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thebiglittlelibrary's Reviews (622)
4 ⭐️ Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about reading a story with fae in Vegas. But OMG, does Gina Maxwell deliver!!!!
I grasp her jaw as I growl against her temple. '' That is not the proper way to address your king, Beauty. Try again.''
'' Yes, Your...'' She pauses, and just when I'm about to berate her, she whispers, '' Yes, my king.''
Summary (from blurb):
For Bryn Meara, a free trip to the exclusive and ultra-luxe Nightfall hotel and casino in Vegas should’ve been the perfect way to escape the debris of her crumbling career. But waking up from a martini-and-lust-fueled night to find herself married to Caiden Verran, the reclusive billionaire who owns the hotel and most of the city, isn’t the jackpot one would think. It seems her dark and sexy new husband is actual royalty—the fae king of the Night Court—and there’s an entire world beneath the veil of Vegas.
Whether light or shadow, the fae are a far cry from fairy tales, and now they’ve made Bryn a pawn in their dark games for power. And Caiden is the most dangerous of all—an intoxicating cocktail of sin and raw, insatiable hunger. She should run. But every night of passion pulls Bryn deeper into his strange and sinister world, until she’s no longer certain she wants to leave…even if she could.
Thoughts:
From the very first page, I was hooked and could not stop! This story has everything I could ever ask for from a fantasy erotica novel!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Interesting fantasy world - fae Las Vegas, hell yeah!
✨ Sexy, powerful, rich MMC
✨ Sweet, funny, book-loving FMC
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Multiple POV
✨ Witty banter
✨ BDSM spice
✨ Found Family
✨ Interesting side characters
✨ Surprising ending (I need book 2 now!)
This story offered a refreshing take on fae and mates. Recently, there have been A LOT of fantasy stories centered around fae. I blame this on the craze around Sarah J Maas's Throne of Glass or A Court of Thrones and Roses Series. And these stories tend to share a lot of similarities with SJM's. So to read a fantasy novel with fae that didn't make me automatically think of ACOTAR or TOG was amazing.
This story definitely has a romance-driven plot, but the parts that did focus on the world-building and political dynamics were intriguing. I really enjoyed learning about Caiden's family history, the Dark Fae, and the Night Court. I'm hoping Gina Maxwell expands more on these things in the next book since we only really get a taste.
I absolutely LOVED the side characters. It was fun seeing the brotherly dynamic between Tiernan, Finn, and Caiden. I loved the friendship that blossomed between Fiona and Bryn. And Seamus, Connor, and Conall are side characters I'd love to see play bigger roles in the upcoming books.
The spice . . . hot damn. I’m really not into hardcore BDSM, but this was enjoyable to read, and overall well done. A lot of sex scenes in romance novels make me cringe either because of the dirty talk or how the intimacy is described, but that was not an issue here!
Overall, The Dark King is an easy-to-read, fun, page-turner, perfect for all you fantasy lovers looking for something with a lot more spice.
Thank you Entangled and Gina Maxwell for sending me an arc copy! As always, all opinions are my own.
I grasp her jaw as I growl against her temple. '' That is not the proper way to address your king, Beauty. Try again.''
'' Yes, Your...'' She pauses, and just when I'm about to berate her, she whispers, '' Yes, my king.''
Summary (from blurb):
For Bryn Meara, a free trip to the exclusive and ultra-luxe Nightfall hotel and casino in Vegas should’ve been the perfect way to escape the debris of her crumbling career. But waking up from a martini-and-lust-fueled night to find herself married to Caiden Verran, the reclusive billionaire who owns the hotel and most of the city, isn’t the jackpot one would think. It seems her dark and sexy new husband is actual royalty—the fae king of the Night Court—and there’s an entire world beneath the veil of Vegas.
Whether light or shadow, the fae are a far cry from fairy tales, and now they’ve made Bryn a pawn in their dark games for power. And Caiden is the most dangerous of all—an intoxicating cocktail of sin and raw, insatiable hunger. She should run. But every night of passion pulls Bryn deeper into his strange and sinister world, until she’s no longer certain she wants to leave…even if she could.
Thoughts:
From the very first page, I was hooked and could not stop! This story has everything I could ever ask for from a fantasy erotica novel!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Interesting fantasy world - fae Las Vegas, hell yeah!
✨ Sexy, powerful, rich MMC
✨ Sweet, funny, book-loving FMC
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Multiple POV
✨ Witty banter
✨ BDSM spice
✨ Found Family
✨ Interesting side characters
✨ Surprising ending (I need book 2 now!)
This story offered a refreshing take on fae and mates. Recently, there have been A LOT of fantasy stories centered around fae. I blame this on the craze around Sarah J Maas's Throne of Glass or A Court of Thrones and Roses Series. And these stories tend to share a lot of similarities with SJM's. So to read a fantasy novel with fae that didn't make me automatically think of ACOTAR or TOG was amazing.
This story definitely has a romance-driven plot, but the parts that did focus on the world-building and political dynamics were intriguing. I really enjoyed learning about Caiden's family history, the Dark Fae, and the Night Court. I'm hoping Gina Maxwell expands more on these things in the next book since we only really get a taste.
I absolutely LOVED the side characters. It was fun seeing the brotherly dynamic between Tiernan, Finn, and Caiden. I loved the friendship that blossomed between Fiona and Bryn. And Seamus, Connor, and Conall are side characters I'd love to see play bigger roles in the upcoming books.
The spice . . . hot damn. I’m really not into hardcore BDSM, but this was enjoyable to read, and overall well done. A lot of sex scenes in romance novels make me cringe either because of the dirty talk or how the intimacy is described, but that was not an issue here!
Overall, The Dark King is an easy-to-read, fun, page-turner, perfect for all you fantasy lovers looking for something with a lot more spice.
Thank you Entangled and Gina Maxwell for sending me an arc copy! As always, all opinions are my own.
4.5 ⭐ Holy f*cking sh*t READ THIS NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Summary:
A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life to save her dying sister. Now, reborn with dangerous powers, she serves as the right hand to the king of monsters.
Samkiel, the World Ender, is a myth to many. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, denying his crown and responsibilities. But when old threats resurface, Samkiel realizes he can no longer hide.
Dianna and Samkiel are enemies older than time, but they must put aside their differences and work together in the hopes of saving both their world and every realm in between.
My Thoughts:
It's been almost a month since I've read this book, and I still think about it every day!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Summary:
A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life to save her dying sister. Now, reborn with dangerous powers, she serves as the right hand to the king of monsters.
Samkiel, the World Ender, is a myth to many. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, denying his crown and responsibilities. But when old threats resurface, Samkiel realizes he can no longer hide.
Dianna and Samkiel are enemies older than time, but they must put aside their differences and work together in the hopes of saving both their world and every realm in between.
My Thoughts:
It's been almost a month since I've read this book, and I still think about it every day!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
4.5 ⭐️ OMFG that f*cking ending has shaken me to my core!!!!!!!
Honestly, there were some highs and lows in this story and I’d probably rate it a solid 4-stars but that ending is what bumped it up!! I don’t know how I’m going to be able to wait for the next book!!
Honestly, there were some highs and lows in this story and I’d probably rate it a solid 4-stars but that ending is what bumped it up!! I don’t know how I’m going to be able to wait for the next book!!
4 ⭐️ That f*cking ending!!! Full stop!!!
Ummmm what the hell was that???? I repeat: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT???
I swear I can’t even function right now.
This series may be slightly unoriginal (there's so many Harry Potter similarities - pureblood ideologies and references to objects like horcruxes) and the writing is absolutely trash, but HOLY SHIT do these authors know how to make me feel for these characters.
“Please, just be mine, Tory,” Darius begged.
“I’d rather be alone,” I whispered.
When I read this, I wanted to die.
Ummmm what the hell was that???? I repeat: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT???
I swear I can’t even function right now.
This series may be slightly unoriginal (there's so many Harry Potter similarities - pureblood ideologies and references to objects like horcruxes) and the writing is absolutely trash, but HOLY SHIT do these authors know how to make me feel for these characters.
“Please, just be mine, Tory,” Darius begged.
“I’d rather be alone,” I whispered.
When I read this, I wanted to die.
4 ⭐ Fun, easy, enjoyable read!
"I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you, and suddenly you don't know how you ever lived without them."
UGHHHHH I love Garrett
"I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you, and suddenly you don't know how you ever lived without them."
UGHHHHH I love Garrett
3 ⭐️ Underwhelming but still satisfying
Every Last Breath was a good finale to The Dark Elements series. However, I found myself less and less interested as this series went on. Maybe it was the continuous cringe-worthy teen dialogue or the major info dumps or repetitive descriptions. Seriously, I can only listen to Layla go on and on about Roth's 'tawny eyes' or his abs. Believe me, Layla, I heard you the first hundred times.
Every Last Breath was a good finale to The Dark Elements series. However, I found myself less and less interested as this series went on. Maybe it was the continuous cringe-worthy teen dialogue or the major info dumps or repetitive descriptions. Seriously, I can only listen to Layla go on and on about Roth's 'tawny eyes' or his abs. Believe me, Layla, I heard you the first hundred times.
2.5 ⭐ If Gossip Girl, Lucifer, and The Sopranos had a child, this book would be it.
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault and intended rape (does not happen though) in chapters 36 and 37.
The Summary:
Vein of Love is a paranormal romance based in NYC about nineteen-year-old Molly Darling, who has sensitive, glowing eyes and random outbursts of strength. When a sexy, arrogant demon shows up claiming Molly is his fiance due to a blood contract signed by her ancestors 300 years ago, her world is turned upside down. While being forced to spend time with her fiance, Tensley, Molly learns that the first rule for demons is never to develop a full heart. Well, that explains his jerk-like behavior and bad attitude, but sometimes Molly sees glimpses of the tortured soul that lies beyond those liquid grey eyes. Maybe he is capable of love? Regardless, Molly must find a way to reclaim her life and get out of the contract without hurting those she cares for, which may include her betrothed.
I really like the concept of this story. However, there were a few reasons why I'm giving it 3-Stars.
Molly's character is so cliche. She is the epitome of a gorgeous blonde girl with huge boobs, a big butt, and a tiny waist. BUT of course doesn't know she's hot. Instead, Molly is insecure and shy because she has been the topic of rumors due to her constantly wearing of sunglasses (to hide her glowing daemon eyes) and some instances where she showed some superhuman strength. Awww, poor baby. Also, Molly is super-rich. Like, she lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan rich, or at least her parents do. But she wants to be independent, so she lives in a crappy apartment with her best friend (who doesn't come from money and is very loud and obnoxious). Everything just seems so freaking cliche and unoriginal.
Oh, and did I mention Molly is a virgin? Yes, we can't forget to have a virgin MC who is forced into an engagement with a succubus demon who literally gains power by physical intimacy. Cue the sexual tension.
Molly is too naive. Molly is a 19-year-old and hasn't once tried to learn more about why her freaking eyes glow???? I know she's young, and her parents have been protecting her, but if you're mature enough to move out and get a job on your own, you would think she would also see a doctor about her glowing eyes! Also, how do you even hide that for 19 years just by sunglasses??? I'm pretty sure the US government would have already experimented on her by now.
She also made some really dumb decisions throughout the book. I get she was scared about Tensley being her fiance and her loved ones possibly being in danger, but YOU DO NOT EVER make a blood oath with a bunch of strangers you JUST met! I don't care how desperate you are. How can anyone be this naive and stupid, especially when you've grown up in NYC???
Tensley was not likable. Maybe that's the point, but his constant entitled attitude and rudeness got really annoying. He also never explains anything about himself or demon culture to Molly, which leads her to make such stupid decisions. If Tensley had just sat down with Molly and her family, explained the situation calmly, and answered some of their questions in a civilized manner, things would have been fine. BUT NO. We need drama, so cue the miscommunication and alpha-male behavior. There were moments of his kindness and gentleness, but I wish there were more of it.
Slow-pace and weak plot. While the story's paranormal concept was interesting, this book was mostly about Tensley and Molly's relationship. I just finished this yesterday, and I honestly cannot remember what happened in most of this book. The beginning. Got it. The end. Got it. But the middle. . . nope. I know there's a ton of sexual tension and conflict due to miscommunication, but I couldn't tell you the specifics. I often found myself skimming paragraphs to keep things moving along.
The slow, slow, slow-burn romance. I guess with the book cover, I expected more sex. Molly and Tensley have chemistry, and pretty much every encounter is filled with sexual tension. There are a total of three 'sex' scenes, but they do not go all the way. I was expecting and hoping for more.
Overall, I thought Vein of Love wasn't great, but for some reason, I'm invested in knowing what the hell happens between Molly and Tensley. This story has potential based on the ending, so I'll give the second book a try. Hopefully, I don't regret it.
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault and intended rape (does not happen though) in chapters 36 and 37.
The Summary:
Vein of Love is a paranormal romance based in NYC about nineteen-year-old Molly Darling, who has sensitive, glowing eyes and random outbursts of strength. When a sexy, arrogant demon shows up claiming Molly is his fiance due to a blood contract signed by her ancestors 300 years ago, her world is turned upside down. While being forced to spend time with her fiance, Tensley, Molly learns that the first rule for demons is never to develop a full heart. Well, that explains his jerk-like behavior and bad attitude, but sometimes Molly sees glimpses of the tortured soul that lies beyond those liquid grey eyes. Maybe he is capable of love? Regardless, Molly must find a way to reclaim her life and get out of the contract without hurting those she cares for, which may include her betrothed.
I really like the concept of this story. However, there were a few reasons why I'm giving it 3-Stars.
Molly's character is so cliche. She is the epitome of a gorgeous blonde girl with huge boobs, a big butt, and a tiny waist. BUT of course doesn't know she's hot. Instead, Molly is insecure and shy because she has been the topic of rumors due to her constantly wearing of sunglasses (to hide her glowing daemon eyes) and some instances where she showed some superhuman strength. Awww, poor baby. Also, Molly is super-rich. Like, she lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan rich, or at least her parents do. But she wants to be independent, so she lives in a crappy apartment with her best friend (who doesn't come from money and is very loud and obnoxious). Everything just seems so freaking cliche and unoriginal.
Oh, and did I mention Molly is a virgin? Yes, we can't forget to have a virgin MC who is forced into an engagement with a succubus demon who literally gains power by physical intimacy. Cue the sexual tension.
Molly is too naive. Molly is a 19-year-old and hasn't once tried to learn more about why her freaking eyes glow???? I know she's young, and her parents have been protecting her, but if you're mature enough to move out and get a job on your own, you would think she would also see a doctor about her glowing eyes! Also, how do you even hide that for 19 years just by sunglasses??? I'm pretty sure the US government would have already experimented on her by now.
She also made some really dumb decisions throughout the book. I get she was scared about Tensley being her fiance and her loved ones possibly being in danger, but YOU DO NOT EVER make a blood oath with a bunch of strangers you JUST met! I don't care how desperate you are. How can anyone be this naive and stupid, especially when you've grown up in NYC???
Tensley was not likable. Maybe that's the point, but his constant entitled attitude and rudeness got really annoying. He also never explains anything about himself or demon culture to Molly, which leads her to make such stupid decisions. If Tensley had just sat down with Molly and her family, explained the situation calmly, and answered some of their questions in a civilized manner, things would have been fine. BUT NO. We need drama, so cue the miscommunication and alpha-male behavior. There were moments of his kindness and gentleness, but I wish there were more of it.
Slow-pace and weak plot. While the story's paranormal concept was interesting, this book was mostly about Tensley and Molly's relationship. I just finished this yesterday, and I honestly cannot remember what happened in most of this book. The beginning. Got it. The end. Got it. But the middle. . . nope. I know there's a ton of sexual tension and conflict due to miscommunication, but I couldn't tell you the specifics. I often found myself skimming paragraphs to keep things moving along.
The slow, slow, slow-burn romance. I guess with the book cover, I expected more sex. Molly and Tensley have chemistry, and pretty much every encounter is filled with sexual tension. There are a total of three 'sex' scenes, but they do not go all the way. I was expecting and hoping for more.
Overall, I thought Vein of Love wasn't great, but for some reason, I'm invested in knowing what the hell happens between Molly and Tensley. This story has potential based on the ending, so I'll give the second book a try. Hopefully, I don't regret it.
2 ⭐ PASS. *Trigger Warning* *SPOILERS*
I was encouraged by the Booktok community to read Rhapsodic since I love fantasy, fae, and spice. However, it just didn't do it for me.
First off, it also had a lot of similarities to ACOMAF that almost made it impossible for me to really immerse myself in this universe. Here are just a few:
-The heroine suffers from PTSD (granted, the trauma is different but trauma nevertheless).
-The current (and soon ex) boyfriend is a wolf and goes psycho on the heroine.
-The Bargainer and Rhys are very similar - batboys, kings of the Night (sexy), and at first are perceived as dangerous.
-The concepts of mates and the bond.
-The romantic arch of the story.
Since both books were released the same year, the similarities might just be a coincidence but I found it to be distracting.
Things I liked:
Not Much.
• The storyline is interesting. The fact that it takes place on an Earth with magical beings and portals to another fae world kept me reading.
• The alternating past to present viewpoints. This has a nice flow and really allowed us to get a first-hand account of Callie and the Bargainer's past history and how it correlates to the present.
• The sex scenes were spicy. Definitely meant for 18+. However, I didn't really enjoy reading these scenes because I couldn't get over their weird past relationship when Callie was 16 yrs old (please see below for more of my thoughts on this).
Things I didn't like:
• Child grooming vibes. Callie (who was sexually abused by her step-father) is two weeks shy of being 16 when she first meets the Bargainer (he's gods know how old). We find out later when it's revealed they are mates, that he basically had to restrain himself not to get with her at that time. Sure, this universe's magic community thinks adulthood starts at 16, but still, it was creepy knowing that all that time the Bargainer spends with emotionally traumatized Callie, he's drawn to her sexually.
- For example, the Bargainer tells Calli when he visits her for the first time since she was 16, "You've upgraded your lingerie since I last saw you." (28). Ummmmm okay so you were noticing her undergarments when she was a minor . . . not creepy at all.
• Some of the dialogue and phrases made me cringe.
Here are a few expressions:
-"Naught bugs, stay away from the pretty human boobs." (111)
-"Jesus, he looks like an assassin - a bangable one." (156)
-"Instead he begins walking with me wrapped around him like a koala." (183) LOL
-"I want to marry the shit out of you, and then I want to have lots and lots of babies with you." (341)
• Not a lot of character development. Callie has been through so much trauma, but I didn't really understand her transition from pain to healing. I would have loved a lot more time spent on her emotional journey. Also, I feel like I don't know anything about the Bargainer besides he loves Callie. I didn't really connect with him throughout the book.
• Not a lot of world-building. I would have loved some unique descriptions and a bit of history about the book's universe. Yes, it's taken place on Earth (LA) and another fae world but I have a hard time creating an image in my mind of either.
• Problematic stereotypes? Callie's best friend, Temper, is a take-no-shit-from-anyone black woman who is constantly using phrases like "hey bitch, wassup" and refers to Callie as 'girl' or 'bitch'. I get they are friends and I know people talk this way to each other, but it just seemed problematic to me - as if the author was trying to prove she's POC friendly but portrayed her one POC character in a very stereotypical way. If anyone has further ideas about this please feel free to leave a comment.
Overall, I finished the book hoping it would get better but it didn't. There are too many issues with this book that make it impossible for me to want to continue the series.
I was encouraged by the Booktok community to read Rhapsodic since I love fantasy, fae, and spice. However, it just didn't do it for me.
First off, it also had a lot of similarities to ACOMAF that almost made it impossible for me to really immerse myself in this universe. Here are just a few:
-The heroine suffers from PTSD (granted, the trauma is different but trauma nevertheless).
-The current (and soon ex) boyfriend is a wolf and goes psycho on the heroine.
-The Bargainer and Rhys are very similar - batboys, kings of the Night (sexy), and at first are perceived as dangerous.
-The concepts of mates and the bond.
-The romantic arch of the story.
Since both books were released the same year, the similarities might just be a coincidence but I found it to be distracting.
Things I liked:
Not Much.
• The storyline is interesting. The fact that it takes place on an Earth with magical beings and portals to another fae world kept me reading.
• The alternating past to present viewpoints. This has a nice flow and really allowed us to get a first-hand account of Callie and the Bargainer's past history and how it correlates to the present.
• The sex scenes were spicy. Definitely meant for 18+. However, I didn't really enjoy reading these scenes because I couldn't get over their weird past relationship when Callie was 16 yrs old (please see below for more of my thoughts on this).
Things I didn't like:
• Child grooming vibes. Callie (who was sexually abused by her step-father) is two weeks shy of being 16 when she first meets the Bargainer (he's gods know how old). We find out later when it's revealed they are mates, that he basically had to restrain himself not to get with her at that time. Sure, this universe's magic community thinks adulthood starts at 16, but still, it was creepy knowing that all that time the Bargainer spends with emotionally traumatized Callie, he's drawn to her sexually.
- For example, the Bargainer tells Calli when he visits her for the first time since she was 16, "You've upgraded your lingerie since I last saw you." (28). Ummmmm okay so you were noticing her undergarments when she was a minor . . . not creepy at all.
• Some of the dialogue and phrases made me cringe.
Here are a few expressions:
-"Naught bugs, stay away from the pretty human boobs." (111)
-"Jesus, he looks like an assassin - a bangable one." (156)
-"Instead he begins walking with me wrapped around him like a koala." (183) LOL
-"I want to marry the shit out of you, and then I want to have lots and lots of babies with you." (341)
• Not a lot of character development. Callie has been through so much trauma, but I didn't really understand her transition from pain to healing. I would have loved a lot more time spent on her emotional journey. Also, I feel like I don't know anything about the Bargainer besides he loves Callie. I didn't really connect with him throughout the book.
• Not a lot of world-building. I would have loved some unique descriptions and a bit of history about the book's universe. Yes, it's taken place on Earth (LA) and another fae world but I have a hard time creating an image in my mind of either.
• Problematic stereotypes? Callie's best friend, Temper, is a take-no-shit-from-anyone black woman who is constantly using phrases like "hey bitch, wassup" and refers to Callie as 'girl' or 'bitch'. I get they are friends and I know people talk this way to each other, but it just seemed problematic to me - as if the author was trying to prove she's POC friendly but portrayed her one POC character in a very stereotypical way. If anyone has further ideas about this please feel free to leave a comment.
Overall, I finished the book hoping it would get better but it didn't. There are too many issues with this book that make it impossible for me to want to continue the series.
3 ⭐ An intriguing dark academia/magical story with many twists and turns
"The flaw of humanity," said Parisa, shrugging. "The compulsion to be unique, which is at war with the desire to belong to a single identifiable sameness."
Summary:
The story follows six extraordinarily gifted magicians that have been selected to potentially join the Alexandrian Society - a secret society of magical academicians that houses lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity. However, only five of the six individuals will be initiated, meaning one is eliminated.
Reina, Parisa, Callum, Tristan, Libby & Nico are recruited by Atlas Blake and given one year to qualify for initiation. During that time, they will have preliminary access to the Society's archives and be judged based on their contributions to various subjects of impossibility: time and space, luck and thought, life and death.
My Thoughts:
While this is a beautifully written story, it required my full attention and patience. The writing is academic and philosophical, which was hard to follow at times. There were many instances where it seemed that so much was being said, but at the same time, nothing at all (or at least nothing of importance in regards to the storyline's progression). BUT, I did read this after two months of Dramione fanfic and pure alien smut, so it makes sense that it took a minute for my brain to catch up.
"The flaw of humanity," said Parisa, shrugging. "The compulsion to be unique, which is at war with the desire to belong to a single identifiable sameness."
Summary:
The story follows six extraordinarily gifted magicians that have been selected to potentially join the Alexandrian Society - a secret society of magical academicians that houses lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity. However, only five of the six individuals will be initiated, meaning one is eliminated.
Reina, Parisa, Callum, Tristan, Libby & Nico are recruited by Atlas Blake and given one year to qualify for initiation. During that time, they will have preliminary access to the Society's archives and be judged based on their contributions to various subjects of impossibility: time and space, luck and thought, life and death.
My Thoughts:
While this is a beautifully written story, it required my full attention and patience. The writing is academic and philosophical, which was hard to follow at times. There were many instances where it seemed that so much was being said, but at the same time, nothing at all (or at least nothing of importance in regards to the storyline's progression). BUT, I did read this after two months of Dramione fanfic and pure alien smut, so it makes sense that it took a minute for my brain to catch up.
4 ⭐️ WTF!!!! That ending hurst! Darius has my heart ❤️
While I once again found the writing lacking and the story to be unnecessarily long, this was one of the better books in the series.
Thank the stars, the story is finally starting to come together. A lot of the plots and story concepts that were introduced earlier finally make sense or get resolved. For example, we FINALLY have an the background of the Shadow Princess and nymphs - it's super interesting and I wish more time was spent on it, we learn what happened to Clara, we finally understand why Hail Vega was the 'Savage King', we learn about Orion's father and the Zodiac Guild, and Astrum's tarot cards come to an end by leading them to the Imperial Star. I still have so many questions, but I'm glad some of these key story elements were explained.
I like that the Heirs and Twins are united and getting along. Obviously, there's still some conflict because when the time comes, they will fight for the throne, but for now, they have to work together to destroy a greater threat aka Lionel and the Shadow Princess. Seeing their friendships is heartwarming.
Xavier's pegasus drama was fun but didn't really go with the theme of the book.The series is getting darker with Tory being controlled and tortured by Lionel, Lance in prison, and Darcy and the Heirs going on Nymph raids, but then we get random chapters of Xavier dealing with girl problems. I guess it was a reprieve from the more serious stuff but it doesn't really connect with the rest of the story.
Darcy and Lance are getting on my nerves. I hate how no one can just communicate. Lance is pushing Darcy away because he thinks it's for her own good, and Darcy is pissed but can't help but love Lance regardless. And then Seth tries to make Lance jealous so he confesses his feelings? What are we 12 years old? I feel like everyone acts so childish and it would be nice for once if everyone sacked up and properly dealt with their feelings and communicated with each other!!
Speaking of sacking up, can Seth finally admit his feelings to Caleb??? Are they a couple or not? I'm sick and tired of this drama. It's stupid.
What Darius does to save the Vega twins broke my heart and made me confused. Why does Darius have to suffer the consequences of a broken oath by his ancestor? Why didn't the stars make his father suffer instead? This new development seems to be a plot device created to stir the pot and make more drama. I'm okay with that, but I need a fucking explanation.
After this ending, I have so many questions:
-What’s going to happen with Darcy and the curse???
-Will the Heirs become part of the Zodiac Guild?
-Is Darius seriously going to die at the end of this series???
-How are they going to defeat the Shadow Princess??
I can't believe I have to wait till December 18th for the next book. I really hope some of my questions get answered and that this series will have an HEA.
————————
Zodiac Academy Book Ratings:
Book 1: 3 ⭐️
Book 2: 4 ⭐️
Book 3: 3.5 ⭐️
Book 4: 4 ⭐️
Book 5: 2.5 ⭐️
Book 6: 4 ⭐️
Book 7: ? ⭐️
*I'd like to be clear that none of these books actually deserve anything more than 3-stars when it comes to the writing. These ratings are strictly based more on my enjoyment level of the drama. I know this is not good literature, but it keeps sucking me in!
While I once again found the writing lacking and the story to be unnecessarily long, this was one of the better books in the series.
Thank the stars, the story is finally starting to come together. A lot of the plots and story concepts that were introduced earlier finally make sense or get resolved. For example, we FINALLY have an the background of the Shadow Princess and nymphs - it's super interesting and I wish more time was spent on it, we learn what happened to Clara, we finally understand why Hail Vega was the 'Savage King', we learn about Orion's father and the Zodiac Guild, and Astrum's tarot cards come to an end by leading them to the Imperial Star. I still have so many questions, but I'm glad some of these key story elements were explained.
I like that the Heirs and Twins are united and getting along. Obviously, there's still some conflict because when the time comes, they will fight for the throne, but for now, they have to work together to destroy a greater threat aka Lionel and the Shadow Princess. Seeing their friendships is heartwarming.
Xavier's pegasus drama was fun but didn't really go with the theme of the book.The series is getting darker with Tory being controlled and tortured by Lionel, Lance in prison, and Darcy and the Heirs going on Nymph raids, but then we get random chapters of Xavier dealing with girl problems. I guess it was a reprieve from the more serious stuff but it doesn't really connect with the rest of the story.
Darcy and Lance are getting on my nerves. I hate how no one can just communicate. Lance is pushing Darcy away because he thinks it's for her own good, and Darcy is pissed but can't help but love Lance regardless. And then Seth tries to make Lance jealous so he confesses his feelings? What are we 12 years old? I feel like everyone acts so childish and it would be nice for once if everyone sacked up and properly dealt with their feelings and communicated with each other!!
Speaking of sacking up, can Seth finally admit his feelings to Caleb??? Are they a couple or not? I'm sick and tired of this drama. It's stupid.
What Darius does to save the Vega twins broke my heart and made me confused. Why does Darius have to suffer the consequences of a broken oath by his ancestor? Why didn't the stars make his father suffer instead? This new development seems to be a plot device created to stir the pot and make more drama. I'm okay with that, but I need a fucking explanation.
After this ending, I have so many questions:
-What’s going to happen with Darcy and the curse???
-Will the Heirs become part of the Zodiac Guild?
-Is Darius seriously going to die at the end of this series???
-How are they going to defeat the Shadow Princess??
I can't believe I have to wait till December 18th for the next book. I really hope some of my questions get answered and that this series will have an HEA.
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Zodiac Academy Book Ratings:
Book 1: 3 ⭐️
Book 2: 4 ⭐️
Book 3: 3.5 ⭐️
Book 4: 4 ⭐️
Book 5: 2.5 ⭐️
Book 6: 4 ⭐️
Book 7: ? ⭐️
*I'd like to be clear that none of these books actually deserve anything more than 3-stars when it comes to the writing. These ratings are strictly based more on my enjoyment level of the drama. I know this is not good literature, but it keeps sucking me in!