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rlspires08's reviews
976 reviews
The Last Storm by J.D. Linton
I have no idea what defines a spoiler honestly, so
spoiler alert!!!!!!!
Tropes include:
Only one bed at the inn/bar
Dissatisfaction with life before hunk appears
Lost royalty
The chosen one
Montage of dress up time followed by shocked hunk
Forbidden romance between two from rival peoples
Power that cannot be controlled, simply guided/asked
Gathering intel at the inn/bar
FMC who knows how to fight/use weapons well
There’s probably more but no need to list them all.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a great Romantasy book full of action, adventure, and everything you look for in this genre.
I won’t lie: it does kinda feel like the author found every common trope from every successful book of this kind and threw them all into this novel. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it I guess. Especially in romance, there’s a large audience who has specific expectations, and they want them every time. Nothing wrong with that and many times I’m one of them.
Good story and I would recommend!
I won’t lie: it does kinda feel like the author found every common trope from every successful book of this kind and threw them all into this novel. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it I guess. Especially in romance, there’s a large audience who has specific expectations, and they want them every time. Nothing wrong with that and many times I’m one of them.
Good story and I would recommend!
Content Warnings
Too Wild to Tame by Tessa Bailey
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this. This is a contemporary romance set in Iowa, mostly the backwoods or small town setting. We have the man who has difficulty opening up, expressing or even allowing himself to have emotions. He was raised to be a politician. Then, we have the woman, who was raised to be a politicians daughter but has fought it and that lifestyle ever since. She almost feels “too much” and is the free, creative spirit. They both have histories that haunt them.
It’s a light, fast-paced read, and it balances on the fine line of just enough spice. I actually teared up at one point but unrelated to the romantic relationship. The characters are fleshed out, and the FMC was refreshingly different, even if she liked to communicate via almost stream-of-consciousness style.
Solid read.
It’s a light, fast-paced read, and it balances on the fine line of just enough spice. I actually teared up at one point but unrelated to the romantic relationship. The characters are fleshed out, and the FMC was refreshingly different, even if she liked to communicate via almost stream-of-consciousness style.
Solid read.
The Lost Legend by Franco
Did not finish book. Stopped at 61%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 61%.
DNF - The ONLY reason I didn’t finish is because I can sometimes be a mood reader, and I have a hard time relating to high school students and their lives. Good plot, very well built futuristic world meets ancient mythologies. Percy Jackson vibes. I don’t want to give a star rating until I finish a book!
Monstra Moderna: The Crimson Book by Lucas Lavoie
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
DNF - Not because it’s bad… it’s actually a very shocking horror book. I just can’t deal with this genre. I can watch horror movies and laugh, but books are next level. Good God. 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Violence, and Gore
City of Storms by Kat Ross
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
Gothic 1920’s Historical Fantasy
This is a story full of mystery, hidden agendas, dark vs lights forces (but they are not what you may expect). It’s a historical fantasy that feels like a gothic 1920’s detective story mixed with magic, religion, and romance. Warning: ends on a cliffhanger.
Possible Spoilers:
In this vaguely post-apocalyptic world, a fortune teller covers for her colleague and roommate, finding herself mixed in a governmental plot. The aforementioned government is an oligarchy, the Catholic Church risen to power after a historical war between nephilim (fallen angels) and humanity, witches and ley lines granting nephilim powers through Marks. She meets a troubled priest who hunts deviants like her. However, things are not what they seem, and they team up along several others to find out who they really are and possibly change themselves and the world for the better.
This is a story full of mystery, hidden agendas, dark vs lights forces (but they are not what you may expect). It’s a historical fantasy that feels like a gothic 1920’s detective story mixed with magic, religion, and romance. Warning: ends on a cliffhanger.
Possible Spoilers:
In this vaguely post-apocalyptic world, a fortune teller covers for her colleague and roommate, finding herself mixed in a governmental plot. The aforementioned government is an oligarchy, the Catholic Church risen to power after a historical war between nephilim (fallen angels) and humanity, witches and ley lines granting nephilim powers through Marks. She meets a troubled priest who hunts deviants like her. However, things are not what they seem, and they team up along several others to find out who they really are and possibly change themselves and the world for the better.
The Water Castle by Dan Alatorre
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
4.0
This fast-paced fantasy romance balances light-hearted moments and deeper, emotional ones, contemplating how much life, love, and humanity are both starkly different and the same throughout history. It was fun with lots of well-developed characters, and it pulled me into the world much like the tower well pulled Gina into the 1600s. Worth a read!