*Arc review copy received from Book Sirens for honest review*

Falling in love with a vampire bites—and sometimes loving a human bites back.

Dorian Villeneuve is an unlucky vampire from the slums of Devil’s Row. He makes ends meet for himself and his emotional support Chihuahua by working sleazy bars and nightclubs, doing what it takes to get by. Cash Leroy is a monster hunter from East Texas with a golden voice and an unrivaled devotion to Stevie Nicks. Hunting does not leave time for friends, let alone love.

When their paths cross during a bloody run-in with the vampire mob, Cash upends Dorian’s life—and takes Dorian under his wing to teach how to hunt monsters.

The unlikely pair become partners, and soon, best friends. However, their deepening bond grows complicated when Dorian falls in love with Cash. Their friendship is too important to throw away over an interspecies attraction, especially in a career that is already nasty, brutish, and short.

And things become even more complicated when Cash finds himself returning the vampire’s affections.

When an unusually deadly case lands in the hunters’ laps, their ill-fated affair takes a backseat. A pair of man-eating weredeer are on the loose taking victims’ hearts. With the pressure on to end the killing spree, Dorian and Cash must set aside their feelings and hunt down the blood-thirsty deer.

Can Dorian and Cash’s friendship survive this monstrous romance, or will they lose their hearts in the process?

Originally seen in the Eisner-nominated TWISTED ROMANCE anthology from IMAGE COMICS, this is the full-length adaptation of the critically acclaimed short story.

*Synopsis is from Storygraph*

Everyone has something that they are trash for. Whether it is a trope, genre, character type, etc. Mine just happens to be vampires 🤷🏽‍♀️ So that is what drew my attention to this in the first place. I just knew I was going to fall in love with Dorian and I was correct. However, Cash definitely won me over as well. You all know that I’m a character person. These two here had me smiling as well as hurting and damn near crying lol plus there were other characters who either made me happy or pissed me off.

I feel like this book was equal parts character based and plot based. I really enjoyed how the chapters bounced back and forth between timelines. It was a little jarring at first because there is no lead up to it. Like we could be reading a chapter set in the present, and then jump into the past next chapter. I was like “wait what” especially when something happened in the previous chapter between my boos where they are upset with each other and now they are suddenly happy. I am glad for the past chapters however because they showed the progression of Cash and Dorian. Plus they gave more info into why they are the way they are. We also got chapters from the antagonists as well which I appreciated because I also love villains lmao plus I loved the contrast between them. Trigger warning for gore and violence because the book opens up with a murder.

I have to give some love to Dominique. She is Dorian’s emotional support Chihuahua. I just love her and she is definitely an extension of him lol

I truly enjoyed this story (even though I’m late getting this up lol). I am curious if I will like more from this author, or if they (Magen identifies as she/they) will be just a one story read. I liked their writing style so I’m excited to try something new if I can find it.

Thank you again to Magen Cubed and BookSirens for this review copy. 💚

Hey everyone! Today I’m bringing another review of a Talia Hibbert. This one of for Take A Hint, Dani Brown, the sequel/companion to Get A Life, Chloe Brown.

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom. 

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his… um, thighs. 

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

Once again, I’ve fallen in love with Talia’s writing. I gave this one 4 stars. I love Danika, but I found myself looking forward to Zafir’s POVs more. I don’t know why. I just wanted to hug and protect him at all costs. He was just a sweetheart and deserves the world. That’s not saying my sassy Dani doesn’t. For her, I wanted to protect her from herself.

I absolutely loved their families. We met Dani’s family back in Chloe’s book, but Zaf’s family was new. His relationship with his niece is everything!! Plus his mom is hilarious lol Their best friends brought in their own brand of flavor to the story. They showed how important friends can be in times where you couldn’t or can’t go to family.

I said something similar in my review of Chloe, but seeing people like me, black women, in books as main characters makes me happy. It brings me joy, and I can finally picture myself in their shoes. I can insert myself into the story. Plus I love Talia Hibbert as a person.

All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book. Of course, I can’t wait until Eve’s book is released! I need to preorder it before I forget…and buy this book and a third copy of Chloe’s. At this rate, I might as well just buy all her books lol

That’s all from me today everyone! Happy reading 💚

Hello everyone! Today I here with another review. I was in a semi romance mood, which is new for me because romance is normally a genre I shy away from. I say semi because I only wanted to read a Talia Hibbert romance book. That’s exactly what I did. In fact, I read two back to back. This is the review for the first one.

He’s reckless, dominant, and deliciously dirty. This prince is no fairytale.

Prince Ruben of Helgmøre is his family’s greatest scandal, but the defiant royal won’t change for anyone. He always takes what he wants, and his current obsession is Cherry Neita. The feisty beauty has no idea she’s being seduced by royalty—until they’re caught together in a compromising position. Oops.

All Cherry wanted was a night or two with the hottest man she’d ever seen. Turns out, that man is actually a prince, and now he needs her to play princess. Well, princess-to-be. The deal seems straightforward enough: one year as Ruben’s fake fiancée, and he’ll make all her problems disappear.

But the passion between Cherry and Ruben feels anything but fake, and their connection unearths devastating secrets. Can true love bloom from false beginnings? Or will this fairytale end in a happy-never-after?

First things first: Get A Life, Chloe Brown was my favorite book of 2020. This book here….very close to matching that. Chloe got 5 stars while this one got 4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this. It got me really invested in the relationship, which is the main reason why I stay away from romance because I never feel anything about the relationships. Talia has written her relationships in a way that makes me believe they are real. Like I personally know these characters and am rooting for them to be together or work things out.

Another thing I love about her books are at the beginning she puts an author note. In this author note she puts content warnings. This book deals with themes of abuse. Now I’ve never dealt with any kind of abuse so I can’t speak to how accurate she portrayed it. However, I felt it was done with care. I do not feel anything was glossed over.

Now onto the characters. Cherry is a whirlwind. She knows who she is, and everyone else has to deal. Ruben is worse but in the best way. He is everything the first line of the synopsis says he is, but he has his reasons for being that way. I LOVE them together.

This is technically book 1 in a duet, but they are companions to each. They are described as steamy, and this was definitely that. I am definitely picking up the second to see what I think of it. Talia Hibbert is definitely a new favorite author.

Have you read any of Talia Hibbert’s book? Do you have a favorite? Do you not get on with her writing? If so why not? Let me know in the comments. As always, happy reading 💚

Why yes. I am extremely late to this series. This was a reread for me, however, I read it back in 2019 and never continued on. So I plan to change that this year. And yes, I am also a child of Poseidon.

Disclaimer: I saw the movie first, and had no problem with it. Upon reading this the first time, I realized why so many others complained about it. I found myself going “that didn’t happen in the movie” or something along those lines.

My favorite scene of this whole book was the statue scene. I don’t know what it is about it, but I got happy reading that scene again. I also loved the Lotus Hotel scene. It was creepy but kid-creepy (that probably makes no sense to anyone but me lol) which I loved because I don’t like to be scared unless I knowingly put myself in that situation.

I really am grateful that the illustrations in this portrayed them as children. It really brought home just how young they really are. I mean, my first reaction seeing Percy was “Look how little he is!!”

It’s hard to talk about this book because I know a lot of people have read it. However, there might be a few who, like me, haven’t never read it. So I’m struggling with giving details without saying to much. Especially since this series is so well loved.

Yes I will work on writing better reviews. As I just mentioned, I struggled with this one. Any tips and tricks on writing reviews will be helpful. As always, happy reading 💚

Hello everyone! Today I am bringing you a review of a book that I actually DNFed last year. I decided to give it a second chance because I kept thinking about it, and also hearing about it on Booktube. So let’s see what I thought about it.

Side note: I haven’t written a review in months so this should be fun and maybe all over the place lol

So ok. I need to be honest. I originally DNFed this because I thought it wasn’t what I considered fantasy. Mind you, I just got back into reading last year. So of course I didn’t know a thing lol

I am so glad I picked this back up. I gave it 4 stars. I now know what I actually like lol I’m a character driven person as you all know, so the different character perspectives we got helped me love it even more. I am not a big romance person, but the way it was done in this book was well done in my opinion. I prefer it to be kind of secondary and not all in your face. So it was done nicely for me.

If you have read this, and now the “thing” that happened, I can gladly say that I did not see it coming. I thought I had it all figured out. That brought me even more into the story, and by the end of it I was hooked. I need to pick up book 2 soon.

Have you read this series? Did you enjoy it? Did you not? If you did, which book was your favorite? Let me know in the comments. As always, happy reading 💚

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is how a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly- but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe knowledge is more valuable than any human life- and soon both heretics and books will burn…

Another solid four star read for me. I enjoyed this. I’m learning that I’m taking a liking to historical fantasy that, in my opinion, doesn’t really have fantasy elements.

I loved the wide mix of characters in this. Jess may technically be the main character, but it read more like an ensemble cast due to the group spending so much time together. Since they were all training for a spot at the Great Library, the characters came from all over the world.

This starts out like Poppy War. At least to me it does. Meaning it starts off with our main character back story and getting into what they set out to do….only for it to take a turn towards the middle and all hell breaks loose. I literally was talking to the book lol asking it questions or just loud exclamations when things are said or done. I still have questions and I need book 2.

Have you read this series? Did you enjoy? Why or why not? Do you have plans to start it? I need to vent my feelings about a certain part lol happy reading everyone 💚

*As per usual, since this is a sequel I won’t be providing a synopsis*

Karen M. McManus has just been cemented as a favorite author for me. This was another 4.5 stars for me. I literally did not see that ending coming whatsoever. I thought I was right, and I was for a little bit, but that curveball man. Just goes to show, never think something is a throwaway line or section.

I don’t know how, but her characters can physically make me feel for them. I legit teared up at one point. In this book, we only follow three: Maeve, the younger sister of Bronwyn from the first story; Knox, who became my favorite quickly lol I always have to have a favorite and it always seems to be the guys; and Phobe, who reminded me a little of Addy from book one but so different as well.

On the other hand, there were a couple of side characters that me just want to fight them. Three in particular that play a part in something that happens in part two. Plus I just love the big reveals because I would never have been able to figure all that out. I am also so focused on the who and the how flies right by me lol at one point I had a whole theory of who and how, only to be COMPLETELY wrong.

I am definitely buying all three of her books and will get her newest one this winter (if it still comes out around that time.) It would be nice to see if I still vibe with her in a different world then this series. My first new author favorite of the year!!