THE STARVING YEARS by Jordan Castillo Price

3.5 Stars

Another day, another opportunity to get that coveted job. 



Nelson's half-heartedly attending a potential interviewees' spiel for Canaan, playing the reindeer games, and not giving too many f#@ks when suddenly, things head south fast. In the scramble to escape the conference room he's teamed up with others. There's the chick (Marianne), the sleazy sales guy (Randy), and the present object of Nelson's infatuation, Javier. In the dash to safety, they pool resources and end up with Tim, the likable if awkward getaway driver. An isolated incident turns into a citywide disaster zone as they travel across NYC.

There's cover ups and exposés: 



And some old fashion use of unstructured time without distractions, except maybe the ones they make for themselves, a smoking hot menage with a sprinkle of kink. But sharing bodies doesn't mean sharing everything else. Tim, Javier, and Nelson are pushed closer while being put through the taffy pull. 

Entertaining, and the sex was scorching hot. The rest of it was a bit of a swirl and the whole mark issue wasn't explained completely, but if you're looking for a fast-paced read with some intrigue, sex, and a touch of gore then this might just suit. 3.5 stars.

Overall, conspiracist suspense.

JOYLAND by Stephen King

4 Stars

Forlorn and melancholic.

A summer of adventure at a pleasure park in North Carolina as Devin Jones earns money for college. Except, it turns out to be that pivotal moment when he shifts from childhood innocence to adult. Heartbroken and adrift, he finds a home among the rabble of Joyland regulars who see him as one of their own.

All places with enough invested develop a soul, legends that surround it. Dev becomes obsessed with the ghost of Linda Gray; victim of a gruesome crime and dumped in the park. Dev tells the story of the mystery, the culture of Joyland, of friendships made, and those things lost.

All I can say is what you already know: some days are treasure. Not many, but I think in almost every life there are a few.

I haven't read King in over a decade, so I was a little surprised by how emotional and depressed this was. It makes sense that writers change and grow, reflecting their lives, but it was unexpected. In many ways, this was far more satisfying than the macabre spectacle that I was anticipating. Who the heck cries reading Stephen King?

Me, apparently. 

Anyway, I liked this immensely. Reading it at the end of summer, filled with that impending nostalgia made it better. The rating probably reflects a bit of my surprise in the trajectory of the story, but I'm happy I bought it and even happier that it wasn't what I thought I'd purchased. 

Favorite lines: 

Mike turned to me. “Now I know what my kite feels like,” he said.

So did I."

PRIDDY'S TALE by Harper Fox

4 Stars

They don’t seem to thrive away from the sea, and if they do leave, they always return.

This is a classic Mer tale. 

The hubris of youth that infallible superhero feeling that you can surpass anything until you can't. 



Priddy is left behind as his best mate goes to university, still suffering consequences from misjudged youth. That's Priddy's fate. His backstory is sad and unfortunately not uncommon. 

Merou is the half-drowned man Priddy pulls from the sea when disaster strikes the rough-hewn cliffs of Cornwall in the rugged West Country. From that moment, time is being rewritten as Priddy's life changes. 

Fox's descriptives are a key draw for me, and they don't disappoint. While I am usually keen on the palpable renderings of the setting that was not the focus. Sure the waters are lovingly drawn, but the spotlight is on Merouac, of Mer anatomy itself. He reads like a heroic nude from antiquity, quite beautifully done. 

Merouac chuckled. “If you like. Pretty and merry— won’t we make a pair?” Closing his eyes, he pulled the bedclothes up to his chest, and Priddy must have imagined the webs between his fingers— there was nothing there now but a glimmer, like fine-ground fish-scale dust.

But it is not all smooth waters and lilting songs on the air, for a nemesis lurks threatening everything. I love the ocean, I could read pages of nothing but sea spray, wind shifts, wave and current patterns and be happy, add in Fox's writing style and this was a big win.

This isn't a grand romance. It's loving and thoughtful and sexy, but more finding that puzzle piece that's been missing than a overwhelming courtship. 

Overall, love and the sea, and how both are catalysts of change.

MAD LIZARD MAMBO by Rhys Ford

4 Stars

I’d come so damned far from the battered, mewling meat puppet he’d made me into, and I wasn’t going to let his monsters drag me back down into that existence. 

Indiana Jones of the Fae with a decidedly post-apocalyptic flavor.

Technically, it's post Merger. Wherein Underhill, the Fae homeworld, collided with the Human one. The battle to redraw lines resulted in enormous losses on both sides and now they live side by side, but not without incidents. Postwar, life is about recovering and new species wander the changed landscape while animals roam where they didn't before. 

Kai Gracen is a chimera, born of blood magic, and a literal creation of his father Tanic, a Hunt Master, a flesh-shaper. More secrets of his origin are revealed and the ties between Kai and Ryder tighten. Kai is a Stalker, which is somewhere between a bounty and treasure hunter. Stalkers aren't known for their long lifespans, of course being not human has advantages that his sometimes partners don't.

“You tell them I went out kicking ass, and you get drunk with them,” she murmured, patting my hand. “Because that’s what’s Stalkers do. Even if you’ve watched them grow up, Kai, it’s what we do when one of us falls. You bring me home, let Mama dress me in something pretty, and drink yourself sick while what’s left of me is on the pyre. Just like I would do for you.”

Ryder, sidhe lord and all-around albatross Kai deals with. Of course he's ridiculously hot--he's fae--and well-mannered, cultured, educated, and optimally not suited to Stalker life or the tasks they undertake. Guess who's nose is stuck right up in Kai's business? 

This is the second book in the series, and there's some previous history between Ryder and Kai, but not having read the first wasn't a problem. The details of what occurred are relayed enough that one has no problem understanding the issues and feeling the growing UST.

This is an action adventure story with a small slice of romance that's more snark than kisses and sighs, that said, it was fun. Between the mystery, archeological element, the vicious fauna encountered, and an antagonist who has no boundaries when it comes to winning--there's some decent violence. 

DRAGON!

Not a main character in this story, but there's a few here that add that certain flair. Two thumbs up for the dragons. Danger is everywhere as a cynic and an idealist go in search of fae secrets. 

Overall, adventure with blood, sass, and a sprinkle of heart.

A WEREWOLF'S TALE & A DRUID'S SWORD by Lexi Ander

3.5 Stars

Lost, missing, or forgotten?

I was a bit underwhelmed by the title and the cover, but it had something in the blurb that made me go ahead and try it. And yay! This is action-packed, conspiracy-driven, and a sweet romance.

Jude is the overlooked younger brother of Beck. Beck and his love, Diego take him in after being cast out. Nursing a broken heart, Jude struggles to find purpose and his envy of both Beck's relationship and job with the I.O.N. Beck's new born skill of super speed gained him a position at the agency overseeing supernatural beings. 

But, there's trouble brewing in San Diego and suddenly Jude is finding out all sorts of truths. Not everything that is missing is lost. Jude has choices. The characters made this as much fun as it was, especially the secondary characters whom add a lot of world building as we meet them. From werewolves to druids to nephilim to seers and a host of other supernatural beings there's a web being woven. 

The romance is sweet and possessive, but the primary focus of the story is Jude's transformation and the mystery surrounding the werewolves. That said, there is a light BDSM scene with spanking that appears featuring secondary characters that seemed oddly placed. The incongruity of it, while hot, was distracting from the story. 

This is a paranormal adventure with a series arc. The story has a conclusion for the characters' romance, but there are outstanding issues regarding the overall story. It was fun and peaked my interest for more stories in the series.

MORGEN CURSE by Gillian St. Kevern

4 Stars

What's hidden beneath the shallows?

Mer, or morgen as they're known here, are hiding at the ends of the earth. Quite literally, in the waters not far from Antartica off the Antipodes. But, all is not well with the small group of morgen. Told from the perspective of Ieuan, a young and impulsive youth who flees home to seek out The Cursed One. 



The Cursed One, Cefidor, was banished and lives alone. Yet, when Ieuan finds him, he is not alone. If finding The Cursed One is not horrifying enough, then his companion is even more so. A human lays there, sworn enemy of the morgen. All is not as it seems, and young Ieuan learns truths he once believed are not. 

Ieuan's flibbertigibbet personality is more charming than annoying as he loses his naivety. Cefidor's gruffness fools no one for long. While Zane's antithetical ideas perplex both morgen. Nonetheless, it isn't long before these three, disconnected souls start to understand that they are far more similar than they are different. 

I love the ocean, sailing, and swimming; therefore, I am heavily biased when it comes to stories that feature these elements. I love the way they were presented here. I sped through the story waiting for the next visceral memory to be rekindled as I followed Ieuan. 

This book is definitely part of a series with many issues left unresolved as we wonder what will become of Ieuan, Cefidor, and Zane. There is much hinting and pushing towards a possible relationship in the story, but it doesn't coalesce--that is left for the future story. So, this really leaves much up in the air. That said, the action and drama surrounding all three characters provides constant and compelling interest as the plot drives the story. 

I'm ready for Book #3 Morgen Song. Now.

WRIGGLE & SPARKLE by Megan Derr

3.5 Stars

"Let's go, Sparkleson."
"Right behind you, Wriggly."

This is fun and campy. If you're looking for an irreverent mockfest of unicorns and krakens, then you've found the right book. The jokes are rolled out regularly, and they're funny--only a few groans. I think I might have contracted diabetes just reading what Anderson ate--sugar-fueled supernatural being that he is. While it plays with the stereotypes it also deconstructs them and by association all stereotypes, thereby pointing out how ridiculous they are even if appearances are deceptive, or not. 

No one is a ONE SIZE fits all. No one.

Add in some clever gender fluidity that's inherent in fishes and you have a wicked funny gender fluid hero/ine. I loved all of the snipping back and forth between Lynn and Anderson. It's the format of the book that I wasn't as thrilled with. Essentially, this is episodic with five separate incidents/dramas that weave Lynn and Anderson's lives together. It's well done, but it reads like four short stories. But... it has the most romantic and sweetest tentacle sex I've ever read!

"Once she's gone, I feel there should be some make-up role play."

Anderson heaved a long sigh. "Any excuse with you. Fine. But it's really hard to keep a straight face playing virgin sacrifice."

Overall, fun read for unicorn and kraken fans.