enjoyable and it was fast-paced. So, if you’re suffering from a laughable attention span, like most people these days, you’ll appreciate this.

Have you read any of the books? What are your thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments below 🙂