Day: June 26, 2020

Review: Music and Magic by Foster Bridget Cassidy

Took me a bit to warm up to the story, but then it turned out really well.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. 152 pages  Published on April 2, 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb.

Markle Vanrick is cursed by the gods. Nothing in his life has ever worked out. So, when he works up the courage to leave home with only his lute, it’s only natural his money is stolen and he’s stuck without a way to get to his cousin’s farm.

Enter Frye Indori, a mischievous man who lives life to the fullest — only because he’s a few steps away from being caught and killed. Blessed with magic from the goddess Magana, Frye fled his hometown to escape the clutches of the corrupt priestess performing evils in the goddess’s name. When he runs into helpless Markle, he feels obligated to show Markle there is some good in the world.

Like it or not, Markle gets caught up in Frye’s game of fox and hare. When the priestess finally catches them, Markle may have a few surprises of his own.

Likes:

  • World building.
  • The way magic was used.
  • I did eventually get invested in the story.
  • The men, together and separately.
  • A surprisingly well rounded novella.
  • Story wrapped up but with a hint of future books to come.

Dislikes:

  • No immediate hook.
  • Took me a while to warm up to the story and characters.
  • No information about the book up on Goodreads.
  • Blatant withholding of information from the reader.
  • Romance was a little clunky.

My biggest problem with a lot of novellas is that they have a hard time hooking me. It feel like they start off mid-story and I’m scrambling to understand what’s going on. It leads to a lot of backstory so the readers can get caught up, and the forward momentum is dampened. That’s what happened at the beginning of this book.

I’ll admit that I was not hooked right away, either by the story or the men. Happily, it didn’t take too long before I was invested. It’s clear from the beginning that something is different about Markle. His resistance to Frye’s magic added a hint of mystery to the plot. There’s also a feeling that a lot is happening around the two men, and that it will be explained later. And it was

I am pleasantly surprised at how fleshed out this story is. For a novella, it contained a lot of information. The world building was interesting, magic system was understandable, and both men’s pasts got explained. There was even time to set up a hint that this is the first book in a series.

As for the romance, it wasn’t as smooth as I’m used to. Markle and Frye spent a good chunk of time unsure if their feelings were real. Then, like a switch being flipped, they got together. I would actually say that their blossoming friendship was my favorite part of the book. Markle starts off weary of Frye. Watching both men open up to each other was heartwarming, and the romance wouldn’t have been nearly as good without that solid foundation of trust and understanding.

One thing I definitely didn’t like was the obvious way certain information was kept from the reader. It was blatant and annoying. Whenever I come across something like this in a book, I feel the heavy hand of the author. It’s like ‘There’s something important here, so you should pay attention, but also I’m not going to tell you what it is yet.’ Ugh. I’m just glad it didn’t get dragged out.

I am honestly surprised at how much I ended up liking this book at the end compared to how unenthusiastic I was at the beginning. I’ve never read anything by Foster Bridget Cassidy before, but I’ll definitely check out some of her other works in the future. The talent is there. And anyone who writes quality high fantasy novellas is my kind of author.

Review: Like a Gentleman (Love in Portsmouth #1) by Eliot Grayson

The first novella but an author I like. Hard not to judge it a bit harshly because Grayson’s more recent books are better.

3 out of 5 stars

E-book. Kindle Unlimited. Second Edition. 106 pages. Published May 9th 2018 by Smoking Teacup Books (first published November 4th 2017)

Blurb:

His revenge couldn’t be more personal…or delicious…

When writer James Rowley discovers his editor has stolen his work, he has only one thought. Revenge. And he’s not above playing dirty (very, very dirty) to get it. By the time James is done toying with the man’s emotions—and body—he’ll be broken and humiliated. It’s the perfect plan…until he actually meets the damnably alluring thief in person, that is.

Leo Wells has spent years pining for the witty, talented man he only knew through letters. So when he finally meets the man of his dreams and discovers he’s a cold, callous rake, Leo’s more than a little disheartened. Too bad he’s also powerless to stay away from—or say no to—the disturbingly attractive James, even if it leads to his personal and professional ruination.

It’s not long before Leo learns there’s more to James than meets the eye, and James begins to wonder if his need for revenge is about to be surpassed by an even more powerful desire…

This approximately 28,000-word novella contains explicit scenes. Although it’s the first book in a series, it does not end on a cliffhanger and can be read as a standalone. Snarky banter and steamy chemistry are included with your purchase, but sadly, James’s hideous pink waistcoat is not. 

Likes:

  • Short, easy read.
  • Low angst.
  • Historical flair.
  • Interesting premise.
  • The way James dressed for his first meeting with Leo.
  • The ending made everything feel very settled.

Dislikes:

  • Not actually a series?
  • Feels like a first book.
  • Some overlong and rambling sentences.
  • Didn’t captivate me.
  • Occasional pronoun confusion.

Right off the bat, I will admit that I am judging this book harsher than it deserves. I have read and enjoyed several of Grayson’s more recent books, and he’s obviously become a more competent author since this novella was written. It’s hard not to find this book lacking when I compare it with his newer works.  

As far as I can tell, this is Grayson’s first book, and it shows. It’s not a bad novella, but it’s not great. It was a solid but unenthusiastic ‘nice.’

The characters are fine and I enjoyed reading about them. I do think the short length suits their romance. I’m not sure they could have been interesting for much longer. There’s a lot of insta-lust and some insta-love.

My favorite thing about the romance was that the men actually hashed out the differences between them. Their experiences and stations in life put them at odds, and Leo’s insecurities were understandable. I wish we’d been shown a little more of their daily lives, but considering how short the novella was, I think a lot was crammed in there. The ending was solid, and gave the impression that the men would be fine in the future.  

I liked the historical flair that was present throughout the book. The premise was interesting and low angst. There was some smut, but again, I think Grayson’s writing has improved in that department. But the humor is there, as evidenced by how James chose to dress for his first meeting with Leo.

I’m not too disappointed that this book doesn’t actually seem to be part of a series. Unlike his Goddess-Blessed series, this novella was a normal historical. I’ll admit I wasn’t captivated. The occasional overlong, rambling sentences didn’t help. I’d get lost halfway through and have to reread.

I think this is a solid first novella. I’m not mad at it, but in a few weeks I won’t remember it at all.