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827 reviews
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
I'm always so wary of hyped books, I never know what to expect, so I try to go in as blind as I can. And I did this with Assitstant to the Villain, too. I knew very little about what's the story about apart from it being a booktok sensation and everyone raving about it.
Assistant to the Villain is a very average book for me. I think I have an idea why it is so well-loved, but I do not feel the excitement. It is a good story, I might even say original in the way it presents the villain. However, it also lacks purpose. From the very beginning, it is very clear where the story goes. It just takes an unexpectedly serpentine road to get there with some plot points that don't really go anywhere. The plot development is very, very elementary. It is clear from the beginning that there is something unknown, the villains' story or plans, for example. And it is revealed very slowly presented as surprises. But they it is not really shocking because we always knew that something was there. In a way, the twists in the story don't feel very twisty. So, all in all, it is not the story that keeps the reader continuing.
It's the characters that make this story interesting. Evie is a very ordinary main character for most of the story. She falls for his boss, but of course she doesn't realize it, she takes too much upon herself, and she expects respect naively from a person she knows is the Villain and then throws a tantrum when she doesn't get it. Just the usual.
A promising character is the Villain. We also have some of his POV chapters, which definitely makes the story a lot more interesting. He is really villainous when it comes to unaliving and doing very bad things to people. That is a fact. Even if it's clear, he has an origin story that made him like that.
I think this wickedness and cruelty mixed in with his growing tenderness towards his assistant is what most readers are captivated by. Let's be honest, the 'bad boy' trope is beloved by a lot and the 'bad boy tamed by the ordinary girl' trope is one most women have daydreamed about at least a couple times in their lives.
The book is definitely trying to be humorous. It was a hit or miss for me. Some jokes and situations were funny or even endearing. Others, mostly Evie's sarcastic comments, not so much. It felt forced sometimes that made it a little bit cringe.
I appreciate the wide set of supporting characters. They definitely propelled the story forward. My favourite is definitely Kingsley, the frog. He's a much needed comedic relief with his signs.
Overall, it is an okay story. And I think the second book has potential after the ending of this one.
Assistant to the Villain is a very average book for me. I think I have an idea why it is so well-loved, but I do not feel the excitement. It is a good story, I might even say original in the way it presents the villain. However, it also lacks purpose. From the very beginning, it is very clear where the story goes. It just takes an unexpectedly serpentine road to get there with some plot points that don't really go anywhere. The plot development is very, very elementary. It is clear from the beginning that there is something unknown, the villains' story or plans, for example. And it is revealed very slowly presented as surprises. But they it is not really shocking because we always knew that something was there. In a way, the twists in the story don't feel very twisty. So, all in all, it is not the story that keeps the reader continuing.
It's the characters that make this story interesting. Evie is a very ordinary main character for most of the story. She falls for his boss, but of course she doesn't realize it, she takes too much upon herself, and she expects respect naively from a person she knows is the Villain and then throws a tantrum when she doesn't get it. Just the usual.
A promising character is the Villain. We also have some of his POV chapters, which definitely makes the story a lot more interesting. He is really villainous when it comes to unaliving and doing very bad things to people. That is a fact. Even if it's clear, he has an origin story that made him like that.
I think this wickedness and cruelty mixed in with his growing tenderness towards his assistant is what most readers are captivated by. Let's be honest, the 'bad boy' trope is beloved by a lot and the 'bad boy tamed by the ordinary girl' trope is one most women have daydreamed about at least a couple times in their lives.
The book is definitely trying to be humorous. It was a hit or miss for me. Some jokes and situations were funny or even endearing. Others, mostly Evie's sarcastic comments, not so much. It felt forced sometimes that made it a little bit cringe.
I appreciate the wide set of supporting characters. They definitely propelled the story forward. My favourite is definitely Kingsley, the frog. He's a much needed comedic relief with his signs.
Overall, it is an okay story. And I think the second book has potential after the ending of this one.
I'm Not Your Pet! by Fae Quin
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a fun and sweet alien romance, something I was not sure I'd be on board with just a few years ago, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Hugo and Roark's story is much more heartfelt and loving than I expected, and it definitely leans more towards romance than sci-fi. Though with countless alien species, space travel, and great world building, it is no doubt science fiction.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Hugo is a human abducted from Earth, now serving as a stripper on a pleasure planet. But he is soon rescued by Roark, a Sahrk, a sharklike pink alien, and brought on his ship.
We have dual POV chapters, so as readers, we are always aware of both of their thoughts. However, it is not the case for them. They do not have a common language, so the communication between them is basically non-existent. Roark doesn't have the words to explain that Hugo is more special to him than anyone else, and Hugo cannot express his doubts and needs to feel valued.
Seeing them learn to listen and care in their own ways is such a heartwarming experience. Their connection is much more sweet and cosy than I expected it to be. Roark is a big softie, and Hugo is just as caring. The way they learn to protect and love each other has warmed migh heart all over.
Obviously, there is much trauma that Hugo needs to work through, but interestingly, most come from his life on Earth and not from his abduction. Roark also has his past grief to work through, especially because he needs to be whole to take care of Hugo the way he longs to. They help each other heal, and it's kinda beautiful to watch.
I especially liked how we get to discover this alien world through Hugo's eyes. He sees wonder everywhere, which he wants to understand with his clever brain. The planets, the tech, the people, he's interested in everything. I would love to see even more of the world in other books.
A set of interesting side-characters round out the picture, both Sahrks and humans. Roark's friends quickly become Hugo's friends because the species is a friendly bunch. Plus, they love to see their captain finally open his heart for love.
Though the book is mostly mellow and cosy, there is a little bit of drama and excitement at the end. It is a bit out of nowhere, and I would have liked a bit more gravity to it. It got resolved fast and easily without much drama despite it being a very serious situation. It does not quite match the tone of the book before that. However, it does not take away from the experience at all.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this book. I was not always invested. Maybe it just had a tad less excitement than I needed. But nothing else is amiss. We get a beautiful romance, alien spice, if that's something you need, great characters, and awesome world building. It is a lot of fun!
Hugo and Roark's story is much more heartfelt and loving than I expected, and it definitely leans more towards romance than sci-fi. Though with countless alien species, space travel, and great world building, it is no doubt science fiction.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Hugo is a human abducted from Earth, now serving as a stripper on a pleasure planet. But he is soon rescued by Roark, a Sahrk, a sharklike pink alien, and brought on his ship.
We have dual POV chapters, so as readers, we are always aware of both of their thoughts. However, it is not the case for them. They do not have a common language, so the communication between them is basically non-existent. Roark doesn't have the words to explain that Hugo is more special to him than anyone else, and Hugo cannot express his doubts and needs to feel valued.
Seeing them learn to listen and care in their own ways is such a heartwarming experience. Their connection is much more sweet and cosy than I expected it to be. Roark is a big softie, and Hugo is just as caring. The way they learn to protect and love each other has warmed migh heart all over.
Obviously, there is much trauma that Hugo needs to work through, but interestingly, most come from his life on Earth and not from his abduction. Roark also has his past grief to work through, especially because he needs to be whole to take care of Hugo the way he longs to. They help each other heal, and it's kinda beautiful to watch.
I especially liked how we get to discover this alien world through Hugo's eyes. He sees wonder everywhere, which he wants to understand with his clever brain. The planets, the tech, the people, he's interested in everything. I would love to see even more of the world in other books.
A set of interesting side-characters round out the picture, both Sahrks and humans. Roark's friends quickly become Hugo's friends because the species is a friendly bunch. Plus, they love to see their captain finally open his heart for love.
Though the book is mostly mellow and cosy, there is a little bit of drama and excitement at the end. It is a bit out of nowhere, and I would have liked a bit more gravity to it. It got resolved fast and easily without much drama despite it being a very serious situation. It does not quite match the tone of the book before that. However, it does not take away from the experience at all.
All in all, I very much enjoyed this book. I was not always invested. Maybe it just had a tad less excitement than I needed. But nothing else is amiss. We get a beautiful romance, alien spice, if that's something you need, great characters, and awesome world building. It is a lot of fun!
Game Changer by Rachel Reid
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
30% in and we were at the fourth spicy scene already. Zero relationship development and no meaningful connection. Additionally, I can't figure out the goal.of this book. There is no conflict (in the meaning of plot development), so it's basically just a very generic recount of events. Of you don't want to think reading, then this might be for you, but I'm not in the mood for that.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Sword & Thistle by S.L. Rowland
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Cursed Cocktails: Tales of Aedrea by S.L. Rowland
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Friend For Hire by Saxon James
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
I really loved this short sapphic story about Elle. She's been such a fun part of the Accidental Love Series and it's really wonderful to see her in a different, more vulnerable light.
Obviously, being a novella means that we don't get oo much of Elle and Margot, but it's just enough to get a glimpse into their sweet love story. It's easy and lighthearted with a few emotianl jabs. They're so good together. Elle as the trust-fund baby trying to break free of her parents hold and Margot, an everyday girl trying to get by.
I would've love to get more details on Margot and her life, though. Elle's background is kinda known if you've read the first two books in the Accidental Love series but Margot is a compeltely new character and we don't get to see much of her.
But it's a novella, and it did get the point and the fun across, so I'm not mad.
But I do hope Saxon will write a full-length sapphic story one day.
Obviously, being a novella means that we don't get oo much of Elle and Margot, but it's just enough to get a glimpse into their sweet love story. It's easy and lighthearted with a few emotianl jabs. They're so good together. Elle as the trust-fund baby trying to break free of her parents hold and Margot, an everyday girl trying to get by.
I would've love to get more details on Margot and her life, though. Elle's background is kinda known if you've read the first two books in the Accidental Love series but Margot is a compeltely new character and we don't get to see much of her.
But it's a novella, and it did get the point and the fun across, so I'm not mad.
But I do hope Saxon will write a full-length sapphic story one day.
Marrying Mr. Majestic by Lucy Lennox
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
All Systems Red (Dramatized Adaptation) by Martha Wells
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0