ellasayn's reviews
73 reviews

A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

This book, I am in pain.

First off, I hate hate hate hate the amnesia trope, and it added nothing to the story at all. The villains in this story are weak as hell. Like just thinking back to Caraval and the fates being the villains was perfect and so exciting. Here it's just Apollo and Aurora? So disappointing.

I also couldn't take Apollo seriously; he is a plain idiot. Also, making him a POV character pissed me off even more. I don't need to read about this idiot, and he doesn't deserve it. Aurora is just salty; she can't have the boy she likes, but she does it in such a meh way. She isn't a treat; she barely even did anything at all other than give a memory loss potion and make a deal with Jacks. That's all she did.
Also, that ending was even worse. I feel like with every book in this series, the ending just finds a way to be even more shit. That stuff with the tree? Stupid as hell. The thing with the Valors? Also stupid as hell. At least there was finally a kiss.

I've said it before, but Evangeline is also an idiot and makes so many stupid decisions. It makes me really miss Tella and even Scarlet.

The writing was just disappointing; the plot was as well. Many things left open or were solved in ways that were unsatisfying. I really loved the concept, and I loved Jacks. I can even love Evangeline, but with all these issues, I just didn't enjoy it. It had so much potential.

Gumdrop Angel by Scott Cawthon, Andrea Waggener

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

Honestly this one just didn't click.
The first story I just wished it was more heavy? I didn't really connect with it. 
The second the guy is just a straight up idiot that became worse every second.
The third one was actually good. I enjoyed that one and the only reason why it got an extra star. 

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

 It breaks my heart to score this book so low, but I cannot give it any higher. 
This book truly left me so angry just with the entire thing.

Let's start at the beginning. Evangeline is not a hair better in this one. It feels like she's on a loop. 'Oh Apollo gotta save Apollo, Can't trust Jacks no, no he is a bad, bad boy! What does the arc hold?' And 'Oh no, I can't be jealous, liking him? Oh, no!'  And that on a loop for like the whole book pretty much. However, I can live with that and if it wasn't for all this other stuff it would have been a 4,5!

Evangeline has horrible friends/ allies. Not just Jacks! First Jacks does what Jacks does, but that's expected! Then Lala goes and curses her as well putting her own life at mayor risk. At the end Apollo also hits her with a fun curse, cause why not right?

Luc, why are you even here really? That's how I feel about a bunch of scenes. Cut them out and it changes basically nothing. I have to admit that second half of the book was really raising my hopes. I thought we were finally getting to the good parts. But I have to admit I don't understand Evangeline's obsession with Apollo. She doesn't know this man at all. She has only known him while he's under spells. 

Now going to that big ending that ruined it for me. First we have the whole Jacks wanting to go back in time part? WTF okay Stephanie throw time travel trope at my head sure why not? For him to go back for literally no reason. If he did a little thinking he would know nothing would change. He doesn't like Tella like that, and she doesn't like him like that. I do have to say even if it was obvious as hell him being the Archer was a nice extra bit. 

Then she just straight up dies cause fuck Castor. Again going back to the shit allies part. So Jacks sacrifices his whole goal of these two books to follow them and then just get brushed aside pretty much? Implying he may have died but of course not mans is immortal he's fine. So Evangeline again thinking 'oh true love saves everything!' goes back like an idiot. But oh no Apollo is here so lemme listen to this nut job first, and oh would you look at that! You get hit with Amnesia trope! How fun! And THE END. 

Excuses you? This book is worse than the ending of the last book. Not to mention I absolutely loathe amnesia tropes. Like this runs deeper than hate. Stephanie you had all the building blocks to make this story great! You already had the great set up character from your previous stories all you had to do was make an interesting love story, not throw everything you can at us and make it a damn soap opera. This is too much going on!

I will read the last book 'cause now I just need to know. However, I have already heard some not great things, so my hopes are on the floor.

 

The Cliffs by Elley Cooper, Scott Cawthon, Andrea Waggener

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I felt very up and down about this book.
The first story was certainly sad. The poor man clearly had depression and hasn't finished grieving.
The second I just didn't really care for much. It was just strange and a little dragged out. 
The third however that one freaked me out. What a strange little story. Very interesting though. 

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

I really wanted to score this higher, and maybe I am judging this book a bit too harshly. I just wasn't feeling it as much as the other books. Not only that, but I loved Jacks in Carnaval so much; he was probably one of my favourites so it's a little sad. 

I just had a hard time with Evangeline. She gives me very 'I'm not like the other girls' vibes with her hair colour and how she feels so special in her life. I get it she's the main protagonist of the book, and she should be special, but I just much preferred Tella and Scarlet. 

Evangeline is just very whiny to me. She has the whole evil stepmother and stepsister trope going on, and I just don't enjoy it.

Especially with the stepsister being a red herring, but not really, because she did do some very bad things. Then, when Evangeline tells her the truth about the fates, she gets upset about it? Like girl, you stole her man. What did you expect? I had really wished Marisol was just a nice stepsister that just got very unlucky. That would have been so good. But no she really was not a good person.

It just felt like a bunch of strange things were stringed together, and it didn't fit with the flow I like books to have. I really hope the second book is better. Especially

with it ending on a cliffhanger. That was the most unsatisfying ending I've ever had a book pull on me. Alas, I have only started reading again last year, but it was so disappointing. At least fix Apollo first. I was thinking, 'try your blood first' but nooooo let's just end it right there....

Also, what the hell at that Luc bit? That whole arc was just not doing it for me, but then shove her old love, and she goes full delulu again? Like girl, he's a changeling wanting to murder you. Not to mention that he attacked with a venomous bite. Evangeline would have been screwed if that bite had hit. Luc just sucks as well. Let him die a horrible death to sunlight.

And another one, why the hell were they sending Evangeline out of all people to the north. Their reasoning was just kinda weird and unbelievable? I get that it's later revealed it was all Jacks' set up but still?

I love Lala though she's great. 

Blackbird by Kelly Parra, Scott Cawthon, Andrea Waggener

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I feel like this book was the least connected to the games out of all of them. That doesn't have to mean it's a bad thing. The second story just felt like it would have been fine on it's own without having some Fnaf shoved in at the end. 

Also I have to say on the second story

The bullying aspect threw me off a little. I hate how it ended up with a: Yea bullying suck but look at me it helped me better my life! As someone who had been bullied it left a little sour taste in my mouth. It almost felt a little like they were redeeming his previous actions. There was no need for that. Let his terrible actions stay terrible cause they are. I would have much more appreciated it if that was cut out.

I also have many tissues for that second story. That was so sad and hit me right in the feels.

The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am so so glad this book lived up to my expectations after the first book. It went back to everything I loved about this world and more. The dynamics between Wren and Oak were beautiful and Oak's character development was amazing in this. 

We also get to see some old faces pop back up.

And that hint at the end wowow

This was such an exciting tale and I could not put it down. So happy I picked this up to be right back to the magic I know Holly Black can create in her writing. 

So many twists and high stakes all around!

Bunny Call by Elley Cooper, Scott Cawthon, Andrea Waggener

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

Honestly the first story and the third one were really strong. Those were the highlights for me.

Sadly the middle story really dragged down my experience. I don't mind bad characters and in these punishment like stories it sometimes feels a little statisfying. But that character was horrible. Not to mention that to me the story made little sense?

The VR world part was fun but then suddenly he's 'pregnant' with a springtrap.... Like how does that even happen? It made little sense even if it was an interesting concept it was not used well for that story. 

The first story I was glad the character got to live. Poor man was just having a burnout and I'm glad by the end he was feeling better.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I wonder if this is just a pattern with Holly Black books. The first books just misses something. In this case I feel like there was little development. It just followed that fatch quest to travel adventure format that just didn't work for this book.

I love Wren as a character she is interesting and het backstoring is very compelling. Sadly it felt like she didn't have much time to flow. She was stagnant. Also felt a little too close to Jude at times. I wish she was a lot more bitter and kinda mean? Maybe that's just what I would have preferred. 

Oak felt like a weird character too somehow. I wasn't sure how to feel on him and it felt like their relationship was going no where?

Of course I love the world building and all the fun little things of Holly Black's writing so that kept me happy. I just was expecting idk something else? The twists weren't very twisty for me. I enjoyed the ending and it felt like a fitting conclusion. 

Hope the second book comes closer to my expectations. 

Step Closer by Kelly Parra, Elley Cooper, Scott Cawthon, Andrea Waggener

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

So far this is the strongest book and made me cry like 3 times.
I wasn't expecting it to get so good.
The third story seemed messy at first but it made sense once you got into it. 

Somehow also the book where the least amount of people had a bad ending.