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moodreaderhan's Reviews (625)
hopeful
lighthearted
3.75 “Hibiscus and Ginger Tea” Stars ✰✰✰
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, Jamie Pacton, and Rebecca Podos for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
- Thoughts:
A queer-comfy-cozy-fantasy that delivers on all of its promises? What more could you ask for!
I binged this story, and not because it was the kind of the story that you couldn’t put down as you have to figure out what comes next, but instead, I binged it because the world created was one I did not want to leave. It gave the soft, queer, cottagecore, fairytale vibes that made me want to be a part of this realm for as long as I could and not think about the real world.
Cute romance with banter >>>
Queernormative world >>>
Unique magic system and world building >>>
Light and cozy and remained pretty low stakes >>>
There are not many downsides to this story minus my cravings for more magical elements (since we were teased with possibilities of what could be done), the pacing from time to time and some of the miscommunication/lack of communication that added to the conflict when the conflict was already set up so it felt unnecessary to me personally. All of that aside, THIS IS A FUN AND CHARMING READ!
I adored these characters and side characters, and hope the authors decide to give us more stories set in this world! On my way to go look for a delicious and much needed strawberry jam recipe, and then hopping into my car to stop by a plant nursery!
- Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book
- Pace:
Slow/Medium
- Cover thoughts:
SO FREAKING ADORABLE!
- Triggers:
Classism, Death, Magical Sickness, Toxic Relationships, etc.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0 “Siren Song” Stars ✰✰✰
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, The Borough Press and Emilia Hart for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
- Thoughts:
“The sea gives, but it also takes.”
I’m going to keep it real and honest, this book captured my attention immediately from the cover to the premise and then because of the author. I hadn’t read a book by Emilia Hart before this, but I do know there is a lot of love for Weyward. However, with all of that said the actual story is… okay. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it is so slow - like tape-my-eye-lids-open-to-not-fall-asleep slow! It dragged until the 60% mark, and then I was finally buckled in and ready for the reveals and climax. Some of it was predictable and some of it was partly shocking, but the foreshadowing was heavy early-on and led us to conclusions I knew we would be ending up at. I am not the biggest fan of a dual timeline read (there are some exceptions to the rule), but it was done pretty well here. I wanted more of a connection between us, the readers, and the women of the story, but there wasn’t much to work with. The characters remained one note and fell a bit flat. And truthfully, I needed more of a connection between the women of the modern timeline and the women of the past. It was a bit confusing to see how they tied in with each other besides one obvious factor (the title of the book lol). I’m finding it difficult to review this because overall, I liked the story even with everything said because the climax to the end was entertaining, but I wasn’t wow’d.
I don’t think this is my last read by Emilia Hart because I am intrigued enough to know where her other stories will take us, but I wish I could have adored this book more.
- Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book
- Pace:
Primarily Slow, but towards the climax - Medium
- Cover thoughts:
Pretty and very on theme haha
- Triggers *POTENTIAL SPOILERS*:
Pedophilia, Adult/Minor Relationship, Sexual Assault, Rape, Violence, Blood, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Abuse, Toxic Relationships, Body Shaming, Birth/Pregnancy, Medical Trauma, Confinement, Torture, Grief, etc.
