saintlychelle's reviews
121 reviews

Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole

adventurous challenging mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Beyond Those Gilded Walls by Jessica S. Taylor

dark mysterious sad 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

4.5

Undead Gods by Caitlyn Battelle

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

Thank you Caitlyn Battelle for this ARC!! I enjoyed this one a lot!! 

This story starts off rather slow, but definitely keeps you intrigued as it builds up for all the mystery and tension! 

I actually really loved how clever and headstrong all the characters were! There was such a great mix of people you rooted for, people you wanted to root for but they gave you reasons not to, and people you just absolutely despised no matter what. Added to the mix, the raccoon was also such a cute yet chaotic gremlin of a character that I absolutely adored! 

I had seen that this story was "Hades and Persephone inspired" and went in expecting what one typically expects of any story that says it is something like Hades and Persephone: opposing lovers, light and dark vibes, yearning, realm hopping between somewhere decayed and somewhere thriving, etc. However as I read this story, I found it wasn't quite what I expected. Before I could say I was disappointed, I remembered and realised that it was advertised as "inspired" and not "Hades and Persephone vibes." What I had expected was the vibes, but what I got (and what was rightfully advertised) was inspiration. There were definitely elements that were reminiscent of Hades and Persephone, but not set in obvious tones that you'd usually read. That being said, I definitely saw the hints of inspiration Caitlyn Battelle was dropping and (hopefully rightly) assume the Hades and Persephone vibes are coming in book 2!

I really enjoyed this story and I am so looking forward to book 2!! I mean, how could I not with that ending and all the new threads just waiting to be unravelled!!!! 

The Curse of the Siren by S.E. Nielsen

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

Thank you, S. E. Nielson for this ARC!! 

Holyyyy shiiiiiit!!! This whole book was such an incredible journey and roller-coaster of emotions!! 

There was So. Much. Mystery. going on!! There's a love triangle, but also an extra guy...is he part of the triangle or is he the villain? Is she going to end up with that high lord or the other high lord? Or maybe her childhood best friend? Who am I supposed to root for as love interest?? Who is actually telling the truth?? Who can be trusted?? Whose feelings are genuine and whose feelings are just from the curse?? 

This book had my mind racing with all the paths and possibilities!! It also had me hooked the same way Spark of the Everflame had me hooked! 

My emotions upon reading the reveal:
"I KNEW IT!!!" then a minute later, "HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT???" 

AND THE ENDING/EPILOGUE!!! AHHHHH!!!! What a cliffhanger!!! I can't wait to read the next book!!! 

Beneath the Buried Sea by Victoria Mier

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

Enjoyed this one more than the first!! 
I still firmly believe this duology would be epic as a television series!!

Dancing with the Headless Horseman by Elena H. Covens

challenging hopeful inspiring fast-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

4.75

Thank you, Elena H. Covens for this ARC!! 

This was such a cute story with a hint of [pumpkin] spice!! This take on the Headless Horseman was so unique and I absolutely adored it! I loved the character development and the worldbuilding! This was such a sweet way to start spooky season!! 

Beyond the Aching Door by Victoria Mier

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.5

This was a bit too long for me with how much detail was written, BUT I do think this would make an excellent TV show because of all the details and descriptions!! 

The Emerald Dawn by Allison Trebacz

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

Thank you, Allison Trebacz for this ARC!! 

This was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! So much action, intrigue, and mystery!! And a prophecy!! I love a good prophecy!! 

I enjoyed the worldbuilding; it was easy to feel immersed and not want to put the book down and keep reading! 

I also loved the balance of the supporting characters with the main characters; I found the characters rather easy to root for and get attached to. 

The story's take on the concept of 'trials' was so interesting!! I love stories with trials, and I personally haven't read a lot of group trials versus solo trials so this concept got me hooked! 

The mystery of Reina's powers and identity kept me invested throughout the story and when the reveal happened at the end...WOW!! It added so much tension between the characters and got me wanting the next book even more!!!! I cannot wait until the next book comes out!!! 

The Red Woman and the White Bear by Fern A. Ellis

adventurous emotional 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

Thank you Fern A. Ellis for this ARC!!

Ohhh myy godd this was soo good!!! 
I didn't want it to end, yet I desperately wanted to know how everything would unravel! 

This had so many good tropes!
• enemies-to-lovers
• hidden identity 
• morally grey characters 
• hurt x comfort
Also!! Prophecies!! I love a good prophecy and a reluctant chosen one!! 

I loved the worldbuilding and character development!! It was so easy to root for the characters and get attached to them, as well as understand the fae world and their politics. 

I also adore the emotional roller coaster this story set me on!! It made me feel so immersed in the world and connected to the characters! AND THAT CLIFFHANGER!!! SO CRUEL BUT BEAUTIFUL!! I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THE NEXT BOOK!!! 

A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.75

Thank you, K.W. Foster and the NerdFam for this ARC!! 

I was definitely the right audience for this book!! I loved the characters and the worldbuilding and all the emotions this story evoked from me! 

This story had the perfect amount of angst, action, and lore! It was easy to get immersed into this world and get attached and feel for the characters! 

The love triangle..the stakes..the villain...OH MY GOD!!! It was all so good!! An old lover/first love, a new lover, AND an evil ex-husband...what a love life/love history Aelia has!!!! 

Also, I loved the multiple pov chapters throughout the book!! It made the story so much more emotional reading the lovers' pov on things! 

AND THE EPILOGUE!! OH MY GOD!! I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait for the next one!!!