Instalove to Instantly Warm Up With
These Monster Romances take place in the COLD but still make you feel steamy
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Reviews From This Past Week
Cuddling My Chuchunya by Marilyn Barr
Release Date: January 13, 2023
Content Notes
Instalove
Primal Play
Knotting
Academic FMC
Chasing
Breeding
Attempted Murder
Marilyn Barr has one of the best cozy-while-its-damn-cold reads you’ll probably come across this year with Cuddling My Chuchunya. I’m already looking forward to the next installment.
Chuchunya are yeti-like, neanderthal-like cryptids in Siberia. I have yet to come across another story with such a creature and I appreciate authors exploring outside the classic monster lineup (werewolves, orcs, gargoyles, etc). Primal play fans will probably take enjoyment in the Chuchunya culture and biology. You got your pheromones making everyone smell amazing and acting crazy. There’s a chasing ritual. The ultimate goal is breeding. If there’s a check list of things that appeal to primal play fans, this book’s got it. Throw all of this in the middle of Earth’s version of Not-Hoth for you Ruby Dixon fans and you’ve got some smutty winter goodness.
I think those who have experienced academia drama are going to get some particular glee reading her slighted professor-gone-rogue side character. I did, but I don’t know how much readers will understand or appreciate the evil professor without an academia background themselves. There seemed to be missed opportunities to develop that character, which I would have really liked. She comes in, commits attempted murder, and then she exits the story. I immediately asked myself “Wait, that’s all we get with her?”
Barr is certainly capable of adding depth to side characters though. The FMC’s mom and best friend are great examples. I’m looking forward to getting to know said best friend in the next book.
**ARC provided and voluntarily reviewed.**
Matchstick (Dark Spirits Fairytales) by S.J. Sanders
Release Date: December 31, 2020
Content Notes
Instalove
Slightly Modified Peen
Greek Mythological characters
Han Christian Anderson adaptation
Solstice
Attempted Murder
S. J. Sanders writes a good, deary fairy tale to read in the dead of winter with Matchsticks. While this would have been lovely to read during the holidays, I felt it was still nice to read just afterwards in January. It still retained a warming, satisfying effect.
There’s a sense of narrative flatness and simplicity I tend to associtate with fairy tales. Sanders managed to achieve this almost perfectly. Overall, it felt like a steak dinner. It was simple and satisfying.
Admittedly, Matchsticks still had elements like The Ravening that felt like parsley on a steak dinner plate. It adds some interest and color to the meal, but the purpose of its presence is a question. Regardless, the parsley did not interfere with the tastiness of the steak.
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For more information about this newsletter’s spice and star system, check out this newsletter’s About Me page.