apalershadeofwhite's reviews
252 reviews

Satan's Affair by H.D. Carlton

challenging dark 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder, Slavery, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Never Never by Serena Valentino

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-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

3.75

Disney Princess Cinderella: Cold Hearted by Serena Valentino

dark hopeful fast-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

2.25

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

The Iron Door by Newton Webb

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Overall, this was a very bland story. It felt really basic and didn't really capture my attention. 

I don't know if the narrative is trying to be religious or not, or a commentary on something? It didn't really feel like it had a deeper meaning. It almost seemed like having a story idea in mind, but when starting to write it down it didn't feel good enough for a full novel; and then published it anyway lol.

Evil Thing by Serena Valentino

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The Odd Sisters: A Tale of the Three Witches by Serena Valentino

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.25

I feel undecided about this book. Usually the bad moments feel nit-picky and the good outweigh them or vice versa, however with this book i just feel a bit... mid?

The first chapter was a real drag. It was stuffed with context that we really didn't need. I mean, it's the sixth book in the series... if you've gotten this far, then you know what's happened lol. It just felt unnecessary and word-padding (which is a common issue I'm having with this series). 

However, there are some things I did really like. Firstly, I loved the little detail of Nanny and Fairy Godmother making a pink and blue cake! It played homage to the Disney film as well as the previous book on Maleficent. Also, the 'Mourning Box' story about Jacob was so heart-wrenching. I could have read that part of the book for hours on end and I would read a whole book just about that tale.

Overall, the book is definitely not one of the bed in the series and I can see myself forgetting about reading it in the future.

Baby Doll by wonderwall123

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

2.25