Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but the premise sounded promising. It had a historical setting, fantastical elements, and Fae, so my interest was piqued. It felt quite low-stakes, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a cozy fantasy. It felt more cozy-adjacent since it did have some grittier aspects. I found Mouse to be very endearing. She had this child-like dreamer quality, yet she also felt hardened by the events in her life. I liked the dynamic between her and Thornwood a lot. They had this dry, sarcastic banter that worked so well. I would've liked a little bit more out of the romance, but it was sweet. Overall, I thought this was extremely atmospheric and would recommend it to fans of Heather Fawcett.
I haven't heard many people talk about this book, but the cover instantly drew me in, and once I saw it was a historical fantasy, I knew I needed to pick it up. I love anything that blends those two genres together, and it also being a mystery was the icing on the cake. I liked Glover's world-building and thought the blended magic system was so unique. I liked Hetty and Benjy, but I feel like I didn't get to know them fully. I wanted a little more from all of the characters, actually. The pacing was very slow, and my attention started to wane in the middle, but I liked how Glover wrapped everything up, and I'd be interested in picking up the rest of the series.
Kindle Unlimited kept recommending this book to me, so I finally caved and read it. Based on the premise, I expected it to be in the same vein as the Lady Trent or Emily Wilde series. While it shared some similarities, I much prefer those to this. I appreciated how much research must've gone into the scientific aspect, but I wish Vaughn had put a little more focus on the plot. It was so boring. Not enough happened to keep my attention, and there were little interludes between chapters that felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the story, which didn't help either. There was also a strange love triangle thing that I wasn't into. The magic system was pretty cool, but other than that, this was disappointing.
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| Pub Date: 4-21-26 Adult - Historical Fantasy |
Thistlemarsh- Moorea Corrigan: Ever since she was young, Mouse Dunne has been fascinated with faeries. She grew up reading and listening to her mother's stories, and dreamt of becoming a Faerie anthropologist. But that all changed with the war, when Mouse received a telegram that her cousin's body was lost at the Battle of Somme and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. Mouse is reluctant to leave her brother's side, but she's called back to England to receive her inheritance after the passing of her uncle. To her surprise, he left her his crumbling estate, Thistlemarsh, but there are conditions: if Mouse can't renovate the manor in one month's time, she forfeits her inheritance and any hope she has of caring for her brother. Mouse is overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done, but then she meets a mysterious Faerie with an intriguing bargain. He'll help restore Thistlemarsh, but for a price Mouse isn't sure she's willing to pay.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but the premise sounded promising. It had a historical setting, fantastical elements, and Fae, so my interest was piqued. It felt quite low-stakes, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a cozy fantasy. It felt more cozy-adjacent since it did have some grittier aspects. I found Mouse to be very endearing. She had this child-like dreamer quality, yet she also felt hardened by the events in her life. I liked the dynamic between her and Thornwood a lot. They had this dry, sarcastic banter that worked so well. I would've liked a little bit more out of the romance, but it was sweet. Overall, I thought this was extremely atmospheric and would recommend it to fans of Heather Fawcett.
Rating: 4/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 3-2-21 Adult - Historical Fantasy |
The Conductors- Nicole Glover: Hetty Rhodes was once a Conductor on the Underground Railroad, using her wits and magic to help dozens of people escape to the north. Now, she and her husband, Benjy, live and work in Philadelphia, helping solve crimes that white authorities won't bother with. When they come across the body of one of their friends in an alley, they're determined to find out what happened. But as they investigate, they uncover more secrets surrounding the elites of Black Philadelphia than they imagined, leaving them with more questions and scrambling for answers before it's too late.
I haven't heard many people talk about this book, but the cover instantly drew me in, and once I saw it was a historical fantasy, I knew I needed to pick it up. I love anything that blends those two genres together, and it also being a mystery was the icing on the cake. I liked Glover's world-building and thought the blended magic system was so unique. I liked Hetty and Benjy, but I feel like I didn't get to know them fully. I wanted a little more from all of the characters, actually. The pacing was very slow, and my attention started to wane in the middle, but I liked how Glover wrapped everything up, and I'd be interested in picking up the rest of the series.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 11-1-24 Adult - Historical Fantasy |
The Naturalist Society- Carrie Vaughn: Beth Stanley's whole career hangs in the balance after the passing of her husband, Harry. Beth's dream has always been to be recognized for her contributions to Arcane Taxonomy, the magic that dictates everything in the natural world can be labeled and, in doing so, grants the practitioner magic based on the subject. Beth's husband used to submit her findings as his own, but now her work is stuck in limbo. Brandon West and Anton Torrance are seeking funding for an expedition to the North Pole to study the effects of the Earth's magnetic forces on a taxonomist. Harry's knowledge and connections used to assist them, but when they try to get his work from Beth, they're shocked to find she was the brains behind everything. Tied together by this secret, the trio team up so Beth can continue to hone her talents before she's discovered and exploited.
Kindle Unlimited kept recommending this book to me, so I finally caved and read it. Based on the premise, I expected it to be in the same vein as the Lady Trent or Emily Wilde series. While it shared some similarities, I much prefer those to this. I appreciated how much research must've gone into the scientific aspect, but I wish Vaughn had put a little more focus on the plot. It was so boring. Not enough happened to keep my attention, and there were little interludes between chapters that felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the story, which didn't help either. There was also a strange love triangle thing that I wasn't into. The magic system was pretty cool, but other than that, this was disappointing.
Rating: 2/5
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