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357 reviews
The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
Yall remember the Thanksgiving text that went viral? A mom messaged someone thinking it's her son and told him about dinner. When the guy responded saying he was a wrong number but would love a plate - that was the beginning of a yearly r/mademesmile post and they became basically like a family. Remember? Yeah that's this. It's the warm and fuzzies and I love it.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Awww! 10 years of electronic letters! Just take all my love right now. That's one of my favorite things! Also, looks like I found a Christina Lauren book I really like - and it's a novella. Hmmm. Small doses? Cheers!
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I loved the progression from 1 liner emails on Valentine's Day to actual conversations. Amazing how trust could be build through that medium.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Callum and Kirsten in the library. Terra in the closet🤣
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “My pulse trips all over itself before sprinting away. He really is so intensely hot; the longer we maintain eye contact, the more worried I become about releasing a spontaneous moan.” (Terra on Callum)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Epistolary opening
■ Sun and Sol - cute email addresses.
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Awww! 10 years of electronic letters! Just take all my love right now. That's one of my favorite things! Also, looks like I found a Christina Lauren book I really like - and it's a novella. Hmmm. Small doses? Cheers!
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I loved the progression from 1 liner emails on Valentine's Day to actual conversations. Amazing how trust could be build through that medium.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Callum and Kirsten in the library. Terra in the closet🤣
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “My pulse trips all over itself before sprinting away. He really is so intensely hot; the longer we maintain eye contact, the more worried I become about releasing a spontaneous moan.” (Terra on Callum)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Epistolary opening
■ Sun and Sol - cute email addresses.
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
The Grim Reaper's Lawyer by Mea Monique
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
3.75
Glad I did not DNF this after the first three chapters. It is really clever and I can see this being a CW show - it's got exactly the kind of worldbuilding, pretty people and wonderfully diverse cast that would give it a 3 season run before it veers off the rails in classic CW season 4 curse - looking at you Supernatural, Arrow, The Flash etcetera etcetera.
You know, I realize it is possible to hate a main character and still really enjoy the book or rather see the whole book for what it is. OMG😲have I transcended into apexlevel reader? That'd be neat.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
So we have a Suits meets RIPD meets Miracle Workers season 1 without the big G situation and it was enjoyable.
The idea is so clever, so damn unique, a lawyer for the Grim Reaper. This story should be gold. The syntax and writing was so weird and choppy sometimes but I made it through.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I did not like the lawyer, the main character, whatsherface - Joyce "Joy Joy". Once in a while she falls onto likeable territory and if she is relatable it's maybe her love of chicken curry, oxtail stew with rice and cute pets. But then it goes off the rails because she hates mushrooms so - I don't know what to tell you folks - I hated her "voice". And seeing as we spend the duration of the entire book in her head - tough cookies for me.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Amazing chapters:
●Who Hasn't Made mistakes?
●It Does Not Please the Court
●No offense of course
●🔥 uhm ... second breakfast
●the beginning of "Never call somebody's grandma a bitch" 🔥
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “ Can you just send me over to whoever oversees soul placement? I’m ready for Heaven. Request some wings for me while you’re at it.” (Joyce on death)
🖤“No, you don’t get paid. You’re dead. What do you need a paycheck for? Your paycheck is being able to go to Heaven.” (A deal with the devil ... okay Grim Reaper )
🖤 “My heart speeds up. Well, not exactly my heart. It’s much lower than that, and it's beating with need. She’s such a traitor. I break eye contact with him.” (🤣Joyce on drinks with Aiden .)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■short chapters - love this
■Eden: Heaven, Hell, Soul Directory, Collections, Reaper Court
■ Fate - Soul Ties
■Hell Tiers
■Death Assignments
■Designated tattoos
■RCC: Reaper Code of Conduct
■The Obliterator
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
You know, I realize it is possible to hate a main character and still really enjoy the book or rather see the whole book for what it is. OMG😲have I transcended into apexlevel reader? That'd be neat.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
So we have a Suits meets RIPD meets Miracle Workers season 1 without the big G situation and it was enjoyable.
The idea is so clever, so damn unique, a lawyer for the Grim Reaper. This story should be gold. The syntax and writing was so weird and choppy sometimes but I made it through.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I did not like the lawyer, the main character, whatsherface - Joyce "Joy Joy". Once in a while she falls onto likeable territory and if she is relatable it's maybe her love of chicken curry, oxtail stew with rice and cute pets. But then it goes off the rails because she hates mushrooms so - I don't know what to tell you folks - I hated her "voice". And seeing as we spend the duration of the entire book in her head - tough cookies for me.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Amazing chapters:
●Who Hasn't Made mistakes?
●It Does Not Please the Court
●No offense of course
●🔥 uhm ... second breakfast
●the beginning of "Never call somebody's grandma a bitch" 🔥
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “ Can you just send me over to whoever oversees soul placement? I’m ready for Heaven. Request some wings for me while you’re at it.” (Joyce on death)
🖤“No, you don’t get paid. You’re dead. What do you need a paycheck for? Your paycheck is being able to go to Heaven.” (A deal with the devil ... okay Grim Reaper )
🖤 “My heart speeds up. Well, not exactly my heart. It’s much lower than that, and it's beating with need. She’s such a traitor. I break eye contact with him.” (🤣Joyce on drinks with Aiden .)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■short chapters - love this
■Eden: Heaven, Hell, Soul Directory, Collections, Reaper Court
■ Fate - Soul Ties
■Hell Tiers
■Death Assignments
■Designated tattoos
■RCC: Reaper Code of Conduct
■The Obliterator
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
These Alien Skies by C.T. Rwizi
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
3.5
The best out of all that potential . I was initially excited to read through this series of short stories but my initial high speed quest to read took a nosedive with each installment. So, I'm glad I'm ending on a high.
It reminds me of The Expert System's Brother by Adrian Tchaikovsky
- there's even a massive tree with ancients or in this case Elders. Where the former are Data and tech legt behind by the first humans, the Elders are an intelligent nonhuman species who've basically adopted the alien invaders aka humans.
A solid 3.5⭐. You know what; I'd watch a limited series if it ever got a small screen adaptation.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
If anything, this story made me go down a rabbithole and look into space programs in Africa. I noticed only Egypt in the north and South Africa in ... well the south seem to have something beyond theoretical. Very interesting.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I was once an unapologetic optimist. I can relate to Tariro Murisa.
"You and I are going to be friends. Whether you like it or not.” - Tariro to Msizi in the beginning.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Grief. The Tariro Effect
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “that’s impossible,” I say, though what I really mean is, it’s too terrible to be possible. Surely the universe has more kindness for me than to allow such a thing to happen.” (Msizi on ... what is this? Murphy's Law?)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Einstein-Rosen Bridge leading to Malcom X-b, Mahali System, Sol etc etc
■ African Union Space Command
■ Neo-Africans
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
It reminds me of The Expert System's Brother by Adrian Tchaikovsky
- there's even a massive tree with ancients or in this case Elders. Where the former are Data and tech legt behind by the first humans, the Elders are an intelligent nonhuman species who've basically adopted the alien invaders aka humans.
A solid 3.5⭐. You know what; I'd watch a limited series if it ever got a small screen adaptation.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
If anything, this story made me go down a rabbithole and look into space programs in Africa. I noticed only Egypt in the north and South Africa in ... well the south seem to have something beyond theoretical. Very interesting.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
I was once an unapologetic optimist. I can relate to Tariro Murisa.
"You and I are going to be friends. Whether you like it or not.” - Tariro to Msizi in the beginning.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Grief. The Tariro Effect
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “that’s impossible,” I say, though what I really mean is, it’s too terrible to be possible. Surely the universe has more kindness for me than to allow such a thing to happen.” (Msizi on ... what is this? Murphy's Law?)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Einstein-Rosen Bridge leading to Malcom X-b, Mahali System, Sol etc etc
■ African Union Space Command
■ Neo-Africans
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
That was something - I didn't love it or hate it. I felt it though. A feeling of dread even though Wenda's Clap Back and the ending are supposed to be these carthatic moments, it feels like it'll be shortlived.
A 2.75⭐ not rounded . These series has only produced maybe 2 stories I have actually liked. I have 1 more to go. Let's hope for an even split down the middle.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Performance art can be so snobby cringe and sometimes stinks of hipster-meets-white trustfund "I hate being rich pity me and see my art I'm different! I am enlightened" - well usually.
Wenda's Clap Back was depressing, righteous, painful and angry - so successful in the end.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Let's for a second pretend Agnetta Burri actually did the quilt to couture thing - how very neocolonial with a huge splash of capitalistic greed. She was annoying but she tried to roght her wrongs so I guess there's that.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Student Loans Paid!
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Please make this work. Please make this work.” Maybe speaking her intention would help. It certainly couldn’t hurt. Intention was plenty. It had brought the horrors on the table into existence, after all.” (Wenda attempting to transmute centuries of Anti-black knick knacks and shit)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Storylet: nanite-story fabric/nanobot stories
■Wenda's Blackamoors, Jemima figurines and Iwin
■ The forgiveness quilt
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
A 2.75⭐ not rounded . These series has only produced maybe 2 stories I have actually liked. I have 1 more to go. Let's hope for an even split down the middle.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Performance art can be so snobby cringe and sometimes stinks of hipster-meets-white trustfund "I hate being rich pity me and see my art I'm different! I am enlightened" - well usually.
Wenda's Clap Back was depressing, righteous, painful and angry - so successful in the end.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Let's for a second pretend Agnetta Burri actually did the quilt to couture thing - how very neocolonial with a huge splash of capitalistic greed. She was annoying but she tried to roght her wrongs so I guess there's that.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Student Loans Paid!
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Please make this work. Please make this work.” Maybe speaking her intention would help. It certainly couldn’t hurt. Intention was plenty. It had brought the horrors on the table into existence, after all.” (Wenda attempting to transmute centuries of Anti-black knick knacks and shit)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Storylet: nanite-story fabric/nanobot stories
■Wenda's Blackamoors, Jemima figurines and Iwin
■ The forgiveness quilt
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Come to Cupid: A Spicy Novella by G. Eilsel, G. Eilsel
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Lol the chapter breaks in this novella are are a cupid's arrow ending in ...how to put this delicately, bananas and shall we say eggplant emoji🤣.
Meaningless fun and that's okay.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Cupid really just took her to his house in the sky, sexy shenanigans ensue and then he asks what her name is.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Well I wish I could say I learnt something something about the characters but thats not what this book is about and that's okay yall.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Cupid "glamor" in a pub. Naughty naughty cupid. Oh and on that building, 12th floor - I mean scandalous
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Humans, for the most part, are really fucking horrible at attracting a mate.” (True. Despite all the "there's plent of fish in the see🤣)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Illustrations are really good
■ ahem Honey, Rum and Ice
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
Meaningless fun and that's okay.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Cupid really just took her to his house in the sky, sexy shenanigans ensue and then he asks what her name is.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Well I wish I could say I learnt something something about the characters but thats not what this book is about and that's okay yall.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Cupid "glamor" in a pub. Naughty naughty cupid. Oh and on that building, 12th floor - I mean scandalous
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Humans, for the most part, are really fucking horrible at attracting a mate.” (True. Despite all the "there's plent of fish in the see🤣)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Illustrations are really good
■ ahem Honey, Rum and Ice
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
Bleed for Cupid by Aiden Pierce
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was all rah rah for this story until Robin's pov - little things annoyed me and I think it might have been better with just Callum's voice.
It went from a high 4 to barely making it into a 3⭐.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's Valentines day! Yay said no one at Cupid Inc. Let's have a look: Horny boss-subordinate situation, nestled in the backdrop of some protests, oh and there's a dirty little secret-stealing, secret-selling mole scurrying about in this story. On paper it's a great plot.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Urgh. Bloody billionaires - worse when they're supernatural billionares. Callum Reaver sir, that is just bad business paying your secretary more than some departments combined. What happens when it's time for a raise? Also - Callum is an emotional powder keg of childhood trauma, supernatural self-hate and a tiny smidge of insecurity.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
BE MINE
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Torture was a craft, and I was a master artisan. Inflicting pain was easy. It was knowing when to pull punches for the most effect that came with practice.” (Case in point - Callum being half angel)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Cupid Inc
■Cupid's Arrow
■ Fallen Angels as cupids
■Callum's Shifter form
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
It went from a high 4 to barely making it into a 3⭐.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
It's Valentines day! Yay said no one at Cupid Inc. Let's have a look: Horny boss-subordinate situation, nestled in the backdrop of some protests, oh and there's a dirty little secret-stealing, secret-selling mole scurrying about in this story. On paper it's a great plot.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Urgh. Bloody billionaires - worse when they're supernatural billionares. Callum Reaver sir, that is just bad business paying your secretary more than some departments combined. What happens when it's time for a raise? Also - Callum is an emotional powder keg of childhood trauma, supernatural self-hate and a tiny smidge of insecurity.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
BE MINE
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Torture was a craft, and I was a master artisan. Inflicting pain was easy. It was knowing when to pull punches for the most effect that came with practice.” (Case in point - Callum being half angel)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Cupid Inc
■Cupid's Arrow
■ Fallen Angels as cupids
■Callum's Shifter form
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025
Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
meh terrible coffee order Daisy - caramel macchiato is where it's at. Even better, Caramel Macchiato from Paris Baguette in Busan or the iced verson with whipped cream from Witches Brew in Hwaseong-si Hyangnam is just ... Well if I had to drown I'd choose to drown in that. Also yes Daisy, I did have a gorgeous dog named Daisy, she was regal and beautiful but that's besides the point.
Righto! Romantic? Why yes it was cute enough. But I have to ask where was the spice besides in the savory croissants. So mean she just cut it right when it was getting good. Booooooh.
It gets 2.75 ❤s from me. Not rounding up. It'll translate on SG.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Someone questioned the atmosphere of an earthquake as a romantic setting. I dunno, as a nerd-geek hybrid who did one too many Earthquake Seismology courses for no reason other than pure fascination - I find the aftershocks a little romantic under the right circumstances. Small earthquakes okay? Not the colossal Mother Nature's whipping ours arses big earthquakes.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Urgh the pastry chef is just so juvenile. All these men who growl and are mean as a way to convey attraction are basic bitches who are stuck in 10th grade psyche. Dude you SCOWL at tou love interest everytime she walks into your bakery and wonder why she promised she'd never come back. See that's the think about CR that I find ridonkulous (yes I'm making up words now).
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Eating pastries after an earthquake.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Um, there’s one each of the savory croissants of the day, the country ham and brie croissant, and the Swiss chard, artichoke heart, and feta croissant. Then one of the raspberry-chocolate Danishes, and one of the lemon curd–filled doughnuts. Oh, and two of the hand pies.” (This baker is speaking my language. Ply her with pastries! This is the way.)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Country ham and brie croissant (I'm gonna need pastrami on that)
■ Free pastries as a love language.
■ Natural Disaster romance
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Righto! Romantic? Why yes it was cute enough. But I have to ask where was the spice besides in the savory croissants. So mean she just cut it right when it was getting good. Booooooh.
It gets 2.75 ❤s from me. Not rounding up. It'll translate on SG.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Someone questioned the atmosphere of an earthquake as a romantic setting. I dunno, as a nerd-geek hybrid who did one too many Earthquake Seismology courses for no reason other than pure fascination - I find the aftershocks a little romantic under the right circumstances. Small earthquakes okay? Not the colossal Mother Nature's whipping ours arses big earthquakes.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Urgh the pastry chef is just so juvenile. All these men who growl and are mean as a way to convey attraction are basic bitches who are stuck in 10th grade psyche. Dude you SCOWL at tou love interest everytime she walks into your bakery and wonder why she promised she'd never come back. See that's the think about CR that I find ridonkulous (yes I'm making up words now).
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
Eating pastries after an earthquake.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Um, there’s one each of the savory croissants of the day, the country ham and brie croissant, and the Swiss chard, artichoke heart, and feta croissant. Then one of the raspberry-chocolate Danishes, and one of the lemon curd–filled doughnuts. Oh, and two of the hand pies.” (This baker is speaking my language. Ply her with pastries! This is the way.)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Country ham and brie croissant (I'm gonna need pastrami on that)
■ Free pastries as a love language.
■ Natural Disaster romance
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Her Shadow - A Monster Romance Short Story by Elliot Ason
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
This story felt just a little sad -not tragic, maybe bittersweet is the more apt sensation. The demon guy lost his whole world, corporeal form and the only thing he has left to live for is finding a mate?
It's meant to be steamy but most of the scenes are stiff and cardboard. The emotional bits are a bit fluffy but better.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
There's a really cool backstory for Ostiarius. But the author said tough cookies - you get what you get and you don't get upset. So even though there is so much potential, we'll never get to read it.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Odie is a little buttercup.
And Ellery is a dirty dirty little farmer🤗
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
I thought it was an incubus. No scene in particular stands out. No matter.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We are two sides of the same soul. Tethered for all time.” (I mean he is, so spot on dearie)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Shadow Guardians
■ The Great Bleed
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
It's meant to be steamy but most of the scenes are stiff and cardboard. The emotional bits are a bit fluffy but better.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
There's a really cool backstory for Ostiarius. But the author said tough cookies - you get what you get and you don't get upset. So even though there is so much potential, we'll never get to read it.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Odie is a little buttercup.
And Ellery is a dirty dirty little farmer🤗
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
I thought it was an incubus. No scene in particular stands out. No matter.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We are two sides of the same soul. Tethered for all time.” (I mean he is, so spot on dearie)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ Shadow Guardians
■ The Great Bleed
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Claimed By Cupid by Dana Isaly
dark
emotional
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? N/A
2.75
You know who cares if the dialogue is childish sometimes "I like you" I'm serious I do - you'd think they were in high school not a silver fox who owns a club. Oh and this song business at the beginning of each chapter - never bothered to listen to any of those songs. But again - who cares. It was a welcome little break.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
See this is what one would call cliterature, what's the gist if the story? Valentine's day smutty shenanigans. No conflict just all the spice.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Sooo is this Nicholas Saint Santa or Cupid? Not that it matters in the grand scheme of smutty romance but you know, Cupid-Santa did the dirty in a restaurant on Valentine's day and whooowee I needed a gallon of water.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
That whole scene with the poor unsuspecting waiter. One needs to read that part sitting in the ocean at the arctic circle just to cool down.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We have to get you right on the edge, needy and begging me for it. Because I want you to come for me when our waiter is here to witness it.” (I am clutching pearls😳)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ 🤣 I can't even pretend there were any
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
See this is what one would call cliterature, what's the gist if the story? Valentine's day smutty shenanigans. No conflict just all the spice.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Sooo is this Nicholas Saint Santa or Cupid? Not that it matters in the grand scheme of smutty romance but you know, Cupid-Santa did the dirty in a restaurant on Valentine's day and whooowee I needed a gallon of water.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
That whole scene with the poor unsuspecting waiter. One needs to read that part sitting in the ocean at the arctic circle just to cool down.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “We have to get you right on the edge, needy and begging me for it. Because I want you to come for me when our waiter is here to witness it.” (I am clutching pearls😳)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ 🤣 I can't even pretend there were any
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Just The Tip by Jenika Snow
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Welp, cross that off my to do list - I have read a "forbidden romance" well a short story, I know I'm a chicken but hey baby steps.
Weird that I'm okay with a 50 year old Orc dating a 20 year human/elf/wiccan but a 57 year old human man and 18-20 year old woman gives me the heebie jeebies. I must unpack this. But later.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I had this vision of all the triggers abd cobtent warnings just flooding the page but you know it wasn't half bad. Now I'm by no means going the way of Dark Taboo Romance when I've barely even scratched the surface of every other romance subgenre - but I didn't hate this at all.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Lol Fran's grandma is mentioned early on but you kind of get why as she's describing nana's 3rd married to Oli and click, it all falls into place.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Uhm..well let's see...yep all of it.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “I’d say brace yourself, but I don’t care if you’re ready or not. You’ll take what I give and ask for more.” (Neon mask guy🔥)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ The lollipop?🤷🏻♀️
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
Weird that I'm okay with a 50 year old Orc dating a 20 year human/elf/wiccan but a 57 year old human man and 18-20 year old woman gives me the heebie jeebies. I must unpack this. But later.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
I had this vision of all the triggers abd cobtent warnings just flooding the page but you know it wasn't half bad. Now I'm by no means going the way of Dark Taboo Romance when I've barely even scratched the surface of every other romance subgenre - but I didn't hate this at all.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Lol Fran's grandma is mentioned early on but you kind of get why as she's describing nana's 3rd married to Oli and click, it all falls into place.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Uhm..well let's see...yep all of it.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “I’d say brace yourself, but I don’t care if you’re ready or not. You’ll take what I give and ask for more.” (Neon mask guy🔥)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts :
■ The lollipop?🤷🏻♀️
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025