natashaleighton_'s reviews
976 reviews

Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hilariously thrilling and utterly heartfelt, Lex Croucher delivers yet another marvellously queer, medieval Rom-com that I didn’t want to end!

Not only did the banter-filled prose have me in stitches, but the emotional complexity and depth in all of our characters was phenomenal! Clem, Baxter, Kit, Morgan, Josie and Mariel all stole my heart with their mischievous antics, moral quandaries and surprisingly deep personal struggles.

I was delighted that we got to explore a little hit beyond our two MCs — with glimpses into the backstories of several supporting characters, who I felt really benefitted from the added context. It was still brief, but really helped to understand Kit, Morgan and even Mariel’s mum a little better.

Taking inspiration from the legend of Robin Hood (and his band of Merry Thieves) we delve headfirst into life amongst the Merry Men after Robin’s retirement and the legacy that his granddaughter, Mariel, has been trying to live up to.

Constantly sidelined by her father and all but ignored by her fellow Captains, it wasn’t difficult to sympathise with Mariel’s frustrations and root for her (and her supportive, found family-esque team) to get the recognition and respect they so rightfully deserved.

Though, I have to admit, it was fellow protagonist /POV character (and kidnapped healer), Clem that really helped cement this as a five star read for me.

Her wit and lighthearted banter kept even the most intense, heartbreaking of scenes from getting too dark. And I loved the opening scene with the fox— it really set the whole tone, and worked as a nice little call back to the animated Disney version of Robin’s story.

The dynamics and romance between Clem and Mariel was wonderfully swoon-worthy too (if you like the only one bed trope then you’re almost guaranteed to love the only one horse scene) and I urge anyone in their sapphic, historical romance era to definitely consider checking this out. Though, as always, do be sure to check the TWs.

Also, a huge thank you to Bloomsbury (and Bloomsbury Creators Circle) for the finished copy.

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Hits Different by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Tasha Ghouri

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a fun, summery read. The romance was really sweet and the disability representation phenomenal!

Cassie was such a loveable character and I enjoyed watching her grow in confidence, accept the support from the people who love her most and embrace her differences instead of trying to hide or minimise them.

I’ve not read many books with a deaf main character, so found Cassie’s experiences with Cochlear implants really interesting and informative. Plus her chemistry with dreamy love interest Levi was absolutely perfect, I couldn’t help but root for them!

I loved soo many of the supporting cast of characters too, particularly Cassie’s bestie (and biggest supporter), Pen who definitely deserves a sequel of their own.

If you’re looking for a quick read to lose yourself in this summer, then you definitely need to check this out.

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Old Wounds by Logan-Ashley Kisner

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Old Wounds by Logan-Ashley Kisner Review

As emotionally thought-provoking as it was spine-chilling! Logan Ashley Kisner’s YA Horror debut was a terrifying, rollercoaster of a read that deftly explores gender and trans identity (and highlighting how historically underrepresented the trans and queer community have been in the genre.)

Readers looking for a heartfelt and unflinchingly honest depiction of the trans experience; of resilience, empowerment and a heartfelt journey towards healing — then you’ll definitely want to check this out.

Kisner’s skillful prose was really good! His atmospheric descriptions were brimming with an eerie, skin crawling undertone (encapsulated in the creepy, Midsommar/The Wicker Man-esque side characters) that I felt really upped the sense of danger and intensity of the plot —and made for an unforgettable, edge of your seat reading experience.

You know that mounting sense of dread you feel at the start of a Horror movie, right before the bad stuff starts? Well, if you love this genre, then you should be pleased to know you’ll find plenty of that here.

From the opening scenes, which document the complex bonds and family dynamics that both Erin and Max face, to their differing experiences as trans teens in (a largely unaccepting) small US town — the unease lies soo heavy in the air you’ll be hard pressed not to binge read in its entirety.

But, what I found most impressive was the depth we explore in our POV characters, Erin and Max (two flawed but compelling teens) and the sense of hope that’s woven through the heart of their story.

I don’t think my words can really do this book justice, so I’ll just say if you enjoy Horror Thrillers and have been eager to see more diverse perspectives, then you’ll probably gonna enjoy this one.

However, it does explore some pretty deep subject material (and references real life murders/suicides of trans people) so I do advise checking the CW/TWs beforehand.

Also, a huge thank you to Ayesha at Usborne for the proof.

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Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Full of danger, betrayal and a reluctant, allies to lovers romance brimming with heat (the banter between our MC, Elowen, and her love interest, Cayden is especially good.) Olivia Rose Darling’s dragon filled debut is not to be missed!

The world-building was intriguing (though not as detailed as I’d like) and the political manoeuvring breathtakingly bloody. I wasn’t expecting it to be as violent as it was, but must admit (having started this after watching latest season of House of The Dragon) I wasn’t mad at it.

The violence and bloody scenes were very descriptive, though made total sense (especially for the lives Elowen and Cayden currently lead) but I still advise readers to check the content warnings before picking up.

That being said, I really liked Elowen who reminded me soo much of Arya and Daenerys from Game of Thrones. Like them she’s determined, resilient and willing to do whatever it takes to defeat her enemies (I.e: her tyrannical father) in order to save her dragons.

Elowen’s magical bond with them (there are five dragons in total) is very “Mother of Dragons” coded, but I was a bit disappointed in how little the dragons actually feature. The first half is mostly just planning the heist to rescue them, and getting all the pieces in place to make it happen. Though, the ending did make up for it (in my opinion) as it was fabulously explosive and full of backstabby surprises.

We do also (briefly) delve into Elowen’s past and the painful experiences life has dealt her; which goes some way in explaining a lot of her morally grey (and ruthlessly questionable) actions. But her banter and scorchingly sexy chemistry with the brooding, bloodthirsty Cayden (Commander of Vareveth-an enemy kingdom of her father’s) was what really kept me hooked.

The intensity between them off the charts incredible, and his devoted, “touch her and you die” energy had me savouring every scene he shared with Elowen. However if you’re not overly fond of your romances packed with tropes then you may not enjoy this nearly as much.

Overall, an enjoyable read with a hint of spice—that fans of romantasy and badass FMCs should definitely consider checking out.

Also a huge thank you to Ellie Pilcher and Zaffre/ Bonnier Books for the proof.

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The Coin by Yasmin Zaher

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Yasmin Zaher’s breathtakingly pacey debut, about a nameless Palestinian woman who immigrates to New York to teach, only to descend into a cycle of compulsive cleanliness (whilst simultaneously getting caught up in an illegal, Birkin reselling scheme) was both captivating and utterly unputdownable!

Expertly exploring the issues of race, class, inter-generational trauma and consumerism. Zaher’s lush prose lays bare the harsh realities of modern society and its often contradictory nature. Summed up perfectly by the narrators’ experiences of New York City (which appears not as not a glitzy, glamorous utopia but a dirt filled and poverty ridden city that has our narrator concluding The American Dream is well and truly dead, if it ever existed at all.)

We never do find out the name of our protagonist—who recounts her daily life to us in short, surreal, journal-esque chapters. But I kind of liked that and felt it made her stream of consciousness-style narrative waay more compelling than I expected, building a strange sense of intimacy that had me both eager to see what would happen next.

I do want to say, that this is a book that needs to be read to be truly appreciated, and will probably not appeal to everyone. However, it’s messy, chaotic and complex look at mundane life; through the bleak humour of our isolated (and increasingly unreliable) narrator —will have literary lovers and fans of Ottessa Moshfegh utterly hooked.

If this isn’t already on your radar then I really feel it should be (especially if you love literary fiction) cause I can totally see this popping up on all the fiction award and must read lists in the near future. I do, however, advise checking the TWs first.

Also a huge thank you to Rachel Quin and Footnote Press for the finished copy.

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When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m still in my dragon fantasy era so pretty much devouring any and all books that even so much as hint at them, so when I saw the sprayed edges on this stunning Waterstones edition I knew I needed to read it.

And I’m glad to say it really didn’t disappoint! The world building was exquisitely detailed and our characters compelling and in depth; especially Raeve, our badass assassin FMC who I absolutely adored.

Her journey is full of pain, heartbreak and trauma but she overcomes it soo spectacularly, I’m honestly in awe of how strong she is— both emotionally and physically.

And her chemistry with the smouldering, dragon riding Kaan is off the charts. Their banter and witty repartee had me absolutely hooked; though I do warn it’s definitely more of a slow-burn type romance so if that’s not your thing then you might not enjoy this as much.

Kaan, one of our other POV characters (and Raeve’s infuriatingly sexy love interest) stole my heart almost instantly. He’s fabulously broody and will go to any lengths to protect Raeve but, still adheres to boundaries that she’s set— like giving her the means to leave, knowing he may never see her again. If you love alot of angst in your book boyfriends then you’re gonna absolutely love him!

We have a few other characters whose POVs we dip in and out of which I found really interesting (Veya, Kaan’s sister was probably my fave of the supporting POVs) —and really helped to flesh out Raeve and Kaan’s individual (and rather tragic) backstories.

I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling anything, but I will say if you loved Throne of Glass or are looking for the next high fantasy with jaw dropping twists, dragons and an intricately crafted magic system. Then you definitely need to consider checking this out! Though given some of the content, I do advise checking the TWs first.

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The Good Ones are Taken by Taj McCoy

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Taj McCoy’s companion novel to Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell was a fun, love triangle/friends to lovers Rom-Com that brought us banter, feel good vibes and some pretty steamy scenes with not one but TWO handsome love interests.

I just have to preface that I didn’t realise this was a sequel, so wasn’t familiar with Savvy or the rest of our protagonist, Maggie’s friend group. That being said, I loved how close and supportive of one another they were, and really enjoyed soaking up the joy and love in their banter filled conversations.

I really liked our protagonist, Maggie as well, and was soo glad to finally have a romance with a FMC over the age of 20. At 38 and on track to make partner at her Law Firm, Maggie is a strong independent woman who knows what she likes. But getting to glimpse behind her hardened exterior at her softer (gooey) vulnerable side made her even more compelling to me.

Though, her difficulty in choosing which of her love interests she liked most did irk me a little, as I was Team Garrett pretty much as soon as we meet him. For his (quite obvious) devotion to Maggie, but also as he listened too and anticipated almost every need and want she had without expecting anything but friendship in return.

For that reason, I never really gelled much with Blake (Maggie’s other love interest, who was also quite a catch) as I already had my heart set on her with Garrett.

The prose surrounding clothing and food was really detailed, but did slow the pacing in some scenes, which is something to take into consideration. I also wouldn’t read this on an empty stomach as you’re almost certain to be crave all of Maggie’s delicious sounding meals.

Overall, a really enjoyable read that Rom-com fans and readers looking for a feel good read with a cast of entertaining (and diverse characters) should definitely consider checking out.

Also, a huge thank you to Alexa at Renegade Books for the finished copy

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The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A deliciously thrilling, enemies to lovers fantasy filled with dark magic, monsters and revenge seeking, rival assassins. That’s set against the backdrop of a Paris inspired city—where the stakes are high, the romance deadly and the twists unpredictably gasp-worthy.

As one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 I was absolutely over the moon to get my hands on a proof. And let me tell you, it surpassed all of my (admittedly high) expectations.

The setting was gorgeously vivid, and the rich detail of the city (Fantome) reminded me quite a bit of the gaslight fuelled streets of Belle Époque Paris. The world-building was phenomenal too, and the lore surrounding the deadly magic (and the rival Cloak and Dagger gangs who utilise it) was soo detailed and intricate. I literally ate up every morsel Catherine Doyle threw our way!

And yet, it was the complexity of our protagonists Sera and Ransom (and the depth of emotion we see from each on their respective journeys) that really kept my attention. Sera’s simmering fury and fierce determination worked well as a foil for Ransom’s brooding, Byronic disposition. Which gave us some deliciously intense and sizzlingly slow-burn scenes I couldn’t get enough of.

I loved that we also got some murder attempts from Sera and Ransom as well, which doesn’t happen nearly enough where this particular trope is concerned —enemies to lovers fans are going to be in their element.

Our supporting cast of characters were really likeable too, especially Cloak members: Val, Bibi and Theo, who welcomed Sera as one of their own and supported her through some pretty difficult moments. Their banter was also a great source of comic relief between some of the darker, more emotionally charged moments—and gave great insight into the gangs’ overall dynamics. Ransom’s small group of friends, though loyal to him for the most part just didn’t inspire the same warmth in me.

And the plot twists?!! They were shockingly good, and soo perfectly timed that I genuinely never saw most of them coming (I did, however suspect one of them and felt smugly satisfied when it turned out to be true.) If you’re the kind of person who loves to be taken by surprise then this will certain keep to guessing until the very last page.

Overall, a superb series starter that has me eager for the sequel already.

And, a huge thank you to Nina Douglas and Simon & Schuster for the proof.

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A Kingdom of Shadows by Rina Vasquez

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As action packed and plot twisty as the first, Rina Vasquez’s follow up to her romantasy debut (A City of Flames) was really good!

The worldbuilding and lore is more detailed (which had me utterly intrigued) and the swoon-worthy banter was in full swing —with more slowburn, chemistry laden tension than you can shake a stick at.

I love delving into a character’s backstory (and understand what fuels them), so was excited for the chance to learn more about Darius’ past. Despite his tough, flirtatious exterior he’s a big softie at heart and I really enjoyed watching Nara slowly realise this. They had some incredible (swoon-worthy) interactions as well, and the emotions that seep into their scenes were spectacular — I was actively on the brink of tears more than once.

We also get some pretty HUGE twists and revelations, especially where Darius is concerned which I felt not only brought depth to his character but also gave us the chance to watch Nara slowly realise her own feelings for him and begin to open up emotionally.

But, I confess Tibith, and his naive yet hilarious penchant for truth telling (and impeccable timing) did steal the show for me. I NEED him to be a POV character soo much (if not in the rest of the series then at least in a bonus chapter/ novella.)

There’s not much else in can say without spoilers, so I’ll just say if you’re looking for a dragon-filled romantasy with plenty of romantic tension, a sprinkling of spice, elves and magical quests— then you should definitely consider adding this series to your TBR!

Also, a huge thank you to Ana over at Wildfire for the finished copy

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The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Thomas Crown Affair and Ocean’s 11 meets Dorian Gray in this fun, plot twisty palate cleanser of a read that I genuinely loved!

The magical art heist premise and its focus on the complicated bonds between protagonist Dani, her art thief mother (who she helped send to prison) and her mother’s crew was really compelling. I really empathised with Dani and the difficult choices that led to the FBI catching her mum.

The heist aspect of the plot (like most heist movies) was an action packed whirlwind, that kept us guessing right up to the eleventh hour (with obligatory mishaps, betrayals and post-heist reveals) that I thoroughly enjoyed.

However, I would’ve liked the character development of our love interests (we sort of get a bit of a love triangle for a brief moment) and the rest of the cast to have been more in depth. The crew and Dani had soo much history together and I felt like we barely scratched the surface.

And the romance itself wasn’t as prevalent as I’d hoped for either which was a bit disappointing. Especially as Elliot and Dani’s second chance relationship is hinted at in the blurb, but doesn’t really leave the angsty longing stage until the last 50 or so pages.

I did like the magical realism and creepy, Dorian Grey-esque antagonist, Archer. He was the perfect, love to hate antagonist that you know you won’t be rooting for later, which I’ve come to realise are surprisingly difficult to write well. But Gwenda Bond absolutely nailed it!

Overall, this was a really quick and entertaining read that I had soo much fun with. The world and magic system was intriguing too if a little brief but I live in hope that Bond will expand on it via a sequel or spinoff at some point in the future.

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natashaleighton_'s reviews 976 reviews

natashaleighton_'s reviews
976 reviews