romantasy – Beneath the Book Light

Title: Such Sharp Teeth

Author: Rachel Harrison

Pages: 325

Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Romance

A young woman in need of a transformations finds herself in touch with the animal inside in this gripping, incisive novel from the author of Cackle and The Return.

Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it’s only temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.

Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver – and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else – something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside her the key to acceptance?

This dark, comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage and vulnerability.

Hey Brave Bookworms!

This novel caught me by surprise because it’s more then meets the eye. At it’s heart it’s a werewolf story wrapped in real human experience and life crisis. The author does a brilliant job with the writing; combining humor, body horror and emotional introspection and growth.

The novel follows our protagonist Aurora “Rory” Morris, a sarcastic and emotionally guarded woman who returns to her small town to help her pregnant twin sister, Scarlett. However, one night while driving on a dark rural road coming home from the bar, Rory hits what she thinks is an animal….a very large animal. When she goes to see what she’s hit, well…things take a turn for the worst and she finds herself in the woods being attacked by something.

She survives, clearly! But something is very different, wrong even.

Soon Rory begins to experience strange symptoms she can’t explain. Yes, you guessed it, she’s turning into a werewolf.

Instead of the novel focusing on the sheer monstrous horror of the classic werewolf tale, the story leans into personal transformation. Rory has to deal with her strained family dynamics, an unexpected romance, and the terrifying realization that she may be dangerous to not only strangers, but those she truly loves.

The horror is real, bloody and visceral, but it’s also deeply emotional.

Ahh Rory, well I’ll be completely honest, I had a love/hate relationship for this character. At times I loved the fact that she was imperfect, real, funny, sarcastic, but has a strength that is undeniable. But she was frustrating due to being so extremely guarded, defensive, self-sabotaging and emotionally distant. It was clear that she is used to running from problems and people that make her emotionally uncomfortable. For good reason, I do have to admit.

However, her messiness makes her feel real and authentic.

She has a complicated relationship with her sister Scarlett. They are close in the way twins often are, but their childhood holds a lot of baggage. Scarlett’s life is completely different then Rory’s; she is expecting a baby, more settled down and trying to main some semblance of family stability. All foreign to Rory and her life back in the city.

The tension between them adds emotional depth and weight to the novel, almost like a static in the air. There relationship definitely has it’s ups and downs, but between them both, their love trumps all the negative in the end.

Then there is Ian Pedretti, who is Rory’s blast from the past and a emotional turning point for her. He is patient, kind, and surprisingly understanding. The romance between them doesn’t feel forced due to their history, but instead provides moments of warmth, affection and humanity in a very chaotic situation.

I actually really loved Ian as a “leading man” because he wasn’t this cookie cutter bad boy. He was sweet and caring, but pushed her emotional buttons. Challenged her to stop pushing those she cares for away, which I thought was a wonderful addition. He ultimately became her emotional grounding point when nothing else made sense.

Her transformation ultimately forces her to confront suppressed emotions and memories: anger, grief, fear and extremely vulnerability. Her strength and resilience isn’t born from the suffering she experienced, but the choice to rise beyond it.

Her transformation also isn’t just a physical one, but shows her that it’s okay to stop hiding from who she is and who she truly wants to be now. It causes her to find a balance in her life with the creature she is becoming and her humanity.

Such Sharp Teeth is certainly not your average werewolf novel, though it has some classic tropes about it.

This is not your nonstop creature horror, and by the end of the novel it felt less like a werewolf story, but instead focusing on romance and a reflection on what is means to live life, even when things are messy.

So, if you are looking for an action-packed, blood-soaked werewolf horror, this one may not be for you. However, if you are looking for a bit of comedy and emotional growth wrapped in some classic werewolf tropes, this one should be thrown onto your TBR list.

Just a word of advice, whenever you are diving into werewolf fiction, please keep silver nearby. It’s basic book safety!

Hope you enjoyed the review and until next time…

Meet you after dark

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie

Title: The Ex Hex

Author: Erin Sterling

Pages: 308

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

Never mix vodka and witchcraft

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths… and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “Orchard Hayride” -scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendant of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual Fall Fair turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little ex hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous windup toys, a pissed-off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off-the-charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the breakup curse before it’s too late.

Evenin’ Brave Bookworms!

I’ll start by admitting this isn’t my usual reading lane. But I was in the mood for something light, a little mischievous, and preferably sprinkled with a dash of paranormal chaos. You know… the literary equivalent of a cozy night with a candle, a cup of tea, and a ghost that’s mostly harmless.

I actually bought this book ages ago because the premise practically winked at me from the shelf. A witchy rom-com? Say less. My curiosity was officially summoned, and honestly… my instincts were pretty spot on.

This is the first of three books in the series, and yes, I do fully intend to make my way through the rest. Because if you’re anything like me, once you start a series you feel morally obligated to see it through to the end. It’s a commitment. A pact. A slightly unhinged promise to fictional characters.

That said, there is a limit. If a series has, say… twenty five books? Suddenly I develop selective amnesia and pretend I never started it in the first place. Even the most dedicated reader has boundaries.

Though I will admit, I devoured this in three days.

This story introduces us to Vivienne “Vivi” Jones, a young witch who had a whirlwind romance with a charming young male witch named Rhys Penhallow, while they were both in college. Like many intense romances, it burns very bright and fades just as quickly, leaving Vivi with a broken heart.

So, what do most of us teenage girls do when we’re nursing a broken heart and maybe a slight buzz?

Well…if you’re Vivi the teenage witch, you grab your cousin and cast a curse upon your ex! Nothing serious of course. Just attack his hair and maybe his sexual prowess.

Or so she thought.

Fast forward nine years and Rhy is forced to return to Graves Glen, the charming magical town where Vivi resides. Even with reluctance, his family as the founders of the town, have a responsibility to recharge the town’s magical ley lines and attend the Founder’s Day festivities. However, the moment he arrives, strange and increasingly dangerous occurrences begin to happen to Rhys. It only becomes exasperated for the town, after Rhys has an incident with the ley lines.

Objects attack people in town. One really pissed-off ghost. Along with magic that goes haywire for every single witch residing or practicing witchcraft within town limits and the general vibe is pure magical chaos. That’s when Vivi has a bit of a horrifying epiphany….

That tiny breakup curse may have worked….a little too well.

Now Vivi and Rhys are thrown together to unravel the spell before the magic spirals completely out of control and potentially destroys the town along with it. In doing so, they uncover a piece of magical history tied to both of their families, a dark secret that was buried for far too long.

Of course, being stuck together while solving this magical disaster means the sparks of the past begin to surface and confronting the past they never quite resolved.

Vivi is such a wonderfully relatable protagonist. She’s emotional, chaotic, sarcastic, bubbly and vulnerable in the mistakes she makes. Despite coming from a pretty powerful witch family, she has always been hesitant about her abilities and embracing them to their full potential. She struggles with her confidence as a witch throughout the whole story, but slowly but surely she steps into her power, which is satisfying to see her growth.

Rhys, on the other hand, is almost obnoxiously charming, smooth, witty, and a little mysterious. As the story unfolds, you get to witness a deeper side to him, one he doesn’t let most people see, his vulnerability. He carries a lot of family expectations and emotional baggage that he tends to hide with humor and charm. But as Vivi comes back into his life and is thrust upon him nine years later, his softer side becomes more apparent.

The chemistry between these two is tangible, incredible, however you’d like to say it. The sparks instantly fly again, or maybe they just never left? Regardless, their romance flourishes quickly throughout the book.

However, I do have to admit the intimate scenes were a bit lackluster for my taste. Especially after nine years of separation, but then again, I shouldn’t expect it to be pure erotica. It is a romance-fantasy novel after all. I just would have liked a little more….heat.

An honourable mention is Gwyn, Vivi’s cousin, who is a breath of pure comedic relief and frankly a delight the whole story. She is by far my favourite and I feel like her an I would be friends if she actually existed. Gwyn doesn’t hide from who she is, she embraces her magical identity fully and brings a lot of humor, warmth and light-hearted moments to this novel. She’s confident, creative and just a touch of chaos that makes every scene with her a little more fun and the need for her scenes to be just a little bit longer.

Overall, The Ex Hex is a light, playful paranormal romance that leans heavily on the cozy witchy vibes rather than the darker fantasy elements. The plot is fairly predictable and some scenes feel a bit rushed, especially toward the end of the novel. It’s definitely the kind of read when you want something comforting, a little magical, and just enough drama to keep things interesting and moving along.

So, if you enjoy small town settings, second chance romance and just a splash of witchcraft…this just might be the charming little read for you.

Just remember, maybe think twice before mixing alcohol and casting spells on your ex.

Hope you enjoyed the review and until next time…

Meet you after dark

💀Your cozy-macabre book bestie