I'm trying something new for the new year. I'm avoiding star ratings except on platforms that use ratings for engagement indicators (Amazon, GoodReads, etc.). I will keep my spice ratings as those can help readers consider books from a place of personal comfort.
Over the time I have been writing reviews, I have increasingly felt that star ratings don't do a good job conveying answers to the nuanced questions I imagine my fellow readers are asking themselves. They don't even clearly answer whether I thought a book was "good." If I reviewed it, I read it. If I read it (unless I am thrown back into school), I finished it because I liked it. I greatly value my and everyone else's short time on this plane of existence. Let's only finish the books we like.
Latest Reviews
Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm
Release Date: January 7, 2024
Content Notes
Enemies-to-lovers
Slow burn
DP 🍆🍆
Post-Apocalyptic World
Warring Species
Badass Engineer FMC
Size Difference
Enthusiasts of robust world-building and slow burns would appreciate Whisper of the Deep by Emma Hamm. I felt like I sincerely had no idea how this couple would work. Their whole situation and the lack of unlimited oxygen had me with latent anxiety the entire time. So naturally, I had to keep reading to see where this would go.
Like the couple, readers need to buckle in for the long haul of feels to develop. Let this book take you through its vividly described post-climate apocalyptic world. It is a cool idea. The romance does build up. So you will get there.
Now I need to know, though, about the background of these water people! How did they evolve and stuff? Of course, I recognize and quote from Emma Hamm’s Forward, “It’s a book about fucking mermen. Let’s not get into a scientific conversation about whether the bends would happen or if she could die doing half the stuff she does.” I assume that goes for mermen evolution, but a world-building geek can only stop herself so much!
ARC provided and voluntarily reviewed.
I Married an Incubus by Regine Abel
Release Date: December 12, 2023
Content Notes
Marriage of convenience
Fighting corruption
Piercings
Journalist FMC
Prison planet
Soul mates
Size Difference
I am a sucker for the Prime Mating Agency series. So I must admit I enjoyed I Married and Incubus by Regine Abel as much as the others. The worlds of this universe are creative. Every couple is different. PMA fans will enjoy this one.
I hesitate to recommend this to a PMA newcomer. The story leverages characters, government systems, and species from previous books. While one would not be utterly adrift in a sea of characters with this book alone, I suspect more enjoyment would come from first meeting these characters in their own books.
I'd be very interested in getting into a deeper plotline for this series. Abel is a capable world-builder. The series probably has the popularity to take up at least a few more books and explore a deeper conspiracy. Pointing all of this out isn't a bid to selfishly read more books of my favorite series, though! Sure, not in the least.
Housekeeping
For more information about this newsletter’s spice and star system, check out this newsletter’s About Me page.