Review: Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop (Roselle Lim)

Title: Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop
Series: standalone
Author: Roselle Lim
Publisher: Berkley
US Release Date: August 4, 2020
Genre: Adult Contemporary Magic Realism Romance
Content Rating: Teen (kissing, adult situations, car accident)
Format Read: ARC
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Indiebound | B&N | BookDepo | Azon
Summary:

Become enamored with the splendor of Paris in this heartwarming and delightful story about writing one’s own destiny and finding love along the way.

Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes—or misfortunes—in tea leaves.

Ever since she can remember, Vanessa Yu has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.

The day before her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa accidentally sees her own fate: death by traffic accident. She decides that she can’t truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric aunt, Evelyn, shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to America and bonjour to Paris. While working at Evelyn’s tea stall at a Parisian antique market, Vanessa performs some matchmaking of her own, attempting to help reconnect her aunt with a lost love. As she learns more about herself and the root of her gifts, she realizes one thing to be true: knowing one’s destiny isn’t a curse, but being unable to change it is.

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Review copy provided by publisher for honest review. Thank you, Berkley!

With its promise of fortune-telling magic and romance in picturesque France, I just couldn't resist giving Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop a try, even though I'm not usually one for adult contemporary romances (due to sexual content). But while the story was light, the content clean, and the end happy, I unfortunately did not enjoy this book as I'd hoped.

My biggest problem, which tainted everything else, was the writing. And my biggest problem with the writing was the description. Vanessa was a privileged woman who reveled in the finer things in life, so much of the book was excessive description of the high-class food, fashion, art and architecture she relished. An abundance of detail can bring a story to life, but here, because all the topics were so commonplace to Vanessa, the description was loaded down with specific terms and proper names that felt like they were supposed to be obvious but to a layperson like me were typically not. I did recognize some of it, but most was lost on me and, because it made up so much of the book all the extravagant description quickly became irritating. The teen travel romances I've enjoyed in the past made me long to visit their cultured locations and eat their delectable offerings, but Vanessa's experiences left me uninterested or put off by the more complicated sights and tastes of her overseas adventure.

And then there were the characters. Partially due to the erratic writing style, all of the characters were generally flat and wildly inconsistent - especially protagonist Vanessa. Her logic made little to no sense most of the time, and I was repelled by her selfish and stubborn personality as she fought against her unwanted gift and the instruction she was generously offered, multiple times, to help her master it. And then to have the story very randomly reward her bad behavior... But more on that in a minute. Her reasons for fighting against her gift - bad predictions about others that made her feel bad, and her inability to sustain a romance without a prediction ruining it - were childish with no sense of responsibility despite her adult age and strong roots in supportive family. I would've understood if this was a Young Adult book about a teenager, but as an adult peer I had no sympathy for her.

And then there was the story itself. Contrary to the title's claim, the tea shop did not belong to Vanessa but to her aunt, and very little time was spent there. I expected a tea shop owned by Vanessa where magical things happened, but instead it was little more than an unmagical backdrop for a handful of scenes. This was disappointing and created a loss of trust that the story never earned back as it was just as inconsistent and illogical as the characters. The plot even went so far as to drop a deus ex machina into the middle of the book that twisted the situation to Vanessa's selfish favor and despite being ridiculous was immediately accepted by all as a logical occurrence embraced without question. Instead of a story about Vanessa learning responsibility and how to control her power while she traveled and fell in love, it became a pampered woman's empowerment as she finally got everything she wanted while learning very little. This made for an impractical and unrelatable story that left me feeling underwhelmed and honestly a little disgusted.

So did I enjoy anything about Vanessa Yu? Well, it was refreshingly clean for an adult contemporary romance, with little more than a few passionate kisses and little to no language, which is always appreciated. I also found the magical gifts interesting with their predictions and red threads of fate, although Vanessa's occasional unexplained "visions" were weird and flowery. And despite heavier emotions the story was generally light even at its darkest moments (this may have been due to the flat writing, though), with everyone getting their (albeit unrealistic) happily ever after at the end, my usual preference where romances are concerned.

Conclusion: Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop was a lighthearted contemporary of magic and romance that I unfortunately did not like due to the misleading title, flat writing, irritating description, inconsistent and selfish main character, and disappointing story. I did appreciate its clean content and happy ending, but otherwise there was disappointingly little I enjoyed about the book. That said, I'd still easily recommend it for female romance lovers as a summer beach read, but only if they are a serious foodie who has a working knowledge and interest in fashion, art, architecture, and France.

Scribble Rating: 

2.5 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
Miss Fortune Cookie by Lauren Bjorkman
Maybe This Time by Kasie West
Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings by Lydia Sherrer
Strobe Edge by Io Sakisaka

Review: Reticence (Gail Carriger)

Title: Reticence
Series: The Custard Protocol, Book 4
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Genre: New Adult Alternate Historical Paranormal Steampunk Romance
Told: Third Person Multiple, Past Tense
Content Rating: Adult (violence, innuendo, sensuality)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | Indiebound | BookDepo
Summary:

Bookish and proper Percival Tunstell finds himself out of his depth when floating cities, spirited plumbing, and soggy biscuits collide in this delightful conclusion to NYT bestselling author Gail Carriger's Custard Protocol series.

Percival Tunstell loves that his sister and her best friend are building themselves a family of misfits aboard their airship, the Spotted Custard. Of course, he'd never admit that he belongs among them. He's always been on the outside - dispassionate, aloof, and hatless. But accidental spies, a trip to Japan, and one smart and beautiful doctor may have him renegotiating his whole philosophy on life.

Except hats. He's done with hats. Thank you very much.

*          *          *

Series: This is the fourth and final book in The Custard Protocol series. Although they feature different point of view characters, the books follow the crew of the Spotted Custard and their consecutive adventures and really must be read in order. You can read my review of Book 3, Competence, here. This is also one of many series set in Gail Carriger's Parasolverse, the scope of which you can check out here.

After attending a shotgun wedding in London and catching up with respective (and disrespective) relations, the Spotted Custard is sent to Japan to (naturally) investigate a new rumored shifter and rescue a missing intelligencer. Parachutes, communal bathing, and broken custard ensue, along with an inevitable romance for eligible bachelor Percy and newest crewmember and resident doctor, Arsenic.

Gail's signature wit and playful style make for another delightful read that I quickly devoured and thoroughly enjoyed with laughter and wonder. The romantically addlepated Percy was absolutely adorkable as he navigated the exasperations of love, and it was interesting to view the paranormal elements from Doctor Arsenic's clinical perspective. Their courtship was also somewhat clinical but perfectly fit the couple and was extremely amusing.

I was thoroughly chuffed to visit beloved country Japan, and with its special shifters and exotic setting it did not disappoint. The new paranormal discoveries and discussions did get rather too technical and complicated for simple me to fully follow, but Gail showcased just how thoroughly she has thought out her historically fantastical universe and the little I did understand was most intriguing. A surprise third point of view added a very unique take on the shenanigans (I don't want to spoil the surprise, but it's a familiar face and favorite flyer) and was highly entertaining to observe so closely.

The end had its share of smiles and sniffles but was ultimately uplifting as always as the crew continues their adventures off-page. Although the series nicely wrapped I was definitely left wanting more, and I shall never give up hope that Gail someday gives in to popular demand for The Further Adventures of the Custard Protocol.

Conclusion: A thoroughly delightful read that was even better than expected, and I expected to be thoroughly delighted! Percy was adorkable, Arsenic gave Sophronia a run for her money as my favorite Parasolverse female, and the surprise third POV was such fun. If you enjoy reads by Gail then this novel cannot be missed, if only for the dozen or more catch-up cameos of previous Parasolverse characters.

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

Series Conclusion: While the Finishing School series remains my favorite of the Parasolverse, the Spotted Custard crew of delightful eccentrics is my favorite team. With Custard's globetrotting adventures and supernatural discoveries I enjoyed learning more about world history through a fantastical lens, and although it could get a little too intellectual at times for simple me the new supernaturals were fun and interesting. I can't wait to see what Gail's vast imagination creates next!

Series Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Review: The Dire King (William Ritter)

Title: The Dire King
Series: Jackaby, Book 4
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Genre: New Adult Historical Supernatural Mystery
Told: First Person (Abigail), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (lots of bloody violence, monsters warring, death)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

The fate of the world is in the hands of detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby and his intrepid assistant, Abigail Rook. An evil king is turning ancient tensions into modern strife, using a blend of magic and technology to push the earth and the otherworld into a mortal competition. Jackaby and Abigail are caught in the middle as they continue to solve daily mysteries in New Fiddleham, New England—like who’s created the rend between the worlds, how to close it, and why the undead are appearing around town.

At the same time, the romance between Abigail and the shape-shifting police detective Charlie Cane deepens, and Jackaby’s resistance to his feelings for the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, Jenny Cavanaugh, begins to give way. But before the four can think about their own futures, they will have to defeat an evil that wants to destroy the future altogether.
 
The epic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series features wry humor and a cast of unforgettable characters facing off against their most dangerous, bone-chilling foe ever.

*          *          *

Series: This is the fourth and final book in the Jackaby series. Click on the titles to read my reviews of Book 1: Jackaby, Book 2: Beastly Bones, and Book 3: Ghostly Echoes. The books do follow each other and should be read in order.

Although I enjoyed the first three in the Jackaby series, this final book was a struggle. The simple writing style I'd previously praised here read stiff, distancing me to feel little despite world destruction and heavy deaths. The initially intriguing series arc here convoluted into a climatic jumble of magic and tech that left me indifferent to the entire Dire King plot. And while the ever quirky and clever characters were here a redeeming quality, even they were sadly diluted by too much war and too little classic mystery-solving.

The first half of the book was rather dull as the team talked to people, gathered information, and decided if they were going to take a more active part in a war they couldn't avoid. There were a bunch of magical creatures and a reanimated corpse, but they did very little to animate the pages. When yet another history lesson began halfway through, I had to set Dire King aside and read a few other books before returning to forcibly push through the rest. The last third finally saw some real action, but the stiff voice made for a disappointingly dry read despite epic battles and heart-wrenching demises. Like the other books the mystery villain was predictable upon acquaintance which took the rest of the wind out of the climax, but after the dust settled the quiet if colorful end - with its uplifting Supplemental - made for at least a hopeful finale that finally saw me a little teary and smiling.

Conclusion: Am I glad I read it? Yes. Although I really had to push myself to finish I'm ultimately glad I did, even if only to say I read the entire series. Would I recommend it? If you've read the rest of the books, of course - how could you not see how it all ends?

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

Series Conclusion: Am I glad I read the entire series? Definitely. While the mystery villains were predictable and the plot convoluted over the four books into a mind-numbing mess of tangled threads, I really grew to adore the main cast and can't deny the strong imagination behind the story. I definitely recommend the Jackaby series for older teens and up (especially boys) who enjoy their mysteries fantastical and bloody.

Series Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Paragraph Review: Ghostly Echoes (William Ritter)

Title: Ghostly Echoes
Series: Jackaby, Book 3
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: August 23, 2016
Genre: New Adult Historical Supernatural Mystery
Told: First Person (Abigail), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence and supernatural violence, dead bodies, death, gruesome images)
Format Read: Paperback (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

Tread lightly, Miss Rook, warned Mr. Jackaby. It would not do to push Miss Cavanaugh too far or too fast. 

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder--her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny s fiance, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny's case isn't so cold after all.

Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail's race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues' grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

*          *          *

Series: This is the third book in the 4-book Jackaby series. Click on the titles to read my reviews of Book 1: Jackaby and Book 2: Beastly Bones. The books do follow and connect with each other and must be read in order.

The shadowy loose threads of the first two books entangle in this knot-like mystery as deadly history repeats itself and Jackaby finally tackles the case of their beloved resident ghost. This book picks up just a short while after the open end of Book 2, Beastly Bones, and soon sends the team into even darker and more deadly situations than ever before. Abigail's signature voice with its cheeky dialogue, colorful description, and light touch on the gruesome details made for yet another fast and engrossing read that I was reluctant to put down, and the fortitude of her personal growth continues to delight. Quirky Jackaby doesn't disappoint as a steady role of strength and information into the unseen, and as always I enjoyed Charlie in his many applicable forms (hound, protector, boyfriend). The mystery did get a bit convoluted with its many technical and supernatural parts and I didn't quite follow all the reasoning, but the action and intrigue kept me engaged. Although I typically avoid stories involving the fae, I've come this far with Jackaby and after this book's "we're off to save the world" ending I'll definitely be finishing the series with Book 4, The Dire King. Highly recommend this New Adult Alternate History Mystery for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Black Butler, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Paragraph Review: Jackaby (William Ritter)

Title: Jackaby
Series: Jackaby, Book 1
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Genre: New Adult Alternate Historical Supernatural Mystery
Told: First Person (Abigail), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (some minor gore, violence, violent monster attack, scary situations)
Format Read: Paperback (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local authorities--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--seem adamant to deny.

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An easy and engaging New Adult alternate historical mystery with a predictable culprit but likable characters and an interesting supernatural setting. The cover quote compares it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but in my opinion (aside from being a supernatural Sherlock Holmes) it's more in the vein of Black Butler - except instead of demons, it's fairy folk (and lighter on the gore). The writing style is simple and relaxed which created a very smooth and quick read, and as the story is made up of a lot of larger scenes I slid through the chapters with ease. I really loved Jackaby's quirkiness but especially his surety of self (and choice of roommates), and male author William wrote a generally authentic and relatable female point of view character in Abigail, even if she was a bit plain. The plot was delightfully simple (I typically avoid mysteries for being too complicated), and while I fingered the culprit from the first along with several other reveals (although to my amusement I almost missed a red herring), I enjoyed the suspense of the plot and was reluctant to put the book down, breezing through it in three days. I'll definitely be reading the second book, Beastly Bones, and probably the rest of the series.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Paragraph Review: Competence (Gail Carriger)

Title: Competence
Series: The Custard Protocol, Book 3
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: July 17, 2018
Genre: New Adult Alternate Historical Paranormal Steampunk Romance
Told: Third Person Duo (Prim, Percy), Past Tense
Content Rating: Adult (sexuality, violence, werecat mauling, unsettling vampire feeding habits)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Accidentally abandoned!

All alone in Singapore, proper Miss Primrose Tunstell must steal helium to save her airship, the Spotted Custard, in a scheme involving a lovesick werecat and a fake fish tail.

When she uncovers rumors of a new kind of vampire, Prim and the Custard crew embark on a mission to Peru. There, they encounter airship pirates and strange atmospheric phenomena, and are mistaken for representatives of the Spanish Inquisition. Forced into extreme subterfuge (and some rather ridiculous outfits) Prim must also answer three of life's most challenging questions:

Can the perfect book club give a man back his soul?
Will her brother ever stop wearing his idiotic velvet fez?
And can the amount of lard in Christmas pudding save an entire species?

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Review copy provided by publisher - thank you, Orbit!!

Series Note: This is the 3rd book in The Custard Protocol Series, but the first from Prim & Percy's POV (Books 1 & 2 are from Rue's POV). This is also one of many series set in Gail Carriger's Parasolverse, the scope of which you can check out here.

A playful and witty adventure from Prim & Percy's point of view that was a pure delight of a read and my favorite of the series so far! While another vampire race is discovered (unnerving but fascinating), most of the book follows the Spotted Custard's general floating adventures exploring the natural and supernatural world as Primrose comes to terms with her sexual preferences. There were a few bits of customary series sexuality (lesbian this time) that had asexual me blushing fiercely, but Tash's possessiveness was adorable. The ending was even more of a delight than the entire read (seemingly impossible but somehow Lady Gail pulled it off) and, given the promises for next book Reticence I am most eagerly anticipating The Custard Protocol's final installment!

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore (Kelly Jones)

Title: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore
Series: standalone
Author: Kelly Jones
Publisher: Knopf BYR
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Alternate Historical Mystery
Told: First Person (Annis), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence)
Format Read: ARC (publisher)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and, in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?

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Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Thank you, Random House!

In a Sentence: A delightfully fun and fashionable alternate Regency mystery with an engaging story, endearing characters, and enchanting magic.

Regency fashion aficionados who also enjoy espionage and whimsical magic, you are in for a treat with Murder, Magic, and What We Wore! Outfitted with a cast of resourceful and talented females, this fast-paced intrigue was a delightful read with a light if predictable mystery, easy description and dialogue, and a thrilling, open end that left me wishing for a whole series.

While the historical intrigue was exciting and the understated magic a marvel, it was the enterprising female characters that really made the book shine. While Annis and Millie rather stumble into their amazing talents, the mastery of them doesn't come easy (well, at least for Annis), and their perseverance and hard work to make an independent living despite cultural setbacks made for a very engaging story. Skillful maid Millie, my favorite, was perhaps a little too good at most everything she set her hand to, but she was a perfect partner for fashionista Annis and I loved their occasionally inverted master-servant dynamic. I'd really like to see how their partnership will further develop and have my fingers crossed for at least a sequel featuring the dynamic duo and their international escapades.

Special Note: There are many fictional and historical cameos among the walk-ons in this book. If spotting them is your thing, be sure to peruse the Author's Note glossary at the back of the book before starting the story!

Conclusion: A delightful historical mystery with marvelous magic, intriguing espionage, and talented females. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel, or even a whole series! Highly recommend, especially for fans of Gail Carriger and Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories series.

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Brother's Ruin (Emma Newman)

Title: Brother's Ruin
Series: Industrial Magic, Book 1
Author: Emma Newman
Publisher: Tor.com
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Genre: Alternate Gaslamp Fantasy Mystery
Told: Third Person Limited (Charlotte), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (scary situations)
Format Read: Paperback (library)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

The year is 1850 and Great Britain is flourishing, thanks to the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts. When a new mage is discovered, Royal Society elites descend like buzzards to snatch up a new apprentice. Talented mages are bought from their families at a tremendous price, while weak mages are snapped up for a pittance. For a lower middle class family like the Gunns, the loss of a son can be disastrous, so when seemingly magical incidents begin cropping up at home, they fear for their Ben's life and their own livelihoods.

But Benjamin Gunn isn't a talented mage. His sister Charlotte is, and to prevent her brother from being imprisoned for false reporting she combines her powers with his to make him seem a better prospect.

When she discovers a nefarious plot by the sinister Doctor Ledbetter, Charlotte must use all her cunning and guile to protect her family, her secret and her city.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A quick alternate "gaslamp" fantasy mystery that started rocky but was worth finishing thanks to an interesting if intellectual magic and unique setting.

I'm always interested in alternate histories with magic, so when Gail Carriger chose this as her Coop de Book Group pick for April 2017, I was excited to give it a try.

While I did end up reading the entire book and overall enjoyed it, the first chapter was a struggle. I understood what it was trying to do (i.e. introduce the world and the main character), but it just didn't grab me, even confused me a bit, and I seriously considered giving up by the end of it. However, since it was such a short book (technically a novella at only 184 pages), one of my favorite authors had blurbed it and it was a book club pick, I decided to give it another chapter or two. Thankfully the story, characters, and magic grew on me by the third chapter, and as it was such a quick read I found myself breezing through the rest with interest.

There are quite a few alternate-history-with-magic stories out there, but this one offers a somewhat unique twist (at least from my reading experience) in the setting's mandatory magus conscription: if a Latent gives themselves up they can choose one of the three offering colleges and compensation is made to their family, but if discovered they are forcibly taken and their family can be prosecuted. Although the different magus colleges (and in some ways the magic itself) were a bit too intellectual and therefore confusing for simple me to completely comprehend, it's an intriguing setup that I'm definitely interested in exploring further in future books.

The cast was decent albeit somewhat bland to the mind's eye or unmemorable of name as such that I occasionally had trouble keeping them straight, but overall I enjoyed following them. Charlotte had her special secret talents, as a main character does, but still maintained an innocent commoner quality that I appreciated given her role. As for romance, a bit of a love triangle does start to form as Charlotte is naturally drawn to the very handsome magus who sweeps into her life, but she is (so far) determined to stick to her love for her common but sweet fiance, and I liked her more for it.

There was a mystery subplot (my bane), but it was more misadventure than mystery and therefore easy for me to follow. The book's arc felt incomplete though, more half a story as little was resolved other than the main character taking her first step into a new life and the mystery proving but one piece of a giant puzzle that the series will apparently cover. In a way though it reminded me of the serial stories of old that I've wished would make a comeback, so I'm hoping this heralds a serial revival.

Conclusion: A decent alternate-history-with-magic novella with a unique setting. While it read more like half a book than a complete story, it's serial quality along with interesting magic and characters intrigue me enough to try the next book, Weaver's Lament, scheduled to release October 17, 2017.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

Review: All the Feels (Danika Stone)

Title: All the Feels
Series: standalone
Author: Danika Stone
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Told: Third Person (Liv), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (language, innuendo, sensuality)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

College freshman Liv is more than just a fangirl: The Starveil movies are her life… So, when her favorite character, Captain Matt Spartan, is killed off at the end of the last movie, Liv Just. Can’t. Deal.

Tired of sitting in her room sobbing, Liv decides to launch an online campaign to bring her beloved hero back to life. With the help of her best friend, Xander, actor and steampunk cosplayer extraordinaire, she creates #SpartanSurvived, a campaign to ignite the fandom. But as her online life succeeds beyond her wildest dreams, Liv is forced to balance that with the pressures of school, her mother’s disapproval, and her (mostly nonexistent and entirely traumatic) romantic life. A trip to DragonCon with Xander might be exactly what she needs to figure out what she really wants.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: An initially heavy but eventually light and fun contemporary romance for fangirls.

Considering the colorful cover and fangirl premise, I expected this to be a light romantic contemporary about love and fandom. So it was with great surprise that I found the first half of this seemingly vibrant story rather depressing. Nothing went right for main character Liv, and she had no real support from anyone IRL - her family, friends, their horrible significant others. I needed just one person who accepted her just the way she was, but although Xander came close he just wasn't close enough for me, and I absolutely loathed his girlfriend and couldn't forgive him for subjecting Liv to such a creature. Admittedly Liv's fandom obsession wasn't exactly the healthiest, but considering her whole IRL situation I couldn't blame her one tiny bit for losing herself in it, and was as miserable as she was when she was forced to step back from it for a while.

Once Liv decided to go to DC, though (and my most hated character went away), the weight on the book's mood lifted. Liv left her depressing life behind and immersed herself in con fun and games, rendering me reluctant to put the book down I was having as good a time as Liv was. Although I could barely follow the conversations sometimes (I'm what I consider "fangirl light"), I really enjoyed the fandom parts and learned a lot about how it can really bring people together that wouldn't otherwise socialize.

Despite her situation, for the most part I felt Liv was a strong character and enjoyed her fangirl triumphs story, even if it was rather unrealistic. And despite his flaws and extremely poor judgment in girlfriend, I adored Xander, although his character wasn't as smooth as the rest as his description, dialogue, and mannerisms always felt in flux. Together, while their romantic drama at the end was somewhat forced for me, overall theirs was a sweet romance I definitely rooted for.

Conclusion: Although the first half was oddly a bit depressing for me thanks to Liv’s anti-support system, the second half in DC was really fun and uplifting with a good ending. Would recommend for fangirls who enjoy contemporary romances.

For Fans Of: fandom

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles