Live Green, Wear Black.: June 2025

Monday, June 30, 2025

REVIEW: Out of the Blue: A dark sapphic romantic thriller by Marisa Billions (3-stars)

The final book in Marisa Billions’ trilogy, Out of the Blue, takes a sharp turn into thriller territory—and it’s a wild ride. This time, the spotlight shifts to Sophie, who has left her manipulative husband behind (with a hefty divorce settlement) and relocated to the Pacific Northwest to start fresh. She opens a yoga studio, makes quirky new friends, and begins to build a peaceful life. But peace doesn’t last long.

Soon, Sophie starts receiving threats, and women’s bodies begin washing up on the shore. The town is gripped by fear, and Sophie suspects her ex-husband is behind it all. Her new partner—who also happens to be the town mortician—adds a macabre layer to the story, offering detailed insights into the victims and their gruesome deaths.

The plot thickens with cults, kidnappings, and a murder spree that seems to be orchestrated by Sophie’s ex’s new love interest, who has started a cult of her own. The motive? Revenge for Sophie’s divorce settlement—though the logic is murky, the tension is real. Emma and Morgan return to help Sophie, and the story barrels toward a violent, chaotic climax.

<spoiler>Emma ends up killing one of the attackers in the same way her first wife Bailey was killed—a chilling full-circle moment that ties back to the first book.</spoiler>

This final installment is twisty, dark, and at times over-the-top, but it delivers on drama and emotional payoff. Sophie’s arc—from manipulated cult member to survivor and business owner—is satisfying, and the return of Emma and Morgan gives the trilogy a sense of closure. It’s not a neat ending, but it’s a cathartic one.

REVIEW: Out of the Blue: A dark sapphic romantic thriller by Marisa Billions

RATING: 3-stars

REVIEW: Into the Blue Again by Marisa Billions (3-stars)

After the intense and twisty "Like Sapphire Blue," I jumped straight into "Into the Blue Again," which shifts gears into a more introspective, emotionally layered story. Emma is released from prison early and begins the difficult process of rebuilding her life. This book is less about external conflict and more about healing, trauma, and the messy, nonlinear path to redemption.

A major focus is Emma’s relationship with Morgan, a woman she met while on the run in the first book. Their connection deepens through letters and Morgan’s handwritten journal, which Emma reads while incarcerated. Morgan’s story is deeply unsettling—she’s haunted by the ghost (or guilt) of her fiancé Jonathan, who died by suicide in a way designed to punish her emotionally. The ghost is cruel, manipulative, and clearly a manifestation of her unresolved trauma.

But Morgan’s past goes even deeper. She was part of a disturbing cult-like community where she was emotionally manipulated into marrying into a hetero couple. She was drawn to the wife, Sophie, but not the husband—who ultimately forces himself on her. This part of the story is handled with a raw, unflinching honesty that adds to the emotional gravity of the book.

Despite all this, Emma continues to show Morgan compassion and patience. She offers her multiple chances, even sending her airfare to help them reconnect. Their eventual reconciliation feels hard-won and emotionally satisfying, though the road there is anything but smooth.

This book is quieter than the first, but no less intense. It’s a deep dive into guilt, forgiveness, and the long shadows of trauma. If you’re already invested in Emma’s journey, this is a powerful continuation that rewards your emotional commitment.

REVIEW: Into the Blue Again by Marisa Billions

RATING: 3-stars

REVIEW: Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions (4-stars)

I received copies of all three books in this series directly from the author (a friend of my second cousin), and I devoured them all in one weekend. They’re fast-paced, emotionally intense, and packed with drama—definitely not light reading, but deeply engaging.

Like Sapphire Blue kicks off the series with a bang. The structure—alternating between past and present—initially threw me off, but I came to appreciate how it mirrors the protagonist Emma’s fractured and evolving understanding of her own life. The payoff is chilling and powerful: Emma, shaped by a lifetime of trauma, ends up mirroring the very violence that shaped her childhood.

Emma’s journey is harrowing. Raised in a trailer by her father and uncle after her mother’s mysterious disappearance, she endures relentless bullying, sexual harassment, and later, sexual assault. Despite it all, she excels academically and athletically, eventually becoming a lawyer. Her romantic relationship with another girl—who is dating Emma’s bully—adds another layer of tension, especially when that girlfriend is sent to conversion therapy. The emotional weight of these experiences is heavy, but the characters’ inner lives are well-developed and the dialogue feels authentic.

One thing that did pull me out of the story at times was the extensive description of interiors and furniture. I later learned from the author that this was intentional—she wants readers to see what she sees—but for me, it occasionally slowed the momentum.

Still, the sheer volume of adversity faced by Emma and nearly every other character is staggering. It borders on overwhelming, but it also underscores the resilience and complexity of these characters. Emma’s eventual imprisonment and her work helping fellow inmates with literacy and legal matters adds a redemptive arc that I found compelling.

If you’re looking for a story that doesn’t shy away from dark themes and moral ambiguity, this one’s for you. Just be prepared for a wild emotional ride.

REVIEW: Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions

RATING: 4-stars

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

REVIEW: Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines (4-stars)

Slayers of Old is a fast-paced, character-driven fantasy that blends classic good-vs-evil tropes with thoughtful explorations of legacy, identity, and the complexities of family. Jim C. Hines delivers a stand-alone novel that’s both fun and emotionally resonant, with just enough world-building to ground the story without overwhelming it.

Told through alternating perspectives—Jenny, a retired hunter of evil with a connection to the goddess Artemis, is a healer with a strict code of ethics related to power and violence; Annette, a half-succubus mother and monster-slayer; and Temple, a 99-year-old magician grappling with love, loss, and transformation—the novel weaves together action, humor, and heart. The pacing is strong, and while some background elements are repeated, they never bog down the story.

One of the standout arcs is Ronnie, a 17-year-old “last of his kind” defender against magical evil. Orphaned young and raised by the ghost of his mother Margaret (who inhabits the family van—yes, like "Christine"), Ronnie finds a new sense of belonging and purpose under the mentorship of Jenny, Annette and Temple. His growth from isolated teen on a mission to valued member of a found family is one of the book’s most rewarding emotional threads.

Margaret’s story also takes a beautiful turn as she connects with Temple, whose own arc culminates in his transition to a ghostly form. Their bond offers a touching “happily ever after-life” that feels both earned and heartwarming.

The intergenerational dynamics shine: Annette’s strained relationship with her son Blake, and his own struggles as a father, add emotional weight. Meanwhile, Blake’s son Morgan is pulled into a high-stakes plot to unleash an eldritch god, raising the tension and testing the family’s strength.

Hines also thoughtfully incorporates themes of consent and mutual responsibility—particularly through Jenny’s magical contracts and Annette’s internal conflict between duty and motherhood. These elements elevate the story beyond a typical monster-hunting romp.

A particularly compelling thread throughout the novel is the presence of legacy organizations dedicated to fighting evil. Whether it’s Jenny’s initiation into the “Hunters of Artemis,” Ronnie and Margaret’s family line of defenders, or the magical and demonic heritage of Annette and Temple’s families, these parallel traditions underscore a central theme: the fight for good is a shared, generational effort. Each group brings its own strengths, histories, and burdens, but together they form a rich tapestry of resistance against darkness.

While I had some initial reservations about a male author writing two of the three main protagonists as women, the portrayals felt respectful and nuanced. The book doesn’t center on sexuality, despite the succubus lineage, which I appreciated. Some of the questions raised for me are related to the burden and evolution of legacy and purpose, as well as the value of collaboration.

Let's not forget the part-shoggoth cat with multiple eyes and tentacles who has decided to remain in that form as a mascot, nor the "Stuart Little" -like mouse community, which add a fun and whimsical touch to the story.

Overall, Slayers of Old is a satisfying, self-contained fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and just enough darkness. Recommended for fans of found family, magical legacies, and stories where the emotional stakes are just as important as the magical ones.

REVIEW: Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines

RATING: 4-stars

REVIEW: Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop (The Full Moon Coffee Shop, #2) by Mai Mochizuki (2-stars)

"Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop" is a glossy, whimsical novella that blends magical realism, astrology, and holiday sentimentality into a series of loosely connected vignettes. Set during Christmas and populated by gods and goddesses who shift between cat and human forms, the story feels like a blend of a Japanese fairytale and a Dickensian ghost story—with a heavy dose of aesthetic charm and celestial symbolism.

The narrative follows three main characters:

Satomi, whose boyfriend plans to propose on Christmas Eve, though she’s unsure about her future; Junko, her sister-in-law, who is estranged from her father and navigating new family dynamics (including a strangely delayed dog adoption from the café’s magical cats); and, Satori’s employee, a young woman grieving her father’s death who ultimately reconnects with her mother, stepfather, and half-brother.

Each character is guided by planetary deities who offer moral lessons tied to reincarnation, forgiveness, and personal growth. The book leans heavily on astrology, even including star charts for each character and emphasizing the ascendant sign as a marker of past-life strengths. While this may appeal to astrology enthusiasts, the execution often feels twee and overly expository.

The café staff—celestial beings in disguise—are given their own chapters, but their personalities blur together despite the effort to tie their roles to planetary movements. The result is a story that feels more like a concept pitch for an animated film than a fully realized novella. The emotional beats are present, but often feel distant or overly orchestrated.

While the book has moments of charm and visual richness, it’s weighed down by its own aesthetic and moral framing. Readers looking for a cozy, magical holiday tale with strong visual and astrological themes may enjoy it, but those seeking deeper character development or narrative cohesion might find it underwhelming.

REVIEW: Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop (The Full Moon Coffee Shop, #2) by Mai Mochizuki

RATING: 2-stars

REVIEW: "We'll Prescribe You A Cat" (3 Stars)

We'll Prescribe You A Cat is a collection of short stories—or so it seems at first. Each chapter introduces a new character, a new struggle, and a new cat. But as the book unfolds, the stories begin to interlace, revealing a deeper, interconnected narrative centered around the mysterious Clinic for the Soul.

The clinic itself is a marvel: it appears when you need it most, staffed by an imperious nurse and a delightfully silly vet who, instead of pills or therapy, prescribe cats. Not just any cats—the cat you didn’t know you needed. The kind that curls up in the hollow places of your life and fills them with warmth, mischief, and meaning.

The book never explains how the clinic works, where the cats come from, or why it sometimes disappears. And it doesn’t need to. The magic lies in the acceptance that healing can be whimsical, that transformation can arrive on four paws, and that sometimes the best prescription is a purring companion who chooses you.

If you’ve ever been chosen by a cat—or wished you would be—this book will feel like a warm, knowing nudge from the universe.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, E. Madison Shimoda (Translator)

RATING: 3 stars