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I hate writing bad reviews. I know the author's put their time and effort into something they hope people will enjoy. That said, this is not a good book. It's very generic fantasy, very back & white, good vs. evil type of story. I could have dealt with that, but the authors had a bad habit of telling the story instead of showing it. Celedant, the main character, is a great wizard, a prodigy in fact, but we never see any of his time at the ⬇️

This was a dark and twisted romance!

The story is basically an erotic dark romance retelling of Beauty and the Beast. As a retelling, it worked well. It followed the storyline and a lot of elements were present, including a protagonist who loves to read and a stunning library. The library was massive.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/review-a-bedtime-story-fairy-tale...

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished this yesterday for #ThematicCozies August #Travel & found it a solid cozy. Set on a upscale European river boat cruise (in this first one it starts in Budapest), where the MC, London Rose has just been named Social Director (sort of the cruise director) & one of the passengers dies on an outing under mysterious circumstances. Overall, I liked London & the mystery wasn‘t bad. I‘d read the next one in the series.

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Finished in August & read this #BOTM novel for #FictionalTraveler August #Hot (it‘s set in a desert compound in the summer).

I am a sucker for reality television drama even though I rarely watch it these days so I quite enjoyed this dystopian version. For a debut novel, it was well done & I liked the elements of reality tv & looking at what is truth versus fiction. It had both dark humor & a few mild thrills & twists thrown in.

#Wardens2025 #Read2025

Such an excellent book💖 An honest & frank account of life both as an addict & as a recovering addict. Inspiring & thought provoking.

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Finished this one earlier in the week, my second for August‘s #AuthorAMonth #JudyBlume. The library audiobook became free & so I listened to it & really enjoyed the reread. I must have read this book a bazillion times growing up & it all came back. Perfectly captures growing up in the late 70s-early 80s for me & all those things—bras, periods, boys & friendships & all the questions & angst they bring.

Another #BuddyReads #InDeathLongReadathon @StayCurious done. Another tense case to solve. #SummerEndReadathon @Bookwormjillk #Read2025 @DieAReader Lots of bingo spots #ISpyBingoAugust @TheAromaofBooks

#Wardens2025 #Read2025

This was a light read, very predictable, a little slow, but an ok book. Thanks to @StayCurious for all her memes. #LittensLoveRomance #BuddyRead. #ISpyBingoJulyAugust. Love it when a book gives me lots of spots. @TheAromaofBooks #Read2025 @DieAReader #SummerEndReadathon @Bookwormjillk

An absolutely exquisite comedy of manners, satirising the classist oneupmanship in a women‘s literary lunch club in the Edwardian era.

Book 73/80 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterX #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader