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esmc12's reviews
207 reviews
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
4.5
RUN, don’t walk!!!!!!!
This was just soooooo good!!!
I loved the sports dynamic and also the mix with STEM. As a person also learning German, that part had me on the floor, cause same, girl 😂
I’m not an audiobook fan, but I was curious about the Swedish accent so I got it on audio and.. mmm… yes, it definitely worked🙈
I deducted half a point cause I could have done without the Pen drama at the end, tbh.
4,5⭐️
This was just soooooo good!!!
I loved the sports dynamic and also the mix with STEM. As a person also learning German, that part had me on the floor, cause same, girl 😂
I’m not an audiobook fan, but I was curious about the Swedish accent so I got it on audio and.. mmm… yes, it definitely worked🙈
I deducted half a point cause I could have done without the Pen drama at the end, tbh.
4,5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
3.5
This was a very good novella! I listened to it and it has the classic Audible narrators (I’ve already heard them in other books) and they are very good!
The story also has a powerful background and message. It’s a but dark but with a HEA. I really liked that she saves herself.
The story also has a powerful background and message. It’s a but dark but with a HEA. I really liked that she saves herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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? No
4.5
All Hail Grand Champion, Breed Winner Regional, National Winner Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk 👑
I also love Carl, but the real MVPs are Donut and the creepy AI.
This book follow the same formula established on the first one, but with a darker twist imo. Things get more intense and there are some serious topics. Yes, it is still hilarious, but you also get to see more of the dark and abuse part of the Dungeon and the Syndicate.
I really enjoyed the interaction with other Crawlers and to see all the weird races.
I’m curious to see what the alliance with Katia brings!
4,5⭐️
I also love Carl, but the real MVPs are Donut and the creepy AI.
This book follow the same formula established on the first one, but with a darker twist imo. Things get more intense and there are some serious topics. Yes, it is still hilarious, but you also get to see more of the dark and abuse part of the Dungeon and the Syndicate.
I really enjoyed the interaction with other Crawlers and to see all the weird races.
I’m curious to see what the alliance with Katia brings!
4,5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Glow by Raven Kennedy
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.
This is my second DNF ever. I always Push through but after doing that through books 1 & 2 (3 was fine but I skimmed some parts), at 45% I couldn‘t take it anymore! This is soooooo repetitive. Even the exact same paragraphs and dialogs are repeated. The entire series should have been a trilogy.
Gleam by Raven Kennedy
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
3.25
3,25⭐️
FINALLY. After soldiering through the first two books, this one FINALLY delivered. I still have some bones to pick, though:
- Third book and we still don’t have a map
- Almost 700 pages, are we mad?! This book had no business being this long
- Too much of the Precious. I can only see Gollum each time he says it. Biggest ick ever
- Finally she’s using her brain and thinking!
- I do like Slade, but is this a mate situation? Why does he love her since the first moment he saw her?
- Him calling her baby pulls me out of the story… it just doesn’t fit with the setting (nothing against Slade saying baby, it’s just that with the setting it doesn’t fit)
- Annnd she turned stupid again after talking to the Queen
- The ribbons… they gave me the ick (that she called them ribbons, idk why) but very sad and I hope they grow back!
- I wish she would have shown everyone that Midas didn’t have any power!
- I still don’t totally like Auren and still find her a bit annoying (but way less than before). I wasn’t really interested in her past story further than what we already knew, tbh
- Also, I’m not really interested in Malina and couldn’t care less for her chapters. I get they were necessary but could have been less
All in all, this one is where the story finally picks up and things start happening and I will continue, even though idk how there can still be another 3 (way longer) books!
FINALLY. After soldiering through the first two books, this one FINALLY delivered. I still have some bones to pick, though:
- Third book and we still don’t have a map
- Almost 700 pages, are we mad?! This book had no business being this long
- Too much of the Precious. I can only see Gollum each time he says it. Biggest ick ever
- Finally she’s using her brain and thinking!
- I do like Slade, but is this a mate situation? Why does he love her since the first moment he saw her?
- Him calling her baby pulls me out of the story… it just doesn’t fit with the setting (nothing against Slade saying baby, it’s just that with the setting it doesn’t fit)
- Annnd she turned stupid again after talking to the Queen
- The ribbons… they gave me the ick (that she called them ribbons, idk why) but very sad and I hope they grow back!
- I wish she would have shown everyone that Midas didn’t have any power!
- I still don’t totally like Auren and still find her a bit annoying (but way less than before). I wasn’t really interested in her past story further than what we already knew, tbh
- Also, I’m not really interested in Malina and couldn’t care less for her chapters. I get they were necessary but could have been less
All in all, this one is where the story finally picks up and things start happening and I will continue, even though idk how there can still be another 3 (way longer) books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Glint by Raven Kennedy
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2⭐️
This was better than the first. Not by much, cause Auren was still insufferable till the last pages (a bit less than usual from like the 70% mark). I like Rip, but I like dark, broody, morally grey warriors MMCs 😂
The book was super slow and tbh, nothing really happened. Too repetitive imo. So far it feels like this and the first book could have been one single 500 pages book by taking out the repetitive parts.
Anyway, after that final plot twist I will give the third book a chance and hope that she’s finally less annoying.
Ah, the thing with Midas… it was obvious from the beginning.
This was better than the first. Not by much, cause Auren was still insufferable till the last pages (a bit less than usual from like the 70% mark). I like Rip, but I like dark, broody, morally grey warriors MMCs 😂
The book was super slow and tbh, nothing really happened. Too repetitive imo. So far it feels like this and the first book could have been one single 500 pages book by taking out the repetitive parts.
Anyway, after that final plot twist I will give the third book a chance and hope that she’s finally less annoying.
Ah, the thing with Midas… it was obvious from the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Gild by Raven Kennedy
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
1,5⭐️
I soldiered through this because I wanna meet the famous Slade, tbh. The first 90% was VERY annoying and I ended up skimming the pages cause Auren is just insufferable. Way too repetitive, descriptive without needing it, stupid girl to a fault. The last 10% though… that makes me want to start book 2. The new male character has me intrigued. And I hope Auren gets less whiny.
The entire premise is quite disturbing and the start directly with the sex was a bit too much, too soon.
The book felt chaotic. There was a lot of world building but kind of out of order.
Anyway, I’ll give book 2 a chance because of the new dude and the 180° Auren suddenly did and I hope it gets better!
I soldiered through this because I wanna meet the famous Slade, tbh. The first 90% was VERY annoying and I ended up skimming the pages cause Auren is just insufferable. Way too repetitive, descriptive without needing it, stupid girl to a fault. The last 10% though… that makes me want to start book 2. The new male character has me intrigued. And I hope Auren gets less whiny.
The entire premise is quite disturbing and the start directly with the sex was a bit too much, too soon.
The book felt chaotic. There was a lot of world building but kind of out of order.
Anyway, I’ll give book 2 a chance because of the new dude and the 180° Auren suddenly did and I hope it gets better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Murder
Big Nick Energy by Morgan Elizabeth
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2⭐️
The nicknames just gave me the biggest ick.
This was an okay palate cleanser between fantasy books. Quick read. I didn’t really connect with the characters and the story felt a bit strange. I would have liked for Nick & Shae to know each other longer before getting together. He was quite dreamy, too dreamy sometimes and felt like different people made one character and that brought me out of the story several times.
All in all, it was a fine short read.
The nicknames just gave me the biggest ick.
This was an okay palate cleanser between fantasy books. Quick read. I didn’t really connect with the characters and the story felt a bit strange. I would have liked for Nick & Shae to know each other longer before getting together. He was quite dreamy, too dreamy sometimes and felt like different people made one character and that brought me out of the story several times.
All in all, it was a fine short read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Vows & Ruins by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2,5⭐️
Pffff a lot to unload here. I wasn’t totally convinced after the first book, but I thought about giving this one an opportunity (mainly because I’m unable to DNF books/series) but alas, here we are!
I love spice, okay? But this was just too much. I love it when it makes sense in the story, when it doesn’t feel gratuitous but imo there are 2-3 scenes too many.
The book felt dragged. Over 500 pages but almost nothing happened? And then, idk, something stopped clicking between the MCs romantic relationship… they love each other but besides f*ucking like rabbits, they barely try to know each other, especially Thea about Wilder.
The plot wasn’t really plotting in this one. I think this book should have been shorter.
I don’t really want to read +1000 pages just to know why Wilder did what he did, who tf is Anya, what happens with Malik and how the MCs end up together in a HEA(?). It’s very difficult for me not to know but I will leave it be. If someone is SO KIND as to spoil the last two books, I would be eternally grateful 🤞🏻🤩
Pffff a lot to unload here. I wasn’t totally convinced after the first book, but I thought about giving this one an opportunity (mainly because I’m unable to DNF books/series) but alas, here we are!
I love spice, okay? But this was just too much. I love it when it makes sense in the story, when it doesn’t feel gratuitous but imo there are 2-3 scenes too many.
The book felt dragged. Over 500 pages but almost nothing happened? And then, idk, something stopped clicking between the MCs romantic relationship… they love each other but besides f*ucking like rabbits, they barely try to know each other, especially Thea about Wilder.
The plot wasn’t really plotting in this one. I think this book should have been shorter.
I don’t really want to read +1000 pages just to know why Wilder did what he did, who tf is Anya, what happens with Malik and how the MCs end up together in a HEA(?). It’s very difficult for me not to know but I will leave it be. If someone is SO KIND as to spoil the last two books, I would be eternally grateful 🤞🏻🤩
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and War
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
3⭐️
This was okay. The story feels very similar to other current romantasy books out there, which is fine.
There is more plot than romance, but I would have like to have more world building (maybe it comes in the following books?). Anyway, entertaining but not like super engaging imo.
I have some bones to pick, though:
- This is advertised as enemies to lovers. IT ISN’T. They are NEVER enemies! They like each other after one day!
- Even though the FMC is 24 and basically everybody is over 20, this reads super YA (sex scene aside). The MMC needs to be in his mid 30s at least and when we get his POV it feels like he’s max 20 and not a seasoned special-forces soldier.
- This read very Fourth Wing… idk which one came first, I don’t care! It just really reminded me of FW… the enemy of Thea (FMC) at the academy is called BARLOWE. What are the chances?! Then the powers… iykyk, and also the moments in which the MMC tells her “why is it always you, Alchemist?” That is basically the SAME as “why is it always you, Violence?”. In the same circumstance!!!! Hey, not saying Fourth Wing has ownership over this because it hasn’t, just pointing out very clear similarities. As I said, don’t know which one came first.
- The plot twists were relatively obvious but I have no big problem with that.
All in all, it is entertaining. Still not real adult fantasy/romantasy and def NOT enemies to lovers, but I will give a chance to the series.
PS: could we please stop making the FMCs into seasoned warriors in like 2 months?! It really brings me out of the story!!!!
This was okay. The story feels very similar to other current romantasy books out there, which is fine.
There is more plot than romance, but I would have like to have more world building (maybe it comes in the following books?). Anyway, entertaining but not like super engaging imo.
I have some bones to pick, though:
- This is advertised as enemies to lovers. IT ISN’T. They are NEVER enemies! They like each other after one day!
- Even though the FMC is 24 and basically everybody is over 20, this reads super YA (sex scene aside). The MMC needs to be in his mid 30s at least and when we get his POV it feels like he’s max 20 and not a seasoned special-forces soldier.
- This read very Fourth Wing… idk which one came first, I don’t care! It just really reminded me of FW… the enemy of Thea (FMC) at the academy is called BARLOWE. What are the chances?! Then the powers… iykyk, and also the moments in which the MMC tells her “why is it always you, Alchemist?” That is basically the SAME as “why is it always you, Violence?”. In the same circumstance!!!! Hey, not saying Fourth Wing has ownership over this because it hasn’t, just pointing out very clear similarities. As I said, don’t know which one came first.
- The plot twists were relatively obvious but I have no big problem with that.
All in all, it is entertaining. Still not real adult fantasy/romantasy and def NOT enemies to lovers, but I will give a chance to the series.
PS: could we please stop making the FMCs into seasoned warriors in like 2 months?! It really brings me out of the story!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and War