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highladyofdelulu's reviews
391 reviews
Finale by Stephanie Garber
5.0
4.5
I think, despite some of relationships truly bothering my anxiety (
I think, despite some of relationships truly bothering my anxiety (
A Curse For True Love by Stephanie Garber
5.0
That was stressful and I loved it. I still have so many questions too, though
Xander by Drethi A.
4.0
3.75
My song for Xander: obsessed by Olivia Rodriguez (Not so much for the vibe but well look at the lyrics!)
’She was insanity, and I was tired of fighting this madness. I could give her the life she deserved now, one fit for a queen, and embrace this sickness.’
A taboo ice hockey dark romance?
With a morally grey MMC with obsessive possessive tendencies?
Co-written by Nenia?
Of course, I had to read this!
”I’ll give you everything he denied you, Jordan. (…) All you have to do is reach out and take it.”
Xander is a Helen of Troy retelling in a loose sense (although an escape across the sea does occur). It is dark, problematic and captivating. It is also the first time an MMC with obsession became a little too obsessive… even for me.
’I spent years being called an old soul, the bigger person, the mediator. It didn’t bring me happiness.
Xander, the mercurial ice hockey star with mood swings that are easy to discern for us dark romance readers, yet a mystery to his stepmother. He is everything a dark romance needs, a good guy at heart but won’t hesitate to take care of those he loves. His character is complex and troubled, increasingly so over the course of the book – Xander’s development wasn’t simple and for that I a grateful. It made sense, it stressed me out, I loved it.
’After her ordeal tonight, the last thing she needed was for me to stare at her like she was the prey and I was the hunter salivating for a good chase. But Jordan fucked up by giving me those doe eyes. Didn’t she know? If she gave me an inch, I’d take the whole yard.’
Jordan on the other hand is the perfect Helen. Too trusting, a bit naïve, slightly flat for the first half of the book in a way that aligned with her story. Sure, I would have wished for her to snap out of it early on but in a marriage, in a situation like hers, I never expected her to.
’I fucked her as if it was a sacred ritual. The need for her was drowning me in shallow water.’
The writing was good, the smut was steaming hot! And I loved the amount of actual ice hockey content. Unfortunately, and I was a bit surprised by that, having particularly enjoyed Nenia’s writing before – there was quite a bit of repetition of phrases and information throughout the book. Not so much that it threw me off, but enough for me to notice.
It didn’t, however, interfere with the fact that, in my opinion, Xander is a fun, quick, problematic-in-the-best-way read for all those that love a good taboo dark romance.
---
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
My song for Xander: obsessed by Olivia Rodriguez (Not so much for the vibe but well look at the lyrics!)
’She was insanity, and I was tired of fighting this madness. I could give her the life she deserved now, one fit for a queen, and embrace this sickness.’
A taboo ice hockey dark romance?
With a morally grey MMC with obsessive possessive tendencies?
Co-written by Nenia?
Of course, I had to read this!
”I’ll give you everything he denied you, Jordan. (…) All you have to do is reach out and take it.”
Xander is a Helen of Troy retelling in a loose sense (although an escape across the sea does occur). It is dark, problematic and captivating. It is also the first time an MMC with obsession became a little too obsessive… even for me.
’I spent years being called an old soul, the bigger person, the mediator. It didn’t bring me happiness.
Xander, the mercurial ice hockey star with mood swings that are easy to discern for us dark romance readers, yet a mystery to his stepmother. He is everything a dark romance needs, a good guy at heart but won’t hesitate to take care of those he loves. His character is complex and troubled, increasingly so over the course of the book – Xander’s development wasn’t simple and for that I a grateful. It made sense, it stressed me out, I loved it.
’After her ordeal tonight, the last thing she needed was for me to stare at her like she was the prey and I was the hunter salivating for a good chase. But Jordan fucked up by giving me those doe eyes. Didn’t she know? If she gave me an inch, I’d take the whole yard.’
Jordan on the other hand is the perfect Helen. Too trusting, a bit naïve, slightly flat for the first half of the book in a way that aligned with her story. Sure, I would have wished for her to snap out of it early on but in a marriage, in a situation like hers, I never expected her to.
’I fucked her as if it was a sacred ritual. The need for her was drowning me in shallow water.’
The writing was good, the smut was steaming hot! And I loved the amount of actual ice hockey content. Unfortunately, and I was a bit surprised by that, having particularly enjoyed Nenia’s writing before – there was quite a bit of repetition of phrases and information throughout the book. Not so much that it threw me off, but enough for me to notice.
It didn’t, however, interfere with the fact that, in my opinion, Xander is a fun, quick, problematic-in-the-best-way read for all those that love a good taboo dark romance.
---
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Lightlark by Alex Aster
4.0
I loved it.
I hated it. And I loved it.
“Lightlark was a shining, cliffy thing.”
I wasn’t even sure how to rate this book because I was so angry by the end of it.
Lightlark took me by surprise, over and over again.
It’s a love triangle with lots of secrets. It’s many shades of grey rather than obviously black and white. It’s magical and complex and there’s so much beneath the surface.
And it’s very easy to devour this book in very little time.
I love Grim, because of course I do. And while Isla tested my patience every now and then, I loved watching her grow into potential – and chaos. Personally, I don’t care much for Oro but that’s the allure of a love triangle, isn’t it? And it’s a good one because it had so many levels and shades and revelations. And by the end of it, I was convinced that there is still so much more we don’t know.
The writing overall was good, although a bit repetitive at first in terms of world building and conflicts but I know some people like that.
What really threw me off were the names... I feel like they weren't given much thought and it did amuse me quite a bit.
The multi-layered plot and intricate character dynamics definitely made up for all of it. (and after reading Nightbane I can say that the writing improved in the second book!)
Lightlark made me feel a loooot of things and I didn’t like all of them but it most definitely roped me in.
I hated it. And I loved it.
“Lightlark was a shining, cliffy thing.”
I wasn’t even sure how to rate this book because I was so angry by the end of it.
Lightlark took me by surprise, over and over again.
It’s a love triangle with lots of secrets. It’s many shades of grey rather than obviously black and white. It’s magical and complex and there’s so much beneath the surface.
And it’s very easy to devour this book in very little time.
I love Grim, because of course I do. And while Isla tested my patience every now and then, I loved watching her grow into potential – and chaos. Personally, I don’t care much for Oro but that’s the allure of a love triangle, isn’t it? And it’s a good one because it had so many levels and shades and revelations. And by the end of it, I was convinced that there is still so much more we don’t know.
The writing overall was good, although a bit repetitive at first in terms of world building and conflicts but I know some people like that.
What really threw me off were the names... I feel like they weren't given much thought and it did amuse me quite a bit.
The multi-layered plot and intricate character dynamics definitely made up for all of it. (and after reading Nightbane I can say that the writing improved in the second book!)
Lightlark made me feel a loooot of things and I didn’t like all of them but it most definitely roped me in.
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
5.0
My song for A Soul to Keep: Till Death Do Us Part by Rosenfeld
I had absolutely no idea I was into demon smut but, alas, here we are. (and honestly, who's even surprised by that...)
Although I had planned on giving this genre a go, when I stumbled over the audiobook I wasn't even sure it was time to dive in. Until I accidentally started it and immediately melted when the male narrator started talking.
“She looks at me, rather than shying away. She’s smiled at me, and he couldn’t stop the way his heart pounded at seeing it. And her laughter, even though just as rare, was the sweetest song.”
While I did sometimes struggle with the FMC, simply for the reason that I personally don't necessarily surround myself with people with her character traits, I did understand why she was like that. It worked, too. And of course I fell for the demonic MMC long before she did. He's so sweet, so lovable, brooding and hot.
(Nonetheless, the nameless Duskwalker that'll be the MMC of book 2 immediately threatened to steal my heart from him)
The writing is good and easy to listen to (please, PLEASE consider going for the audiobook! Istg his voice!) and the plot did surprise me. Well, and then there's the smut, obviously. Impressive is the word that describes all aspects.
“It was torture, and it was bliss. Reia had found heaven in the Veil, and it was given to her by the cock of a Duskwalker that was fucking her into oblivion.”
I do not regret entering the realm of demon and monster smut with Opal Reyne and ofc already listened to the second book.
I had absolutely no idea I was into demon smut but, alas, here we are. (and honestly, who's even surprised by that...)
Although I had planned on giving this genre a go, when I stumbled over the audiobook I wasn't even sure it was time to dive in. Until I accidentally started it and immediately melted when the male narrator started talking.
“She looks at me, rather than shying away. She’s smiled at me, and he couldn’t stop the way his heart pounded at seeing it. And her laughter, even though just as rare, was the sweetest song.”
While I did sometimes struggle with the FMC, simply for the reason that I personally don't necessarily surround myself with people with her character traits, I did understand why she was like that. It worked, too. And of course I fell for the demonic MMC long before she did. He's so sweet, so lovable, brooding and hot.
(Nonetheless, the nameless Duskwalker that'll be the MMC of book 2 immediately threatened to steal my heart from him)
The writing is good and easy to listen to (please, PLEASE consider going for the audiobook! Istg his voice!) and the plot did surprise me. Well, and then there's the smut, obviously. Impressive is the word that describes all aspects.
“It was torture, and it was bliss. Reia had found heaven in the Veil, and it was given to her by the cock of a Duskwalker that was fucking her into oblivion.”
I do not regret entering the realm of demon and monster smut with Opal Reyne and ofc already listened to the second book.
God of Malice by Rina Kent
3.0
3.25
I knoooow, I know.
I wanted to love it too.
It's good, the writing is good, the characters are good.
I just didn't feel it...?
Maybe I've descended too deeply into the depths of dark romance and was just a bit sad about the level of people deleting? But I also struggled a bit with grasping Killian, or rather the relationship between the main characters, which is a shame cause I was prepared to obsess...
Anyways. My guess is that if you like the Devil's Night series by Penelope Douglas, you'll probably love God of Malice!
I knoooow, I know.
I wanted to love it too.
It's good, the writing is good, the characters are good.
I just didn't feel it...?
Maybe I've descended too deeply into the depths of dark romance and was just a bit sad about the level of people deleting? But I also struggled a bit with grasping Killian, or rather the relationship between the main characters, which is a shame cause I was prepared to obsess...
Anyways. My guess is that if you like the Devil's Night series by Penelope Douglas, you'll probably love God of Malice!
Ruthless Demon King by Nikki St. Crowe
3.0
Fun series, quick reads - LOVE the audiobooks.
Not my personal fave but I did enjoy it and do love the Demon King. The plot is good, I liked the twists and characters and honestly can't even pinpoint why it fell a bit short in the overall rating..
Not my personal fave but I did enjoy it and do love the Demon King. The plot is good, I liked the twists and characters and honestly can't even pinpoint why it fell a bit short in the overall rating..