mymindoutside

mostly for book reviews always looking for new indie books to read i guess art posts too now https://www.goodreads.com/bnichole

[sexchangedotcom]

my beautiful baby who i'm naming untitled document

[sexchangedotcom]

i can't seem to find my baby

[bailey-nichole]

A Draught for a Dragon - R.K. Ashwick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The more the merrier. That's what they say about crimes."

Well, the same can be said about each additional cast member of this series. I don't know how the author does so well to make me so attached to each character they write. I laughed, I cried, I put off finishing the book so I could cling to it for just a bit longer. Each book feels like a hug.

I'm so glad that the relationship between our two Dudes of Brew has progressed beautifully instead of constantly throwing in a 'will they, won't they' especially seeing as they were rivals all those pages ago. There is so much else going on and depth of character that they don't have to rely on the trope to carry the story.

I'm put out that there is no other books to await in either series, but that just means it's time for a re-read. I believe that my collection on the shelf will never be left alone long enough to gather dust.

[bailey-nichole]

“A way to a woman’s heart goes past her cat” - I could not agree more

This was certainly a low stakes cozy fantasy! While it was fantasy, it wasn’t action ridden which made it something smooth and easy to float through the pages. Verrrry slow burn, but I felt it made the romance more realistic than instant-love that fills most of the shelves.

Of Potions and Honey was cute, but not quite seamless. The transitions were choppy at times between chapters that made it difficult to keep up. New chapters start without following previous chapters and instead just start in the middle of an entirely different thought, previous chapters don’t feel like they’ve concluded. I will also note that the last 25% ish has a much quicker pace on the conflict than anything else in the book. The ending conflict is largely unresolved, but cannot fill another entire book with the falling resolution. We really just needed an epilogue. However, the romance plot does end on a good note and could be left as is with a satisfying conclusion. These finishing touches aside, I still enjoyed being dragged into the ambiance and brought along for the ride.

Lastly, I am also gonna need a wood sprite to visit my cats to ensure them a lengthy lifespan as well. Perhaps extra ears for them too will help them to ignore me less (unlikely).

Thank you to Booksirens for this free ARC which I am reviewing voluntarily.

[bailey-nichole]

“Buried beneath the weight of bloodlines and blades” - Our hero thus emerges

It doesn’t read like a debut novel. Theres complex characters, good pacing, and solid action. We as readers are really thrown into the thick of it, but the following chapters have a familiar ebb and flow of fighting, backstory, and a budding romance.

I do think that I expected it to be more about the destination rather than the journey, but it was woven so well that im not disappointed in the slightest.

THATS IT??? THATS HOW IT ENDS????? No destination at all and ends on a cliffhanger. I will need the next installment immediately thank you very much. I am heartbroken that the relationship between the two twists the way it does at the very end, but it was worth the journey and HOPEFULLY there will be time to rebuild in a sequel.

Trigger warnings:

- self harm

- Suicide

- Child abuse

- Sexual assault

Thank you to Booksirens for this free ARC that I have willingly and happily written this review for.

[bailey-nichole]

happy halloween from mav 🤭

[bailey-nichole]

[bailey-nichole]

Mavvir Kael’thalas on his weekends off from The Order and killin vampires

[bailey-nichole]

[bailey-nichole]

The Unwanted Prophet - Carolina Cruz

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“A guest by formality, a prisoner by necessity, and a prophet by bad luck.”

Lovingly, great for Moonknight fans. I didn’t know that was what I was signing myself up for, but it was a good ride. The author does a great job of portraying the mix of anxiety with nihilistic depression with some OCD impulsive skin picking habits thrown into the mix. However, it isn’t overwhelming the story. 

Thank Genthin for the author bringing back fun chapter titles. Humor was just as present as heartfelt soul searching. The narration is casual, but not distractingly so. 

Every time I wondered why the plot has meandered where it did, I suddenly didn’t care because it was still a good time. Soon after, it all the dots would start connecting as well in between the moments of levity. Each character had depth and each step of the story had more to it than met the eye. I originally downloaded the first book just because the second in the series sounded interesting and I didn’t want to miss out on any of the world building, but I am glad that I didn’t skip any of the phenomenal writing this author pours into her work. Excited to see where the next book in the series takes me! 

[bailey-nichole]

Mavvir Kael’thalas- tiefling, paladin, vampire hunter

[bailey-nichole]

The Red King's Mystical Suitors- Lila Mary

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5)

Why is it that you came to court the king, truly?

One came for Respect.

Another for Spite.

The last to Escape.

I wish this had been written in two parts just because I wanted more of it. I loved each of the characters in their own right and only wanted more time with each of them. It felt like we only got fleeting moments and glances at some of the characters and scenes that I wish had more space dedicated to them. I certainly would have paid to read two books worth of this. I was so glad that while each of the suitors came to fight for the king’s heart, it wasn’t full of toxic masculinity. It was so nice that to have a break from all of the constant angst and bitterness and instead get to take a brief respite to some royal fluff for two days. 

Was it perfectly written? Kindly, no. There are some mishaps here and there. I wrote down in my notes that I guessed the end quite literally less than 15% of the way in, but it didn’t spoil the experience even slightly. Much of what stung while I read could have been avoided given a longer page length (imo)👀 and some time to flesh out some things. Might have avoided some of the plot holes and weird time skips, but I digress, it still didn’t take away from any of my enjoyment. I just really wished there had been more. 

[bailey-nichole]

Bloodguard- Cecy Robson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The first half of the book really makes you pour your heart into these characters and then the second half shredding your heart to pieces. The second it hit 50% the author choice VIOLENCE, which is a lot to say considering the first half has a considerable amount of gruesome violence in it to begin with. She was fighting DIRTY. So much of the second half couldn’t have been pulled off without the phenomenal and cunning writing in the first half. By any author less talented, it might have felt cheap. Instead, this was the first book in quite some time that made me feel like I had swallowed a boulder and someone had punched me in the gut. I kept having to walk away from my e-book because I was so genuinely upset, but kept going back so soon because I needed more. It takes a really amazing book for me to feel so awful (and I say that in the best way possible). All of this gore and heartbreak out of the way, Bloodguard is also a hilariously good time. I think about “butt cheeks capable of snapping a wand in half and making a wish” at least once a day and laughed myself to tears when I first saw it. Between each golden gem of pure wit are some hardcore quotes that will sit with me for quite some time. 

The lore and magic system in this world is so naturally built upon in the novel that it doesn’t become overwhelming but is also very richly layered. Each character, even the most inconsequential side character, is so unique and well rounded. It made so many falls so much harder for me to bear. I cannot get enough of a book that makes me feel sick to my stomach with how upset I am because it attests to the author’s talent. I wasn’t expecting laughing my ass off or crying with heartbreak. I will be impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. 

[bailey-nichole]

King of Dust- Tycho Dwelis *Review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is exactly what I needed to get out of my slump. I got through the first third of the book in a single 4-hour shift. The pacing was fast, but not rushing. It really helped not to bog down the beginning with a lot of world-building or info dumping and the backstory was built naturally over time. I know I think it a lot, but this really felt like a Dungeons and Dragons type campaign, or collection of one-shots. 

Darius is quite Astarion coded and each character felt unique. I do wish that over time there was more to explore with each of the side characters, but it also would have changed the entire pacing of the novel. It really was a great time! I loved the character art at the very beginning as well. The only downside was that things got a scootch unorganized every once in a while, especially at the end. However, these minor infractions didn’t take away from the story or my enjoyment, just was a little bump or two in the road. Will definitely have to recommend! 

[hazeldomain]

You can fight AI in indie publishing by leaving reviews.

Seriously.

Ai-generated garbage is flooding the self-publishing market. It works as a numbers game- put out ENOUGH fake crap and eventually someone’s aunt will buy them the ebook as an unwanted gift, and you’ll have made two dollars. This tactic works at SCALE, which means real independent titles are now a needle amongst a haystack of slop.

If you have read a book this year that has less than 5 reviews, your rating is an algorithmic spotlight on that needle.

A one sentence review helps. Really. A star rating helps if you really can’t think of anything to say, but if you can muster up even “I laughed at the part about the tabby cat” you are doing indie authors a favor like you cannot believe.

(Also if you left a review on one of my books this year I am kissing you so softly on your forehead and I adore you)

[bailey-nichole]

The Hollows- Apolline Lucy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a lovely, cozy, witchy little fantasy. From the beginning, this book gave me the vibe of softly spooky Stardew Valley, despite the seemingly grim characters we follow. We follow a half-demon, a witch who regularly removes her own bones for violence, and our MC who is coming to terms with her connection to ghosts. Brume, an unwilling reaper, an accomplice to death itself. Don’t let the 27 ghost cats fool you, it gets pretty dark and grim. That being said, it was still done in such a way that kept the cozy atmosphere despite such high stakes. Everything about the imagery and world building wanted me to make fan art, and perhaps one day I will get to it.

That all being said, there are a few things that threw me off. First, I have no idea how old these MCs are supposed to be. They could be anywhere from their teens based on their behavior to their twenties considering they are out of school and somewhat on their own. Brume did make me feel seen with the idea that she wasn’t enough or was being held back, however, occasionally it did edge into being a bit too much ‘poor me’. The novel did hold a steady pace for the first 60% of the book and transitioned well through each trial. After the characters left the swamp, the pace did kind of spin out until the climax. To parallel that, Brume did as well. I understand why her perception has changed with her newfound magic, but it was very hasty given the lack of recognition that it was out of her control. Going from ‘murder is bad and I am nothing’ to ‘I will kill anyone in my way and I am Death herself’ was a quick jump. In the conclusion, Brume was able to reconcile those two extremes.

The ending was truly beautiful. I want to wake up to my own 27 ghost cats each day. Yuna’s story just made me cry, her friendship to Brume so bittersweet. I hope one day we are able to return to a world like this, or see what else Lucy can dream up that is this unique. I will certainly be keeping an eye on what else this author releases.

[bailey-nichole]

into the shadow world, rat ass first

the beloved tatiana finally getting to kill her captor, then watch him get beheaded a second time, THEN watching the dm resurrect him and run off with his body

[bailey-nichole]

Ink Blood Sister Scribe- Emma Torzs

I really hope one day a sequel or spinoff is created, because I just love the magic system created. I love it when magic has a system or process instead of being freely given, you have to earn that power and truly understand it to wield it. It's always somewhat disappointing when any random teenager can Yield the Power of God willy nilly. Instead, this book feeds right into a somewhat dark academia vibe.

Throughout the three storylines are so intricately woven together, its insane how much of it connects and how. The backstory of each is also integrated smoothly in ways that can break your heart or soften it towards characters even more.

Much like Jo, I would also have absolutely used this limited magical spell to find my own stray cat (Little Friend), and I'm glad he made himself a staple.

Absolute five stars and hope to have it on my shelf physically one day soon!