Review: Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

Publication date: September 14th, 2021

Pages: 336

Spice: N/A

Synopsis:

Set in Colonial New England, Slewfoot is a tale of magic and mystery, of triumph and terror as only dark fantasist Brom can tell it.

A spirited young Englishwoman, Abitha, arrives at a Puritan colony betrothed to a stranger -- only to become quickly widowed when her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. All alone in this pious and patriarchal society, Abitha fights for what little freedom she can grasp onto, while trying to stay true to herself and her past.

Enter Slewfoot, a powerful spirit of antiquity newly woken... and trying to find his own role in the world. Healer or destroyer? Protector or predator? But as the shadows walk and villagers start dying, a new rumor is whispered: Witch.

Both Abitha and Slewfoot must swiftly decide who they are, and what they must do to survive in a world intent on hanging any who meddle in the dark arts.

Complete with 8 pages of Brom's mesmerizing full-color artwork and chapter illustrations throughout, his latest book is sure to delight.

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Story:

Entering into Brom's world was a bit jarring as you are introduced to a statistic of Slewfoot's death count and then him being awakened with a thirst for blood. But Brom managed to turn the story into a twisted tale of a woman's struggles in Puritan times and what she must do to keep herself alive and keep her husband's farm firmly in her possession. The story is so much deeper than you would imagine at face value. The author manages to turn a true historical plague of fear and cruelty into a tale of strength in the face of oppression. It makes the reader question what is truly the devil's work and balance on the knife's edge of good and evil. I could not get enough of the story once I delved into Abitha's world. I was rooting for her. I was begging for her to find her happiness and felt just as much feminine rage as she did throughout the story. When women were meant to be seen and not heard, Abitha refused to be silenced. She accepted the help of any who were willing, even if the source of that assistance came from unusual places. I think Brom did an excellent job of taking real life moments in history and putting a fantasy spin on them to make their readers root for the side that would otherwise be seen as the antagonists and call for the blood of those meant to be ultimately good.

Characters:

• Abitha - Abitha is what most women of today are. Opinionated and strong-willed. In today's time it is an attribute that is celebrated; but in Puritan time it was a mark of deviltry and an evil spirit. The mass hysteria that seemed so prevalent then can sometimes still be found today but it was something to truly fear back then. Abitha wanted for simple things. She wanted to keep her husband's farm and home for herself and not be forced into a life of servitude. The manner at which she went about achieving that makes her morality come into question a few times but I think that Abitha is simply a woman with a backbone during a time when women were meant to be seen and not heard. I enjoyed how she sometimes told it like it was even when she was not meant to. I celebrated her achievements and sorrowed for her failures. She was a character I was rooting for and one that I grew to adore from one page turn to the next.

• Samson - I didn't know how to feel about Samson. He, of course, came across as this nefarious source of pain and destruction but the way he interacted with Abitha gave me a sense that there was more to him than what he appeared to be. He is a catalyst of what happens when you let others mold and shape who you are instead of finding your own way in life. He was pulled in several different directions and told what he should be and how he should act, but Abitha was the one person who accepted him for two sides of the same coin: not evil, not good, somewhere in between. Isn't that a good representation of a lot of people in reality? We all waffle back and forth between being good and bad with our decision making. So did Samson.

Writing:

If I hadn't read this book in tandem with the audiobook I may have felt it was a little flowery for my liking. That is part of the Puritan manner of speaking though so it remained true to the story. I think that without it, the story would have felt false and like it wasn't capturing the manner at which the people in that time period would be speaking. I would enjoy reading more from Brom because of his delivery of a story and twists and turns he manages to place within the timeline he concocts. 

Overall:

I didn't believe I would like this story. I definitely wouldn't think that it was one of the highlight books of the year so far. The characters, the setting, the way the author delivered the story, and the history weaved throughout made this book one of my all-time favorites. I struggled to not reach for the book and start all over from the beginning to see if I missed even an ounce of the story as I was starved for much, much more.

 

Review: Filthy Rich Vampire by Geneva Lee

Filthy Rich Vampire by Geneva Lee

Series: Filthy Rich Vampire #1

Publication date: October 24th, 2023

Pages: 364

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

Julian Rousseaux has a problem. He's single, and for the world's wealthiest vampires, the social season is about to begin. Julian would rather stake himself than participate in the marriage market. But as the eldest eligible Rousseaux, he's expected to find a wife before the season ends--whether he likes it or not.

When cellist Thea literally stumbles into his life at a gala, he knows she's the last person he could even fall in love with. She's too innocent, too kind, and way too human. But now that she knows about his world, she's also a walking target. She needs protection. He needs a fake girlfriend to discourage overzealous vampire matchmaking.

So, Julian makes Thea an irresistible offer: pretend to be his lover and he'll change her life. For one year, they'll attend the season's social events together in exchange for his protection and a way out of her mother's crippling medical debt.

She can't say no. But the vampire world is impossibly decadent and darker than Thea ever imagined, and Julian's filthy rich vampire family wants her out of the way. But with each moment they share, new dangers emerge: a desire as forbidden as their stolen touches, an awakening of a long-dead heart, and secrets that could tear them both apart.

Sensual, dangerous, provocative -- step into a daring new world of dark magic, primal attraction, and breathtaking romance.

Available at:

Story:

There are books that I absolutely love that are inundated with smut from cover to cover. Then there are the ones that try to use smut as filler when the plot doesn't hold water. As much as I did enjoy most of this book, Filthy Rich Vampires was of that second caliber for me. The main character's reasons for keeping himself apart from his female protagonist were vague and not at all believable. He would hurt her only to run back to her and apologize and hope that it makes everything better. He did that on a number of occasions and it became hard to watch Thea go through it. The story had a lot of plot holes that I am not sure whether they will ever be filled. I will, of course, read on in hopes that it gets better but as it stands, the story is more erotica than it is romantasy. I wanted to be lost in this vampire world where they lived on the cusp of human society with their own government, laws, and rules to abide by. But instead I got a shaky storyline that made me uncertain if the author even had it all fleshed out before she started to write. 

Characters:

• Thea - The saving grace of the book for me. Thea was such a delightfully quirky character that seemed to be blindly innocent and a liability but I liked that there were some times when she showed her teeth and it was then that Julian paid a little more attention. She was no doll to be toyed with and discarded and I think that is what gained her the respect from her vampire lover that she may not have gotten otherwise. For someone thrown into a world where vampires and other preternatural creatures were real, she seemed to handle it a lot better than anyone else would have. Strength or naivety? 

• Julian - Boy did I dislike Julian 80% of the time in the book. He played with Thea far too much. Strung her along, promised her things, and then yanked the rug out from under her. He tried to show her his world while also trying to shelter her from it which does not work in any scenario. He was too busy rolling over and showing his belly to any of his family who demanded it (especially his bitchy mother) instead of fighting for his right to be happy. He was the weakness in the couple, not Thea.

Writing:

The writing was pretty simplistic. There were moments when I would have really liked a little more description of the setting the characters were in so that I could better picture the image in my head. There were times when I would have to go back and read the setting during the dialog because I character would do something that didn't fit with the picture I had concocted. Such as a character standing from a sitting position when I hadn't even realized they had moved to a chair at all. I am hopeful that it may have just been first book in a series jitters and that maybe the next in the series would be better.

Overall:

I didn't overtly hate the book but I would have been a lot happier with the plot and writing being a little more elevated than the were. The characters were likeable one minute then hated the next (especially Julian). The story was decent but there were plot holes the size of the Grand Canyon. I will be reading on in the series because of the monumental cliffhanger that was left behind and I remain hopeful it will be even better than this one.

Review: The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Blood and Ash #3

Publication date: June 8th, 2021

Pages: 576

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

She's been the victim and the survivor...

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she's found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It's a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior...

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms' dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy's head.

A lover and heartmate...

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible--travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people--and each other.

Available at:

Story:

I absolutely love that the author sprinkles in little tidbits of Poppy's history without giving away the big shocker that I feel is coming. She twists and turns from one chapter to the next and introduces new challenges and obstacles for the couple to overcome. Poppy and Casteel are the most solid they have ever been and the only thing holding them back in the fact that their people don't wish to accept Poppy because she could be dangerous to them. I think it more so is a good representation of how societies as a whole struggle with the unknown. How people have a hard time dealing with change even if it might be for the benefit of them. I like that the author stuck to that realism instead of trying to make the Atlantians blindly accepting Poppy into the fold. Every single book in the series so far has been completely wrapped in this overwhelming goal to unite the kingdoms and free the people. Give people a choice in how they want to live their lives without rulers dictating it to them with threats of deal and persecution. From one book to the next I find myself on the edge of my seat and desperate for more.

Characters:

• Poppy - I can't seem to find much flaw in Poppy. The more I learn about her, the more I see her fight, the more heart she shows for her people, the more I can't seem to find any reason to dislike her. I dislike how much she has thrown at her but at the same time she is so willing to bend and move in whatever way she needs to to protect those she cares about and even those she doesn't even know. 

• Casteel - I have never seen a male character as completely and utterly in love with the female main character as Casteel is with Poppy. She could massacre an entire population of people and he would simply ask her why and accept whatever reason she gave. That probably goes hand-in-hand with the fact that Poppy would never do such a thing without some sort of really good reason behind it. She shows she's bloodthirsty, Casteel tells her how hot he finds it. Another facet of her complicated biology comes out, he is there to tell her how special she is. She doubts herself, and he is there once more to build her up until she can stand on her own two feet. 

Writing:

The only thing that I struggle with is keeping up with all the twists and turns in parentage that seem to come about. What god is parent to who? Who is a god and who is the royal of gods? Who is alive and who is simply sleeping? Poppy is genetically linked to who? It's a lot to keep straight to the point where I needed to find a family tree online to trace it all back. That in comes with the risk of spoilers though so it was pretty difficult. Maybe if there were a little more cut and dry connections it would be easier for the readers to keep track and not become overwhelmed.

Overall:

Aside from my own struggles to keep track of who birthed what person, I love this series and can't get enough. In fact, as soon as I finished this book, I couldn't even write this review before I was desperately looking for the next one in the series. I needed to know what happened! Poppy and Casteel are one of my favorite fictional couples and I can't wait to see what else happens in their world.

Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Blood and Ash #2

Publication date: May 25th, 2021

Pages: 572

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

A Betrayal...

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that's one order she's more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice...

Casteel Da' Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he's the only way for her to get what she wants--to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she's ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself--about him. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself--about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she's far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret...

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

Available at:

Story:

Just when I think that there can't possibly be more twists and turns within this series, I am confronted with the second installment in the Blood and Ash series. The enemies-to-lovers trope is strong within this one and I absolutely love the ebb and flow of the world where you are not entirely sure which side is the right side and which is the enemy. Was the Atlantians at fault? The Ascended? Casteel? Poppy? Luckily Jennifer L. Armentrout will make you just as confused as to who to root for from one page to the next. The world building is on another level and when you add in the Graphic Audio reading of the story it is like being completely consumed by the push and pull of a split kingdom at war to rule over all in their midst. Poppy's lack of knowledge of who she is who she comes from leads to an element of mystery that has everyone guessing. Just when one thinks they know, there is a twist and you are returned back to the beginning to try to root out the truth along with Poppy. I found myself loving Atlantia right along with the characters even though there are outliers in each kingdom who want nothing more than to destroy any semblance of change. One thing is for sure the people within Armentrout's world get zero break from the death threats and bloodshed. But watching them rise from immeasurable odds made the second installment as addictive as the first.

Characters:

• Poppy - I am absolutely loving the growth that Poppy is starting to show. She goes from meek and fragile to a force to be reckoned with. Even Casteel knows he has no hopes of controlling her. Her anger and distaste for Casteel slowly starts to become something more as they stop pretending that they are attracted to each other and realize that it is a reality. Poppy shows her ability to forgive and move past even the most dastardly deeds. She doesn't know who she is or who she was born from but she knows that she has power beyond the scope of what she thought she had. I have never had a character that I have found as fundamentally solid as Poppy and I love watching her grow into her own person beyond the veil and the simpering submission to become someone her captors never expected of her.

• Casteel - I love how much he loves Poppy. There isn't a single moment once the two of them began to accept their feelings for each other that Casteel didn't show that he was willing to walk side-by-side or even a step behind Poppy with his sword at the ready to defend her. He didn't see her powers growing as something that he should fear or feel inferior to; he saw them as awe-inspiring and just another reason for him to fight to protect her with everything he has at his disposal. She wants a crown? He'll cut the head off that wears it to give it to her. She wants her brother? He'll brave all that oppose them to bring her to him. He will give his last breath for her and fight his way back to the land of the living to protect her anew. He is the type of man that book boyfriends everywhere aspire to be.

Writing:

The author of this series has always been a household favorite of mine. She doesn't rush her writing or go so slow that it drags. She introduces sex, love, danger, and fantasy into this perfect symphony of literature that should be respected to the highest regard. How anyone could read any of her books and say she does anything but weave tales of fantastical wonder through her verbiage and style is beyond me.

Overall:

I feel like at the rate I am devouring this series all of the books will slowly bleed together until I have no idea where one will end and one will end. I can't get enough of the books. This installment was Casteel and Poppy finding their connection through all the reasons they shouldn't. They start to learn to trust each other as they slowly start to accept that they are going to be pivotal parts in the war that is brewing. I am anxious to read the next book and see where the couple goes and solve some of the mysteries that the author has placed upon her characters.

 

Review: The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

Series: The Wolf King #1

Publication date: November 25th, 2025

Pages: 496

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

When a princess is kidnapped by an alpha, war rages between the humans and the wolves. But soon, forbidden attraction starts to grow... 

Princess Aurora longs to escape the castle and the marriage that has been arranged for her.

But on the night before her wedding, at a dog fight where captured werewolves are made to fight for sport, she spares the life of a young wolf. It puts her on the radar of the powerful alpha who was going to kill him. And it changes everything.

That night, when the alpha escapes, he kidnaps her and takes her to the rugged lands north of the border--where the once warring werewolf clans are beginning to unite. He thinks that she is the key to winning the war against the humans.

Only, as they spend time around one another, forbidden attraction starts to grow. And as Aurora learns that not all wolves are bad, the alpha discovers that she is in danger from both his enemies, and those he once considered friends.

With monsters on both sides, a bloodthirsty war between humans and wolves raging, and undeniable passion growing between them--will their story end in love? Or tragedy?

And will Aurora ever get home?

Does she even want to?

Available at:

Story:

The thing I love about romantasy reads is that the worlds are always so vastly different. Within Lauren Palphreyman's we encounter a society where the humans and werewolves are vying races who want to win control of the country they live on but who have been divided between the Northern wolves and the Southern humans. Both sides have their good people and utterly evil. However for me personally I find the humans much harsher than their wolf counterparts. They don't just kill warrior wolves they capture them and subject them to things called "dog fights" where they must fight each other to stay alive another day in their captivity. The story winds around the two main characters, one human, one wolf, and shows the differing societies in drastic imagery. The human world that is a mask of superiority and decorum who hide their brutality behind a prim accent and haughty indifference. The wolves with their feral nature who have to take care to not let their wolves lead them down the road into neanderthal territory. Watching both Aurora and Callum adjust to Aurora being in the land of the wolves captured by Callum to be traded for something his people need was an interesting dynamic. Can a wolf be tamed or a lady be truly free?

Characters:

• Aurora - I will admit it here and now, Aurora annoyed me to no end. She was so determined to not see any other side of things that she would intentionally put herself in situations that warranted her being rescued. Callum ran himself ragged trying to keep her safe while he figured out if he wanted to use her as a pawn for trade or if he had other feelings for her. All the while, Princess was too busy looking down her nose at all of the wolves to really appreciate her front row seat in how the other side lives. I will say that at least she fought back if she was challenged, but even then she still needed someone to finish the job for her. I think the author made her far too delicate for my liking but I am willing to see if she grows in the sequel book.

• Callum - Callum, while charming and protective, was a bit too golden retriever to be seen as an alpha wolf. When I think of someone in that role they are respected, admired and bowed before. People who plot against them do not see the light of the next day once they are discovered. But with Callum he has such wide-eyed wonder when someone stabs him in the back. He lets his feelings for Aurora cloud his judgment and he makes me want to rip out my hair. I want him to grow a back bone. He was too soft to be an alpha. He needs some attitude.

• Blake - Blake made me curious. He had this dark and mysterious energy about him that made me really confused as to whether he was an enemy or a potential third edge to a love triangle. In one breath he is protecting Aurora (because god forbid she fight for herself) and the next he is all but betraying her for his own agenda. He seems like one of those characters who is always 3 steps ahead of whoever he is plotting against and with the conclusion of this book, that is very apparent. I kind of had a soft spot for Blake though. He is morally gray in all ways but I kind of want him to lighten as Callum darkens to make the male leads much more balanced.

Writing:

I liked the way Lauren Palphreyman wrote her story. I think that she weaved it very well and it did keep me guessing as to what would happen next. If the characters were a bit more likeable then I would have absolutely nothing to complain about. I think that the way she makes her characters speak, combining a Scottish feel to the wolves while having the humans seem more British in nature, was something borrowed from books like Outlander. Not a bad choice, but one that has been seen before by me countless times. 

Overall:

I liked the story and the world building. I liked the idea of a war between humans and wolves with humans not being entirely outdone by the preternatural creatures. I would have liked more from the characters. Aurora needs some grit, Callum needs a backbone, and Blake needs some heart. Accomplishing those things would make this a 5-star read for me.