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sophs_mood_reading's reviews
377 reviews
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
I will start this review with a disclaimer that Ali Hazelwood is one of my auto buy authors. I haven’t read a book of her that I haven’t enjoyed. She’s just always ticked the boxes of smart woman, right about of comedy, broody men and a romance.
When I read she was moving into the Vampire, Werewolf territory I was so excited. However I’ve got to say for the first time I have to leave some boxes unticked.
Misery is a vampire living (undercover) in the human territory. But when her father decides to use her as a collateral bargaining chip in a forced marriage to a Werewolf Alpha things get tense. Add in a missing best friend and a whole lot of family secrets and well Misery is up to her eyeballs in “what the hell is happening” plus you can imagine how the broody, forced proximity hot Alpha male thing is going.
Unfortunately I just found this one had me contemplating skimming parts (I didn’t but I had to physically stop myself!). I just didn’t find the best friend/sister missing story line to be enough.
The end was also a little “oh, really, that’s what was happening/that’s the bad guy?!?”
I’ve always loved Hazelwoods portrayal of women in stem and she continued on that theme with no ditzy moments which was great. It just lacked her normal flare.
adventurous
funny
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
3.5
I will start this review with a disclaimer that Ali Hazelwood is one of my auto buy authors. I haven’t read a book of her that I haven’t enjoyed. She’s just always ticked the boxes of smart woman, right about of comedy, broody men and a romance.
When I read she was moving into the Vampire, Werewolf territory I was so excited. However I’ve got to say for the first time I have to leave some boxes unticked.
Misery is a vampire living (undercover) in the human territory. But when her father decides to use her as a collateral bargaining chip in a forced marriage to a Werewolf Alpha things get tense. Add in a missing best friend and a whole lot of family secrets and well Misery is up to her eyeballs in “what the hell is happening” plus you can imagine how the broody, forced proximity hot Alpha male thing is going.
Unfortunately I just found this one had me contemplating skimming parts (I didn’t but I had to physically stop myself!). I just didn’t find the best friend/sister missing story line to be enough.
The end was also a little “oh, really, that’s what was happening/that’s the bad guy?!?”
I’ve always loved Hazelwoods portrayal of women in stem and she continued on that theme with no ditzy moments which was great. It just lacked her normal flare.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Cassandra Complex by Holly Smale
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-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
4.0
Cassandra’s life has completely fallen apart, so when she discovers that she can Ctrl-Alt-Delete her life during a panic attack she is elated that she can fix everything!
Yet she soon finds after some awkward moments involving dogs, waitresses and a few uncontrolled emotional outbursts she’s having to use her new life hack a little too much and that in itself is getting tiring and confusing.
I found this book to be a wonderful look at changes and self awareness. Including how each little action butterfly effects into another. I did find it slightly too long and thought it could have wrapped up sooner or had some more editing. But overall an enjoyable and thought provoking book. Warning if you’ve recently been left in a relationship it can be triggering.
Read if you like:
The seven year slip
The Rosie project
Yet she soon finds after some awkward moments involving dogs, waitresses and a few uncontrolled emotional outbursts she’s having to use her new life hack a little too much and that in itself is getting tiring and confusing.
I found this book to be a wonderful look at changes and self awareness. Including how each little action butterfly effects into another. I did find it slightly too long and thought it could have wrapped up sooner or had some more editing. But overall an enjoyable and thought provoking book. Warning if you’ve recently been left in a relationship it can be triggering.
Read if you like:
The seven year slip
The Rosie project
A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Freya is our heroine, stuck in an unhappy marriage to an abusive fisherman. When one day she accidentally lets it slip she is actually the magical shield maiden that has been prophesied.
She then finds herself blood oath bound to a power crazed Jarl who plans to use Freya to become king all the while trying to resist his much less crazy and much more handsome son.
I’ve enjoyed Jensen’s previous novels but this one didn’t quite do it for me.
The Vikingesque references were really interesting and on par with tv shows I’ve been into recently, however I found Freya more annoying than inspiring. Which left the book lacking the luster in needed to keep me hooked.
She then finds herself blood oath bound to a power crazed Jarl who plans to use Freya to become king all the while trying to resist his much less crazy and much more handsome son.
I’ve enjoyed Jensen’s previous novels but this one didn’t quite do it for me.
The Vikingesque references were really interesting and on par with tv shows I’ve been into recently, however I found Freya more annoying than inspiring. Which left the book lacking the luster in needed to keep me hooked.
The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Alternate revolutionary France where the revolution has failed and the underworld criminals of the city of the wretched have formed guilds as part of the Court of Miracles.
Nina (Eponine) the guild of thieves cat burglar has already lost her sister to the guild of the flesh & is now trying to save Ettie (Cosette) from the same fate.
To do so she must enter in to bargains with other lords of the guilds but to what cost.
This is a brilliant alternate retelling of Les Miserables meets Six of Crows, that I could not get enough. Familiar characters wound into a non-stop adventure of mystery and corruption with a touch of desire.
Trigger warnings a plenty as there is no shortage of dark themes so check these before reading.
Read if you like
Historic Fiction
Magical/fantasy realism
Found family
Alternate realities
Nina (Eponine) the guild of thieves cat burglar has already lost her sister to the guild of the flesh & is now trying to save Ettie (Cosette) from the same fate.
To do so she must enter in to bargains with other lords of the guilds but to what cost.
This is a brilliant alternate retelling of Les Miserables meets Six of Crows, that I could not get enough. Familiar characters wound into a non-stop adventure of mystery and corruption with a touch of desire.
Trigger warnings a plenty as there is no shortage of dark themes so check these before reading.
Read if you like
Historic Fiction
Magical/fantasy realism
Found family
Alternate realities
The Anatomy of Songs by Megan White
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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
4.0
A woman who is cursed to serve her father as an assassin but wishes more than anything to get vengeance for the low town. When ordered to kill the prince but then suddenly thrust into courtly life she is torn between who and what is truely the real evil.
Great magic elements and characters. There was lots of gore and the many fight scenes are extremely detailed.
Great magic elements and characters. There was lots of gore and the many fight scenes are extremely detailed.
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn’t love this one. I found Francesca extremely frustrating. I did like Michael’s character but would have preferred a little less self pity by all.
Dance with Murder by Elizabeth Coleman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Just wasn’t feeling it. May come back to this one.
The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I went back to my routes with this one (Elizabethan Era with a witchy premise) and boy did I adore it!
This dual point of view novel centres around two women Margareta, a lady in waiting to the Danish Princess (new Queen of Scotland) and Geillis, an orphaned house maid, learning midwifery and healing. These two women who couldn’t lead more opposing lives, find themselves thrown together into the world of the Scottish North Berwick witch trials and the Earl of Bothwell’s treasonous plots.
Enter secrets, accusations, hidden meetings, plots and conjuring and you have a brilliant historic fiction tale.
The book highlights the plights of woman in the age and how little freedom they had. How easily you can go from friend of the king to a prisoner in the Edinburgh Tolebooth.
The narration was fantastic, Scottish accents that were easily understood and easily distinguishable characters.
Although there are some factual plot points, like many a historical fiction novel, a creative licence was used to fill in historical gaps and help the story flow.
I did find the ending a little to quickly wrapped up and would have preferred a bit more depth, the epilogue was very much like tying up everything quickly with a bow.
This dual point of view novel centres around two women Margareta, a lady in waiting to the Danish Princess (new Queen of Scotland) and Geillis, an orphaned house maid, learning midwifery and healing. These two women who couldn’t lead more opposing lives, find themselves thrown together into the world of the Scottish North Berwick witch trials and the Earl of Bothwell’s treasonous plots.
Enter secrets, accusations, hidden meetings, plots and conjuring and you have a brilliant historic fiction tale.
The book highlights the plights of woman in the age and how little freedom they had. How easily you can go from friend of the king to a prisoner in the Edinburgh Tolebooth.
The narration was fantastic, Scottish accents that were easily understood and easily distinguishable characters.
Although there are some factual plot points, like many a historical fiction novel, a creative licence was used to fill in historical gaps and help the story flow.
I did find the ending a little to quickly wrapped up and would have preferred a bit more depth, the epilogue was very much like tying up everything quickly with a bow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Historical fiction meets romance, meets mystery, meets female empowerment.
1920’s Tasmania and Cadbury’s is setting up their factory on the banks of the Derwent River. We follow the story of two women, Dorothy a recent war widow, immigrating from the UK, who has worked her way up the ranks of the Firm. Maisie, a Tasmanian girl who needs to find work to support her ailing mother and hopes to keep her bright sister from leaving school.
Both woman are at Cadbury’s to better their life, but little did they know that they soon will be targeted as everyone wants the illusive dairy milk recipe.
This beautiful novel is so much more than a book about making chocolate. The wonderful descriptions easily put you right in Claremont, where you can almost hear the cockatoo’s flying past and smell the eucalyptus mixed with cocoa.
You are quickly invested in the lives of these woman and when threats start creeping in, want to protect them immediately.
Stephen’s has created a great depiction of the changing lives and roles of woman in the post great war era, where there are newly discovered freedoms but still very much restrictions from social expectations and glass ceilings. There is also realistic depictions of the realities of war and the mental health consequences of such brutal events.
I did find Dorothy’s romance to be more bordering on obsession which did make me uncomfortable at the beginning but as the story continued it made more sense and came together beautifully.
A wonderful novel for historic fiction lovers, but make sure you have chocolate on hand when reading as it’s all you will think about.
Thanks you HQ fiction and Mary-Lou Stephen’s for a copy of this book in exchange for and honest review.
1920’s Tasmania and Cadbury’s is setting up their factory on the banks of the Derwent River. We follow the story of two women, Dorothy a recent war widow, immigrating from the UK, who has worked her way up the ranks of the Firm. Maisie, a Tasmanian girl who needs to find work to support her ailing mother and hopes to keep her bright sister from leaving school.
Both woman are at Cadbury’s to better their life, but little did they know that they soon will be targeted as everyone wants the illusive dairy milk recipe.
This beautiful novel is so much more than a book about making chocolate. The wonderful descriptions easily put you right in Claremont, where you can almost hear the cockatoo’s flying past and smell the eucalyptus mixed with cocoa.
You are quickly invested in the lives of these woman and when threats start creeping in, want to protect them immediately.
Stephen’s has created a great depiction of the changing lives and roles of woman in the post great war era, where there are newly discovered freedoms but still very much restrictions from social expectations and glass ceilings. There is also realistic depictions of the realities of war and the mental health consequences of such brutal events.
I did find Dorothy’s romance to be more bordering on obsession which did make me uncomfortable at the beginning but as the story continued it made more sense and came together beautifully.
A wonderful novel for historic fiction lovers, but make sure you have chocolate on hand when reading as it’s all you will think about.
Thanks you HQ fiction and Mary-Lou Stephen’s for a copy of this book in exchange for and honest review.