Tag: ARC review

Book Review | The City of New Aphros, L. B. Benson

Anna BratchfordLeave a comment

Goodreads Blurb:

After eight years in hiding as a prostitute, former priestess Andromeda never thought she would find love. Now she has, in Captain William Lennox, a brash pirate who uncovered more than a few secrets on their journey aboard the Bartered Soul.

Deciding to wait out the winter storms in the mild climate of New Aphros, a little serenity is just what Andromeda is hoping to find. Never having ventured far from her home in Selennia, she is looking forward to exploring a new city and, with any luck, settling into a new life with Lennox at her side.

When she meets the cunning Madame Salome, who holds more knowledge about the Old Ways than Andromeda could have ever imagined, it becomes clear this winter will bring much more than whiskeys by the fire as a respite from the storms. 

When the threat of King Dargan Blackwell and his priests comes knocking even across the sea, Andromeda must choose — live the life of freedom she so craves, even if it means continuing to live in hiding, or face her past and step into the full extent of her power.

The City of New Aphros is the second book in Andromeda’s Account. Fans of fantasy, historical fiction, romance, pirates, and magic will enjoy this sequel to The Bartered Soul.

Content Warning:
The City of New Aphros is an adult fantasy/romance is intended for readers over the age of 18. Please visit the author’s website for detailed content warnings.

My Thoughts:

It has been so good to dive back into L. B. Benson’s ‘Andromeda’s Account’ series with ‘The City of New Aphros’. I really enjoyed this as a sequel, and it brought just as much excitement, heartache, and steamy romance as ‘The Bartered Soul’ (if not more). I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while, and it didn’t disappoint.

I really love this world that Benson has created, it has heart but can be cruel, it nurtures it’s characters as much as it challenges them. There is so much support and love between the main characters of this story that it is almost tangible. It makes it so much easier to sink into this world. In a similar train of thought, that romance, so beautiful, and so steamy! I love the support that Lennox and Andromeda give each other, it is so beautiful to read.

It was so lovely to catch up with Andromeda and see how her journey continues. Some pretty big things are revealed for her which further her journey and it was so exciting to see the results of said revelation as her power grows. Especially with that ending! It was wonderfully intense and heart breaking in equal measure. I am really looking forward to book 3!

Pick up this book if you are looking for something action packed with equal amounts of tender and emotional moments, a sweet found family and rich world building you can really sink into.

*Keep in mind there are some content warnings for this novel. You can find them on the author’s website if you want.

Thank you to the author for gifting me this ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title was published 20th December 2022.

Book Review | The Voidstalker Extraction, Liv Evans and Jay Thomas

Anna BratchfordLeave a comment

Goodreads Blurb:

The galaxy is a dangerous place. Habitable planets are controlled by powerful factions, and the space between them is fair game for pirates and expansionists alike. The best way to get ahead in the Void is by hiring mercenary companies to use their ships and mechs to claim and defend territory.

Most mercenary groups are run by morally gray upstarts who will do anything for the right price. One company is the exception: the Triple C. Led by former mech pilot Henri Durroguerre, it has gained a reputation for honoring contracts and minimizing collateral damage.

Astera Ramos, a runaway turned mech pilot, is new to the Triple C. Eager to prove herself, she volunteers for a supposedly straight-forward reconnaissance job on Baldalan that quickly turns deadly.

Astera Ramos, a runaway turned mech pilot, is new to the Triple C. Eager to prove herself, she volunteers for a supposedly straight-forward reconnaissance job on Baldalan that quickly turns deadly.

My Thoughts:

It’s been a while since I’ve read any Sci-Fi as I have been on a bit of a Fantasy and Romance kick lately and it was so good to get back into the genre. Especially with a book like this one! ‘The Voidstalker Extraction’ is a great plot driven Sci-Fi that is action packed, full of vibrant characters, and has just the right amount of romance threaded through it (and romance wasn’t something I was completely expecting from this one, so it was a nice surprise, especially as it didn’t take over the plot).

This novel started right in the thick of the action and I love it for that. I was already stressing over the characters within the last pages of Chapter One and from that I knew I was in for a wild ride. I was completely taken in by the language used to create these really intense scenes, helping me to really feel like I was there with them. What came with this though was a lot of technical language which I loved, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t understand within the context, but just take this into consideration when wanting to read this. For me though, it really immersed me in the world.

One thing I did find a little confusing (and only very early on), was some of the naming conventions in this world. Basically most of the characters had their name, and then their callsign (so a code name) used on missions. Once I got my head around it, it was great, and I think, used really well for some plot points later on in the novel. With some of my favourite lines occurring as a result.

The characters in this novel were wonderful! Side characters were given the same amount of care as the main characters so they all felt as vibrant as the other, just the main characters had more story time. I think this is mainly due to the multiple point of views this novel was told in, as each character was seen through different sets of eyes. I loved the main character, Aestera, it was great to follow her story throughout the novel.

Pick this one up if you are looking for an exciting Sci-Fi novel with a gripping plot and memorable characters, and elements of the story that keep you guessing right to the end.

Thank you to the publisher and the authors for gifting me this ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title will be published 11th December 2022.

Book Review | Jack’s on Fire, Owen Lach

Anna BratchfordLeave a comment

Goodreads Blurb:

What if you were a queer teenage musician outed by his vengeful ex-boyfriend and not a fairy tale princess trapped in a castle tower? What if your wicked stepmother was your ordinary, thoughtless, uncaring mother? What if your fairy godmother was your older brother? What if your Prince Charming was captain of the JV soccer team? Maybe you’d be forgiven for not realizing you were living in a sort of fairy tale.

Faced with the impossible choice of staying home to risk being sent away to Father Sullivan’s special school for exceptionally happy boys or moving in with his older brother in California, 16-yr-old Jack Martin leaves behind everything he knows in Minneapolis to go to San Francisco.

My Thoughts:

This was an absolute delight to read! It was so nice to read a Queer story that was filled with so much joy and hope, but that didn’t shy away from the realities of being a Queer teen. This, I think this threw me a little at first, everything was always going so well that I was waiting for something to go seriously wrong for Jack but it didn’t happen, not like I expected anyway. I realised a little while in that the hopefulness of the story, and the series of lucky events read just like the fairy tale the novel’s tag line promised. I loved this novel for that.

I loved as well that Jack seemed so disbelieving in his good circumstances after such a rough start to the beginning of this story. It would be so easy for him to take it all for granted, but he questions it before he accepts all the good things happening to him. I think this really does align with a lot of Queer stories (and for people’s stories in general, but in this specific context, Queer stories especially) where the person has it rough for so long that when things start heading in a positive direction it seems almost impossible. This made Jack’s character, so much more genuine for me.

I did find though that some of the dialogue felt a little off, especially the regular use of “bro” used between Jack and his brother, and “babe” used between Jack and Damon. Those dialogue choices almost brought me out of the story as I read. if I also found there was a lot of narrative that slowed down for the story for me.

The relationship between Jack and Damon was really sweet. I especially loved Jack’s awkward, and almost fumbling internal dialogue, especially when he was around Damon or thinking about him. It felt so natural for his character and the story.

As I said before this was a really lovely romance to read. Pick this one up if you are looking for a heartwarming read with engaging characters and great plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for gifting me this ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title was published 27th September 2022.

Book Review | The Bartered Soul, L. B. Benson

Anna BratchfordLeave a comment

Goodreads Blurb:

Andromeda is a priestess without a temple.
She escaped the horrific fate her sister priestesses faced at the hand of the usurper king’s men years ago and has resigned herself to a life in a brothel, hiding from her past and those who would wipe the priestesses and their Goddess from memory.

Captain William Lennox is a pirate with an unsavory and violent reputation.
After years of avoiding the notorious Captain Lennox, Andromeda finds herself ensnared by the rogue. She begrudgingly accepts her fate – to accompany the handsome, yet dangerous, pirate on his latest voyage across the sea; both as entertainment for him and his crew and to keep watch over a younger girl trapped in the same bargain. It’s the only sure way to earn their way to a new life across the ocean, safe from the king’s bigotry.

Despite her best efforts, Andromeda finds herself surrounded by reminders of who she was before her future was taken from her.
Can she continue to wear the mask she has donned for almost a decade and escape her past for good? Or will her traitorous heart push her toward a new future solidly entwined with the painful secrets she has tried so hard to forget and the Captain who harbors secrets of his own?

My Thoughts:

This one hooked me in right from the start! Amazing characters, amazing world building, exciting plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

I really enjoyed reading about the world this novel is set in. I loved the way this novel navigates exploring the history of this world as well as the characters past. And oohmygosh, the secrets upon secrets that are all revealed in the most awesome way. Also pirates!!? They are everything I wanted and more, plus the crew is just plain awesome. Especially with the twist.

One thing with this novel though, is that I found a lot of the epic action happened much earlier than I was expecting it. This left the latter part of the novel to be a little slow. But I really enjoyed it all the same, as the relationship kept me hooked, along with my emotional investment in the characters.

Speaking of characters, I think one of my favourite aspects of the novel is the amazing cast of characters. Especially the MC Andomeda – simply put, she’s a badass. Especially in the way she manages with the hand she is dealt. She is strong, and fierce, but she is vulnerable. I loved her friendship with Lyra too. As well as this, just all the pirates! They all bound together in a beautiful found family, it just made me so happy to read about them all.

Overall this was such a fun read, with awesome plot and amazing characters. Highly recommended! I’m looking forward to reading more from this wonderful author!

*Keep in mind there are some content warnings for this novel. You can find them on the novel’s Goodreads page if you want to read them.

Thank you to the author, L. B. Benson for sending me this free eARC (eAdvanced Reader Copy). I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title was published 21st June 2022.

Book Review | The Book of Non-Binary Joy, Ben Pechey

Anna BratchfordLeave a comment

Goodreads Blurb:

‘Oh hello darling, and welcome to The Book of Non-Binary Joy! This book is here to help you be yourself – free from judgement and expectation – as you unlock more joy in your life. Take my hand, and let’s start your journey of self-love today.’

Whether you are at the start of your journey or have been on the wild ride of gender introspection for a long time, this guide is here to help you thrive as your authentic – and most fabulous – non-binary self. With personal stories, valuable insights and interactive sections, this inspiring book covers a wide range of topics, including mental health, pleasure, fashion, understanding your past, allyship privilege and self-expression.

Written with warmth and unapologetic humour, and with bold illustrations throughout, Ben Pechey has created the ultimate safe space for you to embrace your non-binary life and start living.

My Thoughts:

Strangely it took me a while to finish this one. When I first started I thought it would be a quick, easy read, but somehow it was quite the opposite. I think it was the style of writing for me, it was to a certain extent very conversational, but there was a lot to absorb. This wasn’t a bad thing entirely, all of which was covered in this book I found to be really insightful. For me, a lot of it was reinforcing ways of thinking that I already had (or was trying to embody), but some parts did show me different ways of exploring (and accepting) my own gender identity.

What I liked most about this book was the way it was organised. The book covered topics all to do with gender and understanding who you are. From Understanding Your Past to Self-Expression, as well as Social Media which I think is something really important to cover. Each topic was covered in a really accessible way, and included anecdotes as well as a summary at the end of each chapter. As well as this, there is a really great list of resources in one of the last chapters for those who might want to know more (I want to point out that as this was originally published in the UK, the resources are UK based, but helpful – in some cases – none the less). This book also recommends some further reading on the topic of gender identity which I will definitely have a look at.

I think part of the reason that it took me a while read this is that I found the narrative voice a little grating. While it is conversational, I found it to be a little pushy. Despite this, I think that some people might find this a lot easier to read than other more factual (or even clinical) books on gender identity. I also found that while there were quite a few topics covered, the information seemed to be talked about at a surface level. Again, I think this would be helpful for some, but I was left wanting more from the book.

On the whole this is a really well thought out book, and great for someone who is just starting to question their identity, and needs a place to start. It is a wonderful safe space to explore their gender identity and what it means for them. It is accessible, and, as the title says, is an exploration of the joys your gender identity can bring you.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for sending me this free eARC (eAdvanced Reader Copy). I am leaving this review voluntarily. This title will be published 19th May 2022.