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112 reviews
Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh
⁑ I was so excited to read this book ngl, I loved Joey in Binding 13/Keeping 13 so so much and I couldn't wait to hear more about him. I was fully expecting this to be a five star and it felt like it too for like half of the book but I lost that feeling. ⁑
"I never knew devastation until he walked into my worl and gave me a glimpse into his. I never knew demons until I stood beside him and watched him battle monsters more frightening than my imagination could ever concoct. I never knew heartbreak until he decimated my heart by decimating his body. I never knew hurt until he walked away from me."
General
❧ Darren leaving already felt so bad in the recent books but getting Joey's pov hurt on a different level. I can only imagine how that must've felt, so then be responsible for all your sibling's wellbeing at only like 12 years old. It must be so hard when all you want to do is leave as well but you can't leave your siblings that are only small children to take your beatings.
❧ I truly love Joey with my whole heart and seeing him so broken, empty, sad and lost hurt indescribably. He deserves all the happiness in this world and yet he hates himself for his parents mistakes. The constant confrontation with addiction was really hard and exhausting to read about (in a "good" way I guess??). When Aoife found him at Shane's place after Joey took heroin? It broke my heart.
"I couldn't care if I wanted to. And I didn't. I just wanted to stop feeling. To stop caring. To stop, period."
❧ I knew that I felt really hateful about Joey's mom but damn, how dare she repeadetly say that Joey was like his father? With that she kept breaking him even more, her own child. For all I know it's a miracle he was still alive after everything he had to go through.
❧ Not to criticize Shannon at all but what kind of bothered me was that she was so small, fragile and didn't stand up for herself (don't get me wrong, I totally get it why she was like that) and I think that's why I prefer Joey and Aoife since they're different.
❧ Tony being like a father figure for Joey was so sweet and healing to see even though he was not perfect himself. "I remember looking at this small scrap of a lad standing in the garage, down on his luck and with the weight of the world on hit shoulders. That small boy asked me for a chance that day. I took a achance on that boy, and I'm glad I did, because the man that small boy turned into is a man who I am damn proud of."
"The truth was that nothing about being with Joey was easy, and yet being with him felt so incredibly right."
❧ I can't even begin to start to describe my feelings for that fucker Paul. How DARE he treat Aoife like that? Him trying to pressure and guilt talk her into giving her virginity to him was disgusting. And Aoife kept on staying with him and staying with him even when he literally made her walk home alone in the dark after she said that she was not ready.
❧ I got so mad at literally everyone for seeing the domestic abuse and knowing about it and still not doing anything about it. They literally blamed Joey all the time for being violent and getting in trouble but yet they never asked why he did those things.
❧ When my man Gibsie made an appearance? SAY NO MORE.
Joey and Aoife
❧ Them teasing each other was sooo funny, sweet and wholesome to watch. Even them saying "I don't love you" instead of I love you was just so accurate.
❧ I can't even imagine how hard it must've been for Aoife to watch the love of her life slowly but surely destroying himself and turning into a totally different person and seeing his addiction swallow him whole.
"Because you might not love yourself, but I do. I love you enough for the both of us."
Pace etc.
❧ I truly flew through this book even though it was over 600 pages. I couldn't put it down at all and allthough the font was pretty small as well it was never hard to read.
❧ This might feel contrary to what I just said but the reason why I'm not giving this 5 stars is because I wish that there was more tension. I feel like there wasn't that much happening (for example in comparison with Keeping 13) but I feel like this is the same for me as with Binding 13. Binding 13 was 4.25 as well and Keeping 13 5 stars since we experienced more.
❧ The chapters were mostly really short, chef's kiss.
❧ I think that Chloe Walsh wrapped up this book really well and realistic. Of course I would've liked it if they got back together again but it's not how the story is supposed to go.
Conclusion
↬ I can't wait to read Redeeming 6 and see how they're gonna work out everything. I think it's going to be even harder to read but it'll be totally worth the work. I truly don't know how CW managed to write such an emotionally intense story where you get so attached to the characters and feel everything with them, what a masterpiece.
4.25
"I never knew devastation until he walked into my worl and gave me a glimpse into his. I never knew demons until I stood beside him and watched him battle monsters more frightening than my imagination could ever concoct. I never knew heartbreak until he decimated my heart by decimating his body. I never knew hurt until he walked away from me."
General
❧ Darren leaving already felt so bad in the recent books but getting Joey's pov hurt on a different level. I can only imagine how that must've felt, so then be responsible for all your sibling's wellbeing at only like 12 years old. It must be so hard when all you want to do is leave as well but you can't leave your siblings that are only small children to take your beatings.
❧ I truly love Joey with my whole heart and seeing him so broken, empty, sad and lost hurt indescribably. He deserves all the happiness in this world and yet he hates himself for his parents mistakes. The constant confrontation with addiction was really hard and exhausting to read about (in a "good" way I guess??). When Aoife found him at Shane's place after Joey took heroin? It broke my heart.
"I couldn't care if I wanted to. And I didn't. I just wanted to stop feeling. To stop caring. To stop, period."
❧ I knew that I felt really hateful about Joey's mom but damn, how dare she repeadetly say that Joey was like his father? With that she kept breaking him even more, her own child. For all I know it's a miracle he was still alive after everything he had to go through.
❧ Not to criticize Shannon at all but what kind of bothered me was that she was so small, fragile and didn't stand up for herself (don't get me wrong, I totally get it why she was like that) and I think that's why I prefer Joey and Aoife since they're different.
❧ Tony being like a father figure for Joey was so sweet and healing to see even though he was not perfect himself. "I remember looking at this small scrap of a lad standing in the garage, down on his luck and with the weight of the world on hit shoulders. That small boy asked me for a chance that day. I took a achance on that boy, and I'm glad I did, because the man that small boy turned into is a man who I am damn proud of."
"The truth was that nothing about being with Joey was easy, and yet being with him felt so incredibly right."
❧ I can't even begin to start to describe my feelings for that fucker Paul. How DARE he treat Aoife like that? Him trying to pressure and guilt talk her into giving her virginity to him was disgusting. And Aoife kept on staying with him and staying with him even when he literally made her walk home alone in the dark after she said that she was not ready.
❧ I got so mad at literally everyone for seeing the domestic abuse and knowing about it and still not doing anything about it. They literally blamed Joey all the time for being violent and getting in trouble but yet they never asked why he did those things.
❧ When my man Gibsie made an appearance? SAY NO MORE.
Joey and Aoife
❧ Them teasing each other was sooo funny, sweet and wholesome to watch. Even them saying "I don't love you" instead of I love you was just so accurate.
❧ I can't even imagine how hard it must've been for Aoife to watch the love of her life slowly but surely destroying himself and turning into a totally different person and seeing his addiction swallow him whole.
"Because you might not love yourself, but I do. I love you enough for the both of us."
Pace etc.
❧ I truly flew through this book even though it was over 600 pages. I couldn't put it down at all and allthough the font was pretty small as well it was never hard to read.
❧ This might feel contrary to what I just said but the reason why I'm not giving this 5 stars is because I wish that there was more tension. I feel like there wasn't that much happening (for example in comparison with Keeping 13) but I feel like this is the same for me as with Binding 13. Binding 13 was 4.25 as well and Keeping 13 5 stars since we experienced more.
❧ The chapters were mostly really short, chef's kiss.
❧ I think that Chloe Walsh wrapped up this book really well and realistic. Of course I would've liked it if they got back together again but it's not how the story is supposed to go.
Conclusion
↬ I can't wait to read Redeeming 6 and see how they're gonna work out everything. I think it's going to be even harder to read but it'll be totally worth the work. I truly don't know how CW managed to write such an emotionally intense story where you get so attached to the characters and feel everything with them, what a masterpiece.
Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen by J.K. Rowling
3.5
1st read June 2024: I read this book expecting to love it but sadly I didn’t as much. The 3.5 stars are for the nostalgia but objectively speaking, the writing was bland and boring :(
2nd read March 2025: I still agree with my initial review and rating. I‘m very split on this one: On one side I know that it‘s technically a children‘s book and therefore kept very simple but on the other hand I was just aching for so much more world building and information about their magic system. I wish that we went a little deeper into everything because it felt rushed. Me being a huge potterhead can‘t not love this tho, there were so many iconic scenes and ugh just SO NOSTALGIC!!!
2nd read March 2025: I still agree with my initial review and rating. I‘m very split on this one: On one side I know that it‘s technically a children‘s book and therefore kept very simple but on the other hand I was just aching for so much more world building and information about their magic system. I wish that we went a little deeper into everything because it felt rushed. Me being a huge potterhead can‘t not love this tho, there were so many iconic scenes and ugh just SO NOSTALGIC!!!
Vicious Fae by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
3.5
What the fuck did I just read? I was so confused because of all the reviews talking about that "crazy ending" and I saw someone saying "oh no my poor Gabriel" but I most certainly wasn't expecting this lol. Can't say I'm too excited about that ending bruh.
Sadly I do have some complaints about this book:
↪ Where was the plot? Like the last 60 pages were on fire and I couldn't stop reading but what about the other 570 pages? I feel like this series is getting pretty repetitive and I've read that many people are agreeing. I think this series could've been cut way down in terms of number of books and page count. I do love spending time with the characters but I really can't stand when you'd be so interested in the plot but they just don't give it to you.
↪ I would've never thought that I'd say this but can we just chill with the amount of spice for a little bit? I feel like half of this book was them smashing and it's just getting so repetetive and I'd appreciate deeper connections way more.
↪ I know this is a reverse harem and I love reading about it BUT can the kings just stand up for themselves a liiiittle bit more? I mean just because multiple men want one women doesn't have to mean that they have to endure everything she puts them through. When Elise says "jump" they ask "how high?".
↪ A lot of people hate ZA and/or this series because of the "cringey and instalovey" writing and I truly didn't feel like that at all before but with this book, and I don't know why, it just felt so much more cringe. The characters felt way more immature than before. For the love of god I got so annoyed with Leon especially because he behaved like a literal CHILD. Please, grow up just a little bit.
↪ For me personally Elise just doesn't match with most of the kings. Leon and her just give siblings or best friend vibes to me. Gabriel just deserves waaay better and someone, that wants ONLY him as well. Ryder I just love with my whole heart but still I think that Elise isn't his perfect match. Dante and Elise I do see having a future together and matching pretty well actually.
Okay now to the things that I liked about this book:
⤖ Like I already said I love Ryder so so so much. I think it's the darkness, the trauma and the intense feeling of brokeness that makes him so special to me. I wish only the best for him and I want him to be able to fully heal, feel loved and most importantly feel self love. I'm really excited to see where his story is going to go.
⤖ The whole Solaria world is just once again so addicting. Even though I criticised that there wasn't much plot I still flew through this book.
⤖ I'm 50/50 on Elise. I do love that she's not depicted as small, weak, fragile and dependent but independent, brave, self confident and knows what she wants. But sometimes I also find her pretty insufferable. Like be a little more human and show your weaknesses as well.
⤖ I know that I said that the amount of spice was unnecessary and annoying at times. But there were some *chef's kiss* scenes oh my lord. Ryder, Dante and Elise finally together? Say less.
⤖ I was so excited for them to go to ZA and seeing Orion again? Yup, I missed that man. And I loved seeing some backstory to him as well.
Overall thoughts:
I'm kinda scared since I've heard that the next book is just as repetetive but I'm still excited for it since I love spending time with the characters and I've grown fond of them. And I really can't wait to see what truly happened to Gareth. Once I'm done with this series I can't wait to get back to ZA, I MISS THEM. :((((
Sadly I do have some complaints about this book:
↪ Where was the plot? Like the last 60 pages were on fire and I couldn't stop reading but what about the other 570 pages? I feel like this series is getting pretty repetitive and I've read that many people are agreeing. I think this series could've been cut way down in terms of number of books and page count. I do love spending time with the characters but I really can't stand when you'd be so interested in the plot but they just don't give it to you.
↪ I would've never thought that I'd say this but can we just chill with the amount of spice for a little bit? I feel like half of this book was them smashing and it's just getting so repetetive and I'd appreciate deeper connections way more.
↪ I know this is a reverse harem and I love reading about it BUT can the kings just stand up for themselves a liiiittle bit more? I mean just because multiple men want one women doesn't have to mean that they have to endure everything she puts them through. When Elise says "jump" they ask "how high?".
↪ A lot of people hate ZA and/or this series because of the "cringey and instalovey" writing and I truly didn't feel like that at all before but with this book, and I don't know why, it just felt so much more cringe. The characters felt way more immature than before. For the love of god I got so annoyed with Leon especially because he behaved like a literal CHILD. Please, grow up just a little bit.
↪ For me personally Elise just doesn't match with most of the kings. Leon and her just give siblings or best friend vibes to me. Gabriel just deserves waaay better and someone, that wants ONLY him as well. Ryder I just love with my whole heart but still I think that Elise isn't his perfect match. Dante and Elise I do see having a future together and matching pretty well actually.
Okay now to the things that I liked about this book:
⤖ Like I already said I love Ryder so so so much. I think it's the darkness, the trauma and the intense feeling of brokeness that makes him so special to me. I wish only the best for him and I want him to be able to fully heal, feel loved and most importantly feel self love. I'm really excited to see where his story is going to go.
⤖ The whole Solaria world is just once again so addicting. Even though I criticised that there wasn't much plot I still flew through this book.
⤖ I'm 50/50 on Elise. I do love that she's not depicted as small, weak, fragile and dependent but independent, brave, self confident and knows what she wants. But sometimes I also find her pretty insufferable. Like be a little more human and show your weaknesses as well.
⤖ I know that I said that the amount of spice was unnecessary and annoying at times. But there were some *chef's kiss* scenes oh my lord. Ryder, Dante and Elise finally together? Say less.
⤖ I was so excited for them to go to ZA and seeing Orion again? Yup, I missed that man. And I loved seeing some backstory to him as well.
Overall thoughts:
I'm kinda scared since I've heard that the next book is just as repetetive but I'm still excited for it since I love spending time with the characters and I've grown fond of them. And I really can't wait to see what truly happened to Gareth. Once I'm done with this series I can't wait to get back to ZA, I MISS THEM. :((((
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
1.0
Okay so I‘m dnfing this book at 80% and normally I wouldn‘t rate books I didn‘t finish but I just need to say this:
I‘ve only read one other book by MZ (From Lukov with love) which I loved and I was so excited for this one but I‘m so disappointed.
• Vanessa and Aiden both literally have NO personality, NO chemistry and NO tension. There are almost no interactions and the ones there are it just seems like Aiden literally doesn‘t give a shit about her and is annoyed by her. Vanessa doesn‘t stand up for herself at all and that makes her so bland and boring.
• If I ever hear the nickname „big guy“ one more time I‘m going to riot. I swear to god hearing how „big“ he is in every second sentence made me want to burn this book so bad.
I‘ve only read one other book by MZ (From Lukov with love) which I loved and I was so excited for this one but I‘m so disappointed.
• Vanessa and Aiden both literally have NO personality, NO chemistry and NO tension. There are almost no interactions and the ones there are it just seems like Aiden literally doesn‘t give a shit about her and is annoyed by her. Vanessa doesn‘t stand up for herself at all and that makes her so bland and boring.
• If I ever hear the nickname „big guy“ one more time I‘m going to riot. I swear to god hearing how „big“ he is in every second sentence made me want to burn this book so bad.
The Darkest Gold - Die Kämpferin by Raven Kennedy
4.0
After I didn‘t love the last book this felt better. Even though it still was like a filler book it felt more exciting and didn‘t bore me as much.
There was a lot of character growth happening once again and I still enjoyed the story line even though there wasn‘t much happening.
Slade is so supportive of Auren, their love for each other is incredible.
I love Nissa‘s romance, I really didn‘t see that coming but I think it‘s gonna be so good!! 🤌🏼
Oh and can we talk about the smut for a second? That was DAMN good. 💯
There was a lot of character growth happening once again and I still enjoyed the story line even though there wasn‘t much happening.
Slade is so supportive of Auren, their love for each other is incredible.
I love Nissa‘s romance, I really didn‘t see that coming but I think it‘s gonna be so good!! 🤌🏼
Oh and can we talk about the smut for a second? That was DAMN good. 💯
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry
3.75
This was certainly an addictive read I couldn’t put down
My first Lucinda Berry book, I’m content with it. My complaint is tho that I didn’t know that this focused so heavily on a cult, which I don’t love reading about. Also I didn’t really connect to the characters.
But I loved how fast paced this was, didn’t bore me for a second!!
My first Lucinda Berry book, I’m content with it. My complaint is tho that I didn’t know that this focused so heavily on a cult, which I don’t love reading about. Also I didn’t really connect to the characters.
But I loved how fast paced this was, didn’t bore me for a second!!
And How Does That Make You Feel? by Joshua Fletcher
Not going to rate this book, it feels wrong to rate people‘s real life problems.
This wasn‘t perfect for me but it was really interesting to have a look behind a therapists life and to get so see what they‘re thinking during difficult talks.
I really enjoyed to get to see that they‘re just imperfect humans as well that have their demons to fight against.
This wasn‘t perfect for me but it was really interesting to have a look behind a therapists life and to get so see what they‘re thinking during difficult talks.
I really enjoyed to get to see that they‘re just imperfect humans as well that have their demons to fight against.
Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole
5.0
This was a ✨wild✨ ride. This book kind of felt like a drama reality tv show??
I feel overwhelmed to have read this masterpiece
How am I supposed to not immediately jump into the next book ( a chunkerrrr)???!!
There was so much tension and such a great slow burn between Diem and Luther, I loved every single second of their interactions. Luther is the definition of "if he wanted to he would".
This is one of the best found families I've read about. All the side characters are just chef's kiss 10/10. Period.
I think the depiction of Diem's grief was done really well and realistic. I loved how all the other characters supported her so much and still gave her the space she needed. Teller saying "Maybe it's time to stop looking for the light and start making it yourself." YES YES YES.
Okay and can we talk about how much we hated Iléana? Can she stfu already? And please, for the love of god, finally leave Henri. I cannot deal with him anymore for not being there for her when she needed him.
Oh and the challenging? Excuse me what the actual fuck? I was speechless. Nothing but love for this book, bye.
I feel overwhelmed to have read this masterpiece
How am I supposed to not immediately jump into the next book ( a chunkerrrr)???!!
There was so much tension and such a great slow burn between Diem and Luther, I loved every single second of their interactions. Luther is the definition of "if he wanted to he would".
This is one of the best found families I've read about. All the side characters are just chef's kiss 10/10. Period.
I think the depiction of Diem's grief was done really well and realistic. I loved how all the other characters supported her so much and still gave her the space she needed. Teller saying "Maybe it's time to stop looking for the light and start making it yourself." YES YES YES.
Okay and can we talk about how much we hated Iléana? Can she stfu already? And please, for the love of god, finally leave Henri. I cannot deal with him anymore for not being there for her when she needed him.
Oh and the challenging? Excuse me what the actual fuck? I was speechless. Nothing but love for this book, bye.
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
4.25
I was really excited to read this book since so many people are loving this series and talking a lot about it and I‘m glad to be able to say I did so, too!
I really love Diem as a fmc even though I know that many people dislike her but I like the rage and mostly the female rage that she has in her. I also love Luther and Lily and Teller, I think we get to know a lot of amazing characters.
Their world with the descended is really interesting and I can‘t wait to see where this is going to go. I picked up Glow of the Everflame IMMEDIATELY and lemme just say: it‘s going amazing.
I really dislike Henri tho, he gets more and more annoying and I feel like he doesn‘t really care about Diem that much. He just wants his revenge.
I really love Diem as a fmc even though I know that many people dislike her but I like the rage and mostly the female rage that she has in her. I also love Luther and Lily and Teller, I think we get to know a lot of amazing characters.
Their world with the descended is really interesting and I can‘t wait to see where this is going to go. I picked up Glow of the Everflame IMMEDIATELY and lemme just say: it‘s going amazing.
I really dislike Henri tho, he gets more and more annoying and I feel like he doesn‘t really care about Diem that much. He just wants his revenge.
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
2.5
I'm so disappointed to have to write this bad review :(
I was so excited to get to this series since I'd had heard a lot of great things about The legends of Thezmarr and Helen Scheurer in general.
The thought of "well, nothing really has happened yet" crept in at about 150 pages but I thought you know what, I'll give it some time and I'm sure a big plot point is going to come soon and it's gonna get more exciting than this. At about 70% in we finally got some action that still wasn't huge tho. For me essentially a whole lot of ✨nothing✨ happened in this book.
Wilder didn't feel like he had a lot to him, he felt pretty bland and other than being "hot" he didn't give much personality.
The writing felt so incredibly young to me which was a big problem I had with this book since I expected an adult romantasy (which this is supposed to be) that maybe even contained some darker elements.
I didn't entirely hate my time reading this book, there have been aspects that I enjoyed reading about for example the representation of a strong fmc that doesn't let herself be defeated or reading about the friendships. Other than that tho I feel so disappointed by how much I disliked this book. :(
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to continue this series which is so sad.
I was so excited to get to this series since I'd had heard a lot of great things about The legends of Thezmarr and Helen Scheurer in general.
The thought of "well, nothing really has happened yet" crept in at about 150 pages but I thought you know what, I'll give it some time and I'm sure a big plot point is going to come soon and it's gonna get more exciting than this. At about 70% in we finally got some action that still wasn't huge tho. For me essentially a whole lot of ✨nothing✨ happened in this book.
Wilder didn't feel like he had a lot to him, he felt pretty bland and other than being "hot" he didn't give much personality.
The writing felt so incredibly young to me which was a big problem I had with this book since I expected an adult romantasy (which this is supposed to be) that maybe even contained some darker elements.
I didn't entirely hate my time reading this book, there have been aspects that I enjoyed reading about for example the representation of a strong fmc that doesn't let herself be defeated or reading about the friendships. Other than that tho I feel so disappointed by how much I disliked this book. :(
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to continue this series which is so sad.