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A review by adelie_wants_books_and_snacks
Wicked Rivals by Lauren Smith
4.0
Ok so I can’t believe I’m saying this considering Ash is my favourite but this book has to be my least favourite of the series in terms of the plot/intrigue/suspense (compared to the story arc of book 2-3). It felt like it was missing something. The fact that the rest of the league wasn’t really present until the last part of the story was also a bit disappointing.
BUT
The reason why I’m still giving it 4/5 is because that was the book that had the strongest female lead in my humble opinion. Rosalind was absolutely amazing! She is perfect for Ash. I loved how she valued her freedom and self sufficiency and would not settle for anything less. And I love that she made those boundaries very clear from the start to Ash and told him that what she expects from a man is love and freedom. What Ash resorted to in order to win in the beginning of the book really shocked me as he is supposed to be the nice one of the league. The whole “I own you” thing was a bit gross lol
I was hoping for more scenes between Emily and Rosalind since they are both business minded and since Emily has such a close friendship with Ash. I was quite disappointed when that didn’t happen because the interaction between Anne and the girls in book 3 was something that I had enjoyed so much.
The sex scenes were also very disappointing but the lead up moments were so good and intense. I LOVED the chess game scene. That was SO Ash I fucking loved it. That was hot af. So I was so disappointed that this mirror above his bed never really was used much.
The banter between the boys as they’re preparing to storm the castle had me dying of laughter. And wow that scene where Ash has his near death experience and sees his father was just so emotional and beautifully written.
Still a great book but not my fav in the series.
BUT
The reason why I’m still giving it 4/5 is because that was the book that had the strongest female lead in my humble opinion. Rosalind was absolutely amazing! She is perfect for Ash. I loved how she valued her freedom and self sufficiency and would not settle for anything less. And I love that she made those boundaries very clear from the start to Ash and told him that what she expects from a man is love and freedom. What Ash resorted to in order to win in the beginning of the book really shocked me as he is supposed to be the nice one of the league. The whole “I own you” thing was a bit gross lol
I was hoping for more scenes between Emily and Rosalind since they are both business minded and since Emily has such a close friendship with Ash. I was quite disappointed when that didn’t happen because the interaction between Anne and the girls in book 3 was something that I had enjoyed so much.
The sex scenes were also very disappointing but the lead up moments were so good and intense. I LOVED the chess game scene. That was SO Ash I fucking loved it. That was hot af. So I was so disappointed that this mirror above his bed never really was used much.
The banter between the boys as they’re preparing to storm the castle had me dying of laughter. And wow that scene where Ash has his near death experience and sees his father was just so emotional and beautifully written.
Still a great book but not my fav in the series.