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Fire on the Horizon #1
Obsidian Feathers
Some desires refuse to be denied...
Angie
My life has become anything but my own. The shiny rock, the sensible fiancé...and a forced “vacation” to El Salvador, courtesy of my insufferable boss.
But I play the game, for the sake of my mother’s aristocratic aspirations, and for some peace.
Little did I know that El Salvador would lead me straight back to a wolfish grin — the one that has me dripping with desire, ready to leave it all and get lost in the jungle...
My instincts are telling me to run. And a single night’s bad decision leads me to a group of cadejo filled with glittering magic, broad smiles and a twisted secret that will unweave everything I think I know about nightmares.
Sal
The girl with gold-flecked eyes thought I was joking when I pledged myself to her in that playground. But we were bound in accordance with totoco law — and twenty years later, my cadejo can wait no longer for the mating ceremony.
It’s cute that she thinks she’s marrying some snotty businessman — as if I’d let a man so unworthy of my Xochitl take her to bed every night.
No, now that I have her scent again the dance is over.
Whichever direction she runs, I’ll be there. Whatever the cost.
Obsidian Feathers is a dual POV, Latine dark fantasy romance with lashings of kink, a possessive monstrous alphahole and a sassy, body positive FMC with a fresh twist on the familiar concept of werewolves.
See Author's website for a full list of content warnings.
Angie
My life has become anything but my own. The shiny rock, the sensible fiancé...and a forced “vacation” to El Salvador, courtesy of my insufferable boss.
But I play the game, for the sake of my mother’s aristocratic aspirations, and for some peace.
Little did I know that El Salvador would lead me straight back to a wolfish grin — the one that has me dripping with desire, ready to leave it all and get lost in the jungle...
My instincts are telling me to run. And a single night’s bad decision leads me to a group of cadejo filled with glittering magic, broad smiles and a twisted secret that will unweave everything I think I know about nightmares.
Sal
The girl with gold-flecked eyes thought I was joking when I pledged myself to her in that playground. But we were bound in accordance with totoco law — and twenty years later, my cadejo can wait no longer for the mating ceremony.
It’s cute that she thinks she’s marrying some snotty businessman — as if I’d let a man so unworthy of my Xochitl take her to bed every night.
No, now that I have her scent again the dance is over.
Whichever direction she runs, I’ll be there. Whatever the cost.
Obsidian Feathers is a dual POV, Latine dark fantasy romance with lashings of kink, a possessive monstrous alphahole and a sassy, body positive FMC with a fresh twist on the familiar concept of werewolves.
See Author's website for a full list of content warnings.
555 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2023
236 people are currently reading
2220 people want to read
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February 6, 2024
Reading for The Diverse Baseline January Prompt C: A book by a BIPOC author with a fat main character.
I'm totally down with the Salvadoran indigenous rep (it's actually really cool to read about), but the author calling this dark romance novel (with stalking, kidnapping, dubcon, etc.) a "love letter" to her people and her homeland is certainly a choice...
Review:
All right, so I actually have no issues with the dark romance elements (I'm a fucked up person), so if you're into that, this novel has a lot to satisfy you. The trigger warnings in the beginning of the book are like a mile long, so check those out.
Like the love interest is toxic AF (stalker, possessive alpha hole who loves rough sex), which isn't even attractive to me, but people have their kinks. To each their own.
I loved the indigenous rep. I loved the worldbuilding and the setting. The author really did this part well. The cadejo lore and the community/totoco feel absolutely unique and magical. It's something I've never read before. I want more, please.
I also loved the fat girl rep. The fat hate directed towards Angie/Xochi by her mom is too real. The thigh chafing is also way too real.
This is actually a 2 star read, but I'm adding another star for the indigenous rep and fat rep.
Other than all those, this book dragged so much that it was a literal drag to get through. It should've either been a duology or large sections should've been cut.
It felt like the author wanted to include every genre possible (dark romance, thriller, fantasy, supernatural), which made this book feel so bloated. There were too many side plots to keep track of too. Not to mention that the main plotline kept meandering.
The author's choice of metaphors are awkward:
"I hoped he had asbestos panties because I was tired of his bullshit in a way that felt like ice and lava swirling in my veins."
"His voice was so soft, like rabbits curling around each word, nuzzling my psyche with their soft fur."
By the end, I didn't really care about any of the characters. Sal became slightly less toxic, but only because the FMC started believing in the fated mates thing. Xochi had a spark of agency and then it just disappeared. The sex scenes got boring.
And then there was a Chosen One arc near the end that came out of nowhere, which turned into a revenge story?? I'm lost.
Also idk if I missed something, but no one in the totoco cared that their leader kidnapped a woman because ~fated mates~??
Idk anymore. I'm done.
I'm totally down with the Salvadoran indigenous rep (it's actually really cool to read about), but the author calling this dark romance novel (with stalking, kidnapping, dubcon, etc.) a "love letter" to her people and her homeland is certainly a choice...
Review:
All right, so I actually have no issues with the dark romance elements (I'm a fucked up person), so if you're into that, this novel has a lot to satisfy you. The trigger warnings in the beginning of the book are like a mile long, so check those out.
Like the love interest is toxic AF (stalker, possessive alpha hole who loves rough sex), which isn't even attractive to me, but people have their kinks. To each their own.
I loved the indigenous rep. I loved the worldbuilding and the setting. The author really did this part well. The cadejo lore and the community/totoco feel absolutely unique and magical. It's something I've never read before. I want more, please.
I also loved the fat girl rep. The fat hate directed towards Angie/Xochi by her mom is too real. The thigh chafing is also way too real.
This is actually a 2 star read, but I'm adding another star for the indigenous rep and fat rep.
Other than all those, this book dragged so much that it was a literal drag to get through. It should've either been a duology or large sections should've been cut.
It felt like the author wanted to include every genre possible (dark romance, thriller, fantasy, supernatural), which made this book feel so bloated. There were too many side plots to keep track of too. Not to mention that the main plotline kept meandering.
The author's choice of metaphors are awkward:
"I hoped he had asbestos panties because I was tired of his bullshit in a way that felt like ice and lava swirling in my veins."
"His voice was so soft, like rabbits curling around each word, nuzzling my psyche with their soft fur."
By the end, I didn't really care about any of the characters. Sal became slightly less toxic, but only because the FMC started believing in the fated mates thing. Xochi had a spark of agency and then it just disappeared. The sex scenes got boring.
And then there was a Chosen One arc near the end that came out of nowhere, which turned into a revenge story?? I'm lost.
Also idk if I missed something, but no one in the totoco cared that their leader kidnapped a woman because ~fated mates~??
Idk anymore. I'm done.
Read
September 10, 2023DNF @ 42%
I wanted to like this so badly but SO much of the language is overly repetitive and evidence of the author refusing to use synonyms. It drove me crazy. So much of the dialogue is a paragraph of one person repeating themselves over and over and over again. It’s incredibly clunky.
I’m also just so confused by Sal. To be a violent alpha-hole type that is also surrounded by a whole community he grew up with telling him to be better and that his loved ones will not hesitate to get violent or even kill him if he keeps that behavior going??? And he STILL ignores them all and keeps going?? All of his apologies are half-assed at best and when you give us a heroine that has been a doormat for 30 years, then I, as a reader, can’t tell if she’s accepting these bullshit apologies because she doesn’t know how to demand the bare minimum or because of their mate bond. Either way, I wanted to rip my hair out.
I understand it’s dark romance and I LOVE dark romance. What I don’t love is when an author forgets to show us why the heroine would even be interested in some psychotic asshole guy without the entire thing hinging on inexplicable horniness.
I want better Xochi and this man walks all over her, hurts her, and violates her deeply while praising her for her strength.
This book also almost lost me even earlier with how we’re formally introduced to the fantasy elements, however. A sex scene entering violence and fear before throwing pages of infodumping/worldbuilding at us while expecting us, the reader, to not be distracted by the fact that Xochi is nakedly handcuffed to a bed during all of this was insane. That was truly insane and a very bizarre writing choice.
CW: explicit sexual content, violence, murder, fatphobia, colorism, toxic family dynamics/abusive parent
I wanted to like this so badly but SO much of the language is overly repetitive and evidence of the author refusing to use synonyms. It drove me crazy. So much of the dialogue is a paragraph of one person repeating themselves over and over and over again. It’s incredibly clunky.
I’m also just so confused by Sal. To be a violent alpha-hole type that is also surrounded by a whole community he grew up with telling him to be better and that his loved ones will not hesitate to get violent or even kill him if he keeps that behavior going??? And he STILL ignores them all and keeps going?? All of his apologies are half-assed at best and when you give us a heroine that has been a doormat for 30 years, then I, as a reader, can’t tell if she’s accepting these bullshit apologies because she doesn’t know how to demand the bare minimum or because of their mate bond. Either way, I wanted to rip my hair out.
I understand it’s dark romance and I LOVE dark romance. What I don’t love is when an author forgets to show us why the heroine would even be interested in some psychotic asshole guy without the entire thing hinging on inexplicable horniness.
I want better Xochi and this man walks all over her, hurts her, and violates her deeply while praising her for her strength.
This book also almost lost me even earlier with how we’re formally introduced to the fantasy elements, however. A sex scene entering violence and fear before throwing pages of infodumping/worldbuilding at us while expecting us, the reader, to not be distracted by the fact that Xochi is nakedly handcuffed to a bed during all of this was insane. That was truly insane and a very bizarre writing choice.
CW: explicit sexual content, violence, murder, fatphobia, colorism, toxic family dynamics/abusive parent
May 5, 2023
I just finished this book and I need time to process my feelings 🫶🏼👏🏼🌶️😱🥵🥵🥵💀💀
December 1, 2022
I want to thank the author for being blessed with an ARC for this amazing work of art. I want to start off this review with my views are my own and entirely based on my gut reactions to this novel.
I 100%, with my whole chest, will say this is a 5-star dark romance. Emphasis on the Dark. If you enjoy Dark romance with a gut punch of real-life horror (toxic mothers, toxic men, real-life sucking with no mercy for you), plus a wonderfully new/refreshing take on monster/shifter romance. THEY'RE NOT FUCKING WEREWOLVES! OKay? Okay! Like they're not wolves, they're VAGUELY wolf shaped but the creatures in this book are soooooo much better. We're talking gnashing teeth, energy and shadow, swirling nightmares that try to break your hotel balcony door at 3 am after you've just been having a moment of spicy privacy thanks to the sultry voice of a man on the beach you just met, okay! And another refreshing part of this was how empathetic I was of our FMC's plight. As a firm member of my mother fucking sucks club, I can not tell you- neigh! I shall not spoil it. Because this book is something to experience firsthand.
CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! The author means it when they're on the list, so be fully aware prior to going in.
Highly recommend it for my gorlies who want something dark, intriguing, and sexy... and there's a hint of something else below the surface that just keeps you locked in place. It claws at you and drags you further till you're at the end, gasping for air, unable to let it go till you're done.
I 100%, with my whole chest, will say this is a 5-star dark romance. Emphasis on the Dark. If you enjoy Dark romance with a gut punch of real-life horror (toxic mothers, toxic men, real-life sucking with no mercy for you), plus a wonderfully new/refreshing take on monster/shifter romance. THEY'RE NOT FUCKING WEREWOLVES! OKay? Okay! Like they're not wolves, they're VAGUELY wolf shaped but the creatures in this book are soooooo much better. We're talking gnashing teeth, energy and shadow, swirling nightmares that try to break your hotel balcony door at 3 am after you've just been having a moment of spicy privacy thanks to the sultry voice of a man on the beach you just met, okay! And another refreshing part of this was how empathetic I was of our FMC's plight. As a firm member of my mother fucking sucks club, I can not tell you- neigh! I shall not spoil it. Because this book is something to experience firsthand.
CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! The author means it when they're on the list, so be fully aware prior to going in.
Highly recommend it for my gorlies who want something dark, intriguing, and sexy... and there's a hint of something else below the surface that just keeps you locked in place. It claws at you and drags you further till you're at the end, gasping for air, unable to let it go till you're done.
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April 8, 2023I don’t think I was the right audience for this book.
It was definitely dark romance, and I found myself skimming about halfway through for several reasons.
1. The prose was lush and beautiful at times, but often awkward and unwieldy as well with incongruous metaphors.
2. I had a difficult time connecting with the main characters, and they both seemed flat and one dimensional to me.
3. There were several vocabulary choices that just made me go “blech”. (Especially “drooling” p*33y)
4. I am an avid romance reader- I’ve been reading it for over 30 years. But this book did not feel like a romance to me. As a reader, I couldn’t see the love story unfolding. I saw obsession, but that isn’t love.
The things I loved:
1. There is gorgeous prose sprinkled throughout.
2. The exploration and explanation of indigenous culture.
I will pick up future works from this author, just perhaps not in the dark romance subgenre.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and view expressed are my own.
It was definitely dark romance, and I found myself skimming about halfway through for several reasons.
1. The prose was lush and beautiful at times, but often awkward and unwieldy as well with incongruous metaphors.
2. I had a difficult time connecting with the main characters, and they both seemed flat and one dimensional to me.
3. There were several vocabulary choices that just made me go “blech”. (Especially “drooling” p*33y)
4. I am an avid romance reader- I’ve been reading it for over 30 years. But this book did not feel like a romance to me. As a reader, I couldn’t see the love story unfolding. I saw obsession, but that isn’t love.
The things I loved:
1. There is gorgeous prose sprinkled throughout.
2. The exploration and explanation of indigenous culture.
I will pick up future works from this author, just perhaps not in the dark romance subgenre.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and view expressed are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2023
3.5 stars
I love that this book was about maters and shifters (kinda, the shifter thing is actually a bit more complicated in this book), but omg it was so also high-key problematic af?? And listen, when it comes to shifter romances, especially when there's true mates involved I am expecting some toxic/problematic romance but this book kinda took it too far at times, imo. Like, Sal kinda gave me psycho vibes and not the good kind. He really said that would let her choose if she wanted to be with him or not but then in the same breath said if she said no, he would move to be wherever she was for the rest of his life...just casually creeping. Also, this book was long af and had way too much inner monolgoue and description for my taste. I honestly had to start skimming after a while because it was taking away from my enjoyment and making me lost interest in the book.
Don't get me wrong, I did like this book and I will probably read the second book. I loveee the diversity of this world and that it's infused in latinx culture with latinx characters. That alone will keep me coming back!
I love that this book was about maters and shifters (kinda, the shifter thing is actually a bit more complicated in this book), but omg it was so also high-key problematic af?? And listen, when it comes to shifter romances, especially when there's true mates involved I am expecting some toxic/problematic romance but this book kinda took it too far at times, imo. Like, Sal kinda gave me psycho vibes and not the good kind. He really said that would let her choose if she wanted to be with him or not but then in the same breath said if she said no, he would move to be wherever she was for the rest of his life...just casually creeping. Also, this book was long af and had way too much inner monolgoue and description for my taste. I honestly had to start skimming after a while because it was taking away from my enjoyment and making me lost interest in the book.
Don't get me wrong, I did like this book and I will probably read the second book. I loveee the diversity of this world and that it's infused in latinx culture with latinx characters. That alone will keep me coming back!
June 4, 2023
A fckng masterpiece.
Obsidian feathers was everything my ancestors had been begging for within the depths of my heart. Culturally woven like a beautiful tapestry of heart and soul, this book did everything I didn’t know I needed to survive the rest of my life.
Obsidian feathers was everything my ancestors had been begging for within the depths of my heart. Culturally woven like a beautiful tapestry of heart and soul, this book did everything I didn’t know I needed to survive the rest of my life.
June 17, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was definitely a unique experience and I will probably check out more stories by this author. I wanted this to be a fave, but a good number of elements didn't hit for me. So I'm giving it 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
What I liked:
✅ Diverse representation FTW: curvy FMC, latines, dark phenotypes, multiple languages 🤎
✅ Magical realism and fantasy from a non European cultural perspective ✨
✅ Sal is obsessed with Xochitl and puts her happiness above his own 🥰
What I didn't like:
❌ Sal is seriously problematic from when she arrives at the totoco until he rescues her again - it actually gave me whiplash and I'm suing for damages 😅
❌ I didn't care for the Ik'an Lepa as a plot device
❌ Pacing needs improvement🐢🐇🏁
Reader, beware:
🚧 It's VERY dark at times and quite gorey 🩸
🚧 There's one scene where Xochitl has sex with the shape shifted form 🐺
🚧 The abuse is real, and I have no idea how the author is going to be able to redeem Annette even a little bit in The Salt Road ‼️
🚧 Technically, child death... which sounds awful, but we have no emotional connection to the kid, so... Idk, it's weird 😕
What I liked:
✅ Diverse representation FTW: curvy FMC, latines, dark phenotypes, multiple languages 🤎
✅ Magical realism and fantasy from a non European cultural perspective ✨
✅ Sal is obsessed with Xochitl and puts her happiness above his own 🥰
What I didn't like:
❌ Sal is seriously problematic from when she arrives at the totoco until he rescues her again - it actually gave me whiplash and I'm suing for damages 😅
❌ I didn't care for the Ik'an Lepa as a plot device
❌ Pacing needs improvement🐢🐇🏁
Reader, beware:
🚧 It's VERY dark at times and quite gorey 🩸
🚧 There's one scene where Xochitl has sex with the shape shifted form 🐺
🚧 The abuse is real, and I have no idea how the author is going to be able to redeem Annette even a little bit in The Salt Road ‼️
🚧 Technically, child death... which sounds awful, but we have no emotional connection to the kid, so... Idk, it's weird 😕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2023
DNF at 40%
Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. I might try to go back to this later on since all my friends enjoyed this very much. However. She just went from one abusive situation to another and after a certain point I just wasn’t having a good time anymore. There didn’t seem to be a balance between the promise of finding herself and the repeated variations of abuse she suffered. Yes, maybe the end will justify the journey but at the moment, it’s really not working or making sense to me, especially as someone who has suffered similarly before.
It is written well, and I very very much enjoy the lore and the setting. But I do think that there’s a difference between dark characters and straight up abusive men. Leaving her tied up and confused and practically bleeding to death just cause he’s angry? Using her, cumming, then abandoning her right after sex? Throwing not only her birth control and ADHD pills cause he didn’t like how it smells? Yes he’s an asshole and we’re not supposed to like him… but I really do think there needs to be more of a balance between all the elements for his assholeness to work for me.
I 100% see the foreshadowing and I can easily predict where the plot is going… but to me seeing her going from loss of mental autonomy with her family to yet another extremely abusive partner with no space that she can call safe reads just very off for me. Perhaps the last 60% will redeem itself but I’ve already spent hours reading this and I’m not sure I want to spend another 5 seeing if the end is worth it.
Usually there’s a light peeking through past all the darkness which makes dark romances enjoyable to me but there’s nothing here. All I’ve read so far is the many ways this girl can suffer variations of abuse by different people.
Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. I might try to go back to this later on since all my friends enjoyed this very much. However. She just went from one abusive situation to another and after a certain point I just wasn’t having a good time anymore. There didn’t seem to be a balance between the promise of finding herself and the repeated variations of abuse she suffered. Yes, maybe the end will justify the journey but at the moment, it’s really not working or making sense to me, especially as someone who has suffered similarly before.
It is written well, and I very very much enjoy the lore and the setting. But I do think that there’s a difference between dark characters and straight up abusive men. Leaving her tied up and confused and practically bleeding to death just cause he’s angry? Using her, cumming, then abandoning her right after sex? Throwing not only her birth control and ADHD pills cause he didn’t like how it smells? Yes he’s an asshole and we’re not supposed to like him… but I really do think there needs to be more of a balance between all the elements for his assholeness to work for me.
I 100% see the foreshadowing and I can easily predict where the plot is going… but to me seeing her going from loss of mental autonomy with her family to yet another extremely abusive partner with no space that she can call safe reads just very off for me. Perhaps the last 60% will redeem itself but I’ve already spent hours reading this and I’m not sure I want to spend another 5 seeing if the end is worth it.
Usually there’s a light peeking through past all the darkness which makes dark romances enjoyable to me but there’s nothing here. All I’ve read so far is the many ways this girl can suffer variations of abuse by different people.
March 21, 2023
5/5 ✨
4.5/5 🌶️
Y’all, this book was absolute fire!!! It was delicious, beautiful, well written, && brutally dark. I couldn’t get enough of Sal && Xochi!!
The culture alone was absolutely incredible and so captivating!! I need more of this amazing world that N. Cáceres built for us. It was so beautifully done that I was speechless after I was done reading! The magic and the spicy left me dehydrated.
I LOVED Xochi/Angie, she was a character I could fully relate to! She’s a plus size FMC that was so raw and relatable, I felt her struggles. When she got happy about Sal’s shirt fitting like a sack on her, I truly felt that in my soul! Don’t even get me started on our MMC Sal. That man was absolutely DELICIOUS and his Obsidian Beast could get it too!! He could sink whatever he wanted into me, any time. Both characters were written so very well! I loved our side characters as well, César, Julia, Old Man… I can’t wait for book two!! I need more of this world.
Highly recommend this book for all those that love dark paranormal romance! This book was sexy, dark, captivating, savage, obsessive, and culturally unique (beautiful). Check your TW! This might not be for everyone but it was well written and I couldn’t get enough.
Thank you to the beautiful author N. Cáceres for the ARC! This was an amazing debut. Make sure you pick up your copy on March 28, 2023!!
4.5/5 🌶️
Y’all, this book was absolute fire!!! It was delicious, beautiful, well written, && brutally dark. I couldn’t get enough of Sal && Xochi!!
The culture alone was absolutely incredible and so captivating!! I need more of this amazing world that N. Cáceres built for us. It was so beautifully done that I was speechless after I was done reading! The magic and the spicy left me dehydrated.
I LOVED Xochi/Angie, she was a character I could fully relate to! She’s a plus size FMC that was so raw and relatable, I felt her struggles. When she got happy about Sal’s shirt fitting like a sack on her, I truly felt that in my soul! Don’t even get me started on our MMC Sal. That man was absolutely DELICIOUS and his Obsidian Beast could get it too!! He could sink whatever he wanted into me, any time. Both characters were written so very well! I loved our side characters as well, César, Julia, Old Man… I can’t wait for book two!! I need more of this world.
Highly recommend this book for all those that love dark paranormal romance! This book was sexy, dark, captivating, savage, obsessive, and culturally unique (beautiful). Check your TW! This might not be for everyone but it was well written and I couldn’t get enough.
Thank you to the beautiful author N. Cáceres for the ARC! This was an amazing debut. Make sure you pick up your copy on March 28, 2023!!
October 11, 2024
DNF around 70%. This wasn’t a terrible book, but I just never mustered up the enthusiasm to finish it after being on my kindle for nearly a year. Dark romance (as it’s commonly defined in the publishing industry, more like toxic stalker romance) apparently just isn’t my kink 🤷🏼♀️
The beginning was strong and I was more than intrigued, but the whole ‘irrationally possessive hero’ trope annoys me. When he has to resort to literal kidnapping to keep her from ditching him…let’s just say Stockholm syndrome isn’t a solid foundation for a relationship 😂 How dare a woman have feelings of her own about her potential mate 🙄
The beginning was strong and I was more than intrigued, but the whole ‘irrationally possessive hero’ trope annoys me. When he has to resort to literal kidnapping to keep her from ditching him…let’s just say Stockholm syndrome isn’t a solid foundation for a relationship 😂 How dare a woman have feelings of her own about her potential mate 🙄
March 22, 2023
A female character that shows you heeling doesn’t mean you week and a male character that’s so swoon worthy all your dark book boyfriends can’t compete.
This book is the perfect blend of love and magic. It will give you a book hangover and leave you wanting so much more from the characters you have just met.
I was given Obsidian Feathers as an ARC. I was so excited about it. A BIPOC author and a plus sized main character in a fantasy romance. I was in love with the concept, and then I got the book.
This book was better then I expected. I, having ADHD and being plus sized , had felt seen in the main character. Her weight didn’t slow her down, it didn’t make the main love interest lover any less if anything it made him lover more. The Female lead was feisty and smart and brave and absolutely amazing. I just loved the way the author wrote her.
The male lead has been my favorite male lead in a book in a long time. He is grumpy handsome and the actual definition of TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME. He has character and grown in the book and he know where the clit is. Driven by love of his people, friends and most. importantly his partner. He treats her as his equal. A. well written man and one of my top book boyfriends.
The story line is well written and well paced. I was hook with the first paragraph and I was reading this book any chance I got and have been recommending it every chance I got. A few repeated workds throughout the book. I think its a push of the importance of the thing that word discribed.
The author is unproblematic and even made a tiktok on how to pronounce some of the characters names and some of the phrases in the book. If you arent sure how to pronounce cetain things.
This book is a 5 star read and that has nothing to do with the spice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The spice is well written. This book is classified as a monster fucker and it is my first one of this genre and if they are all like this I am defiantly a fan now. It is about a wolf shifter, but not a werewolf. Not to be confused. It is a dark romance. And anyone who knows me knows I love a good dark romance and this is defiantly one of my top reads.
This book is the perfect blend of love and magic. It will give you a book hangover and leave you wanting so much more from the characters you have just met.
I was given Obsidian Feathers as an ARC. I was so excited about it. A BIPOC author and a plus sized main character in a fantasy romance. I was in love with the concept, and then I got the book.
This book was better then I expected. I, having ADHD and being plus sized , had felt seen in the main character. Her weight didn’t slow her down, it didn’t make the main love interest lover any less if anything it made him lover more. The Female lead was feisty and smart and brave and absolutely amazing. I just loved the way the author wrote her.
The male lead has been my favorite male lead in a book in a long time. He is grumpy handsome and the actual definition of TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME. He has character and grown in the book and he know where the clit is. Driven by love of his people, friends and most. importantly his partner. He treats her as his equal. A. well written man and one of my top book boyfriends.
The story line is well written and well paced. I was hook with the first paragraph and I was reading this book any chance I got and have been recommending it every chance I got. A few repeated workds throughout the book. I think its a push of the importance of the thing that word discribed.
The author is unproblematic and even made a tiktok on how to pronounce some of the characters names and some of the phrases in the book. If you arent sure how to pronounce cetain things.
This book is a 5 star read and that has nothing to do with the spice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The spice is well written. This book is classified as a monster fucker and it is my first one of this genre and if they are all like this I am defiantly a fan now. It is about a wolf shifter, but not a werewolf. Not to be confused. It is a dark romance. And anyone who knows me knows I love a good dark romance and this is defiantly one of my top reads.
February 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
i kept flip flopping between ratings. i’m not a big fan of dark romance but i am a big fan of anything set in latine cultures, places and histories. it’s the part i enjoyed most about this book - learning about different tribes and customs and languages, just wonderful!
i also didn’t hate every part of the dark romance. did this book trigger one of the more intense panic attack i’ve had in a while? why yes but that was on me for ignoring the trigger warnings. did they kill her rapist ex together and then eat him? yes! insane but i kind of fw it and am kinda also jealous #goals ig
most of the other dark romance parts i wasn’t a huge fan of but i do love all of these characters (sal+césar =jayvik is everywhere for those with eyes to see) and
i wasn’t always a fan of the writing. after they kill and snack on her rapist ex together, césar comes up and goes “So, uh… that happened” and it really made me wanna kms ngl
anyways, i am still very interested in seeing the continuation of the overall plot of this series so will be reading the next book when it comes out!
i kept flip flopping between ratings. i’m not a big fan of dark romance but i am a big fan of anything set in latine cultures, places and histories. it’s the part i enjoyed most about this book - learning about different tribes and customs and languages, just wonderful!
i also didn’t hate every part of the dark romance. did this book trigger one of the more intense panic attack i’ve had in a while? why yes but that was on me for ignoring the trigger warnings. did they kill her rapist ex together and then eat him? yes! insane but i kind of fw it and am kinda also jealous #goals ig
most of the other dark romance parts i wasn’t a huge fan of but i do love all of these characters (sal+césar =jayvik is everywhere for those with eyes to see) and
i wasn’t always a fan of the writing. after they kill and snack on her rapist ex together, césar comes up and goes “So, uh… that happened” and it really made me wanna kms ngl
anyways, i am still very interested in seeing the continuation of the overall plot of this series so will be reading the next book when it comes out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
did-not-finish
August 26, 2025DNF at 33%. I am not choosing to DNF this based on being new to this subgenre (dark romance). I was enjoying all the Salvatoran indigenous rep, lore and setting. But, I could not get on board with the romance. The FMC going from a highly controlling family where she has no autonomy to a, what some may argue, abusive relationship, is just not something I feel good about reading. I understand that a dom/sub or highly controlling relationship is what some folks may want to read, but I am not one of them. I also just didn't love that he feeds on fear and therefore their intimate scenes were fear-based. At least, up until the point I DNF'd. I understand why many love this book, but unfortunately it just isn't up my alley.
Side rant - does anyone else feel that an MMC making an FMC bleed (teeth, claws, etc) during intimate scenes is sometimes excused in fantasy books when there's a healer on standby? I don't like this. Damage is still done, even if the evidence of it is wiped away.
Side rant - does anyone else feel that an MMC making an FMC bleed (teeth, claws, etc) during intimate scenes is sometimes excused in fantasy books when there's a healer on standby? I don't like this. Damage is still done, even if the evidence of it is wiped away.
March 20, 2023
This book was everything I wanted and more! Brutal, delicious, and beautifully done.
The Magic and culture? Incredibly thought out and captivating. I’m craving more of this rich world already. The spice? Absolutely fucking delicious. The representation? Loved Xochitl/Angie and all the descriptions used! Plus her character was just so raw and relatable, I loved how she was written. And Sal … 🫦. Don’t get me started. That man and his Obsidian Beast can sink their claws into me any time they want 🥵.
I NEED everyone who is looking for a decadent dark romance to read this. I need more books like this with so many layers that just kept delivering page after page.
100% recommend checking the content warnings!
The Magic and culture? Incredibly thought out and captivating. I’m craving more of this rich world already. The spice? Absolutely fucking delicious. The representation? Loved Xochitl/Angie and all the descriptions used! Plus her character was just so raw and relatable, I loved how she was written. And Sal … 🫦. Don’t get me started. That man and his Obsidian Beast can sink their claws into me any time they want 🥵.
I NEED everyone who is looking for a decadent dark romance to read this. I need more books like this with so many layers that just kept delivering page after page.
100% recommend checking the content warnings!
January 23, 2024
This book could have had so much potential if it were just a bit shorter. I truly don’t think this needed to be 500+ pages because a lot of the world building was excessive and not needed. I also did not really care for the main character and I don’t feel that she had much character development until the last 60 pages which is quite ridiculous.
Not to mention that the two main characters were already having sex and falling for each other within the first 150 pages.
Not to mention that the two main characters were already having sex and falling for each other within the first 150 pages.
April 6, 2023
This book?! Such a deep rich story giving beauty and the beast vibes in the best way. And a plus sized Latina character?! Yessssss.
May 27, 2023
Holy sh!t that was so good
4.5 stars rounded up
4.5 stars rounded up
did-not-finish
January 10, 2024DNF at 42%. I gave this a solid try, but I just don't care enough to continue. I don't feel much of an emotional connection to either character, the MMC is a raging asshole who has yet to apologize for any number of abusive things he has done to the FMC in the name of his obsessive love for her, and the pacing is so slow I am feeling every single one of the 500+ pages. I wanted to love this because of the rep, but the story itself is not working for me, and this is not the flavor of dark romance that I enjoy. I need my dark heroes to feel bad and make amends, and I just don't see that happening here, only increasingly less plausible Stockholm Syndrome.
September 21, 2023
jesus christ
September 3, 2023
3.5⭐️
4.5🌶️
Triggers: cannibalism, self harm, murder, panic attacks, child abuse, drug use, parental abuse, guns, sexual assault (mentioned), suicide (mentioned), body shaming, racism, ableism, stalking, kidnapping
Tags: F/M, plus size black Latina FMC, Latino MMC, dual POVs, El Salvador, werewolf (kinda), fated mates, dark fantasy, praise kink, orgasm denial, dom/sub, primal play, breath play, degradation
My fave part of this book was the rich history and setting of this Latine, spiritual community. I’m from Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala and it was cool to see a lot of old folk tales brought into this story. A lot I didn’t even know about so that was so cool. I think the world building was one of the strengths of this book. I think the focus on that, though, also caused drawbacks. Characters and plot points felt inconsistent and redundant. I think this needed a thorough editing to tweak some plot points but it was still good. It would just get a little convoluted, and some plot points felt unnecessary and like weren’t really bringing anything to the story or to the characters. Some plot points were forgotten altogether or randomly brought up and I wouldn’t even remember that was a thing. A setting like this and a rich history are something I really appreciate and I think that the author wrote well about. Like don’t get me wrong, the book was good. I just think it needed needed some rearranging and to be shorter. On the flip side of shortening it, though, a lot of things I wanted to hear more about or felt like we should’ve seen to feel more immersed were skipped. Like we’d get a description like “We talked all night long?” OKAY ABOUT WHAT?? I see y’all fucking on the daily but I need some emotional fluff besides after sex cuddling to feel more immersed.
Now I’m terms of spice… it was muy caliente. They banged like a shit ton and it wasn’t vanilla. There was one point though where I got uncomfy cause (spoiler alert but I’m spoiling it cause I think it’s a trigger warning) they fuck over a dying man (he sucks but still) in front of a shit ton of people. Look I’m all for fucking up a bad person but this just was hard for me to read (which is saying something cause). Despite that, the spice was good and heavy sprinkled (more like torrential down poured) into the plot.
🚨 [This is where spoilers start so WARNING]🚨
To continue one of the last things I said… It would be things like the fact that Sal had to kill his dad like that was brought up twice in the whole book and I’m like that’s kind of a big deal and we don’t really explore that, like I feel like that should’ve just been taken out or it should’ve been strong into the narrative more. It would’ve given us more insight into Sal as an individual and as a leader but it was a plot point not really explored. I honestly forgot about it until it was brought up again in the third act and I was like wait what the fuck I totally forgot that he had to kill his dad to get with Xochitl. Like ummm that’s kinda a big deal. I also wanted to see and hear more about Xochitl’s pottery lessons and her daily duties and her training after finding about about her cadejo. Like we were just told it happened and I’m like umm wait I wanna know more.
Ok let’s get into the 2 main characters now…
Sal - Sal is rough af. I like rough but I like when that’s mixed with a lot of sweetness. He’s kinda just an alpha twad 24/7. Eventually like they give him more of a sweeter side but it just feels like whiplash like all of a sudden he’s like oh I’m so nice and shit and it’s not really explored or explained. Like they just kind of give a brief explanation as to why he’s acting like a twat. And don’t even get me started about him being against pills. This book felt a little anti-pill and I did not like that. Like I take birth control and Adderall, amongst other things for my mental illnesses and I don’t like that this book was against that. And it was a thing to poison Xochitl, but like the way it was written just didn’t sit right with my spirit. Also, Sal handles all his relationship problems by fucking and, while that’s fun and all, it’s like super unhealthy and annoying to me after a while. It’s just not my cup of tea. I do have to say I love the way he handled the topic of r@pe (I’m a sexual assault advocate like fr as a job) so I always appreciate when this topic is handled well. Like just because you didn’t say yes, didn’t mean it was a yes.
Xochitl - This is a small gripe for me. Like it didn’t ruin the story but I would’ve changed this up. In the beginning, it was hard for me to feel sympathy for Xochitl cause I’m a poor Latina with family expectations reading about a rich Latina with family expectations. That’s just me though cause I have trouble paying rent sometimes and Xochitl has to marry a rich man and appease her rich family while being rich. I know you can’t compare people’s struggles but that’s just my little gripe. It took a long time for me to put my needs first and my family respects me more for it now. I guess this shit was needed though to show where Xochitl was at. Like she legit seems to have no personality or redeeming traits in the beginning besides being proud of her body and recognizing that her family is messed up. Which is awesome like don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying her struggle is meant to be that she feels like she had nothing going on for her cause she lets everyone else control her and that changes on her adventure. I think I would’ve felt more urgency if there was more of a threat on her family’s end like she wouldn’t get a trust fund or something bad would happen to a sibling if she didn’t comply with what her mom and fiancé wanted her to do. It would’ve felt more like they had her at their complete control imo. They kind of briefly mention the threats, but it never feels like an actual threat imo. We learn the real threat at the end but like the only real threat they mention throughout the majority of the book was family disappointment which many of us are accustomed to lol. The worst of it was that her mom had a sort of conservatorship over her which is possible but not believable (but maybe that’s just me cause I’ve worked in the process of getting those). Again, this is just a PP (personal preference). I’m very different from Xochitl and I totes understand that. I’m loud, hard headed, and fiercely proud of who I am and that took a lot of therapy and mind rewiring to get this way. I understand Xochitl is working towards that on her journey throughout the book. I had sympathy for her but felt no empathy. Also, amount of times this bitch tried running away made the imperative-ness and dramatization of it wear off by the third time. Like you want to keep Sal and his totoco safe but you go to another totoco knowing that it’s dangerous and they have problems with Sal? Like you’re just still bringing danger to Sal and his totoco when you were supposedly running away to keep them out of danger from your mom and yourself. How do you have the logic that your mom (who is one human woman & not a danger to them) will bring danger to them but then go to another totoco knowing it’s full of dangerous cadejos and think that won’t affect Sal’s totoco? For someone who is obsessive about over thinking and thinking things through, she really didn’t think things through. Like they legit are waging war over that. And like we, the audience, knew the totoco she ran away to was bad but she didn’t and she chose to stay and potentially put them in harm’s way. It was just annoying.
Ok so another thing I was meh about was that whole war between the two totocos. So I previously mentioned all that shit about Xochitl and shit. We already kind of knew that they were bad but like she finds out by literally being shown it, and that’s kind of a pet peeve of mine in a book when we are just plain us told and shown things and not really like stumble upon and find out more organically. Like I wish she would’ve found out about the fucked up kids on her own time and all this other shit like I think it would’ve added more to her character if she had been the one to like find out that the kids were eating people alive and that Manny was like literally eating her soul and shit and like I would’ve like to see her trying to figure out and process it instead of just like Sal showing her exactly what was going on. Like I think it would’ve been more shocking if she had like stumbled upon this or like came to the conclusion her self like, and had to sit and really think about what exactly what was going on instead of Sal, just having to plead his case, over and over and over again.
4.5🌶️
Triggers: cannibalism, self harm, murder, panic attacks, child abuse, drug use, parental abuse, guns, sexual assault (mentioned), suicide (mentioned), body shaming, racism, ableism, stalking, kidnapping
Tags: F/M, plus size black Latina FMC, Latino MMC, dual POVs, El Salvador, werewolf (kinda), fated mates, dark fantasy, praise kink, orgasm denial, dom/sub, primal play, breath play, degradation
My fave part of this book was the rich history and setting of this Latine, spiritual community. I’m from Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala and it was cool to see a lot of old folk tales brought into this story. A lot I didn’t even know about so that was so cool. I think the world building was one of the strengths of this book. I think the focus on that, though, also caused drawbacks. Characters and plot points felt inconsistent and redundant. I think this needed a thorough editing to tweak some plot points but it was still good. It would just get a little convoluted, and some plot points felt unnecessary and like weren’t really bringing anything to the story or to the characters. Some plot points were forgotten altogether or randomly brought up and I wouldn’t even remember that was a thing. A setting like this and a rich history are something I really appreciate and I think that the author wrote well about. Like don’t get me wrong, the book was good. I just think it needed needed some rearranging and to be shorter. On the flip side of shortening it, though, a lot of things I wanted to hear more about or felt like we should’ve seen to feel more immersed were skipped. Like we’d get a description like “We talked all night long?” OKAY ABOUT WHAT?? I see y’all fucking on the daily but I need some emotional fluff besides after sex cuddling to feel more immersed.
Now I’m terms of spice… it was muy caliente. They banged like a shit ton and it wasn’t vanilla. There was one point though where I got uncomfy cause (spoiler alert but I’m spoiling it cause I think it’s a trigger warning) they fuck over a dying man (he sucks but still) in front of a shit ton of people. Look I’m all for fucking up a bad person but this just was hard for me to read (which is saying something cause). Despite that, the spice was good and heavy sprinkled (more like torrential down poured) into the plot.
🚨 [This is where spoilers start so WARNING]🚨
To continue one of the last things I said… It would be things like the fact that Sal had to kill his dad like that was brought up twice in the whole book and I’m like that’s kind of a big deal and we don’t really explore that, like I feel like that should’ve just been taken out or it should’ve been strong into the narrative more. It would’ve given us more insight into Sal as an individual and as a leader but it was a plot point not really explored. I honestly forgot about it until it was brought up again in the third act and I was like wait what the fuck I totally forgot that he had to kill his dad to get with Xochitl. Like ummm that’s kinda a big deal. I also wanted to see and hear more about Xochitl’s pottery lessons and her daily duties and her training after finding about about her cadejo. Like we were just told it happened and I’m like umm wait I wanna know more.
Ok let’s get into the 2 main characters now…
Sal - Sal is rough af. I like rough but I like when that’s mixed with a lot of sweetness. He’s kinda just an alpha twad 24/7. Eventually like they give him more of a sweeter side but it just feels like whiplash like all of a sudden he’s like oh I’m so nice and shit and it’s not really explored or explained. Like they just kind of give a brief explanation as to why he’s acting like a twat. And don’t even get me started about him being against pills. This book felt a little anti-pill and I did not like that. Like I take birth control and Adderall, amongst other things for my mental illnesses and I don’t like that this book was against that. And it was a thing to poison Xochitl, but like the way it was written just didn’t sit right with my spirit. Also, Sal handles all his relationship problems by fucking and, while that’s fun and all, it’s like super unhealthy and annoying to me after a while. It’s just not my cup of tea. I do have to say I love the way he handled the topic of r@pe (I’m a sexual assault advocate like fr as a job) so I always appreciate when this topic is handled well. Like just because you didn’t say yes, didn’t mean it was a yes.
Xochitl - This is a small gripe for me. Like it didn’t ruin the story but I would’ve changed this up. In the beginning, it was hard for me to feel sympathy for Xochitl cause I’m a poor Latina with family expectations reading about a rich Latina with family expectations. That’s just me though cause I have trouble paying rent sometimes and Xochitl has to marry a rich man and appease her rich family while being rich. I know you can’t compare people’s struggles but that’s just my little gripe. It took a long time for me to put my needs first and my family respects me more for it now. I guess this shit was needed though to show where Xochitl was at. Like she legit seems to have no personality or redeeming traits in the beginning besides being proud of her body and recognizing that her family is messed up. Which is awesome like don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying her struggle is meant to be that she feels like she had nothing going on for her cause she lets everyone else control her and that changes on her adventure. I think I would’ve felt more urgency if there was more of a threat on her family’s end like she wouldn’t get a trust fund or something bad would happen to a sibling if she didn’t comply with what her mom and fiancé wanted her to do. It would’ve felt more like they had her at their complete control imo. They kind of briefly mention the threats, but it never feels like an actual threat imo. We learn the real threat at the end but like the only real threat they mention throughout the majority of the book was family disappointment which many of us are accustomed to lol. The worst of it was that her mom had a sort of conservatorship over her which is possible but not believable (but maybe that’s just me cause I’ve worked in the process of getting those). Again, this is just a PP (personal preference). I’m very different from Xochitl and I totes understand that. I’m loud, hard headed, and fiercely proud of who I am and that took a lot of therapy and mind rewiring to get this way. I understand Xochitl is working towards that on her journey throughout the book. I had sympathy for her but felt no empathy. Also, amount of times this bitch tried running away made the imperative-ness and dramatization of it wear off by the third time. Like you want to keep Sal and his totoco safe but you go to another totoco knowing that it’s dangerous and they have problems with Sal? Like you’re just still bringing danger to Sal and his totoco when you were supposedly running away to keep them out of danger from your mom and yourself. How do you have the logic that your mom (who is one human woman & not a danger to them) will bring danger to them but then go to another totoco knowing it’s full of dangerous cadejos and think that won’t affect Sal’s totoco? For someone who is obsessive about over thinking and thinking things through, she really didn’t think things through. Like they legit are waging war over that. And like we, the audience, knew the totoco she ran away to was bad but she didn’t and she chose to stay and potentially put them in harm’s way. It was just annoying.
Ok so another thing I was meh about was that whole war between the two totocos. So I previously mentioned all that shit about Xochitl and shit. We already kind of knew that they were bad but like she finds out by literally being shown it, and that’s kind of a pet peeve of mine in a book when we are just plain us told and shown things and not really like stumble upon and find out more organically. Like I wish she would’ve found out about the fucked up kids on her own time and all this other shit like I think it would’ve added more to her character if she had been the one to like find out that the kids were eating people alive and that Manny was like literally eating her soul and shit and like I would’ve like to see her trying to figure out and process it instead of just like Sal showing her exactly what was going on. Like I think it would’ve been more shocking if she had like stumbled upon this or like came to the conclusion her self like, and had to sit and really think about what exactly what was going on instead of Sal, just having to plead his case, over and over and over again.
April 30, 2023
*Finishes book...stares off into space"
Obsidian Feathers is promoted as a dark Latine fantasy romance, with a plus size FMC, and that was all I needed to know before picking it up.
I'm glad I went into this somewhat blind because this was amazing! I cannot believe this is the authors debut book.
Angie's life is not her own. She is stuck in a horrible arranged relationship, orchestrated by her equally horrible mother. But when a last minute work trip takes her to another country, she knows this is her one chance to flee the life she is trapped in, and never look back.
What she doesnt realize is that she is walking straight into the arms of her destiny.
Gah! What can I say about this amazing book?! It is steeped in culture, beautifully written, and has wonderful but flawed characters. Angie/Xochitl was extremely relatable and Itziquetzal had me on a roller coaster of emotions. He is the alphaholes of all alphaholes.
This book is hot, emotional, and satisfying.
Read this if you like: fated mates, indigenous culture & setting, shifters, body positivity, found family, forced proximity, alphaholes, dubcon
CW's: body shaming, controlling parent, panic attacks, de@th and violence, gore...see authors website for full list
Obsidian Feathers is promoted as a dark Latine fantasy romance, with a plus size FMC, and that was all I needed to know before picking it up.
I'm glad I went into this somewhat blind because this was amazing! I cannot believe this is the authors debut book.
Angie's life is not her own. She is stuck in a horrible arranged relationship, orchestrated by her equally horrible mother. But when a last minute work trip takes her to another country, she knows this is her one chance to flee the life she is trapped in, and never look back.
What she doesnt realize is that she is walking straight into the arms of her destiny.
Gah! What can I say about this amazing book?! It is steeped in culture, beautifully written, and has wonderful but flawed characters. Angie/Xochitl was extremely relatable and Itziquetzal had me on a roller coaster of emotions. He is the alphaholes of all alphaholes.
This book is hot, emotional, and satisfying.
Read this if you like: fated mates, indigenous culture & setting, shifters, body positivity, found family, forced proximity, alphaholes, dubcon
CW's: body shaming, controlling parent, panic attacks, de@th and violence, gore...see authors website for full list
March 22, 2023
I want to give a huge thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book overall. I don't see a lot of Central American based lore books, so this was refreshing to read.
There is really only one con I had about this book, and it's the miscommunication between the main characters. I do understand why she felt like she couldn't talk to him, but still, I kept wanting to reach in the book and shake her. I absolutely loved all of the world building for this book it was outstanding and just made me want to go do more research about the lore used because my family is from Central American and I just really love how this book was written. The love story part of this book had so much going into it because it's pretty much 4 in this relationship with the people and their cadejos. So, it was interesting to see how the author navigated through it all. But again, overall, it was well done, and I will be reading book 2 for sure!
There is really only one con I had about this book, and it's the miscommunication between the main characters. I do understand why she felt like she couldn't talk to him, but still, I kept wanting to reach in the book and shake her. I absolutely loved all of the world building for this book it was outstanding and just made me want to go do more research about the lore used because my family is from Central American and I just really love how this book was written. The love story part of this book had so much going into it because it's pretty much 4 in this relationship with the people and their cadejos. So, it was interesting to see how the author navigated through it all. But again, overall, it was well done, and I will be reading book 2 for sure!
April 11, 2023
I stumbled on a gem. I went from shook, skeptical, and cautious to gasping out loud, clapping, and swearing (lol). This was sexy, pure savage, violent, and filled with so much warmth. The chemistry is palpable with each character, connection. Even the platonic ones. This is a quality dark fantasy romance. One that I'm geeked to follow further.
February 13, 2024
This one's for the dark romance fans.
Spice Rating - 4.3
Dani - 4
Liz - 4.5
Wiggles - 4.5
Romance Rating - 1.8
Dani - 2
Liz - 1.5
Wiggles - 2
Overall Rating- 2.8
Dani - 3.5
Liz - 2
Wiggles - 3
For more, listen to episode 38 at https://wrongdustjackets.com/episodes (less)
Spice Rating - 4.3
Dani - 4
Liz - 4.5
Wiggles - 4.5
Romance Rating - 1.8
Dani - 2
Liz - 1.5
Wiggles - 2
Overall Rating- 2.8
Dani - 3.5
Liz - 2
Wiggles - 3
For more, listen to episode 38 at https://wrongdustjackets.com/episodes (less)
Read
June 20, 2024Removing my review
January 15, 2024
I should preface this by saying there are plenty of people who will love this book. It just isn't my cup of tea because the whole dark fantasy romance genre isn't for me. I'm really not a fan of the whole alpha, possessive man trope. I typically read fantasy romance because they feel light-hearted and fun. So much of this story is just really, really sad and dark.
So what if you do love dark fantasy romance? Then definitely pick this book up. You will probably love it!
Things I enjoyed:
1. Ridiculously lush world-building inspired by multiple Indigenous cultures. The setting and mythology was so well done. The way the author revealed different things about the shifters and tocoto culture was well-paced and left me wanting more.
2. An unapologetically fat MC who is loved, cherished, and desired
3. Loved all the female side characters
Things I didn't love:
1. So much gore and revenge.
2. The banter was cringey at times
3. Again, the alpha-hole thing is just not for me
4. Probably a me problem, but I'm just sick of reading books with abusive mothers who are not interesting characters. Her mother is just... wicked and evil with literally no explanation as to why? If your going to make a mother a villain, at least give them some backstory and depth. (I should note there is a book out now that looks like a villain origin story for her mother, but some of that still should have made it into this book.
So what if you do love dark fantasy romance? Then definitely pick this book up. You will probably love it!
Things I enjoyed:
1. Ridiculously lush world-building inspired by multiple Indigenous cultures. The setting and mythology was so well done. The way the author revealed different things about the shifters and tocoto culture was well-paced and left me wanting more.
2. An unapologetically fat MC who is loved, cherished, and desired
3. Loved all the female side characters
Things I didn't love:
1. So much gore and revenge.
2. The banter was cringey at times
3. Again, the alpha-hole thing is just not for me
4. Probably a me problem, but I'm just sick of reading books with abusive mothers who are not interesting characters. Her mother is just... wicked and evil with literally no explanation as to why? If your going to make a mother a villain, at least give them some backstory and depth. (I should note there is a book out now that looks like a villain origin story for her mother, but some of that still should have made it into this book.
November 24, 2024
My new obsession
This book got me saying one more chapter every time I picked it up. I loved every moment. It is a dark romance, a lot of darker topics are brought up and several parts are graphic and can even be triggering. Check your trigger warnings. That being said this fated mate, spirit being story is just filled with emotions and turns keeping you on edge at every second.
I loved how it's aknolowaged that Sal is a piece of crap. I love a morally grey character but it feels so much more satisfying when the fmc calls him out instead of just going with it. Xochitl is strong as hell. At the beginning you think she is broken and weak but her strength shows itself as the story develops and my godess is ut satisfying. I fresking love a strong ass FMC and Xochitl as solidified her place as one of my favorites. A great read and as the dedication indicated, stay hydrated my friends 🧡 This book got me saying one more chapter every time I picked it up. I loved every moment. It is a dark romance, a lot of darker topics are brought up and several parts are graphic and can even be triggering. Check your trigger warnings. That being said this fated mate, spirit being story is just filled with emotions and turns keeping you on edge at every second.
I loved how it's aknolowaged that Sal is a piece of crap. I love a morally grey character but it feels so much more satisfying when the fmc calls him out instead of just going with it. Xochitl is strong as hell. At the beginning you think she is broken and weak but her strength shows itself as the story develops and my godess is ut satisfying. I fresking love a strong ass FMC and Xochitl as solidified her place as one of my favorites. A great read and as the dedication indicated, stay hydrated my friends 🧡
This book got me saying one more chapter every time I picked it up. I loved every moment. It is a dark romance, a lot of darker topics are brought up and several parts are graphic and can even be triggering. Check your trigger warnings. That being said this fated mate, spirit being story is just filled with emotions and turns keeping you on edge at every second.
I loved how it's aknolowaged that Sal is a piece of crap. I love a morally grey character but it feels so much more satisfying when the fmc calls him out instead of just going with it. Xochitl is strong as hell. At the beginning you think she is broken and weak but her strength shows itself as the story develops and my godess is ut satisfying. I fresking love a strong ass FMC and Xochitl as solidified her place as one of my favorites. A great read and as the dedication indicated, stay hydrated my friends 🧡 This book got me saying one more chapter every time I picked it up. I loved every moment. It is a dark romance, a lot of darker topics are brought up and several parts are graphic and can even be triggering. Check your trigger warnings. That being said this fated mate, spirit being story is just filled with emotions and turns keeping you on edge at every second.
I loved how it's aknolowaged that Sal is a piece of crap. I love a morally grey character but it feels so much more satisfying when the fmc calls him out instead of just going with it. Xochitl is strong as hell. At the beginning you think she is broken and weak but her strength shows itself as the story develops and my godess is ut satisfying. I fresking love a strong ass FMC and Xochitl as solidified her place as one of my favorites. A great read and as the dedication indicated, stay hydrated my friends 🧡
May 17, 2023
Delightful dark
When I wasn’t mumbling over and mentally butchering the names in this book I was throughly enjoying the dark and wicked things Sal was doing to Xochi. But to say I was frustrated with both mains would be a massive understatement. Sal spent so much time talking at her and not to her, that I wanted to scream. Which effected the pacing a little for me personally. This was a good example that love doesn’t conquer all, you can’t love someone into mental health, pass pain and abuse. Loving someone who doesn’t love themselves starts with showing them their value not just telling them. The culture and magic was so fun and new to me and one of the main reasons I want to read more Latino authors. I also found it very interesting his Xochi did and didn’t suffer from self esteem issues she was a complicated. And my word her mother was a piece of work, I think her reasoning was probably the most disappointing thing in this whole story, I felt like it had to be deeper than what was given and certain things about how Xochi got her spirit and how her mother know both wasn’t well addressed and didn’t add up. I loved and didn’t Iove this in equal measure in some ways. Overall I’ll be back for more from this author for sure.
When I wasn’t mumbling over and mentally butchering the names in this book I was throughly enjoying the dark and wicked things Sal was doing to Xochi. But to say I was frustrated with both mains would be a massive understatement. Sal spent so much time talking at her and not to her, that I wanted to scream. Which effected the pacing a little for me personally. This was a good example that love doesn’t conquer all, you can’t love someone into mental health, pass pain and abuse. Loving someone who doesn’t love themselves starts with showing them their value not just telling them. The culture and magic was so fun and new to me and one of the main reasons I want to read more Latino authors. I also found it very interesting his Xochi did and didn’t suffer from self esteem issues she was a complicated. And my word her mother was a piece of work, I think her reasoning was probably the most disappointing thing in this whole story, I felt like it had to be deeper than what was given and certain things about how Xochi got her spirit and how her mother know both wasn’t well addressed and didn’t add up. I loved and didn’t Iove this in equal measure in some ways. Overall I’ll be back for more from this author for sure.
March 21, 2023
This was my first book i've read by this author, i loved it. It took me a little while to understand some of the words that were used but once i got the hang of it, i freaking loved it.
Angie has always been controlled by her mother, what to wear, who to be with, all of that. She lost herself by giving in to what her mother wants of her, avoiding confrontation, not wanting to displease her mother. She's not happy, she doesn't have any friends, is with a guy who doesn't respect her let alone love her. So her life drastically changes when she's supposed to on a work trip to help translate for a co worker. There she meets someone who sweeps her of her feet and finally makes her feel alive again. Atleast in the beginning until she gets attacked by beasts. I won't spoil anymore, you just have to read it. It's really really really good!
I love how much her charachter grows, from being unhappy and people pleasing, especially with her mother to being a strong, independant self-respecting woman. And the way her relationship evolves is so beautiful to read and understand why she acts the way she does. Sal is so awesome he knows what he wants and he wants her and oh boy he is not afraid to tell her, let alone show her. This book really keeps you on your toes in a good way, i also loved reading about the culture a bit that the author as put in there, makes me very excited to read more of her books.
This book has me hooked, it's a shifter romance, so we get some beast action as well :D which i loved.
Angie has always been controlled by her mother, what to wear, who to be with, all of that. She lost herself by giving in to what her mother wants of her, avoiding confrontation, not wanting to displease her mother. She's not happy, she doesn't have any friends, is with a guy who doesn't respect her let alone love her. So her life drastically changes when she's supposed to on a work trip to help translate for a co worker. There she meets someone who sweeps her of her feet and finally makes her feel alive again. Atleast in the beginning until she gets attacked by beasts. I won't spoil anymore, you just have to read it. It's really really really good!
I love how much her charachter grows, from being unhappy and people pleasing, especially with her mother to being a strong, independant self-respecting woman. And the way her relationship evolves is so beautiful to read and understand why she acts the way she does. Sal is so awesome he knows what he wants and he wants her and oh boy he is not afraid to tell her, let alone show her. This book really keeps you on your toes in a good way, i also loved reading about the culture a bit that the author as put in there, makes me very excited to read more of her books.
This book has me hooked, it's a shifter romance, so we get some beast action as well :D which i loved.
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