oracle_of_madness's reviews
1325 reviews

Daphne begins receiving notes that tell her a name and an amount of time.  When this begins, she is at a younger age, and she realizes this is a name and how long the relationship will last. There are definitely ups and downs to this! However,  when Daphne receives a  note that has no expiration date, she begins to question everything. 

This turned into an expected type of story for me, but it was also deeply emotional at times and simply just absolutely enjoyable to read.

Out March 19, 2024! 

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc! 

Anna is off on vacation with the family.  This family just happens to be absolutely infuriating.  However,  when they arrive at their villa in Italy,  Anna immediately gets a distinct feeling of wrongness.  This only gets worse as she learns more about the area and, of course, the villa.  

This book says so much in a very small amount of time.  It's a really quick read.  It's a short book.  And while speaking on just basic horror story vibes, it really includes a lot about family dynamics that I(especially as an only child!) found really interesting, and also I think it's an important topic.  

The atmosphere is everything in this book.  I found this to be almost un-put-downable!!! And all that but also with the perfect kind of dark humor made this a hit for me.

Out March 26, 2024! 

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

This was a long read for me, but I'm so glad I read it and read it all the way to the end because it really left me with some feels, ya'll. 

Sade starts at a boarding school, and I quickly learn that she has a dark past and is going through the grief of a parent.  which, plus a new school, is hard enough. But, on top of it all, her roommate goes missing!

I really feel like this moved at a bit of a slow pace, but more like in a good way.  I found my stride in this book and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the characters the author created while diving deeper into this mystery. 

Out March 19, 2024! 

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

This book, in feelings, has crashed into me.  That's the kind of emotional mess I feel.   Also want to go ahead and recommend for any readers to please look at the content warnings for this book.  

Parents that seem oppressively in control of themselves and their own separate lives, and in a sense, this includes Ariel.  Ariel already feels too large to fit in and wonders at questions of gender  and many things.  But Ariel's real struggles are their own thoughts.  Thoughts that seem to swish and slide around like a huge destructive, blood-craving crocodile.  What Ariel can't figure out alone is that it's not them... it's a type of OCD. 

This author is a brilliant poet, and I am once again amazed.  This one was particularly emotional, I think, because it was a bit longer and had me on edge longer.  It was a very intense but important read. 

Out March 12, 2023! 

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Ripley James brings back two characters that I fell in love with, Cam and Blair, in the first book Missing Clarissa.   I definitely do recommend reading that first because it adds to some character development for several characters.  

Cam and Blair think they are finished Sleuthing until Mattie shows up and begs for their help.  Mattie's lost sister, Lola, has returned, and to say the least.... there is something going on in this family. Mattie explains their theory, but Cam and Blair quickly find themselves looking deeper into this case to help their friend.

This book is really unique.  I like that it had some lgbt characters.  Also, I loved getting to know Cam and Blair even more.  But, the storyline moved a bit too slowly, and the end was a bit anticlimactic.  Otherwise, I did enjoy this. 

Out March 12, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc! 

Okay, I loved this so much. I mean, I feel like this author gave everything in this book, and I am in love.

Fia is just the perfect character. So flawed, frustrating at times, determined, but wow, does this character truly develop.   Fia is on a mission from her Queen "Mother" with handsome prince Rogan to go to the land of the Folk and rescue her half-sister and retrieve an item of power.  Yet, as you might expect.... things don't go as planned. 

First, this is a long fantasy romance, and I hope you are prepared for this gorgeous story.  There are adult themes (smut) and romance, but this just isn't the main plot... at least not way towards the end( and then it's seriously so good!). 

This caught and held my attention primarily because it's a very unique story of the folk. I love reading anything fae, but this really took my imagination to just completely new places.  

Highly recommend!

Out March 12, 2024! 

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Cecilia is a widow from the plague in the late 17th century, and David is a Jewish doctor at that time. Both are struggling with seemingly insurmountable grief for different reasons, but in certain ways, they may be the only ones who can help each other.

This author always impresses me with the most beautiful and delicate prose that really makes me feel as if I am there, in the story.   And, the many details, the attention towards recovery of this kind of grief  is what really makes this story so special to me.

Definitely recommend this! 

Out March 12, 2024

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!

Venus is a brewer of love potions Ina magical and also quite dangerous world.   Venus just  just wants to support her family but is under constant worries.   Some, most, have to dowith the themes of this story that dig deep into social injusti6and similar issues.   Issues that affect her and her loved ones but also many others.

I suppose,  even more than the storytelling,  even though the storytelling was fantastic,  I loved the attention to this type of hatred that still takes place in our world today.  

Overall,  a really great read.

Out March 5, 2024! 

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

MJ Rodriguez has always hidden in the human world. However,  she is half Encanto and next in line for the throne.  When her father suddenly dies, it is her time to claim her place on this throne. 

This is a ya romantic fantasy that is inspired by Filipino mythology.  

I loved how it felt like a bit of a thriller/murder mystery mixed with this very sweet romance! I absolutely loved all the attention to Filipino culture in so many big and small ways.  Bc, let's be real, this is what reading is about ya'll!!!!! I love learning about a different culture while reading a great story. This is not a really long book. It's a fairly quick and easy read, and I just really enjoyed it. 

Out March 5, 2024! 

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!