Natalina Reis's Blog, page 5
October 19, 2024
A Study in Scarlet Women-Review
A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked up this book after a friend writer recommended it but I wasn’t quite sure if I’d like it. Even though I love the Sherlock stories and the shows that stemmed from them, I’m a mood reader and reading something about an eccentric man who seems to be totally out of touch with feelings and shows very little empathy for others was not in my top list of things to get lost in.
But Sherri Thomas won me over. This female version of Sherlock is awesome. Yes, the main character is still someone not quite in touch with her feelings, not always empathetic, someone who lives in her own world but Thomas makes it work for me.
The mystery is amazing (I hate to admit it that I never saw it coming) and intricate, the subtle commentary on women’s life back in Sherlock’s times and their lack of even the most basic rights is excellent, and the other characters in the story (her sister, Inspector Treadles, Mrs. Watson, and her love interest, Lord Ingram) are well-developed and interesting. And the writing is fabulous.
What I was not expecting was the romance. No, there’s no “spice”, but man it’s hot!!! The sexual tension between Charlotte (Sherlock) and Lord Ingram is off the charts (especially toward the end of the book) even if never really acted on in this first book in the series.
Highly recommend it and I will be buying the second in the series right away.
October 11, 2024
Meet You At The Blossom – Series Review
I don’t like to give bad reviews about artistic endeavors, be it a book, a painting, or a movie. But once in a while I have to, because I’m baffled by the popularity of such work and the great reviews they get.
This is one of those cases. I started watching this series on a streaming service because it had 9.2 out of 10 stars given by viewers and also because it was a short series (only 12 episodes compared to the usual 30-60 of shows of the same type). I had just finished a long Chinese romcom series and was ready for a romantic quick story.
So I decided to watch Meet You at the Blossom, a BL period fantasy. Within the first couple episodes I was ready to DNF it. But I kept going, hoping that it would get better. It didn’t.
I feel I should first disclose that I am well aware this is the first Chinese BL show that unabashedly shows the same gender couple being physical, and I commend both the producers and the actors who will undoubtedly face a lot of backlash from the government’s censorship. I am also aware that apparently the film crew and everyone else involved invested their own money to make this movie. Kudos for the guts and the vision. However, I cannot honestly say something was good when it really wasn’t.
Back to my review.
The best part of the series was the ending. I don’t mean this to be sarcastic, I mean it literally: the ending was actually pretty funny and kind of sweet. The rest was all an exercise in bad acting (overacting), bad writing, love scenes that reeked of lack of consent, and bad/wrong casting.
A few actors/characters were at least fun to watch, like Xiao Bo goofy servants and his little sister. The cranky doctor was not terrible either. All other ones, especially the major roles, were extremely overacted. The young actor who played Xiao Bo was a decent enough pick for the role of a spoiled rich young man and had some bright moments where he truly came across as very young, immature man, someone who didn’t have much of a connection with the harsh realities of life. On the other hand, Leslie Li who played the morally grey and tortured hero Huai En seemed like a poor choice for the role, which called for a strong, kickass, take-no-prisoners, cruel look.
The romance part (BL/Gay romance) didn’t quite work either, as the writers placed Xiao Bo having his bi-awakening by basically being raped by the one who was to be his love interest. Even worse was the fact that it was done in a way that made it look as if he liked it. This is the kind of scene that made me quit reading the Outlander years ago and now almost made me quit watching this series. People apparently confuse violence for passion. Big no-no in my book. There are a couple more sexual (insinuated rather than shown for the most part) scenes like this one where it looks and sounds as if the younger man is being forced rather than a willing participant.
Another thing that bothered me was the overly long scenes when Xiao Bo was suffering under the influence of poison, which focused on the character rolling around in pain in bed or on the floor for what it felt like forever. To be fair, one of the better-acted scenes for Wang Yun Kai (who plays Xiao Bo) is one where he’s in extreme pain while being treated for the poisoning. His pain at that time came across as real, unlike in other parts of the show. I may have cried a little.
A small spattering of decent and entertaining things: the young girl who plays Xiao Bo’s sister is a definite highlight in the last two episodes, The weird (and very handsome) doctor with the worst bedside manners, the first actual romantic kiss between the two lovers is very sweet (I never felt much chemistry between those two, unlike Wei Ying and Lan Zhan of Untamed fame who never even hugged throughout the whole 50 episodes but exuded sexual chemistry), and a hilariously overacted goodbye scene between Xiao Bo and one of his servants.
I should have DNFed it, lol. On the bright side? It was pretty short and I can now advance to better ones, I hope.
September 21, 2024
The Death Bringer-Book Tour
J. Scott Coatsworth has a new queer sci-fantasy book out, The Tharassas Cycle book four: The Death Bringer.
AIK WILL NEVER BE THE SAME… AND NEITHER WILL HIS WORLD
War is coming. Aik has become the Progenitor, and the Seed Mother has released him to transform the world for her alien brood. Silya and Raven, Aik’s former friends, are the only ones who can save him and the world. But what if the cure is worse than the invasion?
As Silya rushes to prepare Gullton for the battle to come, she’s determined to save as many people as she can. But new crises emerge that demand her attention.
Raven has his own hands full, keeping the dragon-like verent in line, while helping Silya to save the world. But what if the only way to do so is to sacrifice Aik, the man that he loves?
It’s the end of the world … or could it be the start of something new?
About the Series:
The Tharassas Cycle is a four book sci-fantasy series set on the recently colonized world of Tharassas. When humans first arrived on planet, they thought they were alone until the hencha mind made itself known. But now a new threat has arisen to challenge both humankind and their new allies on this alien world.
Universal Buy LinkExcerpt
Regroup
He floated, weightless and naked, surrounded by a reddish light and suspended in fluid. Something connected to his mouth and wrapped around his head, like a lover’s embrace.
He used to have a name. He searched his mind for some clue to his identity. I exist, so I must be someone. Or something.
That made sense, but got him no closer to an answer. He blinked. Who am I?
There was no immediate reply.
He lifted his hand. It was encased in metal. The gauntlet. That much he remembered, though it meant nothing to him. Except… it seemed different, somehow. Thinner.
He moved his arms in the liquid, and it sparkled around him where his shifting disturbed it. The metal extended down his wrist and along his forearm, like before, but now it went farther, around his elbow and up his bicep. He touched it with his free hand.
I can feel it. It was as if the metal had become a part of him, his nerves growing through it. He held out his metallic hand and flexed his fingers. What is it?
We call it uurcaa. It’s a sacred metal—it will protect you, and if your host dies, it will collect and save your soul.He could feel the emotions she held back from him. It is the last of its kind from our homeworld. Like us.
He blinked. Then what am I?
You are my son, Iihil. The progenitor, the one who has come before and the first of many more like you. The voice was deep and comforting.
Mother. Warmth infused him at her voice, and an eagerness to please her.
Still, something wasn’t right. He was more than that. He searched his mind, running up against that stubborn blankness. Somewhere beyond it were the answers he needed.
He’d been someone else. Before.
Who was I? Memories of a face—dark hair, intense eyes that nevertheless twinkled at him. Raven.
It came flooding back to him. His mother. His life in Gullton. Training to be a guard and meeting Raven for the first time. My name is Aik.
He reached for the mask that covered his face. It was suffocating. Something was stuck in his throat, and he coughed hard, trying to force it out, whipping around and causing the liquid around him to flash red in alarm.
Calm yourself. The voice was as thick and heavy as an ix hide, and just as soft and warm.
Aik pushed back. What are you doing to me? I don’t want this! Let me out! He thrashed about, trying to force his way through the suffocating liquid. The metal crept up his shoulder. If it covered all of him, he would be lost.
Calm yourself! It was more insistent this time.
Aik stiffened as an enforced lethargy settled over him. He lost control of his limbs, falling still in his floating prison. The voice pressed against his mind. You’re safe. Be calm, my little one.
He closed his eyes and thought of Raven, trying to stay fixed on that face. I can’t let myself forget again.
Then the world around him dissolved, and he was swept up in a torrent of memories that weren’t his own.
Author Bio
Scott lives with his husband Mark in a yellow bungalow in Sacramento. He was indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine. He devoured her library, but as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were.
He decided that if there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.
A Rainbow Award winning author, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, Liminal Fiction, and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that celebrate fiction reflecting queer reality, and was the committee chair for the Indie Authors Committee at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for almost three years.
Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com)
September 19, 2024
The Rom-Commers – Book Review
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve always loved romance, but for the past few years I had grown a bit disenchanted with the genre after reading one after another bad story that focused on little else than sex. Nothing against sex, but romance for me goes beyond that. I tried the so-called sweet romances and I couldn’t get into them either–there was no sexual tension and the love was kind of bland.
Recently I was at a bookstore event with other romance writers (did I forget to mention, I am a romance writer? Oh, the irony of it all) and I was telling this to one of them and she recommended a few rom-coms she had enjoyed in the past. I bought one of them to give romance another try.
And oh boy, am I glad I did. I absolutely LOVED The Rom-Commers, so much so I already bought another of Center’s rom-coms.
This book is witty (in the best way), well-written, full to the brim with subtle romantic moments (like when the MMC takes line-dancing classes just to please the FMC or how he says he loves her hair enough for both of them), high on sexual tension (without sex scenes), bits of drama to keep it real, and lots and lots of delightful humor.
I cannot recommend it enough. It was just what I needed to remind myself why I fell in love with romance as a young woman and the reason I write it myself.
Thank you Ms. Center, keep writing these fabulous stories.
Poison in Their Hearts – Book Review
Poison in Their Hearts by Laura Sebastian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great ending to a fabulous series. I did pay extra to buy the UK version because of the cover and it’s so worth it.
This series has a little of everything I love in a fantasy: great imperfect characters, awesome world building without overwhelming the reader with minute details, action, intrigue, surprises, and of course a touch of romance.
My next Sebastian read will be her first adult novel and I can’t wait, considering I have loved everything I have read under her pen.
Highly recommend it to anyone who loves court-intrigue fantasy. Even though this is a YA novel, it doesn’t read as juvenile at all.
What’s next Ms. Sebastian?
September 11, 2024
The Aurora’s Pale Light – Cover Reveal
E.W. Doc Parris has a new sci-fi-horror book out, The WalrusTech Universe book two: The Aurora’s Pale Light.
Time is a motherf@#er.
The rules that govern time machines are strict and the penalties for violations are severe…and unpredictable. For example:
History will record that the end of human civilization will occur in a little over six years. History will record that a demonic virus will spread across the globe and wipe out over six billion lives. And history will record that John Arthur Banks, decorated war hero, died just over two weeks ago in a California wildfire.
Forensics confirmed it.
The DNA scraped from the burnt corpse matched his.
The Governor of California and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended his funeral.
It made all the news streams.
And yet…
John Banks is alive, thanks to a little help from an old army buddy in the future—with a time machine. John’s cheated history, cheated time, and cheated death. That’s the upside. The downside? He can’t return to his former life, he must hide his existence and his activities from the future, and it falls to him to prepare the world for the coming demon apocalypse. He can’t change time. The past his future friend observed, the devastation he caused with his time machine, the billions of lives lost—John can’t prevent any of it.
Success is not an option.
But he can prepare for the aftermath. John has six years to prepare for doomsday and he’s determined to cheat death one more time-this time on a global scale. Or failing that, he’ll have to lead the survivors out of Hell. There’s only one problem with that option.
The Highway out of Hell is not on GPS.
Warnings: Zombies, Torture, Wildfire, Racial Epithets, Gun Violence, Plane Crash
About the Series:
The pathway to the future is not a straight line.
Humanity will make it to the stars, they’ll forge a galaxy-spanning civilization. But it will be a bumpy road getting from here to there. There will be downfalls and there will be breakthroughs. Wars will be fought and alliances negotiated. It won’t always be pretty and it won’t always be the heroic types that move the species forward.
But the future is bright.
And that comes down to the genius of one lovable, Buddha-like hardware developer with the unlikely name of Walrus. He sees order in the chaos and beauty in the world underneath our world. Because of his unique perspective, his discoveries put us on that path.
The WalrusTech Universe is the long epic of how one special mind can change the universe.
Want to see something cool?
Universal Buy LinkAuthor Bio
E.W. Doc Parris is the bestselling author of “The Dent in the Universe.” An American writer known for matter-of-fact, hard science fiction grounded in the current scientific worldview, his stories are leavened with wit, and kindled by the warmth of human relationships.
In addition to his centuries-spanning WalrusTech Reality series, Doc is currently working on his next novel, Land of Nod, an exploration of A.I., nanotech, and the human brain’s neural network.
He is a vociferous proponent for all things science fiction, the instigator of the #SecretSciFiNetwork on Mastodon and Bluesky, and a proud member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA).
Born within the nation’s capital beltway, Doc makes his home in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. A self-taught software developer and solutions architect, he’s made a decent living over the years as a set designer, graphic designer, animator, 3D modeler, iOS developer, puppeteer, and educator.
July 31, 2024
Your Blood, My Bones – Book Review
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book even though it was NOT a happy read (which is what I normally read).
What I loved:
*the less than perfect characters who toed the line between good and evil despite their good intentions.
*the love/hate relationship between the three main characters.
*the writing (such poetic writing fully satisfied and awed my love for words).
*the atmospheric setting and plot reminded me a little of The Shining (the book not the movie).
*the chickens (don’t ask me why I loved the chickens so much. I don’t even like chickens).
A couple things that I didn’t like so much:
*the ending (even though I agree it was the only plausible ending to this story but it still stings).
*I wasn’t crazy about their short foray into the “real world”. It just felt anticlimactic, I guess even though I did love her friends and the humor. It just didn’t jive with the rest of the book for me, I guess).
*The ending (oh did I mention that already?).
Spooky, extremely well written, and unputdownable (it’s a word). Highly recommend it.
July 15, 2024
Warrior of Blade and Dusk – Book Review
Warrior of Blade and Dusk by Anastasis Blythe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I rarely like a second book in the series better than the first but here we are. I really enjoyed this installment in the series (which I am guessing is taking off in another direction with the third book). It had everything I enjoy in C-drama/fantasy: adventure, magic, romance, weird creatures, and tropes like found family, enemies to lovers, hurt comfort… so many.
I noticed less “weirdness” in this print copy than in the first in terms of format (even though there is a snafoo in the last quarter of the book where the sentence stops midway and jumps to the next line) and the cover didn’t disappoint.
Love this series. Thank you Ms. Blythe for the read.
July 11, 2024
Take Some Tahini – Book Tour
Karenna Colcroft has a new MM paranormal romance out, Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat book six: Tahe Some Tahini. And there’s a giveaway.
Tobias Rogan never wanted to be a leader. But here he is, the Anax of the United States, ruler of all werewolves in the country. Only two weeks after winning the rank in a challenge fight against his senile predecessor, Tobias and his mate Kyle are still adjusting to their new reality when a frantic call alerts Tobias to the massacre of nearly half the wolves in a pack in North Dakota–including the pack’s Alpha and Beta.
An investigation reveals that the wolves responsible for the attack are from Canada. Tobias reaches out to Silas Creighton, Anax of Canada, and finds someone like-minded in wanting peace between the wolves of the two countries. At Silas’s invitation, Tobias and his mate Kyle, along with their new guard Quinn Boucher, sole survivor of the North Dakota massacre, travel to Nova Scotia to put an end to the conflict between the American and Canadian werewolves. But not all wolves are interested in peace–and not all want Tobias to survive the trip.
Warnings: violence, gun violence, discussion of past sexual abuse, homophobia
About the Series
Kyle Slidell didn’t move to Boston expecting to be changed into a werewolf. But that’s what happened. He can’t control whether he shifts at the full moon, but he can damn sure continue being vegan–even in wolf form.
Tobias Rogan, Alpha of Boston North Pack, never expected to fall in love with anyone, let alone a man. A male Alpha is not supposed to have a male partner. But when he meets Kyle, he’s immediately attracted. And after Kyle is changed, Tobias realizes the truth: Kyle is not only his partner, but his mate.
The werewolf world isn’t a simple place, and Kyle and Tobias are thrown into the middle of conflict within and among the packs of the United States–a conflict that extends all the way to the top of the werewolf hierarchy. Can they and their love survive what they face?
AmazonGiveaway
Karenna is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour:
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47313/?
Excerpt
I debated knocking and decided to just try the doorknob. Kyle had better hearing than the rest of us. He knew I was here. If he didn’t want me to enter the apartment, he would have locked the door.
He hadn’t. The knob turned easily, and I pushed the door open and entered the living room that had been mine for decades.
The light in the room was off, but the kitchen light was on. I set down my bag and walked slowly into the other room. And there, I found my mate.
Seeing Kyle sitting there, at the same table in the same apartment where our relationship had grown, felt like a knife in my heart. I’d found him. But the way he looked at me almost made me wish I hadn’t. I’d never seen such pain and anger in his eyes.
His eyes mirrored my own emotions. Pain at how he’d left me, not a word to me, not even speaking to me when I reached out. Rage at being abandoned by the one person who had sworn never to do that.
I didn’t know whether to hug him or beat the shit out of him. I did neither, just stood in the doorway, fists clenched, waiting for him to fucking say something so I could.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.” I went toward the other chair but stopped. If I got too close to him, I might lunge across the table and strangle him. I closed my eyes just long enough to let an image of the ocean form. It didn’t calm me as much as usual, but at least it washed away the urge to hurt Kyle for hurting me. Which was good. I would never hurt Kyle.
I had before. I hadn’t meant to, but I had. And I’d sworn I never would again.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. “You’re here.”
“And the sky is blue, grass is green, and werewolves have fur.” He folded his arms. “You found me. Now what?”
His tone was completely flat. No anger, which would have been a good sign if he’d shown any other emotion. But there was nothing. He didn’t want me there. I could feel that through our bond, which was actually a good sign. The bond was still intact. But the way he spoke, the way he looked at me, sent my temper on the upswing again. How fucking dare he be a sarcastic asshole after what he’d done to me?
I gritted my teeth and forced another long, slow breath. “We talk. You tell me why you left, and we decide if we can fix it.”
“And if we can’t?”
“Then at least we talked to each other!” My voice rose, and I didn’t give a shit, even though Kirk could hear and probably everyone in the other two buildings could as well. “You just took off, Kyle. You didn’t say a damn thing, just took off. I was worried.” My eyes watered, and I blinked a few times as my anger ebbed. “I love you.”
“You have a weird way of showing it.” He sighed. “Sit down, would you? Unless you’re trying some Anax intimidation tactic on me.”
“I’m not.” I sat and leaned my elbows on the table. “How could you do that? How could you just leave without saying a fucking word?”
“I didn’t know what to say. You would have told me not to go. And I wouldn’t have gone. And I would have kept dealing with all that shit.”
“What shit?”
“You know.” He waved. “I’m a weakness for you. I shouldn’t exist or whatever. Those assholes back in California.”
“So you fucking walked out on me because of them?” I was so furious I was shaking. “You left as soon as I was gone. You knew you were going. You were gone by the time I called you, and you didn’t say a goddamn word. How could you do that?”
“I should have.” This time, emotion filled his tone. “I’m sorry, Tobias. I just…I needed to get the fuck out of there. And I knew you would have told me not to go. I didn’t want to do this.”
“Do what?”
“This.” He gestured toward me. “Argue. Process our feelings. I just wanted to get away from the homophobes and the memories. Living in that house…I’m guessing you have some decent memories of the place. You went there for years for the national gatherings. A couple weeks ago was my first time being there, and I spent most of the gathering in a goddamn cage, Tobias.”
I felt like he had jammed a blade into my heart. Involuntarily, I took a step back. How had I not realized? I knew all too well what trauma could do, but I hadn’t even considered how Kyle must feel waking up every single day in the place where he’d been dragged away from me and locked in a tiny basement cell.
Author Bio
Karenna Colcroft lives just north of Boston, Massachusetts, and has been in love with the city since childhood, though she has yet to encounter any werewolves, vampires, or other paranormal beings in her travels. At least none that she knows of.
Karenna is a polyamorous, nonbinary human who lives in Massachusetts with her husband. She also has two adult children and three “bonus” kids, four grandchildren, and two and a half cats. (Half in terms of time the cat lives with her, not in terms of the cat itself…)
June 18, 2024
What the River Knows – Book Review
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was recommended this book by a friend at work and I’m so glad I decided to read it right away instead of putting it on my never-ending TBR. I absolutely LOVED this book. It had everything I love in fiction: mystery, adventure, history (Ancient Egypt history), humor, language, and romance.
The main character is a little too reckless for her times, but this is after all a magical realism novel so a little creative liberty is more than welcomed.
I totally fell in love with the male lead, Whit. He’s a bit on the morally grey side at times, but just enough to keep the reader guessing. His slow-burn romance with the FMC is well done, sexy in a subtle way, and believable.
And the parallel with the history of Cleopatra made it all that much sweeter. I highly, highly recommend it. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
