When you don't have a computer (Patreon)

With my computer out of action for over a week, I have been on a Kindle and TV diet.  So, when I'm stressed and worried for my computer (justifiable worry, it turned out), what do I read?

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Cemetery Boys

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. Bestowed by the ancient goddess of death, Yadriel and the gifted members of his Latinx community can see spirits: women have the power to heal bodies and souls, while men can release lost spirits to the afterlife. But Yadriel, a trans boy, has never been able to perform the tasks of the brujas - because he is a brujo.

When his cousin suddenly dies, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

I really loved this one. It’s YA, so don’t expect hot and heavy, but there is a charming love story, and with one of the boys dead, I was kept guessing the whole time about how the author could write a happy ending, but he did—a very satisfying happy ending.

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The Alpha's Warlock (Mismatched Mates Book 1)

Warlock Nate Hawthorne just wants a cup of coffee. Is that too much to ask? Apparently. Because instead of precious caffeine, all he gets is cursed by a pack of werewolves who want to use him for his magic. Now the only way to fix the damage is a mate bond to a grumpy and oh-so-sexy alpha in the rival pack, who happens to hate him. This is so not how he wanted to start his day.

I enjoyed this one.  It has a good enemies to friends to lovers arc. The characters are believable as is the relationship.

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Taming Demons for Beginners (and the other four books in the series)

Rule one: Don't look at the demon. When I arrived at my uncle's house, I expected my relatives to be like me--outcast sorcerers who don't practice magic. I was right about the sorcery, but wrong about everything else.

Rule two: Don't listen to the demon. My uncle chose a far deadlier power. He calls creatures of darkness into our world, binds them into service contracts, and sells them to the highest bidder. And I'm supposed to act like I don't know how illegal and dangerous it is.

Rule three: Don't talk to the demon. All I had to do was keep my nose out of it. Pretend I didn't find the summoning circle in the basement. Pretend I didn't notice the shadowy being trapped inside it. Pretend I didn't break the rules.  But I did, and now it's too late.

This is a slow burn, and I adore the characterization of the demon. It also had a good mystery that had me guessing until the end. Fair warning since most of my friends here are fans of gay romance, this one is m/f

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Dragon's Hoard

To be loved by a dragon is to be treasured.

A hundred years ago, werewolf Alpha Montgomery took a risk driven by desperation—he borrowed money from the ancient dragon Warwick Ehecatl, putting up the pack lands as collateral. Now the debt is due, and dragons don’t forget—or forgive. Warwick demands Montgomery’s son, Avery, and three businesses as compensation. As an Omega, Avery knows he is basically useless to his pack, so he might as well agree. He soon has second thoughts, though. Warwick is fearsome, and he’s free to do as he likes with Avery.

Warwick knows his race’s reputation, and he even admits some of it is deserved. But he’d rather cut off his tail than let his innocent mate’s light go out. It won’t be easy, but buried deep, there’s something between them worth safeguarding.

I love the relationship here.  This is a classic protective-alpha male story, and the characters are charming here. Avery is cute.

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Origin (Scales 'N' Spells Book 1)

Cameron wants to make it clear that he did not go into the festival to find a dragon mate. Germany is supposed to be an escape. With a new mechanical engineering degree, a new job looming, and a whole life planned out that isn’t his, Germany seems like the best place to find himself.

So, how does he end up discovering his lost magic heritage, running from bad guys with a secret agenda, and being adopted by the not-so-extinct Fire Dragon clan? Cameron blames tall, dark, and sexy Alric, King of the Fire Dragons. His fated mate. Because of course he is, and mates are meant to take the blame, right? It may take a hot second, but as Cameron learns more about the scarred Alric and the life he’s landed in, Cameron realizes that perhaps this is where he’s meant to be, magic and mates and kidnapping and all.

This has some great world-building.  I like that mundane humans celebrate dragons as historical relics while largely ignoring the real dragons that still exist. It’s a great twist, and I enjoy books where I can imagine that the characters exist just out of sight in our world.

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The Curse of Chalion/Paladin of Souls

A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril returns to the noble household he once served as page and is named secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions.

But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge -- an act that will mark him as a tool of the miraculous . . . and trap him in a lethal maze of demonic paradox.

I adore the world Bujold has created with the five gods, and I am very fond of The Bastard. He’s a god, but one with a nasty sense of humor/karma.  These moved away from my beloved Pen and Desdemona, but the mystery is great, and there’s awesome mythology here.

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I tried to watch the newest Lucifer because I love that show, but my bad mood was spoiling it, so I turned it off.  I can get lost in books in a way I just can’t in television. Television never commands my whole attention the way a good book can.  So instead, I watched the three Descendants movies.  The plot has so many holes that it hurts my head, but the actors are great, and Disney does know how to make a catchy tune. I still have “Evil to the Core” and “Chillin’ like a Villain” going around in my brain. It’s so sad that Cameron Boyce, who plays Cruella deVille’s son, died of epilepsy. He was a good actor and a stunning dancer. As a teacher, my training has always been that epilepsy is not dangerous and to call the nurse and clear the area of desks, but not worry about it.  I didn’t realize that so many people actually die of SUDEP/epilepsy.