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samandthebookstack's Reviews (99)
medium-paced
I picked this up based on a quick skim of the synopsis and that beautiful cover and was pleasantly surprised.
This had all the makings of a really cozy story, but there were a few things missing to bump this up to 4 or 5 stars for me.
Some things to expect:
-Medium paced, quick read
-Low stakes fantasy with simple world-building
-Fade to black romance scenes (these fell very flat for me)
-Marriage of convenience
-Reluctant allies to insta-love
The story itself was interesting but I think it would have been even better stretched out into a duology where more of the world-building and character development could be expanded. Overall this was a fun read if something low-stakes and light is your goal.
This had all the makings of a really cozy story, but there were a few things missing to bump this up to 4 or 5 stars for me.
Some things to expect:
-Medium paced, quick read
-Low stakes fantasy with simple world-building
-Fade to black romance scenes (these fell very flat for me)
-Marriage of convenience
-Reluctant allies to insta-love
The story itself was interesting but I think it would have been even better stretched out into a duology where more of the world-building and character development could be expanded. Overall this was a fun read if something low-stakes and light is your goal.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
medium-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
This was my first Laura Thalassa novel and after reading this I am really sad I didn't move her other books higher up on my TBR because her writing style is really lovely.
Bewitched follows the story of Selene, a witch whose biggest goal is to join a coven and learn as much as she can despite the fact that using her magic steals her memories. Selene is kind of a badass. She's hyper-organized to accommodate how her magic functions and she never behaves as though what she deals with is a hindrance. She is smart, funny, and very relatable.
I did find myself somewhat frustrated with Memnon. He was so persistent and at times it bordered on obnoxious. He was not yet a book boyfriend I feel is swoon-worthy, perhaps that will change in the upcoming books as we learn more about the back story between him and Selene.
But overall, the plot was well paced, the characters well developed and I felt this was a. really fun read. It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger and I usually find myself ruffled when a story ends that way, but that wasn't the case with Bewitched. Instead I left this book feeling sad that I would have to wait patiently for the next installment to see how Selene faces what lay ahead for her.
I also have to note, Nero. Precious, perfect Nero.
Tropes: Soulmates/mates, possessive MMCs, spice, enemies to lovers, and witches
Bewitched follows the story of Selene, a witch whose biggest goal is to join a coven and learn as much as she can despite the fact that using her magic steals her memories. Selene is kind of a badass. She's hyper-organized to accommodate how her magic functions and she never behaves as though what she deals with is a hindrance. She is smart, funny, and very relatable.
I did find myself somewhat frustrated with Memnon. He was so persistent and at times it bordered on obnoxious. He was not yet a book boyfriend I feel is swoon-worthy, perhaps that will change in the upcoming books as we learn more about the back story between him and Selene.
But overall, the plot was well paced, the characters well developed and I felt this was a. really fun read. It does end in a bit of a cliffhanger and I usually find myself ruffled when a story ends that way, but that wasn't the case with Bewitched. Instead I left this book feeling sad that I would have to wait patiently for the next installment to see how Selene faces what lay ahead for her.
I also have to note, Nero. Precious, perfect Nero.
Tropes: Soulmates/mates, possessive MMCs, spice, enemies to lovers, and witches
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Five stars because this novella was loads of fun.
Scarlett St. Clair's writing is always a 4-5 star for me. Her storytelling is always a hit for me and her ability to write smut is, in my opinion, top notch.
Scarlett wrote this project strictly for fun and it shows in the writing. The story was fun, fast-paced and filled with bits and pieces inspired by various fairytales. For a novella, Scarlett managed to execute very satisfying world-building. As usual, the smut was top notch.
If you like morally gray characters (especially morally gray MMCs who are half-idiot, half golden retriever), fierce FMCs, enemies to lovers, fairytale retellings with fae, then you'll like this.
<b>Tropes:</b> Enemies to lovers
<b>Trigger warnings: </b> Sexual content, violence
Scarlett St. Clair's writing is always a 4-5 star for me. Her storytelling is always a hit for me and her ability to write smut is, in my opinion, top notch.
Scarlett wrote this project strictly for fun and it shows in the writing. The story was fun, fast-paced and filled with bits and pieces inspired by various fairytales. For a novella, Scarlett managed to execute very satisfying world-building. As usual, the smut was top notch.
If you like morally gray characters (especially morally gray MMCs who are half-idiot, half golden retriever), fierce FMCs, enemies to lovers, fairytale retellings with fae, then you'll like this.
<b>Tropes:</b> Enemies to lovers
<b>Trigger warnings: </b> Sexual content, violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book gave me every single thing I asked of it and then some. I sat smiling like a goofball multiple times while reading this. Atwater’s writing is as smart as it is whimsical and warm. The Pride and Prejudice vibes were perfect...utterly perfect. The romance was fluffy, the banter was witty and the faeries were bonkers.
Theodora Ettings has situated herself among my all-time favorites. She’s funny and lovable, and despite her affliction of being half-souled, is entirely relatable for all the best reasons.
I’m afraid if I write much more I will inadvertently give spoilers. That said, this book will now reside in the section of my personal library where comfort reads are lovingly kept.
Theodora Ettings has situated herself among my all-time favorites. She’s funny and lovable, and despite her affliction of being half-souled, is entirely relatable for all the best reasons.
I’m afraid if I write much more I will inadvertently give spoilers. That said, this book will now reside in the section of my personal library where comfort reads are lovingly kept.
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I was a tad skeptical of the hype this book has been getting around the book community. But this one lives up to the hype and then some. I barely have anything to say about it because I enjoyed the story so much.
If you like vampires, enemies to lovers, excellent world-building, lovely pacing, stabby FMCs who are total badasses, and mild spice (closer to the end of the story, but totally worth it)...then this one is for you.
If you like vampires, enemies to lovers, excellent world-building, lovely pacing, stabby FMCs who are total badasses, and mild spice (closer to the end of the story, but totally worth it)...then this one is for you.
This book was a vibe and it filled an empty spot in my wretched little heart that had been empty for far too long.
Important note: this book ends in bit of a cliff hanger and there are trigger warnings to consider (gore and blood as well as mention of non-con encounters that are not described in any great detail).
Important note: this book ends in bit of a cliff hanger and there are trigger warnings to consider (gore and blood as well as mention of non-con encounters that are not described in any great detail).
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Reading the summary of this book, I was rather excited. A fusion of romance, fantasy, and philosophy. A young FMC searching for another world, a world she is certain she was once part of... I was in precisely the right mood for such an adventure when I opened this up on my Kindle and dived in.
The story is told through the FMC's point of view, and while I generally enjoy 1st person POV, I hated it in this story. The FMC, Lilly, spends essentially the entire story doubting and second-guessing herself. I've never read something where the excessive descriptive prose actually got on my nerves. It was too much. Everything was described in so much detail that it became tedious. There was so much telling and very little showing through the whole story, All of those things ended up souring the experience for me. I didn't connect to the characters really at all.
The pacing was also an issue for me. A few chapters in, once Lilly has achieved the very important goal of finding the parallel world she dreamed of her whole life, the story then skips ahead two months. Although Lilly has found her true home and met lots of new people, the story skips ahead and we get zero insight into Lilly's experiences settling into this new world. While we're promised the found family trope, we're simply told that Lilly cares for her new friends but we never see how she actually formed those bonds because it gets skipped over. Then there's Lilly's relationship with Will. We are set up to expect angst between the two of them, but because the story skips forward the way it does, we see none of the details of how their relationship grows. We learn that Will is tasked with watching her in a way that hints that there will be some tension because he perhaps doesn't trust her. But once the story skips ahead, Lilly and Will are in love and all the little details we got up to that point are essentially forgotten. I don't hate the insta-love trope, but I do hate it when a story sets the reader up for specific things and then fails to deliver. I also hated how preachy Will's dialogue felt at times. He sounded like a positivity guru...but a toxic one.
I really wanted to love this story so much. The cover is absolutely stunning. The premise is truly interesting but it just fell utterly flat for me under the weight of poor pacing, preachy undertones of love and light versus dark, redundant descriptive prose, and flat characters whose names I forgot within hours of reading.
As always, I want to thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a copy of this e-ARC.
The story is told through the FMC's point of view, and while I generally enjoy 1st person POV, I hated it in this story. The FMC, Lilly, spends essentially the entire story doubting and second-guessing herself. I've never read something where the excessive descriptive prose actually got on my nerves. It was too much. Everything was described in so much detail that it became tedious. There was so much telling and very little showing through the whole story, All of those things ended up souring the experience for me. I didn't connect to the characters really at all.
The pacing was also an issue for me. A few chapters in, once Lilly has achieved the very important goal of finding the parallel world she dreamed of her whole life, the story then skips ahead two months. Although Lilly has found her true home and met lots of new people, the story skips ahead and we get zero insight into Lilly's experiences settling into this new world. While we're promised the found family trope, we're simply told that Lilly cares for her new friends but we never see how she actually formed those bonds because it gets skipped over. Then there's Lilly's relationship with Will. We are set up to expect angst between the two of them, but because the story skips forward the way it does, we see none of the details of how their relationship grows. We learn that Will is tasked with watching her in a way that hints that there will be some tension because he perhaps doesn't trust her. But once the story skips ahead, Lilly and Will are in love and all the little details we got up to that point are essentially forgotten. I don't hate the insta-love trope, but I do hate it when a story sets the reader up for specific things and then fails to deliver. I also hated how preachy Will's dialogue felt at times. He sounded like a positivity guru...but a toxic one.
I really wanted to love this story so much. The cover is absolutely stunning. The premise is truly interesting but it just fell utterly flat for me under the weight of poor pacing, preachy undertones of love and light versus dark, redundant descriptive prose, and flat characters whose names I forgot within hours of reading.
As always, I want to thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a copy of this e-ARC.
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-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:
Yes
I picked this book from the Amazon First Reads selections and did not expect much to come of it. But this book really surprised me.
I don't always rate five stars because the writing was elegant and near-perfect, sometimes it's just the way the story made me feel. That was the case with this book. I laughed out loud several times and found myself teary-eyed at the end. The exploration of June's loss is what really got to me. I saw versions of my younger self dealing with grief and loss through June's character and it lanced right through me several times.
I don't always rate five stars because the writing was elegant and near-perfect, sometimes it's just the way the story made me feel. That was the case with this book. I laughed out loud several times and found myself teary-eyed at the end. The exploration of June's loss is what really got to me. I saw versions of my younger self dealing with grief and loss through June's character and it lanced right through me several times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual harassment
medium-paced