scijessreads

Trying something different for the book recap of the month. Which is a little later than usual, but now its here! I’m going to try my best at a 1-2 sentence review of each book finished this March.

Butcher & Blackbird (Audio) by Brynne Weaver: Loved this book when I read it the first time, and there is something about a duet audiobook that makes this story about serial unalivers that fall in love (personal struggles and all) shine. Also, hearing about the whole *food* scene was maybe even more gross than reading it on the page.

*Hurt Me Daddy / Comfort Me Daddy / Away Games by Misha Horne: This trio of books about high school enemies to lovers was more emotional and heartfelt than expected. Definitely a great entry into the daddy-kink category that came from left field.

*On the Line by Naomi Loud: After the deep dive that the ‘Was I Ever…’ series took, this was at first a lighter romance about a line cook and a former rich girl trying to make it on her own. But a heinous boyfriend and a lot of family issues managed to make this more than just a workplace romance.

*Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues: Hades and Persephone written as two trans individuals that are trying to escape their current place in life, and in each other find solace and love and acceptance.

*Heart Haunt Havoc by Freydis Moon: A haunted house, some dark magic, and a little religious guilt serve to make this more than just your average exorcism tale.

*Tentacles and Teeth / Bound and Beguiled by Rowan Merrick: I mean, there is a lot of smut in these, but the second book (Bound and Beguiled) also hits deeply on cults and religious trauma (wow, did I have a theme this month?). I so love this world.

Boneshaker (Audio) by Cherie Priest: TBH, I did not think steampunk alternate history could be so… dull. Even with Wil Wheaton narrating part of it, this one had the parts of a great story, but in the end felt hollow and not what I wanted to scratch this particular itch.

Beyond the Aching Door by Victoria Mier: Wrap me up in this urban fantasy with shades of folklore and magic and mystery and the best damn slow-burn I have read in a while and let me soak it in all over again. Raegan is everything.

Order of Scorpions (Audio) by Ivy Asher: This is another ‘reread’ as an audiobook and another one where the audio just makes the story even better. Fantasy with revenge, assassin societies, secret identities, fated mates, and an FMC that is allowed to grow and change and learn to accept her own agency. Auset is one of my favorites (and her men aren’t that bad either).

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten: This one was an ARC and the second in a trilogy where our ‘trauma trio’ of Gabe, Lore, and Bastian get the bottom dropped out from under them. And there is a delicious love triangle brewing that is more knot-like and I am here for all of the suffering and longing and tension and chaos that I know is coming in book 3.

Infinite Life by Jules Howard: Another ARC, this one being non-fiction about looking at evolution through the lens of the (not so) humble egg. This one fed the scientist in me.

Endless by Devyn Sinclair: A wholesome, emotional omegaverse with fated mates and men who will do anything for the woman they love. Even if she doesn’t realize they are her men to begin with.

Impromptu Match by Lily Mayne: An underground monster wrestling league led by an adorably bumbling monster (Holt) meets an average office worker (Taylor). Who knew ironed shirts and oddly sized balls could bring monster and man so close?

All the books notated with an * are books read as part of the Trans Rights Readathon week.