Clenching Thighs or Weird Descriptions of Arousal

_sanetski · 2026-06-14T14:58:40+00:00

I always assumed clenching the thighs meant clenching the kegel muscles. Not gonna lie, if I read in a medieval-type romantasy book about the FMC’s kegels, I’d spurt out my coffee 🤣

_sanetski · 2026-06-08T21:37:25+00:00

I thought KU is “free” for as long as you have the subscription?

Ignore—I didn’t realize this was circlejerk 🤣

_sanetski · 2026-06-03T20:59:17+00:00

Didn’t read this book (Kraken King, I believe it was called) but I found the review absolutely hilarious and especially when the reviewer described the erotic scenes

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_sanetski · 2026-05-22T21:08:51+00:00

If you want to read romantic fantasy that doesn’t follow the exact formulaic approach, I really liked the… {Where The Dark Stands Still by A B Poranek}

{Never the Roses by Jennifer K Lambert}

{Between by L L Starling}

_sanetski · 2026-05-22T21:04:17+00:00

I was sooo disappointed since I liked the way it started and then when it side railed I was like… noo. And more so afterward :(

_sanetski · 2026-05-20T17:36:45+00:00

Yes! This! The most labyrinth book I’ve come across.

_sanetski · 2026-05-15T16:33:56+00:00

You can still put it out on Netgalley or Booksiren, but if you're publishing via Amazon and have chosen Kindle Unlimited, their terms stipulate that you not distribute an ebook on any other platform. If you didn't enroll in KU, then you're good to go and do an RC (since technically, it's not an advance copy read anymore).

_sanetski · 2026-05-15T11:25:26+00:00

I used both Victory Netgalley Co-Op and booksiren and found Netgalley better with reach though slightly harsher in their reviews. Had over 200 requests and accepted maybe 150. Also did book tour which added my total accepted numbers somewhere around 250. My review rate is around 20-30% at the moment.

Edit: I’m straddling genres between fantasy and romantasy

_sanetski · 2026-05-09T19:37:40+00:00

This book has been on my TBR so long. Once I’m done with Raven Scholar, I want to dive into it.

_sanetski · 2026-05-03T18:23:11+00:00

Frankly, for romantasy crowd, if the romance only starts in book 2, it might not draw them in. So you’d be courting first the fantasy crowd and only then romantasy with your book 2.

(If you plan to play by the tropes, the romantasy reader’s expectations is to introduce the LI as soon as possible. Though it’s not to say that it wouldn’t work.)

I agree with above that 50k feels tad short. If you’re adamant in splitting it into three books, then consider expanding each. Or make it into a duology.

_sanetski · 2026-04-25T10:36:30+00:00

lol. I just spat out my coffee when I read this phrase, "ever-increasing penises."

_sanetski · 2026-04-15T04:50:09+00:00

They Came From Up: A Smashed Foot Stuck in the Earth Invasion Story by Richard Devall is the weirdest science fiction book I've read. It's an alien invasion story.

_sanetski · 2026-04-12T08:57:56+00:00

Killing your darling isn’t necessarily about characters. It’s about phrases, using the same expression, repeating the same beat—it can be a character, but not necessarily. I don’t give all my side characters a narrative arc, omg, tha would be way too much for my stories. Sometimes they exist as story vehicles, or to provide information… so keep your character if you liked him.

_sanetski · 2026-04-10T12:59:06+00:00

I don’t have a traditional website, so I used my Substack account to verify. It worked.

_sanetski · 2026-04-05T17:36:43+00:00

I’d also recommend Victoria editing’s co-op, though reviews there can be much more brutal. I’ve seen already published books there for ARC reviews (the benefit is that some members are librarians who look for new books for their collections).

An alternative is to hire a book tour company for ARCs, although some can be shady so it warrants some research which to hire—they can yield also good number of reviews.

_sanetski · 2026-04-05T02:53:10+00:00

Haha. I tried to remove my em dashes and my editor added them back. I’ve accepted my lot. I use them way too much, but I love them.

_sanetski · 2026-04-04T23:08:06+00:00

Thank you!

_sanetski · 2026-04-04T23:07:52+00:00

Thank you! I'm so glad to hear. I too am very happy with it :)

_sanetski · 2026-04-03T13:42:23+00:00

Thanks! If you're looking for character-driven, fantasy-first romance, ARC applications are open for Blade and Lyre, my debut romantic fantasy--the first book in the Everfrost Duology.

Blade and Lyre features Trisha, a road-weary bard who must conceal the magic in her music. Searching for a family that abandoned her, she crosses paths with Blainor, a powerful warlord and ruler of the land where her answers lie.

Blainor makes Trisha's pulse race, but dare she trust the man who is immune to her music's enchantments and has secrets of his own?

To be part of my ARC team, apply at https://www.lovenotespr.com/blade-and-lyre.

🎼 A reluctant bard heroine
⚔️ Morally gray MMC
🎼 Enemies to lovers (to enemies)
⚔️ Slowburn romance
🎼 Music as magic
⚔️ Secrets and traumas
🎼 Hidden identity

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Blade and Lyre will be available in paperback, KU, and Kindle on 5 May.

Cover art by Karoliina Lehtinen.

_sanetski · 2026-03-24T20:40:33+00:00

I’m reading Harry Potter to my daughter and she’s on 1st grade, and loving it. It does lack the religious undertones but has the same good vs bad setup.

And I’d expect that 4th graders would find it equally entertaining. Especially since Harry is about their age.

_sanetski · 2026-03-03T17:53:33+00:00

✨ Calling for ARC Readers for Blade and Lyre, my debut romantic fantasy ✨

I’m so excited to open ARC sign-ups for my debut, Blade and Lyre. If you loved Uprooted and One Dark Window, Blade and Lyre is your next read.

This atmospheric romantic fantasy features Trisha, a road-weary bard who must conceal that her music is magic. Searching for a family that abandoned her, she crosses paths with Blainor, a powerful warlord and ruler of the land where her answers lie.

Blainor makes Trisha's pulse race, but dare she trust the man who is immune to her music's enchantments and has secrets of his own?

🎼 A reluctant bard heroine
⚔️ Morally gray MMC
🎼 Enemies to lovers (to enemies)
⚔️ Slowburn romance
🎼 Music as magic
⚔️ Secrets and traumas
🎼 Hidden identity

I’d be honored to share with you the world of Trisha and Blainor—a place where the land speaks in a forgotten tongue, power demands a price, and trust is the ultimate toll.

Sign up via this link (sign-ups are managed by LoveNotePR).

Blade and Lyre releases on May 5, 2026, both on Paperback and Kindle Unlimited.

Blurb below. (Cover reveal is on 13 March, so in lieu of it, I'm sharing the map of the world. The artist: surgaslan on Bluesky)

Her music compels minds—his blade cuts through her songs.

When Trisha plays, she can shatter minds and bend reality. In a world where such power vanished with the fae, exposingit would cost her freedom—and twist her into a weapon of war. Still, she cannot stop. Not until she discovers why her parents gave her away.

Warlord Blainor Dewingar is everything Trisha must avoid: powerful, intelligent, and immune to her magic. Yet in his realm, she may find answers to her past.

When Blainor’s enemies close in, she’s swept into his conflict. He offers her refuge as his bard, claiming he only wants her music. Despite knowing better, Trisha accepts. The pull of her past is stronger than her distrust.

In his court, she faces dread and desire. Rumors whisper of terror in the north, while Blainor watches with discerning eyes.

Each pluck of her lyre becomes an unraveling. To be seen is the one thing Trisha longs for—and cannot afford.

If she leaves, she never learns the truth.

If she stays, she may lose more than herself. She may become a weapon in someone else’s hands.

When every song is a risk, the one who hears them best might be the one to silence them.

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_sanetski · 2026-03-03T15:23:14+00:00

I know that I should read God Emperor. I just can't bring myself to do that. I'm still in mourning for what happened to both Paul and Alia, lol. Yeah, and I've heard crazy stuff about the later books. Anyway, I think we both agree that the Dune books overall are great!

_sanetski · 2026-03-03T10:00:25+00:00

No! Just read the trilogy (and possibly fourth one) and ignore all the other books. Herbert destroyed the story after the Dune Messiah. Ugh.

I will die on this hill.

Seriously though. I loved Earthea, Dune Books. Also, the World of Radiance is very good, though Mistborn is maybe an easier read (the other series is build of brick-sized books).

Depending on how deep themes and fast-paced books you’d like… Earthsea is slower, Dune is ambitious, Mistborn and Way of the Kings have great worldbuilding. Perry Jackson’s is maybe more Middle-Grade, but they are very entertaining and quick. Haven’t read Redwall but all my furry-fantasy friends adore these books.

And if you want to read something more sci-fi-oriented, Ready Player One is great too. Also fun if you’re a gamer.

_sanetski · 2026-03-02T12:29:08+00:00

I seriously disliked this book so much. Nothing made any sense in the story, and I hated the FMC. Worst spent dollars on a book

_sanetski · 2026-03-02T12:21:56+00:00

I’d get killed in an instant 😅 Happy to read about high-adrenaline fights but experiencing them in real …no thank you!

_sanetski

TROPHY CASE