ac_blanco's reviews
90 reviews

Bound by Duty by Cora Reilly

emotional fast-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? No

3.0

Should be two stars but valentina is an amazing character. Dante inmate other hand….the WORST mafia guy ever written. He’s not even cold with a soft spot for her. He just a dick.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was amazing. That’s it. READ IT. 

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

lighthearted medium-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? No

4.0

Really cute 

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Almost a DNF. Really convoluted and hard to follow plot 

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

They're Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Okay. Great plot. Great vibes. Saw the first twist coming but the second blew my mind. I was hoping that

gavin would have an explanation and he and Karen would get together and I felt like his character was ruined

I think Remington seemed untrustworthy the whole time and kind of fell flat for me. I liked maren a lot but I wish the book had been longer and the games more sinister and developed. So great though.

Bound by Honor by Cora Reilly

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

To echo a comment from a Credence review section, “even porn needs a plot.” Without the smut, you could have told me a preteen wrote this and it would have been believable. Terrible grammar, spelling, and plot. It’s literally just waiting for them to have sex. Aria is insufferable, Luca barely acts like he’s in the mafia, and everyone else was just annoying. Except for Gianna, her personality alone gives this two extra stars. 

Bully by Penelope Douglas

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Not usually my thing but surprisingly pretty good. 

Twist Me by Anna Zaires

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

What the actual fuck. THIS IS A MONSTROSITY. I only kept reading in hopes that she would come to her senses. It’s genuinely sickening. Please don’t read if you are into lighter dark romances that don’t involve rape. The whole kidnapping deal was mediocre at best and cutting her off from her family was weird. What’s weirder though is the way the author makes this all seem okay despite having Nora understand the irony of her situation. Julian wasn’t even likeable enough to try and even make sense of what was happening. He just seemed like a duck the whole time including the end. He just wants her for her body and despite the shallow instances where he “cares” about her, I think he still absolutely sucks.I get that it’s fiction and it’s “dark romance” but this was straight up rape. Do not read. Can’t stress this enough. I was waiting for her <to finally get away and when she did I was so so happy only for HER TO BE UPSET AND MISS HIM.> also what’s up with the whole “my pet” thing, that was weird and I hated it. this was foolishness . It was recommend to be because it was supposedly like credence. So so different. If easily disgusted please not read. That being said Nora was actually pretty tolerable so it gets a star. Also Stockholm syndrome is something that some people do struggle with, I’m not saying that's sick. I’m saying it’s sick that people write about it and call it entertainment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse