Scan barcode
amy_in_the_city's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a cute book. I loved Oz, the cinnamon roll demon. I would have liked for the timeline to have been stretched out a bit as I find falling in love to the point that you'll give up everything to be together in the span of about 2 weeks (I think?) to be unbelievable. The third-act breakup , while annoying, was understandable as it fit with the characterization. I think Mariel should have apologized more at the end. I appreciated Mariel's character journey dealing with her narcissistic mother and finding her own sense of self worth after years of being told she wasn't good enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Animal death, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
whatbeccareadnext's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've tried countless times to get into this genre of light-fantasy romance novels, (like The Ex-Hex, The very secret society of witches etc.) but I usually struggle with them.
This one was a happy exception. I loved the characters, the writing was great and I found some moments hilarious. The magical elements didn't overshadow the romance, but were still a huge part of the plot. Overall, a really enjoyable read.
This one was a happy exception. I loved the characters, the writing was great and I found some moments hilarious. The magical elements didn't overshadow the romance, but were still a huge part of the plot. Overall, a really enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Bullying, and Cursing
duwella's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
It was meh. I wish I hadn't read it. It was decently well written with good word choice and variety. But core mystery was mediocre and it was very unbelievable that they like each other because they didn't know each other and it was like 3 days into them knowing each other. So the romance was unbelievable and the world building contradicted the plot which was really infuriating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Parental emotional absue (degradation and shame)direguard's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
kayleejanes's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Bullying, and Alcohol
jessthanthree's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Violence, Animal cruelty, Police brutality, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Blood
not_asha01's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
wardenred's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
So let me get this straight: you’re now roommates with a demon you accidentally summoned, and the demon can’t leave until you’ve made a bargain to give up your soul?
A cute witchy read, perfect for the fall season. All the romcom beats were hit perfectly, and I loved how the characters' arcs mirrored each other: both of them beset by others' expectations—Marael by her family's, Oz by his mentor's. Even though their relationship was developing pretty quickly, it was clear to me why they clicked. Besides, because of the sheer amount of time they spend with each other on the daily, the romance didn't feel that fast and insta-lovey at all.
Glimmer Falls is an utterly charming and quirky setting—I loved all the small details the author infused to make it come to live, like magical plants and six-winged birds with too many eyes just casually existing alongside sidewalks.
The bigger setting around the town is compelling, as well, striking just the right balance between the real world and the supernatural additions. There were just a few inconsistencies that bugged me, such as the demonic realm being painted as this community-oriented almost paradise (compared to things like the American student debts and healthcare systems at least), and yet Ozroth used to being treated as a weapon etc. It kind of made sense and worked, but it still felt like the author was trying to smash two separate ideas together.
And there are so many thoroughly entertaining side characters here! True, not all of them are entertaining in good ways, but pretty much everyone consistently made me laugh. The author's brand of humor is fun and has just the right vibe for a romcom. I particularly loved all the instances of wordplay, including the non-humorous ones that were more about worldbuilding. Like, you know, the fact that hell doesn't exist, but hellhounds do, and that's because the word "hell" very much exists in the demon language and means "loyal." Somehow, I always find this kind of thing entertaining.
Perhaps my only not-quite-problem with the story, despite enjoying both romantic leads and their dynamic quite thoroughly, was that I couldn't stop shipping Mariel with her best friend Calladia. :D I mean, Oz was cool, but look at these two! The way Calladia was always there for Mariel, and yet refused to do *everything* for her and insisted that she stand up for himself? And how Mariel had trouble standing up for herself, but never for Calladia? And their banter? And their whole history of being best friend when their mothers are these big rivals? True, absolutely none of these things have anything inherently romantic about them, but these two also have chemistry. You can't convince me they don't!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cursing, Bullying, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Drug use, Classism, Blood, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol