**I received an ARC from a giveaway (thank you, St. Martin’s Press!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
While I hadn’t read this author’s previous books before, I was intrigued by this one because people I trust really liked it. Since I won it in a giveaway, I decided to pick it up one day, and I’m glad I did! Float Plan is a story of grief and of healing, one that puts you back together.
After her fiancé Ben died by suicide almost a year ago, Anna has been living in grief, unable to cope. One day, a notification on her phone pops up, reminding her of the trip she was going to take with her fiancé. She sets off on their sailboat to the Bahamas but quickly realizes that she cannot sail by herself, so she hires Keane, a professional sailor. As they travel through the Caribbean, they grow closer as they both slowly heal from their pain.
I really liked the writing in this book! In order to be as accurate as possible, every aspect of sailing is described, but it was never tedious. Instead, it shows the meticulousness of the journey Anna and Keane are on, so I found it cool to read all of the small parts of sailing and docking.
The characters were great. Anna is persevering; despite the many obstacles in her path, she always decides to keep going. Her character arc is powerful, as she struggles with her feelings of grief and pain but ultimately realizes that she can move on without forgetting Ben. I also liked how thoughtful Keane was; he gives her plenty of space when she needs it.
The romance was sweet as well. It’s a bit of a slow burn (although I might have preferred it a little slower, but that’s just me) between Anna and Keane. They are friends first and, over time, grow closer.
Float Plan is a journey of healing, set against the backdrop of a trip throughout the Caribbean. It was intriguing reading about sailing, and I really liked the characters. If you like slower romances, I definitely recommend this one!
original review:
I really enjoyed this actually! just some things were lacking to me...more
read this for the class I'm taking! no rating because it feels strange to rate a biography; that being said, I enjoyed reading thisread this for the class I'm taking! no rating because it feels strange to rate a biography; that being said, I enjoyed reading this...more
rep: ownvoices Filipino protagonists, characters, and setting
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
She was not flirting and this certainly was not a courtship. She was engaged in a prank war, she was a few minutes away from winning.
This book caught my eye because of the rival neighbors plot line. I’ve also read and enjoyed a lot of #romanceclass novels, so I was excited to read this on! Set in the Philippines, Sweet on You was a sweet holiday read.
Sari runs a coffee shop and helps run a coffee company with her two sisters. When Gabriel and his bakery move in next door, they instantly form a lighthearted rivalry that evolves into a prank war. However, pranks soon give way to genuine flirting.
I really liked the characters! Sari and Gabriel have their own worries and plot lines outside of their pending romance. They both have such great character arcs. I particularly liked how they both have somewhat complex yet close family relationships, particularly with their siblings. There were a couple of other side characters who egg Sari and Gabriel on, which added a lot of humor.
The romance was also so cute. I liked following Sari and Gabriel’s prank war and seeing how compatible they are. Their dynamic was really great!
This book is ownvoices for Filipino rep, and it’s set in the Philippines during Christmastime. I enjoyed reading about the different traditions that take place around this time. It added a warmth to the story on top of the already sweet romance.
Sweet on You was an adorable read with an amazing cast of characters. The romance was sweet, and you’ll be left with your mouth watering after reading the descriptions of all the coffee and baked goods. If you enjoy holiday and/or rivals-to-lovers romances, you should definitely check out Sweet on You!
rep: ownvoices Afro-Dominican-American protagonist, gay Afro-Dominican-American side character, Trinidadian love interest, Latinx side charac3.5 stars
rep: ownvoices Afro-Dominican-American protagonist, gay Afro-Dominican-American side character, Trinidadian love interest, Latinx side characters...more
rep: ownvoices gay Mexican-Cuban-American trans boy protagonist, gay Colombian-American love interest, Cuban-Haitian-American side character,4.5 stars
rep: ownvoices gay Mexican-Cuban-American trans boy protagonist, gay Colombian-American love interest, Cuban-Haitian-American side character, Cuban-American side characters, lesbian side character, trans girl side character cw: deadnaming (name not on page), misgendering, transphobia, mentions of death of a parent (mother)
I love my kids Yadriel and Julian and Maritza!!...more
rep: ownvoices Nigerian-inspired setting and characters; various cultures represented (African, Korean, Indian, etc.); biromantic asexual si4.25 stars
rep: ownvoices Nigerian-inspired setting and characters; various cultures represented (African, Korean, Indian, etc.); biromantic asexual side character cw: child abuse (neglect), mentions of parental abuse (physical)
this was a Lot and I really enjoyed it! might write a review soon if I have time but I definitely recommend this because of:
- a protagonist you'll root for: characters that only want to be loved always resonate deeply with me, and that includes Tarasai! her desire for her mother's love is so strong - wonderful worldbuilding! Ifueko pulls from so many nations to represent different cultures; I also really loved the magical aspects, particularly the mythology behind being a Raybearer - amazing characters + dynamics: Tarasai is not the only character who craves love and family, and I love them all...more
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley for this blog tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compread on my blog
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley for this blog tour. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Robin Goodfellow. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.
I really enjoyed The Iron Fey series way back when, so I was excited to hear that there would be a new book set in this world! I will say that I remembered very little of the original series and never fully read the other spin-off series, but I could still follow this book well enough. The Iron Raven follows Puck as he faces a new threat to Faery with old and new friends alike.
When Puck runs into Kierran at the Goblin Market, he doesn’t expect to get roped into fighting a mysterious monster. He also meets Kierran’s right-hand, Nyx. After Grimalkin informs them that this monster holds an even deeper threat than they anticipated, Puck and Nyx travel to the Iron Court to warn Meghan and Ash.
It was fun returning to this world and to these characters. While I was more on Team Ash, I still liked seeing Puck finally get to tell his story. We get flashbacks to scenes from his point-of-view that we’ve never gotten before, such as when he met Oberon and Ash.
After confronting the monster, Puck regresses to a form of himself that he hasn’t seen in much some time: cruel and quick to anger. It’s interesting seeing this side to him, especially around people who know him well. Nyx was the only prominent new character; actually, again, I didn’t read the other spin-off series in this world so I’m not sure if she appears there.
I felt like this book was comparable to the novellas that I’ve read in the original series where something happens plot-wise but not much characterization-wise. Even then, not much happens plot-wise, but that might be because this book is the first in a new series and builds up to the next books. I wish that we had more characterization than the action scenes, but we’ll see in the future books!
The Iron Raven was a thrilling return to the Iron Fey world. It was interesting finally having Puck’s point-of-view and seeing how he got to where he is today. If you liked the original series, I think you’ll enjoy this book!
original review:
mmmm this felt like one of the novellas where stuff happens (I guess??) but there’s little to no characterization...more
rep: wlw side character cw: emotional abuse, physical abuse, suicide
I understand why everyone’s so fascinated with this book (I too was fascin3.5 stars
rep: wlw side character cw: emotional abuse, physical abuse, suicide
I understand why everyone’s so fascinated with this book (I too was fascinated) but I also felt so detached from the characters for most of the book, probably because of the way the dialogue is written like thoughts. I also thought the ending was really abrupt honestly. That being said, however, I think it’s very possible that I could end up rereading this book and liking it more but we’ll see....more
rep: ownvoices Black bisexual protagonist, wlw love interest, biracial (Black, white) side character, Black side character with sickle cell c3.75 stars
rep: ownvoices Black bisexual protagonist, wlw love interest, biracial (Black, white) side character, Black side character with sickle cell cw: death of a parent, forced outing, racism (overt and microaggressions)
this was so cute omg! I loved the writing and the characters; they all felt so real to me....more
rep: bisexual protagonist, wlw side character cw: gore, murder, implied torture, detailed descriptions of surgical procedures
**I received an eARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
She wasn’t weak for feeling, either. Hardened hearts were breakable. But hers had endured again and again. As much as it terrified her, Wren wanted more than anything to believe herself.
Okay, I started this book eight months before it comes out because Charlotte made me. I knew I'd like it from the dedication ("For the girls who feel too much") and guess what, I did! Part fantasy, part Gothic horror, Down Comes the Night explores what is more important: your duty or doing what's right.
The illegitimate niece of the queen of Danu, Wren is a magical healer and a soldier who’s been told over and over that her emotions get the best of her. Still, she heals a prisoner and gets suspended from her position, sent back to the abbey where she was raised. A mysterious letter arrives one day from Lord Lowry from a neutral country; he offers her a chance to prove herself in exchange for healing one of his servants. She seizes this chance even when the queen refuses to let her go. Unfortunately for her, the servant she’s been summoned to heal turns out to be her country’s biggest enemy: Hal Cavendish, a Vesrian cold-hearted killer whose magic allows him to kill with a look. However, they grow closer in this strange estate, and they soon set off together to solve the mystery of missing soldiers from both of their countries.
I really enjoyed the prose of this book. This is a Gothic horror novel set in a fantasy land, and an air of mystery is woven throughout the book. The worldbuilding was also incredibly detailed; we have both magic and science here. Magic is a recessive gene that’s only active in the people of Vesria and Danu. Also, it’s noted that Wren is unique as a healer in that she doesn’t only rely on her magic to heal, but also her scientific knowledge of the body.
I also really liked the presence of religion. Vesria and Danu have very different religious systems that explain their magic. Danu has a three-faced Goddess who is alternately compassionate and cold, whereas Vesria’s God is cruel and primarily associated with death.
The plot pulls you in, slowly but surely. Wren reluctantly agrees to heal Hal, only because he has information on some missing soldiers, one of whom is Wren’s friend. They investigate Lowry’s estate, but there are more sinister forces at play. Wren also has to fend off the queen’s soldiers who are looking for her while facing her feelings for Una, her friend and the person leading the search for her.
Perhaps what I love most about this book are the characters. Again, Wren is someone who feels too much; she’s been told often by the queen and Una, who are both withholding in their emotions, that she’s too compassionate. Really, Wren just wants to be loved; she was sent away by the queen, her aunt and the person whose approval she seeks the most, as a child. This is why she upholds her healing magic as the most important thing in her life: if she can’t be kept around because she’s loved, she will be valuable because she’s useful. It’s perhaps not the healthiest thing, but I found it very relatable. Wren’s yearning for love is palpable and I really loved that we got such an empathetic protagonist.
Hal also has more depth to him than being the most decorated Vesrian soldier; he too suffers under the weight of expectations. I also liked Una, who’s uncomfortable with expressing emotions. She’s the opposite to Wren in this way; I found it funny when she tries to comfort Wren but she clearly has no idea what to do.
I also loved the romance! Wren and Hal have an enemies-to-lovers dynamic although it didn’t have as much hate-to-love as I wanted. Still, they were so soft, and I love them. Oh, also, there’s a “oh no! there’s only one bed” scene, and I cried. I also liked that LGB relationships are normalized in this Victorian-esque world. Wren is bisexual, and Una is sapphic. There are other characters who also are, mentioned in passing. It’s never a point of contention, which I liked.
You have good veins. Very stabbable.
This is a stand-alone fantasy, and it wraps up very nicely. I actually really loved the ending; I might’ve teared up a little. Please, Allison Saft, I would love a little sequel novella!
With lovable characters and a soft romance, Down Comes the Night was an amazing debut; I can’t wait for more from this author. I loved the protagonist and the worldbuilding, and you will too. I definitely recommend Down Comes the Night if you like enemies-to-lovers, fantasies with detailed worldbuilding, and emotional female protagonists.
original review:
enemies-to-lovers + oh no! there’s only one bed + bisexual protagonist whose biggest desire is to be loved...more
rep: wlw protagonist, pansexual protagonist, Black lesbian side character, gay side character cw: suicidal thoughts, depression, recreatread on my blog
rep: wlw protagonist, pansexual protagonist, Black lesbian side character, gay side character cw: suicidal thoughts, depression, recreational drug use and alcohol consumption
original review:
many thoughts, kinda pissed off that I read this ngl
obviously I'll write a full review later but this was highkey a waste of time :// all of her characters are the same oh my goddd (oh also. like. one character of color the entire book. when i say i hate it here...)
EDIT:
yeah yeah I'll post my full review later but I want ppl to know something I just realized lmao: there's like one character of color the entire book and I just realized that we get chapters set in 1714 through about 1980 and yet there's nothing about racism, slavery, or colonialism AND SHE'S FROM FRANCE...more
michelle (magical reads)
>
Books:
2020
(208)
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