Saturday, March 16, 2024

Book Review: Manacled by SenLinYu

Publish Date: Apr 27, 2018
1,017 Pages [ebook edition]
Self-Published

SYNOPSIS:

Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a re-population effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret, lost but hidden in her mind, so she is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve until her mind can be cracked.

Author’s Notes:
This story diverges from canon following the conclusion of Harry Potter and "The Order of the Phoenix". The initial inspiration of this plot occurred when watching the first episode of The Handmaids Tale. In homage there are elements of it maintained throughout the story. This work is dark. Rape and non-consensual sex are a significant and ongoing aspect of the plot. There are also character deaths, psychological trauma, descriptions of battlefield violence, and references to torture. Reader discretion is advised.

REVIEW:

I have wanted to read this for so so long. I was reminded of it when I kept seeing book binding videos of it on TikTok. Then I discovered you could send it to your Kindle and it was all over. I honestly wanted nothing more than to just read this book. I would drive my youngest to school and go back to bed just to read this until I had to get dressed and leave for work (literally leaving myself 10 min each time). I'd get home and make dinner, eat, and do the same thing - straight to my comfy bed with my gooseneck and page turner. 

For those that don't know, this is a Harry Potter fanfiction that revolves around the idea that after Order of the Phoenix (book 5), Voldy and the Death Eaters win. All the main players die, except Hermione, who a la Handmaid's Tale, gets assigned to Draco Malfoy for the wizard repopulation program with the extra caveat that a magical pregnancy will unlock memories of the final member of the Order who Voldy believes is hiding somewhere. She has magical manacles on her that prevent her from harming him or Draco.

I knew this was a Dramione story but I was struggling to see how that was going to happen until the flashbacks started. The flashbacks were a bit repetitive in nature but I ate them up. Overall, I really did enjoy the ride. I know that SenLinYu is set to release published works in Fall 2025 and I'm very ready. Whatever they write is going to be incredible because the writing in this fanfiction was unbelievable. Hermione has always been my favorite and she was such a badass in this version. I really like what SenLinYu did with the character.  

Spice level: Kinda wavered on this because it really isn't graphic (despite the tw for rape), so 4 on the spice level scale. Trigger warnings for rape, violence, self harm, suicide, torture (some pretty hefty graphic descriptions of the violence in this)

Find on Goodreads

Monday, March 11, 2024

February 2024 Book Haul

In February, I hauled 7 books and have read 4 of them. This year-to-date, I have read 69% of my hauled books. I have spent $0 in February and saved $78.81 for a total of $186.35 for 2024. Not too shabby!

PURCHASED BOOKS

  1. The Spare Room by Laura Starkey (Kindle w/Prime)

REVIEW BOOKS
  1. Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean (Kindle)
  2. Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than The Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo (Kindle)

LIBRARY BOOKS
  1. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Audio)
  2. Fireborne by Rosaria Munda (Audio)
  3. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (Audio)
  4. Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond by Henry Winkler (Audio)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in February?
Have you read any of my hauled books?

Monday, March 4, 2024

Books I Read in February 2024


I read 7 books in February.


  • Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Audio, 12 hr 43 min, 2013, YA Fantasy, Library) - 5 stars | My Review
  • Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Kindle, 400 pages, 2017, Adult Thriller, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review
  • Fireborne by Rosaria Munda (Audio, 13 hr 34 min, 2019, YA Fantasy, Library) - 2 stars | My Review
  • Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (Audio, 10 hr 12 min, 2018, YA Mystery/Thriller, Library) - 3 stars | My Review  
  • Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond by Henry Winkler (Audio, 9 hr 22 min, 2023, Adult Nonfiction, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review
  • The Love Theorem by Camilla Isley (Kindle, 266 pages, 2019, Adult Romance, Netgalley) - 3 stars | My Review 
  • Manacled by SenLinYu (Kindle, 1017 pages, 2018, Adult Fantasy, "Purchased") - 4 stars | My Review
Pages read: 1683 pages + 46 hr 51 min
Pages DNF: 0


Friday, March 1, 2024

March 2024 TBR

I may be shooting myself in the foot a little here, but February was not a good reading month. I was talking about it with a fellow reader that February is either the month I read 2 books or 48, there is no in between (obviously exaggerating). This year it just so happens that it was a slower reading month (with only 6 reads) and I also only read one book off my TBR which is not ideal.

So the shooting myself in the foot comes with adding all my unread TBR from January and February for my March TBR instead of picking new books. I want to read these. I need to read them. I have 2 physical books and 3 ebooks to read. Fingers crossed I can knock out my TBR while still mood reading.

My TBR for March:

  • Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston (started in January)
  • Always Jane by Jenn Bennett (Jan)
  • For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa (Feb)
  • Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann (Feb)
  • From the Jump by Lacie Waldon (Feb)
What are you planning on reading in March?

Monday, February 12, 2024

January 2024 Book Haul

Howdy howdy! It's my first haul of 2024. I hauled 9 books total and have read 7 of those 9. I said in my last haul that my intent is to haul fewer books and read more (realistically all) of my hauled books. So for 2024 so far, I have read 77% of hauled books. We'll see how next month goes :) I also spent $0 on books this month. I have a giant Kindle wishlist and purchase books when they drop low - especially when they are free. Using the library saved me $107.54 in January!

PURCHASED BOOKS

  1. Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar (Kindle - Kindle First)
  2. Hurt For Me by Heather Levy (Kindle - Kindle First)
LIBRARY BOOKS
  1. The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan (Audio)
  2. Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (Audio)
  3. Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese (Audio)
  4. Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar (Audio) 
  5. Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones (Audio)
  6. Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese (Audio)
  7. Immortal in Death by JD Robb (Audio)
What did you buy, borrow, or receive in January?
Have you read any of my hauled books?