beccaannekent's reviews
523 reviews

The Ever King by LJ Andrews

adventurous mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

I’m not sure what it was that bothered me with this book, but there was something that just didn’t click. 

I wasn’t invested, I couldn’t care less about the side characters (I felt I wasn’t introduced to them properly to care), and I could barely tell you any of their names. 

The FMC and MMC really seemed to go from hate to love in a couple of pages and there just wasn’t enough spark! This could have been a really great, dark slow burn romance. Erik had the potential to be dark, broody and the biggest walking red flag imaginable and I’d have ATE it up, but unfortunately the author didn’t choose this route. 

Bespelled by Laura Thalassa

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

Memnon grovels on his knees, like he SHOULD, and it is fantastic. 

This book seems more frantic, more intense and more high risk than the first one. We have a lot more at stake and more horrific goings on, which obviously Selene finds herself in the middle of. 

It wasn’t until right at the end I realised that this isn’t a duology and that Laura ends, once again, on one hell of a cliffhanger!! I cannot believe we have to wait to 2025 for the next one?! 

Bewitched by Laura Thalassa

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.0

Such a fun concept for a book! Every time Selene uses her magic, she loses a memory. This had led to a chaotic and stressful life where everything she needs is written down and categorised. 

And if this wasn’t complicated enough, she’s accidentally opened up a cursed tomb over 2 millennia old whilst finding her panther familiar. 

Selene is an excellent FMC, she’s hilarious, self deprecating in the best way and tries to not let her rather rubbish situations affect the fact she’s finally got into a school she’s dreamed of! 

The end is a rollercoaster of emotions and cliffhangers and I’m very much looking forward to seeing Selene’s journey continue in book 2! 

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

What a strong sequel! Definitely no second book syndrome here.

Kiva is pretty much thrown from the frying pan and into the fire, she’s managed to escape prison…but is torn between choosing her family or love. The angst and stress Kiva feels really comes on strong whilst reading, particularly in those last few chapters!! And what a cliffhanger it is! 

A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

This is a really excellent example of enemies to lovers in a fantasy world. 

I really loved the whole premise, there was a lot of investment in the build up, the magic, the political aspect and each character - which, although can be heavy to get through, in this instance absolutely pays off. 

The plot twist at the end was inevitable, and easily guessed. However, in no way did this affect how I enjoyable the story was and how well written it is overall. 

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

I love a fantasy story with a plot twist and this gives it in DROVES. 

Such a different setting to my usual fantasy reads, with a really intriguing magic system and political setup. This was fast paced and frantic in places, with excellent character introductions and writing. I enjoy how we discovered secrets alongside the FMC, and then some! 

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

I am just a girly, thoroughly in her Dark Romance era and loving it. 

This is one that toes the line from dark to extremely dark, so check those warnings! Once the story kicks in it was addictive and I struggled to put it down. 

Ryat is a book boyf you probably would avoid in RL, but whew in this he’s a dream. Get you a man who respects your fantasies, doesn’t judge and lets you live them out!

King of Libertines by Pam Godwin

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

A short but cute novella giving us insights into Bennet and Priest.

Let’s be honest girl, we all would’ve caved too and probably much, much sooner than you did. 

Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

I was encouraged to read this by friends, even though historical romances are not generally a genre I lean into. But, I’ve never been more pleased to be proven wrong in judging before I began.

This book absolutely enthralled me from the minute I turned the first page and met Bennet. She’s a phenomenal FMC, particularly as she’s in a role where she is an extreme minority and she excels. 

I would 100% take a look at the list of TWs for this, it is dark and with some intense scenes that will not be for everyone. 

I cannot believe this is a standalone, I would genuinely happily read many, many books with Bennet, Priest and Ashley and it’s doubtful I’d get bored of them. 

Until the Stars Fall by Vanessa Rasanen

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

3.0

This book felt clumsy in the beginning, the pacing was fully off and it was a battle to get through the first 50%. I couldn’t quite grasp how we went from several changes of POV’s and also skipped 3 years into the future. 

However, once I managed to get past that, and the book settled into a normal pace of chapters lasting days rather than years, the last 50% made up for it. I personally think it would massively benefit from a lot of editing and some tidying up. 

Overall I’ve definitely read worse, but won’t be rushing to read again