anastasiax's reviews
1059 reviews

I'm not sure how to rate this. On one hand, I really enjoyed their story, but on the other, the pacing felt weird and very fast-paced; I literally powered through it in 3hrs.

Fix Me Up by Caitlin Klassen is a beautiful, bittersweet journey that brings The Foundation series full circle. As both a prequel and a powerful finale, this book takes us back to where it all began, revealing the heartfelt and tender origins of Bree and Grant’s relationship as well as the start of Ellie's contracting business. It was a seamless blend of emotional depth and effortless storytelling.

Grant’s journey is the heart of the book—a man broken by the devastating loss of his family and trapped in grief. I thought his struggles were portrayed really well, with such rawness and honesty that it’s impossible not to feel deeply for him.
Bree, on the other hand, is the perfect counterbalance: kind, compassionate, and unwavering in her support. Her strength and quiet determination help pull Grant out of the darkness, and their relationship feels so natural, pure, and deeply moving.

“You listen to me, and you listen good.” I poke my finger against his chest. “You do not get to tell me if you are good for me or not. I get to make that choice. Spending time with you is MY choice.” I give him a stern look. “No one. Has. Ever. Stood. Up. For. Me.” I exaggerate each word as I poke his chest, harder each time. “You have protected me, you’ve let me rant, and you’ve complimented me to no end. I won’t shove you aside because some random man who smells like ass warns me about you or because you have baggage.”

The pacing was a little strange to me; it was really fast-paced yet so smooth. I'm not sure how to describe it. But was free of unnecessary drama, with conflicts resolved thoughtfully and organically, which was really nice though! I loved the balance between heartfelt moments, playful interactions, and just the right touch of spice, making the story feel vibrant and real.

I loved seeing how Bree and Grant’s story connects to the other books adding a layer of magic to the entire series. It’s a bittersweet farewell, but the author ensures it’s satisfying, tying up loose ends beautifully in the epilogue.

Fix Me Up was everything I could have hoped for, it was more than just a romance—it’s a story of healing, growth, and the transformative power of love. Caitlin Klassen has truly outdone herself, delivering a story that lingers long after the final page. I can’t wait to see what Caitlin has in store for us next!

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥reformed bad boy x recovering people pleaser
❥touch her and die
❥ he falls first and harder
❥3rd act pregnancy
❥grief and healing
❥prequel
❥country boy vs city girl
❥found family
❥no 3rd act breakup
❥dual POV
❥short chapters

Thank you for the ARC, Caitlin♡

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From the Ground Up | Review
Build Me Up | Review
Change Me Up | Review
Fix Me Up | Review

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Final Curtain by bv Sloan

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-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

The Empress by Kristin Cast

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •

I haven't read something from Kristin Cast since House of Night days (when I was in high school), so when I stumbled across ARC sign-ups I couldn’t resist!

I understand why this has a low rating at the moment, but it’s also just the first book in the series, serving primarily as a setup for the rest of the series, even though this did end in a HEA with an epilogue.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

The Empress by Kristin Cast is a fantasy romance that transports readers from the real world to the magical realm of Towerfall, a place steeped in tarot magic and in need of a reluctant heroine. The story follows Hannah, a reluctant heroine, as she’s thrust from her ordinary life into the magical realm of Towerfall—a world in desperate need of saving. The premise of incorporating tarot lore into the story was both unique and intriguing, even for someone like me with little knowledge of tarot. It was fascinating to see how it tied into both Towerfall and Hannah’s real-world life.

The worldbuilding was imaginative, and the descriptions of Towerfall were immersive, drawing clear contrasts between the realms Hannah, the protagonist, experiences. The secondary characters added humor and heart to the story, with Shadow being a standout for me. And then there’s Kane, mysterious, protective, and undeniably compelling. I really liked Hannah and Kane. Their chemistry and dynamic was definitely one of the highlights of the book.

As much as I was enjoying it, the pacing and character development left me feeling conflicted. Hannah, while relatable in her struggle to simply survive, often felt immature. Her reluctance to embrace her role in Towerfall made it hard to connect with her, but I still found myself rooting for her! The pacing of the story was one of the strangest aspects and I don't even know how to describe it. It felt both fast-paced and slow at the same time, with a lot of filler that didn’t seem to drive the plot forward. By the time I was halfway through the book, nothing of real significance had happened. Also, I feel like a lot of the plot wasn't explained. Hannah is supposed to be someone who's supposed to save Towerfall but that plotline kind of fell off.

Hmmm, from 75% on it felt like it flew by in seconds; it felt like a race to tie up loose ends, leaving me craving more depth and exploration of Towerfall and its lore.

Overall, The Empress had a lot of potential, it was a solid and enjoyable read. I’d be interested to see more of Towerfall in the future, as the world and concept hold so much promise.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹

❥Broody MMC
❥Fake Marriage
❥He ties her up
❥Tarot Card inspired
❥"Little Fawn"
❥Romantasy
❥Transported into a new world

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

⁀➷𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀:
just got my arc! I'm so excited for this!!

Thank you for the ARC, Kristin♡

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Trick Shot by Kayla Grosse

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced