The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski - Book Review

Publication Date: 01st Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy (Witchy Family Drama) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Introspective (irregular pacing) 

Triplets Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley convert their home into a Tearoom after the untimely death of their parents. Their mother, Clara, was a witch who gave up her position for love and married a human. The teashop is what the triplets consider her legacy and a cozy place for people to find answers to questions in the tea leaves. 

With the Council of Witches expecting the sisters to take up a responsibility (with dire consequences) and an old curse being activated, they find themselves being pulled in different directions. Can the sisters retain their bond while exploring their individual identities or will the curse and the Council break them apart? 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Ever since I saw the book on NetGalley, I kept hoping it would be Read Now at least for a day. I wasn’t sure if the publisher would approve my request and didn’t want to risk it. Luckily, the book did become available for a week or more. 

Not sure why I thought it would be a contemporary witchy read. It’s a historical one (set in early 1900s). However, there isn’t much about the period. The story could be set anywhere and would still work. 

The house is my favorite part of the book. Imagine a building that can clean itself, do the dishes, dust the cobwebs, and repair everything on its own. I want a house like that! The tearoom setting is beautiful and chaotic. 

The writing is a bit prosey and has a lyrical touch to it in many scenes. While this can slow down the pace, I like how the words flow. 

The sisters have different personalities making it very easy to track their arcs. Though they are triplets, Anne sounds older and more stressed out almost throughout the book. This aligns with the character development as she has somehow become the older and more responsible one after their mother’s death. 

The POV is a blend of limited third-person and omnipresent. This can be a little hard to follow. 

The book drags in the middle as the miscommunication trope stretches on. This could have been trimmed a little. That said, I understand why it had to go on. A rubber band needs to be stretched beyond its elasticity to snap. The same theory applies here. 

The concept of using flavors and scents to talk about memories, truth, lies, etc., is lovely. If only we had such lie detectors in real life too! 

Each chapter starts with a symbol and its interpretation. This aligns with the content in the chapter and provides some knowledge about tea reading (if you can remember or make note of it). 

The ending is hopeful and sweet. It establishes the need for growth and change while showing how these things don’t have to affect relationships and family bonds. 

To summarize, The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a worthy debut dealing with important themes. While there are a few niggles, I like the overall vibe and feel. Will be happy to read more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCrescentMoonTearoom

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 30th Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/RavenswoodWitchSocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209499498-the-ravenswood-witch

Genre: Dark Historical Fiction, Paranormal

3 Stars

One Liner: Could have been better!

Book Blurb:

‘There are a lot of shadows at Ravenswood, so you will need to be strong…’

The year is 1885, and a young woman is on the run, knowing if she’s caught, she’ll be hanged for murder. Moments from a safe haven, she collides with a gruff stranger, falling and breaking her ankle.

To her surprise, the man – Marcus Greybourne – convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife of ten years, Luna. He carries her back to the neglected and crumbling Ravenswood Hall, promising if she agrees to maintain this charade, he will keep her safe until her injuries have healed.

But the house is haunted by shadows and secrets. What’s more, the real Luna Greybourne is missing without a trace. Scratches and marks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft, and indeed Luna is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation is in tatters, like the wallpapers of the padlocked rooms she’d destroyed.

As strange happenings in the house continue, outside the screech of a raven echoes across oppressive woods that seem alive with dark magic. And the woman who is now pretending to be Luna can’t help but fear she’s escaped the noose for a far more terrible fate…

A completely compelling and unforgettable historical book club read – fans of Jane Eyre, Weyward, and The Binding will be utterly spellbound.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in the third-person POV.

I enjoyed the author’s previous two books (No. 23Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight) and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the terrific premise was given an average execution.

Firstly, what I liked about the book –

The setting delivers the Gothic vibes it promised. It is dark, dirty, and suffocating. There’s a bit of animal cruelty as well, though the mentions are limited to what is necessary for the plot. The atmosphere is spot on.

Bran is such a terrific pet. The crow ends up with more personality than some of the characters (take what you will from this statement).

The beginning is great and hooks the reader right away. It establishes the conflict and sets the stage for drama and intrigue.

The romance is not explicit or excessive. While I still wish for a few more interactions between them, it doesn’t overpower the plot most of the time.

However, things started to go downhill pretty soon. Here’s why –

We get extensive snippets about the past from another character’s third-person POV. This could be the young woman or not. While I was initially curious, by the halfway mark, I had enough of it. All this is filler content and unwanted.

A better approach would have been to provide the backstory in three chapters – one to establish the details, the second to deal with the conflict, and the third for the reveal. That way, we would have saved around 50 pages (or more).

Marcus and Real Luna could have gotten a chapter or two each to add depth to their arcs. Except for being the brooding, handsome, heartbroken man, Marcus doesn’t do much. The real Luna is worse since we don’t even get to see her.

A lot of space has been wasted on a character that pretty much went nowhere. Not to mention the repetition that weighed down the pacing and made this move slower than a snail.  

The side characters like Mr. and Mrs. Webber also could have gotten some detailing. A couple of more scenes in the village would have made it easier to support the sudden developments at the end. Right now, it sounds strange and out of character.

For books with paranormal and witchy themes, it is better to go full into the vibe. Going this way and that doesn’t help much. Sustaining the effect is important, irrespective of the characters’ opinions.

To summarize, The Ravenswood Witch has immense potential but ends up underwhelming and slow, with more fluff than substance. However, it will suit your needs if you want an atmospheric read for the season.

Of course, I will read the author's next book.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Jenni Keer

Jenni Keer is a well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @JenniKeerAuthor

X/ Twitter: @JenniKeer

Instagram: @JenniKeer

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JenniKeerNews

Bookbub Profile: @jennikeer

***

This has been a stop on the #TheRavenswoodWitch blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!

Wished by Sarah Ready - Book Review

Series: Ghosted #4 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 01st Oct 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Magic Realism)

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining! 

Twenty-five-year-old Anna is a romantic at heart and longs for a happy future. Circumstances forced her to become a cleaner to support her mother and eight-year-old sister, Emme. She had been cleaning Max Barone’s house for three years and had been in love with him for almost as long. 

Max Barone is a thirty-something successful jeweler, running the family business with precision. He wants things to be uncomplicated and simple. He has no idea about Anna. 

One day, Anna made a wish for him to love her and for them to be married. It sounds harmless until she realizes that her wish has come true. Now, Anna and Max have been happily married for years. But is it love? Is this what she wants? What should they do? 

The story comes in Anna’s first-person POV, with the prologue and epilogue in Max’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is my first book by the author. I’ve wanted to read her works for a while but the 400+ page counts were daunting. Wished is just over 300 pages, the perfect size for this genre. 

With a premise like this, I was curious to see how it would play out. There are so many factors to consider! I’m pleased to inform you that the execution was fun. I won’t reveal the details as it will dampen the effect. 

The prologue by Max puts the reader right in the middle of the plot. Then, we go back to the beginning and listen to Anna tell us how she ‘fell in love at first sight’ with Max and the rest of it. 

Anna is really sweet. Yeah, she does sound a bit dreamy and naïve at times but it suits her personality. She’s someone who wants to be kind and do what she can to help others be happy. 

I haven’t read the previous books in the series, so this is my first time meeting Max. He does take a wee bit of time to warm up to, but then I can see his side. However, I did wish the shift in his affections was a little more spaced out (or the previous one toned down). While I understand the change in viewpoints, it still feels a bit odd. 

The settings are my favorite! I love the description of the house and of the various places in Paris. Even the cramped home where Anna lives gets such a visual description. As a fan of settings, I love it when I can picturize the places easily. 

And yeah, this is an insta-love thingy, so it may not work for everyone. While they did have each other in their lives for three plus years, there weren’t enough interactions for a connection. So, everything happens quickly as we get into the main plot. 

Still, the book manages to discuss themes like bullying, dysfunctional and toxic family, etc. I like the discussion about the change in how things have been perceived over time (Freud) and that there’s always a choice to be a better person. 

The spice is quite high (seems most of my September reads decided to hit level 4). The author likes to use a lot of adjectives for descriptions. While it reads well, some of it feels excessive, especially during intense scenes. 

Naturally, there is a third-act breakup. It was supposed to happen, so I was prepared for it. And yes, we get HEA with an epilogue. I do have a few teeny questions but that’s me nitpicking. 

To summarize, Wished is an entertaining romance with a touch of magic realism. It needs suspension of belief. However, if you want something fluffy and spicy read, grab this one. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Wished 

Ninetails: Nine Tales by Sally Wen Mao - Book Review

Publication Date: 28th May 2024

Genre: Short Stories

3 Stars

One Liner: Interesting but a mixed collection

Ninetails is a collection of short stories re-imagined and based on the fox spirit in Chinese mythology. It is a feminist anthology dealing with misogyny, immigration, racism, and different types of abuse against women, especially Asian women (by fellow Asians and Westerners).

Apart from the individual short stories, there’s an overarching story set on Angel Island where the Chinese people land in the US. The immigration office decides the fate of these people after the men and women are separated and made to stay in different buildings. The conditions are pathetic and deplorable.

As always, I made notes for each story (presented below with only grammatical edits):

• The Haunting Of Angel Island

Arrival: Tye arrives at the island for her new job as an interpreter at the immigration office. We get her past and a glimpse of the mythical fox. The beginning of the overarching story. I’m curious!  

Love Doll: What happens when a love doll (a human-sized s*x toy) starts to have feelings? In the first-person POV of the doll, the story takes us through her life and that of its new owners. Falls flat when it should have hit the high note.  

Beasts of the Chase: What happens when a woman decides to turn back into a fox (vixen)? How does her ethnicity affect her life? Okay!

• The Haunting Of Angel Island

More events at the immigration office. Different women, several stories, and different fates.

Turtle Head Epidemic: Meng Li was an eighteen-year-old student when the turtle head epidemic swept Singapore. Was it because of a dead pig, a woman, or a fox spirit? This should have been better.

The Fig Queen: What happens when a woman with a troubled life becomes tiny and someone else takes her place? A story of metamorphosis in many ways. Kafkaesque almost!

• The Haunting Of Angel Island

The overarching story continues as more women arrive and await the decision of the immigration officers.

A Huxians Guide to Seduction Revenge Immortality: The longest story in the book with a first and second-person narration. Well-written and better than the previous ones.

The Girl with Flies Coming Out of Her Eyes: Started great but I soon lost interest! The title says it all. Won’t reveal anything else.

• The Haunting Of Angel Island

More women, ghosts, spirits, and opposite faiths; believe your God or the White God?

Lotus Stench: The story of a fox spirit and a ghost (woman, obv.), and that ties them together. An interesting read.

The Crush: Another lengthy story about love… or as the title says crush. How do crushed manifest? What to do with them? Feels more mellow than the other stories.  

• The Haunting Of Angel Island

Tye is the focus again as the connecting storyline comes to an end.

Departure: What kind of departure can this be? After all, there are many ways to depart! Surreal… (which is the aim of the collection).

Thanks to a review by Sarah, I went into the book with fewer expectations. This helped since most stories didn’t have much impact and felt they couldn’t reach their potential. A couple of stories were above-average but most were the kind I forgot a day after reading (the notes saved me).

Fortunately, the overarching piece is a lot better. And, I now know some random information about figs, wasps, bees, foxes, etc.

To summarize, Ninetails has its moments with poetic prose and surreal situations. However, the stories have a varied impact, which dilutes the overall enjoyment.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Books, for a copy of the book. 

#NetGalley #Ninetails

Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander - Book Review

Series: A Secret Bookcase Mystery #3

Publication Date: 30th Sep 2024 

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3 Stars 

One Liner: As cozy as it can be! 

Annie Murray plans an elaborate mystery dinner to help her friend Penny (Priya’s girlfriend) raise funds to restore the historic Wentworth farmhouse. Penny already spent all her money on the place and will have to sell it if she doesn’t have more funds. 

The dinner starts with Curtis Wright annoying the actors and soon falling dead at the table. With a storm raging outside and a long list of suspects inside, Annie needs to find out who the killer is. However, she soon realizes that there’s a lot buried in the past. The killer is determined to keep their identity a secret. 

The story comes in Annie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

So… it’s settled then. The series will continue to be a super light cozy mystery. Not that I mind since I read this when I wasn’t feeling great but followed the plot and guessed the killer. 

The settings are the highlight of this series. Since the book is themed around Halloween, we get storms, power outages, old buildings, damp basements, etc. Quite atmospheric, I say! 

There’s a list of characters, though some don’t reappear, making it too easy to guess the outcome. Even Dr. Caldwell has a limited role, which I don’t mind. After all, this is Annie’s book. 

Things are better between Annie and Liam now, though methinks she is crushing a little too much. But okay. At least, he is no longer acting like an idiot. 

There’s a slight development in the overarching case (Scarlet). Not enough to make me happy but progress nevertheless. The next book should have something significant (I hope so). 

To summarize, Death at the Dinner Party is a light cozy mystery of less than 250 pages and can be read in a single sitting if you have the time. I will continue with the series and will soon read the next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #DeathAtTheDinnerParty

Maisie vs Antarctica by Jack Jackman - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th October 2024

Genre: Middle Grade Adventure

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A freezing adventure! 

Eleven-year-old Maisie lives with her father who writes boring books like How to Wrestle a Crocodile or How to Diffuse a Bomb. In real life, he is a boring person who makes triangle origami and does basic puzzles. However, with no one to watch Maisie, her father has to take her with him to Antarctica. Soon, Maisie realizes there is a lot she doesn’t know about her father. He has many skills and may be hiding a secret too! 

The story comes in Maisie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, how can I resist a book about a young girl and her dad having an adventure in Antarctica? 

Maisie is a sassy and imaginative narrator, which will work great for the target audience. She is a tween who is bad at school, doesn’t pay attention to most things, and thinks too fast for adults to catch up with. 

The story is fast-paced and combines adventure, danger, intrigue, and superpower. The heady combination is perfect for kids, especially since Maisie messes up a lot and often needs to be rescued by adults. Young readers can see how easy it is to get into trouble. The adults are also capable, which is another plus. 

The freezing landscape of Antarctica comes alive on the pages without any extensive detail. We see what the narrator sees, which are loads of ice and other strange stuff. 

Despite the antics and danger, the story manages to deal with topics like the loss of a parent, the loss of a life partner (for the father), being a loner, the hardships of being a single parent, etc. These aspects shape the character arcs, making them integral to the central plot. 

The blurb calls this the first in the series, and I can see why. Though it works as a standalone, we have only scratched the surface and are yet to delve fully into the main characters’ lives. Naturally, there have to be more adventures. I hope Miss Kumari will feature actively in the coming books. 

The chapter titles are quirky and hint at what’s to come though there aren’t any major reveals. They are all titled ‘How to…’ a nod to the books the dad writes. Since this book is being written by Maisie, it is fitting that she follows her father’s footsteps. 

I would have loved it if the book had some illustrations – Maisie’s flaming red hair, the dad, the caterpillar, etc. Even a sample of handwriting, for that matter, would enhance the appeal. 

To summarize, Maisie vs Antarctica is a terrific start to a new series and I hope we get to see more adventures of Maisie and her father. I enjoyed this fast-paced narrative bubbling with an eleven-year-old’s overactive imagination. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MaisieVsAntarctica