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grettypop's reviews
673 reviews
House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Nico is my new favorite book boyfriend.... The love... The tension!! How obsessed he is with her... He is reminding me of Will Herondale (and that might just be because this feels like a period piece).
I loved the story, I loved the characters.
My only critique is the secondary characters don't get much "air time", and we don't really get to know them. So if/when something happens to them, it's not as impactful. I would've loved more time with the rest of the crew, but it might be remedied as the series goes on.
I loved the story, I loved the characters.
My only critique is the secondary characters don't get much "air time", and we don't really get to know them. So if/when something happens to them, it's not as impactful. I would've loved more time with the rest of the crew, but it might be remedied as the series goes on.
The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon
medium-paced
2.75
2.75 stars
I enjoyed the premise of the book, but the execution was poor. If we're going to delve into the mental issues and psyche behind a serial killer and a victim, I would've liked an actual thorough, deep dive. You also get a one or two page POV from his previous victims.... but that's all the details that are given.
I would've liked more clarity. What was his motivation? What triggered the start? Why? How did he pick his victims? And many more questions I would spoil the book with.
It was a quick, easy read. Just 300 pages. But I would've preferred an extra 100 pages in there with more details.
I enjoyed the premise of the book, but the execution was poor. If we're going to delve into the mental issues and psyche behind a serial killer and a victim, I would've liked an actual thorough, deep dive. You also get a one or two page POV from his previous victims.... but that's all the details that are given.
I would've liked more clarity. What was his motivation? What triggered the start? Why? How did he pick his victims? And many more questions I would spoil the book with.
It was a quick, easy read. Just 300 pages. But I would've preferred an extra 100 pages in there with more details.
Final Girls by Riley Sager
slow-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? Yes
2.0
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I will start by saying no romance book needs to be 450 pages. There really just isn't enough juice in there.
I LOVED Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series, so I was really excited for this one, but this let me down. Rosie, the fmc, has no personality other than being a whiny lil kid. And she's supposedly 28-29?! Couldn't stand her. Ford, the male lead, is supposed to be this whipped, in love, sexy billionaire. But this book truly felt like Elsie was cycling through all the tropes. Childhood best friends, enemies to lovers, boss and employee, dom man, but also golden retriever man...
Let's just throw everything at the wall and hope the reader will be too busy rolling her eyes to notice the glaring inconsistencies.
I LOVED Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series, so I was really excited for this one, but this let me down. Rosie, the fmc, has no personality other than being a whiny lil kid. And she's supposedly 28-29?! Couldn't stand her. Ford, the male lead, is supposed to be this whipped, in love, sexy billionaire. But this book truly felt like Elsie was cycling through all the tropes. Childhood best friends, enemies to lovers, boss and employee, dom man, but also golden retriever man...
Let's just throw everything at the wall and hope the reader will be too busy rolling her eyes to notice the glaring inconsistencies.
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book had everything we love in a thriller/horror in it: gore, cults, ghosts, dark Gods, generational trauma, murder.... All wrapped up in a historically accurate Argentinian package.
The writing was one of a kind, the story gripping... I did knock some stars down because I felt like this book did not need to be almost 600 pages. There were a lot of stories and day-to-day activities that felt unnecessary, yet some scary plot points were mentioned and moved on from.
Over all, it was a very unique reading experience, and I would recommending it for the fans of a slow burn, heavy on world building, trauma filled horror book.
The writing was one of a kind, the story gripping... I did knock some stars down because I felt like this book did not need to be almost 600 pages. There were a lot of stories and day-to-day activities that felt unnecessary, yet some scary plot points were mentioned and moved on from.
Over all, it was a very unique reading experience, and I would recommending it for the fans of a slow burn, heavy on world building, trauma filled horror book.
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.75
This could definitely be read as a stand-alone and you won't be spoiled anything from the Crown of Nyaxia series. Or, you could skip this and probably won't miss out on much story-wise. The characters and setting is completely separate, but it does add to the overall world building.
Our heroin is basically a part of a cult - a cult of fighting, praying women, who have a wow to only serve their goddess. She goes undercover with the Vampire Conqueror to sabotage him....and things start to change quickly.
I love a strong FMC. I love a tough guy who is secretly a cinnamon roll inside... I wasn't giggling and kicking my feet as much as I was doing with the other books, just because I felt the side characters lacking and the overall plot predictable. BUT! Still a good read.
Our heroin is basically a part of a cult - a cult of fighting, praying women, who have a wow to only serve their goddess. She goes undercover with the Vampire Conqueror to sabotage him....and things start to change quickly.
I love a strong FMC. I love a tough guy who is secretly a cinnamon roll inside... I wasn't giggling and kicking my feet as much as I was doing with the other books, just because I felt the side characters lacking and the overall plot predictable. BUT! Still a good read.
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Two truths, and a lie:
#1) Vivian is the kind of girl I would've done anything to be friends with in high school. Bitchy, confident, manipulative... but a good friend.
#2) I'm still crushing on Theo, despite everything... Aren't bad boys hot? So what if he offed someone. (Allegedly)
#3) Camp Nightingale is on my bucket list to visit. (I've always loved a good ghost story)
#1) Vivian is the kind of girl I would've done anything to be friends with in high school. Bitchy, confident, manipulative... but a good friend.
#2) I'm still crushing on Theo, despite everything... Aren't bad boys hot? So what if he offed someone. (Allegedly)
#3) Camp Nightingale is on my bucket list to visit. (I've always loved a good ghost story)
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5 star, quick read, perfect little novella!
Usually novellas feel like extra chapters to me that didn't make it into the main books... Not this one. Lilith is a scientist. She's a human. And she's dying. She's known this for a while. Yet despite her numbered days, she dedicates herself to righting the curse her father brought on her people. She thinks that through experimentation, she can cure her ill sister.
I loved that while this was a one-sit read, I really got to know both Lilith and Vale. I saw their relationship develop. I saw them grow and change and be fascinated with each other.
While this isn't essential to the Crown on Nyaxia series, this is probably the best novella I've ever read!
Usually novellas feel like extra chapters to me that didn't make it into the main books... Not this one. Lilith is a scientist. She's a human. And she's dying. She's known this for a while. Yet despite her numbered days, she dedicates herself to righting the curse her father brought on her people. She thinks that through experimentation, she can cure her ill sister.
I loved that while this was a one-sit read, I really got to know both Lilith and Vale. I saw their relationship develop. I saw them grow and change and be fascinated with each other.
While this isn't essential to the Crown on Nyaxia series, this is probably the best novella I've ever read!