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jillbeansreads's reviews
21 reviews
Eclipse of the Crown by A.K. Caggiano
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Thrum by Meg Smitherman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this novella! Someone could easily finish it in a day but I took my time and read it in two! I mainly stick to fantasy romance so this book was a bit outside of my comfort zone and I still greatly enjoyed it! Certain plot twists I did catch on to but other ones left me completely surprised and the ones I caught on to still had me second guessing myself! My sister once said that she believes if hell exists, it'll just be confusion and I think this book really highlights that horrifying aspect. The FMC really begins a decent into madness that really shook me to my core as if I were her! It's a great book and I will be recommending it to the lovely people in the Romantacy community that want a change of pace!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Gore
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow! This book was even better than the first! I'm so thankful we got to see more of Gillig's atmospheric world building! Such a great read for those foggy fall days! I had such a great time on this adventure and I hope the author gives us more series to sink our teeth into!! I liked the nightmare in the first book, but I really began to love him in this one. I didn't expect his character to be so... Full and have so much depth! I was utterly delighted!
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wow! This book was beautifully done!! That ending knocked my socks off! The writing was beautiful! I deeply enjoyed the characters and I loved that they didn't feel boxed in by tropes like so many characters can be!
The main thing that kept it from being a 5⭐ read for me was that the beginning I felt was a bit slow, in my opinion, but I also feel like that was purposeful by the author to really set the tone and flesh out the characters! Also the names were a little silly, I didn't dislike them but the unusual spelling made me giggle a few times!
The vibe of this book was perfect for spooky season and I'm glad I held off on reading it until now for that reason. The world is DEEPLY atmospheric which I think some authors struggle with but it was beautifully done in this book! I've heard the second is even better so I'm off to dive into that!!
The main thing that kept it from being a 5⭐ read for me was that the beginning I felt was a bit slow, in my opinion, but I also feel like that was purposeful by the author to really set the tone and flesh out the characters! Also the names were a little silly, I didn't dislike them but the unusual spelling made me giggle a few times!
The vibe of this book was perfect for spooky season and I'm glad I held off on reading it until now for that reason. The world is DEEPLY atmospheric which I think some authors struggle with but it was beautifully done in this book! I've heard the second is even better so I'm off to dive into that!!
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
OH MY GOODNESS!! INSTANT 5⭐!!! I don't think I can adequately put into words how much I treasured this book! The OCD representation was so well done and as someone who struggles as well this book meant so much to me! I feel the author created Blackwell to be the person who says all of the things someone struggling with their mental health needs to hear and it was so beautiful! So let's dive right into all the reasons YOU should read this book!
*Starting off, I adored the MMC in a way that I do with so few! He was arrogant and funny but such a sweetheart at his core! He absolutely swept me off my feet! Their love felt real and even though this is a very spicy book, I didn't feel as though it was built on lust, but rather the lust was built on a strong foundation of love!
*The main FMC; I (as many of us) am getting so tired of FMC who are touted as so wise and smart only to make dumb choices at every turn, Ophelia was NOTHING like those characters. I never found myself cringing at her bad choices or for her being obtuse and snide for no reason. She was just amazing, I loved her! You guys, she wasn't even STABBY!!
*The plot; it was fast paced, thrilling and scary in a way that most Romantacy books don't deliver on! It's the PERFECT read for spooky season (or really any time if you enjoy scary plots!) I appreciated the horror element and I think this book really stood out with that!
*The side characters; I felt they had depth and I enjoyed all of them!
*Starting off, I adored the MMC in a way that I do with so few! He was arrogant and funny but such a sweetheart at his core! He absolutely swept me off my feet! Their love felt real and even though this is a very spicy book, I didn't feel as though it was built on lust, but rather the lust was built on a strong foundation of love!
*The main FMC; I (as many of us) am getting so tired of FMC who are touted as so wise and smart only to make dumb choices at every turn, Ophelia was NOTHING like those characters. I never found myself cringing at her bad choices or for her being obtuse and snide for no reason. She was just amazing, I loved her! You guys, she wasn't even STABBY!!
*The plot; it was fast paced, thrilling and scary in a way that most Romantacy books don't deliver on! It's the PERFECT read for spooky season (or really any time if you enjoy scary plots!) I appreciated the horror element and I think this book really stood out with that!
*The side characters; I felt they had depth and I enjoyed all of them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, and Murder
Silver Wings Golden Games by Evie Marceau
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a huge improvement from the first one which I honestly expected as white horse black nights felt almost like a prequel to understanding why the characters love each other, then this book comes in with high stakes and daring battles and games of wit! Some moments in this book (including one big one) had me wanting to throw my Kindle with anxiety! I had to remind myself it's just a book 😅 if you were intrigued by the first one but in didn't grab your attention the way you thought it should, give this book a chance and it might change your perspective on it! The third book is out at the end of October (2024) and I am going to read it as soon as it hits Kindle! Be forewarned, this book ends with a heck of a cliff hanger!
White Horse Black Nights by Evie Marceau
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I did feel like it was missing something that I can't fully put my finger on.... I also felt like the main characters relationship was more lust fueled than love, but given the circumstances, the pining is certainly there. I'm excited to read the next book because I feel like this book was just an intro for the real story to begin.
That being said, I love a good travel book and this was that. Due to circumstances explained in the book, there's not really magical creatures and things like that, but there is "godkissed power" which I thought was fun because the people who do possess it, all have different powers. Our main character can speak to animals which I truly adored and hope we see even more of in the next book!
I'm also a sucker for forbidden love which this definitely has a heaping dose of!
That being said, I love a good travel book and this was that. Due to circumstances explained in the book, there's not really magical creatures and things like that, but there is "godkissed power" which I thought was fun because the people who do possess it, all have different powers. Our main character can speak to animals which I truly adored and hope we see even more of in the next book!
I'm also a sucker for forbidden love which this definitely has a heaping dose of!
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
"Better to live in fear than in grinding discontent. Better to dare this new path than continue her slow, grim march down the road that had been chosen for her."
This book is so well written and well thought-out, heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I rated it lower only because some times the pacing was a bit off, some scenes I felt were over burdened and wordy and others went by to quickly. It didn't stop this book from being beautiful though. It is a heavy read in my opinion, lots of tragedy made more heart breaking by the fact that it takes place in our world during a dark time in history. I feel that the author did well with how she encompasses what it would be like to be in Luzias position. The romance I felt was a little rushed, but the story itself made up for any short comings in that regard!
This book is so well written and well thought-out, heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I rated it lower only because some times the pacing was a bit off, some scenes I felt were over burdened and wordy and others went by to quickly. It didn't stop this book from being beautiful though. It is a heavy read in my opinion, lots of tragedy made more heart breaking by the fact that it takes place in our world during a dark time in history. I feel that the author did well with how she encompasses what it would be like to be in Luzias position. The romance I felt was a little rushed, but the story itself made up for any short comings in that regard!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
Summoned to the Wilds by A.K. Caggiano
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Not Another Vampire Book by Cassandra Gannon
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
Such a fun and hilarious, campy book! I love how it made fun of the ridiculous aspects and yet somehow pulled off a steamy loveable romance! Damien was so wonderful! I found the MFC likeable and funny and even at some points, relatable! So refreshing to find a book with older leads as so many Romantacy books follow 18-20yo characters! Pulled me right out of my book hang over and held my attention the entire time!