Category: First Person Narrative

Something Wicked by Falon Ballard

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, First Person Narrative, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Something Wicked (Idle Reputations, #1)Something Wicked by Falon Ballard

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Idle Reputations #1

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Callum is the son of the recently dethroned king, and in the running to become the first elected president of the country of Avon, but to do so he will have to do the unthinkable. He is drawn into the deadly political game and is torn between his sense of duty and his conscience. His ability to complete his mission hinges on enlisting Lady Caterine’s magical, emotion-manipulating talents. The attraction between Callum and Cate is instantaneous and passionate, despite his disregard for the “gifted”. Can he work with her to save Avon or will he lose all?

Lady Caterine is a courtesan at the La Puissance pleasure club and has the unique ability to manipulate emotions of those she is intimate with. She too has a mission and at first it seems simple, distract Callum from the election. She never expected to fall for him, but when she does will she be able to complete her task or will she listen to her heart?

Confession – I requested this book because the cover was giving me nostalgic Barbara Cartland vibes, sadly I finished this book feeling the cover was the best thing about this book. Overall, this story plunges readers into the tumultuous nation of Avon, where a dangerous political contest and a shadowy world of magic and desire collide. The story centers on a high-stakes challenge: contenders for Avon’s leadership must kill their deposed monarch, setting the stage for intrigue and emotional entanglement. While the premise is intriguing and the Moulin Rouge-meets-Macbeth theme adds flair, the novel ultimately isn’t able to deliver because it fails to give the reader fully developed magic and world-building. Add to that the story is written in dual first-person narrative making it harder for me to connect deeply with the story. However, if you are just looking for a fantasy romance with lots of steam and political intrigue, you will find it in this book!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Made You Look by Tanya Grant

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Contemporary, First Person Narrative, Mystery, New To Me Author, Standalone Title, Thiller / Suspense, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Made You LookMade You Look by Tanya Grant

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 18, 2025

The story follows a group of social media influencers—Sydney, Caitlyn, Lucy, Jeff, Nash, and Brent— who are trapped by a snowstorm at a resort in the isolated, snowy Catskills of New York and cut off from the outside world. As the magnitude of their situation kicks in, a killer emerges, turning their retreat into a fight for survival. The characters, though distinct on paper, often felt shallow and interchangeable, with most of their decisions lacking believability. The story shifts between multiple points of view, but Lucy is the only character that I felt offers occasional depth through her cancer survival experience.

The novel blends influencer drama with classic locked-room mystery elements. I was all set to enjoy a nail-biting, edge of my seat thriller and ultimately ended up a bit disappointed. While the premise is promising and the setting atmospheric, the pacing falters and suspense dissipates midway through the book as the story began focusing more on interpersonal drama than danger. Plot twists vary in effectiveness, and the ending resolves the mystery without major surprises. In addition, the writing features first person narrative from a multi-character POV, which is hard to follow at times and makes the story feel repetitive. I think this book may appeal to younger readers who are fans of influencer culture, but for me it fell short as a gripping thriller.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *