This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.
Kiss (things I like right now)
🔥📕 Song of the Dark Wood (Fable Song Book 1), Sheila Masterson (<read with my eyes)
This is a duology, and the second book isn’t out yet. I didn’t mind a bit, however, because I picked this one mostly for the spice. The plot: A town appeases the big bad wolf by sending him young maidens. Through the forest. Wearing red cloaks. I shit you not.
Except the wolf is a super-hot emotionally distant man conflicted about his powers, and the maiden is a super-hot, barely legal woman who alone possesses the insight, strength, and desirability to win the wolf over and solve world hunger. Also, they have ridiculously hot sex.
The story wasn’t half bad, TBH. It included some twists, some decent fantasy world-building, a healthy dose of feminine rage, and the gloriousness of men who f***ed around finding out. But, like, we’re in it for the sex parts, right?
Will I read book two? Maybe, if it’s also released on Kindle Unlimited. But I’m certainly not pining for it.
🔥📕 The Poison Daughter, Sheila Masterson (<read with my eyes)
Same author, similar themes, but I really loved this one. (I borrowed this book first, which is what brought me to Song of the Dark Wood.) A young woman has a poisonous mouth—and everyone she kisses dies. Her powerful family all have gifts, and they force her to use hers to assassinate rivals. In her free time, she also use her “curse” for good, luring abusive men to their death. (Hey, a girl’s gotta have a hobby.)
Then, she meets a man who doesn’t die. He kidnaps her and forces her into marriage, obviously, which entails a sex ritual so cringe and bizarre, I thought I’d never see it again. (Spoiler! I did! In her other book! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess.)
This has (again) the ever-popular enemies to lovers theme, but the twists were better and the characters had more depth. This is a standalone, so start here, and if you’re into it, move onto Dark Wood or her other 4-book series (which I have not read) The Lost God.
🚵 Reduce reuse recycle—for outdoor lovers
As I’ve written about before, hiking, backpacking, camping, and mountain biking can feel inaccessible when you look at all of the things you think you need to buy. Not to mention, some of this gear can be legitimately expensive. We browsed sleeping bags at REI a few weeks ago for Brandon’s rooftop tent, and the warmest bags were hundreds of dollars.
I’ve often thought, “I wish there was a Poshmark specifically for outdoor gear.” A space where people could sell their gently-used clothing and equipment to happily fuel someone’s new adventures—and a space where I can buy quality gear at a discount, knowing I’m not contributing to overconsumption.
As of this week, this exists, and I’ve already joined.