exteenawreads's reviews
344 reviews

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.0

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

The Wicked King by Holly Black

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins: Mollymauk Tealeaf by Jody Houser, Taliesin Jaffe, Matthew Mercer, Hunter Severn Bonyun

adventurous 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? No

4.75

Crucible by B.B. Reid

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I received the ARC, thank you Val PR! Gave this a flat 3 because it's written well and I'm sure the dark romance readers would love it, but these themes are not for me. I have a hard time calling this romance when it is more survival horror/Stockholm syndrome smut, but I'm not about to kink shame y'all 😂 definitely check your trigger warnings though. 

Crucible is a play off Goldilocks and the Three Bears, where our FMC is a spoiled pop star who's plane crashed in the wilderness. She finds a reclusive cabin in the mountains, and the three men who live there decide to "keep" her. 

Themes:
⚠️ Non-consent, partial consent, assault, kidnapping, death, wilderness survival, cults, suicide 
⚠️ A character has multiple personality disorder, and I don't *love* the way that it was handled. 
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Very smutty. This book is like 80% smut and the first half of it is mostly nonconsensual, so be warned. 
❄️ Reverse harem, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, alpha-dudes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic relationship

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

1.5

The Lost Sisters by Holly Black

4.0

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

5.0