Pride Reads: Fantasy Quickie: Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

There are numerous lists (yay!) of amazing books to read during Pride Month, and all year long! Here is one of my favorites!

Available now

CW: homophobia, magical violence, aversion therapy

Even Though I Knew the End is a magically charged noir thriller that doesn’t hold any punches. Helen, a private investigator and warlock who sold her soul to save her brother’s life, is quietly putting her affairs in order so Edith, her longtime love, will be able to live out her dream of moving to California. When someone offers her one last job-a job that could get Helen her soul back, she can’t refuse.

Discovering the identity of the White City Vampire, a prolific and magical serial killer, places Helen and everyone she loves in danger. Helen and Edith race against time to save their lives, their souls, and their love.

Coming it at just 133 pages in the print version, Polk does a masterful job at creating an interesting and intricate alternate 1930’s Chicago. There’s romance, pain, magic, mystery, and a stark look at the hate and discrimination the queer community faced then, and now. It’s a brilliant story that I hope becomes the start of a new magical mystery series.

Grab our tissues, you’re going to need them.

If you’d like to add this magical sapphic mystery to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Fantasy Quickie: Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

Available now

CW: homophobia, magical violence, aversion therapy

Even Though I Knew the End is a magically charged noir thriller that doesn’t hold any punches. Helen, a private investigator and warlock who sold her soul to save her brother’s life, is quietly putting her affairs in order so Edith, her longtime love, will be able to live out her dream of moving to California. When someone offers her one last job-a job that could get Helen her soul back, she can’t refuse.

Discovering the identity of the White City Vampire, a prolific and magical serial killer, places Helen and everyone she loves in danger. Helen and Edith race against time to save their lives, their souls, and their love.

Coming it at just 133 pages in the print version, Polk does a masterful job at creating an interesting and intricate alternate 1930’s Chicago. There’s romance, pain, magic, mystery, and a stark look at the hate and discrimination the queer community faced then, and now. It’s a brilliant story that I hope becomes the start of a new magical mystery series.

Grab our tissues, you’re going to need them.

If you’d like to add this magical sapphic mystery to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

It's Spooky Season! Slewfoot by Brom

Available now

CW: animal death and cruelty, human torture, patriarchal bs, horror related terror

It’s almost Spooky Season and this book needs to be on your reading list! It’s so creepy and dark and sad and infuriating and All The Things! I saw this title on a list of underrated horror novels and had never heard of it before and the title and cover immeadiately hooked me. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten pretty good at watching the clock app with my Library app up so I can immeadiately put books on hold.

Friends, this book gave me nightmares. You have to read it. It has illustrations! Incredibly creepy illustrations.

In 1666 Connecticut, a young woman named Abitha is facing eviction from her home and years of servitude to her brother-in-law after her husband’s tragic and mysterious death. After a desperate plea to the town’s leaders, Abitha is given one last chance to plant and harvest enough corn to pay off her husband’s debts and finally be free from her evil and overbearing BIL.

Deep in the woods, an ancient spirit is slowly awakening. Surrounded by impish and mischievous spirits, the ancient one struggles to remember his past and his connection to the woods around him. When he notices Abitha, he is drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Intent on gaining her trust, he leaves her small gifts of food and offers protections against the threats of the local men and the law. His quiet and protective nature slowly begins to win Abitha over and when her situation turns dire, she knows he is the only one who can save her and the two begin a tenuous friendship.

Together, Abitha and Samson, the ancient one, work to thwart the threats against Abitha’s land, but end up inciting a war between the Pagans and the Puritans.

Slewfoot is a beautifully written horror tale set in Puritanical New England. From the first page, we know that Something is waking up in the forest. In that same forest, we meet Abitha and learn that this is not the life she dreamed for. Forced to cross an ocean and marry a man she had never met, she has to hide her mother’s Pagan teachings and beliefs and live the strict and austere life of a Puritan wife. She’s tired, cold, hungry and has lost their last goat in the woods. If that wasn’t enough stress, she feels guilty her husband isn’t disappointed in her and they return home to find his evil, nasty brother there to inform them he has sold their home to pay off his debts. Edward, Abitha’s husband, is a timid and meek man and really struggles to stand up for himself and his wife. Abitha can’t speak her mind without the threat of harm and punishment from the Puritanical town leaders. It’s this exchange that sets off a dangerous chain of events that pits Wallace, the BIL, against Abitha. The amount of patriarchal nonsense that we are forced to listen to from These Men! It was absolutely enraging to read but our Abitha is a fierce and determined soul who and it’s impossible to not root for her. Even at her lowest point, she never gives up and puts up an incredible fight against everyone who is wishing her her failure.

Samson, or the Ancient Spirit, is a fascinating character. He awakens with the help of spirits who look like small children in animal suits-and bizarre animals at that. A floating fish, a raven, and an opossum but with human children’s faces-you have to see the illustrations, they’re incredible. Samson is named for Abitha’s poor goat how was lured to his death to feed him. He has no memory and isn’t by nature a hateful or evil entity. Being around Abitha seems to calm him he is drawn to her in a way he can’t understand. As he grows into his power, he becomes more and more animated and friendly with Abitha, but he also grows incredibly protective of her. It makes for a fascinating dynamic because Abitha is convinced he’s the devil, but he doesn’t want to hurt her, and in fact, wants to protect her. Also, Abitha seems to have some powers of some kind…that are amplified by working her magic with Samson.

I don’t want to spoil the ending so I’ll leave you with this:

Abitha is incredible. I loved the journey her character ended up taking.

I loved this book and now I need everything written by this author.

Everything.

If you’d like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

As always, links are affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. As always, tell your Library they need this on their shelves because we can’t know about EVERY book even though we wish we could.

Happy Spooky Season!

Erotica Quickie: A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon

Available Now

This book came highly recommended from Sarah and Amanda from the Smart Podcast Trashy Books podcast and those ladies are never wrong when it comes to bonkers romance novels. Can we all please take a moment to gaze at this incredibly gorgeous cover? It’s stunning! This is an incredibly steamy book centered around a brothel that caters to wealthy non-humans. Esther Reed, a maid in a respectable household is about to lose her job as her employers seem to have lost their fortune in a bad investment. When Esther is caught watching the Lady of the House receive a rather energetic “treatment” from her doctor, it opens the door for Esther to pursue a career more in line with her interests. Turns out, Dr. Underwood is also a client of Rooksgrave Manor and feels that Esther would the perfect for its clientele. See, Esther loves sex and loves the idea of having sex be her new profession. Among Esther’s new clients are a vampire, a sphinx, a Jekyll/Hyde handsome situation, and a golem. Oh, and an invisible man. That’s a fun one! There is literally a line where Esther screams, “I want to f@ck my monster!” This is 400 pages of pure erotic fun.

Friends, this book is an absolute masterpiece and I loved every single line on every single page. It’s amazing and I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you’re interested in your own copy, you can click on the cover for ordering options. If you’re a KU subscriber, you’re in luck! It’s totally in there.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Velvet Was The Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Available Now

Set in 1970’s Mexico City, Maite spends her days as a secretary and her evenings alone with her favorite serial romance comics. As the city becomes consumed with student protests and political unrest, Maite escapes into her romances and crafting tales of a glamourous, but non-existent, love life to regale her co-workers with. When the glamorous and beautiful Lenora moves in next door, Maite is both intrigued and extremely put out by her request to watch her cat while she’s away for a few days. When Lenora doesn’t return on time, and with Maite’s payment, Maite has no choice but to track her down and collect the money owed to her. 

What she doesn’t expect is to cross paths with a hitman who is also looking for Lenora and get drawn into the darker side of politics and dirty government officials. But Elvis isn’t just any goon, he’s a man tired of violence and wants nothing more than a life outside of crime. 

Both Elvis and Maite are complex and intriguing characters. I found Maite very hard to like which made reading her character even more enjoyable. She was prickly, obsessed with the characters in her comics, and felt she was immensely better than the people around her. She constantly lied about her personal life, had a difficult relationship with her family, and was also a petty thief who regularly stole from her neighbors. It’s very, very hard to like or relate to someone like that but I found her absolutely fascinating. Add in a mob henchman who is obsessed with Elvis Presley, rock and roll, and is an avid reader, you get a fascinating combination of characters. The mystery behind Lenora, her identity and her disappearance, was really well done and I loved how Maite’s obsession with her drove the story.   

Engrossing, thrilling, and filled with complex and interesting characters, Velvet Was The Night is a dark historical that will keep you guessing with every twist and turn.  

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. 

If you would like to add this amazing book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:  

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. 

The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk

Available Now

This is so good! So, so good.

Set in a world where magic is studied and practiced, The Midnight Bargain introduces us to a secret world of women who defy social standards to become powerful sorceresses.

The Bargaining Season is just beginning and instead of focusing on pursuing a powerful marriage, Beatrice Clayborn is on the hunt for grimoires. When her latest find lands in the hands of the wealthy and regal Ysbeta Lavan instead of her own, Beatrice knows that she must use any means to get the book back. When the two women eventually discover they are pursuing the same goals, they work together to increase their magical skills and avoid the marriage mart as much as possible. What Beatrice isn't expecting to find, is an ally in Ysbeta's brother Ianthe. In Llanandari, Ysbeta's and Ianthe's home country, women are trained in sorcery and treated more as equals to men than they are in Beatrice's home of Chasland. As the three become close friends, Beatrice makes her case for equality and Ianthe slowly begins to realize why his sister and Beatrice are so resistant to marriage and the dreaded magic-dampening warding collars they will be forced to wear until they have left their childbearing years. Set amid glittering ballrooms, extravagant picnics, and acres of silken ballgowns, The Midnight Bargain is a gorgeous story of friendship, romance, and bringing the patriarchy to it's knees.

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in a single sitting and was thrilled to discover that it's the first in a new series. Polk has set her characters in a world similar to Regency England but with magic as a known element. It is filled with young women being used as bargaining chips to create powerful alliances through marriage but without any benefits to the women. Beatrice discovers that her father's business losses are far greater than she was led to believe and her marriage is crucial to saving her family's finances. Instead of listening to Beatrice's astute business advice, she is criticized for discussing "men's business" and is reminded repeatedly, that she is a silly woman and no one will ever listen to her. What her family doesn't know is that she has been pursuing sorcery to increase her chances of becoming her father's business partner instead of being forced into a world where she will be forced to wear a warding collar and do nothing but bear children. Beatrice is a really interesting character. She is both a powerful sorceress and intelligent, but so focused on her goals that she doesn't notice much of what goes on around her. She often comes off as naïve, but she is incredibly driven.

Beatrice and Ysbeta develop a close and powerful friendship throughout the book. They both have the same goal-become a sorceress and avoid marriage, but for different reasons. Ysbeta is used to freedom and has seen her own mother become incredibly powerful in society and create the family great wealth. But if she agrees to the marriage of a wealthy Chasland man, she will loose all of her rights, property, and power she has worked so hard to obtain. Beatrice truly loves magic and wants to learn all she can. She truly believes that there must be a way to solve the problem of spirits overtaking the unborn children of a sorceress. Beatrice also really has a head for business and as a wife, no one will ever take her seriously. The way these two take on smashing the patriarchy is a beautiful thing to behold.

As the two friends are working on their schemes, they are forced into following the social calendar of the Bargaining Season. This book is teeming with balls, dinners, charity picnics and dress fittings. Beatrice is constantly reminded how important it is that she move the family up the social ladder and her younger sister is always quick to point out the expense the family has gone to make Beatrice alluring to a wealthy man. Beatrice is constantly reminded what high society thinks of her social climbing family-and she's quick to put some arrogant men in their place. It's great.

I truly loved this book and I am so excited that there will be more books! This book has a great ending and really sets up book two to be really exciting.

If you want to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

Available Now

https://books2read.com/u/49l57X

What a wonderful book to come out on my birthday! This is an absolutely delightful locked-room mystery full of steampunk elements. Set in the 1950’s, we are introduced to the intelligent and resourceful Marion Lane. Single, to the great disdain of her Grandmother, she is far more interested in pursuing her career as an Inquirer for the secret organization known as Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries than she is in pursuing a husband. When her Grandmother sells the family home without consulting her, Marion has no choice but to live full time in the underground facility where she works. When an investigation into a colleague’s murder leads to the arrest of someone close to Marion, she and her best friend Bill, must work to clear his name. As their investigation progresses, Marion and Bill discover there is more to Miss Brickett’s than even they were led to believe. 

I am a huge fan of steampunk and this is my first historical set in London after the second world war. Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries is an interesting setting and truly a character itself. The Agency has a unique and seemingly magical system of collecting tips and clues into all types of criminal behavior and is incredibly effective at dropping those criminals, literally, on the steps of the police. There are so many secrets inside the agency, both amongst the employees and found within the building itself. It had a very Warehouse 13 feel to it, just set in the 1950s. Secret rooms, hidden compartments, objects are that are definitely more than they seem-it’s all here. 

Marion is an excellent character who has to deal with family expectations, a difficult and stressful work environment, and trying to find a place for herself when society still believes that women are at their best when they are at home. I really enjoyed following her investigation into helping her colleagues and the way that she was able to stay true to her own goals and feelings. 

The story itself moves quickly and without sacrificing any worldbuilding. I really hope this is the beginning of a series because there is a lot to explore. While there is a murder, and some fight scenes, none of it is excessively violent.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I truly hope there is more to come! 

If you’d like to grab a copy for yourself, you can purchase it from your favorite retailer here:

https://books2read.com/u/49l57X

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

This post contains affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country by Emily Tesh

The Greenhollow Duology

Available Now

I had seen a lot of buzz around Emily Tesh’s latest novella, Drowned Country, and never once did it click in that it’s the second book in The Greenhollow Duology. So, much to my dismay, I had to wait for book one to come from the Library before I could dig into it, but the wait was more than worth it. 

Both books in this series are novellas so it’s pretty hard to discuss them without major spoilers. In Silver in the Wood, we are introduced to Tobias Finch who has a deep connection to Greenhollow Wood. He protects the woods from harm and in return, the wood provides him shelter. Living in the woods for centuries, he has seen many landowners come and go but none have captured his interest like Henry Silver. Silver, young, intelligent, and fascinated by the lore surrounding the wood is even more interested in the giant man living in the woods. When a dark force returns to the woods and places Silver in danger, Finch must confront dark secrets from his past to save him. 

Drowned Country continues the story of the Greenhollow Wood and delves deeper into its secrets and history. We also get to know Silver’s mother better and she is a powerhouse of a woman! 

Both of these novellas are just wonderful. I love Tesh’s writing style. The stories feel very dreamlike and are incredibly atmospheric. You can feel the trees moving in the wind and the vines growing around the cabin. There are dryads, nymphs, and other woodland creatures that live in the woods and the way the woods will move and shift to protect Tobias was magical. Tobias is a quiet man, used to his own company and that of the wood. He is able to communicate with the wood and has a close relationship with the dryad Bramble who is very clear on her feelings towards Henry and his presence in her woods. Henry is the complete opposite of Tobias. Talkative, inquisitive, and brash, he turns absolutely adorable in the presence of Tobias. He is also obsessed with his study of folklore and is always writing notes in one of his many notebooks. The lore surrounding the wood was fascinating and I love how each book gave us insight into the history and magic of the forest. 

They are both very quick reads and incredibly delightful. It takes real skill to create such an atmospheric and magical world in so few pages and Tesh pulls it off beautifully. 

If you would like to add these books to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk

Available October 13, 2020

This is so good! So, so good.

Set in a world where magic is studied and practiced, The Midnight Bargain introduces us to a secret world of women who defy social standards to become powerful sorceresses.

The Bargaining Season is just beginning and instead of focusing on pursuing a powerful marriage, Beatrice Clayborn is on the hunt for grimoires. When her latest find lands in the hands of the wealthy and regal Ysbeta Lavan instead of her own, Beatrice knows that she must use any means to get the book back. When the two women eventually discover they are pursuing the same goals, they work together to increase their magical skills and avoid the marriage mart as much as possible. What Beatrice isn't expecting to find, is an ally in Ysbeta's brother Ianthe. In Llanandari, Ysbeta's and Ianthe's home country, women are trained in sorcery and treated more as equals to men than they are in Beatrice's home of Chasland. As the three become close friends, Beatrice makes her case for equality and Ianthe slowly begins to realize why his sister and Beatrice are so resistant to marriage and the dreaded magic-dampening warding collars they will be forced to wear until they have left their childbearing years. Set amid glittering ballrooms, extravagant picnics, and acres of silken ballgowns, The Midnight Bargain is a gorgeous story of friendship, romance, and bringing the patriarchy to it's knees.

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in a single sitting and was thrilled to discover that it's the first in a new series. Polk has set her characters in a world similar to Regency England but with magic as a known element. It is filled with young women being used as bargaining chips to create powerful alliances through marriage but without any benefits to the women. Beatrice discovers that her father's business losses are far greater than she was led to believe and her marriage is crucial to saving her family's finances. Instead of listening to Beatrice's astute business advice, she is criticized for discussing "men's business" and is reminded repeatedly, that she is a silly woman and no one will ever listen to her. What her family doesn't know is that she has been pursuing sorcery to increase her chances of becoming her father's business partner instead of being forced into a world where she will be forced to wear a warding collar and do nothing but bear children. Beatrice is a really interesting character. She is both a powerful sorceress and intelligent, but so focused on her goals that she doesn't notice much of what goes on around her. She often comes off as naïve, but she is incredibly driven.

Beatrice and Ysbeta develop a close and powerful friendship throughout the book. They both have the same goal-become a sorceress and avoid marriage, but for different reasons. Ysbeta is used to freedom and has seen her own mother become incredibly powerful in society and create the family great wealth. But if she agrees to the marriage of a wealthy Chasland man, she will loose all of her rights, property, and power she has worked so hard to obtain. Beatrice truly loves magic and wants to learn all she can. She truly believes that there must be a way to solve the problem of spirits overtaking the unborn children of a sorceress. Beatrice also really has a head for business and as a wife, no one will ever take her seriously. The way these two take on smashing the patriarchy is a beautiful thing to behold.

As the two friends are working on their schemes, they are forced into following the social calendar of the Bargaining Season. This book is teeming with balls, dinners, charity picnics and dress fittings. Beatrice is constantly reminded how important it is that she move the family up the social ladder and her younger sister is always quick to point out the expense the family has gone to make Beatrice alluring to a wealthy man. Beatrice is constantly reminded what high society thinks of her social climbing family-and she's quick to put some arrogant men in their place. It's great.

I truly loved this book and I am so excited that there will be more books! This book has a great ending and really sets up book two to be really exciting.

If you want to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

Available September 22, 2020

Glamorous and lush, The Silvered Serpents returns to the magical world that was created in The Gilded Wolves. If you haven’t had the joy of reading this imaginative and thrilling novel, start with The Gilded Wolves and then meet me back here because there are some serious spoilers that can’t be avoided. 

Serious Spoilers.

I warned you.

Losing Tristan has devastated Séverin and his team but their grief must wait as they are facing another tragedy, Laila is running out of time. Séverin has recalled the group for one last mission: discover the location of the Sleeping Palace, find the lost treasure of the Fallen House, and hopefully find The Divine Lyrics along the way. Lured by the possibility of reclaiming his true inheritance, Séverin has placed his needs and desires above those of his friends, and this time, he may have finally gone too far. Long held secrets come to light as the group forms an unlikely alliance with someone from Séverin’s past, and many players are far from whom they appear. Full of magical adventures, ancient puzzles, and incredible feats of Forging, The Silvered Serpents is an intensely compulsive read that shouldn’t be missed. 

I absolutely loved this book. I curled up in my new reading nook with the pups, brewed a pot of tea, and didn’t get up until the book was finished. Reader friends, there are magical animal ice sculptures that come to life to help serve a fancy dinner. What more do you want? Roshani Chokshi’s ability to give readers an immersive reading experience with her gorgeously imagined and intricately described world, complete with all the glitz, glamour, and magic of Paris. Her characters are rich and full of life and you are immediately invested in their story and I spent the whole book with my fingers crossed that everyone would come out safe and sound. 

I am a sucker for a found family and this book does this trope perfectly. Séverin, Laila, Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos love each other fiercely, are incredibly loyal, and no one is capable of hurting them more than each other. Grieving Tristan in their own ways has led to some fissures in their relationship and the stress over the possibility of losing Laila is almost more than they can bear.  Add to that their own personal struggles and you have a group of people at the end of their rope desperately trying to hold on. 

It’s all so well done. So good. 

Warning:

This book ends on a massive cliff hanger. It’s incredible.

If you would like to grab a copy of this book for yourself or someone you love, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald

Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald

Available June 11, 2019

Reader Friends, this book is beautiful.  Absolutely lovely in every way. From the clothes, to the city, to the way people speak to one another, it’s just lovely.  I’m also not going to apologize for my overuse of the word “lovely.”

On a beautiful December morning while on his way to a prayer meeting, Joe Reynolds meets a young woman wearing a disheveled dress, no coat, and looking completely out of place at the train station so early in the morning.  It’s when he stops to offer her assistance that he realizes something is slightly off. Her clothes don’t seem quite right, it’s too cold to not have a coat, and how did she get to the train station?

One year later, he sees her again.  The same Nora from a year ago. Same dress, same pearls, same perfume.  How is that possible and what is going on? Together, Nora and Joe begin a complicated and magical relationship revolving around her mystical appearance and the confines of the train station.  

This is one of the stories that the less you know, the more amazing it is.  The twists and turns are revealed slowly throughout the story and each one adds a complication that Joe and Nora deal with together with love and respect.  I really loved how the author made the city itself an integral part of the relationship. Grand Central made a gorgeous backdrop for this novel.  From the ladies’ lounge to the hotel, the restaurants and shops, the station provided everything Joe and Nora could need.  However, even with the luxurious hotel rooms and room service, being confined to one location is still a limitation that will tax anyone.  Joe and Nora have a truly loving relationship that is tested over and over again by family, war, and time.  Even with the magical existence of Nora, their relationship is still just like that of anyone else. Lisa Grunwald does an incredible job of exploring the lengths we are willing to go to ensure the happiness of those we love.  When Nora fully realizes that the passage of time is affecting her very differently than those around her, her actions are quite different than other novels I’ve read that deal with the same concept.

I loved this story.  I loved how Joe and Nora were with one another.  I loved the setting and the writing. It’s just a lovely, lovely story.

If you would like to fall into this gorgeous story, and help support the site, you may do so here: