July 2020 – Love is Love Reviews

Review: Vixen’s Valor (North Pole City Tales #3) by Charlie Cochet

Another fun novella set in the North Pole.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 81 pages. Published December 3rd 2014 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Rein Dear is a prestigious title, accompanied by admiration, devotion, and celebrity status, all of which one saucy Vixen thrives on. Alas, Vixen’s only concerned with having fun, unlike his stuffy and sensible best friend, Rudy Rein Dear, who Vixen has always been jealous of. Aside from being chosen by Mayor Kringle to be Captain the Rein Dear Squadron, Rudy’s managed to snag himself a prince, even if that prince is the dangerous and imposing Jack Frost.

All’s not lost for Vixen though. He discovers Jack’s cousin Vale has a soft spot for him. Vale Frost might not be a dashing prince, but he’s the next best thing: a decorated Lieutenant for the Toy Soldier Army, and a member of the Frost monarchy.

Determined to get what Vixen feels he deserves, he sets off on a mission to ensnare the kind-hearted lieutenant. But Vixen’s selfish ways are sure to lead to disaster, and it’ll take more than a little courage to set things right.

Likes:

Vale’s Dad.
Vale and his romantic side.
The story behind the staff.

Dislikes:

The cliché way Vixen was tricked into revealing the secret.
Vixen’s attitude towards Vale at the stars.
Vale’s point of view wasn’t too prevalent.
Two romantic main characters with names starting with V.

I didn’t hesitate after reading the previous book and rushed on to this one, excited about what was about to happen between Vale and Vixen. And because I’m reading these books in a row, without having to wait a year between them, I didn’t expect that a year would have passed between the previous story and this one. It was a little disappointing to realize that, despite the good vibes Vale and Vixen had going in the last book, they cooled down in the year between stories.

Still, that meant that the relationship got to basically start all over again, which was nice. It was sweet to see how much Vale liked Vixen, despite Vixen’s reputation for bed hopping. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how the two men would suit each other. Vixen is flirty where Vale is shy and serious. But they ended up being surprisingly cute together.

Vale was definitely my favorite character. He’s sweet, charming, and not scary like his cousin Jack. I wish there had been more from Vale’s point of view, but Vixen was the one with the issues. Vixen became more likeable and understandable once his past was explained. Vixen definitely grew on me, although the cliché way he ended up accidentally revealing the secret vale had entrusted him with made me roll my eyes.

One picky thing I didn’t like was that both men’s names started with V. It made it a little harder for me to remember who was who since I tend to skim a bit when I really get into the story and want to read faster.

Luckily, in a world filled with sexist and homophobic people, Vale’s dad was a breath of fresh air. I wish there were more characters like him.

I am excited to get to the next book. The stories are still a little cheesy, but they’re fun and Cochet has created an interesting story universe.

Review: The Heart of Frost (North Pole City Tales #2) by Charlie Cochet

Better than the last novella, this one tells the full story of Jack and Rudy.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 120 pages. Published December 18th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

At the North Pole, no one is more powerful and feared than the Prince of Frost. As general of the toy soldier army, Jack Frost has been working extra hard to put away the villainous Mouse King once and for all. If that isn’t taxing enough, Jack has to deal with the scandal and gossip brought on by news of his relationship with Rudy Rein Dear, captain of the Rein Dear Squadron, which hit headlines last holiday season. Lucky for Jack, his reputation has managed to deter any foolish attempts to stir up trouble. At least until now.

When someone sabotages Rudy’s plane during a test run a few weeks before Christmas, Jack is determined to find the culprit by any means necessary. The closer he gets to finding answers, the more difficulty he has not falling back to his icy ways. Has the Mouse King stepped up his game in order to throw Jack off his, or is someone a little closer to home behind the attempt on Rudy’s life? Either way, Jack has every intention of delivering a Christmas they won’t soon forget, even if it means losing the newfound warmth in his heart.

Likes:

Better world building.
Told the full story of Jack and Rudy.
Drama and intrigue.
Got to see Tim and Noel.

Dislikes:

The built-in homophobia and sexism.
The lame excuse for a villain.
More unexplained things about the world.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I liked the quick view we saw of Jack and Rudy in the last book and was excited to see both them and Tim and Noel again. Jack and Rudy really deserved a book of their own.

This book really did fill in a lot of missing gaps left by the last book. There was a lot more world building, though I do think it could use some more. I’m glad, because the last book left me with a lot of questions and I enjoy good world building. The Christmas theme was surprisingly fleshed out and I can tell a lot of thought was put into everything.

One of the things I’m not such a fan of is the build-in sexism and homophobia. Why create a fantasy world and add those in? I guess it makes things more relatable, as well as giving the characters another hurdle to get over. But honestly, Jack and Rudy had enough going on as it was.

The drama and plot of this story was better than the last book. The books definitely build on each other, and we got more of both with Jack and Rudy’s relationship going public and the Rat King’s criminality. The drama, danger, and intrigue of this story kept me interested the whole way through, with a happy ending that made me smile. Looking forward to the next book.

Review: Mending Noel (North Pole City Tales #1) by Charlie Cochet

This novella had a unique premise but I wanted more world building.

3 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 64 pages. Published December 1st 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2012 Advent Calendar collection Evergreen.

All is not sparkly snowflakes and sweet candy canes in North Pole City. Office workers Tim and Noel do nothing all day but antagonize each other—petty fighting that might be based on hatred… or a heated mutual attraction. It’s up to Jack Frost and his elf-friend Rudy to broach the hostilities and introduce some Christmas kisses, but is the Frost Prince up to the challenge of launching a new romance when someone’s trying to break his holiday spirit?

Likes:

The Christmas references are just the right amount of cheesy.
I want to know more about the world.
The characters were interesting.
Low angst.

Dislikes:

The conflict between Tim and Noel was over too fast.
It the world could have been explained better.
There was too much going on for the page space.
Some things could have been explained better for more impact.

I was avoiding this series despite liking Charlie Cochet’s books and novellas. I was worried that the Christmas/North Pole theme would be too cheesy. And, yeah, it was cheesy, with all the clichéd parts you’d expect. But they were different than I expected. Not childish, but almost cool.

I felt bad for Tim, what with the way Noel picked on him. I was expecting Noel to go through lot of change in order for him to admit that he liked Tim. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Tim forgave Noel for all the times he was an asshole, and it happened super fast. Almost unbelievably fast. Sure, this is a novella, but it took almost no time for Tim and Noel to go from clashing coworkers to lovers.

It’s not because there wasn’t enough page time, but rather there was a lot going on. Between Jack and Rudy’s coming out and the plot with the Rat King, there simply wasn’t enough space for Tim and Noel to grow and change.

There also wasn’t enough page space dedicated to the world of the North Pole. So many interesting things seemed to be going on, and were hinted at. But I felt like I didn’t fully understand their importance. It just wasn’t well explained. I’m hoping to learn more from the other novellas.

But I have to say this, the idea of setting a gay romance series in the North Pole sure is unique. I’ve never read anything like it before and I’m looking forward to the next books.

Review: A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4) by T.J. Klune

A good ending to the series.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 450 pages. Published March 27th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Nearly a year ago, blinded by grief and betrayal, Sam of Wilds made a desperate decision to follow the Great White into the Dark Woods. Now, he emerges to a world changed.

The City of Lockes is a prison. The King has been locked away in the dungeons. The Kingdom of Verania has fallen, and the Dark wizard Myrin sits on the throne.

But soon after his return, Sam learns of a resistance fighting in his name led by a courageous knight, a defiant prince, a pissed-off unicorn, and a half-giant who wants to smash everything in sight. If he has any hope of defeating the villains who have taken their home, Sam must face the consequences of his choices—and the friends he left behind.

Likes:

It’s over!
Happy ending.
Sam’s wish at the end.
Justin will eventually get his own story.
Liked this book better than the last.
Gary got his horn back.

Dislikes:

So much recapping.
Disappointment that everyone was the same as they were at the start.
Underwhelmed.
Sam’s whining that it wasn’t fair.
Long.
Still not as good as the first book.
So many catchphrases.

I’ve come to the realization that binge reading this series was a bad choice. As much as I love Sam of Dragons, a little goes a long way. And these books are long. While I’m glad I finally got around to finishing the series, it felt like a slog.

This book, like the two before it, suffers from not being as good as The Lightning-Struck Heart. Sam, Garry, Tiggy, and the rest of the cast were fresh and funny in the first book. After three more books where they all stay exactly the same, saying the same catchphrases over and over again, it got old. Worse, it lacked impact.

That’s not to say this book is bad. It wasn’t. It gave me the happy ending I wanted, especially with Sam’s final wish. But I can’t deny that I’m glad it’s over. Because, while the romance of The Lightning-Struck Heart was fantastic, as a high fantasy series, Tales from Verania was just okay. (For more about my thoughts about the series as a whole, check out the spoiler free series review.)

I did like this book better than the last, but that’s not surprising. The big showdown with Myrin. The dragons. The return to Lockes City after a year of being gone. Gary finally getting his horn back. A lot happened. This book definitely held my attention better than the last. And while it was long, it didn’t drag as much. Except for all those recaps. A whopping 3% of recap at the beginning. It covered all three previous books.

I was happy to see that Justin will eventually be getting his own story. I will definitely check it out, but there was no mention of how long it will take before that happens, as Klune stated his desire to write other things first.

I’m actually glad that he didn’t go straight to Justin’s story. One of my biggest disappointments about this book is how little everyone changed. There’s been a spoonful of maturity here and there. I wanted more. I wanted growth. I wanted Sam and Ryan to become better versions of themselves. Sure, Ryan centers Sam’s magic and his morality, but Sam still acts like he’s fifteen. He whined about things not being fair, was mad that Ryan had experiences while he was in the woods with the dragons, and the only reason he didn’t let the world burn was because he was trying to protect his friends.

In the end, I was underwhelmed. Not just by this book, but by the whole destiny of dragons trilogy. The Lightning-Struck Heart was amazing. But Sam as the chosen hero never fully connected with me. It was an okay series, and this book did a good job of wrapping it up. I just…expected more.

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1), The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5), A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2), The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3), and the series review.

Series Review: Tales of Verania by T.J. Klune

The first book was great. Everything else was just okay.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Books Include:

The Lightening-Struck Heart – 5 stars
A Destiny of Dragons – 4 stars
The Consumption of Magic – 3 stars
A Wish Upon the Stars – 4 stars

Short Story:

The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva – 4.5 stars

Likes:

Everything about The Lightening-Struck Heart
The characters (most of the time)
High fantasy.
Sam and Ryan’s romance.
The smut.
The dragon’s names.

Dislikes:

So much recap.
Lacked character development.
Sam got super annoying.
I didn’t connect with Sam as the hero.
I didn’t get what I expected from the books.
Long.
Repetitive.

I turn to high fantasy for specific things. It’s not just dragons and unicorns, it’s the feelings I’m left with. When I finish a really good high fantasy series, I let out a deep breath and just sit for a while, soaking it all in. That didn’t happen at the end of this book, partly because I was just so glad to be done.

One of the things I love most about high fantasy is when characters overcome incredible odds. To that end, I love underdogs. Sam was a perfect underdog – for the first book. The book that was mostly about his romance and can really be seen as a separate entity from the destiny of dragons trilogy. In The Lightening-Struck Heart, Sam was a boy formerly from the slums lusting after the prince’s boyfriend. Perfect underdog.

Sam as the hero of Verania didn’t work for me, because while he was still the boy who’d spent the first decade of his life living in the slums, he’d spent more than half his life living a charmed life in the castle. He and his parents didn’t want for anything. Sam had a wonderful mentor, a friend in the King, loving parents, two amazing best friends, and all the freedom in the world to go on quests and live his life exactly the way he wanted it. And most importantly, he had the most magical ability of anyone!

In other words, Sam wasn’t an underdog anymore. He had privilege. He was spoiled. And he had Ryan, his love and cornerstone.

That change in status didn’t make Sam unlikeable. But by the time I was done with the series, I was incredibly aware of his privilege. Not just because of his constant complaints or his resistance to spending a year away from his friends. (One year! Just one! To train so he could save every single person on the planet, and that was too much of a sacrifice for him! That will never not piss me off.) It was more about what he hadn’t done.

For a boy who came from the slums, he didn’t try to better the lives of those who still lived there, other than a throwaway line about asking the King to spend more money on schools. Sure, Sam goes back to the slums once a year, but only to remind himself of where he came from. Not to help people. In fact, there is no mention of him actively trying to better the people of Verania with his magic. No healing or protection from the Darks. And as one of the few good wizards, you’d think that would be a priority.

Another thing that seems like it should have been a priority but was never mentioned, was of helping those who’d turned Dark. Or even of preventing people from turning Dark. Because while there were only a few good wizards, it seemed like Verania had Dark wizards coming out of its ears. And the only difference is training. Follow the rules and find a cornerstone to be a good wizard. Be a selfish asshole and be a Dark.

I have expectations of a hero. One of the things I look for, one of the reasons why I read books with heroes in them at all, is to be inspired. I want the hero to triumph over incredible odds. To lead and to give hope. Yes, they should be human. They should fail and suffer, but ultimately grow stronger.

Sam didn’t inspire me. Didn’t give me hope. He bitched and whined about his destiny, about the choices other had made, about his magic and long lifespan. He didn’t grow up. Didn’t mature. I wanted to see him become someone amazing. He could have done that without changing the core of who he was. But that didn’t happen. He remained a cocky brat who didn’t plan for the future or care about anyone but himself. Even in the third book, Sam is described as “… he understood the implications of what Myrin could bring, but he was still young. Naïve. He was doing this for those closest to him, and nothing more.”

Not a ringing endorsement. Neither is his conversation with Kevin.

“Yeah. You had no plan, did you.”

“Not even remotely. But I’m sure something would have come to me. But since you interrupted my narrative, we’re screwed, and neither of us is getting laid.” I paused, considering. “Or rescue our loved ones and save the kingdom from the clutches of villains. Because I should have said that one first.”

And these are quotes from the last book.

This isn’t to Say that Sam is a bad hero. He might not mature, but he does save the day in the end. And I do love how he solved the conundrum of not Ryan aging while he didn’t. That doesn’t stop me from being disappointed in him.

Luckily, Sam wasn’t the only stand-out character. All of the cast was fantastic. Sure, they got a little stale by the end of the last book, because they didn’t change either. Same jokes and catchphrases. And the number of recaps was truly staggering. At least it was a fun new twist on dragons, unicorns, and half-trolls. And the dragon names were great.

Sam’s romance with Ryan was good. Hot smut. I am looking forward to Justin’s eventual romance, whenever that comes out.

I do think a lot of my issues with this series came from the fact that I read all four books and the side story in about two weeks. It was a binge read, and it really did take that long because of how long the books are. 1770 pages in total! It was a lot, and it was easy for me to get annoyed with Sam.

Overall, my love for The Lightening-Struck Heart has not changed. It’s still my favorite. But the rest of the series? It was just okay. I would definitely not suggest binging this series. There are better high fantasy trilogies out there. Hell, there are better gay romance high fantasy trilogies out there – looking at you, The Knight and the Necromancer.

Review: The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3) by T.J. Klune

A little underwhelming.

3 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 450 pages. Published November 20th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Sam of Wilds faced the Dark wizard Myrin and lived to tell the tale. Granted, the battle left him scarred, but things could be a hell of a lot worse.

It’s not until he reunites with Morgan of Shadows and Randall that he realizes just how much worse things could be.

Because the scars have meaning and hint at Myrin’s true plans for Sam and the Kingdom of Verania.

With time running out, Sam and his band of merry misfits—the unicorn Gary, the half-giant Tiggy, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart, and the dragon known as Kevin—must travel to the snowy mountains in the North and the heart of the Dark Woods to convince the remaining dragons to stand against Myrin. Along the way, Sam learns secrets of the past that will forever change the course of the future.

A reckoning is coming for Sam of Wilds, and there is nothing he can do to stop it.

Likes:

The mated dragons and their names.
The plot is getting more intense.
All the characters that you know and love.
The humor.
Randall.
Backstory that I didn’t know I needed.

Dislikes:

Book started off with a recap.
Lady Tina’s propaganda against Sam is basically white national birthirism.
(No Spoiler) Major character death.
Sam got annoying and felt privileged.
Sam doesn’t feel like he’s grown up at all.
I’m tired of the ‘it’s not fair’ whining.
I don’t think this book had the ooph of the first one.
Not memorable.

This book was a little underwhelming for me, which is strange because the plot is heating up. I’m writing this review at the end of the day that I finished reading, and it took me a bit of thinking to realize that what I’m feeling can be boiled down to two words – not memorable. The first book was amazing. The second expanded world and completely changed all of the character’s lives. This one, well, Sam did what he’d been told he had to do.

Don’t get me wrong, this was still a good book. But it lacked the oomph I was hoping for. There were twists and turns, especially at the end. The humor was there and the characters were still great. I just wanted something more.

Part of what I wanted was for Sam to begin to grow up. He had all of the last book to have his ‘it’s not fair’ pity party. I expected more from him in this book. Even an inkling of maturity. That all important character development. I didn’t get it. What was worse, Sam really grated on me a few times. He might have grown up in the slums but he’s acting hella privileged now.

Spoiler

The character who changed the most was Randall. He was really the shining star of this book in my opinion. I didn’t know I needed Randall’s backstory until I got it. And I loved it. It made him so much more than a grumpy old wizard.

There is a major character death in the book, and it wasn’t who I thought it would be. The aftermath was sad, but the actual death scene felt rushed and lacked the impact I felt it deserved. At the same time, I’m glad the book wasn’t any longer. 450 pages is hefty as it is. Though cutting out some of the recap at the very beginning would have lessened the load, as well as the recaps sprinkled throughout the book. But at least Sam finally remembered about bringing the bird back to life.

The mated dragon pair were fun. Their names were just as ridiculous as I expected. I was surprised that Lady Tina showed up. Her propaganda against Sam is basically white nationalist birtherism. It’s just as fury inducing in fiction as real life. But I am now expecting her to be an integral part of the happy ending.

Despite my many complaints about this book, I am looking forward to the final one. I hope it can be a little more streamlined and focused. The plot is definitely getting intense, and I expect epic battle scenes.

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1), The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5), A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2), A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4), and the series review.

Series Review: Goddess-Blessed by Eliot Grayson

A unique alternate universe Regency series.

4 out of 5 stars

Books include:

Plus the short story:

The Yuletide Runaway – 4 stars

Likes:

Quick, easy reads.
Unique premise.
How the different men reacted to being goddess-blessed.
Hot smut.
The characters.
Acceptance of same sex marriages.
Different goddesses.
Hooked me easily.
The short story is a free download.

Dislikes:

The world building could have been better.
The first two books were directly related while the third was totally separate.
I had minor issues with all the books.

I am pleasantly surprised how much I liked these novellas. I’m not the biggest fan of the historical genre as a whole. I feel like if you weren’t a white cis man, you were treated like shit.

Grayson found a way to get around the ever present ‘homosexuality is a sin’ aspect of historical novels by setting these stories in an alternate universe where goddesses are alive and walk among the people. It’s a unique premise, and I applaud him for trying something different. Someone who is a stickler for historical accuracy probably wouldn’t like the books, but I’m not that person so I had no problem.

My problem was the lack of overall world building. The goddesses were a hazy concept in the first book, and while the goddess in question was better explained in the second book, it wasn’t until the third book that a goddess actually appeared. I like that two different goddesses were in the books, but I wanted more. More goddesses, more world building, more stories in general. This is a series I would like to see added to in the future.

The characters were the real stars of the books. I had my favorites, but all the leading men were all okay. I am still amazed at how Tom went from asshole in book one to completely sympathetic in book two. So much character development went on. The men all reacted differently to being goddess-blessed and that was really great to see. Plus, all the novellas and the short story had hot smut.

For being novellas, a lot was packed into each story. And while I would love to have seen more of the characters, I was happy with the endings overall. The novellas were quick, easy reads that hooked me right away.

I do wish the stories had all been linked somehow. The first two were so intertwined that the third book felt a little random. Even with the short story being related to the third book.

Overall, this was a good series. Were there little things I didn’t like about each book? Yes. But they were small things. I’m glad I picked up this series.

Review: The Yuletide Runaway (Goddess-Blessed #3.5) by Eliot Grayson

A short, smutty read.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 44 pages. Published November 18th 2019 by Smoking Teacup Books

Blurb:

It’s a perfect Yuletide Eve, with snow drifting down and all the bells ringing. Martin’s had a long day’s work and wouldn’t mind spending the night in bed with a willing — well, anyone with a pretty face, really. Just as he resigns himself to sleeping alone, a mysterious young lady traveler reveals herself to be no lady at all, in more ways than one.

This is an M/M romance short story with explicit scenes. It takes place in the Goddess-Blessed universe, an alt-Regency world in which people and places are much the same but pagan gods and goddess are real, present, and often inconvenient. Although it features a character from Yuletide Treasure, it doesn’t contain spoilers and stands alone.

Currently this short story is only available for free download on Prolific Works.

Likes:

Short and sweet.
Didn’t take long to get to the smut.
Martin is bi.
Martin doesn’t have a perfect body.

Dislikes:

Took me a moment to remember who Martin was.
Neither an was goddess-blessed.
Cliché setup.

This was a fun short story. It had more funny moments and smut than I expected, but no one was goddess-blessed. That made me wonder if the story could have just been set in the normal Regency period, then I remembered that the goddess-blessed universe is infinitely more tolerant of same-sex couples.

It’s been a bit since I read the main stories, so it took me a page or two to remember who Martin was. Not that it really matters. This short story is very self-contained. And considering how short it is, it managed to pack a lot in, including sexual tension and tons of smut. That being said, it’s still a short story, and has a relatively open ending.

The ‘boy disguised as a girl’ setup is cliché, but it works for the story. I especially loved the realization that Noah and his sister must have spent their nights in the similar situations.

I do think this story does a few things the main books don’t. For one, Martin is bi, and it’s mentioned multiple times. But it isn’t treated as something negative, in the way Tom’s was. Tom was portrayed as an asshole. Martin “liked girls curvy and willing, and lads slim and willing, and he wasn’t fussed about which fell into his lap on any given day” yet there was no sense of judgement about that. Which I liked. I also like that Martin was bashful because he didn’t have a perfect body, and that the awkwardness of post-sex cleanup was addressed.

Overall, this was a fun, smut-filled read. Plus it was free, and you can’t beat that. I would absolutely read more short stories or novellas set in this universe.

Check out the reviews for the series books – The Replacement Husband, The Reluctant Husband, and Yuletide Treasure.

Review: A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2) by T.J. Klune

A great addition to the series. Felt a little slow at first, when the plot was being set up, then took off.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 400 pages. Published June 30th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Once upon a time, the wizard’s apprentice Sam of Wilds got his happily ever after in the arms of his cornerstone, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. A year has passed, and while Sam’s been captured five or six more times since then, things are pretty great. His parents are happy, Gary and Tiggy still eat sass for breakfast, Randall is somehow alive despite being older than the gods, the King rules with a gentle hand, Kevin the dragon is as gross as ever, Morgan sighs a lot, Ryan continues to be dashing and immaculate, and Sam is close to convincing Prince Justin they will be best friends forever. Life is good. Until it’s not. Because Vadoma, the leader of the gypsy clan and Sam’s grandmother, has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars: a man of shadows is rising and will consume the world unless Sam faces his destiny and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side. And she brings along her second-in-command, a man named Ruv. Ruv, who Vadoma says is Sam’s true cornerstone.

Likes:

The characters.
The humor.
The world building.
The plot.
More smut.
New dragon.
Villainous villain.

Dislikes:

Sam and Ryan both have a lot of room to grow, both as individuals and as a couple.
The first half of the book lacked movement.
Sam got annoying at times.
Sam doesn’t like fireflies.

One of the great things about this series is that it focuses on Sam and Ryan the whole way through. Which means that, even though the two of them got together in the last book, their romance isn’t finished. Not by a long shot. Because both men still need to grow, and so does their relationship.

While there is more smut in this book than the last, Sam and Ryan don’t mesh together perfectly. Their relationship, while strong, is still new, despite the eighteen months or so that passed since the end of The Lightning-Struck Heart. Honestly, they both got a little annoying in the first half of the book. Situations brought out their deepest insecurities. It also showed how little Sam had thought about the future. Like, not at all. And as much as I like his character – despite the fact that he doesn’t like fireflies – I’m ready for him to grow up.

Happily, most of the things I loved about the first book were present in this one. The characters were fantastic. Especially the new dragon, but there were a lot of new characters. The villain feels genuinely villainous, which is great because I hate lame villains. The humor didn’t feel quite as pronounced in this book, but the tone was generally more serious than the last book.

The one thing that I didn’t like about this book was how little movement the first half had. A lot happened, but it all took place in Castle Lockes. Basically, Part 1 of the book set up the plot, not just for this book but for the rest of the series. It wasn’t an info dump. And it was enjoyable to read, but I was itching for them to just get started already.

It’s impossible to have enjoyed this book and not be desperate to rush ahead to the next. So many things were hinted at, both good and bad. There wasn’t a cliffhanger, but the plot is racing forward.

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1), The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5), The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3), A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4), and the series review.

Review: The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5) by T.J. Klune

A free side story that made me laugh.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 65 pages. Published September 26th 2015

Blurb:

Lady Tina DeSilva was not a cruel girl. No, she most definitely wasn’t cruel. After all, it wasn’t her fault that Mervin made her want to stab him in the face just to see what his blood looked spilling out onto the ground while he screamed for her to stop.

Rystin was forever. Mervin, though.

Mervin was just a bump in the road.

Likes:

Made me laugh.
Accurate representation of toxic fandoms, bad fanfic, and unrealistic erotica.
I read it at the perfect time.
Free.
Every comment Gary made.
Larry and Wiggy.

Dislikes:

Made me look up what fletching was.
Easy to overlook.
Not perfectly edited.
Dumps hard on fanfic.

I had no idea this story existed. I saw it listed on Goodreads and looked it up, pleased to find that it was free on TJ Klune’s blog. Then I forgot all about it until Lady Tina shows up in A Destiny of Dragons.

I immediately stopped reading A Destiny of Dragons and read this short story. And I have to say, that was absolutely the right thing to do. What Lady Tina does in A Destiny of Dragons is directly related to this short story. And honestly, I would have forgotten about this story if I had read it before getting started on A Destiny of Dragons because a lot happens in the first quarter of that book.

So much about this story made me laugh. Even the intro. Knowing that Klune had planned this to only be 5,000 words and it ended up being 16,000 made me chuckle. But of course, it was Gary’s comments during the fanfic that were the best.

This story definitely feels like a bit of a commentary on toxic fandoms, bad fanfic, and unrealistic erotica. And that’s part of what made it funny. But it’s super easy to dump on fanfic and label it all as crap. Luckily, that’s not what’s done in this story. The fanfic is supposed to be bad, partly because it’s a product of Lady Tina and how unhinged she is. I just wish I hadn’t looked up what fletching was. To quote the story – “Hup,” Larry gagged. “Hup. Hup.”

The story isn’t perfectly edited, but I’m not going to complain about it. It was free, and made me laugh. I’m just glad I can go straight from this story back to A Destiny of Dragons. HaveHeart forever!

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1), A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2), The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3), A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4), and the series review.