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spacedragonshoard's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
<b>FMC: n/a
<b>MMC(s): Diego, Travis (Trav)
<b>Tropes: Cursed Items, HEA, So many pages I don’t want my mom to ask me about, Rogue Chickens, Witches, Cultists, Magickal Key West, A love interest with librarian Vibes, The Spanish Inquisition, Urban Fantasy/Magical Realism
> Reviewer add: Ancient curses, Piracy, Impacts of Colonialism
<b>Perspective: Third
<b>Plot or character driven: Both
<b>Spicy scenes breakdown:
> Present? Yes
> Detailed? Yes
> With only one character? No
> Multiple, with both/multiple characters? Yes.
> Personal favorite?
> State of the joystick? Human.
> Anything else to note?
<b>Burn speed: Fast.
<b>Can this be read as a stand-alone: Yes, however it is better enjoyed with the rest of the series.
<b>Re-Readability:
<b>Monster level: Human.
<b>Content/Trigger Warnings/Enticements: At the beginning of book.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my voluntary, honest review.
“Never forget, witch,” his voice dropped on the word, desire curling in the consonants, and Diego’s hips rolled of their own accord. “Curse aside, I treasure you.”
Diego of Ritual Income gets his own book and a cutie pie boyfriend. Only there’s something up with the boyfriend, and we have this slow unfolding of plot as Diego tries to find a cursed artifact before it claims the cutie, Trav.
After having my slump busted, I messaged the author to see if I could snag an ARC. She graciously said yes and I said YES. I really love this freaking world that feels like part chaos and like the powers that be are trying to keep desperate hold on containing it and the world is like, “here, hold my keys.” Every book is a treat. Diego and Trav are so freaking cute, and I’m glad Diego got his HEA because he freaking deserves it.
I took a chance with Shady depths way back when, and I’ve really fallen for this world in a way I didn’t think I would.
wilt's review
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I will concede that my rating is purely based on a disconnect of taste, rather than any big shortcomings of the writing itself. There are some things that worked for me extremely well, and other parts that absolutely did not.
What I liked:
The setting. I am not an urban fantasy guy, but the setting (the Florida Keys) piqued my curiosity and I really enjoyed everything it had to offer. The way the writing kept things colorful and magical and special really complimented the place and made even the pesky chickens seem endearing. It always felt sweaty and bright and vibrant, and it sparked my appetite in the loveliest ways. I also loved the way the writing described magic, and the different ways it worked with different people. The witch systems themselves were fascinating and creative and clearly have a lot of lore behind them, but everything was introduced naturally and it never felt overwhelming. There was just the right balance to leave me wanting more and enjoying every morsel offered. I also loved Diego - his history, his present, and the links between both. His Way of being a witch was totally unique and it was really cool to see the way his talent was utilized for the plot. I enjoyed most of the other characters too, and was never bored by them.
What I disliked:
The sex scenes did not work for me, at all. I typically don't have any issue with lengthy or frequent sex scenes, but for this book I found myself wanting to blur past them to get right back to the plot, every time. And I'm not quite sure why that is. Maybe there wasn't enough build up from the start, or maybe it was Trav himself, who I couldn't get a solid grip on, personality-wise (which worked great for the plot, but not for convincing passionate romance). The constant inclusion of alcohol as a lead up to the sex also did not help matters. The writing for the scenes themselves was not bad, but they really brought down my overall experience.
That being said, this is a fascinating book. The writing and concepts were fun, the plot interesting, and I definitely want to check out more from this author and series (as this is my first entry to it!)
*I received an advance review copy of Stitching Palms for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I liked:
The setting. I am not an urban fantasy guy, but the setting (the Florida Keys) piqued my curiosity and I really enjoyed everything it had to offer. The way the writing kept things colorful and magical and special really complimented the place and made even the pesky chickens seem endearing. It always felt sweaty and bright and vibrant, and it sparked my appetite in the loveliest ways. I also loved the way the writing described magic, and the different ways it worked with different people. The witch systems themselves were fascinating and creative and clearly have a lot of lore behind them, but everything was introduced naturally and it never felt overwhelming. There was just the right balance to leave me wanting more and enjoying every morsel offered. I also loved Diego - his history, his present, and the links between both. His Way of being a witch was totally unique and it was really cool to see the way his talent was utilized for the plot. I enjoyed most of the other characters too, and was never bored by them.
What I disliked:
The sex scenes did not work for me, at all. I typically don't have any issue with lengthy or frequent sex scenes, but for this book I found myself wanting to blur past them to get right back to the plot, every time. And I'm not quite sure why that is. Maybe there wasn't enough build up from the start, or maybe it was Trav himself, who I couldn't get a solid grip on, personality-wise (which worked great for the plot, but not for convincing passionate romance). The constant inclusion of alcohol as a lead up to the sex also did not help matters. The writing for the scenes themselves was not bad, but they really brought down my overall experience.
That being said, this is a fascinating book. The writing and concepts were fun, the plot interesting, and I definitely want to check out more from this author and series (as this is my first entry to it!)
*I received an advance review copy of Stitching Palms for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
bunnym00n's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Trav and Diego are my love language.
This is my 3rd B.L Brown book and it's fighting for first place to be my favorite, I loved Diego in Ritual Income and I'm so happy he got a book. The relationship between Diego and Trav was beautifully done, from beginning to end they repeatedly showed one another they cared. Diego may never again trust a chicken but they helped him find Trav by accident as well as having him stumble upon a cursed object that allowed him to spend even more time with Trav while he searched for it in the shop keepers store. This book has a lot of funny moments but also showed vivid emotions in both characters who were experiencing different sides of grief, Trav his loss of a father figure and Diego his old life and the fears that followed him and weighed him down and how the two were able to finally share a bit of that with another person. The spice was done amazingly and the tension was top tier between these two.
waltzingmatilde's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
DISCLAIMER: I have received this book as an ARC.
*VERY MINOR SPOILERS AT THE BOTTOM*
Diego Gregorio takes a trip down to Key West, Florida for some much needed relaxation after helping his Death Witch roommate solve a string of cursed murders. How does his vacation go? Well, he gets attacked by an occult necklace from his past and some very rowdy chickens. Oh, and did I mention he meets a very sexy pawnbroker and they have LOTS of fun.
This book was a very cute fantasy/mystery/romance that is perfect to read while lounging lazily in the sun on a warm spring or summer day. It was fun and fairly low stakes. Compared to the previous books in the series, this one was much more lighthearted but no less engaging. I will continue to rave about urban fantasy with witches because it is my favorite subgenre of fantasy and B.L. Brown does it perfectly! The world building, the character development, and the spice are all immaculate. Brown does an incredible job of dropping small, seemingly irrelevant details into her story that come back later to create a beautifully woven intricate tapestry of a story. My only criticism is that I wish this book was a little longer. Nevertheless, Brown’s books are so fun and a genuinely refreshing take on fantasy in a genre that seems to have too many of the same stories these days.
Also, this author has said the books in these series can be read as stand alone novels and I don’t disagree but I think they work better when read in order as a traditional series. In this book in particular, characters and events from the previous book are brought up a few too many times for the book to truly work as a stand alone. Although you can grasp the story without missing too much, the main character’s motivations and internal dialogue are better understood by having read at least the previous book in this series.
*MINOR SPOILERS HERE* Lastly, I want to say how dare you B.L. Brown for ending the book on that cliffhanger. How could you do that to my heart? That being said, after a much needed reprieve from Milla and Darkly, I am so excited to see that we get more of them in the next book.
Spice rating: 3.5/5 — some very explicit scenes sprinkled throughout, although no kink/fetish
Will I continue the series? Absolutely!
Would I read another book by this author? Absolutely!
Would I read again? Sure!
deborahsimms20's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I received this book as an ARC read in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance.
This was an enjoyable paranormal romance mystery following two main male characters. The story was quite interesting and had me on the edge of my seat. The romance was beautiful, however, I must admit that this was my first MM romance.
The reason for my 3.5 star review is because as this can be considered a standalone, it is linked to another story/world that I had not read, and I feel that I might have understood some things better if I had read the other book. I’m the type of reader who feels the need to read an entire series, and even companion series in order. I will say that you can absolutely enjoy this book without reading the other book, it is just my personal preference to wish that I had (I’m actually on my way to read the other book).
Stitching Palms is a wonderful adventure that I recommend reading. Please check the trigger warnings before you dive in.
This was an enjoyable paranormal romance mystery following two main male characters. The story was quite interesting and had me on the edge of my seat. The romance was beautiful, however, I must admit that this was my first MM romance.
The reason for my 3.5 star review is because as this can be considered a standalone, it is linked to another story/world that I had not read, and I feel that I might have understood some things better if I had read the other book. I’m the type of reader who feels the need to read an entire series, and even companion series in order. I will say that you can absolutely enjoy this book without reading the other book, it is just my personal preference to wish that I had (I’m actually on my way to read the other book).
Stitching Palms is a wonderful adventure that I recommend reading. Please check the trigger warnings before you dive in.
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