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2.88 AVERAGE
2.88 AVERAGE
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try this book or not, but I went ahead and requested it. I wanted this to have a little bit of a paranormal vibe, and while it was paranormal, it was actually a little bit of a horror vibe. That’s quite ok with me. On to this book. At first, I will admit that Pen and Neil annoyed the heck out of me. They had a continuous relationship, but there didn’t really seem to be a good reason why. Once they finally got out of each other’s way, I really enjoyed the heck out of this book. It is well-written and a little creepy, in a good way, and I do like the author’s writing. I’d definitely pick up another book by this author. Try it if you like a contemporary romance with a dash of horror. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
I didn’t realize just how political it was going to get and the romance/plot wasn’t enough to overcome it
I really wanted to give it a fair shot, but with all the new information coming out about the author it felt like the time to stop.
The main character was just not relatable or likeable and the writing was hard to follow.
The main character was just not relatable or likeable and the writing was hard to follow.
I think I have to DNF. I won't rate it because i don't think that's fair 12% in. The premise of this was interesting, and there's something to be said portraying to make a point about writing from the perspective of a Native. But so much of this is heavy handed. The confrontation at the castle doesn't feel earned because we barely know them or their relationship. I'm still annoyed at Laszlo for forcing them together because it was entirely self-serving and manipulative. They could have spun it as a PR thing for them both if they really needed the retreat to write.
Hopefully someone enjoys this more than I did! Just not for me, I'm afraid.
[NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an ARC for this title.]
Hopefully someone enjoys this more than I did! Just not for me, I'm afraid.
[NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an ARC for this title.]
lighthearted
medium-paced
The beginning was good but the middle and ending were kinda boring tbh
This was not at all what I was expecting. I am normally not a huge fan of horror but the way this book mixes in romance and a touch of fantasy really made it not so scary. While it definitely has the horror it also has a compelling story behind it.
The book doesn't stand on just romance and I really enjoyed the plot and how the two main characters were pretty against each other in the beginning.
The book doesn't stand on just romance and I really enjoyed the plot and how the two main characters were pretty against each other in the beginning.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A perfect mix of spooky ghosts and romance. Always love a good enemies to lovers and this book did that well.
Unfortunately I really didn’t like this and wanted to DNF the whole time. The plot was slow and the characters were super immature from the prologue. The side characters were just annoying. Whole book is based on a lack of communication and a public feud. The ghost storyline took up so much real estate and really didn’t feel important to the story, I don’t know. I also could not have cared less about the writing exercises?? I skimmed and skipped whole paragraphs in those scenes. I also didn’t see a lot of growth from the characters. They hated each other at the beginning but then Neil (weird MMC name i’m sorry i can’t picture a 20-something named Neil) was suddenly all “she kinda hot thoooo…maybe I don’t hate her??” I liked the Native rep, and while I can’t speak from experience, from the outside, the struggles that were described seemed very realistic. However the execution of the theme being through pretty rivalry between authors (not society) and childish jealousy (along with many glib quips from the one-dimensional characters) left it feeling heavy-handed in a way that undermined the issue. I would have loved to see some resolution where the authors worked to champion Native/BIPOC authors throughout publishing as opposed to just co-authoring a book to signify the end of their feud. I really tried to like it but never found myself dying to know what would happen or feeling invested in the romance. I dunno, this was repetitive and anticlimactic and just not it for me.
I should have DNF’d this book, but I pushed through… where to start? Pen Skinner (the MFC) was atrocious. It was as if the author was trying for a cute aggressive type, but failed by writing a character who was simply unapologetically abusive. Like, what?! Then, there is Neil Storm, the golden retriever MMC, who I honestly thought had to be possessed by a ghost to find anything likable about Skinner.
Skinner is white-passing and complains about not being able to enroll in her tribe because of lack of the correct documents. I feel like the way the author handled this subject really missed the mark on feeling like an authentic bi-racial and/or cultural identity struggle, and it instead came off as so obnoxiously whiney. The only real background/culture she elaborates on is her dad’s fear of alcoholism due to having native blood… there was no depth behind the internalization of this stereotype. It felt more like appropriation than cultural participation, because Skinner is admittedly jealous of Storm’s success and doesn’t try to discuss the issues she has with his works, but instead chooses violence with no regrets. This makes it seem like she has more issue with his success as a writer than with what he’s writing.
Skinner is white-passing and complains about not being able to enroll in her tribe because of lack of the correct documents. I feel like the way the author handled this subject really missed the mark on feeling like an authentic bi-racial and/or cultural identity struggle, and it instead came off as so obnoxiously whiney. The only real background/culture she elaborates on is her dad’s fear of alcoholism due to having native blood… there was no depth behind the internalization of this stereotype. It felt more like appropriation than cultural participation, because Skinner is admittedly jealous of Storm’s success and doesn’t try to discuss the issues she has with his works, but instead chooses violence with no regrets. This makes it seem like she has more issue with his success as a writer than with what he’s writing.