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redsrecs's Reviews (310)
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating breakdown:
Plot -5
Pace - 5
Writing - 3.5
Language - 4
Characters - 3.5
Worldbuilding - 4
Tension - 3
JUST WOW. Honestly, is this book laced with crack? I started reading it at 7 pm and by the next morning 3 am, I was done.
I could not put it down, I just HAD to know what happens next and I had so many questions I needed to be answered.
The plot and premise of this book are unlike anything I've read before and I was eating this UP.
I only gave it 4 stars because a combination of the writing and the characters got to me.
In terms of writing, I often needed to reread sections to understand what I read, something as simple as a sentence restructure could've made this easier going. It also felt like the FMC's inner monologue was telling more than showing which is something I'm personally not a fan of.
In terms of the characters, most of them came across as juvenile, and for a new adult book, I found that bothered me quite a bit. It did take me reading through about three-quarters of the book to understand where some of the reactions were coming from and even then it felt unnecessary. I ended up deciding to pretend it's a cultural thing since this book is very based in the bonded culture to get myself through.
Overall I am OBSESSED with the book and where this story will take me and I am immediately jumping into the next book.
Plot -5
Pace - 5
Writing - 3.5
Language - 4
Characters - 3.5
Worldbuilding - 4
Tension - 3
JUST WOW. Honestly, is this book laced with crack? I started reading it at 7 pm and by the next morning 3 am, I was done.
I could not put it down, I just HAD to know what happens next and I had so many questions I needed to be answered.
The plot and premise of this book are unlike anything I've read before and I was eating this UP.
I only gave it 4 stars because a combination of the writing and the characters got to me.
In terms of writing, I often needed to reread sections to understand what I read, something as simple as a sentence restructure could've made this easier going. It also felt like the FMC's inner monologue was telling more than showing which is something I'm personally not a fan of.
In terms of the characters, most of them came across as juvenile, and for a new adult book, I found that bothered me quite a bit. It did take me reading through about three-quarters of the book to understand where some of the reactions were coming from and even then it felt unnecessary. I ended up deciding to pretend it's a cultural thing since this book is very based in the bonded culture to get myself through.
Overall I am OBSESSED with the book and where this story will take me and I am immediately jumping into the next book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Thank you Ryleigh Sloan for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!
Rating breakdown:
Plot - 4.66
Pace - 5
Writing - 5
Characters - 4
World Building - 3
Romance - 3
Spice - 4
I was pleasantly surprised with this book! You never know what you're going to get when trying out a new author, but this book was such a fun read.
The writing is so good and flows so well and overall it just felt easy to read this book. The chapters are also not too long which is something I personally really enjoy overall when reading.
The plot was interesting, some events in the end for me personally felt unnecessary to the story, but it is what it is and overall it's really cute.
This book is overall fast paced, I think someone said this is a novella, it was only 140 pages on my reading app so that makes sense, this also means there was never a lull in the story or a moment where I felt bored.
There wasn't much to read in terms of world building, all we know is this takes place in Chicago, but nothing more is really said about the area other than there are some more upscale houses next to some more modest houses.
The characters are loveable, but with a book this short, you don't really get to know them further than what they're feeling towards each other and this is something I would've liked to see more of.
This book was about the spice, and there was a good amount of spice, I would jus have preferred a bit more detail and longer scenes. They were really good, they were just over too soon. There isn't much in terms of the romance itself in this book, but once again there's only so much you can fit into such a short book.
Overall, I would highly recommend that anyone looking to support Ryleigh Sloan start with April as it gives a good sense of her writing and characters. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
Rating breakdown:
Plot - 4.66
Pace - 5
Writing - 5
Characters - 4
World Building - 3
Romance - 3
Spice - 4
I was pleasantly surprised with this book! You never know what you're going to get when trying out a new author, but this book was such a fun read.
The writing is so good and flows so well and overall it just felt easy to read this book. The chapters are also not too long which is something I personally really enjoy overall when reading.
The plot was interesting, some events in the end for me personally felt unnecessary to the story, but it is what it is and overall it's really cute.
This book is overall fast paced, I think someone said this is a novella, it was only 140 pages on my reading app so that makes sense, this also means there was never a lull in the story or a moment where I felt bored.
There wasn't much to read in terms of world building, all we know is this takes place in Chicago, but nothing more is really said about the area other than there are some more upscale houses next to some more modest houses.
The characters are loveable, but with a book this short, you don't really get to know them further than what they're feeling towards each other and this is something I would've liked to see more of.
This book was about the spice, and there was a good amount of spice, I would jus have preferred a bit more detail and longer scenes. They were really good, they were just over too soon. There isn't much in terms of the romance itself in this book, but once again there's only so much you can fit into such a short book.
Overall, I would highly recommend that anyone looking to support Ryleigh Sloan start with April as it gives a good sense of her writing and characters. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly my immediate reaction after reading this book is “What the fuck did I just read?”
This book had its claws in me from page one, Suzanne just knows how to draw me in and then try to drown me!
This book was EVERYTHING, it was such a deep dive into society and humans and what are we without control but also what can we become when set free?
I read The Hunger Games trilogy 10 years ago and this book just dragged me back into all the feels I was having reading that.
It was so good I feel like there is no why I could describe every single things I liked about this book.
I honestly have a “I can fix him” crush on young Snow even knowing what he becomes. You can’t help but become invested in his life and ambition.
Gosh damn Suzanne, how must I move on from this?
This book had its claws in me from page one, Suzanne just knows how to draw me in and then try to drown me!
This book was EVERYTHING, it was such a deep dive into society and humans and what are we without control but also what can we become when set free?
I read The Hunger Games trilogy 10 years ago and this book just dragged me back into all the feels I was having reading that.
It was so good I feel like there is no why I could describe every single things I liked about this book.
I honestly have a “I can fix him” crush on young Snow even knowing what he becomes. You can’t help but become invested in his life and ambition.
Gosh damn Suzanne, how must I move on from this?
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀 rotted roses for Glow by Raven Kennedy
“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩. 𝘞𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴.”
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏:
Plot: 5
Pacing: 5
Writing: 5
Language: 5
Characters: 5
World building: 5
Romance: 5
Spice: 5
I’m gonna begin this review quoting a message I sent to the group I was buddy reading this book with: “No wonder the smut was that good. She was buttering us up for the SLAUGHTER.”
I read this book with some really cool local bookstagrammers, some of whom were doing a reread in anticipation of Gold being released TODAY (which we will also be buddy reading from today. If you wanna join dm @_tessthebookworm4_ )
I have no words except, wow this was a really good book. I never got bored, I never predicted what was gonna happen next, I loved it all, I felt it all. From moment one we pick up where Gleam ended and your heart is in tatters from the start. This was such an amazing start to a long healing journey for Auren and Slade.
Raven Kennedy is the queen of personification and also the queen of not pulling her punches. The trauma, the abuse, the hate but also the love, the lust, the friendships are all so real and so true.
The book starts with the healing but things never stay calm in a series like this and eventually the characters are on the move having to put out fires.
Definitely read the trigger warnings before jumping into this series, but just know that if you do read this you will absolutely be blown away.
“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩. 𝘞𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴.”
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏:
Plot: 5
Pacing: 5
Writing: 5
Language: 5
Characters: 5
World building: 5
Romance: 5
Spice: 5
I’m gonna begin this review quoting a message I sent to the group I was buddy reading this book with: “No wonder the smut was that good. She was buttering us up for the SLAUGHTER.”
I read this book with some really cool local bookstagrammers, some of whom were doing a reread in anticipation of Gold being released TODAY (which we will also be buddy reading from today. If you wanna join dm @_tessthebookworm4_ )
I have no words except, wow this was a really good book. I never got bored, I never predicted what was gonna happen next, I loved it all, I felt it all. From moment one we pick up where Gleam ended and your heart is in tatters from the start. This was such an amazing start to a long healing journey for Auren and Slade.
Raven Kennedy is the queen of personification and also the queen of not pulling her punches. The trauma, the abuse, the hate but also the love, the lust, the friendships are all so real and so true.
The book starts with the healing but things never stay calm in a series like this and eventually the characters are on the move having to put out fires.
Definitely read the trigger warnings before jumping into this series, but just know that if you do read this you will absolutely be blown away.
🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️ Tyrrish daggers for Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.”
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏:
Plot: 5
Pacing: 5
Writing: 5
Language: 5
Characters: 5
World building: 5
Romance: 5
Spice: 5
I kept forgetting I haven’t posted this review yet!
Disclaimer: by reading, enjoying and rating this book by no means does it mean that I agree with or support the views of the author especially as it relates to the current conflict between Palestine and Israel.
I absolutely loved this book. So few books get me really excited and obsessive, but Iron Flame was just another reminder of how amazing this series is for me.
If you’re more a high fantasy or classic loving person this book might not be the right fit for you, but if you love Romantasy or even just Romance I highly suggest starting this series.
This book starts a bit after the ending of Fourth Wing and luckily we start getting answers pretty quickly. We unfortunately start getting all new questions as the read goes on.
This story is gripping, action packed and tense. The betrayal trope is prevalent throughout as per the ending of Fourth Wing but we also get slow burn, all new views of the world and magic system we got to know in book one, some deeper dives into the amazing side characters and as always some really good spice.
I did see some people had issues with Violet as well as other aspects of this book, and ended up giving lower ratings than what I’m giving it, but for me these weren’t issues I experienced while reading and only realised why it could be an issue after it was pointed out to me.
If you haven’t read Iron Flame yet, but you have read Fourth Wing, what are you waiting for?
If you haven’t read this series but you’re a Romantasy girly, this is your sign to RUN to get these books ♥️
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳.”
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏:
Plot: 5
Pacing: 5
Writing: 5
Language: 5
Characters: 5
World building: 5
Romance: 5
Spice: 5
I kept forgetting I haven’t posted this review yet!
Disclaimer: by reading, enjoying and rating this book by no means does it mean that I agree with or support the views of the author especially as it relates to the current conflict between Palestine and Israel.
I absolutely loved this book. So few books get me really excited and obsessive, but Iron Flame was just another reminder of how amazing this series is for me.
If you’re more a high fantasy or classic loving person this book might not be the right fit for you, but if you love Romantasy or even just Romance I highly suggest starting this series.
This book starts a bit after the ending of Fourth Wing and luckily we start getting answers pretty quickly. We unfortunately start getting all new questions as the read goes on.
This story is gripping, action packed and tense. The betrayal trope is prevalent throughout as per the ending of Fourth Wing but we also get slow burn, all new views of the world and magic system we got to know in book one, some deeper dives into the amazing side characters and as always some really good spice.
I did see some people had issues with Violet as well as other aspects of this book, and ended up giving lower ratings than what I’m giving it, but for me these weren’t issues I experienced while reading and only realised why it could be an issue after it was pointed out to me.
If you haven’t read Iron Flame yet, but you have read Fourth Wing, what are you waiting for?
If you haven’t read this series but you’re a Romantasy girly, this is your sign to RUN to get these books ♥️
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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