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brennareadthis's reviews
341 reviews
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
5.0
Holy crap. I’ll write a more comprehensive review soon, my brain is still processing! Just know that this is my new favorite fantasy and everyone needs to read it.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
2.0
While I loved the ending, once the action actually started, the story itself had a lot of missed opportunities and more than a few cringe moments for me.
The men in this were all self deprecating and whiny. Bryce was so against the Fae the entire book. The relationships all felt forced. Honestly Lidia was the only character who carried this book for me.
Spoilers Ahead!
The Crescent City world wasn’t my favorite but I had high hopes in the cross-over. All we got was Nesta and Azriel in a cave, and holy crap was it a long cave! Az was not himself (weirdly chatty and overly emotional) and somehow missed Bryce being deceitful and wiping blood everywhere.
I wish Feyre was there with Nesta, we could have had the whole “That’s a wyrm?!” “Yes, I told you they were terrible” and then witness Feyre kill it with her full powers. Then maybe we could have had more surprise or emotion to Rhys’ family connections reveal. And maybe Bryce would have had more of an inclination to being a Fae ruler if she met a real High Lady.
Hunt and Bryce’s relationship was so bland and their reunion was so disappointing. It was like he wasn’t on the brink of death and she didn’t just disappear across the universe! And again, Hunt is constantly putting down Bryce and her ideas with “You can’t do that.” or “You can’t possibly know that.” Also, space sex? Ugh!
It’s one of my most hated tropes where characters “protect” their loved ones without their knowledge or even acceptance and it happens So Much!
Again, the ending was exciting and fun (maybe 10 chapters) but it was too much of a slog to get there with characters that annoyed me more than anything.
The men in this were all self deprecating and whiny. Bryce was so against the Fae the entire book. The relationships all felt forced. Honestly Lidia was the only character who carried this book for me.
Spoilers Ahead!
The Crescent City world wasn’t my favorite but I had high hopes in the cross-over. All we got was Nesta and Azriel in a cave, and holy crap was it a long cave! Az was not himself (weirdly chatty and overly emotional) and somehow missed Bryce being deceitful and wiping blood everywhere.
I wish Feyre was there with Nesta, we could have had the whole “That’s a wyrm?!” “Yes, I told you they were terrible” and then witness Feyre kill it with her full powers. Then maybe we could have had more surprise or emotion to Rhys’ family connections reveal. And maybe Bryce would have had more of an inclination to being a Fae ruler if she met a real High Lady.
Hunt and Bryce’s relationship was so bland and their reunion was so disappointing. It was like he wasn’t on the brink of death and she didn’t just disappear across the universe! And again, Hunt is constantly putting down Bryce and her ideas with “You can’t do that.” or “You can’t possibly know that.” Also, space sex? Ugh!
It’s one of my most hated tropes where characters “protect” their loved ones without their knowledge or even acceptance and it happens So Much!
Again, the ending was exciting and fun (maybe 10 chapters) but it was too much of a slog to get there with characters that annoyed me more than anything.
Midnight at Maidenstone Hall by Alison Clare, Alison Clare
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for a copy of this book!
Set in 1919, Midnight at Maidenstone Hall follows Marsden Fisher (formerly Thomas Bäuerle) looking for answers on the disappearance of his lover Simon Falconer. Presumed dead by everyone, Marsden knows Simon was last seen at his home, Maidenstone Hall, before he was pronounced dead on the front. Wanting to know more Marsden takes up a position as tutor to Alice, Simon’s younger sister.
Very quickly Marsden realizes why Simon never spoke about his family. Alice and her twin Beatrice are constantly fighting, Lord Scarborough has a temper, Lady Scarborough is an alcoholic, and the entire staff is in on all the family secrets. The family home is half destroyed by fire and bankruptcy is imminent.
Alison Clare wrote a fantastic period piece/mystery/thriller. The characters were wonderful, I loved the slow unraveling of everyone’s secrets. Really fun read!
Set in 1919, Midnight at Maidenstone Hall follows Marsden Fisher (formerly Thomas Bäuerle) looking for answers on the disappearance of his lover Simon Falconer. Presumed dead by everyone, Marsden knows Simon was last seen at his home, Maidenstone Hall, before he was pronounced dead on the front. Wanting to know more Marsden takes up a position as tutor to Alice, Simon’s younger sister.
Very quickly Marsden realizes why Simon never spoke about his family. Alice and her twin Beatrice are constantly fighting, Lord Scarborough has a temper, Lady Scarborough is an alcoholic, and the entire staff is in on all the family secrets. The family home is half destroyed by fire and bankruptcy is imminent.
Alison Clare wrote a fantastic period piece/mystery/thriller. The characters were wonderful, I loved the slow unraveling of everyone’s secrets. Really fun read!