Glitchdisco

Ordo Draconum: The Lazarus Vial on June 13, 2021

I was afraid this book might be too YA for me, since the main character is a teen, but I ended up enjoying it. I found the setup interesting, and the characters fairly realistic, with satisfying relationships developed. The book is mostly an adventure, with a little romance. No pointless drama. The main character doesn't find her father by the end of the book, but enough happens that the ending feels like a good stopping point. My biggest criticism about the book is that there are so many characters and POVs that it can be difficult to remember who is who at the moment. Despite that, I look forward to the next book in the series.

Black Spells and Twisted Souls on June 14, 2021

I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, the characters and their relationships were well-written, and the love interests were promisingly hot. The scene in the sex shop was so funny, I laughed out loud, but there were also genuinely creepy moments. The only thing I wasn't totally happy about was that, after you spend the entire book wondering who the killer is, you don't actually find out at the end. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

Of Beast and Beauty on Aug. 18, 2021

A cute story about two people, forced into an arranged marriage, who get to know each other while having adventures and fall in love. I enjoyed the characters and world, and the relationship the main character has with her sisters. I would read more in this series.

Shining Armor on Sep. 06, 2021

The beginning is a little clumsy, but I enjoyed this cross species romance. It has a relaxed and casual vibe for the most part, with a little adventure and a good villain. I do wish Zab had been developed more, since he’s important to the plot, but remains mysterious. I’m interested in reading the next book in the series.

Lady Fair on Sep. 07, 2021

I loved these characters and watching their relationship develop. More action packed than the first book in the series, and shows more of the dragon world, which I enjoyed. I hope this world and the series continues to grow.

The Devil Reversed: The Belandria Tarot Book One on Sep. 13, 2021

A lovely fantasy novel about an arranged marriage that brings healing to two damaged people, and a demon who fumbles almost accidentally towards redemption. Very well written and captivating. Heavy Christian themes.

Whispers of Spring: Book III of the Outcasts Series on Sep. 23, 2021

It's so good! So happy, so sad, so many intense moments. A pleasure from beginning to end.

The Outcasts on Sep. 23, 2021

It took me a while to get into the first book. I started reading it and put it down a couple times before finally starting to enjoy it. The writing is a little more awkward than in later books, and the plot is fairly simple at this point. It's the characters and the relationships between them that got me interested and kept me reading.

The Darkest Forests: Book II of the Outcasts Series on Sep. 23, 2021

Things get more complicated and darker in this book. The character development is great, and it's satisfying to watch our heroes repeatedly get themselves out of the trouble that other people get them into.

Kabbalah, Hermeticism and M-theory on Sep. 27, 2021

I haven't read the author's other books, so bits of this one were difficult to follow. Overall, it does a good job at looking bringing classical theory into a modern context.

Silver Hollow (Borderlands Saga #1) on Sep. 30, 2021

I had mixed feelings about this book. I thought it would be about a writer trying to solve the mystery of her parents' death, with supernatural elements. It's more like an Arthurian AU, where Arthur and crew are all typical characters in an urban fantasy/romance series. Merlin is the asshole love interest that the main character is instantly obsessed with. It's hard to describe without giving away too much of the plot. It felt like a mash-up of a bunch of different genres that didn't quite work together, but by the end of the book, I was enjoying it. The end to the book is sad, but uplifting. I don't know if I'll read the next one, though.

The Alchemist on Sep. 30, 2021

I went from being frustrated to how dense the main character is with his crush, to excited about watching their relationship develop as they try to catch their killer together. I really enjoyed the world-building. I found the mechanics of alchemy, and the details of goblin society interesting. The only negative about the book is that it felt like it was over so quickly. It seemed like the murderer was defeated easily for someone who had been built up so much as a threat. I also wish we would've had more time to watch our heroes interact.

The Bridge of Dead Things on Oct. 06, 2021

Starts out light-hearted and funny, with a Huckleberry Finn sort of vibe, and gets creepier and eventually horrific. Great characters and story. Everything comes together well in the end. I do wish the resolution to Ophelia's story hadn't been so quick. I look forward to reading the next book.

Inheriting Evergreen on Oct. 09, 2021

This is a slow-paced book about a woman picking through the pieces of her aunt's life after she dies suddenly. Her death motivates the main character to mend fences with family, and open herself up to a new love. The ghosts don't do much, and the details of her aunt's relationship with them aren't revealed. I found the first half of the book interesting, but struggled to get through the last 20%. There isn't really an identifiable conflict or problem to be solved, and the story just sort of ends.

A Rose in the Desert on Oct. 12, 2021

This was such a good book. I loved it. Intelligently and sensitively written, but also full of adventure. The ending was so emotional, it made me cry. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

The Scarab Heart on Oct. 14, 2021

Even better than the first book in the series. Less action for the main character, but a more complex plot, and more realistic characters. I loved the setting of an archealogical dig in Egypt. I would've loved to be sneaking around in the ruins at 14. The only things I didn't find believable were her feelings for her friend. Although it paralelled the ghosts' relationships, I didn't see any reason why Lizzy would have such strong feelings.

Shadow Road: Book 1 of the Shadows Rising Trilogy on Nov. 04, 2021

My first impression was that it's more YA than I was expecting. The book opens with the main character angsting over a guy who doesn't return her feelings, even though she's in a dangerous situation. Then, without learning this guy's identity, we go back to the beginning of the story, with the main character and her dad fleeing town under mysterious circumstances. The story is fairly slow-paced. It mainly introduces the characters and sets the scene for action that takes place in the second book. I did enjoy it, though. I liked the characters and wanted to know what happens next.

Shadow Dance: Book 2 of the Shadows Rising Trilogy on Nov. 04, 2021

I was happy to see in book 2 that the action finally takes off. Instead of hiding on their island, now they're taking the fight to their enemies. There are lots of twists in this one, and betrayal, which I didn't find totally convincing. I feel like the characters had better options for how they could've handled things. By the end of the book, there are lots of things still unresolved. I can't even guess how it'll all be worked out in book 3, but I look forward to it.

Fragile Nights on Nov. 12, 2021

I had my eye on this book for a while. The opening scene drew me in. I finally read it, and I really enjoyed it. Another review said that the first book isn’t well written, and that’s somewhat true. It’s written in a very stream of thought style, and the author often doesn’t explicitly state things that I guess you’re supposed to pick up from context. Despite that, I found it a thrilling and interesting story, and I enjoyed the characters. I think the writing improves in book 2. It continues on from the plot in book 1, and looks at the consequences of Tyyr’s actions, and her mental state, as well as revealing what happens to Elle. It all comes together in a satisfying way in the end. I’ll definitely look for more from this author.

Lo, the Mighty Rat on March 09, 2022

Wonderful book. Needs more proof-reading for missing words or places where the author has changed what he's saying mid-sentence. That's the only reason I don't give 5 stars. The stories of the author's rats are touching and entertaining, and just as enjoyable are the fictional stories about rats and the rat meditations. I would buy a sequel.

The Third Adam on March 09, 2022

This is a good book, interesting but difficult to describe. The fictional(?) memoir of a man and his various love interests, their fates, and how they impact his life. It becomes increasingly creepy once he moves into his mother's house and starts to pry into family secrets. Never has butt sex been so sinister.

Edge of Shadows (Shadows #1) on March 09, 2022

My first impression was that the main character and her love interest had some kind of past life connection to her friend and the old house, and that she would need to use the information from her dreams to solve some mystery from the past. Where the author was really going with this was a complete surprise. I enjoyed this one very much.

Into that Aquamarine Sky on March 15, 2022

I loved this book very much. It's the best book about aliens and deep space travel I've ever read, thought-provoking, sweet, and emotional, set in a well-built and interesting world that I didn't want to leave. The ending was satisfying and believable. I hope to see more by this author.

Lost Among the Baining: Adventure, Marriage, and Other Fieldwork on March 23, 2022

A very interesting book about a little known culture. Easy to pick up and be drawn in.

One True Love on March 28, 2022

This book is ridiculous—the main characters are royals on a diplomatic mission, but behave like they’re from a typical urban fantasy, constantly cursing, insulting each other and discussing sex explicitly—but I found it growing on me. The overall plot is actually pretty entertaining. Like a “so bad it’s good” B movie.

Tyger: An Out-of-This-World Tale on April 02, 2022

A cute, YA sci-fi/fantasy, with lots of romances. A bit slow to start, but then things get interesting. I thought it was a bit too much based on real Earth cultures. But overall I liked it a lot. I loved the characters and the action. It had a good mix of grittiness and hope, love, humor, and action scenes.

A World Of Assassins on April 04, 2022

An interesting, gritty police procedural set in a human colony on an alien planet. It kept me thinking and theorizing until the end. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was wrong, but the ending tied it all up in an intelligent and satisfying way. I enjoyed the characters and the world.

Adaptation on April 22, 2022

This series is awesome. It’s very long—I felt like my life was taken over by this story. It goes from sci-fi military action to secret societies struggling against one another, unseen by the rest of society. There’s mutants, there’s genetic manipulation, there’s brainwashing, and even romance. There are many major characters, and their characters and backstories are explored in depth for the most part. I developed strong feelings about most of them. Not everyone makes it to the end. The ending ties all the major plot lines up while still leaving future events undetermined. I found the series exciting and thought-provoking.

What Devilry Is This? on April 23, 2022

I like the premise of a divorced, middle-aged woman opening her own shop and inadvertently getting involved with magical beings and goings-on, but this book was silly. It was corny, B-movie fare. The plot and characters are typical urban fantasy. In fact, I feel like I've read a couple versions of this book before, by different authors. Good writing could've made up for the lack of originality, but it just wasn't there. I don't regret reading it, since it was free, but I wouldn't pay money for the rest of the series.

Scorched on April 23, 2022

I really liked the way this story began. I was drawn into the main character's struggle to survive on the streets with nothing, and to slowly better her life when the opportunity presents. After she gets a job, the pace picks up. Her life seems to be getting better, and she starts to develop a relationship with her boss, but at the same time, people she doesn't recognize are looking for her, and they aren't friendly. It all happens too fast. In order for the ending to be believable, you have to buy that the person the main character has become closest to would be willing to give up everything to help her, even at risk of his own life, but they actually haven't known each other for very long, and had only started getting to know each other on a personal level. It all ends with the revelation of who the main character is and how she found herself in this situation, which is fairly unimaginative and spelled out for us by her opponent in such detail that there isn't much sense of mystery left. I may or may not read the next book in the series at some point.

Catherine, Karma, and Complex PTSD on May 27, 2022

Catherine’s story is fascinating and sad, and the author’s own story is moving, but despite the title, alternative therapies and complex PTSD are only mentioned in passing. I’d give Catherine’s story 4 stars.

Seven Nights with Ayahuasca on May 27, 2022

A funny memoir of the author’s first experience at an ayahuasca retreat, with many elements, including analysis of a previous romantic relationship that ended badly, weird hallucinations of sex, gore and aliens, and details of the author’s digestive scares and triumphs. Most of the action happens in the first few nights. Very interesting and educational. If I ever go to one of these, I’m definitely taking baby wipes.

Pacioli's Gift or Bernanke's Curse? on June 17, 2022

A simple, easy to understand book on our current monetary system, its weaknesses, and how we got here.

Disciple of War on June 17, 2022

I didn't like this book as much as the previous ones. It's more grim and less funny. I found it hard to believe that the main character is becoming so powerful at such a young age, and he's becoming such a jackass, I don't really find myself wanting him to be successful.

Wildstar: Forever Wanderers Omnibus on June 17, 2022

I enjoyed this very much. It jumps right into the action, and we learn more about the sisters over time. I loved their personalities and interactions. Their adventures range from creepy and horrific to fairy tale inspired to more typical fantasy. The explanation for their involuntary travels is surprising. The final story comes to a satisfying ending, but I could also see more being written.

Independence on June 17, 2022

I enjoyed this fantasy inspired retelling of the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Griffin's Daughter (Griffin's Daughter Trilogy #1) on July 16, 2022

An exciting adventure that's also touching and romantic.

The Trilisk Ruins on July 19, 2022

Not much to the story or the characters, but fun and easy to read.

Siege of Titan (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 1) on July 19, 2022

I don't usually read military fiction, but I started and it sucked me it. The characters are good, and the action moves quickly, leaving you guessing at what's going to happen next. It comes to a satisfying ending, for the first book in a series.

Beyond the Black Curtain on July 19, 2022

An interesting and unusual adventure series set in a giant, underground amusement park whose inhabitants have forgotten about the real world. Great characters and setting. The ending is satisfying, but doesn't tie everything up.

Azal: The Retelling of Eve on July 19, 2022

This book makes me wish I was a priestess in ancient times. The writing is plain and straightforward, and easy to follow. It follows several generations of people, starting in ancient times, who are trying to get away from violence and corruption. Over and over, those who are faithful to the ideals of their ancestors are forced to leave their home to make a fresh start. The book ends in the modern era, with the final main character the distant descendant of the original group we got to know in the beginning.

Free-Wrench on Nov. 07, 2022

I enjoyed this a lot. It's fun, full of action, and has great characters.

Bastard's Grace on Nov. 09, 2022

This book is really something special. It's not so much a romance or erotica as it is a book about the emotional scars of war and how people deal with them, set against the backdrop of an accidental adventure that leads to the realization that there's a hidden, illicit slavery ring in the kingdom. Also, there's religion, guilt, and family bonds. A more complex and adult book than I was expecting.

Spellcaster on Nov. 09, 2022

I was disappointed by this book. It's two different, interlocking stories with two different sets of characters, one in a fairly realistic Victorian England and one in a very fantasy-based medieval era. The first part of the book, you're following one storyline, getting invested in those characters, wondering how it's all going to be resolved...and then you're going back in time to find out how the second (but earlier, chronologically) story is going to be resolved. If you wonder how this affects the characters from the later (first) story, whether it can fix their mistakes, and what ultimately happens to them...too bad. You never find out.

Nexus Point on Nov. 10, 2022

I rolled my eyes a few times over how often the main character got captured by the same people, often in areas she'd encountered them before, or in places they were known to use, not to mention how often she ended up running around partly or completely undressed. Despite that, I found the story and characters enjoyable.

The Dark Ones on Jan. 04, 2023

I started this on a whim and read it in one night. I enjoyed the characters and the way their relationships develop. I wish the rest of the series was available on Smashwords.

Between Ink and Shadows on March 21, 2023

A cute romance between two enjoyable characters. Very dramatic, but not especially believable. The main characters both have many secrets, which are revealed so awkwardly that I often wasn't sure what the secret was, or whose it was, even after it had been explained. I probably won't continue with the series, but I don't regret reading this one.

Valkiree on March 21, 2023

I wasn't sure what kind of story of expect, but I found the description interesting enough to find out. At first I guessed it was going to be about an arranged marriage between royalty where the husband and wife fall in love. Then I thought it would be a lesbian romance between the pretty, likeable princess and the resentful general guarding her. The actual plot was much more ridiculous and unbelievable. The main character is a stereotypical perfect princess. Everyone wants to be ruled by her because she's so good and pure. The general is a stoic professional soldier who is constantly doing irrational things because she gets carried away by her emotions. The princess feels like she has to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom for political reasons, even thought he's deformed and likes kinky sex. The way he's written, he doesn't come across as a bad person, just ugly. The author goes on and on about how physically unattractive he is, to the point that I felt uncomfortable. Making fun of a deformed person for being ugly just seems really mean and tasteless. The general's plan save her bff from this fate involves marrying her dad, forcibly, at swordpoint. She cries on her wedding night about losing her virginity to a man she isn't in love with, then literally the next day she's in love with him. I guess the D was that good. I kept reading in hopes that the ending would make it all worthwhile, but I actually thought the resolution was the weakest part of the book. I give it 2 stars because I read the whole thing, though.

The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall on March 21, 2023

Crimson Peak, if it was funny and everyone was gay.

Kingdom of Ashes (Nightfall, Book 1) on March 21, 2023

The vampires are interesting, but the main character is very stupid, and I was constantly frustrated by her actions.

Men and Monsters (Nightfall, Book 2) on March 21, 2023

This is the strongest book in the series so far. Prince Vladimir is a great character, and his past life is very interesting. The battle over the weather machine is exciting, and takes things in an unexpected direction.

Jethabel on March 21, 2023

A great space adventure filled with battles, a spy, and exploration and discovery on an abandoned alien ship. I enjoyed all three main characters, with their different perspectives and goals.

Therion on March 21, 2023

The second book adds even more characters. Only a couple stand out as distinct individuals. I found Shauna annoying but believable. Things onboard start to fall apart due to sabotage and infighting. It was exciting but tense because I'd come to care about all the characters.

Pathiel on March 21, 2023

The ship is under new management, with a newly assigned mission. Once again, there are lots of characters added. The book was exciting, but I feel like the final events would've had more impact if the new characters involved, and their relationships, had been more developed. The stuff between Andie and Josh felt like it came out of nowhere. Suz' role seems important, but we barely know him. Meanwhile, Shauna gets lots of time in the spotlight, even though she doesn't contribute much to the plot. I did enjoy seeing Greg's relationship with Josh grow, and Jessie's adventures with the shuttles.

Typhon on March 22, 2023

This book was funny as hell, and I don't think it was supposed to be. The writing wasn't that good, and I felt like the author was trying to write about situations and types of people with which she didn't have any firsthand experience, but it was entertaining enough that I would read the rest.

Opening Gambit on March 25, 2023

I enjoyed this one. It's a good mystery with a solution that makes sense, an interesting setting and overarching plot, and lovable characters.

The Weaver Takes a Wife on March 31, 2023

Not sure how historically accurate it is, but it's a very cute and sweet romance about a woman who gets into an arranged marriage and falls in love with her husband almost without realizing it.

The Portrait on July 14, 2023

A lovely, slow-paced book about the relationship between an author and her creation, a mysterious woman who inspires the author to rethink her life choices, but whose story has an uncomfortably dark side.

The Egyptian Cat on July 28, 2023

This is an odd sort of book, a romance that's also a mystery, told mostly by third parties. It creates a feeling of distance from the main characters and their relationship, but it somehow works.

Casting In Stone Book One of the Averraine Cycle on Aug. 29, 2023

Best book I've read in a while. A swordswoman trying to get away from her past ends up confronting her childhood suffering and the forces that made her the person she is in a small town with witchcraft afoot.

Heart of Ikchani on Aug. 29, 2023

The plot sounded interesting, but this book wasn't very well-written or believeable. A group of women from different backgrounds work together to take power from the men who run the kingdom. Their plan for doing this is to seduce a bunch of powerful men and hopefully get them fighting each other. They go to a party and do their thing, and that's where the story ends. The idea behind it had potential, but it needs more development and thought put into it.

Seasons of the Rat on Aug. 29, 2023

A wonderful and interesting look at the lives of several generations of rats.

The Grand on Aug. 29, 2023

An uneven put overall entertaining collection of stories about a hotel that caters to supernatural clients, and the humans unfortunate enough to discover it, throughout the many years of its operation.

Out of Mischief: World of Change Book 1 on Sep. 28, 2023

An interesting book about an entertaining young woman from a wealthy family who gets caught up by war and changed by her traumatic experiences into someone who doesn't really fit in her society anymore. She deals with things in her own way.

Boucher's World: Emergent on Sep. 28, 2023

This is a different sort of sci-fi, slow-paced and focused on feelings and the details of family relationships rather than the more unusual elements of life on an alien planet. The colony and the society formed by humans, intelligent animals, and aliens who live peacefully together, is inventive and appealing.

The Cavalier of the Apocalypse on Dec. 28, 2023

It was very good. Once I started, it kept me reading to see what happened next. All interesting characters, but a sad ending.

Kayla, The Landlord Slayer on March 06, 2024

The main characters are appealing and the romance is good. The plot is mostly about the heroine becoming a landlord and dealing with her best friend as a tenant. Reading about the crazy problems that leads to, and the characters' rants about how awful renters are and the value of "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" made me feel like I was listening to conservative talk radio.

The Blue Book of Wisecraft on March 06, 2024

Great characters and lots of adventure. I loved the many, well-developed places that the characters travel through.

The Red Book of Wisecraft on March 06, 2024

Just as enjoyable as the first book, although a bit less varied in settings. Blackburse and the heads of the Dian and Hectan cults become more developed, and we see more of the cults' inner workings.

The Black Book of Wisecraft on March 06, 2024

A good finish to the story. A bid sad, but the ending makes sense.

Kissing Magic on March 06, 2024

Definitely YA. I enjoyed it, but the characters' immature thinking and reactions were often frustrating. There's a lot more to the story than I expected, and all the important characters see a lot of growth. The writing also gets better as the story goes along. The ending doesn't wrap everything up, but it is satisfying.

Mask Of Duplicity on March 11, 2024

If you can get past the disgustingly detailed brother/sister sex assault, this is a hilarious enemies to lovers romance...or the first part of one. The book ends with the heroine agreeing to mary the hero in a marriage of convenience, but not loving him yet, or knowing his secrets. None of the other books in the series seem to be available on Smashwords, unfortunately.

By Grace Alone on March 11, 2024

It's been a while since I read the first book, so I was confused by this one. I didn't remember half the events being referred to constantly. It was an okay story, not bad, but not really great either. I'd describe it as a bland, generic fantasy. Grace has what may be a new love interest, there's a war about to break out in the streets between city guards and citizens who live in the poor area, and everyone is trying to find one man. I found it frustrating more than exciting, though. There's a lot of argument about what should or shouldn't be done, but not much action. The most interesting part of the story is the wolf goddess Diggory and her relationship with Grace.

Murder and Moonstones: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery on March 13, 2024

I thought this was too short and the mystery solved too quickly, but it was cute and had a good vibe. Unfortunately, none of the other 5 books in the series seems to be available on Smashwords.

Born to be King on April 11, 2024

I liked this book, but it felt like it was targeting a younger audience than myself. The treatment of war and racial prejudice felt simplistic. The setting and mythological inspiration was very interesting, though. I wish the author had developed the main character's brothers and love interest as characters more. They're very important to the story, but their actions are shocking because we don't see much of them and don't get to know them. Even the main character, who has grown up with her brothers and can predict everything thing they'll do in a military sense, doesn't seem to have any idea who they are as people or what motivates them. This was difficult to understand. I found the other races and their cultures interesting though that I may read the next book, though.

The Stone Builders on April 11, 2024

I liked this book. The plot developed slowly in the beginning, but when things started to happen, a lot was going on. The story focuses mainly on a group of scientists who are trying to discover who the previous inhabitants were and what happened to them, but there's also a murder and a kidnapping to solve, and a political coup to defeat (somewhat peacefully), and a terrorist gang to apprehend. I already have the second book. It'll be enjoyable to see what happens next.

Boucher's World: Encounters on April 11, 2024

More adventure and discovery, as the characters from the first book, along with family and friends, find a ship that dates from the beginning of their colony. We get to see the Elvwist more and learn more about their culture, and meet some beings who are even more alien.

His 16th Face on April 12, 2024

This book kept me up all night reading, and half the next day. Every idea I had about who Christian really was turned out to be wrong. An intelligence agent? No. A vampire? Nope. Beth's dad? Haha, no. The only thing I figured out was how her heart surgery saved her. It's been a long time since I read a book this enjoyable and innovative.

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