thehaileybirdie's reviews
404 reviews

slow-paced

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

1.0

This book was literally one of the most unsatisfying and horribly dated books I’ve ever read. This book was all exposition with no actual engaging plot elements that felt like they had any purpose. There’s misogynistic, horrifically racist, fatphobic, bullshit in here it was painful to read. I have no idea why this book has so many good reviews. The romance is also mediocre at best. She had better chemistry with a dead person than with him. I was excited for a light paranormal romance that’s easy to read, smutty, with a decent plot since that’s what I was promised and was underwhelmed on all accounts.

As a note to myself, I also didn’t like the writing since Mac would often say “and then what happened next will shock you” like a horrible clickbait ad on Facebook. She then proceeds to describe…something/someone and then reveals what it is. I felt like I was having a stroke reading it because I thought I had just missed something and went back several times to see where I missed what was happening and it wasn’t there…it was explained several paragraphs ahead after it’s been described as well as her reaction to it has been revealed. It was really stilted and I did t enjoy it. It ruined the flow for me.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.

If I hear the words “Poppy” and “stab” in the same sentence one more time I’m gonna scream. It had the same pacing issues as FBAA but lacked any kind of meaningful tension that didn’t involve Casteel and Poppy having a “rinse repeat” banter about how she’s gonna fight him and how it’s ok cuz it turns him on and how she’s disgusted by him when he says shit like that…like sweetie…I get it. Please just let it end.

Circe by Madeline Miller

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

I really don’t think there’s anything I can say other than I love how the story just unspools itself so smoothly with such beautiful writing. I love Circe and I really enjoy seeing a character with so many weaknesses and flaws and how she finds strength and learns to accept herself. The people who touch her life are so integral to her journey even though most of them are fleeting moments in her long immortal life (which is also deeply explored). It reminds me so much of real life and real mortal feelings I have felt myself.

I really loved this book and how it was able to capture every messy thing about life so perfectly. I would recommend this to everyone who loves character driven retellings.

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.

I had to stop reading at about page 78 because I just could not bring myself to finish it. This book is the exact type of book I should like. It has dangerous faeries in it, theres a tired but selfless main character, and a plot that seemed interesting from the synopsis. So why didn’t I like it? I think Ill format this as a bulleted list to save myself some time.
-the main character is inconsistent, unrelatable, and unrealistic. I don’t believe her or care about her.
-the romance is written like a bad wattpad debut that relies on cliches to be interesting.
-the plot and world building often work against one another and end up making the story unbelievable.
-the overall feeling of cheap mechanics and shallow development relying on suspension of disbelief to move the story forward because they couldn’t come up with anyting else (ex: the fairy godmother before the ball scene and the entire basis for their indenture being hand waved after the ball scene...iykyk).

This story up until the point I had to stop was unimaginative, unoriginal, and had nonsensical worldbilding, plot, and characters.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced