Jennie's Reads

“Marionette, the gang called me- the media too. I was a puppet master who pulled invisible strings.”

⭐️ 5
🌶 0.5
🌹 Bisexual MMC
🌹 Walking Red Flag
🌹 Will do *anything* for Family
🌹 Morally Complicated
🌹 Allergic to Commitment
🌹 Witches & Magic

———— warning, possible spoilers below ————–

I’m not going to lie that I’ve DNF’d a couple ARCs this year already… it was such a sad and heartbreaking process and I was almost ready to take a break from the ARC reading for a bit… but ALONG CAME PULLING STRINGS BY QUINN CAMERON AND WOOOOOOOOW. Faith in ARC reading RESTORED. Fitch Farrow is the bad-boy-murder-bisexual-sarcastic-ass-witch-bestie I never knew I needed.

Fitch is the hitman for a Witch gang known as the Bloody Hex. Yes, I said Witch. Fitch is a Witch. A witch with telekinetic powers that allows him to go into a person’s mind and controls what they do. Hence the name, Marionette.

Pulling Strings focuses on Fitch and his moral flexibility in the way that he will kill when told, but has a moral dilemma when it comes to his brother Donovan joining the Bloody Hex. Why? Donovan doesn’t have any magical powers, he’s as human as they come, and a witch gang has no place for a human in it- plus, Fitch has spent his entire life making sure that Donovan will not go down the same path he has.

AI Art of Fitch Farrow thanks to Quinn herself

We’re introduced to Fitch as he’s waking from the floor of the bathroom to an alarm he set for an appointment he cannot miss, after a threesome bender from the night before with Nash and a leggy brunette. You can tell there’s *something* going on between Fitch and Nash, but by our glimpse into the dynamic, you know Fitch isn’t admitting to catching any sort of feelings though. However, you do get the feels that Nash is, Sweet bb Nash– I’ve already developed a soft spot where he is concerned (Fitch better not hurt him).

During Fitch’s “appointment” we are pulled into seeing what a Witch hitman does, and how Fitch’s powers are used. Fitch is powerful but careless, things are not easy, and it sets the scene for the rest of the book. We’re then introduced to Donovan (Fitch’s Human Brother and Bloody Hex Initiate), and the whole Bloody Hex gang. We get a feeler for what the leader Grimm is like, and who his lackeys are.

Fitch can’t stop his brother’s initiation into the Bloody Hex, so bad boy decides to botch it. In doing so, he gets captured by the Capitol- who are the authority and governing body of our lovely city. The Capitol try to get Fitch to take a plea deal but NOPE- so off to Thorngate Correctional Institute for Magical Beings he goes. While there, we are introduced to Clyde (whom is the gentlest giant, ever!) and we see the dynamics of what it’s like to be a member of the most elusive and notorious gang. We also experience a little *hope* from Holland Lyle who works as an investigator for the Capitol- hope for someone she hoped was still inside Fitch… We are also introduced to Ripley Vaughn. Tall, Dark, Deathly, Emo, British, and Handsome. *swoons* And that’s all I have to say about Ripley.

There are parts in the book where you are tossed 12 years into the past, but these moments allow for a more intimate view of Fitch and who he is as a person. I identified with Fitch on so many levels because of his relentless need to do anything and everything to keep his brother safe and out of trouble; even if it means sacrificing himself in the process. With the amount of trauma Fitch has experienced, and the things he’s forced to do from such a young age- obviously he’s a basket case. But a lovable, endearing, and sucker-punchable basket case.

Quinn Cameron did a FABULOUS job. This book is so well written, witty, sarcastic, funny, and just kept me on the edge the entire time. I really enjoyed the male POV and dialogue. Fact of the matter is that this is a modern urban fantasy/inclusive/twisty/gang-related/90’s reference-filled story and I CANNOT WAIT for Capitol Matters.

Side note: I’m here for a Fitch + Holland + Nash threesome, but also- where is Clyde. I need to know.

This book drops on April 1st, 2024, but you can preorder using the button below. I HIGHLY suggest you grab Pulling Strings for a fast-paced, fun, and comical read.

*note, this book will be available on Kindle Unlimited for your reading pleasure.
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