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emmirosereads's reviews
360 reviews
Stupid Cupid by Maeve Black
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a fun and enjoyable novella! Nothing show-stopping or spectacular but I enjoyed the story and the characters. The spice was well done! I think my biggest gripe with this was the pacing and the time frame it took place in. Everything felt very rushed and quick and some things didn't entirely make sense but also I can't complain too much with this being a novella under 200 pages. I would have probably loved this so much more if it was a full novel. I enjoyed the first book but I enjoyed this one more and would love to read more from Val and Pyro's perspective. I think I was also annoyed by the miscommunication trope, as I always am, but also didn't take away too much of my enjoyment.
Dear Monster Claus by Maeve Black
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was exactly as I expected it to be, A ridiculous and fun little smutty romance. Sure some parts were a little cringy, and it took place over a week so was a little insta lovey but I'm not complaining. I think the spice was well written, I enjoyed the characters, and the little bit of world-building we got was interesting to read about! It definitely was no literary artwork but it was very fun and enjoyable, even in March.
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
I just mostly lost interest in reading. Very info dumpy and hard to get into.
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
emotional
lighthearted
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
Loved this book so much! So perfectly and beautifully written and executed. The main characters were realistic, relatable and lovable. The relationship was realistic and progressed at a great pace. It never felt rushed or insta lovey but at the same time didn't feel too painstakingly slow. The little bit of spice was written fantastically. One of my new favorite romances for sure!
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have enjoyed every book I've read by Brigid Kemmerer yet I was still surprised by how much I enjoyed this one! It felt very classic YA but not in a negative way. It was familiar and felt nostalgic while being fresh and still taking me by surprise.
Seeing the author's improvements from her first fantasy series was amazing. There was a lot more worldbuilding in this and I loved seeing that. I also adored our characters and seeing their relationships throughout the book. While Tessa got on my nerves ever so slightly, she grew on me throughout the book and I loved seeing her relationship with Corrick and how that developed. I also adored seeing the sibling relationship between Corrick and his brother. It made me very emotional. I was not expecting to tab and annotate this book but I ended up doing so and it was a lovely experience.
I can't believe I didn't think about the ties and similarities to Robin Hood until the author mentioned it in her acknowledgments. I've always loved those themes and I loved seeing how they were done in this story. The concept that not everything is so black and white and the moral greyness of people's actions and the characters throughout this whole book.
I think my only real complaint with this book was that the ending felt a little flat and anticlimactic but also I'm not gonna put too much weight on that since it's the first of a trilogy.
As I mentioned before I loved this and cannot wait to read the rest of the series and see where it goes!
Seeing the author's improvements from her first fantasy series was amazing. There was a lot more worldbuilding in this and I loved seeing that. I also adored our characters and seeing their relationships throughout the book. While Tessa got on my nerves ever so slightly, she grew on me throughout the book and I loved seeing her relationship with Corrick and how that developed. I also adored seeing the sibling relationship between Corrick and his brother. It made me very emotional. I was not expecting to tab and annotate this book but I ended up doing so and it was a lovely experience.
I can't believe I didn't think about the ties and similarities to Robin Hood until the author mentioned it in her acknowledgments. I've always loved those themes and I loved seeing how they were done in this story. The concept that not everything is so black and white and the moral greyness of people's actions and the characters throughout this whole book.
I think my only real complaint with this book was that the ending felt a little flat and anticlimactic but also I'm not gonna put too much weight on that since it's the first of a trilogy.
As I mentioned before I loved this and cannot wait to read the rest of the series and see where it goes!
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I genuinely had so much more fun with this book than I thought I would. I had preordered this and got it when it originally came out but was putting it off because I kept hearing negative reviews but picked it up for a buddy read. I can totally understand why someone wouldn't love this book. It was a little hard for me to get into at first. I was having fun but the funny rom-com feel of this fantasy was throwing me off a bit, but honestly, as the book kept going I was enjoying it more and more.
I ended up really liking our main characters and seeing the development of their relationship and the development of them individually. Especially Evie. It was very slow-burn but honestly, I was vibing with that. I've read too many books recently where it's very insta-love or goes from 0-100 real quick.
I didn't see the ending coming really at all or the big reveal. I think some things didn't entirely line up or make sense but overall I think it was well done. It's been a while since I was taken by surprise by the ending of a book. I also realized a big chunk into this book that the vibes reminded me of Galavant the tv show. Not necessarily the plot line but just both of these give off the same energy. Like if this was to be a movie or a TV show I would not be shocked if it was turned into a musical. Both are completely ridiculous but deep down were really good and had substance underneath.
Overall really enjoyed this and had fun and really excited to read the sequel!
I ended up really liking our main characters and seeing the development of their relationship and the development of them individually. Especially Evie. It was very slow-burn but honestly, I was vibing with that. I've read too many books recently where it's very insta-love or goes from 0-100 real quick.
I didn't see the ending coming really at all or the big reveal. I think some things didn't entirely line up or make sense but overall I think it was well done. It's been a while since I was taken by surprise by the ending of a book. I also realized a big chunk into this book that the vibes reminded me of Galavant the tv show. Not necessarily the plot line but just both of these give off the same energy. Like if this was to be a movie or a TV show I would not be shocked if it was turned into a musical. Both are completely ridiculous but deep down were really good and had substance underneath.
Overall really enjoyed this and had fun and really excited to read the sequel!
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Not bad necessarily. Just the first book was a lot and I'm not exactly in the mood for this. Not sure if it's something I'll jump back into.
The Tea Dragon Tapestry by K. O'Neill
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
5.0
This was definitely my favorite installment of this series. It was so lovely to see the characters from the first book again in a bit of an older version of themselves. This was heartwarming, precious and so, so sweet. I once again want nothing more than a little tea dragon of my own. I loved the underlying messages of found family and being happy with where you are in life, even if it's not what you wanted or what you originally thought it was going to be like. Also, the art in this series is once again so stunning.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was alot to say the least. It's not my usual read but Leigh Bardugo is my favorite author and I wanted to give a try to her books outside of the Grishaverse. I knew this was dark going in, which was why I put it off for so long. I was afraid it was going to be too much for me and it might have been a little but I'm honestly hooked and definitely planning on reading the sequel.
I will be honest and say I don't think I would have gotten through this book, let alone so quickly, if I hadn't listened to the audiobook. The audiobook narrator does a really good job and makes the experience really enjoyable. I love the dark and gritty world Leigh Bardugo builds for us in our world today. I think the way she writes and tells this story is unique in how she flip-flops between timelines, giving us little bits of information to trail us to the big finish. That being said there is a lot of world lore that gets thrown at us at once which can be a lot to take in.
I love Alex Stern as our main character. She's tough and gritty and I love seeing how she fights to overcome and conquer everything in her life, despite everything going against her. I loved seeing how Leigh Bardugo deals with the themes throughout the book, of race and class. Of an underdog getting a second chance at life, but at what cost? Just seeing how she writes and deals with Alex Stern's moral grayness throughout this book.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart and is not a book for everyone but I'm glad I at least gave it a chance. I'm having mixed feelings about the ending but I'm interested to see what the sequel brings.
I will be honest and say I don't think I would have gotten through this book, let alone so quickly, if I hadn't listened to the audiobook. The audiobook narrator does a really good job and makes the experience really enjoyable. I love the dark and gritty world Leigh Bardugo builds for us in our world today. I think the way she writes and tells this story is unique in how she flip-flops between timelines, giving us little bits of information to trail us to the big finish. That being said there is a lot of world lore that gets thrown at us at once which can be a lot to take in.
I love Alex Stern as our main character. She's tough and gritty and I love seeing how she fights to overcome and conquer everything in her life, despite everything going against her. I loved seeing how Leigh Bardugo deals with the themes throughout the book, of race and class. Of an underdog getting a second chance at life, but at what cost? Just seeing how she writes and deals with Alex Stern's moral grayness throughout this book.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart and is not a book for everyone but I'm glad I at least gave it a chance. I'm having mixed feelings about the ending but I'm interested to see what the sequel brings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Addiction, Violence, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Car accident
Second Night Stand by Karelia Stetz-Waters, Fay Stetz-Waters
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Thank you netgalley and Forever for sending me and allowing me to read an advanced copy of Second Night Stand.
The moment I heard about this book I was so excited to get my hands on it and it didn't disappoint! It was a fun and light read. I enjoyed both of our characters, Izzy and Lillian. As someone who loves performing arts and dance it was really fun to see that aspect in both of these characters and this book. Lillian as a ballet dancer and Izzy as a burlesque dancer. It was also really fun to see the aspect of them being on a reality tv show.
While I overall enjoyed this book, I do think my one complaint is the secondary characters felt really flat. I saw the potential in all of them as Lillian and Izzy's teammates and friends but they all kind of blended together and it was hard to distinguish and remember who was who. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend you pick it up when it's released later this year. Especially if you're aching to read good books with a diverse set of characters. It's always refreshing to see queer and plus-size characters like me and of course characters of different races and backgrounds.
The moment I heard about this book I was so excited to get my hands on it and it didn't disappoint! It was a fun and light read. I enjoyed both of our characters, Izzy and Lillian. As someone who loves performing arts and dance it was really fun to see that aspect in both of these characters and this book. Lillian as a ballet dancer and Izzy as a burlesque dancer. It was also really fun to see the aspect of them being on a reality tv show.
While I overall enjoyed this book, I do think my one complaint is the secondary characters felt really flat. I saw the potential in all of them as Lillian and Izzy's teammates and friends but they all kind of blended together and it was hard to distinguish and remember who was who. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend you pick it up when it's released later this year. Especially if you're aching to read good books with a diverse set of characters. It's always refreshing to see queer and plus-size characters like me and of course characters of different races and backgrounds.