Well crap. I let this go a week or so before reviewing and I know I've lost details. Which is a bit of a shame, but I'll do my best to dig out what I Well crap. I let this go a week or so before reviewing and I know I've lost details. Which is a bit of a shame, but I'll do my best to dig out what I thought.
I liked both protagonists well-enough. There's a lot of wish fulfillment in both backgrounds, though not overwhelmingly so. Still, I'm not sure that any author, even with movie options on the line, is as rich as Whitney. At least, not solely from their writing. Gabriela as a trust-fund kid made more sense, and I love, more than a little, the support she has from her family. And I like how serious she is about her avocation and that she takes it seriously but is still able to be charmed by people she admires and respects.
Actually, Whitney bothered me a bit, though not so much her background as it was the actions excused by it. She's incredibly mean to Brie (Gabriela's most common nickname) on multiple occasions and there was a time or two where I wanted Brie to go find someone else to admire and attach to. And the worst one was after their first time together and it was devastatingly bad. Even if Brie had been the sort of person she suspected, that was way over the top.
Anyway, the plot holds together well-enough. I liked their collaboration on the movie set and I particularly liked how Brie found herself with an updated avocation and a new direction she wanted to explore. It was great seeing her blossom into more than she had let herself be and take on all the doubters, even those who loved and supported her in the past in her family. But then we have a dark moment and I lost the last of my respect for Whitney. And I'm not sure the eventual resolution works, either. I mean, the end rests on assuming that a lot of bad actions came from pure motives and I don't see how they can have.
Anyway, I'm going with 3½ stars that I'll round up on how much I fell for Brie. She's was charming and strong and I loved how she grew into herself in the end.
A note about Steamy: Among the details I lost are how many explicit sex scenes there were. I'm pretty sure it was the middle of my steam tolerance and that they fit the narrative through-line pretty well. Which is one reason that initial betrayal post first-time hurt so bad. As it should have...
Merged review:
Well crap. I let this go a week or so before reviewing and I know I've lost details. Which is a bit of a shame, but I'll do my best to dig out what I thought.
I liked both protagonists well-enough. There's a lot of wish fulfillment in both backgrounds, though not overwhelmingly so. Still, I'm not sure that any author, even with movie options on the line, is as rich as Whitney. At least, not solely from their writing. Gabriela as a trust-fund kid made more sense, and I love, more than a little, the support she has from her family. And I like how serious she is about her avocation and that she takes it seriously but is still able to be charmed by people she admires and respects.
Actually, Whitney bothered me a bit, though not so much her background as it was the actions excused by it. She's incredibly mean to Brie (Gabriela's most common nickname) on multiple occasions and there was a time or two where I wanted Brie to go find someone else to admire and attach to. And the worst one was after their first time together and it was devastatingly bad. Even if Brie had been the sort of person she suspected, that was way over the top.
Anyway, the plot holds together well-enough. I liked their collaboration on the movie set and I particularly liked how Brie found herself with an updated avocation and a new direction she wanted to explore. It was great seeing her blossom into more than she had let herself be and take on all the doubters, even those who loved and supported her in the past in her family. But then we have a dark moment and I lost the last of my respect for Whitney. And I'm not sure the eventual resolution works, either. I mean, the end rests on assuming that a lot of bad actions came from pure motives and I don't see how they can have.
Anyway, I'm going with 3½ stars that I'll round up on how much I fell for Brie. She's was charming and strong and I loved how she grew into herself in the end.
A note about Steamy: Among the details I lost are how many explicit sex scenes there were. I'm pretty sure it was the middle of my steam tolerance and that they fit the narrative through-line pretty well. Which is one reason that initial betrayal post first-time hurt so bad. As it should have......more
This is book five of a romping power fantasy in space. It builds character, plot, and other developments over time and this one picks up right where tThis is book five of a romping power fantasy in space. It builds character, plot, and other developments over time and this one picks up right where the last left off. Read in order.
You know what you are getting. You get lots of it. This felt a little placeholdy as there aren't any major developments that disrupt Eve's plans. Which I enjoyed quite a lot because I like Eve and her harem/friends. And by now, that should be pretty much an expectation so there's that.
So this is five stars for delivering the story I expected with characters I love spending time with. If you made it this far in the series, I suspect you'll feel the same.
A note about Chaste: There are definitely sexual shenanigans going on. Including with Eve and her friends. But we only have affection and general banter on-page so this is fairly chaste....more
This was an engaging isekai LitRPG story. Nathan is a student nearing completion of his PhD and is pulled into a fantasy LitRPG world by a psychopath This was an engaging isekai LitRPG story. Nathan is a student nearing completion of his PhD and is pulled into a fantasy LitRPG world by a psychopath who wants his science knowledge to take over the world. Nathan isn't interested in helping a bunch of slavers conquer the world and does a runner aided by the antimagic he entered the world with.
Nathan bemoans the fact that he is denied magic because who doesn't want to sling fireballs and mess with the very elements if you have the chance? But needs must so he does the best with the hand dealt him. And I found that deeply engaging. I'm not sure I buy how his knowledge of biochemistry gives him really cool powers as a result of the "insights", but I'll roll with it in the "grant the premise" way I try to give my fiction. I did like how he utilized his insights to help others and maybe push for some much needed social change (even the anti-slavers have some quirks that could use a bit of reform).
And I liked the team he eventually joined at the Adventurer's Guild and their various shenanigans. They did a good job rounding out my interest and giving Nathan some competent teammates to bounce off of.
The bad guy in the Adventurer's guild was a bit of a moustache twirler and that bugged me a bit. And that got worse when a second moustache twirler shows up to Snidely up the place at the end. But not enough to take this down from rounding up to five stars. A strong pace, interesting worldbuilding, and a main character I engaged with made a story I didn't want to put down and immediately moved on to the story on Royal Road.
A note about Chaste: Nathan is a confident bisexual who is very appreciative of those around him, regardless of gender. There are even hints of interest "in that way". But nothing materializes on the sexual front at all, possibly because his teammates are a decade and more younger and he doesn't feel they are peers on the maturity axis, possibly because he has enough on his plate to deal with and doesn't need the complications, but just maaaybe because the author didn't actually want to deal with sex as an additional complication in the story. At any rate, this is pretty chaste....more
This isn't really in a series, but it features a cameo from the main characters of Paper Love. You could read that first if you wish but you don't havThis isn't really in a series, but it features a cameo from the main characters of Paper Love. You could read that first if you wish but you don't have to.
This was the perfect length for this story—i.e. very short. Caroline and Lena are a good match and both were immediately sympathetic. Since neither had any real conflict keeping them apart, things progress naturally and quickly. Plus, Lena's cat Scully was hugely fun. I don't buy the persistence with stealing from Caroline to give "gifts" to Lena, but roll with that and it all fits extremely well.
And I don't have more to say. Perfect length. Good holiday rep. And inviting characters. Five stars and a lovely, engaging romance.
A note about Chaste: Jae pulls the shades just as they decide to be a thing. So all we get is a very lovely kiss and then the epilogue. This was also pretty perfect.
A note about temptation: This review has three whole perfects and I resisted the impulse to use purrfect every. single. time. You're welcome or I'm sorry depending on your personal taste....more
At a third in, I stopped caring. Okay, that's a lie. I never really started. The grief in this is overwhelming with Hazel still hurting a year after hAt a third in, I stopped caring. Okay, that's a lie. I never really started. The grief in this is overwhelming with Hazel still hurting a year after her fiancé died. Which isn't unreasonable! It just hangs like a pall over this so-called romance and made it hard for me to engage with her because everything about her is artificial (as an "influencer" despite her mourning) and stressful.
And Quinn is just as bad! Sorry, another lie. Quinn is worse. Her best friend died and her other best friend is in mourning and she has left Hazel high and dry for a year, dodging calls, texts, and even visits, without explanation or apology. I've been waiting for one or both because that's a really crappy thing to do to someone you supposedly love. I need an answer to what she is thinking because without it, she's just a monster.
So I couldn't engage with either and every time they do a flirt thing I want to smack them both. I don't care about anything until you have the conversation! I'm sure the authors were counting on the mystery to hold interest but for me, at least, it was the opposite. By the time they were snowed in and had nothing but talking to do and they were both still avoiding anything real I had had enough. This is painfully obtuse. The situation should have been interesting, but the authors were so busy giving me nothing that I finally decided that's what they deserve in turn. Only I can't give zero stars, so one it is....more
This is a short, easy holiday romance that delivered on its premise. Evan is over her crush on her best friend and just happy that she's coming back tThis is a short, easy holiday romance that delivered on its premise. Evan is over her crush on her best friend and just happy that she's coming back to Toronto so they can reconnect. Clara is looking forward to her new job now that she has graduated and isn't looking for love and is bowled out to find it.
I love how well the author handled Clara's discovery that she's not so much straight as demisexual. She hasn't ever prioritized romance because nobody has taken the time with her before. So while she is surprised with discovering an attraction for her best friend, she's quick to put it together and we don't get any of the denial you get in romances sometimes to heighten tension. Indeed, their romance flows with just enough tension to buy their devotion and eventual intimacy.
I like the team they become and was fully engaged with them both separate and together. Their patience with each others' quirks (Clara has ADHD and Even is on the spectrum) and working together to figure out how to communicate and support one another was a fun ride to be along for. And I don't have much else to say. I don't generally go in for romance novellas because they tend to short-shrift the relationship. A best friends to lovers alleviates that, somewhat, because much of the compatibility and familiarity has happened pre-story. Bonam-Young is good enough to bring that forward and make it present enough that I wasn't chafing for more.
Things are a little too easy to call this an outright five stars, but I'm having trouble finding things to complain about. So five stars it is, but with the note that it's a simple story, without a lot of drama or angst. Sometimes, as in this case for me, that's a good thing.
A note about Steamy: There are three or four explicit sex scenes edging into the high side of my middle steam tolerance because it's such a short work already. I think the author did a good job making those scenes integral to the story and I didn't feel they were as gratuitous as romance sex often is. Or maybe I just liked the characters and their joy in discovery of each other?...more
This is third in a romance series that's only loosely connected. You don't need to read them in order.
This was a very lovely romance with two women frThis is third in a romance series that's only loosely connected. You don't need to read them in order.
This was a very lovely romance with two women from very different worlds. Having a successful actress as one of the main characters is an invitation to wish-fulfillment but I didn't get that feeling in this one. Maybe because Piper had so much more going on with her than a successful acting career?
Indeed, Piper is a bit of a mess with panic attacks that have made her a hermit for a while. I liked how this invited the caring side of Chloe without making their interactions all about Piper. This is really well done because you can see how engaged they both are with each other pretty much from the jump. And while they didn't make the UHaul joke, they did kind of live it. I mean, Piper invites Chloe to move into her rental their second meeting and that's fast even if they're only on a weekend vacation in the same place.
And from there the story becomes about how they're going to fit two very different lifestyles together. I actually liked seeing them confront those tough realities. They connected fast, but that left a lot of conflict for them to work out together due to their differing life situations.
I do wish that Lacey had better established (view spoiler)[Chloe's motivations and goals. I feel like there should have been more uncertainty in her settle-down-in-nowhere plans for them to be tossed aside in the end so suddenly. There was too much absolute and no hint that she was taking those plans on externally until she had the mom-talk that revealed it to be the case. I was looking for those hints because something had to give for them to be together. And they just weren't there. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, this was 4½ stars that I'm rounding up because I just liked both main characters so much. Both individually and together. I liked their care for one another and that they were determined to make it work despite serious obstacles in the way.
A note about Steamy: There are a couple of explicit sex scenes putting this in the low end of my steam tolerance. There's some minor playing around after the intimacy is established, but Lacey mostly skims later events. And I think that was pretty perfect....more
This isn't marked in any way, but it's definitely a companion book to Down to a Science. Not only is Ellie a significant part of this book, but you leThis isn't marked in any way, but it's definitely a companion book to Down to a Science. Not only is Ellie a significant part of this book, but you learn about Riley and Gianna in that book. Including a key reveal, spoiler even, that is central to this story. I recommend reading that first, but if you want to experience this one completely unspoiled, don't.
So this was fantastic as a friends to lovers story. Gianna and Riley have been best friends for a decade. They obviously love and respect one another and since Gianna is a tactile person, their friendship includes lots of care and non-intimate touching. I loved seeing them interact throughout the story as an example of a mutually supporting friendship.
And the central problem with friends to lovers (i.e. why haven't they gotten together yet?) makes perfect sense when Riley has always been straight as far as anyone (including herself) knew. Cass does a fantastic job depicting an awakening attraction and I bought into it completely. So I was unreservedly engaged with Riley and Gianna as they discover each other in a romantic way.
Cass does an interesting thing in the story where we get Riley's PoV in the present and then a few rare chapters in their past from Gianna's perspective. This lets us see the origin of their friendship and why it is so important to Gianna because we see her raw need and how Riley was core to her maturing into the fantastic person she is in the present.
And I'm not sure how much of a spoiler it is (view spoiler)[that Gianna fell in love with Riley ten years ago, but I twigged to it pretty quick, even though we don't see it until near the end of those flashback chapters. It was the only reason a talented author like Cass would be taking the time with those scenes while changing the PoV. So even though it is revealed in Down to a Science outright, it's hinted strongly enough to layer the story with meaning throughout (hide spoiler)]. But I loved figuring it out early and seeing it unfold in the story.
There's a bit of a slow-down towards the late middle as Riley is in a spin about how their friendship might be over. And I'll admit that I didn't much care for Riley's professional issues with the BostonNow storyline. But those are very minor frictions in a solid five star story. So I'm happy to give it all the stars.
A note about Steamy: Cass has a really light hand with the steam. We get most of their first time and edges of steam in a few other cases. So this is on the low end of my steam tolerance and frankly, I think it was perfectly done....more
This was an excellent wish-fulfillment celebrity romance with some great characters. I liked both Beatrice and Sydney from the start and seeing them gThis was an excellent wish-fulfillment celebrity romance with some great characters. I liked both Beatrice and Sydney from the start and seeing them get to know and trust each other was fantastic. Beatrice, in particular, had my sympathy for being so isolated and lonely but unable to figure out how to break the destructive patterns she had developed (and when (view spoiler)[we see how she has been undermined by people she trusted (hide spoiler)] it just broke my heart).
Plus, I really liked Sydney's calm patience and ability to establish boundaries even while serving in someone's personal space. And working on their joint project was an interesting twist on the PA relationship that allowed breaking down some barriers in unique ways.
I do think that both protagonists read years younger than their stated ages and wish the author had worked those numbers down a bit. Beatrice just didn't feel fifty and while I buy Sydney as mid-thirties lopping a few years off that wouldn't have hurt any important story elements, either.
Add that Beatrice's kid, Alex, was a bit too perfect (after initial difficulties) and, indeed, the story intersection with her ex, Sam, ran a little too ideal and I think this is a comfortable four stars.
A note about Steamy: There are a couple of explicit sex scenes that barely hold onto the lower end of my steam tolerance. They're a little formulaic, I thought, though I have a hard time pinning down why I thought so.
Merged review:
This was an excellent wish-fulfillment celebrity romance with some great characters. I liked both Beatrice and Sydney from the start and seeing them get to know and trust each other was fantastic. Beatrice, in particular, had my sympathy for being so isolated and lonely but unable to figure out how to break the destructive patterns she had developed (and when (view spoiler)[we see how she has been undermined by people she trusted (hide spoiler)] it just broke my heart).
Plus, I really liked Sydney's calm patience and ability to establish boundaries even while serving in someone's personal space. And working on their joint project was an interesting twist on the PA relationship that allowed breaking down some barriers in unique ways.
I do think that both protagonists read years younger than their stated ages and wish the author had worked those numbers down a bit. Beatrice just didn't feel fifty and while I buy Sydney as mid-thirties lopping a few years off that wouldn't have hurt any important story elements, either.
Add that Beatrice's kid, Alex, was a bit too perfect (after initial difficulties) and, indeed, the story intersection with her ex, Sam, ran a little too ideal and I think this is a comfortable four stars.
A note about Steamy: There are a couple of explicit sex scenes that barely hold onto the lower end of my steam tolerance. They're a little formulaic, I thought, though I have a hard time pinning down why I thought so....more
This is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, but in more a chronological sense than a literary one. There's an epilogue payoff at the end that presupposes yThis is a prequel to Legends & Lattes, but in more a chronological sense than a literary one. There's an epilogue payoff at the end that presupposes you've read the other book first and I'd recommend going in that order (i.e. read this second). But you don't have to.
It was interesting seeing the young Viv and her screw-up that benches her to have an adventure in the seaside village of Murk. Many of her core attributes of friendly kindness are present and seeing her find friends and engage with them was interesting. And not least because she only intends to be in town until her mercenary company catches up with her.
If you've read the other story first, then you know how well the author does with putting heart into the relationships and building those human connections and that's fully on display here. Viv knows she is only temporary and that parting will be painful the more she gets involved with those around her. And yet get involved she does, accepting the eventual pain as worthwhile for the friends she is making in this faraway town.
This was already a solid five stars, so I can't say the epilogue bumps it up any, even though I want to. It fit perfectly and was exactly what it needed to be to tie this to the original. So very well done. I don't know if Baldree has any more books in him (he says he struggled with this one), but I'm going to say I'm interested if he does because so far, he's two for two and that's quite an achievement for a new author.
A note about Chaste: Viv develops a romantic relationship and there's a hint that it may be physically intimate. But only a hint. We only get some affection and minor kissing on-page so this is very chaste....more
I don't know what to say about this story. It's a decent-enough romance and Garland and Stevie are sweet together. But so much of the worldbuilding inI don't know what to say about this story. It's a decent-enough romance and Garland and Stevie are sweet together. But so much of the worldbuilding in this little fantasy is shallow and tropey.
Okay, I called it a fantasy when it's a contemporary romance and frankly, I'm calling names doing so. The problem is that much of the instigating action derives from a vision Garland has that comes completely out of the blue and causes a bucket of bad assumptions and dumb conflict and is never questioned as being true (and is, indeed, proven so in the end). And the book practically has its own cosmology made up of platitudes being passed off as profound wisdom. All set in Camp Gay where nature meets the rainbow with nary a bigot or mosquito (but I repeat myself?) to be found.
Offsetting that, somewhat, is that Garland's gay epiphany rang true (even if it said uncomplimentary things about her, things she legitimately needed to grow out of. And did) and, as I said, the romance worked fairly well. So I struggle with how to present this review. On the one hand, it's nearly comically shallow in its most earnest attempts at the profound. On the other, I liked the characters and was invested in their relationship coming together.
I think I'll just say I was entertained three-stars worth and leave it at that. I honestly don't know if I'm interested in anything else by the author, but I probably would at least investigate it to see if I want to give it a try.
A note about Steamy: I was listening to this on an airplane and I'm almost certain there was an explicit sex scene and the words "teach me" were spoken by our baby gay. So it's steamy, but on the very lowest of my steam tolerance as I honestly can't say if this scene worked or not because I just wasn't paying attention at that point. Take that how you will, I suppose....more
This is fourth in an ongoing sci-fi series that builds characters, plot and other story devices over time. Read them in order.
You know what you're getThis is fourth in an ongoing sci-fi series that builds characters, plot and other story devices over time. Read them in order.
You know what you're getting with this one. Still over-the-top power fantasy in a sci-fi setting with all the things we have come to expect.
This one culminates a ton of ongoing plots by the end. Enough so that I wonder if Medrano will actually continue the series after all. An afterword seems to indicate so, but I have doubts as there's not a lot more to drive a story. I mean, (view spoiler)[Evelyn finds her parents and rescues them, the angel gets her wings, the kidnappings plot is taken care of, heck, Evelyn has taken out an entire universe(hide spoiler)]. There's just not a lot left she can do. And I'm good with that.
I'm giving this four stars, mostly because I had to just go along for a big part of the last quarter or so. A lot of events just happened to fall right to allow them to progress while lining up the conflicts in exactly the right order. Like, there's no way we should have expected (view spoiler)[cooperation from the alien to infiltrate their own plans and species (hide spoiler)]. It felt like a lot of special pleading that I had to just roll with. Not that it wasn't entertaining, but it wasn't enough to clench the fifth star rating.
A note about Steamy/Chaste: There's still the harem and those relationships are actually quite endearing. We get some lead-up to intimacy and sex, but nothing really explicit enough that I'd consider it steamy. And it's enough I can't justify calling it chaste. So neither tag applies on this one....more
This is a straight-forward wish-fulfillment fantasy with two music celebrities finding each other. I liked both protagonists right from the start. EdeThis is a straight-forward wish-fulfillment fantasy with two music celebrities finding each other. I liked both protagonists right from the start. Eden struggling to find herself after her life kind of collapsed and her career seeming to stall. And Anna getting the chance of a lifetime to meet, and work with, someone who inspired her career and has been where she wants to go.
One of the things I liked best is that this didn’t lean into the competitive thing that might have dominated the story. Eden has respect for Anna from the start, even if a little envy tinges at the edges. But she doesn’t let that envy roll over Anna and maintains a clear-enough way forward in collaborating with her. And I like Anna’s energy and certainty. She’s grateful for the chance, but she digs in and works hard to make it worth both their time and effort.
And I liked how well Lacey handled Eden’s discovery of her sexuality. I felt like it was well-supported how she got where she is without exploring that side of herself. And I particularly liked the sense of wonder that went along with that aspect of the story. And how that flipped the mentor dynamic with Anna who is very sure of herself and patient with Eden’s hesitations and questions.
Although, come to that, Anna’s responses were a little textbook in that regard, I felt. Like she had the perfect script for supporting someone unsure who trusts you with her internal struggles. I dunno. Maybe a little too much “I’m glad you found your true self” when maybe a little hesitation would have felt more natural? Also, it bordered on condescension a bit, maybe?
Anyway, the dark moment made enough sense that I was along for the resolution and I loved how a few mature conversations got all the things out they needed to for me to feel confident that they’ll make a strong couple going forward. This was a solid four-star read and I’m glad it worked out so well.
A note about Steamy: There are a couple of explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. They’re long and carry the burden of both intimacy and discovery (for Eden) and I thought the author hit the right notes on the couple times she chose to include on the page....more
I like powerful women so a power-fantasy with a Mary Sue isn't a bad fit. Bear that in mind if you want to adjust this review accordingly. And yes, IlI like powerful women so a power-fantasy with a Mary Sue isn't a bad fit. Bear that in mind if you want to adjust this review accordingly. And yes, Ilea is totally a Mary Sue, though on the lighter side of the trope; she's not universally beloved and her romantic life is pretty barren (with a couple outright rejections, though not harshly) but she ends up with a lot of friends wherever she goes and that's a little too fortuitous.
I should also mention that the title is more than a little misleading. Ilea's defining characteristic is that she likes punching things. A lot. Her "class" is named Azarinth Healer, but really, she's a close-combat fighter with some overpowered healing skills. She gets the class through a fortuitous encounter and ends up with this lost art that once dominated the land (see overpowered). And then she goes about butt-kicking for goodness.
It's clear that this was written serially as it's very much beads-on-a-string plot-wise. Ilea hares off on one pursuit after another always looking for the next challenge where she can punch things. For once, I didn't mind this at all. Probably because I liked spending time with her. She's quirky and engaging and doesn't hesitate to do hard things.
The story ends a bit abruptly, though without anything important left in the air. This was kind of inevitable because there just isn't (yet?) an overarching bad guy that we care about. Okay, the elves are scary psychopaths but they're contained (so far?) to their forest redoubts and completely disorganized so only a periodic and singular threat for the most part. I'm going to give this four stars for the adventure with someone I enjoyed. Oh, and significantly better editing than I've become used to with LitRPG stories.
A note about Chaste: Ilea has two "romantic" partners, okay, fine, they're hook-ups. But we don't get in on any of the sexy times. There's enough on the way to the fun times that chaste is a close call. I didn't find it racy, but you could easily vary on that. I was interested that her bisexuality was so matter-of-factly given as simply the way she is and without apology or overthought....more
Greetings citizen. As a peaceful and organised immersion into the Galactic Council has been declined (extensively and painfully we might add), your
Greetings citizen. As a peaceful and organised immersion into the Galactic Council has been declined (extensively and painfully we might add), your world has been declared a Dungeon World. Thank you. We were getting bored with the 12 that we had previously. ... As a new Dungeon World, your planet has been designated a free-immigration location. Undeveloped worlds in the Galactic Council may take advantage of this new immigration policy. Please try not to greet all new visitors the same way as you did our Emissary, you humans could do with some friends.
This starts a new system integration in the LitRPG fashion with John left deep in the Yukon (high north Canada) in a place he soon learns is designated for level 100+ creatures. This gives him some perks to compensate the really poor luck with long-lasting consequences. And I'll admit that the humor of that first notice carried me through a good bit of the start of this story.
And I liked John, mostly. He's a bit of a loner and prone to rash actions, but his heart is in the right place (mostly. I'll get to that). Fortunately, he spends his first perk on getting a spirit guide and that ends up being his best choice ever, even if Ali is a bit willful with ideas of his own. For a good chunk, they're pretty much on their own and the author does a good job making that exciting while still including key character moments during the seamless exposition.
And I liked the companions he finds and friendships he makes. It get's a bit wobbly once they get to a town, but even that was interesting. Humans being humans is a huge mess but at least Wong made it an interesting one for John to deal with—mainly because John was powerful enough that he could opt out if it got too much.
I was also interested to have an explicitly bisexual main character. He's not terribly tempted by the dark elf lord he meets, but it gives some flavor to his interactions there and in having his two main interests/temptations be opposite genders.
On the other hand, John gets in his own way enough near the end to be frustrating. He has anger and insecurity issues left over from his family and relationship history (including a girlfriend who is present in town) and this is exacerbated by having the System yoink all control over their lives away from them and forcing them to fight to live. I could even empathize with his anger to a large degree. I didn't feel it was unreasonable and I was right there with him in his bad choices. I wasn't so much with him in the aftermath where he lets himself become isolated from others he cares about, though.
On the other other hand, he squanders an oodle of loot on a mecha motorcycle named Sabre and big laser rifle. I'm going to give one extra star just for adding that to the power fantasy.
Okay, seriously, this comes in at four stars. The poor me, angry boy schtick didn't go over very well with me, but there's enough there to keep me into the next story. I do hope John gets over himself soon, though.
A note about Chaste: John is pretty messed up, but he does get himself some. Unfortunately, not with either of the ones he could have a long-term relationship with. Which is why he chose her. Fortunately, the details were completely unimportant and Wong chose to not give them. Good choice. It makes this pretty chaste, though you could quibble if you like....more
This is really short, but it didn't really need to be that long. Aurora has been pining over her best friend's sister since pretty much forever. And IThis is really short, but it didn't really need to be that long. Aurora has been pining over her best friend's sister since pretty much forever. And I can see why. Lyla is sweet and kind and takes Aurora's little aggressions in stride and without anger.
The setup is a bit forced (Aurora being locked out of her home for a weekend has no better refuge than next door) and Aurora is a bit rote in her insistence that she just can't be with Lyla because it would jeopardize her friendship—an obviously untested hypothesis and it's no surprise when it turns out her best friend isn't actually an unfeeling monster.
Still, I was pretty engaged with this throughout. Let's call it four stars for characters I was truly rooting for, even if the setup was a bit pat.
A note about Steamy: There's a single explicit sex scene putting this short story in the middle of my steam tolerance. It was about right and exactly what it needed to be....more
This is second in a LitRPG series that picks up right where it left off in the first. I definitely recommend reading in order.
It takes a while before This is second in a LitRPG series that picks up right where it left off in the first. I definitely recommend reading in order.
It takes a while before the blurb things happen. Like, a quarter or so. Which isn't too long for blurb things, I don't think, but I was eagerly anticipating so it felt like longer to me. Still, I found the eventual events fascinating so I was completely engaged with the story.
I was surprised how not-like-my-expectations the blurb turned out while still being completely accurate. Talyn and Melody end up separated for lots of this story for reasons that make total sense. And I was totally good with that, too, which surprised me. I liked the chance for Melody to carry on with their goals and the stress that impelled her to branch out and get creative. And I liked Talyn's patience and good sense in who not to mouth off to. And I really liked the way things change with what Talyn learns and how she has changed when she is once again free. The world changes and I think Medrano did a great job thinking through the consequences and subsequent (complicated) events.
So this is another five stars, though again, there's a lot of minutia of living life in a gamified world. And I particularly loved developments with Melody and Talyn's relationship as they discover love and acceptance along with the trust that has always been there.
A note about Steamy: While they're apart for a lot of the story, I loved seeing their close moments. There's one scene that carries enough explicit content to count as steamy, I think, but I liked the "merely" intimate moments even more....more
So I'm still in a mood and Medrano still has the key to it. This was interesting as it is explicitly LitRPG*. It isn't explicitly Isekai**, though I'vSo I'm still in a mood and Medrano still has the key to it. This was interesting as it is explicitly LitRPG*. It isn't explicitly Isekai**, though I've noticed a lot of LitRPG fits (this story certainly fits, I think), if only because the portal transition gives excuse for all the relevant exposition. Marie/Talyn is a bit unique for the genre (both of them) for coming from a world that is very much like Shadowrun with fantasy races, magic, and cybernetics all thrown into a pot and set to boil. We start with her senseless death in that semi-fantasy world and meeting her celestial mediator. Who offers her a deal.
And I liked Marie and Melody's interactions from the start. Melody is compassionate, but straightforward, telling Marie how it is with no varnish on it. She also acts as an advocate for Marie from the start, helping her find options that would appeal to her. And I kind of like Melody asking to come along for the ride as Marie's companion (for a holiday from the Celestial Bureaucracy—because who wouldn't want a holiday from that job?).
So Talyn enters a world that has a creator who has odd ideas for how the world should run. Like, for example, there's a "system" in place that gives an interface for people to view their current status. Which includes class and skill selection options as they "level up". So all the people in the world are conscious of skill and class and levels and terms like power leveling and dungeon delving are actually current in every-day life. And things like level 0 onion monsters (biting your ankles) can pop up on a trail out of nowhere and the discussion is about how it sucks when they're higher level and have gas attacks rather than "what the heck is an onion doing biting my ankles?!?"
So Talyn enters play with her companion Melody and they stumble around looking for level opportunities and ways to be challenged without dying; because Talyn/Marie only gets one shot at this thing and when she dies, she goes back to the afterlife she was originally slated for. So permadeath, which I hate in a game, but kind of prefer in my stories. With this setup, the story is a lot of life-living events, though there is an overarching plot. I enjoyed all the discussions of things like "where will we live" and "what are our goals" and "who is trustworthy". But then, I'm a game system nerd and like reading game manuals for RPGs.
I'm going to give this five stars because it was engaging for what it is and it's a quality entry for that sub-sub genre. I liked both main characters and the friends that they found and the world Medrano has established. I particularly like how he's thought through some of the social consequences of having explicit and measurable leveling and skills in a world.
A note about Steamy: Talyn is a succubus, though not very adventurous on the sex side of things. But there's a scene with a courtesans (a character class because why not?) that has enough detail to trigger the steam tag. But only just barely. I particularly like the hints of developing trust with Melody and that there may one day be more there.
* LitRPG is a subgenre of GameLit and I'm not going to distinguish them except to say that LitRPG has an expectation that the players can interact with an interface that gives them information and allows selections and other game-like things. It's a growing genre for a certain flavor of nerd and has the limitations you get with a very small niche while it grows. I'm seeing some quality stories there, but most of it not so much.
** Isekai is portal fantasy that is often LitRPG as well. They don't have to be the same, but they are often in the same space. Isekai tends to have people sucked into a game world where they become players/avatars and that's a natural fit for GameLit in general and LitRPG in particular. I've seen people use all three terms interchangeably. Which makes sense as they're pretty interrelated. And to be honest, I'm not terribly certain any of my definitions hold up to scrutiny and all, so bear that in mind if you're taking my little synopsis here as gospel....more
This is third in a series and events in previous books are extremely important to this one. Read in order.
You know mostly what you're getting with thiThis is third in a series and events in previous books are extremely important to this one. Read in order.
You know mostly what you're getting with this one. Sort of. There's more politics as Talyn has gained some high-profile attention and that has painted a target on her back for many. She's fortunate to have some high-level protection from her experiences as well, so there are lots of moving parts and room for some fun developments.
It's a good story and I like the developments, not least leaning into Talyn's kind heart that accompanies her cold pessimism. She doesn't expect much from others, but that doesn't mean she won't be as nice as they'll let her be. I particularly liked movement on the relationship front, though this is the book the harem aspect hinted at before starts to take effect. It shouldn't be a surprise with Talyn being a succubus, and I think Medrano does a good job making it at least interesting.
I think I'll stop there. It's a solid five stars with a great pace, interesting story, and characters I have enjoyed since the start.
A note about Chaste: For all the harem coalesces, the sex is behind closed doors. Intimacy is clear. We get some kissing. And a bit of innuendo and cross-talk. But there's nothing actually sexually explicit. It's a tough call, but I think it fits the chaste tag. But only barely and there's lots of wiggle room for disagreement....more
Loading...
