#adult fiction
Book Review: The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Did you know the mythical figure of Merlin may have been based on a historical Scotsman? More importantly, did you know he had a twin sister? This is Languoreth’s story, sister to a great Wisdom Keeper, daughter of a king, destined to marry for strategy rather than love, one of many powerful women nearly lost to history. (more…)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book was…a lot. At times I thought I really enjoyed the bluntness of the main character and the writing style but in the end it made me cringe more often than laugh. Conceptually, I loved it. In execution it was just too crass for my taste.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An Exaltation of Larks contains so much love, pain, joy, and despair–and I loved every second of it. This book was beautifully written, and I felt everything that all of the characters felt. It’s not typical that I’ll love a book with such a large timeline and a large cast of characters, but I was immediately compelled to follow them all beyond the pages in this book. Laqueur also took the care to be inclusive of sexualities and not making a big deal out of the character’s preferences, which is in itself a big deal. I want to read this book over immediately just to experience it again. Suanne Laqueur just gained another fan!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
With her simple prose, Bordas paints a large portrait of her main character, Isidore Mazal. He is the youngest of a large family, but he seems to be the only one that really sees the details of life. His poignant observances provide an interesting point of perspective into the life of the Mazal family after “the father” passes away. I love the style of this novel, as well as the concept of an extraordinary mind stuck in the normalcy of everyday life.
I was provided a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
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A quick, yet hard-hitting read, Tracy Chevalier tackles Othello in an accessible and fast-paced retelling. Without losing any of the drama, tragedy, or heartbreak, Chevalier places Othello into a 1970’s suburban playground. This little novel brings to the surface the racism that permeates our past and present, and actually parallels the original story amazingly well within this new context. I would recommend (mature) young readers to read New Boy next to Othello for a full understanding of the play and how literature has a large impact on perceiving and understanding the world around them.
Helpless - Kindle edition by Stoddard, Cheyenne R. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Cover reveal for book two of my Helpless series! Get book one here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B19MB1J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_YP03HQYQTHY0D8EAKE0N
Book two will be ready to order in just a few days!
SAMAEL
When it comes to rank, Samael’s place was higher than the Hayyoth and Seraphim. He is a fear striking angel with twelve wings. Samael is known as the venom of God. Hardly an angel he is, however. He is described as an accuser, seducer, and destroyer. He takes the soul from man. He resides in the seventh Heaven and is the commander of two million angels. He is the chief of Satans. He became the consort of Lilith, and with her had a host of demon children. (The most notable being Asmodeus.) Samael is NOT Lucifer. Samael was the very first Archangel created by God to execute his will at any cost. Due to the primal nature of his being, Samael is described as being both good and evil. However, the descriptions about Samael’s acts clearly bear the testimony of his truly evil nature. He has a whole different idea for humanity than God. He intends to be the new God some day. He aims to overthrow Heaven and toss it into the corrupted claws of Aeshma. He aims to destroy faith and hopes in the hearts of his Father’s dear humans. He will corrupt and control. He’s evil, spiteful, treacherous, and charming.
Origin: Christianity. Samael is 2,000 years old.
“Lucifer? Darling, I am so much worse. I am the very venom of God. I inject cancer and plague the world with pain. I am there when tragedy strikes humanity down. I am there when an old fool takes his last breath. I am a weapon of both Heaven and Hell. You pray to him? Who do you think sent me? Who do you think ordered your death? He’s not listening to you. He’s too busy promoting free will while having me execute those who go against Him or speak ill of His name. I am the closest you will ever get to God, so worship me instead.” -Samael.
Read more about Samael in my upcoming book: Retaliation. Expected early April, 2021.
AESHMA
He is chaos. The demon of wrath, rage, fury, and desire. Aeshma is one of the fiercest, most feared demons in Hell. His story originates in Zoroastrianism; an ancient Persian religion founded in the seventh century. Aeshma is the being responsible for horrendous acts of malice and aggression. He is the king of war and genocide. He lives to see the world bleed. In Hell, he is an exceptional warrior. A military commander of an army made up of 770,000 demons. His influence over rage, violence, and war is just the tip of the iceberg. He lures lost humans into disobedience, defiance, drunkenness, desire, and paranoia. His epithet is, “Of The Bloody Mace.” Aeshma can distract any person and lead them away from their faith and good doing. He sends people into a spiral of poor decisions and violence. He’s powerful and spiteful. He is the complete opposite of religious devotion and discipline. He makes a mockery of any faith and finds joy in bringing people to their lowest points.
Origin: Persian/Iranian. Aeshma is 1,400 years old.
“You actually think your existence is that significant? The world would be exactly the same, with or without you. You’re not important.” -Aeshma.
Read more about Aeshma in Book two: Retaliation. Expected early April, 2021
Hi! My name is Cheyenne Stoddard. I’m a recently published author. I published the first book in a series I’ve been working on for nine years. This is the main blog for updates, links, questions and tf teasers! I am so excited about this series and cannot wait for the rest of the journey.
Talon Adams desperately wants to live in a world where his skin has no say in how he is viewed and how he is treated. Every day he is faced with fierce hatred and abuse at home and at school. His parents describe his birth as a curse. His teachers and classmates see him as a freak. Talon was born albino and he is demonized for it. He lives in a small Ohio village with less than 1,400 people. To them he’s evil and unnatural, even the system is against him. His twin brother, Tyler was born with “Normal” skin. He plays a big part in Talon’s mistreatment by constantly setting him up for failure. A new boy moves into town and to him Talon is the epitome of beauty. He works hard to gain Talon’s trust and affections, but he has secrets. Dark secrets that could scare Talon off. He tries his best to keep his past hidden, however certain people won’t let that happen.
Out now! https://bit.ly/2AGFIoT
Extreme breast expansion, bimbofication, sexy latex and bimbo outfits, domination, lesbian and straight action and more!
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Working hard to deliver part 2 of “Getting Bigger to Make her Obey”
How do you like Dolly Fox’s submissive - Evelyn?
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Proud of her new huge boobs
http://dollproject.net/shop/breast-expansion/55-weight-of-her-decisions-part-1.html
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Before she got into Pink Bunny
Watch her transform: http://dollproject.net/shop/domination/57-experiments-extreme-vol3-lucy.html
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Book Lovers Blog Tour
Book Lovers Blog Tour
One of my most anticipated reads of the year!
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Because everyone loves someone, and anyone who loves someone has had those desperate nights where we lie awake trying to figure our how we can afford to carry on being human beings. Sometimes that makes us do things that seem ridiculous in hindsight, but which felt like the only way out at the time.
—Fredrik Backman, Anxious People.
I can’t remember if I thought about this at the beginning. How it was doomed to end unhappily.
He nodded looking at me. I did, he said. I just thought it would be worth it.
— Sally Rooney, Conversations with Friends.
He’s not someone who feels comfortable confiding in others, or demanding things from them. He needs Marianne for this reason. This fact strikes him newly. Marianne is someone he can ask things of. Even though there are certain difficulties and resentments in their relationship, the relationship carries on. This seems remarkable to him now, and almost moving.
—Sally Rooney, Normal People.
I know I’m not a great guy, he said. But I do love you, you know. Of course I do. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I didn’t know if you wanted to hear it. I’m sorry.
I was smiling. My eyes were closed still. It felt good to be wrong about everything. Since when have you loved me? I said.
Since I met you, I would think. If I wanted to be very philosophical about it, I’d say I loved you before then.
—Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney.
You see me as a full human being. That’s why you are not attracted to me.
—Sally Rooney, At The Clinic.
The Whisper Network
by Chandler Baker
Once I had turned the final page of The Whisper Network, I revisited how the book was categorized. How was this page-turning whodunnit and what was actually done catalogued? Was this a thriller? A piece of literary fiction? A crime novel? Adult fiction? What I found it under was “Women’s Fiction.”
Hm. Then I wondered, is there a “Men’s Fiction” section?
When I started reading the book, I didn’t know what I was getting into, ostensibly a high-functioning office politics drama. But The Whisper Network is delightfully decadent and also so literary that I found myself highlighting passages because they rang so true. This has become more of a rarity in my experience of crime-type dramas and so-called “women’s fiction.” Books of this ilk tend to sacrifice savvy for salaciousness and three-dimensional characters for two-sided arguments. This book does neither. It creates a complex tapestry of the inner workings of a corporation, particularly the legal department - an apt department indeed, considering sexual harassment becomes the topic of debate. Where better to hash it out than amongst the best legal council possible?
And yet, this plot makes the arguments regarding sexual harassment and power in the workplace that much more nuanced. Because if a list were to surface - say, a list of individuals to avoid in your career - would you take it an a gift and sidestep? Or would you see it as an offense against said individuals’ possibly very reputable characters?
And I simply could not put it down. I couldn’t wait to see what happened to our varied heroines as they navigated the muddy waters of their careers. Because in those moments, they were us - waffling, debating, discerning, hashing, taking action, failing, and regretting, - plotting, researching, networking, investigating, reflecting, discovering, raging and triumphing. And so the craftiest bit of the novel is this - a device I cannot recall having seen - or, read. The book shifts regularly to first person plural.
What? the Literary geek in you exclaims.
Yes, “we” are included for whole chapters. And with each “we” it’s possible I’ve been manipulated into reading on and on, or it’s possible “we” includes me in the war so I don’t feel so alone in my own. But in the end, we don’t care one way or another, because just like in life, we don’t feel like there’s anywhere to go but forward.
*B3 received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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