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meliflowers's reviews
77 reviews
The Sugared Game by KJ Charles
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
Listened to the audiobook while cleaning the entire day and it is easy to follow along and appropriately pulls your attention to the story.
Some of the dialogue, however, read like a conversation you'd read on twitter. Don't ask me to elaborate.
I did like the spy duo, the story was compelling and I was invested. I'm about to start the third installment in the trilogy while I'm still cleaning... I hope it's as enjoyable as this was.
Some of the dialogue, however, read like a conversation you'd read on twitter. Don't ask me to elaborate.
I did like the spy duo, the story was compelling and I was invested. I'm about to start the third installment in the trilogy while I'm still cleaning... I hope it's as enjoyable as this was.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, and War
Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The story is very fast paced so it's easy to read and doesn't bore when listening to the audiobook. I do feel like it missed something in it as well as in the characters and their relationships.
The relationship between Will and Kim was all over the place- once good then bad then good then bad and then good again all in the short span of 260 pages.
However I am intrigued because it seems they will become partners in solving crime, so I'll probably read/listen to the rest of the series as well.
The relationship between Will and Kim was all over the place- once good then bad then good then bad and then good again all in the short span of 260 pages.
However I am intrigued because it seems they will become partners in solving crime, so I'll probably read/listen to the rest of the series as well.
An Encore of Roses by S.T. Gibson
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-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
I don't know where to begin. Perhaps I should just list all the beautiful quotes in the hope that it convinces anyone stumbling upon this review to read this book.
But I still need to talk about Constanta. Through her, I've come to love Magdalena, Alexi and even Dracula (despite his cruelties). I could go off at an endless tangent on how and why I've loved all of these characters and how and why the story played out perfectly like it did and how the author managed to describe the dates and settings perfectly without spilling too much ink on paper. But I just want to talk about Constanta. Despite living for centuries and witnessing an insurmountable amount of cruelties and violence, she stayed a loving, faithful and kind person. How she only hunted those who'd hurt others, in her own way serving justice to those who were wronged and tried to protect the people she loved. She really is so befitting of her name. I genuinely feel a smothering kind of love towards her. Until the very end she was steadfast in her love and values.
And this story has enraptured me. I would have read it in one sitting if I could. It almost upsets me how long I've waited to read this and now I understand why people think this could rival any vampiric cult classic.
Finally, I want to close this with two of my favourite quote from this story;
But I still need to talk about Constanta. Through her, I've come to love Magdalena, Alexi and even Dracula (despite his cruelties). I could go off at an endless tangent on how and why I've loved all of these characters and how and why the story played out perfectly like it did and how the author managed to describe the dates and settings perfectly without spilling too much ink on paper. But I just want to talk about Constanta. Despite living for centuries and witnessing an insurmountable amount of cruelties and violence, she stayed a loving, faithful and kind person. How she only hunted those who'd hurt others, in her own way serving justice to those who were wronged and tried to protect the people she loved. She really is so befitting of her name. I genuinely feel a smothering kind of love towards her. Until the very end she was steadfast in her love and values.
And this story has enraptured me. I would have read it in one sitting if I could. It almost upsets me how long I've waited to read this and now I understand why people think this could rival any vampiric cult classic.
Finally, I want to close this with two of my favourite quote from this story;
I think, my lord, that this is when you loved me best. When I was freshly made, and still as malleable as wet clay in your hands,
I had never been inclined to violence before. But then again, I had never borne witness to acts so vile they demanded retribution.
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
4.25
This was most definitely my favourite out of the three books. Hawthorn and Ross were an incredibly exciting pairing and my most favourite bit was the -...
Anyways I found the ending quite satisfying. Sometimes it did feel a little predictable and formulaic but I am not complaining about it.
At the end of the day, I had so much fun reading this series and I regret not having done so earlier and it is even more regrettable it's come to an end now.
And I would like to end this review with two of my favourite quotes;
"I would take your heart between my ribs and guard it like my own. Is there any way I could make you believe it?";
"I want to kiss you until your mouth forgets it exists for any reason but to let me taste it. I want to kiss you so well, and so long, that every narrator in your books will crawl off their pages and die from sheer jealousy."
They're both from chapter 33 and rightfully so cause that chapter was INSANE.
Anyways I found the ending quite satisfying. Sometimes it did feel a little predictable and formulaic but I am not complaining about it.
At the end of the day, I had so much fun reading this series and I regret not having done so earlier and it is even more regrettable it's come to an end now.
And I would like to end this review with two of my favourite quotes;
"I would take your heart between my ribs and guard it like my own. Is there any way I could make you believe it?";
"I want to kiss you until your mouth forgets it exists for any reason but to let me taste it. I want to kiss you so well, and so long, that every narrator in your books will crawl off their pages and die from sheer jealousy."
They're both from chapter 33 and rightfully so cause that chapter was INSANE.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
"She used to place her pretty arms about my neck, draw me to her, and laying her cheek to mine, murmur with her lips near my ear, "Dearest, your little heart is wounded; think me not cruel because I obey the irresistible law of my strength and weakness; if your dear heart is wounded, my wild heart bleeds with yours. In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die—die, sweetly die—into mine. I cannot help it; as I draw near to you, you, in your turn, will draw near to others, and learn the rapture of that cruelty, which yet is love; so, for a while, seek to know no more of me and mine, but trust me with all your loving spirit." And when she had spoken such a rhapsody, she would press me more closely in her trembling embrace, and her lips in soft kisses gently glow upon my cheek."
OH I love the writing but more than anything I'm so overjoyed how little has changed to the vampire lore in centuries.
OH I love the writing but more than anything I'm so overjoyed how little has changed to the vampire lore in centuries.
Codename Anastasia 2 (코드네임 아나스타샤) by Boyseason
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Murder
Codename Anastasia 1 (코드네임 아나스타샤) by Boyseason
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Objectively, it's a good book. I love the writing, the diologue is fun and the plot is exciting. But at times it was very predictable and tropey. Some revelations were also as exciting I'd hoped it'd be.
I loved violet and maud's relationship up till chapter 22. I feel like their romance was too hasty and incomplete.
what I enjoyed the most, however, is Maud's ability to channel the dead. Despite Robert and Maud not being magicians, they carry supernatural abilities and I would love to find out the origins for those.
I loved violet and maud's relationship up till chapter 22. I feel like their romance was too hasty and incomplete.
Out of Mind by J. Bernlef
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I've actually read this year's ago but still think about it regularly. At the time I read it in Dutch and it had been the first time a Dutch book had enraptured me.