shannonreese's reviews
227 reviews

Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1 by Ayuko Hatta

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

2.25

Before I get into my review: Do NOT ever lessen yourself to date a guy like the main male charecter in this series, it is mental abuse, and someone like him does not deserve someone like YOU (yes I'm talking to you who is reading this review!)

Now that I've gotten that schpeal out of the way! I like this series but not the "romance" (because there is no real romance between the main characters- he's a jerk.) I just like the series because it is sometimes comical! (And maybe I like the rage bait let me live my life! 😜) Book one is about the classic story of a high-school girl creating a fabricated fib to her friends she wants to fit in with that she has a boyfriend, she finds a "hot" guy who agrees to be her said fake boyfriend but he is 👹 and a 💩 person. Will he turn that around for the girl? Maybe but back to my first rant; that does not happen often, if at all in real life. If anyone treats you like 💩 stomp on their foot and run, RUN FOR THE HILLS! (Maybe don't stomp on their foot but put shrimp in their vents idk! Just runnn!)

Barbarian's Heart by Ruby Dixon

adventurous challenging hopeful relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I'll start with a non-spoilery review. I felt like there were SO many repeated lines in this book, I think this was originally going to be part of Iron Flame until Rebecca switched the series from a trilogy to a 5 book series. She did have a lot of focus on the main group, especially one fan favorite outside of Violet & Xaden which leading into them, there was a lot of just the same back and forth that at this point is getting tiresome.
Also if I read that Violet's skin was "so soft" one more time my eye was going to permanently stay twitching.

There isn't a ton of drama or action until the last like 25% of the book, but once it starts it's hard to walk away from (like staying up until 2am on a school night type of can't walk away 😅). I did absolutely cry at one part and almost cried at a couple others but the presentation of the scene just wasn't quite there. There were a lot of actual "laugh out loud" moments for me though! 

Now onto the spoilery bits.

Turn back now

If your still reading it's at your own risk

I warned youuu 

*SPOILERS*
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I'm sorry almost all of these sound like I hate the book - these are just my genuine feelings when I was reading. 

1) I was so sick of hearing how almost every chapter she woke up read a lot, weilded a lot, sparred and went to bed. It was just recycled a little too often.

2) I don't feel like Halden was really needed for jelousy.. like how would she have dated a PRINCE?! (No offense to Violet).

3) Papa Aetos is another charecter that i was confused about, like he was supposed to add some kind of drama but he really only stepped in like twice to make things difficult and then disappeared?? I thought he would succeed in actually keeping them apart for longer.

4) F*ck the irids- they were mean to my baby Adarna?! Also what was the point in her leaving? And what was the point in her return? And don't take that the wrong way, I was SO glad for her return but it felt...forced?

5) Heck you to the TikToker who absolutely spoiled the ending for so many people, I wanted to feel more shock about the end but I put the pieces together too quick

6) Speaking of which, there were a few parts that I was feeling "uh hello? Violet? How are you not putting this together and I have?!".

7) Girl your brain does not race faster than Tairn can fly and suggesting so is just going to get him to list his whole family in a long, long lecture.

8) I know I mentioned in the non-spoilers how sick I was of hearing "your skin is so soft" but I can't stress it enough.

9) Another thing that bothered me, scratch that, gave me the ICK was, for example Devarro (sp?) is talking about flying in clouds and the Violet is all '"I do" fuck I just said that" ??? Why act all angsty after saying something like that, chill out. And that's not the first time she would do that. It also bothered me when she'd be like "I know the answer but I don't want to be right" it made her look like a pompous ass...

11) I was actually really glad Ridoc got more scene time, him and his dragon are hilarious!

10) *Insert Klaus yelling REBECCA meme* What do you mean I have to wait a year/YEARS FOR THE NEXT BOOK AFTER THAT CLIFF HANGER!!!!! 😫

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

4.0

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.25

Glow by Raven Kennedy

adventurous slow-paced

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

2.25

I loved 1-3 but was so bored with book 4, nothing happened until the last leg of the book (and it's a long 802 pages of book lol!)

Persephone by Allison Shaw

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-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

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

 

I like this book, don't get me wrong, but (and this is a potential spoiler) spitting in someone's mouth is just....🤮 forget the ice cream; I'm more grossed out by that! LOL! (iykyk).

This book has some strange happenings, but the plot overall isn't all that bad, and the romance..well... audiobook listeners, be careful where you are listening, just take my advice and learn from my mistake! 🤣🤣

 

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

Glint by Raven Kennedy

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0