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dorithexplori's reviews
20 reviews
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
4.0
I honestly only picked it up because of the huge hype on booktok. And eventhough I have had very bad experiences with overhyped books - I loved this one!
I loved the idea, the locations and eventhough I had to look up a lot about the US politics I enjoyed it!
It's written in an funny and entertaining way and the characters are interesting.
All in all it's just sweet and wholesome and got me out of my reading slump.
The reason I only give it 4 stars is because it was just a bit too good to be true. Nothing goes wrong for long and problems are to easily resolved. For me that's a bit too idealistic for the political topic of the book.
I loved the idea, the locations and eventhough I had to look up a lot about the US politics I enjoyed it!
It's written in an funny and entertaining way and the characters are interesting.
All in all it's just sweet and wholesome and got me out of my reading slump.
The reason I only give it 4 stars is because it was just a bit too good to be true. Nothing goes wrong for long and problems are to easily resolved. For me that's a bit too idealistic for the political topic of the book.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
4.0
I dind't really expect anything when I started reading it but already the very first chapter totally shocked and captivated me - I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.
I'm a complete dumpster fire for the "enemies-to-lovers-trope" and I loved every single second of it. It also includes awesome power-plays and political intrigues. I am so excited for whats to come in part 2 ...
But the reason I only give it 4 stars is because for me the world-building was a bit thin.
I'm a complete dumpster fire for the "enemies-to-lovers-trope" and I loved every single second of it. It also includes awesome power-plays and political intrigues. I am so excited for whats to come in part 2 ...
But the reason I only give it 4 stars is because for me the world-building was a bit thin.
The Wicked King by Holly Black
4.0
After finishing the first book in under a day, I immediately got to the 2nd one. And in my oppinion it's even better!
I love how everyone seems to play a different political game and especially the ending is an interesting twist with a big cliff hanger- I defenitely need to get straight into the 3rd book!
But I am still not a fan of the world-building, so I can only give it 4 stars.
I love how everyone seems to play a different political game and especially the ending is an interesting twist with a big cliff hanger- I defenitely need to get straight into the 3rd book!
But I am still not a fan of the world-building, so I can only give it 4 stars.
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
3.0
After the cliff hanger of part 2 i had to get straight into part 3.
It's not a bad book - I really enjoyed reading it - but it could have been a lot better. It felt like a bit of a let down compared to the other 2 parts.
But maybe my expectations were too high. In comparison to part 1 and 2, I just disn't feel such a wide range of emotions anymore.
I was already wondering how everything could be resolved in such a short book. Issues from the previous two books aren't real issues anymore. There were things that got solved too easily and quickly and others that took too long. Especially the big issue with Madoc didn't seem that big after all.
Also I would have loved to see more communication, more emotions and more romance between Jude and Cardan.
It's not a bad book - I really enjoyed reading it - but it could have been a lot better. It felt like a bit of a let down compared to the other 2 parts.
But maybe my expectations were too high. In comparison to part 1 and 2, I just disn't feel such a wide range of emotions anymore.
I was already wondering how everything could be resolved in such a short book. Issues from the previous two books aren't real issues anymore. There were things that got solved too easily and quickly and others that took too long. Especially the big issue with Madoc didn't seem that big after all.
Also I would have loved to see more communication, more emotions and more romance between Jude and Cardan.
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
4.0
I got this book on the reccomendation that it was a very popular LGBT novel.
The characters are complex and well drawn and its very well written. I was barely able to put it down.
While the first half is mostly about sex and violence the secon half was more plot driven.
I totally understand that some people might be repulsed by the descriptions of rape, torture, sadism pedophilia and displays of sex but i don't think it glorifies and promotes them.
The reason I can only give it 4 starts is because the story didn't really feel complete and only truly takes flight in the secon book. We're talking about the slowest-burn-romance ever.
The characters are complex and well drawn and its very well written. I was barely able to put it down.
While the first half is mostly about sex and violence the secon half was more plot driven.
I totally understand that some people might be repulsed by the descriptions of rape, torture, sadism pedophilia and displays of sex but i don't think it glorifies and promotes them.
The reason I can only give it 4 starts is because the story didn't really feel complete and only truly takes flight in the secon book. We're talking about the slowest-burn-romance ever.
Captive Prince: Volume Two by C.S. Pacat
5.0
After reading the first book in only 2 days I immediately started reading the 2nd one.
In my oppinion its even better and FINALLY some romance happens! It is very well plotted and the twists and turns of the political games are pretty engaging.
Eventhough it started to drag in the middle it doesn't change the fact how excellent and enjoyable it was.
In my oppinion its even better and FINALLY some romance happens! It is very well plotted and the twists and turns of the political games are pretty engaging.
Eventhough it started to drag in the middle it doesn't change the fact how excellent and enjoyable it was.
Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat
4.0
I got into the last book thinking it would go easy on me ... but I was mistaken. C.S. Pacat brings it all.
The unfolding of the final part was interesting and capticating. I nearly read it through in just 1 night. It really was a satisfying finale to the triology.
The reason I only give it 4 stars is that the ending came a bit too apruply for me. Maybe an epilogue of some kind might have given a little help with closure.
The unfolding of the final part was interesting and capticating. I nearly read it through in just 1 night. It really was a satisfying finale to the triology.
The reason I only give it 4 stars is that the ending came a bit too apruply for me. Maybe an epilogue of some kind might have given a little help with closure.
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
4.0
I really didn't want to read it but after my boyfriend forced me I picked it up. I am normally only reading romance novels, so this was a first for me.
And eventhough I still hated everything about it for the first couple of chapters - I really learned to love it.
It just has everything: awesome world building, balanced characters that are allowed to struggle and have flaws and a realistic magic system. Sanderson has a great writing style and sense of pace with great balance between action and quieter more character driven moments.
The only thing I really struggled with was Vin. She just seemed to be SO annoying at times! And also the romance subplot was really boring. Thats why I can only give it 4 stars.
And eventhough I still hated everything about it for the first couple of chapters - I really learned to love it.
It just has everything: awesome world building, balanced characters that are allowed to struggle and have flaws and a realistic magic system. Sanderson has a great writing style and sense of pace with great balance between action and quieter more character driven moments.
The only thing I really struggled with was Vin. She just seemed to be SO annoying at times! And also the romance subplot was really boring. Thats why I can only give it 4 stars.
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
3.0
After finishing the first book it took me quite some time to pick up the 2nd one. Sadly it didn't live up to the first one.
Its not a bad book and I liked it overall but definitely less than the 1st one.
It has great pacing, and the story delivers a lot of points that were left open in the last book.
But Zane was just boring. He was just a classic badboy that was there to make Vin choose between him and Elend. Other than that he was really uninteresting and missing a character arc.
And again the romance is terrible - the love between Vin and Elend felt just hollow.
I will defenitely read part 3 because the new threat intrigues me ... but not straight away.
Its not a bad book and I liked it overall but definitely less than the 1st one.
It has great pacing, and the story delivers a lot of points that were left open in the last book.
But Zane was just boring. He was just a classic badboy that was there to make Vin choose between him and Elend. Other than that he was really uninteresting and missing a character arc.
And again the romance is terrible - the love between Vin and Elend felt just hollow.
I will defenitely read part 3 because the new threat intrigues me ... but not straight away.
Him by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen
3.0
I only picked it up because it's very high up in the "m-m romance" category with lots of 5* reviews ...
I definitely enjoyed the spicy scenes - they were very well written. It was an easy and wholesome read to get back out of my reading-slumpp. I also enjoyed how every chapter was written from a different view point (Jamie-Wes-Jamie-Wes- ...).
BUT I hated the writing outside of those spicy scenes. The constant inner monologue and miscommunication drove me nearly insane. Just as well as their constant sex. Don' get me wrong - I really liked to read those scenes - but there was absolutely nothing else to their relationship as finding each other hot af.
It also has the BIGGEST gay stereotypes ever. I do know that it was written back in 2015 - and maybe things were different back then - but it was defenitely too much for me!
I definitely enjoyed the spicy scenes - they were very well written. It was an easy and wholesome read to get back out of my reading-slumpp. I also enjoyed how every chapter was written from a different view point (Jamie-Wes-Jamie-Wes- ...).
BUT I hated the writing outside of those spicy scenes. The constant inner monologue and miscommunication drove me nearly insane. Just as well as their constant sex. Don' get me wrong - I really liked to read those scenes - but there was absolutely nothing else to their relationship as finding each other hot af.
It also has the BIGGEST gay stereotypes ever. I do know that it was written back in 2015 - and maybe things were different back then - but it was defenitely too much for me!