Ember of the Great River People

From Kissed to Tryst; aquatic romance with a Twist

Revisado: 08-02-23

Beneath the Loch is a darkly whimsical tale of two girls from different worlds who meet in the veil of youthful innocence, only to learn that the human world isn’t made for such friendship. Later, now grown, fate and the cruel, patriarchal world accidentally reunite childhood friends, once estranged, now enraptured. From sea horses to gun-toting religious men, Beneath the Loch is a dark and captivating journey into the mysterious world of atypical romance, which reminds us that the real monsters are often underpinning society itself.

If you are looking for an interesting f/f romance with a dark, mythological twist, this may be the story for you. SD Simper is no stranger to aquatic romance, and Beneath the Loch is a lovely novella to read.

Key Themes: Lesbian romance, monsters, adventure, mythology

Generally, I enjoyed the story and the characters. The protagonist is delightfully bold yet longs for a quiet life in peace. Yet, the reader may notice that her morality is based on her own feelings of right and wrong, not necessarily that of society. Of course, what has her patriarchal society given her but a marriage arranged without her say and the promise of a future with a lecherous man as shallow as a muddy puddle? No, she needs a love much deeper… like a loch.

Curiously reticent, the love interest is a mysterious woman from the water – her domain is dark, cold, and quite wet. Who is she? What is she? I wish her character had been more fleshed out, though the story is a novella, and its very design is one of fable, almost a folktale. So, perhaps her story will remain as mysterious as the river she inhabits.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Pleasant Surprise - An Epic Ride

Revisado: 03-03-23

I normally read f/f romance with femme protagonists, so when I saw this book I was hesitant. But, there was an angel and a succubus on the cover. I read the information and there was a very lengthy content waring which was too much fun to ignore... I took a chance...

Wow!

The story started me on a five book journey of fun and adventure, and had become one of my favorite fantasy series. The books are about a young man who has a rather unexpected meeting with a succubus and angel, an encounter that leaves him in a strange love triangle and changes his live. There is a buffy-the-vampire vibe to the series. Lots of fights with demons, angels arguing and cussing, and a bunch of early 2000's style mall vampires. I lived in the goth culture around 2000-2010, and I really feel like the author did a good job with that.


Pros:
- WORLD BUILDING! A detailed world that felt real and not just a prop!!!
- Deep characters who are way more than just props. Each side character is fully fleshed out and the protagonists are quite complex (which increases as the books go on).
- Dynamic plot with many twists and turns.
-LGBTQIA+ characters (and more as the series progresses)

Cons:
- The sex is quite lengthy. If you like intense sex scenes, this may be a pro. I would have traded a few for more adventure, but honestly, the book was still action packed.

Definitely a series you won't regret

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Mysterious Noctural Huntress and Winged "Princess"

Revisado: 09-06-22

A nocturnal huntress with a mysterious past and far too many enemies takes a chance to save a winged woman, changing both their lives and the fate of the world's great houses.

Aurora's Angle is a delightfully exciting and sapphic tale set in a fantasy world that connects to the real human world. A physically strong yet emotionally vulnerable huntress with a dark past and an uncertain future pairs well with the softer, lighthearted, yet razor-sharp-personality winged woman. Their contrasts provide a beautiful symmetry, allowing for interesting interactions and something for nearly any sort of reader to identify with. While the story remains reasonably constrained to the protagonists and their direct experiences, enough interesting side characters, setting elements, and allusions to other places and people leave the reader feeling like the vibrant setting is realistic.

The world is reasonably fleshed out, but there is much room to grow. It feels like many more stories could be set in the rich setting, and plenty of lands remain to be explored – such the mysterious border between the human world and the world of magic, the great houses of the winded shape changers, or perhaps the mysterious world of dragons. The soft magic system constantly reveals new aspects of the protagonists' powers, yet this feels natural, not situational, nor ad hoc.

If you like sapphic romance set to a good, fulfilling, and engaging story that will leave you feeling giddy, this is the story for you.

I hope for a sequel or another story set in the same world.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

The start of an epic trilogy

Revisado: 08-20-22

The Valkyrie's Daughter begins where many coming of age stories do, with a young woman who is dissatisfied with her life and thirsting for more. However, this common feeling quickly becomes anything but common as valkyries, elves, and hell hounds all get caught up in the fight for power within the realms. The protagonist quickly finds herself significantly deeper in the thick of the action than she might have expected and paired with quite an eclectic assortment of companions.
The warrior woman theme takes on a more realistic view, less Xena and Amazons, and more fear and bravery. Much as the author did in her Ice Massacre mermaid series (which I highly recommend), she portrayed a youthful warrior fighting for a greater cause but feeling quite realistic – a woman the reader can relate to and a trope-breaking, gender-unlocking, good role model for young women and teens.

The plot is initially deceptively simple, quickly becoming more complex and less linear. The characters are drawn out with personality and backstory, each having unique and interesting quirks. The masked character is my favorite side character, being unique and amusing. The action and pacing are pretty consistent, but the story is more focused on the existential experience of the characters than the action.

LGBTQIA+ representation (including transgender) is a major theme but not overly dwelled upon. Rather, LGBTQIA+ characters are just part of society and not singled out for this aspect. The book is very female-centric, with male characters, either background or secondary. There are also a refreshing number of older women characters (another group who often don't find enough representation). Tropes are not significant. Violence is suitable for a teenager, with plenty of action but little in the way of gore or adult themes.
Tiana Warner has begun yet another quality epic!

Side Note: I'd highly recommend the Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, a trilogy from the same author. Anyone who enjoys The Valkyrie's Daughter should enjoy the mermaid trilogy, too.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Warriors both, Mermaid and Human vs. the World

Revisado: 04-03-22

Ice Crypt, book two of the Mermaids of Eriana Kwai trilogy, is a wonderful series continuation. It takes off right where the first book, Ice Massacre, ended. Meela is a hero, yet in some ways, she is only tolerated – ostracized for her tall tales of an ancient Eriana Kwai legend and a power that can bring destruction or peace, depending on who wields it: the Host of Eriana. While Meela walks the delicate and often dangerous path to find the Host of Eriana, Lysi fights for love and life deep below the sea. The setting explodes into a wide look at mermaid society and the struggles underpinning the social and political pressures which influenced the first book. We follow Lysi, the mermaid, as she endures the fallout from the events of book one, gaining insight into why mermaids fight, the personal struggles and lives of regular merfolk, and a future that could be if only Lysi and Meela have the courage and conviction to seize it.

[Spoilers]

Ice Crypt starts off slowly at first but quickly picks up the pace into a full run. Meela investigates the island's history, trying to find the location of the Host of Eriana Kwai, a giant serpent that cannot be defeated and yet, can defeat anything. She recruits the aid of her former massacre survivors and would-be boyfriend along the way. At the same time, she is relentlessly pursued by the ever-dangerous Dani, Dani's father, and society at large. Is she being childish chasing fairytales? If she finds the Host, can she control such a power, and what powers exist who would seek to take such a creature from her?
Meanwhile, Lysi finds herself sent to the front lines of the war against the other mermaid kingdoms. Far for kept out of harm's way per the evil king's deal with Meela, Lysi is forced to fight for her life against mermen, mermaids, and sharks, all the while wondering if her family is safe and her true love still draws breath, far away on Eriana Kwai. It isn't long before she finds herself at the heart of a rebellion to retake the mermaid kingdoms. At least she now has a group of mer-friends to aid her, but will it be enough?
As mermaid and massacre warrior reunite, everyone gathers for a final conflict: who will control the Host of Eriana?

[/spoilers]

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

An Exciting Tale of a Tail, and a Whale

Revisado: 04-03-22

Get this book: If you like LGBTQIA+ romance, action, adventure… and mermaids, you won't regret it.

Ice Massacre, book one of the Mermaids of Eriana Kwai trilogy, is an exciting series that will lead the reader in a far different direction from most mermaid books. While the story is LGBTQIA+ and involves a human and a mermaid, the similarities with other stories end there. Ice Massacre is filled with action from start to finish, and the intensity only increases. Far from a blissful romance in the gentle surf, we find our protagonist fighting for her life on the high seas, battling Sea Demons at every moment. Will she be drowned, impaled, or eaten alive? The book was hard to put down from start to finish, an ever-growing rollercoaster of action. There were many sad and horrible moments, but the story felt satisfying.

[Spoilers]
A human girl and a mermaid girl play in the surf, each forbidden to speak to the other but unwilling to be apart… We meet Meela, now a young woman who, along with nineteen other young women, must sail far into the northern Pacific Ocean on a sailing ship to battle mermaids, something her people do yearly. It is seen as a culling, a means to reduce the population of deadly mermaids who threaten the very existence of her people, the People of Eriana Kwai. Unfortunately for these young warriors, mermaids are fast, strong, impervious to most weapons, and deadly. As a result, what is supposed to be a massacre is really more of a sacrifice, with few expecting to return. Can Meela survive against thousands of mermaid warriors? What will she do when she encounters the mermaid of her youth? Can love survive a war between humanity and merfolk?
[/Spoilers]

The Romance
Romance in Ice Massacre builds more slowly than is common in purely romance novels. The romance is key to the plot, making it a Romance Genre novel, yet the novel is not centered around romantic interaction. Rather, the plot involves fleeting romance, expectation, and what could be. The physical romance isn't intensely graphic, mostly alluded to. This means the book is suitable for young adult readers, at least concerning sexually adult themes. This continues through the series. The romance is deep yet more emotional than physical. Readers interested in relationship dynamics and a less graphic experience will find this refreshing.

The Action
From crossbows to clubs made from coral, there are weapons, fights, and blood throughout the story. While the book is quite violent, the violence never feels gratuitous or pointless. It serves a purpose through the story – a coming of age adventure where the protagonist must fight her way through a sea of monsters to protect those she loves. While she faces antagonists from her people, Sea Demons, her own self-doubts and fears, perhaps her greatest antagonist is her prejudice and the truth of the "monsters." It can be so inconvenient when the enemy is someone you care for.

The Story
The novel is well written with a stable plot, well-formed characters, and plenty of foreshadowing. The perspective varies but is usually first-person, from alternating perspectives, though usually the protagonists'. The plot is mostly linear, though there are entire flashback chapters. These feel natural within the progression and fill in vital information.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A tale of true love and a beautiful end...

Revisado: 06-06-21

Death's Abyss is the climax of an emotional tale built upon two previous books leaving the author breathless and desperate for a beautiful end. The book proves to be even more of a tear-jerking and joyous adventure than its sister books from start to finish.

Tallora is left alone in the sea of her own turmoil while the Silver Flame burns as brightly as she was meant to. All around, the land is laid bare by destruction and chaos as mighty forces work to control the world. Dragons, mermaids, demons, and gods cannot help but enter the fray, upping the stakes and pushing the plot to the edge. Can Tallora temper the flame as the Goddess of Stars soothes the power of the Moon, or will she be consumed? Will Death upset the already fragile balance, or have demons from the shadow realm already doomed them all? The exciting conclusion to Sea and Stars comes with a simple warning: Once you start, you may not be able to stop reading it until it's done.

Death's Abyss continues to dig into deep philosophical issues, mental health, and how we see morality. The subtext of the series is deep in psychological and epistemic curiosities, and the symbolism is anything but black and white. The author weaves several tales, some direct and some implied, each a reflection of the other. The result is a tantalizing tale that leaves the reader introspective and emotionally fulfilled, not to mention teary-eyed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A love so which burns brighter than the darkness

Revisado: 06-06-21

The Fate of Stars is a tale of two women who should never have met and a love that should never have been. FOS is a fantasy, romance, and emotional roller coaster of a book (and series) starting as unexpectantly as it concludes. Powerful characters, deep emotional subtext, an examination of culture, sexism, power dynamics, and how we genuinely define good and evil awaits!

From the start, the protagonists could not be farther from one another in nearly every aspect of life, quite polarized. Yet, no one is whole, and their opposite alignments created a perfect symmetry when joined. The author writes characters that evoke feelings of dislike and distrust, but also compassion and empathy. The villains and allies and deeply complex. None is necessarily "good" or "bad" in any simplistic notion. The story left me questioning why I liked or didn't like characters and my fundamental basis for forming such opinions.

Being a romance, there are love scenes throughout, some being quite lengthy. The romance is graphic and detailed, but it felt like every act served a purpose in the story and was in no way gratuitous. Many of the scenes served as mechanisms to expound upon the deep vulnerabilities of the characters and build the relationships of the characters. As a romance writer, I was pleased to see such beautiful, emotional detail deeper examination of pain, trauma, and PTSD confronted in such an intimate and yet peaceful way.

The story was unexpected, and I was often left unsure how or if issues might be resolved. The pace switched from slow to fast as needed and felt well thought out. The story's setting was loose and grew with the novels in scope and detail, but it felt alive. It was a world I'd like to meet more characters from and an exciting form of magic and gods. The characters were by far the most well-thought-out I've read in a long time. Their personalities were as complex and wounded as the rest of us. Their virtues and flaws played with their contextualized actions and interpretations, making the characters feel alive in their setting. Perhaps two of the more interesting characters were a witch and a general, one being chaotic and neutral and the other being lawful and neutral, respectively. Their personas were well written and felt alive and dynamic, literarily isolated from the other characters' perspectives.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Beautiful - You will laugh, cry, & feel...

Revisado: 05-08-21

Heart of Silver Flame is a tale of two women who should never have met and a love that should never have been. Heart of Silver Flame is a romance, fantasy, and emotional roller coaster of a book (and series) starting as unexpectantly as it concludes. Powerful characters, deep emotional subtext, an examination of culture, sexism, power dynamics, and how we genuinely define good and evil await.

The story starts a few months after the conclusion of Fate of the Stars. Tallora and Dauriel have settled into their respective lives, and all as returned to what it was, or so it seems. As the story progresses, we find that conflict and danger are building, as the powers of the world rise to destroy whatever peace had been feigned.

Can Dauriel hold together both her empire and herself? How can the silver flame keep from burning all she cares about when her nature is fire? Will Tallora find romance in a familiar friend, can the influence of Onias be of help, and can the world truly control a creature as powerful as a leviathan? Dark forces work in complex plots, which will keep the reader on the edge of their seat from the first sentence until the ending. Even as the turmoil ensues and the world shakes, a selfless mermaid fights to save it, herself, her people, and her burning fire… hopefully, that flame won't burn her too.
Issues of PTSD, mental health, and how we truly defined what is moral are dealt with as delicately and intricately as a sculptor cuts stone into a beautiful marvel. The author keeps each plot pushed just to the maximum, pausing only to add more fuel to the flame of emotions. The plot is complex, and the extensive use of foreshadowing makes the text feel alive. The characters are deep with rich emotions and vibrant personalities, making the reader really care what happens to them.

By Heart of Silver Flame, the Sea and Stars trilogy had become my favorite book series of all time, unseating another beloved series I had thought might forever carry the title of "best literature," at least in my opinion. If I were to recommend one trilogy to someone, this would be it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

She's a Bee, but not a Bumble Bee!

Revisado: 12-27-20

Bottle Line: The entire Sting and Song series has been one of my favorite fantasy series. Hives & Heroism is a lovely addition (hopefully not the last!) If you are looking for a book with female protagonists, some LGBTQ tones, and a cheery, fun story, this series is for you!

Joy and her friends return for their third adventure in this exciting, third installment of Benjamin Medrano's fantasy series, Sting and Song. We start pretty much where book two is finished, but the story flows in a very different way than one might expect. I was left on the edge of my seat towards the end and shocked by what happened!



Honey doesn't spoil, but books do, so that I will be vague...

We have a world where stagnation and endless shifting of power have to lead to a need for a new life to be breathed upon the world. Enter the Bee Girls! From building houses to eating honey, they perform very similar functions to their real-world analogs. Yet, they do so most adorably and excitingly.

The character joy continues to grow, as do her friends. The world and the world's mechanics, especially the meta-mechanics, continue to be built upon creating a fun fantasy setting that begs for a fourth book. The more we learn of Joy's people, the more questions we are left wondering. How many hives exist, and what will be their final place in the world. These topics are explored to a degree as we meet another hive and a different take on the same species.

The fight scenes are unique, with very unexpected results. Gone are the simple, stereotypical sword and sorcery fights, placed by aerial combat, unexpected battle methods, and very asymmetric tactics. Little details, such as the effects of a spell on each species, are essential to the story and used to further the plot and keep the reader carefully listening for any tiny detail, which may lead to what happens next.

Perhaps most of all, I still have Joy's little song stuck in my head...
"I'm a bee, I'm a bee, but not a bumblebee..."

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona