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jessicastaylor's reviews
471 reviews
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
This was a really, really good book. It focuses on the horror aspect of mermaids/sirens and that was a fun spin to see on things. My only real complaint was that it ended really fast. It all got wrapped up in almost a chapter at the end, and then that was it. I know it was quite a long book already, but the ending just felt rushed to me. That said, I still loved it. The rep was fantastic, the storyline was engaging, the writing style was immaculate. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Murder, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
5.0
SHE'S BACK! Kate Daniels Lennart is back and she's come in swinging! I love this new novella from Ilona Andrews, catching up with the Lennarts in their new home in North Carolina. I can't wait to see more of Conlan growing up, and Kate and Curran getting into their usual shenanigans. This was a fun dive (pun intended) back into the world of Kate, and I can only hope we get more soon...maybe more of Julie's story (she asked hopefully)
Spare by Prince Harry
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
5.0
This was an amazing memoir. The voice was both casual and serious, engaging and inviting. The stories told ranged from funny, to heartwarming, to tearjerking, and back again. The emotions that went into this are clear to see, and I hope it helps how it was intended.
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
adventurous
emotional
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
Amazing book, can't wait for the next one!
Learn to Love You by Jade Hernandez
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was an AMAZING contemporary romance. All the characters had such depth, the plot was both heart-warming and tear-jerking at the same time, and I couldn't put it down.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Well okay then miss Jennifer. We’ll just go with that then.
This review is for A Light in the Flame, book 2 of the Flesh and Fire series, which is a prequel series to the Blood and Ash series. See the end of the review for the recommended reading order. These series are companion series, and Jennifer has said she plans to merge the storylines, making both series requires reading!
A Light in the Flame (Flesh & Fire #2)
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: graphic violence, murder, serious injury, sexual content, mentions of non-consensual blood taking, mentions of infant death, mentions of kidnapping and captivity, suicidal ideation and thoughts.
Take care of yourself. Your mental health comes before any story.
This was fantastic! Okay let me try to sum it up without spoilers…
Sera is probably one of my favorite FMCs. And this book firmly solidified her spot. Jennifer’s depiction of her anxiety, her depression, her disregard for her own life, her emptiness. It struck me so very hard in this one.
The scene at the pools especially. I’ve had those feelings before, and still do, and reading them from Sera’s point of view was a bit harder than I was expecting and I had to pause to cry and process a bit. But I think it was perfectly done and definitely right for Sera’s character. The authors note at the end made me very grateful to Jennifer as well. Thank you.
The world building and mythology building has continued and served to add layers and layers of nuance to the world we know as Sera explored it. Sera asks less questions than our beloved Poppy, but she’s no less sheltered from the truth, and discovering the world alongside her is well done and not forced in this one. I especially loved the references to the poppy flowers and the Balfour family! I love Easter eggs like that.
Jadis and Reaver continue to give me life and I would willingly die for both of them without question. Daddy Nektas is also amazing and his interactions with Sera, especially at the Pools really tugged oh my heart. I can’t wait to see them interact more with Sera, and later, with Poppy! The draken might actually be my favorite ever of this series.
Nyktos…oh Nyktos. He and sera are really perfect for each other and they’re both so undeniably flawed it’s amazing. He’s swoony but at the same time I’d like to smack him. And same goes for Sera. The balance is great.
As usual, the spice is top tier, the tension is palpable, and the angst made me want to scream and cry but also kept me up all night finishing it.
My one big complaint about this one in particular is the use of modern phrases. I’m sorry but hearing Sera say “you do you” to Nyktos was just not it. It pulled me out of the story and was just too much. There weren’t too many of these thankfully, but that was something I didn’t care for. I’ve not noticed it as much in the previous books, so hopefully this is just a one off.
All that said, I’m so excited to see how the stories of Nyktos and Sera continue to cross over into Poppy and Cas’s story. But one thing we can all agree on. Fuck Callum.
I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you to Jennifer and Malissa and the JLA team for the ARC.
Recommended Reading Order:
From Blood and Ash (Poppy & Cas)
A kingdom of flesh and fire (P&C)
A crown of gilded bones (P&C)
A Shadow in the Ember (Sera & Nyktos)
The War of Two Queens (P&C)
A Light in the Flame (S&N)
This review is for A Light in the Flame, book 2 of the Flesh and Fire series, which is a prequel series to the Blood and Ash series. See the end of the review for the recommended reading order. These series are companion series, and Jennifer has said she plans to merge the storylines, making both series requires reading!
A Light in the Flame (Flesh & Fire #2)
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: graphic violence, murder, serious injury, sexual content, mentions of non-consensual blood taking, mentions of infant death, mentions of kidnapping and captivity, suicidal ideation and thoughts.
Take care of yourself. Your mental health comes before any story.
This was fantastic! Okay let me try to sum it up without spoilers…
Sera is probably one of my favorite FMCs. And this book firmly solidified her spot. Jennifer’s depiction of her anxiety, her depression, her disregard for her own life, her emptiness. It struck me so very hard in this one.
The scene at the pools especially. I’ve had those feelings before, and still do, and reading them from Sera’s point of view was a bit harder than I was expecting and I had to pause to cry and process a bit. But I think it was perfectly done and definitely right for Sera’s character. The authors note at the end made me very grateful to Jennifer as well. Thank you.
The world building and mythology building has continued and served to add layers and layers of nuance to the world we know as Sera explored it. Sera asks less questions than our beloved Poppy, but she’s no less sheltered from the truth, and discovering the world alongside her is well done and not forced in this one. I especially loved the references to the poppy flowers and the Balfour family! I love Easter eggs like that.
Jadis and Reaver continue to give me life and I would willingly die for both of them without question. Daddy Nektas is also amazing and his interactions with Sera, especially at the Pools really tugged oh my heart. I can’t wait to see them interact more with Sera, and later, with Poppy! The draken might actually be my favorite ever of this series.
Nyktos…oh Nyktos. He and sera are really perfect for each other and they’re both so undeniably flawed it’s amazing. He’s swoony but at the same time I’d like to smack him. And same goes for Sera. The balance is great.
As usual, the spice is top tier, the tension is palpable, and the angst made me want to scream and cry but also kept me up all night finishing it.
My one big complaint about this one in particular is the use of modern phrases. I’m sorry but hearing Sera say “you do you” to Nyktos was just not it. It pulled me out of the story and was just too much. There weren’t too many of these thankfully, but that was something I didn’t care for. I’ve not noticed it as much in the previous books, so hopefully this is just a one off.
All that said, I’m so excited to see how the stories of Nyktos and Sera continue to cross over into Poppy and Cas’s story. But one thing we can all agree on. Fuck Callum.
I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you to Jennifer and Malissa and the JLA team for the ARC.
Recommended Reading Order:
From Blood and Ash (Poppy & Cas)
A kingdom of flesh and fire (P&C)
A crown of gilded bones (P&C)
A Shadow in the Ember (Sera & Nyktos)
The War of Two Queens (P&C)
A Light in the Flame (S&N)
Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5