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The Tenfold Tenants
Corvinian Hark thought he'd be the next great villain.
What he ended up as, is a caretaker of magical tenants. This setback was supposed to have been temporary.
It has been temporary going on eight years.
But things are looking up, or at least he was told things are looking up. If you were to ask Corbin, things mostly keep looking sideways. Because his latest tenant might just be human. It means no more magic in the hallways and keeping skeletons from wandering out of the closet. But mostly it means that if he can't figure her out, he'll be out of a job. Which would be rather unfortunate, as it is where he keeps his bed, and all of his stuff, and all of his friends.
He'll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn't notice, shall he?
What he ended up as, is a caretaker of magical tenants. This setback was supposed to have been temporary.
It has been temporary going on eight years.
But things are looking up, or at least he was told things are looking up. If you were to ask Corbin, things mostly keep looking sideways. Because his latest tenant might just be human. It means no more magic in the hallways and keeping skeletons from wandering out of the closet. But mostly it means that if he can't figure her out, he'll be out of a job. Which would be rather unfortunate, as it is where he keeps his bed, and all of his stuff, and all of his friends.
He'll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn't notice, shall he?
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2023
13 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 14, 2023
I have been searching for books with Being Human vibes and have found one to add to the list!
Tenfold Tenants perfectly captures the supernatural/cozy fantasy/magical realism vibes! While we are immersed in a paranormal household, E.V. Belknap explores topics of family conflict, self worth, anxiety and employment stress while interlacing heartfelt humor and magical chaos. I was absolutely hooked from the gorgeous cover to the immersive storyline and all the wonderful happenings in-between!
✨ Cozy Fantasy
🔮 Magic
🔍 Mystery
🫶 Found Family
🖤 Quirky & Lovable Characters
🍰 Slice of Life
💣 Mayhem
💼 Unique Employment
I 100% loved getting to know (and love) the Tenfold Tenants and hope we get to revisit this fantastical world in the future!
Thank you E.V. Belknap for the gifted copy! 📚
Tenfold Tenants perfectly captures the supernatural/cozy fantasy/magical realism vibes! While we are immersed in a paranormal household, E.V. Belknap explores topics of family conflict, self worth, anxiety and employment stress while interlacing heartfelt humor and magical chaos. I was absolutely hooked from the gorgeous cover to the immersive storyline and all the wonderful happenings in-between!
✨ Cozy Fantasy
🔮 Magic
🔍 Mystery
🫶 Found Family
🖤 Quirky & Lovable Characters
🍰 Slice of Life
💣 Mayhem
💼 Unique Employment
I 100% loved getting to know (and love) the Tenfold Tenants and hope we get to revisit this fantastical world in the future!
Thank you E.V. Belknap for the gifted copy! 📚
January 24, 2024
Note: A 4-star rating from me means 'GO OUT AND BUY THIS BOOK! NOW!' :)
This was my first ARC and what a great start! Belknap has such a vivid, engaging and entertaining voice. I loved the humour & the perception that layers the book—about life, people, the universe.
What also caught my eye were the inventiveness of the scenes, the fresh take on characters in really challenging situations and some interesting language play.
Readers who love their grounded fantasy (set in real world settings) mixed with dollops of humour with a warm, weird, wacky found family will love this book.
The plot is seemingly simple & the narration sometimes appears to meander. But hold on! Because in unfurling layers, it gives you such sweet returns, as it unveils its complex characters across the diverse spectrum and its relationships with such deftness and warmth.
This is a much-needed story about self doubt that morphs into self belief, however shaky, and the holding on of hope. Plus! What a killer of a foreshadowing! I thoroughly enjoyed the voice, the observations so much so that I bookmarked many, many passages where I smiled or burst out laughing.
This book gave me the same cosy fantasy, heart-warming vibes of The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet with its lovely found family with its quirky characters that revel in who they are. This book is a keeper that I will be returning to again. Can't wait for Belknap's next book. Super eager to read more from her! [And perhaps more from this cast of characters as well? Are you listening, Author Dear? :)]
This was my first ARC and what a great start! Belknap has such a vivid, engaging and entertaining voice. I loved the humour & the perception that layers the book—about life, people, the universe.
What also caught my eye were the inventiveness of the scenes, the fresh take on characters in really challenging situations and some interesting language play.
Readers who love their grounded fantasy (set in real world settings) mixed with dollops of humour with a warm, weird, wacky found family will love this book.
The plot is seemingly simple & the narration sometimes appears to meander. But hold on! Because in unfurling layers, it gives you such sweet returns, as it unveils its complex characters across the diverse spectrum and its relationships with such deftness and warmth.
This is a much-needed story about self doubt that morphs into self belief, however shaky, and the holding on of hope. Plus! What a killer of a foreshadowing! I thoroughly enjoyed the voice, the observations so much so that I bookmarked many, many passages where I smiled or burst out laughing.
This book gave me the same cosy fantasy, heart-warming vibes of The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet with its lovely found family with its quirky characters that revel in who they are. This book is a keeper that I will be returning to again. Can't wait for Belknap's next book. Super eager to read more from her! [And perhaps more from this cast of characters as well? Are you listening, Author Dear? :)]
December 10, 2023
**Disclaimer: I am an extremely tough judge and a fellow indie author, but my reviews are from the reader perspective**
E.V. has burst out with an incredible debut novel, The Tenfold Tenants. The characters are adorable, the setting is thorough and 3D, the pace is strong in the beginning and even stronger at the end. I suffered many times from a case of the "One More Chapter" 's and ended up reading way beyond intended, which everyone on Earth knows this as the mark of a good read.
I am still thinking about this book weeks later, another good sign. I would read more work by this author.
I received this book as an ARC copy, and all reviews are made in honesty and with good faith.
E.V. has burst out with an incredible debut novel, The Tenfold Tenants. The characters are adorable, the setting is thorough and 3D, the pace is strong in the beginning and even stronger at the end. I suffered many times from a case of the "One More Chapter" 's and ended up reading way beyond intended, which everyone on Earth knows this as the mark of a good read.
I am still thinking about this book weeks later, another good sign. I would read more work by this author.
I received this book as an ARC copy, and all reviews are made in honesty and with good faith.
July 5, 2024
4.5 stars
The concept of an apartment complex with paranormal tenants sold me right away. The shadow maker caretaker Corbin is as gloomy as his skill. He gets into a deal with The Powers That Be to determine if a dubious is a human or a paranormal creature like them. Having such a wild eclectic crew try to keep their magical abilities under wraps was an entertaining venture, to say the least. I enjoyed all the different personalities especially Michael the scaredy cat vampire (reasonably so given the explanation) and Keith a were-hyena who cooks more than enough food for the ones who can actually eat what he makes. Corbin himself was trying so hard to cling to him being one day a villain when he clearly was a good guy and I loved him for it. Wish he had a romance but I am just a sucker for a good romance.
There were two characters that I got mixed around a lot. One was a demon and the other a grim reaper. Otherwise, the rest were very distinct. It was nice to see a group of tenants who were like family to one another. And then there is Annelies who changed her name oddly. She is the mysterious dubious who had clearly been abused back in Belgium. I loved her and it made me so happy to see the others be kind to her (except Tammy of course). I do think there was a hole in this story and it had to do with her. There was something said at the end that implies something important. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't addressed. Overall though I couldn't stop reading this. I had a great time and will definitely be reading more from this author.
The concept of an apartment complex with paranormal tenants sold me right away. The shadow maker caretaker Corbin is as gloomy as his skill. He gets into a deal with The Powers That Be to determine if a dubious is a human or a paranormal creature like them. Having such a wild eclectic crew try to keep their magical abilities under wraps was an entertaining venture, to say the least. I enjoyed all the different personalities especially Michael the scaredy cat vampire (reasonably so given the explanation) and Keith a were-hyena who cooks more than enough food for the ones who can actually eat what he makes. Corbin himself was trying so hard to cling to him being one day a villain when he clearly was a good guy and I loved him for it. Wish he had a romance but I am just a sucker for a good romance.
There were two characters that I got mixed around a lot. One was a demon and the other a grim reaper. Otherwise, the rest were very distinct. It was nice to see a group of tenants who were like family to one another. And then there is Annelies who changed her name oddly. She is the mysterious dubious who had clearly been abused back in Belgium. I loved her and it made me so happy to see the others be kind to her (except Tammy of course). I do think there was a hole in this story and it had to do with her. There was something said at the end that implies something important. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't addressed. Overall though I couldn't stop reading this. I had a great time and will definitely be reading more from this author.
May 16, 2024
This is a lovely story about being the caretaker of a house full of magical beings. So, what happens when a human is added to the mix? Oh, and the said human can't know about the rest of the tenants being magical. What follows is hysterical. Corbin, the caretaker tries his utmost to keep the human as safe as possible, whilst trying to sort out his own life (from his office), and failing miserably!
A great read and I hope EV brings these characters back in the future as they were all good.
A great read and I hope EV brings these characters back in the future as they were all good.
April 13, 2024
Ugh! Why did the ending almost make me tear up 😭
Loved this story so much!
Loved this story so much!
October 17, 2024
If you haven't read this book, read this book.
If you have read this book, go read it again.
The perfect Cozy Fantasy/Found Family vibes
If you have read this book, go read it again.
The perfect Cozy Fantasy/Found Family vibes
May 28, 2025
Einerseits absolut in-your-face-cozy, aber andererseits auch einige frische Ideen. Besondere Stärke sind aber absolut die Charaktere und der Humor!
November 28, 2025
4.5⭐️
Finding your people, finding your voice, finding your place in the world.
This was a delightful warm hug of a story with characters who are nothing short of magical
Finding your people, finding your voice, finding your place in the world.
This was a delightful warm hug of a story with characters who are nothing short of magical
October 20, 2025
Funny and kind found family contemporary fantasy. Had so much fun hanging out with these characters!
December 11, 2023
A crazy amusing unexpected ride
I didn't read anything ahead of time, I just knew it was recommended, so I didn't really have any expectations. I couldn't have been more happy with how this book lead us along a twisting path, to a most satisfactory ending. Keep reading, even when it's a bit confusing, because it is worth it in the end.
I didn't read anything ahead of time, I just knew it was recommended, so I didn't really have any expectations. I couldn't have been more happy with how this book lead us along a twisting path, to a most satisfactory ending. Keep reading, even when it's a bit confusing, because it is worth it in the end.
December 26, 2023
Unique story full of heartwarming charm and fun characters
Describing the plot of The Tenfold Tenants is a challenge - you can tell from the title you are in a building with tenants, ten of them no less!
But aside from that? The story starts with one tenant departing and another simultaneously arriving in unorthodox fashion and follows the efforts to figure out the life situation of the new tenant as the building’s caretaker works to extricate himself from his position to move on to what he sees as bigger and better things.
The keys to what makes this story so endearing are the growth of characters on a path of self-discovery, found family vs. born family, the realization that forgiving yourself is the hardest task, and decoupling what you want to do from what you are expected to do.
I love all of the characters - they are all misfits in one way or another, in ways that feel relatable. Our caretaker and new arrival are each revealed in some depth without needing to detail every little challenge they’ve faced.
My criticisms are that the pacing dragged a bit in the middle - it was needed to set the table for the ending and truly make us frustrated with a certain situation, but the contrast between the middle and end in terms of pacing was stark and could have been smoothed.
Also, the book is loaded with fun use of tropes, references, call-outs and quips - but again they are too heavily back-loaded and I would have loved to have seen more in the slower, somber middle act for a bit more of a distraction than was provided by other fun scenes.
Overall I can only say that THIS is what I love about BookTok - here is a debut author I discovered organically through the community who has released one of the most unique books I have read all year!
Describing the plot of The Tenfold Tenants is a challenge - you can tell from the title you are in a building with tenants, ten of them no less!
But aside from that? The story starts with one tenant departing and another simultaneously arriving in unorthodox fashion and follows the efforts to figure out the life situation of the new tenant as the building’s caretaker works to extricate himself from his position to move on to what he sees as bigger and better things.
The keys to what makes this story so endearing are the growth of characters on a path of self-discovery, found family vs. born family, the realization that forgiving yourself is the hardest task, and decoupling what you want to do from what you are expected to do.
I love all of the characters - they are all misfits in one way or another, in ways that feel relatable. Our caretaker and new arrival are each revealed in some depth without needing to detail every little challenge they’ve faced.
My criticisms are that the pacing dragged a bit in the middle - it was needed to set the table for the ending and truly make us frustrated with a certain situation, but the contrast between the middle and end in terms of pacing was stark and could have been smoothed.
Also, the book is loaded with fun use of tropes, references, call-outs and quips - but again they are too heavily back-loaded and I would have loved to have seen more in the slower, somber middle act for a bit more of a distraction than was provided by other fun scenes.
Overall I can only say that THIS is what I love about BookTok - here is a debut author I discovered organically through the community who has released one of the most unique books I have read all year!
October 29, 2023
I read this book as an electronic ARC.
If you love Neil Gaiman and/or T.J. Klune, you are going to love this book! From the first chapter I was catching the same feelings I felt when I started Neverwhere and The House in the Cerulean Sea. This story is wonderfully magical and whimsical with a glorious cast of creature characters that left me belly laughing at their antics as I fell in love with each one.
Corbin is an aspiring villain who took a temporary job as the caretaker of an apartment building full of magical tenants. Eight years on, he is feeling rather stuck as he is no closer to achieving his dream of villainy, and he is still chasing after his tenants. After one of his tenants needs to leave abruptly, the Powers That Be call with an immediate request and an offer he cannot refuse. The catch? His new tenant *might* be human, which means the total disruption of the lives of everyone in the building as they are forced to hide their true natures. And, if Corbin can't figure her out by the impending deadline, he will lose his job.
Corbin reminded me so much of Linus from THCS and Richard from Neverwhere because all of these characters started out having relatively ordinary, boring lives (as boring as being in charge of magical children/adults can be, that is) and they were all thrust into the reluctant hero role.
If you like modern urban fantasies with queer representation, found family, quirky humor, magic, and relatively low stakes, I highly recommend picking up The Tenfold Tenants! I will be buying a paperback copy to put on my shelf with my Gaimans and my Klunes. Excellent job by this author, I am very much looking forward to seeing what they write next!
If you love Neil Gaiman and/or T.J. Klune, you are going to love this book! From the first chapter I was catching the same feelings I felt when I started Neverwhere and The House in the Cerulean Sea. This story is wonderfully magical and whimsical with a glorious cast of creature characters that left me belly laughing at their antics as I fell in love with each one.
Corbin is an aspiring villain who took a temporary job as the caretaker of an apartment building full of magical tenants. Eight years on, he is feeling rather stuck as he is no closer to achieving his dream of villainy, and he is still chasing after his tenants. After one of his tenants needs to leave abruptly, the Powers That Be call with an immediate request and an offer he cannot refuse. The catch? His new tenant *might* be human, which means the total disruption of the lives of everyone in the building as they are forced to hide their true natures. And, if Corbin can't figure her out by the impending deadline, he will lose his job.
Corbin reminded me so much of Linus from THCS and Richard from Neverwhere because all of these characters started out having relatively ordinary, boring lives (as boring as being in charge of magical children/adults can be, that is) and they were all thrust into the reluctant hero role.
If you like modern urban fantasies with queer representation, found family, quirky humor, magic, and relatively low stakes, I highly recommend picking up The Tenfold Tenants! I will be buying a paperback copy to put on my shelf with my Gaimans and my Klunes. Excellent job by this author, I am very much looking forward to seeing what they write next!
November 12, 2023
Come find a home with the tenfold tenants.
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters are all relatable and enviable at the same time. I really wanted to visit their building, see Luke sweeping the floor and see Jules and Tammy watching their favorite show while playing with James. I really felt for Corbin and was rushing through the pages wanting to help them figure out if Annalisa really was magical.
E.V. did a really nice job of making the reader feel like part of the story family and I hope she writes many more.
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters are all relatable and enviable at the same time. I really wanted to visit their building, see Luke sweeping the floor and see Jules and Tammy watching their favorite show while playing with James. I really felt for Corbin and was rushing through the pages wanting to help them figure out if Annalisa really was magical.
E.V. did a really nice job of making the reader feel like part of the story family and I hope she writes many more.
December 4, 2023
This book was an absolute delight. The writing style was beautiful and engaging. I loved the portrayal of found family and subversion of villainy tropes. Definitely one of my fave cozy fantasy books!
October 31, 2023
Corbin may be my spirit animal/villain. Stuck in a job for 8 years he's not sure he wants. Looking after magical creatures who don't always appreciate his privacy and struggles, all things come to a head when he is given an opportunity to finally do something with his degree, and show off to his disapproving mother.
Belknap has a fabulous way with words, especially dialogue. With such a rich cast of characters, they've managed to give them all unique traits and ways of speaking, and when they all come together, they're a bloody good laugh (much to Corbin's dismay).
Annalies is the spanner that throws everything out of whack for Corbin. Is she human or something else? Whilst housing her, he must keep all magical creatures at bay and ensure their secret is safe from Annalies in case she does turn out to be only human. Corbin can easily hide a demon, werewolf, vampire, necromancer, skeleton, and maybe poltergeist from her.....as well as the others.
If you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea or anything by Pratchett or Jodi Taylor then this is for you. This novel is charming, funny, and well-written.
And I just want to give Corbin a massive hug.
Thank you so much to Belknap for the ARC. Cannot wait to read more from you.
Belknap has a fabulous way with words, especially dialogue. With such a rich cast of characters, they've managed to give them all unique traits and ways of speaking, and when they all come together, they're a bloody good laugh (much to Corbin's dismay).
Annalies is the spanner that throws everything out of whack for Corbin. Is she human or something else? Whilst housing her, he must keep all magical creatures at bay and ensure their secret is safe from Annalies in case she does turn out to be only human. Corbin can easily hide a demon, werewolf, vampire, necromancer, skeleton, and maybe poltergeist from her.....as well as the others.
If you enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea or anything by Pratchett or Jodi Taylor then this is for you. This novel is charming, funny, and well-written.
And I just want to give Corbin a massive hug.
Thank you so much to Belknap for the ARC. Cannot wait to read more from you.
January 13, 2024
3.5 stars
Where to begin? The Tenfold Tenants is a wonderful first novel from the fascinating mind of E.V Belknap. I’m an absolute sucker for a found family troupe and this delivers tenfold; get it? Get it? It’s a pun! When I started the book I knew I had stepped into something special something untouched and new and it’s an honour to have stumbled across this novel via TikTok. I have to be honest in my review I owe it to the author to give my unbiased opinion so that they continue to develop in their work. I did struggle at times to understand who was who and what magical powers each tenant possessed; I don’t know what a harpy or a muse or even a “dubious” does compared to a werewolf or a vampire and I wish this had been developed more thoroughly so I didn’t get lost. I also forgot who Harut was and at the 75% point of the book I was trying to remember who they were and what they were I’m still not 100% sure. This might be a fault of my own because I often read multiple books at once so at no point did The Tenfold Tenants have my full attention being the only book I was reading. Saying that The Tenfold Tenants is a wonderful story from a very brilliant and creative person who I will be keeping an eye on for future releases. 🩷
Where to begin? The Tenfold Tenants is a wonderful first novel from the fascinating mind of E.V Belknap. I’m an absolute sucker for a found family troupe and this delivers tenfold; get it? Get it? It’s a pun! When I started the book I knew I had stepped into something special something untouched and new and it’s an honour to have stumbled across this novel via TikTok. I have to be honest in my review I owe it to the author to give my unbiased opinion so that they continue to develop in their work. I did struggle at times to understand who was who and what magical powers each tenant possessed; I don’t know what a harpy or a muse or even a “dubious” does compared to a werewolf or a vampire and I wish this had been developed more thoroughly so I didn’t get lost. I also forgot who Harut was and at the 75% point of the book I was trying to remember who they were and what they were I’m still not 100% sure. This might be a fault of my own because I often read multiple books at once so at no point did The Tenfold Tenants have my full attention being the only book I was reading. Saying that The Tenfold Tenants is a wonderful story from a very brilliant and creative person who I will be keeping an eye on for future releases. 🩷
October 27, 2023
I read an ARC copy of The Tenfold Tenants.
A possible human, Annelies, winds up in a house for magical people run by a not so villainous villain, Corbin. Corbin is tasked with finding out what magical powers she might have or what magical creature she might be without clueing her in to the magical tenants she's living amongst. What could go wrong?
This journey is all about magical found family and finding your own way along in life. The story was character driven and dialogue heavy with humorous banter. Lots of folklore and fairy tale tidbits sprinkled throughout. If you’re looking for a light spooky season read, I would recommend this cozy fantasy.
Bonus points for a great cover that drew me in just as much as the novel’s premise!
A possible human, Annelies, winds up in a house for magical people run by a not so villainous villain, Corbin. Corbin is tasked with finding out what magical powers she might have or what magical creature she might be without clueing her in to the magical tenants she's living amongst. What could go wrong?
This journey is all about magical found family and finding your own way along in life. The story was character driven and dialogue heavy with humorous banter. Lots of folklore and fairy tale tidbits sprinkled throughout. If you’re looking for a light spooky season read, I would recommend this cozy fantasy.
Bonus points for a great cover that drew me in just as much as the novel’s premise!
October 15, 2023
The found family in this cosy book is so good. I fell in love with each of the characters and enjoyed seeing them interact with each other. A beauitfully wholesome story.
I'm so grateful to receive an ARC copy.
I'm so grateful to receive an ARC copy.
November 17, 2024
Thank you so so much for allowing me to be on your ARC team!!!
If you enjoy found family and the book The House in the Cerulean sea, I think you will adore this book as well. Supernatural found family all living in an apartment together, it was funny, touching and had me smiling so much!!
If you enjoy found family and the book The House in the Cerulean sea, I think you will adore this book as well. Supernatural found family all living in an apartment together, it was funny, touching and had me smiling so much!!
October 17, 2023
Tenfold Tenants is a delightful read with cozy fantasy vibes and so many fun characters. I cannot wait to see what other stories this author creates!
December 29, 2024
I am...very, VERY surprised this was a debut.
I'm like, half convinced this was a draft for a third book, and she already secretly published 3 books already, but this story got shelved for like 10 years, and Belknap dusted it off, changed her name slapped it on Tiktok, and here we are. *stops making tinfoil hats*
This is the first time where I have an indie book from Booktok that's genuinely good!
It's not perfect, of course, but damn, this is what I was hoping "Dreadful" would be and then some!
It's spoopy, cozy, makes you think a little too much about your failures in life like a true "horror" (hey existentialism is a type of a horror, man), and the setting is....well,
Compared to "Dreadful" where it was nondescript European country side with a dark wizard....OK, maybe Belknap didn't pick the best setting but hey, at least it's London with some snippets of worldbuilding and depressing realism. We didn't get much of anything in "Dreadful" in comparison. Fluff with little to no obstacles.
At least here there were obstacles and the found family that I fucking wish I had.
Go in for the cover, come out of it realizing how lonely you are! :D
Prose: The shining star in this book. If you love really diving into one POV only, this is it. We dive into it so smoothly that I forget I'm reading and not question my life choices of why I bothered with college. There are so many relatable lines that I wish I could have had this book physical so I can tab this shit. Excellent work! +3
Plot: We're trying to find out if someone is human or not and we're taken them in as our ward. Only problem is, the magical organization that put us in charge, doesn't want this person to find out about magic.
The OTHER problem is, where she's staying has a demon, a necromancer (and a Skeleton named Luke), a harpy, a faerie, a muse, a soul guide, two werewolves, one vampire, a demon, a mysterious shadow manipulator, and a potential poltergeist named Spoopy(?)
It was such a fun plot, to the point some scenes are burned in my head now, that it's way more involved than most cozy books. Loved it! +2
Pace: It's a medium pace, not too slow, not too fast, but the first few percentage is a bit of a slodge because we're understanding this author's style. But once you get used to it, it's well worth the money, trust me. Just because it's not on KU, doesn't mean you bypass this book. +1
Characters: Sadly, while we do get a bit deep dive on the MC and his life, and we do get a diverse character skeleton of the tenants, we only touched very little on the other tenants of the book. I wanted more ethnic diversity since London is a melting pot of SO MANY immigrants.
We only got two diverse characters and the rest are implied to be white so it didn't feel that realistic. It would have been nice to make a few of the girls be from other ethnicities. We touched basis that there are magical creatures in other countries but we primarily only focused on EU which was a bit sad and I wanted there to be a more diverse mix. -2.0
Vibe: Spoop London but make it LGBT friendly which was welcoming in a world full of darkness +1
Worldbuilding: The other reason why this is not a perfect 5 stars. The worldbuilding, while it was there, wasn't all that much and discussed only the MC's life and backstory. We do get some snippets of other places and their worldbuilding, but no explanation of the magic system and discussion of the other magical tenants and their creatures... it's just not a lot for me to merit this book as 5/5.
I loved this book, don't get me wrong, but it was more of a character/found family drama than an actual worldbuilding fantasy type of book. Think of it as an urban cozy fantasy and you'll get a better picture of what to expect. -.75
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The saving merit of this book is the prose itself and the worst part of it is the lack of diversity and lack of increased worldbuilding that it just feels like London with a touch of Spoop. But the prose is so good that at the very least, if you have a few bucks and looking for a cozy time, it's still ridiculously good for a debut.
Hopefully after a few books she'll get the hang of inserting more diversity but by no means should she be written off. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
4.25/5
I'm like, half convinced this was a draft for a third book, and she already secretly published 3 books already, but this story got shelved for like 10 years, and Belknap dusted it off, changed her name slapped it on Tiktok, and here we are. *stops making tinfoil hats*
This is the first time where I have an indie book from Booktok that's genuinely good!
It's not perfect, of course, but damn, this is what I was hoping "Dreadful" would be and then some!
It's spoopy, cozy, makes you think a little too much about your failures in life like a true "horror" (hey existentialism is a type of a horror, man), and the setting is....well,
Compared to "Dreadful" where it was nondescript European country side with a dark wizard....OK, maybe Belknap didn't pick the best setting but hey, at least it's London with some snippets of worldbuilding and depressing realism. We didn't get much of anything in "Dreadful" in comparison. Fluff with little to no obstacles.
At least here there were obstacles and the found family that I fucking wish I had.
Go in for the cover, come out of it realizing how lonely you are! :D
Prose: The shining star in this book. If you love really diving into one POV only, this is it. We dive into it so smoothly that I forget I'm reading and not question my life choices of why I bothered with college. There are so many relatable lines that I wish I could have had this book physical so I can tab this shit. Excellent work! +3
Plot: We're trying to find out if someone is human or not and we're taken them in as our ward. Only problem is, the magical organization that put us in charge, doesn't want this person to find out about magic.
The OTHER problem is, where she's staying has a demon, a necromancer (and a Skeleton named Luke), a harpy, a faerie, a muse, a soul guide, two werewolves, one vampire, a demon, a mysterious shadow manipulator, and a potential poltergeist named Spoopy(?)
It was such a fun plot, to the point some scenes are burned in my head now, that it's way more involved than most cozy books. Loved it! +2
Pace: It's a medium pace, not too slow, not too fast, but the first few percentage is a bit of a slodge because we're understanding this author's style. But once you get used to it, it's well worth the money, trust me. Just because it's not on KU, doesn't mean you bypass this book. +1
Characters: Sadly, while we do get a bit deep dive on the MC and his life, and we do get a diverse character skeleton of the tenants, we only touched very little on the other tenants of the book. I wanted more ethnic diversity since London is a melting pot of SO MANY immigrants.
We only got two diverse characters and the rest are implied to be white so it didn't feel that realistic. It would have been nice to make a few of the girls be from other ethnicities. We touched basis that there are magical creatures in other countries but we primarily only focused on EU which was a bit sad and I wanted there to be a more diverse mix. -2.0
Vibe: Spoop London but make it LGBT friendly which was welcoming in a world full of darkness +1
Worldbuilding: The other reason why this is not a perfect 5 stars. The worldbuilding, while it was there, wasn't all that much and discussed only the MC's life and backstory. We do get some snippets of other places and their worldbuilding, but no explanation of the magic system and discussion of the other magical tenants and their creatures... it's just not a lot for me to merit this book as 5/5.
I loved this book, don't get me wrong, but it was more of a character/found family drama than an actual worldbuilding fantasy type of book. Think of it as an urban cozy fantasy and you'll get a better picture of what to expect. -.75
-
The saving merit of this book is the prose itself and the worst part of it is the lack of diversity and lack of increased worldbuilding that it just feels like London with a touch of Spoop. But the prose is so good that at the very least, if you have a few bucks and looking for a cozy time, it's still ridiculously good for a debut.
Hopefully after a few books she'll get the hang of inserting more diversity but by no means should she be written off. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
4.25/5
August 20, 2024
The Tenfold Tenants
Every now and then it happens that you find the perfect book as a reader - or you are the perfect reader for this book, whichever way you want to look at it. Either way, it's a perfect fit.
Aside from everything that hits home personally (an MC with a ‘raven’ in his name, a caretaker of unusual tenants who has all hands to do to keep things running, a shadow sorcerer, a vampire of its very own kind, a Solstice party…), there is still so much to like in this delightful cosy read which I can wholeheartedly recommend.
The story begins with main character Corvinian ‘Corbin’ Hark on a rescue mission: One of his tenants – all of them magical beings – is in hospital after an accident; still in human form, but for how long? Since people aren’t supposed to know about the magical beings wandering around in real life, it’s up to Corbin to set things right. After all, this is part of a Tenant Custodian’s job description, and although he thinks himself destined for greater, ‘villainous’ things, he fulfils his job with heart and soul, at any time of day or night.
One problem solved, the next one comes along in the form of Annelies, an exchange student from the cursed land of Belgium. She’s a dubious, someone who might or might not be a magical being. Corbin’s employers, The Powers That Be, want him to find out about her true nature. If he succeeds, he’ll be rewarded with a promotion, which means a new, more promising job and a pay rise. Corbin, fed up with many aspects of his job – which was only meant to be temporary – agrees to the deal.
The task proves to be no easy undertaking. Not only do they have a potential human in their house, which means all the tenants must constantly hide their ‘otherness’, but Corbin is increasingly doubting whether getting rid of his job and leaving his tenants behind is really what he wants in life.
The Tenfold Tenants is a delightful cosy fantasy book, rich with themes of friendship and found family (vs. biological family), the difficulty of finding one’s place in life, sprinkled with slice of life, hearty banter and a whimsical atmosphere, and over all, the mystery of Annelies’s background.
Told in the third person, the story is well-written and well-paced, interspersed with fresh humour and delicious puns (Let’s just say her death would heat things up.). At the heart of the story are its quirky and endearing characters. It’s very easy to connect to Corbin and his bunch of tenants as we are quickly introduced to each individual character in this chaotic household and watch them interact with each other in a wonderful display of familiarity, mutual support and appreciation.
The household members are a diverse bunch not only because of being different kinds of magical beings but also show a wide range of cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations/identities. Rather unusual for a cosy fantasy, despite of having a – queer – established couple amongst the tenants and the fact that we learn a bit about some characters’ love lives, the story gets by without a romance (sub)plot.
I didn’t have much difficulty distinguishing between the individual tenants, who are introduced in a rather short time, yet I like to refer to the wonderful cover art which helps here by depicting almost all the household members.
My favourite character is certainly Corbin, the would-be villain, at least if he followed the family tradition. However, it’s difficult to become a villain when you have a heart of gold. I could relate to him so much with all his tasks and problems.
I loved that shadow magic (and its origin) played such a big part and devoured all the scenes that features it.
Underneath all the cosiness, time and again a more serious topic comes up, even if it’s only hinted at: abuse/domestic violence.
The Tenfold Tenants is a book that I know I will enjoy returning to again and again. I recommend it to readers who love cosy fantasy with endearing characters, found family vibes, mystery and humour - but especially to those who love their cosy fantasy without a romance plot that so often comes along with it.
Some final thoughts:
I love how Edith combs Michael's hair and doesn't let him know that there are some strands in the brush (which will soon turn to dust). 😉
I like the idea of the different versions of the fairy tales - the human version versus the magical beings' version with the reversed roles of hero and antagonist.
I’d like to learn more about that School of the Ultimate Evil Antagonistic Villainy which has so interesting subjects like Grunt Control and Plausible Deniability. And of course, it’s nice to learn that true villainy comes with an office under an active volcano and a trophy shark in the tank.
Words of wisdom: All women who tell men no are made monsters in their tales.
Annelies drawing Michael… What a precious gift. 😊
If there was a magical portal to transport me for visits to that house, I would first give Corbin a big warm (well-deserved and well-needed) hug. I would always make sure to invite Michael, not once but twice, to come along, and take extra cushions with me to stuff his sitting area so he would always have extra padding in the unlikely event of a fall. I would invite the whole household to come to my place for Winter Solstice. I would ask Ben to send Luke ahead so he could help me clean the house and with other preparations. For fire safety reasons, Ellean would have to promise me to behave themselves, and of course I would equip all the rooms with a whole bunch of new smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. You know, trust is good, but control is better.
Every now and then it happens that you find the perfect book as a reader - or you are the perfect reader for this book, whichever way you want to look at it. Either way, it's a perfect fit.
Aside from everything that hits home personally (an MC with a ‘raven’ in his name, a caretaker of unusual tenants who has all hands to do to keep things running, a shadow sorcerer, a vampire of its very own kind, a Solstice party…), there is still so much to like in this delightful cosy read which I can wholeheartedly recommend.
The story begins with main character Corvinian ‘Corbin’ Hark on a rescue mission: One of his tenants – all of them magical beings – is in hospital after an accident; still in human form, but for how long? Since people aren’t supposed to know about the magical beings wandering around in real life, it’s up to Corbin to set things right. After all, this is part of a Tenant Custodian’s job description, and although he thinks himself destined for greater, ‘villainous’ things, he fulfils his job with heart and soul, at any time of day or night.
One problem solved, the next one comes along in the form of Annelies, an exchange student from the cursed land of Belgium. She’s a dubious, someone who might or might not be a magical being. Corbin’s employers, The Powers That Be, want him to find out about her true nature. If he succeeds, he’ll be rewarded with a promotion, which means a new, more promising job and a pay rise. Corbin, fed up with many aspects of his job – which was only meant to be temporary – agrees to the deal.
The task proves to be no easy undertaking. Not only do they have a potential human in their house, which means all the tenants must constantly hide their ‘otherness’, but Corbin is increasingly doubting whether getting rid of his job and leaving his tenants behind is really what he wants in life.
The Tenfold Tenants is a delightful cosy fantasy book, rich with themes of friendship and found family (vs. biological family), the difficulty of finding one’s place in life, sprinkled with slice of life, hearty banter and a whimsical atmosphere, and over all, the mystery of Annelies’s background.
Told in the third person, the story is well-written and well-paced, interspersed with fresh humour and delicious puns (Let’s just say her death would heat things up.). At the heart of the story are its quirky and endearing characters. It’s very easy to connect to Corbin and his bunch of tenants as we are quickly introduced to each individual character in this chaotic household and watch them interact with each other in a wonderful display of familiarity, mutual support and appreciation.
The household members are a diverse bunch not only because of being different kinds of magical beings but also show a wide range of cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations/identities. Rather unusual for a cosy fantasy, despite of having a – queer – established couple amongst the tenants and the fact that we learn a bit about some characters’ love lives, the story gets by without a romance (sub)plot.
I didn’t have much difficulty distinguishing between the individual tenants, who are introduced in a rather short time, yet I like to refer to the wonderful cover art which helps here by depicting almost all the household members.
My favourite character is certainly Corbin, the would-be villain, at least if he followed the family tradition. However, it’s difficult to become a villain when you have a heart of gold. I could relate to him so much with all his tasks and problems.
I loved that shadow magic (and its origin) played such a big part and devoured all the scenes that features it.
Underneath all the cosiness, time and again a more serious topic comes up, even if it’s only hinted at: abuse/domestic violence.
The Tenfold Tenants is a book that I know I will enjoy returning to again and again. I recommend it to readers who love cosy fantasy with endearing characters, found family vibes, mystery and humour - but especially to those who love their cosy fantasy without a romance plot that so often comes along with it.
Some final thoughts:
I love how Edith combs Michael's hair and doesn't let him know that there are some strands in the brush (which will soon turn to dust). 😉
I like the idea of the different versions of the fairy tales - the human version versus the magical beings' version with the reversed roles of hero and antagonist.
I’d like to learn more about that School of the Ultimate Evil Antagonistic Villainy which has so interesting subjects like Grunt Control and Plausible Deniability. And of course, it’s nice to learn that true villainy comes with an office under an active volcano and a trophy shark in the tank.
Words of wisdom: All women who tell men no are made monsters in their tales.
Annelies drawing Michael… What a precious gift. 😊
If there was a magical portal to transport me for visits to that house, I would first give Corbin a big warm (well-deserved and well-needed) hug. I would always make sure to invite Michael, not once but twice, to come along, and take extra cushions with me to stuff his sitting area so he would always have extra padding in the unlikely event of a fall. I would invite the whole household to come to my place for Winter Solstice. I would ask Ben to send Luke ahead so he could help me clean the house and with other preparations. For fire safety reasons, Ellean would have to promise me to behave themselves, and of course I would equip all the rooms with a whole bunch of new smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. You know, trust is good, but control is better.
September 16, 2025
Oh I loved this. It's cozy, snarky and full of found family and oddballs and people doing their best under trying circumstances, even if their best should be devoted to villainy and evil deeds. It reminds me of the old TV show, Being Human, which I adored when it came out, but with more snark perhaps. It's a wonderful blend of cozy fantasy set in contemporary times with low/magical realism in how the characters and their powers are largely presented.
Corvinian was on the route to becoming the worlds next great villain but life apparently had other plans and now he's the caretaker for a house of magical misfits. His life consists of fire fighting - quite literally when one of his tenants self destructs in the opening pages to be born again - various difficulties that the tenants of his house is made up of, fixing things that break, meeting his villain friend/nemesis and now looking after a maybe human whilst keeping the identities of the rest of the tenant a closely guarded secret. This is not what he thought his life would be.
This is a feel good novel but it's also one with personal stakes and tension and humour and snark. I loved the found family elements of this and it was made so much better because the found family are such complete oddballs in every way possible. I loved the different species and chaotic magical beings that Corvin has as tenants and the little gems you get about them all - their histories and backgrounds and personalities. I also loved the way magical theory and history was built in, for example when discussing faerie tales, and Corvin is grappling with the fact that he was only taught the human faerie tales and other species have very different views on our childhood favourites.
I adored this from beginning to end. It made me smile, it made me snort, it made me laugh. The characters were all incredibly distinct and came to life on the page. Despite being of various magical species, there's a very human and down to earth feel about them, in all of their chaotic glory. It felt quite slow paced for the majority of it, but this really didn't bother me - I was having far too much fun with the characters.
This was the authors debut novel and it is frankly wonderful. If you like cozy fantasy that is both poignant and humorous with a good dose of chaos and shenanigans, this is something you need to read. If you don't know if you like cozy fantasy with chaos and shenanigans, then this is an awesome way to find out. And if you know you don't like it, then hey, maybe this will change your mind. I've certainly got the author on my 'to watch' list and have added her second novel 'Stake Around and Find Out' to my price watch list.
Corvinian was on the route to becoming the worlds next great villain but life apparently had other plans and now he's the caretaker for a house of magical misfits. His life consists of fire fighting - quite literally when one of his tenants self destructs in the opening pages to be born again - various difficulties that the tenants of his house is made up of, fixing things that break, meeting his villain friend/nemesis and now looking after a maybe human whilst keeping the identities of the rest of the tenant a closely guarded secret. This is not what he thought his life would be.
This is a feel good novel but it's also one with personal stakes and tension and humour and snark. I loved the found family elements of this and it was made so much better because the found family are such complete oddballs in every way possible. I loved the different species and chaotic magical beings that Corvin has as tenants and the little gems you get about them all - their histories and backgrounds and personalities. I also loved the way magical theory and history was built in, for example when discussing faerie tales, and Corvin is grappling with the fact that he was only taught the human faerie tales and other species have very different views on our childhood favourites.
I adored this from beginning to end. It made me smile, it made me snort, it made me laugh. The characters were all incredibly distinct and came to life on the page. Despite being of various magical species, there's a very human and down to earth feel about them, in all of their chaotic glory. It felt quite slow paced for the majority of it, but this really didn't bother me - I was having far too much fun with the characters.
This was the authors debut novel and it is frankly wonderful. If you like cozy fantasy that is both poignant and humorous with a good dose of chaos and shenanigans, this is something you need to read. If you don't know if you like cozy fantasy with chaos and shenanigans, then this is an awesome way to find out. And if you know you don't like it, then hey, maybe this will change your mind. I've certainly got the author on my 'to watch' list and have added her second novel 'Stake Around and Find Out' to my price watch list.
November 16, 2023
A while ago an author I’m following, E.V. Belknap, made a tiktok that she was looking for ARC readers for her debut fantasy book ‘The Tenfold Tenants’. I was so intrigued by what she described, that I immediately signed up.
So when I got the mail with the ARC copy attached I was thrilled to start reading.
‘The Tenfold Tenants’ follows Corvinius Hark, who goes by Corbin rather. He was supposed to be an actual villain, but ended up to be the caretaker of a bunch of magical tenants.
That was only supposed to be temporary, but is now going on for eight years already.
Suddenly things are looking much brighter for Corbin. Because his latest tenant might possibly be human, which means there can be no more magic in the hallways, or skeletons wandering out of the closets.
But on the other hand, if Corbin can’t figure out the new tenant in time, he’ll be out of a job, and a home, and has to abandon all of his friends.
He’ll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn’t notice, shall he?
The story is written very well, it has many layers to it. The plot is tied together very naively, which makes the plot pretty good. The dialogue is great, the author has a way with words.
I love the characters, they are likable, quirky, weird, all have their own issues. The author takes on issues like anxiety, family feud, how to fit in somewhere you don’t feel like you belong, betrayal, and many more.
It has:
found family,
queer representation,
fantasy,
magical beings,
quirky characters of all kinds,
all whole lotta mayhem,
humor and witty banter.
It is a good read. But, It did take me a long time to read, somehow it took much effort for me to read a lot in one sitting. Even though I did enjoy it.
I give it 3,5 ⭐rounding it up to 4⭐.
So when I got the mail with the ARC copy attached I was thrilled to start reading.
‘The Tenfold Tenants’ follows Corvinius Hark, who goes by Corbin rather. He was supposed to be an actual villain, but ended up to be the caretaker of a bunch of magical tenants.
That was only supposed to be temporary, but is now going on for eight years already.
Suddenly things are looking much brighter for Corbin. Because his latest tenant might possibly be human, which means there can be no more magic in the hallways, or skeletons wandering out of the closets.
But on the other hand, if Corbin can’t figure out the new tenant in time, he’ll be out of a job, and a home, and has to abandon all of his friends.
He’ll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn’t notice, shall he?
The story is written very well, it has many layers to it. The plot is tied together very naively, which makes the plot pretty good. The dialogue is great, the author has a way with words.
I love the characters, they are likable, quirky, weird, all have their own issues. The author takes on issues like anxiety, family feud, how to fit in somewhere you don’t feel like you belong, betrayal, and many more.
It has:
found family,
queer representation,
fantasy,
magical beings,
quirky characters of all kinds,
all whole lotta mayhem,
humor and witty banter.
It is a good read. But, It did take me a long time to read, somehow it took much effort for me to read a lot in one sitting. Even though I did enjoy it.
I give it 3,5 ⭐rounding it up to 4⭐.
June 24, 2024
The first book I’ve finished for the Summer Reading Contest is going to be tough act to follow: Tenfold Tenants is an absolute gem of a story:
Corbin is a would-be villain – it runs in the family; he went to to school for it and everything – but to pay the bills, he works as landlord/caretaker for a building full of magical tenants: we have a vampire, a couple of weres, a demon, a muse and her pixie girlfriend, a necromancer and his animated skeleton Luke, and others. The story begins when a new tenant moves in, who may or might not be a human… Corbin must figure out what her powers are (if any) while keeping the secrets of the folks who live in his building if he wants to keep his job. And, even more important, he has to decide whether he wants to keep his job or embrace being a Bad Guy. The pay isn’t great, the tenants drive him crazy with their shenanigans, and yet–they’re more of a family than he’s had.
The found-family vibes, the playful banter, the warmth–this is a book about PEOPLE, first and foremost, and I love the time the author takes to develop the little band of misfits and the time they spend with the characters just talking and living with each other. The Solstice celebration in particular, made me happy cry. Everyone feels so real, and I genuinely liked them all. Corbin especially–he comes across as a bit grumpy, but it’s because he’s tired of trying to be everything to everyone, and boy, can I empathize. The subtle Terry Pratchett shout-outs were the icing on the cake.
I believe this may be the author’s first published book, and it’s entered in this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO). It was a treat to read and I hope it goes far–I highly recommend it to fans of Travis Baldree, TJ Klune, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Corbin is a would-be villain – it runs in the family; he went to to school for it and everything – but to pay the bills, he works as landlord/caretaker for a building full of magical tenants: we have a vampire, a couple of weres, a demon, a muse and her pixie girlfriend, a necromancer and his animated skeleton Luke, and others. The story begins when a new tenant moves in, who may or might not be a human… Corbin must figure out what her powers are (if any) while keeping the secrets of the folks who live in his building if he wants to keep his job. And, even more important, he has to decide whether he wants to keep his job or embrace being a Bad Guy. The pay isn’t great, the tenants drive him crazy with their shenanigans, and yet–they’re more of a family than he’s had.
The found-family vibes, the playful banter, the warmth–this is a book about PEOPLE, first and foremost, and I love the time the author takes to develop the little band of misfits and the time they spend with the characters just talking and living with each other. The Solstice celebration in particular, made me happy cry. Everyone feels so real, and I genuinely liked them all. Corbin especially–he comes across as a bit grumpy, but it’s because he’s tired of trying to be everything to everyone, and boy, can I empathize. The subtle Terry Pratchett shout-outs were the icing on the cake.
I believe this may be the author’s first published book, and it’s entered in this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO). It was a treat to read and I hope it goes far–I highly recommend it to fans of Travis Baldree, TJ Klune, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
January 15, 2024
Discovered this author and book on TikTok and am so glad I did. The cover alone promises great things, but from the dedication alone, I knew I was going to love this book. It has all the cozy and quirky charm you’d expect from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett combined with the cozy found family of TJ Klune, and it makes for an utterly delightful experience.
Our main character is a career villain, with the prestigious degree to show for it… except that degree did him no good when entering the workforce saturated with villains both supernatural and corporate. This has found him working temporarily as landlord to a boardinghouse to supernatural and magical persons— except this temporary position has lasted for eight years, so far.
That all gets shaken up when The Powers That Be assign an a woman to his care that may or may not be human herself. Not really easy to keep werewolves, vampires, and necromancers under wraps when they live in the rooms next door.
What ensues is utterly delightful chaos.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will frequently re-read it. I cannot wait for the author’s next project!
Our main character is a career villain, with the prestigious degree to show for it… except that degree did him no good when entering the workforce saturated with villains both supernatural and corporate. This has found him working temporarily as landlord to a boardinghouse to supernatural and magical persons— except this temporary position has lasted for eight years, so far.
That all gets shaken up when The Powers That Be assign an a woman to his care that may or may not be human herself. Not really easy to keep werewolves, vampires, and necromancers under wraps when they live in the rooms next door.
What ensues is utterly delightful chaos.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will frequently re-read it. I cannot wait for the author’s next project!
October 16, 2023
The Tenfold Tenants is THE Halloween read for the year, with monsters that roam the night, found family, and a running theme of anxiety, burnout, and depression sprinkled in-between cozy tea time conversations, shared meals, and learning to trust again, this is one of the most unsettling, cozy esque books I've ever read.
we follow Corbin, an overworked, underappreciated would-be Villain who never really got anywhere in life, who is trying to contain an control house full of Ghosts, Ghouls and Things that Bump in the night. They in turn, would like Corbin to eat more, sleep more, and maybe even have an hour off.
We also follow Annalies, a young, almost adult running from a past she doesn't want to remember, and trying to be braver than she used to be in a house full of people who are too loud, too nosy, and frankly, weird. the problem? Annalies might not be human, and Corbin can't let her find out that monsters are real until he finds out what she is. human? or not? oh how he wished he could get rid of this oh so persistent headache.
we follow Corbin, an overworked, underappreciated would-be Villain who never really got anywhere in life, who is trying to contain an control house full of Ghosts, Ghouls and Things that Bump in the night. They in turn, would like Corbin to eat more, sleep more, and maybe even have an hour off.
We also follow Annalies, a young, almost adult running from a past she doesn't want to remember, and trying to be braver than she used to be in a house full of people who are too loud, too nosy, and frankly, weird. the problem? Annalies might not be human, and Corbin can't let her find out that monsters are real until he finds out what she is. human? or not? oh how he wished he could get rid of this oh so persistent headache.
October 19, 2023
This story about self-acceptance and found family will find its way straight into your heart.
Every person on earth will find a character they can identify with in this lovely bunch of misfits. The characters are diverse and the author does not shy away from showing the good and the bad in them. Although we could argue how bad the self-proclaimed 'bad' really is. And that might just be the point...
We follow Corbin, a bad guy. No really, he's evil, believe him! He's so evil he makes sure the vampire doesn't bury himself in all his possessions and the werewolf stays chained up in the basement. There is no way you will ever catch him doing good, so when he gets a new charge with added challenge, you just know he'll let his true, evil nature shine. Right? Right!
Do yourself a favour and read this book. At first glance it looks like a quite 'standard' tale, but nothing is quite what it seems in this version of the world.
P.S.: Belgium being cursed is now and forever canon.
Every person on earth will find a character they can identify with in this lovely bunch of misfits. The characters are diverse and the author does not shy away from showing the good and the bad in them. Although we could argue how bad the self-proclaimed 'bad' really is. And that might just be the point...
We follow Corbin, a bad guy. No really, he's evil, believe him! He's so evil he makes sure the vampire doesn't bury himself in all his possessions and the werewolf stays chained up in the basement. There is no way you will ever catch him doing good, so when he gets a new charge with added challenge, you just know he'll let his true, evil nature shine. Right? Right!
Do yourself a favour and read this book. At first glance it looks like a quite 'standard' tale, but nothing is quite what it seems in this version of the world.
P.S.: Belgium being cursed is now and forever canon.
February 1, 2025
The Tenfold Tenants is a cozy fantasy about the caretaker of a tenant house and the band of misfit magical beings under his care. Corvinian Hark was supposed to be next great villain after graduating from his school of villainy with top marks 8 years ago. A temporary setback landed him a job as the landlord of a tenant house for down on their luck magical creatures, and he hasn’t left since. But when a chance to advance is given to him, he takes it because how hard can it be to figure out if his new charge is human or magical while keeping the magic secret as they all live in the house together?
This book was just very chaotic (in a good way). It’s rather charming and likable, but the storytelling is as messy as its characters. The story jumps from one scene to another with various characters up to their own shenanigans. It’s got the cozy vibe down pat and gave us a colorful cast to get behind in all their chaotic energy that felt like a real found family. I do love me a failed villain (and not even an antihero at that) so I loved Corbin. He was very endearing and I liked how coy he was in his reluctance to accept that he sees his tenants as more than that. Among the others, I liked Michael the vampire best, but I would read a sequel just to see more of any single one of them.
The Tenfold Tenants is a chaotic quirky cozy fantasy I’d read more of.
*I was provided an ebook copy as a judge in the 3rd Indie Ink Awards. My score here may not reflect how I scored there.
This book was just very chaotic (in a good way). It’s rather charming and likable, but the storytelling is as messy as its characters. The story jumps from one scene to another with various characters up to their own shenanigans. It’s got the cozy vibe down pat and gave us a colorful cast to get behind in all their chaotic energy that felt like a real found family. I do love me a failed villain (and not even an antihero at that) so I loved Corbin. He was very endearing and I liked how coy he was in his reluctance to accept that he sees his tenants as more than that. Among the others, I liked Michael the vampire best, but I would read a sequel just to see more of any single one of them.
The Tenfold Tenants is a chaotic quirky cozy fantasy I’d read more of.
*I was provided an ebook copy as a judge in the 3rd Indie Ink Awards. My score here may not reflect how I scored there.
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