I sort of feel like doorbells are as useless as landline telephones. I mean, if you’re going to come over, wouldn’t you just text me? And if you do
I sort of feel like doorbells are as useless as landline telephones. I mean, if you’re going to come over, wouldn’t you just text me? And if you don’t have my number to text me, do I even want you coming over?
This sequel, which has the same moral lesson of being true to oneself, is so much more enjoyable and funny. I like how Millie and Callie are both pretty relatable (sorry, but Willowdean in Dumplin’ isn’t someone I’d call relatable), and how the romance and friendship elements are better dealt with than in the last book. Julie has also tried very hard to get as many representations (body type/race/sexuality/etc.) as possible, which is very nice but feels slightly intentional.
Puddin’ is basically a fairy tale where everything started out as horrible as can be, but ended up miraculously wonderful. Despite not liking this book as much as I had anticipated, if there is ever a book 3 of this series, I will happily read it.
Merged review:
I sort of feel like doorbells are as useless as landline telephones. I mean, if you’re going to come over, wouldn’t you just text me? And if you don’t have my number to text me, do I even want you coming over?
This sequel, which has the same moral lesson of being true to oneself, is so much more enjoyable and funny. I like how Millie and Callie are both pretty relatable (sorry, but Willowdean in Dumplin’ isn’t someone I’d call relatable), and how the romance and friendship elements are better dealt with than in the last book. Julie has also tried very hard to get as many representations (body type/race/sexuality/etc.) as possible, which is very nice but feels slightly intentional.
Puddin’ is basically a fairy tale where everything started out as horrible as can be, but ended up miraculously wonderful. Despite not liking this book as much as I had anticipated, if there is ever a book 3 of this series, I will happily read it....more
this was amazing and so cute!! i love how platonic love is described and shown in dear wendy and i feel like the story healed something in me as an arthis was amazing and so cute!! i love how platonic love is described and shown in dear wendy and i feel like the story healed something in me as an aroace-spec person! this is the not-romance book i didn't know i needed, and i want more of these stories!
listened to the audiobook and it was great! would def recommend! i'd also want to read it again in print to see how the instagram posts and other media were formatted
maybe i'll have a more coherent review soon, but these are my thoughts as of now...more
I went into the story knowing I’m going to get cottagecore sapphics with a simplistic plot, but I didn’Check trigger warnings on the author’s website.
I went into the story knowing I’m going to get cottagecore sapphics with a simplistic plot, but I didn’t expect it to be so cute.
Jane Paris (20) and William make a striking couple. Or so the villagers say. One day, after another dissatisfying evening with William, Jane walks into the dangerous forest for a shortcut back home. Soon, a poisonous beast attacks her and it is only because of the witch Adelaide Thompson’s magic and cure that Jane survives. Raised to be proper and polite and marry a man, Jane learns that not all expectations are meant to be fulfilled, especially when there are other things that bring her happiness.
This reminds me a bit of Anna Burke’s Thorn but softer and focuses more on found family and queer joy. In a sense, Spellbound is a coming-of-age story for Jane where she gradually understands that some social norms she grew up accepting are meant to be challenged, and that there is a place in the world for her to be truly happy and free.
I love the parallel between magic and one’s true self; both are powerful and feared by many. It reads almost like a metaphor, for magic to be a protection and something that guides people into accepting themselves. Also, the beasts parallel inner demons, the internalized fear and bigotry. There is also the adorable contrast between the tidy village girl and the messy young witch. Even though Adelaide was set up to be this cold and reclusive witch, I find myself warming up to her very fast, and my heart breaks for her, too. Adelaide finds politeness a waste of energy and values honesty. I think the character traits of Jane and Adelaide also mirror the differences between being closeted and being out-and-proud.
There were times where I had to reread sentences because of slight ambiguity, which is possibly an uncorrected review copy issue, and the romance progression was a bit fast for me, but throughout most of the book as well as the ending, I smiled so much that the enjoyment Spellbound brings eradicates all the other nitpicks I have. Plus, I liked Adelaide too much.
Spellbound is a mostly feel-good novella with a confident witch in the forest and a village girl trying to find her way to be happy. Best if read by a fireplace, in a cabin where you can smell the woods outside.
I received a digital review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I went into the story knowing I’m going to get cottagecore sapphics with a simplistic plot, but I didn’t expect it to be so cute.
Jane Paris (20) and William make a striking couple. Or so the villagers say. One day, after another dissatisfying evening with William, Jane walks into the dangerous forest for a shortcut back home. Soon, a poisonous beast attacks her and it is only because of the witch Adelaide Thompson’s magic and cure that Jane survives. Raised to be proper and polite and marry a man, Jane learns that not all expectations are meant to be fulfilled, especially when there are other things that bring her happiness.
This reminds me a bit of Anna Burke’s Thorn but softer and focuses more on found family and queer joy. In a sense, Spellbound is a coming-of-age story for Jane where she gradually understands that some social norms she grew up accepting are meant to be challenged, and that there is a place in the world for her to be truly happy and free.
I love the parallel between magic and one’s true self; both are powerful and feared by many. It reads almost like a metaphor, for magic to be a protection and something that guides people into accepting themselves. Also, the beasts parallel inner demons, the internalized fear and bigotry. There is also the adorable contrast between the tidy village girl and the messy young witch. Even though Adelaide was set up to be this cold and reclusive witch, I find myself warming up to her very fast, and my heart breaks for her, too. Adelaide finds politeness a waste of energy and values honesty. I think the character traits of Jane and Adelaide also mirror the differences between being closeted and being out-and-proud.
There were times where I had to reread sentences because of slight ambiguity, which is possibly an uncorrected review copy issue, and the romance progression was a bit fast for me, but throughout most of the book as well as the ending, I smiled so much that the enjoyment Spellbound brings eradicates all the other nitpicks I have. Plus, I liked Adelaide too much.
Spellbound is a mostly feel-good novella with a confident witch in the forest and a village girl trying to find her way to be happy. Best if read by a fireplace, in a cabin where you can smell the woods outside.
I received a digital review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review....more
A romance between a racehorse trainer and Nocturne centaur! The first few chapters really sucked me into the story but I was slightly disappointed in A romance between a racehorse trainer and Nocturne centaur! The first few chapters really sucked me into the story but I was slightly disappointed in how the rest of the book played out. Ellie (human, she/her) and Nadine (centaur, demi-girl, she/her, Mx.) are cute together and I really liked their interactions and small touches. Note that there is also quite some sex scenes going on, but I’m here for the cuteness and Ellie’s attempt at winking.
The writing of Passion Marked was enjoyable. It is my second book by Silk, and while the first one Spellbound (my review) was a fantasy romance with a simplistic plot, this book was somewhat too expansive for me. I had some issues with the pacing of the story where the first half was slow and everything happened close to the end. There is a lot of talk about magic, like Nadine’s Nocturne magic, but we don’t really get to understand how these magical elements worked. The only thing I know about Nadine’s magic is that... she has shadows that curl up at her hooves? So the world-building didn’t work great for me and I had the feeling of the world setting being just out of reach. I did enjoy the fact that there were phones and high school students of different species (just random characters; this book is NOT YA), making the world in Passion Marked feel more like ours.
A huge part of the book is built around the discrimination against Nocturnes. The more I read, the more I felt like other people’s attitude toward Nocturnes is just like racism in our world. While the characters took forms of different species and magical abilities instead of, say, skin color, I don’t know what to say about the storyline based off of the very real racism.
The best part of the book had to be the characters. I love Nadine’s friend Dela, a Diurne, who is this eccentric rich lady that is very flirty and cares about nothing but her own comfort and her friends’ wellbeing. Dela is aro/ace and very ridiculous in an endearing way. I also really like the gay couple Flower, who randomly bursts into singing love songs, and Brecker, who seems stern but is actually very soft-hearted.
I had high hopes for Passion Marked, but it seems to have missed the mark for me. The characters were lots of fun though, so I’m bumping my rating to 3 stars.
I received a digital review copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Merged review:
A romance between a racehorse trainer and Nocturne centaur! The first few chapters really sucked me into the story but I was slightly disappointed in how the rest of the book played out. Ellie (human, she/her) and Nadine (centaur, demi-girl, she/her, Mx.) are cute together and I really liked their interactions and small touches. Note that there is also quite some sex scenes going on, but I’m here for the cuteness and Ellie’s attempt at winking.
The writing of Passion Marked was enjoyable. It is my second book by Silk, and while the first one Spellbound (my review) was a fantasy romance with a simplistic plot, this book was somewhat too expansive for me. I had some issues with the pacing of the story where the first half was slow and everything happened close to the end. There is a lot of talk about magic, like Nadine’s Nocturne magic, but we don’t really get to understand how these magical elements worked. The only thing I know about Nadine’s magic is that... she has shadows that curl up at her hooves? So the world-building didn’t work great for me and I had the feeling of the world setting being just out of reach. I did enjoy the fact that there were phones and high school students of different species (just random characters; this book is NOT YA), making the world in Passion Marked feel more like ours.
A huge part of the book is built around the discrimination against Nocturnes. The more I read, the more I felt like other people’s attitude toward Nocturnes is just like racism in our world. While the characters took forms of different species and magical abilities instead of, say, skin color, I don’t know what to say about the storyline based off of the very real racism.
The best part of the book had to be the characters. I love Nadine’s friend Dela, a Diurne, who is this eccentric rich lady that is very flirty and cares about nothing but her own comfort and her friends’ wellbeing. Dela is aro/ace and very ridiculous in an endearing way. I also really like the gay couple Flower, who randomly bursts into singing love songs, and Brecker, who seems stern but is actually very soft-hearted.
I had high hopes for Passion Marked, but it seems to have missed the mark for me. The characters were lots of fun though, so I’m bumping my rating to 3 stars.