matelliii's reviews
190 reviews

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

dark funny mysterious 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

4.0

Holy shit! The internet is not wrong when they said this book is good despite the genre being under dark romance! And yes, it reminded me of “Butcher & Blackbird” to some extent but in a less fcked up way. The main characters are too self-aware and unabashed in their respective POV which adds to the overall charm of this book, I think. Unlike in some (if not, most) of dark romance books, this one actually has depth and a fleshed-out story line, where it doesn’t merely focus on the MCs lusting for each other (lol). As I said, both MCs are too self-aware that made you think of not taking this book seriously, up until that moment where our MCs found themselves in a very compromising situation. And the banters I just adore!! MMC is not this broody, silent type and was actually an adorable softie in a very DOM body. And FMC is just … badass. I really appreciate it every time an author characterizes their FMCs as “badass” but doesn’t make them act rude and petulant. I really just appreciate that maturity of the main characters when they’re either at work or in serious situations. But when its just between them all the playfulness and flirty-ness just comes out naturally and its just too cute. Safe to say, this couple passed my “
butterflies in the stomach” test. Lol. 
And have I mentioned how freakn funny this book is? ‘cos it is!! The amount of times I highlighted parts and the annotation I give is just ‘LOL’. ahhh, this book gave me too much fun. It has a good balance of romcom and dark romance, which I really appreciate. Maybe I’m still on a high after reading this but I just cant find any thing wrong to say about this book at the moment.

Sunlight by Devney Perry

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

If anyone wants a fast read, this book is for you. This book has a lot going on compressed in a sparse writing. That’s my main critique for this book: I want tor read more from this story. This is one of those “less show and more tell” kind of books and probably one of the main reasons why I’m not sold with both the of the main characters’ relationship. If I want to be sold on a couple’s relationship, I need receipts like conversations. There are barely any conversations between the two of them in this book. and not only that, I want more conversation of them interacting to other people besides themselves. Like a quarter of this book felt like it was spent on them ignoring each other and then on the next moment they’re chatting again. Like what?
 I’m a reader and I love to read especially when romance books tackles situations like unplanned pregnancy between strangers. I need to read how the characters go from complete strangers to being life partners. And I appreciate the whole big(?) reveal at the end about the brother, but it felt unnecessary for me. Why did the author wait that long for her to inform the readers about the fmc’s past? When its pretty obvious from the letters on who those are from. 
Idk, I’m on the fence about this whole thing. And it’s a bummer ‘cos the story is really interesting and the whole situation where characters are in could’ve gone a lot of ways. But the book is too short and it felt to me the author got lazy and got reliant on the who mystery about the letters and the reveal at the end felt … meh.

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.0

If only this book was under the genre of Literary Fiction and not in Romance, maybe I should’ve managed my expectations differently. This book has been recommended on a romance subreddit post and i said why not? I’ve heard of this author before because one of my go-to booktubers kept talking about her books and how she loved. And when i saw that recommendation on reddit i took it as a sign of why not finally read one of her books. And I loved this, actually! The story is compelling and our main character is funny and interesting enough for keep me reading this until the end. And just as i said, for me this leaning more towards the genre of LitFic and had a subgenre of romance. Its not focused on the romance entirely and this is more about Georgina’s journey of navigating a life that seems to have lost a direction, at the same time come into terms with everything that happened to her in the past. And i think it’s beautiful to read her character development from page 1 to the last. 

The only reason why i didnt gave this a full on 5 stars is because of the writing, but i have no one but to blame myself. (Its me, hi! Im the problem its me!) Its because i barely comprehend the British lingo and as someone who is not a native English speaker, this book is hard, sometimes, to read. Especially the British humor of it all!! Yeah, i guess im really unexposed to the British culture cos, that stand up comedy scenes did not get a laugh from me. Lol. I have some laughs but barely. Thats all, with my critiques, i guess. Maybe if i just understood more of the British lingo, this book could’ve been one of my best reads this year. Sad, there’s a lot of head scratching for me. 😅

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.25

Rating: 3.25⭐️/5⭐️ — Oh boy how i enjoyed this book. I kinda expect this to be one of those character driven story but it was not. It kinda was but the plot gave more depth into the progression of our main characters’ relationship. The whole “Amazing Race” is so exhilarating, and what a wonderful setting for our Sebastian and Kaderin’s story. A total page turner and fast paced, with the whole challenges that is happening. And i love how it’s totally different from the first book, how Sebastian is more careful in navigating his feelings towards Kaderin. And, although this is such a step up from book 1 in terms with both plot and romance, I’m starting to think that I’m not into “fated mates” kinda relationships. This is a personal preference, but it felt so shallow how the foundation of a relationship is because of this primitive sense of someone being fated to you. Idk, but just as i said, Im glad that Sebastian is wayyy different than Lachlain in terms of handling his fated partner. He gave her the RESPECT and I love how he gave Kaderin the space she needed and didnt outright forced himself to her. I also love that Kaderin was as confused with her feelings but tried so hard not to just succumbed to it, she even fought for it. Another gripe for me was at the end how the conflict was resolved. Maybe there’s just something i  the writing where it took me a few rereads to comprehend what happened. And i noticed this too the way action scenes are not that well-written, but its average to say the least. But i have to thank overarching imagination for filling in sometimes when the texts are not as descriptive as i wanted it to be. 

In summary, i love the adventurous plot, romance is kinda meh for me but i still appreciate how different it was than the first book, the writing could’ve been improved and the vibes are just vibing! Lol 

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

 “Why did the book title implied ‘winter’ when the whole story was set in a tropical fckn country?!”— me asking this question midway through the book. Like, is it just me??? I was waiting the whole time on where the whole “winter” would took place, up until I realized that the only scene that implied winter was on the prologue, which i completely forgot about up until it was then again mentioned at the latter part of the story. Lol

Now, what to say about this book? Its fine, i guess. Its not a plot driven as the previous book. Its literally just bunch of creatures in the jungle trying to find their way towards civilization while the main couple are horny for each other the whole time. Now lemme talk about Bowen. How wrong i was of my perspective of him back in Book 1. Here I thought he was this “sad boi” kinda guy and i honestly was sympathetic of him. Then comes Book 2 and then this book, like excuse me??? Who’s this guy?? And i did not like him! Like Lachlain, this dude is just rude and territorial and doesn’t give Mari the respect she deserved at first. And, oh my god, the way he just treated Mariketa is 😤😤😤😤. I was really thankful he got that sort of redemption at the end, if not i would’ve been pissed!! Looking at it in retrospect, it still appalled me of how he handled himself when it comes to his ‘questionable yearning’ for Mari. What made his whole attitude bearable are his banters with Mari, which i totally enjoyed, despite him being in denial the whole time. 

Im still on the fence about this. Did i enjoyed reading this? Yes, even tho it’s frustrating at times (Thank you, Bowen, for that). Did i love this more than ‘No rest for the Wicked’? No. The thing i love the previous book is there some sort of structure to it that is kinda absent in this book. Its like majority of the story was spent with Bowen and Mariketa being horny towards each other (lol) and all the important stuffs are loaded at the latter part of the story. Oh well, final verdict: rating this at 2.75⭐️/5⭐️

A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy

emotional funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really need to read more Historical romance because, damn, this book just reminded me why. The books is well written, the prose really gives off the vibe of Regency Era England and in my mind it really transported me in that time period. The characters are lovely. As much as i want to hate Joshua, i just cant!! He reminds me of RDJ’s Sherlock Holmes, he has that kinda aura. Maybe during the latter part of the book, he kinda pissed me off. No, both of them kinda pissed me off, cos they just dont want to have like a proper conversation about their real feelings towards each other and what they wanted from each other. But other than that, the banter between Cassandra and Joshua is so exquisite *chefs kiss*! This book made me laugh, angry, frustrated and teared up! And i wanted an epilogue, like, how are they years after the book? Are they able to conceive again? Is Joshua staying all time at Sunne Park or are there some sort of schedule? I wanted to know😭😭😭😭😭

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

5.0

I feel like Emily Henry wrote this book for me. I cannot count how many times I annotated on the book #RELATABLE to Daphne’s inner musings. Her mindset of being a “leaver” (in Swiftie terms a “Bolter”) was so on point for me. Its me, hi! I’m Daphne, im the problem its me! Which is why, that scene with her mom, their whole conversation right at the very end of the book hits close to home. 
What I don’t appreciate is the way the third act conflict played with my feelings. I literally got disappointed with Miles, although I still stood my ground that what he did is wrong, that going to Petra is not the right move (yeah, I’m that petty lol). And why can’t he text like a normal person?! Anyway, both of them, Daphne and Miles, are flawed characters and the way they talked about that conflict and their flaws at the end of the book is just chef’s kiss. Their communication throughout the book has been so good that Emily Henry has to do this third act conflict just make us feel the feels. Also, that thing with Daphne’s dad is kinda annoying and it gave me great satisfaction and she finally told him off how shitty of a father he was. Daphne’s mom is a superhero for tolerating a dude like that. Best mom, indeed!
Anyway, in my eyes Emily Henry can do no wrong, but Book Lovers and Beach Read still tops the favorite list and this book would be right in the middle. But can I just say, this is probably the horniest book out of the five books she has written. Am I complaining? Hell, no! 😋

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

I bought this book earlier this year and have been putting it off until now. And this is why I put it off for so long because I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of emotions that this duology will enact upon me. The first book devastated me and the second book, THIS, literally obliterated me. I readied myself for the worst, honestly, and it somehow happened and I still broke down reading this. Rebecca Ross really has a way of words that will demand the emotions out of you, even when you already expected things to happen. The story telling and writing of this book is really top notched, no notes. The characters you couldn’t help but love and want what’s best for them. If there’s one thing that would critique is about the lore of the divinities. The whole thing about it still felt very vague to me and the whole history about them was only explained in pieces and in a “he said, she said” kinda way. Like there’s nothing concrete of what exactly the history was up until it was explained personally by one of the divines. Maybe if there’s like a prologue of sorts where it was explained before the story started the origins of why this conflict/war had started. That’s my only gripe to this duology, as an INTP who wants to know and understand everything lol.  

This is still a very solid duology. Tens across the board!

PS. This book made me feel the feelings the same way I feel watching the ship sinking scene in the movie Titanic.  Iykyk 

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The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole

emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

'I kinda wished the author just commit and structured this novella entirely on Nikolai’s POV. Majority of the story has been leaning towards Nikolai’s POV anyway and, as a reader, I barely knew Myst as a character. Even though we got see some of her POVs, it felt like contained and the only thing that was revealed were the superficial things about her. The whole misunderstanding kinda feel off for me, just for the sake of them having this major conflict. It could’ve been handled better if they just freakin talk to each other. But to be fair, I very much prefer Myst and Nikolai’s dynamic than the previous couple, which is Emma and Lachlain. But despite this being like a prologue for the very first book of this series, I don’t actually recommend reading this novella as a start off point for this series. Better read “Hunger Like no Other” first then comeback to this book, so that you’ll get to understand the lore of this series more. Just saying. 

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I’m conflicted about this. But to be fair, this book is really a product of its time, which is probably why I did not like the romance as much. The world building is fun tho! I’m not usually drawn towards paranormal books, ie. Books about vampires, werewolf, etc., but thanks to reddit I was able to discover this from people’s recommendations. And also, its spooky season so might as well get into the vibes of Halloween by reading this, right?

About the romance, I just couldn’t get into the chemistry between Lachlain and Emma. Yes, there’s tension and all, but it felt lacking for me. Their connection is not as organic as I wanted it to be, understanding that we’re in the realm of “fated mates” and all that lore, BUT I JUST NEED MORE. Don’t even get me started with the unconsented spicy scenes, ugh like gross. The romance between them felt more like an objectification, a possession, rather than a pure undying love towards each other. idk, that’s just how I felt.

As for the world building, this I love~! I was more into the lore of this book rather than the romance. The Valkyries are interesting bitches, lol! Although sometimes they’re kinda get annoying but I don’t really care, let the girls be girling, amirite? The terminologies are confusing at first but thankfully, there’s a glossary at the end to explain those things. 

As for the writing, hmm? Its fine, but there are times when I get confused on what the author is trying to convey. Its evident that the author has a wide range of vocabulary but there are times where her sentence structures felt too indistinct for me as a non-English speaker. I was struggling to paint the picture in my mind with how the writing was structured. 

In summary, this is a decent book. It’s a good introductory book for people who wants to indulge in the paranormal genre that is more adult. I enjoyed it, really, but I don’t know about the romance. It gave me the ick at times, lol. It’s a 2.75⭐ for me.