ladywestfall's reviews
689 reviews

Hooked by Emily McIntire

2.0

I was hoping for dark, but I got cheesy instead... I didn't particularly like the writing too. It read like something I would've found free on a fanfiction site. Characters aren't that much likeable at all. Booktok count your days....

Mother of Death & Dawn by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Together, we stitched the world's wounds closed. Together, we gave the life we were about to leave behind one more chance.

This is probably the most beautiful book conclusion I have ever read. This book has destroyed me and put my pieces back again. I don't know a better word to describe how much this book means to me and all these characters. This isn't just a fantasy book for me, it's so much more. It's a book of hope and unwavering love. Tisaanah and Max have my whole heart, even typing this review is making me sob. 

I'm so satisfied at how everything was concluded. It wasn't all just happy, but it's the way Tisaanah and Max were able to achieve the peace and the world they have been hoping for since the start of this series and they made it all come true. The love and devotion of these two to each other made me believe that in even the darkest days, there would always be light. Two broken souls, reshaping a new world. 

I just also loved the way each characters were written and developed throughout the entire series. In a world that has been unkind to each of them, we've seen the differences of how it shaped each one; Max and Tisaanah, even with their broken and imperfect souls were able to still wield goodness out of their hearts. They believed in each other more than anything in this world and that's what saved them; Cardan and Aefe were two people who didn't have enough time to live. They were snatched a future, before they could even begin. They broke my heart the most but also glad that they were together on the other side of life. They did deserve better but their sacrifice have given everyone they left behind a chance for a better future. I did wish Aefe got more than life has given her, but I'm also thankful that Cardan was able to give her back the thing she needed the most even at their short mundane time: Love. My heart just swells for them; Nura is such an interesting, complex character. As much as I hated her, I still could feel her. She was forced to be the kind of person she didn't want to be, to be able to survive in a world that doesn't want her. She thought that being strong would make her feel finally belong, but this very reason also destroyed her and everything she loved. 

I'm just so amazed at how brilliant was the writing on this. The magic system, especially the characters, the epic battles (kinda reminded me of LOTR) and the plot itself was so, so good. One thing about Carissa is that her main characters will not just be inlove but they'll be devoted to each other for life and that's really something beautiful. They won't just love each other, but they'll be two souls finally meeting and completing each other's pieces. This book is like infinite over 5 stars if I'm being honest. Nothing has made me feel so, so overwhelmed in years. Thank you for this book, Carissa! I will miss all of them 🥹

Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? N/A

4.75

All I’d wanted was for this world to be good enough to let her rest. Now she would be fighting forever.

I'm actually speechless by the end of this. I feel like I went through so much because of this book. I cried. I hurt. And cried some more! It's so good.

Honestly, the book started abit slow and it felt SO long for some reason, and then to add an unfamiliar POV too (Aefe) was a real struggle. But then, when everything came full circle and all the connections finally made sense, it was glorious! I was baffled by all of it. I just love how the author slowly incorporated the Fey world in the middle of this. It all made sense. There is indeed greater power than what we know from the first book. I did expect "Reshaye" being "fae" or atleast connected to whatever Aefe was but it still surprised me when it was revealed that she actually is Aefe but in another form. My heart broke for her. I hated Reshaye so much, but knowing now what I know now made me feel for her. What was done to her was so brutal. I get it now... AND GODDAMN, CADUAN IS ALIVE???! One moment, I was crying because how dare the author kill him off??? They didn't have enough time! But then a hundred years later, he was suddenly the mad king and he's been looking for Aefe???? My heart MY HEART. This was such a good reveal, my mouth was hanging and I was screaming! And now Caduan and Aefe are back again, I can't believe this author now have me rooting for two couples!

And of course, my favorites: Tisaanah and Max! I just adore the relationship development between them. It's just so mature. I love how they trust and protect each other. The love runs so deep. They would burn the world for each other if that's what it takes and I actually dig that vibe so much. I love their little moments of happiness. Them in their home. I just want peace for them and the freedom to just be. But god, they've been through so much and up until the end, they couldn't even rest and they're not even together! Max being sentenced to Ilyzath (Nura u fking bitch!!) and Tisaanah being miles away in Threll. I just know my girl would stop at nothing to get Max back and I trust her, but at the same time I'm so scared for both of them. There's just so much going on and I don't know how long I can survive with them not being together! I'm excited though for Tisaanah. I just know she'll bring hell to Nura and I'm all for it. 

I'm so excited about how everything will unfold. I hope Tisaanah and Aefe team up against Nura. I would hate for them to fight against each other. AND PLS PROTECC MAX AT ALL COST!!!

Ashen Son by Carissa Broadbent

3.0

I love Max, but this is just not it for me. I think mostly I skimmed through it...

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My name is Tisaanah. I am a free woman and yet still a slave. I am fragments of many things but a whole of only myself. I am a daughter of no worlds, and all worlds. And I am not done yet.

This book is the perfect combination of badass, emotional, a unique magic system, great character development, and exciting plot lines! The last few chapters are so good, I wish I was seeing it live on a screen. It was so intense, I was holding my breath! And oh, Tisaanah, my brave girl, I love her with my whole heart. She really grew on this book and I just can't help but be proud of her. Maxantarius, my new man!! This guy is the definition of devotion and selflessness. Carissa has once again written a very well dynamic between her main characters. Like how does she do it every single time??? Tisaanah and Max have been through so much darkness in their life and I just love how they have found hope for a better world when they met each other. It's how they saw the world a little better with them in each other's lives. It was sooooo good. And their belief and trust in each other makes me gush so much. I'm so excited to dive in more and hoping that Reshaye will stop being a motherfking bitch 😭

The Coworker by Freida McFadden

3.0

A fast-paced thriller yet again from McFadden but a little underwhelming. It was missing the surprise factor. 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

3.75

I neither hated nor enjoy this as much as Ali's other books. I like that it's different from her other works. It is spicy alright, I just wasn't able to connect to either MCs as much. I'd admit Misery was effortlessly funny. Lowe is okay... The "wife" calling is kinda cute but other than that, it's not much.  

Also, I just wanna say I learned about something I'm not sure I should've. What an experience... I never thought I would ever search google about an Alpha's anatomy but here we are. It's definitely knot your typical love story. 

Credence by Penelope Douglas

1.0

I love a good taboo once in awhile. But this one just annoyed me at most, made me sick to my stomach. Tiernan clearly should've been sent to a therapist rather than her step-uncle's. It's not even the blatant incest that was worse, it was the abuse. Three, strong, able men left alone with a teenager... a horror story. And as fucked up as it was, I would've felt safer with the step uncle, Jake. Or even Noah. But Kaleb, really??? Of course, she chose the man with the longest list of red flags, the man who almost raped her more than once, a man-child, slapped her, called her a slut, emotionally abused her and threw her birth control pills. I just don't get the appeal. And she slept with every family member and we're supposed to pretend this is all normal... I almost gagged. I'm sure there should be a crime here somewhere. Poor girl. Deserved a better family.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

5.0

It was amazing that one season of someone could paint over a lifetime.

I am absolutely inlove with this book! If all of Abby Jimenez's books feel like this, I need to read all of them! Words wouldn't do justice at how beautiful this book was. Right off the bat, Alexis and Daniel's chemistry was off the charts. It was so easy between them. I even love their small conversations. They were twin souls! Daniel has raised my standards again with men like, he's so pure and genuine and good. My heart hurts everytime he undermines himself. He was a thousand times better than all the people in Alexis' life. I love how he loves Alexis the way she deserves to be. I love how he never made her feel inadequate about the mundane things she doesn't know how to do. He taught her and gave her the knowledge she needs. He was patient and selfless. He prioritizes her. It was her or nothing for him. He loves her body and soul. How wonderful it must've felt to be secured, taken cared of and loved like that. And Alexis deserves all the happiness. I'm so proud at what she was able to achieve and how she has grown with Daniel at her side. I love how she finally learned to choose herself and run her life the way she wanted to. They got the best of both worlds and I'm in awe with all of it. This book also felt like a journey for me. Like everything in Wakan, reading this felt a little bit like magic. 

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

“Death is what happens when you stand still,” I said. “Don’t stand still. Not for anything.”

To be honest, it took me quite awhile to grasp and visualize this book. Sylina didn't have sight so she had to rely on a different kind of way with "seeing" things. More like the energy and aura of things around her is how she sees things so this concept was quite difficult to grasp in my head. Sometimes I feel like I forget she's actually blind. The descriptions of whenever she goes by "threads" is still not something I truly understand but fuck it, I loved this book. Carissa has definitely proven to be one of my favorite author now. The way she writes her characters... her mc and fmc makes me always wanna melt in a puddle of love goo. I love Sylina and Atrius so much. I love the slow burn. I love how they progressively developed their relationship and how it didn't feel forced at all. They learned to trust each other, albeit everything starting from a lie. I'm so happy for them and what they were able to achieve together at the end. My King and Queen!!
A shout out also to one of my fave side character: Errekus! Loved his little banters with Sylina.

I'm so excited to see them both again on the upcoming Crown of Nyaxia books! I hope they stay alive and well though! Protect them at all cost, they deserve so much happiness.