Blodeuedd's Tuesday Review: The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire

 

Series: October Daye (#18)

Format: 419 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published: August 27, 2024 by DAW

UF/own

Did we really need Tybalt´s view? Eh, maybe not. I would honestly just had a new book and not the same story just from this pov. Sure it brought more to the story, the plight of the Cat Sidhe and everyone else not worthy.

Right, same story as in book 17 but here Tybalt is not under the illusion as the rest of the Fae and he must find his wife and set the world right.

It was still good.

For one bright, shining moment, Tybalt, King of Cats, had everything he had ever wanted. He was soon to set his crown aside; he had married the woman he loved; he was going to be a father. After centuries of searching for a family of his own, he had finally found a way to construct the life of his dreams, and was looking forward to a period of peace—or at least as much peace as is ever in the offing for the husband of a hero.

Alas for Tybalt and his domestic aspirations, fate—and Titania—had other ideas. His perfect world had been complete for only a moment when it was ripped away, to be replaced by hers. Titania, Faerie’s Summer Queen, Mother of Illusions and enemy of so many he holds dear, has seized control of the Kingdom, remaking it in her own image. An image which does not include meddlesome shapeshifters getting in her way. Tybalt quickly finds himself banished from her reality, along with the Undersea and the rest of the Court of Cats.

To protect his people and his future, Tybalt must find the woman he loves in a world designed to keep her from him, convince her that he’s not a stranger trying to ruin her life for no apparent reason, and get her to unmake the illusion she’s been firmly enmeshed in. And he’ll have to do it all while she doesn’t know him, and every unrecognizing look is a knife to his heart.

For Tybalt, King of Cats, the happily ever after was just the beginning.

DNF: How to Fake It with a Fae by Amy Boyles

Author: Amy Boyles

Title: How to Fake It with a Fae

Series: Seven Suitors for Seven Witches #1

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 372

Published: 25, 2024

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Book lover Addison Thornrose can match you with your next perfect read. Unfortunately, she can’t match herself with a good man. Her latest just dumped her. Worse, she’s learned that unless she marries, and quickly, her family will lose their witch magic—forever.

Feylin, king of the fae, has no interest in romance. In fact, the only thing he’s interested in is getting revenge on the Thornrose family because they ruined his life. So when he learns that they’re holding a Bridgerton style ball to marry off their oldest daughter, Addison, he sees an opportunity for vengeance.

But what Feylin doesn’t expect is to start falling for Addison. And worse, he really doesn’t expect it when ancient fae magic binds him to her so that they can’t be separated.

His solution is to strike a bargain—be in a fake relationship. Just until they can break the spell between them, and just until he can get his revenge.

For Addison, this is a dream come true. She doesn’t want to be pawned off to a line of suitors, and she certainly doesn’t want to be engaged. But between the spine-tingling fake dates and the tension-infused banter, lines begin to blur. And Addison begins to wonder when her heart will stop faking it and her feelings become real.

Review:

Randomly stumbled upon this while looking for something else, so why not? It sounded lovely!

Another DNF. Oh no. 

Feylin was a jerk. 

Addison was annoying. 

Nothing was charming. Nothing was funny. I kept rolling my eyes. 

I just couldn't get to page 150. I had to give up. 

When we do a DNF 2nd Chance I might add this to it. 

DNF for now though. 

Audiobook Review: Secrets, Lies, and Fireflies by Angie Fox

Author: Angie Fox

Narrator: Hollie Jackson

Title: Secrets, Lies, and Fireflies

Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #14

Genre: Paranormal, Cozy Mystery

Format: Audiobook 

Published: August 5, 2025

Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Verity’s grandmother returns to help Verity and Frankie solve a mystery that reveals a shocking family secret, as well as the heartwarming history of Verity’s home. This is one family reunion you don’t want to miss!

Review:

I love, love, love this series. I'm sad I'm all caught up and now have to wait for the next one???? WHAT!?!?!?! EEE. 

We are back with Verity and the gang. Things have found a nice calmness. However, things are about to be shook up when a fire breaks out at the library and Verity's grandmother's ghost returns. She is back to help Verity and Frankie with this mystery that is tied to a family secret. 

First off..........where did my beloved narrator go?! She IS Verity and all the other characters. I am so bummed she did not read this one. I should look it up and see why we has to switch. Don't get me wrong.......I did warm up to this narrator but it just wasn't the same. 

Besides my world being tilted because of the change of the narrator.......I enjoyed this one a lot. Verity will be face-to-face with her grandma who she loved so much. However, she has been scared that she disappointed her since the family house had to be stripped away when Verity had zero money years and years ago. Some things have been replaced but she has had a lot of guilt on her shoulders losing some of her grandma's things. I loved that Verity got this chance to finally get a chance to talk to her grandma and let go of this guilt.

I also loved watching Verity grow more. There were times she was acting so selfish in this book, but I get it. If my grandma came back from the light....I wouldn't want her to go back either. However, grandma staying wasn't going to help anyone. 

Frankie!!! I love him. My heart broke when he was all, "This is the only home I've ever had!" OMG. Some nice growth and emotional break throughs for this boy. 

And Lucy. They true MVP!!!!!

I love them all!!!!

Ooo and the mystery was so good. I don't want to spoil anything! 

All-in-all, I enjoyed this one and the series is still as good as book 1. Some ups and some less ups (hehe), but all good overall. I can't wait for the next book! I hope and pray our old narrator comes back, but this new one did okay overall. 4 stars from me. 

Favorite Character(s): Lucy!!! And I do love Ellis a lot

Least Favorite Character(s): Our baddie and that lawyer fella!

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #40

- Cloak & Dagger #25

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

Series: Dark Lord Davi (#1)

Format: 392 pages, Paperback

Published: May 21, 2024 by Orbit

Fantasy/own

I do hate a groundhog type of book, luckily, most of that is over with already. Davi has been doing this for 1000 years! And just said F it all, I am going evil.

Davi came from our world, fell into a fantasy world and was told she was their saviour, but for the last 1000 years she has been killed by different Dark Lords and everything has started again. Yeah I would be fed up with it too.

It is written with humour, very dark too, and there is lots of talk about suicide and other dark things. She has been been brutally murdered and tortured for a 1000 years.

She gathers a horde and sets out to become a Dark Lord....things will get tricky...

I liked it, and I do want the next one to see how it all ends. Because, I mean, will she go and kill all humans? That is the path of the Dark Lord. We will see.

Groundhog Day meets Guardians of the Galaxy in Django Wexler’s laugh-out-loud fantasy tale about a young woman who, tired of defending humanity from the Dark Lord, decides to become the Dark Lord herself.

Davi has done this all before. She’s tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she’s rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she’s killed quickly. Sometimes it takes a while. But she’s been defeated every time.

This time? She’s done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that’s who she needs to be. It’s Davi’s turn to play on the winning side