Thank you to Netgalley as well as the publisher for providing me with an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
In this novel we follow Matt Barnes who was an amazing high school football player. He had his life all organized and planned out, he had been accepted to USC. Then a freak snowboarding accident happens and Matt finds out he will never play football again. His leg has too much…
This was a most anticipated 2019 read of mine, I was not let down in the slightest.
I had heard many mixed things about this book, the main gripe I heard was that it wasn’t as good as her other series. My first thought was “Oh No, Will I like it then?” I sat down and thought about it, to realize of course it’s not! It was her debut novel, and I might add in my opinion it was a hell of a debut.
Product Website: Loreal Paris My Rating: [usr 4.5] Do you dye your hair? I do, and it’s been many colours over the years. Right now it’s jet black, which means my auburnish roots show through really quickly when it’s been even just a week or two since my last colouring. I found something really awesome through Influenster though. (Are you an Influenster member? You should be. Sign up and you…
The Right to Write: An Invitation and Initiation into the Writing Life by Julia Cameron My rating: [usr 4.5] Are you a writer? Or a wannabe writer? Or just think maybe someday you might write something, if you have time and can get around to it, maybe? Then you might like this book. “We should write because it is human nature to write. Writing claims our world. It makes it directly and…
The Man in the Black Suit: 4 Dark Tales by Stephen King My rating: [usr 4.5] “What you write down sometimes leaves you forever, like old photographs left in the bright sun, fading to nothing but white. I pray for that sort of release.” Technically, this is a re-read, because I’ve read these four tales previously, in the other anthologies they were a part of. But I love short fiction, especially…
Overall – [usr=4.5] Bottle Claims – pure Canadian Rye Whisky and maple syrup, no other additives or preservatives. I was skeptical about this, just like I’m skeptical of just about anything that has maple flavour in it. It’s one of those things that people just do too often to try to make something not so great sound Canadian. In this case, it worked out really well. This stuff was awesome…
Sequel to On Fingers Broken Long Ago; Draco is campaigning for a board seat, Harry still sort of hates Zacharias, and a dragon pox outbreak hits the second floor staff, so nobody has time for anything. Oh, and then there's maple syrup.
Author: oflights
Rating: NC17
Warnings: disregards epilogue, adult language, sexual situations (including oral, anal, rimming and a bit of foodsmut, yay!) Bottom!Draco
Word count: ~23,000
Wizarding Level:
Snape Says: Despite this student's apparent concerns about the word count, I actually found this to be an appropriately paced and lengthed assignment. Again, an admirable grasp of Misters Potter and Malfoy's behavior and an entertaining piece to mark.
READ THE FULL REVIEWS UNDER THE LINK!
Cash:
Plot: 4/5
Characterization: 5/5
Writing Skill: 5/5
Creativity: 4/5
Wrap-up: 4.5/5
Total: 22.5/25
This sequel is pretty well just as enjoyable as it’s predecessor. Actually, I quite liked that it wasn’t as long, just an excerpt of their lives afterwards, and I quite liked the story line. Draco and Harry are fucking *adorable* and just like the first one, this Draco is absolutely *delicious*. Wonderfully stubborn and glaring and brilliant, and actually, he shows a lot more of his softer side in this one, as he’s already with Harry, and it was quite sweet to read. Most importantly, he was definitely still in character.
The development between our 2 boys was fabulous, I loved the way they dealt with the L word and their feelings for one another. Of course, the sex was fucking wonderful and sexy and HOT, so certainly no complaint in that regard. The writing is pretty much flawless, I really love this author so she did not disappoint in this sequel. The cute wrap up warms my heart and I quite look forward to the third one, although I really really hate Draco/Luna, and I heard there is quite a presence of them in the last one, so we’ll see what happens...
Boze:
Plot: 5/5
Characterization: 4.5/5
Writing level: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Wrap up: 5/5
Total:24/25
Okay. I fucking love this author, I love this Draco, I love this Harry. I loved that the confrontation that NEEDED to happen, happened. Harry needs to start standing up to Draco and not letting him get away with things, and you don’t really get to see that in OFBLA, and it was fucking lovely to see that the author deliberately filled that gap in. It was a perfect continuation/snap shot of that world, from Zacharias Smith’s lecturing Harry, to Draco’s perfect perfect PERFECT admission of his feelings for Harry (GOD I can’t get over how RIGHT that felt, not using the “l-word” but you still get to see the depth of Draco’s character, and the depth of his feelings so clearly). And Harry’s foolishness about Zach. And Draco’s relentless ambition. And just. GAH. I’m gushing because I will never get over this author’s brilliance. The way she can manage to not only write a beautiful long fic, but this snapshot was the perfect length as well. The whole concept of one of them getting sick, was handled with perfect caution, not too sappy, just the right amount of worry. The ONLY objection I would have is that Ginny goes OFF. THE. RAILS in this fic. But since she’s presented as so volatile and ginger-y in OFBLA, it’s plausible, if a little far-fetched. Perfectly light-hearted, with a touch of angst, because man… Harry is just so far gone with Draco and it kind of makes you ache.
Zhein:
Plot: 3.5/5
Characterization: 4.5/5
Writing Skill: 5/5
Creativity: 3.5/5
Wrap-up: 4.5/5
Total: 21/25
Sequels aren't usually as good as their predecessors. While a lot shorter than "On Fingers Broken Long Ago", it's almost just as good. I'm actually almost tempted to copy-paste my previous review, partly because I'm lazy and partly because what was true previously still applies now. This is especially true with the writing--it's just as lovely and riveting.
The plot may be a little less complicated than in "On Fingers...", but it's still interesting and pretty realistic. Characterizations here are strong and consistent from the previous fic, although I'm a bit iffy on Ginny's jealousy. (I haven't met a girl like how she was in real life, but I've heard they exist.) I love the sense of camaraderie in the Bugs department, especially in this time of hardship, which includes a tyrannical Draco and dragon pox. I'm mourning the lack of Luna, but what can I do?
Of course, what better way to end a fic than with dirty dirty porn (other than with everyone finally understanding each other and stop being so insecure)? See the word maple syrup? That should give you a hint. All in all, a strong sequel, and even better if read right after "On Fingers..."
Final Grade: Exceeds Expectations; 4.5 stars
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He lights a cigarette across the pub, his hand cupped to his mouth as the tip sparks to life in a faint orange flare, and my breath catches.
Author: Femme
Rating: NC17
Warnings: Infidelity, Bottom!Draco
Word count: ~4,000
Wizarding Level:
Snape Says: I don't believe I've ever had anything negative to say about this student. As always, she soars above standard expectations and I am forced to think of it not as an assignment I have to grade, but as something I can sit back with, a cold scotch in my hand, and enjoy the inevitable pleasure to come.
READ THE FULL REVIEWS UNDER THE LINK!
SlytherinInCashmere:
Plot: 3.5/5
Characterization: 4.5/5
Writing level: 5/5
Creativity: 4/5
Wrap up: 5/5
Total: 22/25
Reading this out loud to a dear friend of mine, I was just as intrigued as she was. Being a smoker myself, I must admit that I adored the symbolism of the cigarettes. This story would fit well into J. K. Rowling’s mysterious “19 years later” span of time. Despite its brevity, this most certainly makes it into the list of fics I would highly suggest to others.
Pelican:
Plot: 3.5/5
Characterization: 4/5
Writing level: 4/5
Creativity: 3.5/5
Wrap up: 4/5
Total: 19/25
This was a pretty straightforward infidelity fic, so much so that it is borderline overdone, which lost it points in creativity. But I like how Draco isn't clingy and has no illusions about the extent of his relationship with Harry, but at the same time knows how deep his feelings for him goes. I also liked the lack of resolution for their relationship which leaves it open for you to interpret. She leaves it open enough for you to draw your own conclusions about what will happen to their relationship. In the end, it was more about the smut than it was about the relationship, but for this piece, that worked well. Overall, it was nicely written.
Rosetta:
Plot: 5/5
Characterization: 5/5
Writing level: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Wrap up: 5/5
Total: 25/25
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Everything this author writes is perfect. This is just a short piece, a heartbreaking piece, and it’s wonderful in all of its awfulness (because it will make you ache). It’s one of the first fics I ever read and one of the reasons I sought to read more. Infidelity and unrequited love leads to tears over what is only one scene of our boys together. And for all the things that the fic doesn’t tell us, you can still feel the darkness looming when you read it. It’s heavy and painful and perfectly executed angst (I could even overlook the use of the word “baby” even though that is one of my biggest dislikes) and I don’t have any issues with anything here. And even though the sex is incredibly hot, you’ll be too busy being upset to really appreciate it afterwards. It stands alone, gives just enough for you to be emotionally attached, and will leave you choked up with an aching chest. Lovely, brilliant…read it.
Final Grade: Exceeds Expectations; 4.5 stars
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