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the_rabble's reviews
140 reviews
The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Excellent frame and premise, delivery suffered. I'm hoping this was a case of "rough first book in the series."
Our girl is not a rake- there's no jaunty charming of potential love interests. She just kind of unapologetically emotionally abuses people and expects them to be cool with it.
The frame of activism and her friends keeps you interested and the sex scenes are random af but interesting. Her flavor of feminism is very second wave retro and pretty cheesy (actually Adam is a little more interesting re: feminism flavor but we never dig into "provider" toxicity.)
Good idea, rough execution. Felt like a lot of TRAUMA exploration combined with pregnancy anxiety. While we "strong female charactered" one protagonist, the other is a pretty solid charming soft boy who acts fairly normal but is a little weird about sex.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, very spicy, "STRONG WOMAN" writer meets soft boy architect.
Our girl is not a rake- there's no jaunty charming of potential love interests. She just kind of unapologetically emotionally abuses people and expects them to be cool with it.
The frame of activism and her friends keeps you interested and the sex scenes are random af but interesting. Her flavor of feminism is very second wave retro and pretty cheesy (actually Adam is a little more interesting re: feminism flavor but we never dig into "provider" toxicity.)
Good idea, rough execution. Felt like a lot of TRAUMA exploration combined with pregnancy anxiety. While we "strong female charactered" one protagonist, the other is a pretty solid charming soft boy who acts fairly normal but is a little weird about sex.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, very spicy, "STRONG WOMAN" writer meets soft boy architect.
The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Probably the best book about books or writers I've read so far. Excellent concept and adventure through afterlives.
3rd person, past tense, multiple narrators, takes place in Hell's library of unwritten stories, excellent lore,
3rd person, past tense, multiple narrators, takes place in Hell's library of unwritten stories, excellent lore,
- angel flavor =
"righteous assholes" - devil flavor =
lawful evil court intrigue/bureaucrat - Viking flavor =
rowdy
Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Good girl gets dragged to Georgian frat party masquerade, drinks jungle juice, hooks up in a garden- did not have a great time but the chemistry was good- she gets really into art for a few years, has a glow up, and runs into the garden guy again. Regency era shenanigans ensue.
Listened to while sick- kept me engaged but the back half is hard to get excited about. Our boy Alex is someone you want to cheer for and kick in the nuts on rotation.
The first half and the pacing are pretty comfortable, but yeah, logic takes a full break at the end of the book.
Promise of the premise is dangled often, but ultimatelythat they banged and he doesn't recognize her is not substantially addressed until the prologue.
Eloisa James has better books- if you go in with low expectations for resolution, this one's fine, but definitely read almost everything else she's written first.
1800s, regency, spicy, ages: early and late 20s,child baby wingman, 3rd person omniscient narrative, past tense.
Listened to while sick- kept me engaged but the back half is hard to get excited about. Our boy Alex is someone you want to cheer for and kick in the nuts on rotation.
The first half and the pacing are pretty comfortable, but yeah, logic takes a full break at the end of the book.
Promise of the premise is dangled often, but ultimately
Eloisa James has better books- if you go in with low expectations for resolution, this one's fine, but definitely read almost everything else she's written first.
1800s, regency, spicy, ages: early and late 20s,
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
tense
slow-paced
2.75
Good side characters, world building, and excellent soft boy love interest. Protagonist is... there.
POV character is very anxious and strikes an unusual balance of being sympathetic but hard to like. She is the aggressor in a couple "why would you kick that puppy?" moments that go entirely unexplained.
Additionally, we get a wild story drop that equates people who yell with [LI backstory]accidental murderers.
Plot hits hard at the beginning and 75% of the way through. Between that, there's a lot of anxiety.
Theme(s) aren't super clear, which you'd expect more in a coming home/found family story.
Single POV, 3rd person past tense, zero spice, PTSD, some violence, some swooning, lots of beaches.
POV character is very anxious and strikes an unusual balance of being sympathetic but hard to like. She is the aggressor in a couple "why would you kick that puppy?" moments that go entirely unexplained.
Additionally, we get a wild story drop that equates people who yell with [LI backstory]
Plot hits hard at the beginning and 75% of the way through. Between that, there's a lot of anxiety.
Theme(s) aren't super clear, which you'd expect more in a coming home/found family story.
Single POV, 3rd person past tense, zero spice, PTSD, some violence, some swooning, lots of beaches.
Viscount in Love by Eloisa James
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
If Ever I Should Love You: A Spinster Heiresses Novel by Cathy Maxwell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 64%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 64%.
Super depressing rape and alcoholism story- protagonists are challenging to like. Hard to think of <22 yos having dark pasts or being "Spinsters"
Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Horse girl widow meets self-deprecating soft boy rake. Found family and emotional healing arcs ensue.
Funny and cute. Definitely worth the read.
Would be a 4.0 but our girl Kathleen is a bit of a bad judgement machine and the resulting cringe is very real.
Funny and cute. Definitely worth the read.
Would be a 4.0 but our girl Kathleen is a bit of a bad judgement machine and the resulting cringe is very real.
Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
ADHD-coded board game designer with incredibly supportive family tries to help out a friend and gets marriage trapped to a duke's kid. She hates that idea. Swoony shenanigans ensue.
2 POVs, 3rd person, past tense, 1870s, main couple are early 20s and late 20s, spicy, very mild kink.
This is a cute (and hot) one. I was thoroughly charmed by both characters. Pandora is an excellently filled out character, Gabe starts out really well done and lovely, but he loses a little depth in the second half of the book. He continues to do interesting things, even if we aren't getting additional internal movement.
Kleypas gives good banter, but fucking gold stars all over Pandora's dialogue and Gabriel's responses.
Lots of feminism and healthy masculinity, with a few stressful exceptions where we remember "oh yeah, even a sweet ally-bro in 1870s was stewed in sexism- bias deprogramming takes a while."
Themes of trust and acceptance are rampant in this book and it slaps.
Continuity - third book in Ravenels series- if you've read the first Ravenel book and are cool with some spoilers for Book 2, you'll be alright reading this one. Additionally, one of our protagonists is the child of the couple from Kleypas' Devil in Winter. I hadn't read that, but the parents are super charming and do pop up through the novel.
There are a few moments where what feels like a thing that will become plot-relevant is actually a call back to DiW.
Narrator - Mary Jane Wells kicks ass. She does all 'The Ravenels' audiobooks and it'll be one of the reasons I finish the series.
Epilogue - Really, really appreciate an epilogue that does something different than"babies. babies. babies." This one felt satisfying and true to the couple.
2 POVs, 3rd person, past tense, 1870s, main couple are early 20s and late 20s, spicy, very mild kink.
This is a cute (and hot) one. I was thoroughly charmed by both characters. Pandora is an excellently filled out character, Gabe starts out really well done and lovely, but he loses a little depth in the second half of the book. He continues to do interesting things, even if we aren't getting additional internal movement.
Kleypas gives good banter, but fucking gold stars all over Pandora's dialogue and Gabriel's responses.
Lots of feminism and healthy masculinity, with a few stressful exceptions where we remember "oh yeah, even a sweet ally-bro in 1870s was stewed in sexism- bias deprogramming takes a while."
Themes of trust and acceptance are rampant in this book and it slaps.
Continuity - third book in Ravenels series- if you've read the first Ravenel book and are cool with some spoilers for Book 2, you'll be alright reading this one. Additionally, one of our protagonists is the child of the couple from Kleypas' Devil in Winter. I hadn't read that, but the parents are super charming and do pop up through the novel.
There are a few moments where what feels like a thing that will become plot-relevant is actually a call back to DiW.
Narrator - Mary Jane Wells kicks ass. She does all 'The Ravenels' audiobooks and it'll be one of the reasons I finish the series.
Epilogue - Really, really appreciate an epilogue that does something different than
Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
1.75
Friendly widow is rescued from becoming the most dangerous game by the duke who's been lightly stalking her.
Like the ninja turtle, Raphael is here to bring the angst. Iris... has forgotten she cracked a challenging cypher in like 4 hours in the last book. She still has moments, but god damn, lady. You nailed it all last book- spotting and solving mysteries from jump- and this one couldn't seem to solve any mysteries.
This one is dark. I don't think I'd recommend it. The prose is tough- trauma isn't just presented, it's belabored. Stressful vibe is stressful.
2 POV, "biokids baby fever" vs "childfree 4eva" couple, characters around 30, spicy, 1740s England, TRAUMA-TRAUMA-TRAUMA.
This feels like some of the ideas from Duke of Sin (Montgomery's book) didn't fit his character and got smashed together here. Pretty early in this novel it feels like the real hero of the story is indeed our favorite blonde blackmailer from two books ago and his [Duke of Sin]casually stabbing Raph's dad until he died- then continuing to stab neerdowell bystanders.
Maiden Lane - the only series characters we see are from the last book. None are from St. Giles (which is wild- a major plot point isabout avoiding having biokids and there's usually a whole ass orphanage in play.) None are recurring, though Alf is mentioned. You get a lot more Lords of Chaos stuff, which is fine, but heavy on the [content warning]murder and child abuse which absolutely sucks and- stylistically- is very heavy handed.
Sex scenes - Has some of Hoyt's more creative sex scenes, but the overarching plot and intracouple angst makes it challenging to be amped. The intimacy is hard to get excited about when the parade of terribles is around every corner.
Like the ninja turtle, Raphael is here to bring the angst. Iris... has forgotten she cracked a challenging cypher in like 4 hours in the last book. She still has moments, but god damn, lady. You nailed it all last book- spotting and solving mysteries from jump- and this one couldn't seem to solve any mysteries.
This one is dark. I don't think I'd recommend it. The prose is tough- trauma isn't just presented, it's belabored. Stressful vibe is stressful.
2 POV, "biokids baby fever" vs "childfree 4eva" couple, characters around 30, spicy, 1740s England, TRAUMA-TRAUMA-TRAUMA.
This feels like some of the ideas from Duke of Sin (Montgomery's book) didn't fit his character and got smashed together here. Pretty early in this novel it feels like the real hero of the story is indeed our favorite blonde blackmailer from two books ago and his [Duke of Sin]
Maiden Lane - the only series characters we see are from the last book. None are from St. Giles (which is wild- a major plot point is
Sex scenes - Has some of Hoyt's more creative sex scenes, but the overarching plot and intracouple angst makes it challenging to be amped. The intimacy is hard to get excited about when the parade of terribles is around every corner.