rtl199973's reviews
256 reviews

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

I have some mixed feelings about this book. 

Now this was my first Ali Hazelwood so I’m not going to compare this to any of her other work, just how I feel about it as a romance book. 

The first 30-50% of this book had me GIGGLING. Our two main characters, Rue and Eli, have an instant connection and the tension is tensioning 🤌🏻 It started off so strong and easily would have been a 4.5 ⭐️ read for me. But, it fell off a bit in the second half. 

The characters start to do things that feel distinctly out of character. Eli gets mad at Rue for something that honestly makes a lot of sense and the whole scene that follows is— weird. Rue is in denial for the majority of the book but I feel like it goes just a step too far. She’s a smart woman. I think it would have made more sense for her to realize her feelings and try to run away than be completely clueless until it’s “too late”. So the second half was more of a 3.75 ⭐️ for me. 

Was I obsessed with this book? No. But with elements of it, yes. 

For example, I loved the found family. It was a very good he falls first. The friendships in this book felt so real. I loved Eli’s dog (that’s no surprise). I loved that he never pushed Rue even when he wanted to. But I can’t get past some of the things that bothered me either. 

Also all of Rue’s chapters were in first person while Eli’s were in third which felt weird. There’s no other way to put it. I didn’t like it. 

This book was really hard to rate. If you want a lighthearted romance book I’m not sure if this is for you. If you want a book with lovable, realistic characters who mess up sometimes but still get a Happily Ever After, I’d say give it a try! 

4.25 ⭐️

4 🌶️

The Deer and the Dragon by Piper C.J.

challenging 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

3.5

I have a lot of feelings about this book. 

First of all, I didn’t like our FMC, Marlow. Supposedly she had a degree in folklore and wrote fantasy books but for an expert she really didn’t know how their world worked when she was thrown into it. That felt unrealistic to me. If you’ve spent years studying something— even if you think it’s all fake— you should know the basics of what not to do. Every time I thought she was growing on me as a character she would do something so unbelievably stupid that we’d be back at square one. 

Now, that being said, I loved pretty much every other character. Our MMC, Caliban? Loved him. Though he was missing for much of my book so unfortunately I didn’t get to spend much time with him. Fauna? Adored her. She made a few questionable choices, but don’t we all 🤷🏽‍♀️ Azrames? OBSESSED with him (I would totally read and entire book just about him) 

There was also an Edna Mode character in the form of a Lilith that was a lot of fun, but the king of hell was a little too happy go lucky for my taste.

Personally, I wanted more spice— I expected more spice. If you’re interested in this book for the romance just know it leans a lot more towards the fantasy elements. I also felt the ending was extremely abrupt. I can get behind a cliffhanger, but I felt like I was missing the final chapter. 

There’s a lot going on in this book. There were so many times I wanted to throw it across the room (both for good and bad reasons). Any type of religion or folklore you can think of is jam packed in here. There’s also a whole lot of religious trauma that could be triggering for some people. If you want an easy fantasy book that’s a quick  read this book isn’t for you. 

Will I continue with this series? Honestly— I don’t know. I crave a resolution for the characters I did like but I don’t feel the need to know how Marlow’s story ends 🤷🏽‍♀️

I did like the mini playlists and drink orders for each characters— it was a nice touch

3.5 ⭐️

2 🌶️

Favorite Quote: 

“If you wouldn’t burn the world to the ground for the one you love, are you even in love?” 

Summer Ever After by Jane Crittenden

funny lighthearted medium-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

Searching for Lucian by Mariah Chantel

dark lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

First off our FMC, Violet, was so damn relatable. Maybe it’s just because I’m also a short midwestern who hates beer but I LOVED her. Mariah Chantel did an incredible job giving insight on Violet’s past without making it feel like it was being shoved down your throat. It really helped me understand her as a character and made her feel real. 

Honestly all of the characters were lovable. I think Namir was my favorite 🥰 I just love a (mostly 😉) platonic guy friend. And Lucian 😍 let’s just say the dedication is true 👀

This story had the perfect mix of romance and world building. I never felt like the fantasy aspects were overwhelming the romance. The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read for me is because there were times I wished the writing did a little more ‘showing’ and a little less ‘telling’ but other than that this book was exactly what I was looking for 🖤

It’s an incredible debut and if you’re a dark romance fan this needs to be on your TBR. @ thank you so much for choosing me as an ARC reader. It was an honor and I can’t wait for book two! Searching for Lucian comes out on June 28th but you can preorder it now ❤️

4.5 ⭐️

4 🌶️

My Favorite Quote is a 2 Parter: 

“Then why is Lucian a fucking wreck right now?” 

Which later leads to…

“…you walking away from me the other day brought me to my fucking knees. It felt as if Death himself slit my goddamn throat.” 

I mean COME ON 🥵

Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

dark funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book ended up being so much more than what I expected. I went into it think it would be a fun murder mystery / thriller and maybe the twist would shock me (which not very many books have done lately) 

Instead what a got was a book that deals with loss, regret, and what home truly means. Not to mention this story is so damn nostalgic. At one point Jeneva Rose described the sound VCRs make as you flip through them so clearly I was transported back to my grandma’s cottage on a rainy summer day deciding to put on Little Mermaid 2 for the thousandth time (much to my brother’s annoyance) 

This book reminded me of Verity by Colleen Hoover in the sense where the characters do some pretty fucked up things. But instead of leaving me unsettled (like Verity because DAMN) it had a surprisingly beautiful ending. That’s not something I expect with murder books, but it really worked 🤷🏽‍♀️

These characters are complex but they felt so damn real. I found myself rooting for them one second and then scolding them the next. At its core this book is about mistakes. We all make them, but sometimes it’s hard to move past them. 

 

I read this book in one sitting and only got up to get more wine 🍷 so if you want a quick but really good read, I highly recommend. 

(Also this cover is so fucking cool, I can’t get over it) 

4.5⭐️

🚫🌶️

Favorite Quotes (once again I couldn’t pick just one, sue me 🤷🏽‍♀️):

“It all happened so fast. But it all happened so slowly too. Moments that change us don’t play by the rules of time. They’re everywhere all at once.” 

“…sometimes something needs to be broken before it can be repaired, and I mean truly broken. A cup that has some cracks in it but still holds water, you don’t work on fixing it; instead it goes to the back of the cabinet. But a shattered cup needs to be mended to work again.”

Court of Emerald Dreams by H. Wulf

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

I really wanted to like this book. It has so many elements that I love: found family, mythical creatures, multiple POVs, slow burn romance, and a book loving FMC. But unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. 

My main complaint was the writing style. It was very repetitive and felt more like a first draft than a completed novel. The story has potential, it just needs refinement. And while you do get multiple POVs in this book it’s always a repeat of the chapter that you just read from the FMC’s POV which I didn’t love. 

This is marketed as a cozy fantasy book but it didn’t feel cozy, it just felt slow. However, it is the first book in a series and the ending implies things will ramp up in the next book. I worry that with all the action being saved for future books this one will be left feeling disjointed and like it’s not part of the same series (and on the flip side people might love this slower paced cozy feel and want more of that for future books 🤷🏽‍♀️)

Even though this wasn’t for me I know a lot of the other ARC readers are enjoying it. So if the blurb sounds interesting, check it out! It will be released on July 1st 🎉

1.5⭐️

🚫🌶️

Favorite Quote: 

“Every brushstroke tells a story and every petal holds a secret.”

Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was beautiful, there is no other way to describe it. Kelly Andrew is such a talented author. Her imagery and lyricism transport you into the story, and the you can feel the narrators’ nostalgia as if it is your own. I also loved the magic system. It was unique, but not overly difficult to comprehend. 

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be Hiraeth. It’s a Welsh word that describes a longing for a home to which you cannot return. Andrew uses this in the book and it fits perfectly. 

If you’re looking for a heart wrenching story about love and friendship and growing up with a bit of mystery and dark themes I cannot recommend this book enough. I’m not an overly emotional reader and even the damn acknowledgments had me teary eyed 😂

This was my first read from Kelly and I will definitely be picking up more. This book is easily one of my top reads of the year and I can’t wait to see what she does next. 

Also if anyone else has read this book please DM me, I need to talk about that ending 😫

5⭐️

1🌶️

Favorite Quotes (I marked so many quotes in this book I had to choose several):

“Necessity makes monsters out of men.”

“He could still feel the phantom of Wyatt’s pulse in the pads of his fingers. He was torn between the desire to scrape it out of him or stitch it into his skin.” 

“The instructions may be simple…. That doesn’t mean what you’re doing is easy.” 

“Power has always come by taking.”

“They sprouted up much in the way trees did— first alongside one another, and then twined all together, their branches entangled.” 

 

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

dark inspiring mysterious relaxing slow-paced

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

4.5

I went into this book with no expectations which is not something I get to do very often. I loved the polish folklore and how the characters interacted with each other. I loved the imagery surrounding the Holy Order and the unique magic system. And I loved google all of the creatures and phrases I had never read before 😂

Plus the ending was so sweet which I was not expecting 🥹

The only thing I didn’t love was how short it is. I could read a whole series in this world 😍

Also— I got this book signed so that’s pretty cool I guess 💁🏼‍♀️ (Divergent Era Sydney is screaming) 

4.5 ⭐️

🚫🌶️

Favorite Quote: 

“He cant feel sadness, but he can feel where rage could around it like a snake.” 

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Heartless Hunter 

The way I DEVOURED this book 

Let me set the scene: she’s a witch, he’s a witch hunter, enemies in every sense of the word, and they decide to fake date. 

Still not convinced? 

Her childhood best friend is his younger brother 👀

The magic system was also really interesting and I’m sure we’ll learn more about it in the next book. I loved the idea of casting scars being displayed as works of art on a witch’s skin.

Rune is so far in denial you might as well call her Cleopatra, Gideon is trying so hard to be a tough guy but he’s a big softie at heart, and for all my Bridgerton girlies it has a similar feel of gossip/society (but a little more modern) 

Honestly the only reason you shouldn’t read this book is because the sequel won’t be out until February 🙃

5⭐️

2🌶️

Favorite Quote(s):

“You are not the things that happened to you.”

(Bonus quote because it was so hard to choose just one)

“Isn’t that the point of art— to take the monsters in us?”

#

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

adventurous inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

Two Twisted Crowns 

I loved this duology. I adored the characters, despised the villains, and the writing was stunning 😍 This series is like Defy the Night’s older goth sister. So if you liked Defy the Night but you want something with a little more spice and darker themes I HIGHLY recommend! 

The Magic System Rachel Gillig has created is so unique and like nothing I’ve ever read before. And the nightmare that speaks mostly in riddles adds so much mystery and intrigue. These are books you could read a hundred times and pick up on something new each time. 

Also, I loved Elm in the first book, but in THIS one? 😍👀

I did like the first book *slightly* more than this one, but overall still an incredible read 🖤

4.75 ⭐️

2.5 🌶️

Favorite Quote: 

“You did not come all this way to yield to despair.” 

#