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meirinasoe's reviews
167 reviews
Breathless by Lianyu Tan
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Until I Meet My Husband by Ryousuke Nanasaki
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
4.0
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A queer arranged marriage? Count me in!!
Velasin vin Aaro and Caethari Aeduria has made their way up to one of my top-tier book couples, and I believe the latter deserved to be awarded as Best Book Husband of the Year.
This book has its flaws, but the romance??? Best since Captive Prince.
It's been a while since a 'first kiss' scene made me giddy and warm with butterflies (last time it was Prince's Gambit last year). Every one of the build-up scenes had made me smile ear to ear. The sex scene is so tastefully done, especially considering what Velasin has been through in the story.
And have I mentioned that they're both cinnamon rolls?
The only thing that irked me about the romance was that even it's perfectly slowburn, as far as writing goes, it's not really a slowburn timeline-wise, as it all happened in a single week. Why not change it to several weeks or months? The storyline is complex enough for that.
Vel, a genius, a perfect fit to a husband who's the epitome of "no thoughts, head empty". He and Cae definitely gave off some Johnlock vibes. (I think by now we're too used to getting dumb, indecisive MCs who's constantly need of saving by their friends and love interests, that we get super excited to see an MC with brains.)
Although the revelation of the mystery came of a little disappointing considering everything that builds up to it... but at that point I've become too emotionally invested in Vel and Cae to deduct any stars!!
Velasin vin Aaro and Caethari Aeduria has made their way up to one of my top-tier book couples, and I believe the latter deserved to be awarded as Best Book Husband of the Year.
This book has its flaws, but the romance??? Best since Captive Prince.
It's been a while since a 'first kiss' scene made me giddy and warm with butterflies (last time it was Prince's Gambit last year). Every one of the build-up scenes had made me smile ear to ear. The sex scene is so tastefully done, especially considering what Velasin has been through in the story.
And have I mentioned that they're both cinnamon rolls?
The only thing that irked me about the romance was that even it's perfectly slowburn, as far as writing goes, it's not really a slowburn timeline-wise, as it all happened in a single week. Why not change it to several weeks or months? The storyline is complex enough for that.
Vel, a genius, a perfect fit to a husband who's the epitome of "no thoughts, head empty". He and Cae definitely gave off some Johnlock vibes. (I think by now we're too used to getting dumb, indecisive MCs who's constantly need of saving by their friends and love interests, that we get super excited to see an MC with brains.)
Although the revelation of the mystery came of a little disappointing considering everything that builds up to it... but at that point I've become too emotionally invested in Vel and Cae to deduct any stars!!
Captive in the Underworld by Lianyu Tan
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
A friend recommended me this book, so I'm glad I didn't go in blind and was made aware of all the trigger warnings. The beginning did drag a little, although it did pick up after 60% (that's why it took a month for me to finish it). I liked the smut when it finally gets consensual, but also it was a big letdown that the only few consensual sex we got was glossed over, and the descriptive and graphic ones were noncon :(
We deserve a wholesome sapphic spice.
We deserve a wholesome sapphic spice.
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
This book is GOD TIER, I told you.
Easily the best book I’ve read in 2021, if not ever.
Why???
Because it gives you ever-y-thing that you want but wouldn’t find in a typical, formulaic fantasy story, to the point where I never knew a book like this would ever exist.
I had been waiting for it for a month till it finally arrived at my doorstep, and dropped everything on my TBR to read it. I had sworn so many times that because the author had raised my expectation so high I would give an honest, blatant and critical review.
And it turns out to be UNBELIEVABLE.
Even though the premise sounds like HP I promise you, it's ANYTHING BUT!! It’s everything that HP had never given you (and still won't!).
WILL KEMPEN, our main character is a total sweetheart, and I’d die for him. You'd die for him. But instead of a selfless, righteous flawless hero who willingly does what everyone bids him to, he acts on his own free will. He’s like a morally grey version of Peter Parker. He’s so intelligent, it surprised me at this point because most MCs are often dumb or dumbed down so that their love interests or other characters could have their shine. Will is anything but those; he has his own moral compass, he takes charge.
This brings us to the Side Characters.
Even though Will wasn’t being dumbed down, the other characters were just as interesting.
There isn’t a single boring character in this book, all of the side characters are fleshed out, and I must thank C. S. Pacat for bringing authentic diversity into this book.
While most diverse characters in a typical fantasy are either token or an afterthought, the diversity Dark Rise is genuine, it is rooted within the characters.
VIOLET: Though I was afraid she’d become the archetypal strong, disguised-as-a-man girl, I ended up liking her very much. I like how she turned out and her character growth. I’m glad that she made it in the end and looking forward to how she’d deal with her family.
JUSTICE: Justice… Our hardworking, righteous steward. I love him. As an Asian, I enjoyed the portrayal of his character, far from the harmful stereotypes. I wish I could see more of him, or learn about him in
CYPRIAN: He grabbed my interest as soon as he was introduced as a Mediterranean. There aren’t many characters with that background. With hair like that, I imagine he’d look like a Greek god.
KATHERINE: I know what you all are thinking. Yes, she came across as annoying at first, but I could see where she’s coming from. I like that she isn’t the innocent, blushing girl, that she had the nerve to actually flirt.
Another breath of fresh air is the portrayal of male/female platonic relationships. I hope that in the future, Will and Violet will stay friends. This book hasn’t shown them to be anything other than that, and I hope it stays so, as someone who also has a best friend of the opposite sex.
And last but not least, JAMES ST. CLAIR. James. James… I can’t talk more about him cause it’d be a spoiler, but. James, he’s just a baby. He’s so pure! Protect him!
Nobody tells you this, but this book is really a Slow-burn, ENEMIES TO LOVERS queer romance. It has all the feels, the tension, innuendos, and the banters are all silver-tongued.
I think the book is in the correct length, and there aren’t too slow-paced or filler chapters at all, everything was solid.
I couldn’t predict most of the story, but I did guess THE ONE big plot twist, and I was right. My god, that had to be the best foreseeable plot twists ever! It’s everything I’d ever wish for, and more.
If you know, you know ;)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
20 stars/5 stars,
Because I can
Easily the best book I’ve read in 2021, if not ever.
Why???
Because it gives you ever-y-thing that you want but wouldn’t find in a typical, formulaic fantasy story, to the point where I never knew a book like this would ever exist.
I had been waiting for it for a month till it finally arrived at my doorstep, and dropped everything on my TBR to read it. I had sworn so many times that because the author had raised my expectation so high I would give an honest, blatant and critical review.
And it turns out to be UNBELIEVABLE.
Even though the premise sounds like HP I promise you, it's ANYTHING BUT!! It’s everything that HP had never given you (and still won't!).
WILL KEMPEN, our main character is a total sweetheart, and I’d die for him. You'd die for him. But instead of a selfless, righteous flawless hero who willingly does what everyone bids him to, he acts on his own free will. He’s like a morally grey version of Peter Parker. He’s so intelligent, it surprised me at this point because most MCs are often dumb or dumbed down so that their love interests or other characters could have their shine. Will is anything but those; he has his own moral compass, he takes charge.
This brings us to the Side Characters.
Even though Will wasn’t being dumbed down, the other characters were just as interesting.
There isn’t a single boring character in this book, all of the side characters are fleshed out, and I must thank C. S. Pacat for bringing authentic diversity into this book.
While most diverse characters in a typical fantasy are either token or an afterthought, the diversity Dark Rise is genuine, it is rooted within the characters.
VIOLET: Though I was afraid she’d become the archetypal strong, disguised-as-a-man girl, I ended up liking her very much. I like how she turned out and her character growth. I’m glad that she made it in the end and looking forward to how she’d deal with her family.
JUSTICE: Justice… Our hardworking, righteous steward. I love him. As an Asian, I enjoyed the portrayal of his character, far from the harmful stereotypes. I wish I could see more of him, or learn about him in
CYPRIAN: He grabbed my interest as soon as he was introduced as a Mediterranean. There aren’t many characters with that background. With hair like that, I imagine he’d look like a Greek god.
KATHERINE: I know what you all are thinking. Yes, she came across as annoying at first, but I could see where she’s coming from. I like that she isn’t the innocent, blushing girl, that she had the nerve to actually flirt.
Another breath of fresh air is the portrayal of male/female platonic relationships. I hope that in the future, Will and Violet will stay friends. This book hasn’t shown them to be anything other than that, and I hope it stays so, as someone who also has a best friend of the opposite sex.
And last but not least, JAMES ST. CLAIR. James. James… I can’t talk more about him cause it’d be a spoiler, but. James, he’s just a baby. He’s so pure! Protect him!
Nobody tells you this, but this book is really a Slow-burn, ENEMIES TO LOVERS queer romance. It has all the feels, the tension, innuendos, and the banters are all silver-tongued.
I think the book is in the correct length, and there aren’t too slow-paced or filler chapters at all, everything was solid.
I couldn’t predict most of the story, but I did guess THE ONE big plot twist, and I was right. My god, that had to be the best foreseeable plot twists ever! It’s everything I’d ever wish for, and more.
If you know, you know ;)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
20 stars/5 stars,
Because I can
Crier's War by Nina Varela
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have to admit, this was a letdown.
The book started off very intriguing with all the world-building and details, but the execution was a letdown, as it failed to deliver all of its premises. Sort of what happened with Multiverse of Madness.
The Romance: the biggest letdown, it hardly felt like "enemies to lovers". There was barely any build-up, moral conflic or tension between them. We don't even get to see them fall in love when they're together, they just suddenly decided that they like each other in monologues when they're alone.
And the "sexual desire" was so out-of-nowhere and completely unnecessary. Again, they weren't even together, when one of the MCs decided that they wanted to bang the other- after seeing other people having sex.
The Sci-fi: we're keep being told by the author that Automaes are better or more enlightened than humans, which reminds me of the parasitic aliens "Souls" in Stephenie Meyer's The Host- and yet completely failed to show that too. I see no difference between automae and humans, they're just as dismissive, deceitful and sexist to each other as any other human beings. (I can't believe I'd ever praise Stephenie Meyer but) at least in The Host, we're truly shown how the Souls exempt themselves from Violence. Automaes don't have that distinction. We're simply told, not shown.
Everyone's morality is also very black and white. It's just good guys doing good things and bad guys doing awful things. There's no grey area, you're either bad or good. No good guys doing bad things for the sake of greater goods, no bad guys doing things that's actually beneficial to some.
Plus, it uses the fake death trope, a trope where the writer declared a character's death only for them to later be shown alive as a shock value. I hate it.
Nevertheless, I find the writing strangely addictive and easy-to-read that I managed to finish this book in 24 hours, despite its flaws.
⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
The book started off very intriguing with all the world-building and details, but the execution was a letdown, as it failed to deliver all of its premises. Sort of what happened with Multiverse of Madness.
The Romance: the biggest letdown, it hardly felt like "enemies to lovers". There was barely any build-up, moral conflic or tension between them. We don't even get to see them fall in love when they're together, they just suddenly decided that they like each other in monologues when they're alone.
And the "sexual desire" was so out-of-nowhere and completely unnecessary. Again, they weren't even together, when one of the MCs decided that they wanted to bang the other- after seeing other people having sex.
The Sci-fi: we're keep being told by the author that Automaes are better or more enlightened than humans, which reminds me of the parasitic aliens "Souls" in Stephenie Meyer's The Host- and yet completely failed to show that too. I see no difference between automae and humans, they're just as dismissive, deceitful and sexist to each other as any other human beings. (I can't believe I'd ever praise Stephenie Meyer but) at least in The Host, we're truly shown how the Souls exempt themselves from Violence. Automaes don't have that distinction. We're simply told, not shown.
Everyone's morality is also very black and white. It's just good guys doing good things and bad guys doing awful things. There's no grey area, you're either bad or good. No good guys doing bad things for the sake of greater goods, no bad guys doing things that's actually beneficial to some.
Plus, it uses the fake death trope, a trope where the writer declared a character's death only for them to later be shown alive as a shock value. I hate it.
Nevertheless, I find the writing strangely addictive and easy-to-read that I managed to finish this book in 24 hours, despite its flaws.
⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
2⭐/5
Are straight women okay??
First off, I will not be affected by how everyone else rated this book.
I will not be pressured to like what I personally find daunting.
Piper Bellinger's entire life seemed to entirely revolve around men. All she cares about is about a man’s opinions, and men, and men, and men. How a man would view his side-boobs and booty, if a man thinks she was provocative, what of her ex-boyfriend's opinions, whatever, whatever.
If only she could stop worrying about what a pen*s thinks for 5 seconds.
The only moments I genuinely enjoy are the “platonic” ones, like when Piper and her sister rekindled with their long-lost grandmother. Or, when she rediscovered the memories of her late father. Those are the only ones saving it from a 1⭐ rating.
Too bad they must be overshadowed by the ghastly “romance”.
And THE SPICE ISN'T EVEN THAT GREAT!!
You know that a book is so unappealing when you stopped reading, for days, in the middle of a sex scene.
The author really loves to describe nipples as "points", and they strangely:
- gets hard when she sees a sexually attractive man
- gets hard by smelling his scent in a car (the man isn't even there!)
For a woman, she really has no idea how her own anatomy works.
He went down on her, and she said:
“maybe he was Jesus”.
How on earth did anyone find that appealing??
As soon as Brendan Taggart, our Male Lead walked into the scene, he immediately becomes the epitome of the "male gaze". I might be one of the few who felt grossed out and disgusted by his dehumanizing and infantilizing monologues about Piper, her white panties, getting an erection just by looking at her eyes or seeing her crossed her legs.
But let's not also forget that he:
- pressured Piper into admitting they were “more than friends” by groping her genitals;
while she was trying to uphold her boundaries (she’s not ready to start a new relationship yet)
- went absolutely furious when she appeared to be uncertain by said decisions (you know, that he made for her)
You’ve known her a couple of weeks and she’s to abandon her entire life, everyone she knows, to follow your lifestyle? *chuckles
He apologized in the end, but the genital-grabbing and boundaries-breaking is still a Red flag worthy of mention!
Are straight women okay??
First off, I will not be affected by how everyone else rated this book.
I will not be pressured to like what I personally find daunting.
Piper Bellinger's entire life seemed to entirely revolve around men. All she cares about is about a man’s opinions, and men, and men, and men. How a man would view his side-boobs and booty, if a man thinks she was provocative, what of her ex-boyfriend's opinions, whatever, whatever.
If only she could stop worrying about what a pen*s thinks for 5 seconds.
The only moments I genuinely enjoy are the “platonic” ones, like when Piper and her sister rekindled with their long-lost grandmother. Or, when she rediscovered the memories of her late father. Those are the only ones saving it from a 1⭐ rating.
Too bad they must be overshadowed by the ghastly “romance”.
And THE SPICE ISN'T EVEN THAT GREAT!!
You know that a book is so unappealing when you stopped reading, for days, in the middle of a sex scene.
The author really loves to describe nipples as "points", and they strangely:
- gets hard when she sees a sexually attractive man
- gets hard by smelling his scent in a car (the man isn't even there!)
For a woman, she really has no idea how her own anatomy works.
He went down on her, and she said:
“maybe he was Jesus”.
How on earth did anyone find that appealing??
As soon as Brendan Taggart, our Male Lead walked into the scene, he immediately becomes the epitome of the "male gaze". I might be one of the few who felt grossed out and disgusted by his dehumanizing and infantilizing monologues about Piper, her white panties, getting an erection just by looking at her eyes or seeing her crossed her legs.
But let's not also forget that he:
- pressured Piper into admitting they were “more than friends” by groping her genitals;
while she was trying to uphold her boundaries (she’s not ready to start a new relationship yet)
- went absolutely furious when she appeared to be uncertain by said decisions (you know, that he made for her)
You’ve known her a couple of weeks and she’s to abandon her entire life, everyone she knows, to follow your lifestyle? *chuckles
He apologized in the end, but the genital-grabbing and boundaries-breaking is still a Red flag worthy of mention!
Structural Strain by Tabitha O’Connell
challenging
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
(One of my favourite 2022 reads, just realized that I haven't leave a review)
Kel is my precious little sunshine.
I became repeatedly worried for him- I'm afraid that Yaan was mistreating him again, unfortunately he didn't!
I really HATED Yaan in book 1, but the way he's changed here surprised me. And as someone who's gone through the same struggles, what happened to both of them completely broke my heart in this one.
I stumbled across Structural Integrity by accident and loved it. So I wasted no time in acquiring the sequel when it came out. And I heard there would be a book 3???
Please do, cause I need a happy ending for my baby Kel.
Kel is my precious little sunshine.
I became repeatedly worried for him- I'm afraid that Yaan was mistreating him again, unfortunately he didn't!
I really HATED Yaan in book 1, but the way he's changed here surprised me. And as someone who's gone through the same struggles, what happened to both of them completely broke my heart in this one.
I stumbled across Structural Integrity by accident and loved it. So I wasted no time in acquiring the sequel when it came out. And I heard there would be a book 3???
Please do, cause I need a happy ending for my baby Kel.
Broken Bonds by J. Bree
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Is girl-on-girl hate still in trend these days?
I thought it died down in the 2000s…
Let’s see how the FMC describe other women in this book:
“…or that bitch Giovanna?”
“It kills me how little she thinks of herself thanks to Giovanna” (while it’s her best friend’s bond who betrayed her, not Giovanna)
“Nothing would make me happier than killing that bitch”
“completely insane girls”
“giggling airheads”
“…the rest of her is fucking disgusting. I don’t know how Riley can’t stand touching her because her looks can’t compensate for the shitty personality”
“would mess her up right now”
“I’ll end up hunting her down and ruining her.”
“I need to forget what that bitch’s voice sounds like.”
“…that tanned skank of a woman.”
“How fucking evil bitch she is.”
“something about a girl who’s skating by completely on her looks”
“You are an absolute cunt!”
“Motherfucking cocksucking, cunt of a thing,”
“…we hate Giovanna and want to murder her”
“that nightmare of a girl”
“Fuck that, I want her dead.”
“Amy, who’s name I know because Sage loathes her, and even the sound of her voice has my hackles rising.”
“I don’t know this girl but her shirt is so low that I’m sure Nox is getting a great view of her nipples right now.”
"at least ten other girls here rocking a better rack than mine, and Gabe has probably fucked them all,"
"...in a tiny bikini that makes mine look freaking supersized. To be honest, it’s not even a bikini, she’s wearing some red string that just barely covers her nipples and slit."
"I’m not trying to slut-shame, but it’s just impractical." (LMAO!! YOU SURE???)
"she’s pissed that I've come back and now she has to compete with me."
"I’m higher up the food chain than those little bitches, so far higher, that they’re nothing to me…"
Also:
‘Nox smirks and raises an eyebrow back at him. "She didn't say no. Not once. She came on my hand so no, brother, I didn't rape her.”’
No, he literally just forced himself on her ON-SCREEN while she struggled to pull away from him. Gross.
Sexual arousal ≠ consent
Consent is the presence of a "yes"
and not the absense of a "no"
Why can't smut writers understand how simple it is??
How did this abomination got almost 4.5 stars rating?
I thought it died down in the 2000s…
Let’s see how the FMC describe other women in this book:
“…or that bitch Giovanna?”
“It kills me how little she thinks of herself thanks to Giovanna” (while it’s her best friend’s bond who betrayed her, not Giovanna)
“Nothing would make me happier than killing that bitch”
“completely insane girls”
“giggling airheads”
“…the rest of her is fucking disgusting. I don’t know how Riley can’t stand touching her because her looks can’t compensate for the shitty personality”
“would mess her up right now”
“I’ll end up hunting her down and ruining her.”
“I need to forget what that bitch’s voice sounds like.”
“…that tanned skank of a woman.”
“How fucking evil bitch she is.”
“something about a girl who’s skating by completely on her looks”
“You are an absolute cunt!”
“Motherfucking cocksucking, cunt of a thing,”
“…we hate Giovanna and want to murder her”
“that nightmare of a girl”
“Fuck that, I want her dead.”
“Amy, who’s name I know because Sage loathes her, and even the sound of her voice has my hackles rising.”
“I don’t know this girl but her shirt is so low that I’m sure Nox is getting a great view of her nipples right now.”
"at least ten other girls here rocking a better rack than mine, and Gabe has probably fucked them all,"
"...in a tiny bikini that makes mine look freaking supersized. To be honest, it’s not even a bikini, she’s wearing some red string that just barely covers her nipples and slit."
"I’m not trying to slut-shame, but it’s just impractical." (LMAO!! YOU SURE???)
"she’s pissed that I've come back and now she has to compete with me."
"I’m higher up the food chain than those little bitches, so far higher, that they’re nothing to me…"
Also:
‘Nox smirks and raises an eyebrow back at him. "She didn't say no. Not once. She came on my hand so no, brother, I didn't rape her.”’
No, he literally just forced himself on her ON-SCREEN while she struggled to pull away from him. Gross.
Sexual arousal ≠ consent
Consent is the presence of a "yes"
and not the absense of a "no"
Why can't smut writers understand how simple it is??
How did this abomination got almost 4.5 stars rating?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape