endless_tbr_list's reviews
331 reviews

Nonfiction can be tricky and isn't always for everyone, but if you're in the mood for some Roman history and true crime, this just might be the book for you. Many people are familiar with Romulus and Remus and Julius Caesar, so it's probably no surprise to most that Ancient Rome saw it's fair share of killing, but what may surprise you is the Romans' views on murder, including when it was considered a crime and when it wasn't. In A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Emma Southon delves into the world of Ancient Rome and looks at the culture surrounding life and death, often specifically focusing on the ordinary peoples' attitudes towards murder. From parricide to crucifixion to gladiators, this novel looks at murder in it's many forms, comparing those times when society viewed the loss of life as a crime, and when it might simply have been a punishment. 

Although a heavy topic, this novel's tone is on the lighter side and the chapters are sprinkled with humorous commentary and more than a few swears. I chose to listen to the audiobook version and absolutely loved Sophie Ward's narration! I thought she did a wonderful job and, paired with Southon's entertaining way of writing, this book flew by to the point where I honestly wish it had been longer. Despite its polarizing subject (and possibly tone), if you choose to stick with it, I do think you'll enjoy yourself and learn quite a bit in the process!  

Born blessed - with the goddess's own mark tattooed on her body - Bria Radcliffe has always known luck. She is a Charm who encounters no inconvenience or danger in life, finding buried treasure and escaping disastrous storms with not a scratch, and sharing that luck with all those around her. But as much good as the mark does, it has left her feeling like an object more than a person. 

There is only one man who has always treated her as herself, as Bria and not as an endless fountain of luck, and now he is the only man in the town who has not bid for her hand. Weston Wildes is both her brother's best friend and a Null, one of those to whom bad luck and misfortune clings. Yet he is also the man she loves, and one of the few people who can give her what she wants - freedom - for should they touch, both their marks will be erased and their luck along with it. 

An tale of love, loss, and luck of both kinds - this was an exciting and steamy read. The premise was quite interesting and, I thought, executed well. Bria and Weston were enjoyable characters, and I very much appreciated the fact that their love did not feel rushed or hallow. Overall a quick read with a clever and unique magic system that made for some spicy romance.

Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. 

What's more fun than a fake-dating couple wading into an over-the-top Italian wedding featuring a Capulet and Montague style family feud? How about two fake-dating couples!
 
After a childhood of continuous moves, Nora D’Amato has finally found her place - she's got her own apartment, a solid job, and she's making real friends. When one of said friends needs to get his overbearing family off his back, Nora steps into the role of (fake) girlfriend for his sister's wedding. Playing the part of a happy couple for the next week should be no problem, or at least it wouldn't have been if Nora didn't run into her new crush, Sebastian, at the check-in desk. But it turns out Nora and Benji aren't the only ones with something to hide this week. Sebastian and his date Alessia, the groom's twin sister, have chosen to undertake a fake-dating scheme of their own. Now the only way both couples will survive this wedding with their 'relationships' in tact, and keep the family drama from escalating even further, is if Sebastian and Nora refrain from acting on the feelings that are blossoming between them.
 
The Great Dating Fake Off is a delightfully entertaining and dramatic good time! Double the fake relationships means double the potential for disaster, adding a fun level of risk to an already chaotic story. Nora and Sebastian as both great friends - it was so easy to see why they'd fall for one another, which really added to the romance I thought. I also really loved seeing their interactions with the other characters, particularly Nella who was a delight all her own, and the family drama was as crazy as you would expect, but I was very pleased the resolution. I'll say it, Alessia was a true MVP. Wonderfully paced with a sweet and spicy romance, this was a great read! 
 
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A deliciously slow burn thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. The Van Laar family has owned the Camp Emerson for generations. Set up in the Adirondacks, for 9 months out of the year the grounds are largely home only to the family and their guests, but come June, Camp Emerson transforms into a summer camp - and in 1975 it's a temporary home to 91 campers, including the Van Laar's thirteen-year-old daughter, Barbara. 

June bleeds into July bleeds into August and the campers are settling in, being taught to build traps, make fires, and find shelter, learning to survive in woods that are unforgiving and yet generous in their way. When one morning Barbara is discovered missing from her bunk, a search ensues as panic sweeps the camp, for Barbara is not the first Van Laar child to go missing. Fourteen years earlier, her brother, Bear, vanished from the same woods, and neither he nor his body have never been found. 

By jumping between years and timelines, as well as points of view, the story expertly builds a mounting sense of fear as new pieces of information come to light. Filled with a well written, complex, and varied cast of characters, this story will leave you furious and heartbroken, frustrated and proud. Touching on family, community, acceptance, and love, The God of the Woods is an intense read, and - perhaps at its core - simply a tale of survival.

Thank you to Riverhead Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.