I enjoyed the action scenes in this one, and the world-building surrounding the magic, but I had a lot of issues with the way Peter objectifies women.I enjoyed the action scenes in this one, and the world-building surrounding the magic, but I had a lot of issues with the way Peter objectifies women. In particular, I couldn't get past this line: "The voice belonged to a plump round-faced woman of the sort that develops a good personality because the alternative is suicide." The author was clearly going for humour here, but it completely missed the mark, trivialising suicide while also coming across as sexist and fatphobic.
Unfortunately, I think this was just a little bit too long. The pacing slowed down a lot in the middle and the story lost a bit of the natural pull/thUnfortunately, I think this was just a little bit too long. The pacing slowed down a lot in the middle and the story lost a bit of the natural pull/thrill that should come with a murder mystery. The ending was satisfying but I didn't feel particularly connected to any of the characters (though the mc was queer, which was a nice surprise). ...more
A drawn-out murder mystery that did a great job of building character details and weaving connections between them. But the story took a while to get A drawn-out murder mystery that did a great job of building character details and weaving connections between them. But the story took a while to get off the ground and, ultimately, didn't compel me as much as I was expecting....more
Read this and now I'm a crime girlie? Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. This is probably one of the first crime books I've Read this and now I'm a crime girlie? Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. This is probably one of the first crime books I've ever read and it's got me into the genre in a big way. The plot was quick-paced and gripping and I flew through this in just over a day because I needed to know how things were going to turn out. I liked the main characters although (view spoiler)[I thought a romance was building between them and then nothing really happened. I suppose that might be coming later in the series though. (hide spoiler)] Overall, a very quick and easy read....more
My folks have both read this and I finally got round to reading it so we can have a little family book club discussion. The premise seemed so good (foMy folks have both read this and I finally got round to reading it so we can have a little family book club discussion. The premise seemed so good (four pensioners at a sleepy retirement village attempt to solve a murder) and the way the mystery gradually unspooled was enjoyably intriguing, but the pacing was very slow to begin with. I know this was done for world-building purposes and to introduce us to the characters, but sometimes the story felt like it was meandering around the point a little too much.
Having said that, the four main characters were funny and interesting and I feel like books sometimes write off older characters as insignificant, so it was nice to read a novel where they were front and center. There were times when things the characters said played to/reinforced stereotypes that weren't really necessary, but on the whole this a light-hearted read....more
This is a short novella about the murder of an 18-year-old girl, Kim Hae-on, told from the perspectives of three girls who knew her: her sister and twThis is a short novella about the murder of an 18-year-old girl, Kim Hae-on, told from the perspectives of three girls who knew her: her sister and two classmates. I enjoyed the way the three perspectives gave vastly different viewpoints, with each unreliable narrator revealing their differing opinions of events leading up to Hae-on's death and Hae-on herself. I also thought the portrayal of grief was an interesting one, with Hae-on's sister Da-on trying to become more physically like her after her death.
Unfortunately I found this a little too short to pack a punch and I think the audiobook detracted from my enjoyment of it, as it didn't give much of a sense of the passage of time. (There also seemed to be a male voice narrating one of the female POVs, which was a little confusing as it made me think that Han Manu was one of the main narrators, which he's not.)
Content warnings for descriptions of graphic violence, grief, discussions of surgical procedures. ...more
The Christie Affair is a reimagining of the infamous eleven-day period when Agatha Christie went missing from her home on December 4th, 1926.
She told nobody where she was going that evening, so when her car was found abandoned on the edge of a chalk pit in Guildford, nobody knew where she was or what had happened to her.
The Christie Affair offers us an enigmatic fictionalised version of real life events, centering around five main characters: Nan O’Dea, Finbarr (Nan’s childhood sweetheart), Archie Christie (Agatha’s husband), Detective Chiltern, and Agatha Christie herself.
Nan is the protagonist and the character whose viewpoint we read from. She’s calm, calculating and reserved, but shows the softer side of herself around Finbarr, who she’s been in love with for many years. Their love, however, seems fated for heartbreak; Archie Christie is having an affair with Nan, and she plans to marry him once he leaves Agatha, meaning that there’s no future for Finbarr and Nan.
The narrative is split between Nan’s present, as she stays in a hotel in Yorkshire during Agatha’s disappearance (where she meets Agatha, Finbarr, and Detective Chiltern), and her past living in Ireland in a convent.
Initially, I wasn’t sure how the chapters in Ireland were connected to the present-day chapters, other than giving us more of Nan and Finbarr’s backstories, but there are several shocking ‘big reveal’ moments, that shrewdly connect the past and present. These moments set us on a gripping race to the final chapters of the story, which are some of the best and encompass a gratifyingly good denouement.
One of my favourite parts of this novel was the friendship between these two women. When Nan shares her past, Agatha empathises deeply and wants to help Nan in her current plight. The two develop a camaraderie and become close confidents; the house in the middle of nowhere bestows an otherworldly feeling, like they’re suspended in time and nobody exists but them, Finbarr and Chiltern.
Overall, this is a cleverly-written story of love, revenge, the constraints of marriage and society, and the lengths we would go to for family. Nina de Gramont gives us a romantic reimagining of Agatha Christie’s disappearance offering moments of true heartbreak but also incredible happiness along the way.
Content warnings for infidelity and adultery, suicide, miscarriage/still birth, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence, emotional manipulation, murder, poison, discussions of war, removing a child from their mother without consent....more
For some reason I thought there were going to be six books in this series but apparently this is the last one??? I didn't know this when I was readingFor some reason I thought there were going to be six books in this series but apparently this is the last one??? I didn't know this when I was reading it but now I'm kind of sad that I've finished the series. Looking back, though, I do think the last chapter has a sense of finality and closure to it and I'm happy with Cooper and Oliver's HEA.
The main mystery of this book hinges around threats towards Cooper and someone blackmailing Eli. When Eli's blackmailer turns up head, he becomes the prime suspect and Cooper and Oliver have to help clear his name. I liked the way the tension ramped up as the circle of danger closed in around Cooper and the final action sequences were great.
I've enjoyed seeing Oliver and Cooper's relationship develop across the series, and I liked the fact that they still discover new things about each other in this book, even though they've been in an established relationship for a while. Their romance is healthy and loving (a little spicy, too) and I'm so pleased they get to (metaphorically) walk off into the sunset together. ...more
Another fun installment in the series. This book took a different turn, as it felt like Cooper was immersed in wolf territory this time, whereas in thAnother fun installment in the series. This book took a different turn, as it felt like Cooper was immersed in wolf territory this time, whereas in the previous books it felt like Oliver was in human territory. I liked the fact that Oliver and Cooper had to go undercover at a couple's retreat and I'm enjoying seeing how their relationship is progressing and becoming more serious. They've come a long way since the first book when they were strangers thrown together as partners on the case. ...more
We got to meet Cooper's family in the previous book and now we get to meet Oliver's in this book. We love continuity here.
This was another great instWe got to meet Cooper's family in the previous book and now we get to meet Oliver's in this book. We love continuity here.
This was another great installment in the series. Oliver and Cooper are fast becoming two of my favourite characters and a partnership that I would tank a bullet for. I really enjoyed how we go to learn more about Oliver's past in this story and more about the Park werewolves and the lore surrounding them.
Cooper needs to stop throwing himself directly into harms way though, I just want him to be SAFE. But I love the lengths he's willing to go to to protect and help Oliver, and how he was the voice of reason for Oliver at certain points in this novel. I'm looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes next in book four.
Content warnings for violence, blood, murder and attempted murder, death of family members, reappearance of estranged family members, gaslighting and emotional manipulation, explicit sexual scenes. ...more
I loved book one in this series, so I started the second book almost immediately and if anything it was even better than the first book.
Cooper and OlI loved book one in this series, so I started the second book almost immediately and if anything it was even better than the first book.
Cooper and Oliver are now partners at the BSI, investigating a new case linked to Cooper's family, while also navigating their feelings for each other. I love their witty interactions and growing closeness and the spicy scenes are really something. The way they've begun opening up to each other and trusting each other with more of themselves is *chef's kiss*
There's also a pattern emerging in these books, which I hope is going to be a common feature in all Charlie Adhara's work, where the mystery builds and builds to a big action scene/dramatic showdown in the final chapters of the book. And I'm living for it. Adhara writes these scenes so well that I've come to look forward to them at the end of each novel now.
On to the next book!
Content warnings for (previous) death of a parent, emotional manipulation, murder, blood, gore, broken bones, near drowning, physical assault. ...more
I saw Chai recommend this on Twitter and decided to pick it up after seeing that the audiobook was on Scribd. And OH MY GOODNESS. This was exactly my I saw Chai recommend this on Twitter and decided to pick it up after seeing that the audiobook was on Scribd. And OH MY GOODNESS. This was exactly my jam.
I'm not normally into werewolf or vampire stories, but this gave me serious Criminal Intentions vibes because it's about two detectives solving a mystery and starting to catch feelings for each other. It's also a werewolf/human partnership, which was a really fun dynamic and the way the BSI (Bureau of Special Investigations (but they really investigate werewolf crimes)) was woven into the story felt realistic.
Cooper and Oliver's relationship development was so enjoyable. One of my favourite types of character progression is seeing two complete strangers start off distrusting each other, then get thrown into tricky situations that mean they have to start trusting each other. From there they become friends and then begin to have romantic feelings for each other. That kind of development ABSOLUTELY SLAPS. So, needless to say, when it panned out in this novel, I was very happy. We even had some mortal peril and 'I will run into danger to save you' moments, which I also live for.
I enjoyed this so much that I read it in less than 24 hours and then almost immediately started the second book.
Content warnings for murder, violence, kidnapping, forced ring fights, discussions of health problems, wolf attacks, gore, blood....more
Something I’ve discovered about my reading tastes over the last year is that I don’t like gory/gruesome horror very much, but I enjoy atmospheric horror. And this book is exactly that; atmosphere in abundance.
There’s definitely some blood and violence (it probably wouldn’t be a vampire book without those things?), but on the whole this story definitely priorities atmosphere over gore and it hits the mark just right for sinister, gothic vibes.
We get some wonderful descriptions of the streets of New Orleans, with gilded balconies and energised crowds. Libby, Lucas, and Jared’s house comes to life as well through Mina’s descriptions of the old, sun-heated wood and bouncy beds.
And perhaps most creepy of all is the Mansion of the Macabre, with its gruesome rooms from different horror film sets. I could picture the rooms and imagine the tour in such brilliantly vivid detail that I just know I’d end up having a jump scare in the very first room.
Mina is an inquisitive, determined main character, who finds herself drawn into the allure and newly present dangers of New Orleans. But, no matter how much the city decides to throw at her, she keeps bouncing back, determined to solve the recent murder and save her friends.
I really enjoyed her and Jared’s developing relationship, but the bond that interested me the most was between Mina and her sister Libby. After their mum abandoned them and Libby moved to university in New Orleans, Libby and Mina’s relationship has become distant and somewhat strained.
They don’t talk as much as they used to, they don’t have the same close connection, and Libby closes up whenever Mina tries to bring up the topic of their mum. As the story progresses, however, Libby and Mina begin to grow closer again as they navigate several ordeals and Libby opens up about why she stopped confiding in her sister.
Their relationship felt really realistic to me, as my sister and I have experienced similar periods of distance after not living together for a while, before having periods of closeness again. I enjoyed how the strength of sibling bonds was depicted in this story and how Mina realised that, despite their differences, she and Libby would do anything for each other.
The plot goes from strength to strength as Mina, Libby, Jared, and Della try to uncover a murder mystery before finding themselves the targets of new attacks. Some of the twists were jaw-droppingly good and I didn’t see them coming at all.
The fast pacing and gripping plot make this story one that’s easy to blaze through in a few short sittings, and the threat and thrill of vampires and danger will have you wondering if everyone’s going to survive to the end.
The myths and vampire lore woven into the story added layers of history and gravity that I really enjoyed, and the tales from decades gone by made me want to look up if they were actually true.
Overall, this was a wonderfully tense, thrilling read with vampires, twists, and a close-knit group of friends willing to do whatever it takes to help each other. The UKYA scene is going to be all the more enriched by this enticing gothic horror novel and I can’t wait to see what Amy McCaw writes next.
Content warnings for violence, (previous) abandonment by a parent, stabbing, exsanguination, murder, blood and gore, kidnapping....more
Trigger warnings for discussions of homophobia, transphobia, substance abuse and drug addiction, grief, running away from home.
I was surprised to findTrigger warnings for discussions of homophobia, transphobia, substance abuse and drug addiction, grief, running away from home.
I was surprised to find there was no case in this episode, but it definitely made sense in terms of the overall series plot after what happened at the end of book 8.
I loved the fact that we got to learn more about Seong-Jae's history and meet his sister; I definitely hope we see more of her in future episodes. I also really enjoyed the cosy, family vibes in this story. Malcolm and Seong-Jae being domestic and getting to chill out, away from work, warms my heart so much.
This episode wasn't without action, though, and I'm curious to see the consequences of that in the next book. I just love this series so much and if you're reading this and you enjoy enemies-to-lovers queer romance, the grumpy/sunshine trope, and stories about detectives, then please pick up this series, IT'S SO GOOD. ...more
Trigger warnings for violence, murder, shooting, kidnapping, adultery.
This was another fast-paced, intense episode with stunning writing. The violenceTrigger warnings for violence, murder, shooting, kidnapping, adultery.
This was another fast-paced, intense episode with stunning writing. The violence in this episode was pretty grim, but the author gives plenty of trigger warnings before the story begins, which is really good. The pacing in this one was really intense and never slowed down until the final few pages, which really suited the plot. There were some lovely scenes between Mal and Seong-Jae and I'm living for the way their relationship is developing. These two live in my mind, rent-free.
Reread in June 2023 on audio. Thanks to Libro FM for the advanced copy.
I really enjoyed listening to this on audio; the story was just as good as the Reread in June 2023 on audio. Thanks to Libro FM for the advanced copy.
I really enjoyed listening to this on audio; the story was just as good as the first time and the narrator perfectly captured the characters' voices - pretty much exactly as I imagined them.
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4.5 stars
CWs for cults, gaslighting and emotional manipulation, on-page death, drowning, violence.
This series just gets better and better. After several books' worth of yearning and pining, Mal and Seong-Jae are now exploring their feelings for each other and I. am. ASCENDING. Honestly, this is it. This is the ship I would take a bullet for....more
Trigger warnings for murder, on-page death, violence, kidnapping, racism, stalking, scenes of a sexual nature and sexual intercourse.
This was definitTrigger warnings for murder, on-page death, violence, kidnapping, racism, stalking, scenes of a sexual nature and sexual intercourse.
This was definitely one of my favourite books of the series so far because Malcolm and Seong-Jae's relationship takes a significant jump. They're finally beginning to accept their feelings for each other as they grow closer and closer and I'd by lying if I said I didn't enjoy the YEARNING that this book provided. I also loved seeing them really begin to understand each other better in ways that no-one else does.
As usual, Cole McCade's writing is great and I really enjoy the way they concurrently run an overarching series plot, and a plot within each book. They're also just a master of characterisation and I'm really looking forward to see how Malcolm and Seong-Jae's relationship develops further in book 7. I'm also curious to see what happens with Sade and Malcolm's friendship and Seong-Jae's backstory, as there's lots brewing there....more
Content warnings for violence, graphic descriptions of gore and blood, murder, substance abuse, forced coersion of an individual through substance abuContent warnings for violence, graphic descriptions of gore and blood, murder, substance abuse, forced coersion of an individual through substance abuse, discussions of BDSM.
Seong-Jae and Malcolm are back on cases together after Malcolm's sick leave and I was so happy to see them working together again. I love their dynamic and the way they bounce off each other, and I'm pleased this series is quite a long one, because I could honestly read 100 books of them just interacting and spending time together.
The yearning was STRONG in this book and I loved the fact that both main characters are starting to let each other in and show their feelings and emotions to each other in a more unguarded manner. They're also starting to accept how they feel for one another and MAYBE EVEN ACT ON THOSE FEELINGS???
We got more discussion of Malcolm's backstory in this book which was captivating, and we found out more about Seong-Jae's sexuality. When he mentioned being on the ace spectrum my little heart imploded from joy. There were so many soft scenes throughout the story and I just love Seong-Jae and Malcolm so much. This series has definitely become a new favourite for me....more
Content warnings for gore, violence, on-page death, murder, insects.
This book was so dramatic and tense that reading it felt like riding a rollercoastContent warnings for gore, violence, on-page death, murder, insects.
This book was so dramatic and tense that reading it felt like riding a rollercoaster. And I loved it.
The world building was fantastic. The glamour and excitement of 1920s Shanghai set against the gruesome backdrop of murders, gang in-fighting, and a monster. Chloe Gong's writing style is wonderful; the way she sets the scene and describes the streets of Shanghai is completely captivating.
I thought the way the characters were matched with the characters in Romeo and Juliette was really clever and I loved the use of language in this story.
Juliette was definitely my favourite character. She's bold, ruthless, decisive, and cares so much for her people that she's willing to do anything to save them. Honestly, Juliette could step on me in her heels and I'd thank her for it.
Romeo is equally as decisive, but he definitely seemed less ruthless and as we find out more of their shared backstory, we understand his motivations and see how much he still cares for Juliette.
Aside from the very slow pacing in certain chapters, I loved this and I was shocked by some of the plot twists at the end. I'm really looking forward to book two....more
Kate (Reading Through Infinity)
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