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meirinasoe's reviews
167 reviews
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Those first several chapters- the same chapters I’d grown to be so disgusted by him. She never meant those parts as ‘early signs of abuse’, she meant it as literal ROMANCE, just as in all of her other books MMCs have all the red flags- even though they never turned out to be abusers.
You said I “made fun of victims of abuse” because I “said Lily’s weak”??
I was only reciting her lines when she said she didn’t want Allysa to know that she was weak and foolish for falling for Ryle. COHO WROTE THOSE.
Blame Colleen Hoover for those choices of words!
I just told you that many, many women were gaslit into condoning creepy men, and yet here you are rubbing it to our faces that our POVs don’t matter. Again.
Can’t you see that you’re not the only one disadvantaged by the system??
Someone said 1 different POV from the bandwagon and you’re already so mad that I’m not making it all about you.
Did you know that there are certain fan groups with plenty of contents dedicated to defending Ryle, and that Lily should’ve given him another chance??
Maybe you should’ve channelled your negativity at them instead!!
Could you even grasp the connection on why these people are so eager to defend Ryle?? Because CoHo frikkin ROMANTICIZED him! And that’s what I’m trying to expose!
But in any case, CONGRATS, this rant review is dedicated to you, proving my point about how women who spot red flags are being gaslit and continued to be gaslit.
Because we’re not VICTIMIZED enough, right??
Not abused enough. Not battered enough to have an opinion.
Nowadays, you need the victim badge to thrive in this society.
But anyway.
I don’t think the remaining 2/3 of the book is that bad since the abusive situations were being handled pretty much by-the-book, and Ryle’s no longer being romanticized at this point so that’s fine with me.
Contrary to a certain person’s belief, I’ve consumed many many fictional depictions of domestic abuse, and this is the only one that’s very unsettling.
May I direct you to better alternatives like Big Little Lies series on HBO,
and Picture Perfect by Jody Picoult which is a 99999x upgrade of IEWU. Yet it has 3.5 rating and IEWU has 4.3.
I guess Tiktok fame is everything.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Here goes the rant.
First, I would like to admit that I only read this book because of Blake Lively, who was announced to be cast as Lily in the book. I adore her as an actress, I enjoyed several of her movies and I especially looove her red-carpet dresses.
And I am disappointed that she chose to play in an adaptation of THIS book. Gah, it must be good money.
I am not the first or the last person who says this book is deeply harmful and problematic.
But unlike most discourse I’ve seen around the internet, my issue isn’t with the co-parenting ending being “unrealistic” or not. No, that is very realistic.
It is a fact that for the early 30% of this book, the author tried so hard to portray Ryle as romantic or sexy, while he truly was the epitome of misogyny.
Nothing was ever attractive from Ryle since page 1, and it’s very disturbing to push the readers the other way.
A lot, a lot of women reached out to me in DMs about how they’ve been pursued by a guy in this exact way, and were constantly gaslit, being told that they are overthinking and that they need to lighten up. We were told, even by fellow women that we should just give in and accept him, or that we should instead be grateful for the attention he’s paying us!
They are very thankful that I chose to point out this aspect of the book because they hadn’t dared to do those years before when they read it because this book is so hyped and loved! …partially, also a side-effect of the gaslighting.
They are glad that finally there’s one of us who could amplify all of our voices.
Yet ONE person still had the nerve to say that me pointing out that CoHo trying to paint Ryle’s misogyny as attractive as “victim blaming”.
Hold on, hold that- hold your Political Correctness for a moment.
Let’s see what the author herself said in her notes:
First, I would like to admit that I only read this book because of Blake Lively, who was announced to be cast as Lily in the book. I adore her as an actress, I enjoyed several of her movies and I especially looove her red-carpet dresses.
And I am disappointed that she chose to play in an adaptation of THIS book. Gah, it must be good money.
I am not the first or the last person who says this book is deeply harmful and problematic.
But unlike most discourse I’ve seen around the internet, my issue isn’t with the co-parenting ending being “unrealistic” or not. No, that is very realistic.
It is a fact that for the early 30% of this book, the author tried so hard to portray Ryle as romantic or sexy, while he truly was the epitome of misogyny.
Nothing was ever attractive from Ryle since page 1, and it’s very disturbing to push the readers the other way.
A lot, a lot of women reached out to me in DMs about how they’ve been pursued by a guy in this exact way, and were constantly gaslit, being told that they are overthinking and that they need to lighten up. We were told, even by fellow women that we should just give in and accept him, or that we should instead be grateful for the attention he’s paying us!
They are very thankful that I chose to point out this aspect of the book because they hadn’t dared to do those years before when they read it because this book is so hyped and loved! …partially, also a side-effect of the gaslighting.
They are glad that finally there’s one of us who could amplify all of our voices.
Yet ONE person still had the nerve to say that me pointing out that CoHo trying to paint Ryle’s misogyny as attractive as “victim blaming”.
Hold on, hold that- hold your Political Correctness for a moment.
Let’s see what the author herself said in her notes:
“…I didn’t want Ryle to be who he was going to be because I had fallen in love with him in those first several chapters, just as Lily had fallen in love with him.”
Those first several chapters- the same chapters I’d grown to be so disgusted by him. She never meant those parts as ‘early signs of abuse’, she meant it as literal ROMANCE, just as in all of her other books MMCs have all the red flags- even though they never turned out to be abusers.
You said I “made fun of victims of abuse” because I “said Lily’s weak”??
I was only reciting her lines when she said she didn’t want Allysa to know that she was weak and foolish for falling for Ryle. COHO WROTE THOSE.
Blame Colleen Hoover for those choices of words!
I just told you that many, many women were gaslit into condoning creepy men, and yet here you are rubbing it to our faces that our POVs don’t matter. Again.
Can’t you see that you’re not the only one disadvantaged by the system??
Someone said 1 different POV from the bandwagon and you’re already so mad that I’m not making it all about you.
Did you know that there are certain fan groups with plenty of contents dedicated to defending Ryle, and that Lily should’ve given him another chance??
Maybe you should’ve channelled your negativity at them instead!!
Could you even grasp the connection on why these people are so eager to defend Ryle?? Because CoHo frikkin ROMANTICIZED him! And that’s what I’m trying to expose!
But in any case, CONGRATS, this rant review is dedicated to you, proving my point about how women who spot red flags are being gaslit and continued to be gaslit.
Because we’re not VICTIMIZED enough, right??
Not abused enough. Not battered enough to have an opinion.
Nowadays, you need the victim badge to thrive in this society.
But anyway.
I don’t think the remaining 2/3 of the book is that bad since the abusive situations were being handled pretty much by-the-book, and Ryle’s no longer being romanticized at this point so that’s fine with me.
Contrary to a certain person’s belief, I’ve consumed many many fictional depictions of domestic abuse, and this is the only one that’s very unsettling.
May I direct you to better alternatives like Big Little Lies series on HBO,
and Picture Perfect by Jody Picoult which is a 99999x upgrade of IEWU. Yet it has 3.5 rating and IEWU has 4.3.
I guess Tiktok fame is everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment
Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism
Shatter Girl by Shay Fuentes
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Ascension of the Orc King by Lionel Hart
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The big fight that was supposed to be the climax was resolved so early in the beginning so it felt a bit anticlimatic and the next conflict a bit unnecessary.
I think it's better if the two were closer (back-to-back) to each other or was combined.
But I love the little heartwarming ending.
Zorvut speaks 4 language and I had hoped they'd shown Taegan having learning Orcish too in the epilogue.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 round up
I think it's better if the two were closer (back-to-back) to each other or was combined.
But I love the little heartwarming ending.
Zorvut speaks 4 language and I had hoped they'd shown Taegan having learning Orcish too in the epilogue.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 round up
Blood of the Orc Prince by Lionel Hart
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is just okayish compared to the 1st one.
Tho honestly I crave for King Ruven x King-Consort Alain prequel or smthg (Taegan's dads) 😂🤧
One question: How does a Bard know anything about combat magic? Wouldn't it be more convenient to make him a retired soldier or bodyguard?
But I'm still looking forward for the final installment!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Tho honestly I crave for King Ruven x King-Consort Alain prequel or smthg (Taegan's dads) 😂🤧
One question: How does a Bard know anything about combat magic? Wouldn't it be more convenient to make him a retired soldier or bodyguard?
But I'm still looking forward for the final installment!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Claimed by the Orc Prince by Lionel Hart
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An MM Arranged Marriage fantasy ? Count me in! (2)
THIS. This is a book that you read to get out of slump.
It's a simple, spicy romantic escapism!
I love how the fictional races are biologically queer.
I also love the positive queer family experience with happy gay dads. We definitely need to see more of that in queer books.
Also, caring and doting father figures.
It's getting rarer to spot them in fiction, lately.
I enjoyed it. It just fell a little short in matters of plot.
4⭐️/5
THIS. This is a book that you read to get out of slump.
It's a simple, spicy romantic escapism!
I love how the fictional races are biologically queer.
I also love the positive queer family experience with happy gay dads. We definitely need to see more of that in queer books.
Also, caring and doting father figures.
It's getting rarer to spot them in fiction, lately.
I enjoyed it. It just fell a little short in matters of plot.
4⭐️/5
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I didn't enjoy it at all, sorry.
An Encore of Roses by S.T. Gibson
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5⭐/5
I enjoyed this book enough to say that I liked it, but couldn't say that I loved it.
I never read the original book of Dracula, I only knew that he had three brides in that version, only in this version one of them was turned into a groom.
It also felt similar to Interview with the Vampire to me- rehashing the same idea, the whole: "we are trapped with him/ this life, so we must kill him", and striking character parallels:
Constanta as Louis - Magdalena was Antoinette - and Alexi as Claudia;
Noting the incestuous undertones of Louis and Claudia's relationship in the books.
The premise of the polyamorous dynamics was interesting, but something had always felt a little shallow with how they were executed. They were monotonous and stereotyped. I hate how Constanta infantilized Alexi, yet had no problem to sexualize Magdalena since the first time they met.
And, let me say this loud and clear: Stop 👏 infantilizing 👏 effeminate 👏 queer men. 👏
It left a foul taste whenever Constanta continued to refer to Alexi as "young" and "little" even though he's already aged up as a vampire like the rest of them. Continued to refer to herself as "a mother protecting her son" even though she was attracted to him and bedded him too in the end. Yet he's the only one who received- and continued to receive- the juvenile treatment. She had never once felt like Magdalena's mom, even though she's also centuries older than her. If it's about age, she should have felt like the mom to both of them.
The relationship between the women and Dracula is framed like the usual toxic hetero relationship, submissive women subdued by overbearing and controlling man- yet with the Alexi it's treated like an older man manipulating a young boy.
...And you know the issues of portraying an MM relationship like that. I'm not saying that you can't write a toxic MM relationship, but please..... gay people and pedophilia is a both harmful and outdated stereotype that has been tirelessly milked by homophobes.
I hated the ending, I felt like I was yanked from a misty fantasy world into the mundaneness of a real world.
Also, the core message of it fell a little flat and basic. I was expecting a grayer, more nuanced theme from a bizarre materials and polyamorous relationships than just "baaad abusive man bad".
I enjoyed this book enough to say that I liked it, but couldn't say that I loved it.
I never read the original book of Dracula, I only knew that he had three brides in that version, only in this version one of them was turned into a groom.
It also felt similar to Interview with the Vampire to me- rehashing the same idea, the whole: "we are trapped with him/ this life, so we must kill him", and striking character parallels:
Constanta as Louis - Magdalena was Antoinette - and Alexi as Claudia;
Noting the incestuous undertones of Louis and Claudia's relationship in the books.
The premise of the polyamorous dynamics was interesting, but something had always felt a little shallow with how they were executed. They were monotonous and stereotyped. I hate how Constanta infantilized Alexi, yet had no problem to sexualize Magdalena since the first time they met.
And, let me say this loud and clear: Stop 👏 infantilizing 👏 effeminate 👏 queer men. 👏
It left a foul taste whenever Constanta continued to refer to Alexi as "young" and "little" even though he's already aged up as a vampire like the rest of them. Continued to refer to herself as "a mother protecting her son" even though she was attracted to him and bedded him too in the end. Yet he's the only one who received- and continued to receive- the juvenile treatment. She had never once felt like Magdalena's mom, even though she's also centuries older than her. If it's about age, she should have felt like the mom to both of them.
The relationship between the women and Dracula is framed like the usual toxic hetero relationship, submissive women subdued by overbearing and controlling man- yet with the Alexi it's treated like an older man manipulating a young boy.
...And you know the issues of portraying an MM relationship like that. I'm not saying that you can't write a toxic MM relationship, but please..... gay people and pedophilia is a both harmful and outdated stereotype that has been tirelessly milked by homophobes.
I hated the ending, I felt like I was yanked from a misty fantasy world into the mundaneness of a real world.
Also, the core message of it fell a little flat and basic. I was expecting a grayer, more nuanced theme from a bizarre materials and polyamorous relationships than just "baaad abusive man bad".
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
his book tackles a lot of interesting themes such as ignorant govenrment, gender, transition and immigration/xenophobia Tho I think I would've liked it more if it had been a full length novel, I think the author would've delivered the themes more efficiently if given more space. I love the queer-normative setting where our pronouns are attached to out names, and I like how the magic is interlaced with science.