Echo - July best reading

Details

The Devils of Vitality always hit their mark.

Rabbit Trace is a musical prodigy with a secret.

Ever since an event that took place a year ago, he gets terrible stage fright before every performance. With a famous mother who's dedicated her entire life to her craft, and the weight of her expectations heavy on his shoulders, Rabbit is only one panic attack away from crumbling. He knows it'll be easier to escape if he stops running from the memory of that night, but he's stubborn and doesn't want to remember something so horrible his mind thought fit to erase it for him. Monotony has helped him make it through, and he's settled into a dull routine that keeps his mind occupied, the worst of the attacks limited to just before performances. That is, until one of the infamous Devils of Vitality suddenly takes notice and decides to invade his life, whether he reciprocates or not.

Baikal Void has many titles.

Each of them comes with a responsibility attached to it. Future Dominus, head of the Vitality Brumal Mafia, is just one of them. He's always known he'd one day have to take the crown, he just never realized it'd be so soon. With his father dying and the inevitable changing of power looming, Baikal struggles to keep his deranged nature under control as he grapples with the upcoming loss. Then one night he's dragged to a recital for his university and sees him for the first time. After one glance, he knows he's found his saving grace in Rabbit, the reserved musician who looks like he's battling demons of his own. Just like that, he's got a new title to add to the list. He's going to be the owner of one little ethereal bunny.

Rabbit doesn't understand Baikal's sudden and intense interest, or why the Brumal Prince has gone out of his way to collect enough dirt on his mom to force his hand. Blackmailed into a relationship of sorts, Rabbit fights against Baikal's constant advances and his own tumultuous feelings. Everything Baikal inflicts on him is wrong and twisted, and yet the longer he's made to endure, the more codependent Rabbit finds himself becoming. Baikal promises freedom from the predetermined fate he's always been a slave to, but only if he gives himself over to him completely.

And if he doesn't do so willingly? A devil is always prepared to take what they want, and Baikal Void is no exception.

Review

✨✨✨✨✨ OMFG, I'm speechless…

I must admit that after carefully reading the author's note at the beginning of the book, I almost decided not to read it… but I'm glad I did, because OH. My. God!!!

I read it twice in a row, why? Well, the first time I was so desperate to know what would happen that I skipped several pages, reading only the dialogues or some paragraphs if I didn't understand something. And the second time I read it completely… word for word (16+ hours, very well invested).

Now… the characters: I immediately hated December, I couldn't wait to see what his karma would be… and oh boy was I so pleased with his punishment.

I'm so sorry for what happened to Oli, he didn't deserve it, but it is what it is…

Baikal and Rabbit are made for each other.

Baikal is the Brumal Prince, possessive, jealous, heir to the Void conglomerate, obsessive, intense… Yes, he is all of that and more, but more importantly… he cares about the well-being of his little bunny.

Rabbit is dealing with traumas from the past that cause him panic attacks and stage fright and fear of the dark. Due to his upbringing he is unable to stand for himself, he is afraid of his mother and her expectations of him, and has never had a chance to decide the course of his life…until now.

Kal comes into Rabbit's life like a wrecking ball, determined to let his tiny obsession know who he belongs to, take care of him, help him overcome his fears, set him free… and succeeds. !

From start to finish, the book is a whirlwind of emotions that kept me up all night.

Warnings: if you are a frequent Dark Romance reader, you can read this book without any problem, now, if like me, you are not a regular on the subject, I recommend reading the trigger warnings carefully and heeding the author's advice. Always remembering that this is fantasy, and it's okay to fall in love with Kal, but if in real life you come cross with a Baikal Void or a December Trace… run, ask for help.

Ultimately, this was the first book I've read by this author, and I plan to read more in the near future. I hope that Echo is not the only book we have in this universe, I would really like to know what Kelevra and the twins bring, what about the life of Kaz, Flix and Berga… I want to know more about all the characters and this universe, I need more!!!

Castle Swimmer - June best reading

Details

What happens when your entire life is ruled by a prophecy – your future foretold by people you’ve never met, who died long before you were born. 

Such is the story of two young sea creatures. One believed to be a guiding light for his people, a Beacon who will lead them to a bright, prosperous future. The other is a teenage prince for who’s destiny is to KILL the Beacon so that HIS own people might thrive. 

When both reject the course set for them, it leads to a raucous adventure as big and unpredictable as the ocean itself – and a romance that nobody could have predicted.

 

Seasons:

Season 1 - Chapter 1 to 41: In the first season we meet Kappa, his first days and first encounters with the inhabitants of the sea to whom he must fulfill their prophecies. And on the other side are Prince Siren and his people who for many many years have been tormented by a curse and according to their prophecy the only way to save themselves is by killing the Beacon.

But is that really true...?

Extras - Chapter 42 to 45

Season 2 - Chapter 46 to 134: After the end of the first season and the discovery of the true prophecy of the shark people, we see how both Siren and everyone in the castle is looking for a way to adapt to this new truth, this new reality. Siren is determined to find a way to save his people, so he sets out on a journey in the open sea for the first time in his life in search of a solution.

A journey that will take him to meet new friends and others not so friends, dangers he never imagined, and more importantly... to get to know himself and the world in which he lives.

And of course, meet again with Kappa, who has also had a good dose of adventures and personal growth.

But, where does the power of the minigods come from? Is there really a way to break curses?

Extras - Chapter 135 to 137

Season 3 - Chapter 138 - Ongoing: After the fight/conversation with Lord Ogo, Siren and Kappa decide that their next step will be to find more information about the minigods and the source of their power.

On this occasion they will travel together, and their new friends, the Wicked Sea Witches, will be with them too.

But there is someone who is looking for them... who is this person? Friend or enemy?

Note: The third season is still being published (every Sunday on Webtoon).

Review

OMG! My poor heart 😭😭😭😭😭

This was supposed to be a nice story to read, something cute and lovely to read on a rainy afternoon with a cup of hot chocolate.

Whenever a promotional banner for the story appeared on the webtoon home page, it was an image of the protagonists smiling, swimming happily in the wide and vast sea... and although it does have scenes like that, the truth is that the story is deep and leaves the reader at many moral and existential crossroads.

Because, on one hand I feel sorry for the suffering of the shark people and I want them to be released from their curse ASAP, but at the same time I don't want them to harm Kappa under any reason or circumstance 💔

😪😪 And as angry as I am with Susca for her actions, the truth is that I would have done the same😵‍💫 It's a situation that nobody wants to be in and I understand that she did what she understood was best to protect Siren. .. her solution was wrong... yes, but she did what she could with what had at hand.

It infuriates me how everyone expects Kappa to solve all their problems!! OMFG!!! Do something for yourselves!

Ok, I better calm down...

So far I've read seasons 1 and 2 and I'm waiting for season 3 to progress a bit more (currently season 3 is halfway through).

I loved the story, the art is really beautiful, its obvious the author es very talented and its doing theirs best.

I can't wait to read about the new adventures of Kappa and Siren and the development of their love and relationship. 

Network Effect - May best reading

Details

Murderbot returns in its highly anticipated, first, full-length standalone novel.

You know that feeling when you’re at work, and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.

Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable A.I. you’ll read this century.

—

I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are. 

—Murderboot

When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action.

Drastic action it is, then.

Review

Five shining stars!

Unsurprisingly, this book was a whirlwind of emotions, each stronger than the last. Needless to say, I absolutely adored every moment.

I loved seeing all the personal growth MB has gone through and how he is now able to admit and express his feelings.

I Almost Died When Target Said ART Was Deleted

I totally agreed with the idea of gutting and dismembering those responsible for "killing" ART

Amena represents me in her work as "Celestina" and mediator between ART and MB

Murderbot Jr., AKA Murderbot 2.0, KillWare for friends, is undoubtedly the son of MB and ART (inherited ART's black humor and MB's killer instincts), I was sad that it "died" 😭😭😭😭 😭

SecUnit 3, AKA Three for friends, is the lost child that MB decided to rescue ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

At the beginning of the book I didn't like Thiago, but luckily he vindicated himself and I like him a bit now (Thiago is the annoying cousin of the family).

ART and MB's relationship is totally out of any definition of romance, yet it's so cute... I don't know how to explain it.

I love how they take care of each other, how they look for each other when they need help, how they are willing to kill, dismember and/or bomb a planet to rescue the other 🤣🤭🤭🤭

I love it, I just love them!!

All Systems Red - April best readings

 

Details

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

Review

😯😯😯😯😯Wao!

I did not expect that turn of events and much less that ending.

I absolutely loved Murderbot´s personality. It is an insensitive, cynical, pessimistic with anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder (yes, both) who lives in a perpetual state of psychosis and stress, an absolute idiot by any measure. But when compared to the humans it's had to deal with I'm surprised it hasn't turned into a mass murdering psychopathic AI.

Instead of wanting to kill all humans, it prefers to spend much of his processing power watching TV series, listening to music, or reading, and the main reason it has no interest in engaging in mass murder full-time is because... well, if there are no humans... who is going to produce the next chapter of Sanctuary of the Moon?

Charting this book was challenging as I couldn't put simples on it ⭐, this book deserves bright and shining stars ✨, I couldn't use ❤️ either as there isn't even the slightest bit of romance (MurderBot is sickened at the thought of love or romance), so I used amazed kittens 🙀 to express my amazement and joy at the cynicism of MurderBot and angry cats 😾 to express my anger at certain injustices and emojis of a surprised girl to express my surprise at the end of the book.

So yeah, I loved.

Marry my husband - March best reading

Details

When Jiwon, a 37-year-old cancer patient, walks in on her husband and best friend, she realizes her whole life has been a lie.

What’s worse, she dies a tragic death at the hands of her husband. Would things have been different if she had made different choices? 

Fortunately for Jiwon, she is given the chance to rewrite her fate when she is reincarnated as her younger self. 

This time, she vows to live a happy life. But first comes revenge. 

Her plan? To marry off her now former best friend to her lying, cheating husband.

Review

The drama!

This manhwa is the lost son of a Mexican novel and a Brazilian novel 🙆🏻‍♀️🤭🤣🤣🤣

The first thing is not to look for mathematical logic to the time travel, that is not important, it happened and that's it. Once you put that aside, you can enjoy the story.

As for the story, I loved it. Ji Won and Jihyuk deserved to be happy and I'm glad they got it.

I loved the petty revenge that Jin Won got from her envious best friend and her traitorous husband, they definitely deserved that ending. They learned the hard way that karma is a spoiled bratt vengeful bitch and you shouldn't mess with her.

And definitely in my next life I want to be Pang. 

Henri - February best reading

 

Details

Good and bad. Right and wrong.

Life would be easy if things were always that simple. That’s never been the case for Henri Boudreaux. Son of a criminal. Ex-boyfriend to a Priest.

Henri's made a career out of getting in trouble and avoiding the law. So when he winds up in bed with it, he knows that things are about to get…complicated.

But what’s life without taking a few risks? And what’s a risk without the threat of being caught? No one's ever accused Henri of being good man.

And Officer Craig Bailey is about to find out just how bad he can be.

Review

I loved!

I loved the story and getting to know a little more about Henri. Everything related to Priest hurt me a lot and on more than one occasion I wanted to kill him. On the one hand I am full of questions like: what if...?

What if Henri had changed his life before Julien showed up... Would we have had "The Princesse, the Ghost and the Priest"...?

But on the other hand I understand that Henri was not prepared to make that change in his life... Maybe Bailey was just what he needed or maybe not, maybe Robbie would have been a better option for Henri, considering how well they get along ... 🤯

Anyway... The story was good (which was no surprise, because Ella Frank), I liked Bailey and also Henri, I loved them both. ❤️‍🔥

Alastair - January best reading

 Details

Pride comes before the fall. Or so they say.

Cursed with the deadly sin of Pride, failure isn’t an option for Alastair. Win at all costs. With the war intensifying, the stakes are higher than ever. Sacrifices must be made. Throw in the awakening of a soulmate bond on top of that, and things have never been so complicated. Especially when that soulmate is an angel with icy eyes but whose touch is surprisinly warm.

What happens when your fated mate is the one person you’re forbidden to love?

Lazarus has lived an obedient life of a celestial warrior. Taking nothing for himself. Tossing aside all desires. Fate has other plans. One kiss. That’s all it takes for the emotions he sealed away to surge forward. But is loving Alastair worth falling for?

War is unpredictable. And as the final battle approaches, hearts—and lives—are put on the line. It all leads to one heart-pounding conclusion.

Book 7 in the Sons of the Fallen series with fated mates, an angel’s first taste of love, a war between good and evil, and one epic conclusion. Each book features a different main couple, but the series must be read in order. HEA guaranteed.

Review 

Best ending. best desicion of the year so far

Spending the first day of the year reading this book has undoubtedly been the best decision of the year haha. I cried, I got angry with some characters, others left me just surprised, very very surprise. 

I loved Fenix (which is no surprise, I fell in love with the character since the Lust book). I loved everything about the story.

This book as a closing of the main plot was a rollercoaster of emotions. Although the author promises us an HEA, the story is also well done that at times I found myself fearing the end or fate of the characters. 

And although I knew that Lucifer was evil and that his destiny was undoubtedly death, I found myself crying just like Pride.