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thebrownbibliomane's reviews
94 reviews
Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
This was my most anticipated book of the year, and Kerri Maniscalco has once again impressed readers with her latest adult fantasy novel.
I found this book slightly less engaging than “Throne of the Fallen,” but I still enjoyed it. This series means a lot to me, and I could easily read another 100 pages in this enchanting world. Despite its length, the book reads quickly, allowing readers to get lost in the story without feeling overwhelmed.
The plot is exciting and fun, filled with romantic tension, similar to Throne of the Fallen. The addition of dragons adds an interesting twist that kept me interested from start to finish. There is a cute baby dragon which stole my heart.
The enemies-to-lovers storyline between Prince Gluttony and Adrianna is a highlight of the book. This is one of my favorite tropes, and Maniscalco does a great job with it. However, the buildup of tension lasts too long. With 400 pages on their conflict and only 100 pages on their romance, the ending feels rushed.
When the plot twist happens and the culprit is revealed, it feels unsatisfying because nothing is done about it. An extra chapter before the epilogue would help tie up these loose ends and improve the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of her novels. She has become an author I will always buy because of her engaging storytelling. If you want thrilling and spicy stories, this series is a must-read!
⭐ 3.75
🗺️ 5
🌶️ 4
I found this book slightly less engaging than “Throne of the Fallen,” but I still enjoyed it. This series means a lot to me, and I could easily read another 100 pages in this enchanting world. Despite its length, the book reads quickly, allowing readers to get lost in the story without feeling overwhelmed.
The plot is exciting and fun, filled with romantic tension, similar to Throne of the Fallen. The addition of dragons adds an interesting twist that kept me interested from start to finish. There is a cute baby dragon which stole my heart.
The enemies-to-lovers storyline between Prince Gluttony and Adrianna is a highlight of the book. This is one of my favorite tropes, and Maniscalco does a great job with it. However, the buildup of tension lasts too long. With 400 pages on their conflict and only 100 pages on their romance, the ending feels rushed.
When the plot twist happens and the culprit is revealed, it feels unsatisfying because nothing is done about it. An extra chapter before the epilogue would help tie up these loose ends and improve the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of her novels. She has become an author I will always buy because of her engaging storytelling. If you want thrilling and spicy stories, this series is a must-read!
⭐ 3.75
🗺️ 5
🌶️ 4
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
3.5
Stephanie Garber delivers a conclusion to her Once Upon a Broken Heart series that showcases her signature whimsical prose and unexpected twists. A Curse for True Love has the same magical feel and drama that readers enjoy, but it's not quite as good as the previous book, The Ballad of Never After.
The book's greatest strength is Garber's enchanting world-building. Her settings pulse with magical, fairytale-like wonder. The main characters are well-written and interesting. Evangeline, the main character, stands out because she stays hopeful and never gives up. Jacks, the mysterious, romantic lead, keeps readers guessing, though his story isn't as exciting as it was in earlier books. Apollo was one-dimensional, which is a bit pathetic for a villain.
The pacing struggles to find its rhythm. The book opens strongly with high stakes and urgency, but the middle section meanders through repetitive inner monologues and circular plot points. While the climax delivers emotional impact, it feels rushed, leaving several threads unresolved. Readers hoping for major revelations and neat conclusions may find the ending more open-ended than satisfying.
Despite that, A Curse for True Love is a worthy addition to Garber's repertoire, offering enough magical moments and emotional resonance to please her core audience. I found its worth my time, it may not cast quite the same spell as the second book.
3.5 ⭐️
The book's greatest strength is Garber's enchanting world-building. Her settings pulse with magical, fairytale-like wonder. The main characters are well-written and interesting. Evangeline, the main character, stands out because she stays hopeful and never gives up. Jacks, the mysterious, romantic lead, keeps readers guessing, though his story isn't as exciting as it was in earlier books. Apollo was one-dimensional, which is a bit pathetic for a villain.
The pacing struggles to find its rhythm. The book opens strongly with high stakes and urgency, but the middle section meanders through repetitive inner monologues and circular plot points. While the climax delivers emotional impact, it feels rushed, leaving several threads unresolved. Readers hoping for major revelations and neat conclusions may find the ending more open-ended than satisfying.
Despite that, A Curse for True Love is a worthy addition to Garber's repertoire, offering enough magical moments and emotional resonance to please her core audience. I found its worth my time, it may not cast quite the same spell as the second book.
3.5 ⭐️
Priest by Sierra Simone
2.5
Priest by Sierra Simone is my first audiobook. It's a daring story that mixes romance with religious themes. The book is about a priest falling in love with a member of his church, which many might find interesting but also controversial. Be aware that this book may not be for everyone due to its challenging content.
Jacob Morgan narrates the story, giving a strong voice to the main character, Father Tyler Bell. He does a good job showing Tyler's inner struggles. However, the story can feel repetitive at times. The main character often thinks about the same issues over and over, which can make it hard to stay interested. Some parts of the story focus more on being shocking than being meaningful.
The love story between Father Bell and Poppy is meant to be passionate and test their beliefs. But it often feels like it's mostly about physical attraction rather than deep emotions. Father Bell's constant struggle between feeling guilty and desiring Poppy can become tiring to read about, and it doesn't seem to lead anywhere clear. Also, we don’t learn much about Poppy throughout the story.
Overall, Priest tries to be edgy and push boundaries, but it doesn't quite deliver the emotional depth I was hoping for. If you like romance stories that challenge social norms, you might enjoy this book. But keep in mind that it might not connect with you on a deeper level. I personally enjoyed this book thanks to the narrator and for the taboo romance.
2.5⭐️
4🌶️