Milky Way of books

At First Spite by Olivia Dade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot's Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town's famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can't stand lives right next door--and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.

When Athena Greydon's fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. This is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex's home is attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third (aka the uptight, judgmental jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her) is living on the other side, only a four-foot alley away.

If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation--by, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with the windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?

Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he's kind of...hot? Dammit.

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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

You can never go wrong with an Olivia Dade book! Her stories are like a bottle of water after walking in a desert for a long while. There is always something beautiful and vulnerable in her stories and characters which stays with you long after the story is over.

Our story takes place at an engagement party where Athena is about to celebrate her upcoming nuptials with her fiance. What she does not count on is the sizzling attraction she feels towards Matthew..whom she later discovers is her fiance's brother, who also does not approve of the wedding.

Fast forward a few months and Athena has bought the house she was supposed to share with her fiance...who also happens to be her neighbor along with Matthew who is also her neighbor! Chaos, comedy, and very funny moments ensue but as Athena tries to navigate the new town she lives in, tries to find a job but also moves through the heartache and growing depression over her life choices, she will realize that she can have far more friends and find love in the most unexpected places.

I loved, no adored her growing attraction to Matthew. That man deserves the world and his backstory was very tragic. He shoulders everything and despite his misgivings, all came from a place of love, despite being taken for granted, especially from his brother.

This story is a delightful tale of healing and going through depression which also something Olivia Dade touches upon with the most respectful way. Matthew did everything to help her, he freaking climbed three stories of a house and he is terrified of heights!

This book is one of my top for 2024 and totally recommended!

About the author:

Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.

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If you want to find me online, here’s where to go!

Website: https://oliviadade.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OliviaWrites

Newsletter: https://go.oliviadade.com/Newsletter

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

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AMAZON | BLACKWELL'S

REVIEW

This review contains spoilers from the previous books of Crescent City and of A Court of Thorns and Roses series (while you are at it read Throne of Glass too). It is very very advised to read them all before reading this book. Please do not proceed with this review if you have not read the books, you have been warned. ;)

Following the plot bomb that Sarah J Maas dropped to all of us last year, I was very, very anxious to get to the final book. Not to mention freaking excited. I avoided social media like the plague to save myself from spoilers and it took me a week to finish the book. (carrying this brick of a book around is no easy feat I assure you, lol)

The story begins from where it left us, with the Asteri trying to locate Bryce after she jumped into the strange Rift portal and got lost in the...multiverse (?), with Lidia having to bear the pain of seeing Ruhn, Hunt, and Baxian being tortured by Pollux...and her. Yeah, not a nice place to be with.

Meanwhile, Bryce herself is a 'guest' of the Night Court in Prythian and she embarks on a journey with Azriel and Nesta in order to discover the connection of the Asteri with Prythian and her own world. Add in the stories of all the side characters, like Ithan, Tharion, and the sprites and you get quite the big tapestry of stories that need to be told and resolved.

Plot-wise this book has lots of action scenes, amazing chemistry, and lots and lots of lore bombs. I enjoyed reading about how they all tried to get back together, the connection of Hunt and the Hel Princes and how the Asteri were feared beyond worlds to the point of being planet devourers, that is some crazy stuff. The chemistry between Ruhn and Lidia was amazing. The chase scene has me gripping the book, fearing for her, and Ruhn with Lidia needed that reflection on both their actions. Lidia's sacrifices were beyond tragic, especially considering how many years she had to endure the Triarii and Pollux.

On the other hand, I have a lot to say about some other characters. Tharion was someone whom I wanted to hug most of the time and punch him too for his carelessness. He could learn a thing or two from the others, but he was not without any redeeming qualities. He did stand up on the River Quuenn in the end and grew as a character, especially after we see him tie the knot with Sathia.

Ithan my wolf boi....you were a pile of mistake upon mistake, but you did the amazing thing in the end and stood up. I loved how his character also progressed from a person full of wrong decisions but with pride and selfishness that rivaled most of the characters here.

The missing star on this book goes to Bryce. While I could understand her fear of being thrown into a different universe I did not like her way of doing things at all in this book. She always presented herself as ignorant but lo and behold she had a plan all along! But without confining to anyone in the meantime, not even Hunt. This is funny because it is mentioned by many in the book how Bryce shows herself as not having power or presenting herself as weak, but in the back of her mind, she has a plan after another plan.

To add more salt to the wound? She treats horribly Nesta and Azriel, the two characters I am very invested in from the other series. Nesta sure got her HEA, but Azriel is one whose story I am very eager to read. Additionally, Bryce did another most UNO reverse move I didn't expect! She traded her parents for the Mask?! I mean Sue she wanted the power but WHO THROWS THEIR PARENTS INTO A GATE TO THE OTHER SIDE HUH?

As for the final chapters they were filled with amazing action but by that point, I was more invested in Ruhn and Lidia rather than Bryce and Hunt (Hunt is still lick-worthy I tell you that). Plus we also got the bomb that Lidia is a long, long, many times removed cousin to ...Aelin Galathynius? I did not expect that! Which made me crazy with speculations of a possible crossover with that world.

The end of the book does leave us with to open plots for me.

One if Tharion who is left outside the Meat Market, in his beginning to search for Sathia and Bryce who gives the Mask back to Nesta and tells her to search for the possible connections between their world... or other ones.

To be honest, this book was an amazing rollercoaster ride but if you count out the audacity of Bryce's character, all of it is freaking amazing.

Plus, I am all here for the future crossover between SJM's worlds.

And don't miss the first two books of the series!

About the author:

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, and dog. To find out more, visit sarahjmaas.com or follow @therealsjmaas on Instagram.