Tag: arc review

The thick and the lean by Chana Porter 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This is a phenomenal read that creates a whole new way to view sexual and eating habits! They are something that can be compared, and a truth about one can lead to a truth about the other. This spins both issues out in much different ways than how our world typically views them.

Sex is something that is a freedom in this book. An appetite to be sated. While the joy of food and flavor is viewed as the opposite. The two main characters go through different aspects of this. I feel like the ending does a good job of summing this wild story up.

Out April 18, 2023!

Dear Medussa by Olivia A. Cole 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This meant a lot to me. I think sexual assault and trauma can happen to anyone, at any age, but this author speaking from 16 year old Alicia’s pov really gave this particular trauma a strong voice.

Alicia’s whole life changed after being sexually assaulted by a popular teacher. The girl who ran track and wanted a future was gone, but throughout this story told in verse, Alicia does regain her strength. Particularly with the help of other girls, other strong girls that show her that she is worth fighting for.

I loved the tie-in with Medusa, particularly the ending. I have heard and read many variations on Medussa’s story at this point, and it has become so clear to me that she was not the monster in her tale. I am so thankful to all the strong people out there, including this author, writing these stories and helping everyone no matter where they are in life with a problem that is so much more common than what I believe many people think.

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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This book has my heart right now. Being gay and living in a small conservative town, an Asian mc who must deal with racism, just the attention to several big problems for many, many Americans living in this country right now. And, not just mentioning these problems but speaking about them in this story in such an honest way.

Stevie and Nora are in love. They have a new life waiting for them in California. However, all of that changes when Stevie falls into a ravine and has permanent amnesia about the past two years after she wakes up from a coma.

So, this is a story of friendship and finding out who your true friends really are. About finding yourself. This is a story about falling in love, and then forgetting everything and falling back in love with a beautiful human who never gave up.

If you can’t tell… I loved every piece of this book. It lives up to the hype and more. It’s my new moody read for when I’m feeling cloudy.

Out April 4, 2023!

Some warnings for racism, homophobia, and domestic violence.

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!

This was stunning and absolutely breathtaking. Literally and figuratively breathtaking!!!

This prequel to Priory of the Orange Tree is full of beautiful descriptions and content that compliments the first book so well.

The themes running through this novel are very similar to Priory. Mainly ideas on religion and also, women’s roles in history, the strength of women.

I just finished this and I know I’m going to have more to say while this story truly sinks in now.

Out February, 28 2033!

Nocturne by Alyssa Wees 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!

This is a gorgeous fairytale!! This stole me away from reality and gave me a dark, wandering and enchanting tale to rest in.

Grace has not had an easy life. She is living in Chicago around the 1930’s.
Orphaned by age 13, she finds herself at a local ballet school. Now, at age 20, she is finally offered the position of prima ballerina. However, as is often warned in fairytales, all things come with a price.

Grace finds out she has a very rich and mysterious sponsor. So, naturally, she does everything in her power to find out who he is. When she finally does she is shocked at what she finds. No mere man, but death himself. And, Grace finds herself trapped between reality and illusion.

This was an entrancing read. I loved the dreamlike quality of the author’s writing style. Especially because this only added to the natural surreal quality of the story.

Out February 21, 2023!

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood 🌟Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!

This was a beautiful adventure into a mystifying jungle in Jamaica.

This story takes place around the mid 1800’s just to give you an idea of the time period. The tour group that Victoria and the other wildbloods “worked” for (more like slavery with a very small payment to specifically make it not slavery) had a British overlord that was quite cruel and abusive.

Victoria joins her archrival’s side to lead the next tour into the jungle. The main concept that I really observed while reading, and what I really appreciated, was Victoria’s relationship to this wild jungle as being one of comfort while her relationship with other humans and her job (basically her abusers) was where the real harm came from in this story. The jungle, while having so many dangerous and unknown factors, was more of a safe place for her, especially considering her origin.

There were some things I thought were too simple. Like a specific love interest for Victoria in the story. Just seemed a little too candy sweet for me to believe it to be genuine. But otherwise, I thought this was a magnificent story about understanding a victim’s of abuse relationship to her abuser(s).

Out February 7, 2023!

Leech by Hiron Ennes 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

This book has given me a way to touch on every emotion. I am so shocked by the ending and it’s so desperately sad and also profound. It’s amazing to think that this incredible journey through this book began with a new doctor at a chateau in the far North. She was looking at how the doctor she is replacing died… and it’s gruesome and the beginning of a parasite horror. This mixes old gothic feels with a new angle on scifi and also *content warning* a very strong and long look at trauma and sexual assault. But it’s done in such a sincere way that I really was right there feeling those same emotions.

This book is incredible! Remember the content warnings but I have to recommend this to fans of parasite horror and scifi!

Out September 27, 2022!

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This book is about an island, Saoirse, and her inhabitants. The tight knit group of families that live on this island all have various secrets they hold close. The island itself seems alive and as if she is watching and weighing every movement and word. Nothing is as it seems. And at the same time, nothing goes completely unseen either.

This book has such a compelling mystery. I thought I knew what was going on the whole time until I was proven wrong! The secrets and the magic seemed to come alive for me as I read this. I could see myself walking through this beautiful and deadly island breathing in the scent of herbs and magic. This author has a talent of giving their stories a magical breath so that they truly live and it’s always a wonderful adventure.

Definitely recommend this!
Out September 27, 2022!

I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This book hit me like an unstoppable force and I know deep in my bones that it has left a permanent imprint that will never leave me.

Georgia is the girl. She knows her place is to be an Aspera Girl. On her way to the beautiful high rolling country club, Aspera, she is hit by a car. When she revives still on the same road, she keeps heading for Aspera but winds up finding a dead body. Not just a dead body, but a girl she knew, Ashley, who was only 13 and just by looking at her Georgia could see she wasn’t simply just murdered.

This story breaks apart the whole scenario of a teen, who in this case is a girl but could be anyone, that wants her dreams to come true so badly that she is blinded by the light of those dreams and cannot see what is actually happening to her and around her. This deals with quite a bit of sexual assault to the point that it was hard to read at times. This is a beautifully written story that really leaves an impact but please be aware of the content warnings.

Tw: sexual assault of a minor, unsettling depictions and scenes, violence and murder.

Out September 13, 2022!

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah 🌟 Arc Review 🌟

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

This was such a great read! Competition, rebellion and a kind of dystopian setting make this book immediately one of my favorites this year.

Koral is a Hunter. Her and her family are lucky Renters who have had this title passed down through generations which give them a greater chance at monetary security. However, they have hit hard times and Koral decides to enter the Glory Race with their last Maristag(a very dangerous but beautiful creature). The Glory Race is usually only for the Landers who live much richer and safer lives than any Renters. In the midst of rebellion, monster attacks and romance, Koral has no idea what she’s really getting into.

This is an insightful, beautiful and vicious story and I really can’t help but hope for more to come!! (Please!!)

Out September 6, 2022!