In Bull Moon Rising, Ruby Dixon blends romance, adventure, and magic in a steamy romantasy. The story follows Aspeth Honori, the daughter of a Holder who finds herself in a bind after her father gambles away all their magical artifacts. Determined to save her family, she devises a plan to join the Royal Artifactual Guild to retrieve arcane items from ancient ruins. However, the guild won't allow her to train because she’s a woman. To overcome this, Aspeth marries a gruff minotaur guild member who has his own set of problems, creating an arrangement that quickly becomes more complicated than either expected.

While the concept of a high-stakes magical adventure is intriguing, the execution sometimes falls short. As with many romantasy novels, Bull Moon Rising places heavy emphasis on the romance between Aspeth and her monstrous yet alluring partner. While the romance is well-written, steamy, and fun, it sometimes overshadows the broader plot. I would have liked to see more focus on the world-building and the magical artifacts that drive the story.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of sexism. Aspeth's struggle to navigate a male-dominated guild and her use of her wit to bypass societal restrictions add depth to the story. It was refreshing to see these elements woven into the fantasy world, even if the plot could have done more with them.

On the downside, the "twist" near the end of the book felt out of place and didn’t fit smoothly with the rest of the narrative. It seemed like an attempt to raise the stakes but felt somewhat disconnected from the story's core themes.

Despite these flaws, the monster romance element delivers, and Dixon does a great job of making her minotaur hero both intimidating and endearing. The chemistry between Aspeth and her surly partner shines, and the intimate scenes are crafted with care.

Overall, Bull Moon Rising is an enjoyable read for fans of fantasy romance who don’t mind a story that prioritizes the romantic arc over intricate world-building. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel, as there are plenty of elements in the world and characters that could be expanded upon in future installments.

This book kept me HOOKED. I loved the atmosphere and the way it was so tense throughout. I really appreciated the mixture of a semi-unreliable narrator with the mystical elements. I thought the storyline was well-developed and kept me really interested. I finished this in one sitting because I was just so enthralled. I loved that this felt fresh and new in the genre while still exemplifying the idea of dark academia.

It had a lot of tropes incorporated into it and they were really well done. I liked the way things were resolved throughout and getting the information that we needed, when we needed it. A lot of what I want to say would be a spoiler but overall I just really enjoyed it!

I would have liked a bit more explanation of how things concluded. It felt like it was a bit hand-waved to make it all work out, which left the ending feeling a bit quick. I feel like the rest of the story was well-paced, with enough information given to us that it made us think, but there were tendrels of the story that didn't feel as though they were closed before the end.

I still highly recommend this book!

I really liked this book. A story about figuring out your life and changing direction at 30 made me feel really seen. I think it's so important to have "coming of age" stories when you want to change directions in the future. Your life isn't fully realized when you turn 18 or enter post-secondary (or not). Life is fluid and I loved that this book really portrayed that.

The twists and turns in this were really interesting and I loved all the characters, flaws and all. I thought there was such strong character development for Belle that really warmed my heart.

This was such a good cozyfantasy and I am so glad this genre is becoming more popular. This had such loveable characters, especially Art. I loved that all the characters went through such journies together and came out stronger at the end. The found family element of this really sealed it for me!

I highly recommend this one!

In LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES, a paranormal conspiracy theorist and a web series producer navigate an unexpected romance amid their professional chaos. Hallie Barrett's life is in freefall after her ex—who's also her coworker and co-producer—dumps her, leaving her on the brink of unemployment. As she scrambles to find something to produce fro the annual production and competition, she stumbles upon Hayden Hargrove, a charismatic cryptid expert with his own podcast. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, and it quickly propels their production to the top of the competition. This swoony romantic comedy effortlessly blends love, self-discovery, and a search for truth in the unexplained.

LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES captivated me with its blend of romance and discovery. Set in a Buzzfeed-esque company, it features a desperate web series producer and an intriguing paranormal conspiracy theorist who, against all odds, make an incredibly charming pair. While it didn't make me believe in conspiracies, it certainly made me believe in love! I was especially drawn to how Hallie and Hayden came together, balancing their skeptic and believer dynamic in a way that felt both compelling and authentic.

What stood out most to me was the genuine, relatable romance between Hayden and Hallie. One thing that often bothers me in romance novels is how the "break-up" is handled—it needs to feel real but not so dramatic that it seems irreparable. Thankfully, Hayden and Hallie's third-act break-up hit the mark perfectly. It felt natural, free from contrived drama, and their reasons for the split—and eventual reconciliation—were entirely in character. Watching Hallie grow more confident and seeing how she helped Hayden evolve was just the icing on the cake.

LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES isn't just a romantic comedy; it's a thoughtful exploration of modern conspiracies and their problematic roots, particularly in antisemitism. The book manages to address the impact of misinformation while keeping the tone light and enjoyable. The conspiracies they pursued added an extra layer to Hallie and Hayden's skeptic/believer relationship without veering into territory that felt too far-fetched. It kept the story grounded, even as they delved into the paranormal.

That said, there were moments where the story felt a bit disjointed. The timeline between the filming process and the weekly show content sometimes didn't line up, which left me occasionally needing clarification about when certain segments were filmed. A more seamless understanding of the timeline would have made the story flow better.

Overall, LOVE AND OTHER CONSPIRACIES is a sweet, engaging romantic comedy that dives into the unknown while exploring the intricacies of love. The endearing characters and thoughtful exploration of its themes make it a heartwarming and entertaining read that I'd highly recommend.

In MASQUERADE, Òdòdó, a formidable blacksmith from Timbuktu, is kidnapped by the powerful Aláàfin leader, Àrệmọ. Despite her initial shock at this handsome and dangerous man's desire to marry her, she quickly recognizes the comfort and power her new role affords her. As the tides of political change and warring kingdoms shift, Òdòdó seizes the opportunity to exert her influence, offering strategic advice to her fiancé, which he then claims as his own. This political intrigue and the looming threat of death draw them closer, forging a formidable partnership to rule their lands.

I absolutely loved MASQUERADE! It offered a fascinating twist on the Hades x Persephone myth, staying true to the essence of Greek mythology and capturing the ruthless and brutal nature of "death." Àrệmọ's portrayal as someone who fully embraces his role was a refreshing departure from the typical sad, emo depictions of Hades in popular media.

The integration of West African mythology was a delightful surprise. It’s not a perspective I've encountered often, but I thoroughly enjoyed how it influenced the portrayal of women's roles in society. The novel's setting in a fantastical 15th century West Africa is richly detailed, avoiding info-dumps except where necessary. However, this sometimes results in a bit of naivety from Òdòdó.

Though we follow Òdòdó’s perspective throughout the book, her motivations and some of the author's choices for her circumstances left me puzzled. The novel is marketed as fantasy, yet it lacks a developed magic system, relying instead on a general fantastical atmosphere. This reliance on mythology, highlighted by perhaps just one key scene, makes the fantasy label feel somewhat overstretched.

While the story boasts elements of great storytelling, it does read like a debut, with room for more well-rounded character development and a stronger central plot. The narrative didn’t follow a clear path to the conclusion, and the side plots felt underdeveloped, detracting from the main story. Nonetheless, I’m excited for Sangoyomi’s next book; her prose is strong, even if all the elements aren't fully realized yet.

I also recommend the audiobook, narrated by Ariel Blake. Hearing the rich West African names pronounced correctly added depth to the experience. Listening to books that draw from a narrative storytelling tradition like this is always a pleasure, and the narration kept me thoroughly invested in the story.