nelli_lakatos's reviews
760 reviews

The Beacon by Dan Finley

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

4.0

"The answer was not running away; it was to endure. For him to be truly happy, he needed to stop being victim and be a fighter."

I love horror science fiction, two genres that work together so well. š“š”šž ššžšššœšØš§ had such an interesting concept. Sending 5 people to a new planet to explore, and to save humanity. 
After Yang's year-long research in the freezing cold is over now he just have to light the beacon that signals to Earth. That's when the other explorers goes missing and Yang has to travel to the other stations to light their beacons. Needles to say that he doesn't have a smooth journey through the stations. 

Overall I really enjoyed the storyline, it was gripping and fresh. My only complaints that the time jumps between present time on the new planet and his past was very sudden. I definitely struggled to realize what timeline I was on a lot of times. The writing style of the book was not my favorite for sure.

If you're looking for a fascinating alien horror novel that will keep you on your toes, then I highly recommend checking out this novel. 

The Kingdom is a Golden Cage by Lilly Inkwood

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1.0

I usually don't like to listen to bad reviews or a low avarage rating on Goodreads but with this book they were totally right. 2.72 star rating in avarage on Goodreads is literally the lowest I've seen so far and as browsing through the reviews I agree with the lower ratings. I felt myself thrown into a story without proper world building, backstory or explanations at all. I was so confused and nothing gripped me in particular that would lead me to actually want to finish this book. 

Puss in Boots retelling sounded such a great idea and I usually love fairytales but this one unfortunately was a huge disappointment. 

Her Dreadful Will by Rebecca F. Kenney

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"There was beauty in the sheer power of destruction—horrifying, entrancing beauty."

A gothic romantasy novel with witches and magic—who could ask for more?

Her Dreadful Will was the perfect dark and enchanting tale. It was so addictive I couldn't put it down, and it flew by in no time. I had the absolute best time with these characters—Achan and Soleil were everything! Who knew a villainous dentist MMC with glasses could be such a brilliant idea? This book was pure chaotic brilliance, and I loved every second of it. If you crave a little chaotic magic in your life, I highly recommend checking it out!

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

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4.0

"It's still better to love something than nothing, better to love someone than no one."

This was such a beautiful novel, I loved it very much, the ending left me smiling. The characters were relatable and the story felt like real life. It was a wonderful read, I highly recommend checking it out. Sally Rooney's writing style always mesmerize me, she has a unique way of storytelling I enjoy. 

The audiobook was also fantastic, I've listened to it while reading along with the physical copy. 
Pedo Island Bloodbath by Duncan Ralston

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slow-paced

3.0

"Tonight, the predators were on the menu. Their prey would dine well."

With a title and cover like Pedo Island Bloodbath, I expected a lot more gore and carnage. Unfortunately, the story moved at a much slower pace than I anticipated for a vampire novel. At times, it felt too drawn out, and I think it would have been more impactful as a novella.

That being said, it was still an enjoyable read. While it didn’t fully deliver on the blood-soaked chaos I was hoping for, the story had its moments, and the ending was ultimately satisfying.
The Intended by K.M. Rives

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1.0

"I'll embrace your darkness, if you embrace mine."

I've read the first book back in 2022, rated it 5 stars and remember loving it but this was a huge disappointment unfortunately. I'm not sure if it's the book or me because I don't remember anything from the previous book so obviously the smart idea would have been doing a reread before diving into the sequel which I decided against.

The story was just so boring, repetitive and dragged on forever. I wanted to DNF it so badly but I have the rest of the series already on my Kindle so I might just give them a go. Maybe they charm me. 

Dubliners by James Joyce

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1.0

I absolutely loved Ulysses by James Joyce last year, it became my all time favorite but this didn't charmed me like I hoped it would. 

I listened the Audrey audiobook version which focused on three stories from the collection. The audiobook experience was nice but the stories itself felt like a blur to me. I finished it but at the same time I feel like I zoned out or something as I can't recall what exactly happened. I just felt lost the whole time. 
The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer

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5.0

"Who we used to be doesn't matter, it's who we are now. What's in our hearts matters most. You're sunshine, Salem, but even the sun doesn't always shine."

The cliffhanger... I am just speechless, still in tears and shock by the emotional turmoil the ending put me through. 

From the moment I picked up this brilliant novel, I couldn’t put it down. At the same time, I never wanted it to end. I savored every line, wishing the story could last forever. After wanting to read this book for so long, I’m so glad I finally did. I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. 

Salem the main character was so nice, friendly and relatable. She'd been through so much and she still remained being the sunshine she is. 

And Thayer, where do I even begin? He was the sweetest, always doing the most thoughtful things purely to make Salem happy. Their dynamic was perfection, every moment between them was an absolute delight. I also have a soft spot for nicknames, and the way he called her ā€œSunshineā€ was just the cutest. His words and actions melted my heart, proving time and time again that he was the best. On top of all that, he was an amazing dad. His son, Forrest, was such a sweetheart so smart and kind. Their relationship added another layer of warmth to the story.

This book was everything I hoped for and more. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend picking it up but be aware that the ending will emotionally destroy you. 

Tropes:
Age Gap 
Small Town 
Grumpy x Sunshine 
Single Dad 
Slow Burn 
One Bed
Their Tygress by Joely Sue Burkhart

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

"I hoped... only to be destroyed time and time again. I'd finally given up hoping for anything better. It hurt too much."

This was such a short read, too short to have any depth, I feel like this story has so much more to it. It has potentials, the storyline was unique, including tiger shifters, why choose romance and a long lost princess. I enjoyed it for what it was but I also see so many opportunities for a full length novel. 

As for the characters, Kazhar was my favorite out of the three men but I wish to read more about them all. This read felt too rushed and incomplete. 

The Predators Toy by Aiden E. Messer

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dark 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

"It wasn't just the pain that she craved, it was the actual fear of death."

The Predator's Toy was the perfect read to start my February with. It was fun, gory and impossible to put down. I absolutely loved when Enoch and Seth made an appearance from Debasing Seth. I devoured this incredible book and I can't wait to read more by the author in the future. I highly recommend checking this one out if you're looking for something quick and dark!

Thank you so much Aiden for providing me an ARC of your upcoming release in exchange for my honest review. I truly loved it!

Release Date: February 15th