I have been excited about this book ever since Giana first teased it! All I have to tell you is that this is a dark academia, sapphic, Medusa retelling, that should be enough to get you to look at this twice. I loved this book, and even if you think it is not for you, trust me give it a try and get ready to be whisked away to Archeron University with Lex and Luna.

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Giana Darling comes a sapphic dark academia Medusa retelling about a woman who was wronged by her idols and refused to pay the price without getting revenge…

I was born a woman.
Raised by women.
In love with women.
Until I enrolled at Acheron University, I’d never known much of men. I certainly didn’t know enough to fear them.
Then one stormy autumnal night, Professor Morgan tried to destroy me.
And when we were discovered by the university President, it was me who was punished for the unwanted seduction.
But they left me with two valuable lessons.
I would never let another woman be hurt by men again if I could help it.
And when someone hurts you, betrays you, and tries to rip out your soul, there is only one remedy for the pain.
Revenge.
And mine takes the form of the President’s very beautiful, very virginal, very straight daughter, Luna Pallas.
Before the end of term, I’ll destroy her innocence just as her mother and Professor Morgan destroyed mine.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Lex and Luna are the main characters of this sapphic dark academia Medusa retelling. Lex Gorgon is Archeron University’s Medusa. Lex’s story is dark and heavy, warning everyone now that there is sexual assault depicted quite early on in the book and that assault along with many others are discussed throughout the story. Lex’s character has such a magnetism, with a rage that draws you in and has you cheering for her revenge journey. If you love a little feminine rage you will love Lex. Now Luna Pallas, when you meet her you think here is the goody two shoes headmaster’s daughter, and throughout the story, she grows more defiant, and I loved every moment of it. Her development is also a sexuality awakening story as she goes from someone confused about herself to growing into who she is, a bisexual woman. Both of the gals have their own unique strengths and vulnerabilities, I loved them individually but loved them even more together. Lex’s sisters are a perfect addition to this story too, loved the Man Eaters.
• Setting: The story is set in the world of Acheron University, with whisps of dark academia especially at the Gorgon house readers will find it easy to immerse themselves fully in this world.
• Pacing: The book is seamless with just how fluid and beautiful Giana’s writing is. For those who love retellings and literature (all the English majors), you will adore the reference and reverence shown throughout the story. I was hooked on the plot of the Man Eaters and their quest for revenge, and I really loved how Giana went about navigating it and how she brought so much care to how she wrote about sexual assault.
• Romance: Giana pulled off writing a relationship that was heartwarming, earth-shattering, and so damn filled with tension. Lex and Luna had me giggling over their banter, and then swooning as they read poetry to the other. But fear not this book is also incredibly hot, from their first interactions the sexual tension melts from the pages. There is so much emotionality, they are navigating so many roadblocks in their way from others’ homophobia to processing trauma to seeking revenge, many times I was brought close to tears by this relationship. This out-of-the-world attraction and chemistry are balanced against how they are perfect for each other, Lex brings a bit of darkness to Luna, and Luna is Lex’s light. Truly it is such a special sapphic romance and powerful story.

Serpentine Valentine receives 5/5 stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Giana on all her social channels…

Website | Facebook | FB Group | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter

Thank you again to Giana and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Giana Darling’s Serpentine Valentine ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Another sapphic short story from Sierra Simone. Damn, she is so good at writing hot stories, steeped in the grandeur of a historical setting.

I am a Sierra Simone review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

England is burning with Norman fires, and Tate—the youngest ever abbess of Far Hope Abbey—is determined to guard the abbey’s ancient secrets with her very life. Her life may be what it takes, however, for a Norman warlord known only as The Wolf is pillaging his way right to the abbey’s doors. But when The Wolf arrives, Tate finds not the brutal warrior she was expecting, but his even more brutal widow in his place, a cruel and beautiful woman who leads her dead husband’s men with a ferocity to rival that of her Viking ancestors. And after she sets eyes on Tate, it becomes clear that gold and silver aren’t the only things The Wolf wants to carry off into the night…

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Abbess Tate is in charge of Far Hope Abbey, she was put in charge recently as their numbers dwindled and she was the healthiest nun to lead the abbey. She is brave, headstrong, and loyal; going out of her way to protect Far Hope. This character really surprised me, meaning she was a lot more varied than expected. Do not be fooled by Tate’s pious label, she has some secrets that will shake up how you feel about her. So, Tate sacrifices herself to the clutches of the Wolf. All the characters in the story make the reader thinks we are meeting a man, instead, she is a ruthless widow. Such an intriguing character; one cannot but have empathy for this character and all the secrets she must keep.
• Setting: We pick up with Tate and the Wolf as the Normans are invading England, the year is 1068 and we are just a few years away from the conclusion of the Norman conquest. This was such a unique setting! As a history degree holder, I am always a sucker for a historical setting. As this time period is nowhere near my specialty I find nothing to critique, so it was pure enjoyment for me and will be for many others. Sierra did such a good job of weaving in historical elements of the Norman conquest, even historical figures are small parts of this larger wlw love story. Fans of Sierra’s previous work will feel the Thornchapel vibes throughout this, and if you love Sierra’s other historical series such as Markham Hall.
• Pacing: My small complaint with this story was the pacing. I found this short story lagged in spots. It felt on the longer side for a short story. But instead of this just flushing out the romance, I found I lost focus and was not encouraged to escape away into the story. I often read at a manic pace, this took me many days to read and it is not very long. If you like your short stories on the longer side you will really enjoy this.
• Romance: I enjoyed the love story between Tate and Adelais, an enemies-to-lovers romance in a time period where largely no woman would have sought a coupling that fulfilled them. Tate and Adelais were finally getting the love and companionship they deserved. Plus this book is super hot, these characters have such great chemistry and not a single romantic scene disappoints. I love the most that they bonded over being morally grey, and how they had to deal with what was dealt to them in a world everchanging and riddled with upheaval and violence.

Villain I’d Like to Fuck receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

The post Sierra Simone’s Villain I’d Like to F… ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I jumped at the chance to review this. Who does not love the queen of smutty academia-core that is Sierra Simone? Plus faeries!

I am a Sierra Simone review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

“A grad student sets out to find a missing castle and is kidnapped for the pleasure of a fae queen instead…
It’s that time of year, friends. The moon is full and Samhain approaches. Your invitation to the Shadow Market is here. Three days of magic, drama, seduction, and maybe just a dash of human sacrifice! Come through the portal and meet witches, demons, gorgons, mermaids, the fae, and even the odd human who’s gotten turned around and ended up somewhere they shouldn’t.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our leads in this short story are Janneth and Morgana. Janneth is a grad student, studying to be an archaeologist. She has this air of unhappiness. It is very clear she is a very sexual person but is struggling to connect with people in her life. That is until she enters the Fae realm. She meets Morgana, the Queen of the Court of the Stags. She is of course beautiful as most Fae are. She is definitely a very morally grey character, with some complicated motivations. I admired that Sierra depicted this ruler struggling between being selfless for her kingdom or selfish for herself. In a shorter story, Sierra builds compelling side characters that add to the story.
• Setting: The setting is lush with depictions of the Fae world. Sierra is such the perfect choice to take this on, as she imbued the whimsy of her Thornchapel setting into the faerie realm. The only thing is that sometimes the world-building elements do not really have much time to develop as this is a shorter story.
• Pacing: In terms of pacing I know that these were intended to be short books, I just wish it was a little longer to flush out the world and romance more.
• Romance: This book is hot hot hot and it is super queer. This is yet again more evidence that Sierra can write any iteration of couples/groups. Sierra uses the side characters to her advantage, Idalia and Morven bring about one of the hottest scenes in the book. I did feel as if I could not buy into this love, it was slightly too insta-love. It felt more like lust than love. It needed more time to grow.

The Fae Queen’s Captive receives three out of five stars.

Follow Sierra on all her social channels…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | Newsletter

Thank you again to Sierra and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sierra Simone’s The Fae Queen’s Captive ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

The second F/F story in the Vino & Veritas series brings us a second chance romance! And lots of puppies and who does not love puppies! But really Hideaway is an awesome story of the importance of forgiveness and second chances.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“One woman’s hiding place is another woman’s home.

After becoming an inadvertent viral sensation—and losing her job and her girlfriend as a result— Phoebe Shaw retreats to Vermont. Renovating her late grandmother’s cabin into a vacation rental seems like the perfect way to lie low for a while. But the last person she expects to encounter on the property is the woman whose kiss was her teenage sexual awakening . . . and whom she’s never quite forgotten.

Taylor Donovan has been hiking on the trails behind the Shaw family’s cabin her whole life. As children, Taylor and Phoebe were best friends before sharing a secret summer romance when they were sixteen, which left Taylor brokenhearted when Phoebe fled at the end of the summer. Now the property has become Taylor’s home away from home, and she wants nothing more than to convince the Shaws to sell it to her. But Phoebe’s return puts a crimp in those plans–and brings back old feelings she thought she’d overcome.

Of all the things Phoebe regrets, leaving Taylor is at the top of the list, but Taylor is determined to protect her heart. Yet the pull between them is stronger than ever. This time around, will love stay hidden . . . or finally see the light of day?”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Pheobe Shaw and Taylor Donovan are the main characters. Pheobe lives in Boston but Burlington is where her late Grandmother lived. Pheobe spent her summers with her grandmother and it was during that time she befriended another girl in the neighbourhood. Adult Pheobe returns to packs some of her grandmother’s things up after the double whammy of being fired and broken up with. A change of pace and scenery is good for everyone, right? Especially a hardworking financial analyst who really deserves to rest for a moment and breathe. Pheobe is surprised upon returning to her grandmother’s home, that her childhood bestie Taylor has been maintaining it. Taylor loved Pheobe’s grandmother as if she were her own, so she tended to her rose bushes and maintained the property. She hoped the Shaw family would one day be willing to sell her the property. That’s Taylor she is a go-getter with a huge sentimental heart. She works at the local animal shelter and wants to buy a piece of land that could accommodate her to foster many, many dogs. Taylor’s warmth is a contrast to what seems like an icy cold personality radiating from Pheobe, all she needs is someone like Taylor to melt her heart.
• Setting: Burlington, Vermont is the setting of all the Vino & Veritas books. I was a little disappointed we did not spend even more time at the wine bar or book store. No one in this installment works on the premises really, except that as Pheobe begins to open up she picks up a few nights of performance sets on the wine bar side. Instead, this story takes place more in the surrounding area, on a piece of land that is powerful to both our heroines.
• Pacing: The story was paced pretty well. I would have liked these two to get a little frisky a little earlier, it sure felt like it was taking them quite a while to reconnect. I also acknowledge that due to the closedness and pain from the past that had not healed yet, that it was going to be an uphill battle for these two.
• Romance: The girls were friends when they were younger, during the summer they would spend each day they could together. Taylor figured out her sexuality first and her crush on Pheobe. Pheobe was much more firmly in the closet so she was determined to hide what they had. Just like most relationships that you have when, you are young, plus the secrecy destroyed what they had. Pheobe broke Taylor’s heart and rarely returned to Vermont. As adults who have had other girlfriends and flings, they have realized that they never stopped loving each other and that they never had the same chemistry with anyone else. This story is not a steamy one, rather it is so incredibly sweet.

Hideaway receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

https://geni.us/AmazonHideaway

Thank you again to Rachel, Sarina, Jenn, and the rest of the team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Rachel Lacey’s Hideaway ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

This is the first Vino & Veritas story about a lesbian couple. And it happens to be the first F/F adult story I have read in quite awhile.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“After being rejected one too many times, Chelsea makes a bold vow: No more men. Her friends doubt a boy-crazy party girl can handle not dating for a year, but that only makes Chelsea more determined.

Tara has made a vow, too. After growing up in foster care and suppressing herself to please others, she’s going to live her truth. When she sees a beautiful woman, she’ll make her attraction known.

Chelsea appreciates Tara’s flirtatious compliments, not to mention her androgynous beauty. There’s a loophole in Chelsea’s vow, and it’s more tempting every day. Could swearing off men lead Chelsea to the perfect woman?”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Tara and Chelsea are the main characters of this story. Chelsea can’t help but hook up with a new guy every night and she decides in the story’s opening that she is swearing off men. The boy crazy Chelsea is a bit of a self-centred airhead, but also passionate and loyal. Chelsea is a beer distributor who services Vino & Veritas which is how she meets Tara. Tara is the newest V&V hire and is an out-of-townie from Boston. She moved to start fresh after a rough past, as she is a former foster kid. Tara is such a big flirt and she cannot help but flirt with Chelsea even if she’s straight. Chelsea’s friends play a huge role in the story too. The group is eclectic from a virgin to a relationship craver, to a serial dater. Chelsea’s friends force her to keep it real and they can be brutally honest, the medicine that often Chelsea needs.
• Setting: Burlington, Vermont is the setting of the story. Chelsea has lived her all her life and really likes it. She works in the beer distribution industry so working in Burlington means she services the wine bar side of V&V and the Gin Mill. Love a little Sarina Bowen reference.
• Pacing: The story was paced pretty well and I for sure wanted to keep reading. I think many aspects of the relationship were paced a little too fast in some areas but way too slow in others.
• Romance: I did not fully buy into this romance like I have some of the others simply because Tara and Chelsea weren’t my kinds of girls. Chelsea’s flaws were things that did not outweigh her best qualities. While Tara had major issues with opening up to Tara and earlier in the story she was better at it. It really broke down in the latter half. Tara was very nervous about being vulnerable with Chelsea. Chelsea had never felt any feelings towards a woman before, so there is a slight coming-out element to the story too. Tara’s nerves are fed by this, and to an extent, Chelsea feels the same. They did have electric chemistry and I was so happy they stumbled into this relationship.

Flipcup receives three out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

https://geni.us/AmazonFlipcup

Thank you again to Kim, Sarina, Jenn, and the rest of the team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Kim Hartfield’s Flipcup ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

This is my first time getting to read an ARC for Katee Robert. I really got into her books over the summer. This Wicked Villains series specifically blew me away. I had always wanted to satisfy the part of me that wanted a more mature fairy re-telling and these did that for me and so much more.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“Once upon a time I made a deal with the devil. It turns out I like playing in the dark. Over the years, I’ve become someone I’m proud of, someone dangerous.

I’ll never be as dangerous as Malone, though. She’s one of the most feared leaders in Carver City, and her reputation is more than earned. Years ago, we had a single night together and she’s ignored me ever since.

Imagine my surprise to discover she’s scheduled me for the final two weeks of my contract. Maybe I should be afraid. Everyone else fears Malone. Instead, all I feel is anticipation. It’s time to balance the scales, once and for all.

The villains aren’t the only ones in Carver City a person should be wary of crossing.

Sometimes the prettiest flower hides the deadliest poison…”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Aurora and Malone are the main characters of this final installment. Aurora is naturally modelled after Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. Katee Robert depicts her as a woman of colour, and her character has been present since close to the beginning. I have wanted to be in her head for so long. She was the character I felt like I connected with the most, as we seem on the same level of things. Both of us are more on the fully submissive side of things unlike some of the girls who have been switch or dominant. Malone in contrast is the domme for sure. She’s modelled after Maleficent. She has been a more mysterious character to me. Having appeared in some scenes I was really looking forward to getting to understand her better.
• Setting: Carver City is the setting. It is the fictionalized city that houses all the different regions the villains are in charge of. Malone is one of these area leaders, a queen in her own right. I was disappointed that this story spent no time in the Underworld, Hades’ BDSM club. It has been one of my favourite settings of this series and I wanted one last epic scene there.
• Romance: The rest of the series featured MF relationships and different combos of triads including MMF and MFF. I don’t tend to read FF so Aurora and Malone’s story was a different read for me. I got invested in seeing just how these two would make it all work. They both have complicated pasts, and in order to come together they needed to work that out. I had wished they had done it slightly sooner. What Katee kills in every relationship are the sex scenes. They have a chemistry that is electric, from every touch to every kiss. I wanted to see them play a bit with others but oh well it isn’t like I’ve gotten to see that over the course of the series. If you haven’t picked up this series yet you have to it starts with a retelling of Jasmine and Jafar in Desperate Measures. Just let yourself be swept up by these naughty erotica fairy tales.

Queen Takes Rose receives four out of five stars.

Thank you again to Katee Robert for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog! Stay safe everyone.

The post Katee Robert’s Queen Takes Rose ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I have a review for the first book in this series, A Lesson in Thorns. In that review, I have a warning about the maturity of this book, and once again I am warning you this book is not for the faint of heart. Like I’m talking an orgy in the second chapter, and if that is not for you I would not pick up any Sierra Simone books. But if that is not something that turns you off, I highly recommend Sierra’s stories.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“I’m an outcast and a loner, named for death itself. Fate wasn’t supposed to have plans for me.

But then she came back—the girl I once kissed in a thorn-covered chapel in the woods. She came back, and I could no more resist her than I could pry out my own heart. And by some trick of fate, she wants me as much as I want her. The only problem? She also wants the man who owns Thornchapel, Auden Guest.

And so do I.

Eight years ago, I did something to Auden, something terrible. He hurt me back the only way he knew how, and so here we are: our hatred seasoned with pain and my loneliness seasoned with longing. The only thing we can agree on is Proserpina Markham, and she wants us to find a way to be together—all three of us. 

If Auden wants to earn her as his submissive, then he has to earn me as well.

But with the discovery of bones behind the altar and the carnal revel of Beltane fast approaching, it’s becoming clear that Thornchapel’s secrets are much deeper and older than any of us could have ever guessed. And no matter how bright and merry a feast of sparks may be, it’s always followed by ashes. 

And darkness.”

Check out my thoughts below…

I am obviously going to try my best to be the least bit spoilery as possible but keep in mind this is the second book, do yourself a favour and pick up the first one.

• Characters: Poe, Auden, Saint, Beckett, Daphine, and Rebecca are all continuing their stay at Thornchapel and this book sees so much development in backstories. Auden and St. Sebastian’s pasts both together and apart come much more to light and really illuminate their characters. Poe still takes up a quite large presence as she did in the first novel, specifically, her character development stems from two very pivotal life-changing twists at the end of book one.
• Setting: Thornchapel and the small English town surrounding the mysterious Guest residence are as interesting as always.
• Pacing: Pacing was great with this one. Sierra is really good at writing in twists and placing them at pivotal moments.
• Romance: The actual relationships between characters definitely deepened in this book. There is still this layer of polyamory that encompasses all the character like I’m not gonna lie multiple orgies in this book. But the romantic highlight for me was watching a set of characters commit to each other in a way I really wanted them to.

If I have not convinced you yet, check out this excerpt…

“Shame, hot and prickling, needles everywhere at my face and chest and belly as I begin to bend down to the floor. The cool air that caresses my pussy is now everywhere as the position begins to expose my most secret flesh, and there’s no pretending away the reality of what I’m doing. I’m doing something I’ve never done before, I’m offering up the filthiest part of me for inspection, and despite everything the three of us have shared in the past twenty-four hours, I’m flooded with shame. It’s real shame now, not play-shame, and my safe word floats to the top of my mind, a buoy in the clear waters.

Convivificat.

I don’t want to safe out right now, I’m nowhere near the edge, but it’s nice to have it there all the same. Reassuring. There’s nothing they can do that I can’t stop. And anyway, this is who I am—who I’ve been growing into ever since I found the words to define it.”

Feast of Sparks receives four out of five stars

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Thank you again to Sierra Simone and Candi Kane PR. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Sierra Simone’s Feast of Sparks ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.