I really enjoyed reading the Parlour Wife. As a fan of historical fiction, I found it fascinating to read about how the Second World War affected Nigeria under British colonial rule. It's a period of history I knew very little about ( how it effected other countries under the british empire), so I appreciated how much I learned while reading.

The epilogue was particularly interesting, as it explained the extensive research that went into the novel. Even though this is a work of fiction, it was clear that the author took great care to ensure the historical details such as wartime rationing and everyday life were as accurate as possible.

I really enjoyed following Kehinde's story, although there were plenty of moments when I wanted to jump into the pages and give her a good shake! She was a frustrating but believable character, which made her journey all the more engaging.

I've always found novels set in Nigeria especially compelling. The cultural traditions, including the practice of polygamy, add another layer of complexity and family drama that I always find interesting to read about.

Family dynamics, a woman's place and traditional expectations are all explored in this book making the reader love or hate multiple characters.

Overall, this is a well-researched and absorbing historical novel. If you enjoy historical fiction with rich cultural detail, family drama, and a vivid Lagos setting, thrn i would reccomend this book.

This book took me so long to read because it had me stressed every other chapter, but in the best way. I kept having to take breaks because every time I thought I could settle in, something happened that had me questioning what was coming next.

At its heart, The Good House is a story about family, magic, and the consequences of abusing that magic. Those themes run all the way through the book and give the horror so much more depth.

The first 40% felt quite slow, but I can see why. Tananarive Due is taking the time to build the world, introduce the characters, and really establish the town. Once everything is in place, though, the pace picks up so quickly and it does not let up.

I also really liked that the story is told through multiple points of view. Each new perspective fills in little gaps and reveals something new, so you slowly start piecing everything together as the story unfolds.

There are a lot of characters in this book, from the main cast to the supporting characters and even the people in the town, but they all felt important. The town itself almost becomes a character, and that made everything feel so much more immersive.

One thing I really appreciated is that the author is not afraid to shock the reader, but it never feels like shock for the sake of it. Every twist, reveal, and unsettling moment has a purpose and adds something meaningful to the story.

The way history, racial tension, and culture are woven into the novel adds another layer to an already compelling story. Even though I felt tense for most of the book, I genuinely had such a good time reading it. It is definitely a slow burn, but if you stick with it, the payoff is absolutely worth it.

If I had one small criticism, it would just be the pacing at the beginning, the book starts with a bang , then it slows down for a bit..but once this story gets going again, it really gets going.

Bonded by Moonlight started with a bang. The opening chapters immediately pulled me in with the invasion of other worlds, the introduction to life after the invasion, and the impact it had on Mia and the world she lives in. It was exciting, intriguing, and had me eager to discover where the story was going.

Around the middle of the book, however, the pacing slowed considerably. There were long stretches where it felt like not much was happening. I could tell this was intentional, as the author was building a slow-burn relationship and carefully developing the characters, but I felt some of these chapters could have been condensed without losing their emotional impact. At times, the story felt stagnant.

One aspect that initially caught me off guard was the mix of first-person and third-person omniscient points of view. It was a little confusing at first, but once I settled into the writing style, I really came to appreciate it. Being able to experience the same scene through multiple characters' perspectives added depth and gave a much broader understanding of the story.

Beneath those slower chapters is a genuinely compelling story. The reader is often aware of more than both the FMC and MMC, as well as many of the supporting characters, creating a constant sense of anticipation. I found myself thinking, When is everything finally going to unravel? The gradual introduction of the magic system, shifting, healing, and the wider conflict is handled in a way that feels natural and makes sense. From around the 60% mark until the very end, the pacing picked up significantly, and I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book.

The preview of the second book left me even more invested than I already was. There are still so many mysteries surrounding the different worlds, the magic, the healing abilities, and the ongoing war that I genuinely want to learn more.

Overall, Bonded by Moonlight is an original and imaginative fantasy with a fascinating world and plenty of potential. While the middle section dragged for me, the strong ending and intriguing world-building more than made up for it, leaving me excited to continue the series.