riniya's reviews
922 reviews

Court of Vipers by Jacqueline Pawl
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

Honestly it felt boring. I couldn’t connect with the characters 

The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel

funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

I thought that this book was super adorable and it gives everything that you could possibly want in a book!

*Small Mountain Town
*GrumpyXSunshine
*Found Family
*Forced Proximity
*Age Gap
*Plus Size FMC
*Surrogate/Pregnancy

I loved the character development that we saw with the FMC. Trista is hard headed, stubborn and very reluctant to let people in. I will admit that she does come across as frustrating throughout the book with the way that she refused to budge, but I think its good writing from the author because it felt very human. Her reluctance for change allowed me to resonate with Wyatt, MMC, as he went about trying to show her love and support in the ways that he knew how. They couldn't be more opposite but they meshed in an absolutely perfect way. They brought out each others insecurities and issues and shredded them to pieces as they lifted each other up. 

The animal aspect was probably my favorite part. Trista kept slowly bringing more and more animals onto the mountain and Wyatt was fighting an uphill battle against himself at accepting them. Seeing how Wyatt was against the animals but then he clearly accepted and even loved them was so adorable and it had me kicking my feet. 

Trista's mantra of "I'm a cow" was one of the better parts of the story and I loved the humor the author brought into the book.

I will absolutely read the next book in this series as I am already obsessed with our mountain men!

The Revered and the Pariah by J.E. Reed

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

3.0

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

adventurous challenging emotional 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

The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-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

4.0

Bonds of Silver and Mist by Veronica Chastain

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

3.75

I thought this was a very cute book that was different from most fae books these days. It goes back to the more traditional irish/scottish folklore of fae instead of the modern "pointy ears with magic" that we typically read.

I adored the way the FMC has to learn to navigate the twists and turns of the fae language, having to leave behind what she knows as a human and adjust to the traps and webs meant to ensnare her.

The way that she refused to back down from finding and saving her grandmother was admirable and I thought the author did a great job of making it where we don't know who to trust.

A decent read and I will for sure pick up book 2

Arcana Academy, Volume 1 by Elise Kova

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

I will admit that I struggled to get into this book. I'm not sure what caused it and I am hesitant to blame the book because it was honestly so amazing. But I found that I had to force myself to pick it up. That being said, once I really got into it (around the 50% mark), I didn't want to put it down,

This book is an amazing blend of dark academia, heavy world building, a plot for the ages and one of the most unique magic systems that I have seen in a while. Magic based around tarot? YES PLEASE! I especially loved that even though it could have been a super complicated magic system, the author does a great job of keeping it balanced with being extensive, yet mostly easy to follow.  She does include a guide in the back of the book of each of the cards and their power, which is helpful to reference when I found myself getting a bit lost. 

I thought the author does a great job at balancing a tropes in a way that doesn't feel "tropey". Found family, though they play a bit of a backseat through most of the story, and a fake engagement with one's enemy that clearly will lead down a very particular path. 

I do wish that we had a bit more time with the Prince, understanding his motivations and character, but overall I am decently pleased with him as an MMC.

I am so excited for book 2

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas, Jasmine Mas

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

Ishtar's Blade by Lisa Blackwood

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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