goldenleafbooks's reviews
111 reviews

Run, Rabbit, Run by Juniper Hartmann

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

Minor: Medical content

Like any erotic dark romance Run Rabbit Run explores a range of sexual themes that some may find upsetting. These include, but are not limited to: BDSM, Primal Play, coercion, a male dom, forced nudity, noncon, dubcon and pet play.

Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

Mafia Romantasy might be my new favorite sub genre. 

This book had me aching through the slow burn angst, and I loved every minute of the torture. 

Geneva Lee built a fantastic world, and I know we're just going to go deeper in the next book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

The Deer and the Dragon by Piper C.J.

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A book I will be heavily recommending to my pagan clientele, esp those that might be looking for some bi/pan representation that treats it as part of life instead of a struggle. 

Not a romance, per the author. It's Romantic and a bit spicy but no guaranteed hea. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, and Classism

The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout

5.0

The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

I especially loved the way that the story of tarot cards was woven into the narrative of the book. A novel approach that was very well done. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Perfect for any reader that loves romcoms. 

Daphne had just had the worst breakup. Like actually hilariously awful. Her (now) ex Peter just left her for his supposedly platonic best friend Petra during his bachelor party. 

Cool cool cool. 

Now she's living with Petras ex Miles until she can find a new job and get out of Dodge. 

Love that setup, and the way everything works out is just *chefs kiss*.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment

Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring tense 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? No

4.25

Definite cliffhanger ending, so romance readers be prepared to be a little feral until the next one comes out. (Currently slated for November)

I really loved the growth of the relationship in this one. It was a moment of "Oh now you realize it? Now?" But I think that's just because I'm so used to quick burns that I wasn't ready for the slow burn. It was worth the wait though!

Also getting to see what made Gabe, well, Gabe was fantastic. I knew something was off with Atlas, but I didn't expect it to be the level of messed up that it was! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I really enjoyed reading this book because of the characters. Lor and Nadir are definitely shippable. 

It is definitely written for an NA audience, but I loved it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I could not put this book down. I absolutely adored the characters. Misery being naive to Lowe's feelings was truly believable, which is something that I feel like a lot of authors struggle to pull off. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Medical content and Gaslighting

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This is the first book I've read by Nisha J Tuli, and I'm absolutely delighted to have found this author. Her characters are very well done, and I especially enjoy the way that she mixes in lore and history of the world throughout the novel. I never felt like they're was an exposition dump. 

The book is part of an unfinished series, scheduled to be completed this year. HEA is not at the end of the books, it seems like it will be the end of the series.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Kidnapping and Death of parent

Nothing in this book is gratuitous. All content warnings involve things that are genuinely necessary to the plot of the story.