Esmay Rosalyne
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esmayrosalyne.bsky.social
Esmay Rosalyne
@esmayrosalyne.bsky.social
23 || Dutch || She/Her || 🌈 || (SFF) Indie/Self-Pub Enthusiast || Book reviewer at https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/ & https://beforewegoblog.com
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Hi to all the lovely new bookish friends here! 💖 So, who am I & what can you expect?

Well, I'm just a Dutch gal who loves to read books, review books, talk about books & watch videos of ppl talking about books... it's fine, I'm fine ✨

Also a big indie enthusiast. And the more queer the better 🌈
Go back the Kickstarter before it's too late!
October 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Review: Cleaning Spells Before Courtship by @sarahwallacewriter.bsky.social & @socallahanauthor.bsky.social 💜

"a delightful finale full of resolution, redemption, reflection, self-growth, and love in all its most complicated beauty."

@beforewegoblog.bsky.social
beforewegoblog.com/review-clean...
Review: Cleaning Spells Before Courtship by Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan
beforewegoblog.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
REVIEW: You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by
@ajwhiteauthor.bsky.social 🖤

"one of those deeply disturbing books that I adore and abhor in equal measure, and I think that is exactly what makes it such a masterpiece."

@grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social
www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-you-w...
REVIEW: You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White
You Weren’t Meant to Be Human just starts with a bang and then somehow only gets more and more intense, leading up to one of the most upsetting yet weirdly cathartic endings I have ever read.
www.grimdarkmagazine.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
REVIEW: To Touch a Silent Fury by @rasandpiper.bsky.social 🐉🤍

"This is just peak slow-burn, dark, epic romantic fantasy, and more than that, it’s exactly the type of book that makes me remember why I fell in love with reading in the first place."

www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-to-to...
REVIEW: To Touch a Silent Fury by R. A. Sandpiper
To Touch a Silent Fury had me in an absolute chokehold... I burned through it in a single day, stayed up too late to finish it, and then (lovingly) cursed R.A. Sandpiper
www.grimdarkmagazine.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
Reasons to celebrate today: It's my birthday! Also the first 2 books in The Vanguard series are on sale right now! Why not celebrate one by purchasing the other for the very reasonable cost of 0.99p for the ebook? tinyurl.com/bde2nkyv #indiebook #indieauthor #BookSky
August 20, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
Check out this amazing review of Only a Grave Will Do, by the incomparable @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social.

www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-only-...
August 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
REVIEW: Hemlock & Silver by @tkingfisher.com 🍎🤍

"a damned brilliant book steeped in Kingfisher’s trademark dark humour and wit that had me intoxicated from start to finish."

@grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social @torbooks.bsky.social
www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-hemlo...
REVIEW: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
T. Kingfisher has proved herself to be the queen of the twisty, dark, satirical, fairytale retellings, but she truly outdid herself in Hemlock & Silver.
www.grimdarkmagazine.com
August 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
REVIEW: Only a Grave Will Do by @jamesldulin.bsky.social 🖤

"I don’t know if I finished Only a Grave Will Do or if it finished me; THIS is how you write a satisfying and emotionally resonant ending"

@grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social
www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-only-...
REVIEW: Only a Grave Will Do by James Lloyd Dulin
Only a Grave Will Do by James Lloyd Dulin is a finale that showcases the immense resilience of the human spirit.
www.grimdarkmagazine.com
August 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
☀️ JULY WRAP-UP ☀️

No new 5-star faves, but easily one of my strongest reading months this year 🔥

BOTM is definitely Only a Grave Will Do by @jamesldulin.bsky.social , closely followed by Sorcery & Small Magics, The Six Deaths of the Saint and The Crystal Heir!

How was your July? ❤️
August 1, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
Thank you to @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social and @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social! The Crystal Heir releases tomorrow!
July 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
"More cutthroat political scheming, more dangerous Reacher magic, more shocking revelations and so many more emotional gut punches, resulting in a sequel that isn’t just satisfying, but absolutely masterful in every sense of the word." - @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social
July 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
"An Eastern-European flavoured mix of the best aspects of ASOIAF and The Stormlight Archive, except make it even more imaginative, unique and exhilarating."

From @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social's review of The Crystal Heir, for @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social

www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-c...
July 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
I got to have an early peek at @isabelcanas.bsky.social ‘s upcoming #ThePossessionOfAlbaDiaz!

It’s no secret I *adored* #VampiresOfElNorte & while this new book didn’t move me as much in regards to the love story it certainly did for other very important aspects!

beforewegoblog.com/review-the-p...
Review: The Possession of Alba Dìaz by Isabel Cañas
Hello again dear reader or listener, midway through summer and my contrarian nature is calling for spookies and gloomies so what better read than a Gothic histo
beforewegoblog.com
July 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM
REVIEW: Return of the Sistah Samurai by
@obeytheauthor.bsky.social 💛🌻

"This was SO much fun! It’s got all the charm and heart and funkiness and geekiness and badassery that made the first instalment so amazing, except just crank it all up to eleven."

beforewegoblog.com/review-retur...
Review: Return of the Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey
beforewegoblog.com
July 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
REVIEW: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley 💘

"Cue all the cheeky dark humour, witty banter, and razor-sharp snark and sarcasm, this is just an irresistibly addictive enemies to lovers fantasy romcom done to absolute perfection!"
beforewegoblog.com/review-the-i...
Review: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
beforewegoblog.com
July 6, 2025 at 10:50 AM
🌈 June Wrap-Up 🌈

My June reading was so damn queer, and I love that for me. Found some amazing hidden gems! 🤩

BotM would be Compound Fracture, closely followed by Yield Under Great Persuasion and One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.

How was your June? 💜
July 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
I haven’t read an urban fantasy in several years. However, the GOAT @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social recommended Hell for Hire as a buddy read for my wife and I, and when Esmay says to read something, you know it’s good.

10% in and why am I HOOKED?
This is awesome,
@rachel-aaron.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Oh wow, Reflections of Lilje Damselfly by
@nataliekelda.bsky.social was exactly what my heart & soul needed 🥹

I mean, a cozy, queer romantic fantasy about a chronically ill water nymph going to a human spa retreat in a magical version of Edwardian England? Wonderful 🤍

Lil' review 🔗⬇️
June 18, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Don't mind me going absolutely FERAL over Yield Under Great Persuasion by @alexandrarowland.bsky.social 🥺😍

It's cosy and raunchy and funny and romantic and surprisingly tragic but then also so damn cute and it's got so much heart and AAAAHHH!!

Full gush review ⬇️
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Esmay Rosalyne's review of Yield Under Great Persuasion
5/5: 4.5 stars (rounded up) The sheer audacity of this little gem of a story to make me feel SO many feels, excuse me?!?!? It's cosy and raunchy and funny and romantic and surprisingly tragic but the...
www.goodreads.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Happy Book Birthday to The Forgotten Dawn by @lauraablake.bsky.social 🔥💜

Available now on KU, paperback and hardcover! 😍
June 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
⚡️ MAY WRAP-UP ⚡️

Grateful for the books that brought me some comfort & distraction over the past few weeks :)

My book of the month is a toss-up between Parallax by Amber Toro and When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy!

How did your May go? 💖
June 1, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Esmay Rosalyne
It's been one week since DIGITAL EXTREMITIES released in audio! It's now available across six platforms (and counting).

@afictionalescapist.bsky.social and @esmayrosalyne.bsky.social have *already* finished listening to it! A massive thanks to you both 💙📚

🔗 books2read.com/digital-extr...
May 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
REVIEW: Dragon Along by @joelee.sffinsiders.com 🐲

"it’s just as cute, cozy, charming, fun and endearing as it is promised to be, and my heart was honestly bursting with joy the entire way through this unconventional dragon fantasy adventure."
beforewegoblog.com/review-drago...
Review: Dragon Along by Joseph John Lee
beforewegoblog.com
May 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
REVIEW: The Pawns of Havoc by @dlawsonauthor.bsky.social 🪓

"Lawson delivers blood, banter, blossoming romance, and brutal gut punches in The Pawns of Havoc, (...) a standalone prequel novella giving a glimpse into the mysterious backstory of the enigmatic Cork"
beforewegoblog.com/review-the-p...
Review: The Pawns of Havoc by Dave Lawson
beforewegoblog.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
REVIEW: Digital Extremities by @adamcbassett.com 🔥

"It's thrilling yet quiet, hopeful yet cautionary, soothing yet gut wrenching, but most of all, it’s an extraordinary exploration of what it means to be human in a world that grows increasingly alien."
beforewegoblog.com/review-digit...
Review: Digital Extremities by Adam Bassett
Filled with equal parts heart and hurt, Digital Extremities is a strong cyberpunk sci-fi collection of eight Black Mirror-esque short stories that span decades, continents and many different minds. It...
beforewegoblog.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM