saintlychelle's reviews
121 reviews

Janis and the Reaper by Nikki M. Griggs

adventurous 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

3.75

Thank you Nikki M. Griggs for this ARC!!

There was so much mystery and so much action - even right up to the end! It did get a bit overwhelming at times but I was still invested in the story. This was an absolute wild ride and I never knew what was going to happen next. 

I loved the cast of characters and this found family! I also really loved the multiple and changing of povs!! the little icons indicating which person's pov we were now entering was great and made the story flow well. 

I even got a tiny bit emotional at the end (especially with the epilogue!) having to say goodbye to these characters after all they'd been through.  

I really enjoyed this one! The vibes and mood were exactly what I needed to kickstart spooky season!

Song of the Dark Wood by Sheila Masterson

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious sad 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, Sheila Masterson for this amazing ARC!!!! 

This was so beautiful, tragic, and empowering!! I highlighted so many lines in the ebook!

This was the most perfect Little Red Riding Hood x Beauty and the Beast x Hades and Persephone mash-up I didn't know I needed in my life and I ADORED EVERY BIT OF IT!!! It had the perfect balance of angst, female empowerment, and tragedy! 

I enjoyed the dual pov scattered throughout the book! I loved seeing how Conor was handling everything on his end in addition to Rowan's pov. 

This story felt so precious and treasured to me, and it was the perfect fairytale to kickstart autumn!! 

The Shadow of Polaris by D.L. Houpt, D.L. Houpt

adventurous challenging sad 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

3.5

Thank you D.L. Houpt and Black Sheep Literary for this ARC!! 

It was super easy to get into for the first few chapters: the flow of the story made me want to keep reading, and it was easy for me to want to read the next chapter. It then became rather slow for a little over half the book and I had a hard time wanting to keep up with it. I do understand that the pacing was slow in the first half only because there's so much building up to all the action in the latter half of the book, though. 

I loved the descriptive words throughout the story. They really allowed me to vividly visualise everything, and I really felt immersed. However I do feel this caused the story's pacing to drag on too much. 

The worldbuilding was just right for me - not too much where it felt like a history/geography lesson and not too little where I felt lost - and I think it's because of the descriptive storytelling. 

Elpis is definitely a strong female main character worth rooting for, her animal companion Arcturas is so lovable, and I can see Aryx being book boyfriend material. Overall I enjoyed the book! 

The Goddess Binding by Lydia Ruanna

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

Thank you Lydia Ruanna for this adventurous ARC!!! 

This book drew me in so calmly and then gripped me as the story went on! 

There were bits of mystery here and there and then at other times there'd be a burst of drama that put me on the edge of my seat!! 

I definitely did not expect

the CANNIBALS

! I had read that part right before I went to bed and I'll admit, it rattled me. I even got some chills during the small moment where Alira learns about

the Flower Tribes

! 

Also there's a good amount of betrayal in bursts throughout the story as well and that kept me hooked as well as have some *opinions* on certain characters haha

I loved the scattered dual pov of Alira and Clay!! It allowed for such a rather innocent view of the events from Alira and then a more dramatic view of the events from Clay. It was a good balance! 

This story truly was a wild adventure and I didn't know where it was going next! The characters are so well-written and the worldbuilding is intriguing! I love the way Lydia Ruanna has planned for each book in the series to be about a different House, and I look forward to reading the other books!! 

Vale of Dreams by Alex Rivers, C.N. Crawford

adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you, C. N. Crawford for this incredible ARC!!!! 

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year!! Reading Avalon Tower and then seeing the tropes for Vale of Dreams had me in shock, confusion, and IN DIRE NEED OF THIS BOOK!!! I am so grateful I was able to get an ARC!! 

I was so sure in the first book that Raphael and Nia were meant to be together, but now after reading about Talan and Nia...I'm not so sure. And I don't think I'm all that upset about it haha

C. N. Crawford delivers a sequel that's the full package - action, intrigue, tension, mystery, and romance! This world of Fey Academy of Spies grips you and immerses you fully with its Arthurian vibes, assassins, and fey! I devoured this book; I couldn't stop reading and at the same time, I didn't want it to end! 

Another amazing cliffhanger and I am once again in dire need of the next book!! 

The Lady of Fire and Light by Victoria K. Taylor

challenging emotional sad tense 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? N/A

5.0

Thank you, Victoria K. Taylor for this amazing ARC!!

Ohhhh myy goodnessss! Where do I even begin?? 

Reading this prequel after A Crown of Star and Ash was such a warm but bittersweet and heartbreaking experience, and I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT!!!

Knowing what happens to Lucia, Katia, and Atria in A Crown of Star and Ash while reading this was so bittersweet! I absolutely LOVED reading about the three of them and how much they mean to Val, which in turn, made my heart ache even more for Val in A Crown of Star and Ash.

I loved reading and learning more about Val and her backstory as well as her history with Aris! I enjoyed the sisterly moments between Val, Katia, Lucia, and Atria as well as the fighting/training moments! 

This world and its characters that Victoria K. Taylor has created are so rich and well-written! I cannot wait to read what comes next!! 

Vows From Hell by Kat King

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Loved this ending to Micah and Storm's story!! Their character development was great and I enjoyed seeing them grow with the new struggles they faced in this book. The angst was so good too!! They definitely deserve each other and I'm glad they got the ending they wanted! 

Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee

adventurous challenging funny 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

4.5

Thank you Jayci Lee for an ARC of this book!!

I really enjoyed this! I loved the worldbuilding and the characters and especially loved the inbetween chapters that showed a bit of lore/backstory! I absolutely loved the angst as well!! Such a push and pull of emotions on the heart!! I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens next!! 

A Crown of Star & Ash by Victoria K. Taylor

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

Such an emotional yet adventurous ride!! Victoria K. Taylor knows how to pull on the heartstrings while delivering an intriguing, immersive adventure full of action, tension, and friendship! I can't wait to read the next one!! 

Avalon Tower by Alex Rivers, C.N. Crawford

adventurous challenging 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

An Arthurian vibes story with fae and spies?! HELL YES!! Ohhhh, man!! The hype around this book was well-deserved!! So much action, adventure, tension, mystery, and romance!! 

Each character is so full of personality and complex, and the plot is so exciting!! It's so clear who you're rooting for (and hell yes, we are rooting for them!!) and so clear who you just want to punch in the face (maybe more than just punch). Even the villain had me intrigued, and I can't wait to learn more about him in the next book! 

I felt so immersed the whole time I was reading, and I didn't want it to end!!! And that cliffhanger!! AHHHHHHH!!!!