plumpaperbacks's reviews
809 reviews

Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

5.0

I’ve been desperately waiting for this book ever since Eurydice and Charon showed up at the house party in Radiant Sin, and it did not disappoint!! No criticisms, no complaints, these three are perfect and I adore them!!! 💜🖤💙

And to say the plot thickens would be an understatement… this book had me STRESSED. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I can’t even begin to imagine the state of everything by the time the series is over, and that terrifies me.

I’m so glad Hades said ENOUGH and closed off the lower city. I can’t have anything happening to him, Persephone or their lil babies. BUT WHY didn’t y’all bring in a few more people first?? I get that Callisto couldn’t have come, and Demeter probably wouldn’t have, but what about Psyche and Eros?? Or Apollo and Cassandra, for Orpheus’s sake?? THEY NEED TO BE SAFE TOO.

And speaking of, I don’t know what Callisto is up to, but I don’t like it. My current theory is that she’s helping Circe and Minos somehow?? My first thought was maybe she was the benefactor, but now I’m just wondering if she’s willing to be an agent from the inside. She would be all too happy to watch Olympus burn, and if she agreed to help, she could probably negotiate safety for her family…


Representation:
  • three bi/pansexual polyamorous protagonists (includes a Black woman and a Swedish-Korean man)
  • MMF main throuple
  • sapphic side couple
  • various POC, queer and/or fat side characters (includes sapphic, bisexual & pansexual rep, nonbinary rep/use of neopronouns, as well as Black, Korean & South Asian rep)

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Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love Stella and Christian. I love them so much. But I hate what Christian did; it’s creepy as hell. I hate the whole act three breakup, and honestly, most of the very end of the book. It felt like Ana was trying to do too much, trying to turn a romance into a thriller, and it ruined the vibe of what otherwise would’ve been a perfect book.

I mean that, too. I was having such a blast from the very first page, and up till all of that crap started, I was convinced I had finally found another Ana book I loved as much as King of Pride.

Way to burst that bubble, Harper.

But, I’ll admit, the scenes with the whole crew were highly entertaining, and all of the epilogue and bonus scene stuff was absolutely adorable. As is the fact that he calls her Butterfly. That got me in the feels every time, without fail. 💚

And so did the letters. Good grief. Those were a sucker punch to the gut.

I have to give Christian genuine kudos for respecting Stella’s boundaries after the breakup. He left her alone in every sense of the phrase, wrote about his feelings, even managed to turn the whole thing into a semi-romantic gesture in the end… I think that’s the most mature way a guy in this series has ever handled a relationship crisis.

(Yes, I’m looking at you, Alex.)

Also, on a less-than-impressed note, the fact that Stella was about to die and her ~big realization~ was that Christian would never drug or kidnap her like Julian did and so he’s The One… are you kidding me??? Girlie, that’s the absolute bare minimum in a relationship. The bar is so low, it’s underground. Sigh.


Final series ranking:
  1. Twisted Lies (despite everything)
  2. Twisted Love/Twisted Hate
  3. Twisted Games

Representation:
  • multiracial protagonist with anxiety (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
  • fat side character
  • Chinese-American side characters

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Twisted Hate by Ana Huang

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emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The biggest plot twist  is that Alex is my favorite of the guys in this series so far. And that he continues to grow on me. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Overall, this was fun. I’d say it’s tied with Love for my favorite so far. I like Jules more than Ava, but Alex more than Josh. I think J+J’s relationship arc is more realistic, but A+A’s dynamic is more entertaining.

The best part, though, hands down, was seeing the stage set for the next book, which is unabashedly the reason I’ve read the others. Christian is so whipped already and it’s delightful. ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)

Current series ranking:
  1. Twisted Love/Twisted Hate
  2. Twisted Games

Representation:
  • fat protagonist
  • Chinese-American protagonist & side character
  • multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
  • lesbian side character

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Twisted Games by Ana Huang

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I didn’t think I’d find an Ana book that I disliked more than King of Wrath, but sadly, I did. And I really am sad about it, because through the entire first half, I was having such a blast with this book. I thought it would end up a favorite alongside King of Pride. But Rhys’ possessive temper tantrums got really old really fast, and then I was decidedly not having a blast.

It also doesn’t help that, the more I think about it, the more I realize that Bridget and Rhys have absolutely nothing to base a relationship on. All they ever do is screw around. Ana’s other couples have foundations upon which their relationships are built, but these two are just lust. Their story is just smut. Like if you took the vibes of Princess Diaries 2, combined with the vibes of Red White and Royal Blue, but replaced 90% of the plots with (rather repetitive) smut.

And damn, is it disappointing.

Extra half star for the first half, though, because it was fun while it lasted. And the teasing glimpses of future couples have made the rest (nearly) worth it.

Current series ranking:
  1. Twisted Love (I’m shocked too)
  2. Twisted Games (I’m sad)

Representation:
  • Chinese-American side characters
  • fat side character
  • multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)

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Twisted Love by Ana Huang

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dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Did Ana get déjà vu while writing King of Wrath? Because, having read that first, I got it in spades reading this. Alex and Dante are damn near the same person, though Alex is—thankfully—more tolerable overall. I can even begrudgingly admit that I like him, and that he and Ava are cute together.

Representation:
  • Chinese-American protagonist & side characters
  • fat side character
  • multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)

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Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

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challenging mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Though this was a good book, one I did enjoy reading, it’s also one that seems weaker as I continue to think about it. What made for an intriguing premise was, unfortunately, a rather anticlimactic story. There was a whole lot of talking about not a lot of doing, and come the end of the book, the explanations for everything felt flimsy. Maybe it’s on me for wanting a thriller from what’s clearly a mystery, but I feel like mysteries should still have some elements of drama and intensity. I didn’t get that here.

I did like the characters, though, and there’s just… There’s something uniquely compelling to me, as a queer person, about queer historical fiction. No matter how difficult it can be to read, to see the horrifying ways our predecessors were treated and the heartbreaking lengths they had to go to for their own safety, there’s something to be said about seeing that we’ve always been here, and we’ve always persisted. That’s what these characters do, too—persist.

So, yeah. Some things worked for me in this book, others didn’t, but overall, I did like it, and I do want to read the second book. I want to see more of Andy and the Lavender House family, and hopefully, I’ll really like it.

Representation:
  • gay protagonist
  • Mexican lesbian side character
  • bisexual Jewish side character
  • sapphic side characters
  • achillean side characters (one is also Filipino)
  • sapphic side couples (f/f)
  • achillean side couple (m/m)

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King of Greed by Ana Huang

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was promised a grovel book, but all I got was a man throwing a fit because he was forced to face the consequences of his own actions.

Honestly, I feel like Ále and Dom need some time apart—for real, without him “coincidentally” ending up in the same place as her—and both individual and couples therapy to really make their relationship work again. She might’ve learned to put herself first, to stand up for what she wants and needs, but he needs to learn to respect boundaries.

They were divorced for three, maybe four months before starting over, but how much of that time did she really have to herself? He kept sending her messages and gifts, refused to just leave her alone if they wound up in the same public place, and literally followed her to Brazil. Bro went from ignoring her for the better part of a decade to damn near stalking her. That’s a lot of things, but it sure as hell isn’t romantic.

And that reminds me.
“‘I would stalk you if it meant you’d talk to me again.’
‘How romantic.’
‘I’m past romantic, Alessandra. I’m desperate.’”
He’s acting like a child that forgot about their favorite toy and is now throwing a fit because said toy was donated. As if it’s not his own damn fault that he’s in this situation. And it’s aggravating as hell.


All of that aside, there’s something to be said about the fact I read this in a day. I don’t know the last time I did that, or even came close. It might have problems, but damn if it’s not an entertaining read despite them. I’m still cackling about the library scene.

(Although I won’t lie, I’m INCREDIBLY SALTY that there were two weddings in this book and neither of them were for Kai and Isa. They’re the stars of this show and they deserve better.)

Current ranking of the series:
  1. King of Pride (reigns supreme)
  2. King of Greed (is still good)
  3. King of Wrath (go to hell Dante)

Representation:
  • demisexual Brazilian protagonist
  • dyslexic protagonist
  • dyslexic Brazilian side character
  • Filipina-Chinese side character
  • Chinese side characters

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The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

The best sequel—and conclusion—that H.E. Edgmon possibly could’ve given us.

While the whole book was entertaining, the second half was especially thrilling, with many a revelation and plot twist keeping me on my toes. I love that the final showdown included a handful of chapters narrated by various side characters, thus giving us more insight into all that occurred. It really rounded things out, allowing for more detail without risk of the conflict being stretched on for too long. And the ending itself was lovely, so hopeful and honestly just perfect. ❤️

(My potential new ship—Briar/[A Newly Single Side Character]—might not have sailed, and I can see why, but I feel like it could still happen at some point in the future… Here’s to hoping.)

Also, I just want to say that I listened to this duology on audio, and I’m convinced I enjoyed the story more for it. Dani Martineck is a seriously talented narrator, and they did an incredible job with these books. While Wyatt’s chaotic gay inner monologue is hilarious in every format, this one absolutely takes the cake. I’ve never reached the end of an audiobook and wanted more, from it specifically, until now. If I reread, I’m coming back to the audiobooks; if you can get your hands on them, I highly recommend doing so; and if Dani has done any other books, I’m about to go look for them.

Representation:
  • gay trans (FTM) protagonist
  • Black queer demisexual love interest
  • fat indigenous biromantic asexual side character
  • nonbinary lesbian side character (they/them)
  • various queer side characters & side characters of color (includes a Black character that uses a wheelchair)
  • achillean couple (m/m)
  • MMF side throuple
  • minor sapphic side couple (f/f)

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Washed Up (With A Kraken) by L.E. Eldridge

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Not gonna lie, I picked this up because the cover had me thinking it was sapphic, and I’m a little disappointed it isn’t. That’s not anything against the book, of course. That’s a me thing.

One thing I will hold against the book, though, is the way the nonbinary protagonist was written. In their very first conversation, Jorah tells Quinn their pronouns are they/them. Why, then, are there instances later on in the book where Quinn thinks of them using he/him pronouns? I’ve never read a book where the author misgenders their own character. It’s clumsy, it’s gross, and it makes the whole thing feel like an afterthought.

Also, I don’t love the fact that Quinn was so horny for tentacles, she just gave up on her lifelong dream. We hear over and over about how hard she worked to get where she is, and then. Tentacles. That’s it. That’s the tweet.

The smut was good, though. Even better than Snowed Inn (With a Demon). And, if I suspend my disbelief, Quinn and Jorah are quite cute. So there’s that.

Representation:
  • fat protagonist
  • nonbinary protagonist (they/them) (supposedly) (The Demon’s Bargain by Katee Robert did it exponentially better)

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Snowed Inn (With a Demon) by L.E. Eldridge

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lighthearted medium-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

3.0

This was supposed to be cute—and it was, occasionally—but mostly, it was just boring. Though the smut was good, there was way too much lore for such a tiny book, and the cheesy writing probably could’ve used another round of edits. (I’m not generally one to comment on that sort of thing, but the fact that there were random first-person sentences in a third-person book… not great. And quite distracting.)

Representation:
  • bisexual protagonist
  • lesbian side character

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