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A review by _isabel_
Secondhand Skin by Hailey Turner
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored "Secondhand Skin" so. damn. much.
Hailey Turner's writing and her numerous bookish universes have stolen my heart (and my mind as well!) since the very first time I read "A Ferry of Bones & Gold"; not only that, but I re-read her books at least twice a year (especially her "Soulbound" series) because they are among my most favourite books EVER, and they're such a comfort to re-read. Getting Spencer's book last year, and now Wade's? Now, that's a dream come true. I still can't believe it.
I adored this book to absolute bits. It was everything I was hoping for, and then some. Action-packed and filled with magic and shape-shifting, treasonous faes and meddling gods, secrets and discoveries and a cast of characters, both old and new, that stole my heart. And the world-building? The majestic way Hailey manages to transport the reader into her books? Gah, it's always amazing to witness, and this book was no exception.
< “You’re here? What are you?” Riordan asked, sounding a little bewildered and a lot less angry. “A problem,” Wade said cheerfully. “Don’t make me yours. You won’t like that.” Riordan’s gaze dragged up and down Wade’s body, making him blink as he realized he was being checked out? Yeah, he was definitely being checked out by the hot guy. Riordan tilted his head, a contemplative look coming to his eyes. “I don’t mind problems like you.” >
Obviously, I've loved Wade since the very first time I met him, but he stole my heart even more here. He's such a badass, but also a total sweetheart too. I loved seeing him so grown up, so much more at home in his skin, being all confident and snarky and funny, but I also loved seeing his more vulnerable side as well. What he was put through was horrific, and I'm so damn happy to see how secure he now feels, both with his pack (I think I might have cried too) and of course, with Riordan.
Because WHEW. Riordan? Let me tell you, I spent half of the book swooning. He's the perfect person for Wade: respectful and protective, without ever being stifling, mindful of Wade's boundaries but also pretty mindful of his own too. He's also funny and ridiculously cute and the way he kept wanting to feed Wade? I SWOONED, like I'm sure Wade did too.
< “Heat doesn’t bother me.” “You’re pretty hot.” “That was the dumbest line. Please don’t ever say that around my pack.” >
I adored getting to know the selkies! Needless to say, I want the NYC god pack to adopt them and keep them alllllllll safe from harm. I loved how Hailey depicted them: as a species they're fascinating and freaking wonderful, and the fact that they have to be so careful with themselves broke my heart.
I adored Donal and Saoirse, and I loved the Maguire sibling's relationship to absolute bits.
The romance stole my soul: it's pretty insta-love, but if there's one thing Hailey can do, it's make me love a trope I usually don't care for. Their relationship didn't feel rushed at all, and I can only applaud the author for that. I loved their dynamic, I loved how both of them were protective and mindful and also so damn loving too. And yeah: Riordan is a consent king, and I can only bow down to him. The steam was steaming!
The plot was fantastic, as usual: Hailey Turner is a mastermind when it comes to well-constructed, thought-out plots, and I was HOOKED. I loved getting the last answers we were missing, even though it also makes me feel damn nostalgic and sad.
I can't believe this will be the end though *cries* I so hope there will be novellas and short-stories in the future because I already miss all these beloved characters.
In the meantime, I might as well re-read the whole lot, no?
ALSO, I LOVED SEEING LUCIEN AGAIN OMGGGGGGG. And Gerard and Keith, and all the NYC god pack. I was hoping there would be cameos, but I didn't think Hailey would have made us this happy. Also, no Spencer and Takoma, BUT, Wade being all snarky and bitter about Spencer hopping on vampire d*ck? I CACKLED.
TWs/CWs: sexual assault (past), slavery, violence, death.
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Hailey Turner's writing and her numerous bookish universes have stolen my heart (and my mind as well!) since the very first time I read "A Ferry of Bones & Gold"; not only that, but I re-read her books at least twice a year (especially her "Soulbound" series) because they are among my most favourite books EVER, and they're such a comfort to re-read. Getting Spencer's book last year, and now Wade's? Now, that's a dream come true. I still can't believe it.
I adored this book to absolute bits. It was everything I was hoping for, and then some. Action-packed and filled with magic and shape-shifting, treasonous faes and meddling gods, secrets and discoveries and a cast of characters, both old and new, that stole my heart. And the world-building? The majestic way Hailey manages to transport the reader into her books? Gah, it's always amazing to witness, and this book was no exception.
< “You’re here? What are you?” Riordan asked, sounding a little bewildered and a lot less angry. “A problem,” Wade said cheerfully. “Don’t make me yours. You won’t like that.” Riordan’s gaze dragged up and down Wade’s body, making him blink as he realized he was being checked out? Yeah, he was definitely being checked out by the hot guy. Riordan tilted his head, a contemplative look coming to his eyes. “I don’t mind problems like you.” >
Obviously, I've loved Wade since the very first time I met him, but he stole my heart even more here. He's such a badass, but also a total sweetheart too. I loved seeing him so grown up, so much more at home in his skin, being all confident and snarky and funny, but I also loved seeing his more vulnerable side as well. What he was put through was horrific, and I'm so damn happy to see how secure he now feels, both with his pack (I think I might have cried too) and of course, with Riordan.
Because WHEW. Riordan? Let me tell you, I spent half of the book swooning. He's the perfect person for Wade: respectful and protective, without ever being stifling, mindful of Wade's boundaries but also pretty mindful of his own too. He's also funny and ridiculously cute and the way he kept wanting to feed Wade? I SWOONED, like I'm sure Wade did too.
< “Heat doesn’t bother me.” “You’re pretty hot.” “That was the dumbest line. Please don’t ever say that around my pack.” >
I adored getting to know the selkies! Needless to say, I want the NYC god pack to adopt them and keep them alllllllll safe from harm. I loved how Hailey depicted them: as a species they're fascinating and freaking wonderful, and the fact that they have to be so careful with themselves broke my heart.
I adored Donal and Saoirse, and I loved the Maguire sibling's relationship to absolute bits.
The romance stole my soul: it's pretty insta-love, but if there's one thing Hailey can do, it's make me love a trope I usually don't care for. Their relationship didn't feel rushed at all, and I can only applaud the author for that. I loved their dynamic, I loved how both of them were protective and mindful and also so damn loving too. And yeah: Riordan is a consent king, and I can only bow down to him. The steam was steaming!
The plot was fantastic, as usual: Hailey Turner is a mastermind when it comes to well-constructed, thought-out plots, and I was HOOKED. I loved getting the last answers we were missing, even though it also makes me feel damn nostalgic and sad.
I can't believe this will be the end though *cries* I so hope there will be novellas and short-stories in the future because I already miss all these beloved characters.
In the meantime, I might as well re-read the whole lot, no?
TWs/CWs: sexual assault (past), slavery, violence, death.
Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault