The Mafia's Daughter - E. D. Crowe 3.75 stars

​"The art of our necessities is strange/That can make vile things precious."

• William Shakespeare, King Lear

As an English major specializing in Shakespeare studies, my niche probably isn't the target audience for this book, but King Lear is my favorite play. Naturally, I knew I needed to read this! Modern Shakespeare adaptations struggle with elements such as wars, family feuds, arranged marriages - but the mafia backdrop provides the perfect opportunity. Although this is "loosely inspired," it's more faithful than several Lear adaptations I've come across!

My honest take: Well, I'm being fair here. Dark romance isn't my main genre, so I wasn't the prime audience for "possessive" romance aspects BUT I was surprised how much I really rooted for the characters to get together! However, for the genre, OMG! Well-executed (from what I can tell) and if you're a dark romance girlie, I can tell you would be FERAL for Hayes. I had a fantastic time digging for little references to the source material, and I also had a grand time. I would have loved even more details on the trials (and fake engagements are always fun)! My main critique is that the prose felt a bit unpolished in places, things an editor should have caught, but no fault of the author! I am actually seriously considering picking up the rest of the series now. Even if this is not my genre, it speaks to the strength of the book that I'm hooked.

(Side note: I thought it would be darker? It actually wasn't very squeamish to me, BUT check trigger warnings.)

I'll definitely convince my fellow scholars to look for some adaptations off the beaten path! This was an adventure ✨️⚔️👑

Thank you to @greyspromo for the ARC!

Just when I thought I couldn't swoon any harder...

Jamison's quick-paced, witty sequel brings all of the heart from the original with more action than before! Although shorter, the story moves at a gallop. Crossing timelines can be tricky to pull off without confusing audiences, yet Jamison does it masterfully. Though, important note: I wouldn't recommend diving in without reading the first book in the trilogy, "The Art of Time." The increased action really tightens the plot from the first book. This makes it perfect for powering through in a single sitting, if that's your cup of tea! I didn't want to put it down, leading to an ill-advised 3 a.m. finish line.

The romance of the original returns with a few twists, and this goes more deeper into character and worldbuilding lore. Some elements are only skated over briefly, when I would love pour myself deeper into the details, but the plot doesn't waste time on infodumping. A few beloved characters are sadly missing, but the new cast is perfectly lovable. I found myself laughing out loud at times and other times simpering over the plight of my dear fictional amici.

The writing style is more mature than in the first installment, although I would prefer stronger descriptions and a few other little minor matters of taste. I also miss Dino. A lot. Taking a whole star away for that. Just kidding. Anyways, if you enjoyed "The Art of Time," I am confident you would enjoy the sequel. Curious to see what the finale has in store for this timeless pair!

A massive thank you to Quinn Jamison for the beautiful review copy for this book! (Did I mention it includes a playlist?)

Mucho Italiano - 4/5 An adventurous debut with swoon-worthy romance. Lavinia's personal journey is full of many twists and turns with historical flavor. All the eras seem to collide in one little pocket of time, filled with a cast of lovable and hateable faces - shoutout Dino and Chiara! It's hard to mention lovable characters without mentioning our main man himself, Armond Cornelius Dante Alessandro. The romance is more cute than steamy, although there are a few wholesome intimate scenes. Our lead couple are absolute soulmates.

The plot bounces from mini-adventure to mini-adventure, but the overarching story does fit nicely from a structural perspective. The writing style is fast-paced though a touch amateurish at moments, which develops strongly over the course of the series. As a debut, this gives a clear taste of Jamison's authorial style. Enjoyed the main character's adorkable banter and the main couple sharing their passions. Enjoyed, detrimentally, as it removed me from the story, nerding over historical details and trying to place anything from slang terms to dress descriptions on a historical timeline, as well as laboring over Italian dialogue (all translated within the story) to compare it to my high school French. This was 100% to my nerdy enjoyment, not a fault of the story.

Had a wonderful romp through Italian history and will be an incorrigible art museum guest from now on!

Thank you to the author for a copy of "The Art of Time" in exchange for an honest review. Just realized now how perfect the title is!

Movie deal when? The dark, cinematic indie horror I didn't know I desperately needed. This is a gritty, fast-paced descent into a summer camp in rural Maine that perfectly balances chills with laugh-out-loud banter between the characters. I sunk into the plot hook but core cast dynamics kept me biting, and I love every character and their witticisms - this book is a masterclass in banter!

Setting is very atmospheric, well represented and the plot and summer camp setting go hand in hand. Lots of dark, delicious details that make it feel real and distinctly American - if you can get past the occasional smattering of British English. Writing style is quite evocative. The visuals were so cinematic but didn't detract from the action! I'm a sucker for psychological elements!

Overall, the plot was very satisfying and kept me turning pages. It faced the natural challenge of weaving so many timelines together, which it did with grace. Not jarring, but it will take a brain. This is not a cozy, mindless read.

This book has gained me a lot of respect for the horror genre, as that is not my primary area of expertise. It absolutely succeeds in being bonechilling, but not too morbid that you can't sleep. Rides a fine line with tact and skill, and I can confidently recommend this to those curious about the genre but don't know where to start. Worth a read, just for the dialogue!

Massive thank you to the author for this gorgeous ARC for an honest review!

4.5 stars - I finished this book last night at 3 am, and no, I am not okay.

The characters are beautiful, and the writing flows so well! I really appreciate how grounded and realistic this feels, like the characters could step right off the pages and I could hug or punch them accordingly. A very detailed mystery with a steady thriller pace, kept me scribbling notes and pondering over clues until the very end! I did correctly vibe check many of the characters though. Highly recommend this, and I will be dreaming a happy future for my main ship (if you know, you know).

Thank you to the author for trusting me with this absolute masterpiece. I would definitely recommend it.