Mini Review ~ ‘Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation vol. 1’

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

Publication Date: December 14th 2021

Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment

Blurb: Wei Wuxian was once one of the most powerful men of his generation, a talented and clever young cultivator who harnessed martial arts and spirituality into powerful abilities. But when the horrors of war led him to seek more power through demonic cultivation, the world’s respect for his abilities turned to fear, and his death was celebrated throughout the land.

Years later, he awakens in the body of an aggrieved young man who sacrifices his soul so that Wei Wuxian can exact revenge on his behalf. Though granted a second life, Wei Wuxian is not free from his first, nor the mysteries that appear before him now. Yet this time, he’ll face it all with the righteous and esteemed Lan Wangji at his side, another powerful cultivator whose unwavering dedication and shared memories of their past will help shine a light on the dark truths that surround them.

Review

I devoured MDZS in 2019 when Silvia’s @ Silviareadsbooks twitter feed finally tempted me one too many times. Having binged my way through 50 episodes of The Untamed in record time, I turned to the novel that birthed so many fantastic adaptions. I absolutely loved it, only available online through the hard work of dedicated fan translators – I read my way through half a million odd words. Probably destroying my eyesight in the process. The longing I had for an official translation, to be able to hold a physical version in my hands in I language I could read seemed like it would only ever be a dream.

So when it was announced on my birthday last year we were getting an official english translation from Seven Seas, I honestly did think it was a dream. Even after I pre-ordered all of the 1st volumes of MXTX’s books it would hit me out of the blue that it was actually real.

This is really a review per se because I cannot encapsulate all my feelings about Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and the universe that stole my heart (and many hours on netflix or in front of a computer screen). Only that I cannot wait to continue the story in the subsequent volumes. I’m not religious but Seven Seas are doing the lords work.

To quote my original review back in 2019:

WEI YING AND LAN ZHAN INVENTED LOVE AND THAT’S THAT

★★★★★

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Waiting on Wednesday…Base Notes

Base Notes by Lara Elena Donnelly

Publication Date: February 1st 2022 

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Blurb: A lasting impression is worth killing for in this intoxicating novel about memories and murder by the author of the Amberlough Dossier series.

In New York City everybody needs a side hustle, and perfumer Vic Fowler has developed a delicate art that has proved to be very lucrative: creating bespoke scents that evoke immersive memories—memories that, for Vic’s clients, are worth killing for. But the city is expensive, and these days even artisanal murder doesn’t pay the bills. When Joseph Eisner, a former client with deep pockets, offers Vic an opportunity to expand the enterprise, the money is too good to turn down. But the job is too intricate—and too dangerous—to attempt alone.

Manipulating fellow struggling artists into acting as accomplices is easy. Like Vic, they too are on the verge of burnout and bankruptcy. But as relationships become more complicated, Vic’s careful plans start to unravel. Hounded by guilt and a tenacious private investigator, Vic grows increasingly desperate to complete Eisner’s commission. Is there anyone—friends, lovers, coconspirators—that Vic won’t sacrifice for art

Long time, no see….between a new job commanded a lot of energy and the general state of the world last year, it is safe to say that reading took a back seat. But I am very keen to jump in because I have a backlog of amazing books I wanted to read and a rapidly growing list of upcoming releases that sound phenomenal. One of which is Base Notes.

If you aren’t familiar with Donnelly’s writing I recommend fixing that because the Amberlough Dossier is an absolutely gut-wrenching and amazing series. It remains one of my all time favourites. The writing is superb and the characters own my life. I love her writing which is why I’m excited for Base Notes. There is nothing Lara could write that I wouldn’t read. And I can’t leave without mentioning that cover because it’s gorgeous.

What’s one of your anticipated releases of 2022?

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Book Review ~ A Marvellous Light

A Marvellous Light By Freya Marske

Publication Date: October 26th 2021

Publisher: Tor Books

Series: The Last Binding #1

Blurb: Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what’s been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he’s always known.

Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else.

Robin’s predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they’ve been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep.

Review

Sir Robin Blyth knows that he has been shoved into a tiny office and random position in the civil service to just tpo humiliate him, but what he doesn’t know is just how much his life is about to change. When Edwin Courcey walks into his office, Robin’s entire life changes in an instant. Edwin has grown up under the shadow of his more magically gifted siblings. Enduring abuse and casual cruelty, a favourite target of his elder brother, Edwin has never been enough. Having Sir Robin Blyth now occupy the special liaison position is the last thing he needs. But try as he might to get the whole ordeal over with so life can go back to normal, Robin upends everything Edwin ever knew.

I am nothing like you, and yet I am more myself with you.

I knew that I would be rooting for these two from the moment Robin watches Edwin crafting a delicate and beautiful spell with wonder in his eyes and a ‘lovely’ on his tongue. And if you do not finish A Marvellous Light ready to through yourself into the line of fire for Edwin Courcey then I have serious concerns. This man is a gift, an absolute gem who deserves all the love and happiness. I loved the relationship between the two and the way it developed. Don’t get me started on the pining because that was top quality stuff.

I loved the way A Marvellous Light bought magic to life in 20th century England. It’s grounded and has limitations. It makes it so easy to believe it exists, just out of reach but very much real. As much as I love an epic fantasy, the melding of the real and the fantastical is something that I love to read, particularly when it is done as seamlessly as this.

A Marvellous Light reads like fanfiction, the highest compliment I could give a book. There’s that, dare I say magic, something to it. Just for a little while the real world ceases to exist and you live in this golden bubble where a lovable himbo jock and a brilliant, wounded magician slowly discover each other and you watch on in delight. A Marvellous Light couldn’t be a more wonderful book if it tried.

There you are. I have been waiting for you.

*I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

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Book Review ‘His Cocky Prince’ ~ Cole McCade

His Cocky Prince by Cole McCade

Publication Date: September 5th 2021

Series: Undue Arrogance #3

Blurb: What happens when the Prince of Romance…meets an actual prince?

For decades, Brendan Lau has swept the Hollywood scene as an openly gay actor starring in romantic films — but now, at 51, he’s losing out on leading roles to younger actors. And when he’s passed over as the hero in a sprawling period film and instead cast as the father, it’s less his reputation and more his pride that can’t take the insult. But when he confronts the younger actor who stole his part…

Brendan walks right in on Cillian Tell struggling to fend off the director’s aggressive — and unwanted — advances.

For 29-year-old Cillian, Brendan’s more than a knight in shining armor. He’s the reason Cillian fell in love with acting in the first place, and fought to find a place in Hollywood. But the real Brendan is nothing like his debonair heroes or the charming, reserved image he presents on the red carpet; he’s arrogant, domineering, grumpy, and entirely set in his obstinate ways. There’s no doubt in Cillian’s mind that Brendan’s a straight-up a-hole.

There’s also no doubt that Cillian needs him.

Cillian can’t stand to lose his first role in a major feature film. Brendan can’t stand the idea of working with a sleazy director. Yet when Cillian begs him to silence, Brendan agrees to keep his secrets — and stays on set to remind the director, Oliver Newcomb, to keep his hands to himself. But somehow Brendan’s role as Cillian’s guardian and even mentor turns into something else, when Cillian confesses a taboo kink he can only practice with someone he trusts. Brendan just may be the perfect lover of convenience…and is definitely the fake boyfriend Cillian needs to maintain his public image.

But what happens when Cillian starts to fall for the heart beneath the grouch?

And what happens when Brendan discovers Cillian’s royal lineage…and how short the leash on his career might be?

Review

Brendan Lau may have been Hollywood’s leading man of romance but the lights are moving towards younger stars and the roles he is being offered hardly offer a challenge, if anything they offer insults. The last thing he wants to do is play the love interest’s father while Cillian Tell gets the spotlight. But there is more to Cillian Tell than meets the eye, and for both men, the more time they spend together the more they realise just how much more lies beneath the public personas.

I had an absolute ball reading His Cocky Prince. I had not been getting far with another arc I had been reading so rather than force myself to finish it and potentially end up disliking a book I’d have otherwise enjoyed I decided to pick up His Cocky Prince and see if an entirely different genre would kick me out of my reading rut. This book did just that. I laughed, I got angry on behalf of the characters, I cheered and the end of the book left me in tears for how beautiful it was.

You will fall for the charismatic asshole that is Brendan Lau and love the awkward, blossoming Cillian Tell. There’s something about McCade’s characters that are so distinctly human, they end up winding their way into your heart and it always feels like a privilege to be able to read their stories.

I will say this every single time I read a Cole McCade book but there is just something about his writing that never fails to sweep you off your feet. It is such beautiful prose, the whole reading experience becomes dream like. I will always recommend picking up any of McCade’s books but definitely suggest making His Cocky Prince one of them.

McCade always includes a detailed list of content warmings in the front of his book which is great to see.

He couldn’t look at Brendan with that voice that could talk the stars into changing their positions and that darkly commanding gaze that seemed to demand some secret part of Cillian that he didn’t even know himself.

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Mini Review ‘The Poison Prince’ ~ SC Emmett

The Poison Prince by SC Emmett

Publication Date: November 24th 2020

Publisher: Orbit

Series: Hostage of Empire #2

Blurb: The princess is dead, and the drums of war beat again. The imperial schemes that took her life have reignited tensions with her native Khir, and left her lady-in-waiting, Komor Yala, alone among the treachery of a foreign court. As the Emperor lies upon his deathbed, the palace is more dangerous than ever before-for there are six princes, and only one throne.

To survive, and get to the bottom of who ordered her princess dead, Yala will have to rely on some unlikely allies, like the sardonic third prince out of the line of succession, the war-hardened general who sacked her homeland but now asks for her hand, or the surprise visitor from her past who may hold all the answers.

But there’s a danger greater than any of them have imagined on the horizon. In the distance, the hordes of Tabrak are rising. New perils appear on every border as the palace is beset by threats both within and without. The entire empire is at stake and only one man may be able to save it – if Yala can reach him in time.

Review

Yala’s future is uncertain, alone in a foreign court and her princess gone, she doesn’t know where she belongs. With the Emperor on his death bed those that would seize his power play endless, deadly games to ensure they’ll be victorious. While Zhaon is distracted with internal turmoil forces gather outside it’s borders.

I picked up The Poison Prince and was hit about the same time with a reading slump so it took me several months to finish this. But don’t let that concern you because the slump was not remotely related to the book. I cannot tell you how overjoyed I was to finally get to finish this book. As soon as I turned the final page I was hit with that bone deep satisfaction that comes from finishing a great book.

All my favourite characters were in fine form in The Poison Prince, delving even deeper into their loyalties, their honour and the things they’ll do for the ones they love or the power they seek. I have to say some of them surprised me, showing different sides we hadn’t seen before. Some of these may or may not have had me wanting to throw the book across the room – WHAT DO THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING?! But at the same time I loved it because they are stagnant 2D characters, they keep you guessing.

The only things that stopped me giving The Poison Prince five stars is that it felt like the end was a tad rushed. There were certain storylines I would have loved to see expanded, if only so we could get more story.

I’m a little out of practice with my reviews and this definitely isn’t one of my better ones because I mainly want to shake it and say read this book when people ask why they should pick something up (wanting to share my love of something and being unable to succinctly articulate why I love it is a curse I tell you).

Find my review of The Throne of the Five Winds, book one in the series, here.

…All you must do is send me word. Tell me, the Moon wishes it, and I shall come to for you no matter what. I will leave any battle, any station, and I will do whatever is required.

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