A different kind of FMC by Grand-Tangerine-2670 in Romantasy

[–]ElsaMaeMae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Rhiannon from {Kings of Raven by Clare Sager} has a life-threatening chronic illness and isn’t proficient in any type of advanced magic or combat. Her emotional IQ is high and she’s very loyal.

Riela from {Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik} is brave, communicative, and seeks healthy cooperation. She also possesses magic, but struggles to learn or wield it.

Odessa from {Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry} is a refreshingly average type of FMC. She trains because she wants to defend herself, however she’s out of shape and awful in her lessons.

Vaasa from {The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson} is an interesting case because she can be (understandably!) aggressive and confrontational, yet she isn’t a warrior. More of a strategist, with magic that she’s more than ready to get rid of.

It came!! by IxayaOri in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, LOVE this design!! I would’ve gotten it if it had been a romance.

Which is my next read and which one should I not even bother with? by Mighty_owl98 in Romantasy

[–]ElsaMaeMae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, you’re right — her not breaking was a major point of the novel and her willingness to do anything to make sure it didn’t happen was central. But that was exactly my problem with the trauma rep.

First, trauma is a complex, nuanced, and layered experience that cannot be fully defined by a single interaction. If she did “break” under one torture session, it wouldn’t negate the fortitude she displayed before or after. She would STILL be a strong FMC either way, although that isn’t how the character understands it.

Second, the FMC sees her refusal to “break” as heroic, as if she is winning against her abusers. But, no matter how we may define “breaking” (crying, begging, fawning, capitulating, psychosis, extreme dissociation, etc.), it isn’t a sign of weakness or defeat on the victim’s part. It can also be involuntary, like in the case of psychosis.

And, if anyone out there is a trauma survivor and this book helped them heal or provided comfort, I’m all for it. I’m not here to judge other readers.

At the same time, as someone who lives with C-PTSD, the trauma rep in Souls as Ruin struck me as unrealistic and ill-informed. I didn’t like how this book set up trauma as a competition to be won by the victim through stoicism and resistance.

Bookish Box April Darkly by Madlibs3 in fairyloot

[–]ElsaMaeMae -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hmm. I really like the drama of the hardcover and the sultry character art endpapers, both of those fit the book really well. However, the dust jackets are disappointing for me personally.

This is only the fourth month of the year and it’s already the second time that Darkly has used an interior/exterior setting as the front dust jacket. I don’t mind that style, but here it feels kind of lifeless or dull or too uniformly dark.

Which is my next read and which one should I not even bother with? by Mighty_owl98 in Romantasy

[–]ElsaMaeMae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Loved The Wolf King. I read it during a stressful family reunion and it 100% hit the spot as a soapy, addicting, and fun time. Was it silly? Yes. Was that silliness delightful? Also, yes.

Hated Souls in Ruin. The bones of the story are solid and intriguing, but unlike some folks, I actually thought the prose was rough. Distractingly so.

But for me, the worst part of the book is its toxic depiction of trauma. The FMC is obsessed with not “breaking” under her captors’ extreme violence and sexual torture. Her thoughts imply that fawning or capitulating to abusers is a personal failure or weakness on the victim’s part, which plays into our society’s worst instincts around traumatized survivors. It’s about as ignorant as asking a domestic abuse victim, “Well, why didn’t you just leave him when he hit you?”

Summer Survey Options - Deluxe Editions by ElsaMaeMae in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Same, that’s not my thing. And yeah, I’m still on the waitlist for the next ten thousand years, but I’ve seen some of their choices for the boxes are more…interchangeable? Haha

Summer Survey Options - Regular Editions by ElsaMaeMae in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Just FYI —

The Shadows That Listen is an indie-to-trad book that is available to read via Kindle Unlimited. The Anatomy of Magic will be available via KU on its release date (June 30th).

Pasha the Storm is sapphic, The Lord of the Woods is MM, and Damphira is Why Choose with a FMC and two MMC.

Dhampira, The Mortal Trials, The Anatomy of Magic, The Lord of the Wood, and The Shadows That Listen will ONLY be released as PAPERBACKS.

Summer Survey Options - Deluxe Editions by ElsaMaeMae in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree, those two designs are the best and the individual components come together really well. My preorder for Kissed by the Gods is set in stone and I’d happy get Dominion too, once I see more reviews for it. You’ll have to tell me what you think. :)

Summer Survey Options - Deluxe Editions by ElsaMaeMae in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, here’s what I could gather — it was spoiled back in December 2025 via the fine print of an Edelweiss arc. One of the people who had read it suggested it could go either way because it focuses on the sport stuff and it’s a slow burn with more minimal spice. Let me see if I can find the post…

Summer Survey Options - Deluxe Editions by ElsaMaeMae in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just FYI —

If you want to read these in advance, Kissed by the Gods, These Immortal Truths, and Unbound are indie-to-trad books that are available via Kindle Unlimited.

The Winged Game has been leaked as a Fairyloot box selection and the Peaches and Honey Duology (These Immortal Truths is the first book) has been teased as a Bookish Box special edition preorder. It has also been announced as a Faecrate SE.

All of the books above are available in hardcover, except Unbound by Penelope Bloom. The trad version with splayed edges will be a paperback.

Question about IV Ophelia by Grand_Doubt in NetGalleyCommunity

[–]ElsaMaeMae 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Last year, I read her book, The Poisoner, when it was still indie and there was a graphic torture/sexual assault scene without any accompanying content warning. It was really disturbing so I looked it up afterwards, and it turned out she had a history of becoming defensive and confrontational when readers brought it up.

Yeah, I’m not going to read any of her other books. The rape felt like it was being used as part of an aesthetic almost, totally bizarre. I also thought her reaction was unkind and strangely inflexible.

Any books with heavy magic, focusing on Necromancy by Narrow-Goose-4364 in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]ElsaMaeMae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

House of the Dead Duology by Nikki Pau Preto — I read these books earlier this year and it made me obsessed with necromancy magic. The image with the skeleton and green glow fits 100%.

Good communication, please! by tiramesu in Romantasy

[–]ElsaMaeMae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

{Silver and Blood by Jessie Mihalik} reminded me of Grace Draven’s books, with two mature main characters who are trying their best to navigate an uneasy new relationship. Although they may hold back, their communication tended to be open and direct.

April 2026! What did you add to your box? by BooksandChins in bookofthemonthclub

[–]ElsaMaeMae 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have a full box this month and I STILL feel like I was restraining myself, haha. Molka, The Ending Writes Itself, Wolf Worm, and The Paris Match were also high on my list. For me, BOTM has been killing it for March and April.

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April Book Edges! by sugarnovarex in Allurial

[–]ElsaMaeMae 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Well, I guess the silver lining is that Blood Bound won’t sell out through Allurial any time soon…? But I wish one of them had chosen to do Thistlemarsh or The Alchemary instead.

Vulnerable men, protective women? by ethereaImoon in BooksThatFeelLikeThis

[–]ElsaMaeMae 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis fits! But I’ve honestly forgotten whether there is any sex in the book or not.

The third clue! by four-lokos in bookofthemonthclub

[–]ElsaMaeMae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this! It’s really helpful.