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lambsbooks's reviews
1196 reviews
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
4.25
Update: I'm not going to write anything except that book 2 ended on cliffhangers that were badly addressed in this book (the heir dying like, right away, and ACOTAR being a huge letdown) so that is one of my main reasons for disappointment
If I write any more it will just turn really negative and I don't want that because I still did enjoy this book, it just had so many problems too.
4.25 stars
I feel like I’m betraying my favourite author by rating this book less than 5 stars 😭😭😭😭
Some thoughts to come
If I write any more it will just turn really negative and I don't want that because I still did enjoy this book, it just had so many problems too.
4.25 stars
I feel like I’m betraying my favourite author by rating this book less than 5 stars 😭😭😭😭
Some thoughts to come
The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews
4.0
“I made a vow, in this very room, should anyone bring you harm, you wear them as a promise of what becomes of those who dare touch the Ever Queen. Peel back the gold, and you will have answers to what became of traitors.”
This was fun and I read it in 2 days! I liked all of the characters, I liked Erik’s bone jewelry *smirky smirk* and I liked how everything wrapped up and I’m excited for the next book in the series! Erik and Livia’s story did have a conclusion with this book though!
Okay, now for the not-so-positive stuff.
I really enjoyed the first 50% of the book, I zoomed through it, but then it both dragged on and moved too fast at the same time? I feel like the wording was meant to sound noble or something but it just lacked, I dunno, a naturalness? It may just be that I don’t like the writing style, not sure.
This also wasn’t enemies to lovers. They may have argued in the beginning but they’d always liked each other since they were kids. This isn't a negative or anything, it's just marketed as enemies to lovers but they'd always liked each other - even when they were enemies (I also have pretty high standards for "enemies").
I normally like a long ending but this one dragged on and on. I didn’t hate this or anything, especially since I want to read the next one, I just hoped for a little more.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was fun and I read it in 2 days! I liked all of the characters, I liked Erik’s bone jewelry *smirky smirk* and I liked how everything wrapped up and I’m excited for the next book in the series! Erik and Livia’s story did have a conclusion with this book though!
Okay, now for the not-so-positive stuff.
I really enjoyed the first 50% of the book, I zoomed through it, but then it both dragged on and moved too fast at the same time? I feel like the wording was meant to sound noble or something but it just lacked, I dunno, a naturalness? It may just be that I don’t like the writing style, not sure.
This also wasn’t enemies to lovers. They may have argued in the beginning but they’d always liked each other since they were kids. This isn't a negative or anything, it's just marketed as enemies to lovers but they'd always liked each other - even when they were enemies (I also have pretty high standards for "enemies").
I normally like a long ending but this one dragged on and on. I didn’t hate this or anything, especially since I want to read the next one, I just hoped for a little more.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Illusive, Volume 1 by Emily Lloyd-Jones
4.25
This was really good! Much better than I expected and I'm excited for book 2
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
4.25
This was super fun! I love the idea of Innkeepers, it's so cozy feeling! Dina was such a badass at times!
All of Us Villains by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody
3.5
I dunno what to think about this book. Didn't hate it, didn't love it *shrug*
7th Circle by Tate James
4.75
I read this in like 3 hours? 😅
I forgot that Tate is a SADIST with cliffhangers but luckily I have the next
I forgot that Tate is a SADIST with cliffhangers but luckily I have the next
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten
4.5
If you sin, make it count.
4.5 stars
“Hemlock Queen,” Amelia scoffed. “Such a fierce name for someone ruled by fear. Who damned the world because she was afraid.”
So, most of this is spoilery for this book and book 1, so I’ll start with some general non-spoilery thoughts.
It sounded like something she’d heard before. All of this did, really—something that had happened before and would happen again.
I was using my brain so much in this book, trying to figure out what was happening and what would happen, even if some of it sounded obvious, other things were revealed and I was like well, there goes my theory and my IQ😂
Seems like allowing one god to tell all the stories before disappearing wasn’t the best plan.
It was a very solid book 2 and I am very very much needing book 3, especially after how the end was set up. We got more backstory and magic system explanations, which was long-awaited (well, not that long) and it was pretty satisfying, but that’s a spoiler, so I’ll wait.
“I could never lie to you, Gabe, could I? Not like you could lie to me.”
I flipped between liking Gabe and thinking he was a little bitch. It ended on me liking him so I guess that’s all that matters, but still, I need more growth from him.
The attraction between them was obvious. The want was there. But this situation was already fucked through all seven days without adding actual fucking to the equation.
The tension between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe is killing me slowly. This better end up happy otherwise I’ll riot. This also brings up the good queer rep in this book! I think the majority of characters are bi (or FF or MM pairings) and no one bats an eye. It’s nice to see it accepted in their society.
“I can take care of myself.”
“You have demonstrated over and over again that you absolutely cannot.”
Okay, so that’s not much but I don’t know what else to say without being spoilery so, spoilers below
“Neither Gabe nor Bastian answered, still staring at each other with a heat in their eyes that could mean anything.”
But, like, I need it to be MMF, but they love each other so much and are so tortured and I need it to not be feeling forced on them by the gods, because ohmygod that would be disappointing. Also, don’t be a love triangle in the end, 3 way or no way.
At first, Bastains behaviour was really pissing me off, but then Apollius is revealed and I was literally so happy that it was him being a controlling dick and not Bastian! Like, phew.
“There are two stages to truth. When you first know it, and when you finally speak it aloud to another.”
The way the gods were made!? That was shocking! A fountain, or the soul of the world? I actually laughed a little oops. I loved it though, it gave Apollius such character and I hate him so much more now! Hopefully, with Lore on her way to the Isles now she’ll get closer to finding a cure for them all.
“I will never be apart from you,” he said, the waters of the Fount streaming from his mouth. “You will be mine forever, and you will never speak against me, never share my secrets or betray me. You will never try to leave me, ever.”
But, let’s talk about Apollius…like, the most Ick man and Ick god. Wanting to conquer death by conquering the world too? Ick. The way he treated his friends (obviously not friends) and Nyxara (his possession, not a person, just an object of his ego) ICK
Caius is Jax!?
My jaw full on dropped when that was revealed! Hate that guy and he BETTER not end up marrying Alie, I will also riot.
And Alie is Bastians half sister!?
Literally, all the reveals throughout the book had me gasping 😂
“Part of him wants it,” Apollius whispered into her hair, like He could read her mind. “Wants the release, the rest, of letting Me take over.
Reading Bastian fighting for control with Apollius was so heartbreaking 😭 and learning how much control he didn’t actually have in the end, all the things kept from him😭
“He refuses water sometimes,” Gabe continued. “It’d been a hot day, that time you saw me here, and I was making sure he drank something.” The image of Gabe watering his mentor like a plant in a pot made her shudder.
The above spoilery quote - I almost spit my water out 😂
Anton. That creepy fucker. He deserved the end he got.
Okay, I’m gonna stop here, this is long enough 😂
Thank you to Orbit and the author for providing me with an ARC!!
4.5 stars
“Hemlock Queen,” Amelia scoffed. “Such a fierce name for someone ruled by fear. Who damned the world because she was afraid.”
So, most of this is spoilery for this book and book 1, so I’ll start with some general non-spoilery thoughts.
It sounded like something she’d heard before. All of this did, really—something that had happened before and would happen again.
I was using my brain so much in this book, trying to figure out what was happening and what would happen, even if some of it sounded obvious, other things were revealed and I was like well, there goes my theory and my IQ😂
Seems like allowing one god to tell all the stories before disappearing wasn’t the best plan.
It was a very solid book 2 and I am very very much needing book 3, especially after how the end was set up. We got more backstory and magic system explanations, which was long-awaited (well, not that long) and it was pretty satisfying, but that’s a spoiler, so I’ll wait.
“I could never lie to you, Gabe, could I? Not like you could lie to me.”
I flipped between liking Gabe and thinking he was a little bitch. It ended on me liking him so I guess that’s all that matters, but still, I need more growth from him.
The attraction between them was obvious. The want was there. But this situation was already fucked through all seven days without adding actual fucking to the equation.
The tension between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe is killing me slowly. This better end up happy otherwise I’ll riot. This also brings up the good queer rep in this book! I think the majority of characters are bi (or FF or MM pairings) and no one bats an eye. It’s nice to see it accepted in their society.
“I can take care of myself.”
“You have demonstrated over and over again that you absolutely cannot.”
Okay, so that’s not much but I don’t know what else to say without being spoilery so, spoilers below
“Neither Gabe nor Bastian answered, still staring at each other with a heat in their eyes that could mean anything.”
But, like, I need it to be MMF, but they love each other so much and are so tortured and I need it to not be feeling forced on them by the gods, because ohmygod that would be disappointing. Also, don’t be a love triangle in the end, 3 way or no way.
At first, Bastains behaviour was really pissing me off, but then Apollius is revealed and I was literally so happy that it was him being a controlling dick and not Bastian! Like, phew.
“There are two stages to truth. When you first know it, and when you finally speak it aloud to another.”
The way the gods were made!? That was shocking! A fountain, or the soul of the world? I actually laughed a little oops. I loved it though, it gave Apollius such character and I hate him so much more now! Hopefully, with Lore on her way to the Isles now she’ll get closer to finding a cure for them all.
“I will never be apart from you,” he said, the waters of the Fount streaming from his mouth. “You will be mine forever, and you will never speak against me, never share my secrets or betray me. You will never try to leave me, ever.”
But, let’s talk about Apollius…like, the most Ick man and Ick god. Wanting to conquer death by conquering the world too? Ick. The way he treated his friends (obviously not friends) and Nyxara (his possession, not a person, just an object of his ego) ICK
Caius is Jax!?
My jaw full on dropped when that was revealed! Hate that guy and he BETTER not end up marrying Alie, I will also riot.
And Alie is Bastians half sister!?
Literally, all the reveals throughout the book had me gasping 😂
“Part of him wants it,” Apollius whispered into her hair, like He could read her mind. “Wants the release, the rest, of letting Me take over.
Reading Bastian fighting for control with Apollius was so heartbreaking 😭 and learning how much control he didn’t actually have in the end, all the things kept from him😭
“He refuses water sometimes,” Gabe continued. “It’d been a hot day, that time you saw me here, and I was making sure he drank something.” The image of Gabe watering his mentor like a plant in a pot made her shudder.
The above spoilery quote - I almost spit my water out 😂
Anton. That creepy fucker. He deserved the end he got.
Okay, I’m gonna stop here, this is long enough 😂
Thank you to Orbit and the author for providing me with an ARC!!
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
4.5
"A word of advice…The real deathdealers have morgues in the back. Death's scales are easy to tip."
4.5 stars
I think I’d classify this as a dark fantasy. If that’s not a thing, it should be and I have a bunch of books I want to change the genre of (in my mind).
A deep breath, an attempt to quell the fear. She wondered how her captors might react if she asked for chloroform again. A drugged sleep was preferable to this churn of anxiety, especially when her fate was all but sealed.
This was a really intriguing story. I was constantly trying to predict what would happen so that was fun, kept me on my toes. Lore was a solid FMC, I enjoyed her POV, minus her ability to forgive, I still don’t understand why FMCs are ALWAYS SO FORGIVING!?!?
Next to her, Gabe's shoulders loosened, tension sieving out of him like rain down a gutter. Maybe she looked relieved, too. Maybe both of them were always walking around like there were weights tied to their feet, and they'd never even noticed until someone cut the strings.
Anyway, I thought she had good depth and a good relationship with the other two main characters, Gabe, the tortured monk, and Bastian, the Sun Prince.
"Gabe isn't trying to use me," she said softly. "Gabe is trying to keep me safe."
The prince turned around with a rueful noise, shaking his head.
"Are you so accustomed to being used that you don't realize when it's happening, as long as it's done kindly?"
She had no answer for that.
^^^ This quote hit hard.
Gabe’s righteousness and unfounded, manipulated loyalty to Anton was a huge annoyance throughout the book, I like my MMC 100% for the FMCs, and Gabe just had to many conflicting loyalties for that, so I’m eager to see how this plays out.
"See, had you not just gone through something rather traumatic, I'd be making an off-color joke about that. As it is, I will let it lie. Please admire my restraint."
Bastian was great, the stereotypical playboy Prince until he wasn’t. He showed how much he cared for Lore more than Gabe did, and after the ending, well, I need to see how this ends up! Pleasedon’tletitbealovetrianglewithabadending
The magic system/world-building was interesting and quite unique, so that was refreshing.
A creaking sound cut him off as every corpse in the cavern sat up. As every corpse in the cavern twisted to look at them with dead, blank eyes.
And if it wasn’t obvious from a FMC who can control the essence of death…fucking zombie things.
Then the words cut off, and the dead began to scream.
THERE'S ALWAYS ZOMBIES
At least, until the bodies started moving. Jerky at first, dead limbs waking, and all of it synchronized as if it'd been rehearsed. The right arm rising, fingers flexing. Then the left leg, swinging over the side of the plinths. All the while still screaming, mouths still hanging open.
…
“Rude of them not to answer your questions before they started screaming,” Bastian said.
NOPE
Gabe didn't kiss like seduction. He kissed like he was starving, a hunger born from ill-fitting vows and anger and want.
Anyway, I recommend this book if you like adult fantasy that dark and moody.
Gabriel paled, as if the guard had just given him a live rat “You mean... you mean both of us are staying here?"
A nod from the bloodcoat. "On orders of the King, you and your cousin are both to stay in these apartments for the duration of the season.
Malcolm's dark brow rose.
Gabriel swallowed.
Lore rolled her eyes. “I promise not to impugn your virtue."
4.5 stars
I think I’d classify this as a dark fantasy. If that’s not a thing, it should be and I have a bunch of books I want to change the genre of (in my mind).
A deep breath, an attempt to quell the fear. She wondered how her captors might react if she asked for chloroform again. A drugged sleep was preferable to this churn of anxiety, especially when her fate was all but sealed.
This was a really intriguing story. I was constantly trying to predict what would happen so that was fun, kept me on my toes. Lore was a solid FMC, I enjoyed her POV, minus her ability to forgive, I still don’t understand why FMCs are ALWAYS SO FORGIVING!?!?
Next to her, Gabe's shoulders loosened, tension sieving out of him like rain down a gutter. Maybe she looked relieved, too. Maybe both of them were always walking around like there were weights tied to their feet, and they'd never even noticed until someone cut the strings.
Anyway, I thought she had good depth and a good relationship with the other two main characters, Gabe, the tortured monk, and Bastian, the Sun Prince.
"Gabe isn't trying to use me," she said softly. "Gabe is trying to keep me safe."
The prince turned around with a rueful noise, shaking his head.
"Are you so accustomed to being used that you don't realize when it's happening, as long as it's done kindly?"
She had no answer for that.
^^^ This quote hit hard.
Gabe’s righteousness and unfounded, manipulated loyalty to Anton was a huge annoyance throughout the book, I like my MMC 100% for the FMCs, and Gabe just had to many conflicting loyalties for that, so I’m eager to see how this plays out.
"See, had you not just gone through something rather traumatic, I'd be making an off-color joke about that. As it is, I will let it lie. Please admire my restraint."
Bastian was great, the stereotypical playboy Prince until he wasn’t. He showed how much he cared for Lore more than Gabe did, and after the ending, well, I need to see how this ends up! Pleasedon’tletitbealovetrianglewithabadending
The magic system/world-building was interesting and quite unique, so that was refreshing.
A creaking sound cut him off as every corpse in the cavern sat up. As every corpse in the cavern twisted to look at them with dead, blank eyes.
And if it wasn’t obvious from a FMC who can control the essence of death…fucking zombie things.
Then the words cut off, and the dead began to scream.
THERE'S ALWAYS ZOMBIES
At least, until the bodies started moving. Jerky at first, dead limbs waking, and all of it synchronized as if it'd been rehearsed. The right arm rising, fingers flexing. Then the left leg, swinging over the side of the plinths. All the while still screaming, mouths still hanging open.
…
“Rude of them not to answer your questions before they started screaming,” Bastian said.
NOPE
Gabe didn't kiss like seduction. He kissed like he was starving, a hunger born from ill-fitting vows and anger and want.
Anyway, I recommend this book if you like adult fantasy that dark and moody.
Gabriel paled, as if the guard had just given him a live rat “You mean... you mean both of us are staying here?"
A nod from the bloodcoat. "On orders of the King, you and your cousin are both to stay in these apartments for the duration of the season.
Malcolm's dark brow rose.
Gabriel swallowed.
Lore rolled her eyes. “I promise not to impugn your virtue."