Welcome to Litsy!

Read 13 books in February. A lot of just okay romances. The tagged was my favorite read of February and I never would have picked it up or heard of it without #auldlangspine

#readingbracket2025

It took me way too long to finish this and it‘s not the book‘s fault! I‘ve been struggling to find times to listen to audio this year. It took me a month to finish an 18 hour audiobook! This is shocking to me because I really loved this book.

Thanks so much for putting it on your list @rachelsbrittain ! #auldlangspine

Enjoyable story. The results of investigation were easily discernible by end of chapter 2 with no unexpected twists. Strength of story lies in romance. No spice tho. The yearning and restraint. Actually the restraint in general. Duty vs personal feelings. Duty vs desire. Very old fashioned in that depiction of honor, expectations, duty. Refreshingly so. Will not reread 3.5-4 stars

snorted laughed at:

“Very good, sir,“ said Evemer, which Kadou translated as I shall dance and sing in the streets from joy.

You know when you read a book at just the right time and it just hits all the right spots and it's just the perfect read for you? And you can't really articulate why beyond omg I love it it's sooo good 😍 ? And you definitely can't write an objective review?
Yeah, that. This book. Loved it. It's been a while since I've had this particular bit of reading magic, and that makes it even better too.

An interesting queer fantasy romance. It started out slow, but by the middle of the book I became invested in the story. A love story intertwined with a mystery of who is counterfeiting the coins of the kingdom. The Prince has an anxiety disorder and seems very unsure of himself. This became a little tiresome after a while. His bodyguard/love interest helps him work through everything and become a better version of himself.

Managed 2 bingos

#ispybingo

My Kobo keeps telling me my next chapter of A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON will take me an hour or so to read and I‘m like, “Yes, good, bring it on and serve me up the next one, too.”

It‘s far from an action-packed book, but there‘s SO MUCH good character work as these people find their way towards each other and grow in the process. Tadek is a wonderful surprise, too. Rowland rejects the expected path for him.

4.5/5

A prince and his guard work to uncover a conspiracy involving a shipyard break in and counterfeit coins.

I really enjoyed it and want to read more of Rowland's books in this world, especially Running Close to the Wind.

ebook: The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh by Claudia Gray
audiobook: A Taste of Gold and Iron

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

I wanted to reread this one in preparation for Tadek's story & I decided to do the audiobook this time. And ughhh this book is so good! 18 hours just flew by! The slowburn romance is everything, I love witnessing Evermer slowly discovering Kadou's character as more than just a flighty prince. I love the way these two grow closer & how fealty between a prince and his protectors is described so intricately and with such significance on reciprocity⬇️

This is how I feel whenever the miscommunication trope comes up. Just talk to each other!!!

It took a bit for me to get into this one. But I loved the second half. This is a slow burn romance with a prince who had anxieties that I could relate to. I wish there was more about the magic system, I felt there was a missed opportunity to really delve into taste and compare it to food or other senses. Throughout the "taste" of mental was mostly referred to in passing which was both interesting and unfulfilling in the story.
Soft pick 3.5⭐

What's that? You need help picking out some LGBTQ books to read this Pride? I've got you 🌈 bookriot.com/lgbtq-romantasy-books/

My favorite book of April- and the year so far-- is definitely A Taste of Gold and Iron. I didn't even have to think about it. Hope I read something equally good in May. #ReadingBracket2024 @CSeydel

My favorite book of the year so far! A prince trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his sister, the sultan, finds himself falling for his stoic new bodyguard who initially hates him. This was such a delicious enemies to lovers slow burn. It's not an action packed book, so it may not work for everyone. Readers are just taken along for the journey. But Rowland could've kept on writing this story forever, & I would've been content to follow along.

When your sister has the day off, and your nibling is on Spring Break, it‘s time for a day trip to one of my favorite spots.

#SLC #SLCLitsy #SaltLakeCity

I know the author has described this book as fully indulging in all the narrative tropes they love, and I think it shows. Loyalty and fealty are strong themes in this love story between an anxious prince and his stoic rules-following bodyguard. It's set in a fascinating world and I loved the supporting cast in particular. I wanted more exploration of the magic system, but enjoyed the way it was sprinkled in here and there.

It‘s almost embarrassing how much I enjoyed this book. Just a ridiculous smile on my face from page one.

Tagged book finished out the month! Not a bad for June's #bookspinbingo. I got a bingo! And successfully knocked some lingering titles off my to-read list. Feels good.

Free Spaces and Challenges:
Country J-M: Kenya: One Day I Will Write About This Place
The Oleander Sword
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
When the Angels Left the Old Country
The Midnight Library
Station 11

Getting to know the two leads as they get to know each other was a lot of fun! I also enjoyed the world building. I'm hoping for more stories.

This was amazing. Organic, non-western based worldbuilding, interesting characters with both inner and outside obstacles to overcome, decent plot beside the main #mmromance, plenty of unresolved sexual tension, interesting court politics, friendship & family drama, a touch of magic that blends well with the rest, and written well besides.

On one hand, I‘m incredibly glad this is a standalone; on the other—I‘d love me a sequel or a spinoff.

5.0/5

Today's audiobook project is using a roll of peel-and-stick wallpaper to cover this ugly set of drawers in my sewing studio. My current machine is called Lemon, so I figured this would be fitting AND colorful..

#12BooksOf2022
Another fascinating new fantasy world with court intrigue and a slow burn romance
@Andrew65

November's update of my #readingbracket2022
There's gonna be some hard decisions to be made after the final month 🤔😬

This was another amazing queer fantasy. Prince Kadou offends the bodyfather of the Queen's new baby & is at risk of being exiled. He's assigned a new stoic bodyguard Evemer & tries to redeem himself by solving an investigation involving a break-in & counterfeit coins. I loved the world building- intricate class structure & a magical ability of touch-tasting metal. There's slow burn romance in addition to uncovering a conspiracy & mental health rep

Starting another fantasy ARC today. Looks like it has a slow burn romance between a prince and his new bodyguard.

My June #BookSpin list is now complete.😁