• ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Presidential by Lola Keeley | ARC Review

    Cover of Presidential (Lola Keeley)

    Presidential by Lola Keeley


    Content warnings: shooting, off-page deaths, parental loss, spousal loss, biphobia from antagonists, uses of ableist language

    There have been a lot of discussions on how this book closely resembles Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay The American President. Since I have never seen the film, I decided to read Presidential first, rate it, then skim through the script. Therefore, the similarities between the two works do not affect my rating. I consider Presidential as Keeley reimagining a queer, female The American President.

  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising by Karen Frost | ARC Review

    Cover of Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising (Karen Frost)

    Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising (Destiny and Darkness #2) by Karen Frost


    Content warnings: death, blood, cult, kidnapping, mind control

    This story has certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. Frost made great decisions on where a chapter should break, and I find myself unable to even pause reading.

    In part two of Daughter of Fire, Aeryn (16) finally learns that her family is likely alive. And some people around her are definitely up to no good. When things break into chaos, can Aeryn and her fellow students save the kingdom they don’t really care for?

  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark by Karen Frost

    Cover of Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark (Karen Frost)

    Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark (Destiny and Darkness #1) by Karen Frost


    Content warning: death of minor characters, magical gaslighting, blood, kidnapping, minor character with cancer

    This is part one of Daughter of Fire. Though possibly unfair to rate now, it was indeed published as two separate books. I am giving a somewhat positive rating since the story is fairly good so far. With the knowledge of only 50% of the plot, this review might be a little spoilery but not much more than what the publisher’s blurb already stated.

  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    Architects of Memory by Karen Osborne | ARC Review

    Cover of Architects of Memory (Karen Osborne)

    Architects of Memory (The Memory War #1) by Karen Osborne


    Indenture Ash knows if Aurora found out about her celestium sickness, she will never become citizen. But priorities change when she stumbles upon a huge corporate conspiracy that contradicts everything she used to know.


  • ARCs,  Book Reviews,  Fiction

    The Unexpected Dream by Nicole Pyland | ARC Review

    Cover of The Unexpected Dream (Nicole Pyland)

    The Unexpected Dream (Sports #3) by Nicole Pyland


    Content warnings: divorce, biphobia

    The Unexpected Dream is a softball romance, which should totally be a trope.

    Mia Landis (30, bisexual) accidentally got pregnant and misses her chance of playing at Tokyo Olympics. Used to be a prodigy pitcher on the national team, her life now revolves around handling her divorce, caring for her two-year-old daughter Hazel, and coaching softball at her old high school. When a player mentions tryouts for a professional league, Mia decides to give it a try. Skylar Donahue (25, lesbian) also wanted to play at Tokyo but had injured her wrist weeks before the games. She ends up being the pitching coach when all she wants is to be a player. With her lingering injury, she cannot pitch but just might make the team in the new league as a catcher.