The Library of the Uncommons

Chetana reviewed My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1 (light Novel) by Akumi Agitogi

No cover — Akumi Agitogi, Tsukiho Tsukioka: My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1 (light Novel) (2022, Yen Press LLC)

Review of 'My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1 (light Novel)' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3.5⭐️

This is my 2nd ever light novel read. And I have to say I enjoyed it. I came across this novel by way of the Netflix adaptation that came out recently. I saw the trailer and was hooked. I thought I would read the manga instead of waiting for episodes to come out and realized the light novels were available too. So I chose to read that.

I liked this story. Its simple and has the arranged marriage and forced proximity trope in a historical Japanese setting which I love. The story isn't anything new or groundbreaking but I like the classic tried and true trope sometimes. This story is also similar to another anime I quite liked - Taisho Otome Fairy Tale by Sana Kirioka

All in all a great read

Chetana reviewed Shelter for a Shifter by Lauren Connolly

Review of 'Shelter for a Shifter' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

3.75⭐️

This book came up a couple of times in my scrolling of Goodreads under the books I was looking to read. And even though it is a 4th in the series I saw it could be read as a standalone. And as the other books didn't catch my interest as this one did I took a chance and read it. I am glad I did. This past week or two I have been rereading books and have started and dropped quite a few books. I am in the start of a book slump. It is a first world problem in it's own way - I have literally a 1000 books loaded on my system and I couldn't find a book to read to save the life of me. And then I find this book and devour it in a day. A blessing and a shame.

This book has a …

3.75⭐️

This book came up a couple of times in my scrolling of Goodreads under the books I was looking to read. And even though it is a 4th in the series I saw it could be read as a standalone. And as the other books didn't catch my interest as this one did I took a chance and read it. I am glad I did. This past week or two I have been rereading books and have started and dropped quite a few books. I am in the start of a book slump. It is a first world problem in it's own way - I have literally a 1000 books loaded on my system and I couldn't find a book to read to save the life of me. And then I find this book and devour it in a day. A blessing and a shame.

This book has a FMC who comes off as a Mary Sue character, but shows us she is more by the end of the book and an MMC who comes off as an Alpha-hole (and is to a certain extent) but is head over heels for the FMC. The magic system and the world in this book is fascinating and there's probably nuances I am missing from my not having read the other books but I got enough of them to not detract from me enjoying this story. It was fast paced and had both moments of levity and deep emotions.

If someone is looking for a lightish read I would recommend this book.

Chetana rated Monstress, Vol. 1: 5 stars

Sana Takeda, Marjorie M. Liu, Marjorie Liu: Monstress, Vol. 1 (Paperback, 2016, Image Comics)

Monstress, Vol. 1 by Sana Takeda, Marjorie M. Liu, Marjorie Liu (Monstress, #1)

"Set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, Monstress tells the epic story of Maika Halfwolf, …

Chetana rated Monstress, Vol. 1: 5 stars

Monstress, Vol. 1 by Sana Takeda, Marjorie M. Liu, Marjorie Liu (Monstress, #1)

"Set in an alternate world of art deco beauty and steampunk horror, Monstress tells the epic story of Maika Halfwolf, …

Chetana reviewed Pebble for Lewis by Amy Bellows

Review of 'Pebble for Lewis' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3.25⭐️

This was a great palate cleanser after my last read. This is what I mean when I say I wanna read a fluffy low to no angst romance. This book had the added bonus of having some interesting world building too.

Chetana reviewed Consort's Glory : The New Protectorate by Abigail Kelly

Review of "Consort's Glory : The New Protectorate" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

4,25⭐️

I have been looking for books where communication happens between the partners and there isn't a separation between the two for stupid reasons. And I am glad to say I found it in this book (though the FMC does decide to get some space form the MMC for a less than a day to get her head around a few things). It also speaks well for this story that the MMC, though an alpha at first read/description, is totally gone for Margot. I mean Theodore is my favourite in this book. I love the extent he goes to to make sure Margot is his but not in a stalkery way but in the way that he makes sure to always be there for her and do whatever it takes to make her safe and happy.

Can I say that ;ole Theodore I am not a fan of Margot's family? …

4,25⭐️

I have been looking for books where communication happens between the partners and there isn't a separation between the two for stupid reasons. And I am glad to say I found it in this book (though the FMC does decide to get some space form the MMC for a less than a day to get her head around a few things). It also speaks well for this story that the MMC, though an alpha at first read/description, is totally gone for Margot. I mean Theodore is my favourite in this book. I love the extent he goes to to make sure Margot is his but not in a stalkery way but in the way that he makes sure to always be there for her and do whatever it takes to make her safe and happy.

Can I say that ;ole Theodore I am not a fan of Margot's family? Either of them? The way she was treated just grates at me and I hope she sees that soon. Though this book has a mystery in the bombing at the beginning of the book, it mostly focuses on Theodore and Margot and his attempt to win her over and the way they come to love each other. I know there are other books in this series with different couples but I am not sure they will top Theodore and Margot. So I am going to give this world a break. Maybe.

Chetana reviewed His Sassy Omega by Raiven Matthews

Review of 'His Sassy Omega' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

3.7-4⭐️

I was not expecting to like this book either. It seems to be a part of my life lately with the books I read. Which is a great and lovely thing. Though set in the omegaverse this read like a well written out romance novel. There were no external conflicts and no real 3rd act break up which was very much appreciated ( I am coming to hate those) and there was great communocation between the MC's. I quite liked Lachlan better than I did Quinn as I felt his character was driven by his past while Quinn seemed a bit 2-D with Sass being his main trait for a while. But that changed through the xourse of the book. There are 3 more books in this series and I am probably going to read about the next brother in the next one.

Chetana reviewed Fergus's Hurricane by Taylor Rylan

Review of "Fergus's Hurricane" on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

2.5⭐️

Chetana reviewed Diego's Heart by Taylor Rylan

Review of "Diego's Heart" on 'Goodreads'

1 star

1.5⭐️

Chetana reviewed Grantham by Taylor Rylan

Review of 'Grantham' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

2.25⭐️

Chetana reviewed Constantine by Taylor Rylan

Review of 'Constantine' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

1.75⭐️

This was not as nice as the other books in the series.I feel like there wasn't a lot to the plot and what conflicts were there were solved offscreen.

Chetana reviewed Balthazar by Jay Aheer

Review of 'Balthazar' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

2.5⭐️

And I am back in the paranormal world created by Taylor Rylan. They are great books to breeze through when I want to read something quick with low angst. In this case there was a small conflict to right but there were a few things left unexplained towards the end. I am hoping those loose ends will be tied up in the next few books though.

Chetana reviewed The Human Familiar by Honor Raconteur

Review of 'The Human Familiar' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3⭐️

It was only a few weeks ago that I found out that this author that I discovered this year, and actually wrote a series I have come to love is a pen name for AJ Sherwood. They write multiple genres and have a different name for almost all of 'em. I picked this book up as from the tags this was a non YA book written by them and got into it. And that there is the rub. I think this is a YA book what with the MC being 16 years old. That kinda took me out of the story a little. The writing was good and the story too. But I just could not get in to this book like I did the Davenforth series. So I think I am going to discontinue this series and go on with that one.

Chetana reviewed The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell

Nathan Lowell, Nathan Lowell: The Wizard's Butler (Paperback, 2020, Durandus Ltd., YUNY)

For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn't care how …

Review of "The Wizard's Butler" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

4⭐️

Another great Cozy fantasy. This seems my year to try my hand out with this genre. I had no idea this genre was even a thing till I came across The House Witch by Delemhach. In the instance of this book it was from the POV of someone not of the world of magic. Roger Mulligan, the butler from the title, has no magic but is the butler for Mr. Shackleford who is one. Or one who claims to be a wizard.

It was refreshing to see Roger being a sceptic at first and slowly start to believe in the magic of Shackleford house. And to start to find contentment in the work of a butler. Though there was an overarcing conflict - the relatives trying to get their hands on the house) and a mystery of if Shackleford had dementia or was it magical in nature I felt …

4⭐️

Another great Cozy fantasy. This seems my year to try my hand out with this genre. I had no idea this genre was even a thing till I came across The House Witch by Delemhach. In the instance of this book it was from the POV of someone not of the world of magic. Roger Mulligan, the butler from the title, has no magic but is the butler for Mr. Shackleford who is one. Or one who claims to be a wizard.

It was refreshing to see Roger being a sceptic at first and slowly start to believe in the magic of Shackleford house. And to start to find contentment in the work of a butler. Though there was an overarcing conflict - the relatives trying to get their hands on the house) and a mystery of if Shackleford had dementia or was it magical in nature I felt this was more a story of how Mulligan found himself coping with being a Butler and finding a calling. From what I have seen I think there is going to be another book in the series and I sincerely hope there is another. I don't think we have heard the last of a few people in this story and I am looking forward to seeing where it leads.

Chetana reviewed Secrets and Ruin by K.N. Banet

K.N. Banet: Secrets and Ruin (Paperback, 2023, Lifeblood Publishing)

Review of 'Secrets and Ruin' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

4.5⭐️

A lot of secrets came out in to the open this book. And we got a team up we didn't know we wanted - Jacky and Landon. I have enjoyed seeing Jacky and Landon getting closer throughout the series. I have also loved seeing Jacky and Dirk get closer. Like I keep saying in my reviews of these books, I see a lot call backs to previous decisions and conversations in this book. This series is all about family but also about the consequences of the actions you take and the decisions you make. Not just of the main characters but also of the people around them. The confrontation towards the end of the book was a long time in coming and though it was cathartic in a sense it did bring a tear or two in my eyes as it was also sad.

Now I have to wait …

4.5⭐️

A lot of secrets came out in to the open this book. And we got a team up we didn't know we wanted - Jacky and Landon. I have enjoyed seeing Jacky and Landon getting closer throughout the series. I have also loved seeing Jacky and Dirk get closer. Like I keep saying in my reviews of these books, I see a lot call backs to previous decisions and conversations in this book. This series is all about family but also about the consequences of the actions you take and the decisions you make. Not just of the main characters but also of the people around them. The confrontation towards the end of the book was a long time in coming and though it was cathartic in a sense it did bring a tear or two in my eyes as it was also sad.

Now I have to wait to see what happens in the story next. I cannot believe there are 6 more books scheduled before an end to this series. I feel both happy and sad to hear that.