Exile's Hunter - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Exile's Hunter (Alien Mates: Planet Exile #1)

by Kate Rudolph

What is it about:

Kenzie will do anything to save her sister... even if it means teaming up with a dangerous alien who makes her heart pound.

Kenzie has crossed the galaxy in search of her abducted sister and she's finally landed on Guerran. It's a planet full of criminals and she can trust no one, especially not the terrifyingly hot alien named Mad.

He's as much a criminal as anyone on Guerran. And he's her only hope. But she isn't sure whether she should kiss him or stab him when his presence makes her heat up with desire.

Mad can't leave the exile planet. Once Kenzie finds Carise, the sisters will be long gone. There's no future between her and the hunky alien, no matter how quickly he steals her heart.

How can Kenzie walk away when fate has put her in the path of her mate?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I will confess I fell for the cover of this book.

But after reading some SciFi Romance stories recently, I was in the mood for more and this one didn't just have a shiny purple cover with an interesting hero on it, it sounded good as well.

And I had a great time with it.

I really liked Mad. Being exiled and having to survive on a prison planet has made him hard, but still good at heart. I rooted for him to get everything he longed for.

Kenzie was mostly a great character as well. She was the typical big sister though - and it worked better than in most books, because after all her younger sister was abducted - and I really don't like the 'older sibling knows what's best for the younger one' trope/characteristic.

I very much enjoyed the story and the romance between Mad and Kenzie. The steamy scenes were delicious and their growing relationship had me hoping the two of them could work things out and save the day.

 There was one character who I suspect has her own book in another series by Rudolph, and there is also another book in this series that will be about two characters introduced in this one. I'll most definitely will get hold of the latter, and I will investigate other books by Rudolph.

Why should you read it:

It has a strong hunky alien!

On McPig's Wishlist - Snake-eater

 

Snake-eater

by T. Kingfisher

In an isolated desert town, a young woman seeking a fresh start is confronted by ancient gods, malevolent supernatural forces, and eccentric neighbours. A witty horror-tinged fantasy, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chuck Tingle, and Rachel Harrison.

When Selena travels to the remote desert town of Quartz Creek in search of her estranged Aunt Amelia, she is desperate and short of options. Fleeing an unhappy marriage, she has exactly twenty-seven dollars to her name, and her only friend in the world is her dog, Copper.

On arrival, Selena learns Amelia is dead. But the inhabitants of Quartz Creek are only too happy to have a new resident. Out of money and ideas, Selena sees no harm staying in her aunt's lovely house for a few weeks, tending to her garden and enjoying the strange, desolate beauty of the desert. The people are odd, but friendly, and eager to help Selena settle into her new home.

But Quartz Creek's inhabitants share their town with others, old gods and spirits whose claim to the land long predates their human neighbours. Selena finds herself pursued by disturbing apparitions, visitations that come in the night and seem to want something from her.

Aunt Amelia owed a debt. Now her god has come to collect.

Expected publication November 11, 2025

What Feasts at Night - Book Review

 

What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2)

by T. Kingfisher

What is it about:

The follow-up to T. Kingfisher’s bestselling gothic novella, What Moves the Dead .

Retired soldier Alex Easton returns in a horrifying new adventure.

After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.

In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams.

What did I think of it:

After rereading What Moves the Dead I picked up the second book starring Alex Easton.

And this was yet another awesome read.

What I love about Kingfisher's horror is that it's not  jump scares or gory slaughter. 

Don't get me wrong: I love a good zombie gore fest, or other high octane slaughter story, but atmospheric horror, where you slowly start to realize how bad things are... Perfection!

I really love Alex, they're easy to root for and to me very relatable. Even after the events in the first book Alex hangs on to their logic, unwilling to give in to superstitious beliefs. Being familiar with a lot of folklore and superstitions I could easily see what might be going on. But surprise isn't what makes this story work, instead it's atmosphere and storytelling that carries this book, so I was glued to the pages even knowing what they would discover.

I read this book in one sitting, drawn into it and unwilling to let it go until I reached the end.

You bet I'll get my greedy trotters on the third book once released as well! In the meantime I plan to pick up other books by T. Kingfisher as well. There are two in my TBR pile already.

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful, atmospheric Horror read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Vexing the Grumpy Orc

 

"Almost done." The witch's smug superiority crawled under my skin. "Unless you prefer to keep glaring holes in my back?"

(page 1, Vexing the Grumpy Orc by Chloe Graves)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser Tuesdays - A House with Good Bones

 

Live ladybugs and squashed dead ones tumbled to the floor.

(Okay, I admit it, even as a dedicated insect aficionado, this was wavering between alarming and gross.)

(page 80, A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher)

---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Desired by the Vissigroth - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Desired by the Vissigroth

by Bella Blair

What is it about:

SASKIA: The day started out so good, but turns from good to bad in the blink of an eye, when I run face-to-chest into one of the vissigroths of Leander. Like an impenetrable wall, his body doesn't yield one bit, awakening all kinds of unknown sensation inside me. When he demands I'm to be brought to his chambers that night, I fear the worst. But his proposition catches me off guard. He promises to take care of my ailing mother and even to find suitable mates for my sisters if I agree to become his vissy. What I don't realize though is that what starts as an agreement soon heats up into something more. So much more, because Treyton is by far the most handsome, considerate male I have ever met. 

TREYTON: Driven by the need to avenge my family against our greedy susserayn my plan is simple, marry a human seffy and enrage our susserayn until the other vissigroths will see him for the tyrant he is and start a war. It's a good plan. A damn good plan. I never thought in a million years though that I would not only find myself attracted to the human seffy I pick to be my vissy, but that soon I develop more feelings for her than I thought myself capable of. 

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This was another freebie for signing up to Bella Blair's newsletter.

This story was around 80 pages and a nice enough read.

There's little explanation about the world and the titles used, but it wasn't really necessary to follow the very quick romance. Once again some characters were dragged into the story who I suspect have their own books in the series this short story is from.

I think I like the world from the previous freebie more. I still have two more freebies to try to see if I want to read more from one of Blair's series/worlds.

Why should you read it:

It's a good way to check out the setting of a series.

On McPig's Wishlist - The Warbler

 

The Warbler

by Sarah Beth Durst

From the author of The Lies Among Us comes a magical tale about mothers and daughters, choices and consequences, and the real meaning of home when every place feels like a cage.

Ten months. That’s the longest Elisa has stayed anyplace, constantly propelled by her fear that if she puts down roots, a family curse will turn her into a tree.

But she’s grown tired of flitting from town to town and in and out of relationships. When she discovers a small town in Massachusetts where mysterious forces make it impossible for the residents to leave, she hopes she can change her fate.

As Elisa learns about the town’s history, she understands more about the women in her family, who seem doomed to never get what they want. Now she believes she’s stuck, too—is that a patch of bark on her arm? But her neighbor’s collection of pet birds sings secrets that Elisa can almost understand—secrets she must unravel in order to be truly alive.