Beatrix Hollow

A generous 3/5 stars

#1. Every character in this book is a complete idiot. Stop following the voice! It's fucking leading you deep into an abandoned mine! Are you even keeping track of where you're going?!

#2. The smut is just meh. Also, Mothman, you're cute, but if someone was drawing incredibly graphic porn of me before we'd ever met, that would be creepy, not attractive.

#3. THE BIG ONE. I immediately DNFed at about the 1/3 to 3/4 mark. (I legitimately deleted the book off my phone, so I show more can't look up the exact spot. You'll know it when you read it. For the non-spoiler readers, let's just say there's some dubcon that I could not even stomach reading. For the spoiler readers, some background. There's this creepy black monster-ghost thing that possesses FMC in the cave. This whole possession scene is pretty graphic and traumatizing, including the monster-ghost threatening Ava with death if she doesn't invite him in. Textbook definition of coercion. Then the monster-ghost keeps butting into Ava's thoughts with straight-up sociopathic instructions and going so far as taking over her body (and erasing her memory of it) to order the death of her boss. Needless to say, I've been reading this monster-ghost guy as the villain of the story. Then, suddenly, we get a sex scene between Ava and the monster-ghost. Let's be blunt: this scene is rape. Monster-ghost has ambushed Ava after leaving her body and manifesting next to her bed while she's sleeping. He then proceeds to tell her that she's empty and actually craves him inside her. You see where this is going. He forces himself on her, initiates anal without her permission, all until she agrees that she craves him and invites him into herself.

Let's be clear. These two have had no interaction besides the violent and coercive. There has been absolutely no indication of attraction on Ava's part, let alone any discussions about sex. I am mostly okay with some dubcon here and there, although the older I get the more difficulty I have with it. But this is not dubcon. This is a guy saying a woman must crave sex then pressing said woman into agreeing with him after it has already happened. It's not sexy. It's not okay. And it's probably the end of me reading any more of this author's writing. show less

Who doesn't love an unhinged man in their life that will keep you on your toes. That is just what Soren does. The way that he can one moment play "Mall Santa" and the next axe someone is psycho. As much as Sophie does not want to admit it, she kind of likes it.

Soren has this way about him that makes you want to both scratch his eyes out and kiss him. It is that cocky persona that he gives off. Each time that he goes out on the "hunt", he gets a little bolder. Things get even more intense show more between Sophie and Soren.

This is a quick read. If you like Brynne Weaver and Lauren Biel, then, you will really enjoy this novella. show less

"Soren, can't you paint?" "Like...with blood?" "No! Or kayak, I don't know. I didn't mean to murder people when I said get a hobby."

I don't know how the author does it but she has a way of writing gore, romance, and comedy that is intriguing and not gross or stupid. This story is short, enjoyable, and funny with a hint of Christmas. The only thing that is missing is what happens with Sophie's family after they open the presents. They talk about it but I want to know what actually happens.

3.5/5 stars

This may be a personal problem, but I really could not get into this one. First of all, the smutty scenes were a super turn-off for me. These two have sex in the most inappropriate places at the most inappropriate times. I literally couldn't think of anything else other than "Every single person in the campground can hear you guys!" and "You've basically been told point blank that there's a murderer out to get you. Stop getting it on and leave!" Also, fucking in a shallow river show more right in view of all your friends and a literal video camera is not subtle and it's definitely not hot. There's a difference between exhibitionism and outright public indecency.

I also felt like the FMC basically existed to have things done to her. It was always the men dragging her around, initiating sex, etc. She has basically no self-agency. Might as well be a cardboard cutout with "Self-insert here" plastered all over it.

Also, Caspian is a dick. There, I said it. show less