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kimu23's reviews
735 reviews
Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.25
I think YA authors just don’t understand what is ‘morally grey’. Violet is not morally grey or an antiheroine. It genuinely feels as if YA authors want to make ‘morally grey badass female character’ based on vibes because they are never brave in actually making an unlikable female character.
Violet is not ambitious or driven enough for me. She only reacted to the plot happening and never do anything herself. Cyrus is a prince charming, someone honorable, kind and unfortunately a bit two dimensional. I don’t know enough about the rest of the side characters.
About Cyrus’s betrayal, a lot of readers are rightfully mad at him and the author for moving on from it too fast. I’m one of them too but I saw some readers don’t understand Cyrus’s motivation in betraying Violet. I feel like that’s because the readers thought Violet did nothing wrong in being loyal to the king and conveniently forgotting that the king is the ruler of a colonizer kingdom. Like, he literally mentioned it multiple times that he wanted to colonize other countries. Cyrus is still wrong in betraying her and the author is wrong for redeeming him too quickly, but Violet IS a coward for continuing helping the king.
Honestly this book is more of a lost potential. If only there was at least one aspect its excelled at, then I could actually enjoy it
Violet is not ambitious or driven enough for me. She only reacted to the plot happening and never do anything herself. Cyrus is a prince charming, someone honorable, kind and unfortunately a bit two dimensional. I don’t know enough about the rest of the side characters.
Honestly this book is more of a lost potential. If only there was at least one aspect its excelled at, then I could actually enjoy it
My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas
3.5
Sherry Thomas have cracked the code for second chance romance. I always love the way she writes yearning and her romance almost always a hit for me. I hope one day she would write another historical romance with Asian heroine because I’m pretty sure this series is the only one she wrote with Asian lead.
The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas
3.0
My mistake is not reading the reviews because I thought this was romance, turns out it was a PREQUEL to romance. At some point, I did figure it out but I thought they would meet near the end at least… I mean the summary for the sequel said that thay betrayed each other or something like that so I thought we’re going to see it in this book…
My thoughts of The Hidden Blade :
The author is too in love with England, which is crazy because the author herself is Chinese. She should’ve known all the the horrors. Lady Atwood is potrayed as ‘good’ in here but she is literally a Christian missionary who wants to ‘save’ African people. I don’t know what to say except read some history books…
I hope the actual romance is good though or this will be all for nothing
My thoughts of The Hidden Blade :
The author is too in love with England, which is crazy because the author herself is Chinese. She should’ve known all the the horrors. Lady Atwood is potrayed as ‘good’ in here but she is literally a Christian missionary who wants to ‘save’ African people. I don’t know what to say except read some history books…
I hope the actual romance is good though or this will be all for nothing
Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
The sex scenes are sexy, like actually sexy. The romance is good, I think Griffin is a swoon worthy male lead and the romance scenes are pretty cute.
But the things that I dislike are so annoying to the point that I can’t enjoy this book. WHY do I need to read about Thomas and Silence. Silence is there because she is the next female lead, which is one aspect I fucking hate from historical romance. If I want to read about Silence, I’ll read her damn book!!! THIS IS NOT HER STORY, WHY DID SHE NEED MULTIPLE CHAPTERS FOR HERSELF.
Thomas is a fucking manchild. I can’t believe the author or anyone would actually like his character. The fact that he literally got a romance for himself in this book (WHEN HE IS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER) is so annoying that I have to skim his chapters. I need a minute to calm myself when I read that Hero and Griffin forgave him. His whole character is just… everything unattractive to me for a man.
Basically, this is a mediocre historical romance book
But the things that I dislike are so annoying to the point that I can’t enjoy this book. WHY do I need to read about Thomas and Silence. Silence is there because she is the next female lead, which is one aspect I fucking hate from historical romance. If I want to read about Silence, I’ll read her damn book!!! THIS IS NOT HER STORY, WHY DID SHE NEED MULTIPLE CHAPTERS FOR HERSELF.
Thomas is a fucking manchild. I can’t believe the author or anyone would actually like his character. The fact that he literally got a romance for himself in this book (WHEN HE IS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER) is so annoying that I have to skim his chapters. I need a minute to calm myself when I read that Hero and Griffin forgave him. His whole character is just… everything unattractive to me for a man.
Basically, this is a mediocre historical romance book
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
I don’t like to compare an author of color’s work to a racist white woman but this book is like a better written ACOTAR with more diverse characters. It’s still trashy romance but at least it was readable.
For how popular the fae is in romance, I genuinely don’t understand why people are making them just like humans but with wings. The whole point of a supernatural creature romance is that they are NOT humans. They should look different, act different and think different from humans!!! I want my fae to WEIRD! I want them to be unnatural and unnerving!!! More ‘fae romance’ author NEEDS to understand this!
While I personally thought The Folk in the Air trilogy is overhyped, at least Holly Black know how to write fae characters. Another book that writes excellent fae romance (that I prefer so much more than Holly Black’s series) is An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson. All I’m asking is to make them different from humans, not just add some wings and stupidly long age gap between the leads. Is this not supernatural romance??? Do something SUPERNATURAL!
Other than that, I think this is a decent trashy romance. Like, it’s not something that you would read seriously. The writing is immature and uh… not that great, but it’s good for a quick and light read.
For how popular the fae is in romance, I genuinely don’t understand why people are making them just like humans but with wings. The whole point of a supernatural creature romance is that they are NOT humans. They should look different, act different and think different from humans!!! I want my fae to WEIRD! I want them to be unnatural and unnerving!!! More ‘fae romance’ author NEEDS to understand this!
While I personally thought The Folk in the Air trilogy is overhyped, at least Holly Black know how to write fae characters. Another book that writes excellent fae romance (that I prefer so much more than Holly Black’s series) is An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson. All I’m asking is to make them different from humans, not just add some wings and stupidly long age gap between the leads. Is this not supernatural romance??? Do something SUPERNATURAL!
Other than that, I think this is a decent trashy romance. Like, it’s not something that you would read seriously. The writing is immature and uh… not that great, but it’s good for a quick and light read.
How to Sell Your Blood & Fall in Love by D.N. Bryn
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Cute but at the same time this could be shorter. Sometimes it felts like nothing is happening for a long time. Also I don’t understand why they just won’t kill the antagonists…
I don’t think our protagonists react strongly enough when one of the side characters (Marcus) got killed by the antagonists. Marcus is supposedly one of Justin’s vampire yet the first thing Justin said to Anthony after Marcus got killed is ‘you ruined Clementine’s life’. Yeah sure, but what about the guy that literally just got killed??? Marcus didn’t get a shoutout??
Anyway, the romance is good but the plot doesn’t seem to have any focus. Clementine being ace is something special to me because there aren’t a lot of ace romance in vampire or monster/paranormal romance.
Anyway, the romance is good but the plot doesn’t seem to have any focus. Clementine being ace is something special to me because there aren’t a lot of ace romance in vampire or monster/paranormal romance.
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
My feelings are a bit complicated.
I did kinda enjoyed it. The writing is easy and lighthearted. The characters are diverse and managed to keeps me engaged to the story.
At the same time, the plot is meandering. There are no sense of urgency or danger or excitement. The ‘chosen hero’ trope is actually some of my favourite trope in fantasy simply because if how much potential it had. I feel like nothing was explored deeply in this book. I also prefer a character-centric story and this is mostly… action centric? It’s probably fun to watch it but action did nothing for me when I read it.
Quirky villain annoyed me tbh so Qisami’s POV is my least fave thing in this book but I saw potential in her and Sali’s relationship. Love to see an evil sapphic ship.
I hope Jian and Taishi relationship have more parts in the sequel because the literal reason I want to read this series is because of the promise ‘chosen hero and his master’ trope. It disappoint me that they are seperated for most of the story.
I did kinda enjoyed it. The writing is easy and lighthearted. The characters are diverse and managed to keeps me engaged to the story.
At the same time, the plot is meandering. There are no sense of urgency or danger or excitement. The ‘chosen hero’ trope is actually some of my favourite trope in fantasy simply because if how much potential it had. I feel like nothing was explored deeply in this book. I also prefer a character-centric story and this is mostly… action centric? It’s probably fun to watch it but action did nothing for me when I read it.
Quirky villain annoyed me tbh so Qisami’s POV is my least fave thing in this book but I saw potential in her and Sali’s relationship. Love to see an evil sapphic ship.
I hope Jian and Taishi relationship have more parts in the sequel because the literal reason I want to read this series is because of the promise ‘chosen hero and his master’ trope. It disappoint me that they are seperated for most of the story.
Female General and Eldest Princess by 请君莫笑
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Maybe one day if it got an official translation
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—The Flower of Happiness by Aya Yajima
5.0
Koyoharu Gotouge, my beloved manga author, I need you to start picking up your pen again. Where is her next series???? Heck, she could make more Demon Slayer side stories and I’ll be so grateful. Literally where is she????
Demon Slayer will always be my favorite series simply because how effective it explored its themes. I think Gotouge’s novel writing style in the manga is the biggest contribution and I’ll forever be annoyed that the anime didn’t adapted Gotouge’s narration.
Anyway, I missed my beloved characters and I love to read this short stories. I love reading more about Tanjiro and Nezuko being my favorite siblings in animanga, as well as Tanjiro, Inosuke and Zenitsu friendship. I miss my children a lot.
Demon Slayer will always be my favorite series simply because how effective it explored its themes. I think Gotouge’s novel writing style in the manga is the biggest contribution and I’ll forever be annoyed that the anime didn’t adapted Gotouge’s narration.
Anyway, I missed my beloved characters and I love to read this short stories. I love reading more about Tanjiro and Nezuko being my favorite siblings in animanga, as well as Tanjiro, Inosuke and Zenitsu friendship. I miss my children a lot.