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kimmiereadsalot's reviews
1163 reviews
A Court of Thorns and Roses (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Sarah J. Maas
3.0
Okay. This one was an improvement. I still kind of hate the sounds. The kissing and moaning just adds such a cheese factor. At least tamlin spoke less in this one. And we got Rhys whose actor does a great job.
I like this one better. But it’s still like the train wreck you can’t look away from. It’s still so bad it’s almost comically good.
Is it weird I think I’ll still listen to the next ones so long as they’re still free?
I like this one better. But it’s still like the train wreck you can’t look away from. It’s still so bad it’s almost comically good.
Is it weird I think I’ll still listen to the next ones so long as they’re still free?
A Court of Thorns and Roses (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Sarah J. Maas
2.0
2 stars PURELY for the graphic audio. I still like the story. It’s been years since I read it. And I thought I’d give the graphic audio a try since it’s free on audible right now. This audio is so bad. It’s just so corny. And I really didn’t care for the voice of Tamlin. Sounded like Raine Wilson. lol. And even Feyre’s voice took some getting used to. I had to slow the speed down a ton too. She spoke so fast which should be fine. But idk. It was missing emotion. But the worst part was all the added sounds. Some of them just made it feel corny. Didn’t add to the mood or feelings being evoked. I often found them distracting.
Idk. I just didn’t really vibe with it. Still the story. But this version had me 👀
Idk. I just didn’t really vibe with it. Still the story. But this version had me 👀
Hunting Fiends for the Ill-Equipped by Annette Marie
4.5
4+ stars.
The development of these characters is so good. I love robin and her evolving demon.
Ezra was also a pleasant surprise in this one. I like what his character added to the story and I can’t wait to read more in his normal series.
Enjoyed. Recommend.
The development of these characters is so good. I love robin and her evolving demon.
Ezra was also a pleasant surprise in this one. I like what his character added to the story and I can’t wait to read more in his normal series.
Enjoyed. Recommend.
The Fall of Bradley Reed by Morgan Elizabeth
3.0
If you’re a contemporary romance girlie, you’ll probably like this. But it was just mostly neutral for me. This one was way better than book 1 which I very nearly DNFd. I didn’t read 2 but read a summary and def don’t think it’s for me. The age gaps in both also just make me a bit uncomfortable. But idk. At the end of the day these books just aren’t for me. Giving a middling 3 stars because I don’t think it’s terrible, just not my cuppa.
Druid Vices and a Vodka by Annette Marie
4.0
I liked this. I was so excited to have Zach back I thought this was going to be a 5 star read for me. BUT I didn’t love where the author went with Zach’s character. And I just really do not care one iota about Tori and Ezra together. I like Ezra fine. I want a solution for his character. I just feel zero chemistry between them.
That said, it’s still a good story. I love this world and have started reading in order no matter which companion series that takes me to.
Also. There’s a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I’m even more excited for the next one.
That said, it’s still a good story. I love this world and have started reading in order no matter which companion series that takes me to.
Also. There’s a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I’m even more excited for the next one.
Since the Surrender by Julie Anne Long
3.5
3+ stars. This one wasn’t bad. I might just be in a slump. But I just struggled to get into this one a bit. It was a good background read though. And the narration is good.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
5.0
5 enthusiastic stars!!! What a delightful surprise this was. It appealed to me in so many ways. It’s twisty and turning. Seriously. There is no cruising in this book. It’s not that there are major jaw droppers every chapter, but there are so many little twists and turns along the way, that you can never get truly comfortable.
Evie porter was such a complex character that was surprisingly well developed for a thriller book. And there are some fantastic side characters also. I’d love to see stories about Rachel and Devon.
Speaking of Rachel and the friends we meet in the beginning…I am so happy that didn’t go where it stereotypically would in these types of stories. And I’d love to see more of Rachel. Loved her.
Highly recommend.
Evie porter was such a complex character that was surprisingly well developed for a thriller book. And there are some fantastic side characters also. I’d love to see stories about Rachel and Devon.
Speaking of Rachel and the friends we meet in the beginning…I am so happy that didn’t go where it stereotypically would in these types of stories. And I’d love to see more of Rachel. Loved her.
Highly recommend.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
1.75
1.75 stars
As another reviewer so eloquently put (and I paraphrase here): spoiler alert, there is no knife.
There’s also a noticeable lack of suspense or thrills. The synopsis is a flat out fabrication of the intensity of this book. Why? Because. Nothing happens!
Seriously. Nothing happens. So many of the flashback events are pointless. Way too much of the book is spent on Jessica’s woah-is-me-pitty-party attitude.
According to the synopsis, SOMEONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE MESSING WITH THEM. Maybe it’s my fault that my expectations were a little more “and then there were none” inspired, but come on! SPOILER ALERT….
S
P
O
I
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R
A
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There is only the one, I repeat ONE murder in the entire book. No one is messing with anyone! And it was so boring. Have I mentioned this?
It felt way too soap opery with an obvious “twist” ending and a really flat second “twist”.
This author might have potential if she finds the courage to right a truly thrilling story with actual twists and turns and MURDER. I think her concentration was too much on trying to develop the characters which just didn’t work. There were too many to do it well and the ones she did concentrate on weren’t exciting or likable.
I get wanting to build characters, but genre fiction has certain requirements. Calling a book with one murder in the past that mostly concentrates on characters is not a genre thriller in my layperson perspective.
I could go on. I just really didn’t like it. Did finish very fast. In the early hours of the morning when unable to sleep. But some books you read so fast because there just that good. Other because you just want to be done. Unfortunately, this one was the latter for me.
As another reviewer so eloquently put (and I paraphrase here): spoiler alert, there is no knife.
There’s also a noticeable lack of suspense or thrills. The synopsis is a flat out fabrication of the intensity of this book. Why? Because. Nothing happens!
Seriously. Nothing happens. So many of the flashback events are pointless. Way too much of the book is spent on Jessica’s woah-is-me-pitty-party attitude.
According to the synopsis, SOMEONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE MESSING WITH THEM. Maybe it’s my fault that my expectations were a little more “and then there were none” inspired, but come on! SPOILER ALERT….
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
A
L
E
R
T
There is only the one, I repeat ONE murder in the entire book. No one is messing with anyone! And it was so boring. Have I mentioned this?
It felt way too soap opery with an obvious “twist” ending and a really flat second “twist”.
This author might have potential if she finds the courage to right a truly thrilling story with actual twists and turns and MURDER. I think her concentration was too much on trying to develop the characters which just didn’t work. There were too many to do it well and the ones she did concentrate on weren’t exciting or likable.
I get wanting to build characters, but genre fiction has certain requirements. Calling a book with one murder in the past that mostly concentrates on characters is not a genre thriller in my layperson perspective.
I could go on. I just really didn’t like it. Did finish very fast. In the early hours of the morning when unable to sleep. But some books you read so fast because there just that good. Other because you just want to be done. Unfortunately, this one was the latter for me.
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson
4.25
I think I had too much of a gap between books 3 and 4. However, it did come back to me and there were enough textual reminders to not be too lost.
I was super annoyed with Spin for most of the book. However, the last quarter really made up for it. I was really into the action and was happy with the character development. I was also happy when we started getting more POVs.
Overall a great read with great narration.
Enjoyed this series very much.
I was super annoyed with Spin for most of the book. However, the last quarter really made up for it. I was really into the action and was happy with the character development. I was also happy when we started getting more POVs.
Overall a great read with great narration.
Enjoyed this series very much.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
slow-paced
2.25
2.25 stars
Torn on how to rate this one. I mostly liked it until the end. I did think the build up was a bit too slow. It was about 200 pages in that I finally started really getting into it. But then…those last 30 or so pages lost me. I hated what happened. And I even hate what was implied in the epilogue.
Idk. I don’t even know if I’ll read the second book I’m that disappointed in the ending.
ETA: I am so mad at this book. It’s still on my mind. Like why oh why?!? I often find that authors who clearly research a ton, lose focus on the story. The plot. And this is one of those cases. The romance really did fall flat. I was so sick of the lack of communication. It didn’t make Whit more mysterious. He should have been more forthcoming with her. I wasn’t as bothered by the “cheating” as it was an arranged marriage with someone he met twice.
Also tio Ricardo sucked. He could have avoided the entire betrayal scenario had he just talked to Inez—a young girl who would of course trust her mother. But he didn’t even try to get to know her to see if she was trustworthy.
And her mom sucked. I knew from the second we found out Inez’s parents were dead that they wouldn’t stay dead if there were no bodies. So I wasn’t the least shocked when mamita came back. But they sure got down to business fast. No time for a proper emotional reunion. And I don’t blame Inez for trusting her. But she was an idiot to think removing the artifacts for the “good” of history was a good call. Like that’s what her mom accused Ricardo of doing. Yet it’s. It okay for him. Only her?
And also, the real kicker on this—Elvira did not have to die. It did not add to the story. It did not feel necessary. This is billed as a ya fantasy. And the way she was brutally murdered felt like something done simply for the shock value. But this isn’t a thriller or a coho book (the reason I dont care for her books). So throwing something in for shock value alone felt so out of place.
Lastly. That epilogue. It implied Whit is marrying Inez with ulterior motives having nothing to do with helping her. And that was the nail in the coffin to a romance I already barely cared about. Oh and speaking of whit…for all the research this author did, she sure didn’t reach British nobility titles. A youngest son of a marquess isn’t truly titled. It’s more like a courtesy title. He’d be lord whit at best. Not Somerset or lord Hayes. His eldest brother would hold those titles once their dad passes. But again, that distinction and revelation felt so random.
And one more lastly…the magic really needed exploring. But it was just there. Blech
This book was such a disappointment the more I think about it.
Torn on how to rate this one. I mostly liked it until the end. I did think the build up was a bit too slow. It was about 200 pages in that I finally started really getting into it. But then…those last 30 or so pages lost me. I hated what happened. And I even hate what was implied in the epilogue.
Idk. I don’t even know if I’ll read the second book I’m that disappointed in the ending.
ETA: I am so mad at this book. It’s still on my mind. Like why oh why?!? I often find that authors who clearly research a ton, lose focus on the story. The plot. And this is one of those cases. The romance really did fall flat. I was so sick of the lack of communication. It didn’t make Whit more mysterious. He should have been more forthcoming with her. I wasn’t as bothered by the “cheating” as it was an arranged marriage with someone he met twice.
Also tio Ricardo sucked. He could have avoided the entire betrayal scenario had he just talked to Inez—a young girl who would of course trust her mother. But he didn’t even try to get to know her to see if she was trustworthy.
And her mom sucked. I knew from the second we found out Inez’s parents were dead that they wouldn’t stay dead if there were no bodies. So I wasn’t the least shocked when mamita came back. But they sure got down to business fast. No time for a proper emotional reunion. And I don’t blame Inez for trusting her. But she was an idiot to think removing the artifacts for the “good” of history was a good call. Like that’s what her mom accused Ricardo of doing. Yet it’s. It okay for him. Only her?
And also, the real kicker on this—Elvira did not have to die. It did not add to the story. It did not feel necessary. This is billed as a ya fantasy. And the way she was brutally murdered felt like something done simply for the shock value. But this isn’t a thriller or a coho book (the reason I dont care for her books). So throwing something in for shock value alone felt so out of place.
Lastly. That epilogue. It implied Whit is marrying Inez with ulterior motives having nothing to do with helping her. And that was the nail in the coffin to a romance I already barely cared about. Oh and speaking of whit…for all the research this author did, she sure didn’t reach British nobility titles. A youngest son of a marquess isn’t truly titled. It’s more like a courtesy title. He’d be lord whit at best. Not Somerset or lord Hayes. His eldest brother would hold those titles once their dad passes. But again, that distinction and revelation felt so random.
And one more lastly…the magic really needed exploring. But it was just there. Blech
This book was such a disappointment the more I think about it.