enchantedfiction's reviews
185 reviews

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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

4.5

*Thank you Libro.fm for the audio copy!*

Happily Never After was a really sweet rom-com about a wedding objector and the woman who somehow becomes his compatriot of objecting at weddings. There was plenty of slow-burn and sexual tension, and funny side characters to boot. I found myself wanting to know how the story was going to progress and being sad when I had to stop listening for one reason or another. I enjoyed the dual POV of Sophie and Max, and the narrators did a wonderful job.

The unsung hero in this story is definitely Larry. He's hilarious.

I personally would have loved a bit more of a conflict than what was presented towards the end to really make the ending a zinger, but I just felt like it was kind of mundane and not quite enough. There were a few different ways that could have been met, too, but it just kind of fell a little flat for me.

But saying that, I felt like it was a great story about overcoming fear in relationships and to really find a friend to become your partner. And that those around you that really have the best intentions will help you realize what's right in front of you when you might be a little lost yourself.
Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

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adventurous funny hopeful 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

5.0

WHAT A BOOK.

I don't laugh out loud very often at books, but no joke, Margaret Owen has the funniest sense of humor she lends to her characters. I also thoroughly enjoyed the pop culture references in this book. AND THE TWISTS! If you are reading this review and haven't picked up this series yet, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING!?

Vanja is a character I relate to so much, not necessarily for the more prominent aspects she shows, you know, the stealing and law breaking, but for some of her feelings and how empathetic she is (even though she'd probably steal everything I have if she heard me say that). Her character growth throughout both Little Thieves and Painted Devils is so realistic and truly heart-wrenching. Seeing her in her vulnerability in this book was really refreshing after we mostly got her hard, jaded side in LT.

Absolutely living for Lady Ambrozsia! I hope we see her in Holy Terrors!

And I loved that we got Ragne back for some of the story! She is one of my faves.

The story progression was so well paced and very engaging. The plot had a lot of surprise twists I'm mad at myself for not figuring out. I love the depth of the world that has been created and am so excited for the short stories and for Holy Terrors to come out!

I highly recommend this series. It has a little bit of everything for a fantasy book and all the wonderful sass and teenage awkwardness you could ever want.
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

*Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC!

The New Couple in 5B was my first Lisa Unger book. It was a mystery/thriller with some paranormal horror sprinkled in, which isn't normally my preference when it comes to mystery/thrillers, but I felt like it wasn't over the top in the paranormal and it worked with the rest of the story. I did find myself wanting to know what happened, though some things I did figure out through the story, and I always like to be surprised. I also felt like the ending was kind of an afterthought and either should have been part of the original climactic scene or left off.

I didn't really feel all that invested in the characters, though I have found that to be true for me personally in many mystery/thrillers. Rosie's blind eye to her husband, Chad, got a little irritating after a while when it was clear to the reader that he was hiding things from her. I wish that there had been a bit more tension between them, I feel like it may have made the last scene feel worth it. I also felt like the middle was kind of slow, but I feel like maybe that was necessary to kind of pull the reader into a false sense of security. And let me just say without really spoiling anything, I called the revelation about Abi (sp? I listened to it, so I'm not sure). And I was always skeptical of the neighbors.

Overall, I had a good time with this story, but I don't see it really sticking with me or ever really going back to it. I would recommend if you're looking for a suspenseful story with some paranormal elements, and where you will be second guessing everyone's motives.

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The Last Word by Gerri Lewis

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

4.0

*Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC!*

This was one of my first real cozy mystery stories, and I would definitely love to read more in the future! I really enjoyed the ambiance of the story, how there was something to solve but it felt like everyday life and there wasn't anything besides human motive and cover up going on.

I liked the characters well enough. Winter was a very empathetic character within a morbid career, and it really shown through on her trying to investigate what happened to Mrs. Arlington after the police seemed as though they were just going to brush it off as an accident. It helped to unravel some very interesting story plot points about the small town. I also really liked Kip, since he had a bit more human nature to him than most cop characters I've read about in other stories. And of course Diva stole the show! I also really loved Scoop. He seemed like such a golden retriever character.

I really liked how there were plenty of suspects throughout the story, and even though I had some suspicions at the beginning, they weren't completely accurate. The whole story was really enjoyable and I felt that the pacing was appropriate for the type of story that it is.

I would recommend this one if you're looking for a cozy mystery story that has good characters and a lot of suspects.
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Little Thieves is a retelling of the Goose Girl fairytale. Vanja Schmidt has a stolen life. The life of luxury, wealth, and easy comfort, what more could she want? But she knows she has a limited time where this can survive, and she sees using this ruse as a means to an end. But when the Prefects are called in to investigate a string of robberies and as time whittles down, Vanja is backed into a corner. Will she be able to escape the looming curse that has been put on her, or will those who are following her trail catch her before she succeeds?

I was so invested in this story and honestly started reading it slower in hopes it would never end. (SO GLAD THERE WILL BE A SECOND BOOK!) Vanja was such an interesting character, holding her cards close with other characters as well as the reader. I always love when authors succeed in portraying their characters' traits and directing some of that towards the reader, and Owen has done a wonderful job of this. There were small crumbs to her past as Vanja had inner monologues that were fueled by slight panic and fear, and it was so refreshing to have a character whose emotions and story weren't all laid out on the table from the beginning. Her distrust in everyone around her got me in the same mindset, but being able to see that slowly melt away was also what I look for in character growth in books. 

This story was driven both by the characters and the hanging axe of a time limit. There were some parts that felt slower than others, but with the writing, it didn't make it boring, which can be hard to do. I found a lot of what Vanja did believable, no matter how trivial something seemed.

I highly recommend Little Thieves if you enjoy fairytale retellings and snarky characters. I enjoyed the world and the connection to the lore of the Godly Court and lesser Gods. This was one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

THIS BOOK!

***Possible spoilers ahead***

I personally don't normally steer towards reading historical fiction, but this book makes me want to pick up more for sure!

I adore Katherine Arden's writing style. She has a way of writing her characters perfectly for the setting they are in, and this is no different. The dialogue and themes throughout this story are extremely time period appropriate and absolutely captivating. Laura was a determined, stubborn, and fiesty FMC, and the characters surrounding her took her strengths to better themselves. Although I have never been part of a war, I could feel the damage the war did to Freddie looking back in Laura's memory of him and how his part of the story played out. I thought the two were a very nice balance for each other, and the way the storylines came together was perfect.

I also loved all of the side characters. They all felt necessary and played important roles, and I really love how Faland was a villain character that wasn't necessarily nefarious. He didn't have that typical villain tantrum, he kind of let the people around him decide their own fates without a ton of interference. It more or less felt like he was more curious about human nature and psychology, though he did try to sway them to stay with him and give over themselves, which in a way is almost a more hardened villain in my opinion.

And can we get an amen for Jones!? I absolutely loved him.

I would highly, highly, highly recommend this to any and all who enjoy historical fiction stories and honestly to anyone who just enjoys a good story. This is definitely going to be a top read for me for the year, and is quite possibly one of my new all time favorites.

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Gallant by V.E. Schwab

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

V.E. Schwab is one of my favorite authors of all time, so it's probably no surprise that this gets a high rating from me. Her writing style is so captivating and lovely that I always just get sucked into her stories.

Olivia was such a unique character of a girl with no audible voice, but with all of the confidence of herself from being considered such an outcast and constantly on her own. Although her underlying dreams were to find a place where she was wanted, she was willing to do whatever she needed to to find that. I loved when we found out she could see ghouls that it was done in such a matter-of-fact way that it just felt right in the world that was built. And the descriptions in this book! I can't even.

I only felt like the pacing was a little off. I personally like a more drawn out climax to the ending and resolution than what was given in this story. It was still done very well, but it did feel slightly rushed at the end.

I recommend to anyone who likes strong female MCs, paranormal elements, and beautiful descriptive narrative.
One of Our Own by Lucinda Berry

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you Libro.fm for the audio copy!

One of Our Own is a short, face paced audio story about a woman, Felicia, who works for a suicide hotline and gets a call from a teenage girl, threatening to end her life over a video taken of her by some boys at her school. The girl goes to the same school as her son, and Felicia has a desperate need to protect this girl and figure out who is behind the assault and video.

The audio experience was really well done for something like this. I love AJ Cook from Criminal Minds, and I would love to hear her narrate more stories. Although the end was predictable, I was hoping for some weird twist to catch me off guard. But honestly the feelings I am left with as a mother of a son are kind of haunting, so I definitely am left with an emotional experience from the story.

I would recommend this one if you're looking for a quick thriller that is a pleasing audio experience.

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Where Magic Begins by Faith Prince

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

2.5

*2.5*

Where Magic Begins is a duel POV story of twin sisters, Zoeli and Saria, who are half-witch, half-human. Their mother was exiled from the magical world because she fell in love with a human, and that means her children can never join the magical world either. And when danger lurks, one sister is left without magic, and if the sisters can't reconcile their past indiscretions, they may doom the whole magical world to destruction.

I received an e-copy of this book from the author, so thank you, Faith!

The concept of this story sounded really intriguing and like a fun read. Sibling rivalry is always an interesting trope to me, so when I saw that was teased in the blurb,  I really wanted to know what it was all about.

For me personally, I did not feel as though the story was fleshed out. I wanted more from all of it, more character development, more plot, more organization. I did not understand why these two "half-breed nimwits" were such integral lynchpins to the overtaking of Aurelia by their great-uncle. Their mother was exiled, and half-breeds are so discriminated against they aren't allowed into the magical world, so the main plot point didn't really make sense. There was a focus on the danger that was surrounding the sisters, so I also couldn't really understand why Zoeli stealing all of Saria's power was kind of brushed to the side. I feel like it would have made for a more interesting plot if Saria was forced to take her magic back and learn to control it better so she could be whole but also get to know herself better. I also feel like the sibling rivalry fell into the background because instead of them really having any confrontations, they just kind of ignored each other. I wanted more conflict.

I also felt as though the story couldn't decide if it wanted to be a middle grade or YA book, as a lot of the language and dialog used didn't match. In one breath, it felt like one or the other sister could have been 12, and then the next line of dialog or scene had explicit language or an intimate scene.

There were some parts that actually did suck me in, like when Zoeli and Damian went to Aurelia. The descriptions made me feel like I was there, and it felt like time slowed down a little to give the events some attention. I also could appreciate the message that prejudices against others for something they can't help is wrong, but it kept getting very obviously brought up it kind of got stale. I would much rather have felt the unfair treatment than be told that it was wrong. I feel like that would have been more powerful as Zoeli started to understand and be able to control her magic just like any full witch. I also really liked the epilogue! It was a twist that I didn't see coming, which I always appreciate.

Overall, this did fall flat for me. I wanted to really give these characters a fair shake, but I just couldn't come to care much for them. 
Hemlock by Kiersten Modglin

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

*Thank you, Libro.fm, for the audiobook copy!*

Hemlock is a thriller story about Maggie, a woman who is moving back to her hometown after years of being away, having vowed she would never come back. But Meyers has called her back, and living so close to the two men who broke her heart all those years ago has Maggie caught up in the past. Not only that, the skeletons of the house have come out to play, and Maggie must uncover secrets from years past that will help her move forward for the future.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! There was the right amount of shrouded mystery around some of the past events up until the end that even though I thought I knew what happened, I wasn't completely correct. I always love a twist I didn't fully see coming! The characters were pretty likable - Tucker was my favorite even though there were some unanswered questions about him throughout the story. I also really enjoyed the back and forth of the chapters leading up to the important events that made Maggie leave Meyers in the first place, and that we didn't really know what the tragedy was that happened in the past that led Maggie to leave.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers with kind of a slow build and alternating timelines.


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