A.J. Maguire

Category: Reading

  • A Hill to Die On

    I’ve been watching the Bookish/Author community for a while now and I can’t help but notice some trends that are cropping up. Or at least a certain cycle of events that keep circling.

    It has become the popular thing to do to draw lines in the sand or find hills to die on. Some of these are in good fun, told in a tone of voice that proves the creator is merely claiming their opinion on something silly.

    Things like which Book Boyfriend is the best or which magic system they would prefer to live in. Things like this I have no problem with, they are meant in a joking manner and are both entertaining and fun.

    But then there’s the other type of Hill to Die On.

    Said with capitol letters.

    Things like, First Person POV is the best POV.

    Which, hey, if you love First Person and that’s where you go to relax and enjoy a book then hey… You do you! I’m so glad you enjoy those. I do too.

    However, there seems to be this trend that says “If you don’t die on this hill with me, then you’re wrong and you’re awful and we’re going to throw bricks at you until you come around to our viewpoint.”

    These Hills to Die On are everywhere.

    Audiobooks don’t count as real reading!

    Em-Dashes mean it was written by AI! (Reminder, this is utterly false and AI learned to write based on all of us authors, using tools we often use, so OF COURSE AI learned how to use the em-dash.)

    Clean romance versus spicy romance!

    Romantasy is killing literature!

    Now… because I am a human being, I have opinions on these things, but I have them with the understanding that my opinions and tastes are going to change as I grow. So, why would I want to die on a hill here?

    Further, why would I want to alienate people by deciding to plant my flag on that hill and start shouting it?

    Again, when it is all in a joking manner there’s no issue but these days it seems were are hunting for ways to divide ourselves. Instead of a Reading Community that is welcoming, we start congregating in subsects and ganging up on anyone who likes different things.

    I’ve watched it get super ugly.

    And I can’t help but wonder why.

    Why do we do this?

    Why can’t we say – Hey! You read? That’s amazing! What are you reading right now?

    And then, you know, NOT JUDGE THEM for what they choose to read?

    There doesn’t need to be a war here. If someone reads a book you don’t like, why does it matter to you? For the love of God, stop trying to control other people. Their decisions are not up to you.

    Yes, you can have an opinion, but don’t cross the line into – You are so stupid for liking that book.

    Or

    That book is ruining literature by merely existing.

    First of all, the hubris on that last accusation is so high that maybe you should take a few moments of genuine self-reflection. Literature existed long before you were born and it’ll survive long after you’re gone. Further, literature is a reflection of the culture and times in which it lives.

    I digress.

    And I suppose I have found my own Hill to Die On.

    Stop the division. Stop finding reasons to hate each other. Stop attacking people who have taken the time to read and stop trying to control people.

    You’re allowed your opinions. You can write them in your reviews and give your stars, one through five, but at the end of the day it is nothing more than your opinion. It is not something to foist on other people and demand they agree with you.

    We’re beautifully diverse. It’s alright to compromise here. It’s alright to be different. You live, you laugh, you love, you matter. And so does the person sitting next to you.

    Happy Reading, everyone.

  • A Candid Conversation about Spice (Yes, Book Spice)

    Warning, this conversation may make some uncomfortable. But you know what, sometimes the hardest conversations to have are the ones that help us grow the most, so let us go ahead and dive in.

    Let me start by stating that not all books are for all audiences. Only you can decide what you like and dislike, so my job here is not to sway you one way or another in that argument.

    If you like spice, good for you.

    If you DON’T like spice, also good for you.

    You know yourself and that is a great place to begin.

    Now then, do you know what ELSE is not my job? Judging other people for what they like to read.

    The beautiful thing about humanity is that we are all different. Our tastes sometimes align, but then vary in the next instant, and that’s GOOD. What isn’t so good is deciding that because someone’s tastes are different from yours, that they are somehow lesser human beings and unworthy of respect and space.

    I beg of you, stop doing this.

    You breathe, you live, you laugh, you matter. And so does everyone else. Give people the space to live differently from you because, at the end of the day, the only choices you are held accountable for are your own.

    Now that we’re on the same page, I am going to admit that Blood of the Witch Heir gets a little racy. I still close the door/fade to black, but the intimate scenes are more noticeable in this book than in many of my other works, and this was on purpose.

    Trigger Warning – The book does deal with SA. The actual event is not shown on the page, but it is relevant to the characters and has to be dealt with, which means that the intimacy between our two main characters was as much a part of the story as the grander plot.

    Why?

    Because intimacy after SA is difficult. It can also be either a detriment or a healing moment for the survivor. This is a sensitive subject, I know, and I suppose I am risking a lot in how I have done things in the book, but I believe the message is important.

    Spice in books is not inherently bad. You either enjoy it, or you don’t, but please don’t shame the people around you who do because, quite frankly, it is none of your business. Not to mention the fact that books are a safe space where survivors often find healing.

    No, sincerely, this is a thing.

    Books permit us to explore in a safe, private manner and (at least one hopes) showcases healthy relationships on the page. I know that often there are unhealthy relationships (codependency/ jealousy/ etcetera) in these books and we end up swooning anyway but they are FICTION and still a safe space.

    So whether you want no spice, low spice, closed door, open door, or the spiciest of the spice, please respect the rights of other readers to be different from you.

    Read responsibly. Read often. Read Happy.

  • A REAL Summer Reading List – 2025

    In response to the Chicago Sun Times debacle where they have printed an AI generated list of books for Summer Reading, which includes books that DO NOT exist, I thought I would be a little cheeky and send out a REAL Summer Reading List.

    Or at least, MY Summer Reading List, which is curated by my personal tastes and some of them are literally waiting on my TBR pile. I lean heavily Fantasy / Romantasy / and Science Fiction in my reading.

    FIRST UP – Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews.

    This is for my Romantasy friends. It is a happy blend of Vikings and Magic following Roark Ashwood and Lyra Bien and you can bet it has all the yummy Romantasy elements we open these books to find.

    You can check it out HERE

    SECOND – A Taste for Lies by LC Whitehouse

    I devoured this book in a day and a half. It is new and I enjoyed the world the author built. This is also a Romantasy (hey, I like what I like) but its pacing alone is impeccable and the characters on the page were absolutely vibrant.

    You can check it out HERE

    THIRD – Litany for a Broken World by LJ Cohen

    Admittedly, this one is on my TBR. I have enjoyed this author before, particularly her novel Future Tense and the amazing Halcyone Space Series, so I am excited to see what loveliness is in store for me with her newest novel.

    You can check it out HERE

    FOURTH – The Maya Bust (Boneguard 4) by E. Chris Ambrose

    Again, this is from my TBR pile and now that I’m looking I see I have SO MANY to catch up on with the Boneguard series. I loved Indiana Jones when I was growing up, so of course I’m going to love Grant Casey and the thrillers that Ambrose writes. We get history and action and a whole lot of fun in these novels.

    You can check out the Boneguard series HERE

    FIFTH – The Crimson Moth series by Kristen Circcarelli

    I read the first novel, Heartless Hunter, and love the mix of magic and Scarlett Pimpernel that was presented, so its second book, Rebel Witch, is patiently waiting for its turn on my TBR pile. I’m putting them both on here because, if you haven’t read the first one then you’re seriously missing out.

    You can check them out HERE

    Actually, now that I’m looking at my TBR pile it is starting to grow teeth and I fear for my life. I have a lot of reading to do!

    But hey, Chicago Sun Times… There are at least 5 actual, real life novels by actual real life people you could have put in your list instead of consulting a robot. Please hear the creatives in the room when we say that Art, and the consumption of Art, is a purely HUMAN experience. Stop trying to cut the humanity out of it.

    (P.S. My own novel, Blood of the Witch Heir, debuts in June, so it could ALSO count as a Summer Reading Book. If, you know, you like fantasy. And romance. And witches kicking some serious butt.)

  • Book Review – Heartless Hunter: The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli

    Laying all my cards on the table here, I love The Scarlet Pimpernel. I watched every iteration I could find as it came through the silver screen, to include the TV series in 1999-2000. To FURTHER lay my cards on the table, our English teacher in the 12th grade showed us the 1982 version in class over one of those weird weeks in school.

    You know, the ones where the teachers were busy finishing up grades and didn’t want to assign anything more until they had caught up.

    I loved the hiding in plain sight. The facade put forward to make everyone else unsuspecting of the true nature of one’s movements. I loved the frightening civility covering a bloodthirsty and desperate time.

    And, of course, I loved the romance.

    So when I picked up this book I did so with a wary eye. I did not think anyone could quite grasp all of those lovely things and implement it into a fantasy novel.

    I have never been more pleased to be wrong.

    I devoured this book. From start to finish I loved it. This is basically Scarlet Pimpernel meets Witches and I am all for it. The enemies to lovers (to enemies) was weirdly satisfying. Normally the angst eats at me and I put those sorts of books down, but this one kept me turning the pages.

    There is some mild spice in this book, for those who need to be warned of that.

    Five stars. Well done.

    Here’s the PURCHASE LINK!

    Happy reading!

  • Book Review – The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

    This book made me laugh out loud several times, in the absolute best of ways.

    The Hades/Lyra dynamic was just… (chef’s kiss) when it came to sass. And the visual of Hades wearing a t-shirt that says, Sure, you can pet my dog, will remain with me for the rest of my life.

    That might be a mild spoiler, but it’s pretty early in the book so I’m gonna give it to you anyway.

    At any rate, thank you, Ms. Owen, for that one. I had to share it with my family and they all got a good laugh too.

    Six out of five stars. I can only give it 5 on Goodreads, but know that if I could, I’d give just… all of the stars. For making me laugh.

    My family was most displeased because I read the book in a day, which meant they had to fend for themselves insofar as food/cleaning around the house. I think they’d try to knock some stars off the review precisely because of that, but they’re not the ones who went on this journey so they don’t get a voice.

    The narrative was effortless, the characters vivid, and the gods… precisely how one would imagine the Greek Pantheon. I was worried I would roll my eyes at Hades being the good guy because the whole “bad guy is the good guy” seems to be a trope everyone is grabbing hold of these days but I didn’t.

    Don’t ask me why, because I don’t really know. Ms. Owen used some form of writing magic to make the trope feel fresh to me.

    Yes, there is spice. So if you need to know that walking in, you’ve been duly warned.

    At any rate, my proverbial hat’s off to the author. This was beautifully executed and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

    All. The. Stars.

    Happy Reading!

    PURCHASE LINK – THE GAMES GODS PLAY BY ABIGAIL OWEN

  • Book Review – Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

    I’ve had my eye on this book for a while now, so I was pleased when I was able to pick it up. It took me approximately three days to read, which is about average for the work week. The prose was smooth and easy, the pacing quick, and I enjoyed most of the characters. I also enjoyed the feel of criminals thrown together toward a set goal, with a lot of mistrust going around.

    For the most part, I loved this novel. It felt like a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre and kept me engaged throughout.

    Two things bothered me though, which is why I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars instead of a full 5 star review.

    First… Aeri felt out of place/time. Every other character on the page, when we were in their POV, felt like they lived in that world. Aeri, on the other hand, felt like she had been plucked out of a high school here in modern times. Every time it was in her POV, I felt disjointed and yanked out of the narrative.

    Second… the spymaster didn’t really get to earn the badassery discussed on the page. Sure, we get a moment where he runs through a warehouse murderfying bad guys (trying not to give spoilers here, I feel like that’s vague enough) but particularly when we reach the climax of the book, he doesn’t really get to do anything.

    I mean, he put the whole thing together and organized things (as spymasters do) but he was also proclaimed a demon with the blade (fun points for the flaming sword, by the way) and we just didn’t get a chance to see him put pedal to the metal when it mattered the most.

    At any rate, I enjoyed the book and look forward to its sequel.

    4 out of 5 Stars.

    Happy Reading!

    PURCHASE LINK – FIVE BROKEN BLADES

  • Book Review – One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

    I enjoyed this book a good deal. I won’t lie, it took me a minute to get into the novel because of the magic system built into it, but I feel like that’s more of a me problem than anything else. My brother was big into some of those trading card games as a teenager and I’m afraid that’s all I could imagine for the first little bit reading the book. Once I equated the magic system to a regular deck of cards, with mild callbacks to the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, I was able to get into the book more.

    The characters were well fleshed out and the narrative itself was smooth. I enjoyed the Nightmare and the conversations the main character had with him. Elm has to be my favorite character on the page, but who doesn’t love a reckless Prince thumbing his nose at the Crown?

    It’s not your typical fantasy romance. The main characters have secrets to keep that make sense within the society on the page, and the attitudes they present are understandable. It’s not like the character jumps in with a chip on their shoulder and a crude gesture to the rest of the world, which seems to be the popular route these days. The fact that they had relatable reasons for their distrust is what really held my attention.

    For those of you who love or hate spicy scenes, this book has just one really spicy moment. So if you like that sort of thing, it’s there, and if you don’t, it’s easily skimmed through.

    Four of five stars.

    Happy Reading!

    PURCHASE LINK – ONE DARK WINDOW by RACHEL GILLIG

  • Book Review – Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

    A while back I read the first book in this duology – Divine Rivals – and I loved it. The magic was subtle, the war was tense, and the romance was sweet. I had to wait a bit to get to this second book because it was not on Kindle Unlimited (which is honestly the only way I can afford to read so many books) but once I spotted it on there I snagged it up.

    It should come as no surprised that I loved the second book too. We pick up a little bit after the first book left off, so the war is still in full swing and the newspapers for which Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt both work are still covering that war. Everything that I loved in that first book was present in this one.

    I don’t do spoilers but I will say that, while I loved this book, I loved the first one more. But I think that’s normal. It’s always a lot more fun to be actively engaged in the mystery and wonder than it is to have mysteries revealed.

    That said, it was a satisfying conclusion to a story I deeply enjoyed. I highly recommend this duology for any of my Fantasy lovers out there. For parents who may be checking, these books are rated SAFE for younger readers. There are no explicit scenes that are going to cause an uncomfortable conversation at the dinner table.

    Happy Reading!

    Purchase Link for Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

  • Book Review – House of Beating Wings by Olivia Wildenstein

    This book was deeply creative and I enjoyed it. The world building was fun and the quest Fallon took was equally enjoyable, even if I had to sit back and shake my head at her hubris.

    I am not going to count this a spoiler since it’s in the blurb for the novel that if Fallon frees the crows she’ll be made queen, but I am going to say… I wish the character took ten seconds to really contemplate what being a queen would mean. This is where my head shaking started and I was torn between really liking Fallon and kind of… loathing her.

    Granted, the character is described as being 22 years old and it’s been a minute since I was that age, so I tried very, very hard to remember how self-absorbed I was back then. Try as I might, however, I cannot say I ever in my wildest dreams wished to be a queen. A princess, maybe, with the pretty gowns and the knight in shining armor where we equally saved one another (that equally bit has always been big on my priorities) but never the actual queen.

    You know, where you RULED people.

    And they were forced to do your will because QUEEN.

    The sheer hubris it took for the character to not only picture herself as queen, but actively begin pursuing the crows to see this matter come about, really irked me. To the point I put the book down twice to rant at my husband and son, both of whom deserve medals for their patience with me. I could have forgiven Fallon for this hubris if she had battled with the idea more, or if she had leaned harder on the whole loving Prince Dante thing, making her elevation to queen status more of a sacrifice she was willing to make to be with him than a personal goal.

    I am sure there are people out there who are going to decry this opinion because “Why shouldn’t a woman have ambitions and want to be a queen?”

    To them I say… because becoming a queen forces other people to bow. And any time you put yourself in a position to have power over other people, you ought to take at least five minutes to check yourself, which Fallon never did.

    Again, if she had done this I would have forgiven her, but she never does, which leaves me in a weird love-hate relationship with the character.

    Ahem.

    I digress.

    Despite my love-hate relationship with Fallon, I enjoyed the book. She makes mistakes in her love life that I can relate to, and you can clearly see where the narrative is heading for the second book in that regard. The world building is interesting, the characters are complicated with equally complicated motivations, and you feel like there’s real history with them.

    4 out of 5 stars.

    BOOK PURCHASE LINK – House of Beating Wings

  • Book Review – Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

    This book took me a minute to get into, but I think that was my fault. I have been reading far too many Romantasy novels and needed a pallet cleanser. And I know some of you are going to gasp and be offended and say — There’s no such thing as too many Romantasy novels!

    To which I will say…

    There is if you are reading them one after another after another. Because the plotlines and characters really start to blend.

    SO.

    Yes, this book took me a minute.

    Because Diem (which, by the way, insofar as character names go is admittedly not my favorite, but I got over it) was so much like every other kick-butt female heroine from a Romantasy novel that my eyes were kind of glazing. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, we love tropes for a reason, so I put the book down and did something else for a while until I had enough distance from that trope that I could love it again.

    I enjoyed this book. While there were elements that were blaringly obvious and I wanted to reach into the pages and strangle the main character until she came around and paid better attention, there were other elements that I distinctly loved. The world and prejudices inside it were real. You could feel and understand the frustrations coming from the human element of society, even while you wanted desperately to see some sort of resolution that would not put innocent lives in danger.

    But most important.

    I loved that Diem made a mistake.

    Mild spoiler alert. Diem makes a choice that turns out to be a bad one. And it’s one that you know she is going to make. You see it coming. And you understand it. That in and of itself made me adore this book, but to top it off, the banter between Diem and the romantic interest is fun.

    I look forward to the next in the series.

    AMAZON LINK – Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole