Book Review: Aphrodite's Tears by Hannah Fielding

Author: Hannah Fielding
Title: Aphrodite's Tears
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Pages: ebook
Published: Jan 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)



In Hannah Fielding’s latest novel a young archaeologist who travels to the remote island of Helios to investigate an ancient shipwreck, becomes caught in a web of dark obsession, mystery and seduction.

In ancient Greece, one of the twelve labours of Hercules was to bring back a golden apple from the Garden of Hesperides. To archaeologist Oriel Anderson, joining a team of Greek divers on the island of Helios seems like the golden apple of her dreams.

Yet the dream becomes a nightmare when she meets the devilish owner of the island, Damian Theodorakis. In shocked recognition, she is flooded with the memory of a romantic night in a stranger’s arms, six summers ago. A very different man stands before her now, and Oriel senses that the sardonic Greek autocrat is hell-bent on playing a cat and mouse game with her.

As they cross swords and passions mount, Oriel is aware that malevolent eyes watch her from the shadows. Dark rumours are whispered about the Theodorakis family. What dangers lie in Helios: a bewitching land where ancient rituals are still enacted to appease the gods, young men risk their lives in the treacherous depths of the Ionian Sea, and the volatile earth can erupt at any moment?

Will Oriel find the hidden treasures she seeks? Or will Damian’s tragic past catch up with them, threatening to engulf them both?



This took me a while to read. It was long, but it was like a strong whiskey. Small sips at a time. 

The story follows Oriel Anderson who randomly met a hot guy. They had a one night stand and she didn't see him again until years later. She is a big ol' archeologist and Damian the head of his family and a leader of his small island. Drama, love, hate, weirdness, passion, rumors, and treasure. 

This certainly did have the feeling of a Greek tragedy and I liked it. I enjoyed Oriel's story. I felt so bad for her. I did feel bad for Damian too, but he annoyed me sometimes. I liked him, but he annoyed me at the same time. My feelings are complex and it is fitting. 

The cousin was a crazy one and I just wanted her to go away. I get why she isn't all there in the head, but my goodness. 

I did really enjoy the story, but I feel like it was too long. A little snipping would've been okay. Or maybe two books? 

I am always in awe of the author's writing. She is so good. 

But yes, overall, this was fun and I was not sure what was going to happen next. I had my doubts if Oriel and Damian could fix all their issues. I don't think I would've forgiven him myself...but I guess love and all. 

In the end, this certainly was a modern Greek tragedy with some interesting characters. A little long for my liking, but worth the read. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Time for TV Tuesday: Versailles (season 2)

Recently Finished:

Versailles (Season 2)

First off…I have to say I am in love with Fabien. He is utterly the best!!! So hot and so tough and so awesome. It broke my little heart what happened. Poor guy! WAH!

Okay…let us backtrack. 

This is Season 2. Season 1 was reaaaaaaaaaaally good and left with a huge cliffhanger. Season 2 jumped right in and was off. I would highly suggest not skipping the first season. There is a lot of ties that are going to be tied or extended in this season. Louis is struggling to keep his country, his family, and himself together. I just don’t get why everyone is freaking out…so what if the KING wants to relocate court to a new capital? Get over it. I guess people get stuck in their ways and don’t like change. Psha on them. 

I hate the King’s mistress and this season really showed me my hatred was not misplaced. 

I like the King’s brother and his lover. I didn’t like Chevalier at first…he seemed 2D but he had some character development in this season that made me actually warm-up to him. I have to thank Phillip’s new bride. She was a hoot and she was just so warm and loving. I hope to see more of her in the future. Same with Sophie! 

There is a lot of drama, murder, and intrigue afoot with these bored nobles. They seriously need hobbies. I was hooked on each episode and I finished the season within three days (dang work getting in the way). So good. 

I honestly felt this was a LOT better than the last season. The characters were more developed and there was more intrigue afoot.

I also was happy that this didn’t end on a serious cliff-hanger. It ended well and surprising. I want more! Where is season 3??? LOL!

Yes, I obviously recommend this series to history buffs and even for people who like a good people story. Watch season 1 first though. Lots of backstories you need to enjoy this season. I’ll stamp this with 5. No complaints. 

Blodeuedd's Audiobook Review: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love. 

Audible Audio
Published July 14th 2015 by Tantor Audio (first published July 23rd 2013)
Sci.fi Ya
Own audiosync

My thoughts

I am going to try to make it short, I have  a cold and do not feel like writing a review.

I guess you can say that this was a fairytale re-telling, but at the same time it was not. There was no beauty, there was no beast.

Isra has spent her whole life locked in a tower. Her people live in a dome and monsters roam the wastelands. But just cos those outside look like monsters do not make them so. And now she is queen and all queens must die.

Gem is a monster who wants to save his people. He hates these perfect humans and he has every right too.

They meet under bloody circumstances. They become prisoner and jailer and we learn more about humans, monsters and life on this planet. Oh and it is sci.fi, but not much scifi around these days. The planet took its toll. Oh that makes me wonder why no one else came, maybe this was the last survivors of earth...

Sigh, short is hard!

Anyway. She must marry this other dude, no it is not a triangle when she does not like him and he only thinks he can like her cos hey who wants a miserable marriage. 

There are evil things going on.

Blah blah, oh I am tired. I can not write today.

So, anyway, it was a good one. Interesting story and I did not think it could end happily. It did have some plotholes at the end though, but eh, still worked

Narrator Julia Wheelan

I felt that she did really well with male and female voices. And especially Gem since he was a monster and did not speak like humans.

Best of March 2018

Happy March all! Here is our best ofs!

First, favorite movies:

First, Blodeuedd picks..............Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

"Best Marvel movie so far. Not that the previous ones have been that good, except Galaxy 1, and Iron Man is always fun. So this was best of March."

My pick is...................The Invitation

"Nothing amazing this month...so I pick the best one. This was very good. A great twist and it makes you unnerved and scared."

Next, Book favorites:

My choice is............Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

"Nothing amazing this month. This was super good. It was informational and funny all at the same time. Totally should do the audiobook, because I feel it made it even better!"

Next, Blodeuedd's choice is..............Rocco by Sarah Castille

"It seems that March was a bad month, ok not bad, I did have some ok ones and then lots of good ones, but not a single amazing book. But the one that stuck with me of those would be this one. It was brutal."

Lastly, best covers:

Here are our picks for best cover...........

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.