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Book Review: LUCK OF THE DEVIL (RECKLESS DAMNED, Book 4)
Author: Lark Taylor
Genre/s and tags: Paranormal, Queer, Angels/Demons, Found Family, MMM Romance
Publication date: May 11, 2023
Content Warnings: stalking, violence and injury detail, illness, anxiety attacks, references to domestic abuse relating to a side character, foster care discussions, war, drugsSynopsis
One demon. One angel. A relationship that’s failed so many times. Could it really be just one human they’ve been missing?
Dagon
For centuries, Dimitri and I have tried to make it work. Each time we’ve been torn apart by our dominant natures, neither of us willing to back down. A hundred years ago, I thought he’d betrayed me in the worst possible way. In a fit of anger, we made a deal that led to my downfall.
Now Dimitri is back in my life, reshaping our history with the truth. But love still isn’t enough to make it work, not when being together tears us apart.
When he tells me he’s met our human mate, I can’t help but hope that Lucky will be the key to loving Dimitri the way I’ve always wanted.
But with Hell knocking at our door and an uprising threatening us all, can we persuade Lucky to give us a chance before it’s too late?Dimitri
I haven’t given up on Dagon for one hundred years, and I won’t now.
When Lucky crosses my path, I finally understand why Dagon and I have never quite worked. Fate never intended us to be a couple…we were destined to be a triad. Lucky is the piece we need to complete us.
Winning Lucky over won’t be easy. Someone is hurting him, making him put up walls that are nearly impossible for us to cross.
But chasing Dagon has taught me that I’m a stubborn angel. I won’t give up on either of my mates.Lucky
What an ironic nickname. Never in my life has anything lucky ever happened to me.
But everything changes when I meet Dagon and Dimitri. Two super-hot guys who aren’t put off by my inexperience? All my dreams are coming true.
Not for long though. Even with my boss and his family looking out for me, I know it’s only a matter of time before my past catches up to me.
So, for now, I’m going to soak up every drop of happiness Dimitri and Dagon have to offer.
Drink it up and pray they forgive me when I do what I always do.
Run…and don’t look back.
Review
Cue the happy tears as I give this series a final send-off 😭 Yes, this review is too long, no I don’t care!! I am happy and it took me way too long to form coherent thoughts so I’m sharing all of them!
I can’t believe it’s over. Was it really less than a year ago I stumbled across the blurb for Devil’s Mark, prompting me to immediately email the author and beg for an advanced copy?
If you’re new to the series, here is a quick spoiler-free recap.
The sons of Lucifer have abandoned Hell to live on Earth. They’ve spent the last century enjoying their freedom, doing as they please away from their father’s control. But things started changing a few years ago when the eldest brother, Cal, met Oscar. His fated mate. Since then the other brothers have found their partners as well, protecting them with everything they can as tensions with Hell start to rise. Now only one brother is left without his happily ever after, and he’s about to find it in the form of not one but TWO mates!
There has always been undeniable tension between Dagon and Dimitri. There’s clearly a past neither man is willing to share, but their interactions have illustrated all the ways they care and clash. No matter how much they want it to work, nearly 2,000 years of failure has proven that they can’t. Not as they are.
Enter Lucky. The human man who just so happens to be their mate. They were never two halves of a whole, they were a puzzle missing their final piece.
Lark did a wonderful job of showing just where Lucky fills in the gaps in their relationship. He isn’t the glue that holds the other two together, he’s a full partner, even if it takes them a while to convince him of that (a task his angel and demon are more than up to; these three generated enough heat to warm Hell!) 🔥🔥🔥
Lucky is a character I loved from page one. His life has been hard, isolating (this series is crack for lovers of hurt/comfort), and that’s part of why he is such a good choice for our angel and demon. With them, he gets double the love! And they both get someone to protect, someone who can bring gentleness to their lives.
“I’m so fucking happy the two of you can love each other how you always should’ve been able to. I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long.”
And it’s important to point out that their relationship worked. It’s not uncommon in poly stories to have characters with history who just don’t work but love each other enough that they can’t step away, even when every encounter leads to heartbreak. Meeting everyone’s needs requires a balance that sometimes two people alone can’t accomplish.
And as for how their relationship related to the plot, Lucky did so much more than balance the boys out. The symmetry between Dagon and Dimitri, a demon mated to an angel, was interesting enough before the addition of Lucky, a human. It wasn’t a random choice so the author could write a poly relationship. The trio literally represents Heaven, Earth, and Hell. One not being able to exist without the other ends up being very important to the conclusion of our story!
As always a fantastic cast of characters keeps us entertained between action and smut. Bailey was once again one of my favorites. There was this one moment towards the end where I was so. Damn. Proud. Of. Him! I have it on good authority that we might get to see his murder-husband’s reaction in a future scene and I am very excited about it!
Luck threw up his hands in exasperation, turning to River, Oscar, and Bailey. “Really? How the fuck do you guys put up with this?”
“We have a group chat.”Lark has a writing style that just works for me. She lays things out books in advance, preparing the groundwork for what she has planned so that when it finally happens you’re met with this wonderful, “Ah-ha!” moment.
I had a feeling this would be a poly book after Devil May Care, and I’m glad I was right. With how much Dimitri and Dagon butted heads, I think I would have been disappointed to suddenly see them get their crap together and I don’t feel it would have lasted. Lucky, Dagon, and Dimitri were just meant to be.
Luck of the Devil is a wonderful final book for the sons of Lucifer and their mates. From the climax with Lucifer to the smut – Lark writes some of the best sex scenes in gay romance and the ones in Luck of the Devil are no exception! – she managed to give readers the perfect send-off.
To this group, at least. I’m thrilled we’ll be getting more in this world, with Ferry’s book coming out this summer and others on the horizon!
Thank you so much for the ARC Lark! 😇🧑🏻😈
*For the record, just because an author chooses to go in a direction you weren’t expecting doesn’t mean the decision is inherently bad. A good author tells their story and doesn’t necessarily pander to readers. Plenty of books don’t meet my expectations, it’s okay to feel disappointed or disagree with a decision, but harassing authors and tanking reviews for a difference in opinion, especially when you haven’t read the story, is never right.
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 |
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
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Hello Wanderers,
It’s been a minute. I can say for certain this is not the way I wanted the launch of this blog to go. Making a few posts and then disappearing for months. Seems like a project given up on far too quickly.
Firstly, let me say thank you to those of you who have visited my blog so far. When a message pops into my inbox saying that someone has viewed my page or liked a post, I get this little burst of joy. That anyone is willing to take the time to read what I’ve written or cares what I have to say is such a foreign feeling, but one that fills me with confidence.
Every single one of you has made my day a little brighter in some way. So sincerely, thank you.
Secondly, an explanation for the extended absence both here and on social media. I typically take a break at the beginning of the year, but this break was not planned. I spent most of February and March caring for my cat who was diagnosed with a fast moving cancer. Tiger required so much care and attention I didn’t want to think of anything else.
She passed away March 28th. I just couldn’t see her in that kind of pain and discomfort. It was such an agonizing experience, but I feel both of us are at peace now. I had my little girl from the day she was born up until her last and I’m so thankful I got to be her world for the 12 years (she would have been 13 a few days later) she was here.
Lately I’ve been feeling the effects of my unintentional isolation. I didn’t realize how alone and disconnected I felt dealing with all of this by myself. Not being able to focus on my comfort activity – reading – certainly didn’t help either.
But now I’m feeling more conscious of the things I miss doing. I miss writing, I miss reviews, I miss my favorite characters, I miss talking about books and stories with people who love them as much as I do.
So expect a bit more from me in the near future! I have one post already written that I’ll be sharing soon to get things moving again and will be attempting to build up a bit of a backlog in case anything happens again.
For now, wander with abandon my friends. I’ll catch you on the road.
Madison
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GONE HOME Review
Image courtesy of Wikipedia Approx Playtime: 1.5 – 3 hrs | Game Type: Walking Simulator, Narrative | CW: some homophobia (no slurs, briefly mentioned), infidelity, mental health
The experience I had playing Gone Home was unexpectedly heartwarming, and a reminder of why coming of age stories can be so important and impactful.
It’s 1995. You are Katie, eldest daughter in a family of four, who has just returned from a European backpacking trip only to find her family’s home empty. As you wander the house interacting with different items and uncovering messages from your sister, Sam, the larger tale of what occurred during your time abroad unfolds.
*this review will contain some spoilers, please skip to the final verdict at the end of the article for final spoiler-free thoughts.
Gone Home is an epistolary narrative experience. There is no action or combat, there isn’t even traditional puzzle-solving. You are simply walking the family home, finding notes and artifacts, looking at photographs, and listening to cassette tapes. Slowly forming a picture of what happened over the year you were gone.Despite the game being on my radar since its release in 2013, I managed to go into this completely blind. Something I recommend as the coming of age themes, while not uncommon, are revealed so naturally. Sam’s journey to discovering her interests and desires is portrayed authentically and with great care. Her story made me emotional in a way many contemporary stories often fail to.
Faced with a new school, preoccupied parents, and a sister she has no way of contacting, Sam is struggling. She finds an outlet through writing, and the player will find snippets of her stories scattered throughout the home.
These were my favorite items in the game. I loved watching Sam’s writing grow in strength and maturity, and reflect her own life as she learned more about herself. The pirate plot had me wishing for an irl novel, and the story where the first mate changed gender and the pirate captain declared she loved her still made my heart sing!
I know it was written as a reflection of Sam realizing her attraction to women, but I couldn’t help but see it as a moment of transgender joy as well! That declaration had me tearing up.
Her journey from discovery to love to heartbreak to…well, I won’t spoil everything, had me bursting with joy. Historical queer stories (and yes, it does sound strange to be saying ‘historical’ regarding the year I was born) are so important, reminding us that even though the support might not have been there, many were still able to find happiness.
The glimpses we get of the girls’ parents are interesting, but take a backseat to the story of Sam. Serving more as reasons for her thoughts and behavior changes, than stories as complex as her own.
The big exception is the mysterious uncle from whom they inherited the house. Not much is revealed about Uncle Oscar, and what little there is has been left intentionally vague.
It’s clear something bad occurred with the uncle sometime in 1963, and whatever it was led the girls’ father, Terrance, to become obsessed with that year. There are clues throughout the manor hinting that whatever it was caused Oscar to be shunned by his family and ultimately isolate himself in his home. Based on what little evidence there is, fan theorists have different explanations such as he was gay, he was caught crossdressing, or he abused Terrance. Since Gone Home is about drawing conclusions based on secondhand information, I’m inclined to believe any of these is possible based on the limited information the player has.
Edit: the developer seems to have indicated via Twitter that the abuse theory is correct. I wasn’t able to find the source but will link it if I find it.
Visually the game is an impressive sight! While it may not be on the same graphical level as more recent games, I still found myself impressed even 10 years after Gone Home’s initial release. It ran perfectly without sacrificing appearance. I did have to tweak some settings to make things a bit brighter and turn off the motion blur, but who doesn’t adjust visuals to their preferences?
The sound design was impressive as well. The soundtrack and Sam’s voiceovers were crisp and full of emotion. My one criticism regarding the sound might be the sound of the story raging outside. No matter how long I played you could not convince me that the jarring sound that kept repeating was lightning. I think a simple rain soundtrack would have honestly worked just as well, if not better.
I also liked the addition of text overlays. I’ve been playing a few too many games lately that expect you to read a character’s messy handwriting and having the addition of a plain font option is a thoughtful accessibility feature.
VerdictA game perfect for a quiet night in, Gone Home holds a special spot in my heart. From the beautiful visuals to the bubbling feeling of queer joy I felt, and continue to feel whenever I think about it, this game should be considered a classic in the genre of narrative gaming.
Reminiscent of the young adult novels I loved as a teen, Gone Home brings players a nostalgic experience. All the messy feelings that come from figuring yourself out are presented in such an honest and relatable way. For those missing the 90s and the discovery phase of young adulthood, you’ll find an immersive, authentic walk down memory lane.
☆☆☆10/10☆☆☆
Reviewed on PC | Available on PC, Mac, Playstation, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
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THE GREAT WIDDERSHINS REREAD
Welcome to The Great Widdershins Reread of 2023!
Do you love fussy, repressed scholars with magical talent? How about ex-Pinkertons with seductive smiles and sword canes? Female archeologists with fantastic rifle skills and more brains than most men? Eldritch horrors and old town secrets?
Well then, you’re in for a treat!
Love is dangerous. Ever since the tragic death of the friend he adored, Percival Endicott Whyborne has ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man. Instead, he spends his days studying dead languages at the museum where he works. So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible.
Griffin left the Pinkertons after the death of his partner. Now in business for himself, he must investigate the murder of a wealthy young man. His only clue: an encrypted book that once belonged to the victim.
As the investigation draws them closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. But when they uncover evidence of a powerful cult determined to rule the world, Whyborne must choose: to remain safely alone, or to risk everything for the man he loves.
The Whyborne & Griffin series by Jordan L Hawk is one of my favorites. Of all time. These books combine so many of my favorite story elements and genres – historical, paranormal, LGBTQ+ stories, Lovecraft retellings, romance – it’s honestly perfect!
I can’t think of a better time to reenter Hawk’s world of magic and monsters. W&G is an 11 book series with 1 book of short stories, so 12 books total. Perfect for a year-long reread!
I know January is nearly finished, but the number of books to the number of months means that if I get to be a little lax 😂 I think the hardest thing about this challenge will be not rushing through, but I hope forcing myself to slow down will allow me to savor them the way they deserve.
I’ll be working through the books one month at a time starting with Widdershins in January.
If you’d like to join me, please do! I’m trying to decide what would be the best method for group reading in blog format. In the meantime, I’ll be making a post for each book where you’re free to comment (don’t go to the comments unless you want spoilers!). I also might do something with Instagram, so keep an eye out.
- WIDDERSHINS, book 1
- THRESHOLD, book 2
- STORMHAVEN, book 3
- NECROPOLIS, book 4
- BLOODLINE, book 5
- HOARFROST, book 6
- MAELSTROM, book 7
- FALLOW, book 8
- DRAAKENWOOD, book 9
- BALEFIRE, book 10
- DEOSIL, book 11
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Book Review: GALEN (Sons of the Fallen, Book 1)
Title: Galen
Author: Jaclyn Osborn
Series: Sons of the Fallen, Book 1
Genre/s and tags: Adult, Paranormal, Angels / Demons, Urban Fantasy, MM Romance
Publisher: Self
Publication date: June 15th 2021Synopsis
Simon just wants to run his antique shop in peace.
But then he finds a small mysterious box that’s (probably) haunted, and his shop is broken into by the hottest man he’s ever seen who then steals said creepy box. Now demons are after him and his only hope is to trust the tall, muscled, combat-boot-wearing thief who claims to be the son of a fallen angel.
Galen is charged with protecting humanity from dark forces. Cursed with Wrath, he’s hot-tempered and spends his days fighting demons and trying not to kill his six brothers when they irritate him.
His number one rule? Never fall in love. But then he meets Simon, a clumsy human who asks way too many questions and is—unfortunately—a total demon-magnet, and he starts breaking his own rules.What’s inside the box, and why do the demons want it so badly? One thing is for sure… Simon can kiss his peaceful, ordinary life goodbye.
Review
Everyone has been recommending this series to me for a while. Whenever I’d mention one of my favorites – Necessary Evils – or a book on my tbr – Monstrous – people were like, “You have to read Sons of the Fallen!”
And it’s not that I was avoiding it. I wanted the series to finish first, which it recently has, so I can read them all at once (and a certain series by Nikole Knight involving angels may have…scared me for life. Just a little bit. So I was a smidge hesitant to jump into another book with a massive holy war.)
On January 1st I downloaded book one and promptly finished it in two days, making Galen my first book of 2023! So what did I think?
I loved it, obviously. My friends rarely steer me wrong, and in this case, they were very, very right about this family of sinful Nephilim.
This book’s strength is definitely in the characters. I have honestly never been so excited about a multicouple series before! Each of the brothers has such a distinct character and personality that I cannot wait to get inside their heads. (More Raiden and Gray please!)
Between our two leads, Simon really stole the show for me. How he was written felt so realistic. He responded to a completely outrageous situation the way I think any real person would, often putting on a brave face when internally he was absolutely scared shitless.
Galen was a bit harder to love, mostly to him being a stubborn ass, but we forgive him for it because Simon does. He really was an interesting character once he started to open up a bit more. It was easier to understand his reasoning for holding Simon at arm’s length upon hearing what he’d gone through.
The author did a great job making him and all the brothers relatable without humanizing them in the traditional way. Part of understanding them is acknowledging they are not human and never have been. The way they have lived and experience life will forever separate them from us, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t people.
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 |
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Quote that made me laugh:
“‘I fuck hard. I don’t do gentle.’ Yep. Rest in peace to my ass.”
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Book Review: M IS FOR MONSTER
Title: M is for Monster
Author: Talia Dutton
Genre/s and tags: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, SFF, Retelling, LGBTQ+
Publisher: Abrams Books
Publication date: June 28th 2022Synopsis
When Doctor Frances Ai’s younger sister Maura died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura.
This girl, who chooses the name “M,” doesn’t remember anything about Maura’s life and just wants to be her own person.
However, Frances expects M to pursue the same path that Maura had been on—applying to college to become a scientist—and continue the plans she and Maura shared. Hoping to trigger Maura’s memories, Frances surrounds M with the trappings of Maura’s past, but M wants nothing to do with Frances’ attempts to change her into something she’s not.
In order to face the future, both Frances and M need to learn to listen and let go of Maura once and for all. Talia Dutton’s debut graphic novel, M Is for Monster, takes a hard look at what it means to live up to other people’s expectations—as well as our own.
Review
“This isn’t my body. I just live here.”
Well this debut graphic novel has Talia Dutton solidly on my “authors to watch” list! Grief, identity, family, are all major themes within this Frankenstein retelling and the art style really ties everything together.
The world has stylistic similarities to the classic Frankenstein movie, opting for more of a teal-and-white tone rather than the grayscale typically seen in monster stories. This gives the book a bit of a lighter feel which works so well as M is for Monster is more of an emotionally driven story than one of horror. I love the way the characters looked! Frances in especially acted as a constant reminder of the implied time period with her particular style of lab wear and gloves.
I do wish some of the world-building had been better explained. The time period is implied but never stated which gives the story a timeless feel, but magic is mentioned several times without really being explored. It was just vague enough that all mention of it could have been removed and the story would not have changed.
M is for Monster is, on a base level, a Frankenstein retelling. In reality, those similarities stop early on and we’re left with Dutton’s original take on a very old question, “How can we know who we are when the world insists we are something else?”
The story has some LGBTQ+ side characters, and while they aren’t the main focus of the story many readers will recognize how M’s journey mirrors the struggles many in the community face. Particularly dealing with the expectations of others and assumptions about you based on your physical body. Not to mention keeping your identity a secret for reasons of literal survival and fear of being without family.
M is for Monster is one of those stories I’m so glad to have read. I think it’s a story that will resonate with a lot of readers. This is the story Victor’s creature deserved (you know if Victor wasn’t a wimp and took responsibility as a father), it’s the story all of us deserve.
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READ HARDER 2023
I am probably the worst person when it comes to reading challenges. As a mood reader, forcing a TBR on myself is pretty much a guaranteed way to not read any of those books for as long as possible.
Throw in a neurodivergent brain that requires structure to function while also silently screaming “I can do what I want!” when I try to implement that structure myself, and you have someone who really, really struggles to achieve goals.
But that doesn’t stop me from trying! For the last few years I’ve been setting a yearly TBR for myself – think 22 in 22 – where I have one year to get through as many preselected titles as I can. When I saw the prompts for Book Riot’s 2023 Read Harder Challenge I realized that they were perfect for helping me get out of my comfort zone and work through my list of unread books.
The books I’m choosing may not be the ones I use to fill the prompts, but it will be nice to have options as I attempt to read through this list. I’m also only using books that I own copies of or that I know my library has.
1. Light from Uncommon Stars
Read a novel about a trans character written by a trans author.2. Neverwhere (rec’d VE Schwab)
Read one of your favorite author’s favorite books.3. The New Queer Conscience (Pocket Change Collective)
Read a book about activism.4. The Hate U Give
Read a book that’s been challenged recently in your school district / library OR read one of the most-challenged / banned books of the year by a queer and / or BIPOC author.
5. Miss Abbott and the Doctor
Read a completed webcomic.6. Pretty much anything from 2022
Finish a book you’ve DNFed.7. The World We Make
Listen to an audiobook performed by a POC of a book written by an AOC.8. On a Sunbeam
Read a graphic novel/comic/manga if you haven’t before; or read one that is a different genre than you normally read.9. Parable of the Sower (was originally published by indie publisher, Four Walls Eight Windows)
Read an independently published book by a BIPOC author.10. This honestly sounds perfect for mood reading so I’ll leave it blank
Read a book you know nothing about based solely on the cover.11. Heroes’ Feast (Dungeons & Dragons): The Official D&D Cookbook
Read a cookbook cover to cover.
12. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States
Read a nonfiction book about BIPOC and/or queer history.13. The Guncle
Read an author local to you.14. The Alien’s Runaway Omega
Read a book with under 500 Goodreads ratings.15. The Henna Artist or The Map of Salt and Stars
Read a historical fiction book set in an Eastern country.
16. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating
Read a romance with bisexual representation.17. Firekeeper’s Daughter
Read a YA book by an Indigenous author.18. Everything Is OK (Tung)
Read a comic or graphic novel that features disability representation.19. Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
Read a nonfiction book about intersectional feminism.20. If They Come for Us
Read a book of poetry by a BIPOC or queer author.21. Somewhere Beneath Those Waves
Read a book of short stories.
22. We Hunt the Flame
Read any book from the Ignyte awards shortlist/longlist/winner list.23. My Heart Is a Chainsaw
Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel.24. So many to pick from…
Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat (a finished fanfic, a book whose movie or TV adaptation you’ve seen, a queer retelling, a book by a disabled author, etc)
That should be everything. Have you ever taken on a reading challenge? What are some books you’d recommend for these prompts?
Happy reading!
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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR BOOK PEOPLE – MY RESOLUTIONS
I cannot think of a single time I’ve written out New Year’s resolutions. Maybe when we learned about them in elementary school and had to make some up for an assignment, but on my own? No, I don’t think so.
Part of the reason is that mentally New Year’s has never really registered for me until around March 1st. That feeling of a new start never really hit me, it was always just “the next day.” The other reason is I just never saw the point. I knew I’d never complete any of them so why bother setting any when I’ll only be disappointed later.
But things are different this year. I have no idea why but New Year’s actually felt like New Year’s! I feel confident about the year ahead and want to celebrate with some goals for myself.
1. Complete One Reading Challenge Fully
I love a good reading challenge! Themed ones tend to be my favorites and are perfect for when my mood reading leads me to read a lot of one genre. In the past, I’ve never been too bothered that I tend to not finish them, but completing one does sound really nice. I want that sense of accomplishment!
So this year I plan to finish one. Just one! Which challenge doesn’t matter, maybe the one I’ll complete hasn’t even been announced yet. We’ll see!2. Keep Tracking
In 2020 I decided it would be fun to see what the next decade looked like – bookwise. I bought a little pocket notebook and started recording everything I read and reread, starting at 1 and now at 611. During 2022 I hit a bit of a block and stopped logging my books. Thank goodness I use Goodreads otherwise I would have been stuck! Now I’m all caught up again.
This next year I want to make sure I continue to keep track. It takes a lot of discipline to remember, but I love looking back on all the stories I’ve read.3. Organize My Physical TBR
Everyone talks about their TBR like it’s organized (lie, all lies) but it does make me a little self-conscious. I realized that I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t even know what my TBR looks like anymore.
There’s no way I’d make it through everything this year, but I want a better sense of what I have. So in 2023 I want to try to catalog my TBR, maybe categorize it in a way that lets me find books easier. A TBR jar is probably in my future.4. Clean Out My Shelves
Okay hold on, hear me out. I hate getting rid of books as much as the next book dragon, but I. Do. Not. Have. A. Lot. Of. Space.
I have two bookshelves in my house and eleven tubs of books in my garage, patiently waiting for the day I finally move into a bigger place. Not to mention that when I first started on bookstagram I got a little carried away…
Part of organizing my physical TBR is determining what actually belongs on my TBR. I want to be more intentional and use my limited space more wisely.5. Read Alice Oseman’s Backlist
Now we have a goal that’s less cleaning house, and more actually reading!
I’ve been in love with Heartstopper since I discovered the comic in 2020. It’s not just the adorable first-love story between Nick and Charlie that I adore. It’s the relatability of it all. Reading about Charlie’s struggles with his physical and mental health, Nick’s struggles in loving someone who’s hurting. The characters breathe so much life into this story and I’ve been meaning to dive into the larger Oseman-verse for some time now. Turning it into a resolution just makes sense!
(I’ve also been dying to read my way through VE Schwab’s backlist but I’m kind of scared.)6. Read more physical books
Around 2019 I started reading more ebooks. I found my old kindle and started checking out lots of books from the library’s ebook collection. When the libraries closed in 2020 I became a full-time ebook reader and my collection of physical books has fallen by the wayside.
This year I want to work towards reading more of the books on my physical shelf. I’m working towards a 2/5 physical to electronic split, which doesn’t seem like a lot until I tell you that out of the 110 books I read last year less than 10 were physical books. We’re going with reasonable goals!7. Begin learning a language
This one is less book related, but it’s still about language so I think it counts!
I’m notoriously bad at languages, and it’s something I’ve always been self-conscious about. I have friends around the world and feel so guilty that they take the time to speak to me in my language but I can’t even understand the basics of theirs.
My library has an online program called Mango that acts a bit like Rosetta Stone. I want to try it and maybe another class to see if I can get past whatever block is keeping me from learning. I’m leaning towards ASL or German. ASL because I wonder if kinesthetic learning will help things stick, and German because I’ve recently reconnected with some family there and would like to communicate more easily.
Maybe you’re like me and don’t typically set resolutions or don’t know where to start. If that’s the case I hope my resolutions give you a couple of ideas! I’ve thought a lot about what kind of year I want this to be, and if anything I hope going forward with intention will help make this the best one I’ve had in a while.
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Book Review: WILD IS THE WITCH
Title: Wild is the Witch
Author: Rachel Griffin
Genre/s and tags: Young Adult / New Adult, Paranormal, Witches, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication date: August 2nd 2022Synopsis
Iris Gray knows witches aren’t welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches’ Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they’re keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast.
Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.Iris concocts the perfect curse for Pike: one that will turn him into a witch. But just as she’s about to dispel it, a bird swoops down and steals the curse before flying away. If the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed―and the bird is a powerful amplifier, and unleashing the curse would turn not just Pike, but everyone in the region, into a witch.
New witches have no idea how to control their magic and the consequences would be dire. And the Witches’ Council does not look kindly on multiple offenses; if they found out, Iris could be stripped of her magic for good. Iris begs Pike to help her track the bird, and they set out on a trek through the Pacific Northwest looking for a single bird that could destroy everything.
Review
One of my favorite releases of 2022, WILD IS THE WITCH. Rachel Griffin’s new book about a young witch and the boy she cursed.
I finished reading Iris and Pike’s story last night. What a wonderful experience it was! Rachel must have magic of her own because I felt entirely transported, surrounded by the chill and beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The tone and setting were so strong and I find my mind drifting back to it constantly.The relationship between Iris and Pike was one I deeply enjoyed. There’s something about couples that make so much sense but just can’t see it, even if the people around them can (thank you for the laughs, Isobel!). Their journey is deeply emotional, full of grief and forgiveness and learning to be vulnerable again.
More than anything this book gave me a sense of comfort and hope. Two things I didn’t realize I was needing but found myself drawn to like the first touch of magic, pulling it in until I burned with it.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an eARC. And thank you Rachel for this magical story.
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