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colbybettley's reviews
256 reviews
The Witch Hunt by Sasha Peyton Smith
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"If you get me killed, I will haunt you forever."
He smiles, pleased. "An eternity with you? Deal."
Everyone knows how much I loved The Witch Haven, and how much I tell everyone to read it, so it should be noted just how much I loved this book when I say that it was EVERYTHING. I chose this to be my final read of 2022 and I couldn’t imagine a better way to end the year.
I won’t lie and say that it didn’t crush my soul, because it did. This book has broken my heart and shattered me into a million tiny pieces, but I expected that. Sasha Peyton Smith is one of the best writers of this age, and this duology proves that. While this is a second instalment and the conclusion to the duology, it holds all the excitement and adventure just as the previous book.
I will forever love Finn, despite his villainous faults. In my opinion, he stole the show in this book. With his wit, charm, and soft eyes, he pulled at the heartstrings throughout the pages. Even when he’s doing bad things, he does it in the name of love and his visions and, while wrong, I can’t fault him. He’s just a broken boy in love and he melts my heart. But I did also love Oliver a lot in this book. He loves Frances for who she is, flaws and all, and understands her in a way that nobody else can. While he hates it, he understands her connection to Finn and I think that’s what made me love him too — he was happy for Frances to be happy, whatever that meant.
Sasha, you made me love a love triangle, which is something I never thought I’d say. I will be raving about this book on my deathbed, I’m sure.
Also huge shoutout for the twist at the end so that I’d be happy no matter what. It hurt, but it also speaks to my soul and I’m forever grateful that I get a version of happy ending like I wanted.
5/5 stars, but if I could give it limitless amounts, I would.
He smiles, pleased. "An eternity with you? Deal."
Everyone knows how much I loved The Witch Haven, and how much I tell everyone to read it, so it should be noted just how much I loved this book when I say that it was EVERYTHING. I chose this to be my final read of 2022 and I couldn’t imagine a better way to end the year.
I won’t lie and say that it didn’t crush my soul, because it did. This book has broken my heart and shattered me into a million tiny pieces, but I expected that. Sasha Peyton Smith is one of the best writers of this age, and this duology proves that. While this is a second instalment and the conclusion to the duology, it holds all the excitement and adventure just as the previous book.
I will forever love Finn, despite his villainous faults. In my opinion, he stole the show in this book. With his wit, charm, and soft eyes, he pulled at the heartstrings throughout the pages. Even when he’s doing bad things, he does it in the name of love and his visions and, while wrong, I can’t fault him. He’s just a broken boy in love and he melts my heart. But I did also love Oliver a lot in this book. He loves Frances for who she is, flaws and all, and understands her in a way that nobody else can. While he hates it, he understands her connection to Finn and I think that’s what made me love him too — he was happy for Frances to be happy, whatever that meant.
Sasha, you made me love a love triangle, which is something I never thought I’d say. I will be raving about this book on my deathbed, I’m sure.
Also huge shoutout for the twist at the end so that I’d be happy no matter what. It hurt, but it also speaks to my soul and I’m forever grateful that I get a version of happy ending like I wanted.
5/5 stars, but if I could give it limitless amounts, I would.
Pretty Lies by V. Domino
5.0
This book deserves all the stars and all the applause. We pick back up right where we left off in book one, and it just flows so effortlessly between the two. The characters are the same as we previously fell in love with, and yet the new complexities of their relationship only adds to that love.
This story is so powerful. At first glance, it may appear to just be a mafia romance, but it holds so much more than that within its pages. It’s important and emotional and just so unbelievably incredible. V does such an amazing job balancing romance, darkness and trauma in this duet and it’s something so amazing to read.
Read this duology y’all. It’ll have your heart immediately.
This story is so powerful. At first glance, it may appear to just be a mafia romance, but it holds so much more than that within its pages. It’s important and emotional and just so unbelievably incredible. V does such an amazing job balancing romance, darkness and trauma in this duet and it’s something so amazing to read.
Read this duology y’all. It’ll have your heart immediately.
Ugly Truths: Forbidden Romance, Step-romance, Stepmom, Stepson by V. Domino
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
I think I’ll forever be obsessed with this book for so many reasons. It pulled me from a reading slump, it made me laugh, it had me sobbing, but most of all — it made me feel seen.
Writers who can emote so much when writing, hit you so hard in the heart and soul, are absolute warriors. V Domino took tragedy and turned it into something beautiful, sexy and empowering. What should have been darkness and despair, turned into hope and the promise of happiness.
The deepest, truest moral of this story is that you are not broken, no matter how much you’ve been through.
I wholeheartedly loved this book and I’m so excited to read the second book in the duet. Gio, Lexi and Luce are incredible and I’m hooked on their story.
Writers who can emote so much when writing, hit you so hard in the heart and soul, are absolute warriors. V Domino took tragedy and turned it into something beautiful, sexy and empowering. What should have been darkness and despair, turned into hope and the promise of happiness.
The deepest, truest moral of this story is that you are not broken, no matter how much you’ve been through.
I wholeheartedly loved this book and I’m so excited to read the second book in the duet. Gio, Lexi and Luce are incredible and I’m hooked on their story.
Wicked is the Reaper by Nisha J. Tuli
5.0
This was short, sweet and sexy — exactly what I needed! Nisha creates such wonderful and engaging characters, immediately throwing us into turmoil, drama and desire. I wish this had been a novel rather than a novella, not because it was lacking anything but rather, I’m greedy and want more of Wicked and Rowan. I can’t wait to pick up anything else Nisha writes!
Asylum by Madeleine Roux
4.0
I freaking adore this book. It’s such a good, spooky book to read when you don’t want anything to heavy or dark. I think it’s wonderfully written, just creepy enough for the YA market. I’m so glad I decided to do a reread of it this year!
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This book was absolute perfection. The representation, the humour, the love story… everything about it screams brilliance and Anita Kelly absolutely killed it with this.
Representation in books is a big thing for me and so reading a romance novel with a non binary MC was everything I wanted. The author did it so much justice, in my opinion, while still making it really easy to follow.
I would strongly urge anyone to pick up this book (and maybe some snacks, because you’re gonna be hella hungry when reading it!)
Representation in books is a big thing for me and so reading a romance novel with a non binary MC was everything I wanted. The author did it so much justice, in my opinion, while still making it really easy to follow.
I would strongly urge anyone to pick up this book (and maybe some snacks, because you’re gonna be hella hungry when reading it!)
These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan
5.0
This book was literally everything I wanted and my only complain is that it’s a duology because I could read about these characters forever. Brie is one of my favourite protagonists and I absolutely adore the way she embraced her power in this book; seeing her become more confident in herself and her feelings was wonderful.
And Finn — sweet, wonderful, unbelievably hot Finn. He is perfect in every way and seeing him happy made my heart so full. (And no, we are not going to talk about the way I absolutely freakin’ sobbed every time he was sad!)
Every please read this duology so we can scream about it together!
And Finn — sweet, wonderful, unbelievably hot Finn. He is perfect in every way and seeing him happy made my heart so full. (And no, we are not going to talk about the way I absolutely freakin’ sobbed every time he was sad!)
Every please read this duology so we can scream about it together!
Moonstruck by Onley James
5.0
I doubt I’ll ever be able to pick a favourite couple but damn, Onley James is magical. Every book just gets better and more exciting and I can’t describe how much I love this family of psychopaths. They all have my heart.