Joy > Recent Status Updates

I like this author, and I'm not someone who likes romantasy. I mean, I'm not dead. I enjoyed ACOTAR like anyone else when it was the rage. But what I like about this story is that it is very much not that, and the power dynamics are intriguing. I also don't remember much of my reads of ACOTAR. Oops. ----Anyhow, I am amused with the presenting predicament. I also like the darker edge.

I'm thrilled they considered me for an ARC. Often, tales like these leave me cold, but I am invested. Interested. Curious. I rather like the dynamic emerging between our two characters. It's written in a way that really makes you want to understand why the dynamic is as venomous as it is early on. Let's also point out that it's done well. I am not wanting to skip ahead or miss a part. I am itching to know more.

Writing style is pleasantly descriptive. I am curious and invested. Enjoying thus far.

Buddy reading... Major Moth Diaries vibes.

I'm bored.

From scenes of despair to immediate "Why don't we quench our lust?" moments... Interesting choices.

Smith's writing style is playful and provocative, meant to tease you into "I made you think of this" while she sits back giggling in the dark. If you took the ballroom scene of Henson's Labyrinth, turned it R-rated with a touch of Eyes Wide Shut, you might get the vibrational frequency that comes with the tantalizing scenery here, meant to illicit shock as much as taunt some readers for going there.

I love Kingfisher's signature style.
Yet more of the world in the back catalogue of things I was not introduced to before I started this backward journey with Daggerbound.

I started reading this book in earnest today, and I am mostly amused because of the mix of horror and fantasy, with maybe two brief paragraphs of sensual description (no worse than the things I used to write back many moons ago). It reminds me of old romance novels I read, and I appreciate the mix of Dante's Inferno, the 9 levels of Hell, and a variety of other atmospheric choices reminding me of things I've read.

Not a page read yet, but Amazon is delivering today. I loved this post, but I did currently stop at the spoilers: https://www.rascal.news/t-kingfishers...

I am over halfway done with this book, but I paused it back in July because of things happening personally in my life and I just can't pick it back up yet. I enjoyed it until that moment, so I'm going to temporarily close it and move it to want to read for now.

I am much further along. I have been liking the story, but now my interest is waning, and I'm not sure why. I have clicked "off" with the story that initially held me captive. Going to try and finish because there's not much left.

The line about sexy trees about cracked me up completely.

It's hard to stomach, but I press

The first story? Ugh, rip my heart out, and stomp it flat. I liked him.

Exorcism scenes. Just nope. Fast forwarded through some of the recitations because it grates me to hear it (feels sacrilegious in a way, but it's handled fairly respectably---until the point I needed to skip past it because it felt wrong to me personally). But only did very little. And am in the middle of it still where Marjorie frequently is having to be covered by her comforter. We will see if I outlast this book.

I am not exactly sure where I am in the book, though I am about halfway, so therefore I estimated a page number based on how I recall the pages folding atop the table, left cracked open (carefully-no spine damage) to a reading position. I am enamored with this story and the mystery that is slowly built, the relationship dynamics between a ruined family, a terrible relative, and a pact to earn an estate. I'm invested.

The only reason I persist in reading this is because the internal debate: Is it possession or mental illness? The reason I'm particularly susceptible to this debate is due to my prior studies in mental health. I watched some students at the school I attended jump first to possession vs. mental health being the actual issue, and while I do believe that either is possible, I would begin always with mental status.

Blast, I completed this too and now I need to write two more reviews.

This was finished Sunday. I am so behind on reviews.

Reading out of order continues! I have a physical book coming (I am starting to have a shelf dedicated to Kingfisher), but am reading an e-text until it arrives. At least, in my defense, I'm now reading the first one in the two part with the Clocktaur War? That counts, right?
Though, someone told me perhaps I need to go back to learning more about her paladins.
Alas, I'm behind.

Yes, I’m reading backward, but at the time I wasn’t planning it, and it’s all very well and enjoyable. Finished this one today and Daggerbound the day prior. Clockwork Boys, the first one, should be arriving Monday. There’s a certain charm in reading a set of books with common threads backward. It works the same as reading a series forward, except some things (and characters, like Sarkis) grow richer.

I read the book in its entirety between yesterday and today. I was couch locked and not feeling well. I couldn’t think of a more pleasant escape. I even read the acknowledgments.

Kingfisher writes fantastic acknowledgments.

I look forward to writing a review later.

She has wonderful characters. I’ve read out of order, so I suppose Clockwork Boys is next.

Shall I mention I am currently reading an ARC that I won, and I have never won a book that was not yet released. I was slower to get to this, only because I was reading other Kingfisher books, but I am consuming it now with the vengeance of about a dozen of her characters breathing down my neck. Yes, I started, much later than I received it, though I anticipate it being read fast. Update soon.

Maybe this is just not the time to read this book. The writing is vivid enough, but it's not gripping me.

Completely delightful. Loving the story so far. Saw this recommended by BooksandLaLa.

Of course, I'm enjoying this one. Details are sometimes intense, for those not already comfortable with medical things.

I know I am close to the last few pages of the book, as I am certainly on the last chapter, though I don't have the book here with me to check the page numbers on. This is such a nice ride from beginning to end.