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miss_vonnegut's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book made me literally laugh out loud several times, which is an impressive feat! It was a fun spooky season romance, with a good amount of very hot spicy scenes. I'm not a big fan of the big-strong-man trope, so there were a couple of moments that weren't for me, but his physical size and strength were nicely balanced by her powerful magic. Speaking of her magic, I absolutely loved it. I was invested in the relationship but her power may have been my favorite thing about this book. I'm a big fan of women walking into the woods and embracing their power storylines (think "Uprooted" by Naomi Novik). One important content warning I want to give is for animal death. I will often walk away from a book with animal death, but I decided to keep going after it happened in this one, and I'm glad to say it didn't happen again. More on the animal death content warning here: It happens near the beginning to the chicken. It was much more gross than I would have liked, but I did like that the characters took it seriously and were sad about it even though it was a bit light-handed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, and Bullying
emburs's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
blissofalife's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Loved the start, Mariel was a delight and the banter was fun. The about halfway through they have sex and all the romantic tension disappears and it got progressively less interesting and harder to suspend my disbelief. The whole book takes place over a few days, but the characters experience massive changes, I wish more time had passed in the book so it didn’t feel so rushed. It felt like after the first sex scene the author didn’t have anywhere else to go so there was just more sex and innuendos. I also didn’t love that everyone who wasn’t Mariel’s family members were constantly telling her to stand up for herself. It felt monotonous. Satisfying ending though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
katelynnelawson's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a sweet, fun, and steamy read if imperfect. Mariel is a witch who struggles with magic despite being prophesized as powerful. While she excels at earth magic, her family looks down on it and subsequently her. During a spell gone wrong, she summons Ozroth, a demon. Oz's goal is to make a soul bargain with Mariel. However, bargaining her soul would mean losing her magic and emotions, and as the two grow closer that's not something either of them wants.
Oz is a peculiar demon in that he has a soul after a previous soul bargain gone wrong, meaning he experiences human emotion, something demons look down on. Given this and his community's need for a powerful soul like Mariel's, there is just as much incentive for him to bargain for her soul as there is top keep her safe. Meanwhile, Mariel's beloved forest is rapidly decaying while her mother and the major of Glimmer Falls plot to build a spa there, two things Mariel and her friends desperately want to stop.
This is an enjoyable read, though the toxic relationship between Mariel and her mother - a major plot point - is a bit harrowing. Some of the language used not just by Mariel's mother but her friend regarding Mariel's "dry spell" feels reductive - cleaning cobwebs from the vagina, good dick being motivation. It's frustrating in the third act how quickly Mariel believes Oz, whom she loves, could be duping her, but also makes sense given her frustrating relationship with her family. Ultimately it's a fun and sexy love story, and the world-building is whimsical and interesting.
Oz is a peculiar demon in that he has a soul after a previous soul bargain gone wrong, meaning he experiences human emotion, something demons look down on. Given this and his community's need for a powerful soul like Mariel's, there is just as much incentive for him to bargain for her soul as there is top keep her safe. Meanwhile, Mariel's beloved forest is rapidly decaying while her mother and the major of Glimmer Falls plot to build a spa there, two things Mariel and her friends desperately want to stop.
This is an enjoyable read, though the toxic relationship between Mariel and her mother - a major plot point - is a bit harrowing. Some of the language used not just by Mariel's mother but her friend regarding Mariel's "dry spell" feels reductive - cleaning cobwebs from the vagina, good dick being motivation. It's frustrating in the third act how quickly Mariel believes Oz, whom she loves, could be duping her, but also makes sense given her frustrating relationship with her family. Ultimately it's a fun and sexy love story, and the world-building is whimsical and interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Blood
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
kiwij96's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I don't know what expectations I had for this book, but at the very least a plot would have been nice.
A contemporary fantasy romance with modern day references and technology about a witch and a demon who both have emotions and are confused by them the entire book.
It was kind of,,,,juvenile writing for a lot of it. Considering that there are some spicy scenes and references to sex, the very young writing feels like something straight out of a teen's Wattpad phase.
A contemporary fantasy romance with modern day references and technology about a witch and a demon who both have emotions and are confused by them the entire book.
It was kind of,,,,juvenile writing for a lot of it. Considering that there are some spicy scenes and references to sex, the very young writing feels like something straight out of a teen's Wattpad phase.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal death
r_a_bell's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
It’s in the very first few pages of the book,marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Bullying
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Police brutality
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol, Cancer, and Fire/Fire injury
chalemilywoo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was fast paced, managed to finish it in a day and I am not an especially quick reader.
I found it really refreshing that the protagonist was quirky and funny and to have some body positivity there. I really liked her and could empathise with her. Her friends were cool and the demon she's fake dating definitely has a real arc in this where he develops.
There's some great tension and a bit of spice in this book so bear that in mind. And the plot was a bit predictable but to be honest it played out in a way that I wanted in my head so I'm not mad about it.
So if you're looking for a quick, fun and endearing read, this is a great book for that.
I found it really refreshing that the protagonist was quirky and funny and to have some body positivity there. I really liked her and could empathise with her. Her friends were cool and the demon she's fake dating definitely has a real arc in this where he develops.
There's some great tension and a bit of spice in this book so bear that in mind. And the plot was a bit predictable but to be honest it played out in a way that I wanted in my head so I'm not mad about it.
So if you're looking for a quick, fun and endearing read, this is a great book for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
minycrd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
johnnytest's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cute but cringe at times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death