patelyne's reviews
455 reviews

Highgate Cemetery: Victorian Valhalla by Felix Barker, John Gay

5.0

Covers the background of historic Highgate Cemetery, in a very interesting way -
The first half is a mix of the timeline of the cemetery itself, dates opened and closures, and stories about specific people interred there (along with stories about some graves that were opened and why) 
The second half is beautiful black and white photos of various statues/stones and walkways
There’s also a map at the end, but it’s not very detailed 

SOS HOTEL: Luxury to Die For by Ariana Nash, Adam Vex

4.0

In a date that doesn’t at all go to plan, Zee and Adam discover a fight club/dinner party combo and attempt something of a kidnapping/rescue combo on a participant who didn’t realize it was a ‘to the death’ type situation.

It does give them a lead on long missing employee Claymore, which is good, but it also leads to more danger as they find this wasn’t a one-off and now they’re trying to shut down a traveling fight ring

Along with all this, there’s also an upcoming heath and safety inspection at the hotel - a place not particularly heathy or safe? 

Even with the wards, which have pushed outwards again in a spectacular display that absolutely wasn’t caused by Zee, Adam, and Victor…why would you think they had anything to do with that? 

Next you’ll claim Adam isn’t a boring old human just because he was caught riding a werewolf…

The start felt a little slower, but still there a lot of wild developments in the book - and the action really start to ramp up in the second half 

The loyalty of everyone during Rescue Time was great to see too! Honestly that whole scene was my favorite part of the book. 

And Tom Collins, always love him!

Also, Adam’s continuing insistence that he’s a normal boring human (fake nails??!!) 

But that ending??

This series is so much fun, I’m more than a little bummed there’s only one more coming BUT I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up

Fire Spells Between Friends by S.O. Callahan, Sarah Wallace

5.0

As much as I’ve loved (and reread) book one, it’s no surprise that I loved this one as well

I especially appreciated that while Torquil and Emrys are the main couple, Wyn and Roger continue to be vital to the story. Not relegated to a brief cameo

Five years ago Emrys started up with Torquil after a chance meeting on the street when they were setting up their print shop. Since then they’ve carried on a secret relationship, both feeling far less casual about it than they’ve admitted to the other, but worry about the classist ideals of others has them keeping quiet.

I liked learning more about Emrys, and getting to see that softer side. Being the heir to the family - due to power not birth order - has put a lot of pressure on him and left him at the mercy of his mother to arrange a match for him with a complete disregard of his wishes. 

I have Thoughts about their mother. Many Uncharitable Thoughts.

Having as much pride as they do wit, Torquil’s life isn’t the easiest. Working round the clock between the Tribune, council position, and new societal obligations, they’re very tired and still lack the funds to both properly care for themself and fit in society 

On the upside - Working daily with Wyn and Roger to set up another testing rubric for others with both Fae and Human parentage has led to them becoming close friends. Also, it’s giving hope for others in their position. Iris Wrenwhistle strives to make their advancement into society easier, and another face from the past could help orchestrate the happiest sort of fairy tale ending, regardless of romantic standing 

Even though I feel the brothers would argue against it, I think Emrys and Wyn are very alike in some ways. They can appear outwardly callous, but when they find someone they care about they are fiercely protective. Seeing the different ways they, and others, stepped up for Torquil was heartwarming.

And when Emrys’ makes moves towards their relationship being public and official? He doesn’t go half way! 

I look forward to the series continuing, hopefully seeing another ‘wedding of the season’ 

Thanks to the authors for the arc!

Back In The Hunt: A Nelson & MacIlwraith Mystery by K. Sterling

5.0

Nelson and MacIlwraith are back!

Bryn, more than meets the eye medic, is running home from work after his shift when he comes across a man in distress. When he sees him being attacked by bird like phantoms, he springs into action as his spectral hound self and saves him. 

But when it’s been days and he still won’t wake up, his brother in law Fletcher - aka medical examiner Bixley - convinces him, along with his brother, to pay a visit to Nox and Nelson for help.

Of course they, along with Merlin, are able to help and we get to properly meet Everly  - A changeling, one who was depressed, lonely and so confused why his life was so complicated because he thought he was human. 

Bryn is also wonderful - extremely protective to where he’ll even deny himself what he wants to be sure Everly will end up the best him he can be. 

Together they have this magical sweet insta-love-like connection.

As precious a cinnamon roll as Everly is, it’s not all sweetness, there’s also a flip side to the coin. The anti Everly is a bit of nightmare fuel wrapped up in a child’s body, and he’s not alone.

The mystery solving group is now on the case to find out what’s been happening to all the other changelings and stop Abhartach - self made ‘vampire’ who feeds souls magic - before things get worse.

There’s investigation and adventure, both in the ‘Nothing’ - the spirit world - and the real world. Even the experts learning new things. 

There’s also tension with some arguing that Nox, now that he has come into his power,  isn’t doing enough in the world. 

I loved getting to catch up with the characters from the Moon Mysteries Trilogy again. Nelson and Nox, of course, but also former TA Tony, Howard from Bippity Boppity Books, and Merlin. Oh Merlin. He is always so … himself. And I love that for him! 

We also meet Ronan, a merrow, who opens things up for a continuing mystery (that I can’t wait to hear more about!) 

I loved it all, but I don’t think I can explain how very much I loved Everly in particular 

Thanks to the author for the arc, I always enjoy reading these stories So Very Much! 

When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson

4.0

This is the story of the Fall family - mainly three siblings - and a mysterious rainbow haired girl that pops into their lives at the most eventful time possible. 

There’s ghosts, telepathic conversations between a fairly depressed dog and an even more depressed human, a couple forms of synesthesia, mysteries about missing parents, family drama to the highest degree - 

The Falls family is dysfunctional like no other. To the point where the father who rose from the dead and then ran off is just the tip of the iceberg 

And the rainbow haired girl is no stranger to family issues either, which you learn about as she shares stories of her mostly off grid childhood traveling by RV with her not-quite-well mother 

The story has multiple POVs, some time jumps, and is frequently interrupted with a selection of diary entries, unsent letters and emails, news articles, conversation transcripts, a couple family trees (that I don’t suggest peeking ahead at, just wait) 

It’s a little messy and a lot wordy, mainly character driven - if that’s a thing you like, it’s very interesting! 

Even though this book is a big one - clocking in just over 500 pages! - I read it in just a few days because I had trouble putting it down.

While the plots couldn’t be more different, it’s giving me a mix of the exact feelings I had when reading The Night Circus and when I watched Big Fish (I haven’t read the book, but assuming the statement would stand for that too)

And since I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, I’m going to leave it at that.

I will say I think this one needs some content warnings, especially as a YA book, and I didn’t see them outside of user added on storygraph -

Most importantly as I would rather not have read it, and at the least would appreciated at least a warning about, an instance of SA involving a 13 year old child. Over clothes, but still significantly upsetting. Also, a major theme of depression, parental abandonment, drug and alcohol use/abuse specifically by minors. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Medical content, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Homophobia

Two Who Live On by M.N. Bennet

5.0

If ever a man needed a countryside retreat of a home, it is Dorian. Sadly, it seems even a fictional teachers salary doesn’t stretch far enough for that, so he’s stuck with his neighbors noisy thoughts. 

Even more distracting is how the mental link he has with Milo has strengthened and evolved. Even though their relationship has been repairing, this is causing Issues. 

Back at the school, it’s second semester and time for the Spring Showcase challenges - 

Get ready to have Feelings about inequities in a societal system designed to keep certain people down! (Methods aside - obviously - I can sympathize with those who want to burn it to the ground)

There’s competition, secrets and danger. Even more than book one, this will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Finding out more about Finn…emotions. Oof. 

It’s cool to find out more about each of the kids, get more attached as they grow together.

And at the close, just when you think everything is happy? That ending!!

Glad book three is out already, but with a full six books planned what will I do with myself when I have to wait???

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

5.0

Well worth the wait! If you were a fan of the first, you should enjoy this one just as much.

From his very first scene I knew David deserved to be protected from anyone else who would try and do him harm, and glad to say the entirity of the Marsyas group agrees. It was great to see how they’ve gotten even tighter knit, and how they worked together to welcome the newcomer and protect what’s important - their family.

It’s a continuing fight against bigotry and bureaucracy, but ends in so much hope I teared up at the end.

Three Meant To Be by M.N. Bennet

5.0

The roots and branches magic system was super interesting to me. The politics around it all also seemed believable.

For a story based largely in a school setting, there is still plenty of action - especially in the second half!

Enough emotion for my emo self to love, even as I wondered if it would break me a little. Good news, even with the sadness of past loss that isn’t - and can’t be - left in the past, there’s still hope for new things to come. The kids also provide some much needed levity too. 

Book one covers the new year ones through their first semester (up until winter break) and I look forward to reading the rest!

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco: A Novel by Michelle Chouinard

slow-paced

3.5

Capri, inspired by a lifelong belief that her grandfather is innocent of the killing spree he was imprisoned for, started out studying journalism to learn investigation techniques and ended up with a business giving serial killer tours in San Francisco about other cases she’d studied.  

Her daughter Morgan, for similar reasons, is perusing a degree in forensic psychology. At least she was, but after a surprise late night phone call from her Grandmother (on her dad’s side) her main tuition money is being immediately cut off without good reason.  

Desperate for money, Capri is considering her friend’s advice to do a podcast/book combo about her grandfather’s case. 

When a copycat killer strikes, the interest increases. 

The main difference being where the original killer targeted sex workers, the new one is after socialites. And when victim number two is the mother in law that just cut off Capri’s daughter’s tuition, the two become prime suspects.

Now she’s not just trying to clear her grandfather’s name but theirs as well.

I enjoyed the bits between chapters, the ones that felt like you were taking a tour by reading them. 

In fact, I wished it had been more about the tours, and less about tech companies and insider training because those parts lost my interest and made the story feel slower. 

I also would have liked more about the original objective spread throughout - trying to prove her grandfather’s innocence - because the last 10% of the book where he was the focus was my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and smp for the arc

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

5.0

I knew before I was even finished this would end up another one of my favorite comfort reread books 

Not truly surprising, because the Well Met series is already that for me even though my previous Ren Faire knowledge was … well, none? And my paranormal fiction interest had been off the charts for yeeears. 

Boneyard Key is a small coastal town in Florida known in tourism circles for its ghosts. It’s not just punny shop names and decorative ghost banners though - the late residents are still very active and interested in the towns daily goings on. Just ask Elmer, decades gone, but who is not going let that stop him from making it clear to the current coffee shop owner what the thinks about him adding cinnamon to his banana bread recipe. 

Being a local for life, sharing his life with the no longer living is normal for Nick. He loves this town, feels deeply connected to it, and he even (mostly) doesn’t mind Elmer as a roommate. For newcomer Cassie it’s going to take some more adjustment. Especially as the existing ghostly resident of her new home isn’t coming off as nearly as welcoming. 

Nick’s going to do his best to change her way of thinking before she gets scared off, starting with showing her the nicer side of being haunted everywhere you go. 

If only her house didn’t feel so hostile towards him…

This *is* a romance, but I think it almost leans just as much into the community side of the story - both living and dead - as it does the relationship between Nick and Cassie. And this isn’t a complaint, it absolutely worked for me! 

The townspeople balancing tourism draws with respecting their history and the lingering spirits

Those spirits connecting with them creatively - cold spots might be expected, but there’s also texting, magnetic poetry, bonding over bad tv

I was absolutely charmed by Boneyard Key and all its residents

(Except one. Boo on him.)