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Posted by Amanda

It Had to Be Him

It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram is $3.99! This romance came out in September and was mentioned on the site. Did any of you pick this one up?

Heartstopper meets Eat Pray Love in this swoony, spicy, second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Adib Khorram about two former classmates unexpectedly reuniting in Italy.

Ramin Yazdani’s marriage proposal has just gone bottoms up: his ex dumped him in public for being boring. Bent on proving him wrong, Ramin books a spontaneous solo trip to Italy. When he runs into his high school crush while in a gelateria, however, his resolve to reinvent himself is put to the test.

Noah Bartlett’s in a rut. Since his divorce, he’s become a bit of a homebody. So when his ex-wife insists he join her and their son on an Italian holiday, Noah reluctantly agrees. But his reticence turns to excitement when he sees his former classmate, who’s aged just like a fine wine. As a teenager, Ramin fascinated him—and since Noah now knows that fascination was code for crush—all those feelings are quick to come rushing back.

Soon Ramin and Noah are tumbling headfirst into a relationship. Only Ramin fears Noah’s feelings won’t last without Ramin’s adventurous new persona—and Noah’s not sure he can be the supportive partner Ramin deserves. With the days counting down to the end of their trip, can their love last without the magic of Italy?

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Dirty Rowdy Thing

Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren is $1.99! This is book two in the Wild Seasons series, and I think it may be my favorite out of the quartet. Content warning for cancer talk.

Despite their rowdy hookups, Harlow and Finn don’t even like each other…which would explain why their marriage lasted only twelve hours. He needs to be in charge and takes whatever he wants. She lives by the Want-something-done? Do-it-yourself mantra. Maybe she’s too similar to the rugged fisherman—or just what he needs.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

One Italian Summer

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle is $2.99! This is women’s fiction with some time travel/magical realism elements. I remember this one being pretty popular when it came out.

In this “magical trip worth taking” (Associated Press), the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years returns with a powerful novel about the transformational love between mothers and daughters set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

“Rebecca Serle is known for her powerful stories that tug at the heartstrings—and her latest is just as unforgettable” (Woman’s World) as it effortlessly shows us how to move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The Wolf at the Door

The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara is $1.99! This is a m/m paranormal romance and was recommended by Aarya in our Underrated Authors & Romances Rec League. Though this one wasn’t Aarya’s favorite in the series, she still really liked this one.

A former FBI agent is partnered with the enemy in this suspenseful male/male shifter romance from debut author Charlie Adhara

Hunting for big bad wolves was never part of Agent Cooper Dayton’s plan, but a werewolf attack lands him in the carefully guarded Bureau of Special Investigations. A new case comes with a new partner: ruggedly sexy werewolf Oliver Park.

Park is an agent of The Trust, a werewolf oversight organization working to ease escalating tensions with the BSI. But as far as Cooper’s concerned, it’s failing. As they investigate a series of mysterious deaths unlike anything they’ve seen, every bone in Cooper’s body is suspicious of his new partner—even when Park proves himself as competent as he is utterly captivating.

When more people vanish, pressure to solve the case skyrockets. And though he’d resolved to keep things professional, Cooper’s friction with Park soon erupts…into a physical need that can’t be contained or controlled. But with a body count that’s rising by the day, werewolves and humans are in equal danger. If Cooper and Park don’t catch the killer soon, one—or both—of them could be the next to go.

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You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee

Nov. 3rd, 2025 11:00 am
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Posted by Guest Reviewer

A-

Give Me a Reason

by Jayci Lee
July 29, 2025 · St. Martin's Griffin
Contemporary RomanceRomance

This guest review comes from Lisa! A longtime romance aficionado and frequent commenter to SBTB, Lisa is a queer Latine critic with a sharp tongue and lots of opinions. She frequently reviews at All About Romance and Women Write About Comics, where she’s on staff, and you can catch her at _@‌thatbouviergirl on Twitter. There, she shares good reviews, bracing industry opinions and thoughtful commentary when she’s not on her grind looking for the next good freelance job.

I am one of the worlds’ pickiest people when it comes to Jane Austen retellings. I have squeed over a handful of them as I’ve trawled through various arcs and used books over the past few years; I’ve gotten lucky twice over recent months, between Caroline Bingley: Private Investigator and this modern retelling of Persuasion that’s packed with chemistry and blessed with Jayci Lee’s prodigious writing skills. It knows how to modernize the yearning that goes on between Frederick and Anne and succeeds both in doing its own thing and leaving the reader excited to watch these two get together. It’s a fine novel that works beautifully in its newly modern clothing.

Anne Lee is an actress who swears she doesn’t think about Frederick Nam anymore after their awful breakup back in college. She left for an altruistic reason — to save her family from impoverishment, she took her talents to Seoul and became a part of the k-drama world. Frederick responds by becoming a fireman in their hometown of Los Angeles. He swears off romance entirely. Anne thinks she’ll never see Frederick again, but then her cousin Bethany asks her to come to career week at her kindergarten class. After ten years, Anne comes home. Frederick attends too. They uncomfortably meet and mingle, and Anne thinks that’s the end of it. But then Bethany asks her to be her? maid of honor — and learns Frederick is the groom’s best man. Now as they participate in wedding-related activities, they have to confront the messy past they’ve left behind – and a future they might yet share.

There’s one key ingredient every single interpretation of Persuasion must have — yearning. It’s all about the yearning. If Anne and Frederick don’t look across a crowded room and pine for one another with the heat of a thousand suns, then you’re not remaking Persuasion. And Give Me a Reason is absolutely packed with restrained passion and yearning. There’s too much hurt between Frederic and Anne for them to initially approach each other, and yet they still want to be together.

Anne’s dilemma is understandable, and it’s nice to see her be the one who leaves Frederick behind instead of being left behind to pine. She’s clearly struggling with discovering her own spine and worth as the book opens up, then learns to go after what she wants – a great character arc that absorbs the reader. Frederick remains sympathetic in the narrative: he’s painfully responsible and duty-bound, but led by his passion.

There’s a big reason why this isn’t a squee, however, and it boils down to this — the book’s big mis is very annoying.

Show Spoiler

I didn’t buy for one second that Frederick would fall in love with another woman, but Anne has to believe it because of Reasons. This plotline wastes time that could be spent on properly hashing out the reason why Anne left California, and it felt like it existed to stretch out the angst factor. I know why it’s in there – it reflects the structure of Persuasion – but it’s still irritating.

Much of Anne and Frederick’s reunion works, from the mistrust between them to their passionate reunion. They earn their happy ending but…

Show Spoiler

We skip right by the proposal! How can you skip a proposal scene in a book like this?

While those mitigating factors are minor, they’re enough to drag this one down from an “A”. Give Me a Reason is a solid Austen retelling and a miracle in a very crowded field.

Cover Awe: Color Combos

Nov. 3rd, 2025 08:00 am
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Posted by Amanda

Welcome back to Cover Awe!

The Cautious Traveler's Guide to the Wasteland by Sarah Brooks. An emerald green cover. A gold train with many cars makes up the border. Smoke coming out from the train makes up the title.

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

Cover design by Donna Sinisgalli Noetzel

Amanda: I love how simple and thought the design is with the train border and smoke turning into the title.

Sarah: That border is So NEAT.

Lara: I’m loving those rich colours too.

Sarah: I love these collections of covers. So many pretty details to look at. The simplicity still says so much about the book. Love it.

The Confidence Games by Tess Amy. Bold colors of hot pink, purple, black, and peach make up a scene of two women standing back to back in front of a fancy hotel.

The Confidence Games by Tess Amy

Cover illustration by Yordanka Poleganova

Sarah: I can’t decide if I like this. It’s eye catching and very bi-color-flag noir almost.

Tara: I like the colours, but I think it could be much more effective with a few tweaks.

Sarah: It kind of reminds me of what my eyelids look like when I stare at something bright and then shut my eyes. Almost like it’s a negative?

Tara: Yeah, it has too much going on and too many elements blend together with the darkest colour (it especially irks me that the hair on the person on the right blends into a jacket and… a door? Who can say.). The title text also runs over colours that are too light in some spaces. So, overall, it forces the eyes and brain to struggle a little too much.

Sarah: I wonder if the overexposed sort of feeling is deliberate?

Tara: That’s a great question. It might be! I’m hoping so at this point, because I can respect it as a deliberate choice, even if I don’t love how my eyes keep bouncing around and don’t know where to land.

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander. An illustrated cover of a cocktail glass with a tasty drink. A feminine hand is holding the glass. Another hand is touching the stem. Another hand, this one tattooed, is dropping a cherry into the drink. The title is designed like a neon sign.

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

Cover illustration by Petra Braun

Amanda: I love the subtle hint that this is a poly romance.

Shana: Oooh, I love the color combinations too.

Elyse: This is the kind of illustrated cover I’m here for.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson. A very dark green room with a plush wingback chair, wallpaper printed to look like a house, and framed photos. The chair has a camera and a splash of hot pink paint. There's a wooden table with a pink tube of lipstick. The title looks like hot pink graffiti.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

Cover art by Sasha Vinogradova

Elyse: The green and hot pink is such a distinctive combo.

Tara: I really like those together.

Sarah: The color palette, the lighting, and the modern spray paint on antique furnishings are all genius.

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Posted by Amanda

The latest bestseller list is brought to you by discount candy, crunchy leaves, and our affiliate sales data.

  1. The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  2. The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary Amazon | B&N
  3. Remember When by Mary Balogh Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  4. A Bachelor Establishment by Jodi Taylor Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  5. A Tale of Mirth and Magic by Kristen Vale Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  6. Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  7. Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  8. Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  9. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo Amazon | B&N | Kobo
  10. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Amazon | B&N | Kobo

I hope your weekend reading was fantastic!

Sunday Sale Digest!

Nov. 2nd, 2025 08:00 am
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Posted by Amanda

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

2025 Rhinebeck Recap

Nov. 2nd, 2025 07:00 am
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Posted by Elyse

If you were to ask me what day of the year I get most excited for, it isn’t Christmas or my birthday, it’s the New York Sheep and Wool Festival aka Rhinebeck. It’s the largest fiber festival in the world with about 50,000 people attending and it’s held in the Hudson Valley in fall when the foliage is gorgeous.

I hadn’t been able to attend since 2021 due to a lot of different things, but this year my best friend and I decided we needed to go in order to make some space for ourselves. She had been caring for her late mother during her battle with cancer for the last few years. I’ve been dealing with a landslide of aging parent issues, and to make that more difficult one of those parents is a narcissist.

Added to that is the fact that every day there seems to be some new kind of horror being reported in the news. I’m scared for my gay niece and sister. I’m scared for my trans friends. I’m scared for my job which is being impacted by tariffs.

It’s a lot.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at Rhinebeck this year, since other sheep and wool festivals have been smaller partly due to those same tariffs (most wool is processed outside the US) and a down economy making travel harder.

A line of people moves up a hill
One of the two lines to enter the festival.

I shouldn’t have worried. Once again I was reminded that fiber people are, by and large, incredibly kind and supportive of diversity. 

Knitting and other fiber arts have a history of being forms of resistance. In WWI and WWII knitters used different stitches to encode messages into their work. After the 2016 election Pussy Hats were everywhere, and women’s marches were a sea of pink, knitted headwear. There’s also the fact that knitting groups appear innocuous but are a way for women and other marginalized groups to gather without scrutiny.

Rhinebeck wasn’t smaller this year: it was overflowing. In fact there were three “pre-Rhinebeck” events to allow vendors who didn’t make the list to show their goods: Cakepalooza, a Woolen Affair and Indie Untangled.

The lines were long, but people were incredibly patient and kind. I’ve noticed over the past ten months that people seem more comfortable being rude or hostile in public spaces but that didn’t translate over to this festival. People happily shared their space with others, complimented one another’s sweaters, and were patient even when the internet went down for some vendors and the wait times crawled by. 

gold and blue skeins of yarns

The space was also incredibly welcoming and inclusive of queer folks. In my personal experience, my knitting groups have been pretty much 50/50 queer and straight/cis folks. From sweaters in various versions of the queer flags to people openly enjoying the space with their partners of all genders, it felt safe and welcoming to all. I live in an area where, unfortunately, people feel comfortable commenting or harassing queer folks in public, which has caused some of my loved ones and friends to withdraw more in public spaces. That was not the case here.

 That said, the knitting community is still a predominantly White space. With the exception of a few notable dyers like Neighborhood Fiber Co., most of the vendors were White. There’s still work to be done in making our community more inclusive. 

a little gray goat being walked on a leash

As we left the fairgrounds there was a group of MAGA supporters flying Trump flags and holding anti-immigrant and homophobic signs. I’m not sure if they assumed that the knitting community would be conservative or if they were just there to stir shit up, but I don’t think they were prepared for the heat they got. No one was violent, but pretty much every single car that passed them let them know what they thought. A man with an anti-immigrant sign started walking to the cars, thought better of it, and went back to his little group and sat down in a snit. 

It’s been a rough year and I feel like a raw nerve sometimes. I didn’t realize how much I needed a space where everyone was kind and patient, where I didn’t witness any harassment, and where I could just relax without anxiety.

I’ve already booked my hotel for next year.

Have you attended Rhinebeck or other craft festivals and fairs? Which ones do you love?

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Posted by Carrie S

Tze-gu-juni, also known as Huera, was a woman whom Geronimo called “The Bravest of Apache Women.” She was a woman of intensely powerful inner strength who survived captivity, a trek across the desert, and mountain lion attack to serve her tribe as a shaman.

Tze-gu-juni was born around 1847. As a child, she survived a lightning strike that killed her mother and sister. She seems to have lived an otherwise peaceful life until October 14, 1880, the day of the Battle of Tres Castillos, the battle that killed Chiricahua Chief Vittorio and ended Vittorio’s War, a war Vittorio waged against U.S. and Mexican Army soldiers in New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Tze-gu-juni was captured along with approximately seventy other women and children and taken to Mexico City, where she was enslaved and given the name ‘Huera’.

During her captivity, Tze-gu-juni became fluent in Spanish and secured a role as a translator at an Apache reservation in Arizona. She and about five others planned an escape and fled into the desert. They had one knife and one blanket and would have to walk for approximately 1300 miles to reach safety. They foraged for food and water in the desert.

Orange flowers wave in front of a view of rocky desert and a distant mountain range
The land near San Carlos Reservation

Along the way, Tze-gu-juni was attacked by a mountain lion. She tightened the blanket around her neck which saved her, and fought off the mountain lion. She was badly wounded but managed to reach San Carlos Reservation, where Geronimo and Tze-gu-juni’s future husband, Mangas, were living. Her hands and face were scarred for the rest of her life and she had limited use of her hands thereafter.

Black and White photo of Tze-gu-juni seated, long black hair unbound, wearing a white patterned top
Tze-gu-juni, Image from History.net, provenance unknown

Tze-gu-juni was married to Mangas, son of the Apache leader Mangas Coloradas, during her time at San Carlos. She had many skills to offer the community. In addition to her language skills, she was an expert at making a prized fermented drink called tiswin. She was a healer and shaman. She was also an influential advisor who played an important role in convincing Geronimo’s followers to escape from San Carlos in May 1885.

According to an article by John P. McWilliams, following one of her speeches,

The next day [following a speech by Tze-gu-juni] Geronimo, Mangas and some 145 other Apaches bolted from the reservation, joined within a few days by Chihuahua and Naiche. Soon following in pursuit were some 5,000 U.S. Army troops. “In analyzing this pivotal moment in Chiricahua history,” writes historian Edwin R. Sweeney in From Cochise to Geronimo, “we should not underestimate the influence of Huera.”

Soon after,  Tze-gu-juni and many other women were captured and held hostage by the U.S. Army. Geronimo surrendered on September 4, 1886. Geronimo, Tze-gu-juni, and others were held captive for the rest of their lives in Florida, where Tze-gu-juni and Geronimo may have married.  Tze-gu-juni used another of her skills all too often: singing dirges for the dead. The date of her own death is unknown, but we remember the woman who walked 1300 miles across the desert and fought off a mountain lion with her bare hands. Bravest, indeed.

For more about this Kickass Woman, check out:

Tze’gu’juni: (a.k.a.: Huera) – Apache Leader & Medicine Woman – Arizona, USA from JaguarBird on YouTube

History.net’s image of Huera, wife of Geronimo

Wild women of the West: wives of Geronimo” by Chris Enss, from Cowgirl Magazine

“Statement of Geronimo,” March 25, 1886, from Teaching American History

The Native Americans Project at WikiTree:  Biography of Huera Apache

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Posted by SB Sarah

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

Game Review: Hades II

Oct. 31st, 2025 10:00 am
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Posted by Guest Reviewer

This Confessions of a Middle Aged Gamer guest review is from Crystal Anne! Crystal Anne with An E comes to us from a sunny clime, but prefers to remain a pale indoor cat. She enjoys reading, cross-stitching something nerdy, going to see live music, and playing video games. She works as an autism consultant by day, got a degree in information science for fun, and currently serves on her local library advisory board.

Over the past year or so, I have seen my gaming time increase. Some of this, I believe, is the embarrassment of riches that is my backlog, and some of it is that some of the :::gestures broadly at everything:::. If I’m gaming, I’m not doomscrolling.

In 2021, which is when I started gaming again for realz, the game Hades was one of the major contributing factors to my purchase of a Nintendo Switch. (You can read Tara’s review of Hades if you like!)

There were several reasons for this: I had heard of it, read several reviews, and everything said that this was something right up my alley. I like games, but I particularly like a good story, and this had that in spades, and that story was based in Greek mythology and culture.

Uh, gimme.

Show Spoiler

Mr Krabb running with claws outstretched with a caption gimme gimme gimme

I ended up loving the game. I loved the characters, I loved the sneaky little references that you would only get if you had read quite a bit of Greek mythology. I also liked the bashy-bashy combat, I developed affinities for certain weapons (spear all day, I like hitting things from afar so they can’t hit me back), and I liked the gameplay loop.

Then, a couple years ago, they announced it: we were getting Hades 2. This could be construed as somewhat surprising, since up until then, Supergiant Games had not produced sequels to any of their games, and they had been pretty upfront about the fact that they wouldn’t make Hades 2 unless they could make it special.

Fast-forward a couple years, a lot of time with the devs futzing around with it while it was in early access, and the announcement was finally made that it would be released as a Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 exclusive.

Again, gimme.

Show Spoiler

White dude in a lacy cravat and napoleonic jacket possibly from the show Ghosts holds both hands up in a grabby fashion and says I must have it.

I’ve been playing it for a few days now, and if you need the shortest description of why you might like it, I can give you this: Hades, but MOAR.

This one focuses on Melinoë, the younger daughter of Hades and Persephone, and at the beginning of the game, her father has been imprisoned by the Titan Chronos (the guy who ate his kids, and trust me, do not Google image that search term, some artists have had way too much fun with that), while Persephone, Zagreus, and the rest of the House of Hades denizens are MIA (except Hypnos, he’s around, if not particularly useful at the moment).

Things are also difficult up on Olympus, but the gods are loath to give specifics, though they will always happily throw some Boons your way. In the meantime, Melinoë has been raised and trained by the Head Witch In Charge herself, Hecate, and it’s time for her to put those skills to use.

So far? SO FUN.

The gameplay loop is the same as the first game: you head out on a run, you fight some monsters, you meet some gods on the way, and eventually you die, returning to your home base.

This could feel repetitive, but every time you return to that base, you get to further the story a touch, by interacting with and building relationships with the people around you. Thus far, I’ve unlocked three weapons and beaten the first boss twice (only to have my ass fully handed to me on the next level).

The mechanics remain similar to the first game (muscle memory kicked in pretty quickly), but Melinoë has a somewhat different power set than Zagreus did, as she was trained as a witch rather than a death deity, so there’s some variety there. The gameplay, much as in the first game, feels smooth, and as I said before, if you played Hades, the muscle memory kicks in quickly.

I like the new Cast function quite a bit better in this iteration as well. In the original, it took me a while to learn how to use the Cast effectively, whereas with this, its functionality is much more apparent (it works as an area of effect as opposed to something you have to aim). I’m also enjoying the new Boons, particularly from Hestia. I’m a big fan of setting people on fire in games, and most of her Boons have something to do with fire. Burn, baby, burn.

Show Spoiler

An image of Dario from the MTV cartoon. she has brown hair and glasses and a blank expression and you can't see her eyes, but reflected in her glasses are flames burning higher

The characters remain a highlight, both new and returning. So far, I enjoy Dora, a shade that is haunting the base. Definitely salute her when you can; she’s the cutest thing. I also am a big fan of Hecate so far. She takes her mentor role seriously, and is both loving and not here for the nonsense. There is a sense of history and relationship there, and I particularly enjoy when Melinoë is in danger of becoming mopey and down on herself, and Hecate sternly tells her to get over herself.

Also, let’s hear it for THEM ABS.

A character with dark witch hat, crop top, low slung belt and HELLA ABS has their arms out. To the left is a woman with blonde hair and green arms who is staring at the vieweer

And Melinoë’s legs.

The character design remains delightful, in both new and returning characters. They made some unexpected choices with a few new characters, including Hestia and the utterly adorable Arachne, and some amusing alterations in existing ones (did you play the first game and think there was no way Aphrodite could get more naked? Because she can!). All the characters are hot and it’s a lot of fun to look at. And other gaming companies should study the voicework. It’s perfection.

I’m not far in at this point, but every new little discovery and introduction keeps me engaged and ready to always make another run so the story continues. I could keep going (seriously don’t get me started on the music), but I could also be playing it right now.

As for continuing the series from this? I am ready for Hades 3. Let Zag and Melinoë play with the Norse and Egyptian pantheons! Give me all the mythology and jokes and stories and godly pettiness! I want it all!

Grade: A for Absolutely

 

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Posted by SB Sarah

Siren’s Mark
A | BN
My guest today is Lux Raven, author of the Siren’s duology that starts with Siren’s Mark, which came out – together – in early October. Lux wanted to join me on the podcast to talk about disability portrayals in romance, and about her own journey to diagnosis and how it influenced her writing – and vice versa.

We talk a lot about the pernicious ableism in the writing of disabled characters, and about writing your catnip when you desperately want to see your experience in a romance.

Last week was Invisible Disabilities Week, and we timed this episode on purpose. So if you’re dealing with an invisible disability, we see you. You are loved and if no one has told you today, you’re fabulous.

TW/CW: at 16:50, we discuss antifat bias and misogyny in medical care, and if you’d like to skip over that, it’s about 1 minute total.

Listen to the podcast →
Read the transcript →

Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

You can find Lux Raven at:

We also mentioned:

If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at iTunes. You can also find us on Stitcher, and Spotify, too. We also have a cool page for the podcast on iTunes.

More ways to sponsor:

Sponsor us through Patreon! (What is Patreon?)

What did you think of today's episode? Got ideas? Suggestions? You can talk to us on the blog entries for the podcast or talk to us on Facebook if that's where you hang out online. You can email us at sbjpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-3272. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so we can work your message into an upcoming podcast.

Thanks for listening!

Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on iTunes or on Stitcher.

Kobo Plus: Let’s Get Crafty!

Oct. 30th, 2025 08:00 am
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Posted by SB Sarah

This post is sponsored by Kobo Plus, and contains affiliate links which bring a portion of your purchase to us at no extra charge to you. If you use them, thanks, and if not, no worries. Thanks, y’all! 

I know y’all have heard about Kobo Plus, I am presuming, but in case not: Kobo Plus is niftyEspecially if you want to learn new skills.

Kobo Plus is a subscription service that allows you unlimited access to ebooks, audiobooks, or, depending on the plan, ebooks and audiobooks.

Three options for Kobo plus kobo plus read is 7.99 a month, kobo plus listen is 7.99 month and kobo plus listen AND read is 9.99 a month

I’ll be honest – I didn’t know about the separate Kobo Plus Listen option until recently and I’m really happy with it.

If the graphic isn’t legible for you, Kobo Plus Listen is $7.99US per month, and there are over 150,000 audiobooks in their catalog.

Kobo Plus Read is also $7.99US per month, and has over 1.5 million ebooks in their catalog, including some exclusives, and entire series bundles, too.

And Kobo Plus Read & Listen is $9.99 per month – both listening and ebooks, for $10. That’s a really good deal.

Plus, if you’re a new subscriber, you can try Kobo Plus for 30 days for free, and cancel any time.

I love a cancel any time – and if you’re someone who worries that you won’t remember to, here’s a tip. When you sign up for a free trial, set a reminder or calendar appointment for just under the free trial length, with a link to where you can unsubscribe. So if it’s a 14 day free trial, sign up, and IMMEDIATELY afterward, set a reminder or calendar item for 12 or 13 days from now that your trial is about to end, and do you want to renew? Helps me out immensely.

Perfect pairings for ever reader - sip back and relax with endless books from our catalog start free trial

One of my favorite things to do with subscription services is look at all the nonfiction crafting books that might teach me a skill I’ve been very curious about. There are MANY cookbooks, instructions books, pattern collections, and project books inside Kobo Plusall included in the monthly fee.

I’ve become a little obsessed with people who make miniature things. I love seeing the process, and I LOVE looking at the finished projects. I have a miniature polymer clay shabbat dinner display hanging in my kitchen with tiny challah, tiny peas, potatoes, and carrots, tiny plates and forks, and tiny bottles of wine. I love looking at it, knowing it was handmade (by Chapel View Crafts in Wales) and still being in awe of the teeny-teensy food made by hand.

And of course there are plenty of books to help me learn, such as:

Polymer Clay for Beginners - with six sample projects including a cactus, a rose, and a macaron

Be a Polymer Clay pro! With pictures of earrings, cut outs, layered bas relief pieces featuring a lot of flowers and plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


And great googly-moogly look what I found while searching the miniature options:

Miniatures in Minutes -a book showing how to make miniature quilts including a nine patch design with tiny half square triangles in red, orange blue and green

That’s an entire book about miniature quilts. Combining a hobby I already do with one I’m curious about? Egads. And it’s included in Kobo Plus! (Alas, the foundation paper for piecing is not included, but that’s understandable.)

I’m going to end up making miniature quilts, aren’t I? Probably!

There are books on dollhouse miniature crafting:

50 Makes for Modern Miniature - decorate and furnish your diy doll house by chelsea andersson

And a book on terrarium construction with miniature worlds inside aimed at children:

Magical miniature worlds: 18 Terrarium projects for kids to make and grow - Ben Newell

I did this a bunch of years ago! I made a big jar terrarium that lasted for a long, long time, and had little jeeps off-roading inside.  I also made a terrarium bowl for my husband that had little people faffing about in the foliage. It’s very fun to find small scale miniatures and put them alongside small plants that suddenly look like redwoods due to the perspective.

This is, alas, my catnip: I LOVE miniature scenes. This book is by Sharon Harvey who was a contestant on The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge 2022 which I have just learned about and will be hunting down shortly.

Making miniature scenes by Sharon Harvey showing a Welsh bread bakery storefront in miniature (the store reads BARA which is Welsh for bread).

And since I’m moving a lot of my herbs and potted plants indoors, maybe this year I’ll start working on a fairy garden and set it up in the spring?

Making Fairy Garden Accessories by Anna-Marie Fahmy and Andrew Fahmy

I also did a search for crochet, which is a fiber art I have no experience with, and again, I might have to try it because look how pretty:

The Tunisian Crochet Handbook by Toni Lipsey - the cover is a picture of a woman with light brown skin and dark curly hair wrapped in a color block crochet blanket in blue, grey, coral, and teal

Toni Lipsey has a gorgeous YouTube channel, too. Yup, I’m doomed.

Of course there are miniature amigurumi books, including this one of teeny tiny ones – or microgurumi:

100 Micro Amigurumi - crochet patterns for tiny figures including trees, pencils, dogs, pigs, crayons, octopi, cakes, animals, and more by Steffi Glaves

Look at me, giving myself nine hobbies in one post. Go me!

The most important element to this post: you’ve got options in your subscription services.

If you’re an insatiable reader and listener (hi) or hobbyist (hi again) an unlimited subscription plan can keep you happily engrossed and save you some money, too.

Do you look for nonfiction and hobby titles in your subscription services? What hobbies are your favorites to search for?

And if you’re a Kobo Plus subscriber, what titles do you recommend?

Perfect pairings for every reader Sip back and relax with endless books from our catalog - start a free trial! Below the words is a cup of iced coffee with coffee beans on the saucer, and a color screen kobo reader

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Posted by Amanda

The Rec League - heart shaped chocolate resting on the edge of a very old bookThis request comes from Shana:

I’ve been rewatching Last Tango in Halifax and craving small town older adult romcoms with a similar whimsical vibe.

Amanda: I think Megan Bannen’s fantasy books have a small town feel and older characters.

Sarah: Would BK Borison’s books work for this?

I think the Lovelight series ( A | BN | K | AB ) might fit very well.

Amanda: I don’t know if the characters are older than 20s? Someone please let us know in the comments!

Sarah: Oh good point. Definitely small town and much whimsy.

Shana: Well, that makes me want to read them anyway.

Are there any romances you’d recommend? Drop them in the comments!

Links: Hope, Agatha Christie, & More

Oct. 29th, 2025 06:00 pm
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Posted by Amanda

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.Welcome back!

How is October over already? I’ve been in deep in cozy activities. I made soup. I’ve been bundled up in blankets, playing PowerWash Simulator 2. Lots of reading in bed; I’m back on my webcomics grind.

How are the changing seasons treating you?

I recently re-discovered my love of Book Outlet. I used it a ton in grad school and then sort of forgot about it. But with purse strings getting a bit tighter, I’ve started poking around again. They usually have some steep deals on hardcovers. The only downside is you’re sort of at the whim of whatever they have in stock. I think my referral link should get you $5 off. 

Lots of capes at this year’s formal wear section of the Mister Global pageant. I think Thailand or Peru is tied for my favorite, though I’d love to talk about Vietnam’s entry.

Four of Agatha Christie’s mysteries are being adapted into Mr. Men and Little Miss children’s books!

This link was posted in the SBTB podcast patreon discord by jfhobbit. It’s pretty topical right now.

Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!

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