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samflowerv6's Reviews (424)
I just thought to myself “why can’t I be done with this” and I have free will so I will not be continuing on this path. PEACE OUT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Lettuce move on. I’m just bored and they got together too quickly. No tension it’s just like lettuce picking and insta-love. I did like the whole small town vibe but there was nothing happening? Except the fact she needed to go back to her big city job soon? Jeez. Hallmark vibes.
I held on long enough!!! Not for me. I just couldn’t bring myself to finish. The whole storyline just made me so depressed and her swearing with bird words?? Just the love interest thought so poorly of her for the most part and her character made me sad in a way that ruined my experience reading this. Will not continue reading this series. All the situations in this book are distressing in some way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Classism
Maybe later?? Probably not though. Kinda bored w it and didn’t pick it back up after starting. I found it unnecessary that this grown man eats beef stew everyday like that’s just ?? So not sexy. This is fiction !!!! Why beef stew
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
He lifts his hand, strokes a finger down her cheek. Emma feels it like a crackle of lightning.
"You, I did not anticipate." His eyes travel over her face. "How interesting. Come and visit me again sometime, Emma. We'll have croissants."
"I killed for transcendence. But I don't think you know what transcendence means. You probably don't even know how to spell it.”
I really enjoyed this!!! Final girl Emma Lewis is recruited by the FBI to interview juvenile offenders behind bars alongside Travis Bell, a Texas born teen. They bond and train at Quantico. They get tied up in an active case where Emma interviews Simon, a teenage sociopath who’s locked up in a mental institution. He’s known for being charming, brutal and manipulative. HE CHARMED ME I ADMIT IT! Icily beautiful Simon is intrigued by Emma and she shares more than she should with him all the while, trying to solve an active case he has information on. Over the book, Emma grapples with her trauma regarding escaping a serial killer in her teens and what that really means for her life now and who she’s become. Simon weirdly helps her with those thoughts as well as Travis. They have a beautiful connection and interesting dynamic (both with Emma but mostly Travis and Emma). I found myself loving Simon, Emma and Travis so much. Even Kristin was a wildly interesting character. This was such a great find and god I know Simon is insane but I think I fell in love with his crazy a bit. Also in love with Travis. So fast paced and interesting. I will be reading the second book and the new one whenever it comes out. I NEED MORE SIMON AND EMMA AND TRAVIS AND EMMA AND JUST IN GENERAL MORE BOOKS :)) I know it’s not a romance but the vibes were vibing. I love the slow burn of Travis and Emma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Kidnapping, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
the only enemy is the sea
“I will love you to ruination,” the Fairy King said, brushing a strand of golden hair from my cheek. “Yours or mine?” I asked. The Fairy King did not answer.
Deeply atmospheric tale of how our brains deal with trauma in the backdrop of a gloomy and mysterious cliff by the sea town. Effy and her academic rival (sort of) unfold the mystery of her favorite author on his late estate under the guise of helping rebuild the property. Effy deals with understanding her own mind, battling with the difference between reality and fantasy while struggling as a young woman in a world of men who see her as not smart enough in an academic setting and take advantage of her in others. Preston and Effy comfort each other and mesh well intelligently while the solve mysteries and try to stay under the radar in the gloomy sea side manor. I loved this story so deeply to my core. Ava Reid is a visionary. I love Preston and Effy as individuals and together. The audiobook was also such a treat. This story is a hauntingly beautiful of gothic fantasy, dark academia and survival against the self and everyone else. I would say that the focus isn’t on the romance but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. Preston loves her in a way that’s different from anything in her life and the the haunting chill that permeates the entire book. He is just the sweetest baby to me and I will die for Effy. I see myself so much in her and the entire book is just so deeply beautiful. The mystical fantasy elements were breathtaking. 🌊
“I was a woman when it was convenient to blame me, and a girl when they wanted to use me.”
“That was the cruelest irony: the more you did to save yourself, the less you became a person worth saving.”
“I wish I had fought.” Effy surprised herself by saying it. The words had leaped out of her throat, unbidden. “I know I beat him in the end, but for so many years all I could do was run and hide. I just sat there and let the water pour in around me. I didn’t know that I could fight back. I didn’t know how to do anything but wait to drown.”
“Oh no, Effy. That’s not what I meant at all. You don’t have to take up a sword. Survival is bravery, too.”
“It began as all things did: a girl on the shore, terrified and desirous.”
“Effy found herself half in love with the Fairy King sometimes, too. The tender belly of his cruelty made her heart flutter. There was an intimacy to all violence, she supposed. The better you knew someone, the more terribly you could hurt them.”
“You're not just one thing. Survival is something you do not something you are. You're brave and brilliant. You're the most real, full person I've ever met.”
“You don’t see yourself very clearly, Effy.” Preston shifted in his seat so that they were facing one another. “Challenging me isn’t pestering. I’m not always right. Sometimes I deserve to be challenged. And changing your mind isn’t foolish. It just means you’ve learned something new. Everyone changes their mind sometimes, as they should, or else they’re just, I don’t know, stubborn and ignorant. Moving water is healthy; stagnant water is sickly. Tainted.”
“That things are only beautiful because they don't last- Full moons, flowers in bloom, you.”
“What is a mermaid but a woman half-drowned,
What a selkie but an unwilling wife,
What a tale but a sea-net, snatching up both From the gentle tumult of dark waves?”
“He had loved nothing more than the truth, and she had loved nothing more than her imagined world. Somehow, in spite of that, they had found each other.”
“I will love you to ruination,” the Fairy King said, brushing a strand of golden hair from my cheek. “Yours or mine?” I asked. The Fairy King did not answer.
Deeply atmospheric tale of how our brains deal with trauma in the backdrop of a gloomy and mysterious cliff by the sea town. Effy and her academic rival (sort of) unfold the mystery of her favorite author on his late estate under the guise of helping rebuild the property. Effy deals with understanding her own mind, battling with the difference between reality and fantasy while struggling as a young woman in a world of men who see her as not smart enough in an academic setting and take advantage of her in others. Preston and Effy comfort each other and mesh well intelligently while the solve mysteries and try to stay under the radar in the gloomy sea side manor. I loved this story so deeply to my core. Ava Reid is a visionary. I love Preston and Effy as individuals and together. The audiobook was also such a treat. This story is a hauntingly beautiful of gothic fantasy, dark academia and survival against the self and everyone else. I would say that the focus isn’t on the romance but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. Preston loves her in a way that’s different from anything in her life and the the haunting chill that permeates the entire book. He is just the sweetest baby to me and I will die for Effy. I see myself so much in her and the entire book is just so deeply beautiful. The mystical fantasy elements were breathtaking. 🌊
“I was a woman when it was convenient to blame me, and a girl when they wanted to use me.”
“That was the cruelest irony: the more you did to save yourself, the less you became a person worth saving.”
“I wish I had fought.” Effy surprised herself by saying it. The words had leaped out of her throat, unbidden. “I know I beat him in the end, but for so many years all I could do was run and hide. I just sat there and let the water pour in around me. I didn’t know that I could fight back. I didn’t know how to do anything but wait to drown.”
“Oh no, Effy. That’s not what I meant at all. You don’t have to take up a sword. Survival is bravery, too.”
“It began as all things did: a girl on the shore, terrified and desirous.”
“Effy found herself half in love with the Fairy King sometimes, too. The tender belly of his cruelty made her heart flutter. There was an intimacy to all violence, she supposed. The better you knew someone, the more terribly you could hurt them.”
“You're not just one thing. Survival is something you do not something you are. You're brave and brilliant. You're the most real, full person I've ever met.”
“You don’t see yourself very clearly, Effy.” Preston shifted in his seat so that they were facing one another. “Challenging me isn’t pestering. I’m not always right. Sometimes I deserve to be challenged. And changing your mind isn’t foolish. It just means you’ve learned something new. Everyone changes their mind sometimes, as they should, or else they’re just, I don’t know, stubborn and ignorant. Moving water is healthy; stagnant water is sickly. Tainted.”
“That things are only beautiful because they don't last- Full moons, flowers in bloom, you.”
“What is a mermaid but a woman half-drowned,
What a selkie but an unwilling wife,
What a tale but a sea-net, snatching up both From the gentle tumult of dark waves?”
“He had loved nothing more than the truth, and she had loved nothing more than her imagined world. Somehow, in spite of that, they had found each other.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
OH MY GOD BEST BOOK IN THE SERIES SO FAR. okay so Adam really made his bed and I can’t believe he said that he wished she stayed dead like WTF because that would hurt less?? Get a grip the first part of the book where Aaron and Juliette talk and he explains some of his behavior is so important. I honestly needed that lol. I loved this story, Kenji, their training, Warnette and Juliette becoming the person she was supposed to be. I’m honestly really nervous to continue on since I’ve had some things spoiled for me but god I love the big three; Aaron, Juliette and Kenji. Mrs. Mafi I frickin love u.
“It's not charity," I snap. "He cares about me--and I care about him!"
Warner nods, unimpressed. "You should get a dog, love. I hear they share much the same qualities.”
The tattoo is just setting below his hip bone.
H e l l i s e m p t y
a n d a l l t h e d e v i l s a r e h e r e
“His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he says, "I think," he says, "my heart is going to explode," and I wish, more than ever, that I knew how to capture moments like these and revisit them forever.
“So that's it?" Kenji says. "You just like him for his personality, huh?"
"What?"
"All of this," Kenji says, waving a hand in the air, "has nothing to do with him being all sexy and shit and him being able to touch you all the time?"
"You think Warner is sexy?"
"That is not what I said.”
“Lift your hips for me, love.”
“I'm not trying to fix you; I don't think you need to be fixed. I'm not trying to turn you into someone else. I only want you to be who you already are. Because I think I know the real you. I think I've seen him."
Warner says nothing, his chest rising and falling.
"I don't care what anyone else says about you," I tell him. "I think you're a good person.”
“Can you, like, see invisible people, too?"
"No," Warner says to him, eyes focused in front of him. "I can feel your presence. Hers, most of all."
"Really?" Kenji says. "That's some weird shit. What do I feel like? Peanut butter?"
Warner is unamused.
“It's not charity," I snap. "He cares about me--and I care about him!"
Warner nods, unimpressed. "You should get a dog, love. I hear they share much the same qualities.”
The tattoo is just setting below his hip bone.
H e l l i s e m p t y
a n d a l l t h e d e v i l s a r e h e r e
“His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he says, "I think," he says, "my heart is going to explode," and I wish, more than ever, that I knew how to capture moments like these and revisit them forever.
“So that's it?" Kenji says. "You just like him for his personality, huh?"
"What?"
"All of this," Kenji says, waving a hand in the air, "has nothing to do with him being all sexy and shit and him being able to touch you all the time?"
"You think Warner is sexy?"
"That is not what I said.”
“Lift your hips for me, love.”
“I'm not trying to fix you; I don't think you need to be fixed. I'm not trying to turn you into someone else. I only want you to be who you already are. Because I think I know the real you. I think I've seen him."
Warner says nothing, his chest rising and falling.
"I don't care what anyone else says about you," I tell him. "I think you're a good person.”
“Can you, like, see invisible people, too?"
"No," Warner says to him, eyes focused in front of him. "I can feel your presence. Hers, most of all."
"Really?" Kenji says. "That's some weird shit. What do I feel like? Peanut butter?"
Warner is unamused.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood
and what if I DNF this? it's been sitting, started in my kindle for so long but I just cannot. NEXT
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Somehow my heart was literally shattering then I was having the best time. I honestly grieved for Juliette and her relationship with Adam. I mean god, can this girl catch a break? Juliette is so strong and it was beautiful to see her character development and just general emotional maturity. Her learning to accept her powers and herself is so important. I find her to be a beautifully flawed character with an iron will, same as Warner. One of my favorite chapters was Juliette and Warner just chatting like old friends. This is, I believe, the longest Juliette has ever spoken out loud ever, even with Adam. He makes her feel safe and isn't afraid of her, something she needed so bad. It's beautiful watching a character I have grown so fond of, finding her own voice. They just work, Warner and Juliette. And Kenji is one of my favorite characters ever. He, also is Juliette's first real real friend, who actually wants her to be herself. I love them and I am getting SO attached. I am so glad I gave this series another shot, it's helping with the folk of the air hangover. God, I pledge allegiance to Juliette. My lord and savior and her sexy short king bf Aaron MF Warner. Without Kenji, I would've been too sad. Also, Juliette is allowing herself to be a real person who has emotions instead of a shell in fear of scaring others. It's truly beautiful to see. I really love them so much.
“I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body.
I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world.”
“You are moody. It’s always ‘Shut up, Kenji.’ ‘Go to sleep, Kenji.’ ‘No one wants to see you naked, Kenji.’ When I know for a fact that there are thousands of people who would love to see me naked—”
“I want so many things,” he whispers. “I want your mind. Your strength. I want to be worth your time.” His fingers graze the hem of my top and he says “I want this up.” He tugs on the waist of my pants and says “I want these down.” He touches the tips of his fingers to the sides of my body and says, “I want to feel your skin on fire. I want to feel your heart racing next to mine and I want to know it’s racing because of me, because you want me. Because you never,” he says, he breathes, “never want me to stop. I want every second. Every inch of you. I want all of it.”
“Because if I lower my voice, I won’t be able to hear myself speak. And that,” he says, “is my favorite part.”
“He’s kissing me like the world is rolling right off a cliff, like he’s trying to hang on and he’s decided to hold on to me, like he’s starving for life and love and he’s never known it could ever feel this good to be close to someone. Like it’s the first time he’s ever felt anything but hunger and he doesn’t know how to pace himself, doesn’t know how to eat in small bites, doesn’t know how to do anything anything anything in moderation.”
“He's looking so deeply into my eyes that I'm surprised I haven't buckled under the intensity and I realize then, right in this moment I realize that everything about him is intense. Nothing about him is manageable or easy to compartmentalize. He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”
“I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body.
I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world.”
“You are moody. It’s always ‘Shut up, Kenji.’ ‘Go to sleep, Kenji.’ ‘No one wants to see you naked, Kenji.’ When I know for a fact that there are thousands of people who would love to see me naked—”
“I want so many things,” he whispers. “I want your mind. Your strength. I want to be worth your time.” His fingers graze the hem of my top and he says “I want this up.” He tugs on the waist of my pants and says “I want these down.” He touches the tips of his fingers to the sides of my body and says, “I want to feel your skin on fire. I want to feel your heart racing next to mine and I want to know it’s racing because of me, because you want me. Because you never,” he says, he breathes, “never want me to stop. I want every second. Every inch of you. I want all of it.”
“Because if I lower my voice, I won’t be able to hear myself speak. And that,” he says, “is my favorite part.”
“He’s kissing me like the world is rolling right off a cliff, like he’s trying to hang on and he’s decided to hold on to me, like he’s starving for life and love and he’s never known it could ever feel this good to be close to someone. Like it’s the first time he’s ever felt anything but hunger and he doesn’t know how to pace himself, doesn’t know how to eat in small bites, doesn’t know how to do anything anything anything in moderation.”
“He's looking so deeply into my eyes that I'm surprised I haven't buckled under the intensity and I realize then, right in this moment I realize that everything about him is intense. Nothing about him is manageable or easy to compartmentalize. He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Classism
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I get Adam has to think of Juliette after his brother but he was so NOT concerned. Kenji was so much more motivated to help and find her and much more upset when they thought she died. I also didn’t like how Adam thought about Juliette as a person. It’s the opposite about how Warner thinks of her. I always loved Aaron but I’m official not a fan of Adam. WARNETTE FOR THE WIN. I think this helps point out the differences between Adam and Aaron’s views on Juliette plus we get to see Kenji and how much he really cares about J.
I just cannot get over how gross Adam sees Juliette as a person. They are not meant to be.
I just cannot get over how gross Adam sees Juliette as a person. They are not meant to be.