the_spicy_readers_club's reviews
44 reviews

The Hunter by Tara Crescent

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

I have no complaints on this book. Mafia, assassins…. I was already in. Second chance love, not normally my favorite, but in this book it was amazing. I love how this man was going to not only hunt his wife down but then keep her. Soooo good. I will be reading the rest of the Venice Mafia and their stories. (Aka I read this standalone out of order and it was totally fine) 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ 

Thanks for letting me be an arc reader. 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

This book was so much better than iron flame. It was a fun tense read. We learned so much finally. I have emotional damage from it in the best way.

The Trials of Darkness by Kathryn Breaux, Kathryn Breaux
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.

Though the story had good elements, the writing style I could not get past. 

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook and it did not disappoint. How the author made such a dark but hilarious book is the true brilliance of this book. Our Mmc might come off as having so many red flags, they are black but really he is the best green flag. Attentive, dedicated, funny, and protective. Maybe a little misplaced….. perhaps but I would be down for it. And the FMC is one strong woman. I loved both of them. This was just a great, fun time. Don’t let the trigger warnings scare you! 

Ruthless Fae (Dramatized Adaption): Zodiac Academy, Book 2 by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.5

I love zodiac academy. I’m a Stan here thru and thru. But man did I enjoy listening to the graphic audio of this one! So good! Geraldine’s voice is perfect!

The laughter was real listening to the twins pranks. I loved it so much! 

Iron Flame (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I love the fourth wing universe. Iron flame is not my favorite, simply because it felt like it was two books rammed together. I thought the midbook break was climatic enough for one book. But the emotional torment kept going. 

I was also over but understood violet with her constantly trying to shut Xayden out but also like get over it girl. 

Finally I love the graphic audio of this book except for the horrible mouth noise the xayden actor makes for kissing 🤢

Iron Flame (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I love the fourth wing universe. Iron flame is not my favorite, simply because it felt like it was two books rammed together. I thought the midbook break was climatic enough for one book. But the emotional torment kept going. 

I was also over but understood violet with her constantly trying to shut Xayden out but also like get over it girl. 

Finally I love the graphic audio of this book except for the horrible mouth noise the xayden actor makes for kissing 🤢

Soulless Rivalry by Macy T. Riosa

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

5.0

This book drew me in right from the gate and held me in a chokehold the whole book. The vibes of this book were super on point. If you are someone that loves Mafia, this has the children of Mafia. If you loved the mutual loathing to slow burn that was in the Prime show, Maxton Hall, the two main characters are giving Ruby and James energy. And finally if you loved the show Wednesday for the dark academia with a murder mystery this book also has that. 

This book had everything I love and I couldn’t get enough. It was sooo soooo sooo good. Also they are each others first instead of the mmc being a manwhore? Stop. A+. 

Thank you for letting me Arc read this and I will be obsessing over the rest of this author’s catalogue. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

Never Broken by Everly Claire

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

 review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️
.5🌶️

In this dark dystopian world, this world used slaves to solve the Great Depression. Ever since then slaves have just been a normal part of life. Our rich fmc has never seen slaves as nothing but items until recently. She begins to question how society is being run when her father brings home a new slave. A very hot, intelligent slave that she is attracted to. Only problem is free women can never be touched by slaves.

This story has a delicious slow burn created by a Romeo and Juliet love story. The world building is amazing in this book and there is a lot of intrigue. 

I did feel when we got to any type of intimate scenes, the writing was very confusing. We were in the character’s stream of consciousness when things were happening and I spent a lot of time going, what’s happening? Are we kissing? I also found the last 30% of the book not as clear as the rest of the book. I am still very interested in seeing where this story is going because I think there is a lot of potential.

Cherry Auction: Angsty Dark Romance by Stasia Black

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 
 This book was a wild ride. I loved that I had no idea where things were going from one page to another and then we get to the last 70% and buckle up. Woooo boy. I don’t even want to talk much on the plot since I think going in blind is a must but definitely check the trigger warnings. However I will say that FMC has no memories and has a very twisted history with MMC that they have to work through in very interesting ways. I’m currently learning where my desires and boundaries lay in the kink world and this one took me to my edge in the best way. Thank you for letting me arc read this! I did have a good time reading this.