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Reviews

Magic, Lies and Deadly Pies Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Magic, Lies and Deadly Pies Review

* A BIT SPOILERY*

Daisy Ellery’s pies have a secret ingredient: The magical ability to avenge women done wrong by men. But Daisy finds herself on the receiving end in Misha Popp’s cozy series debut, a sweet-as-buttercream treat for fans of Ellery Adams and Mary Maxwell. The first time Daisy Ellery killed a man with a pie, it was an accident. Now, it’s her calling. Daisy bakes sweet vengeance into her pastries, which she and her dog Zoe deliver to the men who’ve done dirty deeds to the town’s women. But if she can’t solve the one crime that’s not of her own baking, she’ll be out of the pie pan and into the oven.

Daisy has a very strong moral compass which I really enjoyed about her. She has these strict rules about the murder pies and she doesn’t stray from them and make exceptions for anyone. I did kind of side eye her a little bit because I thought she was literally murdering people with her pies but as the limitations surrounding her magic was revealed I thought her intentions were pure.

I liked that the whole book wasn’t just revolving around the murder pies and the mystery about who was blackmailing Daisy, she still goes about her day baking normal pies, going to the farmers market where she meets Noel and entering the baking competition. There was other things to keep my mind occupied instead of just focusing on the mystery. I definitely didn’t trust Melly’s character from the start. There was something about her do-gooder attitude that made me think maybe there was something else she wasn’t telling us and I was kind of justified when we find out her role in the grand scheme of things.

This was my first foray into cozy mysteries and I have to say I had a lot of fun! Granted you really have to suspend all beliefs and just jump into it expecting an over the top plot with ridiculous schemes and shenanigans.

⭐️4/5 stars This book made me crave pie lol

Reviews

Near the Bone Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Near the Bone Review

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Mattie can’t remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they’re not alone after all. There’s something in the woods that wasn’t there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws. When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.

Mattie’s character broke my heart in this book. Just how much she has retreated into her mind, blocking out all her old memories and just becoming accustomed to the truly terrible treatment she has had to endure from William. Just the cavalier way her mind just accepts that she is going to be beaten and tortured by this man and yet will still continue to be his dutiful wife was horrifying. I was so proud of her for talking to the strangers when they came to the cabin and listened to herself and escaped when she did.

The fantastical element to the story with the monster I would of liked to be explored a little more. Maybe go into the lore of this creature and why it’s come now. Is it just a coincidence that Mattie comes across the dead fox and can subsequently feel when it’s near or is she just more in tune with her surroundings than everyone else. Is it just a physical representation of William and how monstrous his nature is which turned on him in the end?

The setting and atmosphere really played a big role in this book. The insular setting really showcases just how isolated Mattie has been from the rest of the world and restricts her from any chance of escape most of the time. There was just this overlying sense of dread and helplessness woven into the story that sets the tone of the rest of the plot and how it plays out.

⭐️4/5 stars This was heart wrenching!

Book Lists, Top Ten Tuesdays

2023 Bookish Goals

by amyleighreads11 Comments on 2023 Bookish Goals

It’s Top Ten Tuesday time once again friends and this week’s prompt is your bookish goals for 2023 so here are 5 of mine:

I’ve made a bit of a habit of just buying and reading books because they are super hyped and popular even though the actual book doesn’t interest me. I could be a genre that I don’t usually read from or the premise doesn’t intrigue me but because everyone is talking/raving about it I still pick it up and read it anyway and I usually don’t enjoy it. I just think it’s a waste of time and I could be reading a book that I actually want to read.

I’ve been finding as of late that when I’m trying to find what book I want to read next I will look at the page count and see how long the book is which will influence whether or not I choose that book. Like if I have two books I’m choosing between and one is 500 pages and the other is on 300 I will pick that one because it is shorter not because I’m interested in that one more. I want to try and dismiss this train of thought and pick books because I’m excited to read them not because I could finish it in one day.

It’s kind of hard to explain but I kind of forget that there is a world in these books that I enjoy diving into and I let the page count or the number of books in the series deter me from continuing on. Which hopefully this year I can overcome and actually finish some series that I have been in the middle of for literally years now!

I’ve set my Goodreads goals for 80 this year instead of the 100 I usually would do. I don’t want to focus too much on the number of books I read and instead try and focus on the quality so this is more of a tentative goal. I would still love to read anywhere from 80-100 books again in 2023 but I don’t want my need to complete this deter me from picking up longer books and taking my time getting through them.

The last goal I wish to set for myself this year is to just be happy. I think if I accomplish the rest of my goals it will make for a great year and that will definitely make me happy!

Reviews

A Court of Silver Flames Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on A Court of Silver Flames Review

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly – proud, swift to anger and slow to forgive. And since the war – since being made High Fae against her will – she’s struggled to forget the horrors she endured and find a place for herself within the strange and deadly Night Court. The person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred, winged warrior who is there at Nesta’s every turn. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. And when they are forced to train in battle together, sparks become flame.

Nesta is the kind of character that is just so easy to hate but honestly after getting her perspective I find her to be a lot more relatable than Feyre. I’m glad that we get to see the consequences of what she has gone through and the work she has to put in to move past everything. I think it’s very unfair the amount of times the rest of the Night court make decisions without her input and decide when to deign her with crucial information. They seen how long it took for Feyre to get over her time at the Spring Court and didn’t give Nesta enough grace I feel.

Cassian wasn’t as honest with Nesta as I think he should of been but he definitely was her biggest supporter and advocator when they were all discussing what to do and what to tell her when she wasn’t present. I feel as though we only really scratched the surface with him and what he has overcome in his life as well which could of made me feel more connected to him had we got maybe some flashbacks to some of these battles and wars he’s been in.

This was a very emotional book about finding acceptance and trust within yourself. This was definitely the most adult of Sarah J Maas’s books as it gets very smutty which I wasn’t expecting to go to that level but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved seeing Nesta and Cassian grow closer and try not to give into their quite obvious feelings for each other. There was a little bit of the miscommunication trope which I hate but they hash everything out multiple times which placated me.

I have to be honest the mystery surrounding the trove and the queens didn’t really interest me that much. It was a nice way to include all the other characters we know and love but just Nesta’s journey with training and establishing the Valkyrie’s would of been enough for me.

⭐️5/5 stars I am soooo disappointed in myself for not reading this sooner!