A creative and sensual novel that doesn’t disappoint.
A magic portal transports an overworked entrepreneur to a fantasyland in a loose, erotic spin on a classic tale.
In this steamy, contemporary reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—the first in a planned series—Alice Hightower was abandoned as a child and now, at 49, insists on controlling every aspect of her life. As the ambitious CEO of Excellcardia, a revolutionary biomedical company about to launch a breakthrough cardiac device, she’s found great career success. However, her cynicism toward love has kept her single, and she regularly discusses her anxieties with her psychiatrist. As with Rea’s rousing second novel, Conjuring Casanova (2016), the author doesn’t waste much time on narrative exposition. Instead, she quickly sends her protagonist through a time-travel portal, located just behind Alice’s balcony door, through which she visits bygone eras and fantastical dimensions. Alice dons outfits that mysteriously appear in her mirrored closet at home, dressing in 1970s bell-bottoms to tour with a British rock band, satin lace to attend a Roman orgy, and a formal ball gown to enjoy a Venetian carnival. Everywhere she goes, her sexual desires are described in meticulously detailed scenes. Leaving behind “the serious, conservative CEO that was Alice in the daylight,” she revels in her new, secret persona. Running alongside these adventures are clinical notes from her psychiatrist, who suggests that Alice may be suffering from inherited, high-functioning bipolar disorder, which has a sobering effect on the novel’s hypersexual fantasy. Still, the vast majority of this work is lavishly embellished with descriptions of historical locales and sexy, insatiable characters, making it an explicit, erotic treat for adults. Whether Alice is tickled by the affections of twins named Don and Dan or washed ashore with swashbuckling pirates, open-minded readers will appreciate and savor Rea’s literary creativity. The author’s fresh, flirtatious take is provocative and lucidly described; eventually, though, reality catches up with and even surpasses Alice’s imagination, forcing her to reevaluate her career and her capacity for love.
A creative and sensual novel that doesn’t disappoint.Pub Date: July 22, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-953735-76-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An emotionally charged and passionate farewell to an invigorating fantasy series.
Godhood is close at hand for Séverin and his crew in the epic conclusion to the Gilded Wolves trilogy.
Immediately following the devastating events of The Silvered Serpents(2020), Séverin, now separated from his friends, possesses the divine lyre. It’s a legendary instrument that, when played within the sacred temple beneath Poveglia, or Plague Island, could grant godly powers—and Séverin’s lineage renders him its sole player. Ruslan, the diabolical patriarch of the Fallen House, is the key to finding said temple, and Séverin must tread carefully if he wants to rescue Laila, Enrique, Zofia, and Hypnos, who have lost faith in him after his seeming betrayal at the Sleeping Palace in Russia. With a single clue, they traverse Venice to reunite with Séverin because Laila’s days are numbered and Séverin’s fantastical desires may hold her last chance at living. Chokshi crafts a final magnificent adventure infused with exhilarating perils and diverse mythologies, characters, and languages. While Séverin’s undying love for Laila and fear of losing his friends are at the forefront of this story, every character is beloved and worthy of praise, each possessing unique gifts, drives, and histories, although comedic-relief Hypnos deserves more opportunities to shine. There is no question that this is the end, and readers invested since the first installment will hold this last story close to their hearts.
An emotionally charged and passionate farewell to an invigorating fantasy series. (Historical fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-14460-7
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A satisfying, powerful conclusion.
The conclusion to the Raven Rings trilogy sees the brewing of a war 1,000 years in the making.
Hirka crossed over from contemporary Earth into Dreysíl and hopes to finally meet her blood family in the land of her father, Graal. In the place where the deadborn live in a strict, hierarchical society, she must once again carve a place for herself while her relatives plot an invasion of her home world in search of the Might. Meanwhile, Rime makes his way back to Ym only to find everything changed, his position as Ravenbearer compromised, and his few allies diminished in number and power. As Rime struggles to stop Graal and his invading horde and Hirka seeks a peaceful solution as well as a way to save Rime’s life, they desperately forge a path toward one another. This fantastic follow-up to The Rot (2021), translated from the original Norwegian, delves further into the mythology of its parallel worlds, the power of the Might, and a character-driven exploration of the intersections of power, identity, and belonging. Moments of repetitive internal monologue seep into an otherwise strong narrative in which the two protagonists experience significant growth as they find their footing in an unforgiving world during their search for answers, peace, and, ultimately, love. The main characters are White.
A satisfying, powerful conclusion. (glossary) (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64690-002-2
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Arctis Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
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