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bubblewombat's reviews
2165 reviews
Heartless Villain by K. Loraine, Meg Anne
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
HOLD UP, THE FINAL MATE GAMES SERIES ISN'T COMING TILL 2025??? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS??? WAHHHHHHH. I'm already going through withdrawal. Hopefully there's something else in store for us while we wait (I have no hints, I'm just throwing that out there hoping it sticks).
OKAY SO, the ending was the most perfect ending x100, the epilogues were just so sweet and funny, I loved seeing cameos from other characters yet again (my favourite couple in the whole universe included, if you know you know). And THAT BONUS SCENE!!! STOP MY HEART CAN'T TAKE THE CUTENESS!!!!!!!
I've been holding off on reading the bonus scenes, because I figured it would be fun to read all of them at the end of the series and I JUST...WHO'S CRYING? ME? YES. That little puppy really is the goodest boy. Can't believe we got a crossover there too, mind blown in the best way.
All of those epilogues/bonuses had me smiling from ear to ear, the bloopers too. Now I fear I'll require bloopers after all the audiobooks I listen to, I've been so spoiled.
Plot wise, this is the closest we've gotten to an actual apocalypse, and I gotta tell miss ma'am Death what a good job she did!! So many twists I didn't see coming. I'm (almost) sad she lost? Like, she put so much effort into this, only for her plans to be foiled. Poor Death, let me give you a hug. She's my favourite villain in the series so far, even though the guys are technically villains too, but you know what I mean.
Speaking of resident hot villains, dear ol' Captain Hook had me laughing out loud yet again. His good mood is really contagious, I swear it made my headache better. If I said that he's my favourite Mate Games character ever, would the others be mad at me? HOPEFULLY NOT, THERE'S ENOUGH LOVE TO GO AROUND!! I just think Kim & Meg struck gold with Caspian, and I would not be opposed to more pirate characters in the future.
OH! Gotta mention this so I don't forget, that *IMPROVED* J. M. Barrie quote at the start really got me. I was giggling from the get go.
Now for the other three gents, are we ready? Yes? I know I always do a final ranking type of thing but...I don't know how to rank them this time. I love Tor, Kai and Cain/Hades equally. So I'll just say that I love how much they developed over the series, how close they got to each other and how all of Dahlia's men now function like a well oiled machine. They're still jealous from time to time, but they can properly share.
Also, I find it very fitting that Kai got to do the thing first. You'll know which thing when you get to it, hah.
Dahlia, meanwhile, finally came into her own, mastered her powers (for the most part), and became truly free with expressing her desires, that's my girl!! I love her so much, she's living the dream.
I don't remember if I ever mentioned Kiki in my reviews? Maybe, possibly? Either way, she was simply fabulous in this one. She's a true friend and would go to hell and back for Dahlia, quite literally. She had a bigger role here than in the past books which was honestly deserved.
We got a little sneak peak into the next series, I was wondering where that storyline was going and I'm glad we finally have an answer. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long to see it.
Lastly, stellar performance by all the narrators as always, these books and their narration make life worth living.
P. S. If you still haven't started this brilliant series, I'm judging you.
*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
OKAY SO, the ending was the most perfect ending x100, the epilogues were just so sweet and funny, I loved seeing cameos from other characters yet again (my favourite couple in the whole universe included, if you know you know). And THAT BONUS SCENE!!! STOP MY HEART CAN'T TAKE THE CUTENESS!!!!!!!
I've been holding off on reading the bonus scenes, because I figured it would be fun to read all of them at the end of the series and I JUST...WHO'S CRYING? ME? YES. That little puppy really is the goodest boy. Can't believe we got a crossover there too, mind blown in the best way.
All of those epilogues/bonuses had me smiling from ear to ear, the bloopers too. Now I fear I'll require bloopers after all the audiobooks I listen to, I've been so spoiled.
Plot wise, this is the closest we've gotten to an actual apocalypse, and I gotta tell miss ma'am Death what a good job she did!! So many twists I didn't see coming. I'm (almost) sad she lost? Like, she put so much effort into this, only for her plans to be foiled. Poor Death, let me give you a hug. She's my favourite villain in the series so far, even though the guys are technically villains too, but you know what I mean.
Speaking of resident hot villains, dear ol' Captain Hook had me laughing out loud yet again. His good mood is really contagious, I swear it made my headache better. If I said that he's my favourite Mate Games character ever, would the others be mad at me? HOPEFULLY NOT, THERE'S ENOUGH LOVE TO GO AROUND!! I just think Kim & Meg struck gold with Caspian, and I would not be opposed to more pirate characters in the future.
OH! Gotta mention this so I don't forget, that *IMPROVED* J. M. Barrie quote at the start really got me. I was giggling from the get go.
Now for the other three gents, are we ready? Yes? I know I always do a final ranking type of thing but...I don't know how to rank them this time. I love Tor, Kai and Cain/Hades equally. So I'll just say that I love how much they developed over the series, how close they got to each other and how all of Dahlia's men now function like a well oiled machine. They're still jealous from time to time, but they can properly share.
Also, I find it very fitting that Kai got to do the thing first. You'll know which thing when you get to it, hah.
Dahlia, meanwhile, finally came into her own, mastered her powers (for the most part), and became truly free with expressing her desires, that's my girl!! I love her so much, she's living the dream.
I don't remember if I ever mentioned Kiki in my reviews? Maybe, possibly? Either way, she was simply fabulous in this one. She's a true friend and would go to hell and back for Dahlia, quite literally. She had a bigger role here than in the past books which was honestly deserved.
We got a little sneak peak into the next series, I was wondering where that storyline was going and I'm glad we finally have an answer. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long to see it.
Lastly, stellar performance by all the narrators as always, these books and their narration make life worth living.
P. S. If you still haven't started this brilliant series, I'm judging you.
*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Eyes Like a Hurricane by Taryn Nikolic
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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? No
5.0
"Bending down, our mouths connect, and like Tesla’s coil, my skin ignites with an electrical charge."
What kind of Serb would I be if I didn't put that specific quote at the top of my review, even though this had a bunch of cute ones I could've used instead? Exactly. Anyway, Y'ALL ARE SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK/SERIES/AUTHOR!!!!
I don't remember what I was looking for when this popped up, I think I was searching up something completely different and Amazon decided to recommend Eyes Like a Hurricane to me, and it's been living in my head rent free ever since.
I'm a huge fan of small town romances, so this definitely caught my eye, but it was mainly the author's last name that made me prioritise it. I'm not sure if she's Serbian, or married to someone who is, but either way we support our own in this house!!! I see a Serbian name, I click read, simple.
Having finished it, I'm so glad there's going to be at least six books in the series, because I fell in love with the world and its characters and need to see more of them. I actually would've read this back in February when I found it, but I knew I'd love it and wanted it to be closer to book two and three so here we are.
I like that the book starts with a little steam guide, so if you want a spice free read, you know exactly which pages to skip. The playlist was maybe 80% to my taste which is always a plus (extra extra points for Warren Zeiders), I went and saved it on Spotify, along with the other two.
It's a bit of a slow burn at first, but I was still surprised at how fast they got together, because the beginning made it seem like it would stretch out a bit more. There was a lot of anticipation, like when they'd finally meet again etc, it gave me butterflies. And then they saw each other in that bar and that was IT, they were smitten.
I was wondering if the rest of the story would be interesting, what else could happen if they got together so soon into the book, but fear not friends for it definitely kept my attention.
The book is told in dual PoV, but we also got the PoV of the villain. As much as I didn't like him, I liked reading what he was up to. It gave him some depth beyond the overly attached ex boyfriend. We got to see how his mind worked, and that he was, indeed, a bit coo coo.
I also like that the main conflict was driven by said villain, and not a typical third act breakup, it was refreshing.
The romance was super sweet, you could feel the sparks from their very first meeting and they never went away. They may have fallen in love in a month, but it was believable.
Both Lachlan and Aislinn are animal lovers which is a big theme throughout the book. They each have a floofy baby and I hope we get dog updates too, I gotta know if those two will have cute little puppies!!! Also, the alpacas dunking them...yes.
The side characters were just as engaging, I can't wait to read their stories. The ending for this one set up the next one which I'm assuming will be a recurring theme.
You can just feel the love the author put into this world, and the story of how it came about just makes me wish for this series to blow up ASAP. So if you like small town romances with a fun cast of characters please give the Topaz Falls series a try.
P. S. Dr Tomasevic (Tomašević) needs another appearance!!! For no reason other than I like subtle Serbian rep okay? Okay.
What kind of Serb would I be if I didn't put that specific quote at the top of my review, even though this had a bunch of cute ones I could've used instead? Exactly. Anyway, Y'ALL ARE SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK/SERIES/AUTHOR!!!!
I don't remember what I was looking for when this popped up, I think I was searching up something completely different and Amazon decided to recommend Eyes Like a Hurricane to me, and it's been living in my head rent free ever since.
I'm a huge fan of small town romances, so this definitely caught my eye, but it was mainly the author's last name that made me prioritise it. I'm not sure if she's Serbian, or married to someone who is, but either way we support our own in this house!!! I see a Serbian name, I click read, simple.
Having finished it, I'm so glad there's going to be at least six books in the series, because I fell in love with the world and its characters and need to see more of them. I actually would've read this back in February when I found it, but I knew I'd love it and wanted it to be closer to book two and three so here we are.
I like that the book starts with a little steam guide, so if you want a spice free read, you know exactly which pages to skip. The playlist was maybe 80% to my taste which is always a plus (extra extra points for Warren Zeiders), I went and saved it on Spotify, along with the other two.
It's a bit of a slow burn at first, but I was still surprised at how fast they got together, because the beginning made it seem like it would stretch out a bit more. There was a lot of anticipation, like when they'd finally meet again etc, it gave me butterflies. And then they saw each other in that bar and that was IT, they were smitten.
I was wondering if the rest of the story would be interesting, what else could happen if they got together so soon into the book, but fear not friends for it definitely kept my attention.
The book is told in dual PoV, but we also got the PoV of the villain. As much as I didn't like him, I liked reading what he was up to. It gave him some depth beyond the overly attached ex boyfriend. We got to see how his mind worked, and that he was, indeed, a bit coo coo.
I also like that the main conflict was driven by said villain, and not a typical third act breakup, it was refreshing.
The romance was super sweet, you could feel the sparks from their very first meeting and they never went away. They may have fallen in love in a month, but it was believable.
Both Lachlan and Aislinn are animal lovers which is a big theme throughout the book. They each have a floofy baby and I hope we get dog updates too, I gotta know if those two will have cute little puppies!!! Also, the alpacas dunking them...yes.
The side characters were just as engaging, I can't wait to read their stories. The ending for this one set up the next one which I'm assuming will be a recurring theme.
You can just feel the love the author put into this world, and the story of how it came about just makes me wish for this series to blow up ASAP. So if you like small town romances with a fun cast of characters please give the Topaz Falls series a try.
P. S. Dr Tomasevic (Tomašević) needs another appearance!!! For no reason other than I like subtle Serbian rep okay? Okay.
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.25
I saw this book recommended on either a true crime video (somewhere in the comments), or I saw it on Twitter as a reply to a similar topic, I don't exactly remember. Maybe it was both. Either way it was an interesting listen.
It was compelling enough to push me to finish it in one go, and I didn't mind that the author would occasionally insert his or his father's stories, I felt like it was appropriate. The book was, however, a bit jumbled. It would hop from topic to topic and back again, which didn't make for the smoothest reading experience.
I also got the impression that I would've enjoyed the survivor stories a lot more in their own books, rather than retold like this, but it's okay.
It was compelling enough to push me to finish it in one go, and I didn't mind that the author would occasionally insert his or his father's stories, I felt like it was appropriate. The book was, however, a bit jumbled. It would hop from topic to topic and back again, which didn't make for the smoothest reading experience.
I also got the impression that I would've enjoyed the survivor stories a lot more in their own books, rather than retold like this, but it's okay.
When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Ok hear me out...I actually didn't mind the evil girlfriend plot point. I KNOW, I KNOW, but I think it was what I needed to keep me entertained, and honestly I do not feel bad for said girlfriend at all. Sorry.
I liked that she existed, so that Kaliya and Danny's romance couldn't move too fast, because it was clear that they were still attracted to each other and if she wasn't there to create some sort of divide, they would've immediately gotten back together and I wouldn't have found this nearly as fun.
I also liked seeing the two of them working together before seeing them actually get together, it convinced me that they could work out this time around.
ALTHOUGH, Kaliya absolutely forgave Danny too easily for every single thing every single time. I get that she loves him and all, but he really didn't have to do much for her to take him back. I was expecting more effort on that front.
The movie they were working on was super sweet, and probably my favourite part of the book. I teared up at Danny's mother's interview. I wouldn't mind a whole book (or novella) about his parents' story.
The writing was another thing I really adored, it's so strong for a debut author, and the story itself is as well. I'd gladly read another book by Myah Ariel, especially if the cover is as gorgeous as this one.
I liked that she existed, so that Kaliya and Danny's romance couldn't move too fast, because it was clear that they were still attracted to each other and if she wasn't there to create some sort of divide, they would've immediately gotten back together and I wouldn't have found this nearly as fun.
I also liked seeing the two of them working together before seeing them actually get together, it convinced me that they could work out this time around.
ALTHOUGH, Kaliya absolutely forgave Danny too easily for every single thing every single time. I get that she loves him and all, but he really didn't have to do much for her to take him back. I was expecting more effort on that front.
The movie they were working on was super sweet, and probably my favourite part of the book. I teared up at Danny's mother's interview. I wouldn't mind a whole book (or novella) about his parents' story.
The writing was another thing I really adored, it's so strong for a debut author, and the story itself is as well. I'd gladly read another book by Myah Ariel, especially if the cover is as gorgeous as this one.
Sociopath by Patric Gagne
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I was hoping I'd love this, but honestly the author's voice was just annoying. And I don't mean the fact that she narrated her own audiobook (which I liked), I mean her written voice. It kept getting on my nerves over and over again, and the repetitiveness didn't help.
Like, you're a sociopath, we get it girl, you DO NOT have to constantly remind us and everyone you talk with in the book that you are one.
Relating to that, some of the conversations in the book sounded very odd to me, in a people-don't-actually-talk-like-that way, but what do I know? Maybe the author knows people who talk EXACTLY like that.
I'm a bit on the fence about that whole thing too, because as someone with really good memory, you can count on me to remember things from decades ago, and here it seems Gagne is able to do the same thing, word for word.
I'm not saying I don't believe her, just that if it was me in her shoes, feeling (or not feeling) how she was feeling during certain moments, I would not have remembered those conversations without mistake, especially the longer ones with her therapist.
It's possible she didn't actually remember all of it, and wrote what she did remember and then filled in the blanks, but then the question is, did she fill them in correctly, or embellish? Only she truly knows that.
Now I do think that despite her not caring if people like her (and trust me, she's definitely unlikeable), she still painted herself in a slightly better light here. That was the impression I got while reading.
Despite that, I can say that I did partially enjoy this, some of the sections were really interesting (David most of all), and I don't regret reading it. As for if this book will be helpful to others on the ASPD spectrum, we'll have to wait and see.
Like, you're a sociopath, we get it girl, you DO NOT have to constantly remind us and everyone you talk with in the book that you are one.
Relating to that, some of the conversations in the book sounded very odd to me, in a people-don't-actually-talk-like-that way, but what do I know? Maybe the author knows people who talk EXACTLY like that.
I'm a bit on the fence about that whole thing too, because as someone with really good memory, you can count on me to remember things from decades ago, and here it seems Gagne is able to do the same thing, word for word.
I'm not saying I don't believe her, just that if it was me in her shoes, feeling (or not feeling) how she was feeling during certain moments, I would not have remembered those conversations without mistake, especially the longer ones with her therapist.
It's possible she didn't actually remember all of it, and wrote what she did remember and then filled in the blanks, but then the question is, did she fill them in correctly, or embellish? Only she truly knows that.
Now I do think that despite her not caring if people like her (and trust me, she's definitely unlikeable), she still painted herself in a slightly better light here. That was the impression I got while reading.
Despite that, I can say that I did partially enjoy this, some of the sections were really interesting (David most of all), and I don't regret reading it. As for if this book will be helpful to others on the ASPD spectrum, we'll have to wait and see.
The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
“I realized that it wasn’t you who scared me the most,” he whispered finally against my lips, looking at me through his lashes. “What scared me is what would happen to me without you.”
Always seated for a congregation of Slavic characters!! We have Alina, Jacek (we don't even meet him, but listen, the name counts), Viktor, Boris, Nikolai aaaaand Luka. I wasn't actually expecting to get that many, even though I knew the main character's name from before I started reading, but I'm really happy.
So, I really enjoyed this book, but my God..THAT ENDING!!! I feel as if my whole soul has been ripped out of my body.
At the start the author tells us that basically these characters are not good, and to not expect them to be, but not gonna lie, I was still shocked when that really turned out to be the case. I was just vibing until those final few chapters and then I was like oh...OH.
There was a scene that was harder to read, and I'm sure there's a reason why it was included, so make sure to check the TWs at the start!! For me though it wasn't just that scene, but how a certain characters reacted to it, or rather their lack of reaction.
There better be some serious grovelling on their part in the next book because as is I'm not forgiving them, nope nope nope.
Other than that, it was pretty smooth sailing.
The story was interesting and reminded me a bit of The Lost Apothecary at the start, but better and darker. I loved seeing Alina mixing potions and testing them on unsuspecting evil men, AS SHE SHOULD!!!
We got both her PoV and that of Silas, I couldn't really tell you which one I liked better because they were both well written and funny too. Though I think Silas had the best/funniest lines overall, most of my highlights are just him being hilarious.
I loved how easily he got attached to Alina...like a leech (HA!), or a lost puppy. He just would not leave her alone and it was very endearing. I lived for his appearances and missed him when he wasn't there.
Their romance wasn't very healthy, but healthy is not what I was looking for when I picked this up so!! Romantic though, it sure was. I loved them together.
I also liked the side characters, and the proper gothic vibes. I even liked the (actual) ending, despite the cliffhanger. I think that was the best possible outcome and I'm excited to see where the story will go from here.
For a debut, this was great. I have no doubts that book two will hit 5 stars. Now if only it was already out. Cryyyyyy.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Always seated for a congregation of Slavic characters!! We have Alina, Jacek (we don't even meet him, but listen, the name counts), Viktor, Boris, Nikolai aaaaand Luka. I wasn't actually expecting to get that many, even though I knew the main character's name from before I started reading, but I'm really happy.
So, I really enjoyed this book, but my God..THAT ENDING!!! I feel as if my whole soul has been ripped out of my body.
At the start the author tells us that basically these characters are not good, and to not expect them to be, but not gonna lie, I was still shocked when that really turned out to be the case. I was just vibing until those final few chapters and then I was like oh...OH.
There was a scene that was harder to read, and I'm sure there's a reason why it was included, so make sure to check the TWs at the start!! For me though it wasn't just that scene, but how a certain characters reacted to it, or rather their lack of reaction.
There better be some serious grovelling on their part in the next book because as is I'm not forgiving them, nope nope nope.
Other than that, it was pretty smooth sailing.
The story was interesting and reminded me a bit of The Lost Apothecary at the start, but better and darker. I loved seeing Alina mixing potions and testing them on unsuspecting evil men, AS SHE SHOULD!!!
We got both her PoV and that of Silas, I couldn't really tell you which one I liked better because they were both well written and funny too. Though I think Silas had the best/funniest lines overall, most of my highlights are just him being hilarious.
I loved how easily he got attached to Alina...like a leech (HA!), or a lost puppy. He just would not leave her alone and it was very endearing. I lived for his appearances and missed him when he wasn't there.
Their romance wasn't very healthy, but healthy is not what I was looking for when I picked this up so!! Romantic though, it sure was. I loved them together.
I also liked the side characters, and the proper gothic vibes. I even liked the (actual) ending, despite the cliffhanger. I think that was the best possible outcome and I'm excited to see where the story will go from here.
For a debut, this was great. I have no doubts that book two will hit 5 stars. Now if only it was already out. Cryyyyyy.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
At First Spite by Olivia Dade
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Ooooookay well...this was my first Olivia Dade book and I was left disappointed. I'd still give her other books a try because it seems like this isn't her best one, but for the majority of the book, I was debating on rating it two stars. And by the end it gained about half a star so I decided to be nice and round it up to a three.
I think it was mainly the writing and the immaturity of the characters who were near 40, acting like teenagers. I swear I've read more mature YA romances (and I don't mean the newer ones that are more geared towards adults than teens).
I didn't like / didn't care for either of them or the romance, but mainly Matthew's part of it, because he seemed to instantly fall in love with her and was constantly thinking about Athena in a sexual way. There was no chemistry that I could feel and the overall set up to their romance felt a bit wrong to me.
For probably the entire first half, I was debating on dnfing. In the first or second chapter I was like "wait, if it's this dull now it'll probably only get worse from here" and it did. Then went up a lil bit later.
The depression portrayal surprised me, but it was good compared to everything else. Except I do feel like she got better in no time, but I also understand that there's only so much you can put in a book and not have it be too long.
The steam was okay, the audiobook too (it likely helped to push me to the end). I liked the plus size rep, monster romance references, and the book club, also Karl, didn't mind the pop culture references (minus "PROFESSOR GOOGLE" because who says that?).
Karl gets his own book, and while I feel like it might be really fun and more up my alley than this one, I'm still undecided about reading it. I think it might be better to give the author's other series a try before going back to this one. Plus, Karl isn't out yet so...
ALSO, extremely extremely EXTREMELY stupid third act breakup. Matthew gave up too easily, I was listening to that part and he was just like "ok fine"??? Sir??? I could not believe my ears, legit had to pause. I wasn't rooting for him before, but you can bet there was no way in hell I'd root for him after that.
2.5
I think it was mainly the writing and the immaturity of the characters who were near 40, acting like teenagers. I swear I've read more mature YA romances (and I don't mean the newer ones that are more geared towards adults than teens).
I didn't like / didn't care for either of them or the romance, but mainly Matthew's part of it, because he seemed to instantly fall in love with her and was constantly thinking about Athena in a sexual way. There was no chemistry that I could feel and the overall set up to their romance felt a bit wrong to me.
For probably the entire first half, I was debating on dnfing. In the first or second chapter I was like "wait, if it's this dull now it'll probably only get worse from here" and it did. Then went up a lil bit later.
The depression portrayal surprised me, but it was good compared to everything else. Except I do feel like she got better in no time, but I also understand that there's only so much you can put in a book and not have it be too long.
The steam was okay, the audiobook too (it likely helped to push me to the end). I liked the plus size rep, monster romance references, and the book club, also Karl, didn't mind the pop culture references (minus "PROFESSOR GOOGLE" because who says that?).
Karl gets his own book, and while I feel like it might be really fun and more up my alley than this one, I'm still undecided about reading it. I think it might be better to give the author's other series a try before going back to this one. Plus, Karl isn't out yet so...
ALSO, extremely extremely EXTREMELY stupid third act breakup. Matthew gave up too easily, I was listening to that part and he was just like "ok fine"??? Sir??? I could not believe my ears, legit had to pause. I wasn't rooting for him before, but you can bet there was no way in hell I'd root for him after that.
2.5
Starlight Jewel by E.L. Lyons
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've been meaning to read this for the last year, but never got around to it, so I'd like to thank the SFF Insiders Discord server for organising a buddy read and finally pushing me to do it.
I loved Starlight Jewel just as much as I was expecting to. The writing and the world immediately drew me into the story, but the characters were my favourite by far.
Axly's shenanigans were so fun to follow, she's the best main character and I feel for her because of everything she went through. She has a strong protective instinct towards her brother and would do anything to keep him safe.
Their relationship was so sweet to me, until they "reunited" when it got a bit strained. I was just waiting for them to fist bump it (since Greg doesn't like to be touched) out and that didn't exactly happen. I know that Axly isn't very fond of his gifts, and has her reasons for wanting to keep a distance, but it kept eating at me every time she wasn't nice to him or vice versa.
I JUST WANT THEM TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE. CRY.
That wasn't the only thing that caused me pain though, oh no, the worst pain came in the form of Grim and something relating to him that I can't spoil. So you'd better go and read this book so I can rant, thank you!!
Grim changed a lot from start to finish, and not just because of the thing I mentioned, I like to think that Axly changed him for the better, bit by bit.
We got crumbs of their romance and those were enough to make me giddy, I ship them so hard, even if they have a hard road ahead. If Axly and Grim have one shipper left, it's me, if Axly and Grim have no shippers left, I'm no longer in this world. I'M COMMITTED NOW, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME!!
I also fell in love with Ramus, Kyper, Tarley, Jory, Cira'lav, Fria'lav, Roarik...even Henry (kinda) by the end. There's probably someone I forgot to mention, but really, all the characters are so well developed that you can't help but get attached.
The world is so rich with lore that it will make you want to explore every nook and cranny of it, and considering there's some travel going on we do get to see parts of it.
A lot of travel is skipped for the story's benefit and probably the reader's too. I only have a slight complaint in regards to that, it would happen in the same chapter and just a paragraph later. You're suddenly a month or a year later into the story and it can take a few seconds to adjust. It's not a huge bother though, I just would've preferred it to be a bit more separated.
The magic system is super intriguing, you can tell the author worked hard on developing it. Impartation is my fav fav gift though. You already know why (duh, Grim). I just really like the idea of it, and of Axly being able to help Grim (or anyone she touches) see the world a bit clearer, with heightened senses.
The ending though...if I had a physical book to throw at the wall, that's likely where it would've ended up, sorry! I'M STILL SO MAD. SO SO MAD. AFTER EVERYTHING...THAT HAPPENS. GAH.
Book two can't come soon enough, I'll be counting down the days.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I loved Starlight Jewel just as much as I was expecting to. The writing and the world immediately drew me into the story, but the characters were my favourite by far.
Axly's shenanigans were so fun to follow, she's the best main character and I feel for her because of everything she went through. She has a strong protective instinct towards her brother and would do anything to keep him safe.
Their relationship was so sweet to me, until they "reunited" when it got a bit strained. I was just waiting for them to fist bump it (since Greg doesn't like to be touched) out and that didn't exactly happen. I know that Axly isn't very fond of his gifts, and has her reasons for wanting to keep a distance, but it kept eating at me every time she wasn't nice to him or vice versa.
I JUST WANT THEM TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE. CRY.
That wasn't the only thing that caused me pain though, oh no, the worst pain came in the form of Grim and something relating to him that I can't spoil. So you'd better go and read this book so I can rant, thank you!!
Grim changed a lot from start to finish, and not just because of the thing I mentioned, I like to think that Axly changed him for the better, bit by bit.
We got crumbs of their romance and those were enough to make me giddy, I ship them so hard, even if they have a hard road ahead. If Axly and Grim have one shipper left, it's me, if Axly and Grim have no shippers left, I'm no longer in this world. I'M COMMITTED NOW, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME!!
I also fell in love with Ramus, Kyper, Tarley, Jory, Cira'lav, Fria'lav, Roarik...even Henry (kinda) by the end. There's probably someone I forgot to mention, but really, all the characters are so well developed that you can't help but get attached.
The world is so rich with lore that it will make you want to explore every nook and cranny of it, and considering there's some travel going on we do get to see parts of it.
A lot of travel is skipped for the story's benefit and probably the reader's too. I only have a slight complaint in regards to that, it would happen in the same chapter and just a paragraph later. You're suddenly a month or a year later into the story and it can take a few seconds to adjust. It's not a huge bother though, I just would've preferred it to be a bit more separated.
The magic system is super intriguing, you can tell the author worked hard on developing it. Impartation is my fav fav gift though. You already know why (duh, Grim). I just really like the idea of it, and of Axly being able to help Grim (or anyone she touches) see the world a bit clearer, with heightened senses.
The ending though...if I had a physical book to throw at the wall, that's likely where it would've ended up, sorry! I'M STILL SO MAD. SO SO MAD. AFTER EVERYTHING...THAT HAPPENS. GAH.
Book two can't come soon enough, I'll be counting down the days.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Bury Me by K.L. Taylor-Lane
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
‘I’m going to keep you safe. Even when you hate me, I will keep you safe.’
Did I ever think an author could so accurately describe the mess that is my head through a character such as Ember? No, I really did not, and yet here we are. I could relate to her mental struggles so hard, even though I'm doing a lot better now (thankfully), but that really was me years ago.
So, this is the second book in a trilogy and you need to read Torment Me before getting into this. It continues right where the first book left off, and I swear I could feel Ember's fear throughout the whole ordeal.
Blaze, Flint, Phoenix and Cole are a family, but where does Ember fit in? Is she just a captive or something more?
We get to see Ember and Blaze bonding in their own twisted way and I have to say that I live for his jealousy. Does he want to share? Yes. Does he also want to keep her for himself? Yes. It's delicious. Don't worry though, he does learn to share...eventually.
Cole won me over with the puppy. I can't resist a puppy. But also the SH, I could relate to him the same way I could to Ember because of it. I also liked how protective he (and well, everyone else) was. He was also the most sensible of the bunch, believe it or not.
Flint and Phoenix are a packaged deal so mentioning one without the other seems wrong, I love them too, they're sweet, both together and with Ember.
I adore everyone's nicknames for each other, especially Sugar. I swear I haven't heard that used since Rogue from the XMEN, so finally reading it in a book makes me so happy.
The only flaw this book has is that it ended too soon. I WANT MORE!!! We were, of course, left on another cliffhanger. I'm curious if we'll see the cousin in the next book too, and what his motivations were for doing what he did...and why SOMEONE showed up you know where you know when. Can't believe I have to wait to get answers. At least I can go and read other K. L. Taylor-Lane books meanwhile.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Did I ever think an author could so accurately describe the mess that is my head through a character such as Ember? No, I really did not, and yet here we are. I could relate to her mental struggles so hard, even though I'm doing a lot better now (thankfully), but that really was me years ago.
So, this is the second book in a trilogy and you need to read Torment Me before getting into this. It continues right where the first book left off, and I swear I could feel Ember's fear throughout the whole ordeal.
Blaze, Flint, Phoenix and Cole are a family, but where does Ember fit in? Is she just a captive or something more?
We get to see Ember and Blaze bonding in their own twisted way and I have to say that I live for his jealousy. Does he want to share? Yes. Does he also want to keep her for himself? Yes. It's delicious. Don't worry though, he does learn to share...eventually.
Cole won me over with the puppy. I can't resist a puppy. But also the SH, I could relate to him the same way I could to Ember because of it. I also liked how protective he (and well, everyone else) was. He was also the most sensible of the bunch, believe it or not.
Flint and Phoenix are a packaged deal so mentioning one without the other seems wrong, I love them too, they're sweet, both together and with Ember.
I adore everyone's nicknames for each other, especially Sugar. I swear I haven't heard that used since Rogue from the XMEN, so finally reading it in a book makes me so happy.
The only flaw this book has is that it ended too soon. I WANT MORE!!! We were, of course, left on another cliffhanger. I'm curious if we'll see the cousin in the next book too, and what his motivations were for doing what he did...and why SOMEONE showed up you know where you know when. Can't believe I have to wait to get answers. At least I can go and read other K. L. Taylor-Lane books meanwhile.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews That Shaped America by Therese Oneill
adventurous
funny
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
The title drew me to this book, I simply had to give it a read. The audiobook is only 4ish hours long so I finished it all in one go. It was really interesting, and surprisingly funny. Both of the narrators did an amazing job, but the one that was doing the "narrator" or author's voice put so much effort into it, that it felt like Therese Oneill was telling me all this herself.
I enjoyed learning about all of these women, some familiar to me, some not, and in such a creative way too. I wish the book was longer so even more lesser known women could be covered. It was also very diverse which is always a plus.
Also, I had no idea this was the same author who wrote this and her other books, I'll absolutely be reading them now.
I enjoyed learning about all of these women, some familiar to me, some not, and in such a creative way too. I wish the book was longer so even more lesser known women could be covered. It was also very diverse which is always a plus.
Also, I had no idea this was the same author who wrote this and her other books, I'll absolutely be reading them now.