Blog Archives - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Kurosawa Style

31/10/2021

Star Wars: Visions: Ronin by Emma Mieko Candon

The Ronin hunts the Sith down, continuing a journey that began two decades ago. But he can no longer avoid the one he betrayed and nor can he avoid the Jedi, those who control the light currents of the Force and are dedicated to the Empire. The road to redemption is littered with other travellers and their complicated motivations - which can either help or hinder.

This was such a fascinating take on the IP and I was delighted to delve more into the universe presented to us in that very short episode of Star Wars: Visions. The other Disney canon books have been heavily constricted by conformity, their authors forced to play it safe. Ronin, however, is a risk. It works. And it takes Star Wars back to its Japanese-inspired roots. While I think that the Sith/Jedi dichotomy could have made a bit more sense (i.e. Sith being servants of the Empire instead), I really applaud Candon for how well they pulled this off.

More Miss Than Hit

29/10/2021

The Witch Collector (Witch Walker #1)
by Charissa Weaks

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Raina Bloodgood has lost her sister to the Witch Collector, but now she has a plan to finally end him with the God Knife her father once carried. But Collecting Day does not goes as planned - for anyone. Forced to travel with the Witch Collector after her village is attacked, Raina knows she must wait to get her revenge, but the longer she waits the longer she has to develop feelings for him.

This was a pleasant enough read, especially once things finally got interesting (after the 50% mark - I don't DNF if I can help it!). The weak worldbuilding resulted in confusion and a lack of investment on my part - and just when I was beginning to enjoy myself, I hit that rather lacklustre ending. I think the trilogy format really hurt this first book in terms of pacing. Which is too bad, since it had a lot of potential.

It's so FLUFFAY

23/10/2021

Dance to a Wylder Beat by Marilyn Barr

Nartan Sagebrush advertises for a quiet wife, but the mail order bride that arrives is Olive Muegge. She doesn't know how to cook the food he prefers, she certainly isn't quiet, and she carries a secret - she's a bear shifter and cannot refuse to shift for too long. Olive craves a family and home of her own, but she might be too much for Nartan.

This was a very sweet story that allowed the leads to slowly, naturally develop feelings for each other. Nartan and Olive really fit together quite well. Sometimes even I found Olive a bit much, but I did enjoy seeing her and Nartan get their happy ending. Quite a fluffy story, despite the rough setting - and Nartan and Olive's rough start!

Tense in Texas

21/10/2021

Bound (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #3)
by Kat Kinney

West writes happy endings in his fanfics, but he knows he can never have one for himself - because his powers can get out of control and bind people to him. He's already made that mistake once. He accidentally bound Topher to him while trying to save his life and no matter how much his wolf wants Topher, West knows he can't go there. But what if Topher wants him to?

Loved this one! So much tension. So much intrigue. I'm enjoying how the story is developing over the books. As for West and Topher...oof, that was some delicious denial they had going on. I would rate this higher, except I've noticed that Kinney's characters can sometimes "sound" too similar too each other. For example, the text messages sent by each character all read as if written by the same person. It's becoming more noticeable the more I read of the series.

Craving More of This

17/10/2021

Crave (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #2)
by Kat Kinney

Dallas lost Lacey the night he accidentally infected her with the virus that made her a werewolf. He was exiled and shunned, but now he's made a name for himself by opening a restaurant - right across the street from where Lacey works. Avoiding her is impossible. Being with her is almost just as impossible. Because it's his fault she lost everything.

I am really enjoying this series. The overarching plot connecting the books is intriguing and strong, which keeps me coming back for more. We're being introduced slowly to Kinney's world of shifters, without a deluge of information, and we're also being encouraged to fall in love with this dysfunctional family. So I'm definitely sticking around for more.

New Wolf Rising

14/10/2021

Dark (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #1)
by Kat Kinney

Hayden wouldn't usually go anywhere near Ethan after how things ended, but something strange has happened. Something bit her and now she can't control herself. Ethan doesn't do serious relationships. Being a shifter with a painful past makes things too complicated. But Hayden got under his skin and never left. He'll find some way protect her - even if he can't keep his hands off her.

A delightfully steamy novel that effortlessly introduced a new shifter world to explore, along with Ethan and his brothers. And Hayden was a a ridiculously cool MC, despite what was happening to her lol. I blitzed through this - it was easy to, really. The emotional stakes were just as high as the physical ones. I do wish Hayden and Ethan had encountered a few more obstacles, though.

Boy, do I miss the cookie cutter!

12/10/2021

Retribution (The Pack #2)
by Geena Tillman

Markus is hunting a pack traitor when he happens upon a small town and stays in the B&B belonging to Missy, a local derby champion. Markus thinks he knows where the danger is. But it might come from an unexpected source. Meanwhile, stuff happens with the pack at home.

I would have really loved this book to actually focus on the characters mentioned in the blurb. I don't expect, in a PNR series, to have to read about book 1's couple having sex in book 2 when the story is supposed to be following another couple instead. To make matters worse, other couples were also getting page time and constantly interrupting the plot. This could have been so much better if it was spread out over more books. A disappointing read.

A Cookie-Cutter PNR

10/10/2021

Blue Moon (The Pack #1)
by Geena Tillman

Jason is trying to run his werewolf pack in the aftermath of his father's death, but not everyone wants to keep in line. Elise has just arrived in town after running from an abusive situation and is out taking photos in the woods when Jason finds her. They have an instant connection. But both of them are being stalked by danger.

This was a pretty standard paranormal romance and does the usual stuff you'd expect of book one - starts the series, sets up the world, introduces characters who will get their own stories. There's quite a few spelling/grammar errors, but I didn't find them that intrusive. I did feel that the bevy of POVs detracted from the main couple, however. An average read.

Meta in the Margins

10/10/2021

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Savannah works for Pennington Publishing, where commercial fiction is frowned upon - there's no way she can ever reveal that she's written a romance novel. She hides her manuscript in a secret room, hoping to avoid prying eyes, but someone finds it and starts leaving notes in the margins. Savannah might be losing her heart, but who exactly is she losing it to?

What a fun, delightful romcom. I've always had a weakness for books that are a bit meta and this is definitely one of those. Savannah was easily likeable, sympathetic and relatable - especially to other writers. I enjoyed many parts of Meet Me in the Margins (the courthouse scene made me cackle out loud) and do wish some of said parts had been expanded more, but all in all this book made for a pleasant afternoon of reading.

Sequel of Improvement

9/10/2021

Oaths of Legacy (The Bloodright Trilogy #2)
by Emily Skrutskie

Ettian has assumed his birthright, accomplished by what Gal sees as the greatest betrayal. Gal is now his prisoner and has an opportunity to poison the enemy from the inside. And Ettian won't stay away from him. It's almost too perfect. All he has to do is play on Ettian's insecurities and drive a wedge between Ettian and his people - and definitely NOT get derailed by his own feelings.

It's true that a lot of trilogies stumble in the middle, but this one didn't. Mostly because the first book was so disappointing and directionless that practically anything would have been an improvement. The sequel has a much stronger story, so much more purpose, that it's easy to overlook how freaking annoying Gal is as a character and a narrator. Also I am such a sucker for angsty lovers-to-enemies who can't seem to keep out of each other's orbit.