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spellbinding_steph's Reviews (79)
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
I loved getting more background for the Goddess in book 3 of this spicy novella mini-series! It built up amazingly and definitely took you on a ride. I cannot wait to finish book 4 and see how everything concludes. Seeing Vera truly grow into herself in this installment sets up for, what I think will be an amazing ending.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
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:
No
This book was a roller coaster! The story was unique and interesting. Sometimes the math was a bit much but what do you expect from a science fiction told from the point of view of a scientist. I also enjoyed how we got his memories from before the Hail Mary in spirts that pushed the story and his mental state along. This was a great first book club read!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This story was interesting. The magic system was unique and the characters were intriguing. The name thing once they start training for the trials felt a little all over the place and inconsistent but it was a minor inconvenience at most. The trials not starting until the last ⅓ of the book felt like it took forever to get there but there was a lot of world building which is necessary for a good series. I will say, the plot twist at the end hit perfect and I’m interested to see how it plays into the next book because it was huge!
Thanks to The Nerd Fam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to The Nerd Fam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
inspiring
sad
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:
No
I am not a book feeler. Maybe I giggle or smile at something but rarely do I find a story that causes me to feel feelings. This was the book that did that. I laughed a little and wanted to cry and fell in love with the characters. The way the story touches on various levels of grief and overcoming it was beautifully written. This is a fantastic debut novel!
Thank you Alexandria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Alexandria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF at 20%. I love a good cozy book. I love a good rom com. There is a line though between just right and over the top. This book was over the top. It tried too hard to be a little of everything when it should’ve tried to just be one solid thing.
The story sounded like such a perfect cozy quick read but I was so disappointed.
Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it's not for someone else.
Thanks Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story sounded like such a perfect cozy quick read but I was so disappointed.
Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it's not for someone else.
Thanks Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
mysterious
medium-paced
This was a cute quick read. I just felt like it either needed more or less. It wasn’t quite enough for me to enjoy it as a novel but it was too much to enjoy as a novella. It was this middle ground that could’ve gone either way. I thought the story was cute and the rest of the series would be enjoyable if you were in the mood for something cozy. This one specifically was cozy fall vibes. It was a fun twist on a story and characters that are already so well known.
Thanks MTMC and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks MTMC and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Ok, it started a little slow. Lots of lore, lots of world building in the middle of what was happening but once it got going, it was going! I think it’s the first single person POV book I’ve read in a while and I really enjoyed it. Mia is such a great character. All of our focus characters are easy to love. Some of the plot twists or revelations were predictable for me but I read a lot and that’s my superpower. Abbey’s writing so well done it was easy to immerse myself in it and not want to stop. I can’t wait for book 2!
Thank you HypeQueenPR and Abbey for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you HypeQueenPR and Abbey for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I finished it. The writing style is well done. It had some great themes and explored some topics that were relevant for the time period and are still relevant now.
That’s probably all the praise I can give it. It paced slow, the format felt like a biography of someone I didn’t want to know about. I kept reading hoping something interesting would drop because it has such high praises but that moment never came for me.
It needs trigger warnings and the fact that we are never given a name for “the boy” drove me absolutely insane.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
That’s probably all the praise I can give it. It paced slow, the format felt like a biography of someone I didn’t want to know about. I kept reading hoping something interesting would drop because it has such high praises but that moment never came for me.
It needs trigger warnings and the fact that we are never given a name for “the boy” drove me absolutely insane.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The book is divided into three parts, which is not an issue at all. I read the entire first part, 30%, and could not bring myself to read it any further. I just really disliked all the characters and that made it so hard for me to want to read any more. Both characters felt very whiny and their inner monologues (Dual POV) were just not it for me. Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for someone else.
I received a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received a gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this book! I didn’t know it was book 3 in a series when I got it but since it is an interconnected stand alone series I didn’t feel like I was diving into the middle of something. Maybe a little more tension on the romance side would be nice but also given the history of the characters the pace still made sense. The twists at the end were a nice touch and I enjoyed the epilogue and how it wrapped up Nico and Kat’s story. I can see myself reading more from the series.
Thanks Happily Booked PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks Happily Booked PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.