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smolhousewitch's reviews
180 reviews
Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wanted to DNF this so many times - and the main reason I didn't was because it was an ARC. I'll admit that I don't read a *ton* of romance, so there are some romance tropes that can annoy me. If you read a lot of romance then there's certainly a chance you'll enjoy this as a low stress, autumn/witchy themed addition to your TBR.
I, however, could not get past the weak writing, annoying characters, and overabundance of pop culture references.
Scarlett grated on me from the moment she refused to listen to anyone around her and smashed a piano. She's stubborn and self-centered to a fault. I hoped she might grow on me as the story went on and while I ended up with empathy for her, I didn't like her at all (and honestly just ended up liking almost all the supporting characters less than when we started). Delilah, the oldest sister, literally stomping her foot at her big age was embarrassing, tbh. And her mother, Kelly, was deeply unpleasant. I know this is supposed to riff off Gilmore Girls but it felt like it took all the flaws of the GG characters and none of the endearing traits that would balance them out.
Magic-wise, I always side-eye magic systems based on gender. As a queer person, I think that these systems can quickly become gender essentialist in their structure and almost always reinforce the binary. I loved Aphra and was happy to see an out and accepted trans person within this world. While it is trans-affirming to say that Aphra always had magic because she was always a woman, it begs the question of where non-binary people would exist in this magical spectrum. I don't think there were any ill-intentions here, it's just something that always comes to mind with this particular magic system structure and my desire to push back on systems that reinforce a binary.
The cheesy Friends reference 20 pages in should've been my first red flag - and the Trump reference jump scare halfway through was unappreciated (this is a trans-affirming story - woo! - so why would I want any kind of reminder of that man in here?? please). I also do not enjoy witchy books that use the term "muggle" for non-magic users. That's a personal preference but as someone who firmly believes JKR has and continues to cause incredible harm to the trans community, I just think we can use another word. Any other word.
Oddly enough, my closest breaking point was when they implied that "famously happily married since 1980" Mandy Patinkin could be their mom's friend with benefits. (I'm joking. But kind of not. Leave that sweet, married man alone).
All in all, I really struggled to finish this one and personally would not recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I, however, could not get past the weak writing, annoying characters, and overabundance of pop culture references.
Scarlett grated on me from the moment she refused to listen to anyone around her and smashed a piano. She's stubborn and self-centered to a fault. I hoped she might grow on me as the story went on and while I ended up with empathy for her, I didn't like her at all (and honestly just ended up liking almost all the supporting characters less than when we started). Delilah, the oldest sister, literally stomping her foot at her big age was embarrassing, tbh. And her mother, Kelly, was deeply unpleasant. I know this is supposed to riff off Gilmore Girls but it felt like it took all the flaws of the GG characters and none of the endearing traits that would balance them out.
Magic-wise, I always side-eye magic systems based on gender. As a queer person, I think that these systems can quickly become gender essentialist in their structure and almost always reinforce the binary. I loved Aphra and was happy to see an out and accepted trans person within this world. While it is trans-affirming to say that Aphra always had magic because she was always a woman, it begs the question of where non-binary people would exist in this magical spectrum. I don't think there were any ill-intentions here, it's just something that always comes to mind with this particular magic system structure and my desire to push back on systems that reinforce a binary.
The cheesy Friends reference 20 pages in should've been my first red flag - and the Trump reference jump scare halfway through was unappreciated (this is a trans-affirming story - woo! - so why would I want any kind of reminder of that man in here?? please). I also do not enjoy witchy books that use the term "muggle" for non-magic users. That's a personal preference but as someone who firmly believes JKR has and continues to cause incredible harm to the trans community, I just think we can use another word. Any other word.
Oddly enough, my closest breaking point was when they implied that "famously happily married since 1980" Mandy Patinkin could be their mom's friend with benefits. (I'm joking. But kind of not. Leave that sweet, married man alone).
All in all, I really struggled to finish this one and personally would not recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of the best sci fi stories I've read in awhile!!
Pick Your Potion by Ephiny Gale
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I picked up Pick Your Potion because a collection of spooky, witchy, queer short stories sounded right up my alley. I was so excited to jump into this but despite a handful of stand out stories, the collection as a whole didn't deliver.
I love short story collections despite their common pitfalls and am very comfortable with short stories that don't resolve themselves cleanly or that require more attention from the reader to understand. My struggle with some of the stories in this collection was that they didn't give me enough to feel like they had a point. They felt unfinished in a way that was very unsatisfying as a reader. Some of these might have worked as slightly longer short stories or novellas, whereas others felt like they really needed a full novel to properly explore what was being presented.
Others, like La Vie En Mer, were absolute gold (I loved the way this one felt like it could be in conversation with Carmen Marie Machado's SVU-themed short story of similar structure). Faewild was another favorite (this one felt a bit like The Magicians by Lev Grossman - might be something to interrogate that my favorite stories tended to feel like they were in conversation with something else). This is (Not) My Beautiful Cat was simple yet heart-warming - as a cat-owner, it made me want to give my cats an extra kiss.
I'm glad I picked this up because I did find some stories I really enjoyed in here and, ultimately, it was a quick read. However, I would struggle to recommend it to anyone because I don't think the number of stories I really enjoyed outweighs the ones I was frustrated or disappointed by.
Thank you to Foxgrove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love short story collections despite their common pitfalls and am very comfortable with short stories that don't resolve themselves cleanly or that require more attention from the reader to understand. My struggle with some of the stories in this collection was that they didn't give me enough to feel like they had a point. They felt unfinished in a way that was very unsatisfying as a reader. Some of these might have worked as slightly longer short stories or novellas, whereas others felt like they really needed a full novel to properly explore what was being presented.
Others, like La Vie En Mer, were absolute gold (I loved the way this one felt like it could be in conversation with Carmen Marie Machado's SVU-themed short story of similar structure). Faewild was another favorite (this one felt a bit like The Magicians by Lev Grossman - might be something to interrogate that my favorite stories tended to feel like they were in conversation with something else). This is (Not) My Beautiful Cat was simple yet heart-warming - as a cat-owner, it made me want to give my cats an extra kiss.
I'm glad I picked this up because I did find some stories I really enjoyed in here and, ultimately, it was a quick read. However, I would struggle to recommend it to anyone because I don't think the number of stories I really enjoyed outweighs the ones I was frustrated or disappointed by.
Thank you to Foxgrove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I read this in one sitting so it's safe to say I loved it! I'm definitely a fan of mysterious ocean deep vibes and I loved that this book went more cozy than horror with that. I thought the epistolary structure might get tedious or slow but Cathrall does an amazing job keeping us in every moment despite the distance the correspondence creates.
I also loved the OCD representation, acespec rep, and homophobia-free world - it definitely amplified the warm energy of this story. I've found myself quite attached to the entire cast of characters - an impressive feat given the numerous yet richly imagined side characters.
If you're a fan of the Emily Wilde series (especially the academic quips and sniping), love neurodivergent and queer rep, and enjoy a cozy story that still has stakes and a sense of urgency, you should definitely pick this one up. I can't wait for book 2!!
I also loved the OCD representation, acespec rep, and homophobia-free world - it definitely amplified the warm energy of this story. I've found myself quite attached to the entire cast of characters - an impressive feat given the numerous yet richly imagined side characters.
If you're a fan of the Emily Wilde series (especially the academic quips and sniping), love neurodivergent and queer rep, and enjoy a cozy story that still has stakes and a sense of urgency, you should definitely pick this one up. I can't wait for book 2!!
Forbidden Games by Katee Robert
adventurous
fast-paced
4.75
I loved these two novellas even more than the first two in Illicit Temptations! I felt much more connected to both Lucy and Allie - and I really enjoyed Gideon as a male lead in particular. These were steamy, hot, and full of rich men hand-waving away challenges so we can just enjoy the ride.
My only hang-up is why the two new collections were released as Illicit Temptations first with Forbidden Games second when the two novellas in Forbidden Games come first, timeline-wise. I didn't click with Becka at all during her story in Illicit Temptations but really enjoyed her presence in these stories. I think I would've understood Becka's story much better if I had the context from these two stories to back up her characterization.
Regardless, all 4 novellas are so much fun to read! Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My only hang-up is why the two new collections were released as Illicit Temptations first with Forbidden Games second when the two novellas in Forbidden Games come first, timeline-wise. I didn't click with Becka at all during her story in Illicit Temptations but really enjoyed her presence in these stories. I think I would've understood Becka's story much better if I had the context from these two stories to back up her characterization.
Regardless, all 4 novellas are so much fun to read! Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I enjoyed this cozy fantasy debut from Sydney J. Shields and I'm definitely looking forward to reading her future writing!
The Honey Witch does read like a debut to me, although I don't mean that in a bad way: there's some pacing issues and places where the writing feels a bit immature, which I find is a common struggle for me with debut releases. We get told a lot about the plot and characters very quickly without spending enough time in those early relationship scenes to actually *see* it. There's also some questions I have about the world-building and magic system that I feel like the plot just...hand-waves away. I also guessed the final reveal quite early, which left me feeling like I was waiting around for Marigold to also figure it out. Another reviewer mentioned that there was a lot of good here that they loved but that they never felt truly connected to the characters and I think that's where I'm panning out as well.
However, despite all that, I enjoyed it (it just took me longer to finish it than it might have otherwise). I loved that this was a homophobia-free world and that same-sex relationships were acceptable. Since there was no tension about being two women in the sapphic relationship at the core of the book, all the tension was derived from their interpersonal interactions and, eventually, the outside magical threat. While the pacing didn't take advantage of that as much as it could've, I think that was a smart choice to make in order to leave more room for character and relationship development. I love the concept of honey magic and, in general, am a sucker for "green magic"-type powers, so I was immediately drawn to Marigold and her magic.
I went back and forth between a 3.5 and 4 on this one. I think there's potential here and I'm really excited to see what Shields writes in the future, but I also think there's some weaknesses in the writing that hold this story back. The first section of the book, where Marigold is in her hometown, ended up feeling very tonally different from the rest of the book; in my crit group, we talk a lot about how the first few chapters are making a promise to the reader about what they should expect, and I feel like I enjoyed the back half of the book much more and if I hadn't pushed through, the front half might have caused me to DNF without giving that second half a chance. Starting us off with Marigold on the isle and spending more time on her training and time with her grandmother would've been a better set-up and helped us feel more invested in their relationship (better emphasizing the loss and grief themes we explore in the rest of the book).
I would definitely recommend picking this up if the storyline interests you but maybe temper your expectations a bit - the extreme hype this book got at release oversold it a bit for me. Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Honey Witch does read like a debut to me, although I don't mean that in a bad way: there's some pacing issues and places where the writing feels a bit immature, which I find is a common struggle for me with debut releases. We get told a lot about the plot and characters very quickly without spending enough time in those early relationship scenes to actually *see* it. There's also some questions I have about the world-building and magic system that I feel like the plot just...hand-waves away. I also guessed the final reveal quite early, which left me feeling like I was waiting around for Marigold to also figure it out. Another reviewer mentioned that there was a lot of good here that they loved but that they never felt truly connected to the characters and I think that's where I'm panning out as well.
However, despite all that, I enjoyed it (it just took me longer to finish it than it might have otherwise). I loved that this was a homophobia-free world and that same-sex relationships were acceptable. Since there was no tension about being two women in the sapphic relationship at the core of the book, all the tension was derived from their interpersonal interactions and, eventually, the outside magical threat. While the pacing didn't take advantage of that as much as it could've, I think that was a smart choice to make in order to leave more room for character and relationship development. I love the concept of honey magic and, in general, am a sucker for "green magic"-type powers, so I was immediately drawn to Marigold and her magic.
I went back and forth between a 3.5 and 4 on this one. I think there's potential here and I'm really excited to see what Shields writes in the future, but I also think there's some weaknesses in the writing that hold this story back. The first section of the book, where Marigold is in her hometown, ended up feeling very tonally different from the rest of the book; in my crit group, we talk a lot about how the first few chapters are making a promise to the reader about what they should expect, and I feel like I enjoyed the back half of the book much more and if I hadn't pushed through, the front half might have caused me to DNF without giving that second half a chance. Starting us off with Marigold on the isle and spending more time on her training and time with her grandmother would've been a better set-up and helped us feel more invested in their relationship (better emphasizing the loss and grief themes we explore in the rest of the book).
I would definitely recommend picking this up if the storyline interests you but maybe temper your expectations a bit - the extreme hype this book got at release oversold it a bit for me. Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
What You Are Getting Wrong about Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"The people of Appalachia have never needed empathy; what we need is solidarity, real and true, which comes from understanding that the harm done to me is connected to the harm done to you."
Illicit Temptations by Katee Robert
emotional
fast-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
4.0
4⭐️ for both stories!
3 ⭐️ for Make Me Yours, mainly because i just don't love surprise/accidental pregnancy. But Becka and Aaron were great and it was still a hot read!
5 ⭐ for Make Me Need cause Cam and Trish - WOOF. This one was soooo hot. I'm a little sad I didn't get an actual 'sex on the office desk' scene but what we did get was great.
As always, Robert excels at inertwining emotional development in her sex scenes in both stories, which is why I always enjoy her books more than most other smut authors. The sex is hot but it's even hotter because it's *vulnerable* and *emotional*. I can't wait to read Forbidden Games to enjoy the other two novellas in this world!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 ⭐️ for Make Me Yours, mainly because i just don't love surprise/accidental pregnancy. But Becka and Aaron were great and it was still a hot read!
5 ⭐ for Make Me Need cause Cam and Trish - WOOF. This one was soooo hot. I'm a little sad I didn't get an actual 'sex on the office desk' scene but what we did get was great.
As always, Robert excels at inertwining emotional development in her sex scenes in both stories, which is why I always enjoy her books more than most other smut authors. The sex is hot but it's even hotter because it's *vulnerable* and *emotional*. I can't wait to read Forbidden Games to enjoy the other two novellas in this world!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Psychedelica Satanica by Sybil Oxblood-Pope
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I found the title and blurb for this novella very attention-grabbing. Unfortunately, the story itself didn't deliver the way I'd hoped.
This was so short and fast-paced that, as the reader, I felt like I was just being swept from scene to scene with very little time to develop lore, characters, or depth to the story. I also lacked any emotional attachment to the characters, which meant the major deaths and changes they experience didn't affect me at all.
There's some interesting ideas being toyed with here, and Jerica slowly losing her humanity has the potential to be compelling. Unfortunately, there's just not enough depth here to deliver that.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was so short and fast-paced that, as the reader, I felt like I was just being swept from scene to scene with very little time to develop lore, characters, or depth to the story. I also lacked any emotional attachment to the characters, which meant the major deaths and changes they experience didn't affect me at all.
There's some interesting ideas being toyed with here, and Jerica slowly losing her humanity has the potential to be compelling. Unfortunately, there's just not enough depth here to deliver that.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Libertad is an evocative queer coming of age story set in Honduras during the political turmoil of 2017.
I knew very little about Honduras before reading this book and Zaldívar does an incredible job situating the reader in all that the setting entails: the anxiety of the political tension, the weather of Honduras, the people and smells and day to day rhythm of living in Tegucigalpa. I was immersed in Libertad's story from the first page.
I cried steadily through the last hundred pages. Libertad's journey, without spoiling anything, is incredibly emotional and beautiful - and as a queer reader, I loved the moments of queer joy, love, and possibility woven into the narrative. I also believe that being queer means being open to all the possibilities and seeing the beauty in what can be instead of what is - a powerful message that counterbalances the overwhelming political turmoil Libertad is living through.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I firmly believe it should be on everyone's TBR - it's a beautiful narrative that tells an important story, illuminating experiences that most Westerners have little understanding of.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Zaldívar and I shared an office during grad school and I was honored to receive an early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year.
I knew very little about Honduras before reading this book and Zaldívar does an incredible job situating the reader in all that the setting entails: the anxiety of the political tension, the weather of Honduras, the people and smells and day to day rhythm of living in Tegucigalpa. I was immersed in Libertad's story from the first page.
I cried steadily through the last hundred pages. Libertad's journey, without spoiling anything, is incredibly emotional and beautiful - and as a queer reader, I loved the moments of queer joy, love, and possibility woven into the narrative. I also believe that being queer means being open to all the possibilities and seeing the beauty in what can be instead of what is - a powerful message that counterbalances the overwhelming political turmoil Libertad is living through.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I firmly believe it should be on everyone's TBR - it's a beautiful narrative that tells an important story, illuminating experiences that most Westerners have little understanding of.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Zaldívar and I shared an office during grad school and I was honored to receive an early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year.