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mayhemboundbookshelf's Reviews (600)
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Katherine Center, MacAudio2025 and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC.
I thought the narration of this book was well done, and I thought the plot and characters were engaging. There was a good mix of characters I loved (hey Rueeee, looking at you!) and characters I HATED (cough COLE cough cough) and interestingly they weren’t the leads. The leads were good, but the real character driven love and hate for me came in with the supporting characters which is interesting. Oh and not to be forgotten was the star of the show, the dog.
I thought the narration of this book was well done, and I thought the plot and characters were engaging. There was a good mix of characters I loved (hey Rueeee, looking at you!) and characters I HATED (cough COLE cough cough) and interestingly they weren’t the leads. The leads were good, but the real character driven love and hate for me came in with the supporting characters which is interesting. Oh and not to be forgotten was the star of the show, the dog.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was perfect. It was the perfect mix of self reflection, societal reflection, anguish, and perspective. In no surprising turn of events, several districts (cough Florida cough cough) have tried or been successful at challenging and banning this book despite its objectively stellar writing, and critical content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to the audio copy of this book, and loved the narration. I also felt so engaged with the story and the characters and thought the premise of the Pale Court was a nuanced enough not to feel like every other underworld type dark fantasy romance out there. I cannot wait to read part 2!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to #macaudio2025 for the opportunity to listen to this ALC! This was one of those books that while I was listening to it, I really enjoyed it. It was engaging and the narration was very well done... but when the book ended, I wasn't craving more, I wasn't sad it ended, I wasn't really left with a sense of WOW that was time well spent... so while I enjoyed it and am happy I read it, it wasn't a favorite for me.
I tried so hard to get invested in this book, but I just didn't find the tone of the writing to be engaging.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for an opportunity to read this ARC.
I loved the concept of this book but unfortunately it fell way short for me in terms of engagement and page-turn-ability. It took me quite a while to get through this book because while a lot did happen, it FELT like nothing happened at all. None of the characters were especially engaging nor did they really develop. They just kind of existed inside a story. This was a miss for me.
I loved the concept of this book but unfortunately it fell way short for me in terms of engagement and page-turn-ability. It took me quite a while to get through this book because while a lot did happen, it FELT like nothing happened at all. None of the characters were especially engaging nor did they really develop. They just kind of existed inside a story. This was a miss for me.
adventurous
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:
Complicated
Thank you to MacAudio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.
I've seen a few reviews of this book so far complaining about the slave/master dynamic and not realizing that it was dark romance, and I think the first is a fair complaint, the second is not. While this was described as a dark romantasy, it didn't make it clear that the slave/master dynamic came into play so I can see how that might have been off-putting. That said, I thought this book, and especially the narration, was really well done. I think it's going to be a big hit with romantasy fans and dragon-lovers for sure and I must say, I really loved that this was set in ancient Rome, it made for a different style that I really liked.
I've seen a few reviews of this book so far complaining about the slave/master dynamic and not realizing that it was dark romance, and I think the first is a fair complaint, the second is not. While this was described as a dark romantasy, it didn't make it clear that the slave/master dynamic came into play so I can see how that might have been off-putting. That said, I thought this book, and especially the narration, was really well done. I think it's going to be a big hit with romantasy fans and dragon-lovers for sure and I must say, I really loved that this was set in ancient Rome, it made for a different style that I really liked.
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Typically I am all in on Ali Hazelwood books and while this one took a little more for me to get into, I still found it to be wonderful. I wish there was a bit more STEM in the STEM/Sport balance but that’s simply because I’ve come to expect that from Hazelwood. Had I not been such a huge fan of her women in STEM focus - I don’t think I’d have minded at all though.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley and Interactive Publications Pty Ltd | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
I read and listen to a ton of WWII historical fiction as well as WWII nonfiction. It’s a time period I cannot get out of my head and I’ve been interested since I was a child. I however, have rarely found anything that focuses so much on the Romani people so this was something I found myself not wanting to press pause on and I’m inspired to learn more about the Romani experience during this time.
I thought this was well written, I felt invested in Rosa’s experience and I was HEARTBROKEN when Peter died just as Rosa learned about their impact on each other’s lives long before they ever “met”.
All in all, I thought this was a great book.
I read and listen to a ton of WWII historical fiction as well as WWII nonfiction. It’s a time period I cannot get out of my head and I’ve been interested since I was a child. I however, have rarely found anything that focuses so much on the Romani people so this was something I found myself not wanting to press pause on and I’m inspired to learn more about the Romani experience during this time.
I thought this was well written, I felt invested in Rosa’s experience and I was HEARTBROKEN when Peter died just as Rosa learned about their impact on each other’s lives long before they ever “met”.
All in all, I thought this was a great book.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
I think it's incredibly difficult to "review" this, as it's not really a subjective book... this is a diary, it is a lived experience, it is a real life snapshot into what life was like for a young girl, and her family, living in hiding during the Holocaust. Above and beyond just that... the abrupt end, really puts into perspective that life changes in an instant. She went from writing in her usual style to suddenly being gone. It's a F**ing tragedy, an absolute horror... and for people to challenge and or ban this book is absolutely disgraceful.